Light the Dark

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope did indeed move over to let him into the bed - after all, she would not have suggested sharing if she was not willing to share. She was unaware of Alexander seeing her as a woman - and had she known, she would have been conflicted. It was what she wanted, for him to not see her as a child anymore, but at the same time, so much had changed in the past few hours that she was not sure she could handle anything else changing. Not only that... she was unsure how she felt about Alexander, beyond wanting him to notice that she had grown. Moving sluggishly, she then slipped under the covers, shivering a bit. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she soon fell into a deep sleep. The events of the day had taken their toll on her; it was a wonder she had been able to do as well as she had.

As the night wore on, she cuddled closer to the man's warm body. She had no idea she was doing such, but something in her dreams or otherwise seemed to move her closer to him. He was strong, and warm, and the only comfort she had right now. Her head found it's way from the pillow to his shoulder. There she slept, unless Alexander pushed her away, her body at peace for the time being.

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope was half asleep where she stood, as Alexander unsaddled the horse. So she made no protest when he picked her up and carried her into the inn; she did not think she would have had the energy to walk in on her own, in any case. Dozing off once in his arms, she half-heard the conversation with the barkeep, the voices sounding far away. She cuddled up Alexander a little, his strong body comforting, as she felt herself being moved upstairs. It wasn't until she was set down in the bed, and alone, that she woke up a little. Blinking sleepily, Calliope watched him take off his weapons and armor, until he was down to clothing that he could sleep in. Then he said something Calliope had not realized in her sleepy state - that there was one bed, and two of them. Perhaps the barkeep had misunderstood their relationship.

She looked down at the bed she was currently lying in, and then at Alexander. "The...the bed is big." She pointed out softly. She couldn't very well ask him not to sleep in the bed. And she certainly did not want to sleep on the floor herself. It would be hard, and uncomfortable, and not something at all she would want to do. Though, admittedly, she would likely be tired enough to do so. But again, she would rather not. Calliope blinked at her guard. "It's not like we haven't known each other for years." She added. "So... sharing...wouldn't be that...wrong." A small blush crossed her cheeks, and she hoped Alexander could not see it in the dark. "Be-besides, it is chilled in here. It would be warmer together..."

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope held on to the horse for dear life. Never had she ridden so fast before, let alone when she was not in control of the direction of the horse. It was thrilling, in a way, but somewhat terrifying as well. Alexander's arms were around her as the horse flew down the dirt path, away from the battle, away from everything she had ever known. Calliope looked back, only once, and saw that one of the buildings was on fire. It was too far away for her to tell which one, from the small glance she had given. The horse carried them farther, and farther away from the battle.

They met no one along the road, and hadn't seemed to have been noticed fleeing the manor. No one came after them, at any rate, at least not as fast as they were traveling. Soon the sights and sounds of battle faded away. And they were alone, the two of them and the horse, traveling to parts unknown. Calliope supposed she should be thrilled but... she just could not find the energy. Everything that had happened tonight left her feeling numb. And so exhausted. She leaned against Alexander, taking comfort from his solid form, doing all she could to stay awake.

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope didn't notice the fighting - didn't notice much of anything, really, until the scent of the horses and stables hit her nose. She blinked, slowly coming back to herself, at least a little. She looked around, the sounds of fighting in the distance reaching her ears and making her shudder. Alexander seemed to be looking for...something. Slowly, Calliope followed after him. Perhaps he was looking for a horse. Well, they had walked by a lot of horses already. She saw one that would support them both and went into the stall to saddle it, working quickly. After all, they needed a saddled horse, and the hostlers didn't keep the horses saddled. Calliope was even as fast as some of the hostlers at saddling a horse, truth be told. She was done within minutes.

((...worst post ever))

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope clutched at Alexander as he held her, her sobs increasing. What had she done? It didn't matter that it was self preservation, that she would have died had she not killed the other woman. She had killed her, in cold blood, and gods, what had she done?! It was perhaps a good thing Calliope could not see herself in the mirror, could not see the blood on her nightclothes and hands. It would only serve to drive her further into hysterics.

"We have to go, or we'll all die here..."

After an evening of not feeling much of anything, Calliope was consumed by fear and guilt. She didn't feel like she even had the strength to move, even with the threat of death. "I...I killed her..." Calliope sobbed out. "I didn't mean to... I don't... she would have me but I shouldn't have..." Calliope sobbed harder, holding onto Alexander like he was the only thing keeping her in this world. "I can't...I can't..." Calliope didn't know what it was she couldn't do; but it seemed clear that she was terrified. Terrified of the situation, and of what she had just done.

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope blinked, staring at the door Alexander had just left through. She had remained silent through his words, somewhat in shock of what was happening. She held tightly to the dagger in her hand, the hilt smooth and solid in her grip. Turning to look out the window once more, she found herself almost mesmerized by marching of the army. In the mood that she was in, Calliope found it hard to care that the house under attack. So she stayed at the window, watching numbly as the army got closer. She saw them break down the gates to the manor as easily as a child knocks over a stack of wooden blocks. She watched them approach, the house guards no match for their numbers. She didn't see much more after that, for the door to her room opened.

Now, there was one very important part of Alexander's words to her that Calliope had simply not seemed to have heard. After her guard had left, she had not locked the door as he had instructed. She only remembered what he had told her to do as the door creaked open. Slowly, Calliope turned, her hands dropping to her sides. Her heart began to beat faster...

"Lady?" A woman Calliope's age came into the room. Calliope breathed a sigh of relief. It was only one of the maids. Not one she knew very well, but she had seen the maid around quite a bit.

Calliope brought her free hand to her chest as the woman shut the door. "Oh. It's only you. You startled me. What-what are you doing?" The question was in response to the maid not looking or behaving particularly maid-like. Indeed, the woman strode quite confidently into the room, all the while playing with a length of what looked like wire in her hands. The woman didn't answer, just quickly moved towards Calliope. Forgetting the dagger that was still clenched in one hand, hidden by the folds of her nightdress, Calliope backed away, her heart suddenly racing again. She felt her back hit a wall as the woman reached her; the wire was slipped quickly and efficiently around her neck, and then...

The woman dropped to the floor. Calliope sank to the ground, staring at the dagger sticking out of the woman's chest. Calliope's white nightgown was smeared with the maid's blood, her neck a bit bruised where the wire had began to tighten. She didn't remember what had happened, but she could see the results. Calliope rocked back and forth on the floor, her breathing fast and erratic. She had never seen someone die before. She had almost been killed, she had just killed someone. Tears slid down her face, and she began to sob; shaking, horrible sobs that seemed to tear themselves from her throat no matter how she tried to be quiet.

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

The leather of his armor was cool against her cheek. She blinked, surprised to feel his arms around her. It was an unexpected gesture, and Calliope wasn't sure how to handle it, or what it meant. It was admittedly not the most comfortable of hugs, but Calliope didn't pull away. More than anything else he had done, this simple contact helped soothe her. It was not the answer to anything, not by a long shot, but it did seem to help.

The moment of peace was ruined, however, by distant rumblings of... something. The sound of...drums? And hoof-beats. Calliope looked toward the window. "What is that?" Light - the light of torches, not the moon - was on the horizon. Many torches, the light coming closer and closer to the house, approaching from the side of the house that didn't have the gardens and training grounds. She pulled away from Alexander, looking out the window in a curious sort of daze. What in the world was going on?

Calliope distantly heard the sound of an alarm. She stayed where she was, staring wide-eyed at the approaching group of torches. Were they under attack? The shapes of men on horses started to form, more men a blurred mass behind them, as they came even closer.

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

"Why?" She asked him. "What does it matter to you if I break down? You still see me as the spoiled child that you first met years ago." Calliope swallowed, then turned away, her shoulders sagging a bit. Her sleeping gown clung to all the right places for a moment as she turned, before hanging once more in a slightly more modest manner. The moonlight streamed in, washing the room in its pale silver light. She let out a slow breath. "Is it so wrong of me to want to leave this place? Surely you can understand that sentiment; after all, you leave here as often as you can. I've seen the books you read. They are all about travel. Different places. At least you might get to see them one day."

Her voice was soft as she spoke, sadness in her every word. It didn't matter that she had revealed to him that she had been watching him closer than he knew. Calliope didn't have the energy to care. Not now. Not after tonight had gone. Not when she was feeling so hopeless and empty inside. It had been her one chance to leave, and not only had she not managed it, she had put Alexander's life in danger. Calliope sighed, and wrapped her arms around herself in a hug, trying to get even a little bit of comfort.

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

Calliope didn't look at him. "You may want to reconsider this. If someone were to find you here, with me, unchaperoned at night..." She trailed off. "Well, father would not be pleased. I will stay locked away in here - it seems to be what everyone wants of me." She murmured. She set down her basket, slowly unpacking all of it before taking off her cloak. She retreated into her dressing chambers, and came back out in a sleeping gown. "I don't see why you don't just lock me in here. It would be easier on you. Then you would not have to force yourself to stay with me."

((short post is short. >.< ))

Countryside Adventure (GranoxFirewind & Light The Dark)

She trudged along behind him, each step feeling like her shoes were filled with lead. She hadn't thought that Alexander would be killed. She hadn't thought of anything, really, except for how much she wanted to be free. Free from this place, free from expectations, free from feeling trapped and having nowhere to turn to. It certainly hadn't occurred to her that she was putting anyone in danger. And the matter-of-fact way he said it made her feel small and ashamed she had not thought of it. She drew her cloak tighter around herself as they entered the house - less for warmth and more for the comfort of it. She felt a bit ill, having to enter this place again. It was not a home, but a place that was going to leech the life out of her until she was nothing but a shallow husk.

Still, as he led the way past where they usually parted, right to the door of her own room, Calliope couldn't help but feel like he was treating her as a child once again. Or, perhaps not like a child, but like a prisoner. She looked at him, then looked at the door. She couldn't help the small sob that escaped her as she went inside. "Are you going to lock me in my rooms now?" She asked, her voice emotionless of even the ice it had held earlier. Calliope felt she probably deserved it. She had put him in danger unintentionally. There was something about her voice, her whole way of handling herself that seemed off. Almost... broken. As if she had resigned herself to such a thing as not being allowed out of her rooms; as if she had finally given up.