Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 30

• Posted by Caladran July 10, 2018 - Filed in TSC: Long Story - #ciel'nn  #Teldryn Sero  - 992 views

  

  

   

  It wasn’t easy to find a shelter in an ash storm. Teldryn weighed his options when he had picked Ciel’nn up in his arms with the utmost care. Carrying the younger mer against the constant wind turned up a challenge for the older mer. He struggled when he moved to the north-west, and looked ahead for any place that spell a shelter. There weren’t many. Teldryn glanced down at his unconscious partner. The guilt gripped him like the strongest undercurrents from which one can’t escape. He sighed as continued moving.
  
  Observing  a rocky terrace, the older mer discovered a cave not so far away. Teldryn narrowed his eyes as headed toward the cave.  He almost tripped on a small rock. Damn it!  Holding his posture,  he made sure the young mer was still firmly in his arms.  A bit further, Ciel’nn.
  
  A home to some animal, Teldryn thought when he entered the cave. It looked abandoned and there was enough space for the two of them. Gently he laid Ciel’nn on the other side of the cave and brushed the hair off the younger mer’s face. The  bruise that was caused by him looked nasty, but there were other mild bruises gotten from the fight. “You’re safe now.” Teldryn whispered as he checked the pulse again — still weak.
  
  Teldryn built a makeshift campfire to keep his partner warm. He then opened two bedrolls and carefully shifted Ciel’nn onto the other, so his rest would be more comfortable.  From his backpack he found a bottle of water which he put down beside the backpack. The older mer sat down on his own bedroll that was close to his partner’s, and he let out a deep sigh.
  
  The scent of horker and ash yam soup  and the sound of someone humming stirred Ciel’nn from his rest. His eyes slowly opened, but he otherwise stayed still. His body ached., but he found out his face felt a bit better. Had his partner applied the netch jelly? How did he even find  me? A cough interrupted his thinking and he forced himself up, his body rejecting the movement.
  
  The older mer stopped his humming, and turned as he heard coughing as he then knew his partner was awake. Teldryn looked to his partner, relieved. “Ciel’nn…” He grabbed the water bottle and offered it to the young mer.
  
  “Fuck you.” Ciel’nn choked, narrowing his eyes, but he grabbed the bottle with his wounded arm. His face twisted in a hiss with the pain. He took a notice of the bandage that was wrapped around his arm. It still didn’t made up for the punch. No, the young mer was mad for what was done to him. You will not get that from me so easily!
  
  “Easy now. Don’t make hasty moves before you recover.” Teldryn observed his partner drinking the water. “I know I shouldn’t have hit you, Ciel’nn.” Damn, how even to start this? Last time you apologized to someone you were left alone. The young mer was giving him a face, then resumed sipping the water. “When you feel like it, here’s some soup.” He put the bowl next to Ciel’nn, once he had filled it.
  
  A day went by and Ciel’nn slept most of the time. When he was awake for eating, his partner got some glares from him, even if he had noted the older mer’s regretful demeanor. The humming had a calming effect on him — it was a song the young mer hadn’t heard of. All the songs he knew were tavern songs.  He was trying to remember the songs when his partner suddenly spoke.
  
  “The song tells about one Ordinator, who had a lover. The lover was kidnapped by a group of reavers while she was tending her garden.” Teldryn paused briefly. “The Ordinator came to see her, but found the garden in a mess. He followed the disturbed earth to the a hideout. The fight was brutal and he fell in the end, in front of his lover.” The older mer fell quiet.
  
  Are you trying to tell something, Teldryn? Ciel’nn frowned slightly as knowing now what the song was about, he found himself more uneasy. He shifted to test if his body could stand moving — some parts were still sore, but otherwise Ciel’nn deemed he was going to be fine the next day. His back was aching from sleeping in the cave. I need a proper bed. This cave is worse than a Nord bed!
  
  At least I got him to listen for a while. It had been hard for him as the young mer had been quiet. He deserved it, Teldryn nodded to himself. He had done his best to make his partner’s recovery comfortable, even if he refused to talk. I wonder what’ll happen when he’s back to himself. Would he leave? You’d deserve that, too, old mer.
  
  Ciel’nn woke up from a nightmare and found out that the campfire was almost out. He blinked several times and noticed Teldryn wasn’t in the cave with him. Maybe he’s  having a shit. He’ll be ba—  A sound metal clanking put him on full alert as he stopped to listen in. It  was close by. “Shit!” The young mer tried to get up hastily even as his feet and back objected. Too fast! I need to move. Teldryn… I need my bow… His eyes looked for the bow.
   
  A small group of  three reavers had come in search of food and Teldryn had to drive them away from the cave. His enemies seemed to be seasoned reavers and they gave him some difficulty to fight. “The legendary Teldryn fucking Sero!” he heard one of them mocking him, and he hoped Ciel’nn hadn’t heard them. The older mer countered the slashes, but he was losing the upper hand.
  
  The older mer’s blade met the point between the reaver’s head and shoulder and cut through it. He turned to the other reaver, but he was knocked down by the third reaver. “Sildras is going to be pleased when we tell him you’re dead.” Teldryn heard them laughing at him. He knew it would be futile to get up and fight back. They’d kick me down again.
  
  Suddenly, the other reaver screamed as a chitin arrow arched through the air and pierced his cheek. He collapsed on the ground, wheezing. It’s… poisoned! Mother… I’m scared.
  
  Teldryn and the last remaining reaver looked uphill where the arrow had flew from. The young mer stood there with his bow. The older mer had noticed with a frown that Ciel’nn was barely holding up the stance with the bow, fully drawn. His arms are trembling. He watched as the night wind blew through silken black hair. Teldryn had to blink his eyes to stay focused on the moment.
  
  One reaver still stands.
  
  “Ha! So the—” The reaver began, but Ciel’nn released his arrow before the reaver could finish. The arrow struck through below his collar bone, knocking him backwards. He let out a weak yelp when he fell on his back. Of… course, it’s… poisoned… The reaver smiled as he died.
  
  Ciel’nn lowered his bow and he wobbled as he stood before he fell on his knees. He wasn’t fully recovered yet — he closed his eyes for a moment. Drawing the bow took the most  of the strenght from his arms. He’d need to walk soon to keep his legs functional. At least the reavers were dead now. A deep breath. “Ciel’nn.” The young mer heard his partner coming toward him and kneeling next to him.
  
  “Are you alright?” Teldryn frowned as he put his hand on Ciel’nn’s shoulder. “Come, I’ll help you back to the cave.” He offered his hand. “I’m not sleeping on the fucking rocky ground again.” His partner shot at him, and as if to protest, Ciel’nn shifted his legs to sit on the ash covered terrace. Teldryn sighed inwardly.  “What if you sleep on something else?” He whispered softly. It’s worth it to try. He can’t stay out all night.
  
  The young mer glanced up to Teldryn, frowning.  Ciel’nn wasn’t ready to admit to himself that he craved his partner’s embrace, but he didn’t want to give in yet. “I’m still mad at you.” He grumbled. His partner looked to him with a warm smile. There was something in that smile that it made the young mer tried to blink the weariness away.
  
  “I know you are. Now come on, before you catch cold or something worse.” Teldryn offered his hand again. He was ready to drag the young mer back to the cave if he still refused to move, but Ciel’nn grabbed his arm and let Teldryn pull him up. The older mer supported him when he fell and clung on him. “There, I got you! I’ll get your bow after you’re settled again.”
  
  They listened to the crackling campfire for a while, after Teldryn had put the fire on. Ciel’nn rested his head on Teldryn’s chest. His partner had his arms wrapped around him where he was safe and protected. Ciel’nn closed his eyes when the older mer began to stroke his hair. “I shouldn’t have hit you, Ciel’nn. I’m deeply sorry.” He heard his partner whispering before the sweet slumber took over.
  
  Listening to the younger mer’s steady breathing while he was holding him close to him, Teldryn inhaled and sighed. He fell asleep. Sleep, you need it, Ciel’nn. He’d guard Ciel’nn’s sleep as long as he could. For now, he’d enjoy the moment with his partner in his arms, protected. Thank you, Azura. That was a real wakeup call. If only I could shake off my regrets…
  
  It was close to midday when Ciel’nn stirred up from his well-rested slumber. When he shifted, he winced at sore spots in his body, but those would eventually fade. It would require get him moving about and back to training with Teldryn. His eyes found his partner making some breakfast and tea. “Did you sleep well?” The young mer heard Teldryn asking.  A soft smile slipped onto Ciel’nn lips. Damn it, I can’t be mad at him for long. “I did, but how did you even find me?” It had been one bloody ash storm, and Ciel’nn was sure he wouldn’t find even himself in there.
  
  “I’m not sure, but I kept looking around until I tripped on your sword on the hill.” The older mer replied as he poured the tea into their cups. “I’m truly sorry that I hurt you, Ciel’nn. I want you to know it won’t happen again.” He said in a sincere tone as  he handed the other cup to Ciel’nn.
  
  The young mer took the cup and stared at it. “Teldryn, my old mer used to beat me often. I still have nightmares about him. I don’t want to feel afraid again.” Ciel’nn glanced at his partner, barely holding the wave of emotions that surfaced. He averted his gaze, biting his lower lip. Shit, I’m still not over it. May you rot, old shit of a mer, wherever you ended up.
  
  His heart cried at the sight of Ciel’nn suffering from his past experiences.  No one should experience their parents beating them. Teldryn shifted to face his partner,  gently lifting his chin up with his two fingers until their eyes met. “Listen, Ciel’nn. I promise you, I will never hit you again, and I will not let anyone harm you. You’ve become important to me.” He said that with such determination that it surprised the older mer himself. He brushed the stray hair behind Ciel’nn’s ear.
  
  Important to you? “And, if they do hurt me?” Ciel’nn asked, his eyes still locked with his partner’s. The intensity in Teldryn’s tone had stirred something up in him. Something he’d missed and so much needed. The young mer wanted to move, but he stayed still, holding his cup.
  
  “Then, they will face me and regret they ever laid a finger on you.” Teldryn replied in a low tone and flashed a grin.  By Azura!  There’s that mysterious smile again. It was as if his partner had an enchanting gaze from which he couldn’t look away even if he wanted to. The longer he gazed into Ciel’nn eyes, the older mer found  himself in the middle of calm lava waves, but Teldryn sensed some restlessness within those waves.
  
  Ciel’nn blinked and lifted the cup to his lips. “Can we go to the town today? I’m done with this dump.”
  
  “Of course.” The older mer replied after finishing his tea. “We’ll take it slow just in case.” He began to pack the camp, and handed the sword which he had cleaned, to his partner. “Who attacked you?” Teldryn looked to Ciel’nn.
  
  The memory of the fight was still fresh in Ciel’nn’s mind and he lowered his gaze, biting his lower lip and brought one arm over his chest as to protect himself. “Sildras’ reavers.” He whispered. “I couldn’t kill, but one of them.”

  Sildras is plotting something…
  
  “The one you made a deal with?” The older mer frowned and his partner nodded. “They have some seasoned reavers. Veterans…” Teldryn stepped closer to his partner as he put his hand on Ciel’nn’s shoulder. Are they part of the Tempest, too? No, they’re too common. Still, it’s something to be concerned with. He pulled Ciel’nn close to him. “Let’s head to the town. I’ll watch out for you.”

   

   

  

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