Chapter 4

She was still walking around with soot all over her the next two days. Even though she had managed to shake the worst of it out of her hair, and had done a respectable job of cleaning up her face and arms, Darcy still looked like someone had dragged her through an ash pile. Since she couldn't find a single place on her entire body that didn't have soot on it, she decided that it was time to take some action. She had somehow managed to finish Lizz's idea of 'light' chores, so she took off to lodge a complaint with Magus.

It was just a short walk down the hall to his room, and Darcy didn't have much time to think of something good to say. She was nervous. "I'll just wing it.." she thought to herself. She gathered up all the courage that she had, and knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked a little louder. Still nothing. "Maybe he's not there. Better check." Darcy thought. She opened up the door a crack, and peeked inside. Magus was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, reading a book that rested in his lap. His boots, cape and armor rested on his bed, and he was wearing a loose shirt. Darcy debated if she should enter. Is it worth the risk of starting up a temper tantrum that would be be death of her? Then she realized that no matter how bad it got, the pendant would keep her safe... probably. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Magus heard her entering his room and looked up from his book. "What are you doing here?" he said, scowling

"Sir, I, er, just wanted to ask if, uh..." Darcy said, stumbling over the words. She was never good with speaking to other people.

Magus was growing more and more impatient with each passing second. He stood up from seat and said "Out with it, girl! I haven't got all day. I never asked you in here the first place!"

Darcy took a deep breath, and continued, "Sorry Sir, I'm just not very good talking to other people, and you're a pretty intimidating person, and..."

He raised his right hand and struck Darcy across the face, forgetting about his injury. As Darcy reared back in pain, so did Magus.

Darcy, ignoring the burning red mark on her cheek, went over to where Magus stood, holding his hand and swearing. "Here, let me look at it. It was my fault to being with." she offered. Magus scowled, but she insisted. "Look, I know what I'm doing. If that's not taken care of, it might become infected. Then were would you be?"

Magus silently agreed, probably just to shut her up. He sat back down in his chair, and held his hand out for Darcy to examine.

She peeled off the torn piece of cape that he had used as a bandage, and Magus grimaced in pain. Then she examined his hand. It was raw, red, and covered with several festering blisters. Bits of leather from his glove were melded with his skin. "This is bad.." she muttered to herself. "Well, the infection ship has sailed. Did you even bother to wash it?" she asked him.

Magus starred at her coldly, and said "You're wasting my time."

Darcy nodded. "You didn't wash it. Doesn't matter, really." she paused and said "I'll need antiseptic of some kind, a small knife, and some clean cloth." she looked at Magus and said jokingly "Any possible way I can get those things, or do you like your hand the way it is?"

He glared at her and said "I don't need someone to tend to my hand, and especially not you! It's perfectly fine."

Darcy, her confidence growing, replied "It's NOT perfectly fine! It should be tended to, or it may have to be amputated! Now is not the time to be a stubborn ass!" She sat down on the floor and declaired "I am NOT leaving until you let me help."

Magus cursed, and stared at Darcy in disgust. He stood up and muttered a few words. A small black ball of energy formed in his good hand, and it took flight and speeded out the door. Magus sat back down. About a minute later, a mud imp ran through the door and placed a tray with the items Darcy requested on a table that rested nearby. Before it left, it paused and looked at Darcy. Then it scooted out the door, giggling all the way.

"Damn gossip-crazed beasts." cursed Magus under his breath. "There, are you happy?" he said.

"Anyway, i won't lie." Darcy said, picking up the knife and a piece of cloth, "This is going to hurt a whole lot, mostly because I'll have to remove the leather from your hand." Then she gently pried open Magus's hand, which he held closed.

All of Magus's macho exterior went into hiding. Although he could handel pain fine during a battle, he was definitely not one for all the other kinds. Besides, the sight of Darcy weilding a knife was not a soothing one. "No. I am not going to have YOU slicing at my hand!" he said. Tearing his hand away.

Darcy gave him the coldest stare she could manage, pinned down his arm and said to him "Are you a man or a mouse? Come on, you''re a big boy. You can handle it."

She played to his one weakness: his pride. Swallowing hard, he said "Alright...are you sure you know what you're doing...?"

Darcy said "Of course. Don't worry about it. I was planning on being a doctor before you brought me here. I'm good at this sort of thing." she smiled and then said "Just do what my friend Illyria says: Think Happy Thoughts." she laughed quietly to herself. "Now close your eyes..."

Pain!! Magus felt excruciating pain shooting through his arm. The muscles in his hand twitched wildly, and Darcy almost lost her grip.

"There. The biggest piece is out." Darcy said with a sense of accomplishment. "There's only four more pieces left large enough to remove." she told him.

Magus turned even paler than usual and whimpered "Four..."

After about 10 minutes (and a whole lot of crying and swearing on Magus's part) His hand was cleaned and bandaged. "Well, you should be ok." said Darcy. "Just be sure to keep it clean." Then she picked herself up and headed for the door.

"Wait." said Magus, holding Darcy back. "Before you started torturing me, you were going to ask me something."

"I was?" Darcy said, confused. "Oh, yeah, I wanted to know if I could take a bath...well, can I?" she asked.

Magus gave her an exasperated look and said "A bath?! All that, and you just wanted a BATH?!?!?" He was about ready to strike her again, but the dull, throbbing pain in his hand served as a reminder of what happened the first time. He paused for a moment. He could take advantage of that situation. "Fine. You can take one in the morning. My 'associates' will be retired for the day, so they won't give you any trouble." he turned away from her and said "It's the tenth door from the right of your room. Now leave." Darcy thanked Magus, and headed on her way, quite glad to have gotten what she wanted.

She headed out the door. Magus thought to himself, "I should thank her. If it wasn't for her vanity, I would never have had this idea!" He laughed quietly.

(A/N Another chappie down :) stay tunned for the next one. you're gonna love it! Magus-vs-Darcy!)