Opening her eyes, Talia stared into the darkness of her tent, slowly blinking, not moving as sleep gradually left her body with each flutter of her lashes. She knew she dreamt something, it jerked her awake, however as soon as darkness hit her retina, all the ghosts roaming her mind dissipated into pure emptiness. Groaning, she finally pushed the covers off her, clock indicating close to five in the morning as soon as light illuminated her tent.
It was not even remotely close to the number of hours she needed to sleep in order to function, however her brain felt too heavy to even attempt going back under the covers and rest more. Her feet hit the cold ground, goosebumps surfacing on her pale skin as she slowly made her way to make herself a coffee.
It was happening too much lately, her sleep schedule being all over the place, not even exhaustion managing to grant her comfort. It riddled her with too many dark thoughts, many feelings surprising her at times. She knew it was the fatigue, she was well aware how she would act when tired, yet she was finding it increasingly harder to silence everything attempting to choke her from inside out.
With a hot cup of coffee, she made her way to the desk, pulling her feet to her chest as she stared at a new piece of paper. At the rate she used to throw or simply rip apart letters she would need to buy more paper in her next visit to the village. However, with the prospect of another letter soon to be sent, she found herself unable to write a single line.
Taking a small sip from her cup, she threw her head back as soon as her eyes landed on the mirror silently witnessing everything. She felt drained and it showed, she could barely even find the will to summon her powers in order to change her eye color. For the past couple of days she even avoided Charlie and Felix of all people.
As she contemplated on picking up the quill to at least attempt to write, she sighed. She was well aware that she was not acting as she should have, but not even her running around the mountain or training in the confines of her tent managed to quench the fire burning in her soul. It was becoming harder and harder to hold on to any kind of hope.
Why would she in the end? He was purposely ignoring her, ignoring others when it came to her. Stubborn, so so stubborn and in the end she could not actually think of the reason behind it.
Placing the cup on her desk, she ran both hands taming her hair before picking up the quill.
"My dearest Talbott,
Can I even call you mine anymore? Should I? After so many months apart with nothing to show for from your side I am finding it hard to even believe you want anything to do with me. I keep asking myself late into the night if I had actually been that horrible towards you. I actually believed I was mild, learned and tried to apply all the good I could drill out of myself and pour it into you.
Despite your silence, I still believe I know who you are and that is why I believe that this is tearing you apart. However I also believe that I am adding to that pain with these letters. I can't imagine how hard it must be to want to be left alone, move on and then have me coming back weekly with a letter.
So I guess what I am trying to say is that this is going to be my last letter addressed towards you.
I will always cherish you, I will miss you and I will carry you with me no matter where I am because you are the only good part of me, the only one that I am proud of.
Love, Talia."
Placing the quill down, she lifted her hand to wipe away her tears, deciding before she could not take it anymore, to dry out the letter, place it in an envelope and in her bag.
Taking the cup, she pulled over her clothes a coat and went outside, inhaling the crisp mountain air, letting it chill her torturous pain before everything inside would explode and she would crash altogether in uncontrollable sobs.
Instead of crying further, she stood there on the small made terrace, the cold morning biting at her skin, freezing her thoughts in place as she stared into the distance, coffee long forgotten and cold. She barely registered the happy good morning uttered her way as the camp woke up and everyone started on the tasks set out for that day.
She nodded slowly, barely, trying to force herself to see reason. To search within herself for a purpose.
She would have made a great Auror. She was vicious and knew how to fight, how to show her teeth. Even that was not an option. She refused to admit it then, but Talbott defeated and broke her will. She linked and chained everything to him and in the end it only served to crumble her. She could have stayed, she should have and not accept the out offered in a desperate attempt to shield her.
She did not wish for people to protect her, she wanted to make a difference, for her to be known.
But now, she was just a lost soul in the middle of the untouched mountains of Romania.
A bird landing close to her startled Talia from her daze, a letter from Tonks addressed to her. She hesitated a moment before reaching out to take it "Thank you." Heading back inside the tent, she took some bird seeds, placing the letter on her desk before heading back out. Placing the seeds on the table, the owl happily ate, Talia finally remembering she had coffee, despite it being cold.
"Move now, they're at the crossing!" Glancing at the men, she noticed them fumbling to put on their protective gear, Talia slowly getting up. Something was happening, it was obvious with how they barked at each other, how they tried to move faster in order to get inside those uncomfortable uniforms.
Making her way towards them, she quickly asked noting their alarmed expressions "What's going on? What happened?"
"Charlie and Felix got attacked by that new Hungarian Horntail brought in last week." Shaking her head at the information, she tried to wrap her mind around it.
"Are they hurt? Are they even alive?" She continued to ask as she ran after them. Her knowledge of dragons was limited compared to the men in the sanctuary, however even a Muggle would know any type of dragon would spell trouble. If they ever encountered one that is.
Reaching the passing, Talia witnessed the beast trying to burn everything inside a cave, the men quickly pulling her behind a rock "They're hurt, but alive. As for this dragon you can't even approach it without it attacking. I don't know where it came from, but it has some resistance to magic, it should have fallen asleep by now."
Talia nodded, taking all the information in as one "How dangerous are these dragons?" the enquiry earning her several eye rolls to which she just offered a glare "You know what, fine, normal spells don't work but those two will burn alive if that thing continues attacking." Again she was met with resistance, but then again they all looked fresh out of options "Lovely crowd."
As soon as she tried to step away from behind the rock, a strong hand grabbed her arm, yanking her back. He barely managed to yell at her "Are you fucking insane? You aren't even wearing armor woman." before a loud growl filled the air, fire scorching the earth.
"Do not tell me what to do, ever again." She spoke slow, embers in her eyes igniting further as she placed a hand on his arm, the man letting go of her due to her hot touch "You have exhausted all options, now it's my turn to try."
Their glaring contest quickly had to end as their attention drew to yells coming from the cave as the dragon launched another merciless attack against Charlie and Felix. She would not allow it, not on her watch.
Stepping from behind the boulder sheltering her, she picked up a few rocks, hurling them at the dragon, yelling at the top of her lungs "Look at me you beast, I am your target!" she was crazy, the though immediately snapped inside her head, raw and as loud as the roar directed her way.
She could come back, however that was a situation with no good outcome. There was no way she would live with an intact heart if that thing stepped on her or turned her to a pile of ashes.
She barely had time to hit the ground as fire threatened to obliterate her, ragging over her head, the heat emanating around her. Rolling over a few times, she reached the cave entrance, yelling "Can you two walk?"
"Get the Hell out of here Talia, it will kill you." Felix, the forever gentleman yelled, however she could not see him. If she turned away from the dragon for even a split moment, that would be the end "Are you deaf? Run away."
As the dragon turned its head, locking eyes with her, everything up until that point flashed before her eyes, in such rapid succession that it made her dizzy once her mind returned to the moment. It had to be a few seconds tops, however it felt as if she had been rooted to that spot since the dawn of time. But she would not accept defeat, she would not back down.
She worked on adrenaline alone as she lifted her arms, heartbeat overruling other earthly sounds. She could see the fire forming, she knew it would hit her soon, however she did not move a muscle in an attempt to flee.
Her mind suddenly rushed, the very idea of being alive, wanting to stay alive, wanting more, surging desperately through her veins.
Her arms shook with force as fire emanated from within her core as she yelled at the large dragon before her "Glad to see you're pissed, because I'm fucking livid!" The flames met half way, shock sending Talia back a few steps. Pain radiated all throughout her arms as if the power was too much. It strained her muscles to a point where she swore they were rupturing under her skin "Run!" she felt the heat engulfing the cave, how it licked her skin, blazing fury meeting burning rage.
Through the corner of her eyes she saw Charlie and Felix supporting each other, trying to protect themselves against the torrent of fire.
She gritted her teeth, swearing not to back down, not even if the force exhibited would break her bones, shattering them to pieces. She could heal, she could always heal the physical side of it all. But she needed to survive it, to stay alive.
How stupid it would have been to die in the one place where almost everyone feared to approach. How could she? Talbott would never forgive himself if something happened to her.
"Talbott." It came out as a whisper just as the dragon ceased its attack, taking a step back as if to asses the mad woman before its eyes better. Charlie and Felix managed to slip away, however she was now all alone inside the cave "What? Get out of here." She took a step forward and then another "I am not dying here today, shooo you simple beast."
The dragon snarled, pushing its head inside the cave, Talia smacking its snout "Bloody go away!"
As the dragon shook its head and retreated, he gave the men another look before its growl echoed through the mountains. Flapping its large wings, he took on to the skies, Talia collapsing on her knees, shaking from head to toes as the reality of her actions hit her. Clutching her shirt with a desperate hand, she let out a scream allowing everything out all at once.
She did not care that the men slowly approached her, she thought little of the opinions anyone had on her, all she wanted then was just to be left alone, to wallow in her pain, to scream until all her voice strained from her throat, decibel by decibel.
A hand startled her, energy going into slapping it away, a hiss of pain making her look up "You're mental." Charlie whispered, the same hand still extended, waiting for her to take it. The same hand that was hurt and weak, yet he still wanted to help her as best he could.
She quickly cleared her throat, assessing the burn marks marrying his torso as well, yet he still smiled at her, despite the obvious pain riddling him "You're hurt, I can heal it." Slowly, she got up, taking his hand "Come help me, we need to get them to a tent."
She ushered the men away as soon as they landed in the nearest tent that belonged to Felix. He was in a worse shape than Charlie, however he was conscious which was a good sign. That and also the fact that he went directly for his desk, picking up a cigarette from the drawer he barely managed to pull on, placing it between his clenched teeth.
Talia slowly approached, a small flame created from her own power being offered. He took it, smoke soon dancing between them however his eyes never left her face, not until Charlie started telling him off "Haven't you had enough of things that burn for one day? I thought you quit them."
Felix had absolutely no power to even counter, the only sound leaving his throat being an undignified groan.
"Both of you quit it and sit down." Talia quickly ushered them without actually touching them as to not cause the men anymore pain. Kneeling in front of them, she took a deep breath in as they all settled down, her trying to summon a bit more strength.
Her arms trembled as she lifted them, eyes igniting bright under their wide stares, burnt skin and flesh slowly coming together. A small gasp left Charlie's lips as he marveled at the sight before him and what was happening, he was certain all those burns would leave across his skin countless scars, yet she was healing away everything that was damaged.
Her palm burnt, yet it was a different type of fire, one Felix payed close attention to until his eyes travelled to her face, then lowered to her chest, cigarette dropping from between his lips, hitting the floor under his feet. She caught his eye, holding it with a vicious glare, something dark and dangerous making him pale "What is Muggle Hell are you?"
A nudge from Charlie did little to disperse the tension between them "Really Felix, this is how you thank her?"
"Sod off Weasley! That was not normal, what happened out there was not something a normal witch could do, especially without a wand." Bending he picked up the cigarette, Talia stopping him, slender fingers lifting his chin.
"Do I scare you Rosier?" his eyes widened, body entranced by her fire and ruthless act "This sort of display reminds me of little men, with little to offer." Pushing him slightly, she took the cigarette from him and took a long drag, eyes closing as she inhaled "Don't make me regret saving you."
He quieted down, Charlie not adding anything as she continued to heal them. However his mind raced, it showed with how he still looked at her, trying to understand, to find a reason behind her powers, her scars, her "I apologize."
"I don't need that." She whispered, hands lowering "I don't need anything right now."
Getting up, Felix walked over to a cupboard, retrieving from it three glasses and a bottle of Fire Whiskey "I know you don't need my apology after that outburst, but I will still say sorry. My actions weren't justified, I acted" he glanced behind his shoulder, struggling to find the right word.
"Like a twat?" Charlie added with a smirk, Talia chucking slightly.
"Yes, like a twat." Going back to them, he passed Charlie and Talia a glass "To Talia, the fire conjurer, the dragon tamer."
She shook her head, barely being able to even lift her glass to her lips "To two fucking idiots who decided to work with dragons." Charlie let out a loud booming laugh, Felix lightly pushing the glass to her lips, helping her lower it after she took a sip "You two are lucky I like you."
All his previous surprise and anger began to slowly melt away as Talia pouted her lips, before allowing them to form in a small smile "We are." Felix replied softly.
As soon as she finished the whiskey in her glass, Charlie helped her to her tent, insisting to tuck her in bed, however she refused. Entering the tent, she wobbled on her feet as she went to her desk, taking the letter Tonks has sent earlier.
Slowly opening it, she took out the letter, reading through it first.
"Wotcher Talia,
All is good here, if you could call sucky, rainy, gloomy and cold England good. Hope springs in Romania are much nicer." She continued to talk about some missions and of course complain about Moody, Talia chuckling as she read the lines, already imagining the faces Tonks would make "I managed to get the pictures you wanted, hope the bloody bird didn't damage any."
Taking them out of the envelope she smiled seeing all her friends waving back at her, all offering a smile of their own. She did miss them. All alone, inside her tent she was able to admit she missed them like crazy.
A gasp tumbled from her mouth as she reached a picture of her and Talbott, eyes watering instantly. She knew it was the picture he had on his night stand. She thought it was silly since she was there with him in the bedroom but he had just replied that while she was always to his right, if he turned to his left, he could still see her face, even if it was in a picture.
"I miss you." She whispered, tears now falling relentlessly as she continued to stare at his face, mind going back to much simpler times.