Leandra looked down at the bundle in her arms. Truth was she was afraid of the tiny infant that lay there, sleeping. She'd never had a baby before and it hurt like hell. He came out screaming and didn't quiet until her mom put him in her arms. She was afraid because for the first time, Leandra realized she really was a mom and really did actually marry Askari. She realized they had no where to live but here with her mom and dad. She looked at Askari and saw that he was afraid, too.
Even the day of her wedding, as she and Askari stared at each other in the druid grove, even as the Elder Druid looked at them like they were too young but trying, even as she repeated the druid's words and squeezed Askari's hands and put the ring on his finger, she was afraid. Was the rest of her life going to be fear like this?
The baby (they couldn't even figure out what to name him yet) stirred and brought Leandra's eyes onto him. He was cute - with the dark hair of his dad and the dark eyes of his dad and the lighter red skin of his dad... and Leandra's mind wandered. Maybe Esper genes were stronger than human genes. Maybe.
Leandra called to her dad. She asked him to let her and Askari stay until they found their own house. She talked to Colin and felt her heart sink. She could tell he wasn't proud of her, maybe even embarrassed by her but he said that wasn't true. Then, Leandra's mind wandered to Nioma. She asked her father if he'd be telling the baby who her real dad was - but every time she asked, Colin just got mad. Like he didn't think she had a different dad... like he didn't care that she wouldn't know when she got bigger. Sometimes, though, it was good to know when to stop talking.
Askari came back into the room after her dad left, and Leandra looked at him closely. He was her husband now, and her baby's dad, and she did love him. She may not know everything about him yet, but she would, and even though things still didn't feel completely right, and even though she was still afraid, at least looking at him made her feel not alone. She would never again be alone.
Familiarity (1-2)
Sanria was warmed at how enthusiastically Ror took the moss. He checked his list and agreed he had all he needed. Methodical and attentive. She stared at the uniform again with a smile and nod. "Throm would have been very happy with you, I know it."
"Eh?" came the puzzled reply.
"Ah, my ramblings. You're a studious mind and a researcher. He would have truly enjoyed meeting you and perhaps getting to know you as he was also."
"Was he a famous researcher?" Ror asked.
"Famous..." and Sanria chuckled. "He was a congressman for TriPower and a leader of the army. I don't know about famous, but well known. Well known."
"I will ask around then, because I have not seen any statues of him yet."
"I don't know that there will be any. But he was a good man. It seems you are as well."
She anticipated Ror would be off and in fact Sanria had made ready to say goodbye, but it seemed the sorrow on her face had stopped the researcher from going. "My apologies if my remarks have caused you sorrow. I meant well. All the great men and women of the TriPower have their statue. I know, I studied them. Just none of Throm."
"There is no need for apologies. I'm not truly certain all know of his death, he was known for disappearing as well. In their minds, he may simply be off on another adventure." Wasn't that death anyway? Another grand adventure? Inwardly she chuckled, certainly Throm would have thought so.
"May I be so bold and ask you how he died?"
Sanria took the proffered arm and allowed herself to be led to the side of the falls where moss grew in abundance. There, she sat near Ror, and told him about Throm's death - the black makou that had plagued him for so many years - the last time she saw him that he was free of it, but had died. The truth was, Sanria did not know how Throm had died, but she had a suspicion. Getting the black mako out, in her mind, had ended Throm's life. The thought flittered across her mind that what was in Colin might just have to stay in there forever.
Colin... she had forgotten completely about Colin and Nioma. The last thing she needed was Colin to come out of the cavern and see her sprawled on the moss with a man he'd never seen. Not that she was, necessarily, sprawled "with" Ror, but... "I think I shall go then, but I would like to make an appoint, if that's not a problem," he asked as she rose to go.
"To return?"
"Here? I suspect elsewhere to be honest. But if here, then here, yes." It shocked Sanria a little, they hadn't gotten on that well, had they? "Any where, certainly. When and where?"
"When you have the time, as for where, that would be Throm's laboratory."
Sanria's breath caught. The absolute forward nature of the request was raw against the wound she had allowed to surface. What had she done? "I... can't do that... I'm sorry."
"Sorry, I didn't mean you have to go with me. You can if you want. All I ask is that you show me where it is."
"No... I can't... do that," she replied again. What the hell had she done.
"Too dangerous or personal objections?"
"Quite a bit of both, I assure you. Throm had secrets that... even with his not being here, I suspect would be best kept that way. Besides... he does still have a son out there somewhere and I don't feel it my place to reveal his father's personal life."
"Alright. There's nothing I can do then. But, if Throm's research falls in another's hands, outside the TriPower, what then?"
"There is much you do not know about Throm uth Bannon, Ror."
They parted, Ror's words, "Heh, you told me more than they did. And I read the books too. Such an important man, yet no statue," knocking against her brain. And then he mouthed a few words, no sound, but she was certain she had not misinterpreted. "I need to know. Because I don't trust him." Even in death, she thought, Throm was plagued with what? Being a politician and a sorcerer who knew far more than he ever let on. She would meet with Ror again, but this time, she would watch her words carefully.
Sanria went back inside, back into the thick air, back into the place where happiness hinged on her staying put. She regretted going outside today. She regretted talking to someone new. She regretted that she would have to weave yet another fabrication to extricate herself from saying too much, and yet another fabrication to keep someone she cared for safe... even if he was dead.
"Eh?" came the puzzled reply.
"Ah, my ramblings. You're a studious mind and a researcher. He would have truly enjoyed meeting you and perhaps getting to know you as he was also."
"Was he a famous researcher?" Ror asked.
"Famous..." and Sanria chuckled. "He was a congressman for TriPower and a leader of the army. I don't know about famous, but well known. Well known."
"I will ask around then, because I have not seen any statues of him yet."
"I don't know that there will be any. But he was a good man. It seems you are as well."
She anticipated Ror would be off and in fact Sanria had made ready to say goodbye, but it seemed the sorrow on her face had stopped the researcher from going. "My apologies if my remarks have caused you sorrow. I meant well. All the great men and women of the TriPower have their statue. I know, I studied them. Just none of Throm."
"There is no need for apologies. I'm not truly certain all know of his death, he was known for disappearing as well. In their minds, he may simply be off on another adventure." Wasn't that death anyway? Another grand adventure? Inwardly she chuckled, certainly Throm would have thought so.
"May I be so bold and ask you how he died?"
Sanria took the proffered arm and allowed herself to be led to the side of the falls where moss grew in abundance. There, she sat near Ror, and told him about Throm's death - the black makou that had plagued him for so many years - the last time she saw him that he was free of it, but had died. The truth was, Sanria did not know how Throm had died, but she had a suspicion. Getting the black mako out, in her mind, had ended Throm's life. The thought flittered across her mind that what was in Colin might just have to stay in there forever.
Colin... she had forgotten completely about Colin and Nioma. The last thing she needed was Colin to come out of the cavern and see her sprawled on the moss with a man he'd never seen. Not that she was, necessarily, sprawled "with" Ror, but... "I think I shall go then, but I would like to make an appoint, if that's not a problem," he asked as she rose to go.
"To return?"
"Here? I suspect elsewhere to be honest. But if here, then here, yes." It shocked Sanria a little, they hadn't gotten on that well, had they? "Any where, certainly. When and where?"
"When you have the time, as for where, that would be Throm's laboratory."
Sanria's breath caught. The absolute forward nature of the request was raw against the wound she had allowed to surface. What had she done? "I... can't do that... I'm sorry."
"Sorry, I didn't mean you have to go with me. You can if you want. All I ask is that you show me where it is."
"No... I can't... do that," she replied again. What the hell had she done.
"Too dangerous or personal objections?"
"Quite a bit of both, I assure you. Throm had secrets that... even with his not being here, I suspect would be best kept that way. Besides... he does still have a son out there somewhere and I don't feel it my place to reveal his father's personal life."
"Alright. There's nothing I can do then. But, if Throm's research falls in another's hands, outside the TriPower, what then?"
"There is much you do not know about Throm uth Bannon, Ror."
They parted, Ror's words, "Heh, you told me more than they did. And I read the books too. Such an important man, yet no statue," knocking against her brain. And then he mouthed a few words, no sound, but she was certain she had not misinterpreted. "I need to know. Because I don't trust him." Even in death, she thought, Throm was plagued with what? Being a politician and a sorcerer who knew far more than he ever let on. She would meet with Ror again, but this time, she would watch her words carefully.
Sanria went back inside, back into the thick air, back into the place where happiness hinged on her staying put. She regretted going outside today. She regretted talking to someone new. She regretted that she would have to weave yet another fabrication to extricate herself from saying too much, and yet another fabrication to keep someone she cared for safe... even if he was dead.
Research Division
"He disappeared?" the elf asked.
"He died. Old history... I'm sorry," Sanria replied, standing straighter.
"I see. My condolences"
"Thank you. I'm Sanria Stone."
"Ror Surion," he said with a salute. "Research division."
"What do you research, if I could ask?"
"Ah, I research the domains of magic, most predominantly the lifeforce and nature."
Sanria's head swam. Lifeforce and nature. Key components in the creation of Nioma. She batted the thoughts away before they could take hold. This was a new face. Before she knew it, he rattled off the names of each herb in her hand and it pleased her greatly. "Are you a sage? Most who aren't don't really know them so well..."
"Indeed, I am a sage. Although still in training, I must admit."
"We are always in training, Sir Ror."
"Touche."
The elf, Ror, had been looking for herbs and in particular the moss that grew abundantly at the edge of the falls. It was an opportunity to show the cavern to a new face, and Sanria led Ror behind the falls and into the sparkle of the Bejuril Crystals. She allowed him to take a few, telling him the story of Icehawk and how, long ago, he had been able to fashion communication crystals that worked with technology. Yet another memory from a time that seemed so far away from now.
Sanria left Ror happily pulling crystals from the cavern and walked back out into the forests. She gathered the moss for him, tucking it into one of the satchels she had brought for her own purposes, then sat across from the falls, watching the water. An elf. In truth, the last one she had seen was Kaliadra and that was ages past. How was she? Obviously alive, for without her Sanria would also be dead. Had she forgotten herself? Or perhaps she had found a new life and moved on. The questions kept surfacing until Ror at last made his way back out from the cavern.
"He died. Old history... I'm sorry," Sanria replied, standing straighter.
"I see. My condolences"
"Thank you. I'm Sanria Stone."
"Ror Surion," he said with a salute. "Research division."
"What do you research, if I could ask?"
"Ah, I research the domains of magic, most predominantly the lifeforce and nature."
Sanria's head swam. Lifeforce and nature. Key components in the creation of Nioma. She batted the thoughts away before they could take hold. This was a new face. Before she knew it, he rattled off the names of each herb in her hand and it pleased her greatly. "Are you a sage? Most who aren't don't really know them so well..."
"Indeed, I am a sage. Although still in training, I must admit."
"We are always in training, Sir Ror."
"Touche."
The elf, Ror, had been looking for herbs and in particular the moss that grew abundantly at the edge of the falls. It was an opportunity to show the cavern to a new face, and Sanria led Ror behind the falls and into the sparkle of the Bejuril Crystals. She allowed him to take a few, telling him the story of Icehawk and how, long ago, he had been able to fashion communication crystals that worked with technology. Yet another memory from a time that seemed so far away from now.
Sanria left Ror happily pulling crystals from the cavern and walked back out into the forests. She gathered the moss for him, tucking it into one of the satchels she had brought for her own purposes, then sat across from the falls, watching the water. An elf. In truth, the last one she had seen was Kaliadra and that was ages past. How was she? Obviously alive, for without her Sanria would also be dead. Had she forgotten herself? Or perhaps she had found a new life and moved on. The questions kept surfacing until Ror at last made his way back out from the cavern.
The Elf
Tea. That's why Sanria needed to leave the cavern. Not for the stifling feeling or the sensation she was drowning beneath the weight of some yet untold lie. Not for the tiny twinge of guilt that wrenched her bowels in a tremor of tiny needles pricking at her innards. Tea. Herbs. She was running out, knowing full well the containers were full. Sanria excused herself, leaving Colin holding Nioma, "their" blue-eyed daughter.
The forest offered a lungful of fresh air. Sanria could never quite explain how the forest made her feel. The air was vital, thick with the scent of pine and loam. It was cool and soothing, and she found herself humming quietly as she plucked the growing sprigs of chamomile and yarrow. With a few more spearmint leaves, she would have enough. And as she went to the edge of a tree, she heard the humming that was not her own.
Sanria was stunned into silence. He was an elf, tanned, athletic, and a bit taller than Sanria herself. Her eyes then fell on his uniform and she found her breath caught in her throat. When was the last time she had seen a TriPower uniform? A sudden wave grief hit her, but she untied the knot in her stomach and fought back the tears that stung her eyes. She rarely allowed herself time to think of Throm. In everything that had happened, those memories had been relegated to the back of her mind.
"Excuse me..." Sanria said, approaching the elf, who now picked at a few herbs of his own.
"Oh! Hello, didn't see you there," he replied.
"Quite alright... I was just... wondering... you are wearing TriPower regalia, correct?" Of course she was correct, but anything to make small talk. Anything to perhaps touch a tiny corner of the fabric that had been her life. Not too much... but just enough.
"Ahem, yes madam, indeed, you are correct."
"It's been a long while since I've seen it..."
"The regalia, or something else?"
"You are keenly perceptive. I lost someone very special to me." She wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch the armors. She refrained.
"You may have known him, though perhaps not, he was a leader of TriPower."
"I'm all ears, madam."
"Throm uth Bannon," she replied, fighting her grief back.
The forest offered a lungful of fresh air. Sanria could never quite explain how the forest made her feel. The air was vital, thick with the scent of pine and loam. It was cool and soothing, and she found herself humming quietly as she plucked the growing sprigs of chamomile and yarrow. With a few more spearmint leaves, she would have enough. And as she went to the edge of a tree, she heard the humming that was not her own.
Sanria was stunned into silence. He was an elf, tanned, athletic, and a bit taller than Sanria herself. Her eyes then fell on his uniform and she found her breath caught in her throat. When was the last time she had seen a TriPower uniform? A sudden wave grief hit her, but she untied the knot in her stomach and fought back the tears that stung her eyes. She rarely allowed herself time to think of Throm. In everything that had happened, those memories had been relegated to the back of her mind.
"Excuse me..." Sanria said, approaching the elf, who now picked at a few herbs of his own.
"Oh! Hello, didn't see you there," he replied.
"Quite alright... I was just... wondering... you are wearing TriPower regalia, correct?" Of course she was correct, but anything to make small talk. Anything to perhaps touch a tiny corner of the fabric that had been her life. Not too much... but just enough.
"Ahem, yes madam, indeed, you are correct."
"It's been a long while since I've seen it..."
"The regalia, or something else?"
"You are keenly perceptive. I lost someone very special to me." She wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch the armors. She refrained.
"You may have known him, though perhaps not, he was a leader of TriPower."
"I'm all ears, madam."
"Throm uth Bannon," she replied, fighting her grief back.
Casualties of Love (1-2)
Sanria had barely put her head against Colin's chest, conceding that she would stay with him, when the scream cut through the night. Immediately, Colin bristled and moved her behind him as he snaked through the trees. A body lay at the entrance to the cavern and as they approached, Sanria made out the clothing - or lack of clothing - as belonging to Maya.
"Well, she's alive but she's losing a lot of blood..." Colin said, and Sanria walked to the pathway, bringing a large ball of continual light into existence. There was no one as far as she could see, and she let the spell go and turned back to Colin and Maya.
"H....help me.."
"What happened to you?"
Sanria did not listen to the remainder of her words. The woman's arm was laid open and she focused what limited ability she had on staunching the flow of blood. At last, the fibers of muscle were knitted back together and the skin was more or less a weeping scrape. A priest she was not. "I'm afraid I will... I will, I wont be able to refrain from try... trying to destroy it."
"Trying to destroy what?" Sanria asked, wiping her forehead.
"The.... b..baby.." Maya strained.
"Your baby? But... why?"
"It wasn't.... born from love... It's.... its all a lie.."
The guilt swept over Sanria as well as a twinge of sorrow. She glanced at Colin before looking down. They had just expended so much energy on this topic and it was as if the realms were conspiring to keep it at the fore. "No. I know Thasmudyan and he wouldn't do that to you," Sanria said.
"Listen, you have been hurt. We need to get you more help," Colin said.
"He wouldn't be with you if he didn't love you, Maya."
"You should try to save your strength. There will be time to talk more about this later."
Colin was right. "We should take her into town. There should be healers that can help her at the temples." Sanria stood as Colin lifted Maya in his arms.
"It's not mine, not really," Maya sobbed. "He laid with me wanting you... Its.... really your ....baby."
"No. No that isn't true," Sanria would not allow herself to believe it.
"Take it away, before I di....die..."
"He wouldn't have been with you without affection for you. I... I know him, Maya."
Colin looked at Maya, his voice authoritative, "Maya, you must save your strength." He looked over at Sanria, his face tired, angry, frustrated. "I can take her if you can just send us. I will make sure she is seen."
With a nod, Sanria envisioned the Temple of Lathander, and with a quick spell, sent the two on their way. She slowly retreated back to the cavern with a deep sigh. She couldn't picture Thasmudyan =not= loving Maya if he slept with her, she couldn't picture him using her. And why had all this happened tonight?
It was a long time before Colin arrived back at the cavern. He seemed little willing to speak about Maya, preferring to tell Sanria that the woman was safe, would be fine, and that she had claimed Thasmudyan had poisoned her. Sanria looked back at him incredulously, a look that was mirrored on Colin's face. Thasmudyan poisoning someone was about as likely as Orn turning into a butterfly. Something wasn't right, but it was nothing Sanria could worry about at that moment. She settled into Colin's arms as he let out a long exhale and drifted off to sleep.
Sanria laid there a long time in the dark, Colin seeming to clutch her to him in his sleep. She watched his face betray a range of dreaming emotions. She felt there was something more that he knew, something that he was not telling her. Sanria sighed and settled her head into the crook of his arm. Things would get better, no matter whether there were secrets or not. There was no other choice. They had to.
"Well, she's alive but she's losing a lot of blood..." Colin said, and Sanria walked to the pathway, bringing a large ball of continual light into existence. There was no one as far as she could see, and she let the spell go and turned back to Colin and Maya.
"H....help me.."
"What happened to you?"
Sanria did not listen to the remainder of her words. The woman's arm was laid open and she focused what limited ability she had on staunching the flow of blood. At last, the fibers of muscle were knitted back together and the skin was more or less a weeping scrape. A priest she was not. "I'm afraid I will... I will, I wont be able to refrain from try... trying to destroy it."
"Trying to destroy what?" Sanria asked, wiping her forehead.
"The.... b..baby.." Maya strained.
"Your baby? But... why?"
"It wasn't.... born from love... It's.... its all a lie.."
The guilt swept over Sanria as well as a twinge of sorrow. She glanced at Colin before looking down. They had just expended so much energy on this topic and it was as if the realms were conspiring to keep it at the fore. "No. I know Thasmudyan and he wouldn't do that to you," Sanria said.
"Listen, you have been hurt. We need to get you more help," Colin said.
"He wouldn't be with you if he didn't love you, Maya."
"You should try to save your strength. There will be time to talk more about this later."
Colin was right. "We should take her into town. There should be healers that can help her at the temples." Sanria stood as Colin lifted Maya in his arms.
"It's not mine, not really," Maya sobbed. "He laid with me wanting you... Its.... really your ....baby."
"No. No that isn't true," Sanria would not allow herself to believe it.
"Take it away, before I di....die..."
"He wouldn't have been with you without affection for you. I... I know him, Maya."
Colin looked at Maya, his voice authoritative, "Maya, you must save your strength." He looked over at Sanria, his face tired, angry, frustrated. "I can take her if you can just send us. I will make sure she is seen."
With a nod, Sanria envisioned the Temple of Lathander, and with a quick spell, sent the two on their way. She slowly retreated back to the cavern with a deep sigh. She couldn't picture Thasmudyan =not= loving Maya if he slept with her, she couldn't picture him using her. And why had all this happened tonight?
It was a long time before Colin arrived back at the cavern. He seemed little willing to speak about Maya, preferring to tell Sanria that the woman was safe, would be fine, and that she had claimed Thasmudyan had poisoned her. Sanria looked back at him incredulously, a look that was mirrored on Colin's face. Thasmudyan poisoning someone was about as likely as Orn turning into a butterfly. Something wasn't right, but it was nothing Sanria could worry about at that moment. She settled into Colin's arms as he let out a long exhale and drifted off to sleep.
Sanria laid there a long time in the dark, Colin seeming to clutch her to him in his sleep. She watched his face betray a range of dreaming emotions. She felt there was something more that he knew, something that he was not telling her. Sanria sighed and settled her head into the crook of his arm. Things would get better, no matter whether there were secrets or not. There was no other choice. They had to.
An end to a Beginning
Looking down at her own body as the yelling in the nearby glade ceased, Maya pondered her own prediciment for the first time. She was with child, Thasmudyans child, and now she knew he never even loved her. Unlike that man, who loved Sanria so much, even though she loved another... Love? Maya snorted at the rediculousness of her thoughts? Love? No, Not her.
She could hasten the pregnancy along, or let it take its own course, it didnt matter to her which way it happened, she wasnt going to keep the child, The pregnancy would suit her purpose, long enough to destory the families happy end, and she would offer the half drow bastard up to the order, it was bad enough she had to live under this guise as a human, let alone birthing a half breed.
"Time to get on with it then, be seeing you soon, Colin." she muttered to herself, pushing up from the rocks by the falls, Maya staggered out, Slashing her flesh willingly on the rocks, Maya made her way toward the tiny little cabbin, allowing a gut renching scream, she pitched foward, face down into the ground about 20 paces from the caverns entrance and waited, her blood soaking into her garments.
She could hasten the pregnancy along, or let it take its own course, it didnt matter to her which way it happened, she wasnt going to keep the child, The pregnancy would suit her purpose, long enough to destory the families happy end, and she would offer the half drow bastard up to the order, it was bad enough she had to live under this guise as a human, let alone birthing a half breed.
"Time to get on with it then, be seeing you soon, Colin." she muttered to herself, pushing up from the rocks by the falls, Maya staggered out, Slashing her flesh willingly on the rocks, Maya made her way toward the tiny little cabbin, allowing a gut renching scream, she pitched foward, face down into the ground about 20 paces from the caverns entrance and waited, her blood soaking into her garments.
Watching Waiting
Maya had sat on the rocks by the waterfall, listening to the deafening roar of the spray smashing into where she sat, echoing along with each pump of her own heart. She couldn't recall how long she had sat and waited, watching the small little home in the cavern just north of the falls. She smiled at the first sound of breaking wood and raised voice. She tried to warn him, The husband, Colin he was called, that it wouldnt be his baby, but he wouldn't listen, Maya didnt even remember how she knew, just that she had baited him with those very words just a short time before And here out of that small little home, it all came spilling over. She wanted to take that child, with all its whorish origin and fling it into the raging current of the falls, but that wouldn't get her anywhere... If she did take it though, would it cause a closer union between Sanria andColin? Better to wait, wait and watch, Yes, thats what she would do.... As soon as Maya had decided what to do, the cabin door burst open and Colin stormed from the small home, followed shortly by Sanria. Maya nestled down into the shadows cast by the rocks, and listened in to as much as she could hear. Yes if she was going to succeed with this man, she needed the upper hand, taking the child wouldn't do that, not yet anyway... He had to come around to her way of thinking, and Maya smiled as she realised how to do that.
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