There and Back Again|Sensatiamens, Sensatia

[Darastrix]

Schuldig wrapped his arms around Harmony and held her tightly as he sank to the temple floor, several days' worth of too little sleep and too much worry and paranoia finally catching up with him now that they were away from the fey court.

It might have been an exciting, exhilarating experience if he'd been alone. He wouldn't have cared much about the faeries or their feyling tools. It would have been interesting to watch. But with Harmony there, a feyling, and about to be manipulated into the sort of life he'd led, things had gone quickly from exciting to just plain terrifying.

His daughter, a fey's slave? He'd offer himself up again before he let that happen.

"I'm sorry, kid," he muttered. "Fuck, I'm sorry." What else could he say? It was his fault. He should have dragged her home, let Tom die from that arrow, done something differently.

[Kender Bard]

Harmony clung tightly to her father and sobbed, large racking cries that made her whole body shake and tremble. It was a while before she could even speak, and then it was in gasps, muffled as she pressed her face against him. "It's--not--your--fau-au-ault," she gasped between cries.

She sniffled loudly. They'd attracted the attention of the priests but none were sure if they should approach not. They didn't seem hurt and it wouldn't have been the first time someone came to the temple to cry, seeking the peace of the place in hopes that their souls would be soothed, their pain lessened.

"It's not your fault," she repeated again, quietly, once she'd begun to get her crying under control. "Oh Tom... He's dead. He died. For me."

That brought alarmed looks from some of the eavesdropping priests but if they had thought of approaching then, it was rudely interrupted by Thelon appearing with his lot of people.

"Where are we?" Diana asked dazedly. Her sprite peeped out from her shirt and then duck back in to hide, seeing too many humans.

"Sensatia," Thelon answered tiredly. He wasn't horribly drained but he needed a moment to get his mental equilibrium back.

[Darastrix]

It is my fault. If I'd just told her to leave before the damn thing got it in his head to go after Atarai....

Schuldig closed his eyes and squeezed her again. "That's one thing those sprites have on the bigger faeries," he muttered. "They give a shit about something besides themselves."

[Kender Bard]

Harmony didn't respond. She just hugged him. At least she could be back with her father--nothing felt safer than to be held in his arms. And though her heart ached and she still was hurt at the loss of Tom (Forces, but it hurts so bad, so much worse than I'd have ever thought. Is this what Nua meant?), at least she wasn't afraid anymore.

Thelon spoke with the priests and now they began to move, checking on everyone to see if they were hurt or needed tending to in some fashion. Thelon gently prodded against Schuldig's mind, a tap to get his attention. ~Do you want me to take you back to Khelek? You're more than welcome to stay as my guests otherwise.~

[Darastrix]

Schuldig tensed, his eyes snapping open and his mind coiling like a snake ready to strike before he registered who Thelon was. Not a threat. They were in Sensatia, away from the fey, and they were safe. Harmony was safe.

~Not Khelek,~ he replied, relaxing slightly. ~Not yet. There's supposed to be some effect on the feylings if their sprites die. I want one of the mind healers to check her after we've rested a few days.~

[Kender Bard]

~Very well~ Thelon agreed. He figured Schuldig might need the same treatment. Then again, a few days of rest could do the same. ~You know where my home is. Feel free to come by when you're ready.~

He left the rest of the group in the hands of the priest, for the moment. He had immediate matters to attend to and teleported back to his house.

Diana walked over and knelt down near Schuldig and Harmony. "Harmony," she called out.

"Tom is dead," Harmony sniffled. "He died so I could escape."

"I'm so sorry, dear," she told the girl in a soft voice. "He was very brave. We'll all remember him. I just want to make sure you're all right, besides that. The queen didn't hurt you, did she?"

"No," Harmony said quietly. "Thank you, Diana, for looking out for me and the other kids." Diana just smiled. "What are you going to do now."

"I... I don't know," she admitted. "What are you two going to do?"

[Darastrix]

"Rest," Schuldig said. "Mind healer for her, sex for me, and back home to Khelek in a few days."

[Kender Bard]

~How can you think of sex after all that?~ Diana asked in bemusement. "Rest sounds very good. It looks like the kiddies and I are going to be staying in the temple."

"I'll see you again before I leave, okay?" Harmony asked.

"I'd like that," Diana agreed. She glanced at Schuldig again. ~I don't usually make this offer, but would you like me to watch over her dreams...? I can turn away nightmares. Yours too if you want. I'll be doing it for the other children too, those that want it.~

[Darastrix]

~I'm Lustful,~ he said by way of explanation. ~I always think of sex.~ And aside from pleasure, it was a good distraction from things one didn't want to focus on.

~And if she wants you watch her dreams, that's fine, but I'll deal with my own.~

[Kender Bard]

"Harmony, would you like me to keep your nightmares at bay?" Diana asked her. "You know what I can do as a Dreamer--I told you."

Harmony thought about it and then gave a cautious nod. "Yes, please." She didn't want to relive what'd happened today. Not if she could prevent it.

Diana gave her a tired smile and stood. ~Ah, a priest. Well, happy "devotions" then I suppose.~ "I'm going to get some sleep," she replied, yawning widely, and walked off.

Harmony let out a small sigh. "I'm not sleepy but I'm very worn out," she said quietly. "I miss Mom." She wondered what would be the best thing to do. "I'm... getting a bath." With another hug for her father, she teleported to Thelon's home.

[Darastrix]

A bath did sound nice. Or food. Or sleep. Maybe all three at once, somehow. And he was close to Khelek now. Harmony was safe; he didn't have to reserve his elemental strength while he watched over her. He could talk to Filly. Filly could come to Sensatia. And then what?

She'll fuss over Harmony and be pissed as fuck at me for letting this happen. Hell, he was pissed at himself. But he still didn't want to face Filly yet. Everything else aside, he was just too tired to deal with it.

Schuldig heaved a sigh and slumped where he sat. Maybe he'd just sleep on the floor. Where was he? Oh. The temple.

"Your fucking faeries are bastards," he muttered. "I hope the little shits get wiped out."

[Kender Bard]

A couple days passed and Harmony had a chance to rest and feel revived. She was still quite sad and mopey (especially when she discovered that Libre wasn't even there.) A Mind healer took a look at her carefully, as requested, and concluded he could see little wrong than the emotional scars left by the death of something or someone loved. Like a pet. Harmony had nearly punched the man when he said that.

The other feylings were beginning to make their way home. Some of the priests were escorting them, those who could travel. One had nowhere to go and was being placed in the Sensatia orphanage.

Diana continued to guard Harmony's sleep and chat with the girl when they were both awake. Without her mother, Harmony took comfort in the other woman's fussing.

Harmony reached out to her father on the fourth day in Sensatia from where she was in the temple. She and Diana had been talking and Harmony had grown homesick as Diana curiously inquired after life in Khelek. ~Dad, when are we going home?~

[Darastrix]

Despite his declared intentions when they'd arrived, Schuldig hadn't exactly been relaxing and making merry. He was somewhat more rested and much more well-fed, but all in all, he'd spent the past few days operating much as he had in the Beastlands: keeping mental watch over Harmony and an eye on his surroundings.

He'd tried to relax, but it was as elusive as a full night's sleep. Just when he thought he might, a flash of worry for Harmony would go through his head and he would tense and reach out to make sure she was all right. Without being able to enjoy Sensatia's perks, there wasn't much point in hanging around, and if Harmony wanted to go....

~Whenever, I guess,~ Schuldig replied.

[Kender Bard]

"It sounds like we're going now," Harmony said. She leaned over and gave Diana a quick hug. "Are you going to stay here?"

"Ah I don't know," Diana sighed. "I go all places all around. Someone called me a gypsy, once. It sounds as good of a description as any, I suppose."

"If you're ever in Khelek, come visit," Harmony urged.

Diana just smiled and ruffled her hair as Harmony teleported to her father. ~Well, this is farewell then.~ she sent to Schuldig. ~I wish we'd had the chance to meet in better circumstances. You seem... interesting.~

[Darastrix]

~I'm even more...interesting when I'm myself,~ Schuldig told her, and then reached out to Thelon.

~Harmony's ready to go home.~