WHO: Allanon and Eretria WHAT: training WHEN: recently WARNINGS: violence, Allanon, Eretria STATUS: Closed and Complete
“Are We sure you're not trying to kill me?” She asked as she danced out of the way of his staff. She was trying very hard not to let him get a hand on her. Easier said than done of course.
Especially when you trip over a tree root and tumble into the dirt and fall on your face. She grumbled as she rolled out of the way, she'd picked up a handful of dirt and leaves and thrown it at him.
**
“We’re sure.” Allanon smirked as he watched her move. “Are we sure you’re not just trying to get out of training?” He chuckled as he moved to roll past her, dodging her and bringing a hand up to turn the dirt and leaves into small springy projectiles which he sent at her, one after the other. If they hit they would bounce, and not hurt. Mostly not hurt.
Much.
***
Ere squeaked in surprise as the springy projectiles came at her. She dodged most, took a couple to the face and grumbled. They stung. Jerk. She hooked an arm around a tree and hauled herself up to find a better vantage point.
“No?” Was her teasing reply, she might complain. A lot. But if she didn't want to train she wouldn't be here.
**!
“I know. And I am glad.” He grinned at her, and dove into the bushes, using his druidcraft to vanish in them. Silently, silently, he moved within bushes, behind trees, and around trunks, then up them.
Slowly, slowly, he crept.
His voice, when it came, echoed from several places. “How are you at ventriliquism?”
***
Ere was using the trees to move around, she was quiet but not silent yet. Trying to keep it ears out for his movements, small disturbances in the air.
His voice, however, surprised her and she almost tumbled from the tree she was in. Long fingers caught the branch and she swung up to pull herself back into the tree. “Uhh not good, no”
***
Carefully silent, he grinned as she backed up right under him. Well, that worked out well. Allanon’s fingers reached out to tap her in the forehead from above, then he flipped past her and vanished into underbrush again.
“How long had it been since sometime rattled you? You're pretty scary and tough.”
He paused. “Do you want to learn ventriloquism?”
***
She snarled in annoyance as he tapped her wanna she whipped to find him. Dark eyes followed the whisper of the bush as it moved, and she took off the other way.
“Lately only you've managed that feat.” She was scary and tough. She was raised a bloody rover. Soft and timid weren't things that kept you alive there.
“I'm assuming it's useful for other than annoying me?”
***
“Indeed, combined with mimicry, especially, it can be useful in startling, or even shocking, a foe.”
With a sound like a clearing throat, all of a sudden her own voice spoke to her from just a few feet away. “it can be shocking.”
*** She didn’t think it was right beside her so she didn’t flinch. “You’re missing my sarcastic tone to that rendition of my voice.” she said as she looked around for him, eyes half narrowed.
**
He stepped out of the trees as she turned, right behind her. And deliberately let his foot make a branch crack.
“I’ll have to work on that.”
*** She jumped about five feet straight up and spun to face him. “Gods damn it.” she muttered as she jumped away from him further.
“Damn damn damn, stop being so good at this shit.” she groused.
***
“Here, let me show you.” he held out a hand to her. “I promise, no surprises, this time.” He would show her some ways to keep even quieter, and move even faster. It would take a lot of effort and would not be easy, but he knew she could do it.
Over two hours later, even he was a little tired, and he sat with her on a large grassy hill, resting for a few minutes. “You learn quickly.” There was pride and approval in his voice.
***
She gave him a look before taking his hand. He promised, and she trusted him. Two hours later she was feeling like she was dying again. Tired and worn out she groaned a bit.
“Learning fast saved my life a lot. I couldn't afford to be a slow learner, despite what my father said about me.”
***
“I can imagine so. It will speed the process now and help you sort things in your mind.” He grinned over at her, tired himself, but happy. “Tomorrow, we can practice that more, and I want to introduce you to longstriding.”
He nodded. It would help her endurance and her speed even more. He would teach her all he could, all he had the power and knowledge to know.
“And… I have a piece of homework for you.”
He held out his hand and spoke a word, softly. “Frission.”
And in his hand there was a faint spark of orange flame. “You must concentrate on the word, and on flame, when you try it. But do not speak it too loud or put too much willin it at first. The more will and the louder, the stronger the flame.”
He shook away the flame, stood and took a second, then leaped as if attacked, spun in a dodge, down low, and flung out a hand. “Frission!” His voice echoed at a full shout, and a white-blue colored fire the side of a tree erupted, and hit a tree… and the tree was just gone.
He sagged and sat down. “It is both a good training spell, and a mighty spell that grows as you do in learning.”
*** Eretria wondered for a moment if she was ever going to run out of things to learn then decided with Allanon around? Probably not, no. “Alright.” She drawled out slowly as she mulled it over.
So much to learn. But she was hungry for it here. This place was stagnant. She was used to danger, tough life. This was simple and it was boring her to tears. She'd picked up a job here that worked but she found it useful now. There was plenty to think on while arranging flowers.
Ere's eyes went to the spark. “You want me to do that?” Because she was having a hard time still believing she could even do half the things he thought she could do.
“What happened to protecting nature?” She teased as she nudged him as he sagged. “What'd that tree ever do to you?” She was a little wide eyed though.
She didn't want to burn her tree house down. She was going to be paranoid about that.
***
Allanon nodded. “You can do this. Obviously, not at home, despite my wording. But walking along, or sitting somewhere, holding the spark or conjuring it every few minutes, is good practice. It may take you days to do it the first time. Or it may happen immediately. It took me awhile.” he believed she would be faster. He had been a self-destructive child, and stubborn, and she was already learning to set aside some of that.
“Actually, I marked it before we started. It had rot in it. By destroying it, and the rot, we protect the forest.” He chuckled. “Despite how people think, fire is good for nature, as long as it is allowed to burn true.”
***
Ere just stared at him. “I can't decide if you're insane or not. I mean, I know you said I can do a ton. And I'm holding you to that. But I'm still skeptical. I'm nothing special.” Anymore, she had been useful after all. She itched her palm where she'd slammed her hand down.
“Smart ass.” She groused at him as she shook her head. “fire is good for nature, I just can't read trees.” She even knew if you let things sit, dry, for too long the fire was worse than one's nature set herself. Fire cleansed.
***
“You are special. You are an amazing woman, and a person who could change the course of history, even if you do not believe it.” he reached out to gently clasp her shoulder. “I believe in you.” His words were soft, simple and completely serious.
Allanon grinned at her and shrugged. “I plan and plot and strive to do my best for you, Eretria. As a teacher, as a friend, as a Druid.” he nodded. He felt at least a little of all of those for her.
And while, he tried to deny it, a little more, as well.
“You can learn things. I can see the signs in you. You have much potential.”
***
“You poor thing.” She said lightly, joking mostly. She still had trouble believing people believed in her. She had earned trust but it was still a rough thing to get over. Being used for so long, being told negative things. It left scars. She was just good at hiding them.
“Pretty sure plotting is the major point in that list. You forgot trying to kill me daily.” Eretria’s grin was infectious though. She didn't seem to mind. She slept like a rock now, she had nightmares but now, her mind was too busy going over lessons.
***
Allanon smiled, not bothered. 300 years ago, he had experienced similar feelings. He knew how hard it was. But he was determined to see it through. If she was willing. If she wanted it, she would learn all that a person needs to be a druid. And then… it would be her choice.
“Pfft.” He liked that grin and grinned back, a little. “We’ll practice more later then. Rest, study fire, and stealth, and be yourself.”
*** Ere was willing. She'd committed herself out of curiosity and now she knew she couldn't go back. This was where she was meant to be.
“If I burn down my tree house I'm blaming you.” She muttered as she flopped back to take a nap right there.