Ianite - Cursed Blessing

Dreams and Stories

Ianite woke next to a warm body. Her face was burrowed into a neck and her body was spooned against the other. One leg was resting lightly on top of one of the body's and somehow her blanket had ended up beneath her. Her cheeks flushed as she realized just who was next to her and she hastened to roll away and sit up. With a snap of her fingers her formal dress was exchanged for her old clothes and her hair tied up into a bun. Her sleeping bag and blanket vanished.

"Schmrrrrrrrrr...gaarrrrgggghhhh...whu'time'zit? Fi'mo'minutes..."

She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips, and that giggle soon turned into hearty chuckles. A scruffy looking Jordan-face opened one eye and stared at her. Then he grinned and sat up with a huge yawn. His arms stretched leisurely above his head as he arched his back. As he settled back into a regular sitting position, he exhaled with a satisfied sigh.

"G'morning M'Lady," he chirped happily.

"The day's blessings Sparklez," she replied.

Her eyes narrowed at him suddenly into a dark, icy glare. Internally she was laughing at the sight of him flinching and cowering as she put on her best 'I know exactly what you did' face, but externally she was an enraged mother dragon.

"So Sparklez," she said in a voice that held far too much innocence, "Would you like to explain to me why you were sleeping outside last night? Was your bedroom not available?"

He paled instantly, and his normally glowing skin took on a sickly palor.

"M-My Lady," he began

Ianite held up a hand and allowed her face to soften into a fond look. He relaxed at that, but still glanced at her warily.

"As your goddess, there will be some things I expect of you. Sacrificing your comfort and well being for a soft spot for me to sit is not one of them. As a goddess I don't need sleep. My power and energy is drawn from my domain. I could have simply conjured a chair or temporary bed to use. You didn't have to give up your bedroom for me."

He gaped at her.

"How-how-how..."

She gave a little laugh.

"It really wasn't hard to figure it out you know," she told him. "Two bedrooms are in the Fortress, and one of them is for Guard Tom. Obviously, since this is your Fortress, the second one is for you."

He blushed at that and shook his head at his own bout of unintelligence.

"Welp," he commented, "Guess that's my plan blown. I was going to move up here while you stayed. Besides, sleeping under the stars aga- well, sleeping under the stars, it's not half bad really. It reminds me of home."

"Home?" Ianite asked. "Your other realm?"

"No," he replied, with a faraway look in his eyes. "Well, in that dimension...but in another part. A part far away from my friends."

"Tell me," she said abruptly, and scooted closer to him. "Tell me about the other realm. About you Heroes. Where you're from. What the alternates were like."

He gave her a look of surprise, and nodded slowly.

"It's a long story," he said.

Ianite waved her hand dismissively.

"We've enough time. It's two hours until you have to meet with your friends. Surely it won't take that long?"

"No, it won't," he answered "Alright. Once upon a time, in another world..."

She stared at him, transfixed by the words that flowed from his mouth. They drew her in, enchanted her, and she became lost in the story, lost in the past.