Chapter XXV: Parting Gifts
Haley, Aimee and Cyborg stood wearily by the table examining what was left. The girls couldn't eat another bite. Cyborg was about done also. The hour was late and all of them longed to get back to the Tower.
"I can't believe you're still hungry," Haley said as she watched Cyborg pick up another piece of bread from the table.
"Well, this may be the last time I eat here so I'm willing to risk a tummy ache," he replied.
"We have something for you," Darien's clear voice interrupted them.
The girls turned around and faced Raven's sons. Each of them held something in their hands as they stood a short distance from them. The others gathered around to see what the boys were offering.
Daniel stepped forward holding a small dark wooden box in his gloved hands. "This is for Aimee," his calm voice announced. He smiled as he held up the box for Aimee to open.
Aimee knelt in front of Daniel and opened the box. In it was a peculiar ring. She gently removed it from the box and examined it. It was made of three small strands entwined together. One strand was clear, another was pale green and the last strand was pink speckled with black.
"Each strand of the ring represents someone in your family," Daniel explained. "It is enchanted with spells that will help you in your hero duties."
"What kind of spells," Aimee asked as she closely inspected her gift.
"Foreboding, divination and true seeing," Daniel answered. "The ring will alert you to unforeseen danger and reveal traps. It can also help you decide a proper course of action. I hope it will be of use to you. You may keep it as long as you remain a hero."
Aimee placed it on her ring finger admiring its simple beauty. "Thank you Daniel," she reached out and hugged Daniel to show her appreciation.
Darien stepped forward holding a neatly folded piece of gray cloth between his two hands. "This is for Haley," he said.
"What about me?" Samuel spoke up. "Don't I get anything?"
"Sorry officer Grayson," Daniel kindly explained. "These gifts are reserved for heroes."
Haley turned and flashed her brother a sly smile. She then came forward and knelt in front of Darien and momentarily looked into his dark eyes. Haley reached out and pulled back the cloth Darien was holding revealing a fine sword and matching dagger.
"You lost your weapons in your last battle. I thought you'd like some replacements," Darien explained. "Hephaestus made these so they shouldn't break or ever need sharpening. Don't worry they're not cursed."
Haley reached out and took the weapons from Daniel's grasp then inspected them. The hilts were fashioned into rabbit heads with folded back ears and gray sparkling stones in the eye sockets. The weapons were warm to the touch and unusually light.
"Thank you Darien," she replied. It was one of the first gifts any boy had ever given her.
"Want to try them out?" he asked with a fiendish smile.
Haley stood up and stepped back then looked at her small nemesis and smiled down to him. "Do you think you can handle me young man?" she said as she twirled her new weapons in her hands confidently.
"Come on Haley," Samuel interrupted. "He's just a kid."
"He's a bit older than you think," she said in Darien's defense.
"Mom, is it all right?" Darien pleaded for permission.
"I guess so, but be careful and don't get hurt," Raven teased. She would allow him to indulge in his favorite pastime. Besides it would be fun to watch Haley take her son down a notch.
Haley strode out to the middle of the hall and waited for Darien to join her. She began working through some simple forms to limber up. Darien quickly grabbed a small shield and his vorpal blade then ran out into the middle of the hall to face Haley.
Darien watched Haley work through her forms. When she appeared ready he set up in front of her crouched with his shield in front of him and his sword held deftly by his side.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
"Whenever you are," she smiled back at him.
Haley watched as Darien's eyes turned to fire and flames leapt upwards from his hair. His mouth turned into a demonic scowl with yellow fangs.
"Darien," Raven called out. "Cut the theatrics please."
"It's OK," Haley interrupted. "I'm a big girl. Nightmare's don't frighten me anymore." She remained crouched awaiting Darien's first attack.
Darien changed back to human form then lunged forward and swung his sword. Haley crouched back and easily parried Darien's swipe. Sparks flew from the combatant's weapons as they crashed together with a strange ring. Haley smiled at her young opponent. This seemed to frustrate Darien, something she found out first hand from fighting her father.
Darien withdrew and growled in frustration. He looked at Haley as she remained smiling in her crouched position.
"You're going to have to do much better than that if you want to beat me," Haley said with a mocking laugh.
Darien scowled at her. He needed a bit more firepower. "Let's see if you can handle this," Darien said with a sneer. He dropped his shield as several other arms sprang out from his back. Each new appendage held a sword. He charged forth with a yell at his startled opponent.
Haley panted as she parried the rain of attacks Darien was showering on her. Her breathing picked up as she struggled to keep Darien's multiple swords from hitting her. She ducked under Darien's swords then swept her leg along the floor taking Darien's feet out from under him and sending him crashing heavily to the ground.
Darien groaned in pain as his back hit the floor. The force of the fall dislodged several swords from some of his hands. They clanged loudly on the floor. When he looked up Haley stood over him smiling with her sword pointed at him.
"Nice try Darien, but I think I'm the victor here," Haley said as she gasped for air.
"I'm not done yet," Darien said defiantly. His body dissolved into a black acrid smoke that quickly slithered away. Darien reformed with a short bow in his hands. He knocked a fiery arrow then took aim at Haley. Haley crouched down and prepared for her opponent's next attack.
"I don't think that's very fair Darien," Raven called out halting her son momentarily.
"It's all right," Haley said between gasping breaths. "I had to do this for one of my tests."
Raven frowned, "One shot and that's it."
Haley stood perfectly still as she tried to slow her breathing and concentrate. Sweat ran down the side of her face pooling along her chin. Darien released his arrow. Its flaming form came quickly at her. Haley brought her sword around and swatted Darien's missile to the side. She stood up and smiled at her apparently defeated foe.
Darien lowered his bow not wanting to admit to defeat. Amimi fluttered to his shoulder and began whispering something into his ear. A sly smile washed across his face as he turned and fixed his gaze on Haley. "Are you sure?" he asked his brother's familiar. "All right, I'll give it a try."
Haley and the others watched Darien to see what he was going to do next. Raven's son smiled in anticipation then raised his hands as smoke from the hearth fire drifted out into the room towards Haley. The smoke formed two menacing hands that slowly approached Haley. She crouched down then swung her sword through the translucent smoke. Her sword passed harmlessly through it.
"This isn't fair Darien," Haley called out as she tried to back away.
Darien held his hands up and wiggled his fingers. The smoky hands quickly enveloped Haley. Her whole body tingled as the smokey apparitions withered along her body. She began to laugh as she felt as if her whole body was being tickled. Haley collapsed to her knees and dropped her weapons as she cried out in uncontrollable laughter.
"Stop it Darien," Haley screamed nearly out of breath. She fell over on the floor and writhed in agony consumed by laughter, unable to fend off Darien's spell.
After several agonizing seconds Darien ceased his attack. The smoke quickly dissipated as Darien strode over to his prone opponent. Haley closed her eyes and rolled over onto her back then took several deep breaths as she groaned in relief. She felt a strange electrical charge flashing though her body, like the high you get after a good exhausting fight. Darien watched as Haley's chest heaved up and down as she fought to catch her breath. She slowly opened her eyes as her breathing became more controlled. Darien stood over her with a slight smirk on his face as his dark eyes focused intensely on her.
"Doesn't anyone fight fair anymore," she asked him as her heart pounded inside her chest.
"That wouldn't be any fun," Darien explained. He watched as Haley slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position. Sweat dripped down her face as she finally caught her breath.
The others slowly circled around the former adversaries. Most of them were smiling amused by the sudden turn of events. Robin and Starfire held hands and smiled to each other. It was rare to see their daughter thoroughly enjoy herself.
"If you two are finished I think our guests would like to go home," Raven announced. She looked around at her friends. In Starfire's words, "It had been a most joyous reunion."