omg such teasing, my head is going to explode.
The Old Mage
Débuté par
AdorableAnarchist
, janv. 14 2010 01:22
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#102
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 01:16
AdorableAnarchist
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“Honey bars,” Maly exclaimed happily as Jaxon placed the tray on the table beside her bed. He chuckled at her childlike enthusiasm and handed her a mug of tea.
“There. We should be set for the rest of the night,” he gestured to the tray and the piles of food, “I didn’t know what you would want beyond the honey bars.”
“You are very good to me, Jaxon,” Maly sipped her tea and regarded him over the rim of her cup, “Why?”
“Well, I will admit to being intrigued by your lack of death,” Jaxon reached for a honey bar and took a bite, absently chewing. He swallowed and shrugged, “Aside from that, you are interesting and well, I like you. That is why I am good to you, as you call it.”
”I suppose you should hear my story before you go much further then,” Maly’s lips thinned as she stared into the distance, “You may not find me as good as you think.”
Jaxon was quiet as she shifted in the bed to face him better. Her eyes were dark and haunted by the past. She sat her mug on the table and took a deep breath, readying herself.
“I suppose the story starts at Ostagar when I met Alistair. I am certain you have heard the rumors of our relationship,” she waited until he nodded, “Well, they were true. Alistair and I were close,” she snorted and shook her head, “ More than that. We were wildly and stupidly in love. Definitely stupid on my part. I knew better than he. A mage and an elf could never be with a human, let alone the prince. But, despite warnings from Wynne, I let myself believe it would be different for us.”
Maly paused, reaching once again for her mug. Jaxon saw how her hand trembled. Her tale hurt her, he could see that. But, he made no move to stop her telling. He had to know. Maly cradled the mug in her hands as she returned his gaze.
“At the Landsmeet, I had it set for Alistair to become king. He would have made a fine one. He was a good and honest man who cared for Fereldan. There was compassion within him, something that that **** Anora lacked,” Maly wrinkled her nose in distaste, “How I loathed that woman. But, I digress.”
“Everything went according to plan! Eamon was so pleased, he was all but chortling as we retired. We all gathered in my sitting room, waiting to congratulate Alistair. It was everything we had all worked for. I was so happy. And then, he walked through the door.”
Maly’s voice trailed off and she shook her head. The lines in her face deepened with sadness. She swallowed and forced herself to continue, “Before any of us could say a word, he took two steps towards me and started talking. Such things he said, about how the nobles would never accept an elf and mage as queen, how he would have to find a queen to give him an heir, that we were finished. Even now, it feels as though I’ve been punched in the stomach. It hurt to have him toss me aside as he did, but,” she raised her eyes to Jaxon’s, “to do it in front of our friends, I was mortified. I didn’t know what to think or to do. He had taken everything I had thought we had and dashed it upon the floor in that sitting room.”
Jaxon reached over and took the mug from her shaking hands and set it aside. He then covered her hands with his, “You know, Maly, the records always said he was a fool.”
She chuckled softly, “I had hoped not to see him until the battle the following morning, but it was not to be. We had to meet with Riordan. Seeing him there, waiting in the hall for me, was another blow. He refused to meet my eyes and simply ushered me through the doorway. It was there I offered to take the final blow against the archdemon.”
“You did? No one speaks of this,” Jaxon gasped.
“Of course they don’t,” Maly grinned at him, “I was the only one of that group left to tell the tale, silly boy.”
“But why?”
“Because Fereldan needed a hero and Alistair firmly planted himself in that spot, the sodding nug-lover.”
She made a face and continued, “I was prepared to take the final blow. I even wanted it, honestly. And there we were, on top of the fort, the archdemon floundering around, and that bastard comes up and takes the sword from my hands. He tells me that he loves me too much for him to let me die,” Maly’s cheeks flushed with remembered anger, “Let me die! As if he had control over me. And then, off he goes, killing the archdemon and ruining everything we had worked to achieve! The Thierin bloodline destroyed, Anora on the throne…”
“You still alive with your hurt,” Jaxon spoke up.
Maly nodded, seeming to collapse into herself, the anger gone, “Aye, the hurt. He told me it was because he loved me, but honestly, I think it was because he was too afraid to be king and I hated him for it. His heroic act for Fereldan was the most selfish thing I had ever seen.”
“And so, there I was, the only Fereldan Grey Warden left, alone in a sea of politics, doing everything I could to keep us afloat. The Orlesians came and that created another set of problems. The mages requested my help as well. It seemed every where that I turned, there was someone needing something from me,” Maly shifted in the bed as she relived the memories, “And there was Avernus. He offered me a chance to do everything I needed to do, be everything people wanted me to be,” Maly paused and sighed softly, “More importantly, he offered me a chance to forget.”
Jaxon leaned forward anxiously, "To forget what?"
"That I carried something far darker than the Taint within me."
“There. We should be set for the rest of the night,” he gestured to the tray and the piles of food, “I didn’t know what you would want beyond the honey bars.”
“You are very good to me, Jaxon,” Maly sipped her tea and regarded him over the rim of her cup, “Why?”
“Well, I will admit to being intrigued by your lack of death,” Jaxon reached for a honey bar and took a bite, absently chewing. He swallowed and shrugged, “Aside from that, you are interesting and well, I like you. That is why I am good to you, as you call it.”
”I suppose you should hear my story before you go much further then,” Maly’s lips thinned as she stared into the distance, “You may not find me as good as you think.”
Jaxon was quiet as she shifted in the bed to face him better. Her eyes were dark and haunted by the past. She sat her mug on the table and took a deep breath, readying herself.
“I suppose the story starts at Ostagar when I met Alistair. I am certain you have heard the rumors of our relationship,” she waited until he nodded, “Well, they were true. Alistair and I were close,” she snorted and shook her head, “ More than that. We were wildly and stupidly in love. Definitely stupid on my part. I knew better than he. A mage and an elf could never be with a human, let alone the prince. But, despite warnings from Wynne, I let myself believe it would be different for us.”
Maly paused, reaching once again for her mug. Jaxon saw how her hand trembled. Her tale hurt her, he could see that. But, he made no move to stop her telling. He had to know. Maly cradled the mug in her hands as she returned his gaze.
“At the Landsmeet, I had it set for Alistair to become king. He would have made a fine one. He was a good and honest man who cared for Fereldan. There was compassion within him, something that that **** Anora lacked,” Maly wrinkled her nose in distaste, “How I loathed that woman. But, I digress.”
“Everything went according to plan! Eamon was so pleased, he was all but chortling as we retired. We all gathered in my sitting room, waiting to congratulate Alistair. It was everything we had all worked for. I was so happy. And then, he walked through the door.”
Maly’s voice trailed off and she shook her head. The lines in her face deepened with sadness. She swallowed and forced herself to continue, “Before any of us could say a word, he took two steps towards me and started talking. Such things he said, about how the nobles would never accept an elf and mage as queen, how he would have to find a queen to give him an heir, that we were finished. Even now, it feels as though I’ve been punched in the stomach. It hurt to have him toss me aside as he did, but,” she raised her eyes to Jaxon’s, “to do it in front of our friends, I was mortified. I didn’t know what to think or to do. He had taken everything I had thought we had and dashed it upon the floor in that sitting room.”
Jaxon reached over and took the mug from her shaking hands and set it aside. He then covered her hands with his, “You know, Maly, the records always said he was a fool.”
She chuckled softly, “I had hoped not to see him until the battle the following morning, but it was not to be. We had to meet with Riordan. Seeing him there, waiting in the hall for me, was another blow. He refused to meet my eyes and simply ushered me through the doorway. It was there I offered to take the final blow against the archdemon.”
“You did? No one speaks of this,” Jaxon gasped.
“Of course they don’t,” Maly grinned at him, “I was the only one of that group left to tell the tale, silly boy.”
“But why?”
“Because Fereldan needed a hero and Alistair firmly planted himself in that spot, the sodding nug-lover.”
She made a face and continued, “I was prepared to take the final blow. I even wanted it, honestly. And there we were, on top of the fort, the archdemon floundering around, and that bastard comes up and takes the sword from my hands. He tells me that he loves me too much for him to let me die,” Maly’s cheeks flushed with remembered anger, “Let me die! As if he had control over me. And then, off he goes, killing the archdemon and ruining everything we had worked to achieve! The Thierin bloodline destroyed, Anora on the throne…”
“You still alive with your hurt,” Jaxon spoke up.
Maly nodded, seeming to collapse into herself, the anger gone, “Aye, the hurt. He told me it was because he loved me, but honestly, I think it was because he was too afraid to be king and I hated him for it. His heroic act for Fereldan was the most selfish thing I had ever seen.”
“And so, there I was, the only Fereldan Grey Warden left, alone in a sea of politics, doing everything I could to keep us afloat. The Orlesians came and that created another set of problems. The mages requested my help as well. It seemed every where that I turned, there was someone needing something from me,” Maly shifted in the bed as she relived the memories, “And there was Avernus. He offered me a chance to do everything I needed to do, be everything people wanted me to be,” Maly paused and sighed softly, “More importantly, he offered me a chance to forget.”
Jaxon leaned forward anxiously, "To forget what?"
"That I carried something far darker than the Taint within me."
Modifié par AdorableAnarchist, 25 janvier 2010 - 01:23 .
#103
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 01:25
tallon1982
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*sings a la Dory* Just keep writing, just keep writing
#104
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:42
Miliat
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tallon1982 wrote...
*sings a la Dory* Just keep writing, just keep writing
This ^^^
I am so sucked into this story now lol.
#105
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:48
Kulkodar
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Yes, it didn't take much to suck us in, did it? I'm hanging here... waiting to find out just what Avernus gave her. Ah well *be patient* I say to myself. I do believe it will be a day or two, since tomorrow's a busy for our author.
#106
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 01:06
AdorableAnarchist
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Aww, thanks, guys! That made me smile! I'm alternating working on the story with work-work... I have another page done and it's clicking along nicely. Should see it some time this morning, depending on how work goes.
#107
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 01:14
Sisimka
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Darker than the taint, eh? Can't wait for the next bit!
#108
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 01:49
Freckles04
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More! More! Also, I really wanted to say I love how you've captured the hurt and betrayal Maly must have felt when Alistair took the killing blow. I also really like how she's telling Jaxon she's upset because she thinks Alistair did it to get out of being king...but I think the real reason she hurts so much is because he gave his life for her, even after everything. Nicely layered. 
#109
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:04
AdorableAnarchist
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Freckles04 wrote...
More! More! Also, I really wanted to say I love how you've captured the hurt and betrayal Maly must have felt when Alistair took the killing blow. I also really like how she's telling Jaxon she's upset because she thinks Alistair did it to get out of being king...but I think the real reason she hurts so much is because he gave his life for her, even after everything. Nicely layered.
Oh yes, Maly's feelings for Alistair are exceptionally thorny (pardon the pun). Wonder if she'll get them worked out?
#110
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:19
AdorableAnarchist
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Malaya stood in the labs, eyeing the old mage, “Are you certain this will work?”
“My dear Commander, do you not understand what I have told you? Being that close to the archdemon when it died changed you,” Avernus reached out and trailed a finger along the line of her chin, “If we do not do this, who knows what will become of you. What will become of your taint.”
He smirked, watching the thoughts flit behind her eyes. Oh yes, she was ripe for the picking, his commander. Just another, careful nudge and she would let him do whatever he wished. His voice dropped, all but hissing as he moved closer to her, gently brushing as a smudge of dirt on her sleeve, “You feel the anger, don’t you? It’s always there, waiting to slip out when you least expect it, isn’t it? It makes you want to do such things, Malaya, such terrible things.”
She nodded, unable to speak. How could he know? She had tried desperately to keep it under control. The incident with Oghren replayed in her head and she turned away from Avernus, her face in her hands.
“Yes,” she whispered hoarsely, “It’s there, Avenrus. I can feel it trying to make me do things, horrible things,” Maly shuddered as she parroted his words back to him, “I almost struck down the queen the last time I saw her.”
Avernus laughed, startling Maly into turning to face him, “I would not call that a particularly bad thing, Commander, given the fact that the queen is a conniving wench.”
“What happened to me, Avernus?”
“When Alistair killed the archdemon, their souls essentially cancelled each other out, or so we are taught,” Avernus led Maly to a chair and helped her sit. He studied her briefly before going to his worktable, “But, my dear, what if that isn’t what happened? What if part of the archdemon entered you as the only other Warden there? You did not die to destroy its Taint. You lived and so it does as well, within you.”
Maly paled and wavered in her chair, “I have the archdemon in me,” she gasped the words out as though each were painful to speak.
“Well, it could be worse,” Avernus barely glanced up from his notes, “You could be pregnant.”
“You joke, now,” Maly stood up, cheeks darkening with rage. She glared at the old mage, “How dare you joke about that? About this?”
“Enough hysterics, Commander,” Avernus’ voice bit through the haze of her anger, “Either sit back down and calm yourself or leave here and never return. I will not help a child throwing a tantrum.”
“I could not believe the way he spoke to me,” Maly gave a wry chuckle as she shrugged, “Of course, reading his journal, I begin to understand a bit. I was to be a project of his,” she glanced down at her hands, gnarled with age, “Apparently, a very successful one.”
“What did he do, Maly,” Jaxon could not help but press her.
Maly looked away, “He experimented on me, changing the way the Taint reacted to my body,” she shivered at the memory and drew the blankets closer around herself, “The things he did, that I saw,” her voice dropped, “There is good reason that blood magic is outlawed. I could hear him in my mind as he changed me, as he convinced the archdemon to mold to his wishes,” Maly’s voice cracked as she admitted her worst sin, “to my wishes.”
She refused to look at Jaxon, “It whispers in my head still, the archdemon. It reminds me every day of what I lost. It mocks me even though it cannot act through me anymore.”
Jxon studied her with fascination and distaste. She carried a piece of the archdemon within her and had controlled it with blood magic? No wonder she had been so reticent to tell him. This went against everything that he believed in. He pulled away and she let out a quiet noise, almost a sob.
“So,” she whispered, “You now know my terrible secret. I am an abomination of the highest order.”
“But why, Maly, why did you let him,” Jaxon’s lips curled with disgust, “do such things to you?”
“It was the only way to stop the archdemon from taking control of me,” she leaned back against the pillows and let her eyes fall shut, “The only way to make it help me instead of hurt me.”
“You do not know what Fereldan was like after the Blight. The Grey Wardens were weak and desperately needed to be strengthened on their own two feet, without intervention from abroad. The Circle was in tatters, young mages were left, alone in the world, at the mercy of ignorant people. I had to get the Wardens back into a place of power before Anora could destroy them. I had to help the Tower rebuild before a lone child destroyed all the good Wynne and I had done,” her voice weakened and she shrugged, though the movement was so tiny he almost missed it, “I had to find a way to fight the evil within me before I destroyed everything, including myself.”
The old mage bowed her head, her silvered hair masking the pain in her face, “What will you do with this knowledge, Jaxon,” she asked, unwilling to see the horror and disgust in his eyes, “Will you tell Rylan, finally let him in on my secrets? Report me to the Chantry so that they can kill me without thought or ceremony?”
Jaxon stood, his mind still reeling, “I don’t know, Maly, I don’t know. I thought you would be able to help me, but this, this is…”
“I know. This is pure evil,” she raised her head and finally met his shocked eyes, a sad smile on her lips, “I am pure evil.”
“My dear Commander, do you not understand what I have told you? Being that close to the archdemon when it died changed you,” Avernus reached out and trailed a finger along the line of her chin, “If we do not do this, who knows what will become of you. What will become of your taint.”
He smirked, watching the thoughts flit behind her eyes. Oh yes, she was ripe for the picking, his commander. Just another, careful nudge and she would let him do whatever he wished. His voice dropped, all but hissing as he moved closer to her, gently brushing as a smudge of dirt on her sleeve, “You feel the anger, don’t you? It’s always there, waiting to slip out when you least expect it, isn’t it? It makes you want to do such things, Malaya, such terrible things.”
She nodded, unable to speak. How could he know? She had tried desperately to keep it under control. The incident with Oghren replayed in her head and she turned away from Avernus, her face in her hands.
“Yes,” she whispered hoarsely, “It’s there, Avenrus. I can feel it trying to make me do things, horrible things,” Maly shuddered as she parroted his words back to him, “I almost struck down the queen the last time I saw her.”
Avernus laughed, startling Maly into turning to face him, “I would not call that a particularly bad thing, Commander, given the fact that the queen is a conniving wench.”
“What happened to me, Avernus?”
“When Alistair killed the archdemon, their souls essentially cancelled each other out, or so we are taught,” Avernus led Maly to a chair and helped her sit. He studied her briefly before going to his worktable, “But, my dear, what if that isn’t what happened? What if part of the archdemon entered you as the only other Warden there? You did not die to destroy its Taint. You lived and so it does as well, within you.”
Maly paled and wavered in her chair, “I have the archdemon in me,” she gasped the words out as though each were painful to speak.
“Well, it could be worse,” Avernus barely glanced up from his notes, “You could be pregnant.”
“You joke, now,” Maly stood up, cheeks darkening with rage. She glared at the old mage, “How dare you joke about that? About this?”
“Enough hysterics, Commander,” Avernus’ voice bit through the haze of her anger, “Either sit back down and calm yourself or leave here and never return. I will not help a child throwing a tantrum.”
“I could not believe the way he spoke to me,” Maly gave a wry chuckle as she shrugged, “Of course, reading his journal, I begin to understand a bit. I was to be a project of his,” she glanced down at her hands, gnarled with age, “Apparently, a very successful one.”
“What did he do, Maly,” Jaxon could not help but press her.
Maly looked away, “He experimented on me, changing the way the Taint reacted to my body,” she shivered at the memory and drew the blankets closer around herself, “The things he did, that I saw,” her voice dropped, “There is good reason that blood magic is outlawed. I could hear him in my mind as he changed me, as he convinced the archdemon to mold to his wishes,” Maly’s voice cracked as she admitted her worst sin, “to my wishes.”
She refused to look at Jaxon, “It whispers in my head still, the archdemon. It reminds me every day of what I lost. It mocks me even though it cannot act through me anymore.”
Jxon studied her with fascination and distaste. She carried a piece of the archdemon within her and had controlled it with blood magic? No wonder she had been so reticent to tell him. This went against everything that he believed in. He pulled away and she let out a quiet noise, almost a sob.
“So,” she whispered, “You now know my terrible secret. I am an abomination of the highest order.”
“But why, Maly, why did you let him,” Jaxon’s lips curled with disgust, “do such things to you?”
“It was the only way to stop the archdemon from taking control of me,” she leaned back against the pillows and let her eyes fall shut, “The only way to make it help me instead of hurt me.”
“You do not know what Fereldan was like after the Blight. The Grey Wardens were weak and desperately needed to be strengthened on their own two feet, without intervention from abroad. The Circle was in tatters, young mages were left, alone in the world, at the mercy of ignorant people. I had to get the Wardens back into a place of power before Anora could destroy them. I had to help the Tower rebuild before a lone child destroyed all the good Wynne and I had done,” her voice weakened and she shrugged, though the movement was so tiny he almost missed it, “I had to find a way to fight the evil within me before I destroyed everything, including myself.”
The old mage bowed her head, her silvered hair masking the pain in her face, “What will you do with this knowledge, Jaxon,” she asked, unwilling to see the horror and disgust in his eyes, “Will you tell Rylan, finally let him in on my secrets? Report me to the Chantry so that they can kill me without thought or ceremony?”
Jaxon stood, his mind still reeling, “I don’t know, Maly, I don’t know. I thought you would be able to help me, but this, this is…”
“I know. This is pure evil,” she raised her head and finally met his shocked eyes, a sad smile on her lips, “I am pure evil.”
#112
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:38
jenovan
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..... eep! 8O
I love how the suspense never ends... Now that we know Maly's secret, what the 'ell is anyone going to do about it?!
Good times. For us readers, anyway, if not Maly and Jaxon. ;D
I love how the suspense never ends... Now that we know Maly's secret, what the 'ell is anyone going to do about it?!
Good times. For us readers, anyway, if not Maly and Jaxon. ;D
#113
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:53
Sialater
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Uh... if she dies, won't that piece of Archdemon just go to the next Grey Warden?
Poor Maly.
Poor Maly.
#114
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 02:56
AdorableAnarchist
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Sia, perhaps, but then, Avernus is a cagey blighter... We shall see...
Thanks, Jenovan! It is tons of fun to see where this is going. I'm going out to lunch with the beloved hubby (for his birthday) and I'm going to bounce ideas on him and see if I can get another segment written.
Thanks, Jenovan! It is tons of fun to see where this is going. I'm going out to lunch with the beloved hubby (for his birthday) and I'm going to bounce ideas on him and see if I can get another segment written.
#115
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 03:27
MarcusDeVarro
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Aw maly, ur not evil, just misunderstood lol
#116
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 05:03
Miliat
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MarcusDeVarro wrote...
Aw maly, ur not evil, just misunderstood lol
I'll agree with this statement.
#117
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 05:06
Inzhuna
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Ahh! new chapters! SO good, as usual!
Just one thing - I believe Duncan called the Chasind the Wilder folk, not Morrigan and Flemeth. I think the conversation you're referring to was in Ostagar. PC says 'Perhaps we should tell you about Morrigan and her mother'. Duncan asks 'Were they Wilder folk?' And Alistair says that they weren't. But I'm not sure.
Anyways, thank you for telling us Maly's story and please write more!))
Just one thing - I believe Duncan called the Chasind the Wilder folk, not Morrigan and Flemeth. I think the conversation you're referring to was in Ostagar. PC says 'Perhaps we should tell you about Morrigan and her mother'. Duncan asks 'Were they Wilder folk?' And Alistair says that they weren't. But I'm not sure.
Anyways, thank you for telling us Maly's story and please write more!
))
#118
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 07:36
AdorableAnarchist
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Inzhuna, you're right. I totally flubbed that conversation memory. LOL
I'm hoping to get some more written soon.
I'm hoping to get some more written soon.
#119
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 08:16
tallon1982
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I feel like I should be playing the keyboard "Dum dum dum!" hehe Stay tuned for the next episode hehe *rocks back and forth* I'm not an addict...
#120
Posté 25 janvier 2010 - 08:31
AdorableAnarchist
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LOL! You guys are awesome for my ego... Unfortunately, your addiction will have to remain unfulfilled until tomorrow, most likely. I've got an hour left at work to get some serious stuff accomplished and then tonight is Hubby's b-day. Got's stuff to do for that that precludes writing.
#121
Posté 26 janvier 2010 - 04:39
Kulkodar
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Well, this has gotten quite interesting. Yes, we are greedy for moar, but can't blame you for taking real life first
#123
Posté 07 février 2010 - 04:07
AdorableAnarchist
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Sorry this took so long to write, folks! On the plus side, my neck is getting better and life is settling down. So, I should be writing more.
Silence stretched between them for several minutes. Maly did not raise her eyes. Jaxon blew out a breath and dropped back into his chair. He studied the old mage for a moment before reaching out to cover her hands with his.
“Whatever it takes,” he whispered, squeezing her frail hands gently, “You did what you had to do.”
Maly raised her face to meet his gaze, her dark eyes filled with tears, “Jaxon,” her voice caught and shook her head, unable to continue.
“What can I say,” Jaxon managed a smile, “I’m a sucker for a woman with a past.”
That surprised a soft laugh out of Malaya. Jaxon patted her hands, marveling once more at how frail she appeared on the outside. She slanted a glance up at him, “You said you thought that I could help you, young man. Care to explain?”
Jaxon looked away. She studied him, watching the firelight dance across his features. She could see the emotions warring there and placed her hand on his arm. He did not say a word as he covered her tiny hand with his. Once again, silence reigned, punctuated only by the quiet murmurs of the fire in the grate.
“I was a new Warden, barely a month from my Joining,” his voice was low and Maly leaned closer to hear him. Jaxon squared his shoulders and continued, “Rylan sent me to Lothering to check on reports of a Darkspawn band that was roaming about. With me was another Warden, Keddric. He was supposed to put me through my paces, let me learn by leading,” Jaxon frowned and looked down at their hands, “We were told about a farm that had been razed by the Darkspawn. It was my decision to set out right then, see if we could find any survivors or clues as to why they were suddenly attacking Lothering again.”
“What happened to Keddric,” Maly asked, gently prompting him as he lapsed into silence.
“Suffice to say, he didn’t make it and I got to be the one to tell his wife and children that he wasn’t coming home. He had undergone the Joining later than most, you see,” Jaxon rubbed his sleeve over his eyes, “His wife was a good sort. She never minded when he would bring me home for supper. It was a welcome change from being under Rylan’s eyes all the time.”
“I never saw her smile after that. She got ill, seemed to fade away before our eyes. We buried her three months after Keddric.”
Maly reached up to cup his cheek, “You know it was not your fault.”
“I was the one that said we didn’t need to wait for help,” Jaxon pushed out of his chair and faced her, eyes flashing, “It was my choice and a good man died! The last thing Rebekah did was to beg me form her death bed to watch over their children!”
Jaxon spun away, raking his hands through his hair helplessly, “How can I do that when I’ve only got fifteen years left?”
His shoulders slumped, “It’s my fault they are without their parents and I can’t even be sure that I can take care of them like I promised.”
“I’m sorry,” Maly said, worrying the sheet in her hands, “I don’t know what Avernus did to me, Jaxon, not the details. Even if I did, I don’t think it would work.”
“Because we don’t have an archdemon for me to stand next to while someone kills the damned thing.”
Jaxon looked over his shoulder at her, “You should get some rest, Maly. Rylan will expect to see you directly after breakfast.”
The old mage said nothing as he left, shutting the door quietly behind him. The tattered book on her bedside table seemed to mock her as she reached for it. There was nothing to help Jaxon in its pages. She let it drop into the vacated chair and fell back against her pillows. Maker knew there was nothing in it to help her either.
Silence stretched between them for several minutes. Maly did not raise her eyes. Jaxon blew out a breath and dropped back into his chair. He studied the old mage for a moment before reaching out to cover her hands with his.
“Whatever it takes,” he whispered, squeezing her frail hands gently, “You did what you had to do.”
Maly raised her face to meet his gaze, her dark eyes filled with tears, “Jaxon,” her voice caught and shook her head, unable to continue.
“What can I say,” Jaxon managed a smile, “I’m a sucker for a woman with a past.”
That surprised a soft laugh out of Malaya. Jaxon patted her hands, marveling once more at how frail she appeared on the outside. She slanted a glance up at him, “You said you thought that I could help you, young man. Care to explain?”
Jaxon looked away. She studied him, watching the firelight dance across his features. She could see the emotions warring there and placed her hand on his arm. He did not say a word as he covered her tiny hand with his. Once again, silence reigned, punctuated only by the quiet murmurs of the fire in the grate.
“I was a new Warden, barely a month from my Joining,” his voice was low and Maly leaned closer to hear him. Jaxon squared his shoulders and continued, “Rylan sent me to Lothering to check on reports of a Darkspawn band that was roaming about. With me was another Warden, Keddric. He was supposed to put me through my paces, let me learn by leading,” Jaxon frowned and looked down at their hands, “We were told about a farm that had been razed by the Darkspawn. It was my decision to set out right then, see if we could find any survivors or clues as to why they were suddenly attacking Lothering again.”
“What happened to Keddric,” Maly asked, gently prompting him as he lapsed into silence.
“Suffice to say, he didn’t make it and I got to be the one to tell his wife and children that he wasn’t coming home. He had undergone the Joining later than most, you see,” Jaxon rubbed his sleeve over his eyes, “His wife was a good sort. She never minded when he would bring me home for supper. It was a welcome change from being under Rylan’s eyes all the time.”
“I never saw her smile after that. She got ill, seemed to fade away before our eyes. We buried her three months after Keddric.”
Maly reached up to cup his cheek, “You know it was not your fault.”
“I was the one that said we didn’t need to wait for help,” Jaxon pushed out of his chair and faced her, eyes flashing, “It was my choice and a good man died! The last thing Rebekah did was to beg me form her death bed to watch over their children!”
Jaxon spun away, raking his hands through his hair helplessly, “How can I do that when I’ve only got fifteen years left?”
His shoulders slumped, “It’s my fault they are without their parents and I can’t even be sure that I can take care of them like I promised.”
“I’m sorry,” Maly said, worrying the sheet in her hands, “I don’t know what Avernus did to me, Jaxon, not the details. Even if I did, I don’t think it would work.”
“Because we don’t have an archdemon for me to stand next to while someone kills the damned thing.”
Jaxon looked over his shoulder at her, “You should get some rest, Maly. Rylan will expect to see you directly after breakfast.”
The old mage said nothing as he left, shutting the door quietly behind him. The tattered book on her bedside table seemed to mock her as she reached for it. There was nothing to help Jaxon in its pages. She let it drop into the vacated chair and fell back against her pillows. Maker knew there was nothing in it to help her either.
#124
Posté 07 février 2010 - 04:13
jenovan
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- Members
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What luck for me to be on just now! XD Glad you're feeling better :3Poor Jaxon... that was definitely a surprise
Guess that gives Maly something to chew on, though... hmm... 
Modifié par jenovan, 07 février 2010 - 04:14 .
#125
Posté 07 février 2010 - 04:20
AdorableAnarchist
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- Members
- 449 messages
Glad you liked it! As for Jaxon, it will be interesting! I'm pleased that my inspiration for this story has returned. I hope to crank another part out tomorrow.
Modifié par AdorableAnarchist, 07 février 2010 - 04:20 .
