by Jana LaPelle
(Ashlinn)
“Noooo! Alaric. Stop!” I’m yelling as my kindred has sat his sights on Tarron. I could feel his anger and rage boiling just beneath the surface of his emotions, but I thought it was contained for the time being. I was wrong. Alaric's seamless shift is faster than any that I have seen before, and his panther quickly leaps toward Tarron. In mid-leap, Alaric takes his original form back and tackles the incubus to the ground. Before they even hit the earth, Alaric is pummeling him, as punch after punch connects with Tarron's face. I see Tarron move from beneath Alaric at a blinding speed attempting to avoid the attack. Alaric actually hits earth as his last punch lands, clearly missing his adversary and his fist connects with the ground causing the skin over his knuckles to break open. Alaric shifts and is on Tarron in a heartbeat, and the skirmish continues. True to his word, Tarron does not fight back. He takes punch after punch that Alaric delivers, all the while trying to evade Alaric. I can no longer allow Alaric to indulge in his anger.
“Alaric! Stop! Please! I beg of you. He isn’t even fighting back.” I feel weak in the knees as I take in the scene before me as Alaric continues the onslaught. I send as much as I can through our bond to gain his attention. I feel someone come to my side and look up to see Tolin and my guard. I’m quickly throwing myself into his large muscular frame.
Tolin's arms come around me in a brotherly hug, and he holds me close, and I hear, "We missed you, Little Bit. Shhh… Now. You know this needs to be done.”
“Make him stop, Tolin. Tarron is now our ally. He needs to stop.” I say into Tolin’s chest.
“Ash, Alaric by rights could have Tarron’s head on a silver platter, and not one person here would object to that. Taking someone’s kindred is a crime punishable by death. You would be wise to let him work through his anger.” Tolin advises as I bury my face in his chest not wanting to watch the beating going on behind me.
I hear Alaric’s proclamation, “You will suffer greatly for what you have put her through.” As I hear his fist, connect with Tarron's midsection. "No amount of punishment will ever right the wrong you have done to my mate," Alaric grinds out as he continues his onslaught. I turn to see Alaric deliver a right uppercut jab to Tarron’s jaw that sends him flying backward. The muscles in Alaric’s arms and chest flex and bunch at the action. Alaric stalks toward Tarron as he climbs to his feet, intent on continuing the beating.
In frustration, I hear Alaric grit out between the blows he continues to deliver to Tarron, "Fight back. Damn you. Fight back. You son of a bitch!” I turn to see Alaric lay off of Tarron as Tarron moves more quickly than I can track.
"Listen Alaric. I was wrong. I know that now…”
“Damn straight.” And he lands another blow to Tarron’s face and with a sickening crunch; I know he’s broken Tarron’s nose.
Tarron stumbles backward as blood rushes from his nose. Before Alaric can pounce again, he moves in the blink of an eye ten feet way before saying in raspy, nasally voice, “I should never have enacted the blood contract, and for that, I'm truly sorry." Tarron ducks and moves away from Alaric's oncoming attack. His face has taken quite a few blows and is bruised and bloody. "We have reached an accord, Alaric, we now have a common goal. I know that you are beyond angry with me, but I want us to work together in this. I will do whatever it is that I must, to move passed this." Tarron says, hands up in a submissive gesture. I know that does not come easily for him, he is as much an alpha male as Alaric.
Alaric pulls back and looks at Tarron pointedly and says, “I’m not sure you understand the depth of my anger towards you Tarron. You. Took. Her. From. Me. You refused to even have a civil conversation about it. Your intentions toward my kindred, my mate, would have made it so that we both suffered a lifetime. She's carrying my child, damn it! I'm not sure that I can ever forgive that transgression. I know I'll sure as hell never forget how it felt to know that my once best friend had so little respect for me that he would take the one thing in all The Realms that would bring me to my knees! I can't even look at you without wanting to pound your face into a bloody pulp. You say you're sorry and you want us to work together. But sorry doesn't even to begin to cover it. What I want to know is why the change of heart, Tarron? You had her in your clutches, I felt the darkness take hold with vicious intent, and for a moment I shared her agony. She was so close to giving into the pull. Why back down?"
"Alaric, it was something that she said to me that triggered what I can only describe as a sense of wrongness. In the end, I had to be willing to give her up in order to save her from losing her soul to the darkness that was binding her to me. Once that decision was made, I was able to see more clearly what my path could be if I only embraced all of whom I am. I'm drawn to the light I see shining from her, but I know now that she and I were only ever meant to be friends. We have made peace with that. All I want now is for the two of us to align so that we might protect her by any means necessary. I know, it's a lot to ask, and we may never be friends again, but I would like to align The Horde with your army." Tarron says expectantly waiting for Alaric's response.
I pull out of Tolin’s arms and look around. For the first time, I see the division amongst us all as I walk up to the two males who are still very much caught up in a visible battle as they stare each other down, steamy puffs of air rising up above them as they catch their breath. I slide my hand into my kindred's, and I feel our binding markings begin to tingle, and I wait for Alaric's response.
“Tell me Tarron, how can I possibly ever trust you? Your actions over the last several years speak volumes as to the male you have become. You too easily gave into your anger and your sense of entitlement. Why should that have
changed in such a brief period of time?" His anger is still barely contained, and I attempt to soothe him with my touch alone.
"It was my time with Ashlinn. She helped me to see the male that I should be and not the one that I had become. In the end, I had no choice but to do the right thing." Tarron pauses as he looks the two of us over, standing together as a united front, as he continues, "If I continued down the path that I was going, I would have pulled her down with me, and that was not an acceptable outcome. Ashlinn deserves far better than that. The Realms need her. I needed her. She was the key to saving me from myself. Do you think it is easy for me to discuss this with you in front of my people? To lay myself bare before you all? I’ve made mistakes, and now this is me fixing my mistakes. I know that I will have to earn your trust Alaric. I know that it will not be an easy thing to do. I know this.” Tarron concludes.
I decide to chime in at this point as I address my handsome Elf-Man, "Alaric, you, yourself said that actions speak loudly. Tarron is finding his way back from a very dark place. He summoned Dagda so that he could help me. All I know is that he has been kind, thoughtful, and protective since coming around and even before. Those are his first actions since turning over this new leaf. They should count toward earning our trust. All I ask is that you talk with your uncle before making any rash decisions. I understand that, for you, all of this is still so very fresh and like an open wound, it will take time to heal. I have had that time in the last several days. You have not. I know you're still angry, and I know you want to crack his skull in, but I know that we'll need Tarron and The Horde in the war to come." I pause to allow my words to sink in before continuing, "Look at me, Alaric. I'm okay. We… we’re okay. Isn't that all that matters in the end? This was meant to be, as is the alliance between us and the dark fae. The Horde needs change, and The Realms need for us to take The Morrígan down. We can only do that if we stand together as a united front. Alaric look around you, you can see the visible divide between us. It's up to us to bring about change. There was never anything for me to forgive Tarron for, don't you see? This was meant to happen. There is a higher power at work here, and we must fix the divide within Faerie." I say resolutely, waiting for my kindred's response.
I feel it the moment Al
aric backs down. He sighs heavily, as he pulls me in and wraps his arms around me and says, "You make a compelling argument, mo grá. I will talk with Dagda. I just need to have you by my side. I'm not sure that I will be able to have you outside of my line of sight for some time so get used to having a permanent shadow for a while." He kisses the top of my head as he changes his focus to Tarron and says, "You and I have much to settle between us. I cannot as easily put all of this aside, but if we are going to work together, we have to find some way around this. For now, I chose to hear you all out. I cannot allow my personal feelings toward you and your actions dictate what is best for all The Realms. So for now, I will agree to a truce of sorts until we can come to an accord, one that will be mutually agreed upon by us all.” He pauses as he looks around, taking in everyone around us before continuing, “For now, Tarron, we are at your mercy, we are all tired, and none of us have slept in days. If you don't mind, we will need to set up camp so that my people can get some rest."
"Alaric, that won't be necessary. I have set aside more than enough rooms to accommodate you all. The manor is quite large, and we should all be able to lodge there with no problems. I assume that you will want the majority of the day to spend with Ashlinn. So, might I suggest, that after our evening meal, we gather in the study? That is if you think you will be ready to continue this discussion." Tarron says in a rather nasally voice. I can see evidence that he is already beginning to heal as the two continue their somewhat civil discussion on moving everyone indoors.
About that time, I realize that we are being surrounded by a crowd of people and I turn looking for Lexie. She's elbowing her way through the tall males. She breaks free to throw her arms around me in a tight hug. Somehow or another, Jasmine has suddenly reappeared after being MIA for days. She is hovering just above Lexie's right shoulder, and as I return Lexie's hug, I see that Jaz has a rather handsome male sprite with her. I wink at my little friend, and she blushes furiously, all the while clasping her new friends hand in hers. So much for her crush on Camoryn, I think before saying to Lexie, "I missed you." I hold my best friend close. Lexie goes to pull out of the hug, but I can't seem to let go just yet, as I whisper, "Thank you. Your charm saved us all. This might have played out rather differently if it hadn't been for your insight and the charm you cast on my talisman." I pull back to look at her beautiful face and smile. "See? I knew that we were meant to take this journey together."
Lexie's chin goes up defiantly as she scolds, "You've been keeping secrets, Ash. I knew there was something off with you that night. Why do you always feel like you have to do these things on your own? I just wish you had of confided in me."
"First of all, I wasn't alone. Jasmine was with me, and she was a rock star. I'm not sure how I would have made it without either of you. You both played an integral part in what needed to be done. I never sought to deceive you. I just knew that you and Danu would have done anything in your power to keep me at the Glenndale Lock and that was not my path. We're a team. We may not always be together, but we are a team none the less. I love you, Lex, please don't feel like I don't trust you because I trust you with my life." I impart with sincerity.
Lexie sighs heavily, as Declan comes up behind her and she says, "Okay, Ash, you're off the hook. This time, but we are seriously going to work on your need to run off and save the world on your own.”
I sense that Alaric and Dagda are talking as I feel myself lifted off my feet from behind as my father asks, “How’s my baby girl and her peanut?” He flips me around as if I weigh nothing and wraps me in a huge hug. “Are you getting enough rest? Are you eating enough? You aren’t starving my grandchild, are you? I was worried about you Ashlinn." He says as he gently puts me back on my feet and I see that he and my mother have been reunited once more as she stands by his side smiling at the two of us.
"I'm good. Father, I have a surprise for you." I say looking around the crowd on the lawn, and I see that my Fab Five have moved to the back of The Horde that is in attendance. "All of you guys, come with me. You need to meet my Horde Sentries. I have nicknamed them my Fab Five. Come on.” I urge.
I hear Tolin say, "You didn't give your Guard a rad name. I'm not feeling the love, Ash."
I snort as I say, "You and your brother have your own nickname, TNT." I'm marching across the lawn on a mission. Those five think they can get away from me. They have another thing coming. As my group makes its way to my five, I proceed to say, "Garrik and Dorlan were assigned to me while I was here, and they are both Fomorian. Garrik was amazing and never once broke his cover until after the contract was voided. Camoryn is a satyr and has the best sense of humor, Khatar is a dark elf and is so serious, but he's kind and thoughtful. Then, Father, there is Nym and he and I kind of bonded." About that time Nym turns toward us, and my Father stops in his tracks.
“Nym? Is that you? My dear boy, we had no idea where you ended up. You really need to get in touch with your parents they have been worried sick about you." He looks between us, and he asks, "You said you bonded, what do you mean? Is Nym one of your protectors?”
"Yes, Father. I almost instantly felt safe with him, and he has been very protective of me. I just thought, after I found out we were cousins, that it was a family bonding, shifter, thingy." I say, looking at him quizzically. About that time Alaric comes up behind me and wraps me up in his arms. "Alaric, this is Nym he's my cousin, he's Rhespen's nephew."
Rhespen looks between us as Nym inclines his head toward his uncle and I sense that there is more to the exchange. I look at my father questioningly as he says, "Ashlinn, Nym's shifter side has officially appointed himself you and your child's Cerberus, your protector. He will be relentless in protecting the two of you. This occasionally happens, it is more common that the mate takes that role, but where you were separated from you mate, Nym took on the responsibility. You are forever in my debt, nephew. You will forever be tied to Ashlinn and her young. Your sacrifice is admirable."
“What do you mean sacrifice?” Alaric and I ask at the same time.
Rhespen sighs heavily, as he attempts to explain, "Nym will not take a mate, ever, unless it is from one of your bloodlines. From this point forward his sole duty is to protect you and your children Ashlinn and by extension you too, Alaric. It is a great honor and sacrifice for Nym. He is a warrior prince and will remain steadfast in his duty to you and your line."
“No! Nym, I want you to be happy. To take a mate. You should not forfeit that for me or my line. I have Alaric. We have each other. Nym, this is not what I want for you.” I say adamantly.
“Ashlinn, it is done. I have no regrets. You and your line are now my sole purpose. The mechanics behind how and when this happens is not known. I have faith that this happened for a reason and a purpose. I believe that my mate is tied to your line. In the meantime, I will do everything in my power to see that your line succeeds in its endeavor.” Nym says gravely. “Do not feel sad. I do not. It is my duty and my path, my Lady.”
“Then I hope you will not have to wait long for you to find your mate through my descendants. My daughters or granddaughters could find no more honorable male. You honor us with your sacrifice.” I say gravely trying to understand the depth of the connection between Nym and me and my line.
“Ummm, Ash, let’s not go matching my daughters up just yet. Okay?” Alaric says uncomfortably, and I hear the group laugh.
Knowing that Alaric and I need some time alone, I say to everyone, "Let's all catch up later today. You all need to get to know one another. I think you will find that many of you have lots in common. Lexie, there is a coven of witches here that you and Nemus and the rest of your Druids should visit. Morgwais leads the coven. I hear she was pretty impressed with the charm you cast on my talisman. In fact, they could probably use your help to reverse the damage done to the witch who unknowingly attempted to use dark majic on me to forget you all. We'll catch up with you all this afternoon." I say as I draw Alari
c away with me. I've missed my Elf-Man, and I want to enjoy this brief reprieve before our quest begins in earnest.
Chapter 16
(Ashlinn)
I take Alaric’s hand and lead him pass the manor to the back gardens and out to the cliffs of Ireland. I find solace here, and I hope that Alaric will as well. No words are spoken as we turn to one another before the vastness of this world. The roar of the ocean crashing against the rocks below can be heard as Alaric pulls me into his embrace. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him close. My panther? Well, she is finally content as a purr issues from deep within me signally that all is well with her. The wind whips about us as we stand holding onto the other, the pull to be close to my kindred and never let him go again has settled into my core as I listen to his steady heartbeat, a sound that I have sorely missed. I want to freeze time to freeze this moment as I enjoy just being held in his arms again. I sigh and close my eyes lost to the sensations that have awakened again at being with my mate.
Through our bond I hear, “Never again, I will never again be separated from you. Do you understand? We are one and only together are we whole. That is how this works. You are mine, and I am yours. Forever and always till the end of our days, I will love and cherish you above all others. I need you, to be with you and only you, to shut the world and everything in it out.”
There are no words for how I feel at this moment, only the love I feel for my kindred as I look up into his intense blue eyes. I reach up to cup his ruggedly handsome face in my hands, and a feeling of home washes over me. I’m home, and I’m whole for the first time in two weeks. Alaric allows his vulnerability to shine through as he closes his eyes and leans into my touch. I stroke his jaw and run my fingers over his lips, tracing them as my other hand slides down his neck to feel his steady pulse. I want to memorize everything about him, the sandpaper like texture of his two-day-old beard, the hard set of his jaw, his scent, everything. He looks down at me and leans down to gently kiss my forehead before taking my hand in his and pulling me back toward the manor. I smile and let him take the lead.
