Pressure

Colin was in disbelief of what Emalia was being put through as he carried her unconsious body up to her bedroom. For how much everyone kept saying that they were talking to her for her own good the toll it was taking on her, and now their unborn child, was very disturbing.

Colin lay Emalia on her bed and stood over her, bowing his head in dismay. Today, once more, Emalia had been pushed to the limit, and beyond. First the unexpected visit from Jessiah, and then immediately afterward, Grobnak. A realization popped into his mind, "That stubborn idiot is still laying out there, helpless."

He took another moment to look at Emalia, noting her steady breathing, before leaving the bedroom and heading back outside to the collapsed Grobnak. He stepped over the threshold to stand over the fallen creature, glaring down upon his hideous form. "What is wrong with you?" Colin spoke aloud to the motionless figure. How could he not see the harm he was doing to Emalia through his insistence in talking to her about these things. "...so blind."

A new thought occured to him now, "Look at him, so helpless. You could put an end to his torment of Emalia... make it so this never happened again." He pondered that idea for a moment. There was a refreshing justice and finality in that thought and Colin was mildly suprised when he realized that he had retrieved his sword from where he had dropped it upon the ground and was now standing over Grobnak with the weapon gripped tightly in his hand. As Colin stood there his thoughts urged him on further, "It's basically his fault she's laying up there right now." Yet that wasn't completely true, was it?

Colin spoke a warning aloud to the unconscious figure, "If you have hurt her..."Or Brin."...or my child..." Colin left the threat hanging. That was right. Brin. Emalia had said there was something wrong with the baby. "Why give him the chance to even recover? It would be so easy. Noone would even see."
"But Emalia...", Colin found himself speaking aloud, "I couldn't." "But she would thank you for silencing just one of the people responsible for the state she's in. He could never betray her again." Colin found himself wanting to believe this but deep down he knew it was wrong. Emalia would never condone a cold- blooded murder like that. He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thought. "No.", Colin spoke, "I can't."

However, his thoughts would not be deterred. "You can, you just won't. And you call yourself a guardian. A threat lays right here at your feet yet you will not stamp it out!"

Colin pressed his fists to his temples, trying to physically shut out these thoughts which he knew were wrong. "I said no!", he found himself shouting, "Go away!"

Colin stood there, his jaw clenched, heavy breaths coming in hisses through his bared teeth as he fought to control his own mind. Finally, it seemed, the thoughts had ceased. What was happening to him? He was talking to himself, even arguing with himself! Colin took a deep breath and sheathed his sword. Perhaps Emalia wasn't the only one feeling the effects of all this stress. He could probably use some rest as well, but first, there was something he had promised to do.

Colin bent down and easily lifted the unconscious Grobnak off the ground, throwing him over his shoulder like a black-winged sack of potatoes. He set off at a brisk pace toward the Jihad compound, eager to drop his cargo upon their doorstep and return to rest with Emalia.

On The Road Again... (Part I-II)

"Full honesty is a fool's trait...and what a fool I've been. I should not been so open with her..."

Throm walked swiftly down the open corridor of his home, shaking his head. A sudden flutter of wind caused his cloak to billow out, caught in the wind's grasp. He stoppedhard at the sound of a voice speaking out quietly. "I don't believe I've yet to see you this worked up..."

Turning just his head, Throm couldn't see the speaker though knew at once, whose person the voice belonged to. Throm called out over his shoulder still not moving from where he stood. "I had not not expected a welcome home party..."

Slipping down from upon the ledge he had been sitting upon, Lithanus appeared from behind a support column, leaning a tattooed arm upon it. "Troubles with the lady friend father?"

Scowling, Throm finally turned around, crossing his arms over his chest. At first he considered telling Lithanus nothing of recent events save the taking back of the stolen cells up north. Then sighing he gave a small shrug. "Lady friend no more I'm afraid. We've parted ways...I'm afraid I decided to impart some of the truth upon her, maybe too much I'm afraid."

Lithanus' spiked hair of stark white color ruffled as he shook his head. "The truth will serve no purpose outside of our own kind father, we have been raised this way...we know this."

Looking upon the young man with eyes that revealed just a hint of sadness, this time it was Throm who shook his head."No Lithanus, YOU have been raised this way...and for that I am sorry. I am too far removed from our people to believe this now. And speaking of our people, I suppose they will wish for my retrieval to the Valley soon?"

A ghost of a smile played upon the younger man's face displaying subtly that he had not missed the obvious change of topic within their conversation. "The Council has determined that for the moment your...removal would raise questions. Questions that aren't worth answering. I think that if the cells were returned, then you might...for the moment have little to worry about as far as that is concerned."

Reaching into his cloak, Throm pulled out a large canister and tossed it to Lithanus who caught it and held it up to the light, examining it carefully with an expression akin to awe.

"So much trouble for a few drops of the Old Foe. It is rare that I have a chance to see any of the legacy artifacts this close."

Lithanus suddenly cast his glance downwards from the canister, looking at Throm with an annoyed expression. "And what is it you're still doing here? Why aren't you following her up north yet?"

Throm unfolded his arms from across his chest, a look of annoyance casting itself over his own features. The sudden conversation had caught him off guard, however he remembered now the company Sanria had travelled north with. He remembered the person responsible for such company. "Let's talk about our friend and the armor you paired him with."

A look of mock surprise lit Lithanus' face as he spoke in in equal tones of exaggeration. "You're not seriously considering letting her go up there alone with him on the loose are you?"

Now Throm had to stem the feelings of annoyance as they were very swiftly becoming that of full fledged anger. "Thanks to you I may well have to. However she's not alone, Thasmudyan is currently joined with your loose cannon."

Lithanus smirked slightly and shrugged though he took a step back at sight of the look in his father's eyes. "So that's two people you are leaving to the Armor of Escalore...I guess you are more trusting than I am."

His face growing as cold and featureless as stone, Throm glared at his son as he let what seemed like ages of silence pass between the two. Finally, he pointed his finger directly at his white haired antagonizer, breaking the silence. "I'll not be played a fool Lithanus. I'll deal with you when I get back."

Carefully concealing the fact that some part of him was glad to have a reason to go north after her, Throm dissolved into nothingness, his spell casting him back to Torregiano. Lithanus' words fell upon deaf ears. "You'll thank me later old man..." He chuckled to himself, brushing back a wild strand of his hair. "...and might even admit that I know what the hell I'm doing."

"Throm... wh... what are you doing here?"

The fact that he had startled Sanria coupled with the red which shown upon her face, made Throm nearly regret coming. He had upset her further, something he certainly had not wished to do. Suddenly his mind kicked into notions which he usually left unthought. -Who cares. I too am upset- Pushing such thoughts aside, he gave an emotionless nod. "Going north..."

Sanria looked to the ground shaking her head. As if a knife had been taken to his insides, Throm felt a dull hollow sting in his chest. Steeling his resolve, he replied without missing a beat. "Someone has to bring Remus in..."

The rest of his words were cut short as an airship flew low over the Port on it's way to dock. Again his cold response was met with an equally cold demeanor. "I'll bring him back here and you can take him."

Shaking his head solidly, he couldn't help but wonder why it was she was so eager for him not to be around. "No dice..."

The two danced around the subject for long minutes, each firing back reasons why the other should or shouldn't be present for the duration of the journey. The argument continued inside of Sanria's airship, neither side seeming to get through to the other.

Eventually it was brought to light that Sanria indeed as able to feel the very emotions of Thasmudyan as she had recently been healed with his life essence. The thought of the two of them in the same place while she could feel such things apparently wasn't very comfortable for her. Again thoughts rampaged through Throm's head.

-I can't blame her. I wouldn't take comfort in such a situation. In fact, I probably wouldn't have even let me on board the ship.-

He had to admire her honesty, and her determination at that. Yet the two found themselves once again plunged into arguments. Finally it seemed they had both tired of going back and forth. The conversation took tones of less aggressive nature. Once again Throm felt himself compelled to honesty as Sanria asked the inevitable question that he knew must come.

"Let me guess... you love me enough to let me walk right out of your life?" She smiled slighty, and Throm suddenly realized just how difficult a question it was to answer. -It used to be an easy answer...when did it become not-

"If you deemed it best for yourself yes...I would put you above my own wants." Judging by the expression on Sanria's face, Throm realized that this was not the answer she had been expecting.

"You realize that it leaves me thinking you want for nothing... including me?" She stood, walking nearer to him. Was she angry? He couldn't tell. He shook his head as she continued. "I'd love to think, for a moment, that you would trust me enough to show me your own feelings - not those you use to deflect what is beneath."

For a moment, frustration set upon Throm and he wanted to simply spell out what it was he meant, be it for better or worse. Calming himself, he found his words once again. "You are wrong in this sense Sanria. I want many things...including you. However I can't place my wants above those or yours...such would be the essence of selfishness."

Again, he realized that perhaps this was not the answer Sanria had been looking for as she crossed her arms across her chest. Looking at him she spoke quietly. "Then I am selfish?"

Again Throm shook his head. "No...it's just me being me. I think you coined it the protector in me."

The Sanria finally guided the ship out of Port Torregiano, setting to a hover just above the city beacon. She turned in her seat to face Throm. "You don't believe that simply gathering force here to take him down is a better plan?"

Shrugging, he realized he was tired of the charade, perhaps the vision of him wearing himself on his sleeve would never be realistic, but it occured to him that perhaps he hadn't been completely in the right in regards to thinking honesty was foolish at all times.

"I'm not leaving you. Not because I don't think you can take care of yourself, but because I'll be worried to no end while you are away." Shrugging, he strapped the in flight harness about his torso. "And that....is why I am here."