Bracing the Beast

   Darius stared at Taerre’s crumbled form. While, he hadn’t known what to expect when she discovered what he was, he hadn’t expected her to just pass out.
   Now what?
   Slowly he approached his companion; ready to run in case she was only faking and was only waiting for him to come close so she could attack him.
   Taerre remained still, even when he nudged her side with his toe.
   Darius bent down and gently brushed Taerre’s hair from her face. He felt ashamed at his distrust of his friend. Friend? How could he even think of having a friend? With what he was?
   Still Darius watched the young Elven woman. He did think of her as his friend. What he was, what she was, it did not matter. She had always treated him well. He knew why she had initially accepted his offer from sword training. She wanted to avenge her brother. Yet, as they had trained, they had come to know one another. They had become close. So close that he had thought about telling her his secret, his shame. But he had refrained, thinking she might not be the one, that he couldn’t bear to see the fear, hatred and, revulsion in her gaze.

   As the shadows started to lengthen, Darius realized that he would have to do something. If they stayed where they were, the creatures that had attacked them might return. And he wasn’t sure how many of them would come.
   He looked around to gather their packs and noticed that they had been torn open. Much of the food was ground into the dirt and unusable. There seemed to only be enough unbroken packages for one pack and indeed, that pack would be light itself. As for the packs, they were both damaged, but could be repaired. One was in good enough shape to use now; the other would need sewing before holding anything. Darius gathered everything he could, unstrung Taerre’s bow and packed everything as tightly as he could. He slung the pack over one shoulder, Taerre’s bow and quiver over the other, with both of their swords tied to the outside. He then went over and knelt next to the still unmoving Elf.
   "I’m sorry, Taerre," he said. "If I could ensure your safety without moving you I would."
   Darius then picked Taerre up and started carrying her through the forest.

   He walked for nearly an hour, stumbling with his burdens, until he reached a small stream. There he gently lay Taerre upon the soft loam, next to an old Oak tree. He then set about setting up camp, gathering wood and starting a fire. Opening the pack and setting about making their evening meal was next. Darius went about this task quickly, glancing at Taerre every so often, both hoping and dreading her waking. Hoping because he needed her to be alright, dreading because he was terrified of what she might do when she awoke.
   With the last of their usable meat, Darius made a pan stew, to this he added some vegetables and potatoes, spicing it from the tiny jars Taerre had brought. Even without labels, Darius was able to identify each spice, needing only a sniff to tell what would enhance the stew and what would hurt the taste.
   As he set about putting the finishing touches on the meal, Darius lost himself in the task. He didn’t notice Taerre open her eyes to watch him.

   Taerre came out of the haze slowly. As she started to wake, she tried to remember where she was and how she had gotten here. She could easily recall the fight and Darius going down under the creatures. She could remember fighting the cractin and how she felt, thinking that this would be the end.
   As for the rest, she knew a mountaincat had attacked their attackers. And hadn’t the cat killed most of them? But what came next? She seemed to remember the cat coming up to her and changing into Darius. But that was impossible, wasn’t it? Besides, the cractin had killed him. Hadn’t they? Then, what really happened?
   The popping of an ember brought Taerre to full wakefulness. She almost jumped but her training held her in place. It was better to fake sleep until she knew her condition. Darius had taught her this. She would miss his woodscraft knowledge, and his friendship. That was two deaths that the mountain owed her.
   Taerre opened her eyes, only a bit, trying to see what she would have to do to ensure her safety, thinking that the cat would be watching her, waiting.
   The sight that came to her almost scared her more than the cat would have. There sat Darius, cooking a meal. His being alive verified her memory. He had been the cat. Oh, Gods, what kind of creature was she traveling with?
   Slowly, she turned her head. She didn’t recognize where she was. Darius must have brought her here. Why?
   Was he the creature that had been causing all the damage and deaths? Was he the one who had killed her brother? What kind of monster, what kind of beast was he?
   Taerre looked around for her sword. Good, it was within reach. She could grab it and end this now. As she started to reach for it, Darius looked up and over at her. Damn, she had been to slow. What next?

   "Oh, thank the Gods," Darius said. "I was worried."
   "Really?" Taerre replied. "And why is that?"
   "Well, when you wouldn’t wake, I didn’t know what to think. I started to worry."
   "Oh, and you worried so much that you just started to cook dinner?"
   "I was hoping the smell might wake you," Darius said, looking at Taerre, confused. "Taerre, what is wrong. Have I offended you, somehow?"
   "Offended? No," Taerre answered. "Scared, frightened, worried, panicked. That should about cover it. What the hell are you?"
   "Oh, you remember," Darius whispered, hanging his head. "I was hoping, praying that you might not."
   "What, not remember you being a mountaincat? Oh, like that is something to forget. Happens all the time. Nothing to give a second thought to. Is this such an everyday occurrence that you think I would just ignore it?" Taerre said, the sarcasm in her voice giving way to fear.
   "Well," Darius said, scratching his head. "It was worth hoping for."
   Taerre stared at him. He seemed serious. Was he? She started to chuckle as she realized that he was more nervous than she was.
   "What’s so funny?" Darius asked.
   "You."
   "Me? Why?"
   "Look at yourself. You could change into anything you wanted to, do whatever you wanted, and here you are, scared of how I’m going to react."
   "Why is that funny?"
   "I’m not sure, but it is."
   "Maybe to you, but not to me. Taerre, I need your help. If you decide to leave because of what I am, then more is lost than you know."
   Taerre looked again at the young human who had become her best friend. Best friend? Well, it was true, she finally admitted to herself. Ever since her brother’s body had been brought home she had wandered aimlessly about, looking for something to make sense. Then she had met Darius. He had told her that the other humans wouldn’t accept him, but not why. He had volunteered to train with her, teach her how to use the sword she had taken from her father’s armory. He had listened to her hopes of vengeance, fears of failures, and plans for her future, never judging. Somehow, he had indeed become her friend. But had she been his? She never asked about his past, or plans for a future.
   "What?" Darius asked, unnerved by the intensity of her gaze.
   "Darius, is there more to this, to yourself, that I may need to know?"
   Darius looked away and swallowed. He sighed and started to speak.
   "Please, don’t be angry at me. I didn’t tell you much because I didn’t want to burden you with what is to come. I was hoping that by the time all was revealed you wouldn’t have time to think or worry about it. You would just do what you needed to."
   "And just what is that?" Taerre demanded.
   "It is best for me to tell you everything. I wish now that I had listened to grandmother. She told me this would probably happen."

   "Your grandmother? She knows about this?"
   "Well, she isn’t exactly my immediate grandmother. You remember about Queen Hysture?"
   "Yes, she was the last human ruler. She turned over rule to my grandfather. I’ve heard it said that she knew Elves would make better rulers."
   "You probably heard that from your father’s courtiers. They always did seem to be a little shortsighted to me."
   "And just how would you know?"
   Darius looked back at the Elven woman. "Please, let me finish and maybe it will all fall into place."
   "Go ahead. But, allow me to ask questions and promise me the true answers."
   "Fair enough. Anyway, after Hysture turned over the burden of law to your grandfather she just left. No one knew where she went. Even now, I think only myself and maybe your father know the truth. Hysture left to try to deny a prophecy. She thought that if she never had children, then the prophecy could never come to pass."
   "But she did return." Taerre interrupted.
   "Yes, she did. She says that she was told that the prophecy is vital. That it must come to pass, or demons will overrun our lands."
   "What is the prophecy?"
   "That one of her descendants would become a beast, and that he must fall before the demons came be locked away."
   "And you are that beast?"
   "Yes."
   "Wait, does the prophecy mean that you have to die before the demons can be defeated? Is that what this is about? There isn’t any ‘creature’? We are going after demons?"
   Darius listened as Taerre’s voice rose in panic. He sighed again.
   "Yes, we are going after the demons. My grandmother and your grandfather stopped them last time but they couldn’t lock the gate between our worlds. It is up to us to do that."
   "How?!?" Taerre asked.
   "I wish I knew. But we have to do it nonetheless. Taerre, we are the only one’s who can do this. My grandmother says it must be us."
   "Wait, your grandmother, you mean Hysture?"
   "Yes."
   "But she is dead."
   "I know, but she is still enough alive to talk to me."
   "Right, you know what they say about someone who talks to dead people?"
   Darius laughed, part of his tension broken by Taerre’s question. "Yes, I know what they say. But, Taerre, it was Hysture who told me where to find you and how to get you to train with me."
   Taerre stared at Darius. "Oh Gods, what have I gotten myself into?"
   "Taerre, you haven’t gotten yourself into anything. We have both been in this since long before our births."
   "But how are we to fight demons? Their touch is deadly, and I don’t know if they can be killed."
   "Oh they can be killed." A strong, feminine voice said.
   Taerre stood and turned to face the stranger. Darius only rose and bowed.
   "Hello grandmother," He said.
   The woman who had spoke stood next to the stream. She was dressed in a green tunic, simple in form but looking elegant on the last human ruler.
   "Darius," she said. "Please, be so kind as to introduce us."
   "Forgive me grandmother," Darius replied. "Queen Hysture, this is Princess Taerre, third daughter of our king. Taerre, this is Hysture, my grandmother, although many times over."
   Hysture approached Taerre, who automatically curtsied. "Child, no need of that. We are as family. Your grandfather was a good friend and noble companion. If your father outgrew his mischievous nature to be more like his sire, he must be a fine ruler indeed."
   Taerre blinked. "Mischievous? My father?"
   The Human Queen laughed. "Well, he was a little scamp, but I guess his duties may have changed him. Although, I pray not too much."
   "Your majesty," Taerre started.
   "Please, there is no need for that. Just call me Hysture. It is easier and I prefer it, now."
   "Very well, Hysture. Forgive my doubt. I thought Darius must be mad."
   "You aren’t the only one," Darius said. "I question my sanity almost every day."
   "Darius," Hysture chided. "Don’t. You know what is a stake. You have know ever since we first met."
   "Yes," Darius answered, a rue smile on his lips. "But in the dark of night, it is easier to question myself, than to face what is coming."
   "Grandson," Hysture said, approaching and laying a soft hand on his cheek. "Do not give up. We may be wrong about part of the prophecy."
   "And if we aren’t then I die."
   "Does that change your resolve?" the queen asked.
   "No," Darius answered. "It doesn’t. I will do what I must."
   "Very well. Taerre, tomorrow you must come to the cavern. It is there that I will give you the protection you will need against the demons. Darius bring her."
   "Yes, grandmother."
   "I love you, grandson." Hysture said, and with that, she disappeared.