In the Devil's Keeping

[cgraven]

She thought slowly on what he said and still found it nearly impossible to fathom. "What exactly does being Tan-a-Dan-Nue-Wee mean my love?"

“ My love the Tan-a-Dan-Nue-Wee Are the oldest of the races that make up humans, older than the Elves, older than the Dwarfs. We are the first born of the gods and the magic that flows through all life is a part of us.”

The mage paused and smiled at his love.

“Orinda my love draw forth the magic, but this time do not reach out of your self but reach in do not try to bend it just flow with it and tell me what you feel and see.”

Arawn held his breath. If his love flowed with the magic and felt the joy, pleasure, and sorrow of all living things, then he would know, if she had in fact become Tan-a-Dan-Nue-Wee Are.

 

[caela]

Arawn held his breath. If his love flowed with the magic and felt the joy, pleasure, and sorrow of all living things, then he would know, if she had in fact become Tan-a-Dan-Nue-Wee Are.

Orinda chewed her lower lip nervously and shifted slightly to put Kalliope in Arawn's arms as she sat up. Somehow a lesson never seemed right when she was laying curled up against him. Drawing a deep breath she slowly closed her eyes and reached within herself.

It was as if the world itself had exploded inside of her mind and body! Every nerve ending seemed to hum with the combined magic and emotion of every living creature and it both amazed and terrified her to the point that she wasn't sure if she wanted to just lose herself in the pure beauty of it all or slam her mind shut forever against the stark reality of so much emotion flooding through her. Finally closing her mind gently she opened her eyes and simply stared at Arawn not knowing what to say or how to describe it.

"What? How? Oh gods," was all she managed to murmur as she looked to him expecting some sort of explanation and guidance.

 

[cgraven]

"What? How? Oh gods," was all she managed to murmur as she looked to him expecting some sort of explanation and guidance.

Arawn had watched the play of emotion as the flashed across his lovers face. He could see all the joy, pleasure that she had seen and could feel the little pangs of sorrow as well. Kalliope smiled and cooed and wiggled as she watched her mother her dark violet eyes shining with joy.

His loves breathing was ragged and she hand barely been able to stammer her question.

“My Love that is what it is to be Tan-a-Dan-Nue-Wee. You do not come to the magic or bend it you are part of the magic and it is part of you.”

He just smiled at Orinda a moment, before continuing.

“My love when we fought the Horde How many Dragonriders where there?”

He watched the look of surprise flash in her eyes.

“As you know Dragons are Magical creatures, and none had been seen for generations except in Clanmore where they still follow the old ways and are mage train from birth.”

He paused and brushed her lips with a sweet kiss.

“From the first I had chosen you as my mate, your sister thought I had bought you as a slave but I paid a dowry for my mate. It was always your to accept or reject my love.”

 

[caela]

“My love when we fought the Horde How many Dragonriders where there?”

She hadn't had time to really think about the battle and now she thought back. She'd only see the dragons swoop down right after she and D'Lation had killed D'or and than her world had crashed out of control. She'd seen the dragons and Arawn come flashing onto the field of battle right before she'd lost conciousness but as she thought on it now her eyes widened for there had been many many more riders there than just she and Arawn!

He paused and brushed her lips with a sweet kiss. “From the first I had chosen you as my mate, your sister thought I had bought you as a slave but I paid a dowry for my mate. It was always your to accept or reject my love.”

She listened but so much of it simply stuck in her mind. Part of her didn't want to wrap around this new information and wanted to cling to what she "knew". Mostly though it was simply taking a long time to sink in. So very much had changed in Orinda's life and now it seemed more would change as well.

Closing her eyes she opened herself again and sank into the magic that flowed through her, again it was nearly overpowering in it's intensity but it was something she could learn to live with. As she let it all flow through her she realized that if she concentrated she could follow seperate strands of magic back to their source and with a small smile she found the line that would take her to her nephew. She touched him lightly for she missed the sweet child she had met just once and a small frown creased her brow before her eyes opened.

"My love, is it...well is it alright if I use this to keep tabs on and talk with my nephew? His mother would hate it but he's so very much alone in that palace. Perhaps Kalliope could reach out to him as well if it's allowed."

 

[cgraven]

This time when Orinda returned from the flow of the living magic there was a soft smile that bowed her lips, and an almost shy little girl look in her soft expressive eyes.


"My love is it...well is it alright if I use this to keep tabs on and talk with my nephew? His mother would hate it but he's so very much alone in that palace. Perhaps Kalliope could reach out to him as well if it's allowed."

“Of course it would be all right my love.”

He kissed the bow of her lips, the mages eyes shown with his love for her.

“But at first reach out at night when the young prince sleeps. Come as a dream, the memory of the beautiful Dragonrider that came to the castle, his loving auntie. Later once he is familiar with the touch of your mind on his then you can come to hi any time and show him how to call to you.”

Arawn paused as he let his love ponder all that he had said.

“You know my Love some people rebel at first when their minds are touched.”

There was a devilish smile on the Mages lips as he teased Orinda on how she used to scream at him to get out of her mind.

“Now come to bed my love it has been a long day and your daughter is tiered.”

 

[caela]

“Now come to bed my love it has been a long day and your daughter is tiered.”

Orinda laughed softly both at his teasing at at his using Kalliope as a reason for her to come to bed. "Hmmmm, already using our daughter to get your way are you love?" She grinned playfully and snuggled down facing him with Kalliope cradled between them. Resting her head on his shoulder she smiled at her mate and her daughter.

"So little love," she cooed softly to Kalliope, "Would you like to meet your cousin tomorrow night? He lives far away and is very very lonely but he's a sweet boy. We'll have to try and help him remain so for his mother is a good ruler but not quite so nice a lady as your Auntie Noir."

Orinda felt Kalliope's joy at the idea as the newborn drifted off to sleep and she smiled up at Arawn. "You do realize our daughter is perfect and that we're going to have to give her a playmate or two don't you love?"