Veriel: Eyes Opened

[Eira]

She spoke to him, those startlingly green eyes practically pinning the elf in place. Her lips curved up, voice turning soothing.

For once, he hardly stuttered as he replied.

A fox in all but appearance. But even so, he knew he could trust her.

[Eira]

His voice wavered.

The other drew near, lips close to the elf’s ear, his voice startlingly harsh. “Get a grip. It is unworthy enough of our kind to be hanging out about these folk.”

[Eira]

He woke up, gasping for air, feeling the sting of hundreds of now-healed bites imprinted in his skin. And the spider stood over him, his expression a mockery of kindness.

“I will harm you no longer,” the spider said, smiling. “Unless you decide to tell anyone this tale.”

[Eira]

He hunched over on the couch, the sting of tears in his eyes. The mage had her arms around him, her voice patient, though the touch of aggravation began to trickle through.

“What happened?”

He swallows, eyes downcast. “N-nothing.”

His reply was the whetstone her voice needed, a fine edge taking shape. “Don’t lie to me.”

[Eira]

“You will tell me what is bothering you,” the man with a knife said, drawing near the trembling elf. “And you will receive assistance.”

He could hardly control his own voice. “I re-really am f-fi-fine.”

The knife glinted as the man stepped even closer, looming over him. “You really are a poor liar, boy.”

[Eira]

“Sir,” his brother said, a brilliant smile across his lips. “You may be a friend, but right now I wish to speak to my brother. Alone. Please let me do so.”

The spider stood there with arms crossed. “If he wants me here, that is his decision, is it not? Is that not what your god would want?”

The elf’s words died in his throat before he could even start them as his brother continued to face the spider. “I wish my that my brother is not forced to do anything. For that is the will of his goddess. Yet your words are hard and commanding.”

[Eira]

Conviction held up every single one of his brother’s words. “If the peck of love on the cheek may sow the seed of retribution for the wicked, I would kiss each and every wicked man, even if it took my life.”

[Eira]

“Forgive me?” the mage asked, and the elf blinked, startled.

He couldn’t understand the words the spilled from her lips, but his mind went blank, shoulders relaxing. He trusted her. Of course he could. There was no reason to be afraid. She smiled sweetly, and he couldn’t help but smile back.

“Please tell me what happened to scare you so much the other day.”

And without thinking about it, he did.

Then the spell faded.

[Eira]

The paladin stared at him with hands curled up into fists, anger thrumming through every corner of her frame.

“H-he said it w-was because I tr-trusted him,” the elf continued, his voice hardly more than a whisper. “And th-that elves t-tasted good.”

[Eira]

The rain fell gently as the two walked and spoke. He was confident, charming and so… the elf could hardly keep himself from blushing as he gazed over at the other man’s beauty.

He fumbled and forgot his words, but that only served to catch the other’s interest even further.

[Eira]

The elf stood there alone, shrinking back from the helmed figure as it strode past. The sand was cool on his feet, and he gratefully relaxed as the man returned.

“Don’t panic, but-” the man whispered, his amused words carried on a breath, “that was a drow.”

The elf stopped breathing.