oathshackledbird | Eachdraidh Locket Mail/Physical Mailbox

[Oh no...

Her heart skips a few beats, her anxiety rising again.]

Yes. In a little bit.

[Then the locket shuts off and the next word he will hear is from her entering the room.

The raven that has taken to her is hopping along behind her as well.]

Dear heart, I just- what are you doing?

[She blinks at the ogham papers, trying to read snippets of it.]

Wait, perhaps I should use that spell... if it is sensitive I do not want the risk of being overheard.

Edited 2015-01-03 05:27 (UTC)

[When she arrives, Diarmuid is still writing on the table. Oscar is curled up on the bed sleeping. He wakes briefly, raising his head, and growls softly at her, then curls up again and goes back to sleep. Not far away from him, near the far side of the bed, the injured goshawk is asleep on a makeshift bird stand.

Diarmuid pauses in his writing and looks up at her.]

Spell? What are you talking about, Beloved?

[In response, Grainne pulls her knife and pricks her thumb, drawing a bit of blood.]

Just a spell to make sure we are not overhead. I just learned it.

[She touches the blood to their lips in turn, repeating the words she learned from Waver.]

Ready silence.

[Why this particular spell is in their language, she didn't quite know, but it made things easier.]

You are getting ready to leave, aren't you? It is because of the rumors of war. Lord El-melloi just asked me to oversee the Station's evacuation plans.

[Diarmuid blinks in surprise. The spell is a very useful one, but anything using blood as a component makes him just a little uneasy. It always has.]

Who taught you that? Have you learned anything else?

[Curious husband is curious.]

I would say it is a lot more than rumor at this point. Both sides are making preparations and gathering strength. It is only a matter of time before everything explodes. There are things I have to do before that happens. Things that can't wait. Things that will save lives.

[He pauses when she mentions the evacuation plans and smiles.]

Good. I know you will keep them very safe.

Lord El-melloi did. I am wondering if I can alter it when I learn more to use something else. Pricking my finger is going to be a deterrent if I have to do it too often. And not yet, and I do not expect to if my Unseelie teachers choose not to help me after all.

[She sighs when he responds as he does.]

I am not surprised, I suppose. Merida was acting strangely, and then there are all those grumbles and rumors. I told the Seelie there were troops moving through Nimh Gleanne, and that Hound said it was only a few camps. I feel as if it is my fault, not being insistent enough...

[But she did her best at the time, and resigns herself to learn from the experience.]

And are those things sworn to secrecy as well? If the spell is working as it should, do you not think as I am to be safeguarding this place, I should know?

[She uses that as an excuse, but the truth is worried wife is worried and the loss of him during the hunt is still fresh on her mind. With him barely recovered...]

I am going to try ways to keep the fighting from touching this place. I beg you, Diarmuid, if there is anything that you could tell me or teach me to help me, please. I ask you not just as your wife.

[The Old Grainne wouldn't have ever asked, and even the Grainne that arrived here would have been hesitant. It's a new sign in her, a brand new determination, as if all the heartache and trouble she has gone through only made her that more resolved.]

Just...be careful. Blood magic is a dangerous thing. You know that...

[Diarmuid adds a final few things to the list and then stands, folds the paper in half, and holds it out to her.]

This is a list of instructions for how to take care of Oscar and the hawk. I tried to be as thorough as possible since I know you don't know as much about taking care of them as I do. However, you are smart and I trust you to take care of my friends for me.

[He talks as if he hasn't heard her questions. That isn't the truth, though. Instead, Diarmuid is trying to decide how to answer those questions. After a while, his eyes narrow and he begins talking.]

If you wish to learn from me, then I need you to listen carefully and take this first lesson to heart. There are many times, especially during war, when secrets must be kept to protect the lives of others. It has nothing to do with not trusting another person or the environment in which the conversation takes place. Learn that lesson, quit begging me for information I cannot give you, and I will consider training you farther.

[After taking the paper, Grainne holds it and waits. When he finally answers her request, though, she recoils slightly at both his look and his tone.

She lowers her head like a chastised child, and the only thing that keeps tears from stinging her eyes is a twinge of anger that she knows she must look as such when she is trying to be everything but.]

Travel safely, Diarmuid.

[Well, at least her tone is even.]

I will.

[Diarmuid turns from her to start putting away the materials he used to write the note. At least, that is what he uses to cover the sad look on his face. He hates being harsh with her, but if she is going to fight with them, she needs to get used to it.]

What do you wish to be taught about first when I return?

[A small surprised look crosses her face before she turns it up again to look at him.]

Defense... I do not know what will happen here in the coming days, and if someone sees me as a threat, I will not be able to fulfill my duties.

[Diarmuid nods in approval to this starting point and her reasoning. However, there may be an even more important place to start...]

Defense is a good place to start, but there might be an even more important one. Have you learned how to activate your shard yet by any chance?

You can do such a thing?

[In other words, no. Grainne looks down and threads her fingers together and sighs.]

Yes, I can. Sir Lancelot taught me shortly after we arrived, and I have been practicing ever since then. In fact, I hope to be getting more training this month.

[He pauses a moment so he can turn back to face her.]

It's something that comes pretty natural to me in this form. Hopefully, that will help me teach others how to do it more easily.

[She avoids his gaze when he turns back, rubbing her hands into the skirt of her dress.]

I suppose I could curse a lot of people if I had something to tap into.

[Not that enchanting the entirety of Tara and the Fianna wasn't just a few, but the prospect of doing so to an army seems far more daunting.]

Does that mean you can learn spells?

[Diarmuid frowns when she avoids his gaze, but he says nothing for the moment.]

I use my shard to strengthen my body and weapons. I still cannot learn magic unless I am given something for me to work through, like this ring.

[He holds up his hand to indicate the fire ring.]

Perhaps once I learn more that will change.

The spell I used earlier is a simple one. You must hold the most silent place you can think of in your head when you cast it, though, but the rest is exactly as you saw.

[She keeps her attention focused elsewhere, intent on finishing business.]

If it does, I will teach you my geis.

It is easiest to start with focusing your shard's power on strengthening things that are familiar to you. For me that would be my fighting skills; for you it would be your magic and such.

[Learning magic not tired to his ring really isn't high on Diarmuid's priority list right now, but a true silencing spell may end up meaning the difference between life and death. That is why he commits the process to memory. However, he really has little interest in learning to geis people. Not when he knows just how it feels to carry such a curse...]

Thank you.

[He isn't going to tell her that, though. It will only upset her.]

I should get going now. Is there anything you want to ask before I go?

No. If I have any, I will wait for your return.

[She is still focused on something else, concentrating her hardest on playing it cool and calm. Determination made up for many faults, and it is no less so with Grainne.]

As soon as I have the chance, I will stop back to start your training.

[There is one thing he wants to do before he sees to anyone else's training: see to his own so he can teach them as much as possible.

Diarmuid reaches out to gently try to make her look at him.]

Why don't you tell me why you won't look me in the eye?

[She pulls her chin away a tiny bit just enough to avoid it.]

I will not until I am someone you can call partner.

[Diarmuid sighs and lets his hand drop.]

Grainne, you are already my partner. You are my wife. Just because you are learning another way to be a partner to me doesn't mean it negates the fact you are still my equal in another role. There is no reason for you not to look me in the eye. You aren't any less than I am."

[In response, she shakes her head.]

I had to prove myself that fateful night so that you would understand. I see this as no different.

Of course there is a difference!

[Diarmuid pauses for a moment, pushing back his frustration and lowering his voice.]

The difference is you have already proven yourself once. You do not need to do it again just because you are learning a new role.

I think I need to on this matter. [She sighs, relaxing her hands a little.] I want you to see me as more than just your wife...

No, you don't.

[However, even has he says that, Diarmuid finds himself giving in. This isn't about him, after all. It is about her. If that is really what she wants...}

I know you will do well. You are my beloved and you are much stronger than you believe you are. I look forward to you proving yourself.

[To yourself...]

Thank you, Diarmuid. I will do my best.

[It's obvious even as she says that, there's hesitation and a slight quiver in her voice. She doesn't truly believe she will make it. After all, since that night of the betrothal feast, to her he has been carrying her weight. Maybe not physically, as he refused, but in every way that matters.

Now? Now she doesn't know if she can stand on her own... but if she ever does return, she has a future without him to look forward to. It's her last chance.]

Please come to me when you return. Do you know when that will be?

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