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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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 Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:19 pm
The glow of the sun was gone now that the sun had completely left the horizon. The sky was dark and speckled with the shining stars. Every now and then a cool breeze would blow, running it's chilling fingers through her hair. Cailin almost never wore her hair down but tonight was different. Tonight she had gotten some very bad news and there was something she wanted to hide. She sat on the dry ground while her feet fell into the river currents embrace. Her pale blue eyes had been staring out ahead of her for some time before her gaze fell on her left hand.
There, resting on her ring finger was a silver promise ring. Her eyes narrowed and her stomach twisted and turned in disgust. Snatching it off, she threw the ring out into the river as a final act of defiance. Pulling her feet from the river, she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them to keep them there. "I hate him..."
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:34 pm
 Nick roared as he broke from his stone skin, stretching his limbs and wings towards the sky as if greeting the evening. Crouching down upon the cliff's edge, he looked towards the horizon and pondered what to do tonight. Finding nothing of interest nearby, he spread his wings and sought to find his entertainment elsewhere.
The glint of the moon upon water caught his attention, and he decided that perhaps a walk along the river's edge would do him wonders..and perhaps he could hunt while he was at it later. Circling as he descended, it wasn't till he was nearly ground level that he caught sight of the human sitting upon the bank. Angling his descent slightly, he was just in time to swoop by and catch a silver object that flew through the air, and her accompanying words.
Once upon the ground, he crouched where he'd landed not too far away from the girl, and turned the silver object in his hand in contemplation. It was a simple band, but humans tended to put such stock into the objects that he wondered what could be her problem...perhaps it was a fight with her mate? Settling his wings about his shoulders, he piercing blue eyes studied the girl silently for a moment before saying with a slight chuckle, "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything."
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:46 pm
Oh god. Had he followed her here. Turning her head, ready to shoot her enemy a glare she calmed when she saw the pale gargoyle before her. Good, it seemed the night was getting slightly better. "No, not at all. Just here for peace is all. I assume you've come for that as well?" She looked away and continued to gaze at the river. She could only fake a smile for so long or rather hide the sadness in her eyes for so long. She wanted to be perky, she really did because she most certainly didn't want others to know when she was down but she just couldn't muster the energy.
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:58 pm
He didn't miss her glare of death, then how she relaxed when she realized it wasn't whom she thought and stood up. "In a sense, I guess you could say yes." He peered down at the ring for a moment longer before glancing back at her curiously. "Something troubles you," he said as he approached a few steps closer before settling down upon the ground once more, lifting the ring to catch the moon's light. "Sometimes peace is found not in being alone, but in voicing what troubles us."
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:12 am
"I don't think it wise to speak of it. You ever hear the saying 'speak of the devil and his minions shall come'? I rather not risk somehow beckoning the cause of my disgust. Furthermore I wouldn't want to ruin your night with talk of it either. Thank you though." Cailin grew silent and then five minutes later she sat straight up and looked to the gargoyle.
"Forgive me for my rude behavior. Here you are being so curtious and I haven't even returned the favor my at least giving you my name." She reached out her right hand as if to shake his. "My name is Cailin...and you?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:20 am
Nick reached out to take her smaller hand in his clawed one, his grip gentle as he squeezed it lightly. "I've been named Nicolas by your people, but mostly called Nick. Who said such stories would ruin my night? And besides, if the...uh...'cause of your digust' should arrive, I'm fairly certain we could get away easily enough." He flexed his muscles, turning his face and posing slightly trying to get her to laugh. "Claws and wings do come in handy, you know." he added with a wink.
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:54 am
A small chuckle left her lips and she grew to relax more thanks to the calm demeanor of Nick. "Well since you'd like to know, I 'll share my secret. But don't say I didn't warn you." She fiddled her fingers together in attempts to keep calm as she prepared to tell him what bothered her. "Ever since I was old enough, my parents have been trying to marry me off...well my father has been anyway. However, I managed to evade my suitors by leaving. Eventually they'd grow tired of waiting for me and they'd leave to seek the hand of another woman."
"Tonight however was far different. My father's close friend came to the village today but he wasn't alone. He brought his son with him. A gruff man with no tolerance for a woman like myself that actually thinks for herself, has a free spirit and speaks her mind. Even worse, he hates gargoyles with a passion that burns hotter than the fires of hell. I had spent most of the day away from our home, taking a walk in the woods, so I had no idea what they had been planning.
When I returned home...things just didn't feel right. He seemed to be trying too hard to get to know me and me to know him. It was when I was aiding my mother in the preparation of supper that I was told what was going on. My father had arranged for me to marry his friends son. It was then that Damian tried to slide that stupid ring onto my finger. Naturally I pulled away. I barely even know the man. My father was furious at my actions, grabbed my arm and..."
Again she fell silent and simply chose to skip the next part. "I played submission and so he allowed me to leave our home for some time to think. So I came here and have been sitting here since."
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:58 am
Nick sucked on his lower lip in thought, his hand playing with the ring idly as he watched the river water flow by. "That is quite a problem you have," he agreed. He knew quite a bit of human society, having chosen to meet others in his life and knowing they were not all as bad as some would think. Others, like the child's promised husband, could be quite dangerous to his kind and would bear keeping an eye on. "What does your...mother...think of all this?"
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:03 pm
"My mother is like a drone. She has no thoughts of her own. She supports my father with all that he does, no matter how foolish those things may be. She told me having a husband would be good for me. It's bad enough that I am an old maid It would keep me grounded and finally get my head out of the clouds and instill some sense in me when it comes to the gargoyles.
When Damian heard her say that you can be sure that he understood that I have a love for gargoyles. I've been this way since childhood. Damian then promised that once we were married he would set me straight and I'd be normal like the other women. Insufferable man. I'd rather marry a bear with a sore tooth than him. My parents and his father are trying to have us married before the week is out." She growled lightly before muttering under her breath. "I'm not an old maid. I'm just eighteen years old."
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:06 pm
Nick palmed the ring, torn about what to tell this girl. "Have you ever considered running away? I do know a young gypsy girl about your age who'd be willing to hide and disguise you if I asked her to, then you wouldn't have to be married to this creaton. Nadya's view of us is like your own, and she's about your age as well. Change your hairstyle and clothes, and you could pass as her cousin if not sister..."
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:35 pm
Cailin perked up in that instant and her eyes held that spark that they usually had. Just as she was about to tell Nick of her gratitude another voice cut it. One more masculine and very gruff. This voice only caused her to shrink down once more. The devil has come to find his prize. Would she ever be granted peace? God was laughing at her clearly.
"So this is where you've been...and with a gargoyle no less. You know how your family feels of this behavior. Do you enjoy making them miserable with your antic?" He folded his arms over his broad chest, his good eye, his left eye watching his future wife intently. "Come, a woman shouldn't be out here at this time of night."
"Yes, this is where I have been, seeking peace and sanctuary from the family them seems to enjoy making me miserable. Yes, I am here with a gargoyle, who's company has been and will always be far more enjoyable than yours. I care not what my 'family' feels about my behavior. I am doing no wrong nor is he. Furthermore, it may be late but I'll be struck dead before I go anywhere with a man like you."
"This is what I'm talking about. Don't take your anger out on me. I'm not the one who struck your face, then again you have no one to blame but yourself. If you'd stay in your place you wouldn't have to be punished. Now get over here before I drag you back home!"
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:02 pm
Though it was far from Nick's normal nature to want to hurt another living being, human or gargoyle, this young man irritated him to no end within the few seconds he'd been present. He wondered for a moment if he'd heard his offer to hide the girl, and tried to guess if he had or not. Still, he worked to keep his face calm, though his eyes showed just how annoyed he was. "She has every right to be in whatever company she pleases, human and gargoyle alike. She is not alone, and is more protected while in my care than yours, I can assure you."
His voice lowered slightly with a hint of a growl and authority. "You will not be dragging her anywhere. She is fully capable of making her own choices, about her present and...future...company." He emphasised the word future, partially to strike out at Damien, and partially to emphasis to Cailin his offer was open and all she had to do was give him her word, though he kept his gaze locked onto the male's face. "She is under my protection, and any harm that comes to her shall be visited upon the offender threefold."
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:41 pm
"Safe with a gargoyle? Don't make me laugh beast. No human is safe when a gargoyle is around. The attack anything in there way may it be a child or adult." Nick wasn't the only one annoyed around here. Damian was miffed himself. Who know what spells he was using to twist his future wifes mind. In his eyes, gargoyles were all the same. Ruthless demons that would maim or kill anything in their sight and he was an living example of their work.
"Further more.."
"Just leave me alone!" Cailin quickly stood up and balled her hands into tight fists. "You want to know why I choose to have gargoyles as company and not your own or my family's? I'll tell you...no better yet I'll show you." She whirled around and bore a fiery glare right at Damian. Raising her hands, she pulled her hair back and showed off the blackened eye she had gotten from her father earlier that day.
"I choose their company because unlike you and all of the others they are noble beings. They don't strike the ones they love for who they are less they truly deserve it. They treat each other as equals ignoring gender. They protect ungrateful individuals despite the dangers it puts them and their clan in. That is why I befriend them. That is why I love them. Their honor, kindness and wisdom outshines our own and always will because humans are too stubborn and arrogant to learn and grow from our mistakes!"
Letting her hands fall to her sides, she moved to Nick and took the ring from his clawed hand. " I will never marry a brute like you Damian, so you can take this ring back. The only beast I see here is you and I will not be bound to one." She threw the ring with force to his feet and turned her back to him.
"You can't do this!"
"I can and just did..." Her voice was stern and unwavering. Her mind would not be changed. She was taking Nick up on his offer.
Damian could only glare at Nick. He knelt down, picked up the ring and clutched his hand into a fist around it. "You'll pay for this beast. Just you wait." With that he stormed off. This was far from over.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:26 pm
Nick let Cailin take the ring away with no hesitation, merely watching Damien sternly. Yes, this human would bear watching and very closely. It was sad that such had to be the case, but what could you do in the midst of such hatred? Granted, he could of reached out and killed the man right then and there, and had, by letting him go, also allowed more lies and such to be spread amongst them...glancing down at his now bare hands sadly, he wondered why such had to be the case, both amoung the humans and gargoyles. Too often fear ruled over common sense, and he battled that every day.
As Damien stormed off, he waited for a moment before crouching down and instructing Cailin to climb on his back. Once he was satisfied she was in place, he loped on all fours in the opposite direction till he was satisfied he was far enough away in case Damien hadn't truly left but merely circled around to hear their plans. Setting her back down on the ground, he turned to her, and apologized to her. "I did not want him hearing us in case he wasn't exactly leaving. As you said, speak of the devil and his minions will appear....but I believe we are safe for now. Returning to your family will be impossible now, but for some reason I doubt that will trouble you terribly much. I hope he did not exactly overhear what I'd said before..."
Going silent for a moment, he stood tall and looked around as if seeking something. Finding nothing to his satisfaction, he turned back to Cailin. "There is a cave near were I normally sleep during the day. I think few humans know of it, and you should be safe there for the next few days, until Nadya and I believe it is safe. I can hunt and provide you with food, and if you tell me a list, I can bring some things back from town for you." He gave her a gentle smile, knowing what this sort of sacrifice would entail on both their parts.
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Patron Saint Of Farewells
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:50 pm
"I am forever in your debt Nick and am very sorry to have pulled you into such a predicament. That is another problem we humans have. We always pull the gargoyles into our quarrels. I will do my best to pull my weight as well. I may not be a skilled hunter but I am good when it comes to catching fish and finding fresh berries to eat. I will only require cloth and thread from the village. I can easily make a needle from a strong piece of wood if I widdle it down enough. That way I can make myself another shirt and possibly pants. Can't wear this all the time. That would just be nasty." Cailin giggled slightly and gave a Nick a warm smile.
"I must say I am very lucky to have met you tonight. It's like the heavens have answered my prayers and sent me their angel. Again, thank you for the sacrifice your making."
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