After only an hour of lying in his lover’s arms, AJ shifted his body and stretched his arms above his head. The water falling on his skin felt absolutely wonderful. Even the breeze blowing, chilling the drops of water on him, was wonderful. AJ rolled so that he was on his stomach, his cheek lying against the grass. Rolling like that put him a few inches away from Brian. The two lay, eyes locked.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p> </o:p>
It was AJ who broke the silence. “Thank you.”<o:p> </o:p>
Brian’s lips curved. “At your service, good sir.” His teasing lightened AJ’s hear a little more. Nothing in life could be too bad if Brian was still teasing him. That meant that things in their world were still ok, still normal for them.<o:p> </o:p>
“Sir, huh? Sounds interesting to me…” AJ sat up, lifting his arms to the sky as he stretched again. He almost flew off the cliff in surprise when a bolt of lightning hit the ground between him and Brian. “Jesus! Shit!” AJ swore, flying backward.<o:p> </o:p>
Eyes wide, Brian looked up from where he’d rolled away. He was braced on his hands, ready to launch up. His magic was pulsing inside of him as he searched for the threat. For his part, AJ sat down heavily, covering his face with his hands. “Holy shit.”<o:p> </o:p>
He felt Brian’s concern through their bond, then a subtle inquiry to see if AJ was ok, then understanding. With the understanding came surprise. “Really?” he asked. <o:p> </o:p>
“I haven’t done that in a long time.” AJ moaned out from behind his hands. “It’s been a long time since my magic has escaped like that!”<o:p> </o:p>
“Seriously, Alex. You stretched and shot a bolt of lightning between us.”<o:p> </o:p>
AJ bent further forward, trying to hide his head a little. “I know, I know!” He took a ragged breath, still in shock about that having happened and mortified by it at the same time. Someone could have been hurt! “I, doing what I did before, it just left me a little raw. Not just magically, but mentally.”<o:p> </o:p>
It was wonderful to have someone who understood him as well as Brian did. Who was that much a part of him. Brian didn’t need any explanation beyond what AJ said. He knew instantly that AJ was referring to how his brain felt from being in this scenario and the pain that was on his heart. That heartache stemmed from watching another friend be hurt this way, thinking he might have to kill him as he’d killed Howi, and then the fresh pain that came with the memories of what he’d had to do to Howi.<o:p> </o:p>
Until AJ got his emotions under control, he was dangerous. Magic, when not controlled, is dangerous.<o:p> </o:p>
When Brian moved forward to embrace AJ, he didn’t just wrap him in his arms; he also wrapped him in a shield. AJ accepted and appreciated both.<o:p> </o:p>
He only allowed himself to stay in Brian’s arms for a short moment, though. Then he was shifting, rising slowly to his feet. It was embarrassing to realize that, if Brian hadn’t put a hand under his elbow to brace him, he probably wouldn’t have made it to his feet. As it was it took a great effort to stay there. He had to concentrate just to make his feet steady as he put one in front of the other.<o:p> </o:p>
‘I know you have to do this, but I want it known that I don’t like it’ Brian told him. ‘I know you have a role, an important role, and with it comes certain duties, but I don’t like seeing you this tired. I wish there was more time for you to rest.’<o:p> </o:p>
“I can’t afford the time, song of my heart. I need to speak with everyone that was there and find out what the hell they thought they were doing. I have to dole out punishment, too.’ That thought was not a pleasant one, but it was unavoidable. ‘They deliberately sat to perform magic that they should not have been performing. We told them they were soldiers in training! They were told that evil is searching for all of us. God damn it, we told them who was in charge and explained every damn rule. They should have asked us permission before they ever attempted something like that.’<o:p> </o:p>
‘I know. Trust me, lover, I know. It makes me just as angry as it does you. But, that concern I leave to you. My concern is your wellbeing. That is what I will focus on.’<o:p> </o:p>
AJ paused in mid step, turning so that he could give Brian a kiss. The warmth of that kiss spread through him, straight down to his toes. “I love you.” He whispered against Brian’s lips. He felt Brian’s lips curve against his. “I love you too, song of my heart.”<o:p> </o:p>
Together, the two set off to find their friends. AJ looked ahead once they walked through the front gates of the castle and saw those that he was looking for, waiting for him. Shay stood by them, Richard and Geoff placed on either end. Donnelly stood beside Shay, chatting cheerfully.<o:p> </o:p>
A wry look was on Shay’s face when his gaze turned toward Brian and AJ. “I Saw you coming, though I hoped that my Sight was wrong.” His tone held just a small trace of mockery. “But I knew your stubbornness and so I prepared those that you are seeking.”<o:p> </o:p>
Brian assisted AJ toward a large rock that sat in the sun. It was almost embarrassing, how much assistance he required to get himself onto the rock so that he could sit. Once he was seated, though, Brian sat behind him, a leg on either side of him, acting as support to keep AJ upright. His strength was more than it had been before his rest at the cliffs, but it still wasn’t anywhere near normal.<o:p> </o:p>
Still, AJ managed to firm his back and lift his chin as he looked at those assembled. All around them the elves grew quiet, watching avidly. They obviously figured that if AJ had wanted privacy then he would have taken this meeting elsewhere. AJ didn’t mind. Let them watch.<o:p> </o:p>
“I am supremely disappointed in the group of you.” AJ said softly. His words carried that much more weight for their softness, he knew. All of them flinched as if they had been lashed with a whip. AJ looked from one to the other, letting his displeasure show in his face. “I am also furious. I require, no, I demand an explanation for your abysmally foolish actions today. Whose idea was this?”<o:p> </o:p>
Ubayy stepped away from his wife, moving forward slightly. “Mine, trulion.” He spoke respectfully and firmly. “The suggestion was mine.”<o:p> </o:p>
Looking at the man, AJ saw the signs of exhaustion that still sat on his face and in his bearing. He let the silence lay for a few long seconds. Then, “You were beyond foolish in this, Ubayy. Not only did you endanger yourself, as you discovered, but those around you as well. All of us present. By rights, punishment should belong to King Flreu, for this is his Kingdom and these are his people. Yet, you are a soldier in my army and you are a mortal mage, which brings you doubly under my control. Therefore, the punishment that would be meted out to you will rightly fall to my shoulders.”<o:p> </o:p>
Cries of surprise rang around the courtyard. Ubayy looked stunned by this information. “But, trulion, this was not your doing. You had no idea of our actions until it was too late. The foolishness and stupidity was mine. Punishment should be given to me for this danger. I am prepared to accept it.”<o:p> </o:p>
“The group of you do not fully understand your roles here.” AJ’s voice went deeper, harder. “You think you do, but you do not. By your own words you admit your fault and that I applaud you for. You were foolish and stupid, all of you. But, as I said, you are my soldiers. When Donnelly brought you here without our knowledge, you were his responsibility. He, too, failed in informing us. But, by accepting you here, I brought you under my protection. By acting foolish, you show that I have not taught you properly. Amongst the elves there is no greater sin than disrespect not only to the people, but to the elders and to the leaders.”<o:p> </o:p>
AJ lifted his chin again, pride keeping him firm. “By accepting the responsibility for you in the elvish Kingdom, I became responsible for teaching you the ways of the land and seeing that you did not misstep. Here, you are but children and I the parent. The grave errors you made show that I have been sorely lax in fulfilling this duty. That you could do something like this, I am even more to blame than you are for not doing as I should. So, as I said, the punishment that King Flreu would have delivered to you, I will now take your place.”<o:p> </o:p>
Someone made as if to speak, their voice lifting, but AJ cut them off without even bothering to see which it was. “Enough.” He said harshly. Silence fell yet again. “That punishment was for endangering the people and for acting as you did toward one that is your elder. Now we will speak of the rest of this.”<o:p> </o:p>
The silence was so strong that you could have heard a pin drop. AJ met the eyes of this small group. Tao, Bayani, Crisanto, Ubayy, Nura.<o:p> </o:p>
“I spoke to you before of the army we are in. I know that your roles were explained to you. The soldiers that you are. I also know that the role I carry was explained. Yet, somehow, not a one of you thought it necessary to come and speak to me of what you planned to do. You kept this from me, not recognizing or not caring that something of this magnitude would need permission.”<o:p> </o:p>
For this part, AJ shifted to his feet. He would not do this sitting down and he would not do this while holding on to Brian. So he forced his body to be as hard as possible, not needing to fall on his face and ruin the pronouncement. <o:p> </o:p>
“I have thought about this as I lay with Brian, recovering my strength from saving all of you from that which you brought out. We cannot travel to where we go with you all under punishment. To do so would undermine the morale of the troops that are waiting for us and it would show them that I cannot even control those I bring with me. They would distrust us more so than they already will. But I cannot let this go unpunished.<o:p> </o:p>
“So it is I name your punishment. For disobeying the commander in your army, I sentence you to a night in the cells below, which are covered by a magical shield so that none of your magic may escape from within the confined of your cell. You will remain there without food or water, for the duration of the night.”<o:p> </o:p>
No one said a word. They could all see he wasn’t done.<o:p> </o:p>
“For disobeying the highest ranking magician, which is the code that us immortals live by, I decree that you will be kept shielded while in those cells, unable to even touch your own magic, until you are released in the morning.” Then, last but not least, “For disobeying the trulion, I sentence you thus. You will not embrace your magic, you will not use it until the day we leave without the permission of myself, my baka, or instructor Shay, or in instances of life or death. Let this teach you the control and discipline that it is obvious you all so sorely lack.”<o:p> </o:p>
It was Nura who gasped out her relief. “Thank you, trulion.” She said with a soft bow.<o:p> </o:p>
AJ met her look with hard eyes. “Think not that this will be easy, madam. You are all as children and will find it is not so pleasing to be treated as one. Let us hope you all swallow your pride enough for this lesson to sink in. You will be treated as the children you are by all who meet you, every elf, until you have proved your maturity again. Let this also be the lesson that might teach you respect. I decree that, so long as no physical harm is done, any elf that meets you to treat you as they would a child and to punish you accordingly with any transgression they see. You will discover quickly how to behave or we will leave you here when we travel.”<o:p> </o:p>
It was taking quite a bit for AJ to stand as he was, but his pride and his inner strength kept him upright. He had been through worse than this, many times before. His eyes sought out the King, who he had known was watching. “King Flreu, I humbly ask that you step forward.” He called.<o:p> </o:p>
Flreu did so, his bearing regal. He stepped up beside AJ, his eyes both soft and yet strong at the same time. “I cannot be seen going lax on you, grandson.” He whispered, for AJ’s ears only. AJ let a corner of his mouth quirk slightly in a grin so fast no one else would have seen it. “I do not want you too, grandfather. This is part of their punishment. This is part of their understanding. It is also part of my duty.”<o:p> </o:p>
Pride lit Flreu’s eyes. “Blessed be, grandson.” He said.<o:p> </o:p>
The moment was on him. AJ put back on his leader’s face. “What punishment is it that you decree for a crime such as this, King Flreu?”<o:p> </o:p>
“For the endangerment of the people, for the risk of lives that are your duty to protect, and for one that we cannot afford to discharge, the punishment for this crime proscribed in our laws is as follows. The accused shall be strung to a pole and receive thirty lashes. If the being is magical, they are to be shielded from their magic so that they may not use this to buffer the pain, nor to heal which should not be healed. This shield shall be maintained for the duration of the night. In the morning, it will be released and the body will be allowed to heal then, whether magically or naturally, depending on the being that is punished. You will be tended in mortal means to make sure that the damage of the night is not too great. Once the lashes are given, your shame in my eyes is lifted. You will be cared for and tended through the night as one who is moving from childhood to adulthood. We will tend you with pride.”<o:p> </o:p>
Each human present gasped lightly. The elves stood and watched. To them, the punishment wasn’t all they were witnessing. How he bore under it would reflect greatly on him. At the moment he was shamed in the eyes of the King and of his people. By accepting the responsibility of what his subjects had done, AJ took that shame fully onto himself. Until he proved to them that he would accept his punishment, he was shamed before them.<o:p> </o:p>
Ubayy had gone white as a sheet. He knew that this punishment should have been his. All of them knew that it should have been theirs. He lifted his hand weakly, making as if to speak, but Brian stuck a hand out to stop him. “Do not make his shame worse by protesting this.”<o:p> </o:p>
Nodding, AJ took a deep breath. He knew the laws of the Kingdom and had known that this was what he would receive. Purposely, he hadn’t told Brian, knowing his lover would hate it. But Brian knew better than to protest. AJ went down on his knees, tucking his arms behind his back as he bowed. “I accept my punishment, Sire.”<o:p> </o:p>
“Let it be done, then.”<o:p> </o:p>
No one spoke to AJ as he stood back up. No one moved to help him. Brian knew that right now, he wasn’t to touch AJ. He understood the customs that surrounded dealing with shame. On his own, AJ followed the procession through the castle and to the back courtyard. There, he headed straight to the post that was reserved for punishments such as this.<o:p> </o:p>
When he stepped up beside it, he looked over as Tadhg moved up there. “Master magician Tadhg.” He addressed him formally. “You will be shielding me, which will do as you want, but my bond to my heart song still exists. Between us, we can close it on both sides. We can seal it at our wish so that we cannot share pain or comfort nor even thought. Would you trust our word that this is so? Would you all trust our promise to do this and know that we will not break it until permission is given?”<o:p> </o:p>
Tadhg conferred quietly with Flreu for a moment. Then he turned back around and nodded. “We trust in this promise if given in the most direct form, Alyck.”<o:p> </o:p>
Knowing that form, AJ spread his arms, lifted his face to the sky, and said “By the light of the Goddess and all her forms I so swear that I will close off the bond with my heart song until permission is given in the morning for it to be opened again so that we cannot share pain or comfort.”<o:p> </o:p>
From his spot in the crowd, Brian repeated the gesture and the promise. When he was done, Flreu nodded at them both.<o:p> </o:p>
Quite a crowd had gathered around them. AJ paid them no attention. He dressed down to only his breeches. Taking a leather strip, he parted his hair, bringing it over his shoulders and binding it in the front, just below his chin. That would keep his hair from getting into the wounds. Then he lifted his hands above his head, allowing a elf to lock his wrists into the chains that hung there.<o:p> </o:p>
He felt the shield settle over him and had to work to keep the panic under control. He was bound and shielded, his greatest fear. But he pulled the madness back in tight and locked it as deep as it could go. Then he walled off the bond with Brian, forcing it as far closed as he could. He felt Brian doing the same. Then, all sensations of Brian was gone from his head. He was alone, without magic, defenseless.<o:p> </o:p>
Resting his head against the pole, AJ heard someone move up behind him. He paid no attention to who was doing the job. All his attention was focused on trying to gather as much strength as possible. There was the sound of Flreu’s voice, commanding it to begin, and then AJ’s entire world was focused onto his back.<o:p> </o:p>
The first lash was the worst. He gritted his teeth, jerking as it cut into his skin like fire. The shock and pain exploded inside of him but he kept it locked away inside. Then came the next. It ripped into his skin, another line of fire. From there, they bled together for him. At one point he heard himself cry out, but then he was gritting his teeth, biting his lip, forcing the cries to stay inside. His hands curled into fists, the chains rattling each time his body jerked.<o:p> </o:p>
Goddess, but he’d forgotten how much it hurt! His eyes were shut tight to try and stay under control. Little whimpers caught in his throat, ruthlessly forced back down. It seemed as if the pain of it was never ending. Lights danced behind his eyes. Every lash felt as if it was a bolt of lightning. AJ thanked the Goddess he was shielded, or he knew that his magic would have destroyed everything around him. That madness inside of him from his captivity with Roth was now pushing at his mind, trying to take him under, to force him to fight. He knew he could break the shield over him if he wanted, with just the right pressure. It took almost all his effort to keep from breaking it.<o:p> </o:p>
Words broke through the haze over his mind. The whipping seemed to have stopped. He felt magic around him, air, holding him up as his arms were released. Thank God it was there or he would have hit the ground. As it was, the lowering of his arms made his back scream with pain and a whimper slid past his lips.<o:p> </o:p>
Then Brian’s voice was right by his ear. “I am here, Alyck.” He whispered reassuringly. The sound of that voice was a balm on AJ’s heart. “Do not worry, I’m here. Remember, you’re with the elves and I am by your side. I will not leave you all night long.”<o:p> </o:p>
It was just the right thing to give AJ enough mental strength to hold on to his sanity and keep the madness at bay. He wasn’t back with Roth. He may have been powerless for the moment, but he wouldn’t be come morning time. If danger struck, the King could grant permission for AJ to use his magic. That was right. Hearing Brian’s voice brought all those thoughts back to the front and reminded him that he could do this. Reminded him why he was doing this. “Thank you.” He whispered.<o:p> </o:p>
He was lifted, then, on a platform of air, his back held up. AJ kept his eyes closed, but he felt the wall of air under him like a firm bed, carrying him. Vaguely he heard Brian speak in answer to some question that he hadn’t heard. “I’m carrying him down to the cells.” Brian said in a voice tight with anger. “Have blankets sent for me as well as mortal salve. The King said he could be tended in mortal ways. Put this stuff in the guard room off to the side of the cells.” Another pause, then Brian spoke again, almost hissing with his fury. “I do not want them to see him, nor do I want him to see them, but I want the prisoners to hear him. I want them to know what he suffers for them so that they full understand this. Let them bear the night with him.”<o:p> </o:p>
AJ would have smiled if the air hadn’t gone over his back and reignited the fire. Instead, he bit his lip and worked to keep the cries locked inside.<o:p> </o:p>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p> </o:p>
It was Shay, Tadhg, and Flreu who escorted the prisoners down to the cells. None of them flinched to see the group were all silently crying. When they reached the cells, while Tadhg unlocked the doors, Nura looked over at Shay. “I am sorry.” She said shakily. “We will take our punishment, all of us, but we are so sorry. Please, let the trulion know this. We did not want him to suffer this pain for us.”<o:p> </o:p>
Flreu opened his mouth to speak, but Shay beat him there. The temper that rarely came from Shay was suddenly lashing out. His white eyes locked on her, shifting to the others. “You cannot even begin to comprehend what he has done for you.” He spat at them. Fury vibrated his small frame. “Not just the physical pain, but the mental as well.”<o:p> </o:p>
Neither Tadhg nor Flreu moved to stop Shay as he raised a shaking hand at the group. “The greatness that is in that man, you will never begin to understand. He has been through much in his almost four thousand years. He has survived things in the last year alone that would have destroyed lesser men. He and Brian both were imprisoned by Rothalo, held by a weave that took over their bodies completely.” In sharp, short words, Shay described for them the pains that AJ and Brian had undergone in Roth’s treatment. He told them all about the wave and about what it could do. He told them of AJ’s sacrifice to save Brian and of Brian’s rescue of AJ.<o:p> </o:p>
Their faces were white when he finished the explanation. But Shay wasn’t done with them yet. “You’ll hear him tonight, as Brian decreed. Think of this as you listen to him cry, as you listen to the pain and the madness war inside of him. Listen, and know that you caused this. You are at fault, all of you. Think on how he willingly took this onto himself. He didn’t have to, you know.”<o:p> </o:p>
“But, he said…” Crisanto whispered.<o:p> </o:p>
Shay cut him off with a slash of his hand. “He didn’t have to do that. No one would have faulted him for allowing Ubayy, or any of you, to take this punishment. But he honestly believes in his role and he takes it to heart. To him, he deserved this for not teaching you better. He took your punishment willingly onto himself, though no other would have enforced it. Think on that, while you spend your night here. Think on how you have treated this man and yet, still, he does this for you.”
STORIES<o:p> </o:p>