Decisions, Consequences, and Spite

[Trydian]

Trydian was drained of energy and overwhelmed with new emotions. Sebilla's body felt warm against him, or maybe that was his imagination playing tricks. She looked content, maybe even enthralled. He smoothed her hair and ran his fingers through it slowly. If he had this to come back to, he'd make sure that he definitely came back alive.

“I hope I gain my energy back, so I don't have to explain this exhaustion to King Pendaran.” Trydian said, noting that the tension between them had lifted. Speaking to her felt more at ease. He no longer felt as though he were stepping on egg shells.

Trydian thought out-loud for a moment, knowing that her heart raced for other reasons aside from lust.”I want you to promise me that you'll live. Even if you witness my death.” He looked at her, with a serious expression for the first time in weeks. “Go with Igraine if you can. If they make it through this, I want you to leave this place. If I am still alive, I will probably stay here.” Trydian said, realizing that he hadn't exactly been planning that circumstance. He didn't relish the idea of her continuing to dwell in the place that had changed her.

“If you have to fight me, use your power to destroy my sword. It will be less traumatizing.” Trydian explained, almost trying to convince himself of his own words. “Tell that to father too. I'm sure he'll enjoy killing me.” He was confident that Sebilla would share the information, even though she had explained that she was under strict contract.

With how long they had indulged in each other, he hoped that she wasn't pregnant. It would be even more cruel to bring their child into this world- especially if he couldn't be there. “With how long we went, let's hope you aren't pregnant. I don't want to be a father, any more than you want to give birth to a demon. Just because you are stronger, doesn't mean it won't be just as painful. It just means you will live through it.” Trydian blushed, realizing how much he had actually been thinking about impregnating her. It wasn't that he wanted to, but more of a precaution and “what-if” scenario.

“As for emotions...I have plenty of them. I just express my frustration and needs in a different way.” Trydian said, making the remark aimed at their sexual exploit. He had cried in the past, but not for reasons that she was probably assuming.

“Should I die, you can honor my death, by moving on and having children with someone else. I don't want to be responsible for your unhappiness.” Trydian knew she could be strong enough, but he also feared that she would hold onto his memory.

“You deserve a future with someone who can take care of you better.” Trydian said, knowing he could always please her physically, but he doubted he could take the actual responsibility of being with her.

“Just promise me that you'll live past all of this and I can go into battle with a clear conscience.”

[Thorin]

Shadow consumed Thorin's form and cocooned around him in a deep funnel. His form was barely visible, but there would be an outline of a man. While his power ran dangerously thick in his veins, his patience was lacking. Thorin was attempting to meditate, as he had been since his arrival. There was little else to do and the King rarely called for his appearance. The King seemed to be a catalyst for his family. He was unreachable, but he seemed to cause dilemma's without actually lifting a finger.

Sighing, his concentration was interrupted by the distressing sounds of a woman. Thorin heard the screams of Sebilla, immediately dispersing his energy throughout the room. The substance would evaporate, as if its contents could be so delicate in nature. In truth, the power could restrain a man like Vylrath Xanathi and even hide his form from common eyes. Thorin hadn't exercised all of his abilities, but he knew how to handle himself in a skirmish.

Getting up from his meditation state, he made his way toward the sound of the screams. His muscles tightened. He was no longer in a peaceful way of thinking. The calmness he had felt earlier, was quickly deteriorating. Someone would pay for the disruption and pain brought onto his niece. Thorin didn't know the real reason behind her cries, but there was little stopping him.

His feet stopped in front of his niece's door. It was quiet inside, but he couldn't count on her being alone. Maybe her attacker was still with her, hiding and waiting for someone to be so foolish. Thorin gripped the handle and forced it open with his strength.

“Sebilla! Is everything alright? It's your Uncle Thorin...” Thorin caught his words in time. He hadn't counted on such a scene. His niece and nephew had appeared to have enjoyed their company a little too much. He cursed, bringing his sword out of its sheath and pointing the blade to a scrambling Trydian.

The blade aimed for Trydian's gut, which forced Trydian against the wall. Motioning for Trydian's sword, he quickly grasped the blade, holding it at an angle with is free hand. His eyes flashing with a fresh anger. He could tolerate a lot of things, even the incident with the Bocan, but he couldn't handle a man purposely taking advantage of a woman.

“Explain yourself...or I castrate you here and now with your own sword.”

[Sebilla]

Sebilla shrieked at the intruder only to find that it was their Uncle. He probably wanted to impart words of wisdom or some such insane sense of Xanathi timing that all the men seemed to have.

"Woah, woah. Wait! Uncle, wait don't do anything crazy. He wasn't hurting me!" Sebilla wrapped the sheet from the bed around her like a toga. It hung beautiful around her body as if it's soul purpose in life was to be a makeshift dress. Carefully, Sebilla nudged herself between Trydian and Thorin. She pressed back against Trydian so that he wouldn't get hurt, but so that he wouldn't get any ideas.

"Please, just calm down. Everything is fine." Realizing that Thorin had Trydian's sword she balked for a second, knowing he didnt' realize how much of Trydian's life he had in his hands. With a feline-esque grace, Sebilla quickly snatched the blade from Thorin's hands. She shook her head and clutched the blade to her chest.

"This sword means more to me than anything in the world. I can't believe you're all so bent on killing one another. I willingly gave myself to Trydian. I cannot picture myself with anyone else. Even if he thinks I need to be with someone else." Sebilla reached behind her and took Trydian's hand in hers and squeezed it.

"Word is that Igraine is coming soon. Maybe you should meditate on that instead of banging around in my room and intimidating an innocent man. Leave him alone, Uncle. He's done nothing wrong."

[Trydian]

Trydian thankfully had his pants up, just before his uncle came rushing through the door. Before he could even react defensively, Trydian found himself up against wall. Sebilla shouted at the both of them, practically begging for him and his uncle to calm down. There would be little chance of that, his anger already past borderline of pissed-off.

His uncle had gotten his sword by brute force, not out of skill. If it had been in a battle, he was sure he would have never let the sword go. That was neither here, or there, considering Sebilla had to place herself between them. His eyes met his uncles gaze, which flashed with a surmountable temper.

“You can't seem to hold onto a weapon for long, can you Uncle Thorin? Anymore than you can hang onto Igraine.” Trydian said, speaking of the incident back at the Vuri Sanctuary. His uncle had been so overcome with grief, that he had been easily beaten. “Must be embarrassing that you're here and she has to come rescue you.” Trydian was brave behind Sebilla, but he knew that she was more than furious with him. He could practically feel her energy from the atmosphere. It could only end badly if he decided to do something stupid.

“Looks like Vylrath is coming too and mother.” Trydian said, guessing that his uncle didn't know the finer details. They would all be gathering for Parley soon, but he didn't see himself on the same side as his uncle.

[Thorin]

His eyes grew dark, a thin veil of black, covered what color there would be in his pupils. Thorin had had enough and he was finally at his breaking point. There was no longer a borderline temper, but an onslaught of pure hate stemming from his emotions. Trydian's words struck him, but they damaged him on a different level. The words attacked him with truth and that was something he didn't want to face- not right now.

Thorin looked at his niece, who still appeared helpless, even though he could feel and see her strength. Keeping his sword lowered, he began to sheath it, acting as though he weren't in the mood for a fight. Silent, he went to his niece and covered up the rest of her chest with the sheet. The sheet had begun to fall and he was the only one who had noticed.

He didn't want to be a father, but to add salt to the wound, his son had been given to the King's realm. Thorin wouldn't even a get a say in raising him. He was powerless and he felt his lack of influence in this realm. His family had already been wrought, but another child by a different woman had scarred him.

Trydian was still young and foolish, having most of his father's personality and ways of handling problems. Thorin paced before speaking, his hands flexing with a relentless stream of power. He felt for his niece, feeling a connection with her state of affairs. Much like him, she was caught in something out of her control and forced into her new abilities. Just like his predicament, he hadn't wanted to be a Vuri. He doubted she wanted this type of responsibility, but they didn't have a choice in the matter.

“You will have to forgive me, Sebilla...” Thorin attacked Trydian, but it was with such stealth that Trydian would be caught unaware of the force behind the assault. Shadow snaked from his hand, while his body became engulfed with a black flame. With enough concentration, the flame crawled along his skin, almost as if it were a sentient substance.

Trydian's body would be swallowed by pure umbra. Whatever light was available in the room, it would be enveloped by the force of shade. The lack of illumination would only last seconds, but to Trydian and Sebilla, it would seem like hours.

The pain Trydian would feel, would not be physical, but mental anguish. His mind would be rooted with Thorin's influence, every fear would be unleashed and brought to a surreal setting. Trydian wouldn't be able to cry out, his body paralyzed from shock. The trauma would last moments, but it would be enough to get the message through to the impudent demon.

His fears would be fed into Thorin, which would act as pure pleasure for the Vuri. “So, that is what you fear...your sister losing love for you and your sword is basically your life force...” Thorin shook his head, not at all remarking on the decision with their relationship. He couldn't speak, since he had had a child with his half-sister.

Placing his hand on Sebilla's stomach, she might fear the same treatment, but she would only feel a blanket of warmth. “Good, you aren't pregnant. We don't need anymore mishaps.” Surprisingly, his voice was smooth and calm. Trydian's fears had been like a narcotic, instantly calming the anarchy in his mind.

“I wish to speak with you privately, Sebilla. I don't think he will bother you again...”

[Sebilla]

Sebilla frowned when Thorin told her to forgive him. It was only when Trydian gave a grunt of pain and his body went rigid behind her that she realized something was wrong. She turned to Trydian and grabbed his face, she looked in his eyes that were laced with pain. She frantically tried to soothe him, wrapping her arms around him an trying to make the strain on his body ease.

"Thorin stop! You're hurting him!" She didn't listen to what Thorin said as he released Trydian. When he slumped against her she bowed a little under his full weight. She cooed in his ear softly and kissed his ear as she dragged him to the bed and laid him down. Sebilla turned to face Thorin with anger, only to have him tug her sheet back into place. Her anger foiled she huffed in confusion.

When his hand pressed against her belly she gasped in shock and pulled away from him. Her shock made her movements somewhat sluggish -- so he knew she wasn't pregnant.

"Get your hands off of me! I will speak to you, but you are to never touch Trydian again with your power. My mother will never forgive you if you harm him! I will never forgive you if you harm him!" Sebilla picked up her clothes and purposely dropped her sheet so that she stood naked in front of Thorin. It was in defiance of him that she did this, not out of desire -- and Trydian would know that and he might even smile at her attempt to make Thorin uncomfortable.

She pulled her clothes on deliberately with an angry jerky motion. She glared at Thorin when she was fully clothed and motioned to the door that was kicked in.

"After you. I will not dislodge my brother from my bed. He has been through enough already." Growling she stepped outside the door and down the hall a short distance, waiting for Thorin to follow.

[Trydian]

His body was quickly riddled in pain and confusion. Trydian could hear Sebilla and the voice of Thorin, but his mind was quickly enveloped in a blinding light. Everything he feared was being played out in his mind as if it were a real scenario. He saw his sister leaving him and the sword being destroyed. His death played in several motions, each one devastating his sister.

Trydian's mouth was frozen in a silent scream and then his body fell into a complete exhaustion. He was somewhere safe, but he couldn't focus. The presence of his uncle slowly left his mind, but the experience awakened something else inside of him.

The sword seemed to react from its owner's suffering, the blade encased with a dull illumination. Trydian would be lucky if he gained enough strength in time. He knew then, that he should have remained in his demonic form, but he wondered how he could have battled against such a mind flaying.

Falling into a deep sleep, he didn't dream, but he was revisited by his constant fears. The face of his sister, instantly visited him in his sleep and he would be heard muttering her name.

[Thorin]

Thorin lead her out into the hallway, ignoring her anger. There were other things to worry about, then the mood of a woman. While she had her reasons, Trydian needed to be put in his place. If the King was using them both in his sick game, then they would have very little time to discuss things. His form remained the same, except for the small nuance of the shade covering his body. The substance was no longer so prominent, save for a thin layer that could be seen pulsating on his skin.

Sebilla's aura felt foreign to him, but he was drawn to her essence all the same. He found her intriguing, if not a little dangerous to be in her presence. Thorin was sure that she was clueless about what she contained in her veins, so he decided to speak to her calmly. They wouldn't get anywhere if he constantly tried to provoke her. Smiling, he realized her temperament reminded him of Igraine.

“I will not have him jeopardizing the situation because of his desires....or yours.” Thorin explained, knowing that the last thing they needed, was another pregnant woman. The King could easily use that as another pawn. Given the power that Sebilla possessed, if she had been pregnant, the child would have been gifted with an undeniable strength from its parents.

When she mentioned her mother, he chuckled at her. Caela's wrath was the last thing he feared, given everything he had experienced in the Unseelie realm. “I'm sure your mother will see why I intervened...even if you cannot.” Thorin said, realizing that she assumed he had almost killed Trydian. “Your brother will be fine. If anything, he'll wake up with a migraine. He'll be back to his normal senses.”

Thorin's voice lowered, knowing the King had eyes and ears everywhere. “What did the King do to you and Trydian? I tried to delve into the layers of his mind, but it was consumed by those fears. When I laid my hand on you, your body reacted defensively to me.” Sebilla's body had reacted to him, almost as if it were putting up a protective ward. She would have been completely unaware of the incident, but it had been like a psychic shock wave to his body. Her powers were very premature, but they could be molded with her patience.

His thoughts were pure worry for her safety and the fact that he would have to explain everything to Caela. Caela would be less understanding, but it was as if Sebilla's body had been the vessel for something out of their control. She was a completely different being, as if reborn by some unnatural force. “I can sense the King in you...what did the bastard do?” Furthermore, what had he done to her brother? Trydian's essence was darker and much more complex. Sebilla's powers were more wild and untamed.

Thorin was there to help her and perhaps mentor her while they waited for their family to arrive. If anything, he would be comforted that he could keep watch over her.

"I'm here to help you...trust me, I know what it's like to be given something you don't want.”

[Sebilla]

Sebilla sighed as she listened to Thorin. Her eyes searched his for any change, any lies that he might be harboring. All of his questions were becoming bothersome so she crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, looking down at her feet.

"Let me start by saying that Trydian made some deals with the Unseelie King in order to keep me safe. I am, per contract, unable to discuss certain things with family. It has elevated to a sense that I will be killed if I violate my neutrality between the two factions." She shifted her feet before shrugging her shoulders a little.

"I don't know what he did to me. All I know is that I have powers now and I've been remade with powers like is. I'm cool to the touch and I look different and yet the same. It's all very strange to me. He can take this away from me, and he unmade me to remake me -- so if he takes this way from me I will die. Uncle, I was given this power in order to keep me safe. I had no choice in the matter -- but I'm making it work for me."

Sebilla heard her name muttered by Trydian and she shuffled a little uneasily, wanting to go back to him.

"With all due respect I don't care what anyone thinks. I love Trydian and I chose to be with him. It's the one thing I have been able to choose on my own for a very long time and I won't let anyone take that away from me. Especially since he belongs to the Unseelie King now." She didn't need to elaborate on the idea that Trydian could be thrown against the family and killed easily because he wouldn't kill his family.

[Trydian]

With each breath, his body shuddered against the pain in his chest. Trydian was too caught up in his adrenalin rush to acknowledge the pain. Lifting himself up with his sword, he had moved painfully away from the bed, only muttering Sebilla's name to warn her. He knew that she didn't have a choice.

“Sebilla...get away from him! He isn't with us.” Trydian's eyes flashed like a crimson fire in the shadows. They narrowed to Thorin, while something stirred in the air. It was unusual for him to call on his powers without his form. His teeth bared fangs, while the adrenalin continued to create an unusual confidence in him.

Trydian wanted to taste his uncle's blood and rip through the cavity of his chest. If he managed to kill his uncle, he would bathe in the blood. Pulling himself up, he breathed in deeply and surveyed the scene. Sebilla was near his uncle, so he couldn't risk injuring her. Shirtless, he squared his shoulders and held his sword with a vice-like grip. He knew the King wouldn't be happy for attacking one of his “guests,” so he waited to see his uncle's reaction to the motion.

He couldn't trust anyone right now, except for Sebilla and his mother. Thorin was acting too eager to learn about their current dilemma. Trydian had interrupted them during Sebilla's explanation. Even though it was little information, he didn't want the bastard learning something that he could use against them later.

“Come to me Sebilla. He doesn't understand that this wasn't our choice. He's our enemy now, but I doubt he wants to piss off the King, before the Parley has even started.” Trydian motioned for Sebilla to join his side, while he kept his eyes on Thorin. “I've seen his wrath...you wouldn't survive.” Trydian said, asking himself how he had survived the King's wrath. If he hadn't been a demon, he knew that he would have died instantly.

He regrettably recalled the forging of his soul with his sword. King Pendaran had delighted in forcing him to feel pain. The pain that Thorin had caused him, had been nothing compared to the onslaught of the King. Something was alive in Trydian, but it wasn't the same type of electrical charge he often called upon. He was mending and gaining strength, but it was as if he could call on certain attributes without going into form.

Since his uncle had flayed his mind, something compromising had been released. From the darker depth's of his mind, it was as if his unbridled power had finally been tamed.

[Sebilla]

Sebilla jumped when she heard Trydian’s voice. She felt guilty that she had been talking to Thorin and not beside him. She held her hand up to stall any questions Thorin might have before hurrying to Trydian.

“You shouldn’t be up.” She didn’t say it with a cooing voice or in a patronizing way. It was a simple truth and she didn’t feel a need to dress it up. Her hands pressed against Trydian’s chest, feeling his muscles move beneath his hot tan skin. She kissed his shoulder, heedless of the fact that Thorin was watching.

“Please don’t fight. You need to conserve your strength for anything that may happen. Please?” Sebilla wrapped her arms around Trydian and rested her head on his chest, hearing the steady thrum of his heart beating. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her with his sword, but he still held it out beyond her as if to protect her.

It was alluring to have a man half naked wanting to protect her. That was all Trydian ever seemed to want to do. Protect her and, well, there were other things – but thinking about those made her blush against his chest.

“Igraine will need his help if she is to survive this ordeal, if any of us are to survive. You can’t kill him and he can’t kill us without jeopardizing everything he holds dear.”

[Thorin]

….Everything he holds dear....

Thorin listened to Sebilla's wise words, almost struck down by them. What did he hold dear? He hadn't thought of Igraine, but they couldn't fight here, even if they were on opposite sides. Everything would be lost to Igraine, if he had let his emotions control him. Did she really need him though? He was beginning to doubt that. Thorin knew that he would just be another sword-for-hire when he returned to her side.

He watched Sebilla attempt to convince Trydian to restrain himself. “Listen to your sister. She is wise beyond her years. If we fight, it will be on the battle ground and I will not hold myself back.” Smirking, Thorin looked at his half-brother. He was a pathetic spawn of Xanathi, having been born only out of their father's cruelty.

“You have already experienced some of my power and that is just a small amount I delivered to you.” Thorin said, wondering how much longer it would take for Igraine and the others to arrive. From what he learned in Trydian's mind, he could at least inform them.

“Xanathi men, seem to have a habit for sacrificing themselves over one woman.” Thorin said, knowing that Trydian was no different and even resembled himself with Igraine. Looking toward Sebilla, he kept his smirk. “But I don't know if it's really worth it. They seem oblivious to our trials.” Shrugging, there was little humor he found in it, having sacrificed himself several times for Igraine.

“Do not let your desire for your sister control your thoughts. I can see you have already made life-threatening choices because of her.” Thorin explained, wondering why he was giving any advice at all. It wasn't really advice, but a warning.

“But I think my words are falling on deaf ears. You are too much like father...hell, you even have his stance.” Thorin said, mostly disgusted by what he was looking at. The way Trydian positioned his feet and the way he gripped his sword, reminded him too much of Vylrath. If he had his choice, he would have attacked him here and now.

“Do not think that you were ever worthy of Xanathi blood...you were spared, because of the women in your family.”

Thorin walked away from them, not wanting to say much more. Even though he spoke truth, it was a harsh truth that needed to be said. He was tired, anxious and frustrated. When he finally met up with Igraine, what would he say to her? She would find out about the pregnant woman and that was something he had to prepare himself for- it wasn't going to be a good outcome either way.

[Igraine]

"At least he was never disowned." Sebilla called at Thorin's back. She kissed Trydian's cheek softly before walking after Thorin, quickly closing the distance between them and checking her pace to meet his. She put her hands behind her back as she stared down the hall. She could manipulate the hall to take her wherever she wanted in the whole of the Unseelie King's compound -- however she just felt like wandering.

"You can't speak about Trydian in such a manner when you yourself were considered forsaken to this family. As I recall you were considered dead to the family the moment grandmother died giving birth to my mother. I also recall that you hated my mother so much before she was born you were willing to kill her. Isn't it amazing how things work out? If our mother had been killed during the pregnancy in which Trydian and I were being created...well we never would have existed for your displeasure." Sebilla gestured with her hand to a bend in the hall.

"Let's go for a walk, shall we? Good." There would be no denying her this boon. Thorin might not care for her brother, but he was just as enthralled by her Xanathi blood as any other Xanathi woman living. Truely it might even be the strange powers she exhibited and her quiet and calm nature. She spoke softly and listened but she also had an acidic bite that would just as soon shred Thorin for his actions against Trydian as soothe him.

"I don't think you really understand what you're saying. We Xanathi women hold sway over all of the Xanthi men, surely that is no lie, but we do not choose your fate. Igraine didn't choose your fate or seal it. Isabella did not choose Vylrath's fate, she died for him. I did not choose Trydian's fate, I simply existed. I did not choose Soren's fate, he chose to harm me when he could have helped." Sebilla pressed her fingertips to her forehead for a moment before continuing her slow stroll along the hallway.

"Listen, I don't appreciate your assumption that we are bad. We've saved all of your asses moreover than you can count. What would you do without Igraine? What if she were dead? Your child she carries, what would you do if she died? She will be a Xanathi woman through and through. Think on that a while, Thorin, before you judge the women that have suffered so badly for men like you in their lives."

Sebilla bowed her head and turned away from Thorin then, to walk back to where Trydian was standing by himself near her door. She waved at him and smiled though she felt no joy putting Thorin in his place.

[Trydian]

Trydian listened to Sebilla intently. His uncle disappeared into the hallway, as if being swallowed up by a catacomb. Whether he remained in the shadows, he would never know, because he wasn't staying around to find out. Sebilla spoke truth. Trydian had almost forgotten about the crimes his uncle had committed. His father was a cruel man, but even he had grieved over Isabella. There was little emotion in Thorin's eyes when he had spoken to him.

“Leave him be Sebilla. We cannot risk the King knowing of our confrontation.” Trydian began to think on Thorin's words. Did he let Sebilla hold control over this thoughts? Every action had been for her, but that had been a decision of his own free will. The only fate they had shared, had been the blood pact that had been forced upon them. His mother had placed the pact on them to protect Sebilla.

Sebilla had been from a different father and luckily escaped the Xanathi blood. There was little he could do to stop her temper and he felt his own anger rise. When she kissed him and attempted to calm him, his senses immediately went for her. Sheathing his sword, he knew that there was little chance in Hell that he would fight and risk it all. Was it Sebilla that had calmed him? He only knew that his anger had subsided, but it was turning into a calm absolution.

His anger could be focused, almost manipulated into an electrically charged energy. Trydian's body had contorted, but only slightly, compared to his true demonic form. The bones had shifted and morphed under a quiet intensity.

Looking at Sebilla, he envied her, only for the fact that she didn't have ties with Vylrath. “You are lucky that you are another man's daughter.” Trydian said, his voice sounding sad, as if conflicted with another emotion. “You will stay with me at all times, so that I do not lose sight of you....at least until the others arrive.” After dealing with Thorin, he knew that they could be separated quite easily. With Sebilla's new powers, he saw that she didn't know how to restrain herself against the enemy.

“We should train together, even just to learn our potential.” Trydian could feel that she had lack of control on her abilities. He looked at her again, unable to take in the fact that she had basically berated someone like Thorin.

“I never thought I would see that side of you...” Trydian kissed her, as if to reward her, but he really just desired her touch. "I kind of like it."