The Warlord and The Priestess

[4Chiri]

Once he was sure she was away, he released a heavy breath.


"...ah.." he said in moderate pain and took off his shirt, letting the fresh whip marks cool. It seemed no matter how much the priestess protested, the officials were determined to somehow make him remember to never make any mistakes concerning the priestess.


Ithet came back from her walk and gave a light gasp at him.


"...sir...! Are you alright?" she asked


"...I'm fine." he said, straightening. The blisters were still....healing.


"No, I'll help you....what happened?" she asked and rushed to find some sort of medical bag, immediately finding some salve she came to him. Not just eager...but also considerate.


"I said I'm fine." he stated a bit more forward. Still she ignored...and it seemed Melia was in her tent...perhaps resting?


"I'm not going to let you sit around with these festering, you can't care for it yourself, now stop being stubborn!" she huffed and tenderly lifted her coated fingers to his back, with a bit of a shiver, began to gently apply the ointment to his skin. Her face went a shade pink...but she continued anyway.


He huffed with frustration....either way....at least it brought some comfort.

 

[Morigan]

Melia heard Ithet exclaim and grew concerned. Moganthe had mentioned wolves...She gathered her courage and left the tent once more, only to be halted by shock at what she saw before her eyes.


"Ithet?" she asked weakly as her eyes stayed focused on Moganthe's back. "What is going on?"

 

[4Chiri]

"Oh!" she turned with a reddened face. "....It's just...the warlord's back.....look......" she said and moved away from him.


"I was just helping..." she mumbled.


Moganthe sighed. "I insisted I didn't need any help..." he scratched his head.

 

[Morigan]

"What happened? Who did this?" she asked as she stepped closer. She was afraid she already knew the answer, and the anger of it was nearly choking her.

 

[4Chiri]

"....The Advisor, Master Zegothan." he sighed quietly. "It had nothing to do with you Priestess, it was an entire different matter. You needn't be concerned." he said quickly and put on his shirt again.


"Please, continue resting."


Ithet took a step back, she was a bit confused herself. Zegothan had always expressed somehow punishing Moganthe, but now the reason was unknown. Probably an excuse for him to do so....but still. It was borderline torture according to how many lashes were stretched across his tannish skin.

 

[Morigan]

"How...how could you think I could simply return to resting?!" she cried out, distraught that he was injured, and that he thought she could care so little. "Do you truly think so little of me?" She sank to her knees next to him. She didn't believe it had nothing to do with her...it seemed her words meant nothing to anyone.

 

[4Chiri]

"I think very highly of you milady. But I was told rules of conduct just as you were. How important it was to follow those rules." he stated blankly though his expression showed pain and concern.


"I am sorry that I've caused you discontent. But please....your job is to focus on the pilgrimage....nothing..else..." he sighed and walked away to collect the horses.


Ithet kneeled next to the priestess then. "..Priestess....please.....stand....lie down in your tent. You're just stressed...that's all. I'll t-talk to him if you want...he can't talk to you openly, but he can with me...maybe he will and I can tell you what you want to know?" she smiled weakly.

 

[Morigan]

Melia's eyes were full of tears as she nodded at Ithet, but she did not trust herself to speak. Instead she went back to the tent, silently. If he wanted her here, out of the way she would stay here. She was hurt by his words, and by the betrayal of the people who were supposed to listen to her commands. Nothing was turning out the way it was meant to be.

 

[4Chiri]

"My lady...please do not be too upset..." she soothed. "everything will be alright...shall I pray with you?" she asked.


"Don't mind Master Zegothan...when we get back to the city, we can go straight to the Emperor and tell him that Master Zegothan ignores your commands. Then HE will be punished..." she said with anger in her voice.


"How dare he hurt Moganthe...he's so innocent.." she said, her voice full of emotion. "he's just doing the best he can, how could someone hurt him like that for doing what he's supposed to do!?"

 

[Morigan]

"Why don't you go out...and check on him?" Melia said hesitantly. She wanted to do so herself, but knew he had no wish to see her. "I think I will go ahead and go to sleep for the night," she said sadly, lying down on the furs.

 

[4Chiri]

"Right away," she said, pleased within herself that she was allowed to speak with him more... She quickly left the tent in search of him.

 

[Morigan]

Melia laid there trying to sleep, but she could not calm her mind enough to actually rest. She eventually gave up trying to fall asleep and just lay staring at the side of the tent was the evening slowly passed her by.

 

[4Chiri]

"...How often did you visit the basilica? Before all of...this?" she asked.


"Only as often as the Emperor did..I had no reason or no time to visit myself." he answered, slightly emotionless they tended to the horses together. "Shouldn't you be with the priestess?" he asked.


Ithet paused. She would rather be with him...if she was honest with herself.


"Well...she's sleeping. I don't want to disturb her....and I'm not tired." she admitted.


There was a pause of silence.


"Well...the sun will be setting soon and the cold will come. You should go in and bundle with her." He breathed and looked towards where the wolves had prominated themselves. A few hundred yards away...watching.


"What about you?" She asked with a hint of longing.


"...I will stay up and keep watch."

 

[Morigan]

Melia heard Ithet return to the tent, but she pretended to be asleep. She waited to hear her even breathing, indicating that her hand maid was in deep sleep. Once she was certain Ithet was asleep and thinking Moganthe would also be sleeping, she silently wrapped her cloak around her, leaving her veil and traditional robes behind she wore only her plain dress. She carefully lifted up the back of the tent and slipped out underneath it, into the night.

 

[4Chiri]

Ithet lightly snored.


and Moganthe lay outside, under the stars. He slept soundly also, but with his sword in his hand.


The night air was frigid, as if the wind from the northern tundras brushed over the land with icy breaths. The faint sound of howling echoed over the breeze.

 

[Morigan]

Melia kept her hood pulled up, but breezes in the night whipped blonde tendrils of her hair around her face. She walked near to where Moganthe lay, and watched him sadly while he slept. Even in his sleep he did not look peaceful...guilt washed over her again as she thought of all he had suffered since he met her. This reinforced her decision, she had to leave. The Mothers and Archbishops would choose another Priestess, someone else to control and be a puppet.


"Goodbye," she whispered softly and she turned to walk out of the camp into the woods.

 

[4Chiri]

It wasn't long before the camp was out of sight. The woods were looming...dark....and inside was a blanket of fresh snow..... there were some wolf prints around. It was silent...everything was asleep now...winter had set hard and the frigid air bit at her nose and fingers.

 

[Morigan]

Melia pressed on, determined she was doing what was best for everyone. The cold began to sink through her cloak, into her bones. She rubbed her arms rapidly trying to warm herself. She trudged onward, through the long hours of the night. Soon the faintest glow of sunrise filtered down through the trees to reach her. Relief flooded her as she realized she had made it through her first night alone.

 

[4Chiri]

"Hello there lass..." said a man's voice permeated the silence. "I've been watching you." he chuckled and jumped down from the trees.


He wore leathers. Had weapons...he was foreign with pale blonde hair and iron colored eyes.


"You've wandered a bit out of your own territory....you know."

 

[Morigan]

"I'm just passing through, I'm sorry if I've trespassed on private land. If you will kindly point me the correct direction, I will trouble you no more," she said firmly, determined not to be afraid.

 

[4Chiri]

"That's not how this works." he said and took a step forward, he stood a head taller and looked into her eyes with a grin. "I think yer smarter than that...aren'tcha? Not safe for a pretty young girl like yourself being out here all alone like."


He gave a nod, signaling another man to fall from the trees behind her.


"I was gettin' tired of waiting for someone to walk this way..."


"Shut up..." he said and grabbed her chin. "Listen missy....I'm gonna ask you one time and If I think you're lying, I'm gonna cut you." he said and flicked a knife from his pocket.


"...what're you doing here? Are you spying for that emperor of yours?"

 

[Morigan]

"No, I swear! I'm just leaving..." she said frantically, trying to pull her face away from the man's rough grip. "I'm not even going back! I couldn't spy, even if I wanted to-which I don't!" she pleaded, pushing against the larger man with her hands.

 

[4Chiri]

He grabbed her shoulders and roughly pressed her up against a tree with a thud.


"What the hell reason are you doing wandrin' around in the woods for?" he chuckled almost hysterically.


"Let's just kill her and be done with it." the second man huffed. "maybe we can sell her hair."


"No....that would be a waste. think of how much money she can earn as a slave?" ...he grinned and grabbed her chin again...roughly turning her face.


Then the voices echoed. faint whispers..


"...I suggest you release her," said Moganthe, he stepped through the trees with his sword in his hands. He kept his eyes to the floor, never looking at her. Ithet ran up behind him with her robes.


"Priestess!" she yelled in worry.


The man spun Melia around and grabbed her, placing a knife at her neck.


Moganthe stared down at their feet, a dagger in his left hand.


"...he eh....can't fight when you aren't looking at your--


Suddenly Moganthe threw the dagger, just barely missing Melia's face and sunk into her attackers head. a splatter of blood trailed as the man fell to his death. in a sudden movement Moganthe twisted as the other bandit ran to attack him, just to fall dead, his head rolling...his blood on Moganthe's sword.


The bandits died in mere seconds.


"Priestess!" Ithet yelled running to Melia...


Moganthe kept his eyes to the bloodied snow..

 

[Morigan]

"No!" Melia said loudly. "I am leaving...while I thank you for killing those men, I cannot stay." She turned from her rescuers to continue her trek. Inside, all she wanted to do was run back to them, pretend this had never happened, but she could not. She had made her choice and must see it through. Melia would be no one's puppet, she would not let anyone else be hurt for her own sake.


"I must go." she said quietly over her shoulder.

 

[4Chiri]

"You're not going anywhere Priestess." Moganthe snapped with command.


"This is the beginning of the sacrifices people will make for you..." he took a few steps, stopping behind her. He wanted to grab her, to pull her close and back to camp...but he couldn't.


"...I've told you...I will not let anything happen to you. I promised Mother Dyona and the Emperor that I wouldn't let you out of my sight, that as long as I live...." he stopped.


"...that I will protect you."


Ithet stared...watching with wide worried eyes.


"You aren't alone Priestess. Come back with us...let us finish this pilgrimage....as soon as it's done...all of these trials will be over." he turned away from her, keeping his eyes down, not even looking at the hem of her dress and began back to camp.


"Come Melia....wrap up...you're freezing." Ithet soothed and held up her robes.