“Thank you,” Clover said, with the girls turning to see her watching Alyssa with a small smile. “For doing all this for my people. If it wasn’t for this plan I wasn’t sure how else I could have helped them. Thank you all for trying this, for risking your lives even, all for them.”
“To coexist and survive we have to help each other,” Alyssa reasoned. “That’s what Daniel set out here to prove, what we’re all trying to prove to the world. We’ll show the elves of Green Haven they can have allies in this world if only they would try. They don’t have to be horrible monsters like The Sisterhood to survive if they don’t want to, and they certainly don’t have to be alone in the world either.”
“I think after this you’ll have made allies with them for life,” Clover assured. “You certainly have with me. After this the priestess is going to listen to Dan about his beliefs, and she’d have to be a fucking moron to reject him afterwards. I’m actually looking forward to proudly introducing him to her now.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her as well,” Daniel said, with the girls turning to see him walking into the library. However something was different about him that the girls quickly took notice of.
“What are you doing with that?” Alyssa asked pointing to the Hellfire’s Edge that he had sheathed at his hip. “Why do you have Triska’s sword with you?”
“Just in case we need it,” Daniel reasoned as he walked up to them.
“We?” Clover carefully repeated. “Did you just say we, Dan?”
“Daniel,” Specca warned shaking her head. “You are not going with them. This is much too dangerous for you and-”
Slamming his hand down on the table all the girls jumped and fell quiet, with even Snapper halting from chewing Cindy’s arm with a startled gurgle. Daniel looked around at seeing all the girls staring at him in silence then down to the map with a focused gaze.
“Before you try to speak your objections let me say this,” he stated before slowly turning his eyes to each of the girls. “I am not going to sit around here and wait while my mates put themselves in danger. I am not going to stay here when it was my idea on how to save the elves in the first place. I am not going to lose any of my beautiful mates tonight. I am going with you not because I don’t have faith you can do this but because I want to make sure nothing happens to any of my girls.”
Reiko merely watched him with a blank expression while the others looked to one another with noticeable concern before seeing him smiling and shaking his head a little.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. I’m not. I’m going with you, both to make sure nothing harms any of you and also because I want to prove my beliefs to those elves in that I will fight for their future. I want to help Clover’s priestess not just because it’s the right thing to do but because I want her to see there are humans that will fight for them. I don’t care how many lustful monsters are lurking in those woods, I’m not backing down from what I came out here to do. I’m going to help those elves, I’m going to help all your races, and nothing in Eden can stop me.”
“But, dear,” Doku worried. “If anything were to happen to you…”
“If anything were to happen to you girls I would never forgive myself for not being there to help you. I would hate myself forever in that I chose to sit here in safety while you all risked your lives for a noble cause. Do not fight me on this, I don’t care how dangerous it could be or that I could get hurt, I’m not letting my mates put their lives on the line like this and do nothing at all myself.”
“But you’re only going to have three of your mates there,” Specca pointed out. “And you’ve only been able to draw monster energy from two of them in the past. You won’t be able to form your sword or shield, or summon enough power to perform any magic should you need it.”
“That’s why I’m borrowing this,” Daniel said as he patted the handle to the Hellfire’s Edge. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get the elves out of Green Haven and back here without any trouble. I’m praying for that with all my might. But should something go wrong then I will use this to defend you girls, because no matter what I cannot lose any of you.”
“Have you ever used that before?” Falla asked pointing to the sword. “That’s no ordinary blade, Daniel. I think there’s a bigger learning curve with using that weapon compared to most swords.”
“I’m well aware of the power it holds, Falla,” Daniel assured. “And no, I haven’t trained to use it like Triska has. But as Specca pointed out I won’t be able to forge my magical sword should I need it so I will need a weapon of some sort while I’m there. And given the severity of what we could be faced with I’d much rather have this demonic sword by my side than an ordinary blade.”
“Daniel, please don’t go,” Luna begged. “It’s too dangerous. If The Sisterhood gets their hands on you…”
“I’m not staying here while my mates take on this dangerous of a mission,” Daniel asserted. “I will not stand aside while you girls put yourselves in front of me like a shield, that’s not what I want from any of you and I will not allow such behavior to continue.”
All of his girls looked to each other with uneasy frowns while Reiko was just staring at Star’s chest with a lecherous grin, with Daniel seeing their concerns for his safety being nowhere near quelled just yet before he then spoke up again.
“I’m done,” he declared, with the girls turning to him curiously. “I’m done hiding behind others for safety. I’m done letting you girls put yourselves in harm’s way just to protect me. I’m done with being the weak human I was when I set out on this journey, someone who was afraid to hold a blade out towards those who wanted to harm others. I’m done with all that. I’m out here to form alliances with monster races and I’m going to do that by showing them I will stand with them no matter what just as I will stand by my beliefs that we can coexist peacefully. I’m out here with my beautiful mates who I love and cherish, and I will fight to the death if need be to protect each and every one of you girls that makes my world all the more richer to live in. This is my decision, and I’m not backing down from it.”
The girls glanced to each other then down while remaining quiet, with Clover then nodding and breaking the silence as she stepped closer to him.
“Alright,” she conceded. “If this is what you want then I won’t stop you. It’s what you came out here to do after all. But you’d better not let anything happen to you tonight. If you get yourself killed out there before I get a chance to mate with you and have a daughter with you I’m going to fucking beat the shit out of your corpse with a broken heart.”
“Well I certainly wouldn’t want that,” Daniel mused as he held a hand to her cheek, something she quickly grabbed hold of with both of hers while watching him with worried eyes. “Nor would I want anything bad to happen to you before I could get a chance to take you to bed with me and mate with a beautiful elf who I love and adore. So we’ll both have to be careful out there and come back together, won’t we?”
Clover nodded and kissed his hand before he looked around to seeing the other girls, minus Reiko who was still ogling Star and Snapper who had resumed chewing on Cindy’s arm, watching him with clear trepidation that they were holding their tongues with.
“I’ll be careful,” he promised. “We’ll all be careful, we have to in order to succeed with this very important task. But we will succeed, together.”
“I really wish you weren’t going,” Specca fretted. “But I suppose I have no right to say you can’t. Just please, please watch yourself out there, Daniel.”
“We’ve faced danger before,” Daniel reminded her. “And we’ve survived every time. We can do this.”
“I’ll be praying for you,” Doku said. “For all of you. I’ll be wishing you all the luck I can for you to come back safely.”
“Is there any way I can talk you out of this, Daniel?” Falla asked with a worried smile.
“You do have a sharp and skilled tongue, Falla,” Daniel complimented. �
��But there is nothing you can say that will stop me from going. I’m going to show the elves that humans can fight for them, even those with supposedly crazy ideas about wanting peace between our races. This is something I have to do. This is something I want to do.”
“You’re going to come back, right?” Luna asked with a similar expression as her sister. “Promise me you’ll be back, Daniel.”
“I’ll be back, we all will. Don’t worry, we can do this. Our plan is solid and we have the power to make it a reality. I have faith in you girls, and I like to think you would have faith in me too.”
“More than you could imagine,” Alyssa promised. “Okay, you can come with. You’re a knight to all of us, I suppose it’s only fair for you to show the elves that as well. Just be careful. Also be careful where you swing that sword. You could just as easily fry The Sisterhood with it as you could the elves.”
“I’ll only draw it if necessary,” Daniel assured her. “That or if you need a light for your fire.”
Alyssa showed a small smile to that then lowered her head as she took a slow breath and hid her anxieties about Daniel joining their mission. Star smiled a little at Daniel while her tails slowly waved behind her, a small impressed nod being made as she could very clearly see a knight standing before her. Cindy smiled worriedly at Daniel then down at Snapper as the swarm squirmed around in her arms and turned to face her with a wide smile and snapping teeth.
“Your dad is very brave,” Cindy gently spoke to the youngling. “We’re lucky to have him in our lives.”
“I do have faith in you, Daniel,” Specca said holding her hands together. “Doesn’t change how much I’ll be worried about you, but I do believe you can do this.”
“I believe in you, Daniel,” Luna promised. “I do. Plus you’ll have the other girls with you, I’m sure they’ll watch over you if you get into trouble.”
“You’d better bring him back!” Falla yelled as she was now shaking Clover by the tunic. “If there’s so much as a scratch on him when you return then you are out of the harem! Do you hear me! You are out!”
“He’ll be fine!” Clover cried out as she was shaken about. “We’ll keep an eye on him! I promise! Just let me go!”
Falla shook the elf with a loud yell before Squeak grabbed and pulled her back. As the elf stumbled back and straightened out her clothing and Falla slowly calmed down with Squeak tenderly holding her from behind Daniel looked at the sword holstered at his hip, easily sensing its demonic aura through the scabbard while wondering if he would need to draw it that day. He held his hand to the handle, lightly drummed his fingers before holding it with a firm grip while taking a slow breath as he knew very well the danger he was stepping into.
“Alright,” he said aloud, with the girls turning to him as he gave one last look at the map. “We know what we have to do, so let’s get to it. We have an entire forest of elves counting on us. I don’t know about you but I don’t aim to let them down.”
“We won’t,” Alyssa agreed holding her staff in both hands. “We’re out here for a reason, and that’s to make allies.”
“And enemies,” Clover mentioned with a scowl. “Whoever this Sisterhood is, I’m not in the mood to make friends with them anytime soon. They’re going to pay for everything they’ve done.”
“We’ll deal with them later,” Specca said. “Right now saving the elves of Green Haven is our priority. If we can convince enough races to join together with us then we’ll deal with The Sisterhood when we have the strength to do so.”
“Just do your best with evading them while you’re out there,” Doku pleaded. “Your lives and those of all the elves in Green Haven depend on it.”
“We will,” Daniel promised as the group started to head out. “We won’t let them down.”
“Wait,” Specca said holding up a hand, with everyone stopping and turning to her. “There’s still one more thing we need to figure out before doing this.”
“What’s that?” Daniel asked. Specca pointed to the side, with the group then seeing Rolian collapsed on the ground with her face on the floor hidden behind her hair while a few of her legs twitched now and again. As usual her hand was still holding onto her jug which was at least corked this time as it lay on its side in her grip.
“What are we going to do with her?” Specca asked.
“I actually forgot she was here,” Alyssa admitted scratching her head.
“Is she sleeping now?” Cindy wondered.
“Something like that,” Falla flatly answered as they heard Rolian burp while remaining sprawled on the floor before them.
*****
“It’s not fair!” Rolian sobbed with flushed cheeks and tears coming from all her eyes. “Kroanette has a man in her life, a really sexy man, so why can’t I have a man too? Nobody’s ever going to love me! I hate my life!”
The spider bawled in her inebriated sorrow while sitting on her abdomen outside of the carriage, the arachne clutching her jug which was still rather full by the looks of it while crying loudly with two others trying to calm her down.
“There there,” Doku gently said while she patted Rolian’s back with her wing. “I’m certain you’ll find a special someone in your life someday.”
“No I won’t! Look at me! I’m a scary looking spider monster! I’ve never harmed anyone in all my life but nobody will care about that when they take a look at me! It’s not fair! I never wanted to be born like this, I never had a choice! No man will ever want to love me because I look like this!”
“That’s not true,” Luna assured as she held the arachne’s shoulder. “You’ll find a man who loves you for who you are. You’re a nice person. I’m not scared of you anymore, I can see you’re not a bad monster at all. You’re a great girl, Rolian, that’s all that matters.”
“That’s easy for you to say!” Rolian blurted out at her. “You’re really beautiful and you have beautiful wings and I don’t have anything but scary looking spider legs and a big spider butt! I’ll never find a man who likes me for who I am!”
“That’s simply not true,” Doku softly argued. “You’re a kind and caring person, Rolian. That’s what attracts real men in this world.”
“No it isn’t! You need to have a sexy butt and big boobs and a pretty face to get a man! I don’t have any of those things! All I have is a scary looking body and face! Waaaaaaah!”
“It’s going to be okay,” Luna insisted with a weak smile. “Just… try to calm down.”
“Perhaps you’ve had enough to drink, my dear,” Doku said with an uneasy frown. “I don’t believe it’s doing anything to help you feel better right now.”
“I’ll tell you when I’ve had enough!” Rolian barked back before holding her jug up and chugging more of the frothy brew. Doku and Luna watched with stunned faces as the arachne gulped down a good amount of the liquid before gasping for air and smiling a little with a sniffle.
“Juggy always makes me feel good,” she praised as she coddled the container which still had plenty within it. “She’s all I’ve got in the world. She’s the only one who understands me… the only one who’ll ever love me! Waaaaaaaaah!”
“That’s not true,” Luna tried to reason with. “Kroanette likes you. We like you. Um, so please calm down. Everything is going to be okay. Please stop crying now.”
“How much is in that jug anyway?” Doku asked tilting her head aside in question.
“I hate my life!” Rolian whined hopping up and down. “I’ll never have great boobs like Kroanette or sexy bodies like you girls, I’ll always be a scary looking spider monster that nobody will ever love! It’s not fair! It’s just not fair! I want a man to love me too, what’s so- burrrp! What’s so wrong with that? Waaaaaaah!”
Luna and Doku continued trying to soothe the spider’s woes with words of reassurance as the arachne cried and hopped about in her fit while the rest of the group was gathered near the edge of the campsite as they were more focused on another pressing matter at the moment.
“Please, please be wary out there,” Specca implored as she and Falla were holding hands. “Saving the elves is very important, but no matter what we just want you all to come back to us in one piece.”
“Except Reiko,” Falla mentioned. “Don’t worry about her, we don’t care if she doesn’t come back. Just focus on the rest of you coming back to us.”
“I really don’t like you,” Reiko flatly said as she hovered near Daniel and the girls who were preparing to venture out.
“We’ll be just fine,” Daniel assured them. “We’ll be in and out before The Sisterhood knows what’s happening. Just keep watch around here for Kroanette, hopefully she’ll be arriving any time now.”
“It’ll take some time to prepare the spell and get the elves organized under The Sisterhood’s noses,” Alyssa pointed out. “We may be back late, but we’ll be coming back. With all the elves. And maybe Reiko.”
“I hate all of you!” Reiko yelled while thrashing around in the air. “If it wasn’t for Star I wouldn’t be doing jack shit for any of you wretched people! The things I do for my soulmate, I swear!”
Star meowed loudly and shook her fist at the harvester while standing beside Falla and Specca, with the tiny monster slowly settling down before showing her a stern smile.
“I will collect my reward upon returning, Star,” she reminded with a firm tone. “You’d better not go back on your word.”
Star sighed and nodded with a few low meows before looking away and crossing her arms.
“Just stick close to me, Dan,” Clover said as she stood next to him, the elf having her bow and quiver holstered over her shoulder while Pip sat atop the other. “The elves don’t have any men in Green Haven, very few are ever brought to the forest to begin with. You’ll stick out pretty well to everyone being there if you’re seen.”
“Am I allowed to introduce myself to the elves as your mate should we meet?” Daniel jested with a smirk. “Or would that cause a bigger stir with them?”
Chronicles of Eden_Act XI Page 60