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 Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 3:58 am
ONE
Eerinna sat in the clearing and drew a wide-toothed comb through her thick glossy hair. Once, twice, and she dropped her arm. The comb continued it's way down her brown hair, leaving a violet-purple trail sparkling in its wake.
She leant her head back and closed her eyes, warming her face in the sun. Having someone else take the time to brush her hair was a pleasure for Eerinna. The comb began to sweep more slowly as her focus waned and she fell into a stupor.
"You look like a princess."
The comb fell to the ground. Eerinna swung her head to the left and right as her eyes struggled to take in the now-blinding light. "Who's there?"
"I didn't mean to disturb you," said Zared, "but I thought staring at a girl without announcing myself was more impolite."
"Oh," said Eerinna weakly. "That's okay. And," she picked up her fallen comb and played with it as she spoke, "you know, I am a princess."
Zared smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. The princess of the Kaiba clan. Your father does treat you as one."
"No," said Eerinna firmly. "My mother's father was King Jareth. I may not be in the direct line of ascension to the Horned Throne, but I am still a member of the royal family."
"Ah," said Zared blankly. "That... was totally different to anything I thought you would say."
Eerinna stood up and dusted off her tail. "Don't worry."
"I've upset you," he said and frowned.
"I've lived amongst men for my whole life, with no mother figure," she said quietly. "I know you didn't mean it, so it doesn't matter."
"I apologise," he said quickly, "for upsetting you. And for disagreeing with you now. It does matter, if I offended you."
Eerinna smiled. "That's very kind of you."
"So. Have you been hiding yourself? I haven't seen you since you and your siblings and a few friends broke into my cave."
Eerinna giggled nervously. "I've been around. Not hiding. Why, did you miss me?"
Zared nodded to her courteously. "I might have."
"You should come down to the herd more- I'm always there," she said shyly.
"Maybe I will. But for now I'll leave you to yourself," his eyes travelled to her hair, where the last of the purple was fading away. He took her hand and placed a kiss on the air above it. "Farewell."
Eerinna stood statue-still until she was sure Zared was out of hearing range. Then she danced around wildly, squeeing hysterically. No matter how she acted, she was still a fangirl in love with a hot, mysterious guy. She was giggling and walking on air all the way home.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:12 am
TWO
Eerinna curled up desolately on her bed. What a boring day. Everyone was to busy for her. It did not sit well with her to be ignored. Thankfully, before she could bust out the thick, rich, chocolate icecream there was a very distracting knock on the door.
She got up, smoothed back her hair and flung the door open wide.
"Good afternoon," said Zared quietly.
"Hello!" said Eerinna excitedly. "What can I do for you?"
"You could accept my deep thanks for your gift," he said, producing a silver crystal ball. "It really wasn't necessary, but was greatly appreciated."
Eerinna blushed. "Well... I thought youd like it. I'm happy you do. It was no trouble."
Zared smiled and dipped his head courteously. "Although I was under the impression I ought to be presenting you with a token as my apology."
"There was nothing really to apologise for," said Eerinna. "It's okay."
"I'd prefer to make it up to you. Is there anything that you need?"
Eerinna grinned and shook her head. "No, I'm totally taken care of," she said.
"I was afraid of that."
"Why?" asked Eerinna. "What des that mean?"
"It means I have to get you something that you don't need. Something that you want, instead." A smirk spread across his powder-white face.
"I have everything I want," said Eerinna with some confusion.
"Then I'll have to give you something you don't know you want," said Zared.
Eerinna smiled and giggled. "Oh, uh," she said to cover her embarrassment, "would you like to come in?"
"A kind offer," said Zared. "But I must decline. I have work to do."
"Work?" asked Eerinna, stifling a pout. "You just got here..."
"I did," he agreed easily. "But I came to tell you why I would not be able to take you up on your offer, and why." He bowed. "I did not want to leave you with the wrong impression about me."
"Oh," said Eerinna faintly. "Thank you. That is really nice of you. But I still wish you did not have to go."
"Anything worth doing is worth taking the time to do well," he said. "I leave now with a promise that what I give to you will surpass any other gift you ever recieve."
Eerinna laughed. "Counting my Daddy's gifts?" she asked coyly.
"Yes."
"Even counting my Poppy's gifts?"
"Yes."
Eerinna's face relaxed into a look of awe. "Really?" she asked.
Zared nodded. "I wouldn't lie to you. I will see you soon." He kissed the air beside her cheek, half-bowed again and walked away.
Eerinna's face was still stuck on 'awe' mode. Wow, she thought. He's a keeper. Maybe he likes me! Oh! God day! Gooooood day! She giggled hysterically, then closed the door as people paused to stare. She continued to laugh inside, gushing and imagining what her atonement gift could possibly be.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:15 am
THREE
Zared wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead. He felt awful. He had never before pushed himself so far. A niggling thought at the back of his mind snidely began to whisper that perhaps it was okay to stop, to pretend he had never intended to do this massive collossal task. He pushed it away, resolutely. He had made a promise. He would keep it. This was a present thta would never be surpassed.
Why do you care? asked that rebellious thought.
Because... Zared paused. Because she... Because I want to prove that I can. I can be wanted by a woman. I can be deserving of love... I'm talking to myself and I should take a break.
He crawled out of the hole he was enlarging, shaking dust out of his hair. On his way out of the worksite, he flung his cape around himself.
With no clear idea of where he was going, Zared set off in a general south-westerly direction. After a while, he ended up in the mess pavillion and had Heketoro ply him with more food and drink than he could possibly eat in three sittings.
With a slightly coarse groan, he pushed himself farther back into his chair and laid a hand over his distended stomach.
"So you did come after all."
Zared looked up with half-lidded eyes, fighting to quash the urge to belch. He started upon seeing Eerinna and jumped to his feet. "Yes I did," he said.
Eerinna smiled and pulled out the seat next to him and motioned for Zared to take his seat again.
Zared lowered himself into his chair gingerly. "How have you been, Princess?" he asked conversationally.
Eerinna giggled. "Very well, thankyou, Zared," she said formally. "So you just decided to randomly come here?"
"Sort of," said Zared hesitantly. "I needed a break in my work. My feet lead me here."
"That's a piece of luck," said Eerinna earnestly. "Usually my feet lead me into the middle of nowhere."
"That doesn't sound very safe," said Zared. "Do you wander around often?"
"No," said Eerinna. "But considering my family is into mazes and creepy theme parks of death, it is a little odd for me to have almost no sense of direction."
"Well at least you have some sense of direction," said Zared consolingly.
"Huh?" asked Eerinna.
"You said you have almost no sense of direction; so you have some, at least, correct?"
"Kind of," hedged Eerinna. "The only sense of direction I have seems to turn me around almost immediately so that I'm completely lost very quicky with little effort," she ended with embarrassment.
"Oh," said Zared blankly. "Well, hopefully you don't go wandering often?"
"Not particularly," said Eerinna with some regret. "They kind of don't let me go around by myself unless I know exactly where I'm going."
"Don't you find that stifling?" asked Zared curiously.
"Definately," said Eerinna. "It's as though I need a minder." She sighed and pouted.
Zared, without something to say, sipped from his glass. "What time is it?" he asked.
Eerinna looked a bit startled. "Oh it's... late. Much later than I thought..."
Zared blinked. "If it's so late, I should not keep you-"
"You just got here," said Eerinna sadly.
"Poor timing," said Zared. "On my part." He stood up, sketched a hasty bow and pushed in his chair. "Untill next we meet." He nodded and hurried out and into the night.
"I wonder what's so important he has to rush off for..." mused Eerinna. She pusheh her chin up with her hand.
Zared was, in fact, hurrying back to find a bathroom.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:17 am
FOUR
Zared had been making a lot more progress. He had carved out the main base of the gift and was now simply adding grace and gradeur.
With his feet hanging down the sheer cliff-face, Zared had a great view of the bay and the sandy beach that sat upon it like a white-gold sash. He pushed back his frosty hair and scraped a little more at his reluctant masterpiece. It was almost finished.
He rubbed at the neck of his cape. It has been cold this morning, and so he had kept it on, but now dust had settled in on the fold at his throat, irritating his skin to redness. He shifted it about, loosening the ties.
He clung to the side of the cliff as a sudden wind picked up, ruffling his hair and tearing at his cape.
"Oh dear."
The wind won for once, stealing the long rectangle of cloth and whipping it into the distance.
"Aw, hell."
----------------
Eerinna's gum had long since lost its flavour by the time she came to her old home. She sighed with nostalgia and regret; the Kaiba Mansion had fallen into disrepair. The yard was a forest of weeds and grass; the paths were cracked and overgrown; the paint was dry and faded and the statury was vandalised.
Her mouth twitched. She had lived here for the first few months of her life. It was still her home.
"Hi," said Lilina the black demon girl, popping out of the yard.
Eerinna jumped in fright. "Hello," she said reflexively. "Do," she began, "do you live here?
"No," said Lilina. "I study here with Belladonna. Who are you?"
"I'm Eerinna. I used to live here once upon a time."
"That's cool," said Lilina. "You live at the herd?"
"Yes. My father is Seto Kaiba," said Eerinna.
"I know him," said Lilina. "I live in the nursery. I haven't seen you around."
"Uhm," said Eerinna. "I've been spending a lot of time up the mountain with Brittania- shes the dragon... you probably don't know. Well, she's recently had kids, so I'm... helping her out."
"That's nice of you. Are the kids nice?"
"Yeah I suppose they are."
"Will they come down to the valley?" asked Lilina.
"I don't think so, Lilina," said Eerinna sadly. "Their mummy is very protective. Would you like to play with them?"
"Might be nice," she looked a bit sad. "Everyone here's too busy for me, or too... different."
Eerinna smiled. "I'll see if Brittania would mind your visiting. What's your name, lovely?"
"I'm Lilina," she said. "I have to wait for someone to take me back home, can I go with you?"
"Er... sure," she shrugged. "Come on then."
"I just got to go get one last thing- I found this pretty cloth today, and it's inside. I'll just get it." And she turned and ran back into the mansion, opening the warped front door with difficulty.
Eerinna kicked at some small pebbles and fought the temptation to spit out her now gross gum. She settles with affixing it to the top of her mouth with her tongue so she wouldn't have to taste it anymore.
"What are you doing?" asked Lilina, trotting up with her fabric folded in her arms.
"Nothing," said Eerinna quickly. "Hey that's really pretty..." she touched the folds of cloth. "I know what that is," she said quietly. "That's Zared's cape."
"Oh," said Lilina. "Well if he owns it..."
"Oh dear," said Eerinna. "I'm sure if you give it back to him he'll be very happy. He might tell you where to find the fabric, he might give you some." She patted Lilina's cheek. "It's good to give things back."
"You're right," said Lilina. They started walking back to the herd. "Ben is teaching me to do things good."
"Is Ben your...?"
"He's a friend of my... father. It's strange."
"Okay then," Eerinna said quietly. "My family is kind of strange too. Would you let me keep Zared's cape to give back to him?" By now they had reached the herd.
Lilina agreed and handed it over, albeit with some regret. Eerinna promised to ask Brittania about a playdate and Lilina left happily.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 5:09 am
FIVE
Zared passed through the main artery of the herdgrounds. He had heard that they had finally qualified for township, which was nice, though they weren't sure what the name of the town was. Maybe 'Greenton'. Zared had to concede that the place was growing. Fewer children, more couples. Shops appearing and staying open. The place had grown up.
It was a grown up Zared was looking for. He was searching for Eerinna to finally deliver his gift to her. He thought he saw a lady with brown hair pass by him, but it was not her. He looked for her at her home but she was out.
He went back the way he came and saw her buying flowers at a florist. She could probably have found or made her own flowers, but it appeared that she liked to offer her custom to the town.
He met her as she left with an armful of wide lilies.
"Hello, Princess," he said.
"Oh! Hello!" replied Eerinna, looking at him over the top of her flowers. "What a surprise! I haven't seen you in a while!"
"Have you been looking for me?" he replied with a rakish wink.
"Yes I have," insisted Eerinna, stepping down from the shop steps to be on Zared's footing. "I have something of yours."
"Not another gift..?" asked Zared apprehensively. If she gave him something else, he would owe her more...
"No, I'll show you, please come home with me?" Eerinna asked.
"Of course," said Zared. This wasn't how he had planned it at all... "Please allow me to carry your flowers."
Eerinna paused to think for a moment and then handed over her bouquet of lilies. "Thank you very much," she said brightly. She lead the way back to her home.
Zared followed the beautiful girl and wondered what he was in for. It was quite improper for a lady to invite a man who her home, but that wasn't what he thought she meant by it. He suddenly sneezed.
Eerinna turned back to him. "Bless you," she said kindly.
"Thank you," said Zared and his voice sounded odd to him.
Eerinna turned back with a look of concern, but she lead him on to her little house. She let them in and showed Zared into the front room, which was handy, as he was trying to control the urge to sneeze again and he could barely see. "Are you all right, Zared?" she asked in a worried tone.
Zared lost his handle on his sneezing and sneezed once, twice, three times in quick succession. He peered at her though his swollen eyes and coughed shallowly. "Fine, Eerinna, thank you. Just fi-i-" he was cut off by another sneeze.
Eerinna caught the lilies up and out of Zared's hands . "You sound very sick! Have you felt sick?"
"No," gasped Zared. He was overcome by embarrassment and the urge to stifle a fit of coughing.
Eerinna glanced at the flowers quickly and then at Zared. "Are you allergic to anything? Could you be allergic to lilies?"
"I don't know if I am," said Zared, before coughing again.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 5:09 am
SIX
Eerinna watched him sniffle, sneeze and cough for a few more seconds. She lead him to a chair and poured him a glass of water. "Excuse me for a minute!" she said hurriedly and left the house. She ran back up to the main street where she met Verdis Bina talking to Emma. "Thank goodness I found you!" said Eerinna. Please, can you take these flowers?"
"Take them where?" asked Verdis, accepting the bunch of lilies.
"Nowhere," gasped Eerinna. "Just please keep them. I bought them but they've made Zared sick; he didn't know he was allergic. I must go take care of him, thank you so much!" She went back the way she came at a brisk trot.
Emma took a share of the lilies and sniffed them. "That's nice of her," she said. She looked at the stunned look on Verdis Bina's face. "You look like you're about to explode! What is it?"
Zared's eyes were slowly opening again when Eerinna returned. "Don't concern yourself over me," he wheezed. "I'm sure I'm fine."
"I'm so sorry," Eerinna apologised. "I really wish I had chosen something else at the florist. I was so close to getting a bunch of sunflowers..."
"Those are different choices to what I would have imagined for you," said Zared.
"That's the point," said Eerinna cheerfully. "I wanted to get a bunch of flowers which wouldn't look too sad all by themselves." She poured Zared another glass of water as he'd finished the first. "I was going to give them out randomly if I felt like it."
"Thank you," said Zared, accepting the glass. "I'm sorry you couldn't do that now."
"I gave them to some firends of mine just now," said Eerinna. "Maybe they will give them out instead of me. As long as someone gets a smile out of them." She paused. "If I'd have seen you, I would have given you one. If they didn't make you sick, that is."
"I feel much better now," said Zared, not quite truthfully. He could see a bit better, but his eyes stung and watered and his nose was blocked.
Eerinna gazed at him sympathetically. and then started. "That's right! I brought you here to give you-" she darted off into the bedroom mid-sentence. While Zared waited, breathing laboriously, she returned with a folded cloth in her arms.
"Do my eyes decieve me or is that... my cape?" asked Zared, peering blearily at Eerinna.
"I think so," said Eerinna. "A girl found it and let me have it so I could return it. I haven't seen you in a while, so I couldn't, but I meant to return it to you as soon as I could." She offered it to him.
Zared pulled the cape around his neck and tied it. "Thank you," he said. "It's very special to me. I am glad I can count on you." He would have been smoother in his delivery, but he still wasn't feeling well.
Eerinna looked at him guiltily. "I'll make you some tea. I insist you stay here until you feel better. You could get into trouble if you leave now." She bustled to the stove.
Zared didn't bother arguing. He was worried about going out like this also, and he would like to be taken care of by the lovely Eerinna. He sat down more comfortably in her plush lounge suite and relaxed.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:10 am
SEVEN
"I feel so much better after your tea," said Zared. It was true, his eyes, while still red, were open and dry, and he had stopped sneezing. His nose wasn't even running any longer.
"I'm so glad," said Eerinna. "Are you well enough to go home now?"
"Yes," said Zared, "thank you. I also hoped you would accompany me."
Eerinna hesitated for a moment. "To your... home?" she asked. "Your cave?"
"No," said Zared slowly, unwilling to give away too much of the secret. "Presently I live in Green Lady Mountain."
"Really?" asked Eerinna in surprise. "I have family there- do you see much of them?"
"I'm afraid I do not often have the pleasure," said Zared. "But, please, I invite you to come with me. You could always visit them while you're there." He was pushing a little, he knew, but he had had enough of this day going badly. He wanted to get it back on track.
"Of course," said Eerinna. The thought suddenly occurred to her that maybe he was concerned about going home alone while he was ill, but did not wish to ask for help. How cruel he must think me, that he had to ask twice! she thought regretfully.
Zared felt better while he walked with Eerinna. He thought, maybe, her house still smelled like lilies. He knew it was ridiculous, but he seemed to feel people looking at him with Eerinna. He could feel eyes watching him and he tried not to twitch around and look at where the thought people were staring, in case it made him look more suspicious.
He was relieved when they arrived on the path leading to the mountain and left the crowds behind. He was able to relax and admire Eerinna properly. She had tried to start up a conversation, but he had not responded helpfully. He decided to try to talk to her. "Do you get up to many princessly duties these days?" he asked.
"I don't do much at all," said Eerinna. "My other sister is the really pretty princess. It doesn't really matter, though, because I'm so far removed from the throne; I think more than ten people would have to die if I were to be considered an heir, and then there would be a battle over the inheritance. Even if I won the battle and claimed the throne, I might be forced to marry politically, or just forced to marry at all, to someone with stronger blood than I have.: She glanced at him endearingly. "I read a lot of the time. And practice my magic. I used to explore but I kept getting lost... as you know, I have a terrible sense of direction."
"I remember you saying something like that," said Zared slowly. "It sounds like you've given being a princess a lot of thought."
"Being a princess is not really all it's cracked up to be," Eerinna said quietly. "At first I was afraid someone would offer a political marriage for me, but no-one has tried to offer any kind of marriage, and now I feel a bit overlooked. Passed over... I suppose it's the only thing worse than being expected to marry; not being expected to marry, that is." She touched her cheek gently. "Do you think I'm pretty?" she asked suddenly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:12 am
EIGHT
Zared looked at her in shock. His mouth opened and moved, but nothing came out. what kind of question was that? Of course she was beautiful.
Eerinna looked hopeful and then shook her head. "No, I don't mean it like that; I didn't mean it how it came out. I think, sometimes, that maybe if I was prettier, like my sister, like my mother, someone would have looked at me. I look too much like my father. If I took after my mother's side, like my brother, Gamell, does... his hair is so lovely. Such a nice blonde colour." She swept her long brown hair over her shoulder. "I just don't look goblin-ey enough."
Zared had never really thought about how it must feel to be a lady who didn't have someone chasing after her. He knew how it felt to be a man afraid of rejection, but the opposite side of a man afraid of rejection is a woman afraid of being unlovely. "What would make you feel more like a princess?" he asked, both to answer her without giving what would sound like a false compliment and to bring up his home, which they were swiftly approaching.
Eerinna smiled ruefully as she thought. "To suddenly wake up blonde... with white skin... I suppose I could dye my hair..." She stroked the hair beside her temple. "But I like this colour..." She looked at Zared. "I don't know what would make me feel more like a princess."
"What about a palace?" asked Zared, unable to help himself.
Eerinna laughed and nodded. "Yes, I suppose if I lived in a palace I would feel more like a princess."
Zared stopped outside the mouth of a tunnel. It was lovely, as tunnels went. It was wide and smooth and rimmed with carved ice. "My new home is beyond this tunnel," said Zared, changing the subject.
"It looks like a wonderful tunnel!" said Eerinna admiringly. "You've certainly put a lot of work into it."
"You think my old place was lacking in work?" asked Zared sagely.
"Your old place was fine, as places go," said Eerinna calmly. "However... it was damp."
Zared looked at Eerinna appraisingly. "A candid answer. The cold doesn't bother me much, so it was not a problem. the ice here doesn't melt, so it's the perfect temperature control." He touched the carving and tried not to sound like he was bragging. He cleared his throat. He realised he felt much better, now; the fresh air must have done him a world of good. "Shall we continue?" he asked.
"Of course," said Eerinna. "I am excited to see what you've done to your home if this is just your front door!" She passed by him and took a closer look at the walls. "Is the ice glowing?"
"No, those are light crystals embedded in the wall and the ice is covering it," explained Zared. "It looks like it's glowing. I sourced the crystals from Essence. She has been quite helpful."
"It looks very nice," commented Eerinna, stepping back from the back lit ice. "Have you ever thought of yourself as an artist?" she asked. "This looks like art to me. You should be very proud." She continued through the tunnel at her own pace, admiring the work. She supposed a tunnel could lead to a nice place to live. Perhaps a safer place to live, as well. Zared seemed to be a private type of person and she felt honoured that he would show her his home.
"Artist?" wondered Zared to himself. He truly hadn't thought about it that way. he suddenly realised Eerinna was far ahead of him and nearing the exit and bolted forward to intercept her.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 8:33 am
NINE
Zared blocked Eerinna's passage. "Just through here you'll see it," he told her.
"Do you want me to close my eyes?" asked Eerinna seriously.
"No, that's not really necessary,' said Zared.
"I'll do it anyway," said Eerinna. She closed her eyes. "For a big impact." She took an unsteady step forward.
Zared held her arm and lead her forward.
Eerinna suddenly felt the sun on her face and noticed for that she could smell salt water. The tunnel was full of the smell, but she had not realised it until now. She opened her eyes.
For a second, she couldn't be sure of what she was seeing. The light fell across peaks and twists of ice and it confused her senses. Then the light seemed to withdraw into solidity and she could make out the most magnificent palace she had ever seen. It was moulded to the side of the mountain, like some kind of mollusk. A gleaming path lead straight down to the sands of the beach below the mountain. The palace didn't look out of place; in fact, it looked like it had grown out of the mountain. It was a thing of extraordinary beauty.
Zared stood with Eerinna at the end of the tunnel where it opened into a covered bridge leading to the palace. "It looks nice inside as well," said Zared.
Eerinna followed Zared across the bridge. "This place is amazing," she breathed, as though her very breath might interrupt the mirage she half-expected the palace to be.
Zared smiled and tried to look modest. The carved doors were standing open in welcome. They were decorated with wings and kirins, dragons and crystals and flames.
Eerinna looked past the doors into the hall beyond. It was a narrow room with doors on one side and windows opening to the sea on the other. "How long did this take you?" she asked.
"A very long time," Zared admitted. While he was baring the truth, he may as well open up about everything. "I made it for you."
"For me?" asked Eerinna, whirling to face him.
Zared smiled sheepishly. "I don't know, really," he said. "But I got it into my head and I couldn't stop. I knew you deserved something like this"
"That is so sweet," said Eerinna, tears sparkling in her eyes. "It's so remarkable... I don't even have the words, Zared."
"Neither did I," he said. "So I made this." He looked out the windows. "I hope you don't think I'm being too forward. I'm not proposing marriage..." he said, suddenly worried his intentions, pure as they were, could be misinterpreted.
"I would love to accept this as a token of your friendship," said Eerinna softly.
Zared smiled at her appreciatively. "You can live here if you like. If you want. If it's not too scandalous," he said, waggling his eyebrows comically.
Eerinna laughed and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I think i would like that. This place is big enough for propriety's sake... though, maybe we could have others stay?" she asked. "Maybe my brothers and sisters could visit?"
"The more the merrier," said Zared. "As long as they don't wreck my place."
"Ooooh, don't worry about that," said Eerinna warningly. "I wouldn't let anyone lay a finger on my beautiful palace." She glanced at him apologetically. "Our beautiful palace?" she amended questioningly.
"Yours or ours," said Zared," I don't mind which. "I've taken to calling it the Ice Palace."
"That's a wonderful name," said Eerinna. "My grandfather's home is called 'The Castle Beyond the Goblin City', which is a mouthful. Everyone will know what you mean by 'Ice Palace.'"
"I hope they'll know what we mean by Ice Palace," said Zared quietly. However it had begun, this day had ended perfectly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:06 am
TEN
Eerinna sipped her tea disconsolately while looking out the window to the sea. Something was wrong. She could feel movement in a way she had not before. She could not describe how she felt or figure out why she felt that way.
Zared emerged from the tunnel, crossed the bridge and found Eerinna by the windows. He had been out in the town that morning. Putting down his bag, he stopped beside Eerinna. "Is something the matter?" he asked.
For a moment, Eerinna considered lying to him. Then, "I feel something is the matter. I feel a disturbance. Or, I feel like there was a disturbance and there isn't one any more; it's fading."
"What kind of disturbance?" asked Zared slowly.
"I've never felt it before," said Eerinna slowly. It was so good to say it out loud. "Like something... encroached on this place. Something foreign, that shouldn't be there, but something so familiar also."
"Some kind of magic?" asked Zared.
"Well yes... but also... something that's not," said Eerinna. "I'm sorry, I'm being so vague, it's fading now, I was just worried."
"No, please don't be sorry, I don't like it when you're worried," said Zared. "Would you care for a walk?"
"Yes," answered Eerinna. "That would be good, I think." She and Zared went to the kitchen, a modern affair with fewer ice carvings than the rest of the palace, in case it interrupted the heat of the stove, and she left her teacup in the sink while he deposited his bag on the bench. Then, they went back the way Zared had come.
They had almost come to the foot of the mountain when Zared pulled up short. He thought he saw something weaving through the bushes at the side of the track. It was small and dark and like nothing he had ever seen before. "Did you see-" he asked Eerinna before whatever it was flung itself to the ground and started to wail and make thumping noises.
Zared flung his arm in front of Eerinna protectively. "Stay here!" He stepped forward slowly and swept the bushes apart with his hand to reveal a stunted, grey creature prone on the ground, sobbing and flailing its fists against the dirt.
Exposed, the creature looked up at Zared, but instead of running away or attacking, it sat up, opened its mouth to a terrifying degree and let out a heart wrenching howl.
Zared was shocked still. Whatever he had expected, he hadn't expected this.
Eerinna wove around Zared. "It's a goblin!" she exclaimed over the noise the creature was making. "This explains everything!"
Zared stared at her blankly. Her elated face next to the hideous goblin having a tantrum was too strange for him entirely.
Eerinna looked down at the goblin and stamped her foot to get its attention. "Stop that!" she said sharply. The goblin obeyed, looking up at her with round and watery eyes. "Do you know who I am?"
The goblin shook its head.
"I am Princess Eerinna of the Goblin Kingdom," continued Eerinna in a regal voice. "I want to know why you are here."
Far from being afraid of a sudden authority figure, the goblin lurched to its feet and capered around. It seemed relieved. "There was a rush of us, all came up, took man down down then come up and took girl down down, but I was left, they left me, I can't fine any more holes home!" It wailed again suddenly and threw itself forward, almost touching Eerinna's legs. She did not flinch or turn away. Zared twitched forward, as if to fling the goblin away from her.
"You can take me back, yes? Take me down down home? Please, Princess?" It was so ugly and so pitiful.
"If you please me," said Eerinna, but her regal voice could not hide her deep sympathy for the goblin. "Why did you come up at first?"
"Man made a wish."
"What did he wish?"
"Don't know, but we came up and brought him down down, yes, into the dark place. Then he made another wish and we brought a girl down down." The goblin grinned with glee.
Eerinna felt cold in her fingers and toes. A dark place? Could be...
"What is going on?" asked Zared.
"I think some people have been taken by goblins," said Eerinna quietly. "You, goblin, what is your name?"
"Drisky," said the goblin, in an almost awed voice. It may never have been asked its name before.
"Then, Drisky, if you tell me who you took down, I will take you home."
Drisky twisted its long fingers nervously. "Man... man with pretty hair. And girl, girl with wingies and shiny shin. Pink shiny skin."
Eerinna gasped in horror and turned to Zared. "I thin they took Shenevye!'
"Who is the other, the man," asked Zared urgently.
Drisky whimpered, frightened by the turn of the conversation. "Um, man. Pretty hair... hair like chicken straws. He wore a purple... a... a... a raincoat?"
"A purple raincoat?" asked Eerinna.
"Eerinna," said Zared, understanding quicker than she did. "Could it be your brother?"
"My brother?" asked Eerinna. Her voice sounded wrong to him. It sounded... insincere. "No, of course not, my brother wouldn't do a thing like that. He wouldn't make a wish." She stared at Zared, pleading with him to agree with her.
Zared moistened his lips before he answered. He was oddly grateful that the goblin was silent- it seemed to know its input would not be appreciated. "Whoever this person is," Zared began eventually, "they need help, don't they?"
Eerinna closed her eyes briefly with relief. "Of course, yes. Well," she drew herself up, "I am a member of Underground royalty and it is my responsibility to ensure the good relations between here and there. I must go and save them."
Drisky squeaked nervously and pointed to itself, but it did not speak.
"I will also take you with me," said Eerinna, to Drisky's relief.
Zared touched her arm gently. "Please take me also," he said. "I don't think you should go alone."
"I should be fine," said Eerinna. "But I can take you, too, if you want to come."
She focused on Zared and Drisky and focused.
While Zared watched, the mountainside seemed to seep down like liquid trickling down an inclined glass pane. In place of the mountain, suddenly he could make out a vast desert. They stood at the fringes of it amongst some stunted and twisted trees. It was bare and he could see nothing until he turned around and his eyes beheld a great construction of stone; a sprawling maze with a city at the centre.
He remembered Eerinna telling him of that city. The Goblin City. And beyond it... the castle.
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:57 am
Log Eleven
Eerinna and Zared Special Episode
heart However did we meet? heart
Eerinna sat in the clearing and drew a wide-toothed comb through her thick glossy hair. Once, twice, and she dropped her arm. The comb continued it's way down her brown hair, leaving a violet-purple trail sparkling in its wake.
She leant her head back and closed her eyes, warming her face in the sun. Having someone else take the time to brush her hair was a pleasure for Eerinna. The comb began to sweep more slowly as her focus waned and she fell into a stupor.
"You look like a princess."
The comb fell to the ground. Eerinna swung her head to the left and right as her eyes struggled to take in the now-blinding light. "Who's there?"
"I didn't mean to disturb you," said Zared, "but I thought staring at a girl without announcing myself was more impolite."
"Oh," said Eerinna weakly. "That's okay. And," she picked up her fallen comb and played with it as she spoke, "you know, I am a princess."
Zared smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. The princess of the Kaiba clan. Your father does treat you as one."
"No," said Eerinna firmly. "My mother's father was King Jareth. I may not be in the direct line of ascension to the Horned Throne, but I am still a member of the royal family."
"Ah," said Zared blankly. "That... was totally different to anything I thought you would say."
Eerinna stood up and dusted off her tail. "Don't worry."
"I've upset you," he said and frowned.
"I've lived amongst men for my whole life, with no mother figure," she said quietly. "I know you didn't mean it, so it doesn't matter."
"I apologise," he said quickly, "for upsetting you. And for disagreeing with you now. It does matter, if I offended you."
Eerinna smiled. "That's very kind of you."
"So. Have you been hiding yourself? I haven't seen you since you and your siblings and a few friends broke into my cave."
Eerinna giggled nervously. "I've been around. Not hiding. Why, did you miss me?"
Zared nodded to her courteously. "I might have."
"You should come down to the herd more- I'm always there," she said shyly.
"Maybe I will. But for now I'll leave you to yourself," his eyes travelled to her hair, where the last of the purple was fading away. He took her hand and placed a kiss on the air above it. "Farewell."
Eerinna stood statue-still until she was sure Zared was out of hearing range. Then she danced around wildly, squeeing hysterically. No matter how she acted, she was still a fangirl in love with a hot, mysterious guy. She was giggling and walking on air all the way home.
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:58 am
Log Twelve
However did we meet part 2
Eerinna curled up desolately on her bed. What a boring day. Everyone was to busy for her. It did not sit well with her to be ignored. Thankfully, before she could bust out the thick, rich, chocolate icecream there was a very distracting knock on the door.
She got up, smoothed back her hair and flung the door open wide.
"Good afternoon," said Zared quietly.
"Hello!" said Eerinna excitedly. "What can I do for you?"
"You could accept my deep thanks for your gift," he said, producing a silver crystal ball. "It really wasn't necessary, but was greatly appreciated."
Eerinna blushed. "Well... I thought youd like it. I'm happy you do. It was no trouble."
Zared smiled and dipped his head courteously. "Although I was under the impression I ought to be presenting you with a token as my apology."
"There was nothing really to apologise for," said Eerinna. "It's okay."
"I'd prefer to make it up to you. Is there anything that you need?"
Eerinna grinned and shook her head. "No, I'm totally taken care of," she said.
"I was afraid of that."
"Why?" asked Eerinna. "What des that mean?"
"It means I have to get you something that you don't need. Something that you want, instead." A smirk spread across his powder-white face.
"I have everything I want," said Eerinna with some confusion.
"Then I'll have to give you something you don't know you want," said Zared.
Eerinna smiled and giggled. "Oh, uh," she said to cover her embarrassment, "would you like to come in?"
"A kind offer," said Zared. "But I must decline. I have work to do."
"Work?" asked Eerinna, stifling a pout. "You just got here..."
"I did," he agreed easily. "But I came to tell you why I would not be able to take you up on your offer, and why." He bowed. "I did not want to leave you with the wrong impression about me."
"Oh," said Eerinna faintly. "Thank you. That is really nice of you. But I still wish you did not have to go."
"Anything worth doing is worth taking the time to do well," he said. "I leave now with a promise that what I give to you will surpass any other gift you ever recieve."
Eerinna laughed. "Counting my Daddy's gifts?" she asked coyly.
"Yes."
"Even counting my Poppy's gifts?"
"Yes."
Eerinna's face relaxed into a look of awe. "Really?" she asked.
Zared nodded. "I wouldn't lie to you. I will see you soon." He kissed the air beside her cheek, half-bowed again and walked away.
Eerinna's face was still stuck on 'awe' mode. Wow, she thought. He's a keeper. Maybe he likes me! Oh! God day! Gooooood day! She giggled hysterically, then closed the door as people paused to stare. She continued to laugh inside, gushing and imagining what her atonement gift could possibly be.
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:59 am
Log Thirteen
However did we meet?
Zared wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead. He felt awful. He had never before pushed himself so far. A niggling thought at the back of his mind snidely began to whisper that perhaps it was okay to stop, to pretend he had never intended to do this massive collossal task. He pushed it away, resolutely. He had made a promise. He would keep it. This was a present thta would never be surpassed.
Why do you care? asked that rebellious thought.
Because... Zared paused. Because she... Because I want to prove that I can. I can be wanted by a woman. I can be deserving of love... I'm talking to myself and I should take a break.
He crawled out of the hole he was enlarging, shaking dust out of his hair. On his way out of the worksite, he flung his cape around himself.
With no clear idea of where he was going, Zared set off in a general south-westerly direction. After a while, he ended up in the mess pavillion and had Heketoro ply him with more food and drink than he could possibly eat in three sittings.
With a slightly coarse groan, he pushed himself farther back into his chair and laid a hand over his distended stomach.
"So you did come after all."
Zared looked up with half-lidded eyes, fighting to quash the urge to belch. He started upon seeing Eerinna and jumped to his feet. "Yes I did," he said.
Eerinna smiled and pulled out the seat next to him and motioned for Zared to take his seat again.
Zared lowered himself into his chair gingerly. "How have you been, Princess?" he asked conversationally.
Eerinna giggled. "Very well, thankyou, Zared," she said formally. "So you just decided to randomly come here?"
"Sort of," said Zared hesitantly. "I needed a break in my work. My feet lead me here."
"That's a piece of luck," said Eerinna earnestly. "Usually my feet lead me into the middle of nowhere."
"That doesn't sound very safe," said Zared. "Do you wander around often?"
"No," said Eerinna. "But considering my family is into mazes and creepy theme parks of death, it is a little odd for me to have almost no sense of direction."
"Well at least you have some sense of direction," said Zared consolingly.
"Huh?" asked Eerinna.
"You said you have almost no sense of direction; so you have some, at least, correct?"
"Kind of," hedged Eerinna. "The only sense of direction I have seems to turn me around almost immediately so that I'm completely lost very quicky with little effort," she ended with embarrassment.
"Oh," said Zared blankly. "Well, hopefully you don't go wandering often?"
"Not particularly," said Eerinna with some regret. "They kind of don't let me go around by myself unless I know exactly where I'm going."
"Don't you find that stifling?" asked Zared curiously.
"Definately," said Eerinna. "It's as though I need a minder." She sighed and pouted.
Zared, without something to say, sipped from his glass. "What time is it?" he asked.
Eerinna looked a bit startled. "Oh it's... late. Much later than I thought..."
Zared blinked. "If it's so late, I should not keep you-"
"You just got here," said Eerinna sadly.
"Poor timing," said Zared. "On my part." He stood up, sketched a hasty bow and pushed in his chair. "Untill next we meet." He nodded and hurried out and into the night.
"I wonder what's so important he has to rush off for..." mused Eerinna. She pusheh her chin up with her hand.
Zared was, in fact, hurrying back to find a bathroom.
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:13 am
Log Fourteen
However did we meet? The end
Zared had been making a lot more progress. He had carved out the main base of the gift and was now simply adding grace and gradeur.
With his feet hanging down the sheer cliff-face, Zared had a great view of the bay and the sandy beach that sat upon it like a white-gold sash. He pushed back his frosty hair and scraped a little more at his reluctant masterpiece. It was almost finished.
He rubbed at the neck of his cape. It has been cold this morning, and so he had kept it on, but now dust had settled in on the fold at his throat, irritating his skin to redness. He shifted it about, loosening the ties.
He clung to the side of the cliff as a sudden wind picked up, ruffling his hair and tearing at his cape.
"Oh dear."
The wind won for once, stealing the long rectangle of cloth and whipping it into the distance.
"Aw, hell."
----------------
Eerinna's gum had long since lost its flavour by the time she came to her old home. She sighed with nostalgia and regret; the Kaiba Mansion had fallen into disrepair. The yard was a forest of weeds and grass; the paths were cracked and overgrown; the paint was dry and faded and the statury was vandalised.
Her mouth twitched. She had lived here for the first few months of her life. It was still her home.
"Hi," said Lilina the black demon girl, popping out of the yard.
Eerinna jumped in fright. "Hello," she said reflexively. "Do," she began, "do you live here?
"No," said Lilina. "I study here with Belladonna. Who are you?"
"I'm Eerinna. I used to live here once upon a time."
"That's cool," said Lilina. "You live at the herd?"
"Yes. My father is Seto Kaiba," said Eerinna.
"I know him," said Lilina. "I live in the nursery. I haven't seen you around."
"Uhm," said Eerinna. "I've been spending a lot of time up the mountain with Brittania- shes the dragon... you probably don't know. Well, she's recently had kids, so I'm... helping her out."
"That's nice of you. Are the kids nice?"
"Yeah I suppose they are."
"Will they come down to the valley?" asked Lilina.
"I don't think so, Lilina," said Eerinna sadly. "Their mummy is very protective. Would you like to play with them?"
"Might be nice," she looked a bit sad. "Everyone here's too busy for me, or too... different."
Eerinna smiled. "I'll see if Brittania would mind your visiting. What's your name, lovely?"
"I'm Lilina," she said. "I have to wait for someone to take me back home, can I go with you?"
"Er... sure," she shrugged. "Come on then."
"I just got to go get one last thing- I found this pretty cloth today, and it's inside. I'll just get it." And she turned and ran back into the mansion, opening the warped front door with difficulty.
Eerinna kicked at some small pebbles and fought the temptation to spit out her now gross gum. She settles with affixing it to the top of her mouth with her tongue so she wouldn't have to taste it anymore.
"What are you doing?" asked Lilina, trotting up with her fabric folded in her arms.
"Nothing," said Eerinna quickly. "Hey that's really pretty..." she touched the folds of cloth. "I know what that is," she said quietly. "That's Zared's cape."
"Oh," said Lilina. "Well if he owns it..."
"Oh dear," said Eerinna. "I'm sure if you give it back to him he'll be very happy. He might tell you where to find the fabric, he might give you some." She patted Lilina's cheek. "It's good to give things back."
"You're right," said Lilina. They started walking back to the herd. "Ben is teaching me to do things good."
"Is Ben your...?"
"He's a friend of my... father. It's strange."
"Okay then," Eerinna said quietly. "My family is kind of strange too. Would you let me keep Zared's cape to give back to him?" By now they had reached the herd.
Lilina agreed and handed it over, albeit with some regret. Eerinna promised to ask Brittania about a playdate and Lilina left happily.
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:18 am
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