The silence which permeated the room was nearly unbearable for Throm, though it had lasted the course of buy a few seconds. Telling her had been as difficult if not more than he had imagined it would be. She had responded to his call no doubt out of worry, and now Sanria would have to suffer the knowledge of Throm's actions. Sanria's head was still bowed, though her eyes had been locked on him since the silence had set between the two. At last she spoke.
'Why... why? Why did you go? You could have been killed, Throm... you could have died.'
Before he could even think, the words came tumbling from his mouth in torrents which he found himself unable to stop. 'To know the gravity of the situation. To know to what extents we would need to go to get the Makou back from Emalia. As for the dying part...by all normal means I believe I am dead.'
Surprised by his own bluntness of speculation, he quickly recounted what his experience within the Lifestream as well as his findings since his return. It seemed as though his body indeed had an aversion to the Lifestream upon his return. 'Allergic' as he had coined it to Sanria. He had expected her to be disappointed. He had known what a let down it would come as. Even if he had succeeded in his task, he knew she wouldn't have approved. How could she when Throm himself didn't?
For what seemed like forever to Throm, they debated the pros and the cons of the events which had transpired. Sanria stating facts that Throm already knew to be true, and Throm returning to justify his actions though he knew them to be wrong. Eventually the question which Throm had known was coming, though dreaded the most surfaced.
'Were you aware of what you would do to me, Throm?'
With little to no hesitation, Throm responded. 'Yes. I was.'
'Yet you did this anyway...'
It was a statement not a question he knew. Done...he was not going to stand there and explain why he had done things knowing it would hurt her, hurt his people, hurt himself. Such explainations would no doubt lead to further arguements, and he didn't want to argue with her right now. Instead his mind grasped at a single name that had surfaced from his mind when he was within the Lifestream. A name taken from Colin, who had...strangely enough...been having odd dreams of late as well, near visions if he recounted correctly. 'Halethiel...'
'Who is Halethiel?'
Throm quickly recounted the faceless name which had suddenly connected. He watched as Sanria spoke to him, watched as she asked her questions. He could tell by her distant manner that she had been cut deep this time around. The conversation continued, though he wondered what she could possibly say to make him feel worse than he already did.'I love you Throm... I truly do...I just don't believe we...are right for one another.'
Throm cursed himself inwardly, making a mental note to refrain from visiting the Department of Questions Best Left Unanswered from now on. Deep inside of himself, something stirred. Something alien to him...something dark. Hiding his surprise, Throm regained control and recomposed himself. They stood in the broken haven that Throm had once called his 'safest of places' and talked of the past, current, and what the future held for some time. The future held an odd prospect for Throm now. No longer was he under the protection of his people, he knew this for sure. No longer would he watch as the future became the present, as people and events passed him by. Now, the future held a much more limited timeframe than before. Time wasn't as expendable as it was before hand.
As Sanria readied herself for the journey back to her home, Throm walked her to the door, his eyes cast downward upon the sword at his side. His father's own sword, acquired when he himself was within the Guardians. Passed on when he had found his father's final resting place. He couldn't help but wonder if he would have still claimed the blade had he known what trouble it would help him to cause back then. Clearing his throat, he stopped at the door, turning to Sanria.
'Listen...You say you want to hear what I want...then these are my intentions. I intend to find out who this Halethiel is...perhaps he may lead me to Emalia. After I find Emalia, I shall 'dispose' of the Black Makou she carries with her.' He paused taking a deep breath. Casting a quick glance once more at his sword he continued. 'At which point in time I desire nothing more than to return here, hang up my sword, close my gates to the world and concentrate on no more 'issues'. Save that perhaps of finding a cure for...this.'
The prospect of his own retirement...actually speaking them out loud didn't present the feeling of loss he had expected. Rather it was a relief to know that there was something else out there besides the constant run, the next adventure, the next loss. It was time to pass the mantle on to the newer, more eager and energetic era. Expressing his wishes that at the time of his retirement Sanria might join him, he finally allowed her to be on her way. For perhaps an hour, he sat within his ruined work room, his mind wheeling as he attempted to focus on the task at hand, the very same tasks he had laid out before Sanria.
The door burst open with a sudden crash. And within it's frame the figure outlined did not need introduction. Nor did Throm need to see the outlines of the tattooed arms within the dim light to know exactly who his visitor was.
"It's not always easy for a father to understand the interests and ways of his son. It seems the songs of our children may be in keys we've never tried. The melody of each generation emerges from all that's gone before. Each one of uscontributes in some unique way to the composition of life."
'I thought you would have arrived long ago Lithanus.'
The figure stepped from the doorway in the form of a lurch, then stopped short clutching the wall for support. When Lithanus spoke, it sounded more of a gasp than actual conversation. 'What have you done?'
Throm shook his head as he stood. He limped slowly towards the teenager, each step that he took bringing him closer to apparent pain.
'You already know what I've done. As does the Council. I doubt they wish me to return to the Valley this time though.'
Lithanus was breathing hard labored breaths as he still leaned against the wall for support. The closer Throm stepped, the more uncomfortable either of them seemed. Glancing sideways at his father he gave his head a single shake, the very act causing his hair to fall down into his face.
'No, they deem you a threat to the planet...a threat that needs to be removed.' Throm stopped in his tracks, bringing himself to full height despite the pain he still felt in his leg. Tilting his head, he looked upon Lithanus, his eyes narrowing slightly.
'And they've asked you to carry out this removal?'
Lithanus didn't answer, rather he sank to the floor his back to the wall. As he brushed the hair back from his face, the dim light revealed that his pale sweating visage. The eyes which looked upon Throm were laden with dark circles under them. When Lithanus spoke again it was in even more labored context. 'I don't understand...what are you doing to me?'
Throm took another step towards his son. As he did so Lithanus pressed himself hard against the far wall, wincing at the unseen pain which racked his body. Looking down, Throm's own face began to show signs of strain as a single bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
'Not what I'm doing boy...rather what I am. I'm afraid you'll have to report that you are unable to accomplish your mission. I'm afraid our opposing life energies are rather sensative to each other. Most Cetra as well I'd imagine.' Trying in vain to pick himself up, Lithanus gave a gasping smile.
'I'm not here to try and kill you, they'll have to leave that to someone other than your son. I'm here to make sure you're not dead.'
A small smile broke Throm's face. His smile turned to that of slight sadness as he drew his sword from the holster at his side. Within a few steps he had closed the distance between himself and Lithanus who was now nearly writhing upon the floor. Kneeling down beside the younger man Throm gasped as his every essence rejected that of his son's. Holding the blade close, he could feel the same dark feeling he had felt earlier welling up inside him. In a strained voice he spoke out.
'I...am done.'
He carefully set the sword next to Lithanus, taking both relief and heartache in the fact that it would be the last time that he would lay hands upon the very item he had once worked so hard to get. Lithanus looked up, his eyes now glowing fiercely. It was apparent he was no longer able to form words. No longer able to do much aside from convulse upon the floor. Knowing this, Throm took the liberty of breaking the silence as they didn't have much time.
'It's your turn Lithanus. No longer is this the lifestyle I choose. Stay far from the Council...stay far from the Valley. Many within our people still mean well, but something is amiss within them. No 'good' person would send a son to kill his own father. You are a part of those who revel in knowledge as you do. You no longer need the Cetra, nor the tasks they give you as one would an errand boy. You're better than that.'
His own breath becoming quite labored, he reached out to grip Lithanus' hand and ignored the blinding burning sensation that accompanied such an act.
'This is the last time we will see each other Lithanus. After you leave, none will find this place again. The sword, it was your grandfather's as was this...'
Pulling a key from his pocket he set it beside the sword his fingers shaking from the strain of even such a small act. Giving a final approving nod to his son he rose on unsteady feet and stepped back a few paces, though it didn't appear to help the young man's condition.
'You've come a long way...I'm proud of you.'
Slowly Lithanus dissolved into the very air around him, leaving Throm to stand alone within the room. His looked with disdain upon the blackened archway to which he had been bound since his return. He knew that he would not last long without contact with the Black Makou. After he had rested he would have to pay a visit to the only person he knew of who possessed such a substance.
