Disclaimer: you know the drill. Dragonlance ppl not mine. Gerald Tarrant is the character of C.S. Friedman, and the title is inspired by Evanesence. Goodness... I went on a stealing spree for this one!
AN: FAMILY IS GONE! My life is back and I am scrambling to pick up all the pieces and projects that are left waiting to be done. I ended up not studying as much as I wanted to for that Friday test, and so far it looks like I passed with flying colors... hmm... perhaps this will start a miraculous trend of not studying and passing tests... nah. I'd lose what's left of my mind.
WARNING: There is a brief slash scene, but if you continue reading the whole chapter you will find that there is a reason behind it, not just a perverted girl, pulling puppet strings. It's not that graphic, but if it bothers you, skip over it!
Ch 6: Bring me to Life
Ariana winced at the fingers biting into her thin arm. "J-just looking around. I wasn't there for more than a couple of minutes and I left when I saw that it was your room," she stammered, lowering her eyes, tears rising up. "Did you know you mirror's broken?"
"How did you know it was my bedroom? Look at me when you speak."
She drug her eyes up as far as his displeased mouth, wondering if he would forget all that had happened if she kissed him again. Probably not. "It smelled of roses, like you do. What happened to your mirror? Was there a fight?"
"I smashed it years ago, " he let go of her arm, turning away.
"Why?"
"Do you think I like looking like this?!" he snarled, spinning around, jabbing a finger into his chest. He began to cough uncontrollably for a moment.
She jumped at his outburst, hitting the back of her head on the door. Never had she expected this uncharacteristic turn of events; she hadn't even considered that he felt bad about how he looked. He had seemed above caring what other people thought about him. He was, though, human, and subject to those sorts of feeling, she supposed. A wave of guilt washed over her, for assuming that his appearance was not a touchy subject. In an attempt to shift his mind from what she had brought up, she asked, "Did you find out what was out there? Is Dalamar helping you or is he cleaning up a room for me? He doesn't need to, you know. I could just stay on the couch or clean the room myself, if you wanted."
He shook his head, grimly, rasping out, "I'm trying to find a particular spell to aid me; your prattle does not help."
"Sorry. Have you got a bit of chalk?"
He sighed, "Second drawer on the left."
Ari bounded over, finding what she wanted where she wanted where it should be. Then, in passing, pressed her lips to Raistlin's shoulder in a kiss, as she hurried out. On the landing, by the door, she drew a grumpy cloaked stickperson holding a staff. Two doors down she drew a stickperson in a bubble bath. Now she would be able to remember where everything was in this place where everything seemed to look the same. She pocketed the chalk and continued down until she had reached ground level. The door she had entered half an hour ago was on her right, marked with a torch on either side, as were every other door in the tower spiraling upward. She turned the handle and pushed it open, stepping out into the fresh air. Ari walked to the surrounding garden and finding an open space in the middle, started doing a few dancing warm-ups to clear her mind. Her mind was busy and she felt tense. Of course that was the way she generally felt around Raistlin, other than slightly giddy and excited. The graceful movement was very calming; a physical exercise that removed the built-up negative energy and replaced it with something much purer. She could ignore the creepiness of the tower now that she had a cleansed feeling.
Hairs on the back of her neck started to stand up. She opened her eyes to find a young man in front of her. Tall, immaculately dressed with silver hair and piercingly cold silvery blue eyes. A small smirk was on his lips. Ari immediately disliked him. It was the same gut-reaction she had for her oily Uncle Lyle.
He approached her.
Raistlin closed the book as a panicked feeling arose in his chest. He glanced out the window, locating the only two substantial figures in the garden. At once he teleported himself several paces away from where the man had the swooning woman at his feet.
"How dare you come in here to harm what I have protected. Askth vertosios" Raistlin seethed, blasting the stranger back into the rosebushes with a magical flick of his wrist.
The other man glared from his ripped sleeves to the mage in front of him. He raised himself up with dignity before sending creeping cold tendrils to snake up Raistlin's legs.
With a glance, the golden skinned mage seared them away, and then turned to hurl small fireballs at the stranger, "Ast kiranann kair soth-arn suh kali jalaran"
A protective wall of ice rose up immediately, making the fire hiss out disappointedly.
"I had no idea that she was protected," the stranger responded from behind his barricade. "My name is Gerald Tarrant. I came to talk to you about your magic."
"What about it?" Raistlin snapped, irritably raising Ariana up with a spell and causing her to float into his arms. He turned and began to walk back inside, heart beating wildly... if he had lost her... She was pale and drawn, icy to the touch.
Tarrant walked alongside of him, "What I think you would call magic in my world is dying. I don't know that I could exist without it. So, I came in search of a place where my fae still exists."
"Why would I care about your magic dying?"
"Because your world might be next."
Tarrant watched the frail mage settle the young woman on the couch, unfurling blankets and covering her with them. Only once he had smoothed the hair from her face did he turn to face Tarrant. "That is impossible," Raistlin stated, gathering up the strewn spell books. He began to put them back on their appropriate shelves. He no longer needed them, as what presence had been coming was standing with him in the very room.
"No, it's not. One man made a sacrifice and the world's fae started to fade," Tarrant argued.
"Our gods keep the magic alive, not the planet-"
"What if your gods leave?"
A hint of annoyance passed across Raistlin's face. "They're gods. Gods don't get up and leave when they feel like it. I don't even think they could leave-they need us as much as we need them."
Tarrant sighed, "How do you know? I sacrificed so much for the advancement of the fae and one old man's crusade ends over nine-hundred years of this natural force."
The mage went back over to the girl, pressing a hand against her forehead. She was still very cold. "What did you do to her?" he asked, coughing slightly.
"I started to feed off of her."
Raistlin touched her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, widened, then she grew limp and stopped breathing. He leapt up and grabbed the front of Tarrant's tunic. "You killed her!" he snarled, gesturing violently towards the couch.
"I didn't know you cared about her," Tarrant replied coldly, shrugging off his grip.
With an exasperated sigh, Raistlin turned toward her, hand extended, murmuring a spell that Tarrant couldn't quite catch. Raist drew closer until his hand touched her forehead. Ari's eyes opened as she bolted upright. He immediately sat down and gathered her up into his arms, smoothing her hair down, calming her. He glanced over at Tarrant. "Leave us now."
Ari buried her face into his chest, clutching at his robes; she was shaky and frightened. "Wha... am- am I still dead?!"
"No, no, shhhh. You're very much alive. I brought you back; you weren't too far-gone for that. You're safe now. I won't ever let that happen again. It's all right." He started to pull away, but she gripped him tighter.
"Don't leave me yet," she whimpered.
"Let me take care of Tarrant-that's the name of the man who drained you. It's important to me. I'll send Dalamar in to be with you." As he stood, a coughing fit too him for several minutes. Ari was shakily at his side in an instant, supporting him gently. For once he let her, he himself being drained from the act of bringing her back to life. As soon as the fit passed, he pulled away, exiting.
Tarrant stood on the landing outside the door, pacing. He stopped when Raistlin emerged, "Well?"
"I don't know what any of this has to do with me."
"You are one of the most powerful men on this planet, nearly as close to the gods as the priests are. If there is a way to insure that the gods stay I would think that you would know of it."
"How did you get here?"
"I followed my gods."
Raistlin looked at him shrewdly, "Come, let's talk more of this in my laboratory. Dalamar," he called, "attend Ariana in my study."
The elven apprentice heard this call from several flights up, and slammed his spell book shut, muttering curses under his breath, but did as his master had requested.
Ari and Dal stared at each other from across the room.
"Can I get you anything?" Dalamar asked.
"Nope."
There was another awkward pause.
"Sooo... your sister's name is Bridgett?" Ari tried, conversationally.
"Well, sort of. That's the human name that she took up the first time she went to earth. She likes it better than her elven name Brigetana."
"Can't see why," Ariana breathed, fiddling with her blankets.
"What was that?" Dalamar asked sharply.
"Nothing. I was just saying that it was a pretty name. Um, I met the intruder that you guys couldn't stop. He's not very nice; he tried to kill me but Raist brought me back. Now they're talking in his lab. Apparently he's interesting or something."
"Oh," was all Dalamar could manage at this slew of information. His Shalifi seemed to be fairly comfortable around her, perhaps he could draw out more information from her for the Conclave.
"Do you know what they're talking about?" Dal asked.
Ari's brow wrinkled in concentration, "Maybe something about magic leaving Krynn because the gods were abandoning it. I don't really know. I could probably find out for you, or you could just ask him yourself."
"I couldn't possibly bother the Shalifi about something like that. He doesn't talk to me about things like that."
"Oh, that's funny. I would think that with you being his apprentice, he would tell you everything."
"Not quite." He approached the woman, digging one hand in his pocket for a spare bit of sand. He just had to get back to his studying and this chatter was very unproductive. He took out a pinch, and sprinkled it over her head, "Droshi," he murmured.
She slipped down onto the couch, sleep claiming her. The dark elf pulled a blanket up over her shoulder and left quickly.
Raistlin entered the study to check on Ari and bring her a little dinner. He found her fast asleep on the couch. He set the plate down on his desk and tucked the blanket around her a little more securely.
Behind him the door opened and closed, bringing with it a soft voice, "Shalifi?"
Raistlin turned to his apprentice, arms open. The dark elf entered his embrace, brushing his lips on his master's forehead. "I wasn't sure if you'd still be entertaining that mage," Dalamar breathed.
"Why? Jealous?"
Dalamar blushed, "You tease me. I missed you."
Raistlin pulled him down for a deep kiss.
Ari stirred, the slight noises having roused her. She lifted her head to see what had woken her and froze when she saw Dalamar and Raistlin together, kissing. Gathering her wits, she laid her head back down and pretended to wake a little louder, yawning and stretching. From the corner of her eye she saw them jump apart and face her. She turned her head and smiled at them nervously. "Hi," She gathered up her jacket and stood up. "Well, I feel refreshed. I think I'll take a walk." She made her way out of the room with what she hoped were casual steps. Once out of the room she nearly flew down the stairs to the courtyard.
As soon as she was safely out she leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. "That would be why he's been so... avoidant," she muttered to herself, "It's not like I would ever fall for someone who's attainable."
"Are you alright?" Tarrant asked, approaching her out of the shadows.
She jumped slightly. "Sure," she replied, edging away from him. "Does he seem homosexual to you?"
"Who? Raistlin? No."
"Well, he is."
"Why does that concern either of us? Other than of course to alert me to the possibility of him coming on to me."
"Because I kissed him," Ari snapped. "A couple of times."
"That's not my problem," he shot back with a smirk.
"But I though he liked me. He seemed to act that way."
"So he swings both ways. Isn't that better?"
"A little," she sniffed. "Hey, that was uncool what you did to me today."
"I was hungry," he shrugged. "You're very fortunate that he came and saved you when he did. He does care for you."
"Yeah, that's why he's up there sucking Dalamar's face," she grumped.
"How long have you known him? Dalamar and he probably have been together for a while. You don't know what stage their relationship is at. It could be winding down."
"Maybe," Ari assented, feeling a bit better, "You're not that bad of a person. Thanks for talking to me."
"Well... you're tolerable, too," he added, feeling generous. Tarrant brusquely pat her arm on his way back inside.
Ari sighed deeply, toeing the dirt for a while before she started back in, up the stairs, the cold and her sleepiness prodding her into action. When she entered the study a few minutes later, it was empty. Ari yanked off her jacket and shoes and quickly changed into a long lavender nightgown. She laid down on the cough and pulled up the blankets, falling asleep quickly.
Ariana bolted awake, a strangled cry caught in her throat. It was a wonder she had even been able to wake herself. She jumped off the couch and ran across the room, wrenching the door that led to Raistlin's room open. A fire was still going, illuminating the stairs enough as she hurried down.
Raistlin was lying on his back, trying to fall asleep. He sat up once he heard her pounding down the stairs. She sprung into his bed, crawling underneath the covers, despite his glare.
"I had a nightmare," she explained, "You make me feel safe. Can I sleep down here tonight?" He didn't reply, but lay back down, his back facing her. She snuggled down, cautiously putting an arm around his waist and kissed the back of his neck.
"What about Dalamar?" She asked him.
"What about him?" the mage retorted, tensing.
"You're with him, aren't you?"
"Sort of. We're quitting," he went on, "It's complicated." At her silence he felt compelled to continue. "The relationship, for my part, wasn't based on feelings I had for him. A while ago he came on to me and I never turned him away. So 'this' grew from it. The lack of feelings isn't fair to him, so that's why I needed to come back when I did, aside from a few other reasons. I'm with you now, right?" He hoped that that last statement would further win her over.
"How will he react?" She was far too caught up in poor Dalamar's feelings to notice his remark about her.
"You tell me; you're the one good with reading emotions," he snapped.
"I haven't had the opportunity, or the inclination, to read him. He'll probably be hurt. I can tell that much from his demeanor. I also think that he won't understand how you never had feelings, when he felt so deeply. But those are just guessed."
"Mm." It was a non-committing sound on his part. Raistlin gave a little sigh at his thoughts. A disheartened, lovesick apprentice was just what he didn't need. Well, he would tell him tomorrow, and then he'd only have to deal with it for a short time until he went back to Solace. Hopefully by the time he came back Dalamar would be over it and have found himself a new lover.
"Shalifi!" came his apprentice's shocked cry from the stairwell.
Shit. Raistlin got up quickly and stood in front of the dark elf. "I've been meaning to tell you for some time that we are over. "
"But-"
"I've never loved you, Dalamar. The relationship we've had was something that was convenient for me, but I've moved on to other things and I suggest that you do so, also."
The apprentice's eyes watered and he rushed out of the room.
The remaining mage gave a half sigh, half roar of frustration. "What wonderful timing. Now I'll have him all weepy for the remainder of my stay. Thank you, Ariana."
"What did I do?" she gasped, feeling awful about the encounter with the elf. "You were the one to speak so harshly."
"You came into my life and turned it upside down! I had everything in order and under control and now nothing is how I wish it to be. At least if you had stayed on your respective couch I wouldn't have had to confront him until later! Go! Back upstairs! I don't want to see you until morning." His patience had run out.
"Well you were the one who brought it upon yourself!" Ari shouted back, getting off the bed. "You should have had your shit taken care of before you even dreamed of me naked that first night!" She gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. She really hadn't meant to tell him how much of his dreams she had been able to pick off him the morning before.
A deep red flush seeped under his gold skin, and his eyes flashed angrily, "Go. Now. I regret ever bringing you back to life."
Ari stood there, hand still over her mouth, staring at him, hurtfully. For the second time today tears sprang up, this time spilling down her cheeks. "Why are you so mean?" she sobbed, hurrying up the stairs before he could see her fully breakdown.
Dalamar fairly danced into Par-Salian's study.
The older white-robe looked up from his books wearily. "You're back early," he intoned.
"He's found someone else!" The usually composed elf was near ecstatic, a state generally reserved for Kender and near impossible for an elf.
"What are you talking about?"
"He's found some girl! He broke off our 'relationship' and is starting one up with her. The good news is she talks; she's part kender. She told me all about the powerful mage who entered our tower. He thinks that our gods are planning to leave us and take their magic with them when they go."
"You're babbling," the old man waived a hand dismissively. "The gods would never leave."
"I told you that this so-called relationship with my Shalifi wouldn't get me anywhere. Now he thinks that I'm a blubbering idiot and will probably avoid me for a while, which gets me nowhere in my search for information. At least I don't have to sleep with him anymore." Dalamar shuddered at the memory of those golden hands snaking across his body. "You owe me one."
"Dalamar, control yourself!" Par-Salian snapped. "Go and don't come back until you have something more conclusive."
AN: FAMILY IS GONE! My life is back and I am scrambling to pick up all the pieces and projects that are left waiting to be done. I ended up not studying as much as I wanted to for that Friday test, and so far it looks like I passed with flying colors... hmm... perhaps this will start a miraculous trend of not studying and passing tests... nah. I'd lose what's left of my mind.
WARNING: There is a brief slash scene, but if you continue reading the whole chapter you will find that there is a reason behind it, not just a perverted girl, pulling puppet strings. It's not that graphic, but if it bothers you, skip over it!
Ch 6: Bring me to Life
Ariana winced at the fingers biting into her thin arm. "J-just looking around. I wasn't there for more than a couple of minutes and I left when I saw that it was your room," she stammered, lowering her eyes, tears rising up. "Did you know you mirror's broken?"
"How did you know it was my bedroom? Look at me when you speak."
She drug her eyes up as far as his displeased mouth, wondering if he would forget all that had happened if she kissed him again. Probably not. "It smelled of roses, like you do. What happened to your mirror? Was there a fight?"
"I smashed it years ago, " he let go of her arm, turning away.
"Why?"
"Do you think I like looking like this?!" he snarled, spinning around, jabbing a finger into his chest. He began to cough uncontrollably for a moment.
She jumped at his outburst, hitting the back of her head on the door. Never had she expected this uncharacteristic turn of events; she hadn't even considered that he felt bad about how he looked. He had seemed above caring what other people thought about him. He was, though, human, and subject to those sorts of feeling, she supposed. A wave of guilt washed over her, for assuming that his appearance was not a touchy subject. In an attempt to shift his mind from what she had brought up, she asked, "Did you find out what was out there? Is Dalamar helping you or is he cleaning up a room for me? He doesn't need to, you know. I could just stay on the couch or clean the room myself, if you wanted."
He shook his head, grimly, rasping out, "I'm trying to find a particular spell to aid me; your prattle does not help."
"Sorry. Have you got a bit of chalk?"
He sighed, "Second drawer on the left."
Ari bounded over, finding what she wanted where she wanted where it should be. Then, in passing, pressed her lips to Raistlin's shoulder in a kiss, as she hurried out. On the landing, by the door, she drew a grumpy cloaked stickperson holding a staff. Two doors down she drew a stickperson in a bubble bath. Now she would be able to remember where everything was in this place where everything seemed to look the same. She pocketed the chalk and continued down until she had reached ground level. The door she had entered half an hour ago was on her right, marked with a torch on either side, as were every other door in the tower spiraling upward. She turned the handle and pushed it open, stepping out into the fresh air. Ari walked to the surrounding garden and finding an open space in the middle, started doing a few dancing warm-ups to clear her mind. Her mind was busy and she felt tense. Of course that was the way she generally felt around Raistlin, other than slightly giddy and excited. The graceful movement was very calming; a physical exercise that removed the built-up negative energy and replaced it with something much purer. She could ignore the creepiness of the tower now that she had a cleansed feeling.
Hairs on the back of her neck started to stand up. She opened her eyes to find a young man in front of her. Tall, immaculately dressed with silver hair and piercingly cold silvery blue eyes. A small smirk was on his lips. Ari immediately disliked him. It was the same gut-reaction she had for her oily Uncle Lyle.
He approached her.
Raistlin closed the book as a panicked feeling arose in his chest. He glanced out the window, locating the only two substantial figures in the garden. At once he teleported himself several paces away from where the man had the swooning woman at his feet.
"How dare you come in here to harm what I have protected. Askth vertosios" Raistlin seethed, blasting the stranger back into the rosebushes with a magical flick of his wrist.
The other man glared from his ripped sleeves to the mage in front of him. He raised himself up with dignity before sending creeping cold tendrils to snake up Raistlin's legs.
With a glance, the golden skinned mage seared them away, and then turned to hurl small fireballs at the stranger, "Ast kiranann kair soth-arn suh kali jalaran"
A protective wall of ice rose up immediately, making the fire hiss out disappointedly.
"I had no idea that she was protected," the stranger responded from behind his barricade. "My name is Gerald Tarrant. I came to talk to you about your magic."
"What about it?" Raistlin snapped, irritably raising Ariana up with a spell and causing her to float into his arms. He turned and began to walk back inside, heart beating wildly... if he had lost her... She was pale and drawn, icy to the touch.
Tarrant walked alongside of him, "What I think you would call magic in my world is dying. I don't know that I could exist without it. So, I came in search of a place where my fae still exists."
"Why would I care about your magic dying?"
"Because your world might be next."
Tarrant watched the frail mage settle the young woman on the couch, unfurling blankets and covering her with them. Only once he had smoothed the hair from her face did he turn to face Tarrant. "That is impossible," Raistlin stated, gathering up the strewn spell books. He began to put them back on their appropriate shelves. He no longer needed them, as what presence had been coming was standing with him in the very room.
"No, it's not. One man made a sacrifice and the world's fae started to fade," Tarrant argued.
"Our gods keep the magic alive, not the planet-"
"What if your gods leave?"
A hint of annoyance passed across Raistlin's face. "They're gods. Gods don't get up and leave when they feel like it. I don't even think they could leave-they need us as much as we need them."
Tarrant sighed, "How do you know? I sacrificed so much for the advancement of the fae and one old man's crusade ends over nine-hundred years of this natural force."
The mage went back over to the girl, pressing a hand against her forehead. She was still very cold. "What did you do to her?" he asked, coughing slightly.
"I started to feed off of her."
Raistlin touched her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, widened, then she grew limp and stopped breathing. He leapt up and grabbed the front of Tarrant's tunic. "You killed her!" he snarled, gesturing violently towards the couch.
"I didn't know you cared about her," Tarrant replied coldly, shrugging off his grip.
With an exasperated sigh, Raistlin turned toward her, hand extended, murmuring a spell that Tarrant couldn't quite catch. Raist drew closer until his hand touched her forehead. Ari's eyes opened as she bolted upright. He immediately sat down and gathered her up into his arms, smoothing her hair down, calming her. He glanced over at Tarrant. "Leave us now."
Ari buried her face into his chest, clutching at his robes; she was shaky and frightened. "Wha... am- am I still dead?!"
"No, no, shhhh. You're very much alive. I brought you back; you weren't too far-gone for that. You're safe now. I won't ever let that happen again. It's all right." He started to pull away, but she gripped him tighter.
"Don't leave me yet," she whimpered.
"Let me take care of Tarrant-that's the name of the man who drained you. It's important to me. I'll send Dalamar in to be with you." As he stood, a coughing fit too him for several minutes. Ari was shakily at his side in an instant, supporting him gently. For once he let her, he himself being drained from the act of bringing her back to life. As soon as the fit passed, he pulled away, exiting.
Tarrant stood on the landing outside the door, pacing. He stopped when Raistlin emerged, "Well?"
"I don't know what any of this has to do with me."
"You are one of the most powerful men on this planet, nearly as close to the gods as the priests are. If there is a way to insure that the gods stay I would think that you would know of it."
"How did you get here?"
"I followed my gods."
Raistlin looked at him shrewdly, "Come, let's talk more of this in my laboratory. Dalamar," he called, "attend Ariana in my study."
The elven apprentice heard this call from several flights up, and slammed his spell book shut, muttering curses under his breath, but did as his master had requested.
Ari and Dal stared at each other from across the room.
"Can I get you anything?" Dalamar asked.
"Nope."
There was another awkward pause.
"Sooo... your sister's name is Bridgett?" Ari tried, conversationally.
"Well, sort of. That's the human name that she took up the first time she went to earth. She likes it better than her elven name Brigetana."
"Can't see why," Ariana breathed, fiddling with her blankets.
"What was that?" Dalamar asked sharply.
"Nothing. I was just saying that it was a pretty name. Um, I met the intruder that you guys couldn't stop. He's not very nice; he tried to kill me but Raist brought me back. Now they're talking in his lab. Apparently he's interesting or something."
"Oh," was all Dalamar could manage at this slew of information. His Shalifi seemed to be fairly comfortable around her, perhaps he could draw out more information from her for the Conclave.
"Do you know what they're talking about?" Dal asked.
Ari's brow wrinkled in concentration, "Maybe something about magic leaving Krynn because the gods were abandoning it. I don't really know. I could probably find out for you, or you could just ask him yourself."
"I couldn't possibly bother the Shalifi about something like that. He doesn't talk to me about things like that."
"Oh, that's funny. I would think that with you being his apprentice, he would tell you everything."
"Not quite." He approached the woman, digging one hand in his pocket for a spare bit of sand. He just had to get back to his studying and this chatter was very unproductive. He took out a pinch, and sprinkled it over her head, "Droshi," he murmured.
She slipped down onto the couch, sleep claiming her. The dark elf pulled a blanket up over her shoulder and left quickly.
Raistlin entered the study to check on Ari and bring her a little dinner. He found her fast asleep on the couch. He set the plate down on his desk and tucked the blanket around her a little more securely.
Behind him the door opened and closed, bringing with it a soft voice, "Shalifi?"
Raistlin turned to his apprentice, arms open. The dark elf entered his embrace, brushing his lips on his master's forehead. "I wasn't sure if you'd still be entertaining that mage," Dalamar breathed.
"Why? Jealous?"
Dalamar blushed, "You tease me. I missed you."
Raistlin pulled him down for a deep kiss.
Ari stirred, the slight noises having roused her. She lifted her head to see what had woken her and froze when she saw Dalamar and Raistlin together, kissing. Gathering her wits, she laid her head back down and pretended to wake a little louder, yawning and stretching. From the corner of her eye she saw them jump apart and face her. She turned her head and smiled at them nervously. "Hi," She gathered up her jacket and stood up. "Well, I feel refreshed. I think I'll take a walk." She made her way out of the room with what she hoped were casual steps. Once out of the room she nearly flew down the stairs to the courtyard.
As soon as she was safely out she leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. "That would be why he's been so... avoidant," she muttered to herself, "It's not like I would ever fall for someone who's attainable."
"Are you alright?" Tarrant asked, approaching her out of the shadows.
She jumped slightly. "Sure," she replied, edging away from him. "Does he seem homosexual to you?"
"Who? Raistlin? No."
"Well, he is."
"Why does that concern either of us? Other than of course to alert me to the possibility of him coming on to me."
"Because I kissed him," Ari snapped. "A couple of times."
"That's not my problem," he shot back with a smirk.
"But I though he liked me. He seemed to act that way."
"So he swings both ways. Isn't that better?"
"A little," she sniffed. "Hey, that was uncool what you did to me today."
"I was hungry," he shrugged. "You're very fortunate that he came and saved you when he did. He does care for you."
"Yeah, that's why he's up there sucking Dalamar's face," she grumped.
"How long have you known him? Dalamar and he probably have been together for a while. You don't know what stage their relationship is at. It could be winding down."
"Maybe," Ari assented, feeling a bit better, "You're not that bad of a person. Thanks for talking to me."
"Well... you're tolerable, too," he added, feeling generous. Tarrant brusquely pat her arm on his way back inside.
Ari sighed deeply, toeing the dirt for a while before she started back in, up the stairs, the cold and her sleepiness prodding her into action. When she entered the study a few minutes later, it was empty. Ari yanked off her jacket and shoes and quickly changed into a long lavender nightgown. She laid down on the cough and pulled up the blankets, falling asleep quickly.
Ariana bolted awake, a strangled cry caught in her throat. It was a wonder she had even been able to wake herself. She jumped off the couch and ran across the room, wrenching the door that led to Raistlin's room open. A fire was still going, illuminating the stairs enough as she hurried down.
Raistlin was lying on his back, trying to fall asleep. He sat up once he heard her pounding down the stairs. She sprung into his bed, crawling underneath the covers, despite his glare.
"I had a nightmare," she explained, "You make me feel safe. Can I sleep down here tonight?" He didn't reply, but lay back down, his back facing her. She snuggled down, cautiously putting an arm around his waist and kissed the back of his neck.
"What about Dalamar?" She asked him.
"What about him?" the mage retorted, tensing.
"You're with him, aren't you?"
"Sort of. We're quitting," he went on, "It's complicated." At her silence he felt compelled to continue. "The relationship, for my part, wasn't based on feelings I had for him. A while ago he came on to me and I never turned him away. So 'this' grew from it. The lack of feelings isn't fair to him, so that's why I needed to come back when I did, aside from a few other reasons. I'm with you now, right?" He hoped that that last statement would further win her over.
"How will he react?" She was far too caught up in poor Dalamar's feelings to notice his remark about her.
"You tell me; you're the one good with reading emotions," he snapped.
"I haven't had the opportunity, or the inclination, to read him. He'll probably be hurt. I can tell that much from his demeanor. I also think that he won't understand how you never had feelings, when he felt so deeply. But those are just guessed."
"Mm." It was a non-committing sound on his part. Raistlin gave a little sigh at his thoughts. A disheartened, lovesick apprentice was just what he didn't need. Well, he would tell him tomorrow, and then he'd only have to deal with it for a short time until he went back to Solace. Hopefully by the time he came back Dalamar would be over it and have found himself a new lover.
"Shalifi!" came his apprentice's shocked cry from the stairwell.
Shit. Raistlin got up quickly and stood in front of the dark elf. "I've been meaning to tell you for some time that we are over. "
"But-"
"I've never loved you, Dalamar. The relationship we've had was something that was convenient for me, but I've moved on to other things and I suggest that you do so, also."
The apprentice's eyes watered and he rushed out of the room.
The remaining mage gave a half sigh, half roar of frustration. "What wonderful timing. Now I'll have him all weepy for the remainder of my stay. Thank you, Ariana."
"What did I do?" she gasped, feeling awful about the encounter with the elf. "You were the one to speak so harshly."
"You came into my life and turned it upside down! I had everything in order and under control and now nothing is how I wish it to be. At least if you had stayed on your respective couch I wouldn't have had to confront him until later! Go! Back upstairs! I don't want to see you until morning." His patience had run out.
"Well you were the one who brought it upon yourself!" Ari shouted back, getting off the bed. "You should have had your shit taken care of before you even dreamed of me naked that first night!" She gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. She really hadn't meant to tell him how much of his dreams she had been able to pick off him the morning before.
A deep red flush seeped under his gold skin, and his eyes flashed angrily, "Go. Now. I regret ever bringing you back to life."
Ari stood there, hand still over her mouth, staring at him, hurtfully. For the second time today tears sprang up, this time spilling down her cheeks. "Why are you so mean?" she sobbed, hurrying up the stairs before he could see her fully breakdown.
Dalamar fairly danced into Par-Salian's study.
The older white-robe looked up from his books wearily. "You're back early," he intoned.
"He's found someone else!" The usually composed elf was near ecstatic, a state generally reserved for Kender and near impossible for an elf.
"What are you talking about?"
"He's found some girl! He broke off our 'relationship' and is starting one up with her. The good news is she talks; she's part kender. She told me all about the powerful mage who entered our tower. He thinks that our gods are planning to leave us and take their magic with them when they go."
"You're babbling," the old man waived a hand dismissively. "The gods would never leave."
"I told you that this so-called relationship with my Shalifi wouldn't get me anywhere. Now he thinks that I'm a blubbering idiot and will probably avoid me for a while, which gets me nowhere in my search for information. At least I don't have to sleep with him anymore." Dalamar shuddered at the memory of those golden hands snaking across his body. "You owe me one."
"Dalamar, control yourself!" Par-Salian snapped. "Go and don't come back until you have something more conclusive."