The Black Knight of Tyr: Xavien

[Killthorne]

Silent tears fell from the boy's emerald eyes as he eavesdropped a couple of ranger's conversation about the fall of the unicorn Paragon. Yesterday and all day long, something did not sit well with Xavien, his stomach seemed twisted in knots and the hairs on the back of his neck were continually tingling. Now, the reason was known, and the boy's heart sank in deep despair. Xavien bit his lip hard, as his sorrow became almost vocal, and as to not alert the rangers to the rock he hid behind in the tunnel to the temple. He watched the two rangers slowly move away from his position, and began to take their patrol along the cavern, their last audible words haunting Xavien deeply.

" ..and now, because of our unaware at the death of Paragon, at the claws of this undead dire bear, the Grove has enclosed itself in anger and hatred for everything around it... including Arien..."

Could it be? Could the things that Xavien felt so connected to, and felt so much love for, be that angry at everyone? It wasn't as if his mother or father had killed the unicorn! A hard lump caught in his throat as he closed his tear-stained eyes. What could anyone do? Why were the fey mad at him, or his mother? Were they not shared of the same anger and sadness? These thoughts continued to flood his mind, and he pulled his bent legs to his chest and rested his head on his knees, still crying quietly, in disbelief and helplessness.

A few footsteps along the damp, cavern floor were heard in his elven ears but he did not turn to look.

" Xavien? " The voice was young, and female, a voice that Xavien knew so well to be his twin sister's. " Xavien, what are you doing in the tunnel?" Her voice asked out of curiousity, because Xavien had never really sat in the tunnel like this before.

He turned to look up at her, the nearby fires outlining her form as she stood near. She noticed the tears in his eyes, and reddened cheeks, and looked worriedly upon him in an instant. Her feet took her to him and she kneeled on the cave, and wrapped her arms around his head. He buried his head into her embrace, and cried vocally now.

" What is it Xavien?" She asked him, tears forming in her eyes. Somehow she knew already, but the answer was hidden. Her heart was sinking as well, as she always knew Xavien to be mostly always smiling and happy, even despite the few times when both were saddened that their parents were off somewhere else when they needed them here. This sudden heavy sadness weighed on her now and she could not help but cry with him. She whispered into his ears a sibling's promise that things would be well again, but it only served to make Xavien cry harder, his small frame shuddering as he let it all out.

Xavien took a couple short breaths and in-between soft whimpers, lifted his head, his face wet with tears and his nose runny. He sniffled a bit, his eyes and brow heavily ladened in his sorrow. He looked into his sister's eyes and whimpered again, but finally spoke through his soft but cracking voice.

" Paragon... " He sniffled once more and swallowed hard at the lump in his throat. " Paragon was... killed. The Grove is angry with mother, an' everyone.. An' I just don't know what... I just don't know what to do.." He cried some more at his helplessness and grief, and buried his head into his sister's arms.

Teia sat there shocked for a moment, a line of tears falling along her cheeks and dropping from her chin. She watched her brother's head and shoulders tremble against her for a moment and then rested her head against his.

" Shhhhhh.. it will be alright..." She promised him, as the words seemed to ease her mind as well. She ran her hands through his messy black hair, and wiped some tears away from his cheeks still flowing like small rivers.

His upwards look upon her was that of uncertainty, although he truly wanted to believe her. One small sniffle, and he brought his tunic sleeve up to his face and wiped the salty wetness that burned his eyes and cheeks. Something deep inside Xavien also burned, and at that moment, he knew it was his scorn for those truly guilty in the death of the unicorn. He wanted to help somehow, someway though. Maybe he could talk to the fey.... but that would mean sneaking out of the temple and past the rangers and Valencian, who seemed to always be guarding the shrine. He sat there quietly thinking as his sister whispered small comforts in his ear, barely registering in his hollow and distant mind.


~Killthorne~