Arn listened to the dark haired woman.  She said no lies.  He was quite sure that all she said was at the very least something she believed in.  He had seen enough to know that Eilis was more than met the eyes.  He had felt things through his connection with her that made him feel uneasy.  It was probably because of how she made him feel.  Feelings that both enticed and made him wary.  The biggest mystery was that they both had connected at all.  

He remembered the first feeling of her.  He was deeply wounded and very close to death.  Yet, he had heard a call.  As if they two had been connected.  Romantics call such a connection as soul mates.  Ironically, his own research had proven this notion to be true.  Both spiritually and scientifically, all life in Ith is interwoven and connected by the Aether.  The Weave is all and connects all.  There is no reason to believe that in such a complex tapestry, there are not threads that interlock and could actually share the same origin. 

This was the Fate that Scylla could be referring.  For Arn, the moment he gave his word to Eilis he had bound himself to her.  Actually, the moment that he had touched her to calm her, he had bound himself to her.  To him, this was not a cage but it was a union that anchored him when he had felt to be nothing more than a leaf on the wind. 

The battle mage’s eyes followed the woman cautiously.  He scanned the area around her for any disturbance in the Weave.  His stronger connection to the Aether allowed him to detect changes in the field.  This same connection was making him feel jumpy.  Almost as one who has taken drugs or full of adrenalin.  His own field pulsed as if like a barely held in hurricane.  Yet he contained himself.

His body was already feeling the strain of this enhanced connection.  Somehow, this also gave him a feeling of euphoria.  He wondered if Eilis felt stronger than this when in the state she had demonstrated?  He looked at the still sleeping figure of his protegee through the corner of his eyes.  If she shared her power with him…how would that feel?

[color=9e0b0f]There will be a day we will meet again and perhaps then you will agree with me.[/color]

He flared up just as she jumped away into the night.  The reason for his sudden surge of anger was because he already agreed with her.  His logical mind knew that killing Eilis was the best possible tactical action in regards to denying the enemy the power that the lovely girl seemed to posses.  Without the connection that he now shared with her, he would have had very little qualm in sacrificing her for the benefit of millions. 

This simple fact made him feel anger with himself.  Was he being selfish?  The answer was simple.  YES.

Yet, this simple answer as actually the reason why his conviction in protecting her and allowing her to live free were redoubled.  He had not doubts that she would be used.  That the power that bound her would destroy any chance she had at a peaceful, happy life.  Until he was able to free her, there was no guarantee that she would ever be able to live any type of life with him.  

Arn wanted that chance more than anything and he would kill for it.  

The mage took a deep breath and sealed his connection again.  His body still buzzed from the surge of power and like any who take drugs, started to feel a craving for it.  Thankfully, he had something that satisfied him, Eilis.  He was already kneeling and checking her fully to ensure there was no great injury other than some cuts and scrapes and a bit of bruising where he had magically choked her. 

A pang of regret ran through him but he knew it had to be done.  He would make amends and apologize latter.  He looked up when the old warrior spoke.  The mage nodded as he started to lift the sleeping girl effortlessly.  [color=0054a6]“I will tell you all I am able.”[/color]  He still had a promise to keep but there was not much that had not been revealed already anyways. 

Even if the old warrior had not suggested, death itself would not have been able to keep Arn from Eilis that night.  As he went by Tyrhallan his voice was heavy and deeply apologetic.  [color=0054a6]“I regret bringing such an evil to your house and family.”[/color]  He stopped a few steps away and told the man without turning.  [color=0054a6]“But I truly appreciate your protection.  You are a man of great honor and I am honored to know you.”[/color]

He followed a servant who showed the mage to a different room.  He placed the girl on the bed.  A maid had brought water and cloth and was about to clean Eilis up but Arn gently grabbed the cloth from her hands.  [color=0054a6]“Thank you for your kindness, Please, allow me to do that.”[/color]  The middle aged woman gave him a knowing and gentle look and patted him on the shoulder.  Without a word, she exited and closed the door behind her.

The master mage gently dabbed dirt and specks of blood from the sleeping girl.  He picked debris from her hair and clothes until she was as perfect as he could get her.  He looked down at her and sat on the edge of the bed.  [color=0054a6]“I am sorry that I did not meet you sooner.  I wish I could have prevented any of this from happening to you.  But I am glad we met.”[/color]  He said as he brushed back her hair.  

He did not know what she was dreaming but he hoped that it was about living a life that was simple and happy.