Private Tales The Legend's Heir

[Solgrin]

He considered for a moment.

There was still a game to be played. A reminder that he had to quietly tell himself. His emotions needed to be reigned in more too, though not too much. Fingers tightened, and then he relaxed slightly as though he had just made a decision. "I think."

Solgrin began, as her fingers ran through his hair, head tilting.

"I think I will." He said with a nod of his head, fingers tightening for a few seconds as he looked over at her. "Taking a breath, resting...has not been the way of things."

Not for the last few years. His hand came to slowly slide over her skin, drawing over her outer thigh.

 

[Serafina]

When his hand slid inside her robe to stroke across her upper thigh goosebumps broke out across her skin and she bit down on the inside of her cheek. She didn't want to undo this balance they had found between them; Sera needed him as much as he needed her. She had come to the conclusion that she would never be safe with these men out there and Sol was her best bet to rid herself of them. Afterwards she could work on how to rid herself of him.

At least that's what she told herself whilst her traiterous heart beat out a tango.

"It's important while we have the time," she knew a fire burned in him to push and push, but the truth was this couldn't be forced on with threats or force. Her fingers lingered on his face and her thumb slowly smoothed over the lines in his skin. They told a story of worry and stress that had grown deeper since the rider was spotted. "Would you like me to relax you again?" The spell in the pool had worked surprisingly well.

 

[Solgrin]

A breath filled his lungs, his chest rising as he let his fingers drag over her skin. His touch was subtle, soft, not harsh as it had been before.

The monotonous crackle of the fire rang out within the room, a small song that seemed to play without tune. It was the only thing that he could hear in that moment, that and the sound of Serafina's breathing after she had asked her question.

"Yes." He said quietly.

He did not know if he had found it relaxing, the sensation had been foreign, strange.

There had been a calm to him, but he was not sure if that calm feeling had been welcome or not. The Curse lay heavy upon his heart at all times, and even with that pool he had heard the quiet whispers of his life ticking away.

He always did.

 

[Serafina]

It was such a nice moment. The fires only purpose was ambience now that they had heated every crevice of the room and she found she enjoyed the way he looked in its light. It coaxed to the surface the depth of colour in his eyes, highlighted lighter yellows and deeper bronzes. His soft touch was comforting and centering, rooting her in this moment.

The world could have not existed for all she cared.

Silently her other hand came up to cup his other cheek and like before, her fingers gently gripped his head. It was one of the easiest spells she found to make now, perhaps because it relied on Spirit which came far more naturally to her than the rest, but perhaps also because the magic inside of her needed for him to be strong to protect itself. That golden aura filled him like a sweet kiss against the mind, sought out the weary aches of muscle and lulled them into a relaxed state.

"Let go, Sol," she said quietly.

 

[Solgrin]

Time.

Time always seemed to be hanging over him. It was a constant factor in his life. Faster marches. Quicker movements across the land. Actions that needed to be taken in order to prevent disaster. The feeling, the pressure, it was always there.

Even now, even as her magic settled into his skin he could feel the press of time.

The Curse made it worse, knowing that his flesh betrayed him even as it kept him alive. All of that was still there, all of that weight was still on his shoulders. Yet the touch, the magic, eased some of the burden that forced itself upon him.

A shaky breath left his form, eyes closed as he tried to gather some of his focus into himself. He had to remind himself to relax, to calm.

His fingers on her thigh tightened, if only just a bit.

 

[Serafina]

Sera worked as slowly and gently as she could through his body but as always with magic she used on him, he had to consent to it, let her in tend to him. That she would not be able to harm him with magic had been aptly clear from the journal. So every little breath he took, every little inch he gave her, she worked with to soothe his soul and body.

She took a step closer so she stood between his legs, sighed softly at his touch, and let more of her magic seep into him. Eventually, as it had in the pool, her magic faded to a stop when his body reached its "full" limit. Her hands still lingered on his face for a moment then wound through his hair.

"Come, sleep," she nodded in the direction of the bed. Her magic could not do that to him but his body should have been in the right relaxed state to do so now.

 

[Solgrin]

Sleep was not difficult, not evasive.

A soldier learned to sleep most everywhere, to catch some shut eye when they could. Whether it was tucked besides a handful of barrels or a large stack of bolts didn't really matter. Solgrin still clung to that, the ability to sleep when he needed to.

That didn't mean the sleep was restful though. Hardly ever did he sleep through a whole night. Most of then he awoke with some clinging sense of paranoia, some need for control.

Dreams hardly offered him control at all. "Alright."

Solgrin said as he slowly pulled himself up, his hand gently floating between her fingers as he lead her over towards the large four corner bed.

 

[Serafina]

This is dangerous.

Serafina smiled despite the tiny warning in the back if her mind and followed him like a lost lamb. She was lost in the moment. For once that buzzing in her head that insisted on her staying close was quiet, and she couldn't sense anything from him either. It was so... peaceful. She didn't want to give it up or let it burst.

By the bed she slid off the robe and let it drape over a nearby chair before climbing into the sheets. Even they were warm thanks to the magic Solgrin had woven and she sighed in bliss. She glanced up at his watchful gaze and pulled back the covers for him with a lazy smile.

So dangerous.

"It's warm."

 

[Serafina]

The faint winter sunrays traced their pale fingers over Serafina's cheeks and caused her to stir in her sleep. Before she became fully awake she knew her body was exhausted. She could feel it in the way her limbs hung heavy and the struggle it was to open her eyes or clear her mind of the foggy cotton wool that shrouded it. A soft sigh escaped her as she stretched in the slow, lazy manner of a cat. Her fingers brushed over warm skin and her eyes fluttered open with a start.

Solgrin hadn't ever stayed the night before. She had woken to an empty bed and since then the two had never... She didn't think she would let herself be with him in that way again yet the magic pulled them closer, forged things that weren't real to protect itself. She knew all of that, knew it in her heart that her emotions weren't real and yet... Her fingers ran tenderly through his hair, pushing them from his sleeping face.

Her magic thrummed under his skin and seemed to come to the surface when her fingers grazed across him. There to protect its conduit. There to protect her, keep her close. Her own magic turned against her in a bid to ensure its own survival--

Sera ignored the wisdom of her thoughts and instead nestled back down against his side and sunk herself further into the cage of her own making.

 

[Solgrin]

It was the next day that came swiftly.

Sunlight brandished into the room, the noise of bustling and movement around the keep, a loud knock on the door that seemed to echo throughout the room.

Solgrin's eyes snapped open.

A voice carried into the room, though through the heavy door he could barely make out what it was saying. His head still swimming The Bandit Chief slowly extricated himself from Serafina. He did not know what time it was, but he knew it was morning at least.

Slowly he stepped towards the door, yanking it open with a muted creak. "What?"

He demanded.

"The snows are melting."​

As soon as the words were said Solgrin's jaw suddenly set, a tension entering his jaw.

 

[Serafina]

"That's impossible."

There was months left of winter. Fresh snow had fallen only yesterday and it had seemed so thick that the Bandits had worried there would be another few days of no hunting. They were supposed to have more time. Serafina sat up in the bed, drawing the sheets about her body awkwardly as she wore nothing but a blush. The Bandit at the door's eyes slid briefly to her and then abruptly away, body tensing. She pushed herself off the bed, dragging the sheets with her, and began to seek out her undergarments.

"Could it be one of the others?" one of the men who sought her and the stone. They all possessed magic of a kind he had said, could one of them harness the weather or warm the earth enough for the snow to melt?

It wasn't long before she was dressed and she gave Solgrin a pained look.

"We're not ready."

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin frowned. It didn't make any sense. They had seen the skeleton, sure, but Nasaar had never been able to command the elements.

The other two?

They did not know magics, at least not in this way. It was...new. Lips thinned for a moment and he looked over towards Serafina with a confused expression. "I don't know."

A fact that made him feel ill at ease.

"Send a scout down the mountain." He told the man beyond the door, grabbing his shirt from off the floor and quickly pulling it over his bare chest. "See what's waiting. Even with the snows melting it'll take time for the pass to clear."

They could get an eye from above at least.

 

[Serafina]

The Bandit practically fled from the door and the uncomfortable state of dress he had found them both in.

Serafina dragged a brush through the tangled knots of her golden locks as she thought about what this would mean. The peace that the group had settled into would vanish. Battle would come. People would die. For her, for this stupid stone. Her eyes followed Solgrin as he moved about the room to put on breeches and boots. His face had lost the peace it had had a few minutes ago and the anger that rode him so hard had returned.

For a moment she said nothing and then.

"If it looks like you will lose I want you to kill me," her voice was serious, calm. She could never take her own life but she knew he would be able to. "If I die there's no more magic. I don't want to be someone else's pet."

She took a deep breath and gripped his hand to make him look her in the eyes.

"Please."

 

[Solgrin]

The tragedy of her words was only made worse by the fact that Solgrin had already planned to do it.

He could stand losing. He could stand dying, but he could not stand someone else winning. It would have been an affront, a painful prick in the his side as his consciousness faded and the Abyss claimed him. He would have slit Serafina's throat before he let any of the others have her again.

"It won't come to that." The Bandit Chief reassured her, his face a solemn mask of stone as he looked down at her. His hand came down and gently squeezed her should, gaze flickering towards the walls as he took a deep breath.

"We're safe here." He reminded her, twisting her thoughts adding those trickles of security. "With these men I could hold this castle against an army."

The words weren't all bravado and lies. The Templar had built their fortifications well, and Solgrin was confident in their ability to hold out. Even with the snows melted getting siege equipment up the mountain was all but impossible, and trying to scale the walls with ladders would be deadly.

They had time yet, no need go panic now. Not until they knew what they were dealing with.

 

[Serafina]

Serafina didn't look entirely convinced but some of the worry eased from her features at his reassuring words.

As they made their way downstairs there was a rush of activity. Bandits were arming themselves and preparing arrows ready for the attack inside whilst outside in the courtyard the wargs were being saddled. It was the Norden who greeted them when they stepped down into the hallway besides the great door. In one hand he had Sera's bow and arrows, with the other he was fingering his axe. As soon as she was in range he shoved her gear into her arms whilst he spoke to Sol.

"Scouts have gone out but there's already movement on the horizon," a shudder ran down her spine. How had they moved so quickly?

She trailed after them as they went outside whilst slinging the quiver around her waist but as soon as they stepped beyond she gave a sudden cry and dropped to her knees. Pain arched through her mind like a hot iron rod. She couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't think beyond the agony.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin whirled around and caught her immediately.

His arms wrapped around her form and shielded her. This time he did not take the magic she would have offered, but rather almost coaxed it from her. The process was not as fast, but it was not as harsh either. Fingers tightened, and then he wove with his power.

A lattice cast over her mind, her thoughts. String after string that woven into a thick shield that pressed around her mind. Solgrin had no idea if it would work, no idea if it would settle the pain or draw away what was happening, but it was all he could think to do.

One had to be careful with how the magic was woven.

They had focused on fighting, war, but he was not fool enough to think that the magic they could cast together was limited by such primitive things.

Such power could be shield or sword.

 

[Serafina]

Great wracking sobs of relief escaped her and soaked through his shirt as she pressed herself tighter, impossibly tighter against him. Whatever it was he had done had removed the pain but she could still feel the echo of it in her bones. She tried to stammer out what had happened but her words were a confused tear choked mumble of nonsense. It wasn't just the pain though that made her tongue heavy, it was fear. Their learnings with the magics had taught her what power felt like and that... that presence in her mind had been enormous.

Eventually she managed to get her sobs under control enough to swallow and take a breath. She looked up at him as her body still shook and tears stained her cheeks.

"H-he was trying to hurt you, through the Channel," the channel of magic that connected them.

 

[Solgrin]

His hand tightened on her for a moment. "I know."

It was Civel.

Had to be. His magics over the mind was the only thing that could have such an affect on Serafina. His spell had been thrown out, cast towards what he had likely thought would be the target giving him the most access to Solgrin himself.

"It's alright." He told her. "Go inside."

The Bandit Chief ordered. "Find Violet, go to your room."

He would take care of this.

 

[Serafina]

Now it was Serafina's turn to tighten her grip on him.

"Please, no. I..." Panic welled in her sapphire blue eyes at the very thought of being away from him when it was him keeping the attack at bay. The magic inside of her that was fuelling him to protect her was also very keen to stay close to him. She swallowed, realising how desperate and needy she was sounding as she clung to him. With quite some effort she released him and nodded with the expression of a kicked puppy.

"Okay," Sera whispered, her forehead resting against his for a moment. They were both still kneeling in the snow, his arms around her made her feel safe and she knew that feeling would vanish as soon as they parted. But he needed to do what he did best and command his troops. "Please come back," she brushed her lips against his, gave him one last deep look, then stood and turned to go back inside.

 

[Solgrin]

There wouldn't be a battle, not today.

The snows were melting, but whatever was coming up that mountain wouldn't be coming in force, unless they were fools beyond any belief. Solgrin knew this, or at least he was betting on it. Quickly he moved out with the others, leaving the fortress as soon as he knew Serafina was inside.

Their descent down the mountain was a quick one, moving along the rocky cliffs until they were perched high above with a view of the plains below.

There he saw the reason for the melting snows. "Clever."

Solgrin said, more to himself than any of the other bandits. A small encampment sat at the foot of the mountain, three tents each flying a familiar flag. As he suspected it was Civel, but along with him were a two dozen or so other men. Some were soldiers, but two were far more important.

Mages, from the Court of Essar.

"Fel, stay here and keep watch. Come back if they do anything else." He needed Maia, and Arn.

 

[Serafina]

"He'll be alright, Sera," Violet flopped into one of the armchairs by the fire with a sigh and frowned at her friend with her face pressed up against the window. She had of course heard how the pair had been found that morning and she was non too pleased with it, but she was doing a good job of keeping her temper in check. It had to have been Sol in her ear saying sweet things that weren't true in order to get her to trust him. Sera would never... She shook her head with an irritated sigh.

"Come away from there, it'll do no good watching," Sera sighed and turned towards her friend.

"You don't understand... If he... if he dies Vi we'll just be passed on to another of these men and be right back to the beginning. What if they keep us in literal cages this time? What if they decide you're no use at all to them?" she played with the ring on her thumb in a nervous tick then turned back to look outside.

Violet went to say something then closed her mouth; Sera had a point. For the first time she, too, wished for the Bandit Chiefs safe return.

 

[Solgrin]

The small group returned as dusk began to set in, most of the day spent hiking down and then back up the mountain side.

It was clear that the wizards were working some type of ritual, though just what sort he wasn't entirely sort. It was also clear that Civel did not intend to take the Fortress by force of arms. What his plan was he couldn't say, but Solgrin had no intention of letting him get away with it.

A plan had formed in the back of his mind, though it would push Serafina to the limit.

Him too probably.

Just as the sun was passing over the edge of the mountain Solgrin and his men returned, a small rush of voices running through the Fort that would eventually reach Serafina and Violet in their room.

 

[Serafina]

Sera clattered down the stairs with her skirts gathered in her hands to keep herself from tripping on it. She was three up from the bottom when Solgrin stepped through the door of the keep and she practically threw herself into his arms.

"You're ok," she breathed. Relief washed over her. She of course knew he wasn't dead because of that odd noise at the back of her mind, but he could have been captured or worse. Her face buried itself in his chest as she breathed him in and the norden chuckled as he passed.

"Do the rest of us get that kind of greeting?" Sera pulled back with burning cheeks but was quick to pull the frosty man into a tight hug too. A look of shock crossed his face but he returned the embrace with a shy little smile. He might not have admitted to many but the lass had grown on him during their archery lessons.

"Is it an army?" she asked when she released him, looking between the two men with a worried frown.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin drew away for a second, smiling and glancing down at her as he spotted Violet moving down the stairs. "No, and yes."

Lying to her now would do no good, not when the truth could paint a better picture.

"It's Civel." He had recognized that face, though he had known the moment her mind had been practically shattered. The attack had just been a probe of course, a press to see just how trained and powerful she was. "He has recruited some mages, from a city on the northern coast."

A city that had once burned because of him. "But...I think we can stop them."

His hand stroked her hair softly, a small, reassuring touch.

 

[Serafina]

Sera leaned into him like a well trained dog against her masters leg. There was a flash of anger across Violet's face but she bit her tongue and tore her gaze away from her friend. Perhaps it would be better for her to live in the fake reality he was clearly creating for her, it would help her survive. At least that is what she hoped. Serafina barely noticed as Violet slid past them to go and see the large brute of a man who had become her silent shadow. Her attention was entirely on the man who ran his fingers through her hair of spun gold.

The thought of more mages against just her and Sol when they had barely begun to scratch the surface was not a comforting one. But he seemed confident, that must be a good sign...

"What's the plan?" she turned her face slightly so her cheek pressed into his palm.