Etude 10: Allegretto Ritenuto

Fun farewell gifts (yay plot vouchers!, and a scene on the road. I got distracted and ran off and did a bunch of other things and then fell asleep before finishing this etude...

Sarah was packing when she heard someone walk in. "Sarah?"
"Oh, hi Seraiel. Is Lysshander any better?"
"No. If anything, she is worse..."
"Oh. I guess I didn't really think it would be any different..."
"That's not what I came to talk to you about, though."
"Huh?"
"Come here."
She turned away from the satchel and walked towards him. "What is it?"
He held out his hand. In it was a single nut. For a moment, it seemed to glitter in the sun's light. "Sarah, I give this gift to you freely and of my own will, as witnessed by the Lord of the Stars and the Lady of the Moons." He pressed it into her hands. "I worry... I am afraid you will need this. Crack it open only in your hour of direst need, and you will find help."
"I -- um -- thank you." She bowed awkwardly; it seemed like the right thing to do. "Thank you very much."
Seraiel smiled at her wanly. "I only hope that you never need to open it." And he left her to the rest of her packing.

...

"You wanted to see me, Flower?" Armand landed gracefully on the blossom.
"Yes, Armand." The Spring Flower looked somewhat harried and tired from the strain of attempting to heal those undergoing the transformation. "Come here. I want to see if your wings have done their work."
He approached her. She motioned for him to kneel, and he did. She held her hands over him, eyes closed, antennae bobbing slightly. After a short while, she opened her eyes. "Yes, I think you are now completely free from the influence of the Fallen Ones." She smiled at him. "That must be good news for you."
"Yes, it is. Does this mean they can't get to me again?"
"It means they can't track you down except by normal means. And now that you know about them, it will be much easier for you to fight them off if they try to take you again."
"That's good enough for me. Thank you, Flower."
"There's one more thing... I have had trouble deciding whether or not to give you this, but I think you will need it." And she drew a glittering sword from the air, sparks swirling around it. It was made entirely of crystal, and seemed to glow with an inner light. She looked strangely sad as she drew it. "I cannot give this to you, Armand. It is not mine to give. I can only lend it to you for a time, and you must bear the burden of the debt while you possess it. I am sorry, but I think that you will need it more than the burden of debt will hinder you." She held it out to him, and he took it, gingerly. It was surprisingly light in his hands, and there seemed to be a faint melody coming from within it.
"How do I use this? I've never used a sword before..."
"Do you remember how you activated your wings?"
"Kind of."
"Try the same thing -- wait, not now. Wait until you are outside our borders. If you try it now, it will likely become confused."
"Okay. Thank you very much."
The Spring Flower smiled again. "It has been wonderful having you as a guest, Armand. I am sorry matters came to this."
"I am too." He turned away for a moment. "Damn it, I'll miss you. You've been nicer to me than I deserve."
She turned him around to face her again. "Then you have too low an opinion of yourself. I have full confidence in you." Then she reached for him, and enfolded him in her arms and wings. For a moment, it felt like that time when he was five, and still the center of his mother's life; that time when he'd come home from school crying because of the mean kids and she'd taken him up in her arms and promised she would always love him. And then the moment passed, and he was standing still on the violet-tinged blossom. It was time to go.

Sarah and Armand left the realm of the Butterfly People reluctantly. Their wings had been returned; the magic that animated them would not work outside the realm. They'd been outfitted with heavier travel clothing, and supplies for the journey. Sarah looked uneasily over at Armand. She'd never quite gotten up the courage to apologize for laughing at him. Although he should really apologize, too. That was really mean of him to call me a pig.
He caught her looking at him. "What are you looking at?" He growled.
"Um, nothing."
"So don't look."
She couldn't think of any reply to that, so she kept walking. To reach the Eyes of the Wind, they first had to get out of the Forest of Wishes. The Forest -- and with it, the realm of the Butterfly People -- was one of the areas of Farelle that was mappable. They were heading in the opposite direction of the Searching Plains, which was the grassy plain they had first arrived in. Somewhere further on, the border became less distinct, and they entered the changing, shifting area that led to the Eyes. That hopefully leads to the Eyes. I don't want to think about what might happen if we get lost.
"Um, Armand?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you been camping before?"
"What, you think I'm a Boy Scout or something?"
"Um, no."
"No, I haven't gone camping. That's why Seraiel gave us those magic tents, remember?"
"Yeah, but I'm still kind of worried..."
He glared at her, and refused to answer. They trudged onwards. Armand seemed determined to sulk, or at least stay grouchy, and Sarah couldn't think of anything to talk about that wouldn't elicit more glares. He also seemed determined not to look at anything other than the path they were on, so Sarah started looking around. The area of the forest they were in looked fairly normal, although she couldn't tell if the trees were the type she could find at home. Home... Strange that I haven't really been homesick. I guess there's not really much to look forward to back there. Homework and more homework, and bad grades no matter how much I try... Hiding all that from my parents so I don't get pointless lectures. She was broken out of her reverie as she tripped on a tree root and nearly fell. She managed to catch herself in time, but she heard Armand snicker. "What's so funny?"
"You. What else would it be?"
She looked at him for a moment longer, and then looked away. "Forget it." She started walking again. I don't really want him around... But the Spring Flower was adamant that we go together. She sighed to herself mentally, so that Armand wouldn't hear it. I hope Lysshander can hold out long enough... I still don't remember much of my dreams, but I remember that much. She was the first and the strongest of the metal butterflies...

[random trail stuff and setting up camp]

Armand looked around cautiously. Their campground seemed to be isolated enough. Sarah was sleeping in her tent, and probably not looking at him. He drew the crystal sword from the scabbard that Meranes had given him. "So I'm supposed to activate this like I did my wings. What was it she said then? Oh yeah. 'Find the tingling feeling and embrace it.' " He settled himself on his sleeping bag, and lay the sword across his lap. He closed his eyes and tried to sense something from the sword. I feel silly. He irritably pushed that thought to the side. After a moment, he thought he could sense a faint thrumming coming from the sword, as if it were in some way alive. With that sensation came the feeling of tingling, and he let himself fall into it.
He was in a warm, bright place, with no borders or walls. He was surrounded by a gentle blue glow, and a feeling of tranquility. "I greet you, Awakener," intoned a mellow, androgynous voice.
"Who are you?"
"Draw me to make peace, and you draw your salvation. Draw me to make war, and you draw your destruction."
"You're the sword!"
"I am the Sword of Peace, and you are the first to Awaken me in many years. As long as your purposes are peaceful, I will help you as I can." And the blue glow faded, leaving Armand rubbing his eyes to clear them of the afterimage. The sword lay in his lap, thrumming contentedly. It felt, strangely, as if it belonged there, and when he grasped the hilt to sheathe it, it fit comfortably in his hand. He ended up not sheathing it, and fell asleep with the comfort of the thrumming sword beside him.