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 | | From: | Teserk | | Subject: | [Tribond] Epilogue | | Date: | Thu, 23 Dec 2004 19:03:48 GMT |
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[Two Days Later]
[Carriac]
Carriac awoke to find himself alone in bed. The rumpled
sheets next to him were still warm, however, and a quick
search of the room located Mara standing at the window,
staring out into the distance. He slipped from the bed and
went to her, the cool night air causing goose bumps to rise
on his bare skin. Mara didn't seem to notice the cold,
though she wore no more clothing than he did.
Carriac moved up behind Mara and wrapped his arms around her
waist, savoring her scent and the pleasant warmth of her
back against his chest.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"A full mind. I'm sorry if I woke you." She leaned back
into him and he warmed even more.
"You didn't. But now that I'm awake...." Carriac slid a
hand down her stomach past her navel. He gently kissed the
side of her neck as his fingers explored even farther down.
Mara giggled. "This is all you ever think about."
"I can't help myself." And he couldn't. His kisses grew
more impassioned and his gentle tickling became full-fledged
groping.
"Carriac...Carriac, you're hurting me."
Mara began to struggle against him, but he clamped his left
arm tightly around her middle, pinning her to him. His
fingers savagely dug into her. She tried to scream, but the
sound was cut off as his teeth tore into her windpipe. Her
blood gushed out over his lips....
"NOOOOOO!"
Carriac lurched up out of bed, drenched in sweat. He
struggled to remove the tangled sheets from around his body,
painfully aware of his missing left arm. He was certain
that his fumblings were going to wake up Mara. She hadn't
left his side for more than a few moments the entire trip
from the cave to this wayside inn.
With a cry of frustration he finally managed to tear the
damp bedding from his body. He stumbled out the bed and
staggered to the window. He threw open the shutters and
promptly vomited onto the courtyard below.
[Traveler]
He spent his nights walking around the small town they had
dragged themselves to. There was so much that had happened
lately it was a little hard to believe it all. Except he had
been there. The world gave them no thanks; no one knew what
had happened. They never would, thankfully.
Something within him had been awakened. He was restless and
needed to be on the road, tracking down evil, finding the
oracle, helping Mara, Something. Yet, they could not till
Carriac and Mara had fully healed. It would take a few days
for Carriac to come to grips with the loss of his arm.
He roamed the streets looking for some wrong to be righted.
He burned inside. He was being driven, but to what end. The
night was clear. And a light cool breeze was blowing. It was
a beautifull night, but something was missing. He knew what
it was but couldn't bring himself to think about it.
He felt something brush against his leg, and a soft mewing.
Looking down he saw the form that had help save them. She
had nearly been killed, but Mara had saved her. She was
independent, but never too far. She was constantly bringing
him prizes from her nightly conquests. Seeing her gave him
some respite from the pain of memories past.
He was here in this world for a reason. Had been sent here
for a reason. He had no idea what. He was used to being the
plaything of gods. More than once they had used him and even
controlled him for their own means. He was determined not to
be used or controlled again, but that wasn't very likely, he
was after all just a man.
[Mara]
Mara felt the bed shifting, heard the sheets being tossed
over her bare form. She smiled softly, before stretching
like a cat, curling her toes and fingers before running one
hand over the bed, looking for Carriac. The last few days
were but a blur, the time she had spent by his side were a
blessing. She could feel the warmth coming from the bed
slowly fading, causing her eyes to open slowly. Finding him
gone, she rolled on to her back and sighed. She could still
sense him in the room, his scent still lingered nearby.
"Love," she whispered, "Are you all right. Did you have a
bad dream? Come back to bed," she purred softly, her hand
reaching out to him. She saw him standing near the window,
the warm glow of the moon silhouetted his form in a golden
glow. Slipping from bed, she stepped up behind him, her arms
circling his chest, her fingers resting on his hard stomach,
inching there way down slowly.
"Perhaps I can find a reason to for you to come to bed," she
whispered gently, her cheek resting against his back,
feeling his warm body against hers.
"You're all sweaty! Are you feeling all right?"
She pulled back before stepping around, her naked form
highlighted by the moon. Reaching up she touched his
shoulder, a hurt look in her eyes.
"Carriac! What's wrong? Are you feeling ill? Come! You best
lay back down and let me check you out. I didn't spend all
my energy to see you get sick again. Come on..." and she
tried to pull him away from the window.
"Am I going to have to toss you over my shoulder again? I'll
do it you know!"
[Carriac]
It took all of Carriac's willpower not to flinch away from
Mara's touch. In his mind he saw her thrashing form as he
molested her. He could still taste her blood. He gagged
and heaved again, but his stomach was empty. The bloody
taste remained and he realized that he had bitten through
his lip. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
He couldn't look at her. Mara insisted on sleeping with him
- in the nude, no less. He was certain she thought the
physical contact would help him to recover, but in truth,
her nearness made things all the more difficult.
Carriac knew he loved her. He loved her more than he had
loved anyone or anything else in his long two hundred year
life. But the things he had done...the things he had done
to her.... The pain he felt over his actions - regardless
of the fact that he had not been in control of himself -
overwhelmed the joy he should feel knowing that Mara had
forgiven him. The horror of his deeds lurked within his
soul, ready to surface at any moment.
"Mara...." He stopped abruptly, his heart in his throat.
How could he tell her? How could he cause her more pain?
Tears rolled down his cheeks. Somehow he forced out the words.
"Mara, I need to leave you."
[Mara]
At first Mara stood there, looking up at the man she loved,
watching his tears fall down his cheek. Then the words
struck her to her very soul. They echoed through her mind,
bouncing around until they slowly faded. Then she heard a
soft laughter come deep within the darkness of her mind, a
cold heartless laughter that chilled her to the bone.
"You...need to leave me," she repeated the words without
thinking. They seemed so distant, so far away. Her hands
slowly slipped from Carriac's chest, dropping down to her
side. Bowing her head she slowly backed away, unsure what
else she should do. A strange coldness crept over her,
causing her to look down at her naked form. Reaching over,
she pulled the sheets from the bed and quickly threw it over
her head and shoulders, still feeling the warmth from their
bodies in the material, wrapping herself with them, all but
hiding herself from her lovers eyes.
"I...if that is what you think is right," she said, her
words carried the sadness she was feeling. "I'll do you one
better...."
Whipping around she ran from the room, tears falling down
her cheeks staining the sheets. She ran downstairs, the
sheet trailing behind her, uncaring how she looked as she
ran out into the night. She ran until she could no longer
then fell against a near by building, her whole body
shaking, her stomach churning in knots, the laughter still
ringing in her ears.
"He played you for a fool," she heard herself say while
wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I should make him pay for
the damages he's caused. He is not worthy of breathing the
same air..."
"NO! I will not listen to such things." I...I love him!
He... he's not himself. He just needs to rest. To get better."
The laughter died with a hiss. "He needs to be slit from ear
to ear! He's only half a man now, what with his missing
limb. Do you think he'll want to be seen now? He's no longer
whole!"
Mara shook her head. "No! He'll be fine! He...he needs me!"
With that thought Mara stood, pulled the now dusty sheet
back around her and turned. "He needs me! By the gods he'll
soon learn that fact, even if I have to beat it in his thick
skull."
Determined to show Carriac the error of his way, Mara
stormed back to the room, her eyes blazing, her temper ready
to flare at any second. Bursting into the room, dropping the
sheet behind her, she placed both hands on her hips and
looked around.
"CARRIAC! Where in blazes are you?"
When the dead silence hit her, she all but melted. Her anger
slipped away, her body bending down, her hand reaching out
for the sheet once again.
"Carriac," she spoke softer. "Love, are you here..."
[Carriac]
He suspected that Mara wouldn't be gone long. When whatever
personalities within her came to grips with what he had
said, she would be back - either to convince him to let her
stay with him or to kill him for his impertinence.
That last thought brought the hint of a smile to the
shaper's lips. How he would miss her.
Carriac hurried to the bed and put on his boots. The job
was made more difficult because of his missing arm, but his
motivation was stronger than his weakness. He hastily
gathered together a few items and stuffed them into a small
pack. As he did so, his hand brushed a piece of metal at
the bottom. He pulled it out. It was the gold and silver
water lily he had crafted for Mara little more than a week
ago. So perfect. He fingered the hairpiece then laid it
carefully on her pillow.
"Goodbye, A'maelamin. Remember me fondly."
He tossed a cloak about his shoulder, tied it there with the
help of his teeth and left the Inn. There was just one more
thing to take care of.
-----
It didn't take long to find Traveler. The man was standing
atop a hill overlooking the town, slowly stroking the kitten
that had saved their lives.
They stared at each other for a moment without saying anything.
[Traveler]
He stared at the elf for a moment. There was a haunted look
in his eye. His face was pained. He had something to tell
him, He was going to leave them. "So, after all we've been
through for you, you're going to leave."
He watched the play of emotions on the other face, "I'm not
stupid. I know what you're feeling. I've been there. I know
you need to purge yourself of the darkness that clings to
your memories." His mind flashed back to when he was forced
to leave his love, his life. "I'll welcome you back anytime
you feel like coming back. Don't wait too long, though, I
can't vouch for her. She's already been through enough. I'm
not going to see her hurt anymore."
[Carriac]
He could see from Traveler's face that he really did understand.
"I fear that telling her I have to go has opened a rift
within her that will not quickly close. I do love her,
Traveler, more than I can express, but I have so much to
atone for. I can't ask her to bear that burden with me. She
deserves better.
"Please look after her."
[Traveler]
The kitten in his arms jumped down purring and rubbed
against Carriac's leg. Traveler turned back towards the
town. The day was beginning to break and soon the town below
would be teeming.
"I'll go down and keep Mara from coming after you. Cover
your tracks well, and don't tell me where you are going.
We'll be heading to the oracle."
He waited a moment and turned to see the elf walking away.
[Mara]
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Mara had no idea what she
should do next. Carriac was not in the room where she had
left him, his clothing was gone, and Traveler had not
reported back. Thoughts and images of Carriac laying along
the side of the road, bleeding to death floated through her
mind. Shaking her head she tried to clear those thoughts
away when she spotted something on his pillow.
Reaching over, she pulled the small item up, seeing that it
was the gold and silver water lily he had crafted for her.
Tears swelled in her eyes while she twisted the lily around
and around before she clutched it to her bare chest.
"Oh Carriac...."
Gathering her things she quickly dressed, placing the lily
in her pocket. Throwing on her boots as she ran from the
room she headed downstairs and out the door without so much
as a thank you from a man that was trying to enter.
Stopping out in the middle of the street she closed her eyes
and sniffed the air like a bloodhound before catching
Carriac's scent, and that of Traveler's.
"This way," she whispered before taking off like a shot
arrow, her head held down her arms pumping with each step.
Her hair flew back behind her as she gained speed, making
herself lighter, knowing that she would soon burn her new
clothes up.
"Faster, faster," she whispered as she started to hit the
edge of town, but saw someone heading her way. Slowing down
she still missed her mark by twenty feet, stopping that far
past Traveler.
"Where is he? Where did he go? Traveler? Please," she all
but begged, "tell me if you've seen him. He...he's...gone!"
Running back she threw her arms around Traveler, sobbing and
crying on his shirt, her forehead pressed to his chest.
"It's my fault. If I had only been a few moments faster, if
I had only been...Oh Traveler...I love him..."
From there on her words were caught by her crying and sobbing.
[Traveler]
He stood there in the middle of town holding Mara as she
wept for her lover. He soon began to realize some people
were staring. And others were crossing the street to avoid
them. "Mara, we need to get you somewhere inside." She
allowed him to lead her to a nearby vacant barn. He sat her
down for a moment.
"Mara, Carriac has to go for a while. He has some demons he
has to overcome. With you so near it makes that nearly
impossible. Mara, I know what he is going through, give him
some time."
He stood there for a moment. Looking down at this complex
girl that was sobbing.
"Mara, he... He may not be able to overcome them." Standing
there all his jealousy of Carriac began to boil up, he knew
at this was the point with which he could press his
advantage. "Mara..." he started, "Mara you need to go dress
yourself again. Let us leave this town and continue the
journey we started so long ago. We need to get to the oracle."
He took off his cloak and draped it across her partially
dressed form. "Come on lets go back to our rooms and get our
stuff and head out of this town."
[Mara]
Pulling the warm cloak tighter against her shoulders, Mara
looked up, before nodding slowly. She didn't say anything
else, just rose to her feet, her head held low before
walking away. She didn't really hear if Traveler stood with
her, or if he was even following her. The only thing she
heard were the words Traveler had just spoken a few moments
earlier.
"Carriac has to go for a while. He has some demons he has to
overcome," echoed in her mind. "Demons," she whispered, "and
I'm one of them."
Pulling the cloak even tighter around her she started to
run, her feet carried her back to the inn and up the stairs,
startling a couple coming down. They both scattered as she
broke through their ranks, splitting their sweet embrace
right down the middle.
"Well I never," the woman said, but caught the rest of her
words as Mara turned, her eyes all aflame. Mara turned and
finished her path, all but kicking the door to her room open
before running in. There she quickly gathered the rest of
her things, changing into fresh clothing, leaving the others
laying where they fell. They were of little use now, all
charred and brittle from her swift escape earlier.
Finding everything, she stuffed the rest of her things into
a satchel, before running back out into the hall. She was
like a small whirlwind, rushing about. Finding Traveler, she
looked up, her eyes staring into his.
"I'm going after Carriac! You have a choice, either come
with me, or go on alone to the Oracle. I'll not be swayed by
your words Traveler. We started this journey out together,
and I'll not leave Carriac behind. If he's going to fight
his demons, he's not going to do it alone. He means too much
to me!" Turning, she threw her pack over her shoulder and
started to walk away, but stopped and looked back.
"If it was you, he would be here beside me, hunting you down
to help. He's our friend Traveler. If you love him as much
as I do, you would understand that. He...needs us! And by
damn I'm not going to lose that kind of friendship or love
over a bunch of demons." Turning she walked away, leaving
Traveler to sort out his own demons.
"I'm coming love," she whispered, her pace quickened.
"You'll not be rid of me that easy." as her fingers placed
the gold and silver water lily hairpiece in her hair, behind
her left ear.
"You'll see..."
**THE END**
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