LORE: Training a Hell Hound (MATURE)

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stared at the flap of the tent emptily as Atul left. Well, so much for talking. He was dwelling on the door so intently that he didn't notice Tenele awake until she spoke.

He glanced at her for less than a second before looking away. She looked beautiful and comfortable. "Rest," he said very quietly, stubbornly unable to accept her help. Pride wasn't the problem; it was the opposite. Atul was right. The wound was Tenele's right against him. He couldn't ask her to help fix it, any more than he could expect Atul to help talk him through what had happened under Verin's control.

He perched the needle in his mouth and used his hands to tear the fabric of his pants just above the wound. He wasn't about to undress in this room. The skin underneath was surrounded with dried blood, but the wound itself was no longer bleeding. The holy magic had burned the flesh dry almost immediately. To keep it from healing this way, though, it had to be closed. The only problem was, it still felt like it was on fire, the flames licking deep into his bones. He squeezed the edges of the wound together with his left hand, holding his breath tightly, and forced the needle through the lips of the gash, his eyes smoldering with concentration. By the third stitch, though, his hand was shaking too badly to hold the needle steady. He let out an exasperated breath.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele crawled from the pallet and to his side. She knelt down next to him, the tunic gathered at her thighs. She brushed her silver hair behind her ears and reached out with an elegant hand to take the needle from his hand. “I’ll rest after this,” she told him softly, her green eyes meeting his. “Let me help.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked at her with a mixture of unease and relief. "Sorry," he said, releasing the needle into her care. Even if he didn't deserve it, he was a little bit thrilled by her warmness toward him.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele leaned forward over his leg a bit, so she could see the wound better. She began to stitch, trying to be as gentle as possible, but she knew that holy wounds for him were very painful. After several minutes though, she tied the last stitch and cut the thread. “Sorry,” she told him, looking down at the newly stitched wound. She replaced the needle and the thread into the pouch and folded it back up. She set it next to Atul’s things, her eyes going back to him. She realized that her hand had lingered on his leg, so she withdrew it into her lap.

It was easy to tell she wanted to say something, but Tenele never did. For one, she didn’t know what to tell him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad did an excellent job of staying still and quiet, although he was sweating when she finished. Had Atul been sewing, he probably would have gotten punched in the face. Instead, Vlad was staring at her intently, watching her delicate hands working with the needle and the expression on her face. She even apologized, for what, he couldn't even grasp at the moment. She was so kind, even to the unforgivable.

"I love you," he said directly, looking her in the eyes bright and steady. The words just came, as if he didn't have a choice. Why he couldn't avoid saying it now, when he usually found it so difficult to spit out those words, he didn't know. It was probably horrible timing. "I don't know how yet, but I'll prove it to you."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's eyes were fixed on him, and she looked startled, as if she hadn't expected to hear those words. Well, she hadn't. Not from him, not at this moment. The silence was probably unnerving for him, but she didn't know what to tell him. She loved him, why was it so hard to tell him. She was shocked, that's why. Shocked that he'd just blurted it out, after all that had happened. Her eyes got a bit watery then, and she felt foolish for it. She'd cried enough lately.

Tenele reached out and cupped the side of her face in his hand, her eyes never leaving his. "My feelings for you never changed," she told him softly. Her hand was trembling, she'd tried very hard to keep it steady while stitching him, but she was still weak and tired. Another thing that made her feel a little miffed at herself. "And as for proving it to me..." A pretty smile came to her then. "I'm sure I'll think of something." She leaned in, her lips pressing gently to his. "I'm still mad at you, though." She told him, though she was only a small distance away from him then. Slowly she pulled away, going to let her hand slip from his face.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes fell nearly closed and the rest of his body seemed paralyzed, as if the slightest movement would make this all a dream. His lips moved to return her kiss and his chin tilted very slightly to match hers. For a kiss that contained no lust, there was an immense amount of emotion invested in it. For the first time since that moment in Verin's maze, he felt a sense of hope that things would get better, even if it took time. He didn't care how long it took. He held steady as she broke the contact and pulled away. Vlad blinked at her, his eyes glassy with emotion. He had thought he would never be able to kiss her that way again.

He couldn't form words to follow up what he felt, and he didn't quite trust his voice to say anything, lest he really lose his composure. Her eyes were so bright and beautiful, and trusting, and sad. He could barely think about how upset he must have made her, and Atul's words only confirmed his strongest fears, that he had caused her to suffer immensely. He wasn't supposed to make this strong, headstrong woman cry. He was supposed to be her partner and mutual guardian. "I am so truly sorry," he whispered. "I swear I will not hurt you again."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele suddenly realized how cold she was. She had chill bumps going up her arms and legs, but more than that she was exhausted. She smiled softly, glancing down at the wool blanket that stretched from one end of the tent to the other. She blinked the wetness from her green eyes and they flashed back to him. He swore to never hurt her again, and she believed that he'd try and keep that promise. She gave a gentle nod to him, not really knowing what to say to him about that. She knew she couldn't lie and tell him she hadn't been hurt, becasue she'd been torn apart. She'd felt like she'd lived an utter lie, been betrayed in the worst horrible way. Yet, despite that she had forgiven him. Its because she loved him, and it was strong enough to wipe the slate clean.

She reached out and took his hand, squeazing it in hers. "I trust you," she told him softly, her eyes never leaving his. There was a strength behind them, and beauty that matched his own. "And you can trust me." Her fingers gripped his tighter. "We'll have to trust eachother to get through whats coming. He tried very hard to get you, and must have had big plans for you... We can assume that he'll hunt for you, or hunt for something strong enough to put an end to you." Her expression turned very stern and frighteningly determined despite her tired features. "But, if the choice of killing me or breaking my heart ever are put before you again. Turn me. I'd rather live forever as a monster with you, than deal with the pain of losing you like that again." And she was serious. Very serious.

In away, Tenele wanted to be turned. The more her human weakness was brought up in front her, the more she wished to be more than just half a human, and half an elf. The life spand of an elf, with the weakness of a human. She tried so hard to keep up with Vlad, to even keep up with people like Atul. Strong, immortal, self-healing. But, she was human, and there strengths would be a constant reminder of her weakness. But, Tenele loved her human body. Her human needs. She loved living, and despite how much she wanted to be turned, she wanted to remain human just as much. Her human qualities were ones she enjoyed.

She pulled her hand away slowly. "I should sleep," she told him, standing up and backing away a few steps to the pallet on the floor. She slipped under the pile of thin blankets and pressed her back against the warm fur of the hell hound, though she couldn't feel his fur through the fabric. Tenele slept on her side, facing Vlad as she hugged the pillow under her head.

* * *

Atul sat with his feet in the cooling water, his hands resting in the sand on either side of him. He'd made a complete ass of himself, and he knew it. It had not been his place to criticize Vlad for what had happened, when he would have done the same thing if it had not been for him and Tenele stepping it save his neck. He also had no place to question his feelings for her or to defend her honor. She was not his, and as much as he wanted to covet her, he could not. Her heart belonged to another, and he had more important things to worry about than love.

It wasn't even love, it couldn't be. He had known her only a short time, though it felt like longer, but not enough to know if he loved her. He knew better than that. She was attractive, strong, intruiging and totally frustrating all at the same time. He just cared about her, and that was it.

And maybe he was so angry with Vlad because he'd admired him in a way. It was like a little boy finding out his hero was a fraud. Though, from what Tenele had told him Vlad had no choice but to become a monster. There was no telling what Verin had put him through to make him bend to his will. There was no telling what horrors he'd seen.

So, by the end of all these thoughts Atul had come to the conclusion even more that he had made a complete ass of himself. But, could he apologise? Apolgise to Vlad? Something at the thought just ate at his pride, but he had to consider many things. He needed Vlad. It wasn't a matter of being short handed and needing another soldier. No, he needed Vlad specificly. Vlad was a strong alley, and if there was even the slightest inkling of Verin left in him, maybe they could know what movies he'd make. Verin kept his thoguhts about strategy locked from his wayward son, and the only thing Atul could feel from his bastard father was grave anger. It made the corners of his lips turn up into a smile.

Atul laid back in the sand, his eyes staring at the thousands of twinkling stars. He could apologise, he might be a prince, but he wan't above that. Sometimes apologies were deserved and well worth it... and if it allowed for the bad blood between them to be put to rest, then he'd gladly do it.

He listened to the sound of his men cooking food, talking, healing, resting. Soldiers that were fighting for something they probably didn't even remember anymore. The war had been messy, just as Vlad had predicted, and it had even come to a point that what they were fighting for had become such a blur, lost in the haze of blood and gore, some had lost hope in freedom. Some didn't even remember that it was what they were fighting for. It was times like these, when he could hear the soft pleading cries of mercy from the wounded, and the strangled painfilled gasps of the dying, that the guilt of what he'd brought them wore down on his already burdened shoulders.

What if he was getting them all killed for nothing?

What if he failed?

Then all the lives lost would have been for not.

And he could truly feel guilty then.

So failing was not an option for Prince Atul. Giving up was simply unthinkable. Even if it took his dying breath, even if he was watching in the last moments of his life, he'd see his people free of his father.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad watched Tenele sleep. He felt he could easily watch her all night. He thought about what she'd said, that she would prefer to be turned rather than lose him again. Maybe it wasn't the right reaction, but it made him surprisingly happy. Even though he didn't want to ever subject her to the strings that came attached to his dark powers. Neither the slavery to thirst nor the compulsion to obey Verin. But, he thought, if another situation came that forced him to choose, he would honor her request. If only because he didn't think he could ever go through it again any more than she could. When had he fallen for her this hard? It had taken all this just to make him realize the scope of it.

After about half an hour, his mind shifted back to Atul. The prince had seemed intent on protecting Tenele, and probably had in his absence. Whether his suspicions about Atul's interest in her were correct or not, the vampire couldn't find fault with that. It would take more than their clumsy exchange earlier to make them functional allies in this war, and whatever the prince thought of him, Vlad honestly did want to help him win. He noticed Stalker's red eyes gleaming at him from his place at Tenele's side.

'I'll need you to stand in for me just a bit longer,' Vlad thought to the hound as he stood up from his seat and made his way out of the tent. Outside, he passed through the silent busyness of the camp mostly unnoticed. The men were busy tending to repairs and the wounded, and apparently a turncoat vampire with one pant leg missing just wasn't enough to shock them, if they saw him at all.

He scanned the twilight air with all his senses and eventually caught wind of what he'd been looking for. The demigod's scent was faint, but too specific to miss. Vlad redirected himself toward it and finally came upon his target. He studied the prince from a distance for a moment before approaching. He made no effort to conceal his presence as he walked to the bank of the water next to where Atul was lying. He just stood there, watching the moonlight play on the dark ripples.

[Emora Deen]

Atul’s eyes turned to Vlad as the vampire came to stand beside him. He could make him out easily in the night as the moon shown down on his pale skin. His eyes drifted to the missing pants leg, and the not so neatly stitched wound. Then, with a heavy sigh, he turned his attention back to the stars. “When I was a child, a tutor told me that the Gods come from a place far away, a place beyond the stars. He told me there was once a world just as ours, and there were many of these Gods. But, in the end there power was too much for them, and their greed to rule was too massive to contain. So they battled, and the battle was nothing but power. The planet could not survive such beradement of energy, and was destroyed. The force of that powerful destruction cast three of the Gods to our world. There was Solanos, God of Death, for when he fell the forest of Ra’esh was burned away, and nothing left but desert.. The people were plagued, and eventually died. The only ones to survive with the Ishtass, who melded with Solanos and took him as there deity. They, also bringers of death. There was Thar, called God of Light, for he fell with the rising of the sun, and the sickened land was healed. And finally, my teacher said, there was Verin. Who he called the last and strongest of the Gods. He, the God of Darkness. For when Verin fell, the sun was swallowed by the moon. The earth cracked and from the crack sprung devils and demons, monsters that were created when his power plunged into the planet. And even then, after destroying there planet, the God’s could not stop being at war. Brothers fighting for eternity, and dragging another planet into its wake.” Atul’s eyes watched the sky, his voice very somber as he told this story. He seemed much calmer, almost at ease now that he had had time to clear his head. “It’s a fable to our people, but all legends start somewhere. Whether the Gods came from a place beyond the stars or not, they’ve been here since the beginning of the record of history.” He sat up, bringing his knees up and he draped his arms across them. “Thar protects his people. Verin punishes them. Solanos… is weak and his only redeeming factor that keeps him from fading into nothing is the fact he’s the only god that can kill a human, and he can control the dead.”

With a heavy sigh Atul stood to his feet standing side by side with Vlad, watching the water with him. “It doesn’t matter where Verin came from, and if he did come from a world he helped destroy, we cannot let him destroy this one. We are not the monsters my father would want us to be. We have a love and understanding for human life that he’ll never understand. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to let this world be destroyed because of his greed and his inability to keep himself entertained.” Atul glanced to his side before he turned to Vlad with his hand out. “We might not be able kill a God,” he said. “But, we can try. I guess what I’m trying to say… in a long winded sort of way… is that I need your help.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad listened to Atul speak, absorbing the Outerlands' folklore. When he finished, he looked at the prince. "I don't know about other planets. Maybe as an agnostic, it doesn't matter where I think they came from. But I know that Verin is our responsibility now." He looked away from Atul again at the water, his expression darkening slightly. "I have done you great harm, but if you can still accept my help, I am at your side."

[Emora Deen]

Atul met his gaze. "Part of me never wants to forgive you for what I saw you do... And then part of me has to, for stopping me from doing that same thing. We both have a monster in us Vlad, you did well to keep yours in check as long as you did," Atul told him as he slipped his hands behind his back and clasped them. "The depths of Verin's evil isn't known even to us... War againt him is war against the unimaginable. It will be dangerous, and I think that not even we can truly handle it." He glanced back at him. "What do you plan on doing about Tenele? Or rather... can we keep her out of this?"

Tenele was vulnerable, and human, and in Atul's eyes, she needed to be sheltered and protected. Locked away as long as Verin was at war with them.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad nodded slowly. He could accept that. He could also understand what Atul was thinking about Tenele. For the second time that day, he got the vibe that the prince felt more than just comraderie for the queen's maiden. Oddly, it didn't particularly bother him. Whatever the reason, it was good that the prince had her best interests in heart. However, as he knew and Atul would soon enough, birdcaging was not the way to deal with her. Quite the opposite, in fact. "Tenele is one of Queen Sinead's trump cards," he said looking back at the prince with a grin. "If you want to win this war, I suggest you make her a general."

[Emora Deen]

Atul arched an eyebrow. A trump card? "A general?" he whispered. He'd never seen a woman general, or a woman officer in the military. But, that had been his father's army... "I think she'd handle the role nicely. And I get the feeling trying to send her away would end badly for me." He turned to walk away. "If you need any rest, I suggest you get it. We leave tomorrow for an abandoned town, one you've probably seen. We're meeting up with the other branches of the revolution."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Psh. Sleep?" Vlad scoffed, turning on his heel in the same movement to head back toward the tent. The moment he struck out on his weight, however, he remembered his leg. He would have to heal it the mortal way. "Right. Sleep," he amended flatly, rolling his eyes.