Enter Abyss

Chapter 17; Changes.

In truth, watching Galen call back the Abyss was far less exciting than Archer had previously thought it would be.

Really, all the young king did was sit with his legs crossed, muttering vague words in an archaic language that Archer could not name. Yet finally, Galen opened his eyes after what seemed like hours and looked up at Archer.

"There. It is finished."

"That was it?"

"What, were you expecting some sort of cataclysimic event?" Galen replied, chuckling and slowly getting to his feet. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that was how we got here."

They then began heading back the way they came, walking slower than usual as Galen tried to catch his breath.

Glancing at him, Archer stifled a sigh; the king looked so weak, so frail... it was a wonder he had made it this far in life. And though he was kind, gracious, and merciful, Archer knew that he would never be able to endure a battle.

But hopefully it would not come to that.

"I've been meaning to ask," Archer said suddenly, "How DID your people come to live here?"

Galen blinked, pausing for a moment before he spoke. "We were surface dwellers once; more like outcasts one could say. Then, when the Abyss opened up, swallowing up my ancestors, those who survived could no longer find a way to leave the Abyss and thus they succumbed to it, making a new life for themselves here."

"Why couldn't they leave? Surely they could have built something to carry them out of the Abyss." Archer asked, slow in his pace a bit more to match Galen's.

"The Abyss is a strange place," the young king replied, "And many who enter its dark depths never wish to return to the surface. And though my people think it is an enchantment placed here by our ancestors, I prefer to believe otherwise."

"Such as people wish to stay in a cold, dark pit?"

Chuckling softly, Galen gave him a warm smile. "Nay. Though perhaps they wish to stay in a life they think is better than the one they endured on the surface."

Continuing to walk down the path, Archer and the king spoke for a while longer-- saying goodbye once they reached the palace and heading separate ways.

Smiling grandly, Archer practically skipped back to his room.

Thaddeus would be safe now! And though the calling back of the Abyss had been a rather anticlimactic experience, at least it had done the job. Archer need not worry now, and he could feel free to spend more time with Galen. In fact, he was sure Cogs and Pip would not mind spending a bit more time in the Abyss, anyhow. They seemed to be happy enough here.

Opening the door to their room, the first thing Archer caught sight of was Pip angrily punching pillows on her bed, her face and eyes red.

Alright then. Maybe they weren't completely happy...

Approaching cautiously, Archer hesitantly asked, "Pip, is everything alright?"

"AAUURRGGHHH!"

"Did you just growl at me?"

Wiping her face on her sleeve, she turned to him and for the first time, Archer noted the scratches on her face and the bruises on her knuckles. Sitting on the bed beside her, he looked at her with concern.

"Piper, did you get in a fight?"

She snorted, rolling her eyes. "No Arch, I just banged up my face because it's fun."

"All right, no need to bite my head off. But, really, we've been here less than a week. How did you make enemies that quickly?"

"They weren't enemies. It was a fighting ring."

Archer bightened, "Oh, well, if it wasn't anything illegal..." he then paused, thinking, and shook his head. "No. No, Pip it's still not a good idea."

Baring her teeth at him, she snarled, "Oh, stop acting like you're so righteous! You're not my brother, you can't tell me what to do!"

Jerking back, Archer felt as though she had just slapped him.

True, he was not her brother, but he WAS her cousin, her friend. They had been together for so many years; didn't that at least slightly give him the right to tell her what to do?

Sighing calmly, he stood and asked instead, "Where's Cogs?"

"Don't bloody talk to me about Cogs!" Piper spat.

Something inside Archer broke then. His patience or composure or whatever it was and he snapped, "Blimey! I can't say anything to you without making you mad! Pip, what did I do to you?"

Instead of answering, she simply stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her and leaving Archer on his own.

Sighing, his good mood completely ruined, Archer flopped down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, wondering when he could see Galen again.

For it seemed as the king was the only person willing to talk to him.

                              ............................................

Stalking down the corridors, Pip paid no heed to the servants who gave her  confused looks as she stomped past them. Then, when she had found an empty corridor, she sat at the end of it feeling as though she were going to cry.

What had she done? Archer was only trying to help and she had practically spat in his face for it. Yet she couldn't tell him about Cogs. He wouldn't understand.

It wasn't as if Pip did not love him; at least, she hadn't thought she loved Cogs this much. But after her first love had fallen tragically into the Abyss, she felt as though if she loved Cogs-- really loved him-- the same fate would be bestowed upon him.

And that was the thought she could not bear.

So instead, she had teased him-- teased herself, really. Allowing her fingers to brush against his skin momentarily. Leaning in to where it looked as though she would kiss him, then pulling back unexpectedly. But these sorts of things, she realized, had not been for his benefit... but for hers. She had wanted to touch him, to press their lips together and never stop, but she feared to do so. 

And she hated herself for it; for not saying anything sooner. For not being like the other girls. For not being someone who could love Cogs back. Yet if it had been torture for him, then had Pip noticed it sooner, she would have felt the same. But now, apparently, he had grow tired of her games, of her uncertainty. He had found someone new. Supposedly.

Wiping her nose on her sleeve, Pip swallowed the lump in her throat.

Cogs was a good boy; too good, in fact, for her. He deserved better and perhaps this Abyss girl would be that for him. Perhaps she would be sweet and gentle and kind, everything Pip was not and everything Cogs needed.

Thus, she pushed her own selfish thoughts and desires away, thinking what she would do now.

Then, as if plagued by it, she remembered Mordren offering to teach her to fight and her acceptance of the offer. Yes. That was it. Nothing drove romance out of the blood as well as sword-induced violence! 

She would become stronger, better than before. Strength and the art of punching things were her virtues; she could never see herself as a wife or mother. No. This was her path. The path of a warrior. 

And even if Cogs did not love her any longer... perhaps she could learn to love herself.

                          ..........................................