Shaken Up (Acqua and Talon)

[Northen Light36]

For what seemed like a lifetime, Acqua lay on the bed in the guest room she'd been given at the Anarlinan palace, soaked in fear sweat and suddenly desperately wishing she was home. Which home, she wasn't sure. Maelstrom with Mat, the guild, Amaro's house or Talon's... It didn't matter, so long as it was familar, comforting and safe.

She didn't stir until Pixie, fantic with worry at the briefly blocked bond and her bonded's distress, raced into the room and began licking Acqua's face. ~It's all right, it's all right,~ the cat soothed. ~I'm here. What happened? You're so pale...~

I want my family, Acqua whispered mentally. But she knew they were out of Pixie's range at the moment. I want Talon, she decided after a moment, strugging to sit up.

Pixie let her do that much, curling up at Acqua's side and purring as soothingly as possible. ~I'll call him. Stay. You'll hurt yourself trying to walk to much.~ She turned her attention to feeling out Talon's mind. ~Talon! Something's wrong with Acqua. She's not hurt, I think, but... Just come!~ No nicknames, no teasing. Pixie's mind call to Talon was uncharacteristically serious and carried a note of her own alarm.

[Kender Bard]

Talon had been sleeping only lightly--his mind was heavy with thoughts and concerns, and his sleep had become a bit fitful--and he was swift to rouse at the mental intrusion. Blinking for a moment, he felt fear clench around his heart. Hastily, he scrambled out of his bed and went darting barefoot to Acqua's room, fearing the worse. Had a demon gotten to her? He thought it unlikely, but he couldn't shake the fear.

"Acqua?" he called out, letting out a small breath of relief to see her whole and awake in her bed.

[Northen Light36]

"Talon..." Acqua managed to get out her brother's name before she started to cry, shaking violently. The look of fear and distress on her face was much like her expression had been when she'd been twelve and something had triggered a violent flashback to life in Flux. It had been decades since she'd had such a flashback, but that was the only thing that had ever caused that sort of reaction from her in all the time she and Talon had known each other.

Pixie uncurled and rubbed against Acqua, trying to calm her bonded while giving Talon a helpless look. ~Something happened, I think,~ she told Talon. ~But I don't know what. I heard her cry out, then the bond was blocked. I found her like this when I got back to her.~

[Kender Bard]

Talon ran his fingers back through his hair briefly, feeling helpless too. But he pushed the feeling aside and stepped forward, clasping Acqua and holding her close. He'd wait for her crying to subside--making nonsense noises and shushing--because until it did he wasn't liable to get anything from her.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua leaned into Talon's hug, wrapping her arms tightly around him and drawing comfort from his presence as she slowly calmed down. Eventually she managed to bring her hysterical sobbing down to the occassional sniffling and a short bursts of coughing. Her shaking, however, continued as an indication she wasn't completely calm yet. She continued to lean against him, but relaxed her almost painfully tight hug so she could free one hand to pet Pixie.

"I never thanked you for getting us out of there," she mumbled around sniffles and coughs, her words muffled by the fact she still had her face burried into Talon's chest. "Love you..."

[Kender Bard]

"I love you too," Talon murmured and kissed the top of her head. "So, you had a nightmare about Flux...?" That was unusual, after all this time (unless she'd begun to have them again recently. He wouldn't have known.) Perhaps it was the stress of the day; her injuries and dealing with the demons up close.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua shook her head and looked up at Talon with sheer terror still in her eyes. "I was there, Talon," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I was back there. The mist was everywhere... So cold... My children..." She gagged, going from dead white to a faintly greenish tint. Hastily, she pushed Talon away, covering her mouth and curling into ball as she desperately tried not to be sick.

[Kender Bard]

Talon moved back, concerned and at a loss. He looked at Pixie. Was she really taken away from here? That was... Well hard to swallow. It was more likely that she had a very realistic nightmare. But then that wouldn't explain why Pixie couldn't reach her either.

[Northen Light36]

Pixie licked at the skin on the back of Acqua's neck in an attempt to soothe her bonded. ~I don't know,~ Pixie replied. ~She was so deeply asleep from what the healer gave her... I didn't expect her to wake for hours, if she woke before morning. So I went hunting...~ Pixie trailed off guiltily, then added, ~I was only in the garden though. I came running when I heard her scream to me.~ The cat paused again then asked Acqua, ~Why did you cry out to me, Kit?~

Acqua managed to get herself under enough control to reply in a weak whisper, "My ring... It was hot. Woke me up. There was..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "I... don't really remember. My hand hurt, then... I was there." She gagged again at the vivid memory of Flux and curled into an even tighter ball.

[Kender Bard]

Talon idly stroked her back as he thought about the situation. "If your ring was hot then that means a demon may be involved after all," he said softly. But what for it now? His ring was cool, so if there had been a demon, it was gone now. What to do with Acqua? She was a mess. "We should have a priest look to make sure you're not spiritually wounded." His expression firmed. "And then home."

[Northen Light36]

"Home..." Acqua murmured the word with a soft, tired sigh, uncurling slightly. "I'd like that..." She didn't have words to express just how much she wanted that right now. Talen'sul or Maelstrom, either would do. She could reach Mat through the guild. The children... if something had happened to the children he would tell her.

She looked at her ring, troubled. "I don't know if I can do this, Talon..." She shook with fear again. If a demon could do that, put her right back in Flux... She sat up and hugged Talon again, then rested her head on his shoulder as she toyed with her ring. She didn't quite take it off, but it was clear she really wanted to. Whatever had been done to her had all but shattered her will to fight.

[Kender Bard]

Talon hugged her, silent. But in his thoughts, he wondered the same. Why did you choose her, my Lady? Was it an error in judgment? It felt bad to think that; bad to believe that Etaf could have erred or that Acqua was not able to rise above these troubles. But he couldn't deny the obvious. She was hurt, physically and mentally, and even he knew that if you went into a fight wounded in all ways possible you weren't going to win. "You need to get some rest, first," he said in a low voice. "Or try to, anyway. In the morning, we can ask around and see if anyone is able to teleport us back."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua looked at the ring for another moment, then thought, I'm sorry. I can't. Dying was one thing. Hell, she'd done that already, even if it was all but forgotten bar the most vague of memories. But she couldn't face Flux again. Not alone or with anyone she loved in that same hell. Particularly now she knew what life could be like.

Besides, what use was she? Half crippled physically and terrified at the mere thought of sleeping.

She took off the ring and tossed it onto the bedside table. Then she burried her face in Talon's chest and started to sob again. It felt terrible, so incredibly disloyal. But her fear was just as powerful. So she wept and held her brother, while wishing she had Alethia and her unwavering faith.

[Kender Bard]

Talon sighed very slightly, and hugged her tighter. Well... That was, perhaps, for the best. Now Acqua wouldn't be put in danger. She could stay at home with her children, safe and hidden away from the war that was looming over them all now.

Stepping forth from a shadow on slippered foot, a short young man moved over to the bedstand. There was a soft rustling sound, feathers moving and the whisper of silk.

Talon turned quickly, his hand groping for the dagger he wasn't wearing.

The angel paused, but didn't seem to startle. He was young, somewhere in early adulthood, close to Spice's age at a glance. His robes were long and black, embroidered in a thread that shifted colors between deep blue, violet, and other colors, twinkling here and there with a faint sparkle. His wings were a deep, deep cobalt blue and also shimmered gently, the tips fading into a purple so dark it was almost black. One eye, perfectly human looking and blue, blinked. Then his second eye, a swirl of unnatural color, blinked separately of its own accord. Shaggy black hair obscured them slightly. His pale, slim hand hovered above the ring.

Talon's breath caught. "Are you an angel?" he asked softly, even though he felt he knew the answer already.

The angel smiled, the barest hint of one at any rate, and nodded once shallowly. He picked up the ring and observed it, holding it up to one eye and then the next. Then he held it out mutely to Acqua.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua stared at the angel through tear-filled eyes, then looked at the ring. "Why?" she asked. "I'm no use. I can barely even walk. I'd just be in the way."