Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Ms. Haydon.
Rhapsody had only come out of her room once, but that had been five days ago to great Grunthor when he came back form border patrols.
"Oi don't like how the Duchess is actin'," Grunthor set down his tankard. "It worries me."
"She's grieving. She'll be fine."
"Oi know, but Oi'd still like ta wring that damn dragon's neck for doin' this ta 'er."
Achmed's fingers played lightly on the hilt of the dagger belted at his waist, "I could think of some more interesting forms of punishment."
Grunthor grinned darkly and raised his tankard, "Oi'll drink ta that." He drained his tankard and set it down with a thump.
Achmed was watching the flames dance weakly and he knew it was because of Rhapsody's depression, "It's time for her to get up."
"And 'ow do you suppose we do that, get 'er out o' bed and shake some sense into 'er?"
"Precisely," Achmed stood and finished off what was left of the wine in his glass. He strode off down a corridor, his footfalls making little noise as the struck against the stone floor.
Grunthor stood and followed Achmed, a bleak look written on his massive face.
Achmed tried to open the door and grew frustrated when it was locked. Instead of wasting time looking for the key in the pouch at his waste he motion for Grunthor, "Kick the door in."
Grunthor raised a huge booted foot and slammed it against the door. He did it again and was rewarded with the sound of splintering wood. He raised his foot a final time and slammed it through the door.
Achmed pushed down what remained of the door and walked into the room. In went to the edge of the bed and stared down at the pathetic lump in the center of the bed. He pulled back the blankets and hauled the rag doll of a figure out of the bed.
Two jade greens eyes stared dully at him from under a curtain of matted golden hair.
"Get dressed. Comb your hair and wash your face. You'll then report to the hospital and provide them with assistance. After you finish there you will come and join Grunthor and me for dinner."
"Let me die, Achmed…"
He shook her roughly by the shoulders, "Would Ashe want you like this? He died to try and spare you pain and you reward him like this? I would have left you to."
The dying embers in Rhapsody's eyes began to smolder with a quiet anger, "Don't presume to know what Gwydion would want." She pulled out of his arms and walked over to the cold water of the wash bin and stuck two fingers in until it began to steam.
Achmed and Grunthor left silently, a look of smug triumph danced in the King's mismatched eyes.
Achmed looked up as Rhapsody entered the room. She looked better though she was still too pale for his liking. The light green blouse and the pale brown skirt she was wearing reminded him of spring, not that he would voice these musing out loud. He motioned for her to sit in a chair.
She sat silently.
" 'ow ya feelin', Duchess?"
"I'm fine, Grunthor. I wanted to tell you both that I'm leaving tomorrow morning."
"It ain't because of 'im is it," he asked jerking a thumb at Achmed, "Aw, now Duchess, 'e didn't mean anything by it."
Rhapsody shook her head, "No, I'm going to Elynsynos."
Achmed nodded, "Be ready at sunrise. We'll ride then."
Rhapsody's eyes widen slightly, "Who said I wanted anybody to come with me? Plus you need to stay and run the Bolg."
"Grunthor can handle it. It's not safe for you to travel alone. I won't go into the dragon's cave with you, but I will ride with you."
The singer sighed, "I'm not going to win this am I?"
"We ride at dawn."
After Achmed had checked the horses' a second time he mounted his horse. The sun had just begun to rise when he heard a familiar song. He looked up to see the Singer standing a small rocky ledge singing her morning love song to the sun. A small smiled tugged at the corner of his lips; he loved how the music soothed his skin web, making him feel at ease. He nodded to Grunthor and shouted for Rhapsody to hurry up one he knew she had finished he song.
Rhapsody walked to the horses and swung up into the saddle. She leaned up and kissed Grunthor's cheek.
Grunthor smiled, "'urry up and get to the dragon so ya can 'urry back."
Rhapsody smiled and nodded to Achmed, "Ready."
He kicked his horse gently and rode off.
Rhapsody followed him. "At first I didn't want you to come, but I'm glad you did."
Achmed nodded, "I told you a long time ago that every time you turn around I'll be there. Right now I doubt you'd be in any kind of condition to handle something dangerous if it came up. Out of shape and out of practice."
Most people would have begun to feel there blood boil at this point in any conversation with Achmed. Rhapsody smiled, "Thank you, Achmed. I'll feel better with you watching my back."
He didn't need to respond; sometimes what is not said is heard the clearest.
It was near sunset on the third day of the second week when Rhapsody felt the forest change into Elynsynos's protected woods. The next day Rhapsody saw the great dragon's cave. She dismounted and handed her horse's reigns to Achmed. "I'll be back soon," she said laying her hand softly on Achmed's arm. She looked up into the mismatched eyes. "You can go home. I'll make it back soon."
He didn't respond.
Rhapsody walked slowly into the mouth of the cave, "Elynsynos?"
The air of the cave became excited and had a static feel to it, "Pretty! I felt you coming,"
Rhapsody walked into the lagoon area slowly. She stared up at the mighty dragon. She couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Elynsynos crooned, picked her up, and laid her gently on a scaled arm. She rocked her gently. "Do not cry, Pretty. Do not cry."
Rhapsody laid her cheek again the immense chest of the dragon, "It hurts Elynsynos. Part of my soul is gone."
A great tear welled in Elynsynos's eye and fell, splashing softly into the lagoon; the dragon knew how she felt. "Do not cry, Pretty. I will sing for you."
(A/N: the break bar thing I use is addictive to use…)
Achmed sighed and leaned against the tree. It had been four days since Rhapsody had gone into the dragon's cave. He was tempted to go in and check on her, but he had heard the old stories of dragon's and their carefully guarded treasure. He would let Rhapsody come out when she was ready. He scratched idly at his chest and looked around the little glen he had set camp up in. That's when he first tasted it, a tinge of salt in the air. 'Impossible,' he thought, 'There isn't an ocean around here for miles.' He stood up straight and walked to the center of the glen and unhooked his cwellan from his back. The small hairs on the nape of his neck stood up straight as another breath of salty air washed over him. He looked around the glen, 'Bloody hrekin. Where is this damned wind coming from?' He saw a misty form hovering at the edge of his vision. He swung around and fired his cwellan. The figured was already gone. Achmed walked over and pulled the disk from the tree and reloaded the cwellan. An unseen mouth began to whisper in his ear.
'Not yours…She won't be yours…'
Achmed's eyes narrowed.
'She's still mine…A dragon does not give up its treasure so easily…'
Achmed spun again looking for the source of the words. He heard soft footsteps behind him and whirled bringing the cwellan up for a kill shot.
A warm hand touched his shoulder carefully, "Achmed? Achmed what's wrong?"
Achmed blinked rapidly several times, "Rhapsody?"
"Are you okay? Gods, what happened to the camp? Its in pieces."
Achmed looked around, he couldn't taste the salt on his skin anymore and the voice was gone.
Rhapsody didn't wait for an answer though. She walked about camp tidying things up.
"How are you feeling, Rhapsody?"
"I'm better. It still hurts, but the pain will pass eventually I suppose."
Achmed nodded slightly, "We'll camp here-"
Rhapsody cut him off, "No. We should go ahead and leave now. I would like to get back to Ylorc."
Relief flooded over Achmed, 'The sooner we get out of here the better.' He began to help Rhapsody pack away. "So what did the dragon tell you?"
A small smile came over the singer's face, "She sang to me and she told me not to cry because tears only drown the soul in sorrow, but don't bring back the dead."
A/N: Oh dear…is it just me or does Rhapsody seem a bit OoC, (Achmed a bit too in the one scene with the shoulder shaking and all.)? Honestly, it bothers me that they're OoC, even if it's just a little, because I'm a firm believer in the fact that you should always stay true to the character. I mean, her "soul mate" (yeah….Ashe her soul mate….don't make me laugh) just died but would she act like this? Let me know what you think about Rhapsody. I seem to have a hard time writing her and Grunthor too for some reason and honestly, it bothers me that they're OoC, even if it's just a little, because I'm a firm believer in the fact that you should always stay true to the character (advice is more than welcome and always, feel free to yell at me about grammar and spelling and all that loverly jazz.). Oh yeah…I'm going to be needing background characters to just wander around some so if anybody wants a cameo leave a description.
Take care all.
Kady
