Xaver came into the Hufflepuff commonroom, because, it was quiet. It was the middle of the day on wednesday, so even if there were a few who usually hung behind in the lonely common room, none were left then. Xaver was glad. He really didn't want to be around any students. He was furious, and with a temper like his, he didn't want to expand it on any others.
Xaver paced. That's what he usually did when he couldn't think straight. Occasionally, he stopped. Once, with a simple glance, he destrowed one of the chairs on the spot. A few of the splinters littered the ground.
Xences had hurt Kylie again. There was a days worth of events after that, and finally Kylie was asleep again in Ginny's room, but Xaver was furious. He wanted to tear his twin apart, but the dam*ed idiot..
Xaver held his hands to his temples and growled, a low, demonic sound.
Lavy psuhed open the Hufflepuff commonroom and started walking in. But in half step in she stopped and looked up at Xaver. "Ummm..... did something happen?" she asked.
His head whipped around as the door opened, his face expressionless, and cold, as he watched her enter. His wings, huge, dark, and folded against his back, twitched in response to his subconscience, the black satin feathers trembling, and smoothly swaying with the movement.
Xaver listened to her question, stiffly, shortly nodding once in reply, not looking at her, still pacing.
Lavy closed the door behind her. "I think I know the answer, but do you want to talk about it?" she said walking a little bit towards him and then stopping again. "Maybe I should stay back here." she said more to herself then him. She looked Xaver over for a minute and then sat down.
"You wouldn't know the answer to this. And no, I don't, actually," he growled out shortly, folding his arms over his chest.
His wings twitched again, and he paused in his pacing, watching her as she approached like a spotted predator, his eyes dark and calculating, his athletic muscles tense and apprehensive. He watched her sit, then began to pace again, his mind nonstop in its quick pace. He would be shooting off sparks any minute.
"You might be suprised." Lavy said simply with a shurg looking outside the window for a moment.
"No, I won't," Xaver retorted, throwing an annoyed look in her direction. "You don't know anything about the conflict between my brother and me."
He turned away from her.
"Well then enlighten me."
Xaver didn't turn back around, and he didn't look at her. He ignored her, and folded his arms, looking into the fire.
"Xaver?" Ginny said, from behind him. She placed a hand on his arm, worridly. She had heard the last bits of the conversation, and knew Xaver well enough to know that if Lavy didn't watch it, she was going to see his temper.
Lavy sighed and stood up. She walked over to one of the closed windows and pushed it open. "I don't appreciate being ignored."
"Lavy, he's just upset. Don't take it personally, please?" Ginny asked, keeping her hand on Xavers arm and looking at Lavy now.
"I wouldn't, I understand. Everyone has their right days."
Xaver's huge, satin black wings twitched in recognition as Ginny spoke, and once her hand touched his arm, he turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of her. His temper cooled slightly from its dangerous height, but he was still angry. Frustrated.
"Try being ignored for over a decade," he growled quietly, not realizing he'd said it.
Ginny nodded at Lavy, then rubbed Xaver's arm absently when he spoke. She glanced at him then at Lavy, then away.
She had been comferted by him, but she had no idea how to comfert him.
"I have and it's not fun." Lavy paused for a moment. "Well at least we have one thing in common."
Xaver mumbled something, and looked away from the both of them, mopping his hands over his face, sighing. His mind was exhausted, but his body just wouldn't follow the leader. Then his mind began to buzz again, with the urgent messengers from back in his home realm. Xaver's Ascension was not too far away.. he would be ruling that realm soon... Though he had no inclination of how in hell, he would be doing that.
~Lord Xaver, the East wall is being heavily guarded, as directed, and we refitted all the soldiers with new and refinished armor, as you requested. My apologies, Milord. There had been a spy within our walls, submitted from your brother. We have taken care of him.~ Came the thought of one of Xaver's older friends, the Weapons Master.
-Thank you, Aaro. And again, don't call me that. You practically raised me. It's just Xaver, ok?-
~Of course.~
Xaver shook his head, then winced slightly, as another voice filled his head.
~Kylie needs to come back tomarrow morning, now that we have secured the castle towers once more. I have to finish all the settings for her room and she needs to get finished with this years schooling.~
-Certainly, Jula. I'll make sure she gets back tomarrow morning. Aatepmetee.-
~~A bundle of words screamed into Xaver's head, with enough mirth and pitch to break an eardrum, let alone glass, all in his foreign tongue, until he blocked them out. The words were scrambled, angry, and oddly obviously, belonging to Xences.~~
Xaver's mood once mor darkened, and he shivered grumpily, folding his arms once more.
Ginny looked at Xaver, she had felt the messages go past her, but she didn't know what they said. She saw his face.
"What is it?"
Lavy glanced over at them both but remind silent.
Xaver glanced at Ginny, his usually calm eyes dark and sultry. His mind gently reached out to hers, and he softly replayed the messages just as he had heard them, though the last, he toned down to a whisper of what it had been in his own mind. The looked at her.
-Sorry, I forgot you don't speak my language... I don't really know if you want me to decipher the last...-
Xaver raked a hand through his hair, and watched the window.
Ginny patted his arm.
"I'll get Kylie ready, if you want." She said, wondering if Kylie would even want to go back.
Xaver held his head, tugging his hair slightly.
"She won't want to go," Xaver said hoarsely, knowing Ginny enough to answer what he assumed would come to mind.
"But she has to go. There's no other way she'll be able to fit into all the classes back home if she wants to finish there, and there would be no way she could maybe rule one day if she wanted to... It's not right... I don't want her to have to go."
He slumped slightly, and fell quiet for a long moment.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I needn't be going on.. Yeah.. that would be great.."
"Okay, Xaver." Ginny said, softly, "I'll do it later."
Xaver turned slightly, and touched his forehead to hers.
"Thank you," he returned gently.
Suddenly Xaver went rigid, and he pulled away, his wings poisd in what could be called a battle-stance. His eyes flashed to the window, and he slowly went to it, a curious look on his face.
Lavy looked out the window as well. "Something caught you intrest?"
Ginny wrapped her arms around herself and followed them to the window, as curious as them.
Xaver tipped his head to the side, the pupils of his eyes dialating to a pinpoint size. He recoiled suddenly from the window, though nothing was writed across his face.
There was no stirr of magic. No sudden pulse of a mental surge. No brilliant flash of light. But Xaver knew. The way that a twin could always sense the other.
"Xences is here." he stated darkly.
Xaver shook his head and pulled open the window.
"Where do you think your going?" Ginny asked, grabbing the side of his shirt worridly.
Xaver halted, and looked back at her.
"To meet him," he said quietly.
"You can't go alone! Let us come with you, please...." She asked, finishing softly. By us she did include Lavy. When Lavy did as instructed, she was a huge help to matters.
"Sure, I'm willing to go, if Xaver dosen't mind."
"My brother is not a normal foe.." he said softly. "I couldn't stand it if either of you two were hurt."
-I couldn't lose you, Ginny..-
Xaver's eyes snapped back to the open window for a moment, before he looked back at both of them. He watched Ginny's eyes.
"I don't know what he is planning. For all I know, it could be a fifty-man ambush with my deathwish brainwashed into the heads of forty-nine of them..."
"Fifty? Oh, no porblem. But anyway...." Lavy said glancing out the windown again, but only for a moment.
"I don't care." She said, defintly, smiling, her eyes shadowed slightly. She felt basically the same as Lavy.
Xaver sighed softly, in a defeated way of sorts. He pulled himself onto the windowsill tiredly, though he quickly became tense again.
She nodded. She doubted she could do anything to Xences, but she could at least help take care of any extras.
"Nothing would happen to us. And if something did go wrong it's not like it couldn't be fixed right away." Lavy said.
~Shut up Lavy. We both know death can't be fixed.~ She sent a privite thought to Lavy, hoping Xaver wouldn't hear her. She doubted anyone would die, but she didn't want Lavy thinking death was curable.
Lavy studied Ginny for a minute but then turned away ~Death is an intresting topic,but one which I'd rather not talk about, but maybe another time, Ginny~
Xaver watched them curiously, before shaking his head. He dicided not to answer their comments. He watched Ginny's eyes.
"I am going to fly there. Would you like me to take you, my love?"
He glanced at Lavy.
"Miss Brown?
Ginny shook her head.
"I'll follow. You need to worry about yourself now." She said, smiling.
"No thank you, I'll be fine."
Xaver nodded, and simply threw himself out of the window. His wings opened wide, covering a huge, wide range fully extended. They beat with liquid, powerful strokes behind him, and he propelled foreword over the lake.
He led them to the more rocky area of the grounds. The area students rarely, if ever went. He smoothly touched down upon a great boulder, crouching, staring foreword at a vast hollow, nearly completely enclosed by stone. He uncurled and stepped foreword, coming to the entrance of the hollow. He reached foreword, his palm flat and facing the clearing of stone, and as he touched an invisible line, streaks of light surged out, revealing a barrier dome that enclosed the entire clearing. He shook his head, his features darkening.
"I was afraid of that," he mumbled. "I didn't think they would arrange that here though.."
" Why'd they do that?" Ginny asked from behind him.
"That's a really good question." Lavy said appereing next to Xaver.
"My brother is also a coward. He may know a good deal of magic, but he knows I do as well. And he knows this school. And you... He doesn't want to be caught off-gaurd."
Xaver watched her.
"One, this barrier prevents any and all magic except telepathy within.
Two, this barrier restricts one from counting any other minds. One would not know how many there were inside at any time unless they saw them all..
Three, my brother is in there. He may be an idiot. But he's not stupid, give or take."
She nodded, knowing that this ment he either had alot of people with him, or next to none.
"Intresting way to protect yourself, isn't it."
"Yes.. but not new. He has played this game before.."
Xaver watched the both of them, and opened his mouth to speak, when a thought came to him. It was soft, and open enough to be heard by any around Xaver as it reached him.
~'Aver?~
It was Kylie. She sounded weak. In pain..
Xaver froze.
-Kylie? Where are you? I thought you were asleep in Ginny's room..-
~I'm... lost.. there's Xences, Xander, I don't know-..~ Her mind became a black haze to him, and even he, could not reach her.
Xaver became rigid, a chill seeping through him. He closed his eyes, turned, and went through the barrier
Lavy looked up at Xaver. "Who was that?"
Ginny glanced at Lavy, sadly.
"His little sister." She said, then followed him through the barrier.
Xaver walked a little ways inside the barrier, and into the thatch of stone, before he stopped, crossing his arms. His expression showed a cool and collected, and cold wrath, but within, he was tortured, straining, impatient and worried.
The tables had turned on him, leaving his wits scattered across oblivion.
This was no longer just a conversation with his twin. It was troubled waters that might relay deadly consequences to the destroyed family.
A lone figure emerged from the shadows across from them, tall and lean, just as Xaver was. As he approached, clad in jeans and a shirt, just as Xaver commonly donned, more likeness were revealed. He had the same messy obsidian hair that occasionally brushed over his eyes. The same tall and very athletic build, though his looked more like a body made instead of a body worked. The same wide, immense wings, though where Xaver's were shadow black, with the slightest hints of blues, Xences's were black, and slightly tinted with greys.
Where Xaver held the stronger features, and softer eyes, Xences still held the look of a young, only maybe before good looking, demon, with eyes of contrasting ice. Where Xaver held hidden feeling, Xences held nothing. He felt nothing. Only hate and lust for pain.
"I am most pleased you could make it, for a second time today, brother o Xian," Xences said, gurgling a distorted laugh.
Xaver scowled darkly, but kept his composure.
"Where's Kylie?" he demanded.
"Now wait," the twin returned. "Let us talk for a moment... just a few commonplace words, and perhaps I will not-"
"Don't you even think about harming little Kylie, you sick, p-"
"I wasn't intending simple harm," the malicious, black reply came. "I was intending her death. She means nothing to me, you know. Nothing to our people. She's too kind. To easy-going. Too gentle."
Xaver became still, and his voice took on a darker chill.
"Just because she's everything you never could be, doesn't mean she's nothing. It means she's smart. And more people love her, and give a da*n about her, including myself, than know your name, you piece of filth."
Xences gave another wicked laugh.
"I know you love our little sibling, brother. That is why I knew her end, could only be my beginning. It would destroy you, wouldn't it? It would destroy you. Leaving me to pick up our father's throne where he left it."
"Still obsessed with the notion of having others crawling at your bidding, eh?" Xaver whispered.
"Know that they won't listen to you. The royal blood is supposed to possess the power to be able to control their people in case of panic, and control issues. You maybe posses the power to use a cotton swab to clean your ears. You'd be helpless, and pathetic. Just leave Kylie out of your problems. She may mean nothing to you, but that is no reason why you should do anything to her..."
"Oh, but there is reason. Good many reasons," Xences returned.
Xaver glanced around.
"Where is she?" he repeated, demanding.
Ginny stood behind Xaver. Her eyes were narrowed, and dark. She loved Kylie as well, and was also very worried. However, as angry as she was, she wouldn't interupt. Not because she was afraid of turning Xence's attention, but because she felt Xaver didn't want her to get in deeper then she was.
She took another step, placing a hand on Xaver's elbow to keep him from losing his self control.
At Ginny's touch, a fierce, underlying build up of Xaver's wild rage released itself, only noticeable by the smooth, rippling waves of expelled telepathic give. He calmed slightly, taking a deep, shuddery breath.
Xences watched Xaver, and suddenly his eyes became ablaze, as he focused then on Ginny. His work in winding his brother up, to get him to do something potentially suicidal and stupid easily had been expelled, and Xences hated her for it. He hated anything that affected the means of something he wanted.
"So you are the infamous Ginny Weasly, then. Typical-," he snarled.
"Leave her alone," Xaver whispered, then repeated, "Where. Is. Kylie?"
Xences's eyes went wide as he looked between the two, then narrowed in a malicious understanding. Xaver noticed what his brother did, and his heart almost visibly sank, his mind racing as fast as his pulse, bus he didn't move. If he did, it was a little more in front of Ginny, protectively.
Xences looked around him, and as he did, random faces appeared in acknowledgement, then disappeared back into the shadows.
"She will be joining us soon, rest assured," he growled.
"She better." Ginny said quietly, accidently. She hadn't ment to speak, but she was angered even more by his attitude. He wasn't mature at all, just a spoiled brat in her opinion. She kept a hand on Xaver's arm, calmly, her hand not even shaking.
Xences caught Ginny's words, and listening to them, sickly grinned, his wings spreading wide, then closing once more, stretching. He then turned his head, and watched as a man, robed in black, hooded, came into view, one arm across little Kylie's middle, the other with a blade against her throat, her hands being tied behind her against his abdomen. Her feet dangled limply, her eyes wide and unfocused.
Xences reached back, and stepped foreword with two equal sized, long, well made blades, not of that earth. They were made from materials of their homeland. And though Xaver had longed to wield one again, he had never expected to under the circumstances. Xences, with a flick of his wrist, threw one, and it bounced, then came to a skidding halt at Xaver's feet. In unison, behind Xaver, Ginny, and Lavy, footsteps sounded, and a large, two rowed group stepped foreword, all carrying swords, and all hooded.
"I have had enough of you constantly getting in my way. Though I would have liked to watch your face while killing our little sister, I thought I'd rid of you first. Fight me, brother. Fight for your life, and the lives of your little sister, and your girl. If I kill you, they will die. If I bring you down, they will die. Come. Come, and fail," Xences coaxed.
Xaver lurched as Kylie was brought in, though he didn't take a step. He glanced from Xences, to Kylie, then for a moment, watched Ginny. Finally, he looked to the blade, and slowly, crouched down, picking it up. He rose, bowed his head for a moment, then stepped foreword..
Ginny nodded after him, her eyes connecting with his before her picked up the blade. She stepped back, allowing him room to fight his brother. She looked painfully at Kylie, wishing she could get the guy away, but as long as the barrier held away the psychic powers and that guy had the knife against her throat, she couldn't get close before he cut her.
She wasn't worried about dying. She wasn't scared either, but she worried about Xaver and Kylie and Lavy.
Xaver walked in a matching stride to Xences, and neither stopped for words. neither stopped for looks, or to show off, or worked slow. They were trying to impress no one. Swords rose, moments before they reached each other, along with Xaver's curse. He had noticed a detail he hadn't seen before. Xences's blade was made of pure gold. His words were drowned out by the chilling clash of the two weapons.
The two fought mercilessly. At some points Xences had the upper hand, though other than a few minor swipes here and there, he hadn't actually hurt Xaver. When Xaver had superiority, he moved like he rarely ever did - like none of the others had ever seen - with all the dark power and grace and speed and agility that great bests had, of which had been hidden within him for sometime. He had gotten a few good jabs at Xences, just as well.
The way they fought each other was a reflection of the darkest graves. Emotionless. Hollow. Yet full of pain, and conflict.
Finally, there was mistake. Xaver, while spinning away, felt his heel slide across some loose tile. He wavered, then fall, slamming onto his back, his head cracking dully on the hard surface. He looked up, as at that same moment, Xences had fully extended his arm. There was nothing else to do...
Xaver sprung upward, and with one smooth plunge, sank his sword into Xences's chest. Though the movement, ran Xences's own sword, through his shoulder. Both fell still, staring at the other.
Xences was wavering, and Xaver knew it. He twisted his blade and pulled it out, backing out of the one in his own shoulder with a low groan. Xences fell to his knees, though foreword, taking Xaver to the ground with him. The two rolled, hitting and kicking, until Xaver came to his knees, sword in hand.
As sword sank toward Xences's neck, the twin screamed an order, amongst the loud approaching footsteps. There was a unified scream, and suddenly the barrier shattered, knocking every standing form to the ground.
Xaver hadn't broken the barrier. Nor had Xences. Scrambling, he rose, his pace wild. He threw the sword to the ground, and knelt next to the two fallen bodies across the way.
Kylie lay still, her eyes open, and blank, her little hands clenched into loose fists. Her mouth was as open as it had been when she had screamed... she was dead. So was her attacker, a little to the side. The curse had killed him, just as it had her.
Xaver couldn't breath. His shoulder awoke with a dull throb, but somehow he couldn't feel the pain.. he felt numb.
The footfalls of the people around him sounded, as whatever kind of people Xences had with him rose, and simply disappeared. One walked foreword, and took the dead body next to Kylie's. A few looked over Xences, and took him as well. He was still alive - even barely so.
Xaver closed Kylie's eyes and mouth, then sat back, staring at her, his face oddly blank, oddly empty...
Ginny ran over, falling beside Xaver. She didn't bother checking Kylie's pulse, she could tell. She held her breath, covering her mouth with her hand as she started to cry. Her shoulder's shook, and tears poured from her eyes as she cried, but she couldn't look away. She had loved Xaver's little sister as much as she loved Xaver.
Xaver looked over as Ginny dropped beside him. He watched her, her sobs visibly shaking him. He trembled, glancing between the two, but he didn't cry. He didn't think to. He didn't think at all. He just sat there, stunned, bleeding, and mute.
"Oh....Kylie....poor.....poor...Kylie..." Ginny said, her other hand, hesitently touching Kylie's cheek. She took a shaky shallow breath and willed herself to stop crying. She wiped at her tears.
"We should figure out what to do....with..her.."She said, speaking to Xaver, but still looking at Kylie. She withdrew her hand, now forcing herself to become emotionless.
Xaver swallowed, and nodded.
"Should... take her home..." he uttered, his voice quiet enough, the dropping of a pin could have muffled it.
Xences had been right. Kylie's death was destroying Xaver.
Slowly, painfully, he reached foreword, slipping an arm under Kylie's back and knees, picking up her limp body, and cradling it against his chest. He bit his bottom lip hard enough that bled, just adding to injury as he stood.
He shivered, but expressed nothing.
Lavy's footsteps came up from behind them. She put her arms around both Ginny and Xaver. "I'm sorry we couldn't help her." she said.
Ginny resented Lavy's touch, she didn't like people touching her when she was happy, and she hated it now. But, although she could have shocked lavy, or thrown her off, she didn't. She stepped out of Lavy's grasp and turned to Xaver.
"Home being where you grew up?"
Xaver shivered away from Lavy's arm, not capable of being touched by an unfamiliar arm that linked to an unfamiliar mind, and controlling emotions at once. He wouldn't lose himself, d**nit. For Kylie, he would never let the demons that lurked in the pit of his should, ever get to him again. They only awoke when he could control himself the least. And he was not, by any standards, in control of anything.
He looked over to Ginny, his eyes softening a little, though they never dropped that haunted, grief-wracked weight. Slowly, he shook his head.
"No..." he said softly. "Where Kylie did. When our Mother was alive. She liked back there the best when she was around. Kylie will be happiest next to Mother. She told me so herself, not two days ago..."
-I grew up on random battlefields, training encampments, and hotels,- Xaver continued, his words, though soft, slightly bitter. -Though I stopped by our Kingdom to be around Kylie and Mother, and the people once and a while, I never was allowed to grow up anywhere. It was just assumed I belonged. My father had places for his children. Kylie was the extra, I was the animal, and Xences was the pet. I finally took up residence there for one year. During which, my Mother passed, my brother left, and then my father passed as well.-
Xaver remained composed on the outside, though within he was shaking terribly. He hadn't meant to say that. He hadn't meant to give that much away.
A kid should be respectfully grateful. But being forced to be grateful for what you never had, wasn't fair. Being told that you should be grateful, only made one rebel.
Xaver shivered, the thoughts bringing up those old, long blacked-out feelings.
He hadn't meant to say so much. Xaver rarely talked about his past, but what did he have to lose, anymore? What was there left for him?
He looked up, watching Ginny suddenly. There was Ginny. He loved her. He had never been surer of that. Even as right then he wanted to throw his mind into an ever-lasting death, dispose of his bones into hell, and everything else into a deep grave, he remained sane. Or, as sane as he would ever be. His entire character loved her, but he wasn't completely certain she would ever want to return such strong the emotion after his composure broke, before it did, or ever, anymore. He just didn't know...
Xaver suddenly realized his shields were exclusively low. His thoughts were open just as much as if he had been speaking aloud. (He wasn't too sure he hadn't been, either.) Anyone, even little Kylie if she had still been there, would have been able to read every emotion and thought that came across his mind.
He sighed, but no color rose. He didn't really care. Those in the proximity probably deserved to know, even if they didn't want to, how stupidly his mind worked.
Xaver stopped there, arranged his thoughts, and set up a high mental barrier, enclosing any and every thought after that.
"You don't have to come," Xaver said slowly. "You'd probably be safer if you didn't. Our rituals are not that different from ones I have seen here. I'm going to find Kylie a place next to Mother. She'll find peace quicker there. And through that place, which was enchanted a good thousand years back, there might be hope I could speak to her my mind some day in the future. I have spoken to Mother before. I don't doubt Kylie will follow her lead..."
Xaver found himself rambling, but he didn't really care. He watched only Ginny's eyes, and the floor, suddenly looking like a worn out rag doll. There was blood still dribbling thickly from the wound through his shoulder, which he didn't, but probably should have cared about. Dried blood in a diagonal line across his lower lip, from where the now healed bit of flesh had opened. The shadows under his eyes suddenly looked deeper and more profound.
The shadows in his eyes, looked even worse.
Ginny watched him as his thoughts floated around like a small child's. She put her arms around herself.
"No. I want to come. I think I'd feel better if I could come. If it's okay with you." She said, after clearing her throat. She looked at the ground now and closed her eyes then opeaned them, clearing her throat again.
"It's okay with me."
He glanced at her blankly, then looked at Kylie, holding her close against his chest. He closed his eyes tightly, and when he looked up, his eyes were void of any emotion at all, his mind calm, cool, and dark. Empty.
"We should go now," he said absently.
She nodded, steeling herself emotionaly.
Lavy also nodded and stood, up looking around them once more.
Xaver bowed his head, his powers reaching out to the two girls, and wrapping around them like a soft blanket, concealing everything around them in a haze of blue. Then, in an instant, his contact with them was gone, and they were standing at either side of Xaver, in front of two wide, thick dark wood doors. They were in a hallway, tiled with black marble, the walls painted a coral white, the ceiling high above them. Insanely high. Large, tall, rectangular windows dappled the outside wall of the corridor, a warm, bright light seeping in from each. It seemed fake, almost. Looking left or right, one only saw part of the corridor, before it curved around and out of sight.
Xaver clenched his teeth, and walked foreword, the doors opening at his will. There was a rush, and suddenly they were all surrounded by more than a dozen people, some with wings, some without.
Ginny stayed at Xaver's right side as the people surrounded them. She kept her head bowed though, she wasn't sure she could watch the reactions they were sure to have when they spotted Kyllie's lifeless body.
The room fell quiet, and still. Footfalls ceased, as well, it seems, breathing all together. For a pause, there was nothing but a dull heaviness. Then, in a quick procession, Kylie's limp form was taken out of his arms by a plump, sturdy house mother, and simply whisked away out the doors and down the corridor, followed by the rest of the workers beneath her reign. In what could have been counted as five seconds, the three were standing alone, again, in what revealed itself as a council 'room', an huge round, black marble table in the center of its enormity, but with mere wicker chairs around it. The room began, behind them, as part of the castle, but half-way through, became like an out-doors leisure meeting place. The far wall had wide, gaping windows between sheets of thin wood-substances, and there was a big gab, instead of a door. There was no roof on the far half, either. Behind that wall, were sheer rock caves, lush forestlands, and the occasional lake - all right there, in eye's view.
Xaver didn't say anything. He just stared, blankly, out one of the far windows.
Ginny waited till the workers had elft before looking up. She ran her eyes across the room, swinging them to Xaver quickly.
"Hey?" She said softly.
Xaver turned his head slightly and looked at Ginny, his expression forcibly unchanged. His eyes, though, never gained a razor edge whenever he looked to her.
"Yes?" he said, so quietly that a pin dropping could have muffled the sound.
"Maybe you should go lay down or something. I'm sure the workers can do everything till it's time." She said, quietly.
"No.." he said, his voice a little stronger now. "Maybe later."
He would think about it all later. When he had to.
Yeah, right.
"They will," he said a little more softly then, "I just don't think it would help."
He turned and looked at them both.
"Are you alright?"
Lavy nodded. "I'll be fine, Ginny what about you?"
"I'll be okay." She said, nodding, mostly for Xaver's sake.
Xaver nodded, suddenly becoming fidgety. He had to keep moving. Maybe that would make things better. Maybe he would never stop - just keep walking until he killed himself doing so. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and, began to pace, mopping his face with his hands.
Ginny watched him, not sure how to help him at all.
Xaver finally paused after a long moment, and he watched Ginny's eyes, loking as if he was about to say something. But right then, another voice rang through all their minds.
~Reminding you all that nightfall is quick upon us, and will be here in minutes. You should all find rest. There will be bathing areas in all of your rooms, and your clothes will be cleaned if you wish it. Thaia will be there to escort you,~ came a low, female voice.
Footsteps came, and just as quickly as the thought had come on, a little girl was standing in the doorway, waiting for them to follow.
Xaver winced. She looked a lot like Kylie, just older. He nodded, and started toward the girl, signaling her to turn and begin down the halls in lead.
Ginny nodded at the small girl, offering her a weak smile before following her. She glanced at Xaver, worridly.
Xaver didn't notice her glance, or much of anything. He watched his shoelaces, (stained with his own blood, he realized) as if they were the most amazing thing in the world, his mind drifting into a dark haze, not one thought perceptible.
The girl led them to a quiet hallway, pointing to the very end of it, where three heavy wooden doors were set into the stone, each seperated by a good sized space. If the conditions were not so somber, the entire of the enormity and intelligent beauty of the place would have been almost overwhelming. But it all seemed to be dimmed in the light of the situation. She tugged Xaver's sleeve, and pointed to the far left, nudged Ginny, and pointed to the middle, and then Lavy, and pointed to the right.
"Go to those specified rooms, so the people know how to care for your different clothes, and arrangements, if needed," she said. "The rooms are only a big bedroom/front room, with a shower room in the far corner of each. On each of the walls besides the farthest on the left and right sides, has a door which one can pass into to the other rooms. Princess Kylie's grievance will be held prompt at dawn tomarrow morning. Goodnight, please sleep well."
Then the girl simply turned, walked a little away, and disappeared through a hidden door.
Xaver shivered. He nodded at Lavy, kissed Ginny on the temple, and started into his room.
Ginny wrapped her arms around herself, nodding after Xaver. She stod there for a moment longer then looked at Lavy.
"Guess we should go to bed." She said.
Lavy nodded sadly. "On this rare occastion I agree with you."
Xaver closed the door with a low click behind him. He glanced to his right. Another door. That must lead to Ginny's room, as the little girl had said. Xaver just hoped she'd wake him up. She was always the sensible one. And he didn't think he would be able to wake himself up.
He showered, wrapped his injured shoulder, and willed his wings away, emerging from the bath room shirtless, donned only in a pair of some light, loose pants. He waved his hand, and a few candles awoke in some random corners. He found himself tired, and just sat on the floor where he stood.
Ginny leaned against one of the walls in her room, her arms folded, one leg supporting her. She looked down at the ground, silent and thinking. She had alreadybeen out of the shower for a few minutes, and her hair was semi-dry. She sighed and kicked off from the wall, rubbing her eyes.
Xaver kneaded his knuckles at his temples, then finally gave up at washing away the headache. He walked to the door that adjoined his and Ginny's room, not caring of how he was dressed. Softly, he knocked, not posessing enough strength to muster the will to see if she were asleep already, and not wanting to wake her. Behind him, as his will wavered, the candles flickered, and simply went out, leaving him alone, in the dark.
Ginny quietly went to the door, pulling it open. She looked at Xaver softly, and didn't give him a chance to speak. She put her arms around him, giving him a strong hug.
Xaver went still for a moment, not having expected her to be awake, and less for her to come at him. Quickly, though, his arms wrapped tightly around her, his face dropping into her soft shoulder. He tightly held his eyes shut, abandoning the will to act unrattled, but forcing himself to remain in one piece. Her kindness, though, was humbling him, and shattering him.
"I,er.. was wondering if I could sleep in here, on the floor or couch, or something.. I don't think I could ever sleep, alone in there," he admitted, his voice low and husky, and slightly hoarse.
"Shh...." Ginny whispered, she took a step back and smiled, softly, and weakly at him.
"Understandable. Wherever you want."
"I don't care where," he said honestly.
His pulse was finally slowing to an actual calm. He tried to smile. He failed trying to make it appear on his lips, but it was there in his eyes.
"Well, I can't sleep anyway, you can lay down on the bed, okay?" She said, running a hand through his hair softly. She took his wrist and pulled him in so she could shut the door.
Xaver allowed himself to be led inside, her touch reassuring. He nodded.
"Okay," he agreed quietly.
He leaned foreword, and met her lips, slowly, gently kissing her.
Ginny replied to his kiss with one of her own, then stepped back. She placed a hand on his arm, motioning toward the bed. She smiled and kissed him once more before going back to where she had been before, by the wall.
Xaver nodded, the touch of her, the feel of her lips on his still present on his own. He went to her assigned bed, as she went and leaned against one of the walls. He slowly crawled onto it, each movement agonizing, though he didn't show it. Instead of laying down, though, he shifted some of the pillows so they were mainly on his left side, leaning his back up against the wall, crossing his legs beneath him, as he sat, his eyes watching Ginny for a long moment.
At his back, the wall was ice cold against his bare flesh. He shivered once at first contact, then fell still, slouching foreword, thehard, athletic muscles contracting, sore and bruised. There were bruises all over his exposed chest and back and arms, actually, darkening and or yellowing, one, a particularly large one, over his left collar bone, was already a dark purple, black shade. Over that bruise, and occasionally still marked on his body, still healing, deep scratches were printed. The candle light brought all the uncommon colors out on his lean body.
"Why did come?" he asked softly. "You didn't have to.."
"Yes I did. I loved Kyllie as well." She said, looking up. She slid down the wall, sitting now, but still in view.
"And I didn't want you to go through this alone."
Xaver was moving before he thought about it. He slowly threw his legs over the side of the bed, walked toward her, and sat next to her, against the wall, bringing his knees up and placing his elbows on them. He looked over at her, and before he knew it, the oldest question known to mind was on his mouth.
"Why?" he asked quietly. "Why do you care so much?"
"Why?" Ginny looked at him incredulously. She blinked a few times, then shook her head slowly.
"Had you asked me that a month or so ago, I wouldn't have known why. Now I can say easily that I love you, that's why I care."
Xaver leaned over, and tenderly kissed her, capturing her lips for a moment, before slowly pulling away again. He watched her eyes, his own expressing emotions he had never felt before.
"I love you too," he said softly. " My love. My Aphrodite."
He leaned more comfortable against the wall, though still watching her.
"Thank you for being here. I don't know what I would have done."
She wacthed him for a moment, then blinked.
"You should go to sleep." She murmmered.
"You, too," he said softly, his words slurred slightly as he faught a weary yawn.
He knew he should move to find somewhere to lay out and sleep, but he was comfortable next to her. He always was. He just didn't want to leave his place. He didn't ever wat to leave his spot, right next to her. He didn't ever want to move.
Ginny laid her head against the wall, closing her eyes.
"I'm going to." She said, still under the impression he planned on sleeping in the bed.
Xaver nodded, but he still didn't get up. He shifted, so he was sitting closer, next to her, side against side. He leaned over and kissed her temple, before resting his head against the wall, and closing his eyes, drifting off before he could stop it.
Ginny cracked her eyes open and smiled, slightly. She shook her head a shifted so she was kneeling beside him. She pulled out her wand and whispered the spell for levitating under her breath so she could levitate him off the floor.
Xaver mumbled something in a low grumble as he began to rise from the floor, opening his eyes slightly. He blinked at her.
"Whajadoin?"
"Shuddup." Ginny said, brly moving her mouth. She kept him close to the floor until she reached the bed, then rose him only high enough to put him ontop the covers. She pockted her wand and smiled.
Xaver grumbled something. He already missed being next to her. However, his eyes were closed the instant he lay upon the bed. He shifted slightly, stretching out on his stomach, the tense, athletic muscles in his shirtless back knotting, and then relaxing.
"Love you," he said softly, before completely falling asleep.
Ginny smiled and stepped close, pushing his hair off his forhead.
"I love you too, Xaver." She whispered, though she knew he was already asleep.
Xaver was still for a while, his body calm and his mind blank. That was, before the nightmares began. At first, he just occasionally shivered, wincing. Soon, though, he was mumbling and muttering out loud, twitching and thrashing.
Ginny opeaned her eyes and stood up from where she sat by the wall. She walked to the bed, realizing her was having bad dreams. She wasn't sure if she should wake him up, or extract the dreams.
Xaver called out, cursed out, shouting nothingness in both English and his own language, twisting painfully, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. Suddenly, he became violently cold, and began shivering, trembling through a long pause when the dreams shifted. He was curled up on his side, knees tucked close to his chest, an arm draped over his face, the bend of his elbow concealing his features.
He didn't notice she was near, for his regular senses and shields were chained down in the shadow, fiercely held at bay while the nightmares he regularly had, but never told about, ravaged his mind, and body as well. Sometimes he sleepwalked..
As if on cue, Xaver uncoiled, his still shivering body slithering from the bed. He stumbled over some of the bed covers, and finally fell flat onto the ground with a dull thud, something that would definitely ache in the morning, but he didn't seem to acknowledge the fall as he lay on his stomach, looking around. He was not at all awake, though his eyes were open and he was still mumbling under his breath.
(I have a sister that sleepwalks, it's creepy.)
Ginny knelt, not touching him.
"Xaver, get back in the bed, okay?" She said lowly, knwing that sometimes a voice will make a sleepwalking person move.
(I do sometimes. It's weird, lol)
"Yes, back to bed.." he replied, his eyes locking with hers, but not really seeing her, or anything in particular.
He rose, backed up, and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her.
"Did you know I've never had chocolate before? I have a friend dragon, too. His name's Narja. I haven't seen him in years. He left the same year I did. When I was little. He was my friend."
Xaver yawned sleepily, stood, and walked to the door, trying the handle, but fumbling with it. He couldn't keep his mind on one particular thing.
"I let Kylie die," he whispered, stopping, pressing his forehead against the door. "I could have stopped it... I could have... I should have thought it through. I should have paid more attention to her than Xences.. she was more important... It's all my fault.. If I would have.."
He fumbled with the door again.
"Ginny.. I don't want her to get hurt.. ... ... all my fault.."
"Oh, Xaver." Ginny said, forgeting the rules she had learned stating to never touch a sleepwalking person. She grabbed him in a tight hug.
"You didn't kill her."
Xaver had nearly gotten the door open when she grabbed him. He went rigid and tuned in her arms to face her. His eyes first became unnerved and almost scared, a shiver running through him, the cold after-effect of it pooling in his belly. Quickly, though, as he blinked, he regained some of that nervous calm, for the first time ever through all the times that he had sleepwalked. She was close to him, and that calmed him quicker, and more efficiently than anything.
He knew. In the back of his mind, he knew, somehow, what he had said.
He squeezed his eyes shut, and touched his forehead to hers, another shiver echoing through him.
"I did.." he said hoarsely, his voice sleepy, but restless. "I should have protected her... I shouldn't have drawn you into this entire mess..."
"You didn't draw me in, and you didn't kill Kylie." Ginny said, defiantly.
He finally opened his eyes, watching hers.
"You are so sure?"
"Absolutly positive. Never so sure about anything before." She said, without missing a beat.
Xaver watched her for a long moment, before he softly sighed. He may not have felt it was his fault, as much, then, but he would subconsciously blame himself for years.
"Sorry for waking you."
"I wasn't really asleep." She said, shrugging.
Xaver looked at her.
"You weren't?"
"Nah. Only half. I couldn't sleep." She shrugged again, since to her it wasn't a big deal.
To him, it was.
"You take the bed," he insisted. "Get some sleep. Please. I'll stretch out on the foot of the bed, or on the floor or something."
Ginny shook her head.
"No, I'm awake now. I will be for awhile."
Xaver sighed softly.
"I won't be able to sleep, until I don't have the choice anymore," he admitted, shrugging.
He glanced at one of the oddly shaped clocks hanging on the far wall, reading the time. It was pending early in the morning. Sunrise wouldn't be too far off.
Ginny looked at the clocks, then down at the cloths she had dozed in. Wrinkled jeans and a t-shirt. She shrugged and sat down on the bed.
"You do have a wonderful home." She said, then her eyes shadowed slightly, "It's sad thatb I had to see it under these circumstances."
"Thank you. It is a nice place, sometimes.."
Xaver followed her lead, and sat as well, though not on the bed. He sat on the ground, next to her legs. He followed her gaze to her clothes, then looked to her eyes.
"By the way, if you want to change, or get anything new, around the corner from these rooms are some huge places that have everything. Literally. You can pick everything you want out and up, free of charge. Some of the castle-maids here like to use the people in the castle like dolls. They see every shape and size of creatures, and they mentally play dress up. They're very good. They make everything."
Xaver shrugged.
"I'd be happy to take you there, and watch you take every last item for yourself. Truthfully, I could care less what you wore. You are beautiful in everything, everywhere."
Xaver smiled softly up at her, then turned slightly, resting his back against the bed, and his temple against her knee.
"Jus' want you comfortable," he said, amidst a yawn.
She looked down at the top of his head and smiled a bit.
"No, I'm okay."
"Mmkay."
Xaver nodded against her knee, and shrugged a shoulder, staring blankly at the wall, his eyes glazing over slightly as he let his thoughts ramble.
Ginny went silent as well, half in and out of this frame of mind.
Xaver closed his eyes, trying adamantly not to focus on one particular thing, though the sudden shift in mind had an awkward effect o him. It opened up the need of sleep, and drowned him in it.
He awoke, or in an even more true sense, was shaken from his reverie, when the ancient-looking clock on the wall began to clang, signaling, just as the first rays of light seeped over the land. Xaver opened his eyes, and scowled at it, flicking a hand.
The clock didn't get to sound twice. With a little willpower, it shattered into a million parts, and dropped to the floor.
Xaver lay onto his side, curling up slightly, closing his eyes again, not wanting to move.
Ginny rubbed her eyes with one hand, and sat up. She yawned once, then looked out the window. She looked at the broken clock and shook her head with amusment.
Xaver rolled onto his back, glanced at the clock with a look of pure loathing, then back to her, noting she was awake, shrugging innocently.
"It fell.."
"I'm so sure." She said, rolling her eyes. She slid off the bed and walked to the window to look at the sun comming up.
"Good. We agree, then."
Xaver shook his head, and stood, slowly following her trail like a big cat, absently slinging an arm around her waist when he reached her, softly kissing her temple, before looking out the window, becoming lost in it.
She leaned against him, her eyes blank as she became lost in her thoughts. She was thinking of Kylie.
Xaver held her close, somehow settled, if only for the moment.
Then, at exactly the same time, the clock in his room, next door, could be heard, as well as someone knocking on Ginny's. He bowed his head, shook it, and sighed, then looking back up. His reverie was gone. Solemn, he turned away from the sunrise that had turned to him, dead grey.
"That'll be the maid, for you. They said they'd send one. Careful, or she'll use you like a doll. Anyway, just tell her whatever you want, anything you want, and she'll get it. I've got to go get changed..."
He shook his head a little grumpily, looked at her, and became a little calmer, again.
"Love you," he said softly.
On impulse she kissed him, having to stand on her toes slightly, since she didn't have shoes on.
"It's gonna be okay, Xaver."
"I hope so," he whispered.
He leaned down, and gently returned the kiss, holding her lips for as long of moments as he could, until the door was being knocked on again. He slowly, softly pulled away, kissed her forehead, and regretfully stepped back slightly.
"I'll see you in a few minutes," he said, kissing her lips one las time, before slowly turning, and stepping through the door, into his room.
Ginny waited until his door closed before she walked to her own door. She opeaned it.
"Yeah?" She asked.
It was the girl that had lead the the night before. The one who looked uncannily like Kylie. Another reason Xaver had booked out of there so fast.
"I've been told to help you get ready."
She shrugged.
"I was sent 'cause I knew Kylie and Xaver," she explained.
Xaver emerged from his room a few minutes later, dressed in black dress pants and shoes, a dark grey silk shirt, and a black jacket. Nothing special at all, but nothing un-fancy, and lazy. And anyway, Xaver had an odd ability to make clothes look good. But it was odd how sharp the dark colors contrasted and heitened the sharp angles of his face and body, making his eyes seem darker and far more dangerous than they ever looked. Or, maybe he had changed. He didn't think he had.
He leaned against the wall across the hallway from Ginny's door, watching his shoes.
Ginny looked a bit flustered. She had no idea what to tell the girl to do.
"Erm, okay?"
"Well."
The girl scratched her head, shrugging again.
"Do you want some robes or clothes? Or cheese? We have some really good.. cheese.."
The girl shrugged, again.
Xaver turned, still across from Ginny's door, and stared out the glass-less window. It was cold in the corridor, colder than it usually was on mornings, and the slight breeze was almost bitter. He looked down, and absently picked at the old stone sill.
Ginny couldn't help but smile. In fact, she even giggled.
"Cheese, huh?" She shook her head, realizing that this girl was young and used to being told what to do.
"Come one, you can help me pick out my cloths. Then we'll get some...cheese."
The little girl grinned.
"Great!"
She nodded her head feverishly. She had been good friends with Kylie, and was very distressed about her loss, but her child's mind didn't want to focus on one such thing.
"Let's go look! Then, I'll show you all of our cheeses. We have yellow, white, peach.."
Xaver was watching the courtyard, below the window, none too invlved in anything. He wasn't bothered, simply thinking.
Ginny motioned for the girl to led the way to wherever she would find clothes. As she passed Xaver, she touched his shoulder slightly, then continued walking as though she hadn't seen him.
Xaver stirred as he was touched, watching as they walked, his expression blank. He looked back out the window, a little calmer, but still wound up, his stomach knotted.
The little girl led Ginny around the corner, and through a few doors, into an enormous room. Like Xaver had said, it held... everything, in clothes, and whatnot. She looked around, smiling at all the colors.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Ginny smiled slightly, a bit uncomfertable. She wasn't big on dressing up, but she knew she could change after the funeral services. She walked over, rifling through the cloths until she found a black skirt and a dark blue long sleeved dress shirt. She shrugged and went to put them on, pulling black shoes on with them, and pulling her hair back from her face.
She scrutinized herself when she came back into the room where she had left the girl.
The little girl clapped her hands.
"Good!" she exclaimed. "Now, cheese?"
She offered a plate, too young to realize the absurdity of the situation.
Xaver picked at the sleeve of his jacket, annoyed by it. He didn't like wearing anything particuarly fancy. The things got in the way. And he wasn't in the mood to be strapped into anything. But he had been submissive, and just done what he was told, in even less of a mood to argue. He growled, mentally threatening to tear it off, and chuck the 'costume' below.
~Xaver?~ Ginny questioned, very softly to him as she accepted a piece, keeping her amusment at the child's behavoir hidden. She walked to the door and opeaned it.
"Comeon, kiddo. Let's find Xaver."
~Yeah?~
He still stood where he had been, his figure still as a statue, the only evidence of him alive, being the rising and falling of his chest as he breathed.
The little girl nodded, setting the platter down on a table.
"Ok!"
~Just making sure your okay.~ She followed let the girl lead again, since she was compleatly lost
-Thank you.-
He was still standing, marble-like, as they approached. But the little girl had no qualms about going right up to him, where wiser men, would have stayed away, wary. She tugged on his sleeve.
Xaver slowly turned his head, looking down at the much shorter girl, staring at her for a moment, before ruffling her hair. He was not mean, though it was rumored. The girl knew that.
"Do you want some cheese?" she asked, smiling at him.
"No, that's ok. I'm not very hungry. Thank you, though."
"Yup. Mother sent me, 'cause everyone's so busy."
Xaver nodded.
"I know," he said softly. "Now.. You find Deekan. Your bird isn't going to be too happy with being alone for so long. He's greedy, remember? And, I don't want you working. These may be special circumstances, but I do not, want you working. Silly kid."
The girl nodded, and shrugged.
"I was just helping. And I will. He's silly."
Xaver nodded at her.
She started away, then ran back to him, wrapping her arms around his middle and hugging him. He froze and went stiff for a moment, before relaxing, and hugging her back.
"I'll miss Kylie," she said. "And you. I hope you come back.. You're like my big brother!"
She finally let him go, smiled at Ginny, and scampered away. Xaver shook his head, watching his shoes.
Ginny watched the girl run off and went to Xaver. She put her arms around him, giving him a hug.
"Xaver..."She said softly, worried for him. She didn't know exactly how he felt, but she knew he was sad.
"Just get through today."
Xaver was still for a moment, before he wrapped his arms around her, and held her close, hugging her tightly back.
"I'll try," he said softly.
She hugged him for a moment, before stepping back.
"Where do we need to go?"
"A little ways out into that grassland, there."
He pointed, and far over the rooftops of the enormous castle, rolling hills of gold and green could be seen. He watched her for a moment, then slowly started down the corridor.
"Okay." She followed him, stepping softly.
Xaver slowed and waited for her footfalls to carry her closer to him, keeping his pace calm, instead of haywire. He glanced at her, gave a small, appreciative smile, and led the way around the bend of the corridor, to a Y-shaped fork, beginning down the steps, instead of continuind around the path that circled the enormous tower.
She followed, silently seeing Xaver's home with wonder.
Xaver led the way down the staircase to the courtyard, across it, through a few more doors and wide corridors, and finally out one of the back entrances, of which opened to the wide escapes of the meadows, and so forth.Xaver walked slowly, remembering, as they came to the longer grass, putting his hands out to his sides, leting the grass tickle his palms. He shook his head, moved a ways over to the left, and found the small path, of which led around, toward an enormous, single, ominous tree, of which shadowed more than many buildings in itself.
Ginny followed, keeping halfway behind him, and half beside him.
Xaver finally slowed, and then ultimately stopped, eyeing the gathered group uneasily.
Ginny looked around, not looking anyone in the eyes, but rather beyond them.
Xaver, seeing the look on her face as the way he felt, gently grasped her hand.
The procession was quick, not simple at all, but shortened respectfully. Xaver listened, but didn't hear much. He mostly was staring at the newly upturned earth.
Afterward, as the other started leaving, he hadn't moved. What next?
Ginny kept hold of his hand.
"Come on." She suggested softly. She didn't know where he'd want to go, but she knew it wasn't good for him to stand here like this.
Xaver looked at her, and nodded. He glanced at the spot Kylie lay, then back at Ginny, kissing her gently on the lips.
"Wherever you want to go," he said quietly.
Ginny had no idea were to go, she she just started walking. It wasn't long till she felt compleatly lost, but she didn't care.
Xaver followed her, not caring where they were going, or particularly worried if she knew, or didn't, either. He glanced at their linked hands, and that was comfort enough to let his mind slip peacefully.
After several minutes, Ginny sat down in the high grasses. She pulled Xaver down as well, knowing that he wouldn't be bothered if no one could see him.
Xaver hadn't been paying attention, and when she pulled him down, he was surprised, and though his instinct tried to save him, he managed to fall flat onto his back. He looked at her with a sort of bemused interest, simply tucking his arms under his head.
She looked at him, worried, but not since he had falllen down. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and outting her chin onto of them.
Xaver stared up at the sky for a moment, then turned his head, and looked at Ginny. Really looked at her, his expression blank, but soft. Then, without words, he reached out and took her hand, bringing it to his lips, and gently kissing the top of it.
"Thank you for being here today." he said lowly, his voice quiet, and a little hoarse.
"Don't thank me." She said, softly. She looked down at the grass, then at the horizon.
"I had to. I couldn't have stayed away. Even if you had wanted me to."
"I will, anyway," he said softly, stubbornly.
He sat up, next to her, still holding her hand, watching her still.
"And I would never, not want you around," he said. "I couldn't."
Ginny was silent for a few moments before she turned and looked at him. She didn't say anything, but it was obviouse she wasn't even sure what she was thinking. Her face showed no emotion, but her eyes were utter chaos. She didn't say anything, but simply watched him watch her.
Xaver, finding in her eyes, some of the same emotions he felt ravaging through him, offered a grief-wracked, but very gentle, loving, very small smile. Then, he looked foreword, across the little patch of earth, and down the slope of what lead into one of the valleys, bending one knee up and resting an elbow on it, staring foreword. He felt as if he should have so many more emotions, but he just couldn't figure them out. He didn't know what to think. What to feel. How he was expected to. Or how in hell, he was going to get over something he didn't understand ever happening in the first place.
"I know it sounds wierd...but I can't...I hate death. I always have. I hate the thought of it, I hate causing it. I hate that even more then...I just hate death. It takes away anyone. It dosn't care if you loved that person, hated them, or didn't even know them. It dosn't care how rich that person was, or how many friends or family. Because stupid people....death is and object of humans. Stupid people..." She was grasping for words, flushing slightly, mad at herself because she couldn't express every emotion.
Xaver looked at her as she spoke, drinking in her words, listening to her, watching her. She was in a way sambling, but not to him. She made sense. He knew where she was coming from.
Xaver swallowed.
He simply nodded to her, listening, but unsure of what to say.
She took her hand from him, looking at it.
"Ever hear the expression 'Killing stains your hands red?' " She asked, quietly. "Well, I think they didn't mean a red that evryone else can see. I think I'm the only one who see's any red on my hands."
Slowly, Xaver put his hands out before him, palms up, looking at them. He stared, his expression somewhat dark.
"I think the saying is another way of saying, 'conscience'. If you don't care, you don't ever pay mind to look, and notice. And either way, you are haunted."
He looked at her, his expression blank.
"I hate that my hands weigh so heavily with so much.. red. It is just odd to think, that mine own red, might stain someone elses."
"I can't hate it. I can't hate that they are red. For half the time I've killed anyone, it was for other peoples lives. I've killed some people though...who didn't deserve it. Not in war, or anything such as that. Just because I was angry, and not paying attention, or my aim was bad. I...." She stopped and shook her head.
Xaver let his hands fall, then on another thought, took one of hers within his own, and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm, and then placing it upon his chest, over his heart. He looked at her. Just looked at her, plainly not knowing how to word anything he thought.
She looked at him for a minute before taking her hand back and standing.
"I think maybe we should get back.." She said, holding her hand to help him up.
"To where?" he asked, taking her hand, and pulling himself to his feet.
He softly thanked her for the help, and brushed himself off.
"I don't care." She said, clasping her hands behind her back.