Spoils of War

by Crystal Jaganshi

As the winner of the previous Makai tournament, it was Hiei's duty to lead the war and drive the invaders out. But that was the easy part. Nothing could have prepared him for the spoils he would gain as a result. Post-anime ending

29. Extra: Prayer pt1

An A/U Extra: Prayer

Part 1

Was it so difficult to actually listen to what I have to say, dear Ada? Of course not. Of course Ada didn't want to hear about how Soron was a disgusting, chauvinistic, pig of a man who was never satisfied with the wealth he owned and treated women like conquests.

As I walked through the forest, somewhat mindlessly, I tried to figure a way out of my impending damnation- marriage. Naturally I couldn't choose, my lady in waiting's voice whispering snippily in my ear, Heiress don't get to choose, my Lady. They deal with what is provided for them and consider themselves to be fortunate if the man is good, and lucky if he is handsome.

Halvia was right, of course. The old woman should be at any rate, she is centuries older than I am and she had seen her fair share of court marriages. But this marriage meant more than just spending the rest of my life with some old geezer I would not enjoy going to bed with and who expected a nice simple royal wife.

I am anything but simple and often times, I am not very nice. It is not to say that I am not capable of being nice, because I would much rather be nice than rough, but when you are expected to inherit the throne of the strongest warrior kingdom and you are a woman well… let's just say I'm not allowed to be nice. Nice implies weakness in a ruler and they expect a woman ruler to be weak. They expect me to flail and rely heavily on my advisors and not really make decisions myself. They intend to use me as a puppet.

The charade is well put together, I must give it to them. Normally such an older man such as Lorim would not even be considered for a woman the ripe age of one hundred and eighty but if this old man comes from a prominent, wealthy, well respected, and knows how to make decisions it's a completely different story. Or take Soron, the young king of Durintavar and is wealthy, well respected amongst humans and his people, and only a century older than I. These are important qualities in a husband so that he can make decisions for me because obviously my intelligence level is so low that I don't know how to do anything for myself.

Please. What a bunch of selfish morons.

I hold the record for wins in swordfights. I am well on my way to have read more than half the books in the court library and I assist the court alchemist daily, learning how to construct potions for healing and poisons so deadly that one drop is enough to freeze your body and stop your heart before you even know what is happening. My studies in the four elements are progressing faster than my teachers expected, making my magic stronger than it should be. As a hobby, I aim to learn how to decently wield every weapon can get my hands on. After all, if I know how slow an axe swings because I've felt it myself, I can react that much better in battle. Of course, I am also taught in economics, foreign diplomacy, and learning how to manage the logistics of the kingdom.

Not to boast or anything but in case you didn't realize I'm an overachiever. I have to be, otherwise what good of a Warrior Queen will I be?

But I digress. My biggest obstacle between myself and the glorious throne of silver is a man. Any man, it doesn't matter who or what family his is from but once I am tied to him forever, I lose the throne because realistically what man will honestly let a woman rule a vast and prosperous kingdom?

I sighed and looked at the now dark sky. Oops, I had wandered for far too long. Well at least as long as I was looking up at the sky and the topic was on my mind, I might as well whisper a prayer.

"Ancestors, if such a man exists… well I could benefit from meeting him right about now."

Here's the thing about the Ancestors, they like to answer prayers in funny ways. In my case, as soon as the last words left my lips, it began to rain. I usually enjoy the rain, the soothing sound of the pellets hitting the trees or the roof above my head, but I was in the woods that I was now starting to realize was unfamiliar. At night, it was hard enough to navigate so the rain was just the icing on the cake.

That's what I thought, until something jumped out at me from behind the trees. I reacted quickly and pulled out my darling claymore Víraserce fluidly while dodging the initial attack. Many people don't like to use a claymore, they claim the swords to be heavy and leaves the user too vulnerable. For me, the challenge is what attracted me to the sword. That and it made me stand out from other warriors, distinguished and recognizable. What can I say? I like to make a scene.

Whatever was attacking me charged again and I figured it was in a bloodlust, my attacker wasn't being very smart. I tightened my grip on Víra and swung her to the left, slicing the attacker in half. The two halves fell with a thud to the ground.

I walked over to the upper half of the carcass and bent over to examine who attacked me. It was face down in the dirt but even looking at the back of its head I could tell something was odd. There were slits on either side of the beings neck, almost like gills and the ears we odd and fanned out. Frowning I turned him over with my sword and could not believe my eyes. The attacker literally had the face of a fish. Other than the eyes placed normally, rather than one on each side, his face looked slimy and the scales glinted where the moonlight broke through the trees.

Ancestors… what in the realms name was this creature? I looked down at my sword and stepped into the moonlight, making sure my eyes were not tricking me. Purple blood. There was only one race that I know of with purple blood:

Demons.

I had crossed over onto demon turf. How was that possible? There is no way I could have walked to the mountain border in less than a day. That was something I could worry about later. I tightened the grip on the hilt of my sword and ran in the direction I thought was north. As I ran, the rain nailing my face like pebbles, I could sense two following me now three and four. I stepped into a clearing and noticed a large structure on the top of a hill, not too far away. Was it a Guardian Temple? Either way, I didn't know where I was and, as I paused momentarily, my pursuers grew in number like hounds gathering to corner a fox.

I began to move again but three demons appeared in my pathway. Behind me they were crawling out from the trees. Well, looks like they wanted to take me there. So be it. I flung my arm out, the magic flowing through to my fingers and yelled,

"Nen!"

Rain pellets immediately combined together to create a ball of water and shot towards the demons in front of me. The water knocked them back as I swung my sword around on the demons attacking me from behind. The first three went down easily but the ones I had thrown the water ball at were back on their feet.

This was why I wasn't really a fan of water magic. Water magic was better suited for containment or stabilizing something. Fire, my personal favorite, was of no use in the rain. Lightning, an extension of water and wind, would hurt me since I was also soaked. Wind was also like water, where it was more suited for defense unless I had the time to create a large wind mass with a lot of speed behind it.

I brought my sword down in a diagonal motion, cutting off the head of one demon and slicing the torso of another. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large claw reach out towards me. I pulled up Víra but its claws raked me before she could slice through him. I winced as the rain pounded against my open flesh. The cut didn't feel life threatening , but it still hurt. I could see the excitement in their eyes, the bloodlust as my flesh oozed with my silver blood.

Earth magic it is. A new wave began to charge as I threw my palm onto the ground and cried, "Cemen!" Spikes shot out of the ground and speared several of the demons. I swiftly stood and threw my arm around, blocking out the pain, and mud flew into the air and into the demon's eyes. Then, I ran.

Usually I don't run, in fact, I loathe running from a fight. But this wasn't a fight, this was a hunt with no seeming end to how many hunters would arrive, I was in an unfamiliar part of the forest, I was wounded, and my best magical offense was in my weakest element. Usually I prefer fire magic to earth, only because I have mastered it more quickly and it feels more akin to me. Earth magic is the most difficult to master because it can be used in a variety of ways; offense, defense, and the best healing spells are earth spells. To master earth you must master all three facets and I was currently working on healing. Consequently, I didn't really have the skill to take down unknown numbers of enemies with it.

My running slowed as the searing pain in my right shoulder increased. My right arm trembled from the forced strain of holding the sword. The cuts must be deeper than I thought. Behind me I could sense the demons pursuing me and I was able to count at least six of them. Damn.

"Sûl!" The wind picked up and began to swirl around me. That would deter them momentarily but not for long. I closed my eyes and opened myself, dipping into The Song. I could feel the white magic around me, swirling as I reached for the lyrics I needed and I opened my mouth,

"O Guardian, do not forsake one of your children. I beseech you, lend me your aid."

The wind around me fell and grabbed the hilt of my sword and rushed at my attackers head on. If there is anything that tips this in my favor, it's that I'm pretty fast. The six of them went down quickly but as soon as I paused, another jumped out to my side. "Nen!" Water smacked him right in the face and two more moved in behind me. Ancestors, why didn't they stop? I jumped out of claws reach, stuck Víraserce in the ground and moved my arms, palms out, upward and out, concentrating a large amount of magic into the movement.

"Lanthir!" I thundered. The rain condensed immediately into a wall large enough to cover my height and width and crashed down, sweeping away any demons in front of me. I grabbed the hilt of my sword with both hands, yanked it out of the ground, and jumped backwards, dodging a large green demon from raking his claws across my chest. Or at least I thought I did.

A pain shot up through my left leg and it took a lot of will power not to let me knee buckle. That would be a death sentence. I looked down to see another dagger and it looked like it was in deep. Curses. They were working together, for now, to take me down. As bloodthirsty and animalistic these demons were smart enough to know that working together was beneficial. I swallowed hard. If I reached down to take the dagger out, they would attack me. If I didn't take the dagger out, I wouldn't be able to move. Additionally, it was only a matter of time before my right arm gave way and I couldn't use my left hand as the primary support for the claymore, not enough to survive this anyway.

"Sûl!" I yelled and the wind rushed around me again. I concentrated to find The Song again but this time I went a little deeper, calling upon The Song of Fealóce. Finding The Song was easy, I am an Angóluce Nellyo after all, but calling upon the dragon's powers himself was a little more difficult. Finding the song was like dropping a rock into a still pond, the ripples creating the sound wave but to find The Dragon's Song was like diving perfectly into the lake. It had to be done precisely, as though the divers body was absorbed into the lake rather than splashed into it, otherwise the dragon would not respond. Fortunately, when your brother is the Angóluce Tae, you get a lot of practice diving.

"I seek your aid in my time of need. Grant me your power, Fealóce!"

My eyes opened and the demons around me hissed and howled. That's right, cower before the might of the fire dragon, the Guardian of Alyatavar! I moved, faster, my adrenaline pumping. I could hear the fire around me sizzle from the rain but I paid no attention. I reached out, my hands now slightly claw like, and grabbed the throat of a demon. He screeched as the fire spread throughout his body and I threw him at another demon. The fire caught on to him but I didn't need to watch them die, I knew they would die. The fires of Fealóce are no ordinary fire.

But I didn't think about that. I didn't need to, I only needed to move. The magic of the fire was raging through me and I was moving at super-elf speed clawing, thrashing, and burning. I heard the cries of the fallen and I laughed in my head, the fools. Who did they think they were dealing with? I am Aranel Mîrvana, heir to the throne of the Elfin Warrior Kingdom Alyatavar, guarded by the fire dragon Fealóce! These worthless thugs were nothing.

I searched around me, once, twice, and let out a laugh as I felt the fire dissolve around me. There were no more demons around me. I stood there, the adrenaline dying, in the rain gasping for breath. How much of my strength had I used? I winced, my knees buckling, and I fell to the ground. Mud smeared my face and clothes and I wiped my rain pasted hair out of my face to look down at my leg. The wound had grown from the initial stab and the dagger was still lodged in my flesh.

I reached over and grabbed the handle. Okay, Vana, you can do this. Ready? One, two, "ARGH!" I cried. Push past the pain, wrap the wound, push past the pain, wrap the wound, push past the pain wrap the wound. I ripped a part of my shirt that wasn't covered in mud and wrapped it around my leg. I could see it beginning to stain with the silver hue of my blood and I knew that the bandage was only temporary. If I didn't get it looked at it would get infected and there was a high chance I would lose my leg. I had to get to that temple no matter what.

I crawled over to my Viraserce and wedged her into the ground. Using the leverage I pulled myself up and stood on one leg. I could feel drowsiness creep up inside me but I tried to push past it. I gritted my teeth, stabbed the sword into the ground and did a hop/pull towards it, slowly inching forward. It was excruciatingly painful, between the gaping wound in my leg and the throbbing in my shoulder but if I let the pain overtake me, I was as good as dead.

"Come on, girl!" I muttered to myself thrusting the sword forward again. The sword hit a rock and slid forward and I fell to the ground, splashing into the mud. Curses! My body wouldn't move and my eyes grew heavy. I tried to stay alert, I could feel someone next to me but all I saw were red eyes before my eyes blinked one last time.

I faintly heard someone, a little girl maybe, say "Sleep Song Child, sleep." Then, there was darkness.

0~*~0

My eyelids felt heavy and I thought about trying to force them open but I felt so warm. Warm and sleepy… but wasn't it raining outside? It wasn't raining now, am I outside? I'm not outside but I feel so warm. But it was raining and I was outside so it should be cold... With a dread I remembered that I had fallen in the woods, bleeding profusely. So where was I now?

My head was pounding and I felt so warm but incredibly tired and I realized I was clutching the blanket wrapped around me. My head was on something soft and cushiony- a pillow. I was in a bed. Had someone come from the temple? Had the Guardian heard my prayer? There was someone around me when I blacked out, there had to have been. I struggled to open my eyes and I stared in front of me waiting for my eyes to focus. My head pounded loudly and I wanted to fall back asleep, it would have been so easy, but I had to know what danger I was in. my vision was still unfocused but I was able to make out a stone wall.

I forced my head to turn and saw a black blob sitting not too far from the bed. I blinked a few more times, attempting to wake up my eyes and the blob began to take form. The blurred edges began to sharpen into the figure of a short man, dressed in black from head to toe with the exception of the inside of his black cloak, a striking red contrasting with the rest of his attire. Even his upwardly spiked hair was black, a white starburst outlining his bangs. His arms seemed to be crossed, the right one wrapped in white bandages, and I looked up into his face and saw red. I had never seen red eyes before, I heard they were eyes of evil but those were just stories. They didn't seem evil to me, instead his narrow, piercing red eyes just stared.

I struggled to sit up, I needed to know who I was dealing with and what his intentions are but he stood and was instantly by my side. His strong, calloused hand gently pressed against, what I now noted was my bare shoulder, gently pushing me back down into the pillow. The claw marks in my shoulder ached and it seemed as though a salve had been put over it.

"You have a fever. Go back to sleep," he said. I tried to analyze his curt voice, trying to figure out what kind of person he was but my head would not allow me. I opened my mouth to respond but no sound came out. My mouth was dry and I suddenly felt incredibly thirsty.

Wordlessly he pushed me back up slightly, careful not to let the blanket slip, and readjusted the pillow so I was slightly propped up. Keeping myself awake was easier now but was still exhausted. I blinked, slowly, as I watched him rummage around. He brought over a tankard and brought it to my lips. The tankard was cool against the raging warmth inside of me and I eagerly began to drink the water inside, taking the tankard from his hands with my own. Ah, water. I felt a little bit better, feeling slightly more refreshed, but still tired.

He took the tankard from me, and our fingers brushed. Surprisingly his touch was exceedingly warm, almost unnaturally so. I wanted to touch him again, to see, but when I reached over, he had turned to set the tankard down. My arm limply fell on the blankets and he looked over at me, a scowl on his face. I noticed in his hands was a small vial filled with a murky white liquid. I tried reaching out to him again but this time he took my hand. His skin did feel unnaturally warm, he felt almost as hot as I was. Shouldn't he be cooler? Did he have a fever too?

"Don't do that, do you intend to expose yourself?" He asked gruffly. He placed my hand gingerly on the blanket underneath my bosom. Being more awake, I was able to frown back.

"Who do you think you are?" My voice was raspy. I wish I had more water.

"I saved your life when you stupidly decided to enter this part of the forest and I'm still trying to keep you from dying," he snapped. His scowl was deepened and his eyes were narrowed. What an interestingly sour man… I placed my hand on my stomach from underneath the blanket and felt my skin. I was naked.

I stared up at him and gave him one of my best stony looks, just to see his reaction. His scowl held but his face flushed and his eyes, previously solid and pointed, were now wavering slightly. Apparently he was not pleased at having to undress me. It was good to know I wasn't dealing with a pervert. Then again, some would argue all men are inherently perverts.

"Take the medicine and get back to sleep, woman," he said, thrusting the vial at me. I took it and pushed past the headache and the fuzziness to glare at him.

"Where I am I? I demand to know my location and the name of my reluctant and dour savior."

Had I not been so out of it, I probably would have laughed as I noticed his nose twitch slightly, evidently irked at my statement. He stared at me for a long moment, and it seemed he was thinking of how to respond. That was curious, the response should have been immediate.

"You are at the Guardian's temple," he finally said. Oh good, the Guardian heard my prayer. I would have to thank the Guardian.

"Whose temple is this? I need to pay respects."

"You need to go back to sleep. Drink it." He was irritated now, I could hear the impatience in his voice and see it in his frown. Was it wrong that I found his irritation to be highly amusing?

"I will, after you tell me your name. How else am I supposed to fall in love with the charming prince who saved the damsel in distress?" I asked mockingly. The pounding in my head called for sleep but it was only proper to know his name and I didn't think he would find the statement.

"I am Hiei, and I am no prince," he snarled. I let out something of a laugh. See, I knew he wouldn't like the statement which is why I knew I would find his reaction to be quite funny. He brought me more water, still glaring at me. I tried to grin before gulping down more of the delicious cool liquid. I then opened the vial and quickly downed the disgusting liquid.

The man called Hiei helped me lay back down and now that I was no longer propped up, the incessant throbbing in my head and my exhaustion was winning again. As he made sure the blanket was tucked tightly around my shoulders I said,

"I am Mîrvana. Thank you, Hiei."

Just because I found his irritations to be entertaining didn't mean I wasn't grateful. Like I said, I prefer to be nice. I felt the hands on me pause for a moment before continuing making sure I was bundled up well. He didn't say anything, I didn't think he would. He did however stare at me curiously as my eyes began to close. This man was interesting indeed…

I blinked. The empty chair and table against the stone wall greeted me. Thank the Ancestors my head wasn't pounding nearly as hard anymore, even if I was a little tired. I sat up and the blanket began to slip. I immediately pressed it against me and looked around. Upon closer inspection I found clothes and slippers lying out on the table. I stood, and winced. I looked down at my leg to see stitches but the area around them looked swollen. Suppressing a curse, I hobbled over to the table, grabbed the clothes and changed. The dark blue dress was simple and the blouse in lieu of a corset wasn't my first choice but it would do. I greatly appreciated the nice quality of the bloomers. My original clothes must be dirty, stained, and beyond repair.

I searched around the room again and noticed a closet. In there I found what I was looking for- Víraserce and a small dagger I had hidden in my boot. I tucked the small dagger carefully into my bosom; you would be surprised as to how unsuspicious of a hiding spot it is. I pondered leaving my Darling in the closet. I could use her as a crutch until I found someone. Fortunately there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said and hobbled to the bed and plopped down.

The door never opened but a small girl suddenly appeared next to the table carrying a tray with soup and a piece of bread. The child had long dark purple hair and violet eyes to match. She was wearing a frilly white and black dress and a white bonnet was tied around her neck. She was adorable but highly suspicious considering she had knocked on the door and showed up at the table, as though she had popped out of the shadows.

The child turned to me and began to speak but I could not understand what she was saying. I concentrated for a moment, feeling the magic within me and muttered, "Language," and suddenly her chatter made sense.

"…So by the time we found you, you were almost dead! We don't know how you got here or what you came here for but you were very lucky, My Lady. Hiei-papa brought in his friend and got you all stitched up and he said it will be a few weeks before you can really travel again, the cut was very deep. Don't worry, Hiei-papa and I will take care of you!"

Okay… 1: Who is this girl? 2: Hiei-papa? 3: Weeks? 4: Where in the Ancestors name was I?

I decided to only ask questions 1, 3 and 4.

"Oh, my name is Shana. I am Hiei-papa's assistant. Yes, you must stay here. You can't afford to lose anymore blood. You are at a temple, taken care of by Hiei-papa," the girl chirped. "Here come eat. I will find a crutch for you to walk on." Then she vanished.

I made my way to the table and as I began to eat, realized I was starving. Thinking about it I could probably use more sleep but I wanted to see my surroundings and talk to my mysterious host a little more. I was eating for maybe five minutes when there was a brisk knock on the door. Ah, he was here. I granted entry and stared at him.

He was pretty short, somewhere below 5 ft, without including his gravity defying spiked hair. His arms were crossed and he looked positively sour.

"About time you woke up," he snorted.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Your hospitality is overwhelming."

"Hn," was his grunted reply. Did I mention it was also a lame reply?

"Hiei, was it?" He didn't deny it so I continued. "Your daughter told me that I am confined here for a few weeks. As such, I will need to send a missive to my father informing him of my status and location. "

He gave me a long stare and it was unnerving, only because I had a feeling I was not going to like his response. "Shana is not my daughter. She calls me that ridiculous nickname because…" He paused and his eyes darted to the side in thought. A scowl formed on his visage and he turned back to me. "She is my assistant in everything I require, that is all you need to know."

He paused, his steady gaze boring into me. I didn't mind, I am very pretty after all. "You cannot send a missive," he said quietly.

I hardened my eyes and prepared myself. Being rescued was one thing. Taken hostage is another. "Do you know who I am? I am not someone that can just disappear without noise. I assure you it is in your best interest to allow me to send a missive or let me be on my way."

The man frowned. "I know who you are and I don't care. They won't know that you are gone and I will not risk the location of the temple."

Now it was my turn to frown. "Temple locations are supposed to be public. Also, my family will have noticed that I have been gone for too long since before you found me. They are no doubt going through village after village looking for me. And when they discover I am nowhere to be found they will assume kidnapping. I will not let a war begin on your stubborn and irrational judgment." I made sure to lace my last sentence with a touch of threat and menace.

I thought he would remain passive or give another snarky remark. Instead his eyes narrowed, glinting, and a smirk grew on his features. He looked as though he was intrigued… Shana suddenly popped out of the ground, holding a makeshift crutch. Then, she disappeared.

"Shadows," he grunted and held the crutch out to me. I eyed him suspiciously but I took the crutch and stood. He turned, cast a small glance back at me, and walked out of the room. Well, I'm going to take that as 'follow me.'

Walking with a crutch is supremely awkward but you don't get to the skill level that I have without a couple accidents. That's how you learn what not to do and trust me, you learn fast. As such, I have experience using a crutch so I wasn't too slow on it but for some reason, he walked at a brisk pace as though it was natural. Whenever he rounded a corner of the stone, barren walls he waited for me to catch up. Who was this man?

We seemed to be in a main corridor now, there were tapestries hanging on the walls but I did not get the opportunity to stop and examine them. We entered a large hall and the short man stopped in front of large iron doors. I figured this room to be the main entrance but there were no guards or temple keepers anywhere. In fact, there wasn't a single other person there.

He glanced back at me one more time, his red eyes uncertain. From my ever so clever deductions, I figured he was uncertain about my reaction to what was in the room, rather than the actual contents of the room. After all, he knew what was in the room. I figured it to be the Guardian's shrine… he was worried about my reaction to the Guardian?

The doors moaned as he pushed them open and I noticed the room was not well lit. He took a few steps into the room and I followed him. Then he stopped and with a sharp wave of his hand torches suddenly burst alight. He stepped out of my view, not that it mattered since I could see over him, and stared.

Don't be mistaken, Guardians are not entities to be worshiped. Far worse, they are entities to be respected. We elves have made contracts with stronger Guardians to create a beneficial relationship for both parties where the Guardian will infuse its soul with the soul of a host. Supposedly being chosen as a host, an Angóluce Tae, is a great honor. I'm pretty sure my brother would disagree.

Either way Guardians don't lord over people or areas, they have their own marked territory usually in the terrain of the element they were born with. If beings are living in their territory, which happens frequently, the Guardian demands respect. Otherwise, it will fly down and destroy everything in its wake. No one wants that to happen so like I said, respect.

I was fairly familiar with most of the Guardians, Fealóce, Ninglor, Vára, Malgora, and Raumo, and I had seen them in paintings and murals. But the statue of this Guardian was one I had never seen before. The body was that of a serpent, curving and slender, and the gold scales covering the body like armor. There were its legs and feet were small and short, as though the beast didn't really use them at all. Its head was a large and rectangular, and seemed to have a beard. The red rubies that comprised its narrow eyes glinted eerily in the torchlight.

The dragons I knew were more like lizards who could stand on their hind legs like a dog and had leathery large spanning wings similar to a bat. The muzzle was fairly similar but all in all, the Guardian was completely foreign. That was when it hit me.

"This is the Forgotten Temple," I said. I didn't ask. There was no need to. His silence confirmed my answer.

"Banished from time, the Forgotten lives in solitude. A beast so terrifying that no one of pure heart could console it or tame it. It could only be locked away and hidden so that in time it will be forgotten and no longer cared for." My voice was quiet and again I was greeted with silence.

Well then, that explains why the temple was on demon lands. Demons lived farther away, on the other side of the mountains in the Dark Lands. If a bunch of elves were going to banish a Guardian, demon territory would be easiest to send it. And while I had not ventured wildly far from home, I had gone towards the mountains. So by some odd twist of fate, I stumbled into the alternate dimension where the temple resided. Well, this would make for a great tale.

I hobbled over to the front of the statue and saw a small unpolished bowl holding a few incense sticks. Since I was standing closer to the statue I was able to see that it could also use a good cleaning. The scales had smudges on them and a small layer of dust was settled on the muzzle.

I slowly lowered myself and kneeled on the hard, cold, stone floor. The man behind me made scolding remarks, how I should not be on my legs like that unless I wanted the stitches to pop and bleed to death. I ignored him. This shrine had not received proper care and I owed the Guardian.

"Nar," I said gently. A small flame flickered to life in my hand. In my other hand I took each incense stick and lit them, replaced them back into the bowl, and extinguished the flame in my hand. I could feel a dull throbbing in my leg but I ignored it. I closed my eyes and reached down into the magic that was A Song.

I wasn't sure what I was singing, it was some prayer of thanksgiving, and sometimes that's the best way to sing. The ancient dragon tongue syllables swept out of my mouth and into the hall around me. It could be considered improvisation but it was more that. I knew what I needed to sing but I didn't necessarily have to think about it. The Song came to me naturally, as though I had known it all my life. Songs are mysterious in that way, they are a form of magic after all.

When I finished he was staring at me curiously, as though what I had done was completely foreign. I tried to push myself back on my feet but with my leg it was impossible. I felt his strong hands grip my sides and, with the crutch, I pulled myself on my feet.

"You're a fool," he growled, pulling up the gown to check my leg. I roughly jerked the fabric out of his hands.

"You're neglectful," I snapped. "If you're the temple keeper, how could you let the shrine get this bad? I would imagine that you don't get any pilgrims but at least have some respect. The last thing anyone needs is the wrath of this dragon."

He stared at me silently for a moment. "Hn." Let's rephrase: I-know-you're-right-but-I'm-too-stubborn-to-say-so.

"That is not a word," I sighed. He turned and I followed him back out down some hallways when he opened a door to reveal a decent sized courtyard. I immediately sat down on the bench and took in the view better. There were supposed to be gardens but the flowers were dead and weeds were growing in its place. He sat down across from me, slouching with his arms crossed.

"You really should take care of this place better. Don't you live here?" I asked frowning.

"I don't care about flowers," he grunted.

"Well at least tell me about the flow of time here. I do need to know when my family will begin looking for me."

"A day out there is equivalent to twenty four months here."

My jaw almost dropped. "An hour is equal to a month?" Well I wouldn't have to worry too much.

"I only reside here for six months. I had recently arrived when we picked you up. My assistant, Shana comes and goes with whatever I need and now, whatever you need," he said.

I would have to draw up a list then. I glanced down at my leg, covered by the fabric. How long would it take? Did it matter? Six months of my life would at least be spent here with nothing but a demon for company. I should have been scared or nervous, but I wasn't. I was cautious, I am a princess after all, but for now I was more or less sure that I was safe. I would have at least six months to- wait. Six months? Temple keepers lived in the Guardian temples, they weren't allowed to leave.

My eyes fell on his bandaged hand. "You aren't temple keeper are you?" I thought his eyes would narrow and his face frown but instead his lips pulled into a smirk, his eyes haughtily intrigued.

"Figure it out?" He asked.

"I think I did," I responded proudly back, "Even though you don't have a drop of Singer blood in you."

"Tch, you think I need your seemingly prestigious power to harness the power of the dragon?" He sneered. His eyes were alight with a terrible glee and his smirk widened. I should have been scared. The menacing look on his face should have made me run for the hills. Instead, I was hooked on every word. I wanted to know how he did it, I wanted to see his dragon in all its glory.

"Actually, I do," I responded proudly. Of course, I did think that was true but I was pretty sure that my words would fuel his pride which in turn would fuel his desire to prove me wrong.

His mouth opened, the anger evident in his visage but then he calmed and sized me up. Then he said nothing. Oooh, well two could play that game. I was going to find a way to get to see that dragon, no matter what. I knew how to bide my time. Six months was plenty.

0~*~0

As a princess, I don't cook. I don't clean dishes. I don't clean in general. This isn't to say that I don't get my hands dirty. When you're fighting or camping there is a lot of dirt involved but cleaning is a minimal task that I simply don't have time for. Unfortunately, after seeing the smudges and dust worsen in the Guardian's room for over a month, I was going to go crazy. That and I had nothing better to do.

"Alright, girl! This should be easy," I muttered to myself, staring at the dimly lit room. Armed with a bucket full of water, a rag, magic, and my brilliant mind, this should be easy. First things first, I needed to see. I cast my arm out and said, "Galad." A ball of light formed in my hands and I tossed it up into the air. Upon contact with the ceiling, the light spread through the stone, illuminating the room.

I couldn't believe my eyes. On either side of the statue were rectangular crevasses that ran vertically from one end to the other, empty and barren. There were cloths that covered four sections, were they covering windows? Behind the statue were furniture piled up and a decorative chest covered in cobwebs.

The room needed a serious dusting, sweep, and scrubbing. I got to work, pulling out the furniture and setting it into the main hallway. Really, it should be thrown out. The upholstery was disgusting, smelled of something odd, and the wood didn't seem sturdy. I pulled out other odds and ends and managed to push the larger chest out without ruining it. I pulled down the cloths to reveal large windows with cracked and broken glass. Sunlight filtered through and I tossed the cloths onto the furniture.

Now it was time to make magic. I readied myself, concentrated, and-

"Woman, what are you doing?"

I whipped around at his incredulous voice and the wind followed, sweeping towards him. It wasn't enough to knock him off his feet but it was enough to blow quite a bit of dust on him. My hands flew to my mouth trying to stifle the laughter as I stared at him, his black hair and face covered in grey.

He wiped his eyes slowly and I burst as he glared at me angrily.

"Damnit, what the hell are you doing?" he spat.

"Cleaning!" I managed to get out. Scowling he bent over, dipped his hands into the water bucket and splashed water on his face. He then cast off his cloak and threw it on the furniture before returning to the water bucket. I just laughed. When I could finally regain control of myself, he was still dusty looking but not as covered as before.

"Now stand back and don't startle me this time," I said humorously. He scowled and crossed his arms. I felt the magic running through me as I commanded, "Sûl." Wind from the windows breezed through the room, and began to sweep across the floor. I covered my mouth as the wind passed by, I should have grabbed a scarf. As I coughed, I moved the wind into a far corner, shoving the dust in one spot. As I readied myself to call upon the wind again, the demon stepped to my side.

"Tch, are you planning on suffocating yourself?" he growled. I stared at him surprised for a moment but then grinned, taking the white scarf he was offering me.

"It slipped my mind," I said, tying around my mouth. He turned to leave and I smiled from underneath the cloth. For a supposed ruthless, angry demon, he was quite thoughtful.

I continued to work well throughout the day and I had only accomplished getting rid of all the dust. To feel as though this wasn't going to take forever, I had splashed water on the stone floor, as a preliminary wash before the scrub. The next day, in the light of the sun I realized this floor needed to be scrubbed, that sloshing water around wasn't going to do any good.

I found him outside, sitting in a tree. "Hey!" I called up. "Get inside, we've got scrubbing to do!"

He peered down at me. "I don't clean," he said in a flat tone.

"Neither do I but that room is filthy! Your Guardian should be ashamed of you!"

The air suddenly began to hum and though slightly different, I could feel the familiar touch of a dragon speaking forcibly. Fealoce's was deep and strong, whereas this one felt small but pointed. The hum lasted for only twenty seconds and a moment after it died he jumped down, scowling.

I grinned as I wordlessly followed him inside. He cast off his cloak, which he always did with an extravagant sort of flair, I handed him a bucket and a brush and we set about our task. Ugh, I did not envy palace workers, that was for sure. At least our floors were easy to clean. Here with the stone, the dirt seems to settle in and stay. Two hours had passed with the sound of the scrubbing and my occasional humming when suddenly he was standing before me.

"I'm finished."

I frowned at him. "You're finished with the entire back half of the room? That's not possible. No one is that fast."

He crossed his arms. "I don't do things half heartedly, woman."

Completely in disbelief I stood and walked over to where he was working. It was almost two shades lighter than my half of the room and more or less devoid of dirt. I turned to him, shocked.

"How did you do this so quickly?"

I expected his usual scowl or unhappy retort but instead he smirked and his eyes lit up. Then he vanished. What? Where did he go? Feeling an unusual amount of warmth behind me I spun around to see him staring up at me haughtily, his arms crossed and his head cocked.

"I'm obviously faster than you, woman."

Well, I didn't know he liked to be such a showoff. But even if he is faster than me, that doesn't mean I'm going to sit around and let him have the upper hand. Not at all.

"That's excellent," I said smiling sweetly. "That means you can finish my half while I work on getting water flowing back through the crevasses."

His smirk dropped. Hah. One for Vana, Zero for Hiei. He brushed by me grumbling something under his breath about how he really needed to stop being around so many women, which didn't make sense to me considering that only myself and the Shana girl who popped in every now and then were the only women here. Unless the Guardian was female… hmm…

I pondered this as I inspected the openings in the wall that the crevasses ran into. I couldn't see well but I would imagine that something was blocking the water. The dark tunnel, and the insides of the crevasse, was full of dried up grime. Maybe burning it, scrubbing the stone, and then trying to get the water working would be the best plan. I set to it, throwing balls of fire down the long passage way and alighting the open crevasse. It seemed to work well enough. Around noon we broke for lunch and we quickly ate. I returned to the crevasse and began scrubbing it while he set fire to the other crevasse, following my lead.

"So I heard demons have elemental types that they are born with," I said casually. My response was the sound of our brushes working. Figures. "That it is embedded in their spirit and soul, makes them who they are." Still no response. Was I really going to have to detail this out? "What kind are you?"

"That's none of your business," he replied gruffly.

"I'm just trying to get to know you, considering I don't know anything about you and you are the only other person I have for company." I sighed and wiped my brow before continuing my work. He could light torches with a wave of his hand and he sent fire down the water opening. Then there was his abnormally warm touch. "Are you a fire demon?"There was a pause, slight but noticeable, in his movement. Ah ha. So he was a fire demon. Interesting…

By the end of the day, I was fairly sure that between the two of us, the water shafts were cleared out and as clean as they were going to get. So the next morning, I dragged him back into the room. He set about polishing the statue while I assessed the windows, for the sake of not scrubbing. Seriously, I was tired of seeing my hands so pruney. It was disgusting.

"These windows are going to need replacing. We should send a note to Shana now, they will take time to make." I turned to look at him and stopped, surprised.

He was concentrated on the lower half of the statue, his hand moving in circles slowly, thoughtfully. I thought this was odd considering he had so quickly finished the other tasks but maybe as a Tae the statue actually meant something to him. Then again, he had left this room completely abandoned before. But on the other side, maybe all he needed was a push and a reason to clean the room. After all this was where pilgrims would come and ask for protection and amnesty as they traveled through the Guardians land and I was in here every day thanking the Guardian. Maybe, he wasn't neglectful. Maybe he just needed someone to see the worth of the Forgotten Guardian.

"Alright," I announced. "I'm going to try and get the water flowing." The crevasse had a small enough width that I could easily straddle it. I closed my eyes, sending my magic out and trying to connect with the water. Water magic can be tricky. Creating it out of thin air is possible but dangerous and if done in a closed space can kill you. As a result, it's always best to use pre-existing sources. To use the sources however, the magic needs to be tethered to the water. I knew it was down that shaft somewhere but I wasn't sure how far down it was.

Eventually I felt the magic snap into place, as though it had been a line tightly secured. I found my source. I began to pull but there was a resistance. I pulled a little harder and still nothing. Finally I yanked on the link and the barrier shattered. I turned to the demon and grinned.

"Well, that takes care of-"

I was cut off by water and grime slamming me in the side of my face. My magical tether dissolved as I sputtered out mud.

"No, no, no!" I wailed. My eyes burned as I tried to wipe the grime off of them. When I was able to open my eyes and I moved so I was no longer straddling the crevasse that was now running with murky water. I looked down at my arms which were now wet and dirty and forget about my dress. I was covered in filth. Well, this is what I get for not remembering to sever the magic.

I stared up at the demon who seemed to be thoroughly amused. He wasn't laughing, I didn't know if he even knew how, but a playful smirk was formed on his lips and his eyes glinted heartily.

"Oh shut your mouth," I snapped. His smirk grew wider. "How bad is it?" I didn't wait for his response and I walked over to where he had been polishing. I wasn't able to see my reflection well but what I wanted to see what clear as day.

My beautiful, long, braided, white hair was covered in dripping dirty, muddy, grimey, water and sludge. I did mention that my hair is white, right?

"Ancestors, why? I don't have any dye, what am I going to do? I'll die an old maid because no man will want to see my disgusting and filthy hair! Oh my hair, my hair!" I sobbed in elvish.

Okay, I don't think it's a secret that I'm vain. But the pride and joy of my vanity is my long, silky, light, bouncy white hair. It's not easy having white hair either. After all, white stains easily in general which is why I always have dye prepared. But I have to wash and dye it quickly, otherwise it will stain. The last time my hair was stained I had to cut it, I couldn't bear to see it that way. But my whole head? I can't shave my head!

"Quit your blubbering, woman!" His voice thundered through the room. I'm not sure why, but I stopped wailing at least. I sniffled, glancing at him and he had a rather distasteful look on his visage. "Get to the bath before you ruin the work I did on this damn floor."

"Buh- but my hair," I sniffled, blinking tears.

"Damnit woman, just wash it." He was clearly getting impatient but this was my hair. And his hair was black so it was impossible for him to understand my plight.

"I can't do it myself, not to make sure all the dark spots are gone. My hair will stain," I complained.

He stared at me for a moment and I sighed. It wasn't like he was going to- suddenly he grabbed my wrist and was dragging me out of the room and outside to a nearby river. He then proceeded to shove me in it.

Cold water greeted me as I stumbled and slipped on the smooth rocks. Landing hard on my rear I glared at him. "You are very helpful."

"Just get your hair wet, woman. The faster this is over, the less time I have to listen to your ridiculous whining," he said growling.

I pulled on the ties of my dress and slipped out of it, wearing only my undergarments. He gave no visible reaction to me standing in my drawers, which was a little embarrassing since the water was cold, and proceeded to wash my face and began to wet my hair. I had little time to focus on him however, the beauty and flawlessness of my hair was at stake.

After a preliminary rinse, I flipped my hair back to see soap and a fresh set of clothes sitting not too far from the river bank. I smiled a little as waded out and reached for the soap. I didn't think he would take note of such details but it was very much appreciated.

My dwindling angst of my hair was short lived however as some of the ugly greenish black of the grime had settled all over my hair. I spent the next two days mourning the loss of my beauty and he avoided me like a plague. Not that I could really blame him, I mean I must have been pretty annoying as justified as my mourning was. But on the third day when I was tired of moping about in my room, I went into the Guardian's room.

I stood floored, as the bright, sunny room, invited me warmly in. The floor clean, the broken windows removed, and somewhat murky water running through the crevasses. How he got the second one flowing was beyond me but his methods were probably a lot cleaner than mine. An incense stick was lit in front of the polished statue and the gold and rubys glimmered brightly in the sun. Even though I wasn't there to help complete it, I was glad to have helped.

"There you are, woman."

I turned at the sound of his rough voice and smiled at him, ignoring his frown. "The room looks amazing! I'm sure the Guardian is pleased!" I said brightly.

His frown disappeared and for a moment, a confused expression came over him but it was gone as quickly as it came and was replaced with his visage seemingly blank. I say seemingly because he then averted his eyes and said,

"Hn."

Translation: I-know-and-I'm-really-proud-of-all-the-work-I-did-that-I-normally-wouldn't-do-but-I'm-too-supposedly-distant-and-cold-to-say-so. I'm getting better at this by the day.

"Not a word," I sighed. He held out a jar to me with a white substance inside. Was that? Could it be?

"You're lucky it was already made or else-"

"HAIR DYE! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I squealed and I threw my arms around his neck.

"Wo-woman, what are you doing?" He stuttered. I ignored him, released him from my grasp, and took the jar from him, hugging it to my bosom tightly.

"I will be beautiful again!" I sighed, as I practically skipped out of the room. A realization hit me however and I stopped and slowly walked back to the shrine. He hadn't moved and so I walked up behind him and coughed, making my presence known. He turned around with an odd expression on his face. I didn't think about it too much, after what I was about to say next it was going to get odder.

"I can't apply this by myself, especially since I have a lot of stains on the top of my head."

He face went flat. "Damnit, woman," he grumbled. But he snatched the jar out of my hands and stalked out of the room. I followed him smiling a bit. I knew he would grumble, as he always did but I also knew that in the end, he would always help when I asked.

It was good to know that we were friends.

0~*~0

"Damnit woman, I told you your leg isn't ready yet," His deep, rugged voice growled. He stared down at me frowning with his arms crossed.

"And I told you that I am going to go crazy from sitting in this temple! I need to go outside and do something!" I shot back. After cleaning up the Guardian shrine I was easily occupied with decorating it with flowers and ordering benches and other places to sit. But that only lasted for a few more weeks and now I was antsy and ready to get back outside exercising and at least practicing my claymore techniques. I didn't have to worry about the stitches anymore but my leg was still weak which made him believe for some reason that I was not ready to do anything physical.

Of course when I had fallen out of the tree I was climbing because I slipped on my weak leg, his case was the winning one.

He stared at me for a moment his visage blank and his eyes boring into me. If I didn't know better, I would have assumed my words had gone through one ear and out the other. But I did know better, so I knew that he was processing my words, trying to form a compromise. At least I hoped.

His nose twitched slightly before offering me his hand, a habit he seemed to do when he had to shove aside the groaning and complaining inside of him, which also coincidentally happened a lot around me. I took his hand with my left and he helped pull me up onto my right leg, my left leg sore. I gripped his shoulder tightly for support and his warm, strong hand rested at the small of my back. I gently placed my left leg on the ground and released my grip on his shoulder.

"There are safer things than climbing up a tree in your state," He growled, chiding me.

"I was trying to see if I could find a lake, you weren't around to ask and climbing a tree to get a good look at my surroundings was the only other alternative."

He stared pointedly at me, not saying a word. With him, his facial expressions were words. This one was saying that my actions were really, really stupid. Is it a sign that you are around someone for too long when you make up phrases for their facial expressions? Probably.

Wordlessly he started walking into the woods. I slowly followed behind him, disappointed that I could not go into the woods unsupervised. Granted, the woods are a dangerous place but he was not giving me enough credit. So I was a little irked at that but mostly I was hoping I could swim without my clothes, I hate getting them wet.

For being almost killed here, the forest around the temple wasn't all that bad. It seemed to be alive with an air that reminded me of the area surrounding Fealóce's lair. I suppose the feeling was meant to ward people of, but I was reminded of home. I suppose it came from my brother being Fealóce's Keeper but either way, I was glad to be outside and away from the view of the temple for a bit.

He suddenly stopped walking and pulled off the white bandana around his forehead. The slit on his forehead opened to reveal a large, purple third eye. The first time I had seen it I nearly attacked him, purely because I wasn't sure what he was doing. He explained that it gave him the ability to find things and read minds, if he wanted. I found it to be very creepy but endlessly fascinating. He closed his normal eyes, concentrating, and the third eye began to glow. I could feel the power pulsating around me and I wanted to reach out and touch it with my own magic but I knew it was impossible. I already tried.

After a minute or two he reopened his eyes and tied the fabric around his forehead again.

"Did you get directions?" I asked. He glared at me.

"Hn," he grunted. Why-yes-I-did-as-a-matter-of-fact-and-so-now-that-I-am-no-longer-lost-we-can-continue.

"That's not a word," I chided.

We changed direction and went a short distance before we arrived in a small clearing where there was a cool spring. This time of year, with the warm sun, this spring was going to be perfect!

"How Charming of you to escort me here. Now if you please, I would prefer to swim alone," I said sweetly.

He shot me an irritated glare and I laughed. I was enjoying teasing him with the nickname immensely which he, naturally, loathed but that was what made it entertaining. As grateful as I was to him, poking fun at him helped keep me busy and my wit sharp. Besides, I don't think he minded it as much as he made it look.

He began to walk over to a tree, presumably to lean against as he always did but I called out to him, "Hey, come over here and help me out of this dress! I want to go swimming!" Now that I had been here for some time, Shana had thankfully procured actual dresses and proper undergarments which meant I couldn't tie them myself anymore. Usually Shana was at the temple in the mornings to help do my ties.

"Do it yourself," he called back. He sat down, leaned up against the tree and closed his eyes. Glaringly I marched right up to him and said, "I can't reach the ties myself and they are tied in tight knots."

His eyes didn't even open as he responded. "You didn't seem to need me around before."

"Yes, well that was because I wanted to go swimming naked. I can't very well do that now that you're here can I?" I asked hotly, crossing my arms. His eyes snapped open as his cheeks turned as red as his eyes.

"Why the hell would you do that?" He spat. Was the idea of me naked that offensive? Or was it the opposite? Well, I am very attractive so I'm sure it was the latter.

"It's hot out and we are secluded so why not? Either way, I need to get this dress off. I have a corset and bloomers on."

He stared at me for a moment. "You could cut your leg on a rock and get infected."

"Since when did you become my father?" I snapped. Damnit, why couldn't he just comply? I was sure I could do it myself if I really wanted to but now it was about me not losing. The principle of the thing, right? Either way arguing wasn't helping, I needed ammunition that he didn't have. Good thing I'm a woman. I re-crossed my arms and pouted cutely. "Come on, Charming, you wouldn't want to make a nice, pretty girl like me all upset would you?" I fake sniffled and pouted prettily for effect.

His still eyes stared up at me silently. I knew he had red eyes and I had seen them before, but I hadn't actually stared into them before. The crimson depths that revealed more emotion than he realized were awing. As his gaze hardened and his eyes narrowed the intimidating glare sent a shiver down my spine and yet, I didn't want to look away. I felt my body warm and I felt as though I was becoming lost in his gaze, the pointed glare bringing me in rather than sending me away.

He stood abruptly, hands shoved into his pockets, muttering under his breath. Snapped out of the spell, I smiled brightly at him and I earned a menacing glare. Was it wrong that I liked to see him glare at me? Why would I enjoy a glare, it was supposed to drive people away and make him seem harsh, scary, and mean. But he wasn't any of those things… okay he was harsh and could be scary but not mean. Maybe it was a defense mechanism and I could see through it because of everything he had done for me. Maybe.

"You try my patience, woman," he growled.

"I'm quivering in my boots," I said, rolling my eyes.

I moved my hair to the front and began to braid it while he undid the dress in the back. He stood back when he finished and stared up at me, and he had to be thinking something about me as I finished braiding my hair. Wordlessly I reached down and snatched his scarf from around his neck and proceeded to tie it into a nice bow at the end of my braid.

"Tch, what do you think you're doing, woman?" He said.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I used your scarf to hold my braid together. Don't worry, I'll give it back," I said humorously.

"I don't want it back," he growled. He resumed his place on the ground while I visibly rolled my eyes at him. Inside however, his words stung me. I mentally shook myself and brushed them off, I was rather rude to take it to begin with. Besides, I was about to go swimming.

I shrugged the dress off my arms and it ruffled to the ground. He turned his head away but as I stepped out of it and bent over to pick it up, I noticed his eyes slide over to me. I paused, catching his gaze and he flushed a deep red before his eyes quickly darted away. I blushed and quickly gathered my dress before turning and walking quickly to the water.

What was that all about? "You have no reason to be embarrassed," I said loudly. I turned to him, my arms crossed. "You tended to me when I had a fever and I was naked, not to mention all the times you've barged in on me while pulling my dress on because of your inability to knock."

His face turned a bright red but it was his eyes I was following. And I was very confused as to where they were gazing because it definitely wasn't my eyes.

"Hn." Possible translation: Wow-you're-making-me-uncomfortable-because-I-don't-want-to-stare-at-you-except-you're-making-it-impossible-do-so-and-it's-not-my-fault-I'm-a-guy-and-you're-a-girl-in-a-corest-whose-job-it-is-to-make-your-chest-look-as-attractive-as-possible.

"That is not a word," I said solidly, turning swiftly on my heel. I could feel his steady eyes on me, and Ancestors know what he was thinking. I certainly didn't want to know, especially after I opened that can of worms. And this was why I wanted to go swimming alone…

I slipped into the spring and I enjoyed the refreshing, cool water against my skin. I swam around for a bit, my strokes slow, not really thinking about anything. That was something I loved about nature, the ability to absorb the sun's caresses, the cool touch of the water, and just listen to the beautiful humming of the woods.

After sometime, I decided to make my way back to the bank. I didn't really want to get out but I was tired of treading and standing on rocks. I pulled myself out but allowed my legs to sit in the water. I sighed happily in the sunlight, enjoying my skin absorbing the warmth. I looked over at the demon who was seated comfortably against the base of the tree, his eyes closed.

"Hiei?" I asked. An eye opened. "You should come join me. The water is nice." I wasn't sure if fire demons enjoyed swimming but it couldn't hurt to try. Besides, after embarrassing him earlier, being nice and inviting was the least I could do. Like I said, I don't like being mean even if I do find pushing his buttons to be entertaining.

He regarded me silently and I held his gaze for a moment before he stood. In one swift and grandiose motion, he cast his cloak off. He folded it neatly underneath the tree, next to my dress, and slowly took off his boots.

I smiled, genuinely I promise, at him as he walked over. He stared at me pensively for a moment before sitting down next to me, pulling up the bottom of his pants, and dipping his feet into the water. I could feel the warmth radiating from his foot in the water and I thought it was interesting that his body was so warm that he was heating the water. I did not want the water warm however so I slipped back in and sat on a rock, the crystal blue water resting just below my chin.

"So what do you normally do in demon world?" I asked. I had been wondering for sometime but never found him in a mood where he might be willing to explain. Now that he was in a seemingly good mood, I actually might learn something about him.

He laid down on the bank and his toes played with the water. "I serve my King." After a moment's pause he added, "And keep watch of my territory."

"You're a Lord?"

"Tch, I have no need for such titles. I have a territory because I have enough power that other demons don't want to screw with me."

I stared at him curiously. "Tell me more." He sat up effortlessly and my eyes were drawn for a moment to the teal gem hanging from around his neck, sparkling in the sun against his bare chest. I then noticed his bare very muscular chest… The realm to Vana! Stop ogling the super attractive demon!

He seemed not to notice my inappropriate staring and spoke frankly. "We do not operate the way you do. The Makai is ruled by power, not by blood. Fighting is a constant part of our lives."

"There are no times of peace?" I asked frowning.

"We are in peace time. The warlords aren't out for each other's blood anymore due to the system that was put in place by one of the warlord's sons. There will always be squabbles." He pondered for a moment. "My territory has little quarrels." I detected a note of pride in his voice. Thinking of when we cleaned the shrine room, it seemed as though he took pride in his work especially when he cleaned the statue. Even if demons did not live in the same political system as we elves did, it was apparent that he valued his pride and his honor. I could respect that.

"I hope for the same one day, but for my kingdom and amongst the facets of elves. Humans are gaining territory and we need to band together, whether we end up in war or not." I sighed. "Of course, depending on what my dear husband decides to do, my opinion won't matter."

He frowned at me. "You are mated?"

Mated? That's a rather animalistic term for it… "Not yet. But I will be forced to. Then I will lose the crown that is truly mine," I said bitterly.

He stared at me for a moment before lying back down. "What a waste," he snorted.

I frowned. "Excuse me?" But he didn't respond.

I thought for a moment, thinking of the gem around his neck. "Are you married or courting anyone?" The last thing I needed was a jealous demoness coming after me, especially in my current state.

"No," he said flatly.

"Who gave you the gem?" I asked curiously. When I got no response I tried again. "I just thought it looked like something a woman would give as a token to one she loved. Is it from your mother, or maybe your sister? Either way it's very beautiful."

When there was no response I tried a different angle. "Every year since my fiftieth birthday my brother has given me a charm for a bracelet he got for me as a gift when he went on a trip to the sea. It is one of my most treasured possessions. I almost wore it the day I stumbled here and I'm glad I didn't. I might have lost it."

I sighed at the silence in the air. Well, I tried. I was about to go underwater when I heard his voice.

"My mother. My sister has one as well."

I smiled and dove into the water. I was glad he had answered me, I was sure he wouldn't. He seemed so guarded all the time, it was nice to relax and talk about ourselves for once. I was glad our friendship was deepening, my duration here would be unbearable without it.

When I noticed his toes had stopped moving I moved out of the water and back to land to dry. I stared down at his sleeping figure curiously. His white tipped bangs were in his eyes and I lightly brushed them aside. I smiled softly at the small pout that graced his round, almost childish face. I was surprised how different his visage was while he was sleeping versus being awake. Perhaps it was his sharp eyes that made his face seem more structured and firm. Either way, I enjoyed seeing both sides of him and this was one I was not likely to see again. So I basked in the sun, singing softly, relaxing in the company of my curious, calloused but Charming companion.

---

I hope you enjoyed this special extra! It was so long I had to split it into two parts haha! I'm really excited for all of you to read this, especially since this is my first real stab at writing from first person. I had been wanting to throw the demon world into Mîra's LOTR type world for awhile and I had three variations of this idea. When I told you all this was almost finished and would be coming soon, I was planning on going with the first version which was the shortest. But then I revisited this one and I loved the first person POV too much to let it go which is why it took longer! Anyway, I hope you loved it and REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! I want to hear what you think about finally seeing Mîra's mind! Either way, thanks for reading! 3

Translation Notes (in order of appearance):

Ada- Father

Durintavar- Riverwood

Alyatavar- Blessedwood

Víraserce- Blood Rose

Nen- water

Cemen- earth

Sûl- wind

Lanthir- waterfall

Angóluce Nellyo- Dragonsinger

Angóluce Tae- Dragon Keeper

Nar- fire

Galad- light

Dragon Reference (Name: TYPE, Residence: Keeper):

Fealóce: FIRE, Alyatavar: Rodynar

Ninglor: WATER, Durintavar: Rinowa

Vára: EARTH, Dúrtavar: Eirien

Malgora: ICE, Northern Mountains: untamed

Raumo: WIND, Nomad: untamed