Painful Revelations [Aran&Lyssa]

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

Ooc: Continuation of Wild Wild East

 

 

 

By the time both Cairma and Lyssa stopped laughed and had found their way down the tree, Cairma felt a little sorry for Aran, thinking back to the day she had left him crying outside her door after he took a prank one step too far. Like the tree, her knee was not effected the same way as what was impacted and she admited. If it made Aran cry, it must hurt.

 

'Soft..' She thought as she headed back over to the stream, filling a small canteen of the icy water and picking a few leaves of fresh forkroot off the bushes. Handing them to him with the canteen, "Chew, they will help with the pain."

 

The look she recieved that may have tried to send her to the Dark One, however made her scowl. "If i wished to poison you, i would have by now. Eat it, it will help with the pain and help you sleep." She waited for Aran to take the leaf and the water, and watched. It was going to be anouther day before she got an answer, but after today, she really truely didn't mind waiting.

 

 

Cairma

TG

 

 

Forkroot: Puts one to sleep and prevents a channeller from touching the Source. Effective painkiller that numbs the nerve ends. Used dried and put in tea, and has a sweet minty taste. However, when dry you have a far less effect than the brutal effect it has when dried, especially on a channeler. For a Renshai, this is a very wonderful plant, along with Aloe and Kaf.

http://www.aliciawilkerson.com/freelanders/?page_id=49

[Wayfarer]

By the time the women had come down to check on him, Aran was aware of several things. First and foremost, he was in alot of pain and he wouldn't be going anywhere very soon. Secondly, the pair had taken their time coming down to get him they'd found his predicament that amusing. Thirdly, they had actually come down to see if he was alright. Fourthly, he was in alot of pain and he wouldn't be going anywhere very soon.

 

It was somewhere between reflecting on the pain and not reflecting very much at all that Cairma decided to render him some assistance. Forkroot, Aran glared up at here as he realised what it was. As nice as it would be to shut out the pain, he didn't want to wake up to find himself naked and tied upside down from a tree. Knowing what had happened in the past, he was not eager to drug himself to make things easier for them.

 

Of course, trying to move and make his displeasure with the idea known as Cairma spoke but the new wave of pain that washed over him quickly decided the matter for him. Taking the leaves with a shakey hand, he chewed on them as quickly as he could and swallowing the leaves, he washed them down with water. Closing his eyes, he could have sworn he felt a hand stroking his head and it would have irritated him to no end except for the fact he slipped out of consciousness before he could make his aggravation known.

 

Light but everything had hurt.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Jaydena]

Lyssa finished laughing and then made her way out of the tree, Cairma followed quickly behind her, down the backside of the tree. She actually ended up getting down before her and Lyssa wondered where the woman had learned to climb like that. Lys had grown up on the woods of Heartswood and had competed with her male cousins to be as good as them and still this woman climbed better than her. Lyssa reached the ground and saw that Cairma had walked to the stream and was getting some water for her canteen. The woman also picked some plants from beside the stream, Lyssa walked over to stand beside Aran, her thoughts in turmoil as she watched the tears leaking from the sides of his eyes. On the one hand it had been totally funny and what a great way of taking the cocky Aran down a peg or two, literally. However she wasn’t cold enough to want to see anyone in pain ever, well save the Darkfriends and Trollocs of the world. She looked back down and saw that Cairma had managed to get Aran to eat the herb and drink some water. She sat down and took his head into her lap, she began stroking the hair from his eyes as he drifted off to sleep. A few minutes passed and then she motioned for Cairma to grab a blanket roll. The blanket roll was tucket under his head, and he was covered with a blanket. Lyssa stood up and spoke to Cairma, “Well we might as well stay the night here, he won’t be getting on a horse in that condition. In fact he may be lucky to get on a horse at all for a week. One time my brother did something like that and he walked bowlegged for two weeks.

 

Lys pushed the thoughts of her twin brother from her mind and spoke, “Well I was interested to hear about his past but I don’t think that’s gonna happen tonight.” She walked away from Aran and then spoke again, “I’ll work on gathering firewood and rocks for the pit if you work on setting up camp.” Cairma agreed and then two of them set about getting ready for the night. As she walked around picking up sticks and moss she thought about the events of the day. Who would have thought that Aran would end up drugged and in pain at the end of the day. She shook her head and walked back to camp, Cairma had unpacked things and they quickly finished putting the camp in order. Lys started a fire and Cairma went off to find something for them to eat while Lyssa cleaned areas of rocks and smoothed the ground for their bedrolls….

 

Lyssa Simeone

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

The fire was already up and wamed nicely as Cairma returned with a rabbit and a few squirrels. She had even found a small bush of blueberries that were in season and picked off a few that would make for a nice dessert for her and Lyssa. Taking a seat she passed a stick to Lyssa with a squirrel ready to cook for her. "Shame we dont' get a late night story tonight. That boy and his mouth, really. One day it will get him in far worse trouble."

 

Lyssa wandered around and found some tubers, keeping an eye out on Aran as she worked, under a tree she found the wonderful find of some carrots and mushrooms. She chuckled and headed back to the fire, Cairma had just returned to the fire with two rabbits and a squirre. While the other woman was out hunting she had carved a spit to roast the animals on and with them already cleaned she got them positioned above the fire. Cairma added the squirrel to one of the spits and then began speaking. When she was done Lyssa said, "Oh it's already got him in quite a bit, look at what happened to him today. In fact what was he thinking with this whole kissing thing. Not bloody likely I say, and maybe that's exactly why he said it." She grinned and turned the spit.

 

Cairma chuckles as she turned her own spit. "With Aran, light only knows what goes on in his head. However, such a suggestion doens't completely surprise me. However, if Rosheen was here, she would put him more into his place and he would not make such a suggestion unless he wished to be beaten a little more than what that Tree did to him." She popped a blueberry into her mouth. "Besides, it's not that horrible, kissing a girl, i mean."

 

Lyssa blinked at Cairma, "You mean you have kissed a girl before. Oh my wow, I don't think I would have the guts to do that. Did you like it? Did you use your tongue like Aran wanted us too?" Her eyes were curious and open as she regarded the woman in front of her.

 

She was a bit surprised by Lyssa's reaction and couldn't help but chuckle with that same understandsing of being in that girls position not too long ago. Funny how the winds change and the student becomes a teacher. Although, Cairma would never admit that she was a teacher in any shape or form. "I take it that you have not gone out drinking to the taverns often, huh. It is a generally a cmmon bet that is usually followed with a boy kissing a boy, which is more to my favor than the latter. It's not as icky' as i said it was to Aran. But that's mostly to get him heckling and loosing his concentration with his sword forms."

 

 

Lyssa nodded, "I haven't really been out in the city yet, mostly I go there for shopping or the occasional meal. I haven't been out drinking yet, actually I was supposed to and I started drinking in the common room with Aran, I actually ended up getting sick all over Aran and never made it to Tar Valon." She shook her head and chuckled, she had done alot more than she get sick on him, she had gotten sick in him and suprisingly the man still talked to her and flirted with her. She eyed Cairma again and said, "So does it feel any different than it does with a man, kissing a girl, it would seem like the breasts would get in the way and such."

 

This time she laughed out right, "Well, if you look at it this way, it's like having a pillow between you. However, they are sensitive pillows and are surprisingly soft, depending on the woman. And you are not always kissing chest to chest. Sometimes your leaning over a table."

 

Lyssa blinked and tried to imagine that in her head, "Well I haven't had really good luck kissing anyone, I have only kissed Aran and well that didn't go so well as I got sick on him and then I also kissed another Tower Guard and after that he left the Tower and no one knows where he went. I never even thought about kissing another woman but maybe I would have less problems if I did." She shook her head at the thought and turned the spit, "Leaning over a table, now I am trying to get an image of this. Sitting on the table or just full on leaned over the table."

 

"Details.. " She waved her hand dismissively. Mischief sparkled in Cairma's eyes as she thought for a moment. "However.. " She motioned for Lyssa to move in closer. "I do have a secret for you."

 

Lyssa wondered what in the heck the woman had to tell he, how to get Aran to take her to bed would be nice but since the woman also had interest in him, she doubted that was it. She shrugged her shoulders, aware that Cairma wasn't going to try and kill her out here in the woods, they would find her, considering who her mother was. Lys leaned closer to Cairma, "What?"

 

Cairma flashed her a grin as she then effortlessly reached over and kissed the woman full on her lips. No tongue, just an innocnet kiss, and pulled away with a smile on her lips, looking back into the fire as if she had not jsut done that. "When it happens, you never worry about the details."

 

The woman grinned at her and then reached over and kissed her on the lips, nothing overly grabby and it didn't feel much different than a man. Although she was aware the person was a woman and she had felt something brush her arm that didn't feel like a warm chest. She leaned back as Cairma spoke and then said, "Well that wasn't so bad, though I like to move in like this." Sucking in her breath to still her moves just before she said the last word, she leaned forward, craddling Cairma's head in her hand as she swooped in. Their tongues mingled briefly and she felt a quickening in her loins before she realized she was kissing another female.

 

The second kiss caught Cairma by surprise as she very nearly enjoyed it, however, like most kisses with women, it only cause a challenge more than a desire. However, there were at times a touch of ale blurred those lines. As Lyssa pulled away, Cairma couldn't help but smile. "Fast learner."

 

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

 

Lyssa Simeone

[Wayfarer]

That Aran was in a goodly amount of pain, there was little doubt of that. That he had experienced the worst bout of luck on this particular day which had climaxed in his rapid descent from a rather high tree, everyone would agree. But, if those people had been privy to what he had just been able to watch, they would have also said that the wheel was deciding to make amends, starting with him getting his wish. The first kiss was but a peck, but the second one had just been a thing of pure beauty to watch and not just because it would allow him to heckle them later. In fact, things were warming up and he had to say it would have been something to get a little more than his wish.

 

Unfortunately, it seemed like the wheel wasn't going to be that generous. After a pause between the pair, Aran decided if he wasn't going to see anything more then he was certainly going to have to tell them how to proceed. "Now this time, one of you has to put the arms around the other. Where's the passion?" Laughing at the shocked looks he was graced with was painful, but he couldn't help it. Rolling onto his back, he lolled his head to the side so he was more openly watching the pair. "Don't mind me, continue."

 

Lyssa grinned at Cairma and said, "Oh yes indeed I am a fast learned. Comes down in the genes. I think you would like what a fast learner I am if we ever got the chance. However that would need to be somewhere private, we wouldn't want Aran to get his dearest wish. He sure as light dosen't deserve it." She chuckled and turned her attention back to the meal, she added the tubers and such to the meal and then was about about to turn back to Cairma when a voice sounded behind her. She almost jumped out of her seat as Aran spoke. When he was finished she grinned at him and then angled her body sideways so that they were facing each other, their profiles to Aran. She motione for Cairma to do the same with her hands and looked over at Aran, "Ohhh well it's really to bad that you hurt yourself so bady today, otherwise you could join in with us. However since you are in so much pain we will just enjoy each other." She wrapped one arm around Cairma, gave her a saucy wink, and began kissing the other woman, her lips brushing hers lightly at first and then their tongues began to mind, glinting in the firelight.

 

Cairma's eyes went wide with the sudden attack of Lyssa's. Cairma kissed Lyssa first as bit of a challenge to herself, but it was just a simple innocent kiss. Lyssa kissed her back to maybe prove something to herself. However, Cairma chalked it up as a fair trade and left it at that... The third however left Cairma speechless, a little warm because Aran was actually watching, and generally shell shocked.

 

If Aran hadn't known any better, he would have said he had the spark of the Creator in him. He'd just told two women to kiss and they'd actually done it! Again! It was definitely going a long way to making up for his current incapacitation and while he was sure that Lyssa and Cairma were really giving him what for and all that, he would have said they were welcome to give him what for anytime. He would have welcomed a few other things to, but that was a different matter. In fact, Cairma didn't seem to be quite into it as much as Lyssa as the pair parted, but he had to try something. It had worked once before, maybe his powers knew no limits, maybe a big grin would amplify them. "I think I felt a little jealous there. But I tell you what, if you really want to show me then you'd have to do better than that."

 

Lyssa rolled his eyes at his comment and then straightened her body. It was obvious that she didn't have any sexual attraction, the woman had kissed her but she had tried to respond only to have the other woman freeze and not respond. Then there was Aran, more interested in other women than her, she had been waiting for him a long time and he had seemed to be much more attracted to Cairma than her. Shaking her head she stood up and pulled the rabbit off the spit. She grabbed their traveling plate and began dishing a plate up. Walking back to Aran who was laying on his back with the bedroll under his head with a smug expression on his face, she slammed the full plate right down on his crotch and then said, "I am so happy that you enjoyed it, since no one else enjoys my kisses nor watching them, it's obvious that she didn't enjoy them." Lyssa hitched her hand toward Cairma with her hand closed and her thumb pointing toward her. She shook her head, kicking a rock and then walked off into the darkness.

 

"ah...." Cairma tried to speak but her voice failed her. She looked to Aran with a bit of a panicked ye angered look. Blaming him for the womans leave. Picking up a rock she tossed it at him, straight as the mans crotch. "You damn well hold up your end of the bargain or else i will see you castrated so you never need to worry about falling out of a tree."

 

The first blow to his crotch was bad enough, bringing his knees up out of basic instinct only made things worse as the plate's hot contents spilled onto him. Turning and straightening, Cairma had taken the opportunity then to follow Lyssa's example with a rock. Any thoughts of hunger, or his bruises, or what he had witnessed were well and truly out of mind. Maybe this was the unluckiest day ever after all, just a glimmer of hope before the wheel had decided to truly shaft him. Regardless, his course of action was clear to him. Turning away from the fire and people who could throw rocks at him and had no scruples when it came to his crotch, he focused on trying to lessen the pain through will power and passing out as quickly as he could.

 

 

Aran, Cairma & Lyssa

Tower Guards

[Wayfarer]

There was a certain cruelty to early mornings Aran had decided. Especially those where he was feeling particularly wounded like this one. All results of lessons that he had learned the previous day. That the Creator and the Wheel were bastards, that lesson was certainly high up there. A kinder lesson had been that Lyssa and Cairma didn't mind doing a little kiss kiss with other women, that had definitely been a nicer lesson. Of course, that had led to the worse lesson ever, and that was that the pair of them had no qualms about hitting him in the crotch. Where he'd already been struck by a tree no less, and had been aching quite badly the entire day.

 

It was that last lesson that prompted him to move, no matter how badly he hurt. Someone had thrown a blanket over him during the night, though whether that was an act of kindness or something else designed to get him to lower his guard before another segue to crotch injuries on his part he wasn't sure. Well, he was he thought, but he didn't want to stake more injuries on it. It wasn't even light, there was a touch of grey in the air that signalled that the sun was hiding behind the horizon. Maybe under the cover of near darkness he could get away without being seen.

 

Despite his thoughts to the contrary considering his stupid run of luck, he managed to get free of the camp without awakening the other two. Making his way to the stream, making his way across the stones without incapacitating himself took a bit of doing. As it was he was glad he didn't have to do any of the leaping about he had done the day before. Reaching the other side, from there it was to the tree that he had found tragedy in. With its size it acted as a decent windbreak and he had no intention of freezing, something he made sure of as he wrapped the blanket about himself before sitting down. Light but it hurt to do so.

 

But he had found a place to think at least, and that was something he needed to do. If he had been in a flippant mood and it had been someone else, he would have said that he was brooding. It was a rare thing on Aran's part, but between the sheer amount of pain he'd gone through for the past day and been left with no recourse as he wasn't about to hit either of the offenders, all there was left to do really was suck it up. And there was the matter of the bet, they had won and when he'd first taken them on it he had been... well, not entirely happy with the idea but he could accept it. Now he wasn't quite so sure, being smacked in the crotch a couple of times by the people you were planning to entrust some of your darker secrets did very little to engender feelings of trust or a willingness to speak.

 

Alot of it was coming back to the crotch and the pain in his thoughts, but that wasn't it really. Actually, that was a lie, that had a great deal to do with it in fact. But part of it was their willin- no that wasn't it. It was more unthinking on their part, an easy way to get him back when other ways weren't quite so readily available. What would happen if he stirred them up again after this? Would they then lash out at him with this the next time?

 

Would they talk to him at all? Cairma might have killed a few people, maybe Lyssa as well, but he doubted either of them had been through the sheer amount of people he had. Not just killed in the heat of a fight, but he'd killed in cold blood with equal ease. Not one or two, but alot of people and not just with his knives. Those were some of the truths that the pair that he called friends were going to learn when they pressed him to hold up to his end of the bet. Part of him considered reneging, lying came easily enough yet... Trust was hard to earn and easy to squander, honesty was all he could give them because anything else would eventually end in tears.

 

So it was that Aran's thoughts ran as he watched the sun slowly rise, huddled as he was. Thoughts that became darker and more depressing with every cycle. It was the danger of thinking too much about things, but between the pain and the danger of what he would have to say, he felt he could indulge the weakness on this rare occasion. Of course, there was the odd chance they would leave him alone altogether, they had certainly been angry enough with him the night before.

 

Somehow, Aran doubted his bad run of luck was done with him yet.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

Vows are spoken

To be broken

Feelings are intense

Words are trivial

Pleasures remain

So does the pain

Words are meaningless

And forgettable

 

Lyssa left in a huff leaving Cairma alone in front of the fire with Aran passed out by the far tree, she took the time for a bit of reflection. They day, as always, took an unexpected turn. Most days that involved Aran tended to do that however with Lyssa along for the ride.

 

Picking up the scattered remains of the blueberries that had been knocked over and forgotten, Cairma proceeded to clean up around the fire, setting aside a small foil of the food that Lyssa had left behind and placing it near the warm coals of the fire to keep it warm. Pulling one of her blankets from her satchel, she walked over to Aran and looked down on his sleeping form.

 

How could a man so small, so average, have such a large sphere of incluence on not ony her but those around him. The man could obviously be a great Leader, king even. Politically powerful and yet he chooses to stay in the Yard with no goal in life, wasting it away be followign a different head than the one on his shoulders. Cairma didn't understand it. She was plagued enough with questions of his past, and why he was even there. She had always suspected that he was some spoiled run-away brat from some rich family since he was so frivlous with how he did things and his general lazy life choices. But how could something like that be a reason for her 'not to be ready' to hear what he had done in his past.

 

Not like her own was spotless. Far from it. She knew that she had not told Aran everything, infact, Aran was one of three people that knew anything of her past. Although Daemon suspected more than knew however with the discussions she has had with his wife, she had no doubt that they combined would understand her better than anything. Moreover, the Lady Arie also knew of her like of Aran and how part of her, if given the chance, would like to make a married man of him. Foolish. She was a foolish girl.

 

Tossing the blanket over Aran with a heavy sigh, she walked over to her own pack and pulled out her own blanket. Laying down by the fire, she feigned sleep as she heard Lyssa returning to the site and pulling out her own bed roll. The night was awekward enough and there was no point in going into it further until morning. She wasn't angry wiht the girl, but she was, however, put off by her actions. Cairma had not been kissed like that by anouther woman, and she didn't do too well with force.

 

Cairma was surprised by herself, in truth. Not only had she frozen, but she had not tried to attack the girl. Had she pushed that much of her own past back that she had grown numb to the warning signs that would normally had set her off in a frenzy? She shut her eyes as she mentally refused to walk along that path again. It was in the past and it didn't effect her anymore..

 

But the night was unkind to her, and sleep refused to head her as she heard the sleep heavy breaths of Lyssa. Aran moved occasionally with a pitiful moan. Not that she blamed him. Okay, maybe she did a little. If he had not been so mouthy, maybe the creator would not have been so cuel to him and his luck witht he Tree. It was a rather surprise since she knew that Aran rivaled her for tree swinging. However, seeing the look on his face and althought the boy was in serious pain, it had been greatly commical, and she had to stiffle the laught that was bubbling inside of her.

 

Clasping a hand over her mouth she heard movement from the other side of the fire as Aran roused from his place. The moan nearly echoed over the field with his moevment, and Carima inwardly winced. Maybe her last shot was uncalled for, but he was asking for it with that mouth of his. Not that a little blood heading there after his fall would help his already painful situation. Men.. but as Aran moved slowly with a slight limp away from the campsite, Cairma silently followed. Working her way up into a tree within sight of where he took a seat unter a tree on the other side of the stream, but far enough that she would be missed if he wasn't looking for her. She waatched him as she stare off somewhere lost in his own thoughts. She suspected that both her and Lyssa had put him at odds. How, she would probably never be able to guess. (Well, how else would a man feel when two woman attacked a prized gem).

 

She watched him silently from her perch as she mulled her thoughts over, sleep finally creeping over her as she leaned against the trunk of the tree. Was this only a pivoted point in some great fashion that would lead down anouther path? Or will it always be this care free? She had no doubts that her Sword would be her life. But how much else would be part of her life? Her eyes closed, Cairma nodded off to sleep.

 

 

All I ever wanted

All I ever needed

Is here in my arms

Words are very unnecessary

They can only do harm

"Enjoy the Silence" - Depeche Mode

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

TG

[Jaydena]

She walked across the waterfall, her thoughts deep, she didn't know what in the light had posessed her to act like that. A part of her felt like a fool and a part of her was liberated by her actions. Lys wasn't sure exactly why that was, the man hadn't deserved to see that and she shouldn't have pushed Cairma like that. She walked over to a tree and curled up next to it, her arms around her knees as she considered the night sky around her. The moon was full and she stared into it as she thought about everything. Aran was a total enigma to her, she had all but thrown herself at him for years and he wasn't interested. Save the kiss her had swooped in for only to have her get sick on him, he hadn't tried anything since. Though there had been petting and flirting and such, but now she feared it was mostly on her part. Have I been pushing him so hard to be with me in that way because I need love and I feel like he has it in him.She shook her head and slammed her fist on the dirt next to her, tears poured down her face. Everyone it seemed rejected her and she could never be perfect like she wanted to. Her perfect mother she couldn't be and her mother who didn't love her was partly at fault for this.

 

Lys shivered against the cold, she had left camp without her cloak and rubbed her hand over her growling stomach. Yet another sign of her imperfection, if someone came upon her right now she would die because she couldn't control her body. She wiped at the tears, Light I kissed another female and then kissed her more than once despite the fact that she showed no interest in me. I don't even have interest in females, did I think that if I did something Aran wanted that he would love me? She just didn't understand it but then she didn't know a woman who could claim to understand men, and none of the women that knew Aran could claim to know anything about him. She gained her feet and began walking back to camp, hopefully they were all asleep and she could find some food and crash for the night.

 

Hoping that by morning everything would be forgotten and she could just pretend she hadn't done what she had and that she wasn't wanted by anyone. Lys scrubbed at the tears again and walked back into the camp, Aran was passed out by the tree still and Cairma had wrapped her food up. She took her bedroll out and got ready for bed, she ate her food, cleaned them and then laid down for sleep. Sleep was a long time coming but finally she crashed out, some time later she awoke to the sound of Aran rising from his bedroll, she glanced his way and then feigned sleep as he limped out of sleep. A few moments later Cairma rose and followed him, she pushed away the thoughts of what was going to happen and turned her head into her travel pillow. Tears flooded her eyes as she realized that he had chosen Cairma over her, they had probably made arrangements earlier and now were going off for their tryst. She gained her feet and decided that she would leave right now. Just leave and they could have their fun without her around. Lys walked after Cairma, not sure why she was doing it. She stepped carefully and stopped suddenly when she saw the woman begin climbing tree. Shaking her head she followed and looked over to where she could see Aran, sitting by himself with a strange expression and a blanket wrapped around himself. She looked up at the other woman and sat down on the ground to see what happened.

 

Lyssa Simeone

[Jaydena]

ooc- edited last post for the finding them addition

[Wayfarer]

The sun had almost cleared the horizon when Aran heard footsteps. He supposed he should have turned around, but more than anything he just didn’t want to know about it. Footsteps meant that he was going to have to talk, talking was going to wreck everything. Stupidity, keeping an oath or a bet was stupidity, especially since he never used to. Well, except with people he cared about. Stupidity. But he was stuck with it, stuck and more stuck.

 

Lyssa placed her steps carefully, walking toward Aran, she didn't know why she was approaching him, but there was something about the way he was sitting. About his back, it was so tense, and she could have sworn it was shaking. Maybe he was just cold but the thought of Aran crying over something she had done made her hurt in her heart. She walked closer and saw his back tense more, he knew she was there but he didn't turn toward her. She laid a hand on his shoulder, "Are you ok Aran?"

 

Feeling her hand on his shoulder, if it were any other time he might have relented a little. Aching and putting himself out in the cold had done little to improve his mood though, and with what was going to come he was in a foul mood. It was a rarity for him, even more so to let it show but with the anger, the pain and the… fear, of what was to come, he wasn’t in any state to rein those feelings in. “Wonderful.”

 

She removed her hand and stared down at his head, blinking back the tears that threatened, he was the master of emotions and she could feel how upset he was, his words just dripped with disdain. Backing up a few steps, she spoke softly, "I'm sorry Aran, I shouldn't have hurt you like that last night. I hope you will forgive me, I wasn't in my right mind. I don't normally get jealous or possessive but last night I felt that way about you. It's obvious you have deeper feelings for Cairma than me and I guess that bothers me. No worries though, I hope I am still you friend." She gulped and pushed at the tears that were still brimming in her eyes, she wanted to run and hide but that wouldn't do anything.

 

Friend, he hoped so too but he was pretty sure by now that that wouldn’t last. Not when she knew, still he could hear the catch in her voice… No, that wouldn’t last, not now. Especially not with the mood he was in and knowing that just made his mood worse in turn. As to what she said, he couldn’t even answer. There were things that came to mind, but more than anything he didn’t want to talk at all. Too angry, too afraid of saying something that couldn’t be unsaid. Better to just ignore it all and take the plunge. “I have a bet to honour, why don’t you go fi- she’s here.” Cairma’s footsteps, for there was no one else nearby.

 

Cairma exerted a surprising amount of control as she walked towards them. Ignoring Lyssa's comment about Arans feelings about her - of which even she doubted were even possible - she took a seat against an opposing tree. It almost felt like a false security to be that close as there was no doubt in her mind that Aran’s lack of control over his own emotions that he was far from impressed about the night before. And for once she did not blame him. Although the tree had been neither of their fault, her quick arm out of simple habit and instinct had been. She doubted that even his family tree was what may worry him. After all, Cairma's slate wasn't exactly clean either. "A bet is a bet, however we never set a time." Her voice wasn't exactly cold, but it was distant and soft. "We are here for a few days and no one will force you to speak of it now. Just ask, and I will leave."

 

“Why put it off?” Pulling his blanket around him a little tighter, some might have called Aran’s tone despondent as he continued. “Before I speak, I require an oath from both of you not to reveal what I say to anyone else.” Ignoring the reactions to that, he waited until the oaths were given. Last thing he wanted was to swing or to lose his head, and the way they were…

 

“Before my years as a Tower Guard, I lived in Cairhien. I grew up in Foregate, and then as I became older I became a blade for hire. I wasn’t a mercanery, though most of them see enough blood in their own right. I was an assassin, furthermore I was very good at what I did. In fact, I think the Tower still has me on their to watch list, I went by the moniker of the Jester in the day. That was my life until I came to Tar Valon and was accepted into the Guard.”

 

The oath was said and she waited for a moment as Lyssa responded in kind to her. But after Aran revealed his so-called 'past', Cairma seriously doubted him and his intentions. Why could he not tell her? There was a lot that Aran was not telling but she was no Aes Sedai and couldn't read between the lines. Folding her arms across her chest she spoke again. "Define 'Assassin'. And what's this list, Aran? Why would the Tower watch you?"

 

“Watch for me, though I doubt they do anymore, it has been some years. The Tower naturally keeps an eye out for people of my craft.” Looking from Cairma to the space between the two, there was a coldness to his voice as he spoke. “Assassin, as in a person who kills for coin. Be it with a blade or pushing them out of a very high window. The definition of assassin tends to be rather straight forward, its not exactly an unclear term.”

 

She became more and more suspicious of him and a cold level of doubt settled on her shoulders. She shoke off the shivers and pondered thougthfully as Lyssa also asked a question that Aran answered with swift delicate words. He didn't trust them. They swore an oath and he still did not trust them. Her eyes grew a little deeper as Cairma caught a look in his eyes. She couldn't read his, but she had never been very good at hiding her thoughts from him. She was confused but his lack of trust, or suspicious. "Who was your hit then, Aran?"

 

“My hit?” The laugh that Aran barked was full of disbelief, what sort of question was that? What hit? He’d killed so many in his time that it was difficult to understand what she was asking. What, did she think he’d only killed maybe a couple of people? If that were the case then perhaps he’d be a different person. “I’ve killed a lot of people, you’ll have to forgive me if I ask you to be a little more specific.”

 

She was taken back by his laughter. As if there was no face, no feeling for those that died just so that he could make coin.. wait.. Cairma frowned deepened as she turned her head to keep him from reading her eyes. "In the Tower. Who were you meant to kill? Or are they still on your list?"

 

Him? Kill someone in the Tower? Light, if he had killed a sister he wouldn’t have stayed around afterward, and he certainly wouldn’t have spent this many years as a Tower Guard for a single mark. Then again, she didn’t understand, none of them did. It was almost enough to make him laugh again, even if there was no humour to be found in it. “I was the mark. I was given refuge in the Guard to hide, after several years I was found and I killed my attacker and his little helper. Since then I have remained through my own choice.”

 

"You?!" She was shocked and found herself without any reply.

 

“Is it really so surprising? You’ve tried to kill me before yourself, is it so difficult to believe there might be other people who might wish to do the same?” Aran might have been able to laugh it off, but there was no mistaking the fact that Cairma would have killed him if he had been a step slower on that morning. “It was some years ago, there was a certain feud. His family killed my father and tried to kill myself and my brother, we killed his entire family save him for he was young and we showed a moment of mercy and adopted him. Stupid on our part, but he’s dead and buried now.”

 

Her eyes closed with her head still turned, "How old was he? I mean, when you took him in?"

 

“Young enough that he wasn’t a threat, old enough that he had his family’s pride. He was a snake, happy to accept our mercy, happy to learn from us and take shelter with us, ambitious enough to try and kill us when he had the opportunity. My death was meant to draw my brother out. But, that is done with, isn’t it? I stayed here nevertheless, and that is why I am here now. Somewhere between pain and knowing that the blood on my hands will most likely turn the pair of you away from me.” Aran snorted. “And there it is, that’s what I did before I became a Tower Guard.”

 

Cairma grew very very silent so not to give away her thoughts. She waited and listened to Lyssa's thoughts, refusing to give in to the urge to just walk away.

 

Lyssa blinked as Cairma showed up and then turned away as the other woman took a seat underneath a nearby tree. Aran spoke of honoring his bet and Lys was about to speak up when Cairma brought up him waiting. She nodded with agreement but he was quick to answer no. Lys took a seat under the tree she was nearest and waited for Aran to speak, when he did she was very surprised at his request for an oath. She replied quickly with the best oath she knew, "I swear under the Light and by my birth and salvation that I will not share this with anyone." He nodded an affirmative and then began speaking. To say she was shocked was to say it mildly but for some reason she was more turned on by him now than before, which was saying something. When he spoke of him being the target she nodded her head, eventually someone with his kind of talents became a liability, they knew too much, too many people, and were a danger to everyone who had ever hired them. Cairma spoke and then looked at her and she nodded and with a smile said, "Well I can't say I am overly surprised Aran, though I was at first. I can tell you that you shouldn't worry too much about how that effects me, we all have things in our past that we did. I don't think you’re that person anymore and I trust you with my life. That said I think there is more in your past than that?"

 

Now that was a glimmer of light in the darkness that was his despair. If Aran had been of sounder mind, he would have hit himself for such a poetic turn of phrase. It sounded like the mewling of some noble boy who sat and moaned about how terrible their life was. That just made him more agitated with himself, but at the same time it began to slip a little. It was a bit hard to feel as he had when Lyssa had outright said that. Although he hadn’t really given the details of it, he knew what he had done and he wondered whether Lyssa would look at him the same way if she knew such things. But, those were things that didn’t bear telling, wouldn’t tell if he could avoid it. So, he answered her question with a question. “How do you mean? I’m not sure what you’re asking about.”

 

Lyssa eyes him for a minute and considered how to word the question especially with Cairma here. Like it mattered anyway, Aran liked the woman better so they would end up together so she need not worry about such things. "Well Aran, you are well known around the Tower for your..." Lyssa blushed and then remembering the stuff she had done the night before continued, "prowess in the bedroom, you can't tell me you didn't do something to learn that, I mean maybe your just really good at it but from what I have heard wow!" Lyssa looked away and pretended she hadn't just said that...

 

Cairma's eyes turned to Lyssa as the sudden years of her age in comparison to Lyssa heaped on her as Lyssa suddenly seemed so young. So very young. Her eyes darkened drastically and soon water rushed through them as Cairma fought the urge to speak what she 'really' thought about Aran's 'prowess'. Moments of shame haunted her as the one conquest that Aran had yet to 'claim' due to his damnable 'wow-ing' in the bedroom. How bloody naive was this girl? For a child that kissed like a crazed woman, she sure had a funny notion of... something!! Taking a deep breath, she waited to see how Aran responded to such a rude comment. Light, there are just something you don't ask about in front of other people... !!

 

Studying his blanket as he was asked the question about what he may have learned, Aran looked up into the sky as he spoke. That was something he hadn’t always cared to talk about, but he was asked and he had said he would answer. “You’re right. I was put to learn when… well, as soon as I was capable of learning. Not every task of mine was to kill, and any skill that could be used was learned.” Aran looked back down to Lyssa and as he did so he noticed Cairma, it was then that he was reminded of a certain something. It was true anyway, so it wouldn’t hurt to say it. “All of that knowledge is all well and good, but the most important thing is to be able to listen to a woman and see what she wants. You also have to be ready to listen, there are some times when you just aren’t. Doesn’t mean you don’t want to but… Well, you probably heard the rumour about one time I… Well, yes it happened. I wasn’t ready for it and well, yeah, I wasn’t ready. Didn’t mean I wasn’t willing, but it can happen.” That was a struggle to get out, but there it was. Light but considering how close Cairma was, Aran hadn’t wanted to say it but it was either that or gloss over it and have her feel worse.

 

Lyssa nodded slowly and wondered what exactly he was talking about, she had some idea and wondered if it was the other woman with them, however thinking about that didn't help her frame of mind. That the two of them might have been together already made her even more upset, it meant that was stepping on someone elses territory. "Well I can't say I am exactly sure what you mean as I haven't been with a man but I get some grasp on it. Cairma do you have any questions for him or should we just let him continue his story?" She glanced over at the other woman and was surpised to see a annoyed look on her face, she wondered what she had said that had bothered the other Guard. She shook her head and rolled her eyes after she turned her face away from Cairma, she would never understand either of them. The other woman had acted like she was interested in her last night and then pushed her away.

 

Removing her emotions from her face, she looked impassively at Lyssa and then at Aran. Giving a nonchalant shrug she simply answered. "No questions. he may continue if he has anything more to say." Looking to Aran, she waited along with Lyssa.

 

Lyssa sighed at Cairma's look and nodded, "Well I suppose we can continue this at another time, I think I will go see if I can catch some trout for dinner and such. Aran are you going to be up to riding a horse, we can spend a day or two here and see if we can get a deer, maybe make jerky and such to save on food on the trip." She looked at both of them and then spoke again, "I'll go catch some trout and leave the two of you alone, let me know when you get back to camp if we will leave today." She gained her feet and keeping her back straight, walked away. Lys didn't want either of them to know exactly how much it hurt to leave them alone, it was obvious she was a third wheel.

 

Cairma watched without a word as Lyssa left her and Aran with a air of sadness, and a stagnant pause replaced the air around Aran and Cairma. Standing up from where she was against the tree she sighed heavily, pushing back her urges to lash out at Aran now that they were alone. But she didn't see any gain in the deal. Instead she gave him a quick look. "You just 'had' to hint at that, didn't you? I thought that I didn't matter anymore." And turned and walked away. She had to clean her thoughts. Possibly practice a few more forms.

 

 

Aran, Cairma & Lyssa

Tower Guards

[Wayfarer]

Watching Cairma leave, Aran sighed. There was still some of his black mood left in him but as a whole he was through it now, he'd done what had to be done. He'd told the truth, not that he had spoken of everything and nor ever could, but he had done so nevertheless. It had been so tempting just to take the easy way out, they'd given him the opportunity to just wait until later. He could have slid out of it from there, just pushed different buttons until they released him from the bet. They were more good than curious when it came down to it, they would have permitted him his secrets the same way he permitted them theirs. Waiting until they were ready to talk of such things themselves.

 

But, there were the limits that he had imposed for himself. Things he had decided as his stay at the Yards had grown longer and longer. That he would be as friendly as he could, try and make as few enemies as possible. That he'd try and help people where he could, even if they didn't necessarily want his help. That he'd try and do the right thing now that he had the luxury, even if other people didn't always like it. To not lie to those that were close to him here, even if they could never understand him. To be worthy of their trust as best as he could. Things that he had always observed that other people had as if it were just normal.

 

That was the path he had set himself on, to try and improve things where he was and to be... Well, normal. As best as he could manage anyway. He had denied himself the temptation to slip away from talking, even if it was helped along by the helplessness he had felt. He had seen it through and now he was stuck with what had happened. Cairma was unhappy with him, he knew the voice she had used. Lyssa had been more accepting on the otherhand, she just trusted. She made it seem so easy, didn't matter what happened, not even what he had said.

 

More understanding, the moment she had said it was more important what he did now than what he had done. Or perhaps she didn't want to deal with it, it could be either way, but Aran preferred to think it was the former. He would have to wait until Cairma was ready to talk to him again. Then he would see what she decided about him, and whether he had lost a friend or whether she still trusted him.

 

In the meantime he needed to shake off his mood. Forcing himself to get to his feet, Aran started making his way back to the stepping stones. He needed to go get something to eat, that would help his mood.

 

 

Aran

Tower Guard

[Jaydena]

Lyssa walked away slowly, her thoughts in turmoil, for all she knew they could already be in each others arms. Not that she even had a right to Aran or a right to be jealous but there was a part of her that felt like she was. Maybe it had something to do with her perfection, her path, who knew? She was constantly striving for the perfect way to do something, which fell right into her relationships as well, she wanted to be loved the most, to love the most, and never hurt. That applied to her as well, she didn’t want to hurt anymore, and she had been hurt enough. Lys walked toward the trees and found a branch to use for fishing, she dug in the ground and located some worms, and she always kept string in her pockets when she traveled, so soon she was set up on the side of the creek, with a fishing pole. As she regarded the waters in front of her, she thoughts about the things she had learned. There was a part of her that understood where Aran was coming from, and she knew that she could have gone down the same road. Lys had spent so long feeling sorry for herself, oh poor me I had no father and he raped my mother, my mom left me alone and I never met her, my cousins picked on me, woe is me, that she hadn’t thought about how much worse other people had it. Aran hadn’t brought all of that on himself, a lot of that was a product of the way he was raised, and where he was raised at. In fact he was very lucky he wasn’t dead right now, he had obviously found his niche in life. Yet another part of her now understood why Aran was so care free and played the flirt all the time, she had to believe that part of it was an act, to hide the pain and bitterness within. She had seen some of that today on his face when she first walked up, she felt that it was that partly that had made her draw back. Bitterness was not an expression that normally graced Aran’s face.

 

Feeling a nibble on her line, she worked on getting the fish in, once she had it, she put a new worm out and hooked the first on her stringer out in the water to keep it fresh. The pole was hooked into the tree fork she had been leaning against while she walked around finds herbs and such for their meal. Back and forth she went, catching more fish and making a basket to bring roots back in and some eggs she had found in a tree. When she was done she walked back to the camp with 6 cleaned trout, eggs, potatoes, roots, and much more. In fact she had enough to eat for their midday meal as well. With any luck they would get a rabbit or two or maybe a deer for dinner and would have time to cook some of it up. Lys knew she was trying to avoid something, if she thought about what the two of them and what they had been doing or might have been doing she would lose it. She would obsess about it and go perfection mode for hours if she let herself dwell on it. Lys got back to the camp and wrapped the fish in some leaves, smearing the sauce she had on them, she put them in the coals to cook, and then put some of the potatoes and such in with the coals. A pot came out of her saddlebag and she put the eggs on to cook off to the side so they wouldn’t cook very fast. She sliced some of the bread she had brought with her and added that to the same pan to slow cook. When she was done she walked off a few feet and began working her forms, stretching and flexing her body. Her heart not totally in something that made her complete and who she was in so many ways. Lys moved through the forms, slash upward, moving down to thrust, into a kick and spin, fluidly and carefully, perfecting each movement as a dancer would. Minutes ticked by and she stopped to check the food, she didn’t know where the other two but the meal was getting close to being done. She moved back to her forms and worked on them some more…

 

Lyssa Simeone

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

I didn't say all the things that I wanted to say

And you can't take back what you've taken away

'Cause I feel you, I feel you near me

 

 

Words were a horrible and painful thing. And in a moment where she felt that happiness and content, however remote, She was flung back into that mindframe that threatened to tear part of her a part. Aran was an assasin. He killed his own bother, not by blood, but still one that took his family name. If there was one thign that Cairma took even the smallest amount of pride in was that she did not hunt down her family or those that did ill to her that was not a result of the moment.

 

She frowned in midstep, deeper than her already set mouth allowed. How could she compare herself to him? They both... did things for money. Why would ... and then Lyssa's bloody comment...

 

A slew of words escaped her lips in a torrent that would make even a sailor blush as she nearly cried it out of her system. She couldn't go back to the campsite. Not now. Too conflicted she couldn't bear to have Aran watch her with those calculating eyes, and Lyssa with her ever-so-innocent smile. No. Time to go back to Tar Valon. Anouther trip alone to study forms would be best. She had enough.

 

Picking her way the long way around the campsite she gathered her horse and simply left.

 

 

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

TG