Jessi: Since I've just started sixth form, the updates are going to be a bit slower but hopefully I'll be able to work on this during my free periods.

"You saw all this as a child? But how can you remember things from that early on?" Vale had sat riveted throughout Chel's story.

Her guardian swallowed and continued,

"Every god has a perfect memory - even we godlings do. I remember everything. Sometimes I-I can still hear the screams... still hear them i-in the dark and I can see..."

Chel's breath now came in ragged sobs and he was trembling violently. Vale darted forward, wrapping her arms around him, pillowing his head on her shoulder,

"Shhh, it's alright. Everything's fine."

She whispered reassurance into his pointed ears and her soft hands stroked his cheek and neck to calm him. Eventually he quieted, though Vale could feel his pulse hammering away in his neck underneath her sensitive fingers. She kissed one of his closed eyes,

"I love you, you idiot."

His eyes opened and he sat up, looking straight at her,

"Really Vale-uke?" when she nodded, a warm smile on her face he continued, "Even... even though I'm..." in an instant Vale had her arm wrapped around a dragon, perfectly proportioned, but only about Vale's size.

"Your race doesn't matter to me," she kissed him on his scaly cheek and grinned even wider, "You are after all, still Chel."

The dragon nuzzled her shoulder, changing as he did back into the form of a winged elf,

"Thank you, thank you! I love you too, Vale-uke."

An hour later Vale was curled up by the fire, getting some well deserved sleep. Her hands clutched the edge of her blanket, which was actually Chel's black cloak.

Chel himself sat nearby, watching over her. Though he had reconciled himself with his ward he still had a difficult task ahead of him. Having been raised in the house of his deity, having deity blood in his veins, he found not worshipping a deity... unnatural and unwholesome. It was the most natural thing in the world for him to love and worship at the altar of his father, the concept taken hold strongly even within his broken mind.

If he read Vale's mood correctly then she'd lost her faith when Tiamet had possessed her. The two would have to meet and talk... for the sake of the young female's soul.

Sighing, he stood and walked to the stream. His spell was still in effect and the water remained warm. Unable to resist the temptation of a long bath, Chel unbuckled his belt and started to undress.

When he heard the shuffling from across the cave, Chel turned, his hair trying to raise into a writhing halo but it was too heavy to do so, since it was soaked.

There was no threat however, just the little elf, wrapped up in a much-too-large cloak.

"Vale!" the guardian's voice rose in a protesting tone. When Vale saw the slight silver blush rise on his cheekbones she grinned.

"Yes?" she asked, an innocence expression on her face.

"I do not believe I peeked at you during your bath," Chel folded his arms across his chest, putting his head to one side. It was friendly banter mostly. His hair cascaded around his shoulders, obscuring any view that Vale might want, since he'd gotten rid of his wings for his bath.

"With everything I've been through this past tenday I would have thought I deserved at least one peek," a mock frown crossed her brow, "Damn hair."

He allowed himself a small smile. He was just glad that she did love him. At least it helped him to forget the screams... His smile faded suddenly.

"Chel?" the young sorceress' face was genuinely worried now, "Are you all right?"

"I am," the guardian teleported himself in front of Vale, still in the water. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, "Thank you for your concern."

"You're welcome," Vale let the cloak fall and slid off the bank and into the water, unmindful of the fact that her clothes were getting wet.

Consider your stint of chastity over. His father's words echoed in his head and Chel smiled as he held the elf closer.

And for a time Chelevva Pendragon was able to forget all about deities and the screams that haunted him still.

Jessi: I could not resist at least one bath time scene :p