Friends in the Shadows

[Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem]

Aslan Burning: Night had fallen in gentle graces, though the distance begged to differ. Lightning crashed silently in the clouds high above the mountains. The heat of the late June month caused the sky to flash with brilliant displays. The arena was empty save for a lone figure that stood behind one of the latest demonstrations. Traders from the Far East had left a repeating cross bow, the latest of it's kind, for the General's pleasure, and Maahes was getting his share.He had deemed it unpracticed for the style of warfare his men used on the battlefield, but perhaps the castle could fine better use. The frame was far too big, and even for him he had trouble keeping it up right. It would serve better mounted. There had been a lot on the man's mind, and with every single bolt that parted the dummy's flesh a little less weight was lifted. Some would think his mind was sick, finding release in such violence, and they would never understand. However, it was all he knew. (d


Silverskinned: She held back in the shadows, observing the giant experimenting with his newest toy. Despite the fact that it was unfamiliar, Maahes seemed to instantly master the weapon, demanding it perform and not settling for inaccuracy in the least. Through watching alone, it wasn't hard to determine that dark haired, colossal form was all but venting his frustration -- hence why she held back for another moment to study him. While most might view Maahes as rough around the edges, there was a certain fluidness to his style. Movement yielded to mass amounts of sinewy muscle, creating the perfect deployment which initiated contact with the target almost every time. Amazing, really, because the common man probably couldn't even lift cross bow, let alone find it functional. Stepping clear of the shadowy columns, she entered the clearing and made her way over, cautiously. Perhaps she would be welcomed quite so openly as she had been in the past; whatever the case may be, it was worth the risk and necessary. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she had always needed the man, and now was no different. Falling into place beside him, she hooked her thumbs together behind her back while standing. "Nice shot."


Aslan Burning: "It's too big." He mumbled as he aimed again waiting as if visualizing a moving target, a man's body running for their life. The magazine above the weapon held at most 10 bolts, and with each crank one fired right after the other. However, not a single one missed--proof he had been at it all day. There was no change in the man's stance, nor was he so eager to express his good desire for her to be at his side, but the feeling was there. He was not all stone after all. Releasing one arm to let it fall back onto it's mount he moved to reload. "They called it Zhuge Nu, and spoke a language I had never heard." He stumbled over the words like he did most every one, but slowly over time they they would all be at ease. He could see why the warriors of the Far East were so respected, as the reload took seconds vs. any other. With the magazine replaced, Maahes stepped aside, returning to be in line with her shoulder. Large arms crossed over his chest, and he focused out on the dummy. "I know you want to." Spoken with his dry raspy baritone, but with just a hint of go on, try it yourself. (d


Silverskinned: Something darker flashed in her eyes, and she didn't enjoy at all the feeling of despair that coursed through her. Surrendering, retreating, wasn't in her vocabulary, so she kept her stance and held firm her position. His verbal challenge didn't go unheeded, and he could most likely tell from the expression she now wore that not making an attempt..wasn't an option. Had he not spoken aloud, she could have easily walked away, staving intrigue for the business at hand; however, he'd tossed it out there, in his usual, casual manner, and she couldn't resist. Awkward had new meaning when she attempted to even lift the weapon -- she grunted and hoisted it higher, already frustrated at how unsteady it was. Unsteady in unstable arms, so to speak. Arching her back and using a shoulder to balance its weight, she kept both eyes on her target and fingered the 'trigger'. A barrage of what looked like darts sprang free, sailing toward the selected target -- a couple kept on their travels, but the rest found their mark. The slight kick of the butt of the weapon against her shoulder wasn't expected, but it wasn't strong enough to make her lose her balance, either. Holding the cross bow with both hands, she eyed it curiously, then handed it back over. "That could prove worthy in war." Still no eye contact between the two, which was unlike them, but..necessary.


Aslan Burning: He was stoic, so silent, until her shots hit, and over a perfectly firm face a smile curled his lips. One of those smiles that reached his eyes, and that one should do more often. The emotion seeped out like steam over his body and he would raise a hand to clasp her shoulder, pulling her frame just lightly against his own in his own awkward odd hug. "That's my girl." He spoke so quietly as if afraid he'd spoken out of place, but darn it why couldn't they all be like her?? Replacing the crossbow to it's mount, he would open the side hatch one last time as if trying to figure out how it worked. Bending to allow his eyes better view, the lanterns could only do so much, and he knew it would wait til morning. As he rose again, his body cried out much like their old King, though Maahes was only shy a few years from 30, and Apollo had almost seen his last. Funny how a war can change a man, now add 2 more, and one to come. The Egyptian Arab pulled the cover back over the piece of work, and for a moment lost himself in his thoughts as if suddenly realizing she was there; it was not a dream. Fingers still clung to the fabric, but his eyes at the moment belonged to the woman before him. He wouldn't search her body for wounds, nor look for any sign of a fight, just simply met her eyes. Silence for the moment fell, until he'd part his lips and dare her not to tell him the truth. "Are you going to tell me what is wrong, or stand there and make me wonder?" Either way he'd be perfectly ok. (d


Silverskinned: Her shoulder bumped against his ribs with the brotherly hug, and awkward was exchanged for comfortable and familiar, in her eyes. They couldn't all be like Tommy because..that'd be huge trouble. Stare. What did make her feel slightly uncomfortable with his silence; normally, his quiet nature was something they shared, now it was more like some unseen wall, meant to keep her from knowing what he truly felt. She believed it was anger and disappointment still, and truthfully, he had good reason to be experiencing both. There was a moment when he worked to cover the weapon that she reached out to touch him, but the moment he gave her his eyes, she withdrew. "I found Percival." ..there was no pleading from her that he not tell anyone -- she didn't beg him to hear her out before alerting the guards -- she chose honesty because that's what she'd always given prior to her latest..mistake. "I think he's..dying." Now she looked at him, her gentle giant, and the mixture of emotion that crossed her features was dangerously close to that of hysterics. Tommy was so lost, she wasn't sure she could find her way back to normality, this time around.


Aslan Burning: Maahes perhaps had changed a lot, but turning his back on her is one thing this one would never do. Percival meant a lot to her, and always has his fate would not be kept inside the prison of Skye, nor Avaria. He had no doubt that she would be punishment enough. Finding the space between her was easy, but crossing it would be a challenge. Always there was a feeling inside his chest he could not explain when he thought of the pair, perhaps he would pin it on envy, but deep down he knew that all along it's been jealousy. Over the years he had coped fairly well, but with seeing her so little he would almost voice his pain. Yet, this was in fact Maahes, and he wasn't supposed to feel. "Are you going to let him?" Dark eyes regarded her with question, though only half way; knowing she would no doubt want to make things right. "There is a healer here, who he could see." He would start the trek almost without her, passing her in his heavy steps, but turning to make sure she would follow then soon lead. (d


Silverskinned: No, he was supposed to feel, damn it! She didn't want him deprived of expressing himself, especially to her. His apparent dislike of Percival had always been known, and she chalked it up to a clash of personalities. When he brushed by where she stood, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "I heated the blade of my dagger in a fire and ..sealed his wound, but I'm not sure I did it correctly." Turning, she moved after him and repeated his prior action, abruptly passing by where he waited and continuing her stride. "No healers. They'll turn him in. And when are you going to stop being so angry with me?" Now she stopped, angrily spinning around to face him. "I can't figure out who you hate more. Me or him." Maybe she'd pushed him too far, yet again, but Tommy had yet to master holding her tongue at times like these. "Do you want to hit me again? Burn me at the stake?! Tell me what I have to do to make things right again, because I can't stand this anymore. ..I need you." f**k. Lips tightened and she shook her head as eyes traveled over the ground in frustration

.
Aslan Burning: There was a flood rising against his chest and as he opened his mouth everything rushed at once. All the torment and pain he had put himself through, the worry and grief. He tried to talk, but silence only found his mouth as he was still trying to fight back the truth. However it only caused the matter to grow worse. Anger, and rage fueled his words, as his jaw tightened and he spoke through clenched teeth. "You left me!" Though there was something much different about the man before her, he was not challenging her fight, nor moving to stand over her. He simply stood his ground, more then ready to give up this fight. "For the first time since I laid eyes on you, I didn't know where you were, or if you were safe, or hungry.." His mind worked backwards to most everyone else, so as dark eyes started to fill with tears that should have been shed a year ago, it would pass as no surprise. No, he was not going to cry. There was no fight like the one Maahes was waging with himself, every wall he had built came crumbling down, and he worked hard to build them back. Eyes spilled then, "I thought I had lost you." he spoke as he took a deep breath. (d


Silverskinned: "No, Maahes..don't.." She shook her head, swallowing tightly. Just as she'd stated that he was her only constant, so it had been on his side as well. She realized that removing herself from him, without explaining, had probably shattered his version of reality. "I didn't leave you..I just ..didn't explain, and I'm sorry." Of all the people close to her heart, he was one she never wanted to hurt. There were never intentionally cruel words exchanged between the two, and eve though they came to physical blows, it was a means to release steam; nothing more. And it was something no one understood, save them, which is exactly how she wanted it to remain. The connection they shared was not only priceless, it was delicate and had to be carefully handled, or it would be crushed, destroyed. She would not do that to him, ever. The distance between them was rapidly closed -- despite the threatening weather change, warm hands cupped his face, firmly, forcing him to look at her. The pad of her thumb was dragged over one deeply tanned cheek, smearing away the salty fluid that rolled over the perfected curve of him. "I'm sorry." Quieter now, barely a raspy whisper. "You should know by now, that you're never going to be rid of me, unless you want to be." Honestly, she would always be his, and whatever that entailed, she wasn't entirely sure. For now, it was whatever he wanted and needed. "Please..I'm begging you..give yourself back to me again."


Aslan Burning: Eyes closed at the touch, though not of distaste but of a true sense of calm. His cheek pressed into her palm, and he would take a deep breath. For the longest time he just kept quiet, calming is heart, and keeping his mind straight. He should have known better, and followed her. However, deep down he knew she didn't want him to go. There was something he knew she needed to do on her own, but damn it it was hard! There wasn't a woman in the world who could claim this man, save for the one that stood before him. However, he knew their claim ran differently then it would for her and another. It was just as it was. It existed, nothing less. It wasn't something he had to work for, or worry that was gone. He had not thought she had abandoned him all together, but what he was most upset with was the worry she put him through. Like a father on Prom night when the daughter never called. However in many ways it ran much deeper. Tommy had been his breath of life, the one thing that could calm a storm--always had been, always will be. His hands came to capture hers, and they closed around the backs of her much smaller digits. He would then move them to his shoulders and replace his arms around her slender form. He breathed in the scents of her, the welcome feeling that was Tommy, and whispered in that raspy tone, "I'd give you the world if I could," A small smirk formed over his lips, "or kill everyone who stood in the way." Opening his eyes he pulled back to at last be at ease with her, to just be as they were. He'd hug her tightly before releasing his hold, and taking a step back. "I take it you do not want Percival alive?" Arms crossed then over his chest, though for once not closing out the world, but keeping the feeling inside. (d


Silverskinned: She touched his shoulders and neck, pressing in against him as if hiding away from the rest of the world and every worry that came along with just living. Had she been able to speak at that moment, she would have told him that he'd given her the world years ago, and then some; alas, in typical Maahes form, he could only tolerate so much exchange before he was easing himself from her hold. Never once did she believe her touch repulsed him, nor did she consider that he wished she was someone else -- no, that was how Maahes was designed -- and she was granted more than anyone else, which was eagerly accepted and therefore, understood. Canting her head the side, she eyed him curiously after his last question was so openly posed. "Oh no, my friend. I very much want him alive. I want him alive so I can beat the tar out of him when he recovers." There was no joy in taking from a man near death. She wanted Percival operating at full capacity so she could deliver a whopping reality check. "If you're asking if I still love him..I can't answer. What he said.." Bah. It was foolish that the captain's words tore into her deeper than when he'd locked her away for over a week. Sad, but true. Reaching out, she snagged his finger and tugged, walking backward while urging him to move. "I'm happy you didn't run off and get married while I was gone. I hear you have lots of options. What will you do with all those females hankering after you?"


Aslan Burning: He would close his hand around hers, and eyes would question without speaking a word. Girls? If any of them thought they were going to get anywhere close to this one, they had another thing coming. As they moved he thought of the few months she had been gone. He had been so wrapped up in his work that he had not even noticed. "I'm not the marrying type." The reputation it seems in Skye for General doesn't run very long, as death was quick. So perhaps he'd keep the dawning war out of her mind for now. "As far as Percival goes, I'll hold him, you punch deal?" He didn't have to question her on her love for the man, she was saving his life, and deep down he knew better. Kuriel..now that was a different story...he couldn't figure that man out to save his life. As they walked he took a good look at her, the frame withering away to nothing before him made his chest tighten. The desire to run her over to Rose (the cook at the Inn) was almost enough to not care about Percival's life, but he would only regret it in the morning. "We will get Percival, my men are rebuilding Sleat, and we can hide him in one of the shacks they store the tools in. I will keep it guarded so no one comes in or out." It was his turn to pull her, as they snaked their way through the Barracks. (d


Silverskinned: Maahes was damn well going to break the record then, because he was not dying any time soon. "Deal. Though I know you like to get in a few punches yourself, so, we can switch positions a few times." Back to babbling at him she went,and it was as though her poor behavior had never happened. Don't think it wasn't tucked away in the recesses of her mind, no, it was stored, never to be forgotten so she didn't make the same mistake again. He shifted their talk to business, and without arguing, she went along as they walked. A few nods were given in response to his idea, though there was something nagging at the back of her mind. Spying some guards up ahead, she sidestepped to behind one of the massive columns, reaching out to grab his arm and give a solid yank. The soldiers could be heard laughing while exchanging tales as the passed, but Tommy wasn't paying as much attention as she should have been, perhaps. Brows dipped in low over her eyes as she considered what she'd neglected before. "There were at least a dozen dead in the cavern," she whispered, keeping her voice low. "Dead by Percival's hand. I don't know who they are, or what exactly happened, but Maahes, there's more going on than we know."


Aslan Burning: Pulled into the safety of the shadows he watched the men walk, but kept his attention on her. "He's gone insane." Hello Mr. Pot, I'm Mr. Kettle, and you are black! His voice whispered though deep down he dared someone to find them. "Where is Kuriel? Does he play a part in this?" He pressed an arm against the stone column at their side. "Tommy, you do not have to hide here, I will not let them take you anywhere." (d


Silverskinned: Whether Maahes believed he could prevent someone from arresting her or not, didn't matter; she was wanted now, through association mostly, and there wasn't a damn thing the General could do about it. Even in Avaria, she was afraid they would notice and arrest her on the spot, and that was a chance she wasn't willing to risk. The woman was literally unsettled, even on her home turf. "I haven't heard from Kuriel in weeks. The last thing I got from him was his fist to my jaw." Back pressed against the column, she turned her head, anxiously tracking the movement of the guards. "And your guess is as good as mine, about Kuriel. I don't know whether the man's coming or going anymore." And she truly didn't know, or she would have told him. There was not a single person she could rely on, save Maahes, and while the majority of it was her fault, it was still challenging to contend with on a daily basis.