Blood.
Blood and ice.
A king lay dead, pierced by the sword. Crimson life flowing out to freeze upon the floor, life no more. More blood, falling upon his upturned face, flooding his open mouth.
Terror.
It's too much blood. No, please, not him too. So much blood. I can't…
With a jolt, Fai awoke from the nightmare, his heart pounding. The dream had left him chilled and shaken. He shuddered as the images flashed through his mind again: scenes from a world lost.
Climbing out of the bed, the wizard walked over to the washing alcove and began splashing cool water onto his face. He took deep breaths, trying to calm his rapid pulse, to ease the lingering anxiety. Footsteps sounded behind him, and he whirled around to find himself staring wild eyed at Kurogane. Concern marked the warrior's face. Fai felt his legs begin to waver beneath him.
Kurogane stepped forward and caught Fai in his arms, drawing him close. The warrior's body seemed to Fai the only solid fixture in the room. Kurogane held the magician secure against him until Fai's legs began to steady and his ragged breathing relaxed.
"You know it'll only get worse, the longer you go without," the taller man whispered down into Fai's hair, his breath warm against the wizard's scalp. "I don't care if the elves find out. We'll deal with them if we have to. You need to drink."
Fai sighed. Unfortunately, Kurogane was right. He had gone too long already. He was beginning to weaken. Hands still trembling slightly, Fai began to undo the buttons of Kurogane's nightshirt. Having gone far enough, he pushed the fabric aside, exposing bare skin. Using one of his sharpened nails, Fai slit a small, shallow opening just beneath the ninja's collarbone. Pressing his lips around the incision, Fai began to lap up the small droplets of blood that exuded from the wound.
No matter how many times he did this, the vampiric act had never come to feel normal to Fai. It was too strange that a part of him thrilled at the taste of Kurogane's blood. It was unnerving, the aching need he felt for the substance, the undeniable desire that overcame him whenever the warm liquid first touched his tongue.
And yet, as he finished, licking the last trickle of blood from Kurogane's skin, he felt altogether soothed and satisfied. The anxious fear of the dream had been wiped away, replaced with calm. His limbs no longer shook as his hands rested lightly on the swordsman's chest. Kurogane's arms still encircled him, pressing gently along his lower back. It was comfortable. Far too comfortable. Fai felt his heartbeat quickening again.
"Fai, I…" Kurogane began, his voice low and soft.
But Fai pulled away, interrupting whatever he had been about to say. "Thank you, Kuro." He spoke briskly. "I feel much better now." It was too early in the morning for the mage to be dealing with these kinds of feelings.
"… Of course." The ninja's voice was strangely muted. Neither spoke for a long moment.
"Hm, what time is it anyway?" Fai asked, feeling a need to fill the silence that had fallen between them. "Is it even morning yet? It's so dark in here all the time."
"Light some candles then," Kurogane suggested grumpily. "I'm sure that elf girl will be along with breakfast before too long. You can ask her the time then."
"Where are you going?" Fai asked as Kurogane turned and headed back to their bedroom.
"To put clothes on. Now, be quiet, or you'll wake the kid and the creampuff."
He left, and Fai set to work lighting the candles and lamps of the sitting room. The room seemed unpleasantly chilled now that Kurogane had left it. The thin fabric of his nightshirt did little to hold in heat, and the wizard found himself regretting pushing away the inviting warmth of the other man's body. But he had not dared risk remaining so close for any longer. Lingering in Kurogane's embrace set his heart to aching. And it was a desire Fai knew had nothing to do with his need for the other man's blood. Kurogane had already given Fai so much; the wizard could not bring himself to ask for more. Igniting the final wick, Fai stood gazing into the dancing flame, rubbing his hands against his arms in an attempt to warm them.
"Good morning, Fai." Syaoran's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Ah, good morning, Syaoran, Mokona. Did you sleep well?"
"Mokona slept very well!" the small, furry creature exclaimed. She hopped out of Syaoran's hands onto Fai's shoulder and rubbed affectionately against the wizard's cheek. "The beds here are comfy warm, and the wine the king gave us last night made Mokona nice and sleepy."
"Yes, you certainly were drinking a lot of it," Fai remarked.
"Did you sleep well too, Fai?" she asked.
"Of course," the mage fibbed, sitting down on the couch and setting Mokona down beside him.
"Is Kurogane still asleep?" Syaoran asked, seating himself in a chair across from them.
Fai shook his head. "No, he just left to change clothes. He should be back out in a minute."
As if on cue, Kurogane walked out into the sitting room to join them. "Seems they're expecting us to stay for awhile," he observed. "They've stashed enough clothes in our closet for over a week." The warrior now wore a long-sleeved tunic of dark grey over black pants. Elvish clothing fit him well, Fai noticed. It accentuated his height and lean physique. Kurogane stood beside the table, arms akimbo.
"Well, there's no telling how long we'll actually be here," Syaoran pointed out. "It was kind of them to provide us with fresh clothes."
"Yeah, but it'd be nice if they'd give our old ones back too," the ninja said, frowning.
"I'm sure they're just running them through the laundry, Kuro-rin," Fai said. "We were rather dirty when we came in, you know."
"Oh, and I suppose they're just washing our weapons as well?" Kurogane grumbled. "If the king's decided we're friends, why haven't they returned our swords?"
"I imagine they didn't think we'd need them here in the palace in the middle of the night," Fai attempted to placate him. "We'll get them back soon." Fai sighed inwardly. He supposed it was his own fault the warrior was extra cranky this morning, being woken early by the wizard's nightmares and then fed upon.
A knock sounded at the door, and Fai rose to answer it. "Melanna, good morning!" he greeted the elf maiden.
"Good morning," she replied cheerily. "I've brought your breakfast."
Fai stood aside as she pushed her cart into the room, laden with fruits, breads, and various other items. The travelers thanked her and invited her to join them - an offer which she quickly accepted. Kurogane had taken the other chair, so Melanna sat down on the couch beside Fai and Mokona. "Everyone is talking about your marvelous story," she told them as they began to eat. "I can hardly believe it myself – so many wonderful worlds you have visited! In all my life, I have never been more than a couple of miles from these caves. It must be exciting, to travel as you do."
"Yes," Syaoran replied. "Though, it can be dangerous as well. We never know what sort of place we're going to end up in next."
Melanna nodded thoughtfully. "You're lucky to have landed here in the Woodland Realm. Our king keeps us safe from the dangers outside."
"Oh yeah?" Kurogane asked between mouthfuls. "What about all those spiders then? Are they the king's pets?"
"Certainly not!" Melanna exclaimed. "The spiders have recently started becoming more of a problem, but no one has been seriously injured by them. The king's forces come quickly to rout them whenever they cross our borders. The safety of his people is King Thranduil's highest concern."
"I'm sure it is," Fai said in reply. "Please don't mind our friend here. He had a rather long night. I'm sure he meant no offense."
Kurogane made no comment and continued eating.
"Anyway," Syaoran picked up the conversation again and changed the subject, apparently sensing the tension that seemed to have risen between the two other men of his group. "I was hoping we might have a look around the palace today. One of the elves we spoke to last night told us about a library you have here. I'd especially like to see that."
"Ah, that must have been Saelan," Melanna answered him. "He's quite proud of the king's library. He'll talk your ears off with stories from the First Age, though."
"That's all right," the young man assured her. "I love learning about the history of the people I meet."
"Then I am sure the two of you will quite enjoy each other's company," she reasoned. "I can take you to meet him after breakfast, if you like."
"Thank you." Syaoran smiled at the elf maid.
"I was wondering," Fai began, an idea forming in his mind as he glanced over at the still frowning Kurogane. "Melanna, would it be possible for us to meet with Tauriel today as well? You see, when we first arrived here, we had to relinquish certain items of ours into her care for the time being, and we would rather like to retrieve them now that we've been cleared of suspicion."
"I see no reason why not," Melanna answered. "If she's here, that is. Tauriel is known to often go out on patrol. Have someone direct you to the armory – that will be the most likely place to find her."
Fai looked again to Kurogane. The ninja no longer scowled so heavily. This may not quite make up for this morning, the wizard reasoned, but it was a start. He knew Kurogane would be more at ease if he had his sword with him. Excusing himself from the breakfast table, Fai headed to the room he and Kurogane shared to change clothes.
Fai opened the closet door. Kurogane had not exaggerated – there were indeed a large number of outfits provided for them. The mage searched through the selection of robes, tunics, and pants, all hanging neatly from hangers. He chose the item that looked like it would offer the most warmth – a dark blue robe of fleece-like material. Flipping through, he found a soft grey undershirt and dark grey pants to wear beneath it. Having lived the majority of his life in frigid climes, it was a wonder to Fai that he wasn't more cold-tolerant. Of course, he reasoned, pulling off the nightshirt and slipping the silky material of the undershirt over his head, perhaps a life of cold was the reason he preferred to dress in layers. Old habits can be difficult to break.
And it was evident now that the desire for warm clothes wasn't the only habit Fai had retained. The wizard's thoughts were drawn inevitably back to his conversation with Thranduil the previous night. "Some who died have returned to life again." The king's words reverberated in Fai's mind. Everything the travelers had gone through had told them that this was impossible. The dead could not return to life. Fai had accepted that. Fai thought he had accepted that.
"Fai…" the mage whispered his twin's name, a familiar sorrow settling into his chest. If there was even the slightest chance, did he not owe it to his brother and to himself to at least try? How could he forgive himself if he let this chance slip by?
A quick knock sounded on the door before it opened to reveal Kurogane. "Hey, we're about ready to head out," the warrior said, poking his head in the door. "Are you decent?"
Fai quickly returned a smile to his face. It wouldn't do to worry Kurogane over this matter, especially until he had had time to look into it further. "Really, Kuro-sama, am I ever decent?" Fai joked in response.
Kurogane narrowed his eyes a moment, seeming to suspect Fai's jest of being the false front that it truly was. Fai came very close to caving under that imposing stare, to admitting the doubts and faint hope that clutched at his mind. But he held fast. He had already troubled the ninja enough for one day. To bring this matter up, especially before Fai had had time to look into it properly, would only upset Kurogane. "What's the matter, Kuro-tan?" Fai asked, a smile still firmly etched on his face. "I thought you said we were leaving."
He heard Kurogane utter a soft sigh before turning away again. "Right," the ninja replied. "Come on then."
Fai followed Kurogane back into the sitting room where Syaoran was helping Melanna clear away the breakfast dishes, stacking them back onto the tray on which she had brought them. Once the cart had been reloaded, Kurogane held open the door as Melanna pushed it out into the hallway. The four travelers followed her out. Fai noticed that Kurogane had not bothered to lock their door, though he had seen the other man put their key in his pocket. Considering they had left nothing of their own in the rooms, he supposed it didn't matter.
Syaoran and Mokona chatted amiably with Melanna as they traveled down the corridor. Fai chimed in on occasion but found himself too distracted to carry on much of the conversation. Kurogane followed them all silently.
As they walked, Melanna informed them that she would have to stop by the kitchens first before taking them to see the library. When they reached their destination, Melanna opened one of a set of wide double doors and pushed her cart inside. The warm scent of baking bread wafted out into the hallway.
"Melanna, there you are," said a voice from inside. "What's taken you so long?"
"I'm sorry, mother," the elf maiden replied setting her cart against a wall. "I was talking with the king's guests." She motioned with her hand, inviting the travelers inside.
The four rounded the corner, following Melanna into the kitchen. The room stretched out asymmetrically, a result of having been formed from a natural cave chamber. Along the left side, where the wall ran straightest, several large ovens glowed warmly, no doubt the source of the delicious aroma. Other parts of the room held various shelves, tables, and sinks. To the right opened several smaller doorways, leading to storerooms. Half a dozen elves stopped their work to look up at the travelers.
At the table nearest them, a woman stood up from the stool on which she had been seated, kneading bread dough. One hand she held over her rounded belly as she used the other to ease herself up; she was with child, and clearly drawing near the end of her pregnancy. Her hair, a lighter shade of brown than Melanna's, was held back in a single long braid. Fai could see her resemblance to Melanna in the lines of her face and the grey-green eyes they shared. This, then, was Melanna's mother.
"I'm sorry if my daughter has been troubling you," the woman said, wiping floury hands on her apron as she came to stand nearer to them.
"Oh, she's been no trouble," Fai assured the woman. "In fact, Melanna has been very kind and helpful to us."
"Oh?" The woman raised a gracefully arched eyebrow and turned to face her daughter. "And how have you been helping the king's guests, Melanna? I thought the captain of the guard only instructed you to bring them their meals."
"They asked me to show them the way to the library," Melanna answered. "And Tauriel never said I couldn't talk to them."
Melanna's mother smiled, shaking her head slightly. "She always was too full of curiosity for her own good. And always trying to find ways around the rules," she said to them. "What am I going to do if your brother turns out like you?" She rubbed her belly thoughtfully. "Oh well, no harm done. Show them the way and then hurry straight back. You've other tasks to attend to, and you know it."
"Of course, mother," Melanna replied, smiling.
"We're sorry to keep your daughter from her work like this," Syaoran apologized.
Melanna's mother shook her head. "No matter. The work will get done when it gets done." She turned back to her daughter. "But don't take too long about it."
The group left the kitchen, Melanna leading the way through corridors and down flights of stairs until they at last reached the library. "Saelan?" she called out as they entered the shelf-lined room. "Saelan, are you here?"
"Melanna?" came a male voice in response. The voice emanated from a desk in the in the far corner of the room. Fai could just make out the top of an auburn-haired head from behind a stack of books. "Melanna, you'd better not be sneaking away from your kitchen duties again. You remember what happened the last time your mother caught you…" The elf's voice trailed off as he peeked over the pile of texts and saw the group that had gathered inside his doorway. "The visitors from worlds beyond!" he exclaimed. "Forgive me, I didn't know you were coming." He got up to greet them with a polite bow. "Welcome to the king's library. How may I be of assistance?"
"Syaoran has expressed interest in learning some of our history," Melanna answered him.
"Ah, certainly," Saelan replied, beaming. "What did you have in mind?" he asked Syaoran. "I have all sorts of tales to share. Stories of kings and wars long past, of star-crossed lovers, creation and destruction, distant lands beyond the sea… Some perhaps even to rival your own tale last night, I'd wager. Speaking of which, I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of transcribing your account for future study. There were a few points I'd like to clarify with you, however, if you would be so kind."
Syaoran nodded. "Of course. I'd be happy to help." He followed Saelan back to his desk where the elf began showing him the pages on which he had transcribed the travelers' story. Fai felt a brief flutter of anxiety at the revelation that their story would be further scrutinized. If they had made any mistakes in their editing, the secrets they meant to keep hidden may yet come to light. And worse, it would reveal they had lied to the king. He glanced at Kurogane. If the ninja shared his concern, he did not show it. Fai let out the breath he had been holding. Syaoran was quite capable of handling himself in this sort of situation, he reassured himself.
Fai turned his attention back to Melanna, who now faced Kurogane, Mokona, and him. "I had best be getting back now," she said by way of farewell. "I trust you can find your way back all right?"
The two men and Mokona nodded in affirmation. "See you later," Mokona said, perched on Fai's shoulder. The elf maiden smiled at her and then left to return to work. Fai looked over at the desk where Syaoran and Saelan were standing. The young man was struggling to explain the inner workings of the dragonfly engines of Piffle World in terms the elf could understand. As long as Saelan was only asking questions like that, they had no need to worry.
Fai glanced around the room. Leather-bound books lined shelves next to cubbies filled with rolled scrolls. Many of the texts had titles embossed on their spines. Most were written in a curved, flowy script, but a few bore characters of a boxy, angular lettering system. Fai could read neither of them. In determining the meaning of the king's riddle, these books would not aid him. He would need to ask, and that had to be done delicately.
But first, there was another matter to attend to. Fai approached the desk, clearing his throat to gain Saelan's attention. "I'm sorry to interrupt," the mage began. "But I was wondering if you could direct me to the armory. I was hoping to speak to Tauriel, and I was told that was the most likely place to find her."
Saelan nodded. He gave Fai a series of directions, which the wizard did his best to commit to memory. When the elf had finished, Mokona jumped down from Fai's shoulder onto the desk. "Mokona is going to stay here with Syaoran and help with the story," she told Fai.
"All right, little one. Have fun," Fai replied, patting her gently on the head. "We'll catch up with you later," he said to her and Syaoran, then turned back toward the door. "Coming, Kuro-tan?" he asked as he passed the ninja leaning against a bookshelf.
"Yeah, all right," Kurogane answered. "Don't get into trouble you two," he instructed Mokona and Syaoran as he followed Fai through the door.
The corridors and stairways of the Woodland Realm's palace wound their way in a meandering fashion, making navigation difficult for those unused to the passageways. Kurogane only grumbled mildly when Fai got them lost and did not complain when they stopped to ask for more directions. Eventually, they found their way to the palace armory. It was located near to the main gate where the travelers had first entered under guard. Fai could faintly make out the rushing sound of the river they had passed over. The doorway to the armory was guarded by two elves with spears. At Fai and Kurogane's approach, they moved to block the two men's path.
"We've come to speak to Tauriel," Fai told the elves. "Is she here?" The guards looked at one another as though uncertain whether to allow them access.
"Let them pass," came a woman's voice from within the armory. The guards moved aside to reveal Tauriel walking to meet them. She was clad in light armor and carried a bow. Two daggers were belted to her waist. Her long, bright hair fell loose down her back, held away from her face by a series of small braids. "What can I do for you?" she asked briskly.
Kurogane stepped forward. "You can return the swords you took from us," he said. "You've no more reason to withhold them."
She looked at him a moment, then decided he was correct. Motioning to another member of the guard, she instructed him to retrieve the travelers' weapons. While they waited for him to complete his task, Tauriel invited them inside. The armory consisted of multiple interconnected rooms, used for various functions, including storage, repair, outfitting, and training. At the moment, a number of elves were in the process of donning sets of light armor, similar to what Tauriel was wearing. Others were checking weapons, looking over their bows and seeing that quivers were well stocked.
"Are you preparing for some kind of battle?" Fai asked Tauriel.
The captain of the guard shook her head. "Patrol," she answered. "Spider encroachment on our settlements has been growing more frequent. We continue to drive them out, but we suspect they have formed some kind of nest in a nearby section of the forest. Eliminating that will provide our people with a more lasting safety. But first we must locate it."
As Tauriel finished speaking, the elf she had sent returned with Kurogane and Syaoran's swords. He handed them to his captain and returned to making preparations for the patrol. Tauriel held the weapons for a moment, looking them over once more before passing them to Kurogane. "I see now," she said. "That it was unnecessary for me to confiscate these."
Kurogane shook his head. "You had no way of knowing whether we intended you harm. You were defending your home. I would have done the same." The ninja handed Syaoran's sword to Fai to hold as he tied his own onto his belt.
Kurogane possessed strength that was more than skill with a sword, and even without a weapon, he could easily defend himself from most foes. Fai knew that Kurogane's discomfort being without Ginryū was more than simply that of a warrior lacking a blade. This sword was his most important possession, a lasting tie to his home.
Another elf stepped up and spoke quietly to Tauriel. When he had finished, Tauriel looked back up at the two men. "I'm afraid I must ask the two of you to leave now," she said to them. "My company is nearly ready to depart."
The two men took their leave of the armory, returning in the direction of the library. Though they did not speak, Fai could tell that Kurogane was beginning to feel more relaxed. As they descended a set of stairs and turned left down the corridor that would take them to the library, they heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the opposite direction.
"Fai Flourite," the voice called out. The mage turned at the sound of his name to see an elf striding down the hallway toward him. "King Thranduil has requested your presence," the messenger informed him.
Fai had not expected the king to summon them again so soon. Though he wanted to continue the previous night's discussion, the wizard had not yet had time to determine how best to approach the subject. But a king's summons could not be refused, not if one intended to stay in the king's good graces. "Please, take us to him," Fai responded.
The elf hesitated. "The king has requested only you, sir," he said, indicating Fai. Fai did not need to look at Kurogane to know that the warrior's face registered suspicion. Truly, Fai did not know either why the king would only wish to see one of the four travelers. But it could not be helped. "Very well," Fai said. "Lead the way."
Fai turned to pass Syaoran's sword back to Kurogane. As he handed over the weapon, Kurogane caught his gaze. His eyes gave a clear warning – be careful. Fai smiled at him as reassuringly as he could. "I'll see you later, Kuro-sama," he said cheerily. "Try not to get too lost without me."
It earned him half a smile in return. "You're the one who got us lost," Kurogane retorted. Taking Syaoran's sword, he continued off in the direction of the library.
Fai followed the king's messenger in the opposite direction. At first, it seemed they were headed toward the throne room. And indeed, it seemed the most logical destination. However, their route deviated and Fai found himself being led once more down unfamiliar corridors. They came upon a large, ornately carved wooden door. The elf knocked twice. It was opened by yet another elf Fai did not know. "Come," she said to Fai. "The king is expecting you."
The door opened unto a small landing from which a winding set of stairs descended. As they rounded the bend, a room opened before them. A small forest of sculpted stone trees supported the low ceiling with their thick grey boles. At the room's center lay a pool of water, still but for a small ripple originating at a quiet spring that trickled down the rockwork. Beyond the water, a window looked out into a larger cavern in which bridges and archways connected paths between doors and stairs, all lit by lanterns, stretching farther than Fai could see. It was as a balcony from which the king could look out over his kingdom. Fai guessed this room to be an antechamber to Thranduil's own quarters. Against the back wall, another elf was setting a small table with a carafe of red wine and a platter of fruits, breads, and cheese.
Moments later, the king entered from an adjoining room. Robed in muted silver, he wore his hair loose and unadorned. He spared his servants little more than a glance. "You may leave us now," he informed them. The two elves bowed and left, ascending the stairs in the direction from which Fai had come, leaving the mage alone with the king.
For a moment, neither spoke. Thranduil looked at Fai, his pale blue eyes betraying no emotion, giving no hint to the reason for Fai's summons. Fai endured the king's gaze, standing still and quiet. Finally, Thranduil spoke. "I could sense your magic," he said, "from the moment you set foot into my halls. It is no small gift, your power." Fai remained silent, not knowing where the king was going with this statement.
"I thought at first," Thranduil continued, now pacing slowly toward the side table, "that you were one of the Istari. One of the blue wizards, perhaps, returned from the far east." He unstopped the carafe and poured wine into two long stemmed glasses. "But I was wrong in this assumption," he said, picking up the glasses and carrying them back toward Fai, "for in truth, you are a mortal man. You are human, are you not, Fai Flourite?" he asked, offering him one of the glasses.
Fai took it, answering. "Yes, my lord. I am human," he said, and wished he was only that.
"Men of my world do not possess such power," Thranduil commented. He paused and sipped at his wine. Fai held his glass and said nothing. "I wonder," the king continued, "why did you not use your magic against the spiders in the forest? By your own telling, you allowed the other two men to fight them with swords. Surely, with your power you could have aided them."
Fai repressed a shudder recalling the travelers' night in the forest and the malignant presence he sensed therein. "Your majesty, forgive me for speaking ill of your realm," the wizard said. "But I dared not use my magic there. I am sure you know better than I what lurks in the shadows. Your barriers protect your people here from the dark enchantments. I could not risk gaining the attention of whatever was their source."
"It is well you did not," Thranduil replied. Turning from Fai, he stood at the water's edge, gazing into its depths. "Greenwood, they used to call this forest. Greenwood the Great. But little by little, a shadow creeps over it. We scarcely noticed until it had spread. And now all the forest is sick with it, save for this northern corner we still hold to. The kingdom my father once ruled is reduced to this. Mirkwood, they call it now, and I cannot say that they are wrong."
"But your barriers here keep the shadow at bay," Fai pointed out. "Could you not expand them? Push back the shadow and reclaim your lost lands?"
Thranduil turned back to Fai, giving him a rueful smile. "If I had power like yours, perhaps," the king said. "But among my people there is not enough magic for such a task."
Fai recognized his opportunity. "My lord," he began. "You said last night that there are some who have died and returned to life again. Is that true?"
"It is," the king replied.
Fai swallowed hard, the anxious hope he had felt when he first heard those words rising to flood his heart again. "Tell me how." He stepped toward the elven king, closing the distance between them. "Tell me how, and I will lend you my power. As much as you need."
