Just Talking

[»Míríel«]

The sun's bright light sparkled down from the heavens in a warm comforting light. There was something about the ruins, though the place was full of demolished buildings, the weather was a almost always inviting and warm. Perhaps the sun had decided that this place had seen to much of sorrow and so it allowed it to get on its good side. Whatever it was the warmth was magical to most, healing, relaxing, comforting, but today there was one who found no comfort in the sun, for it couldn't pierce the darkness of her soul.

Miriel sat outside of Cecily's house, around the side where few frequented and it was in the shadows. Her head looked like a crumbled piece of paper, all bunched up, head on knees, arms wrapped around her legs. The past experience had changed her, in a way that few had thought possible. Indeed it would probably frighten her friends. All the happiness had flown from her and all the remained was a sorrowful, smashed heart. Every day the same words echoed in her mind, "What did I do?"

The journey back from the mountains, where there had been a meeting arranged, had turned from a promising dream to a living nightmare. She had attacked her love thinking he was something else, her bitter enemy an ice phoenix. Where had that thought come from? Had she imagined it because of what Eventide had told her? Did the very mention of the ice phoenix cause her to hallucinate in her desire for revenge?

Whatever had happened one thing was for sure, she would never forget the journey back, ever. The sight of Damion, senseless to the world, bleeding profusely, was something she hoped she would never see again. It scared her and jarred everything about Miriel. She was lost, confused, angry, and regretful. Was she going mad? Even now her hands still shook slightly when she thought about it, her nerves were at their wits end.

Another thing puzzled and disturbed her. No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't, no, couldn't cross the doorway into Cecily's house. Actually, after dropping Damion off there she had left it and had been unable to get within view of it. It scared her. What would she see? What would Damion think if he woke up? The thought of him dying caused her to draw her knees closer and bury her head in them. He would live, he had to. She needed him, yet as much as she needed him she wasn't sure she could face him ever again. "What have I done?" The words echoed in her head once more.

-
Cecily was busy on the inside of her dwelling, now she not only had Mr.Handful himself, A.K.A. Neron, but now Damion as well. When he had been carried in she had raised an eyebrow at the intrusion and said, "So you finally got him in here. Sad that he had to be dragged in senseless." Then unwrapping the sweater, which was falling off almost due to the weight of the blood, she had tossed it in the corner and begun her work. Neron, luckily, had been asleep, and when he was asleep, boy did he sleep. This was probably due to Cecily's little potions that she slipped into his food, but of course, she would never fess up to it. She needed her peace, and Neron needed his rest. She looked on this as a win-win situation.

The bleeding had been hard to stop, but thanks to her expertise she had conquered the flow and it was now manageable. Still she unwrapped the dressing every day to check on it and change it. How this had happened, it had been a day or two to find out, and that was just enough for her to want to smack Neron over the head. He had pestered her with questions about it, since Damiopn was still out, and finally, to get some peace, she had asked Jaedon. Until yesterday she had done the visitor ban once more, to the dismay of the Dragon, well Neron. Cecily had found it amusing how both dragons were now under her care. "Reckless creatures I suppose" She had muttered to herself.

What had surprised her the most was the way Miriel was acting, then again who could blame her. The poor girl had been sitting outside the dwelling for days now, standing up with expectation of news whenever Cecily had stepped out for a breather. Yet when Cecily had told her that she believed Damion would be alright, Miriel had received the news with relief, but also with distress, a strange combination. When she had told her that it had been a bit of a lie, one that doctors usually tell to make one feel better. So she had gone ahead nad told her that If Damion didn't wake up soon, meaning today or tomorrow, then he wasn't out of the woods yet. Then she had sent Miriel away to get rest herself.

Miriel had been back at first light, not looking at all rested, and had been sitting in the same position all day. Cecily was starting to get annoyed, after all with three people around was three people to many. She couldn't wait until she could have her peace and quiet once more and please herself with her little teas. All this healing... it brough back bad memories.

"You know, I'm beginning to think I'm not your favorite anymore." Neron's voice sounded behind her.

Cecily stiffened slightly, she had been staring at Damion thinking. Whirling around, hands on her hips she glared at him, "You never were my favorite." Neron had been feeling a lot better of late, especially after her little treatment. Even though the treatment had caused him a great deal of pain and he had been out for a couple of days, he was recovering. The wounds had closed and with him being a bit more careful than before they had begun to heal. His ribs had lost some color and his strength was rapidly increasing. Now he could move around, walking, sitting, laying down, without her help. Which was good, if he couldn't then she would have really had her hands full.

"Well, the feeling is mutual." NEron smirked at her.

Cecily turned with a disgusted look on her face, though when her back was to Neron she had a slight smile on her face.

"Well, I'm glad to know that incase anyone wants one of my teas for you I will make sure it is a long and painful -" She stopped her on the door. Someone approached.

[saerwen]

Jaedon had been roaming around for the past couple days. After her rather frightening, bloody, and awful situation with Damion and Miriel the other day she needed a rest. Too many bad things were happening at one time. She had stayed up all night the night that she had left Neron to Cecily's painful but faster treatment. She jsut couldn't get her mind off Neron, how bad it had hurt, if he had regretted it, if she should have prevented it, and if he was alright. Then she had stayed up the night after that because she was so worried for Damion. He was knocking on deaths door and had yet to wake up. His body was burnt all over the place, not just from Miriels fire attacks that had actually hit his, but from her talons, and most importantly, the burns that had gone from the inside of his body all the way through his skin. It was a terrible thing to see. He really had been burning from the inside out. If he had been in his dragon form, is wouldn't have looked so gruesome.

She had taken a day off yesterday since she had tried to visit her two favorite patients the day before and Cecily had firmly kicked her out, denying her entrance even. She had rested up and was now determined to go and see the both of them. She also wanted to check up on Miriel, who was probably fairing just as well, if not worse than her lover.

She plodded up the path that led to Cecily's house and she mentally prepare herself to se Cecily again, along with her rather broken friend and her mending love. Cecily was probably the hardest to prepare for. It was very hard for Jaedon to be around that girl. She was just so strange and yet so useful. She had such a good calling, although she had rather twisted it, but then again, it was Cecily, what could you expect?

She saw Miriel sitting in her corner, off in the shade, looking more miserable than ever before. She knew that Damion was still alive because she wasn't crying, but she was also not reassured that he was safe yet.

Poor thing...I will come and talk to her later after I stop by and see Neron and Damion.

SHe crossed the threshold of Cecily's door, a small smile on her face, which looked rather tired and slightly worn, but it really wasn't that bad. A good night's sleep that night would make everything better. She hoped that she got it. She turned to look at Cecily who had seen her coming. If Cecily said that she had to get out, then she was inevitably dragging Neron out with her. She would do it gently, but it was going to happen nonetheless.

"Good morning!" she spoke not to much in a cheerful voice as in a normal tone for greeting. It was a strange thing, but she hardly acted excited, despite the fact that she was. She turned to Cecily and asked, "Has Damion woken up yet?" If he had, that would mean some definite hope. If he hadn't, then her worry would only increase more.

[»Míríel«]

Cecily sighed when yet another person came into her house. It was a good thing it was a big as it was. She didn't even greet Jaedon. Greetings to Cecily were a worthless and time consuming pleasantry, not to mention the truth behind the sayings. Was it really a good morning? By the tired look of Jaedon, it probably wasn't, and that wasn't including the worries that she probably had on her mind. "No. Damion hasn't woken up yes. I am hoping for him to do so soon...we shall see, we shall see." Lowering her voice she narrowed her eyes at Jaedon before shaking her head. She was going to ask if Miriel was still out there, but then thought against it. More than likely the girl was, she had become a ghost to this place pretty much. With that she scurried over to a table with some herbs that needed cutting and she still had a new dressing for Damion to put together, not to mention Neron's. Neron could wait though.

-
Neron was sitting to the side by his little cot. His dark hair hung around his face in a disheveled, yet more put together manner than the days before. His green eyes shone forth with a renewed brightness about them, though they were a strange contrast to the rest of him. Neron was thinner, but his skin was starting to look better than before. He was on his way to being mended. Pain was still present, for he still refused Cecily's pain medication. He was rebelling in anyway he could to that woman. "Good morning Jaedon. I see you have come to observe us in our little prison here. Welcome. You just missed Cecily proclaiming she was going to give me one of her teas and that it was going have long and painful after effects." Neron smirked Darkly.

Cecily turned and pointed a knife that she had been using at Neron. "If you do not behave sir, I will get you back, and you know I will."

Neron winced as if with some memory and turned back to Jaedon. "So tell me. What brings you here. Surely it couldn't be to see little old me?" Sarcasm dripped from every word he spoke. HE got up slowly, winced and then shuffled toward his cot and sat down on it, leaving Jaedon the chair. His movements still looked painful, but at least he was able to move at all. Plus walking, standing, or sitting, weren't so much of a problem, but the transition between them. His voice lowered slightly as a solemn look came to his face. "How's Miriel?"

[saerwen]

Jaedon nodded at Cecily's reply. It was as she had feared. Damion hadn't woken up and it sounded as though she weren't sure he ever would. Jaedon hoped that he would. Miriel would never forgive herself if he did die. It wouldn't just be the death of Damion, it would be the death of Miriel too. Shaking her head slightly she let out a sigh. It was obvious that she was worried beyond words. There was nothing to comfort her yet, but everything to make it worse.

When Neron started talking he attention was drawn to him. She smirked at him as she walked a little closer. He had moved to give her room to sit. She was glad that he was able to get up and walk around, but it still made her almost hurt for him as she watched him, because it was obvious that it hurt. She sat down in the chair and then replied,

"Well, sometimes I think poison might do you some good. Although, I doubt that Cecily would undo her hard work unless she had a way of fixing it easily, or letting you fix it. Now there is a thought. Poisoning someone and then giving them the remedy and instructions to let them do it themselves. Guess I will know what to do to you next time that you get on my nerves, which I am sure won't be long."

To his rather sarcastic remark she gave a smug smile that faded as quickly as she put it on, "Real cute, sweet heart," her apathy was oozing from that statement.

"Right where I left her last time I was here. I am going to go and talk to her before I leave. I don't think she has eaten anything since it happened. I know that sleep for both of us, but especially her has been pretty tough. I don't think she'll recover very quickly from this one. It is probably going to take Damion being alive and well before she will go back to her old self. Even then I think she is changed for life," Jaedon was obviously disheartened at this. She felt like she could cry, but the tears didn't come. She glanced for a moment at Damion's perfectly still form. When she turned her gaze back to Neron is showed that she was dangerously close to letting the mist in her eyes form into tears. If Damion didn't wake back up, Jaedon wouldn't be able to take it very well. In fact, none of them would, if she had to guess. She hated how some people could be so wonderful as to attach themselves so fully to everyone and when they were gone, a whole town was left crying. However, if it weren't for those kind of people, Jaedon would still be an assassin.

[»Míríel«]

"Well, we shall see how well I do after this poisoning... and I will try to stay off your nerves..." He smirked, "Though I do believe it's a worthless attempt." When she mentioned him being cute he just smirked and gave her a look of, "you know it" Before settling down to listen what she said about Miriel.

It was strange being on the other side of depression. It was an uncomfortable position. HE knew depression, and he understood the depths of that darkness. To see such a creature of light trapped by those black chains, it was worrisome and disturbing. After all if such a person like Miriel could be consumed, there was no hope for him or Jaedon. Miriel's depression wasn't the only disturbing thing, but the sight of Damion lifeless. Neron had seen death, and been an agent of it himself. In fact some had called him the dark angel of death when he had been raiding villages. He himself had faced it many times, an turned away, barely escaping its grasp. To see Damion so close, it was strange. Cecily had kept him away from Damion, and had but him in the back of the house, in the coolest part. Fires were banned in the house and so they had been supping on dried bread and meats for the past couple days. Cecily would, every once in a while, go out and catch something and cook it before bringing it in. How she did so, he didn't know for he never saw her use a tool or carry a weapon, and now that he thought about it he had no idea what type of race she was.

Jaedon's report on Miriel was just as he had expected. "Yes, she is changed for life, we all will be. Miriel will pull out of it though. She has a strong heart." Jaedon's eyes, they were misty. Nerons eyes looked at her, emotion unreadable. To tell the truth he hated the sight, Jaedon looked so frail, so breakable. It was such a shock to her usual strong side that he at first didn't know what to do. Then he did, for once he didn't restrain himself, he didn't think about what to do, he just acted. Standing up, wince included, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Resting his head on top of hers he muttered softly, "Damion will wake up, I know he will." He didn't let her see the doubt in his eyes.

Death, it was such a nasty thing. This is why he had been a loner for so long, this is why he had the rough and uncivilized manner about him. He hated death, and feared it. IT was something that would claim everyone, immortal or not, eventually. Whether by battle, natural catastrophe, accident, or age, it was coming and it was a journey he wasn't keen on taking. When it had effected those he didn't care about, even when he inflicted it, he never second thought what ripples it would have on others, or what it was like to see someone you cared about close to it. A sad thought came in him mind, Jaedon, one day, she would die. He pushed the thought from his mind. To cover over this thought and deflect his thoughts he added. "If he doesn't I'll kill him." There was humor on his voice.

-
Cecily had been working on the herbs when she heard the cot creak. Flicking a look over her shoulder she saw Neron stand up and embrace Jaedon. She gazed for a second, frozen, then turned quickly and continued. Jaedon couldn't see her, she was being smothered by Neron, poor girl. It was heartening to see Neron up and about now, his movements still caused him grief, and she had to respect his strength and tolerance of it. Most people saw pain as a hindrance, a trespasser, Neron saw it as part of life, nothing more.

Cecily suddenly got the feeling of claustrophobia, all these people here, what if Damion didn't wake up today, or tomorrow, they would all be here, watching, waiting to see the failure. Yet she couldn't ask them to leave. Just when she was turning around to see if they would get a breather out side, so she could breath inside, a familar sound of hooves echoed in the house. She turned around, eyes wide, "Tarian?"
-

Tarian had flown long and hard, he had been gone, doing his usual wanderings and he thought it was time to check on Cecily and her patient. When he came in, still in his natural form, he was surprised by the crowd of people inside. Cecily wasn't one for company and so he gazed at her with his glowing white eyes for a moment before plodding over to her. "Good morning Cecily, pray tell me, why are there two chaps in here? Last I remember there was only one."

Cecily waved at him absently and turned back to her work of preparing herbal concoctions. "Yes, they have been gathering about me like flies lately. I can't get a breath of fresh air, and the blood." She wrinkled up her nose and looked at him. "ruined useful tools already." She frowned and flounced over to him. "Did you bring me something?!" Her amber eyes grew wide with expectation.

Tarian sighed and dropped a bushel of strange herbs on the counter. "Of course my dear. I never come without them. Oh and they are quite a capitol lot I may say myself." Seeing Cecily satisfied he knew he could wander about freely and so he did, right over to Damion's still form. His glowing eyes looked down on that pale form. If you could see emotion in those glaring eyes you would have seen a studying gleam within and a hint of worry. This was the man the stunning girl Miriel had been rather fond of. Yes, he was the chap that had gone haywire on Breaker isle. Tilting his head he looked him over. Must have gotten in a whopper of a fight, poor chap is out cold. Bringing his nose close he sniffed him. Most would find this strange, or a bit creepy, but Tarian could get a whiff of death from miles away, he knew it when one was close. This one, death was trying to get him, but so far he was dodging it. HE wasn't out of the woods yet though. Tarian knew as well as Cecily what a coma looked like, and this had it written all over his icy form. IF he didn't wake up, soon, especially due to the wounds, it would be a miracle if he woke up at all.

Tarian hoped he would wake up. There last meeting had been anything but desirable and Tarian hated leaving people with a bad impression. Something about what had happened hadn't made sense, and he needed to find out why Damion had acted the way he had. Perhaps they could clear this all up.

-

Miriel still sat outside, eyes clenched shut. She was praying, praying to anything that might be out there. "Please let Damion be ok, please." The words were repeated over and over, mixed with the usual, "What have I done?" She felt dirty, filthy all over. Damion's blood had gotten on her hands, and on some of her clothes, she had yet to wash it off. Tears were gone now, for the moment, she doubted she would ever be able to cry ever again considering the sheer amount of them she had shed over the past couple days. A sigh escaped her and she leaned back, resting her head on the wall, arms resting on her knees, hands hanging limp. She was tired, so tired, but she couldn't sleep, every time she closed her eyes she saw the battle again, tried to figure out how or why she had seen Damion as an ice phoenix, and not just any ice phoenix, but that ice phoenix. It just didn't come together. How could a figment of the past haunt her present and disrupt the future? Perhaps this is how Neron felt, would he understand? Would Jaedon? Sure neither of them had attacked their beloved thinking he or she was something else.

Her appearance had altered, she hadn't touched her clothing, brush, or a washing basin since the fight. Everything she had on was exactly as it had been, in honor of what had happened. If she could just understand why, perhaps this whole thing would be easier to bear, then again it might not. What if the next time she saw Damion he was transformed before her eyes? Even if he wasn't how could she ever look at that man again. Instead of being a creature of light, she had become a creature of shame.

[saerwen]

Jaedon was not comforted so much by Neron's words as she was by his actions. When she knew that Neron couldn't see her face, she let the tears that had been slow in coming start to fall. There was no other sign that she was crying other than the large crystal like drops of liquid on her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around Neron and nuzzled closer to him, her tears seeping into his shirt from her cheeks. He would probably notice when she pulled away, but she wouldn't mind by then.

While his remark about killing Damion if he didn't wake up made her smile, it still made a knot rise up in her throat as she thought about her beloved friend dying. From her current position, she twisted her head a little bit and looked at Damion's still form. Tarian was now surveying the damage done to him. She liked Tarian, and she didn't really know why, but she did. It was kind of in his aura. It was then that she noticed something...Is that...? No, it couldn't be... Jaedon could hardly believe her eyes. Damion was waking up!
*********
Damion's eyes had felt so heavy. There was a burning pain in his chest and his body ached all over. It felt like someone had broken just about every bone in his body and had decided that sticking him into a fire was the best way to fix them. It was torture, and he was tempted to stay in his dark world where everything seemed peaceful. It was like half of him wanted to stay and the other wanted to go. He couldn't remember a lot, but he knew that his last thoughts had been of Miriel. He knew who she was, and he knew that he wanted to see her so bad. He wanted to make sure that she was alright.

Even though he knew that if he stayed in his dark world, he would feel a lot more comfortable, he also knew that was the surest way to die. He had been slowly pushing hsi way out of the deepest sleep he had ever been in. It was like trying to use human hands to claw your way out of a cave with stones in front of the entrance. It was a lot of work. Eventually, things began to grow brighter. The dark was fading and it was getting lighter by the moment. He was surprised that there were varying shades of darkness, bu there were. However, he knew when he had taken his last step because it was the most painful. It wasn't painful to take, it was painful in the aftermath.

The burning he had felt in his chest increased ten fold and the pain in his sides and his bones was so excruciating it felt like someone was drilling into him with lasers, scorching hsi skin and then straight through. He felt so hot and the knew that sweat was already starting to form on hsi brow just from the exertion of waking up. However, his blue eyes had opened enough to show his a large black blur to his right, another two in front of him, seeming to be in an embrace, and a whole bunch of other blurs that looked like the makings of a house and furniture. He couldn't see anything clearly and the pain in his side was making him wish he could close his eyes again.
*******
Jaedon released Neron with a start when she saw clearly that Damion had opened his eyes. She had turned towards him and with a very shaky voice said his name, "Damion?" Then her heart skipped a beat as relief flooded over her. "Damion, you're awake!" A smile lit up her face.

[»Míríel«]

Neron felt something getting wet on his chest. She was crying" Yet as he felt her burrow closer to him he was glad that he had listened to his emotions, perhaps he would start listening to them more often. Even though her wrapping her arms around his sides was painful, it was worth it, so worth it. Running his hand down the back on hair he played with them suddenly, enjoying the silky and wavy texture. But his world was shattered for a moment when she pulled away. Neron opened his eyes, what had he done? Then when what she said registered he turned toward Damion with expectation.

Neron could understand the expression on Damion's face and the look in his eye. He was in pain, a great deal of it. Though it was probably of a different breed of pain, Neron frowned at Damion, but relief was on his face. Good...everything would be ok. Miriel would be happy, estatic and Damion would get better.

-
Cecily whirled around when she heard the word awake and seeing it to be true she scuttled over there. Seeing Damion's eyes open was a relief. "Well, good morning sleeping beauty." She smirked at him.

"Jolly good, ol' chap. Welcome back. You put up quite a fight didn't you?" Tarian's voice was soothing and he looked down on Damion with satisfaction. Hopefully things would be settled between the two, though Tarian knew how to wait for the right moment, and he wouldn't press Damion to talk if he didn't want to.

His white eyes settled on Cecily, "CEcily, aren't you forgetting something dear?"

Cecily fixed an inquiring glance on Tarian before her eyes widened. How could she had forgotten? Turning she flounced around standing on her toes looking around on the shelves, "I know it's here... somewhere.." Then a sigh, " Ah!" It wasn't long before she was back at Damion's side and a cork being pulled from the mouth of a bottle was heard. "Now I didn't give you anything to deaden your pain while you were sleeping...Needed the pain to wake you up. It might be a bit hard for you to swallow, since you just woke up so we will go slow with it. I've heard it has quite the cooling effect." Gently she put it by Damion's lips and let it tilt slowly. The liquid was thin, smooth, and had slightly green tinge. "Now drink slowly and forgive the taste." Her movements were surprisingly smooth and gentle for such a random and inconsistent character.

-
"I swear you take special delight in medicine having a bloody awful taste" Neron Turned toward Cecily.

Without missing a beat Cecily answered,"Well I have some nicely flavored stuff over there...[/b]"

"Will it take away pain?"

"Oh yes, yes of course. You'll never feel pain again. Ever." An odd twinkle could be seen in Cecily's eyes as she concentrated on how much Damion was drinking and how fast. Then after a couple seconds she corked the bottle and set it to the side.

"Bad taste wakes the senses, good relaxes them." Tarian nodded toward Neron.

"Tarian keep an eye on this place while I'm gone. You know what to do and don't let him, "She glared at Neron, " Do anything stupid." Walking over to the entrance she continued, " I'm going to get something for Damion to eat, he is probably starving, and if he isn't then he will eat anyway." Then she was gone. Strangely the room seemed darker without her, the herbs, medicines and poisons hung around and seemed to fill the room with mystery. Daring you to touch them.
-

Tarian nodded and walking forward he let his wings surround him as his horse figure faded within them and then disappeared altogether. Lastly the wings faded into the back of a bright young man. "How are you feeling now Ol' chap?" Tarian went back to Damion and looked at him with a friendly gaze.

[saerwen]

Damion was overwhelmed by everything as it happened. It was so much to take in all at one time. He heard voices jumbling in his head. First, Jaedon's cry, then someone else. After that it was unreadable. Out of the jumbled mess of words he heard something about potions and deadening pain. He put as much of a grateful smile on his face as he could. There was no way that he could deny something that would get rid of this most awful pain.

He thought about trying to move in order to aid his care taker, who he thought was Cecily, by raising his head, but he found that even though he wanted to try, he had little strength to actually accomplish the task, so he gave up early.

The liquid was so cold, but the taste was bitter. It made Damion want to make a face, but he stopped himself. He had learned to cope with bad and bitter tastes. He would learn to cope with this one as well. By the time that Cecily was gone, he felt the medicine kicking in. Things in his head had slowed down and he was starting to regain his eyesight from the blurriness that was currently a problem. He could tell that the fellow standing next to him was someone with either white or very light blonde hair, probably the English fellow, whose name he couldn't recall very well...It started with a T he was sure. Jaedon and Neron occupied the corner and a smile almost spread across his lips when he saw just how close they were to each other. He was glad to know that they had finally realized their feelings for each other. However, there was one person missing from the room that he desperately wanted to see. His eyes searched in vain for her shape, his ears strained to hear the sound of her voice, his senses longed for the thrill of her touch, but she was nowhere. This worried him. He couldn't remember what had happened after he had fallen. Had something happened to her afterwards? Surely not! She had won...But if she was alright, then why wasn't she here?

In a very weak voice that betrayed just how much pain he had been in before the medicine started to work, he asked, "Where is Miriel? Is she okay?"

Jaedon had risen from her seat and walked over to the other side of Damion. She wasn't surprised that the first thing that he asked about was her well-being. That phoenix was his life. He would never forget her, and if he did, it wouldn't take long for him to remember. However, she was touched by that being his number one concern

"Miriel is outside. She is fine Damion, a little shaken but fine. I am going to go and talk to her, and tell her that you are awake now," Jaedon smiled at him and tried to show that everything was alright. Her worries were now for Miriel more than Damion. WHile she wanted to make sure that Damion was alright, Miriel was in need of attention also. She would go and talk to the poor girl.

Damion smiled weakly, obviously unable to do anything else. He was trying to save his words, knowing that eventually they would become harder and harder. He was glad that Miriel was alright. His worries were over. Now all he had to do was focus on getting better.

When Tarian asked how he was doing, he instantly remembered the man. He was the dark horse that had brought Neron to Cecily after Ares' death. He had been wary of Tarian at first, simply because Miriel and Tarain were getting closer, but now he thought it perfectly fine. He had obviously overreacted. This fellow meant no harm.

"Despite the fact that I feel like I am burning on the insides still and my chest being quite the bucket of pain, I am great. I feel relieved," he felt his eyelids grow slightly heavier, but he made sure to fight that. That might mean that he wouldn't wake up again. He wasn't going to let them fall for sure until Cecily returned. He would be able to do that. He was glad that he was feeling pain...That meant that he was alive.
***********
Jaedon had left the house and stepped into the sun, glad that she was in its warm rays again. It was slightly cold in there. She rubbed her upper arms a bit and then turned to face Miriel. The poor thing was hysterical, but no one would have guessed that. Her quavering hands gave everything away. Jaedon walked towards her, then crouched next to her slumped form.

"Miriel, I have good news. Damion is awake!" she spoke with a sweet smile on her face. It was gentle and reassuring. Damion was going to be alright. That was what she was trying to say, but she wasn't sure that she could actually manage it. She was still worried. It was obvious that he had been in quite a bit of pain. "Would you like to go and see him?"
********
Damions thoughts had turned to Neron after Jaedon left. He was very glad for both of them, but even more than that he was curious.

"How did you recover so quickly Neron? I hope that you really have recovered and aren't just being tenacious," he really was concerned about Neron, but he didn't want to make it sound like a rebuke. He was just wondering.

[»Míríel«]

Neron wasn't surprised that Damion asked about Miriel first, of course he would. Damion pretty much considered her the be part of him, she was his life now, and he loved her even though she had attacked him. Neron wasn't quite sure what he would do or if he would be able to do the same for Jaedon, something told him he would be, the other half said he wouldn't.

Nero was relieved that Jaedon had answered Damion, Neron couldn't bring himself to do so himself. Sure Miriel was fine physically, but mentally, that was a different story. As she left to check on Miriel and tell her news, Neron couldn't help but let his gaze linger on her vanishing form, it took Damion calling his name for Neron to come back to attention.

"Recover. " Neron let out a scoff which brought a wince, "You use that word flippantly. I'm as strong and as ready to fight as a baby rabbit. Don't let the looks deceive you. This is only my second and third day being able to walk, and today I am able to do so at a stunning shuffle. Last time I checked I raced a snail and it won." Neron frowned. He was sick of being...sick. "Don't worry about me, I'm on my way to being my usual self. I'm sure you guys missed me." He smirked. Damion would probably catch on that he was referring to his witty side.

-

Tarian observed Damion, he was more worried about others than himself. So he was a pure sort of fellow, a true blue friend, those were hard to find. IT was strange seeing him this way, the Damion he had been introduced to before had been so different. They were polar opposites. "Forgive me for asking mates, but please fill me in on this event. Unless it is to taxing emotionally, or physically, then think nothing of it mate, and we shall divert to another topic.

-

When Jaedon approached Miriel had been lost in thought but when she was sensed Miriel jolted slightly and looked at her expectantly. Yet she did not receive the news in the way Jaedon probably expected. Her eyes did sparkle for a moment and the old light showed on her face. "Yes." Then the light faded and she tucked a stray hair behind her ear wit ha slightly shaking hand, "No...no. I would not." Her eyes shifted to the distance for a moment before going back to Jaedon, " It's not that I don't want to... It's because... I can't... I can't see him Jaedon." Her eyes started growing misty and she turned her face from her friend. "I wish I could, but I can't."

In reality, Miriel ached for him, she wanted to see him face. He wanted to see him smile again and to take her in his arms. She needed him more than anything else right now, and it was the one thing that couldn't be provided. She would have to survive, and stand on her own. She felt strangly lop sided. She was realizing how much she relied on DAmion and how much he meant to her. Damion completed her, understood her, and loved her. Or did he? Did he still love her or did he blame her for what happened? She covered her face with her hands, "I can't." She was scared, scared to face what might be inside that house, or what might happen.

[saerwen]

Damion wanted to laugh at Neron, but knew that it would only cause him pain. There was nothing good to come from his body shaking and his torso contracting. It would all come to naught. So instead, a smile spread across his face. He hadn't really meant fully recovered, he had jut been thinking about how Neron really should have been requiring help. The poison that had been in his system would just now be filtering its way out.

"I hadn't really been thinking about you being back to normal, I was just referring to the fact that you are actually able to move. I do suppose that my current situation makes your seem a lot light though, so really can't blame me for being a poor judge. How long was I out, by the way?" Yet again, Damion was slightly curious. Who knows how long he had been in that comatose state. If it hadn't been for his strong desire to wake up, he would have probably still been asleep.

When Tarian asked what had happened Damion's eyes became filled with an emotion that one couldn't really pin down. It was a mixture of depression, relief, and amusement. He recalled everything perfectly. It had been a pretty harsh thing, but he was glad that Miriel hadn't been hurt, that he had stopped himself from hurting her. More than anything though, he was really glad that he had solved his problems with Eventide. He had put her memory and the memory of what she had done to death. It was a memory murdered and left back in that cold street in London. It could plague him no longer.

"Well, the most simple explanation is that Miriel..." he paused as he thought about it. What had Miriel been? Why had she done that? He didn't know why. "Miriel got upset and I was the nearest punching bag. I don't think that she even realized it. An unfortunate, but often occurrence with phoenix's." All was said in as good a humor as he could muster, seeing as how his voice still wasn't very strong. His usual baritone was hushed and strained.
**********************
As Jaedon listened to Miriel's tattered answer, she wondered how on earth her friend was going to recover from this. She was so shaken that Jaedon knew right away that she could not be healed by anyone but Damion. However, that couldn't happen until Damion was well again, or at least able to get on his feet.

"Why can't you go see him Miriel? He isn't angry at you! You know that don't you? You were the first thing that he asked about. You were the first thing on his mind. He asked if you were alright. I neglected to tell him that you are falling apart out here because I knew that it would worry him. Miriel, what is wrong?" Jaedon spoke softly, but she put stress on every word. Miriel needed to explain why she couldn't go see Damion. Damion needed her right now, he wanted her right now. Neron had wanted Jaedon when he was ill, so she knew that Damion wanted Miriel, maybe even more so than Neron had been longing for her.

[»Míríel«]

"Well then in that case, I can move, barely. Cecily managed to....purge..." He winced at the word. IT called back the memory of what she had done. "THe poison from my body. At first it had been slow, and because I couldn't be patient and let my body do the work I asked her to help it out a bit. "

"A brave thing to do" Tarian added with a twinkle in his eye.

"More like thick-headed if you asked me. Though don't tell anyone I said so." Neron smirked, " It would ruin my reputation." Neron sat down now, he was tired of standing and his legs were starting to feel like jelly. "You were out for about two or three days. I have to admit I'm not sure of the exact number. Days tend to run together in this little room. " He shook his head at the thought. When Damion started talking about his experience Neron listened with rapt attention. It would be interesting to hear what had happened from Damion's point of view.
-

Tarian listened to the story with amazement. Damion had proved himself to Tarian now. To have that self-restraint, and that endurance from attacking the one you loved was impressive. It was strange to think of the girl Miriel as doing such a thing. IT seemed out of character. Though he was a poor judge, he barely knew the girl.

"That may be the simple explanation, but it isn't the most correct one." Neron leaned back in the chair and sighed. " Damion...Miriel..." He sighed again and let his eyes rest on Damion's resting figure, "Miriel wasn't upset because of you. She thought you were something, or someone else. There was some sort of spell over her, an illusion. When she looked at you she didn't see you, but an ice phoenix." He leaned shifted his weight. His sides were sore from where Cecily had scorched them.

-

Tarian nodded. That might made more sense. "This is a relief, I would hate to have something put a blot on the girl's character. She seemed a brilliant sort of girl." He looked down at Damion, "You are a lucky fellow my friend. I have not met anyone who comes close to her in a long long time. Still this event was an accident, a bloody bad one if you excuse my language. What a misunderstanding. Have they found out who the evil worker is yet?"

-

Miriel had a look of despair on her face yet also that of longing. Damion had asked for her, how could he? Tears flowed down her face and she shook her head. Why did he have to be so good? It almost made it harder on her. She might have to leave him, after this. "What is wrong?" She turned her face to Jaedon. "A better question is what is right! I have almost killed Damion Jaedon. I did. She looked at her hands which still had some now brown discoloration from his blood. "HIs blood was on my hands. Mine! All because I saw, no hallucinated that he was something else. I am going mad Jaedon. I must be! My past is creeping up on me and haunting me! What if I were to walk in there and it were to happen again or what if it happened again later and I actually killed him? NO I can't see him. I have to leave Jaedon." Her eyes were so transparent and they showed her soul, her heart was breaking. She was cutting it out and leaving it so that the man she loved wouldn't ever have to experience what had happened again, ever. She was scared of what was to come, what she should do next. "I have to leave for his sake. The poor, sweet, loving fool wouldn't fight next time either. He would rather take my blows and die than hurt me. Why? Why does he have to be so good?"

She covered her face again with her hands to try and hid the all to apparent distress she was going through. "Just don't tell him. I'll just leave. He doesn't have to know until later, when he is better. Don't tell him Jaedon! Please!"

-

Cecily made it back carrying two skinned squirrels. They would make a tasty soup for Damion. Outside, away from everyone else, she created a fire added water, the squirrels, vegetables, and let it start to roast. Neron and her would get the pieces of meat and vegetables, Damion would merely get the savory nourishing broth, once it had cooled enough. Taking a spoon that she kept by the fire outside, she stirred the pot carefully.

[saerwen]

Damion had figured that Neron would have done something like that. He wasn't one to think much of pain, and he would rather have his own way than be patient. It was obviously the best choice for him, but Damion knew that he wouldn't be making the same kind of choice should it happen to arise. Although he knew how to take pain and bear it silently, he never welcomed it and avoided it at all costs. The only way that he would welcome if was if it would benefit another, or if it was the only way to heal the wound.

When Damion heard Neron's explanation of what had happened to Miriel to make her behave like that, it all came together. Of course it would have to be her.

A disgusted sigh escaped his lips, "And I promised that she would never be hurt by that thing." He really had promised himself that he would never let Eventide hurt Miriel, but he had not been able to stop it. If he had only been able to pick up on the signs, but the little witch had crafted her scheme very skillfully. He was now curious as to how the whole illusion had been put to an end.

"Miriel is the best," he said with a smile. She would never be able to do anything to him that he would hate her for. When Tarian mentioned who the master of the illusion was Damion's hands, although weak, balled into fists. It hadn't been intentional, but rather instinctive. It sent pain shooting up his arm, but he didn't care.

"Eventide," that was all that he could manage to say. He had to struggle not to get angry at her again knowing that it would only consume more of his energy. He then shook it off and went back to his normal self, hands relaxing, "So do we know who stopped the illusion?"
***********************
Jaedon knew he second that she started talking what Miriel was going through right now. She felt so guilty. She felt like she was the worst person in the world, a danger to the one that she loved. Her tears were falling endlessly and her hands were still stained with some of Damion's blood. Jaedon shook her head and got closer to her friend. She put her arm around Miriel's shoulders. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiper Miriel's hands with it, removing the blood from her hands.

"Miriel, none of this was your fault!"Jaedon spoke with urgency. Her friend was talking of leaving. There was no way that could happen. None of them would let her go. "Miriel, you were being deceived. Someone was using an illusion on you. You weren't seeing something that your mind fabricated, but rather, someone stole an image that you knew you hated and made you think it was Damion. It wasn't your fault, there was no way that you could have stopped it. Miriel, who knew that you were going to be there? Who knew? Because whoever it was must have been the one to use the illusion. They set you up." Jaedon paused for a moment in her stream and hen continued, "Miriel, if you left, Damion would follow you. It would kill him if you left him, Miriel. You are probably the only reason that he woke up. If he didn't die from the problems that he has now, he would die from starvation and lack of interest in life. He would rot away without you, Miriel. If you want to avoid killing him then you have to stay."

[»Míríel«]

Tarian was surprised by the sudden movement of Damion balling his fists, but he chose to ignore the motion and let it slide past. "Eventide..." Tarian let the name slid over his tongue as he said it. His eyes grew thoughtful. "A pretty name for someone who causes trouble."
-

Miriel welcomed the embrace, and let Jaedon clean her fingers like a mother cleaning her child's dirty fingers. At first what she heard was unbelievable. Jaedon wasn't understanding, she was trying to make her feel better. Surely she was. She hadn't seen the illusion with her own two eyes, seen how real it looked. Yet as Jaedon spoke the more convinced Miriel became. Her eyes grew wide and she felt numb all over. Eventide. She had known, she had arranged the thing. Surely she couldn't have. Things started fitting all of a sudden, Damion had mentioned her creating illusions, she had been against Damion since Miriel met her.
"Her...she...knew." Miriel looked at Jaedon in disbelief. Surely Eventide hadn't, Miriel had trusted her. She shook her head, it ached from the thought. She had been betrayed, betrayed once more. "She did this!" Miriel's voice grew stronger and the shaky nature was fading quickly. Her hand's trembling slowed. A strange gleam came to her eye, one that Jaedon would recognize, and Miriel knew she would. IT was the gleam of revenge, of anger and the lust for blood. It was a new feeling for Miriel. Turning her head away from Jaedon, trying to hide the look she peered out into the distance. "I have something I need to do. I have to go." Her voice was distant than usual. It was strange the sudden flip she had made, from hysterics to anger. "I will be back. for now...Tell Damion... I love him." She looked at Jaedon with farewell in her eyes. "And that I will see him soon." Then turning she walked off, body rigid, fists balled, eyes blazing. Eventide, she would pay, unless someone stopped her and if they did she would bid her time and do what she needed to at a later date.

-

Neron shook his head at Damion. " I do not know the answer to that question. Jaedon would. I believe. Perhaps when she returns..." Neron turned toward the entrance once more. She had been gone for a bit, comforting Miriel no doubt. He would have to ask her how Miriel was doing later, when Damion was asleep.

-

Cecily portioned off a bit of broth into a small bowl and set it away from the fire. Then with a flourish she added spices to the larger pot and let it sit for a bit more. Damion's portion would be less flavorful, but after not eating much for the past couple days he was going to need something docile for his system. This should do the trick and it would help him grow stronger faster, hopefully.

[saerwen]

Jaedon was worried about Miriel. When she had asked if she knew of anyone that might have set her up, Miriel seemed to know right away who it was. But what struck Jaedon as strange was how her countenance changed so quickly. It was like a night and day difference. The anger that had welled up in her friends gaze was startling. Jaedon hadn't seen Miriel that angry since the day that she had reminded Miriel that she had killed her father in order to bring Miriel's memories back.

Although she was worried, Jaedon had a strange feeling that whatever it was that Miriel had to do, Jaedon wouldn't be able to stop her even if she tried. Whatever it was that Miriel had set off to do, it was going to happen. Jaedon jsut worried what that certain thing might be. She had a thought to follow Miriel, but she decided against it.

Jaedon released a tired sigh and rose from her position. She wiped some dirt from her pritinely white pants that hugged tight around the waist and thighs, then became loose from the knees down. She had never been one to wear a lot of white since it stained so easily and it was easily seen, but she was starting to like the way that it looked on her. For some reason, it fit with her appearance perfectly. She couldn't fathom how that was true since she was a dark creature by nature.

Wiping her hands against each other, she smoothed her black shirt and walked back inside the house. The men were talking about what had happened. As Jaedon stepped back into through the door, she stopped. She could see the look on Damion's face. He wanted to know where Miriel was.

"She needed to go home and get some rest Damion. I am fixing to go and make sure that she gets there. She promised to come and see you soon. You need to rest anyways," Jaedon knew that was not what Damion had wanted to hear, but it was the best way to tell him the very strange truth.

She then turned to Neron, "It was one of those flying wolves. I have seen them before, but I can't remember the name of the race. He was a master of telepathy, as that race usually are. He left before I could get his name."

After Jaedon finished speaking Damion decided to reply to Tarian's words, "She doesn't just have a pretty name, but also pleasing manners, appearance, and words. Her trickery was the reason that I left England."

[»Míríel«]

Cecily knew that the soup was done. Giving it a final stir she pulled it from the fire to allow it to cool. It was time to check on everyone and make sure Damion was doing well. It was like nothing had happened when she walked in, everyone was inside, just talking. The conversation edged on interesting, but she let the talk about a flying wolf with master telepathy slide past her. Personally she wouldn't mind if she didn't see another person ever again after all this commotion. Tarian excluded of course. What did prick her ears was the talk of someone who sounded like her friend Eventide. A smirk came to her face, Eventide had probably been the basis of the illusion, that little fiend was a trickster. After all, she had been the only one that had stolen her pearl, yet, and hopefully the last. Unconsciously she felt the silvery bag she kept with her searching for the smooth object, once it came to her hands she sighed and finished walking in. "Sorry to disrupt the party going on in my house, but I believe it is time for those not mauled, wounded, or weak to leave this house."

"Am I considered as the mauled one or just merely the wounded?" Neron smirked at her.

"You will be mauled if you don't stop being smart. "

"Then you will have to fix me."

Cecily drew up to her full height and sent a glaring look his way. "And risk another scissors for your sake? I think I will save myself the trouble and let you rot."

Neron raised an eyebrow. That was something about Cecily, you could never tell if she was being truthful or not. Something told him that if he pushed his luck to much he would be pushed out and thrown down the edge of a cliff, yet other times he felt like she was all bark and no bite. Looking down at Damion he narrowed his eyes. "Watch out for her, she's a witch."

"A witch that saved your life." Tarian spoke this time.

Neron smirked and looked at Tarian, "But a witch nonetheless."

Cecily only smiled, a witch, yes I guess she could be called that. Turning suddenly she let her silvery hair fly about her and she drew close to NEron, standing on her tip toes to see him eye to eye. "You, sir, owe me a scissors. Once you leave this building you better not show up until you return what you have ruined. Ever." She narrowed her eyes and then smiled and flounced over to Damion. "Now, for you my icy fellow. No doubt you feel like you are in a version of Hell, flames and fire. Sorry, but this is as cold and I can get it. As soon as you can walk I will release you and you can go to your little icebox whenever you please. Until then, don't even think about sitting up until I say so. Thickhead over there." She jabbed a finger at Neron, "Found out the hard way and almost killed himself." She smirked and eyed Neron, "But after a little treatment he wanted he has calmed down."

"Do I hear a challenge in the air?" Neron's face still held a smirk as he looked at her.

She turned and stuck her tongue out before continuing with Damion, "So be a good boy and I will have you up and running about in a jiffy. ok?"