Calling You Out {Éamonn}

[†Kazira Astras†]

She laughed at his cheeky remark. He sounded like those genies that she hard heard about from a few travelers. Granted they were only myths but who was she to disclose that...They had mythical beasts here is Albion so why not in other places as well? She felt a rush of blood run to her face as his finger lingered on her chest. What was he doing? Yes they had defiantly gone past the friendly banter stage of their...What was what they had anyway? Could she call it a relationship? Friendship? She didn't even know what to call it at that point it was just too confusing to think about. But the promises that something might change or develop between them dangled in the air leading them to a trap.

She blinked at him; slowly coming out of her little world. It wasnt her? What did he know about her; nothing! He knows what she has told him and nothing else... What did he think that she was to innocent to kill someone? Ha! She was a mercenary...an honorable one but a mercenary none the less. It was part of her job to kill when needed. She just did research on her opponents and her clients and she didnt take innocent lives of children...it just didnt sit well with her to do that...maybe the latent mothering instinct but whatever it was she hated to take the life of a child. "Not me? You know nothing of me. I am a mercenary it is something that I've done for a long time." She paused to listen to him. "I dont see much of a difference.."She muttered. "Besides i wasnt talking about you. I was just making a comment. Its a job that's all."

Kazira almost wanted to laugh at the awkwardness that the man was showing her. Yes thinking of her family was hard and yes the pain was still undoubtedly there but it was lessening. Sometimes though she thinks about it way to much and it overwhelms her. His body was stiff and she was trying so hard not to laugh and ruin everything but it was just too funny. But in a way it was sweet. He was trying and that quelled the laughter that wanted to erupt from her stomach."You know you dont have to try and comfort me." She whispered not sure if he would actually hear her. "Its just nice to be around someone (human). To lean on." She finished as softly as she started. "Thank you"

She felt the heat of a blush rush to her face once again only this time it ran down her neck. This reaction was from a simple bruch of his lips on her forehead. What was wrong with her!? She was acting like a young teenager! Kazira had thought she had gotten through this stage already but she apparently thought wrong since she was blushing like a mad woman. She blinked in slight awe at his words. time? That meant whatever was happening he was curious to explore further? with her? Did he hit his head? But she couldn't stop the smile that slipped onto her face as she nodded her head in agreement. They would find the words that would be said with time. But only time would help them. Her smile turned mischievous as she leaned close to him, "If we dont continue walking we'll never make it to my camp before sun up." She giggled and pulled away leaving a well placed peck at the corner of his mouth and began walking toward her camp.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Hmm.. okay, so maybe he shouldn’t have voiced his thoughts like that, telling her what he thought she was and what not, that ought to make her react fiercely. He would have reacted the same way and they were so bloomingly similar in some aspects it was outright scary. But fact was he HAD said it and that was that. Éamonn just wasn’t someone to doubt and second-guess his actions and words for too long, it was part of who he was. So she thought he didn’t know her? Well, he knew a lot about killing and he also knew that it was an art rather than something done by the by. That’s why he and other fellow assassins he had come across always looked down a little on mercenaries. They should stick to fighting and not run around pretend that they were as good at killing as those were who earned their living with it!
But should he voice any of that? It would only lead to another endless argument undoubtedly. Could he handle that right now? He still was all but in enemy territory.

“You weren’t talking about me?” he inquired, raising his brows. “Well, you were talking about killing, and that means talking about me to some extent, as killing simply is what I do and what I am.” Why did he always emphasize this so much? Which part of him was it that didn’t want her to forget the creature he was? And why was he second-guessing himself yet again? That really got tiresome!
“Oh, and while we’re at it”, he commented and scoffed just a little bit, “if you knew so much about killing you would know better than to call this a mere ‘job’. It’s an art, a deadly art and one you might not be proud of in the eyes of the world. But someone who kills and brought himself to perfection in it, can well call himself artist in my eyes.”
There, he had said it! It really was gnawing on his honor, the way she talked. If there was something like an ‘assassin’s honor’… oh, there could as well be. The good thing about being your own man was that you could make your own rules and create your own cosmos.

He still was feeling very out of place while comforting her, and so when she told him he needn’t to, Éamonn felt a weird mix of indignation and relief. Here he was trying to act… human or normal or whatever you want to call it and she was amused by it, he could tell it from the tone of her voice! Then again… it MUST be a funny sight indeed. She seemed to get him well, apart from minor details maybe, so she had to realize how out of character that was for him, comforting, speaking words of condolence and such.
“Well…” he mused, “I don’t know if I should be offended or feel honored if someone can lean on me, but I think I’ll go with the latter for the time being. Just… swear to never tell anyone, right? I’ve got a reputation to lose after all!” Joking didn’t help overlooking the fact though that he would have liked to hold her for much longer, minus the condoling part of course. She really must have cast a spell over him somehow… he just couldn’t let go like he should!

It was sweet to see her blush, but it also made him react in a totally unexpected way. It evoked a certain desire in him that seemed to grow with every minute he stayed close to her. It was a desire to throw all hesitance overboard, to just accept what was happening here even if he couldn’t even name it yet. And yes, however sappy even that sheer thought was, he wanted to make her blush all over again, simply because it was so adorable, That maiden blush transformed the hissing wildcat into a purring kitten, and even if he wasn’t one for the cute normally, he had a certain feeling he could like that…
When she told him her ‘secret’ he chuckled breathlessly. That was just like her, filling him with expectations and then stating something so simple. Or… WAS it simple? She had… yes she had used “we” and unless she was a fan of the royal we, that meant…
“You sure you CAN walk there?” he asked to distract himself from those thoughts that had just entered his mind. “Or do you mean: me walking and carrying you?” He grinned loutishly. “Not that I would mind…”

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira blinked at him. Was this man serious? Killing can not be apart of someone. it just wasn't possible. It was something that one did to attain something. Be it glory, value, money, and all the like. It wasn't like he was the object that was being used...Oh. She had forgotten what assassins were...They were tools for others to use at their own discretion for their own gain not the assassin. She looked down and glowered at the ground why did he have to make things so difficult!?

She clenched her teeth. But that is their decision to be the tools! While mercenaries weren't among the favored in society they did not think of themselves as the tools for others. Granted that's what any person is to a kingdom a tool a pawn. She sighed. This was just a pain in the butt thinking about the differences and the similarities. She heard him say that killing was an art form. And she had to roll her eyes. "Art? How is killing an art form? Its a way to survive. to perfect in killing is to perfect the way to die." She paused her eyes dulling."To perfect the way for others to kill you and to perfect the way for deaths fingers to wrap around your neck and welcome you to hell's gates with open arms so that the souls of those who you've killed and have never taken their rest may turn that torture upon yourself." She looked at him with curious but dulled eyes. "Tell me how is killing an art when it makes you hate the color it turns you after the act is done? How is it art when you see the lifeless eyes of an innocent person staring at you. The person you killed only because of money? The need to survive because any other way would label you as anything but a scarlet letter in a brothel with a brand?" She asked curiously. Kazira looked at him but she wasn't really seeing him. She was seeing all of the kills she made when she was younger. If was harder then...But it got easier to look past some of the faces but everyone has a skeleton in their closet and hers still haunts her and reminds her to make amends.

She shook her head slightly and blinked. "What happened?" she asked. She blacked out for a bit. "What were we talking about?" Kazira looked at him and wondered what she had said."What did I say?" She didn't black out like that and it worried her.It was different and the feeling was-- uncomfortable. Like she had said things that she wouldn't normally have said to anyone's face unless she was dreaming. She shrugged. Oh well couldn't have been to bad.

She smiled at him. "Don;t worry." she looked around conspiratorially. "You're secret is safe with me." She finished placing a finger to her lips. "On my honor as the daughter of Ara... Lord Astras I will take what has happened to the grave." She stated. Kazira had almost spoke her mother's name. Arabella Quinn. She wasnt sure if his family knew of her parents first names or just their last names but she didn't want to take the chance. From what she's heard they weren't too well liked back in Ireland at the moment since they disappeared before the clan wars broke out again. She pushed back the feeling of thinking about her family and smiled at him. She couldn't get over how good it felt to be wrapped up in his arms. It was defiantly like home and she wasn't sure how she was going to go about anything in the future. But she felt that she could handle just about anything that would be thrown her way.

The blush simply wouldn't leave her face! Why? She smiled and tried to ignore the red stain on her face hoping that it would just disappear and why wouldn't it? It wasn't like he was going to make her blush again it was just not something that she was going to think about. She meant what she had said if they didn't leave now they would never make it to her camp site. And Kazira was really anxious for him to meet Moros. Moros was rather picky about the people she chose as friends heck he was picky about who she met in general! But she had a feeling that this time things would be different.

And he threw her for a loop. Again! her face flushed again and it was going to drive her batty. Kazira was More than certain her face was going to stay that shade of red forever and if it was she was never showing her face in public again! She could hunt and live in the wild and live without civilization and interactions with humans...Oh who was she kidding she was a social creature despite not liking crowded places...or people...What was she talking about again? She looked down at her dirty feet and almost winced at the condition they were in. Moros was definitely not going to be happy with her and would surely bite her for not paying attention. "But," She thought. "It was a lot easier to climb without boots on." She admitted to herself. She flushed a little darker at what she was going to do well more like ask. "Umm, if you don't mind...Could you carry me?"

Kazira had never felt so small. Not since she was a little girl and she asked her father to carry her. She looked down a little bit afraid of how he would react. Who knows he could have been joking about carrying her. Which he probably was but she had to ask; right?

(Sorry I got a bit carried away ^^ If something doesnt make sense or if you need me to change anything let me know. I kind of went poet in her little black out so it might not be "all there")

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Éamonn listened to her outburst with eyes growing wider and wider with every word that left her mouth. Kazira seemed to be far away, engrossed even, for even as her words were directed at him in the beginning, she had long since stopped looking at him. Her eyes were focused on something only she could see, memories perhaps, shadows from a past he could only so much as guess about. Wow. He sure as hell hadn’t wanted to trigger SUCH a stark reaction. He had only spoken the truth after all, his truth, and there she went turning it into something so very personal. It was confusing, very confusing indeed!

She now spoke about the deaths you caused haunting you, and of many more unpleasant things that seemed to be an issue for her. They had never been an issue for him, and if that made him less human, then there was nothing he could or was willing to do about it. Such repercussions he had chosen to ignore the minute a firm handshake had sealed his first order to kill. He was always swift enough to never have to look in pleading eyes, and he never played any cat and mouse game with his prey. They were dead before they knew it, and so that spared him and them much hassle. That’s why his nickname was “The Shadow” after all. Because he was invisible and intangible, and the only thing his victims might ever get to see was a dark shadow pouncing down on them. Or cold, fathomless eyes behind a black mask… he was not a person when he killed, he was nothing but a shadow himself. That might be what had saved him from being tormented like Kazira was.

Then she blinked and the spell was broken. She didn’t even seem to remember what she had said, and that spared him the trouble to find any excuses. For he couldn’t deny he had been moved by her enraged speech. Such concerns weren’t his own, but he could call himself lucky because of that! To have a strong conscience was never an easy thing.
“Nothing you should regret”, he appeased her with an almost loutish grin. He was nothing if not a good actor, after all. “You spoke your mind, as always, let’s just change subjects, alright?” He would be damned if he let himself being talked into a bad conscience – by anyone!

He chuckled lowly when she spoke about taking this secret to her grave. It was just such a dire and solemn thing to say, and yet it was about nothing else than keeping up pretenses about his reputation. The situation was quite a comical one, and Éamonn almost couldn’t think back when his life last had had such a comical relief. His entire life more or less consisted of waiting for new orders and carrying them out, sometimes a fun and drunk night in the tavern and a quick conquest here and there. This… this was quite different, and even if it might make him sound like a wimp, he even started to like it.
“Well, knowing you and your recklessness, that grave might not be far off”, he joked and gave her an almost affectionate nudge. “Then again, knowing you and your stubbornness and pain-in-the-neck qualities, I bet even a grave probably couldn’t hold you for long.”
Lord Astras? Had she mentioned before she was of noble blood? Hmm… well if she had it must have slipped his mind. An Irish Lord, then… Éamonn’s family and the whole druid community had never much taken part in the clan wars, but of course he knew a bit about them. On what side had Lord Astras been on? Any side at all? Hmm… maybe he would ask Kazira sometimes, but not now.

She looked almost cute when she stood before him like that, bashful almost, shy or at least awkward. In all his 25 years of wandering this earth and battling his way through life, he had never felt protective of anyone, not even his little siblings. But right now, he was coming dangerously close to this unknown concept of a sentiment.
“I couuuuld”, he dragged it out just to tease her a little and keep her in suspense for a moment longer, but inside his mind the decision was already made. Yes, he would carry her, simply because it felt so darn good to hold her. And it was not like she was any burden, right?
For a few heartbeats he kept smirking down at her, before he suddenly scooped her up into his arms without any further warning. His right thig gave a little protesting twinge and for a moment he wondered why. It wasn’t a rainy day after all… but then he remembered just why he was wet – SHE had made it rain. Interesting that his battle scar would protest even from that…
“What was the direction again?” he asked as he resumed his walking. “Straight into the woods, right?”

[†Kazira Astras†]

Nothing she should regret? Kazira frowned. That usually meant that she had went off about something and that maybe she should regret it. What exactly did she say to him? She thought about what he had said she was just speaking her mind? But there was a difference between knowing and choosing what you say to someone and not knowing what was coming out of your mouth! She was already regretting what she said and she didn't even remember. Kazira looked to him her eyes searching for some sort of reaction. She nodded almost hesitantly after a few moments of not being able to see anything. She wasn't about to let it go completely though. She would definitely be bringing it up later. She was blacking out and speaking about things. That didn't sit well with her. Granted he knew she was a witch ( if he didn't she would have to wonder about how dense he was.) But what if it happened at some other point in time; for instance around a certain find and royal family? Heck she might as well slit her own throat than think about the possibilities there. Alright she sighed. If anything she would bring the subject up with Moros he might know what was wrong with her...or maybe him? She didn't know and that on its self was bothering her. What caused it? Maybe she took to many hits to the head? She preferred her daggers and bow to her short sword. And hand to hand wasn't her forte.

She leaned on her right leg and giggled. she had a knack for being a comic relief. Most of the people she had met had said so even if they didn't like her. Most of the time it was at her own expense. But that was OK. It was nice to hear another person laugh with her. And for the moment it was him. 'I'm not that reckless' She defended but it only came as a half-hearted attempt mixed with feminine giggles as she returned the affectionate nudge. 'But you're probably right the grave wouldn't be able to keep me within its hold for too long. People up here need me!" she gave a saucy wink and laughed. She shook her head at her silliness, causing her hair to flip around and send water droplets everywhere. She dodged the arrow of mentioning her "family's name" Now that she thought about it...didn't that technically make her a noble? It was never truly formal or anything and it didn't really matter. She didnt care about the politics and riches that went with that life.

Kazira didn't look up. "I cooould." She clasped her hands in front of her and flushed slightly. Here she was a grown woman of 20 years and acting like a meek dependent woman. When it came to asking for things she became every bit a meek and quiet person. She wasn't used to asking for things that she could do herself (like walking.) If it didn't feel so good to be wrapped up in his arms then she wouldn't have even asked if he could carry her. It was just something that she felt she couldn't pass up.

Without any warning Kazira felt strong arms sweep her up off the ground. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her body tense, and her head against his shoulder. After a few moments she relaxed. She pulled her face away "You could have warned me.' She mumbled trying to calm her racing heart. She hadn't been scared but he had shocked her to death. She nodded her head."Yes,' She paused wondering if she should tell him about Moros. "There's a surprise waiting just outside. I would be careful." She added finally. She hid her smile and wondered how he would react to her monstrous companion.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

It had scared him a little, how she had reacted, and Éamonn didn’t readily admit he was one to be scared. That was one of the reason he’d like to let the topic go. He could simply add that to the curious things she had already done, right, like defying him so openly, challenging him to kill her and so on. She was just of a weird type. Maybe that came with being an elemental witch? Relying on knowledge of his past was not something he liked to do either, mind you, so actually sifting through his mind comparing her behaviour to the people he had grown up with, the druids, was something done only hestitantly. But then she might simply be one of a kind, in all her challenging glory. He liked that, oh yes he did. Éamonn Goronwy had always been one for uniqueness, even more so when it came with such feline behaviour and beauty.
He nodded only to her remark, openly dismissing the topic and moving on to those he felt more on terra firma with.

Not that reckless? That sent him snort-chuckling again, and this time not even so much against his will. That had to simply be the understatement of the year! He had never met such a reckless person as herself in all his life, and that was a given! The nudge was something he enjoyed as well for a change. It showed just on what a different level their weird encounter had come by now. Like they had been friends for a while, which was an oddity in itself. The Shadow didn’t have friends, he didn’t need them and he sure as hell didn’t miss them… but now he could catch a glimpse on just what he MIGHT have missed. And that confused him.
He overplayed it though, given his next chuckle a suggestive undertone as he sized her up mocklingly.
”Need you, my dear? Now I can’t even begin to guess for what… to annoy them maybe? Or to… entertain them, in many ways…?” He brought his face close to hers, building up a temptation to resume what they had been doing before… would she be able to resist it? And more so… could he?

Given, she didn’t squeal. He had to almost admire her for that. With most girls if he had pulled such a stunt with them, his ears might as well be deaf from the sounds of protest they let go. Not so her. All he felt was the tensing of her body, until even that died down, which made him wonder. Did she actually feel SAFE in his arms? In the arms of an assassin who had killed more men and women than he possibly could count and didn’t think twice about it? She truly was a mystery!
“Warn you?” he shook his head and bit his lips to withhold a chuckle, but couldn’t help a devious smile lighting up his face. “Now where would have been the fun in that?”
He continued walking, as swift as he could, for he really liked to be out of Camelot’s boundaries soon enough. To her warning about the ‘surprise’ he only cocked his head and grinned down at her. “Oh, how I loooove surprises”, he crooned, giving his voice a suggesting tone again on purpose. What could possibly be there to scare him?

But then, when he had just entered the woods, he changed his mind rapidly about his own self-assurance. As if it had practically been waiting for them, some…THING broke out of the underbrush and jumped at them, teeth bared and growling. Its anger seemed mostly be directed towards Éamonn, but just in case, he swiftly let Kazira off his arms and moved a protective step in front of her, glaring at the beast. “All demons of hell”, he snarled, drawing his dagger, “what is THAT?!”

---

(SO SORRY it took that freaking long!!! I will be better in the future, promise!! <3 )

[†Kazira Astras†]

At the chuckle and snort that came from the man before her she pursed her lips and pouted. "I'm not that reckless."
She reiterate her point. Well it she wasn't completely reckless there were times that she did things on a dare that would get her into trouble but that was out of fun. More often then not she didn't do anything to dangerous... depending on who she was speaking to. Kazira blinked when his face appeared in front of hers and she found herself gazing into his green eyes.

”Need you, my dear? Now I can’t even begin to guess for what… to annoy them maybe? Or to… entertain them, in many ways…?”

Her saucy smirk was still in place as she listened to his words. "Of course they need me."
SHe stated confidently. "I'm a little wild cat. I make their lives interesting."
She leaned closer to him her lips brushing against his lightly. Teasing him...and unfortunatly herself at the same time. She wanted to kiss him. "Among other things."
She placed a chaste kiss on him and took two steps away a coy smile on her lips. She wanted to play and she wanted a tie. She turned around and tapped her chin, "I could stay around to annoy people though. That sounds like more entertaining to me though. hmmm decisions decisions."


"You could have stopped my heart"
She muttered burrying her face into his shoulder a smile slidding onto her face before she briefly lifted it and stuck her tongue out at him childishly. She wondered what it was about this man that made her act so carefree? She just didn't understand it. Usually she was pretty relaxed but that night she was acting odd. hmm maybe he had cast a spell on her? granted that would be a little odd but it wasn't that different with all the spells that are floating around now-a-days with the New Religion. "WE'll see. "
She stated simply. enjoying the brisk walk as they left the walls of camelot. She fully relax when they entered the woods. Her home. This was where she thrived. She blinked owlishly when she was suddenly on her feet behind him. "Huh?
"

"Kazira! Let her go you bloody wretch."


Seemed that she was too relaxed to realize who was in front of them. She smiled and waved slightly from behind Eamonn. "Sorry I'm Late Moros!"
She called with a giggle. Kazira moved easily although somewhat tensely, since her feet were still tender, around him and towards the angry animal; Before she passed him she patted him arm and smiled. She crouched to the side of the still growling amber eyed dog laying one arm on her knees and flicking his ear with the other hand. "Quit that."
She stated simply.

{oh its alright! Trust me I've been extremely slow in posting so I completely understand ♥}