Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story or any aspects of the original plot; all rights to these belong to Sara Douglass. I only own Rowena or any other fictional character created by me that appear in this story.
Rating: T-M (language, sexual content, violence)
Summary: A different outtake on the first book of 'The Wayfarer Redemption' trilogy. A strange force bonds the leader of a fierce band of warriors and a noble's daughter together in unexpected occurrences. Thrown into the throes of a preordained prophecy in which they must take a part in, Axis and Faraday must learn to prevail under the sudden presence of Gorgrael, while trying in earnest to remain together throughout their obstacles.
Chapter One
Faraday and Axis
Within the vast Chamber of the Moons, Faraday glanced about the large dome-shaped room with glittering emerald eyes, drinking in the new, yet wondrous atmosphere that enshrouded her. The domed roof, which was supported by elaborate alabaster columns, depicted elegantly the phases of the moon and the stars, coloured magnificently in deep blues and greens. The floor beneath her feet consisted of a deep emerald-green marble, but nothing could prevent the coldness of the marvellous stone that seeped into her slippered feet.
With the arrival of King Priam's nameday and the coming of her eighteenth birthday, Faraday was allotted the privilege of coming to Court for the very first time in her life in the company of her father, the Earl Isend of Skarabost, and her mother, Merlion. Having never been to Court before in her life, Faraday didn't know what to expect of Court society, although she wasn't without training in proper etiquette and protocol.
Glancing about the room once more, she tried to remember what her mother had told her about Priam's court and the routinely happenings of the castle. The Chamber of Moons was one of the grandest banquet halls in Carlon, usually filled with the king's dais and a few dining tables for feasting. But for this joyous occasion, the floor was hardly visible, due to the stretch of several tables within the room. The dais in which Priam sat perched upon, now sported a weathered oak table, lined with members of his immediate family, such as his wife and queen, Judith, and more important nobles and their wives of his realm. From where she sat, at the table reserved for the nobles' sons and daughters, situated directly below the royal table, Faraday could see the Brother-Leader of the Seneschal, Jayme, engaged in a lengthy conversation with her father. Everyone was bedecked in flattering gowns and tunics, clothing only fit and appropriate for Court, and Faraday was left in stupefied glory at the beauty of it all.
"You shouldn't look so stunned, Faraday. People will think it is your first time to Court and will take the opportunity to take advantage of you," the young woman beside her exclaimed, as she noticed the girl's roving gaze.
"But it's all so beautiful, Devera. You may have been used to this Court, but it is my first time here and it is a honoured privilege to me," Faraday whispered back, her eyes still glittering with wonder before she finally focused her gaze to the goblet she held in her hand. The goblet itself was crafted in fine silver, encrusted with crude jewels along the brim, and although she was born into nobility, she was still not accustomed to the fine dining of the Court.
Having been exposed to Court life for two years now due to the influential advice her father, the Earl Roland of the Walker, gave the king, the novelty of the Court wore off of the twenty year old woman, and she shrugged nonchalantly at Faraday's statement.
"You do know that the only purpose a father brings his daughter to court is to match her with a suitable suitor?" Devera pointed out, raising a quizzical eyebrow in Faraday's direction, who had bowed her head in embarrassment. Devera herself was betrothed to one of the many sons of the Baron Faulke, and was to be wed within the span of three months.
Faraday's face flushed red with embarrassment and she cast her eyes towards her food-laden plate. Of course, she had known her father's true intentions of bringing her to Priam's Court; she wasn't as naïve as most thought her to be. She was indeed at a suitable age to be wed, and she of course wanted to be a wife, but not from her father's choosing. She was a rather beautiful young woman, and no one held much contest against her; she held great promise of being a great beauty with her enchanting green eyes, long chestnut, brown hair, and fine bone structure. Even without much effort she had caught the many eyes of the nobles' sons.
Turning her head towards the high table, Faraday's gaze rested on the fragile form of the Queen. It was a shame, for such a beautiful woman, she was unable to carry a son to succeed the throne after Priam. Gossip had been brash and shameful about the Queen's barrenness, and the word had spread like wildfire about the woman's inability to birth a child. Now the only successor to the throne would most undoubtedly be the Duke Borneheld of Ichtar, the king's nephew.
Passing the many faces of the nobility, Faraday and Devera watched as Borneheld turned to converse with the Earl Jorge of Avonsdale. Devera sighed, her eyes misting over with a heady look of desire. "Isn't he handsome? If only my father wasn't so quick to be rid of me," she declared dreamily, her yearning eyes never leaving Borneheld's face. "A marriage to a man like him would be so beneficial to any woman willing to marry him."
Faraday turned her head once more to Borneheld and studied his features a little more acutely than she did beforehand. With the mass and bulk of muscle that he carried, it was clearly obvious that he was a warrior as opposed to a courtier. Although he distinctly bore similar characteristics to Priam, he wore his auburn hair cropped closely to his skull, a soldier's uniform style. To Faraday, the man held an air of intimidation and she didn't bother herself to share the same interest and opinion as Devera did.
As their conversation dwindled to a close, Faraday returned to her meal, consisting of roasted quail, finely steamed vegetables and other fine delicacies provided by the many earls of Achar. The murmuring hum of conversation amongst Priam's guests escalated to a thunderous din, leaving no chance for Faraday to strike up another conversation with Devera, as she had turned to the guest to her right, so Faraday was left to amuse herself with her own thoughts.
Not soon after her disclosure into her own thoughts, the grand hall doors opened again and Faraday stared in awe at the man that stood in its gaping maw. The man was quite young, evidently older than her, she was not sure by how many years, but she was quite astounded at the demanding presence his person gained. Even the king himself held no contest against this man, not by a long shot.
Surrounding his finely chiselled face was shoulder-length hair, drawn back into a small queue, its colour the hue of harvested wheat. His keen cerulean blue eyes gazed about the room, piercingly cool and perceptive. He was adorned in black leather trousers and a hip-length black tunic, conforming appealingly to his tall and lean frame, and the only colour that relieved the stifling blackness of his uniform was the crossed embroidered golden axes over his left breast.
As rude as it was, Faraday couldn't help but stare at this striking young man that practically demanded acknowledgement from anyone present in the chamber. As the man paced the length of the chamber towards the king's dais, his head turned to notice Faraday's intent look of admiration locked on him and couldn't help but stare in return.
She was a very beautiful young woman, dressed in a flowing gown of sky blue silk, the neckline of her dress just low enough to show an enticing bit of cleavage. Her hair was tied back in a loose plaited knot at the nape of her neck, two stray strands of hair framing her elegant and lovely face. Staring at her for one more brief moment, the man affixed his gaze on the dais once more and broke the entrancing connection.
After noticing the gleam in Faraday's eyes and her steady gaze on something other than her food, Devera glanced up from her meal and followed her friend's line of vision, to the proud form of the handsome man standing before the king.
"Ah," she exclaimed in amused wonder, a curious smile stretching across her face, "I see you've got your eyes trained on Axis."
Faraday snapped to attention and stared at Devera in astonishment. "Axis, BattleAxe of the Axe-Wielders?"
Devera nodded her head in reply. Faraday knew of the Axe-Wielders from stories her handmaidens had told her, and from the very first tale, she had become entranced with the very thought of them. The Axe-Wielders were basically the enforcers of the Seneschal's bidding and to be the leader of such a prestigious group was renowned and honourable.
A small smile curled across Devera's face and she leaned in towards Faraday, enthusiasm of gossip laced in her anxious voice. "He's Borneheld's half-brother, did you know that? But Borneheld absolutely loathes him and won't acknowledge him as a brother as Priam won't acknowledge him as a nephew."
Faraday turned her head to face Devera her eyes alight with bemusement. "I don't understand. Whatever do you mean by that?"
"Axis is Rivkah's, Priam's sister, illegitimate son," Devera whispered with a sly smile, relishing in the fact that this time, she was given the privilege to pass on the scandal that had branded Rivkah's name in shame.
Faraday released a surprised gasp and her eyes widened at the unexpected news. Now too curious for her own good, she goaded Devera on to complete the tale, which she hastened to comply in pleasure.
"Apparently, when Borneheld had barely reached his first few months, Searlas, who was then the Duke of Ichtar, made leave on very important business elsewhere, but by the time he came back a year later, he found his son a year older and his wife pregnant, her stomach bulging with an eight-month-old babe. And Searlas was practically the last one to find out."
"Does anyone know of the father?" Faraday inquired, her curiosity peaked at the scandalous tale that hovered above the royal family's heads.
"No, and Rivkah refused to tell. And obviously she took it to the grave with her, for she died giving birth to Axis. That is why Borneheld holds so much resentment and hatred towards Axis. He blames Axis for the death of his mother. And then Brother-Leader Jayme took Axis under his wing and cared for him as a son, enrolling him into the Axe-Wielders when he was of age."
As Devera's tale came to a close, Faraday turned saddened eyes towards Axis' rigid form by the dais, where he was engaged in serious conversation with the Brother-Leader. Artor bless him, Faraday thought in reverence to Jayme, who had leaned forward to offer Axis a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. He's proven to be a gentle, kind old man.
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Once the meal had come to a staggering close, Priam had immediately ordered for the main floor to be cleared, so his multiple guests could enjoy the benefits of dancing. Many did not just come for the food or for the celebration of the king's nameday, and had demanded not to be idle in dull chatter. So the troubadours were called for and the sweet airy music filled the large expanse of the chamber in merriment.
Faraday found herself a partner of many young men, but no matter their intellect or uncanny wit that they had sustained over the years, Faraday's eyes only sought out Axis.
Currently, he was engrossed in conversation with an older woman, Lady Embeth of Tare she presumed, as Devera had explained to her before sitting down to their meal. Faraday didn't know what kind of friendship the two had maintained, but she forced herself not to become jealous. After all, they did not even know each other.
Soon, after her numerous dancing partners had left to seek other company, Faraday had made her way to her father's side, where he gazed at his daughter in loving glances. "And how has my darling daughter been faring? I see you have enchanted many of the young men of this court, my dear," he replied dolly, pinching Faraday's cheek as a loving caress.
Faraday blushed furiously at her father's endearing words and behaviour and allowed her self to be introduced to more influential men of the court. Asides from the king himself, she had also gained acknowledgement from several of the earls, such as Roland and Jorge, who took quite a liking to Faraday's amicable behaviour. Much to her dismay, her father had also introduced her to Duke Borneheld, and just by the start of their conversation, her suspicions of him were instantly confirmed. He was definitely a man of few words; while Faraday had attempted to make casual conversation with the man, she found it extremely awkward and irritating. The man even seemed impervious to her subtle jokes; she had attempted to tell a joke she had learned from one of her handmaidens, but the only response she received was an awkward nod and mumbled phrases. She also had the inopportune chance to agree to dance with him, which also proved to be a failure. He was definitely a man only built for the uses of war and not wooing young ladies.
Faraday soon grew tired of the older men and found herself drifting over to Devera, who had firmly seated herself away from the boisterous crowd of boys. She had weakly started to complain of a searing headache, and Faraday had offered to escort her to her room, when a firm, yet gentle hand seized her elbow. Spinning around to face the intruder, her eyes widened and she stammered slightly at Axis' sudden presence before her.
From up close, he seemed far more handsome than he was at a distance and no force of nature or any kind of distraction could have pried her eyes away from him. Moving his hand along the length of her forearm, his hand came to a rest on hers, and he bowed low over her outstretched hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. She blushed fiercely at his abrupt greeting and he raised his golden head to look into her eyes.
"May I have this dance, milady?" he requested, his voice low and soothing, his upper body still dipped above her poised hand, and Faraday lacked the courage to deny him. With a slow, yet graceful nod on her part, Axis up righted himself and guided her towards the dance floor, just as she turned anxious eyes towards Devera.
Drawing her closer to his lithe body, as the next song had required for them to be in close proximity to each other, he bent his head lower to whisper in her ear. "I saw you staring at me from afar. Have you not learned any manners whatsoever?"
Faraday looked up in mild offence, and glowered slightly at him before countering, "If I am not mistaken, BattleAxe, you were staring right back at me, were you not?"
Axis chuckled at her indignant, yet imposing, figure and couldn't help but notice that her voice had matched her beauty perfectly, the lilt of it light and enchanting. "I see that you know of who I am, yet I have not had the privilege of knowing your name," he said finally, after his laughter had subsided and this time her eyes had softened and her face loosened the tension that furrowed her brow.
"My name is Faraday. Faraday of Skarabost," she whispered, suddenly shy of the striking young man that stood before her and held her in his arms as they danced. She had noticed that several of the guests had turned their heads to stare in their direction; heads were close as if in whispered gossip.
"So you are Earl Isend's daughter, I presume?" he said gently, turning his head to see the disapproved glances of the earl himself. Obviously dancing with the leader of the Axe-Wielders and the bastard son of Rivkah did not sit as appropriate in Isend's eyes.
"Yes, I am," she said in reply, as he spun her outwards, only to draw her back into his arms an instant later. Faraday found it strange to see that she felt relatively safe in the circle of Axis' arms, even though they were practically strangers. But indefinitely, there was an underlying attraction between the two that couldn't be denied, no matter how wrong it seemed to be to others.
After the riveting music had trailed into nothingness, Axis felt loathe releasing her from his grip. They stood in a companionable silence, just gazing into one another's eyes, before they made any kind of move. Noticing the stares from around the chamber, Axis lowered his hand to grip hers and began to lead her out of the chamber.
"Axis, what are you doing?" she whispered fiercely as he dragged her away from the many gossip-hungered eyes that swam about the room. He knew there would be consequences for stealing her away from the chamber, but he was willing to sacrifice a small smidgen of dignity just so he could talk to her in private. Never once had he realized that she had used his real name at all.
"I find it hard to have any kind of real conversation when everyone stares at you as if the next scandal is about to occur," he said bitterly, as he guided her along the elaborate hallways before coming to a halt at a glittering fountain. The fountain was a ceramic wonder in Carlon, with jewels lining the entire rim of the foundation, allowing tiny pinpricks of light to dance about on the walls due to the light from the walled sconces.
Faraday took a seat on the edge of the fountain, dropping her hand to rest in the cool soothing motions of the jettisoned water. Axis stood before her, hands thrust behind his back, head bowed as if in thought, until his blonde head shot up in question.
"I do not know what it is that makes me feel so attached to you, Faraday. We hardly know each other, and yet, when I saw you for the first time, it felt as the very world I knew had fallen away and all that was left was you," he said in agitated frustration, and she shifted uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze. She too had felt an unexpected compulsion that drew her to him, but she had no way of explaining of how this could be.
The young man paced about the circumference of the fountain before coming to a halt in front of Faraday once more, falling slowly to his knees before her, as if in submission. "Do you feel it, too? Tell me that I have not lost my sanity, and that you feel the same," he begged of her, surprised beyond belief that this strange confused man was himself. He was supposed to be the BattleAxe, leader of his fellow Axe-Wielders, strong and fearless, and yet when this unknown power had taken over him, he simply did not have the sense to know what to do with it.
Faraday watched the anguished emotions flickering across his face and in one fluid motion she had caught his tanned face between her slender hands, thumbs gently caressing his temples in comfort. As if pulled by an invisible force unknown to her, Faraday lowered her head until her mouth collided with his, confirming his own question with her actions.
The kiss was merely a light, fluttering caress of the feather light brushing of her lips, but that wasn't so when he seized her about the middle, enveloping her in his strong embrace as he deepened the kiss. Inexperienced as she was, Faraday allowed him to lead her, but gasped unexpectedly as he bit gently down on her lower lip. Her mouth opened in a surprised gasp, and Axis seized this opportunity to seek entrance to her mouth.
She tasted of strawberries and he pulled her even closer to him, unable to get enough of her. Faraday too found that she wanted more and eagerly returned his kiss with more fervour, her hands reaching upwards to tangle in his drawn back hair.
But soon enough, the need for air was too great and they reluctantly drew apart, but not far enough to be taken away from each other's embrace. As they drew in large intakes of much needed breath, Faraday rested her forehead against his, and eyes closed as he gently caressed her arms and sides.
"We should head back; my father will be distraught if I don't return," she whispered reluctantly, moving to rest her head on his shoulder as he helped her to her feet. Axis nodded and offered his hand to escort her back, when a sudden outburst echoed throughout the flag stoned walls. Turning towards the sound, Faraday spotted the distinct outline of her mother's handmaiden, her round, robust figure jostling about as she hastened to reach her mistress' daughter.
"There you are, Mistress Faraday! Your mother grows frantic with worry and her husband as well craves to know that you are all right," the stout woman blazed, as she finally took note of Axis' imposing figure beside her charge.
Narrowing her eyes slightly at Axis, she returned her diligent focus on Faraday, gripping her elbow as if to lead her down the hall. "It is best if you hurry along now, mistress. The hour grows late and your mother's worry will have eaten away at her bones by now!" she scolded the young woman, in which Faraday scoffed gently and smiled at her mother's handmaiden.
"Rowena, I will be about shortly. Tell Mother I simply went for a walk, but I will be along shortly to bid her goodnight. Besides, BattleAxe has offered to escort me to my rooms and I would be put out to reject his kind offer now," Faraday replied, soothing the maid's distraught appearance elegantly, urging the maid onward. Rowena shot Axis a bitter look before turning on her heel and disappearing around the corner.
Axis huffed in annoyance at the handmaiden's rude behaviour and clasped Faraday's hand in his once again, turning down another corridor to prolong their walk. "It doesn't matter if I carry a prestigious title such as BattleAxe. People still regard me in disdain because of the circumstances in which I was born." Axis' eyes darkened at the behaviour he had been subjected to ever since he was a small child, but he had grown the stronger because of it.
Faraday's eyes saddened at Axis' tragic history and she laid a reassuring hand on his arm. "The way you were conceived holds no importance to me, Axis. And neither should it to you. All that should matter is that you were conceived in love, and people should not care about the manner in which you born into this world. It is what you do in your lifetime that makes you who you are and people will recognize you for it," she whispered, hoping her words held some encouragement for him.
Reaching upwards, he gripped her raised hand tightly in his and nodded, not having been able to find the proper words in which to thank her. Her small declaration filled him with more certainty and he silently thanked her for it, showing his gratefulness with his searing blue eyes.
Faraday's chambers came all too soon for the pair, and she felt hesitant to leave Axis. Her lips still tingled from their shared kiss and she raised tentative fingers to them, a slight blush colouring her face. Before she was able to bid him goodnight, Axis captured her lips in another soul-searing kiss, though this one was far gentler than their first. They lingered for a few more heady moments before Axis released her, eyes heavy in yearning and desire.
"I would like to see you again," he murmured softly in her ear, nipping at her earlobe gently, causing her to gasp in surprise.
"As would I," she whispered in response, clutching at his shoulders as he laid another gentle kiss on her temple. It was amazing what kind of emotions his actions could invoke in her, but it was altogether so new and strange to her.
Pulling away gently, she gave him a quivering smile. "When will I see you again?"
He remained silent for a lengthy moment in thought, head turning about as if in fear of being spied upon. "I do not know when I will be able to. But I will come to find you when I feel I have the time to," he answered her, releasing Faraday from his grasp.
Reaching out to squeeze his large calloused hand warmly, she bid him a whispered goodnight and slipped quietly into her bedchamber. Axis watched the door close tightly shut before he began to head in the opposite direction, his destination the immense Chamber of the Moons.
AN : That's it for the first chapter. Reviews would be greatly appreciated because it keeps me motivated and happy :). Even constructive criticism will be helpful, too. The characters might be a bit OOC but it's fanfiction so whatever. Please R&R!