The Grove

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Well, I met most of my companions on a previous excursion where we grew close. Several of them have business taking them into the Mist, so I simply offered to lead a single party to their various destinations. We'll first set out for a fallen settlement called Palerose, then another fallen settlement at Lake Erabus... then a third fallen settlement at Lake Arawn. I fear this will be rather gloomy journey, but Tehol tells me you want to travel to the volcano of the fire giant king. That's not far from Lake Arawn of you don't mind the company."

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Sept 30, 2020 15:01:24 GMT Demetrius said:

The sight of Justine was enough to wash the trepidation from Demetrius’s expression. “Sorry,” he responded, “I’ve been doing a bit of soul searching these last few days. Had to get my head on straight before we go off into the mist. Everything okay?”

“I’m not sure anymore.” She took a deep, pained breath. Better to just say it. Better not to draw the pain of it out longer than it should go. “I don’t know if I can go with you after all. I want to discover where you came from with you, I want to be there to hold your hand like we always did.”

She turned to him, taking his hand now. “Come to Edysse with me. The Mist can wait.”

[Dr. Archimedes Steller]

"Yes, that should be fitting." The giant answered thoughtfully. "I'm in not state to travel alone into the mist, so company should be welcome."

[Demetrius]

Demetrius let her hand fall from his, a look of confusion and disappointment adorn his face, “What do you mean? You know I must to go to Lake Arawn. There is nothing for me in Edysse but the damp and cold of a prison cell if anyone should discover what I really am.”

His demeanor turned stern, feigning confidence, “I do not need my hand held Justine. If you plan to return home and take back your inheritance I understand, but my destiny is out in the wilds, not in some city.”

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

She looked hurt as he pulled back. “That’s not what I meant, holding your hand. You know that. You’re my oldest friend, my only friend after I realized what she was really like. It was so hard without you on the journey. Months and months without you...”

She took a deep shuddering breath before she could continue, holding back tears. “I thought you would come and we would be Together as always. But then you weren’t there...and I had to rely on other people: Ceutinde, Lord Wolfhaven (you know him), Silvia...” There were too many to name. “And then the truth of my family was dangled in front of me. I can’t stop now.”

“Please, Demetri. I don’t want to go without you again. No one will have go know.”

[Demetrius]

Demetrius couldn’t look Justine in her eyes, the guilt he felt at the sight of her tears weighed heavily on him. He knew the hurt she was feeling, and the absence he had left inside her when he had gone off on his own. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was, explain it away and tell her it would all be alright. Instead, he built himself a wall, fortifying his emotions behind his stern expression. “Go,” is all he said at first, the pain clear in his voice. “Go and find your parents. It’s what you’ve always been after and I don’t want to stand in the way. But I cannot go with you.” He stood up, punctuating his determination. “When I return I will come find you in Edysse.”

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Oct 1, 2020 18:25:07 GMT Demetrius said:

Demetrius couldn’t look Justine in her eyes, the guilt he felt at the sight of her tears weighed heavily on him. He knew the hurt she was feeling, and the absence he had left inside her when he had gone off on his own. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was, explain it away and tell her it would all be alright. Instead, he built himself a wall, fortifying his emotions behind his stern expression. “Go,” is all he said at first, the pain clear in his voice. “Go and find your parents. It’s what you’ve always been after and I don’t want to stand in the way. But I cannot go with you.” He stood up, punctuating his determination. “When I return I will come find you in Edysse.”

Her lips trembled and finally she did let her tears fall. “Promise to come back. Don’t let the Mist take you. We’ll tell eachother everything when you’re back, and I’m back, and I have my title, and you’ll have a home with me if you want it still.” She held up her hand, pinky out. Like they were children together again. “Swear it. If you don’t come back...I’ll kill you.” She managed a smile though her sorrow.

[Demetrius]

Like all walls built on poor foundations, Demetrius’s came crumbling down. With tears in his eyes, he ignored Justine’s gesture, instead choosing to wrap her up in his arms and hold her tightly. “I will come back,” he said, “I promise.”

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

She wrapped her arms around him too and pressed her cheek against his shoulder. This level of emotion from him was valuable: it came so rarely. It was sometimes as though he was barely human until he was pushed to the brink. “Good. As much as I need to know about my parents...Demetri, youve been more important to me than anyone.” She didn’t let go of him for a very long time. It felt like all their promises were empty. Like they would never see eachother ever again.

When they finally let eachother go, Justine wiped her tears on her sleeve. She reached out and wiped his from his cheeks with her thumb. “Here, I have something for you.” She handed him a small brooch from the hoard Arroyo had given her. The rose and thorns of her house entangled with dark, bloody red garnets. “Because you’re my family more than they were. Keep it safe for me.”

[Demetrius]

It felt good to hold her, and like Justine, Demetrius worried it may be the last time, so he held on as long as he could. He wiped a tear from his eyes as she gave him the broach, clutching it tightly before burying it deep in the safety of his pocket. Demetrius, who’s worldly possessions consisted of the cloths on his back and the contents of his bedroll, had nothing to offer in return. So instead of a gift, he kissed her on the cheek and smiled, “Take care of yourself Justine.” They were the only words he could muster, unable to say a more permanent goodbye.

Pickup up his rucksack and slinging it over his shoulder, he left Justine to join Herneiros and the other mist-bound companions.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Neither are most people. Aside from myself, I think only Kjell has any real experience with the Mist. Regardless..." He removed the tarp from the cart to reveal a small hill of fish.

"When Tehol told me he had met a giant, I scavenged all the fresh fish I could. Enjoy yourself while I check on some other people."

Herneiros passed Demetrius on the way to Justine, where he declared solemnly, "I'll bring him back. I promise." It was probably a naive oath, but the Wild Huntsman made it all the same.

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Justine touched her Demetri’s hand again one last time as he walked away. He would come back, she told herself. He had to.

She was still watching his back move toward the others when Herneiros approached her. She looked a little startled, and a little embarrassed. “Please do. He’s the only person that kept me sane in that place. My sister certainly wouldn’t have helped that.” She wiped at her tears again and tried to stop them falling. “I’m sorry for her the other night. Asking again and again like Mr Thornheart until...” Her cheeks were nearly as red as her eyes.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

He shook his head. "You don't need to apologize. If anything, I should. I just hope you gleaned a measure of her... satisfaction last night."

Herneiros was trying not to be coarse. There was a bit of shame in him for fear of possibly violating his friend's trust.

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Justine looked even more embarrassed. He was certainly distracting her from her grief. “We don’t exactly...go away. It’s like being a passenger really...” she realized she wasn’t really able to describe what it felt like to exist in the back of ones own mind.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"It's okay, Justine... you made that very clear... last night... at several points."

Herneiros smiled comfortingly. "Thank you for letting me into that world, if only briefly."