|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:52 am
 Aavard woke to find Alice next to him. He was shocked. Carefully, he got to his feet and made his way outside into the early morning mist. He calmly shifted and took off through the woods to clear his head and find some breakfast. He came across a clearing plentiful in edible sweet mushrooms, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries. He shifted back and gathered them until his bag was full before settling down to breakfast. He leaned against a tree and reviewed his vision over and over. Should I tell Alice, he wondered. He munched on a strawberry thoughtfully. What will she think of me? I wonder if she will distance herself from me... Do I even want to be king? I guess I have no choice; I have a duty to my family and to my people. His thoughts trailed off as the sun rose higher. With a sigh, he made sure his bag was full, tied it off, and hung it across his torso. This time, he did not bother to shift back. As he approached the house, he couldn't help but remember Alice's sleeping form - so calm and innocent looking. I can't tell her, he decided, Not yet. He walked up the steps quietly in case Alice was still asleep and sat on the porch to watch the sun rise. The mist refused to dissipate. "One of those days, isn't it," he said under his breath.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:03 pm
 Alice slowly drifted into consciousness. She had a bizarre dream and wasnt quite sure what to make of it. She noticed that Aarvard wasnt laying beside and panicked for a moment. She scolded herself and saw him sitting at the table lost in thought. She stood up and stretched. Walking over to Aarvard she came up behind him and gave him a brief hug. "Good morning. I see that your feeling better." She grabbed a handful of the berries and tossed them into her mouth one by one savoring the sweetness of each berry. She had to change her clothes for her garb was covered with Aarvards dried blood. She put on her tan leggings this time to give her legs some protection if she went hunting in the forest. She heard a knock on the door. Leaping from the loft she landed on the balls of her feet. She opened her door and was surprised to see lycans on the front porch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:00 am
 King Alden Devereaux was curious to see who his nephew was keeping company with. After all, he was going to be announced as heir to the throne the following night. He made his way through the trees and whistled a jaunty tune before turning to his son. "Best behavior, yes? He needs to know what he will become." He came upon a house at last and sensed his nephew within. He smoothed back his hair and knocked on the door. He was stunned to find a female at the door, though judging by the look in her eyes, she was just as surprised to see them. "I am inquiring after Aavard Devereaux VII. He is here, is he not?" Aavard stepped from the table and strode to the door. "Uncle. Why are you here?" Alden merely smiled. "We need to talk. There's something you need to know."
 Prince Charles Devereaux was less than thrilled to see his cousin. They had not exactly departed on the best of terms. He could sense waves of contempt rolling off of Aavard; he clenched his jaw and glared right back. "So," he said, "Moving up in the world, aren't we?" Aavard shoved him, unable to control his anger any longer. Charles snarled. "Enough! Both of you," Alden commanded. He steered his nephew and son into the house. "Pardon, the intrusion," he told Alice as he passed, "but it's best to get under cover."
Once they were in the shelter of the house. He turned to Aavard and spoke quickly. "We haven't much time. We are expected elsewhere. Tomorrow eve we will make the announcement. Once we do, a ceremony will take place. This ceremony will start to bring about a change in you. An important one. Our blood is special. Predatorial. You will finally change and reach your full potential - and not just as a werewolf - but what you were born to be. Do you understand this? It's very important."
"What do you mean what I was 'born to be'?" Alden waved his hand in dismissal. "That's not important right now. We must go. Good luck, Aavard." Charles gave one last contemptuous look and followed his father out into the sunlight. In an instant, they had vanished.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:37 pm
Alice stood silently as the werewolves entered her home. She raged at them in her head loud enough for Aarvard to hear but she didn't like it when people came into her home uninvited especially werewolves. She watched the interaction between Aarvard and his extended family. She noticed the dislike emanating from the younger of the two werewolves. She filed the information away for later. Alice came and stood next to Aarvard. She put her arm around his waist noting the reactions of the lead wolf. She came and shut the door after they walked out and vanished. "What are you going to do?" She heard herself asking. She seemed to be in a daze, she felt that things were about to change and wasn't sure what was going to happen to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:00 am
Aavard stared after them numbly, still feeling the last dregs of rage. "What can I do? I'll just wait it out." He sat down heavily and burried his head in his hands. "Charles and I... don't really get along," he said slowly, "The day of my parents' funeral - the day I left - we had an... an argument, I guess you'd say. His brother - my eldest cousin, Thaddeus - gave me something that his brother always coveted. It was Thaddeus's, by right of birth and Charles always had his eye on it. But when Thad heard I was setting out for a new life, he wanted me to have it," he sat up and pulled the chain of his silver amulet; it fell out of his shirt. "This." He ran his fingers along its contours and supressed a shudder. "It's very powerful. And now that I am to... Now that I have a certain duty to fulfill," he amended, still refusing to tell her he was to be king, "I'll be much more powerful. And it seems Charles doesn't like that. Not that I can blame him." He sat there, miserable, waiting for Alice's reaction and hoping that he wouldn't have to reveal what was to come. I am dreading the moment she learns this. I am dreading the day I'll have to return home. I don't want to pick a wife I hardly know and I don't want to say goodbye.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 12:50 pm
Alice stood there silently her mind engaged in a vision. She recalled her dream that she had the previous night. She was standing in a room, dark damp and dreary. She couldn't remember how she got there. Then she saw her....her mother, Aarvard and his uncle. She panicked and tried to reach Aarvard but he looked at her in disgust. Then the vision changed, she saw herself sitting in a throne with Aarvard beside her. Their people were bowed before them in acquiescence shouting their names. Alice shuddered and gasped as she reentered the world, her mind safely in her head. She looked at Aarvard and she knew. She knew that she would follow him wherever he went even to the end of time itself. She loved him and would never harm him no matter what his cousin threw her way. I hope that i will never have to hurt his family but i will do whatever i need to make sure that he lives. She thought to herself. Alice spoke in her musical lilting voice, "How do you feel about us Aarvard? Do you see us pulling through or separating? I have something that i would like to share with you." She leapt to the loft and dug in the chest at the end of her bed. She found the ceremonial knife and leapt in front of him, her eyes blazing. "I love you Aarvard. I would never let any harm come to you. In my eyes we are equal brought together by fate, held together by love. No matter what happens i will never leave you nor betray you. I ask that you be my mate for all eternity." She took the knife and slit the skin on the palm of her hand. She turned the knife around and held it out to Aarvard. She waited to see if he would return her affections as the blood dripped from her hand.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:26 pm
Aavard's heart stopped. He stared at her, his head rushing. He had no idea what to say. Part of him longed for acceptance and affection, wanted to slice open his hand and anywhere else she wished; but another part knew it would not be safe for her and knew she had no idea what the bond would mean for her. The longer he stood there, eyes wide, the more his heart pounded. He watched the blood curl from her palm to wrap around her wrist and drop to the floor lightly. To him, this faint sound was deafening. He reached forward and closed her hand over the cut slowly. "Alice," he said softly, "Think of what you are doing. Think of what I am. Your blood would be tainted. And whatever it is I am becoming would be in within you too. You would be bound to me - bound to a monster. Just think about it for a minute." He closed his eyes. He knew that at the slightest arguement, he'd pick up the knife. He hoped for her sake, she'd just run...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:13 pm
"You're not a monster" She cried. "You're a good and honest person Aarvard. You're a responsible person. You aren't going to go power hungry like you're cousin would." She watched the blood drip from her hand and onto Aarvards."I'm already a b*****d child so what difference would your blood make to me? I love you. Don't you dare push me away! You need me just as much as i need you." Alice stood there defiantly. Her eyes blazing, heart pounding, and mind seizing up she waited for his response. If he said no, she'd survive but be just as cold as her mother. If he said yes, she would finally know what it would be like to love.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:36 am
Aavard's jaw tightened as he glared angrily at Alice for making the wrong decision. He stared deep into her eyes, furiously. When she did not change her mind, but remained stubbornly silent, he slowly grasped the handle of the knife without looking away. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he slowly cut deeper than was necessary into his palm. Blood spattered the floor. He drew a deep breath and finally looked away, holding out his hand. She grasped his hand. He closed his eyes - he had just condemned the woman he loved. His hand began to tingle and ache; he could not pull away - their hands seemed to be sealed together. The pain spread up his arm and reached his heart. It felt sharp and cold, as if someone had pierced it with ice. Eventually, his body and arm grew numb. Then, there was nothing. He withdrew his hand - the scar had already healed and faded to a thick pink line. He refused to look at her and stormed out of the door into the sunshine. He felt her follow but ignored her. He couldn't look at her. Not after what he had just done. Foolish girl, he thought, She has no idea what she has just done! How could she do this to herself!? How could she stand there and put me in this agonizing position!? Doesn't she care about herself? About staying alive? She could have had a chance at a normal and happy life... what happens when I get called to war? What if I am killed? Doesn't she understand, he wondered miserably. He wrapped his hand around the amulet; it burned and gave off a bright light. He stopped dead in his tracks as he felt a strange and powerful change come over him. He was afraid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:51 am
Feeling bereft, Alice stared as Aarvard stormed out of the house. She knew that she only did what was necessary. She reached across their mental link and found a hard block in place. She was a strong telepath and it didn't take long before she transformed herself and seeped through the cracks in the mental block. She was astonished to find that he had kept so much from her and that he was going to become a lycan in the truest sense. She poured her strength and love into him, to remind him that he was never alone. She felt herself pushed out and back into her own mind. Silent tears tracked down Alices porcelain cheeks as she waited for Aarvard to come to terms with their relationship. They were mated in the ritual as old as the land itself, she said her vows and exchanged blood through them. It was unbreakable. She didn't believe in divorce so she would stand by her mate even if he grew to love another. Alice gasped as a streak of pain flew through her body. Her eyes flew open and saw Aarvard standing before her. Aarvard let me help you...as both their bodies were wracked with pain that she had never experienced before. She forced their mental link open and held his mind captive. They would survive and become stronger together. She gave him strength and taught him to relax as his body felt the pain. She poured her love into him...and they waited through the storm together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:51 am
Aavard's muscles contorted and his ears were filled with a roaring sound. Soon, he was writhing on the ground. Within moments, he had sprouted wings. He straightened, his skin seeming to glow faintly. "What... what am I?" His muscles contorted again and he fell into his wolf form. He whimpered in pain, keeping himself as low to the ground as possible before being forced to shift yet again - this time back into a human. He covered his head with his hands and cried out in agony. The amulet burned fiercely. He heard his uncle's voice filling the clearing of trees as if he were there. "The time is almost upon us. Soon, you will become that which you were born to be. You will still have your werewolf blood, but your true being will emerge. Since you were never meant to be a werewolf, the two will constantly battle until you can learn to control them. Until that time, there will be much pain. Good luck, young one." The pain dulled to a throbbing in his bones. He lay there, breathing heavily. He now knew what he and his family really were. Guardians... Alice started forward. "Don't touch me!" He tried to move away from her, but with no success. He was too exhausted. The sun was glowing around her. She's beautiful, he thought to himself in wonderment. He began to feel the warmth returning to his limbs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:32 am
Alice watched as Aarvard's body went through several arduous transformations. She kept their mental link open despite the fact that he hated showing any weakness especially in front of her. She briefly heard the word Guardians cross his mind.She wondered what that could possibly mean... She stepped forward and he pulled away from her, shirking from her touch. She slowly knelt beside him covering his body with hers to protect him from prying eyes. Her hair swirled around his chest as she placed her head there. Her deep eyes full of knowledge met the glare in Aarvards. She full well knew what he was capable of, having the immense power that he now has and still loved him unconditionally. Her only thought was how she craved him, his touch, his soul, his love.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:46 am
She knelt beside him and placed her head gently on his chest. All his anger melted away. He layed down and pulled her with him, wrapping his arms around her carefully. They basked in the sunlight, flower petals and leaves blowing through the trees on a breeze. He closed his eyes, letting the peace wash over them and - for the first time in weeks - truely relaxing. He stroked her hair gently and listened to her steady breathing. They lay there for quite some time, until the sun was at it's peak. Aavard began to feel hunger gnawing at his gut. He tilted his head toward Alice's, smelling her hair. She tucked her head under his chin and he smiled. "Are you hungry," he asked her, his voice rumbling deep in his chest. She nodded. He ran his thumb aross her cheek gently, brushing the hair from her face. She looked up at him and he smiled. So this is happiness, he thought to himself. "Why don't I make us some lunch? My special dish." They sat up. "I'll meet you back at your house, okay?" He hesitated under her soft gaze. Nervously, he pulled her in close and hugged her tightly. He kissed her on top of her head; his lips tingled pleasently. "I'll be right back. I promise." He took off into the trees, whistling a cheerful tune until he found what he was looking for - a beautiful stream stocked with fish. He waded in to his knees and watched carefully, timing when he would strike. "A bit of afternoon fishing," asked an amused and scornful noise behind him. He whipped around. "Charles..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
