[Authoress's Notes:
[Right. Well, now that the fallout from the last chapter is over…
[I'm really sorry this took so long. I don't have an excuse. I really don't. It may or may not come faster after this. But you guys are just going to have to get used to waiting, because this story is going to be damn long.
[That said…]
Chapter Twelve"To seek new friends and stranger companies."
~~A Midsummer Night's Dream, I.i, Hermia
Etien twirled one lock of Cassadraine's hair around his finger. She was still sleeping peacefully, though the rays of the morning sun were already streaming in through the window and giving an aureate sheen to the entire room. Etien had been awake for some time, just watching her. He sighed. They were due back at the army encampment by nightfall, which meant they would certainly have to leave Jivata by noon. That, in turn, necessitated getting out of bed a lot sooner than Etien would've liked.
The morning's light held him accountable for the past night's activities. He was still having a bit of trouble figuring it all out. By all rights, a married man of his age and experience should not meet a naïve seventeen year old girl and fall hopelessly in love with her a few weeks later.
It occurred to him in that moment that he had not yet said that to her, not yet directly told her how he felt. The previous night had been full of passion and desire, but neither of them had spoken that elusive word "love."
As he continued toying with Cassadraine's hair, his thoughts drifted to Janea, back in Oltar. They were so very, very different. Janea was tiny and pale, with thin dark hair and vacant blue eyes. She had been timid and lifeless when they had been children, she had continued to lack spirit when they had been married, and Etien very much doubted she'd changed much in the nearly two years since he'd seen her last. Etien didn't go home on furlough, he went to taverns. Most of the time, he didn't even bother to remember that he was married. Not that he shirked his responsibilities. His wages went to Janea, minus what he spent on wine, women, and weaponry, and he always saw to it that she was well provided for. He just didn't feel any particular need to spend time with her.
Cassadraine, on the other hand… Etien was having trouble imagining a future that did not have Cassadraine in every day of it. And this was causing a bit of distress. A woman of the L'ai'kiva tradition was a proud creature, and demanded to take the primary position in every aspect of her man's life – regardless of whether or not she had more than one paramour; she expected to be the chief concern of each. Being first in Etien's passions and affections would never be enough if she were still second to a wife.
Etien sighed and raked his free hand through his hair. He hadn't decided he how was going to handle that particular challenge yet. He didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to stay in bed, playing with her silky tresses, and pretend the rest of the world didn't exist.
The rest of the world, however, felt compelled to remind him of its presence in the form of Cassadraine's aunts loudly starting to make breakfast in the kitchen. From the banging of pots and the noisy conversation, Etien suspected the aymas were intent upon alerting him to their presence. He released Cassadraine's hair and kissed her forehead. "Time to wake up, love," he whispered, shaking her lightly. Cassadraine murmured something incomprehensible and just nestled closer to him. Etien groaned. As much as he loved feeling her warmth against his skin, he knew they had to get up sooner or later. "C'mon, dearest…" He shook her a bit harder. "Time for breakfast."
"Don' wanna…"
"I know, love, I know…" he said, and pressed a kiss into her hair. "But we've got to get up."
"Warm here…" Eyes still closed, she wrapped an arm around him, giving a smile like a cat in a sunbeam.
"Yes… but if you don't get up on your own…"
"Not gonna…"
"Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to do this…" Etien rolled over on top of her and started tickling her belly. Cassadraine's eyes flew open and she let out an enraged and startled shriek.
"Oh! Stop that, stop that, stop that!" she cried between peals of laughter. "You're horrible! Stop!"
"Are you going to get up?"
"Yes, just stop!"
He didn't.
"Etien!"
"Say please."
"Please! Oh, please, stop!"
He silenced her protests with a hard kiss. "Well," he commented after drawing back. "If your aunts had any doubts about how we spent last night, they ought to be assured now."
Cassadraine went white and tried to sit up, but Etien was still on top of her. "Oh! My aunts! Oh, good heavens, they're going to—"
"Not be surprised in the least," Etien muttered, kissing her neck. "I have a feeling they knew exactly what they were doing, leaving us alone last night."
"You think?"
"I think."
Cassadraine suddenly realized there was a naked man on top of her and blushed to the roots of her hair. Somehow it didn't seem as acceptable with the morning sun streaming in the window. "Uhm… we should get up… and… put clothes on…"
Etien sighed in resignation and rolled off of her. Realizing she was probably going to be shy of herself despite the past night, he turned his back to dress, allowing her to do the same.
Cassadraine ran a hand through her considerably tousled hair after she finished dressing, trying to tame it to some semblance of order. Etien turned around and smiled to see her with her fingers tangled in the blond mass, trying to jerk out a knot. "Easy, love, you'll yank it right out."
She grinned. "Not likely. C'mon, let's go get breakfast."
Even though her aunts had the tact not to mention the two of them creeping out of the same bedroom, Cassadraine couldn't help feeling sheepish when Tessan smirked at her. They made small chit-chat while Selma dished out breakfast, but finally Tessan could no longer resist the bait – Cassadraine and Etien could hardly take their eyes off of each other long enough to look at their food. She cleared her throat and asked, "So, did you sleep well?"
Etien promptly choked on his bacon, and Selma's blush matched Cassadraine's. "Errr…" Cassadraine stammered. "I, uh… err…" Tessan just grinned, and Cassadraine occupied herself with a glass of milk. I really didn't do that much sleeping, she thought.
No, you didn't, did you?
Cassadraine nearly spilled her milk. If anyone else at the table noticed, they must have attributed it to morning-after jitters, because no one commented. But Cassadraine was trying to figure out how to deal with a Goddess in her head while at the breakfast table. Go away. It's none of your business.
Certainly is. You're my Daughter.
Go away.
So disrespectful to your Mother?
Have you done anything to earn my respect?
Beneath her chemise, Cassadraine could feel the glow of the Necklace flare with Chaos's anger, and hoped that the light would not shine through the layers of clothing. I made you! the Goddess's strong voice echoed in Cassadraine's head. You should respect me on those grounds alone!
Well, bloody fine job you did of it, if you didn't even bother to keep me around. Cassadraine shoveled food into her mouth, intent on appearing normal to her aunts and Etien.
Surprisingly, there was a pause in the psychic conversation. When Chaos's voice resounded again, it held a different tone. If Cassadraine hadn't known better, she'd have thought it wounded. It was through no choice of mine I lost you, Cassandra. It was not my doing.
Well, you didn't fix it. Cassadraine realized she was being petulant, but didn't particularly care.
A bright scarlet light flashed in Cassadraine's mind's eye, and the voice boomed, full and imperious, What need I to? I have another Daughter, one loyal and true! It seemed to Cassadraine then that thunder cracked inside her head, and then her Mother was gone.
What was that about?
"So you're leaving at noon?" Selma said, breaking her thoughts.
Etien nodded. "Thereabouts."
Selma was giving Cassadraine one of her more maternal looks. "Oh, paola. It shall be so quiet here without you."
"You'll get along just fine, Aym Selma. I promise."
"But what if you get hurt?"
"I'll do my best not to," Cassadraine said, offering a jaunty grin. She did not disclose her private belief that she couldn't die even if she tried; her Mother had nearly told her as much. This bolstered her natural confidence and fearlessness, raising both to entirely new levels.
~~*~~
By that afternoon, Brianna and Tiernan were saddled, their riders packed and ready to go. After much crying from Selma and much lecturing from Tessan, Cassadraine and Etien were on their way. Amani followed them to the outskirts of the town, before Cassadraine rounded on him and gave the order to go back home. "C'mon, boy, you can't follow me all over Talsyra. Go to your pack. They need a bit strong mutt like you."
Etien blinked in wonder as Amani slunk away with a truly saddened look on his canine face. I will never understand that wolf…
When Amani, tail between his legs, had finally gone out of sight, Cassadraine wheeled Brianna back around. "Shall we, then?"
He wanted to kiss her. He didn't know why, but he very much wanted to. But being six feet away and on horseback made that a little difficult, so instead he just smiled. "Yes. Let's get going."
~~*~~
The two riders arrived at the army encampment well after dusk that night, after more than six hours' journey south and east. Most of the troops were in their tents already, and Cassadraine had to force herself not to gawk at the lines of beige structures dotting the landscape. She had grown up in a very small town, and had never seen so many people gathered in one place before. Suddenly she felt herself very out of place.
Astounding, isn't it?
Oh, what do You want?
Just commenting. Armies are wonderful, aren't they?
I'm not going to answer you. I'm not even going to listen.
You don't have a choice.
Cassadraine shook her head and hoped that Chaos would have the decency to stay out for a while. Looking out at the camp, Cassadraine felt as though this ought to be requiring a major adjustment on her part. Moving from a tiny village to a huge army encampment ought to be completely unsettling, she thought. I should be worried, nervous… but… but this feels natural. She tossed her head and looked to Etien, waiting for direction. She could already tell she was going to fall in with the army perfectly well.
Almost like you were meant to be here, eh?
Would you please stop that!
No. A slight pause. It's because you were, you know.
Were what?
Meant for this. Meant for war. You were engineered to be the perfect warrior.
Do go away, I'm quite busy.
I'll just bet. Cassadraine could nearly feel Chaos looking at Etien through her eyes, and was suddenly seized with a fierce desire to protect him from her Mother's wrath. She knew the Goddess would use Etien as She saw fit. Cassadraine didn't want that to happen to the man who had offered her a chance at happiness just by existing. She bit her lower lip and uttered a silent vow to do everything in her power to keep Chaos from harming him.
I thought you were mad at me.
Huh? Oh. No. I'm done with that now.
Pity. I was hoping you'd leave me alone if you were upset with me.
No such luck, Daughter-dearest. I'm here to stay.
"General!" Etien called out suddenly, and took Tiernan quickly forward. Cassadraine followed immediately as Etien approached a tent with blue and gold banners posted beside it. An average size man with the darkest hair Cassadraine had ever seen was standing in front of it and looked up when Etien called out. "General Misab, this is the woman I told you about. Cassadraine Mika. Knows the land like no one I've ever met."
Cassadraine bent her head respectfully, but any anxiety she might have felt was assuaged by the General's friendly smile. "Greetings, Miss Mika. Commander Aswold has told me only good things about you. I'm sure you'll be an asset to our troops."
"Thank you, sir."
"Aswold, take her to my sister. She'll see the young lady settled in."
"Yes, sir."
"And I want to see the both of you first thing in the morning."
"Yes, sir," they replied in unison.
Etien led her to another part of the camp, where a circle of women were sitting around a fire. "Captain Misab?"
The General's sister could not have looked less like her relative. The younger Misab had shining strawberry-blonde hair and a fair complexion dotted with freckles, where her brother had been dark and swarthy. But they had the same welcoming smile, immediately making Cassadraine feel at home.
"Yes, Commander Aswold, what is it?" she asked, though her eyes were on Cassadraine, with the unspoken and who is this young lady? tacked on.
"Captain, this is the scout from Jivata. The General wants you to take care of her."
"Well, of course! Come down from that horse, my dear, and we'll find a tent for you. Commander, you'll take care of the horses, won't you?"
Before Cassadraine really realized what had happened, she was off her horse and nestled under a woolen blanket under a canvas tent, with a very chatty girl her own age on the other cot. Benna had jabbered for a good hour before Captain Misab had come by and told her to let Cassadraine get some sleep. Cassadraine hadn't minded the prattling, though; she somewhat suspected this was what it must be like to have friends. A loner in Jivata, Cassadraine had been surrounded by people almost since coming into the army camp, and found she rather liked it.
[A/N: And this is going to be even longer than I thought… what was supposed to be one chapter is looking like it's going to be three… sigh…
[Well, as always, please tell me what you think. I love reviews.
[Next time! More of Cassadraine going nuts! (You would, too, if you had Chaos making an MST3K of you life). And what, exactly, happens when you send Cassadraine and Etien off into the woods together in the middle of the night?]
