Maiden 07

The next time Mystina came to visit with Lenneth, she was surprised by the sudden aroma that assaulted her senses when she opened the bedroom door. It was a sweet smell that spilled out into the hallway, several different scents competing for dominance, making it difficult for the mage to pinpoint just what it was she smelled. She blinked, shaking her head as she walked into the room, finding the smell was even stronger once the door was closed. It overwhelmed her nose, and she coughed, tasting the scent of flowers deep in her throat.

“Mystina!” Lenneth’s voice greeted her, concern sounding in her tone as she stepped away from a dresser that was covered with a multitude of colorful bouquets. Flowers were in her hands, colorful spots of purple and blue, matching her dress. She even wore a white flower in her hair, pinned in place just above her left ear. She was actually smiling, pleased to be surrounded by the beautiful plants.

“I’m fine…” Mystina said, choking on the stifling scent of flowers. Already her voice sounded funny, nose starting to burn as her allergies reacted to the nearness of so many flowers. “I’ll be fine…” She was reaching into her skirt’s pocket, removing a silk handkerchief which she pressed against her nose. She sighed in relief, the scent lessened by the silk, taking a moment to look around the room. Practically every nook and cranny was filled with some kind of plant, turning Lenneth’s bedroom into a miniature greenhouse of verdant green beauty.

“Let me guess…” Mystina sighed, tearing her eyes away from the roses that decorated the canopy of the bed. “He found out you liked flowers.” At Lenneth’s nod, Mystina tsked, shaking her head ruefully. “Lezard you idiot…” She muttered to herself in Norse, seeing Lenneth look at her curiously. “He’s hardly subtle is he?” She asked the girl in Itlandic.

She had to smile at Lenneth’s nod of agreement, Mystina still breathing into her handkerchief. “He never does anything half way.” She muttered, the blonde moving towards the barred window. She cautiously lowered the silk, breathing in the fresh air that came in on the breeze between the bars, and sighed. “I wish he would think of me before he does some of these stupid things.”

“Hmmm?” A questioning sound from Lenneth, the girl absentmindedly caressing the petals of the bouquet in her hand.

“I’m terribly allergic.” explained Mystina, lips twisted into a frown. “How am I supposed to visit with you if I can barely breathe in your presence?!” She saw Lenneth give a shrug of her shoulders, the girl careful to set the bouquet down some distance from Mystina’s position by the window. She appreciated the gesture, but knew it made no difference to her allergies, which was taking fierce hold of her. A sneeze escaped her, and then another, Mystina quick to cover her nose with the handkerchief. “Damn it Lezard!”

Lenneth, for her part, had the good grace not to look amused at Mystina’s discomfort, making sympathetic noises in reply to the blonde’s curses. She began moving the boquets about, clearing a section around the love seat. Mystina had to smile at the kind gesture, knowing the room was too packed with flowers to make much difference in having one spot free of the plants. She even went so far as to remove the flower from her hair, laying it carefully across the dresser before sitting down.

Mystina soon joined her on the love seat, handkerchief ever at the ready for the moment when a sneezing fit would take hold of her. The two began amicably chatting, the blonde shifting about, trying to get comfortable. “So Lenneth…” She reached towards the small table situated in front of the love seat, fingers picking out a dark brown cookie from amidst a plate of sweet treats. “How are things between you and Lezard?” She had to laugh at the face Lenneth made, her nose wrinkling cutely as she frowned. “I take it not very well?”

“He continues to make a pest of himself.” Lenneth said, a heavy sigh escaping her. She reached up with her hand, brushing back her platinum bangs as she fell quiet, thinking on her next words. “He…visits me often, sometimes it seems as though not an hour goes by without him forcing his presence on me.”

“Wow…” Mystina breathed out softly. “I guess he doesn’t believe in the term moderation. Or the saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“As if anything he could do would make my heart beat for him.” Lenneth said, taking on haughty airs in her reply to the blonde. It made Mystina smile to see the look on her face, her little nose pointing upwards as she tossed her head back, her eyes an icy blue of cold emotion.

“Well, it seems like you are both at an impasse.” Mystina said, in between bites of her cookie. “You’re not ready to give in to him, and Lezard is no where near willing to give up on you. If there is one good thing that can be said about the man, it is that he is tenacious.”

“I hardly think being stubborn is a good quality!” snapped Lenneth, eyes flashing angrily. “Please Mystina….can’t you reason with him? Make him see the impossibility of this situation? I don’t love him, I don’t and won’t ever come to care for him. He cannot continue to keep me here against my will!”

“I’m afraid he doesn’t listen to me.” Mystina said, with a shake of her head. “Especially not for matters of the heart. I don’t think he would have even gotten me involved if he could communicate with you directly.”

“I don’t think I could bear to be all alone with him and that…that creature of his!” She visibly shuddered, clearly disturbed at the thought of going through this ordeal alone. “I am grateful for your support.” She turned, taking hold of Mystina’s free hand, giving her gloved fingers a soft squeeze. “Please promise me you won’t abandon me, no matter what happens.”

Mystina let out a light laugh, meaning to sound comforting to the girl. “I’m not going anywhere. And Lezard won’t be able to stop me from coming to see you, he wouldn’t dare if he knows what is good for him!”

Lenneth sighed in relief, giving her one last squeeze before sitting back against the seat’s cushions. Mystina was glad her statement was able to offer comfort to the Goddess, the blonde meaning every word of what she had said. She was surprised to realize she was prepared to fight Lezard tooth and nail over her right to visit with Lenneth, ready to do any trick no matter how dirty in order to ensure her continued presence in the Valkyrie’s life.

“Now…” Mystina said, after stuffing another cookie into her mouth. “Shall we pick up where we last left off in our lessons?”

“I guess.” Lenneth hardly sounded enthusiastic at the idea. “I don’t see why I have to learn his language. If he wants to converse so badly with me, he is the one who should be taking lessons!”

“He certainly has enough motivation to learn. But I don’t think patience is his strong suit.” Mystina shook her head, recalling how Lezard had struggled to learn some of the languages needed for spell casting. “Though he has shown a surprising amount where you are concerned. But even he has his limits. He’s getting mad at me, wondering what the delay is in teaching you our language.”

“He expects you to perform a miracle if he thinks I am to become proficient in Norse in just a few days!” Lenneth said, a hint of anger coloring her words.

“He just wants to talk with you.” Mystina explained patiently. “He tires of using me as an interpreter.” She giggled then, a thought occurring to her. “It must be embarrassing, having things he wants to tell you but having me hear them as well.”

“I suppose….” Lenneth sighed. “I’d rather he not talk to me at all!”

“That’s not going to happen.” Mystina said firmly, giving a shake of her head. “He loves you. He wants to marry you! You should be glad talking is all he is trying….aside from the apple book incident!” She smirked to see Lenneth blushing, the girl avoiding looking at her as she reached for a cookie. “He has kept his hands to himself, hasn’t he?”

“……” If possible Lenneth blushed harder, and gave a small shake of her head.

“No!” Mystina’s eyes widened with shocked glee. “Did you say what I told you to say should he try?” Lenneth nodded, expression hidden by her hair. “What did he do in response to the threat.”

Lenneth sighed. “He was shocked, but then he started laughing. Hard. If anything the threat did not have the desired effect.”

“But at least he stopped!” Mystina said, satisfied.

“Just barely.” Muttered Lenneth, fingers playing with the loose strands of her braid. Her answer was mysterious, leaving Mystina to wonder just what exactly Lezard had tried to do. Her mind did not paint a pretty picture, and the blonde sincerely hoped that all he had tried for was a kiss.

“In any case…let us try to practice some more words.” Mystina suggested when Lenneth remained silent. She watched her fidget, elegant fingers stroking through her hair, head nodding a mute yes in agreement.

She began listing words, going over the ones she had taught to Lenneth, asking her in Itlandic to repeat them in Norse to her. Lenneth effortlessly succeeded, having a firm grasp on the words. Mystina smiled, and chose to move on towards stringing the words into sentences, covering some basic needs. She knew it wasn’t as much progress as Lezard would have liked, but Lenneth was indeed learning their language bit by bit. Mystina had to fight with herself to keep from peppering more colorful phrases into Lenneth’s repertoire, knowing Lezard was displeased by some of what she taught.

Lenneth was actually laughing, a dazzling smile on her face as she mangled a phrase in Norse, her words turning a simple sentence into a comical effect. Mystina laughed as well, finding the girl’s joy was infectious, the two women smiling at each other when the door to the room opened.

“Well…” Lezard’s smooth baritone rose up above their laughter, his tone amused. “Something has got you two in good spirits.” The change in Lenneth was immediate, her laughter dying down, her eyes growing duller as her lips went from smile to frown. Her back was to Lezard, so the man missed out on seeing her sudden transformation, and Mystina felt her own smile die down as she rose to greet Lezard.

“Why hello Lezard.”

“Mysty.” A curt nod from Lezard, the necromancer all but ignoring her as he stared at the back of Lenneth’s head. “Lenneth…?” Her head moved, Lenneth turning to glance over her shoulder at him. He grinned at her, teeth a dazzling white, the man clearly eating up whatever scrap of attention the Goddess would give him. He began moving towards her, his hands behind his back, something hidden under his cape.

She watched as he moved, coming around to the front of the love seat. One hand was brought forward, catching hold of Lenneth’s. Still smiling, Lezard did a half bow, never breaking eye contact with the Goddess as he pressed his lips against the back of her hand. Lenneth quickly drew back her hand, and seeking to keep herself busy, she pulled her braid forward over her shoulder, making a nervous sound as her fingers played with it.

“For you…” Lezard said, and whipped his other arm forward, thrusting a large bouquet of red and pink flowers before Lenneth’s face. They reminded Mystina of miniature hearts, their color vibrant, their stems looking healthy. Lenneth’s eyes lit up for one brief second, a pleased word escaping her lips as she reached for the bouquet. She was careful to avoid touching his hands, reaching for the stems of the bouquet. Lezard grinned to see how happy she looked, watching in silence as she pulled the flowers to her, ducking her head down low to inhale their scent.

Just watching her smell the flowers was enough to make Mystina want to sneeze, her handkerchief once again pressed against her nose. “More flowers? Honestly Lezard!” Mystina exclaimed, exasperation apparent in her tone. “Don’t you think she has enough of the dreadful things?”

“It makes her happy Mysty.” Lezard replied, straightening up. “And that’s all that matters.”

“Hmph.” The blonde crossed her arms overs her chest, a scowl on her face. “It’s a temporary happiness at best. You know what she wants, what she needs if she is to be truly happy.”

“I’m not letting her go, so drop it Mystina.” Lezard said, tearing his eyes away from Lenneth to shoot his friend an angry look. “She will learn to be happy here….happy with me by her side. This I vow.”

Lenneth was still fussing over the flowers, and she raised her head, looking to Mystina to translate. Mystina shook her head, telling her in Itlandic, “You do not want to know.” Lenneth frowned, and Mystina knew she would be disheartened to know what Lezard was actually saying, so she chose to keep the girl in the dark for the moment.

He turned back to Lenneth, his smile back in place as he went to ease himself down next to her on the love seat. Lenneth shifted, being careful to keep any part of her body from touching any part of his, Mystina biting back a laugh to see how she blatantly moved away from him. But it was all for not, Lezard ignoring her attempts to distance herself by crowding in close to her, raising an arm to rest behind her on the love seat’s back. His fingers brushed against her shoulder, Lenneth squirming, looking like she might flee at any moment.

“You’re so beautiful.” He chose to say, staring hard at Lenneth’s profile. He smiled to see her blushing, ducking her head down low to bury her nose in the flowers. Mystina knew she understood him, having covered some of his compliments in their lessons.

“Is that all you see when you look at her?” demanded Mystina, hands on her hips. “Really Lezard, such a shallow reason to kidnap someone.”

Again she was rewarded with an angry look, Lezard showing his annoyance as he spoke. “It’s not that! I love her! I’ve loved her from the moment I first laid eyes on her!”

“And yet you barely know anything about her!” pointed out Mystina.

“True my knowledge is limited when it comes to my sweet Lenneth. But once the barrier of language is overcome with, I will know everything about her. I will have her heart, as well as her soul, know her mind inside and out, as she will know mine!” Lezard proclaimed, reaching for her hand once more. She reluctantly gave it to him, watching as his thumb caressed her palm, Lezard smiling dreamily at her.

“Don’t tell me you think all your problems will be solved once she learns how to speak our language!” Mystina was stunned by the idea, but more than that, she wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. “Lezard she hates you! Whispering sweet nothings in her ear won’t change that!”

“I didn’t know you were such a pessimist.” Lezard complained, lacing his fingers with Lenneth’s limp ones. “Everything will work out between us…we WILL be happy together.”

“And I didn’t know you were so delusional!” Mystina shouted, then gave in to the sneezing fit that had built up in her. She backed away from the love seat, huryying towards the window, knowing her face was surely red from the force in which she sneezed.

“Lenneth…” Lezard said, choosing to ignore Mystina’s last shout. The Goddess looked at him curiously, her hand still captive in his grip. Lezard smiled and leaned in towards her, close enough to feel her breath on his face. “I would like for you to wear your best dress for me tonight. I have….a surprise for you, one I think you’ll like.”

“What are you planning now Lezard?” Mystina asked, suspicion in her tone.

“It’s a surprise.” Lezard grinned, his voice harsher when he spoke to the blonde. “Now please relay my request to her!” With a sigh, Mystina began translating his words, Lenneth staring at Lezard, curiosity in her eyes. She started to shake her head no, when Lezard tossed out an urgent plea. “Please!” He let go of her hand to touch her lips, fingertip tracing the lines of her mouth before she pulled back from his touch. “Say yes Lenneth…I promise you won’t regret it..”

She looked away from him, casting an anxious glance at Mystina. The mage merely shrugged her shoulders, unsure of what to tell her. Lezard’s hands touched Lenneth’s cheeks, turning her face back towards his, the man once again whispering to her. “Yes, Lenneth. It won’t cost you anything to say yes.”

Hesitation in her blue eyes, Lenneth started to nod her head, her voice soft and unsure as she spoke. “Yes.” The smile he gave her was magnificent, Lezard excitedly pulling Lenneth forward into his waiting arms, hugging her tightly. She squealed and began pushing at his shoulders, shouting at him, her words clear in their meaning. “Let go of me!”

He merely laughed in response, uncaring that he was crushing her flowers between them, Lezard burying his lips in her hair. Lenneth continued to squirm, shouting in feeble Norse, “NO!! Hands off!”

With a sigh, Mystina was rushing over, her hand slapping at the back of Lezard’s head. “OW!” He reluctantly let go of Lenneth to scowl at the blonde, an infuriated look in his eyes. “What was that for?!” he demanded, even as Lenneth leapt to her feet, backing away from the love seat.

“You need to learn to keep your hands to yourself!” Mystina snapped back, shaking her head in disgust. He narrowed his eyes into a glare, his lips twisted in anger as he stared at her. From the look on his face, Mystina had the idea that Lezard had no such intention of taking such a lesson to heart!