Wandering Warrior

[Neko]

Crystina or Crys as she had been known to be called as it was less feminine. She been told by her cousin who was the butler of one of the famous houses of this area. That the house he served had two woman, the main mistress and her sister. Her sister had some connection to the other house and that head of the house had a brother who was having some type of problems. It seemed like a headache in itself but hey she had more problematic orders in her days so she might as well give this a try. As much as she hated to admit it living in the woods was not as nice as it used to be… Although she would probably eat those words bitterly later.

Riding up upon the castle she was told about by her cousin she slowed her mount down. She did not see anyone worth noticing. She sighed, “I guess this was a fools errand eh Epona?” Her skittish but trustful mount gave a snort and then was silent. Crys sent her a glance before sighing again. She liked this mare to the war horse her father gave her. Epona had personality, and while she stuck out like a sore thumb she was like her. Everyone asked her if ‘his’ meaning her ‘stallion’ meaning Epona was for sale. She was bigger then most let it be a freak accident or what not but she liked her. It was no feat to get the mutual feeling however.

The feeling was mutual now however. She gave a small noise to let Epona know to keep going. She gave a snort and a rough twitch of her tail before slowly continuing up the trail towards the house known as Lee. She was probably a conundrum in the fact she knew more then most yet was sheltered by her hellish father. She was zoning out, one thing her father said not to do when she heard to be fighting. She kicked Epona’s sides and caused her to gallop over to where the noise was coming from. She pulled on Epona’s reins causing her to rear and violently stomp back down before Crys watched as what she guessed were suppose to be guards.

They were doing a horrible job… She then noticed under the mass of armor being thrown around was a man with white hair. She noticed he was the one doing the throwing around. If she wanted answered she decided she needed to get him to calm down or at least knock him down. She was not sure how well she was going to handle a madman but consider this a trail… Hopping off Epona she had her sword banished and swung it to give a quick warm up before ducking under a guard that was flung at her direction. She then felt herself being flung to the ground. She noticed the white haired man was crushing her into the ground, pinning her down.

She disliked contact she did not give permission to… So that did not fly with her. She gave a small twitch at the contact before giving a gruff, “Get off of me!” She had long ago perfected the ‘male’ sounding voice. When the white haired man refused to get up she glared and grabbed a fist full of his hair before staring him in the face before growling out, “What part of get off of me did you not understand?!” She got a reply to that being roughly shoved away. She continued to glare at him and heard Epona fighting off the guards who seemed to want her. She stood up before grabbing her sword. “You are going to pay for that…”

[1<3[)r@I<3]

The late summer night shone bright under the light of the full moon riding high in the clear sky overhead. The grim-faced guards had split into two groups, the smaller standing ready to block the gate while the larger circled warily around their captain. Rhys had been unstable of late, driven by grief over the loss of his fiance. Now he was more than grief ridden. His depression, always hovering just beneath the surface, had intensified to the point where he was no longer careful in a fight. Even when sparring, the man was reckless enough to be injured. Finally, Damon had ordered the guards to refuse to spar with Rhys and, consequently, had ordered them to keep him from leaving as well. Now he had reached his limit, feeling caged within his own home. He couldn't ease the grief and depression he felt, the pain of survivors guilt too much to bear, if he remained within the castle walls. He would be found quickly enough if he tried to hide. Even his own room was no longer a safe haven, as the servants' children had taken to congregating there. Most simply watched to make sure he didn't do anything stupid, but a few at least had the decency to pretend interest in the various items he had collected over the years.

Rhys had slipped down the stairs, dressed in light riding clothes with a knife hidden in his boot. He bore no other weapons, though it was well known that any darkling was a target in the area, halfbloods more so as they were generally targeted by human and darkling alike. He had no intention of surviving to return to the castle now that he was certain the guards were capable of protecting Damon and his family. When he had reached the gate, finding them blocked, Rhys had ordered the guards to stand down. Their refusal angered him enough that he tried to shove through, only to find himself in the center of the courtyard surrounded by men he had thought were loyal. He told them again, roughly, to stand aside. He attacked, thrown into a rage by their refusal.

The guards, well protected from unarmed attacks by their armor, soon realized that he would not stop unless forced. Not wanting to do harm, they were forced to attempt to wrestle the white haired man to the ground. This did no good to them, and no damage to Rhys as he threw every man and woman he could get his hands on. He was far from overwhelmed by the number of guards when the stranger appeared. Seeing the drawn sword, and an opportunity to get his wish, Rhys tossed one of the younger, lighter men in that direction and then launched himself at the intruder, pinning what his empathy said was a woman to the ground.

Her voice sounded masculine enough when she told Rhys to get off to fool the guards attempting to drive her steed into the stable. One shouted that they needed to get 'his', meaning the newcomer, horse out of the way in case it had been battle trained. A few of the others helped since they wanted their captain alive and in one piece, not trampled to death. At her second order, he threw her aside as he had done his own men and women. Backing off somewhat, Rhys stood with his head high and waited, making a target of his neck and chest. He waited, his rage quelled by the chance to end it, with a sad smile on his face when the woman said he would pay for what he had done. Without rage to bury them, his grief and dispair rose high again, so painful that they seemed to almost tear him apart. "Try it. I am unarmed and armorless. It should be easy enough a task." His quiet voice carried well enough on the night air. The remaining guards surged forward, their grips on Rhys rendering him immobile. He didn't try to escape now. Just stood, staring at the intruder with eyes that begged and challenged at the same time.

[Neko]

Crys, now standing had grabbed her sword. Her head was spinning and it was not from the fight. She was used to fighting… It was from all the emotions. Her glare that had been from being laid on turned into one due to all the emotions seeping out of him like some water pot with a hole in it. She noticed that after tossing her he stood with his head high. He was very tall but she just continued glaring. She was trying to keep her own rage quelled due to all the emotion of grief and despair from him. It was to painful. At her saying “You are going to pay for that…” Which was for laying on her and shoving her felt her glare grow harder. His answer almost made her snap but she kept her composure. “Try it. I am unarmed and armorless. It should be easy enough a task.”

She gave him a condisending look. While she could hardly look down at him due to his height she was surprised but was glad for the stupid guards that had a grip on the idiot immobile. He did not try to escape so she simply put a finger under his chin. “Now why would I kill an unarmed and armorless idiot? Are you insulting my ability or do you just want to die that badly…” She after a moment took the finger and let it return to her other fingers to form a hand worthy to slap his face. “You are a very stupid man… How selfish…” After a moment she whistled. “Epona!” The horse was by her side in a second. She then looked at Rhys. “You reek of rage, grief, and despair. I am quite sick and tired of having this drown me…”

She reached into her saddle. “This is made of herbs very good for buises…” After that she caressed the findly crafted container before she kneed Rhys in the gut. “Here you are going to need it. Be a good boy and share it with all those who care enough to stop you from being the careless fool you are…” Shoving it into a free pocket as he was detained she sighed. “Everyone is the same in these towns. Thinking they are the only one… Everyone has lost a loved one… It hurts but there are others and if you do something those others will be hurt and feel what you feel. Selfish selfish idiot…” After that she gave a few rubs to the nose of her war horse. “There is someone in the castle there… His presence makes me want to throw up. So worried…” She then snapped her head towards him.

“If you want to die you will find a way. But keep this in mind. It is easy to die but it harder to stay alive. Whoever is causing you this grief would not want you to be doing this to everyone. Take these words and think upon them or throw them out. It is your choice. I am but a passing stranger…” With that she got back on her horse and was going to turn to leave but Epona refused to move. She stared at Rhys. “Epona…” After a moment she had to much and jumped off her horse. “Fine damn it.” She said with a shove to her horse. “Anyone who opposes me taking this man stand and fight me but I will not hesitate to kill you…” At no one giving her any issues she took the emotional man roughly by the elbow making sure to dig her nails into his arm.

Taking him off towards the castle she did not take his answer for anything besides yes. “You are a difficult one…” She suddenly got a rather evil smile on her face. With a push to the ground she crossed her arms. “Epona sit.” The horse did just that. Pinned Rhys down to the ground with enough weight to keep him there but not enough to crush him. Crys sitting down and leaning against Epona stared at Rhys. “I have no idea why I am helping a complete stranger…” She noticed he was hardly being easy to work with so with a sigh she used the pommel of her sword to knock him out. “Alright time to take him to the one freaking out inside… Epona find a place to relax.”

The horse got up and galloped off. Giving a glare and snarling whinny to any guard who got to close. Crys was used to carrying men so unlike Innocence she did not exactly have much trouble carrying Rhys despite him being heavier then Damon. Bringing him to a room close by to the one with the annoying amount of worry she put the other annoying man on the bed. She then cupped her hands, “HEEEEY!!” Hoping to catch Damon’s attention and possibly wake the idiotic man she knocked out. She then laid on the bed keeping her distance with her back on the bed’s headboard. Her leg draped on the edge of the bed. It swung slightly. Innocence who was staying with Damon noticed a sound. “Damon did you hear something?”

[1<3[)r@I<3]

Rhys stood, waiting for a blow that never came, without struggling against his men. He could feel their concern, knew it was for him, just as he could feel an echo of his own emotional state making the stranger’s head spin. The guards were his concern at the moment. They wanted him safe, it seemed, and that shook him a bit. He determined to make sure they would have nothing to feel guilty about when he finally managed to find the peace and rest he sought so desperately. The stranger’s words, calling him selfish and weak, bit deep enough into his pride to momentarily shake him out of his gloomy thoughts. Anger brought the cold mask he had often worn before into place. How dare she judge him? She knew nothing of what he had endured, how much he had lost. She knew nothing the true cause of the pain he felt. How could she? Had she ever been the one that caused the death of a loved one? Had she ever survived the same thing that had caused that death? He didn’t think so, though even as he thought such things, Rhys knew he was just as guilty of judging her and she had been of judging him.

Rhys flinched, a grimace crossing his almost expressionless face, when she mentioned there being a very worried person within the castle. He knew Damon was worried, but why shouldn’t he be? While the pandemic illness had passed months ago, supplies were still hard to come by. No one wanted to risk falling ill of the nameless disease that had slain so many and so indiscriminately. There were a lot of mouths to feed, even now, both in the castle and in the town, and little enough to go around. The young lord had taken his brother’s advice to feed his people. Now, Lee’s well trained guards patrolled town and castle alike, while the town guard, little more than armed farmers and craftsmen, now worked the fields with everyone else. Even those with money to spare were forced to work for their meals now, in spite of the protests and attempted bribery. But the strange warrior-woman’s words made it seem like Rhys was the cause of the worry. And if she was right…

Rhys felt a little shame at the thought that he might be causing Damon, and Innocence as well, to worry. He had no desire to cause either of them to worry, certainly didn’t feel worth it after what had happened. As he had once told Sarah, what use was one who could not protect even those he loved? It didn’t matter that the enemy had been a pandemic, nor that the girl had been exposed before she nursed him through his own bought with it prior to succumbing to it herself. He had not protected her, and so was, by his thinking at least, not worthy of worry. He broke free of his thoughts as she mounted her steed, which then refused to leave. When she dismounted and grabbed his arm, digging her nails in painfully, Rhys went peacefully enough.

He was a bit confused when she started for the door, and more so when she pushed him to the ground and had her horse sit on him. He started to struggle then. If there was something in the castle he needed to see or take care of, he would do it. But he couldn’t if the damned horse was sitting on him. Didn’t know why she was helping? How was pinning him to the ground helping? He struggled harder, trying to push the horse off, only to feel a sudden blow to his jaw. Darkness descended as he passed out.

********

Damon had been pacing the floor of room he and Innocence shared, listening to the conflict below. He was worried that the guards would get hurt, that they would hurt Rhys. And worst of all, that they would fail to stop him from leaving. When the sounds of fighting stopped, Damon ran to the window. He couldn’t see the courtyard from that vantage point, so he turned toward the door. At the sound of a horse running, his shoulders slumped and he reached for the bottle of wine sitting near the window. Pulling the cork, he started to raise it to his lips for a drink. Then, with a snarl, he threw it into the fireplace where it shattered, splashing wine across the hearth. He was cussing loudly, shaking with anger and suppressed sobs. His brother had gotten away, and in his current state was unlikely to ever return. Leaning back against the wall, Damon slid to the floor and buried his face In his hands, beginning to weep softly. He didn’t want to face the world, cruel as it was, without his brother at his side. For that was his place, regardless of the customs, and even laws, that said Rhys belonged somewhere behind him.

When Innocence called his attention to the shout, Damon dashed from the room and stood in the hallway, glancing wildly about. One of the servants’ children ran over to him, pointing to a room just down the hall. “M’Lord! A strange man in armor jess carried th’ Cap’n in there. I… I think he mighta been hurt, sir. He weren’t movin’ or nothin’.” The boy’s face was tight with worry, and Damon laid a shaking hand on his shoulder. “Good lad. Go on below now. I’ll see to it that Rhys is all right. Don’t worry.” He tried to grin at the child, but failed. Then he turned and walked to the room, and stood for a moment facing the closed door, afraid of what he might find on the other side. Squaring his shoulders, Damon took a deep breath and opened the door. He vaguely noticed the armored figure leaning against the headboard before his gaze settled on his unconscious brother. “Rhys?” He walked to the side of the bed and looked down to see the already dark bruise on the unmoving man’s face. Damon reached out and shook Rhys’ shoulder, panic beginning to set in. “Rhys? Wake up. Please, Rhys. Please wake up…” He sat on the edge of the bed, holding Rhys’ hand and begging in a quiet, panicked voice for the older man to wake, rocking slightly with tears running down his face.

[Neko]

Innocence was not exactly worried about Rhys, although she was, but worried about how panicked about how Damon was taking it. Especially when he ran to the window. He had reached for a bottle of wine that had been sitting near the window and looked like he was going to drink. She did not want him to become drunk but that was not something she had to worry anymore as he gave a snarl and threw it into the fireplace. It made her jump but she than gave a look of concern. He was cussing loudly and shaking with anger. She slowly went over to him as he leaned back against the wall. He slid down the wall and buried his face into his hands as he began to weep softly. Innocence gave a sad look. “Damon…”

That is when she thought she heard something and gave a finish to that sentence. “Did you hear something?” At that he gave no answer besides dashing from the room. He stood in the hallway in which she followed to make sure he did nothing he would regret. He was glancing about wildly. Suddenly one of the servant’s children ran over to him. Pointing out a room down the hall and explained about Rhys and a strange man in armor carrying him into said room. Saying he might be hurt, explaining why. Damon while trying to hide his worry and failing thanked the boy he then walked to the room. He stood for a moment facing the closed door. He then squared his shoulders taking a deep breath he opened the door.

Innocence noticed the armored figured and thought he was indeed strange before noticing poor Rhys laying on the bed. He seemed to be knocked out. Damon seemed to freak out at seeing his brother unconscious. He walked to the side of the bed in which the armored stranger moved out of the way. There was a dark bruise forming. Crys was feeling sick to her stomach with all the emotions but kept quiet. When Damon reached out and shook Rhys’ should she felt panic add on and she rolled her eyes. “Rhys? Wake up please, Rhys Please wake up…” He sat on the edge of the bed while holding Rhys’ hand. He begged in a quiet, panicked voice. He rocked slightly with tears running down his face.

Innocence having enough went around the bed and leaned over and unrepentantly slapped his cheek just as Crys slapped the back of Damon’s head. They shared a look before Crys spoke. “Get a grip. How old are you? Twelve? He is just knocked out. He will wake up soon enough and I doubt he wants a grown man sobbing all over him…” Innocence looked up at the stranger. She then pouted. “Hitting him is my job. He just needs love smacks.” Crys looked at her but smirked, “Then put him on a leash.” Innocence taking Damon’s tie pouted. “He is.” Crys smirked. “Touche.” She then noticed no change with the men.

“So… Woman-” Innocence smiled, “Innocence… That is my name.” Crys continued “Innocence… These two are…” Innocence continued. “Brothers.” Crys nodded. “I see that explains the… Sobbing…” Innocence smiled. “Damon loves his brother a lot.” Crys nodded. “Well the idiot needs to wake up and the moron needs to stop sobbing.” Noticing the typical pitcher of water she stood and grabbed it. She took it and drenched them both. “Okay boys time to wake up and straight yourselves!” She announced. Innocence could not help but giggle. She noticed something but kept it to herself. She could tell that this he was a she by attitude and by sight.

[1<3[)r@I<3]

Damon barely noticed the slaps or his tie being tugged on, so deep was his concern and panic over Rhys. The voices of Innocence and the stranger were a buzz in the background. When the water hit the two men, Damon yelped and glared at the stranger. "What the hell did you do tha..." He was interrupted by Rhys' groan and whirled back with concern. Rhys sat up, gingerly rubbing his jaw.

"Damn. I feel like I got run over by a mac truck." He glared at the stranger a moment. "I'm beginning to think the old man was right when he said wenches and weapons are a bad mix. But at least you seem to know how to use yours." Damon looked from his brother to the stranger he had thought was a man, though somewhat feminine, with confusion. Then he pointed to the newcomer. "That's a..." To which Rhys answered, "Yes. May I have my hand back now please?"

Damon let go, and Rhys stood and walked over to lean on the wall. Crossing his arms, he glared at all of them. "Now can someone explain why I'm soaked, why I'm in a room, who you," glaring now only at the strange woman, "are. And why you didn't run me through when you had the chance. I would assume from the condition of your armor that you are no stranger to killing."

Rhys looked back at Damon as the younger man crossed his arms and answered the first two questions with a sulky pout on his face. "You're soaked because that stranger dumped water on both of us while you were out. And I'm pretty sure you are in here because you've been a selfish ass." Rhys's final question caused fresh tears to run down Damon's face, and he stared at the floor with his shoulders hunched.

Rhys launched a pillow, which bounced off Damon's head. "I'm a selfish ass?" Rhys' voice was hard. "You've kept me trapped here. It's like I'm in a... a... cage." His face was bleak as he gazed at his brother, belying the tone of his voice.

[Neko]

Innocence had not noticed Damon’s lack of reaction to the slaps and her playing with his tie until she looked at him. She was then distracted by the man she soon was able to see through the ‘disguise’ thanks to her sight to see that he was indeed a she. This she was still nameless as well. She figured Rhys knew as he had empathy. She was amused by this woman as she had the vulgarity to act like a man. Screaming at the boys to more or less man up and of course to toss water on the both of them. How interesting… Not that she did not have enough partners in crime but she could never have to many, that was if the woman decided to stay.

At the water being poured over the two men it seemed to wake her lover up and just as he started in with “What the hell did you do tha…” He was soon cut off by Rhys giving a groan. Damon whirled back with concern. Rhys sat up, gingerly rubbing his jaw. Crys did not give any look not that any could directly be seen. Her armor had her well hidden as did the shadows of the room. She looked over at Rhys as he spoke however, “Damn. I feel like I got run over by a mac truck.” Crys narrowed her eyes in a frustrated manner as she was glared at by Rhys for another reason.

Her reason was due to both of them being childish. The younger one crying, and acting like the world was ending… And this older one comparing her to some child’s favorite toy. Although it could be considered a compliment. She did not comment on what he had said ignoring him. His next comment got her bristled however. “I’m beginning to think the old man was right when he said wenches and weapons are a bad mix. But at least you seem to know how to use yours.” She knew he had been a half blood… She should have known he would have known her to be a woman… She should have known that he would be a loud mouth as well…

She was seething with anger as she noticed the tiny blonde woman’s emotions betrayed she had also known… She was also half blooded it seemed the childish one was the only one who had not known… While she herself for the most part new she was ‘female’ lived male and had to believe herself male so when someone confronted her about her gender it brought out the bad out in her… So when Damon pointed to her and said “That’s a…” To which Rhys answered, “Yes. May I have my hand back now please?” Damon let go, and Rhys stood and walked over to lean on the wall. Crossing his arms, he glared at all of them.

Crys watched with malice at how she was now basically known known after such a short time and not just that. It was because she decided to help someone… "“Now can someone explain why I'm soaked, why I'm in a room, who you," He then glared now only at her which only added to the fire she was trying to hold back, "are. And why you didn't run me through when you had the chance. I would assume from the condition of your armor that you are no stranger to killing." It was true she was no stranger to it but she was getting the feeling to kill this man now…

As if nothing special had occurred she let out a snarl of, “Fa dae ye think ye yur givin’ awa’ mah gender?!” Not that it mattered much. Her Scottish and Irish accent that came out despite years of it having time to disappear came back. It was the curse of her famous anger and the humor was that with that famous Irish temper came the accent. “Ye aur drooched coz ye slept tae mah smack due tae ye bein’ a complete an’ utter moron…” She said with malice. Not caring if he was angry or anything else about being soaked at her attempt at waking both brothers up.

“As fur nae killin’ ye well… ‘at wood be a waste ay moron aye?” She gave a smirk in his direction before trying to cool down. She had barely spoken she did not want them to think she only spoke like this but she was still pissed… She had an identity crisis and they despite not knowing her so she should give them some room to work with felt like a tiger about to attack. “Mah name is Crys… Nae ah am nae stranger tae killin’… Ah can change mah min’ oan killin’ ye if ye want but it is nah fin if th’ victeem wants tae die. Plus ah awreddy tauld ye ottwith everythin’ ah am gonnae say ye thickheaded dobber…”

The younger brother also answered but instead of being angered was sad. The older brother tossed a pillow at him getting Crys to pause and take the moment to calm down. Innocence who had been silence throught this whole thing smiled, “Pillow fight.” She said with a soft smack to Damon before tossing the pillow back at Rhys.

[/b]” It was her way of trying to cheer up the atmosphere that even she knew was filled with tension. Crys after a moment rubbed her temples. “How about you stop trying to kill yourself, worrying this idiot, and you stop putting him in a cage like he is some type of rage bird..” After a moment she started to curse in Celtic and crossed her arms unhappy in what she got herself into. “You are a selfish ass…” She said before she noticed Innocence had grabbed the younger brother and proceeded to smother him to keep him from making any one else mad.

Rhys could bloody him and if this woman knocked Rhys out god knows what she would do to him if he said something stupid. Crys looked over at them for a moment before looking at Rhys, “… What the hell is she doing?” At his answer she was silent before shouting, “By th’ gods gonnae op it hen!” Reverting back to her roots. Not liking the feeling the woman was giving off. Shaking it off she turned to Rhys, “And for your information I am no wench…” She said getting dangerously close to his face in anger despite the fact she did not have the field advantage anymore.
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