The Princess and the Blade

[Emora Deen]

Tenara clutched her hand around the sword so her father didn’t have to hold her and that and her mother.

She knew Havitharon would be along with them. He couldn’t be left behind if they had the sword. “See you shortly,” she promised.

—-

Torune was a sandstone fort built on a plane of dry earth. The landscape stretched on, empty for miles with nothing to see but rough shar grass, short desert trees, and brush.

It was usually a quiet fort, where not much happened given their bordering neighbor was an ally. So, the men mostly spent their time target practicing, drinking, and playing a game of cards. On their off hours, some traveled across the border, into town, and broke bread with the locals or found love in someone’s arms.

However, after the Princess had disappeared almost two months ago, they had gone on high alert. Their checking of passing carts and travelers had turned brutish, as if the act of having stole their Princess was a personal slight to each one of them.

Even still, two months of waiting had worn them down. Some of them had given up and gone back to their drink and their game of cards.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad transported them to a small fountain at the center of town. There wasn't exactly abundant water in this area, but it wasn't so barren that it couldn't have one small pool at the center of the fort. Fountains made a good focal point for the vampire when he was this tired, since he and his wife had so many memories surrounding them. The three appeared together beside the square and their sudden appearance caught several people off guard in the busy space. Moreso when a moment later, a tall, horned alien with gray skin staggered into view beside them.

[Emora Deen]

At first the the space was silent, but then they became more aware of who had just appeared. Tenara was certain their was a copy of a portrait her family had sat for some years ago hanging in a common space somewhere.

“Y-your magesties?” an uncertain voice muttered from the edge of the crowd.

“King Soul, you don’t look we—Princess??” The man turned to the bellman on the wall. “She’s been found!”

Tenara hated the clattering bell that began to wail through the courtyard. “Can we go someplace before they swarm us?”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad wasn't crazy about this kind of fussing, but he'd grown more tolerant of it through his husband's guidance. After all, these people were not just faceless tryhards anymore. These were their citizens. "Some private quarters," he said, tapping one of the men who looked like he might become frantic if not given a way to help.

"The governor's offices," the man offered immediately. "Prepare the dignitary's suite," he called, and several people burst into action. The bellman offered them a bow, a bit more dignified than some of his colleagues. "Please follow me, Kingsoul, Queen, Princess." His eyes passed over Havitharon. "I'm afraid I am not sure how to address you, sir...?"

"That's Spiky. He's my daughter's new pet," Vlad offered thinly.

"....Lord Spiky, then... this way."

[Emora Deen]

The dignitary suite had two bedrooms with a sitting room wedged between them. Each room had its own wash room, and someone had already set about drawing a bath in each.

The rooms were filled with people going here and there when they entered, placing food and extra towels and robes and a stack of clothes. A minute or so after their arrival, though, the flow of people fizzled until there was only the Assistant Governor left. Tenele pulled him aside, leading him out of the room and into the hall. She closed the door behind them, leaving Tenara, Havitharon, and her father alone.

“Daddy… you can put me down. I think I’m fine to walk now.” Besides, he looked like he needed the rest just as much. She spared Havitharon a glance, hating that he was still standing there, pretending as if he hadn’t punched a tree and broken his hand. It felt awful to not heal him. He’d done that so she could. Was it a waste not to help him? Even if it hurt him? She couldn’t take the risk.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad reluctantly set his daughter on her feet in front of him. His vision was going a little red around the edges, and he wanted to set her down on purpose, not because his body went on strike. "How are you?" he asked, touching his daughter's cheek. "The teleport too much?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenara pressed her blood-spattered cheek into her father's warm hand. She held onto him a little before testing her balance. "I'm okay," she said, feeling her eyes sting again. She was safe. She was with her family. She had already been a burden to them, and no longer wished to be so. She'd keep the wooziness to herself. It would fade. It was so much better than what had been before when her brain had been bleeding inside her skull. "But, just in case, I'll take a sit." She sank into one of the closest arm chairs.

"I'm... I'm sorry I left again. I didn't mean for any of this to happen..."

Tenele returned, going to Vlad's side. She curled her hand around his arm, placed her hand on his face and gently turned his attention to her. "They have a man outside. He's convicted of murder, sentenced to die in a few days, if you want him."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked over at his wife and smiled, tipping his head to gently clunk against hers. "You wonderful woman," he purred, sounding a bit dizzy, but happy. "I'll leave the troublemakers to you, then." He cast his daughter a reassuring look before seeing himself out. "No sorries needed. It's good to have you back."

Havitharon couldn't help staring at the tenderness between Tenele and her husband. He'd never witnessed anything quite like it. His reaction tore back and forth between embarrassment and incredulity.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele forced a smile. "I'll take good care of them."

When Vlad had left, Tenele pressed her hand to Tenara's head and swept her thumb over her temples. "You're a little warm."

"I'm fine," Tenara said.

"Let's get that hand of yours wrapped..." She went to one of the baskets of supplies and dug around until she found a wrap of gauze, some bottled liquid, and came back to them, kneeling in front of Tenara. She took the sword from Tenara, holding the hilt for a minute before laying it on the floor next to the chair. Then, she pulled Tenara's hand gently towards her. Her fingers paused when she spotted the iridescent scars criss-crossing Tenara's skin. She traced one. "You're father mentioned these... Are they from him?" Her gaze flicked to Havitharon.

"The sword," Tenara whispered. "He hasn't hurt me, mother."

Tenele's teeth clenched, and Tenara melted at the sign of tears in her mother's eyes. She was fighting them. Biting them back. She wiped her eyes and turned her attention to the bandaging, beginning to unwrap it. She stopped when the bandage caught on the skin again. Tenara yelped. "I'm sorry," Tenele said. She poured the liquid over the bandage and gently worked it away from the skin. By the end of it, Tenara was sweating, and clawing at the armchair.

Tenele hissed at the sight of the small wound and the black skin around it, traveling up her arm towards her shoulder. She turned her gaze on Havitharon. "Does your hand still need mending?"

"Mom, no..."

"Shall I mend it or will you help her?"

"Mother."

"Look at your arm, Tenara. Please, be reasonable."

[Soran Nightblade]

Havitharon raised his eyes at Tenele's question. He'd quietly tuned out of focus for a minute - a technique to compartmentalize the screaming pain in his hand. He looked at Tenele's mother, surprised she was even willing to heal him.

"I will help her... in private," he said carefully.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele scoffed. "If you think—"

"Mom," Tenara whispered. "Please. Havitharon and I have been alone for weeks. I'm here. I'm alive. Because of him. He isn't going to hurt me." I'm more likely to hurt him. Tenara rose slowly, curling her hand towards her chest as she edged around the furniture toward Havitharon. She met his eyes, a combination of pain and worry on her face. She nodded towards one of the rooms off the side. She waited by the door so she could close it when he entered.

Tenele seemed nervous, her face a little pale, as if she feared that when the door closed Tenara might disappear again.

[Soran Nightblade]

Havitharon didn't look back at Tenele as he walked past and followed her daughter into the room. He stepped in so she could close the door, and finally met Tenara's eyes. His gold irises were vivid against the black of his eyes as he studied her. "Are you certain this won't make you worse?" he asked quietly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara leaned against the door. "Are you certain you want this?" she asked, swallowing. "I can try to control it better, but I can't... I can't promise." She glanced away from him, afraid to meet his vivid eyes. She saw a mirror, saw how ragged and dirty she looked. "If my mother heals you, it won't feel like it feels with me. It's just warmth and then the pain is gone."

[Soran Nightblade]

He couldn't help it. Her words made his mind visualize exactly what it did feel like with her. If that was her controlling it, what was it like uncontrolled? He pushed back a curl of nervous shock before it could show up in his expression. "Do not promise anything. This is to heal you. I will deal with my end; Do whatever you think it takes to make it benefit you as much as it can." He held his hand to her firmly. In the short time since he'd mangled it, the flesh of his hand and wrist had already swollen and begun to turn all sorts of gory shades of greenish black. The cuts on his knuckles had begun to scab, but oozed a silvery liquid. "See. You are helping me."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara's eyes watered at the sight of the hand he'd mangled to help her. She took it and gently held it. "Oh, Havitharon... Okay... Let's sit." She led him gently towards the bed and then stopped. "I... I'm not leading you here because... Let's sit on the floor." She sank down onto the carpet covering the sandstone floor. She gently tugged him to follow her until he sat across from her. It was similar to how they'd tested her powers in the inn in Arken.

She pulled Havitharon's hand into her lap, hesitating. Stalling.

"Alright," she sighed, when she knew she couldn't hold out any longer. "Okay. Here it goes." Tenara held him softly, and reluctantly opened herself to her magic. She tried to block out the feeling that she was going to hurt him. That he hated this. That it would make him resent her. Her magic seemed to sputter and disobey.

He'd given her permission. This was helping him as much as her. He'd forgive her.

Or, at least, continue to tolerate her.

Tenara let go, just a little, of the anxiety inside her. The magic flowed, a ripple of bliss fluttering through her and into Havitharon. She closed her eyes, because if she closed her eyes and he did get an angry or uncomfortable look, she wouldn't see it. So focused Havitharon's wound, on mending all of the tiny broken pieces of bone together. This was different than the other. This felt more complex, felt as if it needed more of her. So she gave more of herself, clenching her teeth to stifle a soft moan.