The Life of Past and Future
Chapter twelve: No Title
Melissa walked through the remains of a abandoned home., the inside of the house was destroyed and the outside in shambles. Katsu chirped from the pouch pocket of her large St. John's sweater, Melissa gave him a pat on the head. She made her way outside from the backdoor. Hoping over the fence, she began to walk down the empty streets.
The BPRD and half of Nuada's army had left the fortress a week after the attack. The Avariels moved their attack to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Hellboy and the agents went to Washington while Nuada took his army to Massachusetts. They were now staying underground in a Sylvan training camp with some of the Slyvans former allies.
Shadows followed Melissa from all sides. Her pace slowed as the shadows came into the light revealing two harpies, a dragon/fae hybrid, and a chimera. Melissa took the spear from her side and lengthened it with a twirl. The creatures attacked at once. She dispatched them quickly, but not without sustaining a few injuries. Melissa decided to run the rest of the way to the hideout and headed for the woods that were a few miles away.
Her running slowed to a steady jog and then a walk once she got deeper into the woods. The leaves beneath her crunched as she took in her surroundings, lots of trees with a lake ahead towards her left. Her eyes went to the ground, a square section of earth opened into a slope allowing her to enter the training camp. Once in, the ground returned to normal.
Many tiny faes flew and ran to welcome her on her return. They navigated her through the pillars, which supported the ground above them so it would not collapse, to the main training room where Nuada was practicing with a young centaur. The leader of the centaur warriors approached her.
"Greetings little fawn."
Melissa smiled up at the handsome creature. "Hi Ansel, how is the training going."
"It is going well, little fawn, Nuada is a good target for the young centaurs and minotaurs, they are not use to fighting something so small and agile."
Melissa laughed. "Well let us hope their skill with a sword isn't better than his ability to avoid his opponents attacks, else we have no king to take the thrown."
Ansel chuckled. "I agree, let us hope so."
The two talked of the training as they came closer to the spar between Ansel's son and Nuada. While Ansel watched the spar with pride, Melissa took a look around the training room. Many of the Slyvans allies had decided to turn their allegiance to Nuada in hopes of receiving a king who would care for their needs. The three weeks in their new home was spent training the griffins and teaching the new allies to use swords as well as bows. Something which took much patience.
"Ahh!" Melissa's head shot back to see Nuada drop his lance and hold his arm that sported a deep gash. Melissa walked over as words she never heard of sprang from the angry elf's mouth.
"Can I say those things?" Melissa asked as she healed the cut.
"Only if you wish me to punish you severely."
"Then don't say them yourself."
Melissa released his arm to see a few other faes surround them. She gave them a puzzled look until a dwarf came closer.
"We were just curious on your ability to heal wounds."
"I don't heal wounds, just absorb them, the more wounds I absorb, the more I can afflict onto my enemy."
"So the more wounds the better."
"Theoretically, yes."
The dwarf and the other fae instantly held their injured appendages to her. She smiled as she began to heal them all. She held her laugh inside, but her eyes gave it away.
Nuada watched his love tend to his army. Kenji and Ansel came to stand at his side, admiring the young girl.
"She is quite the light, is she not?" Nuada looked at Kenji, the one who gave the statement.
"The little faes are quite fond of her and the fawns think her a wonderful new toy." The two elves turned to Ansel.
"What, it is the capacity of children, do you think they would see her as anything else?"
"She is a warrior, not a toy." Kenji stated.
Nuada frowned at that.
Melissa's hand came up to cup is frowning face.
"Is that the only face you know how to make?"
Ansel patted Nuada's shoulder.
"It is the only face Lord Silverlance is required to show during a time of war, warriors see few reasons to smile."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "Whatever." her nose suddenly scrunched. "Your sweaty, go take a bath, now."
Nuada's frown turned into a sneer, but he did as she said.
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Melissa entered a room, Nuada spoke to Mr. Wink in a hushed voice as the two leaned over a large table studying a map. Melissa made her way to Wink's side, he pulled her into his side while he continued to listen to Nuada talk.
"What you talking about."
Nuada just glared so Mr. Wink answered. "The Avariels are making their way to the D.C. in hopes of overthrowing the humans government. The demon and agents can only hold them back for so long, we must send soldiers their way, but we also must have enough to go against the Drows."
"I actually understood all of that, Wink, my troll's getting better. Now all I have to do is learn to speak it."
"If you are done, girl."
"Sorry, message from Scotland, the Drows have taken down the Avariels, but have yet to attack your army there."
Nuada slammed his fist on the table. "Dammit! What are they planning?"
Mr. Wink scooted away from Nuada with Melissa still tucked under his arm. Melissa left her spot beside Wink to lay her hand on Nuada's arm.
"Nuada, let's go to our room, you need rest."
"I do not need rest, girl, I need a miracle."
"She is right, Prince, you need rest."
"Fine. Come, girl."
The two left the room to headed back to their room.
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Nuada leaned his back against the stone wall as Melissa sat between his legs on the small cot. Nuada nuzzled her neck in hopes of seeking comfort from the intimate touch. Melissa leaned back to lay a kiss on his cheek, happy that her love was finally relaxing.
"Silverlance."
Nuada stopped nuzzling her neck to look her in the eyes.
"What did you call me?"
Melissa laid her head on his shoulder. "Silverlance."
Nuada sat up straighter. "Never call me that again."
"Everyone else calls you that, why can't I."
"It is my name of war, my gifted name, I rather you not call me that."
"Gifted name? Does Nuala have one?"
"No, a gifted name is given to warriors and lovers, Nuala is neither."
"She's someone's lover now."
Nuada scowled deeply, his eyes took a distant look, she knew he was thinking about Nuala and Abraham. Melissa released Nuada's hands and made to move from the bed. Nuada's arms held her tighter, refusing to let her leave him.
"I am sorry, little one, please forgive me."
Melissa settled back in his arms, but laced her fingers together instead of with Nuada's.
"It's okay. . . Can I get a gifted name?"
His expression went neutral. "Maybe, not all warriors are given one."
"Yeah, yeah."
The two talked a bit longer before going to bed. They would need their rest to have the strength to help train the young centaurs and minotaurs with their new weapons.
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Nuada stood beside Mr. Wink as Melissa sparred with one of the nymphs. The oak nymph was laughing at the girl's attempt to avoid the trunk-like arms. Melissa's wings were limited due to the pillars and ceiling, the training room was not as large as the rooms she had flown in before. The fight ended with roots from the ceiling wrapping themselves around her wings and body.
"I hate you. . . And your ugly!"
The room was filled with laughter at the childish behavior the girl was showing. The young centaurs stomped their hooves, expressing their joy causing Melissa yelled at them too. Nuada chuckled, with a quick glance, Mr. Wink went and stood beneath Melissa. The nymph released her, she fell into Wink's waiting arms.
"All of you can go to hell for all I care. Stupid, ugly, smelly, beautiful creatures." Nuada's brows knitted at hearing Melissa call faes beautiful. Did she not see only him as beautiful but all the male faes as well?
"You are such a baby, Tiny."
"And your fat, Wink."
The faes laughed harder at Mr. Wink's shocked face. He dropped Melissa on the floor with a huff. Melissa stood and yelled at him some more as she dusted the dirt off of her. Ansel gallop forward to hold Melissa back before she could attack Mr. Wink.
"Calm down, Lilium, your behavior is becoming childish."
Melissa gasped at the gifted name. She threw her arms around him and laughed. The other faes smiled, approving the gifted name.
Hi, sorry this would have been up yesterday but I couldn't think of a name. Kevin helped me come up with one. Lilium is Latin for lily, lily represents religion, sexuality as in boy and girl, peace and purity, chastity, and royalty. Besides the peace we think it suites me. Hope you enjoyed. R&R please and thank you.