A Hero's Second Chance

[monique_minx]

Helena smiled and shook her head as Damien spoke and turned toward the forest, she yawned suddenly and covered it with a single hand.

“Guess I do need sleep, some of us don’t have wonderful pieces of magical jewelry! “ She grinned at him and winked before she stalked over to her bedroll and unfurled it to begin the same routine over.

When Helena awoke in the morning, she spied Damien moving about and waiting for the dawn so he could wake the rest. She slunk off into the jungle carrying her bag quietly; she ducked behind a huge tree and began to remove her metal armour. She knew she’d likely pass out from the heat of the desert trek if she didn’t change her attire; even if she was riding Arrow. She tore her breastplate from her body and dropped it; it needed replacing anyway so it was merely less for her to carry. She changed into leather fatigues and stalked back towards the camp where everyone was saddling up for the ride back to Alexandria.

She rolled her eyes at Abraham who looked near salivating over her outfit which consisted of a red skirt fashioned Roman style and the usual gladiator style coverings though hers was fitted for a female. She’d tied her ebony curls back and braided them into one long plait down her back. She mounted Arrow easily with the leather on and breathed relief as everything suddenly felt lighter to her. She kicked him into a trot and followed along quietly.

They camped again, saddled up and rode off twice more before finally they found themselves in the streets of Alexandria. A messenger had obviously reached the council before them as the warriors weren’t even allowed a rest; the council had gathered already. Helena dismounted after Kruxus and her horse was taken by a young lad to be cared for as was each of the others’ horses.

Leah sighed and fell into line with the rest, Kruxus bowed to a man unknown to her and she presumed he was some leader to Kruxus. They exchanged quiet words while Helena merely nodded to Ptolemy who returned it and smiled.

“Glad to see you alive Helena not that I doubted you for a moment.” He said to her in soft spoken tones.

“Couldn’t very well let you down Majesty, knowing all the faith you have in me.” She smiled warmly but there was something underlying in the smile Ptolemy gave to her following that before he stepped back into the council’s ranks again.

The old man stepped up to the podium to speak again and everyone fell silent waiting to hear what he was about to say…

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien found himself slightly alienated as the group returned once more to Alexandria. Each of the other men, and Hellena with them, went straight to one leader or another, being welcomed home. The tale of their journey passed from ear to ear, and more than one gaze drifted his way. He seemed oblivious to it all though, his gaze turning to watch the leader of the council as he rose and walked to the podium.

"Greetings once more my friends. Our group of champions has returned with a tale of success greater than we'd imagined. The trolls were defeated in short order, but it seems that another challenge awaited our champions. A mighty creature of fire with many heads, a pyrohydra attacked them, yet they were victorious once more. With quick wits, reflexes and strength they succeeded, and have proven themselves ready to undertake the first of the tasks that will be appointed to them." The old man's gaze turned towards Damien as he spoke of the encounter with the hydra. Many gazes followed his as the few who hadn't heard of the encounter were informed of what had transpired.

"The first of the tasks that awaits our champion will be the easiest of the four. A trip to the elemental plane of earth, the safest of them. There they will find the temple of earth, wherever it may be, with what little advice and directions we can offer. Once there, they will find a way inside, and recover whatever bit of secret or magic is there, and return to us so that we might send them on their way once more. Our champions will have this day to rest and celebrate their small victory before we send them out once more."

The crowd applauded at each bit of words spoken by the elder, and when it was all said and done, Damien waited by the door, hesitating before leaving to see if the elder or anybody else had anything to say to him before he took his leave for the night.

 

[monique_minx]

Helena and the others listened in rapt silence as the old man explained their next task, Maximus of course would have to be briefed later as he’d already been taken to the Inn that the warriors were being put up in for the evening.

As soon as the old man was done, Leah was surprised to find Damien had made for the door as quickly as she had but then she could hardly blame him for not wanting to answer awkward questions and so forth. She grinned at him and slipped past, stepping out into the cool night air as the other warriors did so slowly.

Helena eyed Kruxus with wary regard however; he’d been speaking to his leader almost nonstop all night and throwing a few glances at Damien and one or two at her. It made her uncomfortable to think of what he might be saying but she brushed it off and headed for their little corner of the evening.

She wandered into the dimly lit room, candles all lit as the night grew dark and she took up a place at a long table which had been set specifically for them. Tobias came up at her left and glared at the Innkeeper who looked as though he was about to tell Leah to get gone, Helena rolled her eyes and sighed but smiled gratefully at Tobias. She could have handled it easily but after sometime, proving to men was tedious and irritating though she was well practiced.

Quietly the others filtered in from their little conversations with various people and council members; everyone wanted a firsthand account. Helena started to eat slowly but she quickly realized someone was missing, she scanned the table and realized Kruxus was not yet with them. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously and she arched a brow in gesture to Damien who sat across from her.

“Someone’s missing all the fun…” She mouthed silently and clearly to him, hoping he’d catch her meaning.

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien listened calmly to the old man, taking in what was being said, and gauging the difficulty of the task before them. It wasn't so much the elemental plane of earth that he was worried about though. Like the old man said, earth was the easiest of the four, though easiest didn't mean easy by any stretch. He'd been generally impassive through the speach, uncaring of the glances passed his way. The only time his face changed though, was when Leah passed by him. She cast him a smile, and he returned it, finding his gaze trailing her as she left.

It quickly became clear after the meeting that the taverns were the next hot spot. Damien was approaching the table as well when he saw Tobias scare the inn keeper away from Leah. He approached her and settled across from her. "You'd be surprised how quick the opinions of men like that change though, when women soldiers buttes like any other soldier." Damien said warmly.

“Someone’s missing all the fun…”

Damien simply nodded at first, but he found himself reflecting on the situation. In the end, he figured he might know the reason why.

"There is more than one battle that will need to be found Hellena. Even as we go and seek the means with which to destroy the evils that compound on us, preparations will need to be made here to defend themselves. Kruxus may look and act like a buffoon at times, but he's calm in the heat of battle, and that's important. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up staying here to lead the defense while we do our part."

Damien reflected on his own words, thinking that likely he would be leading the party if such events did occur. His hands closed around his mug of ale and he let his gaze wander, thinking once more how much he had missed the mortal realm, but also of how much they had missed him these past one-hundred years. Silently he shook his head before lifting his gaze towards Leah, smiling softly. "It's almost hard to accept that I'm back after all these years you know?" The question was almost rhetorical, but he actually did find himself wanting to talk to somebody, but found himself without many other people other than the party itself.

 

[monique_minx]

Helena nodded slowly, she wasn’t sure that Damien was right; the way Kruxus had looked upon them both just didn’t seem right and she had her suspicions about him. She shrugged it off as paranoia but then there was so many things happening behind the scenes that it didn’t surprise her in the least that she was growing a bit mistrustful.

"It's almost hard to accept that I'm back after all these years you know?"

Leah nodded and smiled in return; her’s was one of comfort. She slowly set her utensils down and stood up from the table.

“I can imagine it’d be a little difficult, I can’t imagine what it would be like to miss so much of your life, such a huge chunk of time….walk with me?” She asked and gestured to the door, ignoring some of the smirks that the others tried to hide not to mention a suggestive wink from Calhoun.

She rolled her eyes at their innuendos and headed for the door, stepping out into the night air which was cooling rapidly. Helena had to admit to herself that she did find Damien somewhat attractive and he’d certainly intrigued her from the beginning but it was quite difficult to get to know him while she was surrounded by winks and grins from the others.

“Hey so ah, what did you miss the most while you were…well you know, off in the clouds?” She smiled nervously, a little surprised at herself for it but she didn’t let it show on her face as she slowed her pace and indicated that she wanted to talk.

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien set his own utensils down as he watched Leah rise to her feet. He smiled at her invitation and, like her, pointedly ignored the remarks from the other two as he in turn rose from his seat.

“Hey so ah, what did you miss the most while you were…well you know, off in the clouds?”

A soft chuckle escaped Damien's lips at Leah's question. It made him smile, even though he could hear the uncertainty in her voice. As he watched, she slowed down and turned a bit towards him, obviously inviting him to speak.

"It's hard to explain what it was like. When I made the request, I didn't even know how many years it would be, or if they would even consider it. When they did and came back to me with the number though, I was shocked. I couldn't believe at first that they would let so many suffer just for me."

Damien's voice went soft as he let his eyes glaze over, but his mouth continued to move. "They actually let me check in on this place and that throughout the time, letting me see what was going on below. For the longest time I was proud of myself, and what I'd done, even if they didn't know that it had been me. I hadn't done it for me though, I did it for them."

A long silence followed before Damien spoke again, but his blue eyes almost shone in the moonlight. "Up there, I was surrounded by angels and other exalted beings, but even with all of them it wasn't the same. I missed the closeness that we humans develop with those around us, putting your life in their hands as they put theirs in yours. We do such great things in such a short amount of time, all with the help of hundreds, and sometimes thousands of other people. There just wasn't anything to compare to that up there, not even the heavens themselves."

Damien smiled a small smile as he reminisced, but then turned back to Leah, waiting to hear what her response would be.

 

[monique_minx]

Helena nodded as she listened, watching Damien reminisce about centuries past; long before Leah had been so much as a sparkle in her father’s eye. She was a little in awe of him, it was beyond human comprehension that his stories could be true and yet she found herself believing them without hesitation after she’d watched how he handled himself with the pyrohydra . She couldn’t wait to see what else she would learn from him or about him.

“So you missed human contact? I think I would miss that…what about family or friends? Did you care about anyone or have to leave them? Or both…” She knew it was a sensitive question and any assent to it would probably bring about some pain in him but the curiosity within her burned something fierce and she couldn’t help it.

Leah looked around at how far they had walked and she smiled, looking up at a flat topped wall that was at least two metres wide. She wandered with Damien to the stairs and started up them, turning to him for a moment, “I used to come up here as a child…my sister, my brother and I…just watching the city, the view is rather nice actually…”

She left off with a soft ache in her heart as she made her way up the stairs and wandered over the top of the wall. Helena stopped and sat down with her feet dangling off the edge, giving Damien a silent invitation to join her as she stared in astonishment at the expanse of Alexandria laid out before her. The glittering torches lit the streets and the people wandered freely, guards and soldiers made themselves known everywhere. Each one of them busy with some task or another though for Helena and Damien; the world was at a standstill for at least one evening…

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien listened calmly as Leah asked her next question. It was both innocent and personal at the same time, yet perfectly understandable. He didn't answer right away though, but rather listened to her speak again.

Damien followed, still silent as Leah walked up the stairs, and his gaze watched her as she sat down on the edge, letting her feet dangle. The invitation wasn't spoken, but he knew it was there. Wordlessly he moved to her side and settled himself with her, their shoulders touching.

"Because of the path I chose...I didn't really have much time for romances, the occasional night at an inn like any other adventurer sure, but never a wife." Damien started quietly, letting his gaze drift over the town. For some reason he seemed able to open up to Leah, like he doubted he could do with others.

"As for my family, they understood as much as anybody. The choices and risks I made were mine to make. It's my friends I miss the most though, the men and women who traveled beside me, some for ten years or more. The gods let me watch from the heavens, let me look at the world I'd given my freedom to help. It wasn't the same though..." Damien finally turned his sky blue gaze to Leah. "I watched the men and women I respected more than any other grow old and eventually die. I Watched generation after generation of their line, hoping to see some of the spark they'd had...It didn't come though. The world was different. I came to realize that with no evil, there was no need for heroes."

Damien's head bowed in shame. "It's not right how it all happened. I should have been there with them. I should have died with them then. Now I'm here, without all of them, in a world that is unprepared for the evil it faces..."

Once more that sky blue gaze lifted to Leah's, a sadness in those eyes. "I haven't told anybody yet...but I know the danger that approaches. It almost makes sense in a way. Four directions, four elements...and four horsemen of the apocalypse. I don't know if this world is ready for the kinds of horrors that approach, and..." Damien halted, shaking his head as he turned to look once more over the sprawling city. "I don't know if I have what it takes to lead them this time. I'm not the same man I was before that wish Hellena."

Damien kept his gaze locked with hers, measuring her responses to his words as he waited for her to speak.

 

[monique_minx]

Helena nodded along with a solemnity to her expression and body language, it was clear that he was inducing some compassion from her; something she rarely had for others. But it was his last few words that really caught her attention; in particular - the four horsemen. She hid her shock, her concern and the hint of disbelief at hearing such things and chose to address what he said last of all.

“I suppose that would depend upon the man you were and the man you consider yourself to be now. I saw you with the pyrohydra, I doubt your worries are founded Damien. Look at them.” She gestured with a flick of her chin towards the city and the many people wandering around.

“Without us they are finished, ten soldiers and a few armies that may fight and hold the enemy off…ultimately each one of us knows it comes down to our little band. Do you think they know that?” It was a rhetorical question of course, they both knew the answer was no but Helena was attempting to get a point across.

“Damien…” She said slowly and turned her head to him at last, her usually hard eyes had softened to something feminine as they levelled with his, “…what kind of a man do you consider yourself to be? What changed you? How did you change? Have you even asked yourself yet?”

Helena left off and turned back to the city, a cold sadness came over her as she was reminded of her brother, sitting next to him and having him trying to push her off the wall. He had long since died and Leah had never forgotten her last words to him or his to her. She hadn’t been up here with another since his death and now she was suddenly wondering what had made her think to bring Damien here of all places.

He was nothing like her brother, in fact Kruxus was probably more like her brother Sefu and of course; he hadn’t started out badly but Helena suspected something had made him turn on her like he had. Sefu had always been supportive of her becoming a soldier and it was almost like a few months away from home had changed him completely. He was a different man to the big brother she had known and this man told her she was a disgrace to the family and would never amount to anything.

Helena shook herself from her horrid memories and turned back to Damien to hear what he would say about those questions…

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien's blue gaze softened as he heard Leah's words, and though she wasn't looking at him just yet, he kept his face turned towards her, until she bade him to look over the city. In his mind he knew she spoke the truth. They both knew she spoke the truth. the future of this entire city, and the continent it was in the center of depended on their success. Even more than that though, not only did they have to bring back the power to combat the forces before them, but there was that confrontation itself. How could mortal men and women fight such beings?

It wasn't until Leah spoke his name once more that Damien turned towards her again, noting the softer expressions of her face. “…what kind of a man do you consider yourself to be? What changed you? How did you change? Have you even asked yourself yet?”

Those words stunned Damien, for he hadn't really thought about it from that angle. In his mind he knew what had changed, and very little of it had to do with him. He watched as she turned away from him, obviously lost in her own thoughts, which gave him time to reflect on her questions. He was in denial, that much he knew, yet she was asking him to face his demons. When at last she turned back to face him, his sky blue gaze locked with hers once more.

"I can't answer your questions I guess, because it wasn't me that changed. Even after all this time, I think, fight, and am the same as I was back then." A long pause followed those words as Damien tried to piece together his thoughts. "What did change though, is how the people look at me. Over fifteen hundred years ago, I had their support, right from the start. There wasn't a person in the world who didn't know my name. Yet now...because of me nobody names their child Damien. The stories that once inspired youngsters to be more than just farmers and merchants aren't told. You ask what's changed, and I tell you nothing. The world has changed. You're the only person in this entire city who believes me, believes in me." Damien's gaze turned serious as he continued, an eager look in his eye as he spoke once more.

"I know that I have no right to ask this of you Hellena, but would you follow me? If the whole of the kingdom distrusted me, and we alone knew what needed to be done, would you stand by me where I once stood alone?" In his mind, Damien hoped Hellena would say yes. Knowing that he would have at least one ally in the days ahead would make things that much easier on himself. A long time ago, he'd fought alone, but as he'd already said, it was the friends who'd made things easier for him, and it was the friends he remembered and missed. Now he was asking for that again, for a single friend to share the burdens of hundreds of thousands of people.

 

[monique_minx]

Leah nodded with a dawning of understanding on her face as he explained that it was the world that had changed and not him. But that alone had in fact changed him because it just wasn’t the world he’d been plucked out of anymore and Helena could comprehend that one better than she thought. His next question caught her completely off guard though.

“You're the only person in this entire city who believes me, believes in me. I know that I have no right to ask this of you Helena, but would you follow me? If the whole of the kingdom distrusted me, and we alone knew what needed to be done, would you stand by me where I once stood alone?"

Leah gaped for a moment, her cheeks bright red, no one had ever cared whether she stood behind them or not, they’d not cared where she stood at all and here Damien was asking her as though it made any kind of difference to him. Helena could tell by his tone that indeed; it meant a lot to him. She slowly nodded and took his hand, guiding him to his feet and twisting on the wall so that they faced the outer limits of the city; the desert was vast and just beyond the city walls were the poorest people of all. Those who could barely afford to eat let alone clothe themselves or have shelter from the harsh elements.

“I will be here with you Damien, beside you, at your back or behind you if you need me. But I am not like you nor will I ever be, I’ve fought my whole life to be equal to men in war. Now I still fight for respect among them but I also fight for equality for everyone, not just for me, not just for female soldiers but for those poor people down there who die simply because they can’t afford some shelter from the cold nights or some shelter from the burning sun.”

“It’s they who will suffer most of all, they who will be killed first in this war and they who will be sacrificed for the richer of society and the monarchs and leaders like the council who recruited us. Do you think we’re not expendable? That they haven’t got a million others in line to do what we’re about to do?”

“Ptolemy has never been more full of it than when he speaks to me and I’m no fool about that either. Rome will turn on Egypt before this is over, I’ve no doubt about Caesar at all, he is charismatic but he is also ambitious, I see an awful end to any treaty between our nations and I suspect Ptolemy has also foreseen this, I suspect a plot to use me. Though I do not know in what capacity…” Helena took a breath at last, she felt her anger rising as she spoke of her suspicions; she’d never told anyone all of this before and she wondered how Damien had such an effect as to make her want to pour everything out to him.

“I will fight for my people, those down there who are banished beyond the city limits…that’s where I came from Damien, do you truly want me by your side now that you know all of this?” Leah looked away from him, almost ashamed to have told him she had been one of those sand dwellers who were too poor to afford anything. It had been her mother getting pity from a royal that had saved their little family from certain death and she had gotten a position in the palace as a servant.

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien couldn't help but smile a small smile at Leah's reaction to his question. It was quite obvious that she had certainly not been expecting it. She seemed embarrassed that he would want her beside him, and he could understand that. Her nod brightened his smile, but when she took his hand, rose them to their feet, and turned them to face the poorest part of the city, the mood changed.

“I will be here with you Damien, beside you, at your back or behind you if you need me. But I am not like you nor will I ever be, I’ve fought my whole life to be equal to men in war. Now I still fight for respect among them but I also fight for equality for everyone, not just for me, not just for female soldiers but for those poor people down there who die simply because they can’t afford some shelter from the cold nights or some shelter from the burning sun.”

“It’s they who will suffer most of all, they who will be killed first in this war and they who will be sacrificed for the richer of society and the monarchs and leaders like the council who recruited us. Do you think we’re not expendable? That they haven’t got a million others in line to do what we’re about to do?”

With a calm countenance, Damien listened to Leah. Already, a response was forming in his mind, but he could see that she had more to say, so he kept quiet, letting her continue. “Ptolemy has never been more full of it than when he speaks to me and I’m no fool about that either. Rome will turn on Egypt before this is over, I’ve no doubt about Caesar at all, he is charismatic but he is also ambitious, I see an awful end to any treaty between our nations and I suspect Ptolemy has also foreseen this, I suspect a plot to use me. Though I do not know in what capacity…” The words had almost seemed to pour out of the angering woman, and yet more were to come.

“I will fight for my people, those down there who are banished beyond the city limits…that’s where I came from Damien, do you truly want me by your side now that you know all of this?”

When Leah finished speaking, her head turned away from Damien, seeming to almost be ashamed of her past. Without hesitation though, his hand moved to her chin, guiding her head back around until she faced him once more. His sky blue gaze glittered in the starlight, and his face was soft. His hand held her chin without force, keeping her gaze locked with his alone.

"You speak of such people as though they mean nothing, and you are right in some ways. A very many people think nothing of the poor peasants, but when I think of them, I think of something else. For is it not them that needs what we promise the most? We do not promise victory, nor wealthy or prosperity, what we represent is far more than that, and means far more to them than even that. We, you and I, and maybe some of the rest, represent something they'd struggled to hold on to their entire lives, hope. Ever since I Was first knights, I fought to bring hope back to the people, food to the hungry, and shelter to the homeless. I did these things in addition to protecting them, and it was for people like that that I made that wish all those years ago. I didn't care about kings, princes, and lords. They have armies to fight their battles for them. I made that wish of peace for all the people who can't fight for themselves, and now I am back to do so once again. They might not know the specifics of what they face, but even they know that something is coming, and it is our job to ensure that they stay safe, even after out return."

"You ask if I want you by my side, knowing your past, and I must of course say yes. We both have pasts behind us that we are not proud of, yet here we stand. For some reason the fates brought us here, and for another reason they brought us together. Whatever that reason is, we may never know, but if I had to pick one person to stand with me against the horsemen, it would be you. If others join us, all the better, but knowing that I do not stand alone in this fight means more to me than I can ever say."

Damien's voice had flooded from him, his words spilling from the very depths of his heart, every bit of it true. Yet even as it was all said and done, he had more to say, more feelings buried within his heart that he was struggling with, not the least of which was his feelings for this woman. His hand still held her chin, and they stood so close that he could almost feel the heat radiating from her body. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, wanted to kiss her. He couldn't tear his blue gaze away from her, yet couldn't bring himself to speak of his feelings, lest he scare her away.

And so they stood, together, a solitary pair prepared to stand against perils possibly far beyond either of them, yet both willing to risk and give everything they had and were to protect those who could not protect themselves.

 

[monique_minx]

The moment Damien gripped her chin tenderly and got her to turn around she knew it was a big mistake. Leah could barely concentrate on what he was saying for the electrical surge his proximity sent through her. She had no idea that he’d gotten so deeply ingrained in her skin over the past few weeks and this just brought it to light more fiercely than she could have imagined. A tear was squeezed from her eye and Helena was horrified by it, she hadn’t cried in years!

Leah felt a searing need to press her lips to his but she knew better than to do that, to change their relationship in such a way was a bad idea. Not to mention the fact that she wasn’t sure he would reciprocate or be disgusted but Helena had but a moment to make up her mind about what she was going to do. She took a sudden step back and shook her head, swallowing with a strained choking splutter of a sound.

“I will be here for you Damien but I can’t be here right now, it would be unwise…I’m sorry…” Leah turned tail and practically bolted off the wall, down the stairs, wiping her eyes furiously.

She was more than angry with herself and she walked quickly away from him in case he tried to stop her. Leah made her way into the Inn, eyes down as she passed by Tobias, Calhoun and the others. Noting Kruxus had finally made an appearance and was giving her a very suspicious look. She paid him no mind and made her way to her room at a faster pace than would be normal for anyone, yet her stride was not angry; more an escape.

She got to her room and slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against it with a sigh of relief as though she’d just escaped the clutches of death itself. She moved from the door and kicked at the small bed in the centre of the room.

“Stupid, stupid! How could you let yourself…god you’re so damn foolish Leah! I can just hear Sefu and Mother right now…telling you you’re never going to be a good soldier! You’re a female, you have too many nurturing qualities Helena! Well nice going, you just proved them all right!” Helena muttered angrily to herself and collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“I wasn’t supposed to feel for him, I never felt for Samuel no matter how infatuated he grew to be! This is…beyond idiotic. I won’t ever prove these stupid rumours wrong…in fact I may have just proved everyone right!”

Helena shook her head, she was extremely frustrated with herself and hadn’t expected to feel for Damien in that moment as she did. As she still did. It wasn’t ever supposed to happen, she was supposed to marry a civilian if anyone and prove to all that she wasn’t just making her way by sleeping with all of her men. Because of these rumours; Helena had in fact remained a virgin and now it seemed her goal of proving anything to anyone was out of reach. Especially if she couldn’t squash all these feelings for Damien…

 

[LucianDevine]

How long the pair remained like that, Damien holding Leah's chin, their gazes locked, each seemingly thinking the exact same pair of thoughts, neither would know. It felt like an eternity though, a blissful eternity. That world came crashing down as she stepped back though, breaking contact and putting space between them. “I will be here for you Damien but I can’t be here right now, it would be unwise…I’m sorry…” The moment the words were out of her mouth, and before Damien could respond, Leah was heading towards the stairs, down and gone. He could do nothing just then, but stand in stunned silence, almost unbelieving of what had just happened.

In those moments, Damien was torn once again. He had her word that she would be coming with him, yet she'd also fled from him, just as they seemed about to get even closer. He was lost on how to proceed. If he chased her down, she might be angry with him, yet if he let her go, she might feel abandoned. With a sigh he sat back on the wall, now sitting alone as he looked towards the stars, wondering if the gods were laughing as they teased him.

"First you lure me to your side, then you trick me into wishing myself into a state of torpor, then you strip me of my most prized possessions, and now you watch as I prepare for your horsemen." Damien didn't know if the gods could hear him, and quite frankly, he didn't care. Even if he wasn't shouting at them at the top of his lungs, like he wanted to do, just speaking the words helped. "You took everything from me...but I'm not letting you have her. May you all be damned to the abyss!"

When Damien had finished his words, he followed Leah's path, bolting down the stairs, and heading straight for the inn. He did stop to compose himself though, waiting until his breathing calmed before he entered the inn. The heads of the other eight, for Kruxus had finally showed up, all turned towards him as he entered. He looked at them, knew immediately that Leah wasn't there, and then turned and headed down the hallway towards where their rooms were clumped together. He moved past Leah's room, noting the door was closed. He hesitated briefly before moving past, moving to his own door. He put the key in the lock and turned it, but hesitated again before entering. With a small shake of his head he locked it once more and put the key back in his pocket. He backtracked to Leah's room and knocked quietly. "Helena..." He said softly, hesitantly, doubting that any more words needed be said in that place and in that moment.

 

[monique_minx]

The soft knock at the door was almost deafening to her, she snapped from her thoughts and jumped up thinking it was one of the men come to ask her what was wrong. The quiet utterance of her name froze her in her tracks as she recognized Damien’s voice with her hand on the doorknob. It took her a moment to snap out of it and open the door, her eyes slightly bloodshot from crying but the tears had dried up already.

“Come in…” Her voice said softly, a clear indication of not wanting to have an awkward conversation with him where people might overhear.

When he entered, she shut the door behind him and turned to him, stepping away from the door as she filled with apprehension. If it was a bad idea to be close to him while standing on the city wall then it was an even worse idea to be this close to him in her room. Her eyes wandered over the bed and her satchel on it, her boot had made a small indentation in the bed frame. Her gaze lingered over everything with any excuse not to look at him, not into his blue eyes, his warmth, remember his body heat…not his nearness to her then or now…

Finally she looked up with a deep sigh and met his eyes, “You shouldn’t have come here Damien, I don’t know what you want from me but I shouldn’t feel for you like I did up on that wall. Emotions cloud judgement and the last thing I want right now is for everything I worked so hard for to come crashing down around my ears…”

A sudden realization hit her; she had just admitted feelings for him, her cheeks burned bright red again and she turned away. She moved over to the table and picked up her armoured breast plate, she ran a single hand over it and set it down; turning back to him.

“I’ve worked too hard…” Her voice cracked and her eyes shined, she couldn’t go on no more than she could look upon him now.

Helena stared down at the floor with fierce intent as though it might come alive and swallow her, she had humiliated herself on this night and nothing would take that back. Still she wanted him close to her, still she denied herself so much as the prospect of that and didn’t allow her thoughts or imagination to go beyond him just holding her…

 

[LucianDevine]

Slow and agonizing moments followed Damien's soft knock on Leah's door. He heard the footsteps, and was relieved when she finally opened the door. He could tell the full meaning of her invitation inside, and he did so calmly. As he watched, she closed the door and stepped away from both it and him. A calm and understanding blue gaze followed the woman as he watched her flit here there, and all around the room, before finally lifting to meet his own.

“You shouldn’t have come here Damien, I don’t know what you want from me but I shouldn’t feel for you like I did up on that wall. Emotions cloud judgement and the last thing I want right now is for everything I worked so hard for to come crashing down around my ears…I’ve worked too hard…"

A small smile crossed Damien's lips as he heard her admit feelings for him, but as he watched, he could see the truth in her eyes. She was truly worried about what she said she was. Still, his gaze held hers as he spoke.

"You are right when you say you've worked hard Helena, yet you forget what you've worked so hard to do, and what has led you to do so. Ask yourself this." Damien took a small step forward and continued to speak. "What was it that led you to pick up the sword instead of the sewing needle?" He took another small step forward. "What was it that led you to strap on armor instead of tying on an apron?" As Damien watched, Helena's head bowed, her face flushed red. He took the last step towards her and lifted his hand to tilt her chin up once more to meet his gaze.

"It was your heart that led you to do each of those things, and it is your heart that has feelings for me, yet you deny it now when you've followed it at every turn thus far? Why? What is it that you fear? Do you fear that they will find out that you are human? Do you fear that they will think less of you if you show feelings that all humans have?" Damien's gaze was naught but calm as he questioned her, not expecting answers.

"You said so yourself that so much depends on this little band, and that nothing much else matters other than our mission, so why care about what they think? Why care about what all the other men in this world think? If we succeed, you're a hero, if not it doesn't matter either way. Why not let yourself feel such things at what could be the last moment of peace you know in however long? What's the harm in that?"

Damien stood so close to her that they were merely inches apart. His hand still held her chin, and his eyes still held her gaze. In his mind he'd known from the moment he entered the room that he would try and kiss her here, yet his heart pounded at the prospect of it. His tongue flicked briefly over his lips as he leaned down, pressing a soft and gentle kiss to those lips. His hand held her chin without force, almost waiting to see if she would fully accept his kiss, or if she would push him away.

 

[monique_minx]

"You are right when you say you've worked hard Helena, yet you forget what you've worked so hard to do, and what has led you to do so. Ask yourself this. What was it that led you to pick up the sword instead of the sewing needle? What was it that led you to strap on armor instead of tying on an apron?"

She knew he wasn’t asking a question to be answered, he already knew the answers to such questions as much as she did but as he drew closer she could feel her heartbeat quickening.

"It was your heart that led you to do each of those things, and it is your heart that has feelings for me, yet you deny it now when you've followed it at every turn thus far? Why? What is it that you fear? Do you fear that they will find out that you are human? Do you fear that they will think less of you if you show feelings that all humans have?"

Helena could do nothing but show Damien her very soul with the pain in her expression and in her eyes as he held her chin. She felt her breath catch in her throat and curled her fingers into tight fists and released them; trying to relieve some of the tension that suddenly crawled up into her body.

"You said so yourself that so much depends on this little band, and that nothing much else matters other than our mission, so why care about what they think? Why care about what all the other men in this world think? If we succeed, you're a hero, if not it doesn't matter either way. Why not let yourself feel such things at what could be the last moment of peace you know in however long? What's the harm in that?"

Before she could even think to respond; his lips pressed hers gently as though asking her another question of what she wanted. Her body reacted before her mind ever could and she wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed her body to his. Leah’s lips parted and she kissed him hungrily; her tongue slipping inside his mouth and seeking his warmth. Her eyes had long since closed but now they flickered open as Helena had a sudden realization, she gasped and released Damien, pushing him back with a controlled amount of force; her hands on his shoulders. She was bright red and looked upon him in horror as she started to shake her head vigorously.

“I-I can’t Damien…you could d-” She shook her head again, her voice cracking with sadness and she found herself unable to even say the word.

“And I couldn’t bare it…I can’t…we’re going to war…this is not the time for me to…have…feelings!” Her tone was suddenly angry and she turned away from him and took a deep breath.

She spoke again without looking at him, “Don’t you think I want to? Don’t you think I can’t help how I’m feeling? But I have to damn it! If they see the only female soldier in this little band having relations…don’t you think they won’t do more than just say something? We could both die…and you’re not even thinking about that!”

 

[LucianDevine]

Leah's reaction made Damien smile. For however brief the moment might have been when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, crushing her smaller frame to his well build chest, she was free. Then, as quickly as the moment came, it was gone as she broke the kiss. Her hands moved to his shoulders pressing him to arms length away. Her face was flushed with the combined heat of her feelings and that kiss, yet she denied it still.

“I-I can’t Damien…you could d-” Leah was unable to finish the last word, but he knew well enough what it was. Still he let her continue though, when she was ready. “And I couldn’t bare it…I can’t…we’re going to war…this is not the time for me to…have…feelings!” A voice that had started in sadness ended in anger, angry once more for having the feelings that she might have seen as a weakness. With her back turned, Leah spoke once more, and Damien listened intently. “Don’t you think I want to? Don’t you think I can’t help how I’m feeling? But I have to damn it! If they see the only female soldier in this little band having relations…don’t you think they won’t do more than just say something? We could both die…and you’re not even thinking about that!”

Damien hesitated before speaking, ensuring that Leah was finished before he did so. "Yes..." He said at last. "Yes I could die, as could you and the rest of us, but how does that fact change anything about our lives? We're humans, all of us. When it's our time to die, it's our time. Soldiers like us face that realization every day, yet we keep on fighting. Why do you think that is Helena why? Why do we stand when others won't? Why do we fight when others run? It's those feelings that you are trying to deny. We love this world and it's people so much that we're willing to put ourselves in harm's way again and again, just so that those people out there can live in as much peace as they are able. We fight in the hope's that we can inspire others to take our place when we are gone."

Damien was torn on what to do next. Either choice of the two before him could leave Leah feeling abandoned. He could approach her once more, but risk being pushed away again, or he could leave...Already he knew that he could not do the latter of the two. He approached her once more, moving slowly as before. "It's the feelings that stir within our hearts that separate us from the creatures coming to destroy us Helena." He moved to wrap his arms around her, not so much to seduce, simply to hold her. "These feelings that are ours alone are considered to be a weakness by our enemies, but I know otherwise. When you've watched a man whose family is backed into a corner by a troll, rise up and strike back at the beast three times his size, and somehow manage to overtake and defeat the beast against all odds, you come to see it. Don't deny your heart Helena. The heart, the spirit, and those feelings, are the greatest strength in this world or the next."

Damien knew not what to expect, whether she would push him away or not, he simply remained there, letting her do as she would.

 

[monique_minx]

"Yes...Yes I could die, as could you and the rest of us, but how does that fact change anything about our lives? We're humans, all of us. When it's our time to die, it's our time. Soldiers like us face that realization every day, yet we keep on fighting. Why do you think that is Helena why? Why do we stand when others won't? Why do we fight when others run? It's those feelings that you are trying to deny. We love this world and it's people so much that we're willing to put ourselves in harm's way again and again, just so that those people out there can live in as much peace as they are able. We fight in the hope's that we can inspire others to take our place when we are gone."

Helena nodded but said nothing; he was correct of course but he missed her point and she had to swallow the lump that rose in her throat at the thought of it; that he might die and she might care. She’d watched soldiers die in battle and it was a hard reality to take but it happened. Some of those soldiers had been her friends; good friends but she had not been in love with any of them and such feelings for Damien would skew her judgement on the battlefield. Leah was no rookie; she was well aware of it and was forewarned about what would occur should they find her in such circumstances. Damien was the first and only to have tempted her yet…

"It's the feelings that stir within our hearts that separate us from the creatures coming to destroy us Helena. These feelings that are ours alone are considered to be a weakness by our enemies, but I know otherwise. When you've watched a man whose family is backed into a corner by a troll, rise up and strike back at the beast three times his size, and somehow manage to overtake and defeat the beast against all odds, you come to see it. Don't deny your heart Helena. The heart, the spirit, and those feelings, are the greatest strength in this world or the next."

Helena was near frozen solid as he gently wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes with a pained expression, she knew he was right but he wasn’t aware of all the facts at play. Though Leah could not push him away, she didn’t want to! She was shocked to her core to realize the only thing she wanted to do was get closer to him, tear down everything separating them and push him to the bed. But she couldn’t do that either, her eyes opened slowly and she relaxed into his hold slightly.

“Don’t do this to me Damien…” Her voice was a whisper filled with agony, “I don’t have strength enough to push you from my arms, I don’t want to…and by the gods I swear; I have never wanted another man so much in my life! But I can’t…we can’t…I was warned I would lose my shield if I was found to be having relations of any kind, they’ll see it as a desire to pick up that sewing needle and have babies and gods…I don’t want that. Truly I want you but the risk…”

She trailed off in the attempt to convey her reasons to him but even as she spoke, she felt her own emotions overpowering her. Helena knew she should step away, she should free herself from his arms and put distance between them and yet she didn’t want to. She wanted this; wanted to savour this if this was all it could ever be, Leah wanted to make the moment last.

 

[LucianDevine]

“Don’t do this to me Damien…I don’t have strength enough to push you from my arms, I don’t want to…and by the gods I swear; I have never wanted another man so much in my life! But I can’t…we can’t…I was warned I would lose my shield if I was found to be having relations of any kind, they’ll see it as a desire to pick up that sewing needle and have babies and gods…I don’t want that. Truly I want you but the risk…”

Though Leah's words said one thing, even the tone of her voice said another. She relaxed into his arms, and Damien smiled at that. Yet still he heard her words and listened fully to them.

"Does the risk truly matter that much to you Helena? Yes you've worked hard to get where you are, but how much of that changes without a shield. You are a more worthy combatant than well over half the men around you. There's more than that though. You have a kindness that they do not. Any fool with a sword can kill another man or troll and call himself a soldier. But it's this..." His finger traced briefly over her temple. "that makes a true warrior, and this..." His hand glided down to rest over her heart. "That makes a champion. One does not need an emblem on a shield to be a hero, and though they may take away the shield, they cannot take away the arm that holds it steady, or the heart that uses it to shield those who cannot shield themselves. Nor too can they destroy the spirit that guides you to do as so few would. Tomorrow Helena, we embark on the biggest and most dangerous mission that either of us have ever dreamed of...Why not share this one night, just this one, with each other?"

All through his words, Damien's voice was calm, trying to reassure the woman in his arms, and only when his hand touched her temple and heart did he shift from holding her close to him. He hoped she'd allow him even this one night, for she truly seemed in need of it as well.

 

[monique_minx]

"Does the risk truly matter that much to you Helena? Yes you've worked hard to get where you are, but how much of that changes without a shield. You are a more worthy combatant than well over half the men around you. There's more than that though. You have a kindness that they do not. Any fool with a sword can kill another man or troll and call himself a soldier. But it's this..."

His fingers brushed over her temple and her eyes tightened, she was scared of feeling for him and he wasn’t making it easier for her.

"that makes a true warrior, and this..."

His hand glided down and brushed over her breast to rest on her heart and a soft pained whimper left her lips.

"That makes a champion. One does not need an emblem on a shield to be a hero, and though they may take away the shield, they cannot take away the arm that holds it steady, or the heart that uses it to shield those who cannot shield themselves. Nor too can they destroy the spirit that guides you to do as so few would. Tomorrow Helena, we embark on the biggest and most dangerous mission that either of us have ever dreamed of...Why not share this one night, just this one, with each other?"

Helena swallowed hard and turned in his arms, she couldn’t fight how she felt and though she knew the risks; the temptation was greater still. He was here, touching her, close to her and wanting her. He hadn’t left or taken her no with ease, he had stayed and fought to convince her of her heart’s desire.

“If we’re going to share this night, you might start calling me Leah, soldier.” She smiled for a second, her hands sliding over his shoulders and down his arms before her lips pressed to his and Helena was lost to his sweet kiss for the moment.

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien watched as Leah turned in his arms, looked into her eyes as she met his gaze, trying to read the signs in that gaze and posture. “If we’re going to share this night, you might start calling me Leah, soldier.” Those words made him smile. It was true he'd been with many a woman, but somehow he knew that this night would be different. Something about this experience would be bigger than all of those others, and it all started with the feel of Leah's hands gliding up his chest and then down his arms.

Damien's lips met Leah's as she came forward, his own arms pulling her close, letting her soft curves mold against him as they shared another kiss, this one deeper. With a gentle motion, Damien tilted his head, deepening the kiss as he let his tongue flick over her lips, and finally slipping within, searching out her own tonge. those two supple muscles rolled over and with each other, dancing a soft and sensual dance as they shared the first truly intimate moment that evening.

With reluctance, Damien broke the kiss, but he still held Leah close, letting his lips feather over her neck as he whispered softly in her ear. "Leah it is then." His lips returned to hers then, a kiss as soft, yet hotly passionate as the one before it. He slowly started to move her backwards then, easing her towards the bed, and then finally to sit upon it as he settled beside her, still kissing. He knew not what all he had planned for this evening, but he was grateful for at least this one chance.

 

[monique_minx]

"Leah it is then."

A shiver ran down her back as his lips came awfully close to her ear and whispered to her. He took her in another passionate kiss which left her with closed eyes, Helena barely noticed as he led her backwards to the bed; his lips never left hers.

She sat down slowly with him and took her time with that kiss before she felt a need to have him closer; his skin pressed to hers. It was a fiery surprise to her but an animal reaction deep within her was shutting down all logical thought as to what was about to occur between the pair of them.

She slipped her hand between them and began to unbuckle his outer leather armour which was standard for the desert they had trekked across that day. Her hands nimbly working each metal clasp free with fervour and taking the protection from his torso, tossing the heavy leather to the ground as though it weighed nothing at all.

Leah’s hand wormed its way into the divide in his cotton shirt; brushing over the warm skin of his chest as her lips pressed his harder and urged him into something primal with her. The smell of him excited her as much as simply being close; she’d never been like this with any man and that sudden thought made her pause. Her eyes shot open and she pulled back, a bright blush in her cheeks as she broke the kiss and withdrew her hand as though she’d been burnt.

“I-I…I’m…I’ve never…I mean I just haven’t…” Leah coughed and trailed off, turning her head away from him again so she could speak properly.

Helena cleared her throat and tried again, her eyes on the door, “I mean I haven’t ever…uh…been with a…with a man…before Damien…” Her voice dropped to an even softer whisper, “I don’t know if I can…ah…live…live up to your expectations.”

 

[LucianDevine]

Damien took his time with that kiss, savoring every bit of it, even as he felt Leah's hands working at the buckles that held his armor on. He willingly let her have that freedom, not moving to stop her, but rather pressing deeper in that kiss as she did the same. Nothing could stop the moan that came from his lips though, when he felt her hands slip under his shirt, pressing against the warm skin of his visible abs and strong chest.

The suddenness with which Leah pulled back shocked Damien slightly, but the moment he saw her cheeks and started to hear her speak, he understood completely. He might have guessed from her tentative reactions to his touches, words, and advances, but he never would have voiced it if she hadn't done so first. Her last words softened his gaze even more though. “I don’t know if I can…ah…live…live up to your expectations.”

Damien's hand moved once more to Leah's chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. There was a steady confidence in those eyes, and he hoped she took some strength from it. "You have no expectations to live up to Leah. The fact that you are a maiden just makes this night that much more special. His head dipped once more to hers, pressing a soft kiss to those lips as he wrapped his arms around her, guiding her slowly to her back, letting her head rest on the pillow. He moved to cover her, but did his best not to startle her. His lips still caressed hers with that slow and loving kiss, as his hands glided over the luscious curves of her body. As his head tilted and his tongue probed, his hands explored her body, not even delving beneath just yet, simply gliding with a lovers caress over the curve of her breast, and then her hip. "Just relax." He found himself whispering softly as his lips glided down to her neck. Then, at long last, Damien's hands glided to the hem of her shirt, lifting it only slightly as he looked into Leah's eyes, giving her the choice of whether or not they should continue.

 

[monique_minx]

Leah felt his firm but gentle touch beneath her chin once again as he guided her to look at him, her face still flushed with pink embarrassment.

"You have no expectations to live up to Leah. The fact that you are a maiden just makes this night that much more special.”

Damien made it seem easy, he was cool and confident in his movements as his lips claimed hers again in a tender kiss. She felt his arm encircle her and she laid back as he guided her, trusting him as she did on the battlefield with the trolls. She tensed slightly as his hands roamed lower, exploring her body above the now seemingly invisible fabric that covered her form.

"Just relax."

Helena tried to listen, nodding and taking a deep breath to stop her every muscle from tensing up. He kissed down her neck and she shut her eyes tightly at the amazing sensations that flowed through her from such simple ministrations. She was akin to a musical instrument, looking questioningly as his fingers delicately strummed her body and she was unsure of displeasing her musician. She looked down as she felt the air his her stomach, he lifted her shirt slightly and now her musician was the one with the question in his eyes.

Her fingers nimbly moved down to cover his hands, lifting her shirt up with him and baring her breast bandage which supported her ample cleavage beautifully. She took her shirt completely from his hands as they shared a moment of eye contact and Leah pulled it up over her head, tossing the garment aside with relative ease given her nerves in that moment. Then Helena paused; not knowing what to do and unsure of doing anything that would seriously embarrass herself at the same time.