part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4
Part 5:
~*~
Muse #5 September 30, 2002 - October 14, 2002
We're going to go with a set of words again for this challenge-but
don't expect to get off so easy for the next one!
Stream - Armor - Flourish - Permission
~*~
A flourish of bells ring as Zan steps out of the carriage. He stares up at the steeple and turns, glaring at Rath.
"I wanted to keep a low profile," Zan groans. "Want is Ava to think?"
"That you are to be king," he replies firmly. "You can not hide who you are-"
"I wish I could," Zan sighs as he notices Ava standing at the top of the staircase and smiles.
Zan walks up to her and ignores the pleas and the requests of the high priests standing at her side. "Good evening, Ava-"
"Good evening, Zan." She replies with a smile and a courtsey.
"No, need to bow to me-" he laughs as he takes her hand and gazes into her eyes.
Ava relaxes at his words and tender touch, "it is proper to greet-"
"Nonsense," Zan grins. "You are to be my equal, my bride."
Rath rolls his eyes and follows close behind them, as his duty calls for. He stops in his tracks, deciding to give them a few minutes alone.
He sighs and turns around quickly, bumping into someone in an emerald cloak.
"Do you always bump into people?" She replies her eyes blazing as bright as her cloak.
"You need to watch where you are going," he replies icily as she glares at him.
"Me?" She gasps. "What about you?"
He stares at her not knowing what to say, no one has ever spoken to him like this before. "Do you know how I am?"
"Am I supposed to be scared?" She counters as her heart continues to race.
"I am Lord Rath, second in command to the future king-"
"So?" She replies raising her eyebrows at him, challenging him to continue.
"So?" He repeats as his gaze meets hers. He runs his hands through his hair in frustration, as a smile curls at her lips.
"He is not the king, yet-" she continues as he rolls his eyes.
"A technicality at most, I am still a member of the royal family-"
"And that gives you permission to bump into people?" She questions as she advances towards him.
"Yes-" he answers quickly as she gasps in horror. "I mean, no-"
Leti smiles as he continues to watch their heated interaction with interest. He knew that there was more then meets the eye. "Am I interrupting?" Leti questions as he steps forward.
"Leti-" Rina cries as she turns to him. "He is so rude!"
Leti grins at her exasperated sigh as she glares at Rath and turns away.
"What is her problem?" Rath mumbles to himself as he throws his hands in the air and turns to Leti. "Who is she?"
"She is Lady Delrina de Wintre," Leti replies as they study each other.
"It has been a long time-" Rath replies after a short pause.
"It has," Leti sighs as he offers a hand. Rath takes his hand and they embrace as old friends.
"Zan will be happy-" Rath begins as he notices Leti tensing up at his name.
"It seems he has moved on-" Leti replies dryly as Rath shakes his head.
"It is for the best," Rath states as Leti walks towards their soft voices coming from the room across from them.
"Is it?" Leti questions as he opens the door and looks in at Ava and Zan.
He looks nervously at the closeness between them and strains to hear their conversation. "There is a stream that cuts-" Zan voice trails off as he notices Leti and Rath at the door. "Leti-"
"Zan," Leti replies dryly, the tension between them rising.
"We should be going," Rath replies quickly. "We do not want them to send the guards out-"
"And dirty their new armor?" Leti adds as his gaze locks with Zan's. "We would not want that-"
Ava steps between them, breaking there heated gaze. "What has happened?"
Leti blinks and focuses on her innocent blue eyes. He sighs as he tries to refocus his thoughts. "It is in the past-" he replies as his gaze rests once more on Zan before he turns to leave.
"Leti," Zan calls after him. "I did all that I could-"
Leti freezes and turns back to him. "Then why is she dead?"
"Damn it, Leti-" Zan curses. "It was not my fault."
"Please-" Leti snaps as Rath pulls Ava away from them. The air around them snapping with electricity.
Ava gasps as the power around Leti circles around him in a fury of colors. "I do not understand," she whispers to Rath as he shakes his head.
"I have been waiting for this-" he whispers as he watches them intently. "To much unsaid resentment and anger has passed between them."
"It was not my fault," Zan repeats firmly. "Strike me. Kill me. Do what you need to do-"
With a blinding flash of light, Leti throws Zan against the wall and disappears.
"Zan!" Rath and Ava call out as they rush towards him.
Zan sits up and stares up them. "Where is he?"
"He teleported-" Rath replies as he helps him up.
"Are you ok?" Ava questions as she touches his face tenderly.
"I am fine-" he sighs.
"He could have killed you-" Rath begins as Zan raises his hand, silencing him.
"He would never kill me," Zan explains. "If he killed me then he would be King, and that is his living nightmare-"
tbc
