Fire and the Sword

[soliloquy]

Helena

Helena was taken aback by his reply. She sensed a heated emotion within him, she could not, however discern what emotion that was. His smouldering eyes grew darker, piercing her to the core.

She smiled at him, innocently. "Sometimes sir, good can be as pure as evil. Not everything is grey.

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Adaon dropped his gaze from the apprentice's delicate face with an effort, and sipped his water. He needed something cooling. He had to think about what she had said.

'Good must always be tainted', he said. He glanced at Athenia, bright, unreadable eyes trained on him.

'If we say a knight rescues a princess from danger, is it nobility that motivates him? Is it desire for glory and wealth? Is it desire for her? How can you divide goodness from this mixture?'

Adaon stretched like a cat, stood up.

'It's getting dark outside', he commented, expressionlessly, 'Where should I sleep?'

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

Helena suddenly felt a great sadness for this man. He obviously had never had anything pure and untainted in his life. It was enough to allow a single tear escape from her eye. She brushed it away, and rose to her feet, waiting for Athenia to direct her as to her duties for this man.

 

[Beach Chick]

Athenia

After listening to their conversation with interest and holding back her statements, Athenia stood up quickly. "Sir, magic can be used for good or for evil, pending on whether the caster's heart is pure or corrupt. But enough argument for the night. Helena, lead this man to the guest room," said Athenia quickly.

Athenia walked into her bedroom and began to remove her clothes to go to bed. She began to think about her day. It was a rather strange day. She felt some attraction to Adaon, although she did not like it, she knew it was there.

She was frightened of the man's burning eyes, and the burn he left in the tavern table. She could not sleep because she kept thinking of him. She finally got out of bed and sat in her chair, just thinking...

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

Helena led Aadon to the guest room, silently. She arranged his bedding for him, and stood quietly, not knowing what to do.

"Everything is suitable for you, sir?"

She dared not look at his penetrating eyes.

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Adaon sat on the bed, uneasy with the idea of sleep in the mageling's home. He was sure fiery nightmares would plague his dreams.

The girl's presence also made him feel tense. He did not want her to leave him there, alone with his brooding thoughts. He attempted a light conversational tone:

'I hope I'm not depriving you of your own bed by staying here?'

 

[Beach Chick]

Athenia

Athenia, not being able to sleep, walked out of the room slowly and sleepily. She was wearing a long robe that she used to sleep in. She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. She leaned her head back slowly, and shut her eyes.

She thought of Adaon, thought of Helena, thought of her dead father whom she missed dearly. She put her feet up on the wooden table and relaxed.

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

"It's all right, sir. Athenia makes a bed for me on the floor when she has guests. I will be very comfortable."

She was touched by the fact that he thought he might be inconveniencing her. She thought of Athenia, the only mother figure she had ever known. Before Athenia, no one had cared for her. Now she felt her world had opened up under the caring words of her teacher and this stranger.

She turned to leave.

"If everything is suitable, sir, I shall go--if you wish."

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Adaon smiled, for once without mockery, and touched her arm, simply because he wanted to touch her. Her skin was so smooth...

She is a mageling's pet, and on the road to damnation herself, he reminded himself darkly, but somehow the thought was not as vehement as it might have been. He opened his mouth to speak... then heard something below.

'Footsteps? Should we investigate?'

Adaon again wondered why. Surely a mage's house was haunted by demons at night?

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

Helena almost gasped at the touch of his hand. It was comforting, yet electrifying. She couldn't have explained the feeling at all. All she knew was that she suddenly didn't want to leave this moment. She racked her brain for an excuse why they should not investigate, but could find none.

"If you think it wise, sir, I will do as you request."

 

[Lethe]

Adaon smiled softly at Helena. She didn't seem to want to go and truth be told, he was enjoying the moment of companionship. Such times were few and far between in his life. And he did not want to be alone.

'Perhaps it was nothing' He sat again on the bed and patted a space beside him.

'Tell me about yourself. Why are you living with Athenia? Where are your parents?'

 

[Beach Chick]

Athenia

Athenia walked slowly into the kitchen and started to get a drink, when she heard voices upstairs. She thought to herself about how long Helena had been up there. She pondered whether she should stay downstairs or go check on them.

She poured herself a glass of wine and sipped it slowly, listening to the voices quietly.

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

She sat next to him, nervously. She couldn't tell him about her parents. He would likely hate her.

"My parents are dead," I lied. "Athenia took me in when I was alone in the Great Forest, and offered to teach me. I have been here ever since."

I wanted him to touch me again, to feel that incedible spark and solace again. I knew I should leave, but he compelled me to stay with his eyes.

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Her shoulder's touch on his was beginning to make his skin burn again. Adaon shifted so that they weren't pressed together so close, then moved inexporably back again.

'My... my mother died soon after I was born', he said. He had to swallow before speaking, his throat had gone damnably dry with the slim apprentice girl's closeness.

'I was brought up by the village community... before they tossed me out for being 'unclean''

Adaon's voice suddenly rasped with bitterness, and he immedietely turned in his seat to face Helena.

'I'm sorry', he said, studying her face, 'I didn't mean to bring up sour, hollow old memories'

 

[Beach Chick]

Athenia

Athenia listened to the two people talk upstairs, she could hear every word. She was very interested in this man's past. She wanted to know about his eyes and the burn mark and everything. She pondered on the words he said about them throwing him out for being unclean.

She sipped her wine some more, listening to the conversation.

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

The room suddenly felt warm, and Helena wiped a bead of perspiration from her forehead. She placed her hand over his, marveling at the warmth.

"I know what it is like to be unwanted." She brushed her hand along his jaw, trying to be comforting, but surely seeming inept and clumsy. "I was, in a way, cast out myself."

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Her touch was like a cool wind, soothing even while it fanned the flames in Adaon. Adaon moved closer, stared into Helena's eyes.

'Were you cast out?', he asked. The idea of this girl, so boyish and young and full of ideals and pretty, being treated as he had filled him with anger, and his words were almost a growl

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

"I was cast out in a different way than you. I had no one who cared for me, talked to me, and so I went in search of companionship."

Helena felt comfortable talking to him, and felt guilty for her lie. She also could feel that Athenia was concerned for her. She thought that she should probably leave. And she would have, had she not sensed that Athenia wanted her to stay and talk to Aadon. Did she really? Or was Helena feeling that simply because she wanted to stay.

"Tell me, sir, why were you so ill-treated? What makes you dark and angry?"

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Adaon frowned. She'll have to find out sooner or later. He placed a hand on her forehead, let her feel the burning in his hand.

'There is... fire in me. My father was a spirit of fire who raped my mother. It only burns at times when I feel angry or...'

He shut his mouth instantly on his near-slip, realizing what he had almost revealed to Helena about the state of his feelings right then. Paradoxically, he felt almost angry with the apprentice then, and withdrew somewhat from his close position.

'I would give anything to control the fires'. Adaon said at last.

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

Helena felt a deep sadness for him. She knew that what he meant was that he burned when he had any passionate feelings. He burned as they spoke. Was he angry with her? He didn't seem so.

"Perhaps Athenia might help you. She is an accomplished wizardress. Perhaps we might help you, she said, stroking his cheek again, dying to kiss his cheek, but fearful that it might burn her.

How terrible to be so isolated from others who could give you comfort and love. Yes, love. She felt that she could love this man, as she loved Athenia.

 

[Beach Chick]

Athenia

Athenia heard their conversation, and she gasped in surpisement. So that was what she had felt in him! He was part fire! She pondered this thought for a few minutes, then sipped her wine, tense about this man in her home.

She sat back and listened for more information.

 

[Lethe]

Helena's hand stroking his cheek made Adaon's skin burn hotter. With conscious effort, he kept the fires down, kept them from burning the apprentice girl's hand. That would make her remove her hand and that, he could not stand.

'I've thought about asking mages for help before but... I've always thought them corrupt, and evil. Summoning demons and haunts for power' He gazed at her, her eyes filled with a strange longing.

'Athenia doesn't seem like that. You don't seem like that'

 

[soliloquy]

Helena

Helena stirred with overwhelming emotion. She summoned the courage and wrapped her arms around him, whispering in his ear.

"Athenia has never used her powers for evil in my presence. She has only been good, and kind, and a teacher to me. Please trust us, sir."

She only hoped that Athenia could help this lost soul.

She felt the heat rise, and almost pulled away, but did not. She did not want him to feel rejected by her. SHe wanted him to know he was wanted in this home.

 

[Lethe]

Adaon

Helena's impulsive embrace had fanned the fire within Adaon almost to an inferno. The effort of holding it back was making drops of perspiration appear on his forehead. And the apprentice girl's body, so cool and slim under his arms, was torment. He could feel the pressure of the crisp boy's breeches and shirt she wore rubbing against his black leather armour, could feel the skin of her back beneath his hands.

Suddenly he felt less uneasy, more sure that Athenia and her apprentice intended him no harm. Instinctively, he kissed Helena lightly on the forehead, doing his best to temper the heat of his lips to a pleasant warmth.

'I know', he whispered into Helena's ear, 'I think I understood that magic -and people, don't have to be evil now'

 

[Beach Chick]

Athenia

Athenia heard Adaon's statement about magic, and stood out of her chair. Helena had showed him enough love to change his whole opinion of magic. Now knowing of the fire inside of Adaon, she worried Helena would be burned.

She could not hear voices anymore, so she quietly went up the stairs and stood outside the door of the guest room. She listened quietly.