Life of a Dancer 2 - Chapter Twenty-Four
Kiniro sweated as he finally made it to the cottage that once was owned by Sirano of legend. It now housed his son Shawn, who was the one that told Kiniro all about Axia, all those weeks ago. Stumbling into the cottage, he collapsed onto the couch and fell asleep in exhaustion. When first speaking with Shawn, he didn't pay any mind, that Shawn was 170 years old. It just never dawned on him to inquire how he knew. But Shawn was now very old, and for the most part bedridden. Sleeping for who knows how long, or at least that is what he thought, he woke up to find that he was now in a bed, and he didn't hurt at all.
Lex then came out of the bathroom and smiled at him. "You're awake. Good. Now that I have that connection of yours disabled for now, I have some very bad news" Lex said as the smile left his face at the unhappy task of telling Kini about the children
"The monks found out about your connection to Axia. They found out that through you, they could hurt her far worse then anyone else. All that pain you endured, got sent back to her worse then she could handle. Kin, she miscarried the children." he said as he sat down as he watched the shock radiate from him. Then he saw the tears fall and wordlessly stood up. "I broke and disabled your connection for now, and she is being kept sedated. She is fine, but she is very emotionally drained right now." he finished as he watched him hang his head in his hand and the sobs started. He then closed the door, as he heard him cry out in anguish.
Zenia and Arden were both in the kitchen waiting for them. He wasn't sure why he allowed Arden to follow him, but he knew he would not betray them. "How is he Lex?" Zenia inquired, touching her hand to his arm.
Patting it, he said he was fine. Arden then looked up in wonder and asked one simple question "Who are you people?"
Lex smiled as he sat down and told them everything. Every detail, save the immortality ceremony, was told as he explained the entire history. It took him hours to explain, but at the end, Arden was shaking. He couldn't believe that everything he had been told by the church was a complete fabrication and that Lily's parents were burned at the stake.
"She really isn't a slave is she." he said
"No, never. But Rian wanted to break away from the Valkyries. If Bizi hadn't died so suddenly, then maybe his views would have been different. Bizi was a very direct man, that didn't take anything from anyone. But he was utterly devoted to Mistress. And Mistress was so tied to him, that when he died, she died too. They died so quickly together, that Rian was too disillusioned. Even after Axia and Aldo took him in, and finished raising him, with their own children, he never felt a connection to them, like he did his own parents. I asked him to come and live with me, as I was still Lachlan's caretaker, and rightfully should have been raising him, but he wanted the church. Then we lost track of him for over 100 years. He did the right thing, and kept himself hidden, until the church found him again. We knew he had finally taken a wife, and they had a child, but we didn't hear anything, until we heard the public announcement of his being burned at the stake for heresy. Axia had already been in hiding for over 100 years, but she never knew about Lily. She still doesn't know. Hence why I sent her along. It won't take a genius for her to figure out who she is. Arden, she is the exact twin of Axia." Lex finished the final explanation of everything and got up and made some tea.
"Take me to her now." Arden said as he stood up and opened the door.
Zenia got up, and closed the door as she pushed him back down into the chair. "First off, Kiniro needs at least another day's rest. Second, my husband has not returned himself. Thirdly, do you really believe you can help her now?" she asked him as he sullenly pulled up another chair and placed his feet onto them
"I don't care, but I have to be with her now." he said almost pouting.
"Hmm well I will see what can be done about moving Kin." Lex said getting up again
OoO
Kiniro was up, although in some pain, washed away what dirt was on his body. Feeling a bit better, he then began to gather his belonging, as his one thought was to get back to Axia. Lex then caught him in the hallway. Sternly looking at him, Kiniro just wordlessly looked at him and then said "I am going and you can't stop me."
"Your funeral." he said as he opened up his arms and allowed him to go through
Arden then saw Kiniro and saw him grab one of the muffins on the table and walk out the door. Arden then followed closely behind him, and helped him when he stumbled. They followed this pace for hours until, Kiniro was breathing very heavily, and leaning greatly onto Arden. They then saw the recently burned path through the heavy grass, and when they finally emerged, Faellia ran towards him and hugged him.
"Master, you have returned safe! Please forgive me for not saving your children!" she said weeping openly
"Faellia, it is alright. It obviously was not meant to be. Tell me is Axia alright?" he said weakly
"Mistress is well, but I think she needs you desperately Master." she said softly. She then noticed the other man and narrowed her eyes. "Who is this man you brought Master?"
"This is Lily's friend." Kiniro said as he barely had enough strength to lift himself up
"Master, stop straining yourself. Robbins! Come and collect the Master" she called out to the newest addition to the home, the housekeeper
Robbins then ran to the other side of Arden, and helped him inside and up the stairs. Arden then saw, what he first thought to be his Lily sitting on the bed. It then registered the blue hair and realized that they were right, and he was looking at the legendary AxiaDrake.
"Robbins, get him onto the bed quickly. You there, help him" she said heading into the bathing room to gather a cloth to wipe down the sweat that had accumulated
Coming back Kiniro was all settled onto the bed, and Arden was just staring at her. Becoming slightly uncomfortable, she said "If you are that deeply in love with my niece, she is down by the lake. Take care of her, but if you hurt you, pain will be the least of your worries."
Blushing slightly by the audacity of her, he just stepped out of the room. Following his footsteps back down he found the way to the outside, and then the trail leading to the waterfall. He then saw her actually frolicking in the water. Smiling, as he had never seen her that happy, he removed his sandals, and entered the water. Because of his training, he naturally was always silent, but he made an effort to be noisy. It didn't work, as she became very startled by his presence. Eyes widened by his presence, she almost looked poised to run, but he came up and just stood in front of her.
Arden then gently lifted his hand up to her face, and softly stroked it. Attempting to calm her, he just moved his thumb across her high cheekbones. She was still in her aco outfit, and the edge of it was wet from her playing. He always wondered why they wore such unrevealing clothing, but as he came closer to her, he realized that it was a good thing. He had been inching himself closer to her, until he was closer to her then he had ever been with her before. Breathing her in, he just continued to softly stroke her, until he finally saw the fear leave her eyes. Smiling down at her, he whispered "I will never, never hurt you." and with that he bent down and kissed her for the first time. Just softly touching her lips, he felt her stiffen up. Holding her only by her face, as not to alarm her further, he only touched her lips, although his body was clamouring for more then that. She then opened her mouth, and with that, he slightly inserted his tongue. Feeling it meet his, he deepened the kiss, until he felt her swaying and then lean into him. He then felt her deceptively lush breasts, and he groaned in response. He then made the mistake of bringing his hand to her breasts and feeling their fullness. Feeling her stiffen and then hearing the screams come from her, as she broke the kiss and watched as she almost retreated into the madness that she had maintained for so long.
Faellia ran when she heard her screaming and found Arden them, with tears in his eyes, but not moving near her. "What did you do to her?" she asked as Faellia drew the girl into her arms and held her as she looked at him
"Nothing, except kiss her." he said and hung his head. "Miss, is there somewhere that I can rest here. I will not be able to go back to the church now. And besides, I can't leave her." he said drying his eyes
"Hmm, I suppose you can stay with the male workers. Until the home is complete, we barely have enough rooms for everyone. When we originally made the house, we only made it with three bedrooms, and those are all now taken. I myself sleep on the couch. Axia doesn't like to entertain too much, but now with all these visitors, it was a good thing we added 5 new bedrooms." she said as she pointed towards the makeshift tents situated just past the waterfall
"That would be wonderful, but I would rather stay in the home. To be near Lily. Can you stay with Lily, and I will sleep on the couch." Arden said softly
Looking down at the still frightened girl, and seeing the wisdom in his words, as she was still terrified of everything, she nodded in agreement.
"Then I will see you all at dinner." Arden said as he turned towards the home
Faellia then removed the death grip that Lily had placed on her waist. "Mistress Lily, he does seem to be a wonderful and caring man. One that would never harm you. So, let's see about getting you more relaxed with the presence of those that love you. Okay?"
Nodding, she just sighed and allowed Faellia to take them both back towards the home.
