[h3]Althalus and Mar[/h3]

Althalus gave a small sigh of relief as everyone left the building, taking the mad child with them. [i]One challenge down, one to go.[/i] A small knowing smile crossed his face. "This is gonna be fun." He muttered sarcastically under his breath before setting about making the room ready for treating Mar's injuries and trying to make her open up. He rearranged the barricade to give them a measure of privacy before turning to Mar. He produced a small bandage wrap and and even smaller jar of salve from somewhere within his armor. "I stopped by Sam before we left, knowing that at least one of us would get injured." He spoke casually, approaching Mar with both items, kicking corpses and bits of corpses out of his way. He kept as much of his worry out of his body language and tone as possible, but knew it wouldn't be enough. Not if she was paying attention at least. When he was within arms reach, he spoke again. "Alright, show me where you've been injured." 

Luckily Mar had been so centered on her own emotion struggle, she hadn't heard Grey's comment. Strictly the mention of leaving the pair alone or the hint of it being something slightly more then merely getting her wounds attended to, making her consider ignoring it. If a Naga couldn't tend to her own wounds and ensure she was taken care for, best die from infection. Rarely a wound was terrible enough to break this key rule and if so, the Naga involved would've never spoken of it. A key reason she had discarded Althalus' aid in the day that led up to Lyn's conception.

It was only when she noted the barricade being erected and rearranged for the second time did she look upward. Her eyes were no longer their usual steady, sharp glare. They looked lost, confused and worried enough she felt its betrayal, jerking her face away. This wasn't how a Naga was supposed to have think. And that was what she was after all. 

She eyed him holding the salve and bandage, his feet kicking the corpse bits away to clear a space. His voice was casual but she had learned to expect more from it. More then concern or worry and watched him approach, allowing him near without a fight. When he was near enough, his flimsy attempt to keep his emotion from his body shouted so loudly, she answered his question. [color=f7976a]"Just a shallow, flesh wound here." [/color]

She grazed her finger across the child's strike of earlier, now crusted with dark, brownish blood. Mar couldn't stop her flinch while she let out a soft hiss instead. Quickly adding more to her earlier words. "It's nothing. It will heal." 

Althalus's gut twisted as he saw the confusion and worry in Mar's eyes, before they were abruptly. Something was wrong, badly wrong. This was the first time he had seen this in Mar and it scared him. Regardless, he didn't approach her about it yet, instead focusing on her wound. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Yes, a cut from a likely rusty and gore, and gods know what else, encrusted farm tool is nothing and will heal just fine. I have this crazy idea though, lets be on the safe side and get it cleaned, covered with salve, and wrapped up  shall we? Stay here while I see if this cess pit has a clean bowl and clean water.  Don't argue, you know what happened the last time we argued over a cut and I don't think Lyn needs a sibling. Stay here."

Without waiting for her response he turned and went into a nearby room that looked vaguely like a kitchen. There was rattling sounds and several exclamations of disgust, followed by a ripping sound, but he quickly returned with a clean bowl and water. Cold water, but water none the less. A piece of his sleeve was in his hand. "There were no clean rags. Believe me, you don't want to know what they were covered with.

He knelt down so that he was level with her cut. After dipping his makeshift rag in the water he slowly reached towards her with it, glancing up at her as he did so. "This might sting."

Mar didn't fight. After his mention of another sibling, she raised her eyebrow and gave him a look dark enough it could've blotted out the sun. Her eyes watched him travel to the back as sounds of something clinked and rattled in his search. She sighed with annoyance. Why did males have to make it so difficult and work themselves over the little things, she thought bitterly. After a few disgruntled sounds, ripping and many other noises, Althalus walked back out into the room with a bowl in hand and his sleeve. 

[color=f7976a]"Obvious or you've never torn your sleeve off your shirt."[/color] She stated, her tone edging slightly back to her original state. It still held the bland tone which betrayed she had only suppressed her conflict...for now. 

She held still while he leaned down, her body now at its more human height, to wash away dried and rotten blood. She fought the winch in her body, keeping it from rippling throughout her figure and jawline tightly closed. It was clear it hurt. With each dab and touch, she tried to keep any foolish emotions, positive or negative, from flooding her head. This action's display was foreign to her. [i][color=f7976a]Why did he bother?[/color][/i] She thought inside. 

If she couldn't mend herself, than what good was she in the end? No point in caring for someone who couldn't take care of themselves, a strict reason most Naga didn't take risks, as it lead to unwanted emotions and attachment. It made it harder both to kill should the Malice ever hit or if worse, it hit while treating. Many were lost in the past because of that. 

[color=f7976a]"I've got bigger problems then pain, Althalus."[/color] Mar stated bluntly.  

Althalus glanced up, to check if the way he was cleaning the wound hurt to much, and for once he could read Mar like a book. Despite the turmoil he knew she must have been going through, he couldn't help the surge of relief that it was something understandable. [i]Emotions, emotions, emotions..[/i] He thought with a small sigh. At least it was something he could help her with, and not some strange Naga thing he knew nothing about. He continued in silence, getting much of the wound clean before she spoke to him again.

He gave a small smile, shaking his head. "You do. Like understanding that the emotions your feeling, while confusing, aren't a weakness. You can't repress them. I've tried, and it only leads to them bursting out in an uncontrollable wave." He glanced up at her, pausing momentarily. "Don't try to deny it. For once, [i]I'm[/i] the one who can understand what your trying to hide. Is this what's suddenly caused your shut out? Your attempted withdrawl?" 

The wound was clean, so he put down his makeshift rag and unscrewed the cap, gently rubbing it across the wound. Despite his relaxed demeanor he was ready to fight through all of Mar's denials and stubborness. After months of it, she could do nothing that would really surprise him.

[color=f7976a]"Althalus, this isn't normal for Naga. We can't feel emotions or let them rule us, it's no better then Malice. I can't lose myself and I've never known these...feelings so strongly."[/color] Mar said, feeling the sting worse at admiting than when Althalus was finishing up. 

She had managed not to lash out, at least, but her body still wanted to curl inside itself and die. [color=f7976a]"I couldn't even defend myself properly."[/color]

Bitterment crept more willingly in her voice this time causing her clamp her mouth down, trying to rein it in. It just kept pushing past her control like smoke past her fingers. Her arms tightened about herself, coming from their fallen position, as if to shield herself from her surroundings leaving her mind to torment her. Again, she spoke softly. [color=f7976a]"This isn't suppose to happen..." [/color]

Quickly, while listening to Mar and damning whatever God thought it a good idea to make the Naga clamp down on their emotions, he bandaged the wound. [i]I swear if I ever meet the bastard I'll kill them for what they're doing to her...[/i] He thought as he heard her continue. As she curled in on herself, he stood and gathered her into his arms, hugging her.

Mar stiffened for a moment. Her body warmed by Althalus' touch and his arms curling about her, embracing her into a tight hug. Normally, she would've glared. Reacting with a limp body and done nothing to return the affection displayed. However she felt like the emotions were choking her. Slowly killing her from the inside until nothing of her Naga comfort and beliefs were anchored within herself. Gingerly and total hesitation she lifted her arms to wrap about the man clinging on her. 

Feeling them reach behind, she pulled him close while sinking into the flood of emotions that overwhelmed her. Her head twisted about just when dampness started to leak from her eyes and buried into his neck, hiding the terrible truth from the world. Her voice was stuck fast in her throat but the tears spoke clearly of her fears, worries, and frustration. 

[color=f7976a]"Why is this happening?" [/color]She couldn't help the question, unsure why it crept through her mind and her lips gave it life.   

Althalus didn't say anything, simply held her tighter as she cried into his shoulder. He felt terrible that he was partially responsible for causing this to happen to her, but knew it would be for the best in the end. He hoped so, at least. For a few moments, there was silence, and then Mar asked her question. Althalus spoke gently as he replied, "Because it's not easy suddenly love someone when you've gone through centuries of keeping your distance. Your love of Lyn, while inconvenient in this instance granted, but it will get only better as time goes on, I promise you. And it's natural to feel that murdering a child is wrong, and you should never change that. I don't have a problem with it because I'm already dead inside, and Grey's sense of the greater good allows him to justify it."

He held on for a few more moments before withdrawing slightly and tilting her chin up to make her look at him, brushing away her tears. "I promise you Mar, by all the Gods and all the love I have for you, this will get better. We'll work through this."

[color=f7976a]"Naga aren't allow or should Althalus. We're taught that at an early age but I don't know why. The Matriarch was to teach me something before I was banished. Now I feel...strange and the Naga within me wants to coil up and lash out. This isn't right...I can't..." [/color]Mar started but found her argument failing as she merely let the sentence drift off, her arms loosen. Her eyes had already started to dry up while she knew they were redden by the crying, leaving signs of her weakness. Thankfully her bandage held despite their bodies pressed tightly together. It was a foolish action cause now the wound flared with fresh pain and made her flinch against her mental tolerance. 

[color=f7976a]"So many fears are racing through my head. Lyn, that sensation a few months ago, this, and the future all seem to wheel within my focus before they hid away. Returning when they aren't wanted." [/color] 

"Mar, this isn't the Naga lands anymore. This is as close to right as anything can be. Of course you feel strange, you've never experienced these emotions before. But it will get better, I swear it." He noted her flinch immediately, and released his hold on her, generating some space between the wound and his body. "Sorry." He gave an apologetic shrug before chuckling at her words. "That's called being a parent. I have those same fears, all the time. More so than you, considering that I nearly lost the both of you, twice. Why do you think I was so angry when you risked your life instead of going through the damn door? It's because I love you and the thought of you dying was terrifying."

[color=f7976a]"Althalus..."[/color] Mar began only to be interrupted by Althalus' smile caught in her eyes. 

He smiled, looking at her. "I'll still keep my word about Uicle if you ever do something like that again."

[color=f7976a]"I don't know how I'm supposed to act. There's no purpose for these emotions!"[/color] Mar stated bluntly, her confusion more dominate.[color=f7976a]"I don't know why it's seen as something worth having..."[/color]

Her emotions seemed to have flooded then fallen back, her mind still stinging from the mixture of pain and weakness. However it was slightly faded. [color=f7976a]"Why do you care? Althalus, what happened was a one time thing. Not that I regret Lyn, but that doesn't mean you need to worry or care about me. You're Lyn's father and can teach her much more since you two share legs especially since she will never be accepted within my world."[/color] 

Mar slouched back a bit, her body propped up by her bones as she absorbed Althalus' words. She seemed to be trying to make sense of them. It seemed like the world had changed but her mind knew better, it was her who was changing. A fact she wasn't sure was a good thing. [color=f7976a]"The others shouldn't be kept waiting long."[/color]   

"People rarely know how they're [i]supposed[/i] to act when being driven by emotions. They just [i]act[/i]. Fighting and trying to repress them never works. They always win, in the end. Your emotions will always get the better of you eventually." Althalus raised his eyebrow at Mar's insistence, again, that because they shared legs he could teach Lyn more than she could. He chose to answer the final comment before that, however. 

"Our companions know how stubborn you can be. Unless we take several hours, I doubt they'll be knocking the barricade aside to get us moving. Coco is barely able to stand, Leith and our guide were nearly mauled apart by a zombie horde, and Grey has a prisoner to watch over. Even if we do leave as soon as possible, we won't be going anywhere anytime soon. If anything, we might end up heading back to the College, even though we only found one mage." He gestured vaguely towards the woods outside. "And who knows where the ones he spoke of are."

"Anyways, why do I care? Well, at first, I didn't. You were just like every other Naga. Hostile, proud, and easily annoyed. I only stayed with you out of a sense of loyalty to Lyn. I couldn't just leave her with no father, despite your frequent and borderline violent insistence that I do so." He smirked, remembering the frequent arguments. "However, as the months wore on, I began to find that I could put up your few flaws and see past your harsh outer shell into the good. The way you obviously cared for Lyn, not even knowing if she was going to be Naga, human, or hybrid. Your loyalty to Tyrael despite him being...well, Tyrael. And yes, even your ruthless realism." Althalus shrugged. "What can I say? I said I'd stick around and I have. I taught Lyn to walk, but anyone could have. That's the only advantage I have and as we both know, she's learned to climb and walk now."

"In short, I want you to remember one very important thing; I love you, and I'm never going to stop loving you or let you go into danger alone." He grinned. "So get used to my presence and my many faults."

[color=f7976a]"It doesn't serve a purpose. For survival or anything... there's no reason to be emotional." [/color]Mar mumbled, her voice quieter and struggling with what Althalus' words. Finally her body relaxed and her shoulders slumped, letting her skeleton prop her upright. [color=f7976a]"I can't lose the part of myself I have left. If I'm not a Naga, then what am I?" [/color]

Her eyes narrowed their fix on Althalus. She felt so lost and confused, her mask flimsy and gone for the moment. [color=f7976a]"I feel...torn."[/color] 

"Do you love Lyn? Would you die for her? If there was even the slightest chance to save her, would you take it, no matter the risk? No matter the cost? Emotions, at least the good ones, typically aren't meant for our own survival. They serve a purpose, a mysterious, sometimes aggravating purpose, but a purpose none the less. What are you if you're not a Naga? You're the mother of Lyn. The love of my life. Mar, you're much more than a member of a race of beings that shut themselves off from their emotions. You're the friend of Tyrael, Aramir's hunting partner, and one of the few people Alaira won't get all that agressive with." 

He met her gaze without flinching, and spoke gently. "Torn between what?"

Mar lingered there, her eyes sat and body still. She looked like a cobra ready to strike. Each look turned into something more akin to studying while she seemed to fit pieces of his words into a puzzle, her mind ticking quickly when they fell into place. Her body straightened up suddeningly causing her tail to wrap about behind his legs and preventing his escape when her next question came. 

[color=f7976a]"What did you mean when you spoke about killing mages?" [/color]

Althalus became uneasy when Mar suddenly stilled. He could practically see the gears turning in her head and something falling into place. Too late he realized his danger, and had only time to brace as she straightened and suddenly her tail was wrapped about his legs, immobilizing him. In a reflex he tried to move his legs and only succeeded in unbalancing himself so badly that he needed to grab Mar's shoulders to not fall over. That's when she asked her question. He tried to hide his surprise and despair at her directness, doubtlessly failing. 

Avoiding her eyes, he offered a thin lie. "Oh, that? It's just a common idea....." He trailed off at both the look on Mar's face and the tightening of her tail around his legs. He heeded the warnings and slumped as much he was able to, while trapped by Mar's tail. [i]Well. I've royally fucked things up now.[/i] He thought bitterly, utterly certain what he said next would make Mar despise him and keep him from Lyn for the rest of his days. 

With a sigh, he met her eyes again. The look in them was similar to someone signing their own death sentence. "I'm an assassin. I get paid money, and I kill anyone those who paid me want dead. Foreas, Naga, Orc,mages, nonmages,  it makes no difference. If there's a race in Tiien that hasn't been hiding for centuries, I know how to kill them. That wanted poster Grey had? The one of the mask? That's me. Got sloppy one day when killing an artist's wife. He had exceedingly good memory, and soon that mask, the one in the Den, was everywhere in Port Slaughter. Made my job much more profitable, but also much more dangerous. Known assassins have much less stealth options." This was stated flatly, with no emotion. The bitterness only came with his final words. "So congratulations Mar, the father of your child is a murderer who is so dead inside he'll kill anything for money."

Mar looked at him a little longer as her eyes lessened their harsh gaze and her tail removed itself, slithering back to settle beside her. She didn't remove his hands as they braced against her shoulders, her arm out to aid him enough until he gathered his balance, allowing him to pull away. Something she expected he to do with his flat tone. A sense of hurt filled the edges of her eyes before it disappeared beneath her dark irises. [color=f7976a]"You ask so what if I wasn't a Naga, wondering why it mattered. You expect me to trust these emotions, to trust you yet... You can't bear to trust me with the truth." [/color]

She let her words settle on the air a moment, her coils pulled against herself and debating inwardly on the facts which spilt from his own mouth. It merely hurt but deep inside, she knew it didn't change her connection to him. Her love hadn't faded. It merely hurt her more. 

When he didn't remove himself, she added more.[color=f7976a]"Unlike bipeds, at least Naga trust enough to survive. We have a daughter... how can we raise her if we can't trust each other? Consider that Althalus."[/color] 

Exhaling to rid herself of some conflicting feelings, feeling him still against her. Her head only slightly looked to the barrier. [color=f7976a]"Are you sure you rather not return to the other?" [/color]

This was worse than what he had expected. Anger, disgust, even hate, he could have dealt with. This hurt, poorly covered up, cut him as surely and even more deeply than if she had shoved a dagger into his chest. He didn't remove his hands, afraid of what would happen if he let her go. For a long few moments, he was silent, considering her words. When he spoke, it was in complete disregard of her question, and spoken softly, hesitantly. 

"I've always trusted you. With my life and many other things. I didn't tell you about my past because...because I thought I could be something other than the Terror of Port Slaughter. The masked murderer with the blood of dozens on his hands. I thought that if I ignored my history, I could be a good man. At the very least a good father. I thought the past would go quietly into the night, and never become a problem again." He gave a small smirk, a twisted and bitter version of his usual one. "And now look. In my efforts to create a new life and protect it from the blood filled and dark old one I lead, I only managed to hurt one of the two people I care most about in this life. For what little it's worth, I'm sorry. For everthing."

[color=f7976a]"Althalus,"[/color] Mar's right hand reached out and pulled him to look at her, [color=f7976a]"You will always be a killer as I am. I killed in self-defense but I still killed, and his eyes, expression, and more stay there. What is done, is done. Ignoring it won't erase it." [/color]

She paused, seeming to search for the right words. [color=f7976a]"I might not see myself as a Naga, one day, but others will. That is all they will see. Just like those from Port Slaughter will only see a killer, not a father or a man, despite your actions. The present is what matters most in my eyes and it is what you do now that will always show me why I seem to care about you."[/color] 

Her head touched his and gently applied pressure, a small comfort she had once shown her own family, while she waited for the influence of her words to spread. Had she helped herself? No, but that seemed to matter little when it came to him. A matter that still confused and rattled her to this very moment.    

Althalus turned to meet Mar's eyes hesitantly, expecting something worse to come from her insistence. When she started, he could tell it was different. The hurt was gone, along with the accusation. As she finished, he nodded returning the gentle pressure against his head a relieved, happy smile across his face. "Okay." He said softly. "No more secrets. We'll focus on the present, and damn what everyone else thinks. We're going to figure out how to help you through this floodgate of emotions, and we're going to figure out how to raise Lyn with people like Alaira around her. Though, that might not be as easy as we thought. But I promise. No more secrets."

[color=f7976a]"Good, now the others have been waiting long enough. We still have some mages to hunt down and Athalus..." [/color]Mar started, seeming not finished just yet. Her body had started to remove itself and once more returned to its formal position, bring her eyes above his. The relax and intimidate nature of her closeness gone and was replaced by the serious tone, one he might've been relieved to find was normal. 

[color=f7976a]"We'll discuss more on this later after Lyn's been placed on a playdate with Tyrael."[/color]