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 Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:12 pm
♞x x x xL o r dxxV a r i a nx x x x♞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━   Varian had been feeling wrong all day. The headache he dealt with from refusing the call of the Bond was about to kill him, literally kill him, if he was any judge. He needed, physically needed to form the bond before his brain melted or something. Snorting to himself, he flicked an elongated ear and lay his head back down on the flooring of soft pine needles beneath the Wayward Pine he and Avari called home.
His Sparrow was out by the river washing, he presumed, or else trying to spear some plump trout for their dinner. Sadly, he doubted he'd be alive for dinner if he waited that long. His eyes burned, so bad that he could hardly see, and his head throbbed in time with his heart; a fiery, searing pain that left room for nothing else. He thanked the Gods that he had Soulgazed Avari for the mental contact it allowed them over relatively short distances.
:: Avari, Sparrow. I need you to come home at once, please. I need to venture east, but I cannot make it there on my own. The Call . . . My time I has come to Bond, little one. :: Varian winced, the small effort of even speaking to her mentally nearly throwing him unconscious. The large stallion let out a groan and tipped over sideways, so he was laying with his cheek against the ground, antlers causing his head to tilt uncomfortably. Gritting his teeth, Varian grunted as he hauled himself back up, panting by the end of it. Gods. I never knew it would get this bad.
But he supposed flat-out ignoring the Call for two weeks would do that to an Azrein. His nostrils flared as he sighed, waiting for Avari to return. He hoped she was quick about it -- he didn't know if he would even be alive within the hour.
*xxxxxxxxxx*xxxxxxxxxx*
The King stood on the balcony, looking off towards the east. The Councillor at his shoulder went on and on about the logistics of the upcoming war, and Azreth tuned him out. Something felt off tonight. He knew his Bonded, Balthier, was tucked away safe and sound in the Grand Stables, but there was a . . . a pulling to his heart that told him he needed to east as fast as he could. It felt almost as it had when he had gone to meet Valdien for the first time, and he --
No. No, he would not think of Val. It was too soon. Grimacing, the man turned to the Councillor beside him and backed his way gracefully out of the discussion, using the excuse of 'other pressing matters of State' that always did the trick. The King wound his way down the stairs of the tower, heading back towards his rooms to back his saddlebags. He would take one of his horses, not an Azrein; if he were heading in to danger, he could simply leave the horse to find its way back before things got dicey. He rolled his eyes as he began packing things.
And any Azrein that went with him -- Bonded or not -- would be inexplicably stubborn and demand to continue on with him. Throwing some dried meats into his pack, he shouldered the saddlebags and made his way down to the stables, grabbing a blue roan stallion and tacking him up. He knew that he needed to ride fast and hard, and this boy was the one who could take him there without breaking a sweat. He spoke softly to him, telling Zeke what a wonderful boy he was a promising a good rub-down when they got back before mounting.
He turned Zeke's head east, whispered a prayer to the Good Spirits -- and to Valdien, as was his custom these days -- and kicked the stallion into a canter, racing to beat the coming of night.
[ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:29 pm
Ears flicking back as she found her mind circling back to whatever was distressing her stallion. Slowly meandering her way from the shallows she began to make her way back towards his location. She'd only left to bathe to calm her nerves. It was only a few steps into her return that she felt a calling inside of her followed by the sound of her mates pained voice in her ears. His bond? Feeling dread fill her being as the reason they'd headed this way moved to the front of her mind. She'd left him bearing the pain this past week with hardly a care. Picking up her pace, she ran the now familiar trip from the river to their home quickly at his request. The worry she'd lose him to this human, regardless of his promises gnawed away at her insides. Heart racing when she slowed to pass through the trees she caught him a few moments after he's risen from the ground.
"Varian.." She breathed out her eyes alight with fear as she moved to his side, he was far worse then he had been that morning, or at least he seemed that way now. Sides heaving with the effort of her run, she lightly nosed his shoulder her horn alighting with it's soft glow as she tried her boost to ease this pain he was experiencing, although she knew it would do no good. "I.. We should hurry?" The mare questioned fear gripping her lightly with those words. He'd mentioned being unable to make it there alone, and she knew she needed to get him there. But she knew what would be at the end of this journey, the man she'd been promised and never thought she'd ever have to never meet. Shaking the thoughts from her head she tried to picture the man she'd been described, this kind and caring king attempting to banish her fear. 
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:38 pm
♞x x x xL o r dxxV a r i a nx x x x♞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Relief flooded through the large stallion as he felt Avari's small nose against his neck, felt the small trickle of energy she lent him that allowed him to stand steadier and sighed in relief. He breathed into her mane, letting her know he was alright to stand on his own. She warily took a few steps back, and the Deity smiled down at her. He loved the way she was so direct -- she didn't ask him if he were alright, didn't demand an explanation, but simply accepted what he had to do and that's all. He was so incredibly lucky to have her by his side.
"Yes, little one. We must hurry. We go east -- follow the river for a mile, and then turn right at the lightning-stuck tree. I might become delirious, but if you get lost, the boy is on his way and he should meet us within the hour. Hopefully I'll still be able to speak at that point, but just . . ." He closed his eyes, knowing how hard it would be for her to agree to his wish. "Just don't leave my side, Avari, until he had his hands on me. I will have to use some of your energy to keep going, otherwise I will simply fall down and I shalln't be able to rise again." He turned his head to look at her, the effort of lifting his wings to encompass her almost too much to bear, but he bit through the pain and did so to comfort her. "You are my life, Sparrow, and I will never leave you for anything."
He pressed his wings tightly against his flanks and took a faltering stop forward, braced himself, then urged his screaming body into a trot. "Come, little one. Stay right beside me so that the bells on my antlers are directly above you. This way, in case I cannot see, I'll know that it is you beside me and not an enemy sneaking up."
The two set out, Varian keeping his pace slow so that Avari could keep up with minimal effort, and the stallion's blue eyes never left the eastern horizon after they made it out of the woods they called home. The castle itself was no more than two hours trot, so he knew that the King would probably cross them in about a half-hour, as he were surely on a horse. Nodding to himself, Varian pushed all thoughts from his mind save for two:
Protect Avari, and get to the King before it killed him.
*xxxxxxxxxx*xxxxxxxxxx*
Azreth pushed Zeke onward, bent over the stallion's withers so that his chest was actually brushing the bones atop his shoulders -- he had grabbed a hornless, high-cantled saddle for just this reason. He clenched his teeth, feeling an ache begin in his temples, a searing pain that lanced his skull. Green eyes were riveted on the road ahead as the sky grew dark. He knew he didn't have much time to get to . . . whatever it was that was calling him.
His heart hurt, hurt almost more than he could bear. This felt exactly like when he had gone to meet Valdien, but even with his current Bonded, Balthier, it hadn't been this intense. But then again, Bal wasn't the true half of his soul; only a small, small portion of it. Azreth blinked tears out of his eyes and fed the horse beneath him a small tendril of Skill, giving him more energy to keep going at a relentless gallop. The young King closed his eyes, a prayer flying upwards from his lips, and bade whatever was Calling him to just hold on.
[ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:20 am
"I will try Varian.." She whispered softly her body shaking lightly as things began to finalize. She's going to walk her mate into the hands of a creature that may try to harm him for all she knew. Though Avari had been told time and time again of the Kings good stature, she couldn't help but wonder and fear. Moving into a trot beside him, she picked up speed for a moment to position herself under his antlers like he'd asked, her ears laid back tight against her head in her distress. She felt the urge to move faster, to run at the speed she knew she could but the distance was too far for her to keep that kind of pace.
Side brushing against his every so often, she kept her eyes moving around them as she ran by his side. Cautious of any danger that may find them in such a venerable moment. Taking a moment to look up at the stallion beside her, she felt one thing in her heart. She wouldn't let him be taken from her so quickly, even if it meant giving every bit of energy she had, she would get him where he needed to go, and if it was danger they were running into she would try her best to defend him like he'd her.. Avari focused her eyes back out to the forest ahead of them, she wanted to speak, to keep a sound going other then their hooves but her mind was blank in her panic.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 12:23 am
♞x x x xL o r dxxV a r i a nx x x x♞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Varian knew that Avari was utterly terrified. Whenever her flanks brushed against his own, he could feel a small tremor go through her that had nothing to do with her gait. Though he wanted nothing more than to stop and tell her it would be all right, that the King would never harm her, he couldn't chance it. Clenching his jaw, the stallion went ruthlessly forward, only meeting her eyes and giving her a tight, pain-filled smile before returning his gaze to the land ahead. The sun had set perhaps ten minutes past, and they still had a small ways to go.
Varian nearly tripped over his own hooves as a lance of pain -- white-hot, searing, angry -- traveled the entire course of his body. He let out a startled trumpet and sidestepped, lifting his wings for balance. But he was too weak, and all he managed to do was get his primaries in the way of his feet, and if he broke one of his wings, he'd be as good as dead -- unable to protect Avari. He went down in a graceless heap -- which was exceedingly rare, since even when he fell, he always did so smoothly. The stallion grunted as he hit the ground with enough force to expel breath from his lungs, his ribs aching.
He lay panting for a moment, hearing Avari's voice but not quite able to make out her words from the fog over his mind. He knew she must be terribly worried, so he tried to lift a wing to shelter her before realizing it was trapped beneath his hindquarters. Odd. His wing had never bent like that before. He lifted his head to stare at it for a moment, blue eyes glazed, pupils so dilated only a small ring of azure remained. Oh Gods. Oh, Gods. His wing was broken, the final joint belt sideways. He could hear a small keen and tilted his head, the chime of the bells hanging from them sounding obnoxiously loud. He was about to open his mouth to ask Avari to calm down, that it was okay, before he realized that it was already open and the sound was coming from him. He snapped his mouth shut. Gods weren't supposed to keen.
A small part in the back of his mind was panicking. He had to get up, his thoughts were to muddled, he needed to go find the King, to seal the Bond so that he could get back to normal, so he could protect Avari. But he just . . . couldn't. He sighed once and closed his eyes to try to make the world stop its ceaseless, angry spinning, and he felt the small form of Avari lay next to him, hearing her words distantly, as though underwater. He wanted to assure her everything would be okay, but speaking would take so much effort. Eventually, blackness closed in, and with it sweet relief.
*xxxxxxxxxx*xxxxxxxxxx*
Azreth heard a low, hoarse cry just beyond the Broken Tree, and something in his head clicked. He was there. The King stood in the stirrups, bending low over Zeke's neck, and ruthlessly pushed him forward. He was so close. That sounded like one of Valdien's warning cries, but Val was dead, and he wasn't coming back. He had been tortured and killed. And dead is dead in reality.
When he was ten yards away from seeing two dark lumps on the ground, vaguely Azrein-shaped, the King vaulted from his saddle, landing gracefully, and pitched into a dead run until he was several paces away. Breathing hard, Azreth walked the rest of the way, green eyes shining in the moonlight. He took in the scene -- a stunning white unicorn, curled protectively -- as much as she could be, anyway -- around a large, prone form with wings and antlers. His eyes narrowed slightly. The wings were the same hue as . . . as his, same with the coat and hair. But the antlers were wrong, as were the hooves.
Azreth shook his head and trotted forward, dropping to his knees in front of the limp stallion, the mare on the far side of him. He didn't touch the stallion, afraid he might have severe wounds, and turned his gaze to the mare. "My Lady, what happened? I heard him cry out, and I rushed over as quickly as I could. Are you both alright? Are you hurt anywhere? I have some small medical items in my saddlebags --"] He waved a hand vaguely to the blue roan several yards away, munching lazily on grass, "And I can go get them."] He saw the fear in her blue eyes, saw her fur wave as she shook.
Azreth's eyes grew sad as he looked from her to the unconscious stallion. "Please, Sparrow. Don't be afraid. I'm going to do everything in my power to help him and to keep you safe. Nothing's going to hurt either of you while I'm here. May I touch him, to see what ails him, white lady?" Sparrow? Where had that come from? Azreth shook his head. It felt right, somehow. He could worry about it later, though. For now he had to help this . . . this Azrein. He shook his head, closing his eyes. It was coincidence that he looked like Val. That was all. Nothing more. But his heart hurt, and tears spilled out of the corners of his eyes. Gods, please, please let me be able to help him.
If he let another Azrein die, he wouldn't know what to do with himself.
[ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 1:29 am
Circling him she stopped by his back carefully moved to lay beside him. With her head resting gently on his side she listened to his breathing as she kept her eyes and ears darting around keeping watch for anyone who tried to sneak up. She knew he needed his bond, but she had no clue how to find someone like he'd described. All she knew was he was a King, and to her that didn't leave her much at all. Stuck at his side, she was tempted multiple times to use her magic to heal him, but she couldn't until the broken bones were bound together. Last thing she wanted was to cause permanent damage to her stallion. Breath coming out is quick huffs she lifted her head when the sound of approaching hooves caught her attention. Dark eyes peering through the shadows casted down by the trees. She found herself tempted to call out, hoping it was an approaching Azrein who may aid them. But the fear of it being a six member, and the being who hopped from the back quickly caused her to bite her tongue. Body shaking, she felt her legs jolt, telling her to flee to the safety of the trees and away from the sight of this human.
Shifting her weight as he approached she lowered her head to rest along Varian's side, brandishing her horn, the only weapon she carried at the man protectively over her mate. Stomach twisting uneasily as he fell to his knees she startled when he spoke. Ears back she eyed him in pure terror, her heart hammering with her mind. Thought he spoke she found no way to respond, she'd managed to stay at Varian as she'd promised, but her fear now held her tongue firmly as her mind raced. Was she hurt? She wasn't the one on the ground, she wasn't the one who was in so much pain. Avari felt herself becoming lost in her fear for not only herself but Varian's own safety, at least until he called her sparrow. Lifting her head she pushed to her hooves when he suddenly moved, quickly bounding a few steps away before turning to face him. Blue eyes dropping to Varian she felt her heart twist. Approaching one step she shook her head.
"H-he stumbled.." Avari stammered before her throat tightened and she took a half a step back, shaking her head once more as she tried to clear it. "Something broke.. I-I don't know, he passed out and I can't heal it.." Tail twisting anxiously behind her she felt the tears roll down the soft fur of her cheeks. "He's going to die, and I.. I don't know what to do.." Avari felt wrong speaking to this human, but the want to aid him held her there. "We needed to find the King.."
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 1:33 am
 ♕x x x xK i n gxxA z r e t hx x x x♕ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ x Azreth glanced up at the mare as she bolted and took a few paces forward, explaining to him what had happened. His heart lurched. They needed to find him? A small frown creased his brows and he tilted his head up to catch the light of the moon, the small circlet he wore when outside of Avandere glinting warmly in the night. "You've found him, Sparrow." She had seemed to react to that name before, so he may as well utilize it. She was so . . . so afraid, it physically hurt him to see it. But he couldn't back off to calm her down -- he needed to heal this stallion. He took a deep breath and rocked back on his heels.
"I know this is going to be hard, but I need you to trust me." He held her gaze as he spoke, hoping to the Gods she could see that he meant neither of them any harm. "He's broken his wing, Lady, and I need to align the bone so I can heal it. He's going to be grounded for a few weeks, but that is better than allowing it to heal improperly, as wings are wont to do, and to never see him fly again." Azreth chewed on his lower lip. The Healing would take a lot out of him, but he'd gladly give up his life to save this majestic creature, or any Azrein for that matter. "I'm going to need you to help me lift him, little one, then hold him while I move his wing. Once I get it out from underneath him, I'm going to straighten it and then begin to heal it, alright?"
He waited anxiously for her answer. She was strong, in a delicate way, as much of an oxymoron as that was. He knew she was terrified -- he could see it in her every move, hear it in her words -- but still she remained near him to see to the stallion. Lifemates, maybe? They clearly weren't related. He let out a soft breath as he reached into a satchel on his belt, pulling out some silk bandages. These would let the feathers breathe while the hollow bones of the wing were held in place. He closed his eyes, centering himself, before opening them once more and glancing back at the mare.
"I swear on the Good Spirits -- and on my own life that I will not hurt either of you. Azreth stood, walking very, very slowly around the stallion's prone form, putting himself within lunging distance of the mare's horn. "You may kill me now if you believe me a threat to you and yours, Sparrow. All I want to do is to help the both of you, just as I would for anyone -- Azrein or human -- who has need of me. Please, just let me help him, and then I will be on my way if the both of you wish it." He held her blue gaze the entire time, hoping, praying that she would a acquiesce so that he might help the stallion. Besides his wing, something was dangerously, fatally wrong with him.
All of the years he'd spent nurturing Azrein back to health told him that if he didn't help the stallion somehow -- and fast -- that he wouldn't make it until midnight.
"Do I have your permission, white lady?"
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ [ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤ ✖
✖xx♔ xx✖
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:23 am
He'd broken his wing? Eyes dropping momentarily to Varian's form before returning to this man she shivered. He wished her to approach, to help lift her mated form, but to be so close that he would be able to grab her if he wished. Could she do that? Trying to gather her wits to approach, she felt her whole body freeze when he reached into his pouch. Expecting some kind of weapon to show itself she was confused when it was simply a thin piece of fabric. Feeling a bit of panic leave her in the moment he'd had his eyes closed, she moved a bit to the left in hopes she could circle back to Varian's side while he wasn't looking, but when the green eyes focused on her once more she paused.
Listening to his words, her ears flicked back and she snorted. Allowing him to approach her a few steps, she moved back one when he was too close. "I would.. I would easily kill you if I had the choice.." She announced softly, her skin shivering at his proximity. Had she been cornered with anyone but this man, she would have speared them with her horn and left them to die from bleeding out at her hooves. Avari wanted her freedom, to answer the desperate plea to leave this area that her body called for, but she was stuck. "Ah, Y-yes, you may heal him.. Please hurry he's dying.." Her heart clenched as she forced herself to take a shaky step towards this man. She felt no trust for him like she did with Varian, she only held the constant panic. Though she needed him to help. "With a broken soul, I fear his wing will be useless.." Giving the man a wide beach as she approached her mates fallen form. Avari leaned her head down to nuzzle his cheek tenderly before watching the man with cautious eyes, as her heart hammered in her chest. Even now the unicorn wanted to believe this wasn't true, Varian wasn't going to be mixed up with this male.. They'd be able to live peacefully, untouched by their vial fingers. Yet here she was, willingly hanging him over to this man..
Tail flicking she dropped her gaze to his side, eyeing the trapped wing as her horn began to glow wishing to heal the pain away, but she pulled away keeping her magic from touching him. She too wanted the god to be allowed to fly through the sky, use the gift she was granted. The unicorn wouldn't risk healing a broken bone by accident because of her feelings. Silencing her magic she heaved a heavy sigh, her ears listening closely to the human while her eyes stayed on Varian. How was she to lift him? Shaking her head she lifted her head and stood, waiting for the King to give her information on when she should try to move him.
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:46 am
♕x x x xK i n gxxA z r e t hx x x x♕ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ x Oh, you poor, scared child. Azreth's heart ached for the white mare, so much so that it physically hurt. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her neck and bury his face in her neck ruff, telling her it would be okay, that her Lifemate -- for there was no doubt that was who this winged stallion was -- would be alright, that he could heal him. But something terrible, something inconceivable had happened to this little sparrow, and the King knew she would be traumatized if he even so much as sneezed at her. While making for an amusing -- if terribly bitter -- mental image, Azreth focused on the task at hand. His mouth was set in a grim line as he nodded to the mare.
"You have my word, little one. If I intentionally harm your Lifemate or yourself, I shall kneel before you and allow you to take my life." He knew she probably wouldn't believe him, but he had to trust she would at least not kill him before he could get the stallion healed. Azreth blew out a short, sharp breath. "Right. Let's do this." Oh, yeah. Smart, vainglorious King. Give yourself a nice old pep-talk while an Azrein is possibly dying from refusing a Bond in front of yo-
The King started, his slender hands buried in the fur of the stallion's neck. Refusing the. . . His head snapped up, gaze locking on the mare's blue eyes. "He's been refusing the Bond for weeks. . ." The King's voice cracked audibly, but he was absolutely terrified. He broke out in a cold sweat, chilled to the very marrow of his bones, his teeth rattling. "Good Gods! Who is his -- " And then it hit him. Oh, no. No. No, no, no. Azreth took a shaking breath. He could Feel it. He could Feel him. Not only this Azrein, but. . . But his Valdien too, somehow. Oh, Gods. The King -- not even yet twenty five -- choked on a sob. Oh, Gods. He didn't know whether to laugh, to cry, to scream, to rage and wail at the Gods and Spirits for doing this to him, to this mare, to this stallion. But he knew what had to be done.
He closed green eyes and found the bright, searing light on the Spirit Web within his mind that was this stallion: Varian. As if reaching out a hand, the King sent a tendril of his consciousness, his heart, mind, his very soul towards it, wrapping it around the white-hot light as it began to flicker. While his mind was occupied, subconsciously, his body knew what to do without him present. Unabashedly, the young King began stripping off his gear, his clothes, his Cloak of Office, the Circlet, the Signet Rings -- everything, everything was simply dumped ceremoniously onto the ground as he fought a mental battle, struggling to keep that light steady. As the last article was removed, the King seemed small and vulnerable, even kneeling next to the large Azrein.
Green eyes unfocused, pupils dilated almost obscenely, Azreth lay curled around Varian's skull, his fingers tangled in the Azrein's neck fur, his own head cradled between velveteen antlers. And with everything he had, the King dove headlong into Varian's spirit. A ruthless, searing hot agony swept through the man's fragile body, wracking his frame with seizures, and a heart-rending, primal scream of defiance and pain was torn from the boy's throat. He didn't taste the blood, didn't feel that he had broken something inside, but only kept screaming. He wouldn't let another one die. He couldn't. He would not. His lacerated voice shattered, his body shuddered, and blackness overwhelmed him as he went still.
*xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx*
The two regained consciousness simultaneously, a faint, blue-white light blanketing them like auras in the night. Varian waited for the boy to move away from his horns and wrap his cloak around himself before standing on shaky legs. Azreth felt a wave of heat course through him as he brushed against Varian's shoulder while fastening his cloak. No. No, he couldn't form a Bond again. His heart was raw, it hurt, it hurt from when Valdien had. . .
The stallion lowered his head and the boy did likewise before Varian's resonating, rich voice washed over the plains. His blue eyes were filled with hope, with unadulterated love and acceptance, and those bottomless orbs filled with tears.
"Where your body fails, I shall be your strength. When your judgement is clouded, I shall be your clarity. Whenever you feel broken and lost, and feel as if life holds no meaning, I will show you the wonder and joy it holds, and will heal and guide you back to my embrace. When the weight of the world is on your shoulders, I will carry you. I will love you, no matter your crimes, your decisions, or your fears." The stallion took a breath, and a single tear trailed down his muscled cheek, shining in the light of the summer moon. "I will always accept you, and you shall never be alone again. Your despair will be met with my hope, and the fetters that bind you are no more. Your soul is mine, and my soul is yours, and we will never be apart, even in death. If even a hundred thousand years pass, I will always love you. My name is Varian, and I Choose you, Azreth Kestrel Deservian."
Azreth fell to his knees in front of that majestic, powerful creature, now healed and almost whole once more. He could refuse the Bond. He didn't want to take Varian away from his mare, he didn't want to put the stallion in danger, didn't want him to end as his father had, and yet . . . and yet, he could no more tear out Varian's heart and crush it under his bare heel, for that would be kinder than refusing the Choice.
The words were on his lips to refuse this Bonding, to sever it before it could finish forming, but then his shoulders slumped, and he buried his face in his hands. Gods, he hurt, he hurt everywhere. His body was ravaged from barely sleeping these last two months, his heart was raw, his very soul was marred by a white-hot gash of suffering and loss. The proud King wept openly there on the lush grasses, with the tall stallion standing over him, antlers radiating the moon's light, his equine heart open, Varian's soul -- and a part of his Valdien's soul -- bared before him through the Bond.
Azreth wiped his eyes on his cloak and stood, shaking as he took one step forward, then another, and another until he staggered and lunged forward with a strained wail. He flung his arms around the large stallion's neck, burying his fingers in Varian's fur, feeling the warmth radiating from him both physically and spiritually. His voice hoarse, barely audible from his lacerated, ravaged throat, the King spoke the Answering Words; words he never thought he would say to the one true to half of his soul ever again. With a shaking, cracked voice, the King answered the Call with all his body, mind, heart, and soul.
"Where your heart wavers, I shall be the ceaseless beat that supports you. When your decisions falter, I shall guide you in the choices you make. I will always be by your side, I will never leave you, even if death takes my mortal body. When we are together, we will be flying without wings, for nothing, no matter how difficult, will ever bring us down. I will loose the fetters from around your heart, and I will take you unto my soul, my very essence, and I will always remain open to you. I shall protect what you love with my very life, and I will remain true to you and your Lifemate. I shall keep safe your family as my own, and never will I bring harm to them. Never will I lie, never shall I betray you, my heart of hearts. I swear to the sun and stars that I will always accept you, no matter what may transpire in our lives, and I will love you unconditionally, without hesitation or fear. We shall forever be one, until the last breath leaves my delicate frame. I accept your Choice, Varian, and I am yours, for now and until the end of time."
Azreth's knees buckled beneath him, and he slid down the stallion's muscled chest, burying his face in the soft fur as he wept openly in front of Varian and Avari. "I love you Varian, and you, Avari. I will never leave you, either of you, and I won't ever let you hurt if I can stop it. I promise. I promise." The boy managed to choke out his personal pledge before he felt blood sluice down the inside of his throat, and his voice worked no more. The blue glow around the pair finally dimmed as their souls intertwined, and then Azreth closed his eyes.
He had a new family; Varian and Avari. He would do anything -- anything -- to see them happy, to see them safe and at peace. He would end this war so they could have foals, so that all Azrein and humans could live their lives in joy and light without fear of anything.
He finally, finally, slept soundly for the first time since Valdien had Fallen.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ [ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤ ✖
✖xx♔ xx✖
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:29 pm
Watching the pair from a short distance away Avari felt a brief moment of relief when Varian rose. They weren't too late.. He was still alive. Closing her eyes she sent up a prayer of thanks to the Earth Mother feeling tears gather in her deep blue eyes. Staying half hidden behind the safety of the tree she'd fled too, Avari stayed silent only opening her eyes when Varian's voice reached her ears. Backing up half a step she felt her stomach clench as the words she assumed to be the Bond was spoken. The scene should have been beautiful, showing the great faith, strength and love an Azrein and human could share. Though it only covered the unicorn in a deep sadness. She felt her heart breaking and forced herself to turn away when the boys name was spoken and he fell before her mate. Breath coming out in shaky huffs as she tried to keep silent, Avari felt tempted to run, to flee from this moment and forget the pair even existed. Thought her heart called out for the stallion, her mind continued to remind her that he would soon be no longer hers. It was only when the hoarse voice of the king spoke out answering Varian's words that she began to back away.
She'd thought she was ready for this, she'd continuously reminded herself in their short time alone that this would happen. Even the run here she thought she had prepared herself for what would come, but in his words it was as if the reality of the situation caught in her throat trying to block her breath. Closing her eyes she choked back a sob as her memories of humans converged on her. Varian had said when she had voiced her concerns on humans that the dangers her mother had warned her of when she was young were just stories, and was something she shouldn't put much faith in. Avari had tried to think of it as a random situation that shouldn't be happening on the isle, but she knew the truth.. Shaking her head she imagined the many times she had been forced to run on tired legs from the grabbing hands and biting ropes from the selfish people. "No.." She whispered sadly when the bond was accepted and briefly lifted her eyes when the area became silent, watching when the boy collapse against the chest of the stallion with a cold heart. Ears turning back when her name was spoken she lifted her eyes to Varian's face. They were supposed to know each other more fully then any other Azrein would, and though she knew and had seen the reason for this bond with her own eyes, she still couldn't understand why.
Staying a few feet away Avari dropped her gaze from the god's face feeling them sting when tears began to gather once more. How could she look at him with love again knowing a half of him belonged to the beings that had capability of those humans from her forests. Listening to the silence in the clearing she forced her legs to move towards them. Varian had said there would be danger being with him, but he had also promised her presence would never be known to his bonded. Moving from her cover she paused a few steps away regarding the sleeping human silently. Even from here she could sense unease in his being, something broken that called to be healed. Something she could fix, and had he been an Azrein she would have quickly aided him. Though in her state if mind her magic would hardly heed her call. "I'm sorry Varian.." She began her tear filled gaze raising to him. The unicorn's mind desperately called for her to break off her ties with this horse and run, the mere presence of the boy calling up things in her she'd hoped to suppress until she was old. Lowering her gaze to the ground she felt a shiver run through her as the haunting eyes of her sister came to her mind as she had looked on in betrayal while Eckar and herself fled. "I just.. I cannot belong to this human.." Her heart seized and she shook her head her throat closing as she held back the sobs that wanted to leave her. "I don't know what to think with you dear Varian.. My heart wants to love and simply be happy you're alive. But this bond.." Pawing lightly at the ground with her hoof she sighed shakily. Avari felt the urge to hold her tongue, to let the god live these moments with joy, and not have to worry about her. She knew he should be happy about this, the after all the pain he had went through for her she would be selfish to turn this on her. Bangs falling around her horn to shield her eyes the unicorn set her hoof down and forced a smile through her pain. "I'm sorry my mind is confused.. It is a good thing, right? You spoke.. beautiful words to each other." Refusing to lift her hurt gaze to his, she flicked her eyes to the sleeping figure for a moment before returning them to the ground at her mates hooves. "I'm glad you're okay Varian. I was scared.."
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:39 pm
♞x x x xL o r dxxV a r i a nx x x x♞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Varian had known his little Sparrow would be hurt and confused after the Bond. She had every right to be -- while most Lifebonded Azrein would neigh and prance in joy if their mate became Bonded, she was different. She had suffered such cruelty at the hands of man, such betrayal, that he knew it would take her a long, long time to fully accept the boy, if ever. Lowering his head to nudge the King into a more comfortable position, he carefully stepped over the child, walking over to Avari. He stopped when his muzzle was inches from her own, and stood for a moment as he thought. "Sparrow, touch my forehead with your horn. See if there is a Taint within my blood, that this man has put there."
Varian knew the only thing Azreth had given to him was unconditional love and trust, but Avari couldn't know that. For all she knew, the Bond changed an Azrein fundamentally. She might think that he would become cold or callous like some men, just because he was linked to one. And she needed to see with her own Sight that that was not the case. She needed to See that he was still the same Varian she loved, that this mortal boy couldn't change him and turn him to the ways of men if he tried. Her horn would allow her to see any sort of negativity that was not his own within him. If, as she believed, this boy was bad, the magic residing in that opalescent appendage would allow her to see it.
He saw her hesitate before she did so, and stood still and silent as a sentinel in the night as she touched its tip to his fur. He gave her several minutes to search his soul before gently pulling back. "Avari, sweet love, he has not poisoned me. And you have nothing to fear of him, nor need not fear for me or yourself. You do not need to ever see the child again if you do not wish it. He will return to his castle after he awakes, and then you and I shall return to our home. When we Bonded, he saw all I knew about you, and he will not trouble you unless you desire his presence." The God extended his wings, encircling the little mare as he lowered his head, nuzzling behind her ear. "I swore to you on everything I am that I will not allow anyone to hurt you, sweetling. I would not Bond with a man who had it anywhere in his heart to even raise a finger against an Azrein, let alone my Lifemate."
He released her from his embrace and turned his head to look back at the slumbering King, so small and fragile in the body of man. "He has a heart and soul as big as a God's, yet it resides in such a delicate frame. Avari, if ever you truly believe, with all your heart, that he will cause harm to you, myself, or any children we might have in the future, you may pierce him with your horn and Purge him." He knew that the boy would never dream of hurting them, but Avari did not. And Varian meant every word he said; he would allow her to do what he had spoken if ever she believed it, so she could see for herself the truth of his words. "Sparrow, I love you more than life itself. I -- nor he -- will ever let any harm come to you."
Varian turned and walked over to the boy, lowering his head until his sharp antlers pierced the ground on either side of the boy's skull. Two dangerously sharp prongs pointed directly at Azreth's temples, and if the boy made any sudden moves if he woke up, he would be killed. So would the stallion, as if an Azrein's Chosen died, so did they, but he knew the child would not jolt even if he did awake. "Avari, come over here. Get his scent, so that you may know it if he ever comes to our home. If he comes without me and I am not there, you must go to him, for I might be in danger. Touch him with your horn, Sparrow. See all the good inside of him, See that he wants nothing more than a peaceful world for all of us. See how he feels towards men that strike Azrein, or even animals for that matter." He shifted his gaze so a piercing blue eye locked on the mare. "See his soul, Avari, and know this night and forever more who he truly is."
[ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:43 pm
"I know Varian.. I just never expected to be in this situation.." Stepping away from him when his wing left her form, Avari looked up at him as he turned to gaze at the boy. Tail swaying uneasily when he spoke of the human's character, the unicorn's ears lifted when he left it open for her to touch his Bonded's mind apart of her rising to his challenge. Trying to strengthen her resolve to move towards him, she felt apart of her relax when his familiar name for her rang softly in her ears. "I do love you Varian. I am sorry I do not celebrate for you.. It's just hard." She tried to explain softly as he moved away from her side to pose himself dangerously over the king. Stepping back, she felt the familiar panic rise up in her as he called her closer to the slumbering figure. Ears returning their pinned position as she flicked her head lightly to loop the bangs out of the way of her sight. No matter what comfort they provided her in this moment she would never take the chance of limiting her view if she was to approach the boy.
Cautiously moving towards her stallion with her head lowered towards the boy she paused when she stood off to his side staring down at his sleeping face. "You ask a lot of me Varian.." Lifting her eyes to lock with the ones that searched for her own. Using him being in danger to tempt her to search out a human was cruel, and she could not promise she would. Though she dearly loved the stallion before her, she could not whole heartedly tell him something she couldn't believe she could do. Lowering her now glowing horn carefully towards the boys forehead she closed her eyes, her mind searching. It was a strange feeling, opening her mind to one without four hooves and it caused her skin to crawl. Though she could not see the taint she had felt in others, she felt her magic brighten and grown stronger as she tried to search deeper then she needed to do with Varian. The run off magic dancing along him focusing itself on his wounds while she was focused elsewhere, kindly healing his torn throat. Pulling away suddenly she broke the magic bond and turned away from the two of them confused. "I don't wish to look any longer." Avari spoke suddenly not commenting on what she's felt. The thought of man existing without any impurities and ill thoughts left her more then frustrated. "I don't like the thought of him being around Varian, I'm sorry but it's how I feel. But if he's so important to you I guess I can overlook his presence in the woods. Though I'll never be comfortable around him.. You say he was the missing half to your soul, yet I can't open myself up to a human like you are able." Shaking her head she opened her sad eyes to look at the tree line in the distance. "I know it must be frustrating, but what I've seen wasn't a story told by my mother. Is was the truth and what was happening under your Bonded's rule. I did not intentional scar myself on some branches, and I did not dream up the horrors that happened to my family." She snapped coldly her breaths coming faster. "I.. I'm sorry Varian. You deserve someone who will love you and your Bonded fully.. Not a bitter Unicorn.."
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:47 pm
♞x x x xL o r dxxV a r i a nx x x x♞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Varian nodded to Avari as she pulled back, slowly disengaging himself from the ground and the boy. "I know, little one. You are not bitter. You've been deeply hurt, and only time can heal those wounds. But perhaps, knowing that at least one human out there wishes nothing but good for you might help you. Avari. . ." Varian paused, considering his next words. "I will not ask you to trust or to even love the child. All I ask is that you give him a chance." He stood, staring pensively down at the King when the human open his eyes.
Azreth looked around warily, unmoving. He had been awake for their entire conversation, since just after his Bonded had made a cage around him with his antlers. The mare's words struck something deep inside of him -- when she had touched him with her horn, he had still feigned sleep, not wanting to alarm her. But, Gods, the pain she had inside of her nearly had made him weep. He turned green eyes to the unicorn, still laying prone on the ground so as not to startle her. "I will find them, Avari." His voice was low and dangerously quiet. "I will find those who hurt you and wipe them from the face of this world."
He had seen some of her memories through the Spirit Web in his mind after she had touched and healed him. What had happened to her and her family. . ."I will find your sister, and I will heal the wounds done to all of you. I swear it on my Power and on my Crown. I swear it to the Good Spirits and the Great Mother." His limbs were shaking in his anger, and he forced himself to calm down. He took several deep breaths. "I know you do not like me, Avari, but you have reason not to. Even though it hurts me, I will respect your wishes and will not bother you. All I ask is that you tell Varian as much as you can remember about the men who hurt you, so that I might find them and take them down." Azreth blinked back tears, wanting to do nothing more than hold the sweet mare and tell her everything would be okay.
Varian snorted and nudged the boy with his nose, helping him stand. "Go home, Azreth. You and I will have time together soon enough, but Avari is uncomfortable with you here." The stallion's voice was hard, but he knew the King would understand. He needed to let Avari know that she was still first in his thoughts. "I do not wish Avari to be any more upset than absolutely necessary. I shall see you in two days' time."
Azreth nodded and took several steps back before gathering up his clothes and accessories, gently putting the circlet back on his head. "Thank you for healing my throat, Avari. I wish you and Varian all the happiness in the world, and I promise I will make this Isle safe for your sake once again." Though it hurt him, the King turned on his heel and began walking back to his horse. Hopefully, the mare would someday come to accept him in her life. But not today.
[ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:00 pm
Backing up a few steps while the King rose to dress Avari watched him closely, before he walked off to his horse, feeling her throat tighten as she debated calling out. It was obvious in the stallions voice he wouldn't have sent the boy away had she not been there. Pulse quickening she shifted her weight on her hooves as she willed her voice up. "W-wait." Glancing over to Varian for a moment she sighed before looking back towards the King. "You can stay. I might as well tell you all I know." Her voice shook but was raised enough to cover the short distance Azreth had moved. "There's no use passing it through Varian.. Just stay near him, I'll move away." Though she would wish for the comfort Varian would no doubt provide her while she spoke, Avari also wished to be able to search the memories she had been trying to put down without the worry of the boy nearing her. Tail flicking she looked up at Varian nosing his neck lightly with her nose her voice lowering. "I know you trust him Darling.. But please don't let him approach me while I tell you of my past? I don't want to hurt him while I'm in my memories if it'll pain you.." Frowning at her own words she moved a few short distance away from her stallion and glanced over towards the King to see if he'd return.
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Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:04 pm
♞x x x xL o r dxxV a r i a nx x x x♞ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Varian nodded to the mare as she moved off, though he went with her. He knew Azreth would follow his thoughts, and so he did. The King returned slowly, stopping perhaps ten feet from the pair before sitting, then laying down on his back. Avari's instincts would realize that she was safer with him laying on his back -- it would take him longer to get up and he couldn't make fast moves that way.
"Thank you, Avari. I will remain here, so that Varian might comfort you while you recount your tale. I will not move unless you request it of me, okay?" He offered the unicorn a warm smile before pillowing his Cloak of Office beneath his head, gaze on the blanket of stars in the cloudless sky.
Varian positioned himself next to Avari, his shoulder touching hers as he draped his right wing across her back, it's width covering her entirely from withers to tail like a feathered blanket. He lowered his head in deference to Azreth. :: Thank you, 'Reth. It's hard for her, but it means a lot that she actually called you back. "" He allowed the feel of a warm smile to flow into the King's thoughts, though his face remained passive. :: It's lucky you know so much about our ways, boy. Normal humans, even those Bonded, do not understand how we think. You have my gratitude. :: The King shot him a smile and a quick wink before once more turning his face to the skies.
"Come, Avari. Tell me once more of what happened, but this time, recount every face, every detail, so that Azreth might find the bad men." He was so proud of her. So, so proud. His heart felt fit to burst at how brave she was being, confronting her fears like this. "I'm proud of you, Sparrow." The God beamed down at her, nuzzling her behind a velvet ear before he fell silent, allowing her to tell her tale.
[ [ O O C : ] ]
✖ ❤
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