They Say That The World Was Built For Two
By: Pani Drzwi
Written for: The 100 Prompts/Drabbles Challenge
Level: I Must Have A Death Wish
Characters/Pairing: Valtor/Griffin
Prompt 1: Pride
Word count (excluding A/N : 600 words)
Valtor groans as his fiery shield dissipates and the force of Mistress Belladonne's curse blasts him firmly into the stone wall of the chamber. Like a swatted fly he crumples into a heap, head throbbing (Dragon, he can almost swear he sees the entire Lunarian Constellation of stars right before his eyes), magic still thrillingly cursing through his veins. His teacher approaches, her cold aura almost freezing his fire and tuts disapprovingly.
"It seems as if your boasting was ungrounded, apprentice. Next time when you think that you have reached the top, do take care. The only way left is to go down."
He tries to call out to her, to argue that he did not make a mistake but Belladonne seems to have no time for fools today. She leaves without further acknowledgement.
"For the last time Edith, no!" He sneers at the witch, fresh out of Cloud Tower and bristling with indignation before him.
"Don't call me that! It's Griffin!" she snaps back before taking a calming breath and putting on a voice of reason. "You know that I'm capable and you know that you need more men for the Isis attack to succeed. Let me come!"
"You," he glances at her triumphantly. "Are. Not. A man. End of story."
He sends a charming smile in her direction as a goodbye, leaving her standing there and shaking. His plan is perfect and she's not right. He is too good a strategist and too powerful a warlock for his plan to fall through. She needs to grow up and take her schoolgirl ideals somewhere else.
When he stumbles into the Headquarters Infirmary, clutching his bleeding stomach his plans shattered and the attack in shambles.
She's waiting, a hint of a sickly amused, triumphant smirk dancing at the corners of her lips but worry nevertheless peeking out from the depths of her hazel orbs.
Exhausted, he collapses onto a cots and the next second she's there, healing potions and herbs in her hands, a spell book tucked underneath her arm.
"Leave!" he tells her, annoyed that he was wrong.
She hears with her ears but listens with her heart and stays.
"You should ask her to the ball."
"Her?"
"Your assistant, Edith."
"Griffin? If she wants to accompany me, she can ask herself."
Oritel sighs, shakes his head in disbelief at his 'advisor' and heads off, muttering about "Princely Duties". Valtor remains, his eyes following Griffin's lithe figure as she twirls with Marion (the Prince's wife) and the other ladies on the other side of the courtyard.
He stubbornly waits for her to approach him about the ball but she does not.
And so on the night he is left in the corner, watching her spend the night dancing in the arms of another man.
"It's alright not to be certain sometimes."
"Really? Whoever told you that lied, my dear. You always, always need to be sure otherwise you might just lose your head. Now, king to D4!"
"You're sure about this?" she inquires amused.
"Of course, your move my dear."
"Very well, check mate!"
"Damn you!" she bursts out laughing but he smirks. His griffin is certainly a sly little creature.
"Griffin! Griffin! Edith!" he screams after her, desperate. She stops but she doesn't turn around.
"Don't go!" he wants to scream and cry and beg. "Don't leave me, I need you!"
He should say it. He should. He has to, otherwise she'll...
But Valtor has always been too proud. And so he says nothing and she walks out of their flat, their love, his life.
A/N: Whew, that was close! The first draft clocked in at about 630 words and so I had to go through the awful process of editing and cutting this down. But I'm at the maximum word limit now so it's okay. *breathes long sigh of relief*
This was my first drabble in like ever (I tend to go for long epics most of the time) so keeping to the word limit was challenging. But it was fun and I know I'm going to enjoy the next 99 drabbles! Still, apologies if this seemed jumpy hopefully I'll improve as I do more of these. Also, I'm still finding the characters (especially Griffin, I haven't written her before) so any opinions, tips or suggestions are most welcome.
This was written for a challenge from the Winx Club Challenges Forum (WCFC). Go and check it out if you haven't already (forums section on this site) and you never know, maybe you'd like a go at doing 100 short drabbles too? It's FUN! ;)
Thanks for reading and please review,
Pani Drzwi
Next one: Unprofessional