I'm tired. I've slept 11 hours but still… It's this tiredness one can't get rid off and it sickens me even more 'sigh'
Okay... the second part.
Being a Mage
Sirius sat in his room and waited. The ship swayed beneath him and he found it was soothing. For the first time in weeks he felt better. He was confused but comfortable on the small bed that stood in his cabin. His wrists hurt where the chains had been and he tried not to move his hands too much. After some time of waiting nothing happened and Sirius fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
Here he was, on a ship, in the hands of pirates. Pirates with a beautiful captain. And they hadn't tortured him yet. He even had some space for himself. He wondered if these were real pirates. Weren't they supposed to be barbarous creatures, devil-like monsters, scaring the hell out of him, whipping him, spraying his wounds with salty water from the sea?
That was what he had imagined pirates to be. He closed his eyes, the swaying of the ship soothing him into a comfortable slumber. Gods, he was so tired…
Sirius' dream:
It was a rainy day when Sirius sat by the window, looking out of his small hut down into the valley where the fishing village was. He sighed. It was safe to be alone. He was a mage, people didn't trust him because sooner or later they found out. He couldn't help it. And he didn't look like them. His dark hair, his eyes, his skin, his manners… everything.
But on this day he had tried to be some other person. He looked the mirror and brushed his hands through his hair. He was pale. Too pale to belong to those men in the village. On the other hand… he was so sick of being all alone, so sick of waiting for something. He didn't know what it was. So he decided to go down into the village.
It was okay. Four days had he stayed with him before they found out. A boy had seen him lightning his wand, saying "Lumos!". And the child had screamed for his parents, terrified. Sirius didn't have a chance to escape. People rushed towards him, binding him in heavy chains. He screamed, trying to escape, but they wouldn't let him. Something hit the back of his head and his world went dark…
When he woke up he felt cold sweat on his forehead. This evening had been so scary. People hated him. He was not like them and that was his fault. Sighing he closed his eyes again, brushing an arm over his eyes, when he noticed someone in his room with him. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw the captain leaning on the door, watching him silently.
"Are you scared?", the man asked and walked towards Sirius' bed. Sirius simply shook his head. He wasn't afraid. In fact he was glad that he wasn't in this prison any longer. "Show me your arms!", the captain ordered and the dark haired man sat up at once, shoving up his sleeves, so that the other man could see his wounds. "Hmm… they look bad but they will heal soon.", he promised and sat down.
Next to the bed stood bowl with water and the pirate took a small cloth, put it into the water and then cleaned Sirius' wounds with it. The mage didn't even flinch. "You know my name?" Again Sirius shook his head and watched the man's gentle fingers clean his wrists. It felt good, it didn't hurt a bit. "Remus."
Remus… what a beautiful name for such a handsome person. Gently his fingers put bandages around Sirius' wrists. He seemed eager to help the magician in front of him and when he was done he looked deep into Sirius' eyes and the mage thought he would look right into his soul.
"Erm… so what am I supposed to do now? Scrub the ship? Peel potatoes?", Sirius asked with an edge of sarcasm to his voice. When Remus chuckled he felt a smile creep to his lips and he watched the glimmering eyes of the captain carefully.
Remus' mind raced. He wasn't sure if Sirius was the right one, this beautiful and fragile person… but perhaps he was. Remus should try. "Wait a minute.", he said and got up from the edge of Sirius' bed, taking the bowl with water with him. At the door he paused. "You need some new clothes. Do you have a wish?", he asked. Sirius seemed unsure of how to respond, but he shrugged.
"I prefer black.", he said an Remus nodded, then left. Black would suit him just perfectly. It would highlighting his pale, alabaster like skin and his wicked red lips. Remus shuddered at that thought. He wasn't supposed to think of Sirius like this. A man nonetheless…
In the captain's cabin Remus hustled about, looking for clothes. And for the map. He pondered if he should show it to Sirius, perhaps it was too early. He should wait at least some days. So he went back with some clothes to the man sitting on the bed, waiting for him. Hmm… What a nice thought. Remus handed the clothes to Sirius and the man gently grabbed them.
"They're gorgeous. Too good for me…", he said. Nothing would match the beauty of Sirius' eyes and so Remus simply smiled. "It's okay. They're yours." He watched when Sirius got up and changed clothes, his well muscled back turned towards the captain who tried not to watch him too closely.
When he turned around he was clad in wide black pants, a leather belt around his slim waist with a huge silver buckle. The likewise black shirt made Sirius' pale skin appear gleaming. Where it was left open beneath the long neck Remus could see the smooth skin of Sirius' chest that heaved gently with every breath the man took. Remus shouldn't stare at the wizard like that. He tried to focus his attention on the silvery eyes.
The captain was curious about Sirius. "You claim to be a mage… is it true then? You are a mage?", he asked and now it was Sirius' turn to chuckle.
Sirius looked deep into the amber eyes of the man who had freed him from his prison. He had revealed his darkest secret to him instantly. Why not show him, what he was able to do? Sighing Sirius closed his eyes and concentrated. When he opened them again the world seemed to have lost substance but he knew what had happened.
A huge dark dog sat in front of Remus, looking up at him, with an expression that was close to a human smile. Remus gasped and Sirius wasn't sure if he had done the wrong thing. Perhaps he shouldn't have changed into a dog in front of a complete stranger. But Remus had been so nice, so gentle… he'd trusted him instantly.
"You… you're a dog.", the captain said stunned and reached out a hand to touch Sirius' black fur. But he didn't touch him and so Sirius head came towards the hand, offering to be petted. And so Remus finger gently traced along Sirius' neck and it was all he could do not to shudder in delight. Why? He had been stroked by people before but this was different… Remus was more gentle, careful and…what? Sirius shook his head and the hand was drawn away.
"I'm sorry…", Remus whispered and held his hands in his lap, looking at Sirius curiously. "Can you change into other animals? Other things?" he had a thousand questions. The dog shook his head in a strangely human gesture. "Ah, erm… okay." The captain of the Lost Angel was at a loss of words. Sirius sensed his uncertainty and changed back into his human form, fully clothed in black.
"It's hard to stay in the form of the dog.", he admitted and looked at Remus apologetically.
"No, it's amazing. You really ARE a wizard!" Sirius chuckled.
"I told you…" Sirius smiled. It wasn't that shy smile from minutes ago but a true and proud smile. It was the first time that someone wasn't appalled by the fact that he was a wizard. Someone who didn't want to burn him alive because of that… He remembered the first time he had changed from dog form into human form in front of a friend. He hadn't been his friend any longer and Sirius hadn't seen him again. That had been the day when Sirius had decided to stay alone in his hut, away from people who would hate him for what he was. But Remus didn't run. He was amazed.
Two days later Remus strode again into Sirius' cabin, this time he had the strange map in his hands, turning it over and over again. The map itself was a treasure. And Sirius was the key. He didn't want the man to think that he wanted to use him only for his treasure hunting purposes, but he was so damn curious.
"Hey…", he greeted and looked at Sirius. He was so happy he had taken the man with him. he lightened up his day, whenever he saw him. Sirius looked up from his book and stared at Remus, a strange expression in his eyes. "I need to show you something.", the captain said and brushed some things from the table and opened the card. "Look at this."
Sirius came over and leaned over the map. "Aha… It's an empty paper if you ask me. A little shabby perhaps…", he looked up at Remus, waiting for an explanation. He found a smirk on the captain's face.
"It IS a map. But it can only be used by… a mage. You are a mage and I thought… I was so damn curious about this map.", he said lamely. Great… Sirius would think that was the only reason, Remus was so nice to him. it wasn't. Would the man know? He watched the man, tried to read his expression but Sirius' face was blank, when he reached out and touched the paper with his index finger.
Instantly golden and silver lines spread on the paper, drawing lines, forming continents and isles. Both men watched curiously when diamond shaped spots appeared, some close to the coast, others on the continents and still others where the ocean was. "What is this?", Sirius asked again in a hushed voice.
"This map shows all the treasures that are hidden on this earth. They are waiting to be found. And this map can show us the way.", he looked up at Sirius, amazed again. "This is… just great. How did you make it work? I never found a way." His voice trailed off.
"I just touched it. I don't know. I guess it simply reacts to magic…?" Remus nodded and traced the lines of the map with his fingers. "Come with me!", Remus said and strode out of the cabin out into the cold wind, Sirius following close behind, like a dark, black shadow.
The captain of the Lost Angel stood on the bridge and turned towards his crew. Another look on the map and he was sure. "Bring the ship about!", he yelled. "We're heading straight northwards!" Instantly the crew followed the orders, some "aye" being heard and the ship turned around, it's huge dark sails flapping in the wind. Sirius watched with utter elation. This ship was impressive. And it's captain as well. He turned towards Remus who stood with one hand at the wheel. Remus glanced back at him.
"You were the key.", he whispered. But Sirius was precious in more than one ways…
To be continued…
ARGH! I know it sucks… it lacks emotions, right? I'm unable to write properly lately…. Dunno what's wrong with me. Any suggestions? Please let me know!
Please review!!!
