Drabble 01

 At first Lezard thought he had imagined her presence, the white of her dress appearing out of the corner of his eye. He had looked up briefly, finding the doorway to his library empty. Lifting his hand to his eyes, he pushed aside his glasses, rubbing at his tired eyes. Perhaps he had done enough reading for the night, his eyes surely feeling the strain. He pushed back his chair, the wooden legs scraping across the floor, and it was as though the sound attracted her to him.

Her bare feet made no sound on the floor, allowing her to pad silently into the room. Her movements were graceful now, wherein just a scant few hours earlier they had been clumsy, awkward, the Valkyrie having to learn how to control her all too human body.

“Lenneth….” Lezard said, unable to keep the pleasure out of his voice. It truly surprised him to see her up and about, after all it was the first time Lenneth had ventured from her room since Lezard had brought her into his home.

Her gaze drifted towards him, an all too brief glimpse of pure blue, before she was turning away, face expressionless. She hid her disappointment well, turning to leave the room.

“Wait! Don’t go!” Lezard cried out, a hand held towards her imploringly. He saw her pause at his urgent request, dare he hope it was an acknowledgment of his presence? She had been sullen earlier, refusing to speak to him, wouldn’t even look at him. But now she stopped, and although she did not turn to face him, she stayed, silent like a ghost, waiting for him to speak.

Lezard felt panic rising as he realized he did not know what to say to her. What do you talk to a Goddess about? He had already spoken to her of his deep and endless love, of his desire for her. He had even tried impressing her with his technical prowess, realizing all too late he shouldn’t be boasting about his accomplishments of trapping her in a cage of mortal flesh. She wasn’t ready to be dazzled by the lengths he would go to for her, he could see that when she began shaking with suppressed rage, pain reflected deep in her beautiful eyes.

It had to be something simple…something to break the ice, that would not cause her undue stress. What was something they had in common, something everyone could agree to. He glanced about the room, desperate for a topic, and at last settled in on the half eaten apple that lay next to an open book. His purple eyes lit up, and he smiled. Why yes…food…hunger was a common goal, something all humans shared. “Are you hungry?”

Lenneth shook her head no, making the necromancer worry for she had not shown any interest in food or drink since awakening as a human. He would absolutely hate having to force her to eat something, it would not do for the Valkyrie to make herself sick from lack of nourishment. He didn’t have time to follow this line of thought, his attention drawn to her pouty pink lips, her mouth working open and close as she tried to give voice to some notion. Except for one anguished scream, he hadn’t heard her speak, and he longed to hear her dulcet tones once again.

Licking her lips nervously, her mouth formed the words. “I want to go home.” Her voice was soft and unsure, her homunculus throat not used to speaking. She repeated the sentence, voice stronger this time, more sure.

~Why this?!~ Lezard wondered, wishing he could close his ears to her pleas.

“Please….?” Lenneth added, as if that word could make all the difference in the world.

How to tell her he couldn’t do that, wouldn’t do it, even if he was capable of rendering a mortal into a God. “I’m sorry no…” He shook his head to emphasize his point. Her eyes became crestfallen, and she stepped back, intent on fleeing the room. His hand caught at her arm, holding her in place. Lezard could feel Lenneth stiffening in displeasure at his touch, and that alone kept him from pulling her to him. “But ask of me anything else…within reason…” He was quick to add, knowing she could very well ask him to kill himself. “And I’ll try to grant it.”

Lenneth was quiet, her eyes fixated on the hand that was touching her. She made no move to escape him, merely contemplating his words. At last she spoke. and it was a question. “Are there no windows in your tower?” Lezard’s eyes widened in surprise. “I want….I want to see the sky…”

A brilliant smile crossed his face, relief in his amethyst eyes as he realized this was a request he could grant. “Your wish is my command.” Lenneth let out a startled cry as he gave in to the temptation to crush her to his body, his arms winding around her waist. He breathed in deeply of her hair, inhaling her sweet scent, even as her hands came up to push against his chest. “Hang on tightly…” He advised, and began casting the ancient magic of teleportation.

Blue lights circled around them, the Valkyrie’s eyes widening as she recognized the magic from an earlier confrontation with the wizard. With a ringing sound, they made the jump, transported from dusty library to the dew soaked cobblestones of the tower’s roof. Lenneth’s lips parted in an appreciative cry, bending her neck backwards to stare up at the midnight blue sky. The moon hung heavy and high, shining it’s white light down on them. Lenneth’s nostrils flared as she breathed in deeply of the night air, getting a taste of the freedom that so eluded her.

Cautiously, Lezard released her, nerves on edge to catch her should she try to run. She didn’t, merely spinning in place, arms held out wide apart, hair and dress being tugged by the wind. “What are you thinking Lenneth?” He asked her, as her eyes closed, the Valkyrie letting out a deep sigh. She didn’t answer him, not in the way he expected. “Thank you.” It was said simply, the Valkyrie stopping her spin, to look him squarely in the eyes.

“Your welcome…” Lezard answered, glad he was able to please her, even in such a small way.