The Taming

Wake for Me

Elsabet returned to sit on the edge of the bed, next to her pet panther. Her malcontent eased by the presence of her only friend.

Sebastian, in the form of Quandary, let his face drop to her knee as she stroked his neck. He tried to comfort her. To pull her back from the pain and the thoughts which seemed to be forever haunting her.

No wonder it's so hard for her to be close to me. Even after all this time. Sebastian thought. Watching her through Quandary's eyes.

Her fingers curled within his coat. Feeling the soft twitch of his fur in response.

He was just as soothed by her company as she was by his. Things with her were so much easier in this form.

She accepted him, his comfort, his presence, without all the restrictions that held her back from him while he was in human form.

She knelt on her bed. Arms tightly wrapping the huge feline and hugging it close. Burying her face in the thick black neck. Drawing his strength as she sobbed aloud.

He released her mind. Seeing she'd cleared it to avoid whatever caused her so much anguish. His heart ached for her.

She cried until his smooth coat was ruffled from her tears.

Elsabet, the one so many saw as nothing but a wicked little valkyrie, fell asleep against him. Her cheeks swollen from her heart-wrenching pain. Her loneliness, so much like his, crept in with a renewed sense of abandonment.

All because of his frequent absences. Because she'd never gotten to go and see if he was really as good as his word. She had to trust him from afar, based only on what she saw in this little enclosed space.

He knew it wasn't fair.

This is my fault. Bast recognized. She's hurt because of me.

I did nothing wrong. The little voice defended.

She woke briefly when the bed moved. Cracking her eyes and catching Quandary slipping from the edge of the bed to stride around the foot. From there he paced near the fire before rounding the bed.

When the beast stuck his warm muzzle into the thick mane of her hair to nuzzle the back of her neck, she felt her body tense as she feared her trusted pet would clamp powerful jaws on the most vulnerable part of her body...her throat.

Of course not, Little Bird.

To her relief, he didn't.

Instead, he padded from the chamber while she fell back asleep. Pondering the strange action.

I just needed your scent. But I can't stay like this. I have to rest. I'm so tired...

***

Sebastian left Elsabet's chamber. Slinking out on quiet paws, as soon as she fell asleep next to him.

He changed to a naked man in the hallway and stumbled in the direction of his lower chamber, located in the servant's quarters.

The place where his brethren knew to leave him be.

Mostly.

Mardichi was the only one that didn't seem to really care.

He wants to see me, when he wants to see me.

Bast could already feel the drag, in his legs and the fog in his mind, that told him his body was already beginning to shut down. He reached the last steps, walking slowly. His feet felt as though they weighed several hundred pounds. His hand slid over the railing and around the banister. Ready to catch him if he crumpled.

He reached the narrow wooden door and turned the lock to step inside. Barely managing to close the door and stumble to the bed. Flopping down face first and instantly asleep. His heart thudding more weakly and slowly. Dropping to a nearly hypothermic state as he relaxed. His breathing becoming nearly inexistent.

Time soared by. His dreams were filled with decades of images of Elsabet floating gracefully down the corridors. Silver, blue and lavender gowns twitching around her legs and wisping along her arms as she moved. Her pale, shimmering hair rolling over her shoulders and slipping down her breast as she turned her head to meet his gaze.

Then came the even warmer memories. Ones where she was fire-hot in his arms. Her body scalding to his touch. Every inch of her flesh responding to each of his caresses. As if she was totally uninhibited for those brief moments.

Time which never lasts long enough.

Those were the times she came alive in his arms. But it was such a fragile bond that he knew if he pressed it further at the wrong moment, it could take him back further than when he'd begun. The more she cared, the more distant and reserved she became.

But every now and then, there were tiny leaks of feeling. Little bits of love she sprinkled around her, without even knowing it.

Those were bits he collected, from his time spent watching her every movement, and listening to her every word, just to feel closer to her.

Those pretty memories were soon washed away by others. A dark mountain top where a hand dangled. Dripping stark red blood on snow covered groundcover. Other images, like in the valley where he heard Chavias' cries as he was dragged off by the razored teeth of countless cimmerii. And the splattering of blood on pretty spring leaves. Tainting a morning which had held so much promise before that.

He felt the warm slide of them drizzling down his face and filling his vision. Turning the world red in his eyes. Staining him in a way that would never wash off.

When he finally awoke it was to find that night had arrived.

It was hard to tell whether it was the same day or a couple later. The Knight's Sleep came on its own terms, and it lasted as long as it took to recuperate their bodies. It could be an hour or much more.

Sebastian had learned that it did tend to last longer, the more it was put off.

He rose slowly, careful not to jolt any muscles which might have been strained from him falling asleep so abruptly. His neck was slightly stiff, but nothing too horrendous.

Sighing, he rose. Going to the cupboard in one corner of the chamber and opened it to withdraw some plain pants and a large teal tunic, the same shade as his eyes. It had gold embroidery around the neck which reflected his hair. Making him look stark, despite how plain it was.

He walked barefoot down the corridor until reaching her door. He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned on the wall next to it. Listening.

Soon, he heard the soft breathing of her sleep. He tipped enough to peer in the open door. Seeing her lying there in the middle of her bed. Her small frame curled up, as if she thought she still cradled the panther before her.

For a moment he envied her the peace of her rest.

But as she drew a fast breath and blinked her eyes open. He knew he was wrong. He could see the tears staining her gaze as she met his gaze. Her face was still soft from her sleep. Her lips trembling as if she'd cry. Pain was written over her.

Perhaps we're not so different, she and I.