Treading a Familiar Road (Closed, Kamalia/Gromhir)

[Gromhir]

11th Day of Summer, 510 AV It had been a few days since that night at Sunset Falls. It had been a good night but it was not one that they had talked about since it happening. They had been closer since then. It was as if the last wall between them had been broken. Kamalia seemed happier and content to simply be around him. It was nice to her so happy and relaxed. But yesterday had been a damper on their moods. Kamalia wanted to learn more about her condition, what caused her magic flare up inside her. It was decided that she should travel to Sahova. So, yesterday, they had packed up with a few Sandwiches made by Fentya and left Syliras on their way to pastures new. But this journey had more apprehension for Gromhir than he wanted to admit. They had decided to visit the Syliran Knights Outpost on their way to Sahova. The very Outpost where Gromhir had spent several months of his life. The very Outpost where Gromhir had murdered a man. The very Outpost where, to the best of his knowledge, Lyeia still lived. He was both pleased by and afraid of the idea of seeing her again. The soul reason was for what he had done to the man. Kamalia did not know much about Gromhir’s past. He had never been forthcoming about it. He knew she knew bits of it but she’d didn’t know all. Now, she was about to discover another of his secrets, the question was, how would she react? He had faith that she would look past it and still love him for what he was. After all, he told himself, she had also killed to protect someone she cared about. He hoped she would see it for what it was. For now though, she lay, her arms draped around his massive neck, blissfully asleep on his Ivaski shoulders. He had chosen to continue on through the night in the hopes that they would reach the Outpost by mid morning. Now, as Syna’s light touched her face and she began to stir, they could see the Outpost in the distance. Feeling her shift, the Guardian stopped and lowered himself so as she had a more stable platform to wake up on. “Awake at last I see?” the soft warm voice of her bondmate travelled into her mind. A skill Gromhir had finally learnt was the ability to properly communicate with her with just a thought. Although this bond did not work both ways, it made it far easier to communicate while he was in his feral form.

[Kamalia Timandre]

In slumber as deep as the seas, the young seer appeared rather fragile and innocent, blissfully asleep while her slender arms draped around the enormous ivaski’s massive neck. Her silver-white mane framed her childlike face while she slept, and her lips were curved in a knowing smile. Through the arcane bond that entwined their fates together, Gromhir would feel that his lover was filled with peace and contentment beyond words. What thoughts sweetened her sleep, Gromhir could not say, but this much he knew: the konti had learned once again what it was to dream.

Perhaps her soul glided beneath the dreamy ocean of stars and the dying silver twilight, gliding and skimming the corona between the Ukalas and the mortal world. Or perhaps she dreamed of the journey that lay ahead, shrouded in dusk and the shadows of time. A struggle awaited them both, for Kamalia bore an arcane taint that required treatment. It seemed to be something that not even the faithful of Rak’keli and the healers of the Opal Temple could cleanse. The hazards that lay before Gromhir and Kamalia were many and real, the joys only those they could find together, and in each other.

Only a few days had passed since that unforgettable night at Sunset Falls, but for once, the konti had lost the cognition of time. Kamalia felt that she had known Gromhir for eternity. Their love had both been fierce and peaceful, fiery and gentle, wild and calm, young and wise. Despite claiming to know much about love, Kamalia did not truly understand it, nor did she understand the demands of her heart. Kamalia had been both protective and possessive, loving and naïve, and the couple found themselves doing a lot of stupid things together. Love was an unfamiliar, yet a reassuring territory, and she had little idea what to do with the conflicting emotions inspired by their strange intimacy.

There were times she was tempted to look back to her life of solitude in the Konti Isle, for that was easier to understand. She knew the rules well and played them well. Now, there was an honesty between them, an intimacy as merciless as sunlight. It scorched her soul painfully as dawn stung her eyes. It was almost more than she could bear, yet she chose not to turn away.

It was moonset, and Syna rose, bathing the outpost in gentle light. The sun’s bullion rays fingered Kamalia’s silver locks, and suddenly, the konti shifted as she stirred to wakefulness. She rubbed her eyes, and opened her mouth in a yawn, before tightening her embrace around Whitemane’s neck. “Mmm. Curses,” she half-whispered, grinning, “I was nearing the best parts!” she said playfully before scratching behind the canine’s ears.

“Are we there yet? I think I could do with a hot breakfast.”

[Gromhir]

Gromhir’s tail wagged and Kamalia felt the warmth of happiness in his heart. Gromhir had always had a soft spot behind his ear and he’d known it was only a matter of time until she found it. It tickled him so much but he enjoyed the sensation. It had become a sign of affection between the pair more than anything else. But it had occasionally served to encourage him in moments of weakness. And yet, nothing could truly prepare him for what was to happen this day. “You were dreaming about me again?” Came Gromhir’s voice in her mind once again. It seemed to caress her very thoughts, almost as if she were thinking the thoughts herself, imagining his voice. It had taken him a long time to convince her she had not overgiven that far just yet. Gromhir let loose a chuckle in her mind and turned his gaze to the small outpost. It was one of the main outposts on the road to Zeltiva yet it was still barely large enough to be called a village. There was the small watchtower that in had all been built around by the roadside. On the otherside of the dusty road was a larger building that housed the Syliran Knights stationed there and those on patrol. Next to that were the stables for the horses of the Knights and there were a few small hovels for the stable keepers and civilians that kept the outpost going and the Knights and any travellers looked after. “We should be able to get a warm meal,” Gromhir said finally after a few moments silence. He was deeply shaken and worry had taken a firm hold of his heart. “Am I carrying you the rest of the way?”

[Kamalia Timandre]

Gromhir’s silent laughter in her mind inveigled a mystic smile to touch the konti’s lips. In response, Kamalia draped her long and lustrous silver locks over the enormous ivaski’s neck, and planted a tender loving kiss on his canine head. “But I’m always dreaming,” the maiden said playfully, “even when I’m awake; it is never finished.”

The girl’s embrace tightened around his neck. She wanted to hold him this close and prolong these moments of pure bliss, to savor each second of their intimacy. Each moment, each chime, each bell and each day had never been this precious. The konti found herself treasuring all the moments that they spent together. It was as if both of them traversed into an alien world, foreign and treacherous, nevertheless impossibly beautiful. The lovers knew they were lost in a turbulent tempest of unfamiliar emotions, and together they found solace and home in each other. The Konti Isle seemed like a dream far away, but right now, even this did not matter.

After all, the world can make you think that everything mattered—but all that truly mattered was that the sun rose and you enjoyed what you were given.

To the young konti dreamer, what mattered right now was that they were together. Her crimes, her exile from her homeland, and the dark addiction that consumed her seemed so insignificant compared to this. Whoever she was now, it seemed like enough for as long as Gromhir loved her.

Kamalia basked and stretched on the ivaski’s back for a few more moments, and while she loathed parting with him, she swung down from her mount. A silent alarm pricked her seer sensitivities as she could faintly sense a slight unease seeping off of her lover in the air. Kamalia assumed that Gromhir was worried that his question might have offended her. “You can also carry me towards the outpost in human form, if you like. Now that would be romantic. It would only lack tremulous viols and a shower of flower petals!” she grinned playfully.

[Gromhir]

Gromhir climbed to his feet as Kamalia slid off his back. He wouldn’t admit it be he enjoyed carrying her like that. It was nice to feel her touch and know she was there. Know that she was safe because he was here to protect. There blossom love had only heightened his want to protect her from harm and to help with anything he could. She loved him for who he was and that was all he could ask for. No more running away. It didn’t matter where he was so long as he was with her. “I’m doing all the work then again?” Gromhir replied, shaking himself and stretching. Even though Kamalia was not a burden, without her asleep on his back, he was able to stretch his legs properly. He tried to work the sleep from some of his joints and the lack of sleep from others. “Someone’s coming.” Gromhir whirled around to face off the beaten track, in to the brush. His ears flattened against his head as a shadow emerged. The one shadow became two. One, a man, was garbed in Heavy plate. The symbol of the Syliran Knights emblazoned across his chestplate. Two large blades were attached to his hilt and he carried a shield on his back. His face was hard and had clearly seen a lot of fighting in his time, despite that he still seemed young, maybe in his mid twenties. The other figure was a short girl, he dark hair tied back in a ponytail and a bag of fruits on her back. She wore simple clothes but was clearly a lot younger than her bodyguard. “You see, Adam!” She exclaimed proudly. “I told you I heard a voice.” “Yes, Belinda, you were right,” the Knight rolled his eyes then looked between Kamalia and Gromhir. He bowed his head in greeting. “It has been a long time since I have had to pleasure of seeing a beautiful Lady Konti. What brings you and your Ivaski so far from your island?” Belinda snickered and moved forward towards Gromhir. Despite him being taller than her in everyway, she wasn’t the least bit intimidated. She held her hand to him, letting him sniff her head before running her hand over his head. “Why is your dog white and huge?”

[Kamalia Timandre]

No more running away.

Those were the very words that Gromhir said when he snatched his beloved from the dark clutches of magical addiction. Destiny—it might be a difficult concept for a human fool to grasp, but it was plain as moonlight in the eyes of a seer. Kamalia had learned early on that those who struggled against destiny often saw an early grave. Those who fled from it found themselves being swallowed by it whole. Those who embraced it found wisdom in their acceptance, in the cycle of life, and in the loom of fate woven by Lhex himself.

Kamalia smiled playfully at the ivaski when he inquired telepathically if he would do all the work again. “And why not? Don’t you think it’s just romantic? What do ivaski find romantic, anyway?” the konti chuckled, knowing full well that Gromhir was innocent in the ways of romance. “I know they mate for life, but…”

The konti was cut off when Gromhir warned her that someone was coming. Kamalia was confused when the white beast suddenly whirled away and hid himself into the bush—to no avail, of course. She knew instantly that there was something amiss. She did not need to see him flattening his ears to know that he was wary and frightened, as his emotions poured forth between them through their kelvic bond.

Kamalia’s lips curved in an attempt to smile, and dropped to one knee, both hands held out, palms up, to show that she offered peace and held no weapon. “Greetings and fine winds to you, ser knight, and fair lady,” the konti said in softly-accented Common, before rising to her feet once again. “My name is Kamalia, and this is Whitemane. We have come to this place to take respite and replenish our supplies before we move on to Zeltiva.”

“Whitemane is an ivaski, enormous native canines from the Konti Isle,” Kamalia said, as she watched the young woman brush her hand on the ivaski’s head. The konti looked at her kelvic bondmate with curious eyes, wondering what was going on.

[Gromhir]

The fear that seemed to gnaw at Gromhir’s very soul ebbed a little through their connection. It was not because he feared the two creatures in front of him. There was someone he feared far more than these two but it was not evident to Kamalia until Belinda said the next few words. “We should take them to see, Lyeia!” she chirped happily. Gromhir whimpered quietly, his tail dropping between his legs. “She loves weird animals.” Almost as if some force pulled her, Belinda bounced off towards the outpost, waving for them to follow. Adam looked at the Ivaski and was unimpressed by the poor showing. Ivaski were supposed to be mighty creatures but this one was scared of a little girl. Why was such a beautiful Konti out here with such a poor protector? “Belinda, slow down!” he shouted after the girl, offering an arm to Kamalia, he smiled. “Let me help you walk the rest of the way. You must be tired.” It was a harmless offer but Gromhir’s trust in humans was never great. Growling emanated from the white creature but such intimidation was not enough to dissuade the Knight from his offer. Even as they started towards the Outpost, Gromhir found himself unable to bring himself further. His keen eyes moved across the fields and then to the stables. Images flashed through his mind. Happiness filled him but it was quickly replaced by pain and sorrow. Shame and guilt froze the guardian in place. He could not bring himself to move. The images of a young woman’s shock and pain stood vividly in his mind. Finally, a small voice whispered in to Kamalia’s mind. “Kamalia, I can’t go any closer.”

[Kamalia Timandre]

Kamalia felt Gromhir’s hesitation creep through their arcane bond. The seer instinctively knew that her kelvic lover did not fear the two humans before them, but something else—someone else. It became readily apparent to Kamalia when Belinda mentioned Lyeia’s name. Kamalia did not fail to hear the ivaski’s whimper, and the Konti stared curiously at him again as she felt the beast’s uneasiness. When the phrase “weird animal” rolled off Belinda’s tongue, the konti maiden stared back at the girl and quirked an eyebrow inquisitively. Gromhir was never weird, at least not by the standards of the Konti. Her eyes followed the bubbly girl as she bounced off towards the outpost.

The Konti turned to face the human knight and smiled back, yet the lady refused the man’s arm. Kamalia knew that Gromhir never trusted other males—male humans even more so, especially with Kamalia’s recent encounter with slavers and that lewd ranger named Jaeden Kincade. The only humans Gromhir seemed to have trusted so far were Stitch and his orphans. “Oh, thank you, Ser Adam, but my legs are still completely functional, so I will not trouble you,” the Konti sorceress smilingly said in a softly-accented Common, hearing the quiet growl from her lover. “Whitemane did all the walking,” she added. Perhaps Grom was simply jealous, yet he could not bring himself to name the emotion. “I’m sure you don’t want your arms get bitten off by him, too. That would be most unpleasant,” the konti joked good-naturedly. Or maybe she was not joking.

When Gromhir refused to move, Kamalia vividly felt this short-lived happiness from her kelvic bondmate, blending into what Kamalia could define as a poignant combination of sorrow, guilt and pain. He froze behind, and Kamalia gave him a worried look. “What’s wrong? No more running away, right?” she quietly reminded in Kontinese.

[Gromhir]

Gromhir watched as Belinda ran to a very familiar door. How could he not forget that door? The night Lyeia had thrown him out; he had pawed at the door for several bells. He could hear the sobs still now. He could feel the pain he felt then. Not only his own but her pain as well. He could feel his heart being pulled in several different directions at once. Finally, the Kelvic settled for laying down. “I’m not running,” was the short reply. “Is your Ivaski ill?” Adam turned to look at them both as Kamalia spoke in Kontinese. He knew the Ivaski were vastly intelligent creatures but did she truly believe she was having a conversation with him? “Lyeia should look at him. Even if he is tired, she has a way with animals. We think she is marked by Caiyha herself but she has never said anything.” Gromhir’s eyes focused on the man. Nature’s Path had led him here once, saw fit that he should make it here before he made his way towards the Konti Isle and Kamalia. Was it Nature’s Will that he be back again? Was he playing with forces he could not control? So many conflicting things ran through his mind. He could not run. He had promised Kamalia he would not. But Lyeia had forbidden him from coming back. He wanted to see her again but he was scared of what she would say and do. Would she try to persuade Kamalia to leave him? Would he be able to survive without Kamalia’s love and warmth? It was not a thought he wanted to dwell on. His cerulean gave turned back to Kamalia’s twilit eyes. Despite the worry there, he could not move. Everything was moving so quickly for the Kelvic. He could see Belinda leading Lyeia towards them. He gave another whimper. “I’m telling you, Lyeia! He’s huge and white!” The exclamations of the girl seemed to travel the distance easily. Adam could only laugh as he looked towards the two. “You know, I remember Lyeia saying she had once taken a White Pup in. He killed her husband trying to defend her from him. She was in such agony that she chucked him out. Said he was Kelvic. He did not leave her door until after she had cried herself to sleep that night,” Adam looked between the two of them. “Wait, is he that Kelvic?” The Knight reached for one of his mighty blades. The weapon shrieked as it was pulled from its scabbard. The change in Gromhir happened instantly. The Ivaski went from a whimpering coward to a ferocious beast. He moved in front of Kamalia, protecting her from the man. Adam took a step back. The anger in Gromhir’s eyes and the transformation of character unsettled the Knight. “Kamalia, step away from him. He must have deceived you.”

[Kamalia Timandre]

Kamalia remembered this entire place in her divine vision. It was almost mournfully nostalgic, as she chased after the unseen trail of crystalline laughter of Lyeia in her goddess-given dream. The seer, too, would not have forgotten this oaken door. Kamalia could feel the pain that Gromhir felt, but she did not yet understand why he felt that way. Was he not supposed to feel joy that he would once again meet an old friend? Should he not feel blissful that he would once again see his old home? The image that would cling to Kamalia’s memory was not the picturesque outpost and the lush pastures, or even the sunlit meadows and the summer blossoms that dotted the rolling plains. It was the look on Gromhir’s eyes: it was longing mingled with guilt and sadness.

“Not running? One would almost think you were returning home,” she commented, suddenly missing her fey homeland. “Only to find you’re no longer welcome.”

Kamalia turned to Adam when he asked if the Kelvic was ill. The Konti smiled and shook her head. “He will be all right. He is just bushed. It’s been quite a journey, after all, all the way from Syliras,” the Konti lied, and stood beside the massive ivaski when he lay down. Kamalia could feel through empathy that the kelvic was confused, that he did not know what to do in this situation. Kamalia lay a calming hand on his head, and then she proceeded to brush her hand over the rich white fur of his back. She was not sure why Grom was restless and bewildered, but her hand reaffirmed him that she will be always be there for him, that she won’t leave him no matter what. The konti turned to face the knight and smiled, “This Lyeia, I would love to meet her. Perhaps there’s something that she could tell me about Whitemane if she were truly marked by Caiyha.”

Adam’s next words rang in Kamalia’s ears, and the Konti’s eyes widened in shock. Suddenly, it all became clear to her when the knight detailed to her how Lyeia’s husband was slain by a white pup—a kelvic. Kamalia stared at the knight, open-mouthed. Suddenly, involuntarily, as the Konti brushed her hand over the ivaski’s mane, she was pulled from her body and into the surreally beauteous cosmos of dreams and visions. Kamalia quickly plunged into the Chavena and found Gromhir’s chavi. She read a strand of off-coloured memory and saw a white little pup pawing at the very same oaken door. It was a heartrending memory, hearing Gromhir desperately cry and whimper for Lyeia’s name, for Lyeia’s acceptance. He had been forced to leave, unprotected from the dangers of the world, bereft of love and compassion.

It felt so alone. He must have felt so unloved. Kamalia tried to reach for the cub and embrace him, but she could not. Both Gromhir and Kamalia were not so different, exiled from their home for things that they could not control, for things they could not begin to understand. It was too much for her to bear, so she willed herself out of the vision.

When she opened her eyes, everything happened too fast. The knight unsheathed his blade, and majestic ivaski was instantly between her and Adam, intent on protecting her from him. Kamalia rose quickly and grabbed this moment of hesitation from Adam to cast a quick spell. She shouted a single spellword in the Ancient Tongue, and flung both her hands towards the knight. There was a burst of gaseous djed, that quickly compacted air and then continuously compressed it until it was almost solid, swirling rapidly before her outstretched palms. Kamalia unleashed the spell, firing off the highly compressed sphere of air towards the man’s wrist in an attempt to disarm his weapon.

“Enough!” The Konti sorceress angrily shouted. Gromhir would feel his lover’s great concern over his safety through their bond. “Don’t even touch Gromhir. Believe me when I tell you that you do not wish to see my magic tested in battle.”