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Battles and Dragon Anger *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Er... Your Highness?"
"Yes Timor, what is it this time?" Astario sighed.
The guard in front of him looked nervous.
"Er, about the prisoners your Highness..."
"Oh for goodness sake get on with the tale Timor, I have little time for your splutterings!"
"The prisoners have escaped your Highness."
There was a moment of silence, and Timor could feel the anger of his prince building up like a storm cloud.
"They. Have. What?" Astario hissed.
Timor took a pace backwards as something akin to a small explosion happened in the air above where he was standing.
All Fae possessed a kind of mood-cloud, and Astario's had just hit incensed.
"YOU ABOSOLUTE MORON!" The Fae prince bellowed. "HOW IN THE NAME OF ALL THE REALMS DID YOU LET THEM GET AWAY?!"
"Er..."
"GET THEM BACK!" Astario roared.
Timor turned tail and ran back to his ranks, hissing at them to get moving and find the prisoners, or they all might find themselves in the dungeons...
Tris glided on the warm air currents.
She looked down and saw him, "Good morning!"
Astario sighed inwardly. "And for what reason do I have the pleasure of your presence?"
"Something involving that wretched Goblin King..."
Astario was outside his castle, trying to calm down after the news his prisoners had escaped. He was not in the slightest bit amused...
She turned a loop happily.
Astario stood up and stretched his arms, still frowning.
Tris let out a fire blast, vaporizing a cloud just for the fun of it.
Astario looked up, feeling someone entering his borders.
She dove through another cloud.
Astario looked around, placing her almost immediately.
"Morning m'lady, although perhaps not the best." Astario nodded.
Tris slammed her wings to her sides and dropped.
Astario stepped backwards a hasty few steps, not particularly wanting 'squashed by dragon' to be added to his list of bad things that had happened that day.
Tris flipped open her wings and the last moment and then landed neatly.
Astario smiled slightly. "Welcome again m'lady."
"I'm sorry that you're not having a good morning," Tris said.
"It should pass."
She smiled, "That is good, it's a wonderful morning. One should not be sad today..."
"Oh no?"
"No, it is a beautiful morning."
Astario looked around. She was right in that aspect. "Physically yes it is m'lady."
She nodded, "and all is as it should be."
"In some aspects, perhaps."
She nodded happily.
"Oh, I was just out taking a celebratory flight."
"Oh yes?"
"Yeah. My hatchlings have returned."
"They have? That is wonderful for you."
Tris nodded, "Yes, and none the worse for the wear."
"I am pleased to hear that."
She nodded, "I thank you for your concern and your help."
Astario shook his head. "That is no trouble m'lady. I have my guards searching for some escaped prisoners as it is."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Two very important prisoners have escaped." Astario looked irritable again.
"Oh I see..."
"Yes." Astario didn't really look as if he wanted to give much more information. "I am very displeased with my guards..." he rubbed the back of his head slightly.
"Really? Well if they were out following your orders to search for my children then you can hardly expect them to be able to do two things at once."
"I have plenty of guards." returned Astario waspishly.
Tris shrugged her wings, "Ah well..."
Astario sighed again,
"I'm sure that things will work out as they should."
"I certainly hope so. They were keys to an important plan."
"Indeed, may I ask or no?"
Tris growled.
Astario's eyebrow rose. "I take it you are still unenamoured with him?"
"Yesssss." she hissed.
Astario nodded. "I am not surprised."
She nodded, smoke coming from her slightly open mouth around her white teeth.
Astario wished she wouldn't do that. It was making him edgy. "He is a fool, and a pest. I have been working out a way to make him pay for all the things he has done.."
"Ah, yes? But he is clever, even I have been unable to "make him pay" as you put it..."
"It is a lot easier now." Astario said conspiratorially.
"Oh? have you learned something about him?"
"Yes. I have discovered that the fool actually has a heart... And he's fallen for some mortal child..."
"Oh has he now?"
"Yes." Astario snorted.
"And this fits into your plan how?"
"I managed to capture this mortal child." Astario said softly.
"You...did?"
"I did." Astario said slightly proudly.
"And again, this fits into your plan...?"
"If I have this mortal, he doesn't, does he? There's nothing worse than a broken heart, apparently."
"ah, I see, but you said that two had escaped..."
"Yes, that is why I am angry."
"Yes, but two?"
"Oh, one just came with the other." Astario waved his hand arily.
"Yes another mortal then?"
"No, some little creature thing."
"Oh. I see. Well, as I said before, I am sure that everything will turn out as it should."
"Yes, thank you m'lady. I must take my leave now, and see if my incompetent guards have done something right yet..."
"Farewell..." Tris smiled at him, once again showing all of her teeth.
Astario backed off again, still feeling decidedly nervous of those fangs. "Good day." he bowed slightly, still keeping one eye on her teeth.
She dipped her wings and shot into the air.
Astario ran back into the castle, just to make sure didn't dive-bomb him again, then yelled for one of his guards to make a progress report.
Tris flamed another cloud, she had been holding back that blast for quite awhile. Arrogant fae, he had just made himself another very large, dark red flying, fire-breathing problem.
Eriki zipped through the trees on his way to one of his favorite ones.
One of the guards nudged another. "Look up there, ain't that the other - thing the prince wanted?"
He easily made a jump.
A guard leaped at him, and missed him by about 4 metres
Eriki looked down and groaned, climbing higher.
"Well go on! Go and get him!"
"You're the leader!"
"You're younger!"
"Oh for pity's sake!" one of the guards started to climb the tree after Eriki.
Eriki rolled his eyes and the branches of the tree started to shake.
The guard gave a shout and toppled back down.
Eriki settled down in the canopy of the tree.
The guard got up and started to climb again, amidst shouts of encouragement from the rest of the squad.
Once again, the tree shook him down.
He didn't look like he was going to give up. "Here, Drace, give us a hand up!" Grane and Drace started climbing the tree together.
Eriki just waited.
They got about halfway up and some of the people below started cheering.
He still waited.
Drace gave Grane a leg up and he stretched up and reached for Eriki.
Eriki jumped, soaring over to the next tree, which was much taller and not at all suited for climbing. He scrambled to the top.
"I don't believe it!" Drace watched him go. "Alright, that's it, I've had enough!"
Eriki settled down again.
Astario looked at the time and smirked, wondering how Jareth was feeling. He decided to pay a visit, tease the goblin king a little...
Jareth appeared in the entrance.
Trent turned to Jareth, his eyes still blazing. "Of all the low down, filthy-"
Janine, who had been staring dreamily into space, looked up at him and smiled.
Janine glowed as he told her he would protect her. She knew that, she was happy. "I hope he doesn't..."
"Care to think about what Jareth?" Astario, who had managed a distorting spell over his presence and was merged in the shadows spoke, his voice coming from seemingly nowhere.
Jareth set his hands on Janine's shoulders and leaned close to her, *I'm going to send you home...* he sent.
Janine reached for him, then sighed as she was back in the cave. ~*MOM!*~
Jareth, at the moment was conjuring Janine something to eat.
Astario appeared in the entrance hall and nearly knocked Trent flying.
"YOU!" the Psy nearly thumped Astario. "What in the name of all the realms are you doing here?!"
Astario looked mockingly innocent. "I came to visit your brother."
Jareth looked up as he felt something.
Trent scowled. "And what if he doesn't want to see you?" he growled.
"Temper temper..." Astario smirked. "I am sure he'll see me."
"Excuse me," he said to Janine.
Janine smiled. "I'll have to get used to this, won't I?" she teased him gently. "It's okay, you go.."
Jareth smiled and vanished.
Astario and Trent were silent in the entrance hall. Trent glaring daggers at the smirking Fae, and if looks could kill Astario would have been more than just dead.
The two didn't move for a moment, both reluctant to back down, then Astario took a pace forward and smirked at Jareth. "I see you're still around." he said with obvious distaste.
Jareth leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms, "What are you doing here now?" he asked in a bored tone.
"I came to see how you were." Astario said mockingly.
"Oh, I see," Jareth said, "well here I am. Now that you have seen me I shall bid you farewell."
"How is your girlfriend?" Astario asked innocently.
"What ever do you mean?" Jareth asked innocently.
"I was wondering."
"Oh, I suppose that you are welcome to wonder all you like."
"Of course."
"Are you satisfied now?"
"You didn't answer my question."
"didn't I?"
"No."
"Oh, well, I am sure that she is fine."
"You are sure?" Astario smirked.
"Yes I am."
"Very well then."
"I thank you for your concern..." Jareth said suspiciously.
"Of course." Astario looked smug. "I will leave you then..." he turned and faded away.
"Calm down brother, we both know what happened, but getting angry right now will not help matters..."
Trent growled angrily.
"You for one, brother, cannot do anything right now anyway."
Trent scowled. "You don't need to remind me...!"
"I am sorry..."
"Yeah, I'm sure you are..." Trent shoved Jareth. "Go on, away with you."
Jareth smiled and vanished, to appear by Janine again.
"Is there anything else that you would like?" he asked.
Janine shook her head. "I've got everything I need... Thanks Jareth..."
He smiled at her, "good."
Janine smiled back happily. "What was it this time, may I ask?"
He sighed, "well my love..."
Janine went pink as he called her his 'love'.
"It was..."
"It was what?" Janine sounded a little worried, and she gently put her hand over his.
He put his arms around her, "It was Astario."
She froze, her blood running cold, memories of the tiny dungeon flooding back to her, and she snuggled closer to him. "What did he want?" she asked softly.
"I'm not sure, but he is gone."
"Good." Janine nodded. "As long as he stays away..."
Jareth nodded again.
Janine shut her eyes and nuzzled her head against him.
"I will take care of you...and I suspect that if he tries anything again..."
"If he does...we'll probably have a char-grilled fae..."
Janine laughed suddenly.
"It is true, dragons are very protective of their children..."
"I know... After what happened when-" Janine cut off, biting her lip to stop the smile.
"What?" he asked with a smile.
"When I thought that you - and Tris-" Janine blushed. "Never mind..."
Jareth smiled, "Oh I see..."
Janine giggled softly and rested her head back against his chest.
*All the same, I care not to think about it...*
Janine froze again, almost clutching at Jareth in fear.
Jareth shifted, standing in front of Janine, "You." he answered simply.
"Me." Astario answered, keeping his voice even. He knew that Jareth couldn't see him, but it also meant he couldn't move.
"Yes."
Astario wasn't happy, in fact, he was pretty much livid. After all the trouble he'd gone to to get the mortal, she was back with Jareth. Damn it all!
Janine frowned slightly, shaking her head. ~*Is that wise?*~
*I doubt that he would dare mess with your mother...*
~*I don't want you left alone.*~
*I can handle him*
Janine didn't look convinced.
Jareth held back a sigh.
~*You shouldn't be alone with him, you don't know what he might do.*~ Janine didn't like speaking long sentences like that, but she didn't want Jareth left alone with Astario who she knew hated him.
*I will be fine, it's you that I am worried about-*
~*Don't be...*~ Janine's brows were slightly together in worry.
Jareth let out a mental sigh.
Janine sighed too. ~*Sorry...*~
*Please my love...*
~*I...*~ Janine couldn't argue when he spoke to her like that. ~*Alright...*~
Jareth smiled and transported her away, back to Tris' cave.
~*you don't need to shout...*~ Tris said with a smile.
~*Sorry Mom... You know that - that - really scary guy..?*~ Janine asked.
Tris looked a bit blank.
~*The - mind-messing one...*~
~*The one that...*~ Tris growled and thought of fire.
Janine nodded. ~*Him... He's back at the castle... With my- ah - with Jareth...*~
~*Is he now?*~ Tris barely controlled her temper.
Janine nodded. ~*Please, can we - can we help...?*~
~*I suppose...*~
~*Thanks Mom!*~ Janine looked extremely relieved.
Jareth felt better now that Janine was safely away.
Jareth landed on his feet and tutted, "Such a difficult request." He nodded and sent Astario flying.
Jareth glared, raising up something around him that looked like a golden soap bubble.
He barely blinked and Astario rose up into the air, he was turned upside down and Jareth let him hang.
Jareth's shield had absorbed most of the blast, and protected him from the glass so it didn't hurt, but it had moved him. "Astario," Jareth said calmly, "I am going to send you the bill for the glass."
Jareth fell, naturally.
Jareth flicked out another crystal and threw it.
The room flooded with light.
Astario smirked and picked Jareth up again, not bothering to watch him. "Ah, the strange feeling of deja vous..." he smirked, hanging Jareth over the edge again.
Astario scowled and let himself move out of the shadows.
"Ah there you are."
"Of course I'm here." Astario growled.
Jareth crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, bored.
Astario scowled at him.
"What do you want *now*?"
"You. Dead." Astario raised his hand and flung Jareth backwards.
Astario virtually bounced off the wall and raised his hand, sending some sort of psychic blast at Jareth, hitting him full on in the stomach.
Jareth let out a bit of a groan and then raised his eyes angrily.
Astario was glaring at him blackly.
"Leave my castle." Jareth said coldly.
"I don't think so." Astario hissed, raising both his hands and sending another blast at Jareth.
This time Jareth was ready and he dodged out of the way, the blast hitting a conveniently located mirror.
Astario ducked swiftly and almost threw himself at Jareth, then stopped.
Astario scowled and wondered how to combat that. Blast Jareth...!
He rolled a crystal around in his hand.
Astario backed off, knowing what danger crystals held.
Jareth studied it and then threw it, it passed threw the bubble to explode at Astario's feet.
Astario leaped backwards.
The dust from the explosion wrapped around Astario, binding him.
Astario swore vehemently and tried to brush off the dust.
Jareth took a step closer as Astario was firmly bound.
Astario scowled blackly.
Astario struggled, his psych probing the bonds around him. He wasn't going to let this moronic goblin king make a fool out of him...!
Jareth laughed a bit and spun Astario around.
Astario shut his eyes, getting a little motion-sick. "You will not get away with this..." he hissed through gritted teeth.
"It appears that I have..." Jareth said smugly.
Astario gritted his teeth so hard one could almost hear them, then suddenly found he could get free, and did so, landing unceremoniously on the floor.
Jareth backed away and laughed.
Astario rubbed the side of his head and clenched his fists, then sent a huge psychic blast into Jareth, knocking him through the glass of the window onto the balcony outside.
"I am sure it will do you the world of good..." Astario's voice had taken on a cruel, cold edge.
Jareth rolled his eyes and vanished, appearing behind Astario and giving him a shove.
Astario stumbled forward a pace, then span around and grabbed Jareth by the front of the shirt, using the momentum of his own body weight to throw him back outside.
Jareth skidded on the ground, the shock of that move startling him enough to drop the bubble for a second.
Astario smirked and psychokinetically picked Jareth up, holding him in the air over the balcony. "Hmm, this seems familiar... Wait, now I remember, this is how your brother looked before I threw him off the tower..." his voice was taunting and malicious.
Jareth sighed softly, "With one minor difference..."
"Yes, the fact he was wincing in obvious pain anyway..." Astario smirked.
"No not quite what I meant," Jareth said, edging a crystal out of his pocket.
Astario noticed the movement. "Don't even try it filth." he spat, shaking Jareth violently.
"Aren't you the least bit curious to know what I mean?" Jareth asked, sounding amazingly calm, considering his current position.
Astario looked suspicious. "Go on..."
"Well perhaps I have changed my mind...perhaps I do not wish to tell you..."
"Well then." Astario looked irritable. "That is up to you. You will go down whichever way you choose."
Jareth smiled.
Astario scowled. "Well?!"
"It is up to you."
"Oh?"
"Yes, if you want to know I suggest that you ask nicely..."
Astario scowled and released his hold on the goblin king.
Astario smirked and folded his arms.
After Jareth had gone about a meter he transformed into the owl. He soared upwards, turning a loop.
Astario watched him and scowled blackly.
Jareth flew over Astario's head, nearly dive-bombing him to fly into to the room and transform on the opposite side of the room. He leaned against the wall with a smug grin, raising the bubble again. "That, my dear fae, is the difference."
Astario looked like he was going to explode.
Astario leaped back, but not before the crystal's explosion had engulfed him in smoke, blinding him temporarily.
Jareth shifted, getting ready to teleport Astario away, far away, very far away.
Astario blinked a few times, then rolled expertly across the floor and caught Jareth's ankles, pulling him downwards.
Jareth struggled.
Astario threw him roughly against the wall.
Jareth growled and vanished.
Astario growled himself and blended into the wall again.
Astario winced.
Jareth appeared in the center of the room, "No where to hide now," he said coldly.
Astario scowled. "Filth." he spat, throwing himself at Jareth, knowing psychokinesis would do no good.
Jareth rose into the air, out of the way.
Astario's head met with the wall and he growled.
Jareth turned and watched.
Astario scowled inwardly, then smirked as he noticed the light was above him. Swiftly his psych cut the length of rope holding the small chandelier and watched in satisfaction as it shot down towards Jareth's head...
Jareth noticed a split-second too late as the chandelier hit him. He hit the ground and was still. The bubble flickered and then popped.
Jareth opened his eyes and looked around dully.
Astario shook Jareth roughly, wanting him to see where he was, again...
Jareth slowly registered where he was and then groaned a bit.
Astario smirked. "Shame this has to end so soon, but end it shall." his violet eyes glinted with evil, and he let go of Jareth again.
Jareth let out a yelp as he fell.
Astario watched him with a self-satisfied smirk on his cruel face.
Tris dove from the clouds and plunged downward, her wings pinned to her side as she went into a dive, she opened her mouth, teeth glinting in the sunlight.
~*Mom! Is he - is he okay...?*~
Tris gently touched down, Jareth hung limply in her mouth.
Janine watched Tris and Jareth for a moment without seeing them, then set her jaw determinedly. "Back in a sec Mom..." she said.
Jareth looked at Tris curiously.
Janine pushed her way through the undergrowth, ignoring the scratching and the pulling at her clothes. That mattered not.
"What's she doing?" Jareth asked.
Janine clung on, not entirely sure what was going on, but having heard Jareth's yelp her heart was in her mouth.
Tris went faster. Her neck darted out and her mouth closed. She flipped open her wings as they were about to hit the ground. She pushed off from the earth as her feet touched ground and shot upwards again.
~*Gotcha!*~ Tris thought, gently holding Jareth in her mouth.
Janine bit her lip, worried stiff. ~*Mom, is he at least living?!*~
~*Mmhmm... he is still warm.*~ Tris' thoughts sounded rather like they did when she was hunting.
Janine pulled a face. ~*I hope he's okay...!*~ she felt close to tears suddenly, and very, very angry...
Janine leaped elegantly off her back and ran to him. "Jareth!"
Jareth came to with a groan and then suddenly he realized where exactly he was.
Janine put her hand over her mouth, looking more and more worried. "Jareth...?"
Jareth looked up at Tris, "Would you...put me down?" he asked.
Janine stood back a little.
Tris laughed softly and lowered her head, gently spitting him out. "You don't taste the best..." she said.
"For which I am grateful..." Jareth muttered, rolling over to sit up.
Janine went down on her knees and helped him gently. "Are you alright...?" she whispered.
"Yeah," he muttered rubbing his head, "Rotten fae got me with a chandelier..."
"What?!" Janine exclaimed, softly touching his head with her fingertips. "Little shite..."
Tris looked down at Jareth sympathetically.
Janine scowled slightly and stood up, wandering over to a tree and leaning against it.
"I cannot believe that he got me with that one," Jareth muttered.
"Janine?" Tris asked, feeling the very strong feelings coming from her daughter.
Janine looked round. "Hmm?"
"Where're you off to?"
"Just going for a walk."
"Now?" Tris asked doubtfully.
Janine nodded. "I won't be long Mom."
Tris didn't look very comfortable, but she nodded.
Janine nodded again and walked off through the trees, her fists clenching and unclenching, her mind focussed on one thing: Making Astario pay for hurting Jareth...
She sighed, "Come on."
He looked up at her and waited.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she hissed.
"You...want me to ride?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Now." she ordered.
Jareth blinked and vaulted up onto her back.
"She is part dragon now," Tris said with a bit of a sigh, "She will do what she sets out to do, I just want to make sure that she actually does what she wants to do."
"Madame Fyreflyght, I do not think that you could have been any more vague," Jareth said.
Janine thumped her fist on the door of the Fae castle, startling the docile doorman.
As soon as she was inside, Janine paused, hunting out Astario. ~*Fae.*~
~*Yes. Me.*~
And shocked he was. Astario collapsed to his knees as a scream that burned like fire on oil ripped through his psyche. It took him a good minute to recover, but when he did his short temper had snapped. He pushed himself upwards and raised a hand, sending Janine flying backwards.
Tris growled. He was hurting Janine. Her hatching, her daughter. He was hurting her. He would pay.
Tris eased into her child's mind, warming it against Astario's icy grip.
"Wh-whu? Eh? Whoassat?" he mumbled blankly.
"Open the door." Janine's voice was commanding.
The doorman's eyebrows rose, but he did as he was bid. She seemed of noble blood.
"Right."
Astario frowned uncomfortably. ~Who are you and what do you want?~
~*None of your business, and I want to speak to you. Now.*~
~Fine, come up to-~
~*No, you come down to the entrance hall.*~
Astario scowled; he hated being ordered around. *Very well.* he appeared down the hallway from Janine and looked at her, then started laughing. "You?" he spoke. "What on earth do you want? And who else is around?"
"No on else is around Fae." Janine said coolly.
Astario looked a little blank, not understanding. "So who spoke then?"
"Me."
Astario started laughing again. "YOU?!" he exploded into another bout of laughter.
Astario stopped laughing, Janine's telepathic voice like a barely-contained fire. He scowled.
"How?"
~*None of your business Fae.*~ Janine's mind hissed. ~*But what is your business is what I am going to do next...*~ she remembered how much a scream had hurt Jareth when she had only just begun to learn her new-found gift, how much more would it hurt now she had honed it?
"Oh yes?" Astario didn't look even slightly worried.
Janine found a small smirk spreading across her lips: he was in for a shock...
She hit the wall with a faint scream and slid downwards, shaking her head to clear it. She saw Astario getting up and screamed at him again, sending him collapsing back down. He wasn't going to get away with anything!
Astario groaned as he went down again, but didn't give up; he was damned if a woman was going to beat him! With a burst of energy he sent Janine skidding across the hallway into a pillar. She was lucky she hadn't hit it with her head, or she would have been knocked unconscious immediately.
As it was she had just bruised her shoulder badly. That would hurt later... But all that was on Janine's mind was hurting Astario the way he had hurt Jareth. She screamed again, making the Fae yell in pain and attempt to pick her up, but his mind seemed too badly burned now. Her work was done; all she had to do was get up... But she was very dizzy now.
"You, little mortal tramp, are in trouble now." Astario's violet eyes were blazing in anger as he finally managed to get up. "No one does that to me and gets away with it." he smirked. "Look at what happened to that filthy goblin king..." he regretted saying that as another searing scream tore through his frame. He would remember not to insult Jareth whilst this - this freak of nature was around!
Janine took a few steadying breaths. She had done what she had come to do, and she was now very tired, very weary, very dizzy, and all she wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep... Unfortunately that wasn't an option, as she still had to contend with the crazed Fae who was now getting up again. Wouldn't he just stay down?!
Astario's head was ablaze and he was pretty much in agony, but he wasn't going to let the little mortal girl get away with what she had done, that was just not his style! He took a few shaking paces forward, and delivered a stinging slap around the mortal's face.
"You should learn to respect authority." He snapped.
Janine yelped in pain, reeling from the slap she had received. She was about to combat him with another scream when she felt an icy grip on her mind. Uh oh... Not good...!
Astario smirked and slowly squeezed his hand, watching in satisfaction as Janine screamed in pain, unable to do anything else. This would teach her...
Tris felt Janine's mind grow cold.
Astario squeezed harder, making the poor girl scream louder, her throat hurting from the force of her voice.
Janine clutched at her head, no energy left to even scream.
"Off." Tris ordered Jareth.
Jareth jumped clear, transformed and landed, as an owl, in a nearby tree. He almost felt sorry for Astario. Almost.
Astario let go of Janine's mind and she slumped backwards, her green eyes half closed, tears smudges across her high cheekbones.
Janine shut her eyes, shivering slightly, not sure what was happening. She certainly didn't like the sensation of someone else in her mind...
~*I have you now...*~ Tris sent softly.
~*Mom...*~
~*I'm here, I'm here...*~
~*Mom... I - I hurt...*~
~*Shh...shh...I'm coming*~
Janine clenched one fist weakly. ~*Stupid..Fae...!*~
~*I know.*~ Tris growled softly.
Janine's colours raged for a second, then cooled. She wanted to scream at him, but her mind felt like her hands did if she'd been playing in the snow too long. Burning with cold...
~*Stay still my love, I will take care of him.*~ There was danger in Tris' tone.
~*Not before I do...*~
Tris sent Janine a warm wave of color.
Janine smiled briefly. ~*He fries.*~
~*Oh yeah.*~
Janine growled softly, then clenched her eyes shut as she felt a wave of nausea sweep over her, the whole telekenesis thing taking it's toll on her.
Tris let out a roar.
~*Tell me why I should not fry you to a crisp!*~ she hissed.
"Astario!" A voice sliced through the tension and Astario flinched again. Not just because the noise hurt his head, but because it was his mother... "What in the name of all the realms are you playing at?!"
Tris dipped her wings, ~*Come along Janine...*~
Astario looked up as he heard it, his eyes puzzled. Now what...?
Tris let out a mental fire blast.
Astario winced and clapped his hand to his forehead. Decidedly painful...!
She let out another one.
Astario sagged against the wall, stars flying across his vision. ~Cut it out!~ he shouted, not too sure who he was shouting at... But anything to dissuade them from doing that!
~*NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!*~
Astario let off a stream of Fae profanities and collapsed to the floor again.
Tris glared at the front door and it swung open.
Astario opened one eye and almost fainted on the spot.
Tris hovered over Astario, glaring down at him.
Astario winced.
She let out another mental fire blast
Astario slumped a little further down, clenching his fists. This was even more unpleasant than the - whatever it was!
Tris snarled.
Astario winced again, not too sure what was going to happen next. He certainly wasn't going to get up.
Tris growled again and backed away slowly.
Astario risked opening his eye again.
She regarded him with her green eyes, tinged with red.
Astario shut his eyes again.
Astario winced, but decided silence was his best answer.
~*A wise answer...*~
Astario clenched his fists. Ouch...
She shifted and set one of her front paws down on his chest, her claws spreading on either side of him to hold him down, not that he looked like he was going to move anyway.
Astario coughed.
Tris leaned down a bit.
Astario cringed.
She opened her mouth and snaked a red tongue around her teeth.
Astario winced, silently hoping she wasn't going to eat him. Dying wasn't top of his list of things to do that day...
~*I have never had fae before...*~
Astario gulped.
~*I suppose that I am quite a bit curious about it...*~
Astario winced again, his head pounding. "With - all due respect..." he started.
~*Now he speaks...*~
Astario grimaced. "I would - be most-" he coughed. "Grateful if you would - speak aloud... M'lady..."
~*I am sure that you would be*~
Astario groaned.
~*Oh I know perfectly well what this does to you...*~
He had guessed as much.
"But all the same, I suppose that I don't want you unconscious quite yet."
Astario breathed a sigh of relief.
She shifted her weight, taking most of the pressure off the fae's chest.
Astario took a few ragged breaths, relieved he could actually breathe properly.
"Now then." Tris started.
Astario waited.
"I have decided to be kind and speak out loud," Tris said, "For all the good that it will do you now."
He gulped.
"I asked you once before why I should not burn you..." she started.
Astario coughed slightly. "I - have a - realm to run..."
"Your parents run it."
"Mother hardly runs it anymore..."
"I see, and yet you still manage to have time to cause all of this trouble."
Astario colored.
"Although I choose to ignore your very *dull and silly* battles with the ruler of the goblin kingdom I am still very much aware of it."
Astario wriggled slightly under her words. He was being made to feel like his Mother made him feel after he'd done something wrong.
"So tell me, how ever do you manage to do all of that?" Tris asked, just a bit sarcastic.
Astario shrugged slightly.
"There iss something else that I want you to know."
Astario flinched slightly. "Yes...?"
"Dragons posses the ability to stop psychic powers."
Astario gulped again.
~*And it is not at all difficult*~
Astario winced again.
"In fact..." Tris started, her eyes glittering as she prepared her spell.
Astario flinched. "M'lady if you please...!"
"I always do as I please..."
Astario bit his lip. "I - I would - if you would - please..."
She removed her claws from the fae. ~*My, aren't you articulate.*~
Astario winced and went slightly red.
"Now then..." Tris prepared to start her spell again.
Astario coughed. "M'lady please... I would - please... Don't - I won't -"
"What?"'
"I won't be able to - do anything... I have no magic...!"
"I am very sorry to hear that..." she said, and she did sound sorry, "Ah well. you'll learn to cope."
Astario looked pleading. "Please M'lady!"
Outside, Jareth-the-owl was nearly dying with silent laughter.
Tris rolled her eyes.
Tris looked up. ~*Oh good,*~ she sent to Janine, ~*This makes it even better*~
Janine smiled weakly, still shaky, but enjoying the scene immensely.
"Madam Fyreflyght, what a lovely surprise, why are you tormenting my son?" it was difficult to tell whether Amorana was being rude or just plain strange sometimes.
Tris smiled, "It is nice to see you again. He was tormenting my daughter."
Amorana nodded. "I see. And why?" she turned to her son. "What was that all about?"
"Mother..."
"Astario. Tell me now."
"Mother I don't think-"
"Madam Fyreflyght." Amorana turned back to her. "Perhaps you can enlighten me?"
Tris nodded, "Of course, you see my daughter has recently become very good friends with the Goblin King. You son, in his eternal arguing with him decided that his best plan of action would be to lock my daughter up. I was able to get her out and decided to let the issue go. However when Astario pursued the issue further I am afraid that my daughter got rather upset and came here to speak with him--you know how protective dragons are--and then I arrived to find your son had injured her severely. Naturally I reacted with the only reaction expected."
Amorana groaned. "Not that infernal fight with that little goblin king?" she looked severely at her son. "What did your Father tell you about that after that war?"
Astario colored. "Erm..."
"You will deal with your son I trust?" Tris said mildly.
Amorana gave Astario a look that made him squirm. "But of course Madam Fyreflyight... Dreadfully sorry about this business of course..."
Tris nodded and dipped her wings, "I must warn you that the next time I will take matters into my own claws."
"Very well Madam Fyreflyght. I don't think there is any danger of it happening again."
Tris nodded, "I am glad you understand."
"Of course." Amorana nodded. "I am very sorry for this incident."
Janine pulled herself upwards and walked over to Tris. ~*Can we go now mom?*~
~*Yes, lets go home*~
Janine smiled and gently got into Tris' back.
Tris glided out, Jareth following along behind.