Do Me A Favour|Yes, another Arctic Monkey's song

[Desert]

Dharth merely rumbled a chuckle and didn't reply to the jade's accusition. The deed was done anyway, who could have stopped him? And that interfering roanrider had had it coming, thinking he could get between the blackpair and what was rightfully theirs.

That was completely unneccessary, Dharth. He would've gotten the point if you'd just cut the roan up a bit, you didn't have to kill him! And hauling that head around like a trophy is just infantile, K'dran remarked sullenly.

Keep a civil tongue in your head, K'dran,[/b][/color] Dharth hissed. I did not see you doing much to stop her leaving! What would you have done?[/b][/color] he demanded. Now the insolent man was talking back? What had gotten into him today?

It's her choice if she wants to find someone else to help her raise the kid! That guy was probably her friend, and now you've pretty much sentenced him to death, K'dran growled back, his pale eyes flashing. You have a tendency to go too far sometimes -- this was another one. I'm getting sick and tired of you trying to run my life, Dharth. And you can get as mad at me as much as you like, you can beat me and burn me; but as much as you'd like to rip me to shreds, you can't, can you? You need me, Dharth.

Dharth's voice was like oil sliding over ice. As you need me, K'dran,[/b][/color] he pointed out coldly. And I do not see much of a way you can keep me from doing as I please. So it would be to your benefit to keep you insolence to yourself, lest I forget myself. I could eat Juno in one bite; or perhaps your little girlfriend Accalia. Rownith would be easy to kill as well, and where would that leave her?[/b][/color]

K'dran gritted his teeth against impotent rage, and a touch of fear. This was why he usually didn't get close to other living beings -- it was too easy for Dharth to use them against him. And Dharth's threat did bring it home that, though reluctantly, he was starting to get a bit attached to Accalia. Or perhaps it was the concept that his children were growing inside her that made him less apathetic toward the jaderider. Either way, Dharth had leverage now, to use to keep his rider's hands tied.

The big black rumbled in satisfaction that K'dran had nothing. There. Now be a good boy and keep an eye on her -- you would not want there to be a complication in the pregnancy from all this stress.[/b][/color]

K'dran's fists clenched together so hard that the half-healed fractures in his knuckles protested. He glanced at Rownith. "I'm so sorry about Dharth's meddling," he told the jade sincerely. "I wish I could take it back." He shook his head, knowing there was no way to do that.

He glanced at Accalia's form under the covers and sighed, extending one hand to hesitantly touch what he guessed was her shoulder. "Accalia? I know this just doesn't cover it, but I'm sorry," he said quietly.

ooc; i didn't think K'dran had it in him -- this is getting kinda cute. =D and i got more length out of this than expected.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

His touch made her flinch, despite it being through the blanket of furs, and she shied away from his hand, sure that he had come to heap more blame upon her head.

And she deserved it, for if she had pushed K'rtin away after having politely declined his offer then he would still have Rynilith. His anger over being snubbed would have been nothing compared to the pain he now must be feeling as a drgaonless man, and it was her fault. Oh Dharth may have dealt the blow, but the circumstances that had put Rynilith in such a vunerable position were a result of her actions.

It was his apology that wrenched her out of the spiral of depression and guilt that was rapidly pulling her deeper within herself. What did K'dran have to apologise for, because even if it sounded rather muffled through the barrier of the blanket there was no mistaking it. He had done nothing wrong, it was her fault, not his.

It's not your fault. And K'dran does not blame you for what happened, not one bit. Please Mine, talk to him, he feels as badly over this as you do I suspect, but he's at a loss to how to help you. He is trying though. Although Rownith was rather self absorbed at the best of times she was perceptive enough in this instance.

You are no more at fault than Accalia is. It is unfortunate that something like this had to occur, but she needs you now more than ever. Please don't let her down K'dran, she's all but lost her best friend. It's not something I assume one gets over in a day. Rownith said this all privately to K'dran, making sure the mental shaft was carfeully closed off to Accalia, Rownith doubted she would appreciate her meddling.

Accalia pushed the fur back from her head uncurling slightly from the fetal position, not caring that her hair was toussled, her eyes blood shot, her lip swollen and bleeding from having bitten down hard on it.

"Why are you sorry?" her overly bright eyes were huge in her ashen face, all color drained from her features except the dark intensity of her eyes.

"It's me that should be apologising to you. I thought I was doing the right thing, I thought if I agreed to his request he would leave you alone, that by leaving the Weyr you could be finally be rid of me and return to whatever it was you did until I thrusted you into this mess. We both know you're only doing this because of Dharth, I would be kidding myself to think it was any more than a sense of obligation. And what of K'rtin?" she could not use his new name, it made it too real. "He must hate me more than even you now," she said in a listless tone.



OOC:Your post was so adorable....

[Desert]

K'dran nodded slightly as Rownith's words echoed in his mind. He was surprised that the jade would choose to mind-speak him, but then again, considering the stres her rider was obviously in, perhaps that would push her outside a normal dragon's boundaries. He opened his mouth to tell the jade he would try his best, before movement in his peripheral vision distracted him, and he looked over to see Accalia's head emerge from under the furs.

Juno swooped into the weyr, circling for a moment above K'dran's head with an agitated series of chirps, before the little spring settled onto the bed near Accalia's head. The flit crooned soothingly, nuzzling the furs where Accalia's head was. When the jaderider pushed the fur back from her face, Juno crawled closer and tucked herself into a ball under Accalia's chin, still humming in sympathy.

K'dran looked at Accalia for a moment, with an expression that questioned her sanity. "Your -- for Faranth's sake Accalia, how can you possibly think any of this is your fault?" he demanded incredulously. "The blame for all of this is that blasted dragon of mine's, and my own for being a spineless coward and going along with it." He sighed heavily and ran one hand through his unkempt black hair. "I'm sorry you got mixed up in this. People wonder why I act like such a selfish ass most of the time -- do they want my problems visited on them? I wish there was something I could do to stop Dharth from fouling up people's lives like he has mine." The blackrider shook his head slowly.

ooc; bargh. i wish i could write more, but that's all i can get for now. -sigh- not that i expected my nonexistent Muse to give me another 400+ post at the moment.

[elainsie]

Accalia pulled herself into a seating position, bringing her knees to her chin and wrapping one arm around her knees, still huddled in upon herself. The other hand idly ran over the hide of the Sping firelizard where it sat nearby, rather comforted by the repetitive motion it provided her. As K'dran spoke however she shook her head.

"Of course it's my fault," her trembling voice barely reached K'dran. "K'rtin was my friend. He only became involved because of me." Her eyes darted away from K'dran and instead focused on a spot on the wall behind him. No matter what anyone was to say to her Accalia knew deep down she would always apportion at least some of the blame upon herself. It was living with the guilt of this that would be hardest to overcome.

"I don't think you're a spineless coward," but this was said so quitely whether K'dran actually heard or not was debatable.

Accalia let her eyes flicker shut, only to tear them open again when the image of Rynilith's head flooded her mind. Where was K'rtin now? What was he doing? She wished she had the courage to go up and face him, to apologise, but the thought of it petrified her.

Rownith however had heard of what had happened to K'rtin. In the melee he had grabbed a knife from the kitchens before anyone could have stopped him, and slit his wrists. No one had tried to help him, the Healers having decided that for K'rtin it was best if there was an end to the pain, and he had passed between a matter of seconds ago. However the Jade did not think it prudent to tell Accalia this now, she was still much too fragile and the double blow would send her reeling, especially once she realised there would be no attempt at an apology or forgiveness.

[Desert]

Juno climbed up the furs that were draped over Accalia's knees and tucked herself into the cleft between the jaderider's knees and her chest. She continued her quiet humming, rubbing her small head across Accalia's leg soothingly.

K'dran shook his head in disbelief. People like this, who always heaped guilt on themselves when clearly they'd done nothing wrong, perplexed him to no end. "As he should have. He did nothing wrong, and neither did you, Accalia. This whole mess is just because of Dharth. I can't escape the blame either -- I didn't actively do anything, but I'm just as responsible for just standing back like the coward I am and letting him do this. But I can't think of a way to stop him!" he growled, dropping his head into his hands and grabbing fistfuls of his hair in frustration. There seemed only one way to make the sadistic black stop tormenting people.

You do not have the backbone to kill yourself, K'dran,[/b][/color] Dharth hissed balefully.

A slightly crazed smirk curved K'dran's lips. He'd come pretty close, once or twice; just as Dharth's abuse had come close a few times to killing him. Those had been the only times K'dran had ever seen the big black display anything approaching fear. Dharth may not have felt any love for his rider, but he wasn't stupid enough to deny that the telepathic bond he shared with K'dran was necessary to his survival.

When he spoke again, K'dran voice was weary, slightly muffled by his hands. "You think so, Dharth?" he retorted. "You think I don't have the balls to make you go away? You may be right, but one of these days you just may push me to it. It would be pretty easy, too. This beltknife's quite sharp." One hand dropped from his face to rest lightly against the handle of the knife K'dran always wore on his belt. He was merely thinking aloud, talking mostly to himself; he'd all but forgotten Accalia and Rownith, too absorbed in his own troubles.

ooc; it rambled, but eh.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

The Jade rider listened on silently as K'dran spoke. The man could talk until he was blue in the face but it would not magically rid her of the responsibility she felt over what had occurred. K'dran had not actively done anything to cause the events that had unfolded today, if he was to have a share of the blame it was a result of inaction. Accalia however had said things that had set them all upon this course. For Accalia knew without a doubt if she had never mentioned K'dran's name to K'rtin they would not be sitting here having this conversation now.

Not wanting an argument over this Accalia held her tounge, glad for the distraction the firelizard provided, her hand still running continously over her dark hide, K'dran's words only half heard.

That was until the words he spoke in retaliation to Dharth's taunts penetrated her introspective thoughts. Her head jerked up from it position against her chest, and she rocked onto hew knees, disrupting the firelizard from its perch against her warm body. Shuffling to the edge of the bed she closed the distance between them, the chair he sat on a mere handspan form where she remained poised.

Her face, as improbable as it may seem, became even whiter, her eyes filled with terror. Accalia may have told the truth to Kyrtin as far as her emotions where concerned in regards to K'dran, she certainly no longer harboured a childish crush. But as what he implied sunk in, a cold fist wrapped around her heart, exerting a crushing blow. "Don't you dare even think of doing that," her eyes flashed with anger and concern. "I have already lost one person I that care about today," although Accalia did not know of Kyrtin's demise she knew that they would never return to the frienship they once had, "I don't want to lost another."

[Desert]

K'dran glanced up at Accalia, his hands dropping to his sides. A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, and his eyes had a similar gleam to when he'd gone too far in his and Dharth's "game" and pushed the black over the edge. That half-crazed look of sick anticipation.

"You probably have nothing to worry about; you already know I value my mangy hide quite highly. But it's probably the only way to make Dharth cut it out for good. I can't stop him any other way." He shook his head, still wearing the same bitter expression. "Nah, that won't happen. It's just wishful thinking." He paused, now studying Accalia's whitened face. "But really, what would it matter to you? I'm sure I've been nothing but a thorn in your side for the past few weeks." He snorted. "I think most of the Weyr would breathe a sigh of relief if Dharth took me with him."

He ignored the black's enraged grumblings as Dharth growled to himself in irritation. He'd surely take a chunk out of K'dran for such thoughts, but he knew the man had him there. The only thing Dharth feared was his rider's death, which would sever that vital bond that kept him alive. He'd seen it in K'dran's mind; it had cropped up more than once, and what scared Dharth was that K'dran had actually seriously considered it.

Heh. And what would you be able to do to me then, eh? K'dran mentally taunted the black. I'd have finally gotten one up on you!

Dharth growled savagely. Oh ay, fool, you only need the resolve to do it![/b][/color] he spat.

K'dran heard the well-concealed touch of fear in the black's tone, and couldn't stop the wolfish grin from spreading over his face. The more time goes on, Dharth, the more disenchanted I'll be with all this. You've seen it, haven't you? I know you have. So just keep that in mind. He looked at Accalia again. "By the way, I hope you don't mind if I hang out here for a while. Dharth's not too happy with me at the moment," he said cheerfully.[/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

She took in the manic gleam of his eyes, and frowned, for the time being the guilt subsiding as she wondered what that particular look of the eyes indicated. He would not really kill himself, would he? And for what end? Even if was true to his word and put and end to his life and Dharth's, what could he possibly he hope to achieve in the act. And while his words did some to reassure her, there was still something beneath them that concerned her.

Annoyed that he had to even ask whether she cared if he perished or not she gave a rather flippant reply. "Actually put it that way, I could not care less whether you decide to knife yourself. Perhaps after all it is for the best," she added disgustedly and moved further back on the bed, no longer wishing to see that almost feral look he wore, wrapping her arms around herself once again.

She gave a nochalant shrug, "Do what you like K'dran, if I find you've split open your veins in the middle of the night I am sure I can get someone to remove you before I become too nauseated by the sight." She stared intently at the palm of her right hand, tracing the creases with her left hand to avoid eye contact with the insane black rider. "While I am at it you might as well do the same for me if that's what you intend." It had not been a very funny joke, but it had only been made half in jest. Her remorse had been held at bay only for a short while, the image of Rynilith's severed head seared into her memory. She bit back the bile that rose in her throat.

[Desert]

K'dran sighed heavily, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and sat up straight before slouching into the back of the chair. "I sincerely hope you don't do that -- Dharth might take it out on me." He snorted. "He's such a brat when his little plots don't work out right."

I most certainly will take it out on you. It would have been your ridiculously macabre talk that pushed her to it![/b][/color] Dharth hissed irately.

Seeing her friend's dragon's head sitting on the ground next to her hasn't helped, now has it, smart guy? K'dran retorted sharply. I'm doing what I can here, but your childish overreaction is what made this problem in the first place. So just get over yourself.

There was no comeback forthcoming, though from the inarticulated thoughts of pure mailce in the black's head, K'dran decided it would be wise to perhaps even spend the night in Accalia's weyr. Dharth wasn't quite angry enough yet to risk damaging the jade or rider to get at K'dran.

K'dran watched Accalia, and the insane expression faded from his face, concern taking its place. "Sorry if I freaked you out," he murmured quietly. "That was dumb of me. You don't need to be stressed out any more today, do you?" He sighed and rubbed the side of his face wearily. "What a mess."

Juno crooned comfortingly at the jaderider and coiled herself around Accalia's neck. She continued rubbing her head over Accalia's cheek. [/size][/color][/font]

[elainsie]

"It's ok." Accalia reached out a hand to the firelizard now the she had returned to adorn her neck, her fingers tickling the soft hide of her belly. "For what it's worth I would care you know." She hated to admit it, she wanted to be detached and remain aloof, but the man constanlty surprised her. Just when she had decided that she could not deal with him anymore, that she wanted nothing more than K'dran to just leave her alone, he did or said something to dispel the notion.

Today's actions had been a particular example of this. What she could not understand was why? Was it only because he needed santcuary from Dharth and her weyr was as good a place as any? That seemed the most likely reason. She wavered whether to give voice to her question, and then before she could think too much about it asked him.

"But why do you care? What you did today is not very characteristic of what I know of you. And you realise that despite saying you never would, you actually did end up comforting me when I was sick. It doesn't really make sense. You could have just walked off and left me there, although I appreciate that you did not." Rownith had been the one to supply her with that piece of information, had not the current situation been so depressing it would have made her smile to think of his awkward ministrations.

[Desert]

A slightly ironic smile pulled up one corner of his mouth. Of course she'd care -- she wasn't like him, who was too selfish to give a flying rat's anal orifice about anyone else so long as he was left in one piece.

He watched Juno comfort the jaderider with a pang of fondness for the little flit. He almost envied the little flit; she could openly show her affection for others, she didn't have to worry about Dharth trying to steal her happiness away. She only had to avoid the big black's snapping jaws.

When Accalia questioned his actions, K'dran sighed heavily. He had a hard time talking about things like that; it was too deeply ingrained to keep his feelings to himself. "It's hard to say," he replied, his voice holding an edge of discomfort. He knew what it was, though; he was beginning to feel a few tugs of responsibility in all this. It was just difficult for the taciturn blackrider to say anything like that out loud. He sighed in frustration. "I guess something's finally hit me," he explained at length.

[elainsie]

Her mouth quirked upwards at his words, having noticed the agitation with something approaching amusement, "Something hit you?" Accalia echoed his words, however it was rhetorical and she did not bother to press the issue, it was evident he was more than uncomfotable with the question.

It was enough for her that he felt something. If any one thing irritated her about K'dran it was the lack of concern he showered on everyone and eveything equally. It seemed perhaps Dharth had been right all along, as much as she hated to even think that with her current anomisty towards the Black dragon. Maybe the next few months would not be such a trial after all.

It was then she realised the hunger that had been supressed in all the excitement was starting to return. If she had been hungry before, then she was famished now and she knew that it was in the best interests for both herself and her baby if she ate something. "K'dran, I don't really want to ask this of you, but I will anyway because I can't think of any other way. Would you mind getting some food from the kitchens, I would go it's just..." her voice trailed off. Accalia could not face leaving her weyr at the moment, did not want to go anywhere near the Lower Caverns, in particular the Dining Hall or the area just outside.

[Desert]

K'dran grimaced briefly. It wasn't that he felt any aversion to running the errand, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Dharth would lie in wait and ambush his rider, and exact punishment for the impudence he'd shown the big black lately. Well, it seemed there was nothing for it; if Dharth intended to get retribution he'd do so eventually anyway, and he might not decide to pounce just now. He might as well risk it.

The lanky blackrider heaved himself upright. "All right. If I don't show up for a while, you'll know Dharth had a go at me," he remarked, and the smile he wore had a hint of its former, slightly manic quirk. He sketched an indolent two-fingered salute and strode out of the weyr.

His way to the dining hall was suspiciously clear; he piled up a tray of food and made it part of the way back in the direction of Accalia's weyr before a dark shadow fell over him. The insane grin came back, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh come on, can't I just deliver this food before you try to eat me?" he remarked to the hovering black. The black stayed teleathically silent, though a low growl reached K'dran's ears.

Once he reached the weyr, he set the tray down within easy reach of the jaderider. "Pardon me for a moment, Dharth wants a word. I suggest you not watch," he said, winking cheerfully at Accalia, before turning on his heel. He didn't want to stall too long, in case Dharth got impatient and decided to remove K'dran from the weyr personally. That would just make things worse.

K'dran eased himself into the open clearing, and began edging slowly farther away from Accalia's weyr. Dharth seemed to be in a particularly foul mood, which boded ill for whatever was around where his rider happened to be standing.

Without waiting for K'dran to get very far on his own, Dharth's jaws closed with a resounding clash inches from his rider's abdomen, clenching his tunic between the razor-sharp teeth. The big black swung his head around and tossed K'dran against a tree on the other side of the small clearing from Accalia's weyr; K'dran rasped out a cough as his back hit the tree. The shreds of his shirt still partially hung from Dharth's jaws as the big black glared balefully at his rider. There was none of the icy blue in his eyes now: only a blazing, hot blood-red that spun and wheeled so fast it barely seemed to move.

Thin smoke curled from Dharth's jaws as the only warning, before a jet of bright orange flame shot from the black's gaping maw to bathe K'dran's upper body. It was soon cut off -- Dharth was being careful not to inflict crippling damage on his rider -- and K'dran slumped to the ground, his face screwed up in an agonized grimace.

Dharth leaped into the air without any further ado; he was likely off to take out the remainder of his temper on some unsuspecting item of prey somewhere in the jungle. K'dran stayed slouched against the tree, teeth audibly grating together and fists clenched until his hands were white and his injured knuckles might have been rebroken, refusing to give voice to the searing pain. He reached out mentally to Juno, and the little spring blinked between promptly with a creel of alarm. Then, K'dran tried thinking at Rownith, hoping the jade would hear him. Rownith, Juno is too small to get everything. Could you do me a huge favor and help her? There's a linen sheet on my bed; it'll do to cover up these burns until I can get somewhere to wash them off.

ooc; -snicker- nasty bitch, is Dharth.

[elainsie]

Accalia regretted asking him to go as soon as he said that, how could she be so selfish as to forget that Dharth was lurking outside waiting for K'dran to leave the confines and safety of her weyr, but before she could form a response he was already out of the door.

Pushing back her fringe Accalia strained to hear the signs of confrontation, having absolutely no desire to see the particular punishment Dharth would inflict upon and was almost startled to see K'dran return through the weyr, intact and with the requested food.

How could he be so calm about it, she thought as the man cheerfully walked back out again. K'dran seemed to think it was all a joke, she shook her head in disbelief before grabbing a roll and taking a large bite of it. The thing tasted like sawdust, but she chewed on obdiently.

Disgusted with herself for sitting in her weyr allowing K'dran to be brutally tortured by Dharth, Accalia took the roll and Juno with her to the balcony, her eyes readily spying rider and dragon.

She was not stupid enough to interfere, if K'dran had no control over Dharth what chance did she have, but it seemed wrong to stay hidden away pretending it was not going on. After all she was not usually so sensitive to such things, she had seen many a greusome injury at her traing at the Healer Hall, despite her reaction earlier when seeing Rynilith's head. But the again that had been an extenuating cicrucmstance.

Finally it seemed Dharth had tired of the sport, but K'dran made no sign to get up. She cursed Dharth silently as Juno lifted off her shoulder and followed the firelizard to K'dran's side. It was not the wisest thing to do, Dharth could easily return, but neither coudl she leave the man lying unconscious, if that was what he was, after how he had helped her earlier.

He's not unconscious, he just asked me to get a sheet form his weyr. Rownith answered before winking between on the errand. The dragon was wary that Dharth might be lurking around his weyr but it seemed Rownith was in luck, there was no sign of the black on his weyrcouch or in the clearing around K'dran's own weyr. Quickly pulling the said sheet off the bed, she appeared near the black and dropped her load. He needs water Mine.

Accalia nodded and ducked back inside, stuffing the last of the roll into her mouth, grabbing a pitcher of clean water that she usually used to wash her face and hands of a morning. Thinking some numbweed would also not go astray, it was such a handy thing to have, she followed the firelizard and her dragon to K'dran's side.

She knelt by his slocuhed form and looked at the wounds with a critical eye. "I suppose this was him letting you off easily?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow, fine lines around her mouth concealing the anger directed at Dharth. "Tell me what to do, I have little experience with burns and I suppose by now you have some knowledge of the injuries."

[Desert]

Juno lowered a pot of a specially-made type of numbweed, stronger than normal, with a few extra things added in to help disinfect. K'dran hauled himself into a sitting position with a muted grunt.

He watched Accalia warily as she approached. She didn't seem to be freaking out, which wasn't exactly what he had expected. Well, that was a good thing, at least she wasn't having a guilt-trip again. He sighed heavily.

"Well, since you've got water handy, it would be nice to get the grit out of there," he said, gesturing to the badly burned flesh. "Don't bother applying numbweed 'til the wound's clean, I don't intend on any of this getting infected. You can use my stuff on the worst parts," he added, picking up the pot Juno had brought from his weyr. The little spring creeled sympathetically and nuzzled his cheek.

Another sigh dissolved into a grimace as he tried to adjust himself to aid Accalia's efforts. "As to your question, actually he was pretty well pissed. He doesn't usually flame me unless I've been especially naughty." He chuckled darkly and shook his head. "Eventually these burn scars will cover up the other scars he's given me." He gingerly touched the ribbed scar on his left side, safely away from the new burns, where Dharth had gnawed ravenously at his abdomen before making the Impression.

K'dran kept his fists clenched to fight back the cries of pain, watching Accalia minster to his burns. "Thanks, by the way," he said at length. "It's a bitch trying to clean it myself."

ooc; XD language, language K'dran! sorry it's kinda short and blah.