The story post

[Azura Rose]

I'm moving the story here so people know when I actually update it. I ask that all discussion be kept to the other board, it just makes it a little easier for people to read what I post here.

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"Do you want to live?" Kotir asked.
Hester started up at him, "What do you mean?"
"I mean I can heal you, and you will live."
Hester closed her eyes, "What's the catch?"
Kotir chuckled. "Ever on guard. That's what I like about you Hester. Even on the brink of death you are still wary of me. The catch-"
Hester turned her head, coughing up blood. Kotir casually wiped the blood from her mouth and off his ropes as if it were no more then a speck of dust.
"As I was saying. The catch, as you so delicately put it, is that in order to heal you properly, I will need to bind your body and soul to my own."
Hester opened her eyes and looked into Kotir's red. "So if you die, I die?"
Kotir nodded, "Yes."
"You have nothing to worry about Hester. Kotir lives forever." Cally said softly from the other side of the bed, having taken the form of a young child, "Only you can break the bond, and you can do that at any time."
Hester opened her mouth to speak, only to cough up more blood. "Do it," she said finally.
Kotir nodded and lifted the younger girl. Leaving his room he turned to the left, pausing in front of the blue door. "I was really hoping this wasn't the way for me to show you the inside of this room." Kotir murmured, "Cally, open the door for me please."
Cally nodded and slipped past Kotir, placing her small hand in the centre of the golden circle in the centre of the door.
After a few moments the gold symbols surrounding the circle began to move, slowly speeding up. After 30 seconds the symbols were moving as a gold blur until a click was heard from inside.
"Go down and take Ingwë to BelAit.. No doubt the stupid elf will object to this."
Cally nodded and raced down the stairs.
A faint smile crossed Kotir's face as he heard Cally act as if nothing was going on.
The room behind the door was small by Kotir's standards. 7m by 7m. In the centre stood three large stones. The smallest was supporting a larger rectangular one, no thicker then a mattress. The larger stone sat vertical further back, on it was several words written in what could only be blood. The walls were black and covered in the same ancient symbols as were on the door. These too were written in blood, the only difference the blood used for these appeared fresh.
"I rarely enter this room any more." Kotir said softly, "There was a time I would enter twice a day."
Kotir lay Hester on the rectangular stone before pulling a large match from his pocket, swiftly lighting the 36 candles in the four corners of the room.
With these lit Kotir moved back to the alter stones and straightened Hester's arms by her side.
"Are you sure about this?" Kotir asked.
"Why" Hester coughed. "Why do you keep asking me?"
"Because as Cally said I live forever, even elves consider me ancient."
"So you're asking me if I want to live forever?"
"No. I'm asking if you know what this means. You're family, friends, children. You will outlive them all." Kotir said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Then I will break the bond before that ha-" Hester coughed again, crying out as pain shot through her body. "Just do it d**n it Kotir!"
Kotir sighed and bit his middle and index fingers, drawing blood from both.
"I warn you now. When I bind your soul to mine I will know everything about you, and you about me. For some reason it's also very painful, but as your soul connects itself to my own the pain will lessen."
Hester nodded, to weak to do anything more."
Kotir drew a breath and ripped Hester's shirt from the wound. The younger girl grunted in pain as the material was pulled off the wound.
"Let's see if I can still do this." Kotir murmured.
With his index finger he drew a symbol on Hester's right cheek and used his middle finger to do the same on her left.
"Maretor Bicona Shalsa Naclina" he murmured.
Hester cried out in pain. "Stop. Please stop. I don't care if I die, just please stop the pain." she sobbed.
Her cries fell on deaf ears as Kotir bit his fourth finger and drew three lines down her face.
"Akarith Nakalan Bostorinth Bakalantha!"
Kotir winced as the pain Hester was experiencing transferred to his body as her soul connected itself to his. Focusing his thoughts he turned his attention to Hester's wound, placing both hands over it.
"Norinth Balinka"
Kotir's hands began to glow blood red and he released a breath he didn't realise he was holding as the pain began to lessen.
"Cally," he breathed as he fell to the floor, all strength gone from his body.

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Cally stopped singing mid sentence. Her eyes flicked to Ingwë. Leaping off the table she grabbed Ingwë's arm.
"Sorry Marco, gotta run." She called as she dragged the elf from the inn.
"Where are we going?" Ingwë demanded.
"To The Dark Blade. Kotir's finished the binding and needs out help" Cally replied, weaving in and out of the remaining few people on the street.
By the time they arrived at The Dark Blade Cally was exhausted.
"Cally, perhaps you should rest for a moment before we continue."
Cally shook her head "Can't, we need to go now. Spending too much time in the Alter room usually means death." She eyed the stairs and groaned, giggling as Ingwë picked her up.
"Then allow me to assist you." He said, setting her down as they reached the top.
Cally smiled at him before placing both hands in the circle, opening the door faster then before.
"When we go inside look straight ahead and ignore everything else. Kotir will be in front of the Bonded Stone, either slumped on Hester or on the other side of the Alter Stone. Which ever it is you must focus on Kotir alone. Even glancing at the symbols will cause instant madness." Cally warned, when Ingwë nodded she continued. "Take Kotir out as soon as you get in there. As soon as I am sure Hester's wound is fully healed I will bring her out."
"What about you?"
Cally smiled. "I assure you this room will cause me no harm. I have been in here before and it accepts me."
Ingwë nodded slowly and Cally pushed the door open, watching Ingwë carefully to be sure he wasn't going to look at the walls. Confident he wasn't going to do anything she turned to the door.
"Santush" she said to it before returning her attention to the three people before her. Ingwë had lifted Kotir's unconscious form from Hester and was half dragging him from the room.
"He weighs a tonne." He muttered as he passed Cally who chuckled.
"Actually it's his robes that weight so much. Kotir is so light that even I can lift him."
"Then why can't we remove his robes before I continue?"
"Because he wears nothing underneath." Cally replied with a smirk.
Ingwë turned bright red at that comment before dragging the unconscious man into his room.
Still smiling Cally turned her attention to Hester and ran her hand across her bare stomach. Where the wound only a scar remained, with the surrounding area an angry red.
"Wow. This is some of his best work yet." Cally murmured as she lifted Hester's lifeless body from the Alter Stone.
"Zantith." Cally said as she left the room behind the blue door.
The gold marking spun once more before the door closed.
As Cally entered Kotir's room she smiled. Ingwë had dumped Kotir rather unceremoniously on his bed.
"I know you don't like him but Hester's soul is now bonded to Kotir's. If he dies, she dies."
Ingwë's eyes narrowed as he looked at Kotir.
"And if she dies? Will he die also?"
Cally sighed as she carefully lay Hester on the bed next to Kotir.
"No. Hester's soul has been bonded to Kotir's, not nice versa." She told him as she set about laying Kotir on his back and arranging his robes neatly.
"You may not like it, but Kotir did save Hester's life." Cally paused, "And gave me mine." She added softly.
Ingwë stared at Cally, "What do you mean?"
Cally shook her head. "Never Mind. When we arrive at our destination tomorrow everything will become clear." She said. "For now we should get some rest. No doubt Kotir will want to leave right away."
Ingwë nodded. "Then I shall return to BelAit. Call me if you need me."
Cally smiled and settled into Kotir's chair. "You don't need to go back there. Now that Claude is gone the servants rooms are unoccupied. The best aren't the greatest but they are usable." She told him.
Ingwë nodded and walked over to Cally, leaning over the younger girl so his face was inches from hers.
"Thank you for the offer, but I shall be at BelAit." He murmured before kissing her forehead. "Good night." He said before leaving the room.
Cally smiled softly. "Good night."

[Azura Rose]

THE REAL THIRD PART

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Hester groaned as she woke the next morning, her hand instantly moving to where her wound was.
"So you're finally awake." Kotir commented from his chair, Cally curled up on his chest.
Hester rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Four hours after dawn" Kotir replied. "How much do you remember?"
Images flashed through Hester's mind as she thought back to the previous night. Most were of the enemy she fought, but a few were of her fighting, and one of a young girl with black hair and red eyes with a woman who could only be her mother, as well as a name.
"I remember everything as well as a few new things." She told him. "Who is Nienna?"
"Good, that means I managed to keep most of our memories separate." Kotir said, gently waking Cally.
"Who is Nienna?" Hester asked again.
Kotir ignored the question, flinching at the mention of the name.
"Nienna," Cally murmured as she woke up, "The name sounds familiar."
"It's nothing Cally, now would you get off me. I have some things I need to prepare for before we leave."
Cally's groan turned into giggles as Kotir lifted her up and dropped her on his bed.
"By the way. The room behind the blue door is still off limits, unless you wish to break the bond." Kotir told Hester before leaving the room.
Hester stared at the spot were Kotir stood. "What's his problem?"
"I think Nienna is from his past. His early past. She's probably a sister or wife." Cally said. "What did she look like?"
Hester scrunched up her face as she tried to picture the woman again.
"She has long black hair and the same red eyes. Just like any other Norsla. But she does have a small scar on her face. There is a young girl with her as well, another Norsla."
"Does she look like a full blood or part blood?" Cally asked, genuinely interested.
"How can you tell the difference?"
"Part bloods have darker skin."
"She's part blood then, her skin looks like a normal person, only a little lighter."
"The woman is Kotir's wife, the girl his daughter I think." Cally jumped from the bed, "I suppose we should get up and go see if anything needs to be done before we leave."
Hester nodded, throwing the blankets from her body. "First things first. I definitely need a new shirt."
Hester threw herself from the bed, landing with a light thud. Walking over to Kotir's drawers she opened them and grabbed a plain grey shirt, pulling it over her torn shirt.
Now fully clothed she left the room, pausing by the blue door.
The soul must be willing, otherwise the binding will fail. A voice in her memory said, coupled with the image of a blood covered Nienna.
"So that's why he kept asking." Hester murmured.
"Hester! Hurry up." Kotir called.
"Coming," Hester replied.

"We'll be gone for a week, possibly longer depending on what mood Celebriän is in and how cooperative Cally decides to be." Kotir explained as they prepared to leave. "If you need to stop off anywhere before we leave tell me now."
"Where is Cally?"
"She went to BelAit to get the elf, now do you need anything?"
Hester opened her mouth, about to ask where Abloec was until the memory of it snapping in two surfaced.
"Only the maker could repair that blade." Kotir said, as if reading Hester's mind. "When we get to Starlana we'll see-"
"Starlana?" Hester interrupted, "You mean we're going to the Elven city?"
Kotir sighed, "Yes. Now as I was saying, we'll see if we can find a similar blade that suits you. I believe the grandson of Abloec's maker lives in the city."
Hester nodded, following Kotir into the front of the store where Storm and Kotir's gelding waited.
"I have a question." Hester said as she mounted.
"And what is that?"
"How can an Elf Norsla hybrid exists?"
Kotir looked at the girl, eyebrow raised before laughing.
"We aren't that different from humans you know, not like the Voskon. No matter how different you think a Norsla may be, if you send one into the Elven forest they will eventually start to look like an elf."
Kotir laughed again at Hester's puzzled expression, causing her to smile.
"You really don't know what happened do you?" Hester shook her head. "About three centuries ago a third of the elves left the forest. They are the original Norsla. Half a century before The Split, a fight erupted between two brothers. A lion Voskon had found it's way into the glade and killed three foals. The older of the two wanted to slay the Voskon, while the other said to release it from the forest.
They took the Voskon before the Queen who ruled the Voskon be released. The older brother was furious, as were many others who feel that this would encourage more Voskon to enter their forest. It took them half a century to finally leave. Those that left were the more bloodthirsty of the bunch and those looking for adventure. Many returned to the Elven city, unsuited for the violent life of the Norsla. It took them almost a century before any sort of order was established."
"But that still doesn't explain how someone can be an Elf Norsla. Especially now since you said they are both the same race, and that they hate each other." Hester commented, more confused then before.
"I never said they hated each other. The elves can't hate anything, it's unnatural to them. But the simple answer to your question is rape. The elves are to pure to even consider aborting, and the Norsla feel that if someone is strong enough to rape one of their women then the child will be strong and an asset to the race." Kotir chuckled. "Apparently they were right."
Hester shook her head, "what do you mean?"
"My mother is a Norsla, my father a human. My sister and I are the oldest Norsla and Elf around."
"You have a sister?" Hester asked.
"Yes. Now I want no more questions about elves, Norsla and Starlana until we arrive, no doubt Ingwë will have a fit when he realises where we're going."
Hester nodded and smiled at Cally and Ingwë as they rode up.

[Azura Rose]

"What are you doing? You can't ride into the forest uninvited." Ingwë stammered.
Kotir stared at Ingwë "I'm not stupid."
"But I thought you said?"
"I know what I said, and we will be entering, but not unt-"
"No elf would invite you into the forest. Myself included."
"Ingwë." The elf met his stare, "Shut up."
Ingwë open and closed his mouth, trying to think of something to say in reply. When he could think of nothing he walked to the border of the forest, sitting with Arcamenel, muttering about what he'd like to do to Kotir.
Kotir dismounted his gelding. "You may as well get comfortable, we won't be going anywhere for about an hour." He said as he untacked the gelding. Releasing the horse he watched Hester and Storm, a slight smile on his face.
"She reminds you of Skylar doesn't she." Cally said as she sat beside Kotir on the log.
Red eyes darted to the young girl.
"Where did you hear that name?"
"I overheard you telling Celebriän about her."
"You overheard? Last time I talked about Skylar to Celebriän was well before you were even born."
Cally grinned, "OK, so Kall overheard and told me you had a daughter called Skylar."
"Kall needs to mind her own business."
"She's the princess. Everything is her business." Kotir shook his head. "What was she like?"
"Who?"
"Skylar."
Kotir drew a breath and stood up, walking away from Cally who followed him.
"Usually when people walk away they don't want to talk."
"But you're not a typical person." Cally said as she jumped on his back, "and neither am I."
Kotir sighed.
She was a splitting image of her mother and had even more natural skill with a blade then people twice her age. It was because of this she died. Soldiers attacked our camp. Since it was only 100 years after the Split we were still very much hated, even more so then we are now. A dozen soldiers were patrolling the area where Skylar and her friends were sparring. Skylar was armed with the twin blades I had gifted her the year before.
Skylar's friend Kantia was the first to die, an arrow through the chest. It was her scream that alerted us to her trouble.
By the time we arrived two of the six children were dead along with three soldiers.
Skylar was surrounded by four, the other five soldiers had the remaining children on the ground unarmed.
Skylar killed two guards before we acted, it was Miracha who acted first, I was frozen watching the scene before me. Skylar moved as if she were dancing and the blades extensions of her arms.
Miracha ran down the slope with her blade drawn, her intent to kill obvious, and with her only daughter dead I couldn't blame her, but as the Dactan I had to make sure our shaky relationship with the humans remained and ordered for prisoners to be taken.
It was over rather quickly after that. The five guards killed the children quickly before turning to Skylar. She killed two of them, wounding a third before being killed herself. With all the children dead the soldiers threw down their weapons.
There are stories about how we have no mercy when in battle, that we gladly kill any human who gets in our way. I believe I am the reason those stories exist, what I did next had no honour and will be the reason I rot in the depths of the underworld for all eternity when I finally pass over.
The pain and anger I felt from watching Skylar being murdered was to great. Although I ordered for all survivors to be taken as prisoners I ignored my own order. With the blades I gifted to Skylar I pierced the lungs of the man who killed my daughter. his screams tore through me, but I didn't care. After that I left. With my wife and daughter dead I saw no reason for me to remain."
Kotir fell silent. Cally leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "It's almost sunset." She murmured, sliding from his back and walking over to the other two, leaving Kotir in his memories.


NOTE: For those wondering who Celebriän is, she is the Elven Queen. Her full name is Celebriän Tîwele (which means Angel Dancer. Or at least that's what I got when I typed Angel Dancer in at This Site