Burn the Witch09/10/2008 23:17:00

Disclaimer: I own nothing that is Tamora Peirces i'm just messing around in her world.

This is set way before any of the books and is about the first mage in 'the world'/Tortall. Just a lil' idea I had the other day. Plus i have done some major over haul work on this and i'm hoping it is an improvement. So without further delay:

The shrieks of a mob rose through the air, shouts mangled together into an indistinct wall of noise.

Cera sat shuddering in darkness that was her hideaway. Dirt fell from the roof as the mob ran over where she hid. Shouts of 'Find the witch! Burn the witch!' felt muffled and faraway but the voices were still familiar. All those she had grown up with, played with and loved were hunting for her so they could kill her.

She knew any other person would be crying now if they were in the same situation, but Cera felt so much shame at the tears spilling out of her eyes silently. Part of her wanted so much to lie down in the darkness until she fell asleep without having to wake up. Oh god she wanted that so much. Conjuring a small light in her hands she took a deep breath and stopped the flow of tears. 'ok' she said talking to herself 'what am I going to do?' It was nice to break the silence, all the drama she had poured into the situation drained away and her practical logic took over looking to find a way to leave her home and be safe again.

Digging her hands into the soil she sent out a tremor of magic into the ground creating a map of where she was. She flinched when her magic hit the mob. They had calmed from their shrieks but had not given up on finding the witch. Cera couldn't help but be amused at their scattered unorganised attempt to find her. She didn't even need her magic to hide her.

She paused on the mob for a moment until she could feel the spirits of individual people, recognising her friends and neighbours. More tears threatened to shatter the calm as she remembered the looks of hatred that had twisted their faces. That hatred was directed at her. Cera started moving on when she hit a lone figure standing separate from the mob, unmoving.

'Oh gods' Her eyes widened. Why wasn't he with the mob? He should be hunting her like everyone else; trying to kill the freak.

Thoughts swirled around in her head repeating themselves 'why not? Why aren't you hunting me? Why not?' Desperation shook through her annihilating the false calm she had glued together. Suddenly noticing a change she saw she had moved herself closer to the lone figure. She could walk to him from here. She could ask.

Concentrating she let the 'evil' flow out of her into the soil surrounding her bubble of safety. Bringing herself to the same level as the figure she walked over to him 'Aro?'. Instantly he turned. His eyes were red, tear tracks stripeing his cheeks.

'Cera what are you doing?' Aros voice was hard and broken with emotion.

All Cera could do was move her mouth open and shut trying to think of something to say. Had he been crying for her?

Oh Gods please let him have been crying for her.

'Cera what are you doing? You need to leave before your killed'

Right before she was killed. She had forgotten she was going to be executed.

' I'm not evil Aro' She wiped away a fresh tear 'its not evil. It was.. it is a- a gift from the Gods' She looked up 'I was going to help people'

Aro wiped away fresh tears with a shaking hand and looked around them then back at a speechless Cera who was staring, mouth open like a fish.

Taking two steps forward he closed the gap between them and kissed her.

'I love you'

Ok its not very Tortall or anything yet but I'm getting there. Please tell me what you think in a review. i 3 reviews. They are like puppies that don't pee on the carpet...