The Web Continues to Weave...

There was all that blood they had to wash off of Fenix...Jewellyn shuddered at the memory of it. Of course Aine had all that blood on her too. There also was a lot offered in the way of explanation of the events at Knoll's Ridge. King Theran wanted to know exactly what had happened. Jevan Piers and Rowland had interviewed Jewellyn upon their return. They took it all in with a grain of salt, this despite the loss of a few troops. The heavy emotions would come later when they were alone. They became a bit astonished however when told about what had happened with Fenix there, and that it involved Aine too.

Very soon classes would let out at the Collegium. It was a few candlemarks after the noon meal. Jewellyn knew she had some time but not much to make her impression upon Fenix...

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Fenix was finally coming to in his room at the Healer's wing of the Collegium. He still was recuperating on one of those Healer's beds, which appeared to be more like a cot; though patient comfort was a priority, you wouldn't see evidence of it with these beds.

It was only a day after being brought back from Knoll's Ridge. He became slowly aware of a returning consciousness. It seemed to him he was emerging from a dark whirlpool of some awful nightmare, a nightmare in which he took part in. Then, a little light coming into view...then the face of a woman. He wasn't quite aware of who it was yet, only that it was a pleasant, comforting face surrounded with soft curly hair. She came in and out of focus and it seemed like she had some kind of a golden aura around her. That has to be a trick of the light...by the Gods I'm stiff and sore, he thought, marveling at this odd mix of feelings. Much to Jewellyn's pleasant surpise Fenix began to laugh. Fenix gazed around, noting the furnishings in this rooom. This has to be an infirmary...I've gone mad! He laughed some more.

The drab furnishings appeared to him to indicate such a place. He looked around again, temporarily ignoring Jewellyn, of whom he hadn't seemed to recognize as of yet. He noted the walls were a pale pastel green, there were the barred windows, the bare furniture, the tray of herbs and their corresponding censers, water urns, and yes there was a water closet here of course...covered with curtains instead of a door. Only in infirmaries did they have curtains instead of doors. Fenix assumed a puzzled expression as he noted this. I wonder why thaat is? he asked himself. Fenix couldn't help it, he laughed some more.

Jewellyn caressed Fenix's face and hair, making sure to be very gentle yet stimulating then kissed him on the forehead, smiled, then asked, "Fenix, do you know who I am?"

At the same time, out of no-where Fenix 'heard' an internal voice :You don't know me as of yet, I am Aerali and I have Chosen you: Aerali had hoped this mindspeech would stir up Fenix a little. Aerali and Mayei were out in Companion's field with many of the other Companions. Tomorrow would be the new Trainee's induction ceremony and they wanted to be well rested.

"You are A-er-er-ali, Aerali, is that right?" He looked around but didn't really seem to be seeing anything.

Jewellyn became puzzled, she began to hope that he hadn't permanently damaged his mental faculties. "No silly," she replied. "I am Jewellyn."

"Who? jewel who?"

Now both Fenix and Jewellyn felt inside a pleasant 'bubbling up' within their souls, it was coming from the Companions and it was their way of laughing.

It still startled Jewellyn when Mayei mindspoke to her, :You haven't officially met yet, Chosen. That was Aerali, Fenix's Companion. After you helped Fenix recover somewhat, Aerali had decided this was the time to Choose him. It was Aerali who carried him all the way home.:

:Thank you Mayei I was beginning to think Fenix had gone daft on us.:

"Yes, I do remember that," she said outloud. That had been a draining experience. Jewellyn had wanted to 'cure' him completely, but could not. Between the lack of stamina and the lack of experience she had using her skill so far, she just couldn't help him as much as she wanted to. He had to ride his way back on Aerali. Even now, she hadn't quite totally recovered yet.

Aerali was trying some of the new hay, :Unfortunately Fenix, you are not out of the woods yet. You need a little more rest. Then, the excitement begins.:

"I don't recall going into any woods," Fenix said to no-one in particular, looking puzzled.

Jewellyn sighed and rolled her eyes. "Maybe he has become daft..."

A memory came to him unbidden. Oh yeah, that reminds me of one big TREE in particular...stupid tree got me into nothing but trouble. That thought had prompted another memory, "Say, anyone know where Aine is?"

:I think we will leave you two be for awhile now. Aerali and I will continue to check out the new hay here, courtesy of Xirthan's efforts. Good luck: Of course, they knew some of what Jewellyn had felt for Fenix and they felt deference would be the best way to go for now. To leave them be.

Jewellyn felt almost as if she had been punched a little in the stomach. She stood up abruptly, placing her hands on her hips and exclaimed by way of a query, "Fenix! Do you know who I am?"

Fenix looked serious as he was concentrating, "Hmm, I know you are not...how do you say it again, er Air--ali?"

Jewellyn had to fight back a sudden urge to slap him a good one. Oh yes, he knew of Aine, and oh yes, he hadn't even mentioned or recognized me yet, she thought, feeling somewhat bitter. She looked deep into those dreamy brown eyes. She wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him senseless, instead she caressed him. She wanted to 'meld' with Fenix as it were, to tune in to his most secret thoughts and desires. She had felt these inner stirrings, these feelings of love for someone, even back when they were at Aunt Tildy's orphanage. They had been friends since then, and she became more enamored with him as time went on. This puzzled Jewellyn at times, but she had read a couple of his poems and they were dreamy and elegant, so that was part of the attraction. She also couldn't help but to be quite fond of his cute clumsiness at times. He could be so incredibly funny; and most of it at times seemed unintentional, making it even funnier. Those were quite the times with that tree business, she thought. She had laughed often at some of those memories...

She wanted to know who those feelings were about...and now. No more waiting. And no mind magic either she decided...or little of it at best. She was going to make love to him. She had very little experience with this, but had once seen her parents doing something in their room when she was a kid. She sometimes spied on them through the slight crack in their bedroom. It was enough to see what they were doing. She sometimes would do this to see if they were asleep so she could sneak outside and go for a walk at night, all on her own. One time, as she had watched wide-eyed, they appeared to her to be wrestling...but they didn't have any clothes on! The memory of this made her smile a little now, but back then it was rather shocking to her. She had learned a little later that this was called making love, as some of her other friends had told her during one of their secret meetings in the woods. Sometimes back there in one of their secret enclaves, they would even kiss some of the boys on a dare. After one of those times she had dared to kiss a boy, she had wondered what all the fuss was about. Just before she had turned thirteen though, she kissed this boy she hardly knew...and it felt very nice...

Fenix still lie there, with his eyes closed now; still appearing to be in his own little world, not knowing who she was. He was still slipping in and out of consciousness.

She now felt determined to change that. She sat on the edge of the bed, bent down and then gently cradled Fenix's head. She closed her eyes and began to kiss him, already feeling a little warm and pleasant wave of emotion within her as she did so. She kissed slowly at first, then got up on her knees a bit more to get a better angle. This feels really good, she thought excitedly. She felt warm and a little charged up and as she kissed him more deeply, she began to feel odd yet pleasant stirrings and waves of soothing sensations coursing through her in places she usually did not associate with much pleasure. Sure, she had experimented a little now and then...but it was nothing like this. And Fenix began to respond a little, finally.

Fenix felt the first warm and moist kiss upon his lips and immediately felt waves of relaxation taking over his body. He reveled in the soft, warm presence of her. As she continued to kiss him, even more deeply now, he embraced her and began to return the kisses. He caressed her back and felt the warm press of her breasts full upon him now as they both got closer and closer to each other. Fenix too, began to feel pleasant stirrings and tinglings in places not (to him) normally susceptible to that...that feeling. One of the few times he had dared to experiment with himself felt something like this, but this felt much better. There was only that one other time I had felt a little something like that, with Aine, was it? he found himself remembering, that time when she had fallen upon me...

Jewellyn whispered softly in his ear, "Fenix, I love you."

The memory yes...it was..."Aine!"he said outloud.

Jewellyn gasped, became wide eyed with shock and disbelief. She stopped andbecame rigid.

Immediately, Fenix opened his eyes; alertness was quickly returning to him. "Jewellyn!" he exclaimed. He became more wide eyed than Jewellyn.

Jewellyn didn't look very happy. "Yes it's me, stupid! Is that all you can think about is Aine!" she was practically screaming now. And then she did it, this time she did slap him...hard. Jewellyn began to cry and then she stormed out of the room heedless of who may or may not have heard or who might have seen.

Stunned, Fenix could only yell, "Jewellyn! Wait!"

She never came back the rest of that day.

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Koromiel: Dun dun dun! How's that for another cliffhanger? Mwa ha ha ha! Yes...bring on the reviews and remind us of what 'evil review whores' we are! XD

But I do apologize in the tardiness of this chapter. I was out and about in California. Much fun. I know Phoenix has been up to his writing shenannigans...so I'm the one who is behind. So as soon as I'm done editing, I'll be posting! That is, if we can get some good reviews. lol, just kiddin'. I suppose if you really like it, you'll comment on it. I won't push for it anymore. Well, maybe I won't start pushing until we get to the dramatic parts around the end...lol. I'd have to do it then! So with that, I am off to edit another chapter!