Ral continued into the cave, his thoughts and self loathing only intensified with each step he took. Jabbering demons flew out of the shadows of his mind, beating themselves against the inside of his skull, a headache began to form behind his eyes, which were tearing up.
His mind drifted back across the years, to the day he had first seen the bard. The anguish in his skull intensified, as he spotted a burning torch up ahead that lit up the natural pool of hot water. Once again, Ral watched as a carriage pulled up to his father's estate, a few armored guards riding in file behind it and a well dressed driver holding the reigns. In his mind, Ral looked on as the driver jumped from the driver's seat, producing a stool and sitting it down in time for a high heeled shoe to step down onto it. Ral stood next to his father, at the top step of the great staircase that ran to the front gates of the estate.
"Son, this is a special guest of mine. She is a bard." Lord Belfast said, as he stiffened his posture and clasped his hands behind his back "I have asked her to entertain at the party we are holding for foreign diplomats we've had."
"Bard's are not entertaing, fathe-" Ral's breath caught in his throat, as he first beheld the bard. She wore a tight fitting dress of forest green, it had gold stitching around the neckline, which was cut low, but not improperly so. Her eyes flashed with a vibrancy that made Ral's breath come ragged and her red hair was cut short around her chin.
Ral could only sputter a response, as his father took the bard's profered hand and introduced her to him.
Now, standing in front of the pool of steaming water, Ral let his tears overcome him and he sat a steadying hand upon the stone lip of the pool. He allowed his tears to flow until there were no more to shed. He felt empty, used up and above all tired. Ral reached down and unbuckled the belt that would have kept his sword upon his hip, if he had not left it with Alexandria.
Ral got undressed and folded his clothing and chainmail next to his boots on the edge of the pool. His head still throbbed and if he had any tears left, he would still be crying, but as it was all he could do was step into the pool and sit down in one of many grooves that were perfect to sit in.
He scrubbed his face and hands furiously, as if he could somehow wash away his sins in this manner. Ral continued for quite awhile, long after the mage's blood was scoured from his body, he still felt dirty, as if he had blood upon his soul as well as hands. Ral looked down through the steam and water at his hands "It's true." he said quietly.
"No it's not." a familiar accented voice said.
His breath died in his throat, just as it had the first time he laid eyes upon her. Tears leapt to his eyes again, though he'd believed he had no more to shed. Ral looked through the smoke given off by the torch and the steam swirling through the air, Alexandria stood there a few feet from him.
"How can you stand to see me? I have done what I swore not to. I have betrayed you. I'm like my father, just wrapped up nicer. Why do you stay?" Ral said, steadying his voice.
"Your father was a cruel man who enjoyed seeing the pain upon his victims' faces. He enjoyed what he did, to me, to every one." Alexandria's accent was soft and reassuring upon Ral's ears. "I stay because I know you, I see your soul and it is not as your father's was. You are not him, you are kind and caring."
Alexandria's hands shook at her sides and her voice trembled, just as Ral's would if he were to speak. The hair around her chin rustled slightly, as she swallowed hard to get her jaw to stop quivering. Her hands still quivering from emotion, she reached up to her shoudlers "I stay because I love you." she said, as she pulled upon the clasp that kept her mail in place. As the chain hit the floor, she lifted a leg and stepped into the pool.
If one were standing in the shadows created by the stone columns of the cave and watching the pair in the pool, one would be able to see a single, and final, tear trace it's way down his cheek, before they embraced each other tightly and the steam and smoke swirled about them, obscuring them from the world and it's trials.
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Ral and Alexandria returned to the fire together an hour after Ral had left. Anyone looking closely would notice that his steps were sure and his voice deep and confident once more. Ral and the bard sat down next to each other at the fire upon the log that served as a bench close to the fire. There was no blood splatter across his face, his hands were clean, as they rested in Alexandria's grasp. Ral felt better.
Looking around, Ral could tell the companions had discussed what the party should do next. "I can tell by your faces you haven't reached a decision. What do you think?"
Ral noticed that there was one of the small birds left upon the spit above the fire. He took it and ate, as the swordsman and Thorin stated their arguments. To tell the truth, he was stumped. They were in the wilds, an equal distance from everywhere and close to none. He shrugged his shoulders, as he spoke again "It is true, we have no friends in this camp. Swordsman, your homeland has great ships that travel quickly, am I correct? If we liberate your home first, we could make spectacular time on our way back to the dwarves and norsemen. One thing is true, there are three dragons in this area, and a great army marching on them, we must either leave soon, or fight alongside these mercenaries."