A/N~ As I have previously stated I have no real knowledge about the finer aspects of choreographing fights or describing them for that matter. So I apologize ahead of time for any errors I make along the way. That being said, this has taken on a life of its own. I came to a stopping place, when a gothic muse and her wolfy altar ego came in and literally went another way with the story, so at least a couple more chapters to this and a few changes being made to the next story in the sequel. I need better locks on my doors.~A
WSG-Chapter 25
Dyson gazed at Kenzi with an astonishingly serene if sad expression on his face stepped away from his father. Dougal for his part was looking a little gob smacked and also sad.
The Ashe however reached out and grabbed the wolf shifters arm in what Kenzi could see was a painfully tight grip while whispering furiously into Dyson's ear.
Kenzi knew that while the acoustics in the cavern were good, she still shouldn't be able to hear what the Ashe was saying to Dyson. Somehow though she knew exactly what he was saying. "You will win this Challenge by any means necessary," he said as he tried to shove a ring onto the wolf's finger.
"I will win or lose without cheating, though I am surprised you are willing to suffer the punishment if you are caught." Dyson said with surprised amusement.
"What are you talking about?" the Ashe said, "That was just the judges attempt at intimidation." Upon seeing the Shifters expression the fae leader asked, "Wasn't it?"
"No it wasn't." said Dyson with a smile that looked far too relaxed for the light fae's comfort, "Why so surprised? You did say we were nothing but animals and should be treated as such." At the Ashe's look of horror, the wolf Shifter continued as he grabbed the mans collar, "You are prey, nothing but food, and should be treated as such. At the end of this challenge, win or lose I will be free. At the end of this challenge, win or lose, you will forgo the fealty of all light fae Shifters, that is my price for accepting this challenge." He released the fae leaders collar forcefully as he concluded, "Take it or leave it."
The Ashe balked, shaking his head as he said, "Never."
Dyson merely shrugged a shoulder and smiled knowingly as he said, "Then send someone else. Oh yes, I almost forgot. There are no other Shifters in your retinue. They all quit after they saw how you really felt about Shifters. Ah well, you can always forfeit." he said crossing his arms across his bare torso.
The Ashe looked back and forth between the wolf shifter in front of him, Kenzi who was now moving back to stand in front of the judges, and the judges themselves. The judges who were now staring at the pair of them impatiently.
Dyson however was watching the Ashe like a man with all the time in the world. He could stand here till the world froze over again because the Ashe really had no other option. Dyson knew it, the Ashe knew it and everyone else in the cavern knew it. All Dyson had to do was wait for the Ashe to admit it. Which actually only took about thirty seconds more than Dyson thought it would but then the Ashe could be stubborn when he wanted to be.
"Fine, I agree." said the Ashe with an annoyed yet grim look on his face.
"Your ring, Ashe." Dyson said shortly holding out his hand, "You think I trust you to keep your word, without some way to prove you gave it?"
The Ashe looked ready to argue until one of the judges cleared her voice very impatiently, "Is there a problem Ashe of the Light Fae?"
"No, no problem….." the Ashe replied staring at the wolf shifter angrily as he removed his signet ring and gave it to Dyson.. The wolf merely smiled and after hurrying to collect the dagger from the altar. Then he was standing beside Kenzi, and actually gave a slight bow to the judges.
The judge with wavy black hair nodded her head at the wolf and his respectful manners. Then she repeated, "Choose."
Without a second thought the pair responded, "Shifter secrets shall remain Shifter secrets." before they glanced at each other with a totally inappropriate grin.
"As it should be," responded the red head. "Enter the chamber" the Crone said, huskily, .as all three of the judges headed that way along with the Elder and the new Challenger. Meanwhile the other male who had been standing beside Kenzi walked towards the sheared off pillar of stone stood.
Taking the beautifully carved wooden bowl, he dipped it into the mineral water that had collected in the pillars hollowed out basin. Then going to the far end of the cavern he poured a line of the water across the floor from one side of the cavern to the other.
Just like in Kenzi's dream vision, the teeth of the cavern closed sealing the judges and the competitors from the rest of the audience. Kenzi looked at Dyson sadly and raised her dagger slowly. Smiling at her again Dyson said, "You can rest again before we get started. That is allowed between the Challenges."
"Thanks." Kenzi replied rather dully, then in a sadly curious tone, "Why, Dyson?"
The wolf answered honestly if a little strangely, "I do have a plan lass."
"I sort of figured that, you don't do anything without a plan. Even if the plan is just going on instincts." she said with a sad chuckle.
He huffed a chuckle out and said, " Ah yes well a little of the wolf instinct does sneak into everything we do. This is about you and I though, as well as the pack. In the past several weeks it has been shown to me that I really haven't appreciated your friendship, and I definitely haven't proven myself worthy of your continuing friendship, loyalty, affection, everything that you have done for me over the years."
Kenzi looked even sadder than before as she said, "This isn't really about one-upmanship, D-man. That's not what friendship is about."
"You're right it's not about friendship, it's about this relationship. You and me. It's not about anyone or anything else. I always put other people, other things, as more important than you or I. There is nothing and no one more important and there never should have been."
"Hey," she said, "every relationship has their ups and downs. Where sometimes one person will lean on the other more. This time its just me being the one who's leaned on more. You know, give and take?"
He put the dagger down on the altar and pulled her into a gentle hug before continuing, "I'm not worthy of it and over the years, you continue to give and I continue to take. It's time to change that."
"Change it how?" Kenzi asked a little suspiciously.
"I have never really done anything to prove my friendship or love to you Kenzi." Dyson said enigmatically, "Your father came to me shortly before he died and asked me whether I loved you. When I answered him, I did so honestly, but he said I hadn't done anything to prove it, to show that I loved you. I'm going to prove it today."
Lifting her chin with his fingertips Dyson lowered his head and kissed her. He teased her lips apart then slipped his tongue between them. Exploring her mouth with his tongue as she began to pant for breath.. He brushed her hair behind her ears with both hands as he whispered against her mouth, "Forgive me." Then he shoved her away hard enough to make her stumble and trip over her own feet, to land solidly and painfully on her side.
With a touch of wolf speed he turned and leapt up to sit on the side of the altar, before turning and lying back across the cold stone. Reaching out he grabbed the dagger and lifted it above his chest, before plunging it towards his heart. His hand froze in mid-air, several inches from his intended target.
Opening his eyes he was startled to see Kenzi straddling his thighs, her hand wrapped around his own. Her face a mask of anger and sorrow mixed as she demanded, "What in fracking hell do you think you're doing Dyson?"
He was so startled by her using his actual name she was easily able to disarm him. "Kenzi, why did you stop me? It said a willing sacrifice must be made. I'm willing to sacrifice myself for you…"
Hitting him in the chest, Kenzi replied, "You're an idiot, you know that? Have we not had the smacking you around already? Trying to knock some sense into that stubborn wolf head? I think we did on a number of occassions as a matter of fact. And yet here we sit, have you learned nothing from me yet?"
"True love is not dying for someone you idiot." Kenzi said with a growl of aggravation, "Its being strong enough to live for them and smart enough to figure a way out for both of you to live, if things get tough. I was actually trying to do that when you decided to go all sacrificial lamb on me."
"Now are you going to knock off the Romeo and Juliet thing.? Cause let me tell you something, I happen to like my bosom the way it is, without a dagger in it thank you very much." she concluded with a huff. Looking down at the wolf and seeing him grinning back at her inanely, she said impatiently, "Well?"
He shook his head slightly but was still staring at her dreamily as he said, "Yes, yes, always, quite a lot actually, no promises in future but for now yes, and I do as well quite a lot actually happen to like your bosom just the way it is, lass." Then he pushed himself to a sitting position and used his legs to trap Kenzi in place where she sat astride his hips. Causing Kenzi to feel exactly how much Dyson did appreciate her just the wayshe was apparently and she blushed.
"Now I like that," Dyson said appreciatively, "maybe I've finally solved the riddle of how to make you believe me when I tell you I love you." as he rubbed his thumb gently along the blush on her cheekbone as he brushed his and back and into her hair. Then he leaned forward but instead of kissing her, he rubbed his whiskered cheek against her own soft skin.
Kenzi actually gasped as the whiskers rubbed down the side of her neck and along her shoulder she found very arousing. Her mind unfortunately wouldn't shut up and she said, "Riddle."
Dyson pulled her closer for a moment with a groan and then pulled back to place his forehead against hers and said, "What?" Both of their eyes were dilated with desire as they stared at each other and Dyson almost went back to trying to seduce the woman in his arms. Kenzi had something on her mind however and he hoped she wouldn't interrupt their hopefully first and not last lovemaking session for something unimportant.
"You said, solved the riddle," Kenzi said a little breathlessly, "what if the prophecy is actually a riddle, about this, about us, about how we both can survive the Challenge?"
His brows furrowed slightly as he considered what she was saying. "But that's why I was…doing what I was doing before…the willing sacrifice…."
"Yes but you were stuck on just that one line of it….what was the rest?" Kenzi asked.
The judges who the pair had honestly forgotten were also in the cavern, recited helpfully,
Your opponents seed of life must be spilled upon the altar,
By your will, dagger still in hand.
"See your way wouldn't have worked," Kenzi whispered, "I assume that means that it has to be spilled by my hand, but who calls blood the seed of life?" Kenzi asked, but then shut up because even Dyson squirmed under the imagined scowls of the women under the hoods.
A willing sacrifice must be made,
Whether woman or man
To find your soul
Both must drink from the sacred bowl.
Bound with cord,
Never to be sundered by sword
Ruler and Consort are born and reborn
Never again will the Shifters be torn.
Then the judges added something new, something they hadn't said, either in her dream vision or prior to the battle with Khef.
The Green Man by family found,
His daughter crown and marriage bound.
Mab's evil cast out and defeated
A new age to be greeted
Peace to be everlasting
After the Elders hand fasting
Three as one
To face and defeat the rising Son..
Kenzi and Dyson both looked over at the three judges who were staring at each other as well. Kenzi said, softly, "Let me guess, that really wasn't there before, and I just missed it?"
The youngest judge looked back at the couple on the altar and said, "Uhm, that would be a no actually," Meanwhile, the other two judges began a whispered argument in a language that sounded like just so many clicks and whistles.
Turning her head back to look at Dyson, Kenzi said with a hapless look, "And this is my life."
A/N/N~OK fair warning, there will be mature material in the upcoming chapter, as in sexual content. If you are eighteen and under Do Not Read! ~A