Demons and Heroes

Twilight drew in a breath as she felt the air shift. She drew up her sword instinctly and was surprised to find it collide with Gharanth's. She yelped as the swords clashed, stunned a little at first.

 

"I'm so sorry little diamond. I never meant to hit so hard. Are you alright?" Gharanth's confidence crumbled into concern as he ripped off the blindfold and ran over to her. He couldn't see any injuries and guessed that it was just the jolt of the sword. "Enough for today. I will make tea and you can relax by the stream. It's beauty will pale next to yours though I fear."

 

Twilight nodded. She was a bit tired. Maybe a little. She sighed as she sheathed her blade, her cheeks turning rosey red at Gharanth's words. She fought a smile as she came to walk next to him, wondering if anything could ever go wrong. Everything just seemed alright with him around, it wasn't even a thought to her how much evil still lurked in the corners of the world. Cause with Gharanth, her world was perfect.

 

Gharanth lit a fire and boiled water for tea. While it heated he smiled and took a small package out of his bag, The cloth was wrapped around something and he held it out to Twilight. "A little something to help you feel better. I am not always the serious one." Inside were candied delicacies. "Sweets for the sweetest person I know."

 

The red in Twilight's face brightend and she threw her arms around Gharanth's neck, hugging him tightly. "Oh Gharanth...what have you done to me?" She kissed him, then pulled back to look into his eyes. "Hmmm...at least one good thing came out of the day." She giggled, poking him in the ribs where she knew he was ticklish.

 

Gharanth started to laugh, a real warm genuine laugh that came straight from the heart. He had never been so happy. This was the life that he had always wanted, simple and pure. No hatred or darkness, just innocence and laughter. He realised that this was the part of his soul that had been missing until now. There had been a dark void deep within his dormant heart and Twilight had filled it with laughter and light.

 

Twilight had begun to laugh too, her smile bright as she watched Gharanth. he looked so happy. She stopped tickling him for a moment and sat back down, leaning her head against him and watching the sky. The voices and pains she'd been picking up from him were still there, but distant, as if they weren't as overpowering as before. She sighed deeply.
"Talk to me, my friend. I want to hear your voice."

 

"What would you like to know? I have traveled the four corners of the world, I have dined with Kings and I have helped beggars. I have never judged anyone on what they are, but how they treat me. I have a home not that far away. A castle no less, but it gets lonely there on my own and reminds me of what I lack in life. I packed up again, took my orb and I wander looking for that which was missing from my life. I think I have found the spark that lights my dark soul. I was once a noble, respected and feared, but that was a long time ago. Hatred and darkness tore me from that life and I would never want to go back to it. I prefer herbs and wildlife. Surprising for an ex-General."

Gharanth stopped and gazed into her deep soulful eyes.

"So tell me about yourself."

 

Twilight frowned a bit. "I...don't know much...but when I was 18 I was wandering aimlessly through a forest and I didn't remeber anything, and this human man helped me along for a while and taught me how to survive, and when I turned 20...I came home and he was dead, murdered actually. I fled and..." She paused, closing her eyes and breathing to keep herself calm. She bit her lip, not wanting to upset Gharanth with her story. She decided to edit the tale a bit, cutting out most of the bad stuff. "I served under a...I guess you could call her a my master...for several years but I...ran away and kept running."
She looked at her hands as if she saw a picture there. "And then I met you..." She managed a smile at the end.

 

"Well you are safe now and no one will ever hurt you again. I will protect you and you have the freedom to do whatever pleases you. This master who used you so ill, is he still around? I would like to teach him respect if he is. I was evil but I never used people as slaves or worse." Gharanth kissed her and held her close. There was no way he would ever allow her to suffer again.

 

Twilight smiled warmly. She truely felt safe when he said the words. She had never trusted anyone so completely and fully as she did him.
"There are so many evils out there, Gharanth. People fight and kill, for power and these...these orbs." She looked up at him. "What if someone...someone wrong get's hold of one? What if someone like that already has one? How more people will suffer..."

 

"Have faith my shining one. For everyone that has the power of an orb for evil there will be someone who despises their misuse. You already know where four of the ten orbs are and I know the location of another two. They are with good people who will not abuse the power. I wouldn't have left them otherwise. That leaves four orbs. One Jecht gave to a dark soul I think so that leaves three.The metal orb is rumoured to be lost to history and I know nothing of the other two. When this is over and there is somewhere safe for the orbs I will retire from this life and learn to live anew in peace."

 

"And I will help you all the way. No matter where you go, ill follow." She snuggled up against him, tracing the lines in his palm with the cool tips of her fingers. "You think things will be like this forever, Gharanth?"

 

"The orbs and the problems they cause will be solved and we will have peace and happiness. For us there is no reason why this can't go on forever. Love is as they say eternal. I see that the world changes as progress spreads, but some things stay the same. Love is one thing that defies time and progress."

Gharanth held her as he thought about what he had said. He could think of nothing finer than to spend the rest of his life protecting her and making her happy. Twilight would want for nothing and be treated like a queen.

 

Twilight finished tracing his hand and touched the side of his face as if it were some sort of treasure, and to her, it was.
"You know...that's the best thing i've heard all day." She breathed in the scent that always wafted around him. There was nothing she wanted more than for this to last forever as he'd said. She stood up, walking around the fire and disapearing inside her tent for a moment, comming back out holding a small wooden box.

 

Gharanth smiled and waited respectfully. He was curious to know what she was getting but he would not pry into her privacy. She had obviously been through so much and he knew that one huge demon blundering around her life was the last thing she needed or wanted. She seemed to see him in a way that he did not see himself. He had been cruel, cold and evil in the past. However it seemed that this battered angel was going to show him that he was not beyond saving.

 

Twilight opend the box with trembling fingers and lifted a cloth from inside, tucked away beneath it was a small metal charm that twisted around a tiny clear stone in its center. It was clasped on a leather string, looking amazing next to the plain leather.
"It belonged to my father....or....the man who'd acted as my father. He told me it was good luck and it would keep the ones i loved close to me no matter how cold it got in the world." She held it between her fingers, letting it glow against the fire, then she pressed it into Gharanth's hand. "Take it for me. Please. You are all the luck i've ever wanted."

 

"Only if you will accept something in return. This is a star jewel. It has been in my family for generations. Wear this and I will always be with you. It links us and I will always know when you need me, no matter what the reason.
Bound in love by souls so bright,
A candle in the darkest night,
A jewel of magic pure and true
Joining the souls of me and you."

He held out a glittering diamond arrow shaped pendant on a mythril chain.

 

Twilight breathed in wonder. It was...beautiful.
"Gharanth...I..."She couldn't find the words for her feelings so she just wiped her eyes and kissed him happily. She sat with him in the shrinking sun and concentrated on breathing. "Thank you, Gharanth." She looked up into his eyes. "Thank you for this." She touched his chest over his heart, eyes glistening with tears, then she leaned against him and closed her eyes.

ooc: gotta go. C you tomorrow.

 

Gharanth kissed her and put the pendant around her neck. He knew that this simple action meant that he had given his life to her and to her happiness.

"Twilight....I will always be there for you. I am yours heart and soul. I freely follow you in this life and beyond. You are most precious to me. I will cherish you always."

ooc: Goodnight.