Yar

[intriguess]

Marina

She curled up on her side facing him her back to the dying fire. "I would like to know what you intend to do with this knowledge? I do not wish to be a part of anyone's death." The words sounded odd as she wished her father dead only a few days ago, but now she could not bear the thought of Yar killing one of the few remaining members of her family. Her father was many things but at his age he would be no match for the barbarian. She wished there was a way to protect Yar, the last of what must have been a proud and loyal people.

The pillow was a comfort as she was unaccustomed to sleeping on the floor and hoped he didn't think her a silly girl who knew nothing of how to take care of herself.

 

[Widgit]

With her facing him she could see how his eyes shone a bright green in the light of the fire, and he in turn could see how it made her hair seem to glow softly. But..at the same time..with the words she spoke he could also see that she was trying to protect someone. The Oracle's words echoed again in his head.."You shall have your vengence Uthurian, but it shall not be the vengence you seek"...what had she meant? Here next to him now lay the one who could reveal the identity of his people's attacker, he could easily draw the name from her if he so wished. But that was not his way, she may know the name he needed and the description of a face to match, but she herself was not his enemy.

But what did he intend with the information if she gave it? He had origionaly planned to do him this person or persons he or she or they deserved. But now over the course of the days that had seemed to lead him here he wasn't so sure about that. Now...he had been thinking recently of another course of action. Turning on his side to face her he shut his eyes briefly then opened them again.

"What I intend to do Marina is....is to forgive. Another death wil not bring my people back, there would be no victory in that matter. But...I am the last...I still live...for myself and my people that is victory enough."

 

[intriguess]

Marina

"I fear that he will not so easily forgive you for surviving," she paused. Yar was so many things her father was not, noble and proud, willing to forgive. How could she tell him about the Oracles words and how it had infuriated her father? She wondered again as the extermination had also played a part in her brother's deaths and even Jayden was ill. It all seemed part of a knot that would not unravel as the killing had led to the deaths of her brothers and her own meeting of Yar.

She was uncertain of what to do, but finally decided that any course of action would lead to what the Oracle had foretold. Yar's green eyed child would rule High Moon and she would indeed have children of her own. She thought once again of her betrothed and her skin crawled. Him she would gladly see dead, despite her sunny disposition.

When he spoke those last lines she wondered if he had lost his mate and a child in the slaughter. It saddened her to think he had lost so much, and all for an old woman's gift of foresight.

"It's hard to imagine the scope of your loss, even though I know not what happened to most of my brothers. I at least have a few friends and family that survived. There is much pain on both sides and I hope forgiveness is possible." She felt close to him in ways beyond mere physical proximity.

 

[Widgit]

He smiled to her and reached out to touch her cheek, ready too pull his hand away if he saw she was uncomfortable with it. "Even if he does not forgive me for surviving, I would still forgive him. But if he attacks me or attempts to do harm, then I shall have to defend myself." Even as he said this he himself hoped that forgiveness was possible, the way of his people was to forgive an attacker once..be it an attack on a single person, a group, or what have you. But if said attacker attempted to take life again then no quarter was offered.

Her words were true however, there was probably pain on both sides. His people may have not survived except for himself, but from what he had seen in the fields where he had found her Brother, they had not given up without a fight. But her wonderings of Yar's Mate were almost correct. Althugh she had not been his mate just yet...they were to be wed during mid winter.

"If you feel chilled tonight" he said, the fingers of his hand touching her just above the jaw line "then wake me and I shall stoke the fire again."

He smiled to her again, he was starting to feel close to her, conscidering her as a friend, one of the very few he had in this land. He wondered though how she felt about him. And he wondered still about what the Oracle had told him.

 

[intriguess]

She nodded and closed her eyes. Her sleep was troubled by images of blood drops blossoming on the snow and green eyed children playing in the orchards of High Moon. She must have tossed and turned all night, for when she awoke her skirt was twisted up past her knees and the sheets were crumpled around her. She sat up slowly, and glancing down she noticed how thin her shift was, by the firelight it had seemed perfectly fine. Now that the morning sun shone in through the window the fabric seemed thinner than paper.

She found an edge of one of the blankets and wrapped it around her body before standing up. Her back was a little sore and she wished for a comb, but she had not even thought about packing necessities when she'd left. She wondered if anyone missed her yet, or if they all assumed she was with someone else.

She found the privy by scent alone, and after having taken care of that wondered if the Oracle was the type to sleep in or was an early riser. Marina usually stayed up late and woke midmorning, but the sun and her sore back had woken her closer to dawn than noon.

When she returned to the common room, the Oracle was already awake. The old woman looked bright eyed and Marina felt very tired in comparision. She had no idea what she would do today, would she lead Yar to her father?

 

[Widgit]

When she returned to the common room she found Yar to be missing. The Oracle smiled at her and pointed to a window "He is there, contemplating his next move perhaps?" Her words held a double meaning as she kept Marina locked within her gaze. "You seem to be in some discomfort....not used to sleeping on stone floors are you. Have no fear,your discomfrot will not last long. I have a heating salve in my shelves."
She stood to retrieve it and as she did she looked back to her "But Yar....he was up before you were my dear...looking at you as you slept...twirling a strand of your hair between his fingers with a...slightly content look upon his face?"

Yar was out in front of the cabin, keeping in form with his sword, swingng it in various motions as he practiced with an invisible oponent. He had been up with the first rays of the dawn. The snow had stopped and now blanketed the ground in white, some of the tree branches bending and bowing under its weight. It wasn't overly cold, though he could still his breath in front of his face. The Oracle, upon his waking, had told him of a nearby stream where the waters ran warm near its bend, due to a natural hot spring that fed into it. He decided, that after he was done, he would go to it and wash off.

The Oracle brought the salve over to Marina. "Okay, let the sheet fall some so I can apply it...or...would you rather I bring him in so he can do it?"

 

[intriguess]

Marina

Marina blushed at the thought of the young warrior touching her in such a way. She removed the sheet and straightened out her shift. It took only a few moments to slip the straps down over her arms so the Oracle could rub the wierd smelling stuff on her back. She crossed her arms over her front holding the thin material over her breasts.

"My dreams were troubling," she paused unsure of what to say to someone who saw the future.

"Were they now?" the Oracles voice was crisp as she applied the salve, "I would have thought them prophetic considering the herbs I had on the fire."

Marina shivered slighty and whispered, "I do not have such a gift."

"Well, we all have our own gifts," the Oracle moved away and wiped off her hands. "That should feel better," her rough voice continued as Marina slide the material back up her arms. "I see much of your mother in you, perhaps that is why your father is so overprotective."

Marina turned around, "Then why is he determined to marry me off to that horrible man?"

"Because that horrible man as you call him once saved his life." The Oracle was determined to say nothing more and dissappeared before Marina could question her further.

Marina noticed the chill in the air as she had goose flesh, she rubbed her bare arms vigorously before struggling to put on her garments by herself. It was nearly impossible to lace some of them herself and by the time she had dressed she was again wondering what fate awaited her upon her return to High Moon Castle. Would her father have returned? Would she only return to find out Jayden and Gideon had passed away while she was out galavanting?

 

[Widgit]

Yar had just finished up his practice and had walked back into the cabin just after she had finished getting re-dressed. She still stood there in her shift and he was indeed looking at her. He could aslo detect the smell of a strange spice in the air and wondered perhaps if The Oracle was making some strange brew.

"Marina.." he began "I was going to go to the spring The Oracle told me about....it is not overly cold today so I was wondering...would you care to join me? Perhaps you could tell me more of this land so I don't act so much like a stranger here."

He also knew that today would be a good day for them to set out again. The weather was fair and the mornings dawn brought with it a yellow sun, which meant to his people that another storm would not come until winters end, Chelosin be willing...Chelosin being the Deity they followed.

 

[intriguess]

Marina smiled and nodded, "I know the spring of which she speaks," she noticed he hadn't specifically mentioned bathing. She wanted to get out of the house anyway, and wondered considering he was covered in sweat whether he would. She blushed at the thought of seeing him naked. "The oracle put something on my back to ease the pain so I probably shouldn't bathe until I return to High Moon."

She found a spare cloak and threw it on over her shoulders glad that her boots were at least utilitarian. They walked in silence for a while, "You do not look like a local, and your speech is different, as is your gait, I doubt you could blend in even if you did follow local customs."

She wondered about the customs of his tribe, and whether they would die with him or not.

 

[Widgit]

He chuckled a little "I know I do not look like, sound ike, or walk like anyone fom here. But perhaps if I knew more of your customs I would know...how to better conduct myself."

Upon reaching the spring he looked to its waters, the tendrils of steam rising from it proved The Oracles words to be indeed true. Clearing some snow from a rock he undid the clasp of his cloak and draped it over its surface, his boots soon followed. Removing his sword belt he placed it against the rock and then began to unfasten his breeches.

"It is okay if you do not wish to bathe, you can guard my clothing." He gave her a smile as he dropped his breeches and stood before her in his loin cloth as he folded his breeches and placed them on the rock. Then moving his hands down to the band of his loin cloth he slid it down his well musceled legs and dropped it on top of his breeches. He now stood before her completely naked, and the cold chill in the air did little to decrease the size of his male endowment. Then turning to the spring he stepped into the warm waters and slowly submerged himself as he went under then came back up with a large grin on his face. "Chelosin be praised, this is very nice indeed!" he shouted. "Are you sure you do not wish to join me?"

 

[intriguess]

Marina pulled her eyes off his body just before he removed the last item. She waited until she heard the splash of water to look up, "It is not customary for an unmarried woman to be alone with a man outside her family." She figured that was as good a place to start as any. "Especially a woman of my position," she bit her lower lip. Great she'd just revealed she was part of the ruling class and hoped he would not begin to piece together that it was someone in her family that sought to destroy his people. Then again she'd mentioned servants earlier so she doubted he had not considered that she was not some scullery maid.

"Of course I'm usually accompanied by a servant or one of my brothers." The thought of her brothers saddened her and she continued. "We have a fairly standard system of coinage and trade values. The citizens of High Moon are quite prosperous, compared to our neighbors. People marry to have children and often the marriage isn't considered permanent until a child is produced. Therefore such a union can be dissolved if there are no children. I'd say we are family oriented, my father never remarried after my mother died and I'm the youngest child of eight." She begin playing with her hair.

"Large families are not the norm as raising children can be a burden but most families have three to five. Of course sometimes people want a son or daughter and so keep trying." She thought about what exactly were traditions of her people. "We protect the borders and mainly fight off wild animals but once a man can grow a beard he is trained in combat. Things tend to run smoothly except for the occasional outsider commiting an unintentional slight or the rare crime. Prosperity has allowed us to meet our basic needs, and so we do have those who follow the path of music or art."

 

[Widgit]

He listened to her, absorbing every word she said into his mind. "This custom of Marriage...I find it odd. How can a Marriage not be permanent if no children are produced?" But there was also something else. Something she had said that was causing him to keep his temper in check. So her people protect there borders, but it did not seem that claim prevented them from crossing there borders to mkae war against a tribe who gave no cause for it... Instead of brining that subject up, for it could wait, he decided to continue.

"Many Children a burden??" That however caused him to laugh "No my dear Marina...many Children are a blessing. Where I come from we count each child as a new life brought into the world, and something to be chersihed, for that life..or child...may be the one who can shape the world into a better place for all. I myself hope to Father many children one day...." his face grew momentarily sad though..that hope for him may have died along with his people...he pushed that thought from his mind quickly though, now was not the time for such talk..

"As for when we are trained to fight...My people began training with the sword at an early age, girls and boys alike. Where I came from...that is a neccessity. The wilds can be a harsh place to be live more often times than one would like..but we got through each day. Not every day was marred with combat or conquest....my trube mainly kept to itself with friendly relations to other tribes....Although there were the occasional times when the test of metal had to be taken."

"Now..." he said again with a smile slowly coming back to his face "You say you are usualy accompanied by a servant or one of your Brothers when you travel afar. In that case..." he moved to shallower water until he was waist deep and stood up and bowed his head to her "Think of me as you servant....temporarily."

 

[intriguess]

She looked away just in time, unable to think of him as anyone's servant. "I did not mean burden exactly, just we are blessed with good health and so more babies survive. It is not necessary to have 10 children in order for three or four to survive to adulthood. Yet we are not so prosperous as to be able to support a population that is doubling in size each generation." She thought again about all those that had died from the fighting and the sickness. "Of course after all the dead have been buried it will probably be necessary to have as many children as possible."

She had not thought of having children herself, as she always figured she'd end up married to some old man who would one way or another be unable to give her children. Now though, she knew she would be the only child of her father to have children it all seemed so different.

She smiled and continued, "You are in no way anyone's idea of a servant. In fact my servants would probably steer me clear of someone like you." She thought about the reasons behind that, there were many, because he was an outsider, because she was betrothed, because he was young and virile. She blushed again at the thought. "I have no doubt of your abilities as a guard or protector, just doubt you understand completely what you say."

 

[Widgit]

"Then allow me to be your protector....there may still be others looking for me, and possibly even you if they cought whind that you were with me." He had to admit..he liked the way she looked when she blushed and wondered what she was thinking that caused such a reaction...could she be thinking of him, standing here waist deep in water...or something else? He also had to admit...that even though he had only known her a short while, he was starting to grow fond of her.

He started to get out of the spring, to warm and dry himself with his cloak. "But there is something else I would like to know....if you don't mind that is. I would like to hear about you."

 

[intriguess]

Marina was staring at her hands to avoid looking towards him and the sound of water dripping splashing. "I am the youngest of eight, the only girl, my mother died when I was rather young." She paused the image of her mother seemd so clear now, and she blinked away the tears that came with remembering her mother. "My father never really recovered and so I trained in hand to hand with my brothers. I'm not bad with a crossbow, and could probably defend myself with a sword if necessary. As a lady I also learned embroidery, and such decorative skills. I can't sew clothing, but I know the ingredients for dyes, and were it necessary could probably make my living from the dying of cloth."

She recalled how she'd loved collecting ingredients with her mother, long sunny days picking plants. Learning their names and many uses, "My mother had the gift of healing, actually her whole family had it back into the mists of time, but somehow none of us ever developed such a gift."

She decided against mentioning her betrothed as she didn't wish to discuss such an unpleasant topic. "I'll be nineteen at the harvest moon, it's supposed to be an omen to be born under a harvest moon." She chuckled and stared at her fingers, "I'm probably the most unlucky person in High Moon."

 

[Widgit]

"Unlucky??" he shook his head and smiled as he grabbed his cloak and wrapped it around himself, moving aside his clothes he sat down on the rock to dry off. Small tendirls of steam rose from his warm wet skin. "I would you say you are verry lucky, not unlucky. To my people.....to be born under harvest moon means you are to be verry fertile."

He decided to tell her some htings about himself since she was willing to share. "I am the only Son of the Cheiftan of my tribe...when I was ten winters old, my Mother was lost to us, having crossed the boundaries of life into the next world. She was taken by a fever our Shaman could not cure. I have no Brothers or Sisters, my Grandfather and Father taught me how to hunt and fish, how to defend myself...and when needed..to be extremely quiet. From my tribes Craft Masters I learned how to sew, how to make my own weapons and armor...and from a young girl..I learned how to love. Now that my Father is gone..it makes me Cheiftan now...only..I have no tribe to be chieftan of. But one day I will. I hope to one day rebuild my tribe...to start it anew."

Looking around he shrugged...his cloak was nice but did little to keep out the chill he felt on the skin of his that remained bare. "You wouldn't happen to have any tender and flint on you, would you?"

 

[intriguess]

Marina

Marina blushed at his mention of physical intimacy, he mentioned it so casually as if it were just another part of life. It was hard for her to imagine that such a relaxed group of survivors existed. She frowned as she realized they didn't exist any more and barely caught his question.

"Actually I do, I somehow managed to grab a pack when I took the horse." She searched her one pouch and retrieved a flint and tinderbox. She managed to keep her eyes on his face as she handed them over. His green eyes pulled at her, and it made her feel strange inside.

"Many of my brothers lost their lives during," she bit her lip not wanting to remind herself or him or how her family had slaughtered his.

 

[Widgit]

He stood and went to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Think not of that now, it is in the past." Then, before she knew what he was doing he stepped in and kisse her on the forehead, a his lips soft, gentle and warm. Then he stepped back and turned away. "I'll ghather some wood, hopefuly not all of it around here is frozen."

Yes he knew they could always go back to The Oracle's, it wasn't far away, but he was enjoying his time with her. It didn't take him long to gather a sufficient amount of wood for a nice little fire that would warm them both. Taking it back to the Spring he set it up and took the flint and tinder box form her. It didn't take him long and soon a fire had started for them.

As the fire rose he went back to the rock and tied off his cloak, then he put back on his loin cloth and breeches. Knocking some snow out form his boots he put those back on as well but left his sword and sword belt where they were.

He went back to the fire to warm himself, his lips and eyes smiling to her as he went.

 

[intriguess]

Marina

The kiss was unexpected and focused her thoughts on what the future may hold. He was right about that, she should focus on what was happening now rather than what had happened in the past. It wasn't easy after such a tragedy, but being around him helped, as he had faced at least as much sorrow as she had. He was the first man outside her family she'd spent so much time alone with, she wasn't quite sure why she felt so protective of him. Marina wasn't exactly sure how she felt about him, especially considering the prophecy. At the same time she was not looking forward to going home and facing whatever consequences remained.

She combed her hair while he was gathering wood as the action had often comforted her. She looked up as she heard a childlike laugh and saw an etheral group of children laughing and running. They had dark hair and green eyes, they seemed so familiar but she could not place where she had seen them before. Then as quickly as they appeared they faded, she felt a sense of loss as she had reached out to touch a cherubic face.

Marina heard him returning and smoothed her hair and twisted it back up off her neck. She was distracted and only partly watched him get dressed, noting he left his weapons off for the moment. "I can lead you back to High Moon as soon as you feel ready." There, she had finally made a decision, what happened after the confrontation would not be her fault. Yar was determined to face her father than the sooner it happened the better.

 

[Widgit]

"Let us warm some first." He said as he rubbed his hands together over the fire. Although she said she would lead him to Highmoon when he was ready, smething in her voice told him that she was concerned of something. He knew what it probably was..her taking him to Highmoon would also take him to the man responsible for the destruction of his village and the near destruction of his people.

He remained by the fire for half an hour before putting it out, dowsing it with snow he scraped off the gorund with a large bark of tree. Then looking to her he nodded as he went to collect his sword belt. He didn't put it on however, instead he held it out to her. "Do not worry...the blade may look heavy but I assure you...it is much lighter than it looks..I am ready."

 

[intriguess]

Marina picked up the blade and balance the weight of it carefully, it was heavier than the blades she was used to and she did a few practice swings. "Ready for what?" the sword had distracted her and for some reason she wondered if giving her his weapon was some ritual she did not understand.

She blinked a few times, "To go, of course." She felt rather silly for even asking, "I left a few things at the Oracles." Marina added and blushed slightly at the thought of what kind of courtship rituals Yar's tribe had.

 

[Widgit]

Courtship Rituals were not at a point here, not yet anyway..even though he had started thinking of them..and her. Nodding to her he gave her a pat on the shoulder and started to lead the way back to The Oracle's.

As they approached, The Oraclewas there brushing snow off her porch. "Did the two of you have a good time?" She asked with a grin as they walked up to the cabin.

Yar nodded "Yes, a very good time. The water was as warm as you said it would be."

The Oracle grinned and looked over at Marina "Don't worry my dear, the best of times are yet to...come." She laughed as she led them inside. "I figured you would be back, you left some of your things my dear. Now before you go heading off please have some mufins, I just made them."

Indeed the cabin smelled like fresh cinnamon spiced muffins. She already had four siting out for them, two for each.

The Oracle looked over at Marina, taking note of the weapon she carried. Walking over to her she whispered into her ear "It seems he has entrusted you with his life..." she said, looking at thesword "your Father would be at even odds with him now if he chooses to attack him, well..your Father and a few of his guards....be wary of the masked Dragon..." With that she went back to the porch to finish clearing it of snow.

 

[intriguess]

She did not want to imagine the confrontation even as she gathered her few belongings and nibbled on one muffin. She stored the other one for later, and glanced up to look at Yar as she thought about what the Oracle had said. It was as if the old woman already knew what faced them and only bothered with riddles.

Marina cleared her mind as she thought about her horse, that she had let go of last night. Perhaps she had wanted to be snowed in, perhaps she just wanted to be able to leave with no regrets. She said she would take Yar to High Moon and that is exactly what she would do.

She heading for door, holding his sword and wondered how far she would have to go to keep him alive. She could easily unarm her father if needed, and doubted such an action would earn any points with him. Regardless of whether her brothers lived or died, she would have to deal with her father.

 

[Widgit]

After finishing his muffins he thanked The Oracle and he and Marina left. Neither of them having a mount the journey would take almost seven hours for them to reach High Moon's capital. The journey itself was not in complete silence as the two of them chatted briefly about small things, and then as if by a turn of luck, during the journey's second hour they happened across a merchant's wagon, the merchant of which was more than happy to offer them a ride, cutting the remainder of there joureny time conciderabley.

In the wagon Yar looked around, it looked like the merchant was selling cloth materials and items of clothing accessories. Wagons like this one had come through his village every now and then and sometimes would trade. The wares in the wagon looked nice, but he had nothing to trade for them with.

As they rode along the merchant looked back at them from where he drove his mounts "Marina! Princess Marina, it is you!! By the Gods gilr, do you know how many people are looking for you???"

It was then that she could recognize the merchant, now that he had the cowl of his cloak lowered, it was Thomaston, one of the members of the Merchant's Guild in High Moon, and one that her Father had an investmant in.

"Even that Fiance' of yours had joined the search...well looks like I've found you first though...I'll take you right to your Castle before I go to the Market." And he turned around and continued to drive.

Yar looked over at her and smiled "Seems you may have caused a lot of trouble doesn't it....You..have a Fiance'?"

 

[intriguess]

She had hoped to not be recognized and once she was she realized how much trouble she had caused by leaving without telling anyone where she was going. She frowned for a moment, "Yes, my father has promised me in marriage to a nearby Lord or some such thing. I've only seen him once or twice, he's close to my father's age." Marina had honestly hoped her father had not returned and to hear that he had and with her intended. It left a bad taste in her mouth, "When my mount returned without me I expect that's when the search began." She sighed deeply, "I expect my father will have mixed feelings about my return and that my nuptials will be moved up before I can slip off again."

There was one way she could avoid the whole thing, but that was unlikely to happen, so she bit her lip and frowned as the trader went on and on about Marina's betrothed and hoped Thomaston wouldn't blab about the attack.