The Ashling and Here.
Apr. 2nd, 2011 07:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forgottenmotleyA few days passed uneventfully in the lighted lands, Alexander returned to his begging, though he decided to stay away from that particular church. In the Forgotten Caverns, however, things were much more exciting. The Thief in the Night – one of the Blind King’s sons – and the King’s brother, the Ashling, had arrived within a day of each other. The petty thieves of the Forgotten were doing good business with Thief’s appearance and blessings, but tempers ran high with the Ashling about. While the Blind King, the Traveler had told Alexander, was the fear of death made real, the Ashling was passion and the burning heat of the flame. How they were brothers, no one knew, but perhaps because they claimed to come from the same fears at the same time.
Fortunately, the Ashling’s attentions and energies were directed at one of the
Guardians of the Ways
“Come, Here,” he beckoned, a gray hand, like the smoke of the fires, reaching out to the Guardian. Here looked up from where he sat with his brother There, eating a chicken leg. Today they were dressed as soldiers of the Queen, complete with rifles and swords; though they didn’t wear the funny helmets which would have covered their unnaturally bright red hair.
“Why should I?” Here asked, lazily tearing off a piece of meat and chewing on it slowly. There rolled his eyes.
“Because I asked you to,” the Ashling answered.
Standing up slowly, Here tossed the bone into the fire, perhaps as an offering, and sauntered over to him. He remained out of grabbing distance, his emerald eyes glinting in the firelight, looking like the Spring fields under a setting sun.
“You ask for me, but why do you want me? What do you wish of me?” Her circled the Ashling, keeping himself out of reach.
“I wish to hold you.”
“You’ve missed me?”
“I have.”
“I’ve been on the Ways; you would have me neglect my duties to satisfy you?”
“I travel the Ways; you could have met me there.”
“The Fire Ways are not my Ways.” Here said, still circling, but a tiny bit closer now.
“They intersect. There are crossroads. You could have met me there.” The Ashling’s smoky arm reached out and caught Here’s wrist, tugging at him. The Guardian stopped his circling, but did not move closer.
“I could not. I was on duty. Even at a crossroad; especially at a crossroads where things lay in wait. Things like yourself.”
“Are you on duty now? Here in the Blind King’s caverns? Here under the safety of my brother?”
“I am not.”
“Then here you may come to me. There is no reason to worry-- I will not scortch you here. I can keep you safe and warm.” He tugged again and this time Here allowed himself to be pulled close. The Ashling’s arms wrapped around him as he gave Here a passionate kiss. Here returned it, fingers tangling in the Ashling’s long hair. The fires in the cavern leapt nearly to the ceiling before down much hotter than before.
There snorted and returned to his dinner. Rhys leaned over to Alexander and There, saying, “It’s the same thing every time, isn’t it? Always the same song and dance.”
“Then why do they do it? Is it a game?” Alexander asked.
“It’s a ritual,” There said. “Here is the safety of home, before the start of your journey. The fires of home must be tamed so they do not burn those that you leave behind but instead provide warmth and light. That’s why the Ashling must court Here, and promise Here safety, that he may dwell here without fear.”
“It’s also because the Ashling enjoys making a spectacle of it and your brother indulges him too much. They do not need to do this in front of the entire cavern,” the Traveler growled.
There said, laughing, “They’ve been doing it for nearly forever, since the Ways were made and the Forgotten taken shelter in the darkness. Why would they stop now?”
Looking at the two lovers who had backed into a shadow so Alexander couldn’t see them any more – though clearly the Traveler could -- he shook his head, “I have no idea, but I weary of their noise.” He stood up, pulling his mossy cape around him. “Will you join me?” he asked There. “You can tell me what you’ve seen on the Ways.”
“Of course.” He dumped the remains of his dinner in the fire before getting to his feet. “It’s almost daylight Orphan Alex, Perhaps you should get your cup and go see the sunrise.”
Taking the hint, Alexander nodded. He waited until they were away from him, talking quietly, before taking up his cup and crutch and walking towards the slope to the Light. Others had taken the hint as well. Now it was time for the Named to rule and do what was needful. The mortals must go and earn their keep. Alexander often wondered, though, that if he were mortal, why didn’t he age like the others did?
Fortunately, the Ashling’s attentions and energies were directed at one of the
Guardians of the Ways
“Come, Here,” he beckoned, a gray hand, like the smoke of the fires, reaching out to the Guardian. Here looked up from where he sat with his brother There, eating a chicken leg. Today they were dressed as soldiers of the Queen, complete with rifles and swords; though they didn’t wear the funny helmets which would have covered their unnaturally bright red hair.
“Why should I?” Here asked, lazily tearing off a piece of meat and chewing on it slowly. There rolled his eyes.
“Because I asked you to,” the Ashling answered.
Standing up slowly, Here tossed the bone into the fire, perhaps as an offering, and sauntered over to him. He remained out of grabbing distance, his emerald eyes glinting in the firelight, looking like the Spring fields under a setting sun.
“You ask for me, but why do you want me? What do you wish of me?” Her circled the Ashling, keeping himself out of reach.
“I wish to hold you.”
“You’ve missed me?”
“I have.”
“I’ve been on the Ways; you would have me neglect my duties to satisfy you?”
“I travel the Ways; you could have met me there.”
“The Fire Ways are not my Ways.” Here said, still circling, but a tiny bit closer now.
“They intersect. There are crossroads. You could have met me there.” The Ashling’s smoky arm reached out and caught Here’s wrist, tugging at him. The Guardian stopped his circling, but did not move closer.
“I could not. I was on duty. Even at a crossroad; especially at a crossroads where things lay in wait. Things like yourself.”
“Are you on duty now? Here in the Blind King’s caverns? Here under the safety of my brother?”
“I am not.”
“Then here you may come to me. There is no reason to worry-- I will not scortch you here. I can keep you safe and warm.” He tugged again and this time Here allowed himself to be pulled close. The Ashling’s arms wrapped around him as he gave Here a passionate kiss. Here returned it, fingers tangling in the Ashling’s long hair. The fires in the cavern leapt nearly to the ceiling before down much hotter than before.
There snorted and returned to his dinner. Rhys leaned over to Alexander and There, saying, “It’s the same thing every time, isn’t it? Always the same song and dance.”
“Then why do they do it? Is it a game?” Alexander asked.
“It’s a ritual,” There said. “Here is the safety of home, before the start of your journey. The fires of home must be tamed so they do not burn those that you leave behind but instead provide warmth and light. That’s why the Ashling must court Here, and promise Here safety, that he may dwell here without fear.”
“It’s also because the Ashling enjoys making a spectacle of it and your brother indulges him too much. They do not need to do this in front of the entire cavern,” the Traveler growled.
There said, laughing, “They’ve been doing it for nearly forever, since the Ways were made and the Forgotten taken shelter in the darkness. Why would they stop now?”
Looking at the two lovers who had backed into a shadow so Alexander couldn’t see them any more – though clearly the Traveler could -- he shook his head, “I have no idea, but I weary of their noise.” He stood up, pulling his mossy cape around him. “Will you join me?” he asked There. “You can tell me what you’ve seen on the Ways.”
“Of course.” He dumped the remains of his dinner in the fire before getting to his feet. “It’s almost daylight Orphan Alex, Perhaps you should get your cup and go see the sunrise.”
Taking the hint, Alexander nodded. He waited until they were away from him, talking quietly, before taking up his cup and crutch and walking towards the slope to the Light. Others had taken the hint as well. Now it was time for the Named to rule and do what was needful. The mortals must go and earn their keep. Alexander often wondered, though, that if he were mortal, why didn’t he age like the others did?
