Start of a New Life

[Baron Arkon]

The man sat in the padded couch by the fireplace, its dim flickering light was all that lit up the bedroom chamber. In a bone knit hand he held the leather strap that normally acted as a patch over the shadowy hole of his right eye. And in the bed across from him slept the one woman who has been able to make him forget that he was more beast than man.

Arkon Rylarth, Baron of Yew, Pirate of the Sosarian Seas, and Soul of the Dragon; has been tamed. And not by any Tamer, not by a cheat or one who would seek to lie or control him. The Baron has fallen in love and felt that love returned by a woman who has more passion in her actions than any other he has seen.

Sliding the patch back over the hole of his right eye, he moved to the bed. Resting beside the lovely Callista, keeping watch over her. With bone knit fingers he caressed the tresses of hair that fell across her sleeping face.

Arkon swore to himself; as he watched the serene sleeping woman beside him. He swore, that though she could hold her own, he would keep her safe. He would stay by her side against the falling of virtues across the land. From the lack of Honor that seems to have taken over Olympus, to the lack of Justice over Spiritwood. In their own corner of the world, far from the reaches of those that would see them harm - they would be safe from the crumbling world around them.

As he settled down to sleep he couldn't help but laugh at the sounds of the Reptalon that was supposed to be keeping guard over them could be heard all through the house, snoring and growling at his dreams.

The pirate leaned over, placing a soft kiss against Callista's cheek before a soft grin crossed his lips "I will always love you, my future, my sea goddess ... my soon to be wife." Arkon whispered to her as he slowly drifted off to sleep himself.

 

[Callista]

Awaking before he the next morning, Callista soaked in the tub a long while allowing the warm waters and lavender petals to help relax her physical body while trying to ease the worries of her mind. She had finally found true happiness after many failed attempts, never before completely understanding how it felt to be loved for who she was.

She just could not shake the concerns of Tobias’ ill health and how it was all her fault. Had she just allowed herself to turn away from the sobbing and pleading Silvara, the demon would not have been able to cause such death and destruction. And now with her death, it was all for nothing. If she had been a better warrior perhaps Piper would not have seen it fit to have an outsider train her leading to a frustrating end of Callista’s long history as a Guardian.

Going even further back in her mind, perhaps if she were not subconsciously searching for someone to make her feel wanted, she would not have turned to Rorik for affection and while she did not regret their time together, she did regret the repercussions that came from her actions.

She had lost many people she considered to be family and friends since and often wondered where she had fit in the world again. Having been referred to as just “the baker” and “a betrayer” in the past weeks, she might have taken off for foreign lands had it not been for the understanding and love she received in Arkon’s arms. He had opened both his heart and home to her, showing her unconditional love like no other.