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A Slaver attack on Silver Willow leaves Y'Roden's adopted daughter Shadow a widow. To prevent her from following her
husband into the afterlife, Ro takes her to Nenlante to stand suicide watch over her.
Shadow snarled as the portal closed behind them, the sickeningly sweet smell of death was replaced by the peaceful fragrance of roses, but it did little to calm her as the last thread of the patch her twin had woven snapped viciously. Unbelievable pain exploded in her body, her heart slammed against her chest as if trying to escape so that it could reach the one it had been connected to. From there the pain spiraled outwards, making every fiber in her being ache as though she had been thrown over a cliff.
Pain and rage mingled in her mind, uprooting the last of part of sanity that she had left. There was no friend or foe now, no distinct line between the two, in her grief filled mind they were one and the same. The forest elf struggled against her father; an animal like growl escaping her as she twisted on his shoulder then rammed her elbow into Ro’s temple.
Stars exploded in Y’Roden’s vision and the half-elf shook his head violently to clear it. With a low growl he let Shadow slide through his arms, but didn’t let go. Turning her round so her back was to his chest he wrapped heavily muscled arms around the struggling elf and gripped copper wrists, pinning them at her chest. He didn’t speak; only hanging on as his daughter slipped into grief induced madness. There was nothing he could say to take the pain away, nothing he could do.
The conduit in his soul slid open and he surrounded Shadow in a blanket of peace, carefully keeping a balance that allowed for the grief, but kept her from going completely insane. They had arrived in the King’s private garden, amidst the rose bushes and softly singing fountains, away from curious eyes.
Peace tugged at her and she shoved it away like a child kicking off a blanket during the night, fighting off the safety it provided. She didn’t want to be safe, she didn’t want to breathe, she didn’t want to live. Life and everything with it could go to the nine hells in a hand basket.
“Let me go!” Shadow cried out, her voice sounding as raw as she felt inside as she struggled against her father and the peace he provided. It was useless, she knew that, and panic rose like bile in her throat. She hated the feeling that it brought, the thoughts that her life was suddenly in someone else’s hands, for someone else to be controlling her life. She’d always prided herself for never letting someone else rein over her, and she would be damned if it started now. Not now when her husband waited for her to join him.
Shadow’s lips curled in a snarl as she pulled together what she could of her strength and threw her head back, ignoring what little bit of pain that seemed to have seeped through the numbness that had claimed her.
Ro failed to pull his head back in time and there was a resounding crack as the back of Shadow’s skull connected with his forehead. Dammit, he had forgotten how tall she was. Reeling he nearly fell over with her; an explosion of colors filling the half-elf’s vision as the back of his knees caught on something and the pair flew over backwards. Water, cold and shocking, closed over both their heads before the King of S’Hea got his bearings and hauled Shady to the surface, sputtering in the stream of water falling from the fountain.
“Dammit Desh’iel,“ he gasped, “I’m not going to let you go. I love you and I’m going to be damn selfish and keep you here, alive, with me.”
Shadow came up, her chest rising and falling heavily as she glared at Y’Roden through a mass of wet hair, that she shoved out of the way with her still bandaged hand. “You have no right, Y’Roden D’Riel!” The forest elf jerked away, staggering slightly in the process. She was fighting a losing battle and she cursed her body for being weak as lethargy took over, bringing the offered peace with it, dampening her anger, taking the edge off of her pain.
“I don’t give a damn about love. What does love do for anyone? It makes you weak, it leaves you alone and broken in the end,” she spat out, “you can be as selfish as you want to, Desh’ketai, but you won’t tie me here.”
“The funny thing about love,” Ro murmured, “is that it never leaves you alone, not completely. Its always there waiting for you when you least expect it.” Hauling himself out of the fountain he reached in and hooked an arm around Shadow’s waist, lifting her as easily as a feather and cradling the elf like a child. “No, I have no right, you can hate me for now. Ok? But I am tying you here.”
Making his way through the gardens he headed for his private entrance to the palace. “You still have your Tanaii-ka to follow.”
Fionna's azure eyes were wide as the blonde half-elf paused in the entrance. "I heard a commotion" she explained, a note of concerned enquiry in her voice. "Do you need any help, or...?" Her words trailed away. It was obvious that something was very wrong, and yet she did not wish to intrude.
Shadow growled, shoving at the wall of Y’Roden’s chest as she did so, “You, my Tanaii-ka, the Sildanai, can all go to hell.” The forest elf crossed her arms, shivering despite the heat. The sound of another voice had her turning her head to eye Fionna, “You can go to hell to.”
Azure eyes widened slightly in surprise, the concern only deepening, although a faint spark of temper appeared in their depths. "I've already been there, remember" the blonde woman remarked calmly.
Ro shot Fionna an apologetic look, the expression on his face tired and worn. “Yes, some help would be appreciated,” the half-Elf murmured, “she’ll be staying in the royal chambers, the suite closest to the ones belonging to your mother and myself. Could you run on ahead and find her a dry robe? Let the servants know and retain one of them to give you a hand. I want all the sharp objects taken out of the room… “ His eyes met his step-daughter's for a moment… he wanted all the sharp objects taken off of Shadow herself as well.
The blonde half-elf nodded, "consider it done" she said softly. Turning on her heel, she walked off briskly down the corridor. Inwardly her thoughts were racing. What in the world could be the matter? Now wasn't the time to ask though. Catching sight of a young S'Hean woman exiting one of the guest suites, Fionna waved to her. "A'Leia, I need your help" she called.
“Who gives a damn, Fionna!” she shouted, fighting the over whelming urge to simply pass out and reserve her strength so that she could actually do something and not feel like an invalid. “Oh now there’s a smart move…” Shadow emitted sarcastically, she could do just as much damage without sharp objects as she could with, more so with how wild her abilities were. “I can walk you know!”
“Of course you can,” Ro said mildly, “I’ve seen you do it many times.” He took to the stairs, following their gentle spiral slope up all the way up to the top floor where he found Fionna and a young S’Hean woman preparing the chambers he had asked for.
Settling Shadow into a chair Ro ignored her ranting and set about healing her wounds, his face expressionless as his daughters injuries translated to his own flesh, twisting his hand and breaking open the flesh, crimson liquid leaking onto the marble flooring. “Now… I want you to let Fionna and A'Leia help you change. I’m just going to turn my back and look the other way, because on the odd occasion I can be a gentleman. But if you give them any trouble I’ll strip you down myself, because on most occasions I’m simply a bastard.”
“Oh wow, a gentleman, now there’s a novel concept. I’m sorry, but you’ve already proven just how much of a bastard you are. A gentleman would have let me follow my husband!” The forest elf crossed her arms glaring daggers at the two women, “Over! My! Dead! Body!” she snarled out, launching herself from the chair.
Ro caught Shadow by the waist and carried her towards the bed, setting the struggling Elf on her feet for a moment and yanking the partially laced shirt over her head. “Robe,” he growled at A’Leia, who promptly, and with very wide eyes, handed it over. Catching a striking fist he slid his daughter’s arm through the sleeve, whirled Shady around so her back was facing him, wrapped the robe around her and forcibly drew her second arm through its sleeve.
A second twirl flopped the Taurësúlë onto the bed and several hard tugs whipped the wet leather pants off her form. “I’ve lost count,” he said during the process, “of how many times I’ve been called a bastard… it numbers in the millions I’m sure. Which is odd, considering my parents were legally married. Shady, my girl, you have children that need you. I’m not going to let you abandon them no matter how much pain you are in. We are going to get through this, no matter how much you end up hating me. I can live with it, because I love you… and I love all my grandchildren, blood or not. Now… I’m going to have to take your dagger away for awhile… you can have it back when I can trust you with sharp objects. Please… please don’t make me snap one of Tallin’s collars on you.”
With the same nonchalant expression he pinned her down and started removing the black and silver dagger that was woven into the main braid of her hair.
Fionna gathered up the forest elf's old clothing and handed them to A'Leia. The S'Hean woman scurried out of the room with the laundry, more than grateful to be out of the tension-filled bedchamber. Slim fingers tugged at the covers on the bed, lifting Shadow slightly as the blonde half-elf manoeuvred her beneath the sheets without a word.
For a moment her eyes shifted shape and a feline growl emitted from her throat. “Don’t. You. Dare.” The words were delivered with a deadly calm, though her eyes snapped with fury. Fury that only heightened when she realized her distraction had given Fionna an upper hand…Which of course would never do. With a snarl of rage, she brought her knee up full force.
“Eshai’du!” It was undeterminable whether she was referring to Fionna or Y’Roden or both.
Ro made that pained, airless sound that all males make when their… pride had been injured. “I’m going to remember that you love me,” he wheezed, letting his weight drop across Shadow as he tugged the dagger from her hair and simply held her down flat. “A’Leia!” he bellowed, “bring me the Kaima-Lokte.” He groaned and rolled his eyes up at Fionna, “and maybe a medic for me… Gods dammit that hurt.”
The S’Hean woman came running back into the room with an odd looking flower bud in her hand that she held well away from her face. Without a word she offered it to the King, then backed quickly away, covering her mouth and nose, indicating that Fionna should do the same.
Wrestling his way back up to a seated position Ro brought the purple flower beneath Shadow’s face and smiled as he released the Aethyr, using his natural S’Hean talent with foliage to force the petals to blossom. It burst into beauteous life, exploding with a shower of sparkling pollen that drifted into the Forest Elf’s face and into her airways. “Night, night my Nightshade,” Ro murmured, “I’ll be here when you wake up… I promise.”
"I don't suppose there's any chance of an explanation now, is there?" Fionna asked wryly, her voice muffled behind her hand. Despite the curiosity in her tone, her azure eyes were concerned as they rested on the forest elf. Something was obviously very wrong.
Y’Roden sat back and drew a breath, the tension leaving his body in a visible wave. Emerald eyes turned to meet azure blue and he smiled wryly. “Sorry about that,” he muttered in an exhausted tone. “Silver Willow was attacked by a band of human slavers.” The S’Hean King’s gaze shifted to the sleeping countenance of his daughter and he gently brushed a long strand of silver hair away from her face. The expression he wore was one of profound grief for the pain she was going through.
“Shadow’s husband Darien didn’t make it… he died protecting the village. Several of her children are missing as well.” Ro rubbed at his forehead and shook his head as if to clear it, “we have a long road ahead of us I’m afraid. She wants to die, to join Darien in the afterlife. I can’t let her do that. She has children to raise and so much life left to live. I don’t think Dar would want her to give all that up. Or… maybe I’m just being selfish… because I don’t want to lose her.”
"Oh no!" Fionna's hand dropped as her horrified gasp echoed around the room. "Poor Shadow!" The blonde half-elf let her hand rest gently on her step-father's shoulder and she squeezed slightly. "If you need any help..." she offered.
“Hantale Fionna,” the half-elf responded, covering her hand with his own and squeezing gently, “I’ll need all the help I can get. She’ll have to be watched forty-eight hours a day. Shadow will hurt herself the first chance she gets and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Ro rubbed at his eyes and managed a smile, “I’ll take first watch, you go get some rest and I’ll have your Amil wake you when its time for you to take a turn. Alright?”
His stepdaughter nodded slightly. "I'll do that." Turning to go, she paused. His words brought up something that in the confusion she hadn't had time to consider until now. "Where is Amil anyway?" It didn't seem likely that the S'Hean Queen would leave her husband to cope with Shadow by himself without good reason.
“She stayed behind,” Ro answered, “there was some … clean up… to be done at Silver Willow. She’ll be along soon.”
Somehow Fionna suspected that 'clean up' could actually be rather messy. Having seen the carnage of battle herself not all that long ago she decided to ask no more questions. It was quite likely she didn't really need to know the answers. With a smile of acknowledgement, the blonde half-elf slipped quietly from the room, leaving the S'Hean King to his own thoughts.
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