Yet Another Snippet...

[allichaton]

Morthen filled the doorway, anger snapping in his eyes, his shoulders drawn up with tension, his hands fisted. He stared from me to Jern, then back. "I should have known it. I should have fucking known it." He stalked forward.

Jern moved between us, blocking his bath. "Morthen, don't you touch her."

Morthen stopped a half-stride away from Jern, staring at him. I couldn't see what Jern's expression held, but whatever it was, it only deepened the anger and hatred on Morthen's face. His voice lowered, deepening. "Don't protect her, Jern."

"If you think I'll let you beat on her, for any reason, you don't know me at all."

Morthen's hands fisted. "This doesn't involve you."

"I'm her friend. I'm your lover. I think it involves me quite a bit."

"You're her friend." He snarled, his lips curled into a sneer. "Aye, and rumors say you're her teacher, too. Letting her try to fight with you every day, spending hours upon hours down here together." He grabbed Jern's shoulders and pulled him forward. "That's not all the speculation I've heard, either. Have I become so boring that you've had to turn to some lanky girl for your excitement? If you don't want me, Jern--"

"Wait one gods damned moment." I stalked forward, pulling Jern back, and shoved against Morthen's chest. "If you're suggesting that there is anything more than friendship between Jern and I, you couldn't possibly be more mistaken. I'm involved with Kyl, and I sure as hell don't sleep around." I felt Jern moved to stand next to us. I glanced at him quickly; the look of pain in his eyes stole my breath.

I grabbed Morthen's shirt. I cared for Jern. I hated to see him look so wounded. "You want to pick a fight, Morthen, fine. I won't stand in your way. But you're not going to pick a fight with the man who loves you. I'm not going to let you break his heart. If you want a fight, you're going to have to settle for one with me."

Morthen's eyes widened. He laughed. "With you? Oh, gladly." He chuckled and shook his head. "You're going to regret you made me this offer, lady."

"I don't think so."

Jern growled, more a sound of frustration than anger. "So much for no delusions of grandeur."

I looked at him and shook my head. "I know I won't win, Jern. That doesn't mean I'll regret this." I glanced at Morthen. "I don't have to win. I just have to stand up for myself. And that's what I'm doing."

Morthen growled and reached for me. I danced back out of his way, hoping he'd be off balance. He wasn't, and we were facing each other again, both prepared, both watching the other with guarded expressions. Morthen danced to the side, trying to reach me, to catch me off guard. I moved with him, always keeping him opposite me.

And suddenly I realized, with an overwhelming sense of peace, that I didn't have to do this. Everything I had told Jern was absolutely true. I didn't have to win. I didn't even have to fight. All I had to do was not run away. I drew a breath, let it out, and slowly straightened. My hands fell to my sides; my fists loosened. I watched Morthen as he stared at me, his expression cautious.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing." I smiled. "Absolutely nothing."

My smile unnerved him. He hesitated and frowned. He looked so confused; I almost laughed.

Morthen blinked at me a few times, frowning. I waited, still, calm. It was amazing how calm I was, facing him, knowing he would hurt me. But I wouldn't fight back, and with that pacifism came an odd sort of acceptance. It didn't matter. He would hurt me, but as long as I stayed, as long as I didn't back down and run, I would win. No beating he put me through could change that.

He moved, lightning fast. His fist hit me in the gut, sending me stumbling backwards and knocking the breath from me. He danced back then, as if he expected a counterblow.

I shook my head. "I'm not going to hit you, Morthen."

Suspicion shadowed his face. "You're just going to let me pound on you? Just like that?"

"Yes. Just like that."

Jern moved forward from the sidelines. "Riannen, you can't do this!"

Surprise made me turn to him. He'd never used my name before. "I know what I--"

Morthen's fist caught me across the face, sending me spinning to the ground. Before I could move, before I could even acknowledge the pain, he was on me, pressing my back into the floor. He straddled my chest. One hand gripped my throat; the other beat me. He slammed his fist into my face again and again, my eyes, my nose, my cheeks, my jaw. Each blow sent pain shattering through me, but I didn't fight him. I didn't even try to push him off. I lay there and let him beat me, looking up at him through the haze of pain and blood. He'd only hit my chest once, but it hurt to breathe. It hurt to think. Whimpers pulsed at my throat, but I forced them back. I wouldn't let him know he'd hurt me. I wouldn't let him know anything but the feel of his fists slamming into a passive opponent. Let that memory haunt him to the end of his days.

A roaring filled my ears, the voice of dozens of men. Between blows, I pried my eyes opened, blinked out through the blood that trickled across my vision. Too many men to count had joined us, a cheering, jeering, exuberant, angry mob circling us. Jern had been pulled back into their midst. He fought against the man who restrained him, his face desperate, his eyes **heartbroken**. His mouth moved, his throat working with screams that I couldn't hear. Tears streamed down his cheeks; he didn't seem ashamed of them, or even aware. I locked gazes with him, tried to smile. He froze for a heartbeat, then struggled again, his fight renewed.

I could have voiced my pain then. I could have cried, for him, for the agony I saw in his eyes. Morthen hurt my body, but with every blow, something died within Jern's eyes. He cried. We cried. For me, for him, for us. Physical pain and mental anguish mingled, blended. I suddenly wanted to scream. I wanted to fight back, to feel Morthen beneath me as I was beneath him. Not for myself, but for Jern. I wanted to make him scream for putting that look in the eyes of the man who loved him.

The noise stopped, the screams and shouts and curses ceased between on pounding heartbeat and the next, and the silence roared in my ears. Another roar punctuated it, not mine, not Morthen's, not Jern's. I blinked blood and sweat out of my eyes and slid my elbows beneath me, propping myself up so I wasn't lying quite so prone on the ground. Morthen had disappeared, dissolving back into the mob that surrounded me. I was the only one in the center, lying in spatters of blood, vivid against the wooden boards beneath me.

"Mother, Father, and all their blessed children." Kyl pushed his way into the circle. His had been the roar that cut through the sudden silence. He looked worried, frightened, frantic. Angry. More than angry; he was furious. I offered him a weak smile, but it hurt to move those muscles. It hurt to move anything.

He reached down and helped me to my feet, wrapping his hands around my upper arms. His appearance was that of rage, but his touch was gentle. He didn't hurt me. On my feet, I swayed, then leaned against him for support. He wrapped his arms around my back. His touch was comforting, but his muscles were stiff with tension.

"All hands on deck. Now." His voice was harsh, and the men shuffled about to obey him. His touch gentle as he lifted me, cradling me. "Gods above, Rin." Unshed tears made his voice waver. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

I shook my head and burrowed against his warmth and strength.

He sighed. He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers through my hair; they came away red with my blood. He stared at them, wide-eyed, as if shocked to see the stains on his fingers, the dampness in my hair. His body trembled. "At least tell me if you're all right."

I nodded. The movement made me feel dizzy; I held on to him harder. "I'll survive." My voice was a hoarse whisper, as if I had worn it out screaming. I hadn't screamed. I hadn't even spoken.

"You'd better." He pulled me close, wrapping his arms tight around me. He buried his face in my shoulder. Against my skin, he whispered, "I couldn't loose you now, Rin. I need you, for so many reasons. In so many ways."