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[Tay Thormear]

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The duel between Beowulf and Charger was short fought. Beowulf had no intentions or desire to win, thus giving the fight to Charger. He went through with the deal, and stayed in his home, instead of leaving. Only Charger "knew" where he was, and only one attacked him to find out.

Ceinwyn and Beowulf had, had that one night, that changed everything. She had left Mairsil for another, and yet Beowulf's feelings had not changed. With all the chaos his feelings still stayed in tact. A couple days had passed, and Ceinwyn returned to Beowulf.

He sunk into the pillows, staring up at the night stars from his balcony. The time had come, for him to approach Tatiana to determine the next course of action. He sighed quietly than lifted himself to stand, "Kal Ort Por" he spoke.

He walked calmly up the stair case in Starfires house, the house in which Tatiana lived in. He waited patiently for her return. Over that period of time, thoughts raced through his head. What was he going to say? What was she going to do?

Tatiana came up a short time later and looked towards Beowulf. Quietly they walked downstairs to sit by the kitchen. She put Grigori on the ground, and Beowulf handed him his shield to play with, keeping a cautious eye that it didn't drop on him.

Tatiana told Beowulf that he had broken an oath that he had made to her. She felt as if she had failed him as a wife, and couldn't please him. She had given him a child, and her life, and this is what happened. It was about this time that Beowulf had had enough.

"Yes I broke an oath to you, but it doesn't mean I don't love you. I've bled for you, I've fought for you, I've taken my own life, for the sake of your safety. I gave you a child, as you gave me a child. Don't pin this on me...You didn't fail me as a wife, I failed you as a husband." He said, trying not to sound mean.

The two debated for a while. Beowulf stressed that it wasn't her fault, and that she shouldn't feel bad for herself.

"I want Charger, to be Grigoris God Father. He is willing to live here, to protect you two, at any costs. Even though we'll be seperated, I won't ever stop protecting the two of you. I won't ever physically hurt you, nor will I stop coming around to visit. You were my first wife, my first true love, and I won't ever forget that."

Tatiana nodded slightly. She knew it'd be hard to move on, but it was a decision made by the both of them. At that time she wasn't sure what exactly to do, except be confused. Beowulf had felt for someone else, just as he had felt for her, and that hurt her more than anything.

"I won't ever just drop the both of you, remember that." Beowulf said quietly. "I want to ask, if I could maybe take Grigori for a bit..to spend sometime with our son."

Tatiana nodded, "Aye, he should know his father. He's starting to bite now..." she said while blushing slightly.

Beowulf nodded and gathered Grigori up. He watched Tatiana walk out through the door. He sighed quietly, and disappeared with the murmur of some words.

[Ceinwyn ab'Arawn]

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Ceinwyn ab'Arawn had gone to Beowulf Thormear because she had thought of him first. She needed someone to talk to. So many things had come to pass. The falling of something so great as The Dark Order to a mist. Her mentor and role-model, and adopted father, Lord Brandon's death and funeral pyre. The whole process of re-assessing her own thoughts and beliefs, which had led to coming to terms with the fact that there were no longer the same feelings inside her for her Cherished One.

I am becoming more than half human, she thought, chastisingly, to herself. I wonder if this is a weakness or a strength.

She had turned to Beowulf Thormear, because he had gone through a softening such as hers. Maybe he would understand. As her former superior, she had once looked up to him.

At the moment, her latest problem was that Vaen Swiftar had rejected her, and after many shared days and hours of bonding. Vaen had almost convinced her to become a "kinder" person. She had cursed herself for allowing herself a change of heart. She had hated herself for her softening. At the time, she had thought it might be worth it. But now, who knew. But she was a proud thing, and so, she had refused to allow him to see her cry. Vaen knows not the ways of his own heart. He may be an excellent warrior, but he is a fool in matters of the heart.

So, she had turned to Beowulf. She had finally expressed her feelings about the fall of Dark Cove to someone. Then she told him what had happened with Swiftar. He had sat patiently listening throughout all of it.

He expressed some anger over her feelings for Vaen, which confused her. For, what did he care? He was perfectly happy with his life. Happily married with a young child. Being emotionally distraught already, she half listened to the things he said. Something about not being truly content.. Something about a personal competitiveness with Swiftar. She took it all in stride, for she knew him. Ceinwyn and Beo had oft fought and joked between themselves throughout their friendship. She knew his strive to succeed. She understood his competitive nature, for she was the same. Even his quick temper matched hers.

But sometime during the conversation, Beowulf Thormear had managed to surprise her. This in itself was a rare thing, for being half drow meant that she was usually on edge, restlessly awaiting an attack.

At the time, she had thought that he couldn't have meant what he had said. At first, it was the usual stubborn, big-headed, pushiness he usually operated with. But, after some stammering, and trouble with eloquence, he had uttered a phrase in drow.

"Usstan kyon bauth dos."

Since when did he speak drow? She simply stared at him. He thought perhaps she didn't immediately respond because he possibly mis-pronounced it. But he had pronounced it perfectly. As if he had been practising it. But why would he study the drow language.. he had no logical reason.. unless.. No. Yes. She saw it in his face. He had had feelings for her for a while... In this single moment, Beowulf Thormear was vulnerable.

This touched a deep part of her. Noone had ever bothered such a thing. His choice of words made more sense, seen in this light.

"I care about you."

They spent a few stolen hours there, in his house. Both knew it could not last, for he was married. She left around midnight, rethinking everything that had occurred. She had too many things to think about.

"What now?" she asked herself.

[Ceinwyn ab'Arawn]

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Vaen Swiftar must enjoy toying with her emotions. He had come to her, begging a second chance.. and she, cursed idiot that she was, had consented. After all, she thought, 'twas perhaps a misunderstanding....

He had promised to not shower Mallory with so much affection, because he held great love for Ceinwyn. But, Ceinwyn knew deep down, he still felt something for Mallory. He was just too proud to admit it. And that remained in the back of her head. Also in the back of her mind, was Beowulf's admission. But that was a dead end, for he was married.

And so, she had given Vaen another chance. After all, wasn't that what one does when one loves another this greatly?

She had gone to Beowulf to tell him that she and Vaen were again an item. They had talked about a few things, and she had left.

Unfortunately, she hadn't known how insecure Vaen was deep down. He immediately thought the worst had occurred, no matter what the truth of it really was. Returning home, she found a note, ending their love.

Hot, angry, and sad tears streamed down her face, as she read his letter.
How could someone so strong be so weak? And to end it all on a scrap of paper? This angered her. Coward! What a fool I am, she thought. It was suddenly difficult to breathe. She needed air. She needed to be out. Wiping her eyes, she chanted a recall spell to the new tavern.

Appearing before the tavern she stepped through its door to the inside. The first thing she saw was Vaen Swiftar, sitting cozily beside Deja. The two of them were embroiled in some unknown conversation, and Ceinwyn could not hold back her words. Anger and sadness caused her to express herself to him, heatedly. Deja sat through all of it, and Ceinwyn could care less if the whole tavern had been populated, though at this time, it wasn't. But if he wasn't man enough to confront her with this, too bad for him. A note was inadequate. She confronted him. He was, as always, calm and cool-headed, which angered her further. It was as if all his feelings for her were gone. Realizing that she was not affecting him at all, she left.

What a fool I am! I should give over to Oblivion for once and for all and be done with the whole lot! Anger led her to Beowulf. She arrived at his house, and released all the pent up emotion she still had remaining inside her. He listened to it all, patiently.

As the storm abated, he embraced her in a hug. All the world was shut out in that embrace. His arms were walls. His heartbeat played a soothing melody. Here, there was peace.

[Starfire]

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Tatiana did not know how she would manage. It seemed an insurmountable wall, the pain. Thinking to bring her spirits up, she went to Poet's Tavern. Blessedly, it was very quiet, and she managed to sit in the corner and do a bit of sewing. And then everyone started drifting in, Mr Mairsil, Mr Vaen, Miss Cein and, yes, Beowulf. It crushed her to see him drinking so much. And it brought more tears to see them together, he and Cein. She could not really fault Miss Cein, for it was Beowulf who broke his vows to her.
Tatiana was worried about Mr. Mairsil. He seemed not the man she remembered from the Dark Order. But she did understand his pain, all too well.
And then Mr. Vaen made his comments to Beowulf. She had been doing well until then, managing not to cry. But his parting shot at Beowulf broke her, "be faithful," he said. Tatiana could not bear the anguish and dashed to the sauna floor to toss herself on the cushions and sob her heart out. It shocked her to see Mr Toren and Mr Leshok follow her into the room, and even more shock when Mr Vaen, himself, followed her. They spoke to her about bravery and being strong. They told her she was stronger and braver than she knew. They also assured her she had more freinds than she realized. Friends who would help her past this awful trying time. Mr Leshok was trying so hard to make her smile she couldn't help but smile.
Tatiana thought, listened, and resolved to try to be as brave as they thought she was. She smiled to herself a bit and realized that taking hammer to fine works of metal to try to improve them was indeed a form of bravery, either that, or ego. She also vowed to change some, to be more self assured. It would not be easy but she was going to try.
Miss Ivae, her strong presence keeping Tatiana going, offering her a place to stay that did not hold memories of Beowulf. And Mirima and Grigori could play together. That would be good for him.
Her son, Grigori, he was her reason to move on, to start life again. At nearly a year old, he was so big for his age. And he needed weaning. He needed to be able to spend time with his father without her there to feed him. And he had teeth now.
Yes, Tatiana had made some resolutions. Life would move on, her son would grow and mayhap Miss Ivae was right and there was someone out there for her.
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aka: Tatiana Thorn nee Alexi; Summer Kane; Ivory Skyfire; and others