Birth of a Dragoon

Bane of Death

Cearúil was pissed as he stared at the empty spot where the twins once stood. Vanishing wasn't unknown in the world, but Mages weren't the beings who taught that specific spell. He shook his head and instead rushed to Gwen's side. He knelt beside her, then began lifting up the hem of her shirt to check the severity of the wound.

"No!"

Gwen stated weakly as she uselessly tried to remove his hands. Cearúil stopped when her struggles caused more bleeding. Surely she knew he was only attempting to help her?

"Gwen, stop. You're only making your wound worse. I might be able to heal you, if you'd just let me see it."

"No, I'll be fine. I only have to sleep it off for a few days."

Cearúil could see the pain etched deeply in her every feature. Why wouldn't she want him to heal her? Surely she didn't enjoy being in pain? He took her elbow to help when he noticed she was attempting to stand. Gwen cried out in agony the moment she rose to a sitting position. Deciding 'screw it', Cearúil shoved her back down and instantly lifted her shirt before she could argue or fight him off again.

I was paralyzed by fear as I felt Cearúil's hands on my bare stomach. It wasn't because I didn't trust he was only trying to heal me, but more from the fact I had an abomination of a birthmark directly to the right of my bellybutton. That marking was the reason I was abandoned, the reason everyone didn't want me around. It, supposedly, meant Death. To everyone and everything I came into contact with, or to myself eventually, I wasn't certain. All I knew was that it was the bane of my existence.

A heating sensation filled me, overwhelming the agony I was in. I bent my neck to stare down at Cearúil. His gaze was quite intent on his work. Both his eyes and hands glowed a bright green. Who knew a Draco was capable of healing spells? Dread filled me once more when the glowing faded away and his yellow green gaze fell on the marking. I watched his face as expressions crossed over it, while his fingers shifted from the nearly healed wound to run over the snake coiled around a dagger. Cearúil's brow creased before his gaze lifted to mine. For a change, I didn't see the disgust normally on the person's face who noticed my birthmark. There was only curiosity etched in Cearúil's features.

"Do you know what his represents, Gwen?" His fingers stroked over the birthmark once more, so there was no doubt what he was referring to.

"Of course, it stands for Death." My voice dripped in disgust over the mark I was branded with that made my life a living hell.

Cearúil's eyes closed for a moment, he then shook his head. "No, Gwen. That is not what it actually stands for. It means An Ending. Most people believe End and Death mean the same thing, but they are idiots. Among my people, the Draco half mind, this symbol is a sign of greatness…"

I snorted. I hadn't meant to interrupt him, but it just came out. "Yeah, right. That birthmark is why no one was willing to raise me, why I got passed around so much as a babe. Besides, how can you know what the Draco believes when you stated before you never spoke to one before?"

I was happy to notice the annoyance filling his eyes. Hardly anything ever rattled him, though I tried as much as I could to do so.

"My mother is how I know what I know. The Draco elders had allowed her among them for studying purposes. This was back when both, the Draco and the Mages, attempted to resolve their differences. Of course it didn't work out. The Mages used my mother and her research as a way to find the Draco weaknesses."

Gratefully, I leapt at the chance to change the subject off from my birthmark. It probably wouldn't last for very long, but perhaps then something else would come up? Hopefully.

"That was how your parents met?"

Cearúil's eyes darkened as further annoyance rose within him. Evidently he knew what I was attempting. I gave him my sweetest smile, earning a sigh and roll of eyes.

"Yes, that is how my parents met. I am still unsure how my mother never knew what my father was. They met in the Draco territories."

"Perhaps she didn't want to see? When you love someone, there are things you just don't want to know or see."

"Perhaps."

Cearúil grew thoughtful as he stared down at me, making me squirm. I hated when he grew thoughtful, it never boded well for me.

"Is that how you are, Gwen?"

I blinked in confusion. I was expecting him to ask me something completely different. "What is how I am?"

"That there are things about me you don't want to know, so you refuse to see them?"

"That's kind of hard to say. Considering you used to refuse to speak about yourself, relations, or other personal things. You didn't start opening up until recently, which, might I add, is just plain odd?"

A slight grin appeared as he stood and held out a hand to help me up. Allowing him to help, I was amazed and quite happy to notice my stomach no longer hurt. It throbbed, but wasn't an excruciating pain any longer. When I took a wobbly step forward and stumbled from stiffness, Cearúil easily lifted me into his arms. I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply.

"You know, I can walk. I'm only a little stiff from lying on the cold ground. I'll be fine once I stretch some."

Cearúil laughed and as usual didn't listen to a word I said. "When we get back to the College you can stretch all you want to in your room…in moderation. I'm not a true healer, as my mother was, I was only able to speed up the healing and take away a little of the pain. If you overdo it, Gwen, the scabbing is going to break open and you're going to start bleeding again. Until you're fully healed, I want you to take things easy. Got it?"

I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck. "You really think I'm going to take things easy for a while? This wasn't the first time I've been injured in such a way."

"If I have to, I will sit on you to make certain of it."

"And that's going to help my wound?"

Cearúil was quiet for a moment, while traversing the forest quite easily. "I will tie you to your bed then…"

"Ooo, b*****e. I think I could…"

He started laughing. "Gwen, stop. There will be no b*****e or anything else while you are recovering. Now, behave."

I grew thoughtful for a moment, before I smiled myself. "After I'm fully healed once more then? I can't wait."

He laughed again. "You know full well that was not what I meant. …I know you're tired. Being healed takes a lot out of you, go ahead and rest some. I'll wake you when we near the College."

I didn't want to admit it, I'd rather walk back to the College, but my eyes weren't cooperating. My lids kept closing without my permission. After they closed three more times, I sighed and decided to give in to the urge. Wrapping my arms tighter around Cearúil, I buried my head in his neck, before stating: "You know, we really should try going out sometime."

"Perhaps when you are better. Sleep now."