The Healing Weaver (Open)

[rpgoddess]

Anger gripped Naria swiftly, replacing any fear that was there. "What?" She asked, eyes flashing at the dark elf. "You cannot be serious, you would abandon us? After all of this?" She held her hands wide gesturing to the scene about them.

"Nari, we could stay." Pippa suggested quietly.

"No we cannot." Naria snapped. Having yet to climb atop the horse she stepped forward so that she was toe to toe with James and latched onto his gaze. "You will not do this, I won't let you. We know nothing about the world outside of this place. I trusted you James Tekkarro! Does that mean nothing? Now, you will lead us away from here to safety, as you promised, on your mother's medallion!" She ranted in a voice more commanding than she had intended, her hand gripping the winking silver that hung about her neck. "At least offer Pippa protection long enough for me to see to my needs. Can you deny us that much after all of this trouble?" She added in a softer voice.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James looked back, not able to look Naria in the eyes as she shouted at him, and even brought up the promise he had put upon his mother's medallion. He looked back at her, wiping away the tears. "Don't you get it? You saw me. Why I'm an outcast to me my people. Why I travel alone. I'm a monster. I merely thought you would feel safer without a beast leading you away from here." he shouted back at her, meanwhile staying calm. He looked down and shook his head. "But as you wish, I will finish my job, and you will see no more of me." he promised, climbing with ease onto the horse,stroking her mane. "Get on, i fear our time is growing shorter by the second.

[rpgoddess]

It took a moment but Naria soon enough managed to wiggled up onto the steed, with three riding it would not be easy. She sent Pippa a look, warning her to remain quiet. She was angry and didn't want to say anything else she didn't mean.

Yes, she had been shocked to see James' transformation, frightened even, and yes she was horrified by the carnage that... that the beast had laid out before her eyes. She was a healer, what other reaction could there have been? Yet now, James, a man she had so fully put her hope and trust into, was acting as if he no longer cared a bit about what happened to her or himself for that matter. For the first time she wondered if she had made a mistake. She had taken James to be strong and dependable, but right now he seemed almost as lost as she, and he carried with him a burden she wasn't sure she wanted to look at closely.

It was saddening, these new thoughts, doubts. James Tekkarro was someone she wanted to befriend, but now, now he was more a stranger than Gavain had been. Was it her fault? No, she wouldn't shoulder that blame.

A deep frown crossed over Naria's face, she wanted to weep. How long had it been since she had wept? Her mother's death perhaps. It was a painful and relentless feeling, her throat was dry and tight, and her eyes burnt like liquid fire.

"Nari," Pippa whispered. "It's alright, all lovers argue now and then." She added still in hushed tones while patting Naria's hand.

Naria gave her sister a gently hug. "You are too romantic little one." She murmured lightly.

"Are you ?" Pippa asked after a moment. "Like you told that man?"

"Yes. I am." Naria answered.

"Will you die?" Pippa asked with a quivering lip.

"No, no I won't die, I have what I need to make medicine." Naria said in a soothing tone.

"Good." Pippa breathed and gave her a wobbly smile.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James stroked his steed's mane, waiting for Naria to climb on. As she did, he readied himself and took a few calming breaths. He then gently tapped the sides of the steed and off she went, galloping as fast as her legs could carry her. The wind whipped James's hair about his face as the deep burning sensation again. The pain he faced every time Gilashi took him over. The scar across his chest lit as if on fire, and distracted him slightly as he attempted to continue on their ride. He tried to push her onward as fast as she could go, trying to get away. As he turned to look over his shoulder, he watched as the faces and voices in the distance became nothing but a distant rumble, and he sighed. The first half of his promise was done. Now he had to assure that Naria and Pippa would make it safely away.

The sun had begun to rise directly above them, signaling noon when the walls of a nearby town began to peak over the horizon. James smirked slightly, the burden almost over. He turned and alerted both Naria and Pippa. "We are coming up upon a town. I will arrange you two lodgings and assure you are able to make your medicine Naria. Then, we will decide if you are comfortable enough to reside in this town, and if not, we shall travel further tomorrow." HE turned back around, petting his steed's head, proud she had traveled so quickly. They finally slowed to a trot as they approached the outskirts of the town, and he brought her to a stop at a small wooden post made for tying horses up. He dismounted carefully, and took the reins from his hand and tied them instead to the post. He then stood at the side of the horse, extending a hand to help them both down. "It has been quite a bit of trouble for both of you, but it is almost over, I assure you."

[rpgoddess]

Pippa stretched and groaned before wandering a few yards away to peer around them. The city was different from anything either sister had ever seen. The buildings were talk and close to one another. The windows were shinning and clear, and there were stone pathways for walking.

Naria slid down until her feet touched the earth, listening only a moment to what was being said to her before she dashed away on wobbly legs to the side of one of the buildings, she came to her knees hard and wretched uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched her stomach and drew in deep breaths trying to calm her rolling insides. "Goddess preserve me." She whispered as she pushed herself backward and leaned against the building for a moment. Being ill in front of James was nearly as horrific as being show to the warriors as if she were a prized hog. With a final deep shuddering breath she forced herself back to her feet and came around the building again. Seeing Pippa off in the distance she called to her to keep close then approached James.

It was difficult, standing there looking up at him, seeing the kind but troubled face she had come to know and care for. What had happened back on the forest's edge seemed to have changed everything, she now wished she had not allowed herself to be so moved by the events earlier. She opened her mouth to speak then closed it again and looked down. What could she say?

Bringing her hands together before her she focused on her fingers as she spoke quietly, trying to keep any indication of her sadness out of her voice as she did. From the way he was acting she knew James would leave them soon, but then hadn't that been the arrangement all along? He surely wanted to be free of the burden she and Pippa posed, one that likely turned out to be much heavier than he had originally expected. "Thank you, James Tekkarro...for fulfilling your promise." Naria looked up and scanned the area, it did not take long to spot the signage over the buildings, one even indicated it was an inn. The finality of the moment caused Naria to frown and drop her gaze again. With trembling fingers she reached up and unclasp the chain from her neck, pulling the medallion from beneath the cover of her ruin tunic and held it in her palm. Naria took a moment, looking down at the beautiful trinket and rubbed a slender thumb over the surface before she held it out. "This is yours. You are free once again." She murmured.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James watched with concerned eyes as Naria became ill once more. Pippa was off to look at the city already, so young, full of joy and excitement. James smiled sadly off into the distance watching the girl until Naria approached him once more. They stood in silence for a few moments, as she looked at the ground, and James could tell she was thinking of the monster he truly was. She thanked him, but he shook his head in shame, backing away slightly. "No, please do not thank me. I put you through much more trouble then you should have had. I was more of a burden then a help. if it weren't for me you would not be so ill." he confessed, looking at the ground in shame himself. He touched his chest, rubbing absentmindedly through his shirt to his scar. He looked back up at her as she had taken off his mother's medallion. HE had never noticed how beautiful Naria had looked, even in her ill form. He shook his head and closed her fingers back over it, pressing it back to her chest.

James looked deeply into her eyes. "I want you to keep it. It has served me to keep my mother's memory alive, and perhaps now it will help keep my memory alive. This is the end of our story Naria, after tonight, we will hope to never meet again. This is a new chapter, for both you and Pippa. You are free once more, you can live the lives you choose. You are no longer bound to some false sense of duty, or honor. You control you're own life, you write your story." He took a hand and brushed a lock of hair from Narias face laughing. "Let's just hope the rest of our life goes a little bit smoother then the past, alright?" He looked away into the distance, from where they had came from, sighing. "And no, I shall never be free. You have seen what lurks behind me. I will never truly be free. The closest thing I had to having company, friends, was you Naria. But as I've said, our time draws to a close..." He allowed his mind to wander for a moment before dragging it back and sighing, smirking slightly. "I just hope I did well enough."

[rpgoddess]

Naria turned her face to the side, hiding, shying away from the raw emotion, likely amplified by the effects of the poison, she told herself. Swallowing hard she clutched tightly to the medallion. He was leaving them, a small voice inside of her screamed at her to ask him to stay, but she knew she could not. James owed them nothing, he had his own life to live, and he was not at peace within, he could never stay in one place. She also sensed that there was something greater pulling him, something he needed to do.

Finally after an eternity of silent minutes Naria forced herself to look up at James. She felt a pang of regret in her chest,"I am sorry...for what I said." She whispered. "I will never hope to not meet you again, James Tekkarro, in fact I will hope for just the opposite." She gave him a weak sad smile. "I will hope every day that you find your way back to us, you will always be a dear friend to me." Carefully she lifted a hand and pressed her palm to his cheek. "No matter what you carry with you, I know you are good." She added before dropping her hand and busying her fingers with replacing the necklace on her neck.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James tried to shy away from Narias hand, but found the comfort he found in the physical contact was something he could not run from. He forgot how it felt, for one to be kind to you. He hung his head, a mixture of happiness and slight embarrassment washing through him. "Then I shall hope to see you once more as well my friend." He looked out for Pippa but could not find her, but he looked toward town and saw the sign for an inn hanging high in the sky. He looked from Naria to the sign once more, and in a spur of the moment decision, quickly pecked her on the cheek before clearing his throat. "I will go reserve you a room at the inn now." he explained, avoiding her gaze and running off toward town, hoping to find Pippa as well.

James took the pouch from his side and poured the coins out onto the table in front of him. The man furrowed his brow and stared at the coins. He looked back up at James and smiled kindly. "Boy that's enough to get yourself a room as well." he said, trying to coax the stranger into staying as well at his humble inn. James shook his head. "No thank you. My friend and her sister will be in to spend the night at your establishment, and they require only one room. Be sure they are attended to properly." he explained, pouring out even more gold before finally just deciding to toss the pouch to the man. The innkeeper was taken aback by how heavy it actually was with gold. James walked back to the door and smirked. "The extra gold isn't for me, it's to make sure my friends are very well taken care of, understand?" he asked, as the innkeeper nodded happily and waved him off. James exited the inn and sighed, waiting outside for sign of either Naria or Pippa.

[rpgoddess]

Pippa stepped up from the side of the Inn doorway, hands clasped behind her back she stood motionless next to James for a few moments. "You are leaving, aren't you?" She said finally, but gave him no time to answer. "I'm not so young that I don't see the things happening around me you know." A frown of disappointment passed over the young pretty face, making her look older and wiser. "She deserves someone better than that." She muttered. Then with a sigh she pointed to the horse the had ridden, from the distance a slender arm could be seen hugging the horse for support. The beasts strong body hid from view the owner of the arm, but the bloodied white sleeve left nothing to be desired. It was Naria. "She there, still. Waiting. I will get her bag, she doesn't look well, but then you likely noticed that, I wonder if you care." Pippa sent James a youthfully defiant look before moving off to join her sister. Young and full of ideas, Pippa was still captured in the made-up stories that Hansid had spun for her about James, it was obvious she was not satisfied with what she was seeing, and her view of the events were shadowed by the lies she had been told.

"Pip, help me will you, I feel very tired suddenly. Grab my bag please." Naria coughed. Pippa stood on tip toe and pulled the medicine bag down from atop the horse's back and slung it over a small shoulder.

"He is leaving you?" Pippa asked while she waited for Naria to throw an arm over her free shoulder so that she could provide additional support. She was greatly worried about her sister, she looked even more ill than she had earlier.

"He is leaving, yes, but I think you have the wrong idea about what he and I are to eachother, little one." Naria breathed, grunting softly as she lifted and arm and placed it around Pippa's shoulders. "Thank you." She sighed.

"You are welcome." Pippa replied as they began to approach the inn, and James. "But I don't think I am mistaken. He is your champion isn't he?"

"Well, yes, in a way." Naria replied.

"Then you two are bound." Pippa said simply. Believing fully in the customs of their people.

"James Tekkarro is not one of us Pip, and not obligated to follow our ways. We are not bound." Naria explained.

"But, then what? He just stole you away?"

"He offered us a life of our own, where we can live the way that pleases us both." Naria answered.

"Will you be sad when he is gone?" Pippa asked in a low voice as they came closer to James.

Naria lifted her eyes and looked at the elf who stood like stone before them. "I believe I will, Pip."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James watched Pippa approach him and he nodded, sadly. "Yes dear Pippa, after I am sure Naria and you will be safe, I will be leaving you both." he answered, guilt running through him. James heard Pippa explain how she saw things.IN a way he understood, in her mind she probably believed Naria and James were lovers. "And why not?" a voice echoed. It was not Gilashi for once, simply James thinking to himself. But he brushed the thought away instantly. He was a monster, they all knew that. Monsters lived alone. He was about to reply when Pippa stated that he may not care that Naria was . The words stabbed him like the blade that very day his father bestowed Gilashi upon him. He ran short of breathe, and he stared wide eyed into the distance. Is that how he was acting, as if he didn't care? He lowered his head into his hands and shook his head. Things had begun so simple, how could they have turned so complicated.

James managed a smile as Naria approached him with Pippa. "Hello there again." he saw that she was getting worse by the minute and he opened the door for her, leading both her and Pippa in, past the innkeeper. The kind old man raised an eyebrow, coming forward.

"My, she looks rather ill, will she be alright?" he asked in concern.

James nodded and waved him away. "We will attend to it shortly, it is fine sir." he assured him while leading them all to their room, up the stairs. He opened up the door into a surprisingly furnished room, exquisitely made for such a small inn. He carried Naria's bag in and assisted her into the room, along with Pippa. He sat on the edge of the bed, frowning. "I have purchased this room for the both of you, I will be camping on the outskirts of town, if you should need anything...will ou be alright?" he inquire,d worried for her life.

[rpgoddess]

Naria gave James a tender smile once she was seated. Pippa, on cue placed the medicine bag in her lap and began withdrawing key items, the pestle and mortar, the retort, and two slender vials. "I will be, I think." Naria answered after ensuring Pippa was careful about removing the items and placing them on the dressing table before Naria. "It should not take long for me to make the antidote," she explained as she took up the blooms she had stolen and placed them in the mortar and began to grind. It took a lot of effort in her weakened condition, but it was like second nature. She actually enjoyed the task. "Water for the retort Pip, and light the wick on the candle please." Naria instructed, then turned her attention back to James.

She was thankful for the work. It kept her from dwelling on the sickening feeling of loss that had settled in her chest. "Will you leave tonight?" She forced herself to ask, her words a little airy from her strain as she worked the yellow blossoms into a fine moist powder.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James watched Naria work with wonder, amazed at her skill and knowledge of medicine. She truly was a wonder. He was drawn back to attention and he looked away, saddened. HE finally managed to get his voice back, but he could not bear telling her that he would abandon her. "No...I figure we are all tired, so I will stay the night in this city with you, and in the morning well...we can see what happens then." he said, not wanting to say that was when he would leave, and there was a good chance they would never see each other again.

[rpgoddess]

Naria put the mortar aside and brushed the light moisture forming on her forehead off with the back of her hand. She looked at James for a long moment, then said,"You don't have to go." Her voice quiet.

Pippa snorted something under her breath from her place at the window, where she had moved after doing as Naria had bid, a flame now danced beneath the retort, the water with in heating quickly.

Naria shot her sister a look that would have frozen the core of the earth, then looked back at James, wishing for a moment that she could be open about how she felt. She didn't want him to go, he was her only friend, her only connection, and the only person she had even met that had cared about what it is that she wanted in life. Still, she knew he had only stayed this long because he had been honor bound. She considered pretending to fear that Hansid and the others would come looking for her there, and it was likely that they would, but quickly disposed of the idea, she would not use feminine tactics to hold him to her.

"He doesn't know does he?" Pippa asked in a voice filled with disbelief,"He truly doesn't understand." She added and gave an odd little laugh. "Perfect." She muttered.

"Quiet Pip." Naria ordered.

"Why? I thought men cared about honor." Pippa shot back.

"I said quiet. I explained this to you." Naria warned. "I won't hear another word on the matter."

"Did you explain it to him?" Pippa asked with a hand outstretched in James direction.

"Enough!" Naria snapped. "It's not important, just stop, not everything is as simple as you would like to believe, the real world isn't so black and white." Naria sighed. She turned her blue gaze back to James and offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, James Tekkarro, Pippa is still young and idealistic, she means nothing by her accusations."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James laughed lightly at Naria's offer, memories of his homeland creeping back. What of his kingdom, what did they think of him? He nodded. "You are right, I could stay, not like I had anywhere else to go..." he muttered, but thought of what his father would say about him ditching his duties as Prince, soon to be . He was both shamed and confused. Why were things no longer as clear as they once were. He had ran away years ago, and he thought long and hard about how long it had been since he had been in the presence of his beautiful Kingdom, Glerinel. It had been last when he was injured from his fight with Xariss, and he was recovering from the wounds. They had wanted him to stay, and be , for his brother had died as well....James shook the memory form his head. He was too young for the duty then, and he ran away once more. But could he continue running? Could he actually stay to protect Nari, lead a normal life, with friends, being a common person once more? NO, he would never lead an average life, not with his bloodline, and that which lived in his veins...

James's ears perked and he rose an eyebrow in curiosity. "Do I know what?" he asked. James was further insulted about the question of honor. He looked down at the ground in shame, kicking his boots against the floorboards. He looked back up and smiled slightly, but hook his head. "No apology necessary but please...explain what?"

[rpgoddess]

Naria shot her sister a hot glance then pursed her lips together in a fine line. She remained silent for a moment, pushing herself slowly to her feet and moving to the retort that now held bubbling water within it. Quietly, with her back to the others she mixed in the powdered blossoms and then a pinch of some white grain-like crystals. When she was finished she placed her hands on the table on either side and let her head hang. She gave a sigh and spoke. "Pip, go below of and see what the cook has to offer this evening."

"But-"

"Go." Naria said a bit more firmly. Pippa gave Naria's back a face and stomped out of the room, shutting the door smartly behind her. Naria waited until she could no longer hear Pippa's feet stomping down the stairs before she turned and slowly made her way to the bed, settling down gingerly beside James she stared straight ahead for a moment and then finally turned her face to give him a smile. Her cheeks were flushed from fever again, the salve from early had long since worn off, but still she struggled to carry on. "You don't know much about our customs. It is my fault really, I should have explained more of it to you, I should have...I was just so anxious to be free of the whole bit, and then things turned ugly, I suppose the chance to say something came and passed without my paying much mind to it." She said. "I want to say first, you are not of our people, and so you have no obligation to abide by our ways, nor do I and Pip now, it's just different for us because we have lived on that path all of our lives, new ways seem...wrong to us." Naria looked down at her hands in her lap, she was stalling, but could not figure out why. With a deep breath she let out all she was supposed to have said from the first.

"You see, when Hansid named Ga-Gavain," saying his name brought back the vision of his lifeless body and caused Naria to stammer for a moment. "when he was named my Champion by the Elders, that meant that the Tournament would come to a close, they likely told the remaining men that I had made my decision, but then you defeated him, it may have been outside of the fighting ring, but you defeated him before the ceremony of vows was completed, making you my Champion." Naria looked at James a moment, wondering if he understood yet. "In our ways that now binds you and I." She thought for a moment, searching for the words of the outlands that would best describe the station, "It is like your...your...estrang- no your engagement status. That is basically what now lies between us, according to the laws of my people." She explained. Then quickly added. "But as I said, I do not expect you to abide by our customs. Pip is still young and does not grasp the complexity of such adult situations, therefore in her mind it should be simple and straight forward, you and I know life is hardly ever simple or straight forward."