Celebrimbor Helyanwë (suntdracones) wrote in st_margarets, @ 2016-01-10 18:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: ashton hartley, character: blake hartley, location: principal's office, npc: headmistress menides |
Narrative: Old Foe
WHO: Ashton
WHEN: Sunday evening, January 10
WHERE: Headmistress's Office
NPC: Blake Hartley
Ashton didn't have any forewarning that the Dragonslayer was coming until he had already arrived on campus. As with previous visits, Blake met with the Headmistress first thing, and the two of them had a conversation. Blake swore his intent, giving his word to the Fury that he was not there to hurt Ashton in any way, but in fact to help him by bringing Barclay back to them. After receiving Ashton's last letter, Blake was concerned. The Druid was Celebrimbor's handler. It was their agreement, between Barclay and Blake, that Barclay would help keep Ashton from turning to his more instinctual habits. The habits of his parents and their parents to destroy human settlements in fire. Blake knew how highly Ashton thought of the Druid, so who better to entrust his scaly ward with?
Only now, Barclay had fallen into some kind of coma, a separation of spirit and body that Blake, after reading how Ashton described it, remembered hearing about in ancient Aztec legends. So, in order to help the Druid help the dragon, Blake traveled to Mesoamerica and pursued those legends. He'd hunted there before, traversing the rainforests in pursuit of a killer Quetzalcoatl. He retraced his steps, cautious as always to the threats in the area that weren't dragons, and finally found the entrance to the buried temple. Inside was the Nagual, the man who, once the plight of the Druid and its future impact on the young black dragon were explained, agreed to aid the Dragonslayer.
All in all, it had taken Blake more than two months to return to the US with the piece needed to recall Barclay to his own body. Ms. Menides agreed to let Blake try and would send word to Ms. Hallowfen about this new development. But first, Blake needed to meet with his dragon ward. Ashton was summoned to the Headmistress's office, rather than Blake encroaching on the dragon's territory and showing up at his dorm. Though Ms. Menides knew that Blake wouldn't draw his fae enchanted blade on Ashton, she took the ancient sword regardless. When Ashton arrived, he laid eyes on the unarmed Dragonslayer, having smelled him and felt the call of the blade long before the summoning. With the sword in the Headmistress's hands, Ashton stepped into the room and it didn't take a telepath to see that he was not pleased at all to see Blake.
After a prolonged moment of silent glares between dragon and slayer, Ms. Menides excused herself and left them alone to talk. One more warning look at Blake was left in her wake. Blake cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders.
"You look awful," Blake opened. Ashton had lost weight, had lost sleep, and it showed despite the heavy black coat the dragon wore and the scowl that seemed permanently etched into his human features. "Have they stopped feeding you?"
Ashton's lip curled and he growled. "What is the meaning of this? Why have you come?"
"Straight to the point, as always." Blake gave a gruff chuckle and rubbed his chin, stalking in a slow circle around the dragon boy. It wasn't wise to make the dragon feel any more hunted than he already did in his presence, but it was also unwise to let Ashton feel he had the upper hand, just because the sword was not in the room. "Have a seat, Ashton. Let's talk."
"I will not sit." Ashton's immediate response came with a bristling in his shoulders. He bared his teeth at the human, refusing to be cowed by the slow steps that circled him. How many dragons had those feet passed by? How many had come out alive? The fact that Blake still stood here - limp in his right leg or no - answered that question all on its own. Ashton kept Blake in his sights, but his own feet remained planted in the center of the Headmistress's office. "Tell me why you have come."
"Originally I came to help, but now that I see your condition, I'm of half a mind to take you out of this place and bring you somewhere that you can fatten up again."
"You would not dare!" Ashton, proud as he was, still understood that, for now, Blake had the final say on where Ashton was permitted to live. It galled him to the point of approaching the Dragonslayer with a snarl, fingers curling into fists. "I am not weak, Dragonslayer. And I am not in need of your help."
"Not for you. For Barclay." Blake narrowed his eyes at the way Ashton came towards him, but he knew it was just an act. Ashton had learned before, the hard way, that he should not attack him. Many more experienced dragons had lost their lives that way. He saw the way Ashton paused when he said the druid's name and went on. "I got your letter. Thank you for the tender sentiments, by the way. Always so poignant." Blake smirked and crossed his arms. "But after you described what happened to Barclay after the battle, I went looking and found this." Blake produced a disc shaped carved stone from his inner pocket and held it up for Ashton to see.
Ashton's nostrils flared, lips slightly parted, tasting the air, tasting the relic. Magic. He knew its scent. "What is that?"
"It's a key." Blake turned it over in his hand, letting it rest on his palm. "Once attuned, it should summon your witch back to his body. Although, there's no saying what kind of damage he's sustained while separated."
Ashton's green eyes glinted to silver, pupils making narrow slits like a reptile. "Damage?"
"Mm," Blake nodded and put the disc away. "We'll see." With an effort and barely hidden wince, the hunter eased himself down onto one of the chairs. He rubbed his thigh where it was sore from so much traveling. He was getting old and it wasn't prudent to show weaknesses in front of his prey, but Ashton was more than that. Besides, Blake thought, maybe it would set the beast more at ease. Blake lifted his eyebrows at Ashton. "Now, can we talk?"
Wary still, suspicious and not at all convinced that was Blake's true motivation in being there, Ashton watched him like a-- well, like a dragon. Sharp silver eyes followed his every move, saw his old injury flare up, and a small amount of satisfaction was had at the sight. Good. Some dragon injuries lasted longer than others and this one had been there since he'd known Blake. He hoped it pained him greatly.
"We may," Ashton's eyes gradually changed color back to their normal green. "But first you will promise me that you will not lay a hand on Barclay. You will deliver that key to Ms. Hallowfen and she will perform the magic required for it to bring Barclay back."
Blake slowly smiled and then gently inclined his head. "You have my word. I won't touch Barclay." No need to tell the dragon that his own magic wasn't strong enough to activate the relic piece anyway. He'd need the power of an actual witch, possibly more than one. The Nagual had been specific in his warning: the power to summon a spirit and reconnect it to its body was dangerous to all involved. "Ms. Hallowfen will have full control over Barclay's lifeline."
"Fine." Satisfied, Ashton finally relented and took one of the other seats in the room, folding his tall wiry frame to sit down. "Then what do we need to discuss?"
Blake leaned forward, arms resting on his thighs with scarred fingers laced together. "Tell me how your studies are going."