Chapter 25

The sensation was like being reborn and purified. Innocent as she had been when she first came to this island so long ago. The thoughts of what had happened when in Tarin's Temple and his brutalizing her body, her mind and her soul, was no more. Those were shadows of what had been and a distant dream. There was forgiveness. Oh her hand was healed and she felt no pain from that. But what she had endured under the hand of Tarin was gone.

Then there was the hatred she had felt for Morgan, though still in tact in a calmer way of dealing with him was formulating in her thoughts and finally her anger, her shame, and her fear of Darrin was gone.

She wondered if he could really see and feel the terror the helplessness the shame she felt at the hands of the man that had walked out that door not long ago. The anger she felt was not as intense, her hatred she had held so close to her heart and her mind was slowly being replaced, not forgotten but manageable.

Somehow she knew the shame was not hers to bear alone and now she had someone else in her corner to understand and give her this strength to face her fears, her hurt, and anger. She knew that she would be all right, she could keep her secret but it was now shared with this poor demented man with a remarkable touch.

It seemed in this moment; in this time she had been taken outside her body and was someone else with the capabilities to easily handle the impossible that had flooded her life. With awe and wonder she peered up and looked into his eyes and saw the inner light that glowed there and the realization dawned on her that this was no ordinary man but someone very old and very wise and highly placed among his kind.

With eyes of wonder and love she looked up as the feeling washed over her like a tidal wave and even Magnus could see the change in his sister and he relaxed and hoped that now she would tell him what happened so he could take care of it. He watched as she began to glow with the serenity that was a very dear part of what made her M'lar.

The M'lar he first met when he arrived here with his brother and saw in the park that day. That was the sweet, caring individual that always put others first before allowing anything for her self. She was back and looking pure and whole again. He smiled, "Are aye better now my sister?"

M'lar turned and placed a light chaste kiss on Ageis' forehead then turned her eyes alight and glowing, "I am healed brother and feel whole again. I am alive and no longer dying a day at a time inside and I have you, and you Ageis you sweet wonderful crazy old man, I have you to thank for this feeling of euphoria!"

She spun back and pressed into his body and then placed a deep passionate kiss on his lips. This time it was Ageis turn to be surprised and delighted. She watches as his eyes twinkle with laughter and he chuckled softly, "You my dear sweet befuddled Ageis are wonderful and I could take your pain from you I would gladly do so. If I could give you a nights rest, I would gladly give that to you."

Ageis heard Black as he moved to Magnus, "I am so pissed at the old man he said half elves are ugly, so that means he thinks you and I are ugly and he said that elven women are ugly too!" Magnus turned and looked at the boy as if he had lost his mind.

"Why should you care what a crazy old man thinks? What is it to you or me? Obviously you need more in your life to keep you occupied."

Ageis looked over his shoulder and growled, "Shut up! I don't care if he is pissed, he can be pissed or I can piss on him it's his choice. No I will not!"

M'lar sighed as she watched Ageis go back to another endless argument with his three ghosts. Ageis smiled and sighed contentedly, "What are you offering Lass?" He glanced dangerously over his shoulder and then to M'lar. "I am offering you a nights rest, if I sleep with you in your bed, and they leave you alone, then I will hold you in my arms and sleep by your side so you can have a night's rest."

Moving to cup his face with her cold hands. Looking deep into his eyes a look of wonder lying there below the surface and seeing the glow of something new hinting at the depth of his own soul. "If that is your wish. If that is the only way I can repay you then I offer you what you asked."

Ageis looked to the left and frowned, "Batu withdrew his offer lass. He wanted us to do other things not sleep." He winked wickedly at her and smiled as she turned a bright shade of pink along her neckline and her face.

"Well ok, if that is what you truly want. But I thought you wanted to sleep. I just want you to know that I am not . . . "

He laughed, "No lass I know you are not that kind of lady."

Black leaned to Wolf, "You know that person with her is insane."

M'lar spun around and glared at him, "Do not say that he is haunted not insane!"

Magnus was about to slap the piss out of the twit. M'lar turned back to Ageis, "Ask Batu what it will take to reinstate his offer?"

Ageis sighed again and looked tiredly to the right, "Well Thomas is afraid I will take advantage of you and well . . . "

M'lar laughed, and shook her head. "How can someone take advantage of me if I don't let them and what if I want what you want?"

Then Ageis stood and spun around and gasped, "What? Insane, who said that?" M'lar smiled and released her hold against his face, "You are most certainly not insane!"

Wolf turned to the one called Ageis and said gratefully, "Thank you for what you have done for my sister sir." A

Ageis spun around again, giving Magnus pause for concern "What Who said I was insane? Well if you won't tell me who said it, then shut up!"

Black rolled his eyes and muttered, "Probably one of those ghosts."

Ageis turned back to Magnus and smiled, "That is what we paladins do son."

Magnus finding a fellowship with another in the religious order smiled, "Whom do you serve Sir Paladin."

Ageis once again sighed heavily and muttered, "Here we go again. Serve? I am a Paladin not a bar tender."

Black mumbled, "Yeah, right, and you leave your friends behind to die and not follow the paladins code."

Magnus wanted to smack the boy but focused his attention back to Ageis, "No I mean what deity do you follow?"

M'lar finding her humor greatly restored spoke softly, "No Ageis he knows you are no bar tender he wants to know which God you follow."

Ageis rolled his eyes and shook his head. "None of them, they are all quacks!"

M'lar shook her head in complete amazement he could speak so callously about the Gods. "Surely there is one you feel is not a quack."

Her tone was one softly scolding him for insulting them for following their god's wishes. Magnus was the first to react, "Sir, please I ask you watch what you say there are at least two if not three priests in this room."

Black sighed deeply and looked away from Ageis, "He is the least honorable Paladin in the world."

Ageis looked to Magnus, "Magnus Wolf at your pleasure sir, I am just wanting to know as a Paladin who do you serve and to be kind enough to not insult our gods."

Ageis sighed and shook his head. "So what about it? Then preach to each other."

M'lar felt a need to defend her god and his rights, "Ageis, surely there is one God in the pantheon that gets your respect?"

Ageis snored and laughed, "Respect? I respect anyone that can kill me with a thought. But that is no reason to worship them."

Magnus chuckled and shook his head and leaned on the bar. M'lar traced her fingertips along his jawline and cheek bones and spoke softly, "Oh Ageis you truly are cursed. If only I could alleviate your need and your pain. . ."

Black continued his mumbling, "The insane paladin!"

He paced the floor with his agitation and M'lar wondered if he would eventually wear himself out with all that pent up anxiety and anger. "Why don't you shut up Black and go sit down and have a drink on me."

Turning to Ageis she smiled, "If I could give you a nights rest, I would but it seems I am not the answer to your problem, but you were to mine." She moved to hug him tightly and kiss his lips softly and step back smiling. She watched as a glow and a light sparkled in his eyes when she hugged him.

"However, if you want a room for the night I have a room, with clean bedding and soft pillows for you."

He laughed leaned over and whispered in her ear. "What is the fun of that?"

M'lar laughed again and this time it was a deep throaty laugh that held mirth and true happiness. "So true, but they have been a part of your life for so long."

Magnus turned and flipped the back of the ear of Black moving to the door. "And if ever you need my help good Paladin, the name again is Magnus Wolf Starflare."

Ageis nodded to the priest watching him move towards the door and from sight. In sing song fashion Black began to mimic those around him with an insulting ditty. "This guy loves her but she loves bob and bob loves someone else, isn't' that just great all I got to say is Love suck, that is right, love sucks."

M'lar looked to Black with annoyance he was really beginning to become irritating. He grew tired of his love sucks song and then moved on to some gibberish. "We three kings of Waterdeep tried to smoke a rubber cigar, it was loaded and it exploded and we shot one king and that left us with two. We two kings of Waterdeep far . . ."

M'lar turned to look at Ageis, "Now about Thomas Batu and what is the other ghosts name?"

Ageis smiled and hugged her tightly liking the feel of her against him. She was surprised to find his body was hard and muscled for an old man he had a very young body.

"You mean Geoffrey?"

M'lar nodded and pulled from his hold and sat on the stool next to where he had sat. "You know Ageis my offer still stands. When ever you wish to collect."

Ageis turned and smiled, "Lass do you have any lemon juice?"

M'lar blinked and looked curious and shrugged, "Sure, hold on." Sliding from the stool she moved to the kitchen and came out with a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Bringing the glass to Ageis he smiled took it, "Thanks lass." Ageis lifted the glass and moved to the off key singing Black and sat the glass in front of him, "STOP THAT CATERWALLING!" Ageis moved to in front of Black and set the lemon juice in front of him,. "Here boy drink this, if it don't kill you, it will shut you the hell up!"

Black looked at the lemon juice and then to Ageis and sighed, "No thank you, see I can be nice to you despite the fact I am still pissed off for what you said!"

Ageis shook his head and walked back to the bar, "If nothing else it may make his voice better."

M'lar chuckled, "I suppose that is one way to look at it."

Ageis laughed and walked back and set next to her. "Idiot, fish eyed fool."

M'lar sighed softly, as she watched Black finally quieted himself and pretended to ignore Ageis muttering, "The impetuousness of youth."

Ageis moved to M'lar's side sliding up next to her. "Now about that room you were speaking of?" Feeling pretty satisfied now that the young fool was silent. Then to have his last word Black muttered, "Jackass."

Ageis turned and narrowed his gaze at the foolish boy, "That is a good word another one I like is asshole, and from where I sit you make a pretty good one. Now Lass are you joining me when you are done?" M'lar smiled, "Joining you? I will give you a room but my night it going to be pretty late, so I suppose if you can hold out until I finish my books."

Ageis laughed, "And here I thought I was going to get my boots shined."

M'lar laughed knowing the double intender that was issued with that statement. "Well set them outside your door," he reached across the bar and snagged a key to room three, "And I will make sure they are shine and then I will be in to tuck you in. Then I might be able to polish your armor too?"

He laughed at her quick up take of his repartee and nodded, "That too lass if you are up for it." Taking the key he moved towards the stairs and on his way up he smacked Black on the back of his head, "And that is for calling me a Jackass bucko!" Moving up the stairs he began to whistle thinking about a nice warm body to snuggle up with and some sleep something he had not had for a long time. Stopping at the top of the stairs he looked down at her as she sat glowing with the new life he had infused in her and smiled, "You know lass I will probably see you around."

M'lar stood and peered up at his tall commanding form standing on the step and nodded, "You can count on it Ageis, I know I have not affected your life, but you have mine and I owe you a debt one that I will try to repay but feel I may never come close to repaying."

She watched him disappear through the door and heard his squeaking armor going down the hallway getting to room three the sound was no longer annoying or hearable. She knew he had bone in his room and she was left with Black. For the moment she felt sadly deflated with his leaving.

Black frowned, "You are crazy to care about that old Coot M'lar, you need a young man that can make your life more complete." M'lar looked over at the immature young man and frowned.

"You know Black what you did and said to that poor old man was sad, you need to learn to be more mature and act a little less self centered, just because he chose to give me a compliment and you choose to take offense, he never said that elves were ugly, he said I was too pretty to be an elf, that to me was one of the nicest things that has been said to me in a very long time."

Black frowned, "He said women elves were ugly."

M'lar turned on him hands on hips and face flushing with her own ill temper, "NO, he said I was too pretty to be an elf, which I am half elf you twit! HE NEVER, " and she moved to his chest and poked him with her finger, "Said one damn word about elves being ugly or women elves being ugly that was your interpretation of what he said and it was 100 percent wrong."

Feeling a gust of wind with the opening of the door, M'lar looked up from where Black sat and smiled seeing the tall muscular from of her friend Olorian. "You have returned early from your trip?"

She moved to help him with his two heavy bags that he pulled though the door. "No, I have not left, I will be leaving at the end of the week."

M'lar moved to set his art bag on the table nearest the stairs. "Then your friend will be coming next week?"

He nodded and smiled, "Yes, she shall come by mid week I think, do not be intimidated by her, she is rather large and muscular and very strong."

M'lar nodded, "I shall welcome here as a friend." Olorian sighed, "Perhaps you should hold your judgment. She is not likely to be as friendly towards you, and it took me a while to get used to you."

M'lar frowned, "Why would you need to get use to me? I am fairly easy to get along with and try my best to welcome all to my home."

Olorian studied her and then sighed, "Because you are a scro."

Black spun around and frowned, "What the hell is a scro?"

M'lar felt the old fears of her mixed heritage coming into play and looked down. "I see, well you might warn her then if you have occasion to speak with her before you leave."

Stepping back she felt a strong grip grab her upper arm and she looked down to see Olorian preventing her retreat. "M'lar please you have to understand your blood ties are very hard on a great many people."

M'lar's earlier elation was starting to wane as the reminders of who and what she was began to take hold of her mood. "I am trying very hard to make up for what I am Olorian, I just wish people would accept me for who I was and not what I am." The tears were close to the surface as she pulled her arm away from him and moved towards the books in the corner.

The moment with Ageis had freed her from her past with Tarin, and helped her deal with her anger towards Darrin but nothing he could do would heal the hate that was ingrained into her system because of what she was.

Black walked over to Olorian and looked up at the tall ranger with the artistic talent and asked softly, "What is a scro?" Olorian looked at the foolish youth and sighed, "Spell it backwards."

M'lar rolled her eyes and wondered if the fool could spell. "I am space faring Orc Black from wild space!" She turned and moved with some degree of agitation to the kitchen and out the kitchen door to pace in the rear alleyway. Even from her position in the ally she could hear Black's reaction to discovering that she was part orc.

"Space Faring ORC!" M'lar felt she was about to scream but knew to do that would wake up her boarders. So instead she sat on the rear stoop of the kitchen and sighed looking down at this pitiful looking kitten that moved to her lap and sat looking up at her purring. "Hello puss. You hungry?"

She stood with it cradled in her arms and moved into the kitchen to find a bowl of cream and some scraps and sat it down in the corner and put the kitten near the food and watched as it tore into the food growling at it and purring at the same time.

"She accepts you for who you are M'lar, and others will too, once they get to know you." Olorian stood in the open doorway and watched her as she watched the cat tear into the pieces of meat.

"Well she is one of the minority." She said softly, bending down to pet her back and scratch her head. "She was hungry."

Olorian smiled, "What will you name him?" M'lar looked again at the cat and saw that in deed it was a male. "Well I was thinking pretty girl, but since that is out of the question I suppose it shall be Pusspatoo."

Olorian chuckled, "I think he likes that name." M'lar sighed and looked in at a dejected Black sitting at the bar drinking his ale. "I see he is not happy to discover that I am part Orc."

Olorian sighed and nodded, "He has resigned himself to the many elven suitors you have left broken at the door because of your breeding."

M'lar slipped down on the floor and watched the cat as she thought about his words. "I did not seek their affections Olorian, I only sought their friendship. I know what it would cost them to lay with me and I am not about to deprive any elf from arvandor."

Rising she brushed her skirt off. "M'lar the man that was here earlier, the older man, who was he?"

M'lar shrugged, "He said he was the not so holy squire at arms Ageis, but he did not elaborate whose squire at arms he was. He is very sad and is haunted by three ghosts. You know Olorian when he touched me it was magical, it was like I was being touched by Oghma the way I felt was like being reborn, it is kind of hard to explain but it was such a warm glorious feeling of being freed from my past."

Olorian sighed and looked down at her sitting on the floor. "And are you ready to tell me what happened that night you came in with the blood on your dress."

M'lar stood up and flushed and then turned to secure the ally door. "No, I am not prepared to tell anyone about that night. I was injured and I want it to remain as that and nothing more Olorian, I made a horrible mistake that night and I paid for that mistake and now it's behind me as long as Kait is safe."

Turning back to look at him she stiffened her back, "Well if you will excuse me, I need to go work on those books before I leave this place and Marstoq's employ and it will not get done if I am on the floor playing with a kitten."

Moving past Olorian she did not see the look of disappointment on his face or the look of resolve that he would be her friend and support her and be patient. "As you wish M'lar, but when you are ready to talk to me, I will be there to support you no matter what."

The hour was late as M'lar made her way up the stairs and to room three, knocking lightly on the door she was greeted by the loud snore of its occupant and she smiled, then opened the door and slipped into the room. Whispering softly she said, "Thank you Batu."

From the bed Ageis sighed, "Lass be quiet you will wake them up, I just got them to sleep."

M'lar chuckled softly, "I am sorry, I did promise to lay with you Ageis." She stretched from the small of her back and moved to the bed and slipped her dress off and the naked form that now stood at the foot of his bed immediately mesmerized Ageis.

"By the Gods lass you are a goddess!"

M'lar smiled and shushed him, "Be quiet or you will wake them."

Ageis immediately moved over to make room for her. His voice low and his eyes darting around the room, "We have to be real quiet or they will wake up and want to watch."

M'lar sighed and nodded as she slipped under the blankets of the bed and curled her body into his muscular one. She felt his arousal and sighed. "Really? You think with that we are going to be quiet?"

Ageis sighed again and pressed his body into her body and sniffed her shoulder then laid sweet kisses along her shoulder and neck. Lightly lifting her hair so he could easily kiss her neck.

M'lar stiffened and he spoke softly, "Lass, not all men are like that black hearted scoundrel. You are not ready for me just yet but tonight you will feel tenderness and respect."

M'lar sighed and snuggled closer to his body. Curling into his hold, closing her eyes she let out a soft sigh.

"You don't understand Ageis, I could hurt you. I am very strong when I make love and if I give into that part of me that is primal and filled with wanton passion, it could hurt you. I would never want to hurt you."

Ageis mumbled, "Ahh shit, Batu is awake and telling me to go for it!"

M'lar sighed and turned into his body cupping his face in her hands she searched his gaze that was such an intense blue and she could see that inner light that now danced within.

Taking her leg she draped it over his hip and smiled, "If it would please you to take my body, then I offer it to you freely." Ageis moved her leg off his hip and whispered, "I can't do this, the perverts woke up and now they want to watch and when I take your body, I want all of you M'lar, I want your heart, your body, your mind and most of all I want you."

M'lar smiled and sighed, by the heavens she was tired but he was not going to ravage her, "All right Ageis, if that is how you want it, then that is how it will be. But I will see your boots are cleaned, your armor polished and your body and especially those feet are washed."

Ageis chuckled, "Yes, they do smell like day old cheese don't they?"

M'lar closed her eyes and moved her hand and cantriped the feet smell away from his feet and sighed, "I suppose there will be no sleep for you tonight?"

Ageis held her tenderly in his arms and whispered softly in her ear. "He is disappointed but Batu has capitulated and decided that he is going to go back to sleep and he will keep the others occupied if they wake up."

M'lar nodded and felt her lids grow heavy as she laid in the strength of his arms and slowly relaxed her body and fell into a deep sleep. Then it started in her mind she saw the cave and she tensed her body and whimpered. Ageis feeling her tense sifted through her mind and frowned.

"No lass you have to try and let that part of your life go, for tonight you won't dream, you will sleep and feel safe and secure, now relax sweet M'lar, relax and dream of us, of you and me and . . . "

He frowned deeply and looked down at the woman in his arms and cursed softly under his breath. "Damn you Kelson! What have you done; you meddling little twerp?"