You are a brash one, arent you? the voice comes from the doorway of Tams prepared rooms, the sound of the closing cane door following. Though that is unsurprising with relations and a background such as yours.
Tamrissa huffs out a sigh and stuffs the remaining books into the new satchel she was provided with.
The trees whisper of pain and bitterness tonight, she stays just inside the threshold. Not to mention that boys face was at its rawest when I had him fetched. You alone seem to disarm him of one of his greatest defenses
My lady, please take no offense at this, but are you finished? the straps of the satchel are tightened roughly as Tam turns around to face her. You could not know or understand the amount of shit I have gone through in the last few days, weeks, and so on. This needs to end here. I am tired. I want rest.
The elf matriarch is no longer in her exotic attire, taking a simpler route this time. A thigh-length tan tunic with light embroidery of the same color, leggings the color of red clay and boots of the same leather as her tunic. Surprisingly it looks much like the fresh clothing left in a stack on Tams pallet. Her dark hair is bound atop her head with perfection.
It will not end here. You know that, the elf moves more into the light. You have great powers in you and with that will come great responsibility
and I am not so sure you wont find yourself back in this very forest in the near future, with Willem guiding you once more
not against your will.
How much do you wish to wager, my lady? her crooked smile is bitter. Perhaps, if you are right, I will proclaim you an oracle when I return. But until then, you are a dreamer
mayhap a fool.
Marlwa hardly seems phased by such words, He will be here in this room yet tonight. He will not let you leave without at least an argument.
Tam chuckles, Why are you here, Atara? What do you want from me? An apology? I will give you an apology if you feel slighted, but do not ask me to give that bastard anything else
I do not want an apology, my dear, for you have not been anything but true to your feelings, she moves over to the single chair in the room and sits before continuing. The casualness of the woman still shocks, but it is what speaks the most of her personality. I have come to beg you not to leave yet...
The elfs hand goes up as Tam begins to speak.
No, hear me out. I have come to ask you this, not on behalf of the sidhe but for the elves, my people. We need the dark flower who shall creep in and bring about change in our world.
A burst of humorless laughter comes from Tams lips and she shakes her head, I thought you had convinced your people that the prophecy was not true...
I told them that you were no threat. There is a difference.
A hand goes up to push wet curls back from her face, her head shaking again, My lady, you and your people have picked a poor savior. An unwilling one to top it off.
You will not stay then.
Not for a prophecy
no.
Very well. I sense the finality of your decision, the elf stands and bows her head for a moment. I would have enjoyed knowing you and aiding you.
She looks back up solemnly, then smiles a bit.
All of this aside
if you would choose to still learn more of what lies hidden inside of you, I would set aside some of my own time to tutor you.
Tamrissa tilts her head, Knowing I will not come here, you would come to the Umbra?
The Atara smiles and nods briefly before opening the door.
Just send word and I will. Be well, child.
The elf knows all too well that they will meet again soon under a different roof. She steps out quietly, the smell of the cool night breezing in with the swing of the door
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elise listened to the vampire, watching him carefully as he marveled at the bath house.
They were built long ago
they were here afore you came the first time, she went to one of the chests against the wall, bending down to fetch a few towels from it and also allowing the vampire some privacy to undress. The sculptor was sidhe-born I think. Some of the sidhe used to live in the forest back before Aran Alaric IMal was enthroned you know. It was long before my time, but the elders that are left tell of it as better times.
She turned as she heard him in the water.
Do not mind the others and their name for you
they recall what you were, not what you are. And the Atara understands that more than she lets on. She must keep herself balanced though. A biased and frightened ruler is what happened to Eire. Our Atara fights to not become that, even if some of us believe change would come quicker if she let herself go more, the auburn-haired elf removed her clothing without thought, the strips of thin fabric serving as undergarments staying on as she walked down the stairs into the water. "But I suppose I should not speak so openly about these things."
Coming up from a brief submersion beneath the water, she continued her inquiries.
Do you remember anything of what you were before you were a vampire? Do you sense things the way you did when you were
alive? she rubbed water from her violet gaze and hunkered down in the water to work on scrubbing the goblin blood and the like off her tan skin.
She paused for a moment, then broke through with a few more questions.
And what is it like to see the multiverse? What is it like to live so many lifetimes and see so much?
Her eyes went down to the surface of the water, a little ashamed at how cruel she was with so many questions, but unwilling to take them back
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willem rapped sharply on her door. She would not get away from him this time. He shifted his stance nervously from one foot to another. No answer.
Tamrissa, I need to speak with you! he spoke with his mouth close to the door, arms crossed, eyes downcast in wait for her voice.
He jutted his bottom jaw forth as she answered with some muttered expletive. His knuckles shuddered the door again.
I am not leaving until you hear me.
I hear you, now go away!
Whether you stay or go, Tamrissa, I want to talk to you. Please tell me what youve heard so I can tell you the truth.
The door swung open and he let his eyes drink in the tousled damp hair and the white linen shirt that served as a nightgown. He couldnt speak.
so you can lie to me, you mean?
In a second, he pulled her to him and bent down to continue the kiss they had left off. A shock of her magic constricting his innards left him stunned. When it left off, she was crouched at his feet, hands to the sides of her head. His first action was to pick her up and take her to the bed. As he set her down, her foot came out unexpectedly and mightily, finding his gut and sending him sprawling against the opposite wall.
You
stay
away
from me, she gasped towards him with her eyes half-closed in the pale light of the stone lamps, her skin bearing a light sheen of sweat from her encounter with the intensity of the magic that bloomed in Eire.
And he did stay away, his hand resting on his doubly wounded mid-section.
What have you heard?
I didnt hear, I read it, she closed her eyes, biting off the words smartly. You let her seduce you
not only to her side of things, but also into her bed!
It wasnt like
Shut up! Cydia was my mother! It wasnt just another woman, it was my own mother!
He dodged a small empty jewelry box that had been sitting on the table beside her pallet.
Get out!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The door flies open and Tamrissa turns her eyes angrily towards it.
Begging your forgiveness, my lady
my lord, the elf messenger glances oddly at both, speaking in a thick accent. The two bounty hunters are found. They are being chased through the Swamps. Almost to the very edge of Lond, they are.
Thank you, wait there! she jumps to her feet with a sickening lurch to her stomach.
She pulls on the provided leggings and throws on the tunic like a jacket, not bothering to lace it up over the white shirt. Her eyes go briefly to Willem as she passes, a dangerous glint in her gaze. He gets up as she reaches the door, stumbling after her. The messenger gives her a nod and moves to lead her