Morrigana has complicated relationships. Being a master assassin,
slightly cruel, and a violent dragon, it's surprising when so many
people come to love her.
***
Pain gnawed along every nerve
in her body. Sometimes she cursed her draconic heritage, and did so now.
Her elven companion, bleeding from several deep wounds, touched her
elbow, steadying her. She spat blood, letting herself collapse to her
knees.
"Just a bit farther, Gana-tii," Elthanael said lowly, his
own voice trembling with pain. "We've got to get under shelter before
the storm."
Morrigana growled, spasms moving through her tattered
wings. She'd felt the Chaos storm before her second-in-command, and she
felt the affects of it more sharply than he did. Who ever heard of a Chaos lord who couldn't dwell in Chaos? The growl deepened as she shoved to her feet, blindly stumbling to shelter.
The
world lurched, and the half-dragon woman howled in pain. The storm was
upon them, whirling strands of pure Chaos, tearing at the fabric of
reality around them. Morrigana clung to her pain, for it reminded her of
her body, of her personality. The woman was cursed, she felt, and she
could not retain her personality under large influences of the liquid
force of Chaos.
Her mind cleared, and she keened lowly, realizing
she and the elf were inside the cave. Her entire body seared with pain,
pulsing with the dancing forces outside. Between her and the colors and
flavors of the storm stood a thick barrier. It tasted of her father,
and she knew he was close by. He just needed time to navigate the storm.
Elthanael leaned against a wall of the cave, an arm wrapped
around his middle. His leather armor was rent in several places, a livid
scar crossing his left shoulder down onto his golden chest. He looked
exhausted and worn out, his hair limp around his face. Morri smiled
faintly, wondering who had cut his ponytail off, and shifted on the
sandy floor of the cave.
He frowned, wiping blood from one narrow cheek. "What do you have to smile about? You're in worse shape than me."
Her
wings throbbed again, the air stirring across the sensitive patagia,
and she wished she dared use her powers to shift shapes. Even though it
was a natural power to her, it still drew from Chaos, and could trigger a
fight for control she was too weak to win. "I was wondering who cut
your hair off," she wheezed out. Morrigana tasted blood, and pondering
what had been ruptured internally.
The elf ran a curious hand
through the shorn locks, frowning. "Hadn't noticed. Probably that last
war elemental." El shook his head, scooting on his butt towards his
leader. "How are your wings?" He reached one scarred hand toward her
back.
"They hurt," she mumbled, the tip of her tail lashing irritably. "Bad."
"Let
me see if I can help," he said softly, and let a hand rest between her
wings. Morrigana cried out, biting deep into her lip, drawing blood as
pain raced through her limbs.
The elf's energy surged through on
the heels of pain, and she sighed. It was soothing and warm, and chased
away the aches. Heat settled in her wings, and they began twitching, the
talons digging into the soft floor. Her voice rose in a strangled moan,
and she drove her claws into the ground. Her lungs burned with the need
to scream.
El's hand trembled, fingers digging into her back.
She hissed, her body latching onto his energy, greedily drawing it in.
Her wings vibrated, the heat becoming painful, her veins feeling molten
in her skin, her joints feeling like they were going to come apart.
Morri
gasped sharply, coming to a sudden stillness. She felt El as she felt
herself, felt all his aches and wounds through herself. Her heart
stumbled, and she felt his weariness. The elf was tapped out, pulling on
reserves that were already drained.
The hybrid pushed herself to
her hands and knees, and the two assassins groaned as one. Morrigana
stretched her wings in the cramped room. The pain was gone, the majority
of the tissues closed.
"Gana-tii," Elthanael muttered, his hand
falling from her back. She curled onto her side, touching his leg, and
breathed deeply. She no longer tasted blood, but there was a
constriction through her ribs. The elf drew a deep breath, trembling
with exhaustion, and collapsed down against her.
They lay like
that for several long minutes, listening to the melodic rage of the
storm outside. Elthanael's head rested comfortably on her thigh, and he
stroked her near arm. Blinking lazily, the woman ran a taloned hand
through his tattered hair.
She began to think, staring into his
golden eyes. He had been a faithful companion since he killed his father
to prove fealty to her. He'd never balked at her commands, had
performed any dangerous missions she did, and not once had he asked for
anything. Her beloved father had encouraged their partnership,
entrusting the elf to keep the girl safe.
Elthanael had more than
fulfilled that duty earlier in the day. They'd been sent to assassinate
a war lord, and tangled with his captured war elementals. While Morri
had broken one elemental free, El had nearly lost his life when the war
lord attacked with his axe.
With the war lord's death, the other
elementals had gone wild, chasing the two assassins around the plains
and hills. The Chaos storm had already been moving in, trapping them on
the planet. It was Elthanael who had found the cave.
Morrigana
sighed softly, gently tugging at his golden locks. "Why?" she asked,
thinking of all the damage he'd taken for her, and then used his
dwindling strength to heal her. She still felt the bond between them,
felt their hearts beating as one.
He looked away, his hand coming to a halt on her forearm. "Your father bade me-"
"Bullshit,"
she said lowly, tugging harder on his hair. The elf kept his eyes cast
away, pulling his hand away from her. "None of that was spawned by
Father's command."
He blushed, sitting up, and turned his back to
her. "Gana-tii, I..." He paused, and she stroked his thigh. His heart
was trembling, and some emotion burned deep in his soul. She didn't
immediately recognize it, but it called to her, curiosity causing her to
sit up. Morri's hand drifted up to his shoulder, and she waited for him
to speak.
The elf's trembling increased, and he started to pull
away. The burning emotion grew stronger, and she squeezed his shoulder.
Morrigana grew impatient, and she called his name softly. He remained
quiet, and she wondered if he heard her over the storm. Elthanael spoke
before she could prompt him again.
"You remember when we met
again? How I said I hadn't stopped thinking about you since we were
children?" She nodded, drawing closer, and felt his awareness of her. He
kept his head turned, and her brows drew sharply together. "I still
haven't gotten you out of my head. Being able to work with you only
eases the ache I feel, but nothing ends it."
His need jumped
across their connection, and she groaned lowly. Understanding flooded
her mind, and she finally recognized the unknown emotion.
Elthanael
was in love with her. His heart was fixated on her, and he needed her
as much as he needed to breathe. It was so similar to her need for her
father.
The hybrid pressed herself against his lean back, and
wrapped her arm around his shoulders. They were cousins, they were
assassins, and they worked closely together. She relied on him, and she
loved him. She'd been so comfortable around him, affectionate and
tactile with him. Had he been harmed by her attentions, by her friendly
touches?
"El, I'm so-"
"Don't!" he said sharply, turning
haunted eyes towards her. "I don't want you to pity me. I could leave if
I want. Or I could work for your father directly and not see you. I
could become a free agent. But I like being around you." He reached up
to clasp her forearm. "I enjoy your touch, and treasure any moment we
have together. Morrigana..." The elf's voice trailed off as they fell
into each other's eyes. "Morri, I love you. I always have."
Impulsive
as always, the dragon pulled him closer to her, her hand forcing his
head toward her. Their mouths met, and she kissed him fiercely, pouring
her love through their connection.
El whimpered, trying briefly
to pull back, and she tasted his fear. She growled, not breaking the
kiss, and pulled harder on him. She continued to open her heart to him,
wanting him to feel her need for him.
He finally stopped pulling
away, and shifted. The elf clasped her face, kissing her harder, letting
his tongue invade her mouth. Now it was the hybrid's turn to whimper as
the force of his love swelled around her.
I couldn't live
without him any more. I need him in my life. He's my shadow, my
guardian, and I love him. I don't want him to ever leave.
El
broke the kiss, his fingers tracing her jawline. "I will be with you as
long as you will have me." He brushed his lips across her mouth.
Morri's
hands roved his stomach and side, feeling his drying blood and seeping
wounds. His joy warmed her heart, and made her feel comfortable and safe
"You know a dragon only gives her heart to one mate."
Their eyes
met, and she saw understanding in his golden eyes. "I know. I also know
I can never replace your father." He kissed the tip of her nose. "I
will never ask for anything more than you choose to give me. I will be
content just to be at your side."
Morrigana pulled his face to
her again, claiming his mouth and his fealty. She tasted his resolve,
knowing he would follow through on his words, that he would not try to
make her fall in love with him. She could give him love, but never her
heart. The hybrid tasted his heart, strengthening the bond between them,
and understood that her love was more than he expected.
The
storm stopped abruptly, devoured by the presence that swelled the
woman's heart. "Father!" she cried out, breaking the kiss. His icy mind
touched hers, checking her health, and she laughed like a child.
Scrambling past the elf, she burst out of the cave into the waiting arms
of the Lord Shalafae. He kissed her greedily, concerned, angry that
anyone had hurt her. The dragon silently assured him she was fine,
kissing him hungrily, offering her heart to him.
Silently, Morrigana's shadow emerged from the cave, smiling faintly to himself.
