by GR Griffin
"I understand you left the castle today, my lady." Sameer smiled kindly at Lenneth, ignoring what had just happened. "Did you and Mystina take in the sights of our fair city?"
"No, not exactly." Lenneth admitted. "Mystina was kind enough to show me to her private laboratory." A low murmur of surprise from those present, leaving Lenneth to frown. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Oh no!" Sameer quickly assured her. "There is no fault with you."
And yet everyone was looking surprised, several people whispering to each other. Lezard took it upon himself to explain the reaction, frowning all the while. "It is rare for a mage to invite someone to their workshop. It's practically unheard of for Mystina to do it."
"Oh?"
Mystina smiled, still trying for that innocent look. "I saw no harm in showing the lady my work. It is good to have my efforts be appreciated for once."
Lezard fixed her with a steely eyed glare. "I don't believe you did this out of any desire to be appreciated."
"Oh my Lezard. Are you implying I had an ulterior motive for inviting Lenneth to my laboratory?"
"I know you must have." Lezard retorted. He did a quick glance at Lenneth before resuming his glaring at Mystina. "I'll have you remember what I told you. I will not allow you to do anything untoward towards Lenneth, research be damned."
"I did nothing without the lady's consent." Snapped Mystina. Lenneth saw that only made Lezard worried, the man's jaw clenching tighter.
"Lenneth, what did she do to you?"
The demanding tone almost made her not want to answer. But her rebellious streak was squashed by the outright concern Lezard was showing her. "Nothing bad." Lenneth finally said. "She merely took a strand of my hair to study."
"So you can see Lezard, you are overreacting for nothing." Mystina's tone was insolent then.
"You go too far Mystina." grumbled Lezard. Lenneth saw the look Lezard gave Mystina. It spoke strongly of the words he would have with the sorceress, once they were free of an audience.
"That is nothing new." Muttered Randolf, quickly sipping at his drink.
The mood at the table had turned uneasy, the people present picking nervously at their plates. Lezard could hardly relax besides her, Lenneth noting how tense he still was. She inwardly sighed, and forced herself to touch his hand. That touch drew his attention to her, the look in his eyes one of surprise.
"I am fine." Lenneth assured him, her tone soft. "I would not allow Mystina, or anyone else to take advantage and hurt me."
"You can be used without realizing it." Lezard whispered back to her. That got Lenneth to abruptly pull her hand away, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
"Do you think me a child?" She demanded, voice still so soft that only Lezard could hear her. "That I am so naive as to not know when people are trying to use me?"
"No...I do not think of you as a child in anyway." Lezard quickly assured her. "But you are innocent in some respects, your time in the heavens surely have not prepared you for the likes of such as the sorceress."
"There is much I can admit to not knowing." Lenneth said. "But I need the chance to learn, even if that learning comes through experiencing betrayal."
"This is one betrayal you do not want nor need." Lezard warned. "You should stay away from Mystina. She does not have your best interests at heart."
"And you do?" challenged Lenneth. She tried not to feel sorry for him at the hurt look Lezard wore in response to her words.
"I know I've made a mess of things..." He began with a sigh. "But despite what has happened, I still do want what is best for you. I want to protect you, to guide you, to help you adapt to your new life and world. I cannot say the same for Mystina. Not knowing what I know."
"And that is what?" Lenneth asked, eyes intent on his. He opened and closed his mouth, as though debating what to say to her. "Lezard?" Again she reached to touch his hand, expression urgent. "I won't stay away from her if I don't have a real reason to."
"Now is not the time to speak of her threats." Lezard caught her hand before she could draw it away. "Lenneth...please...a moment of your time. Away from here, away from them."
"You want to speak to me alone?" Her heart slammed into her chest, a powerful surge of distress filling her. It was too soon, too soon to go anywhere with him. Too soon to go away from the safety of the others, too soon to endure another moment alone with him.
And yet she knew she had to master these reactions to him. She didn't have the luxury of time, Lenneth expecting to marry Lezard come tomorrow. She didn't have time to get over any silly worries and fears she had about being alone with him. And yet she wanted to put it off, to keep from being hurt again. It did not matter what Mystina's true motive was, not when Lenneth herself sought to use the sorceress to further her own ends.
But as much as she wanted to protect herself in avoiding Lezard, Lenneth knew she could not. She had a mission, self appointed though it was. She had to get close to him, had to foster a trust that would trick Lezard into revealing things, damning evidence of Hel's planned betrayal. She had to get close, risk herself and her heart in the process. It was the only way left to her, especially since it appeared Mystina did not know anything of value.
"All right." She said at last, bowing her head. "But only for a moment."
"Thank you." His eyes looked relived, Lezard rising from his seat. He was still holding onto her hand, drawing Lenneth up with him. The people at the table also rose, curious looks in their eyes as to what their Lord was doing. "If you will excuse us...I would have a moment with my betrothed."
"Stealing her away from us already?" Mystina's smile was a teasing one. "Could you not wait until after the wedding for that moment?"
"Do not begrudge him for the want to be with his lady." chastised Randolf. "Once we retire for the evening, he will not be allowed to see her until tomorrow's ceremony is under way."
"We will be gone only for a few moments." Lezard assured them. "There is some matters I would like to discuss with Lenneth..."
"Oh matters. Is that what you're calling it?" Louville's grin made Lenneth blush, the former Goddess trailing after Lezard as he led her past the table.
"Louville, don't be rude!" admonished Sameer. Whatever Louville's retort to that was, it was lost, the dining room doors closing behind them. Lenneth continued to blush, wondering how much Louville's insinuation had to do with Lezard's drunken late night visit.
"Do they all know about what happened?" She asked, as Lezard led her towards an empty room. "About last night, and what nearly happened?"
He waited until he closed the doors before answering, Lezard saying. "Not really."
"Not really?" She frowned. "And that means what exactly?"
"Louville was among the six present during last night's drinking. They all...encouraged me to go see you." Her expression was surely aghast, Lenneth staring at him in dismay. "Do not worry. They are of the utmost in discretion!"
"Louville's comment didn't seem very discrete to me!" Lenneth pointed out.
"That was wrong of him. But he will not betray you or us. Frankly I'd be surprised if he could even remember half of what was said the night before, so heavy was his drink!"
"Somehow hearing that doesn't inspire much confidence." Lenneth muttered.
"I want to apologize again." Lezard said, seeming sincere in his regret. "I had no right to call on you the way I did. No right to try and force myself on you, to make demands of you." She said nothing to that, not even to voice agreement or chastise him. Lezard seemed to grow agitated in response, lifting a hand to run it through his hair. "Will you not say anything?"
"What is it you want me to say?" She asked. "I don't think I can forgive you. Not now, not yet."
"Then when?"
Lenneth gave an elegant shrug of her shoulders. "I do not know. What you did was extremely hurtful. It's not the kind of hurt that can be easily mended by words alone."
"Then what must I do to prove I am sorry?" Lezard asked. "Just say the
word, and it will be done!"
"It's not that easy. You hurt me, trampled on my trust, took advantage of the weakness that has been forced upon me." Lenneth looked away. "If you hadn't passed out when you did..."
"We'd have been lovers." Lezard finished for her. His tone was hoarse, sounding like his voice was breaking. He was not as pleased by the thought of being her lover as Lenneth had expected, and that surprised her. Lenneth told him as much, Lezard surprising her yet again with the raw honestly of his words and expression. "There would be no joy after the act, not if my pleasure came at the expense of your feelings and trust."
"Do my feelings really matter to you that much?" Lenneth asked him.
"Of course they do!" He seemed insulted then. "Whatever I may have done, may have attempted to do, I've always valued you and your feelings. But I am just a man, prone to making mistakes..."
"Especially once you've had too much to drink." Lezard seemed to flush at that reminder.
"I never should have drank Randolf's brew." He muttered. "It made all my good sense be thrown to the wind."
"You weren't drunk when you tried to kiss me in your workshop." Lenneth reminded him.
"Ah...." He seemed uncomfortable then. "I wouldn't have taken it farther than a kiss."
"Wouldn't you?"
"Not before we were married at least." Lezard allowed himself a thin smile. "It wouldn't have been proper to try for anything more."
Lenneth couldn't help shivering. There in lie the horrible truth of the matter. He was restraining himself, only because they hadn't been officially wed. Once the ceremony happened, and Lenneth was bound to him as wife, Lezard would have his demands met. He would expect things of her, things she never wanted to give. Things she couldn't afford to do, not without damage being done to her heart by Odin's enchantment.
She felt ill in the moment, her skin's color leeching from her face. Lezard made a sound, a saying of her name, as he took a step towards her. She backed up, and nearly fell over, having hit what felt like a table. Lezard moved faster than she gave him credit for, his arms suddenly around her, keeping Lenneth upright. It was startling to suddenly be in his arms, to be embraced by him. Her eyes had widened, the sick feeling increasing as she stared into his amethyst colored eyes.
Lezard's face was so near to hers, Lenneth feared he would try to kiss her again. She immediately placed her hands on his shirt, pushing against his chest to get away. For one brief moment his arms tightened around her, and then Lezard was reluctantly letting go. Lenneth backed up again, finding a seat and promptly taking it. Lezard stood a few feet away, staring at her with a hurt look in his eyes.
"What have I done now?" He asked softly.
"Nothing...nothing yet." She finally admitted. He arched a brow, then understanding dawned in his eyes.
"You fear the future." Lezard breathed out. Lenneth didn't react in anyway, just staring at him. "Am I that distasteful to you, that even the mere thought of what will happen after our wedding, has you bolting?"
"You are hardly distasteful to me!" Lenneth admitted, too pale to blush properly. "It might be easier if you were. But this enchantment I am under, it gives me no chance to make up my mind about you. It tries to force me to have feelings for you. This is not right, not right at all!" She brought a hand to her mouth, closing her eyes. "I should have been given a CHOICE." Lenneth finally said, eyes snapping open to fix him with the full extent of her misery. "I should have had that right. The right to decide about you for myself, to see if you were worthy of loving. Instead I am left with no chance, no defense against love, my heart's fate sealed the moment you kissed me awake!"
"Lenneth..."
"It's not any fault of your own..." She continued over him. "It was Odin's decision, my punishment for failing my King. I....perhaps it was wrong of me to fight the enchantment upon awakening. But I never imagined how painful it would be, to exist in this half state, fighting with the feelings his enchantment tries to manufacture within me!"
For some reason a look very much like guilt crossed Lezard's face. But Lenneth couldn't understand why he would wear such an expression. He wasn't the one who had done this to her, wasn't the one who had given her the love potion. The chance of her being here was just that...chance. A fluke of fate, where another Valkyrie might have been given to him had Lenneth never failed against Brahms.
And yet Lezard was visibly distressed, struggling with something. She couldn't guess what that something could be. Was he really that conflicted by her own torture? Why should he even care? They were all but strangers to one another. Her pain, her conflicting feelings should mean nothing to him ultimately.
"I know it is useless at this point to wish for things to be another way." Lenneth continued.
"But you still wish for it anyway." Lezard said, and she nodded.
"I don't know if I could have loved you without the enchantment." Lenneth admitted. "You are hardly anything like a Valkyrie's ideal man."
He gave her a humorless smile. "I did not realize Valkyries had an ideal where men were concerned."
"Most Valkyrie do not want to retire." Lenneth told him. "Ever. But, if we must, there is a certain ideal we strive for. A certain kind of man we hope for."
"And I suppose a magic using, worshipper of Hel is not that kind of man?"
"Not at all." Lenneth agreed. "Once I would have struck you down just for who you allied with. I wouldn't have wanted to take the chance to get to know you, to see the qualities you possess beyond your necromancy." She sighed. "It would not matter to me how kind you are, how friendly you've been to me, how patient. I think I would have hated you completely. I certainly would have not given you a chance to prove yourself to be something more than a worshipper of a cruel goddess."
He was saying nothing to that, just giving Lenneth his complete attention. "Most of the Valkyrie would have been the same way. There is no doubt in my mind that if Odin intends to gift more of Hel's followers with Valkyries for brides, the love spell will have to be used."
"The hatred is that strong?"
"The distrust is." Lenneth corrected him. "This sudden alliance won't just put an end to centuries of animosity between our two kingdoms. The Valkyries won't forget so easily the wrongs committed by Hel and her followers. There is a long way to go before a true peace can be found....if that is even possible..." She studied him then, a curious look in her eyes. "You've evaded often the reasons behind Odin's agreement to this alliance with your Goddess. Will you continue to do so?"
"Hel and Odin both have things the other wants. It is a want that has driven them to ally."
"That is not a good enough answer for me." Lenneth told him.
"It is the only one I can give you." Lezard said, to Lenneth's frustration. "I know it must not be satisfactory. You've had to give up so much, and you don't even understand why! But you have to, must believe that by being here, you are accomplishing something. Something that will benefit Odin in the long run."
"Benefit? How?"
"I cannot know for sure." Lezard shrugged. "But I believe your King will not squander this opportunity the alliance I have made for him, for them, gives him."
"If Odin is one thing, it is he is an opportunist when it comes to gaining an advantage." Lenneth agreed.
"He would not be the only one."
"Who do you mean?" Lenneth asked, and Lezard grimaced.
"Mystina."
"Ah the sorceress..." Lenneth said. "Just what is it you were trying to tell me in the dining room? The things you did not want to say in front of everyone?"
"Mystina is...." He hesitated so long, Lenneth thought Lezard wasn't going to answer her. "She can be dangerous."
"Can be?"
"I've taken measure to neutralize her, but a tiger never really loses it's claws." Lezard said with a grimace. "She's a little too interested in you Lenneth. I'd advise against going anywhere with her..."
"As if she could hurt me." Lenneth scoffed.
"She could try!" Lezard
's eyes blazed, the man taking a step towards Lenneth. "She is obsessed with you."
"With me?" Her eyes widened in surprise.
"In what you are, what you were. She thinks to study you, as if she could somehow find some secret out."
"I already know all that." Lenneth interrupted him. "She wants to try and figure out how to replicate my immortality, maybe even see if a mortal can be made into a God."
"And she'll go to any length to get the answers to those questions of hers! Lenneth...this is serious. She wants to experiment on you...This goes beyond a mere study of your hair. If she can, she'll do unspeakable things, horrible things...."
"If she tries to hurt me, I will kill her." Lenneth told him, holding his gaze with her own. Her words had not appeased him, Lezard shaking his head.
"You may not get a chance to act against her before she has you strapped down to her table!" She started to protest, and Lezard held up his hand for silence. "Yes, you are a capable fighter, but she has magic on her side. You are mortal now, and all too susceptible to her tricks. Please....for your safety, and my peace of mind. Stay away from her!"
Lenneth did not immediately promise him anything. Instead she arched an eyebrow, curious. "Are you not interested in those same things? Does not my former divinity make you curious?"
He was aghast. "I would never seek to experiment on you, to do the things Mystina would do in order to satisfy a curiosity she has no right to."
"Then you are infinitely wiser than the sorceress." Lenneth said.
"Of that there was never any doubt." Lezard told her.
In a different time, a different place Lenneth might have smiled in response. But her smiles were rarely given since her sister had been taken, and Lenneth herself punished so thoroughly for that failure. "Am I in danger from any others?"
He hesitated. "I would like to hope no others would dare attempt the lengths of depravity that Mystina would...."
