Rambling

SO I got my hair cut on Saturday. It is short enough to deal with now, and highlighted purple again. I am happy. We also had a good time with my brother visiting. We went to tent rocks and I was reminded again how uncapable of any climbing I truly am. But I did get some good pictures. I may post some later today, or not. I don't know yet.

Anyhow I have been having dreams again that remind me of exactly how lonely I am. It is a sad thing when you get waaay more action in your dreams than in real life. I'm not even talking home run action, I'm talking first and second base. Hugging and kissing. I just wish I could find someone who is nice, and right for me. I keep having these dreams in which I am with someone and happy, and then I wake up. Talk about suck.

Anyhow I know what you truly came for is the story. So here you go.

Torn
46

Maureen hadn’t even finished eating before Julius had drained the glass and headed back into the garage. She wanted to follow him and find out what the big secret was, but decided that he would let her know when he was ready.

She collected the dishes and took them into the kitchen to wash.

As she stood there washing the dishes she wondered how Scott would react to Julius. She wondered how Scott would react in general.

They were almost exact opposites, Scott and Julius. Julius was outwardly calm with an intense inner core. Scott was neither extreme, he seemed to exist in that place where any emotion could be brought forth as needed, but there was never one in particular that was present most of the time.

Then there was the whole business of the fighting. Scott had always seemed to live by the belief that there wasn’t a fight that couldn’t be talked down. Nothing could be so bad that a couple of beers and a night at the bar couldn’t even it out.

Life since Julius had arrived had taught Maureen differently. She couldn’t even start to guess at Scott’s reaction. Until this point they hadn’t even owned a knife that wasn’t for cooking use. Now she was able to use a sword, and magic.

Things had definitely changed in her life, and in a relatively short space of time.

Then there were the ever-present questions. Would she survive her battle with Jack? And if she did how long would she have before the war that Julius talked of?

Could she prepare her family for her possible death? Would she have enough time before Jack made his appearance?

Finally came the big questions. What would happen to her family? Would they survive, could they survive if she wasn’t there to protect them?

Dishes done she returned to the living room to await Julius’ reappearance.

***

She didn’t have to wait long. She had no more than sat down on the couch when Julius reappeared.

“Finished with the big secret?”

“Close you eyes.”

Maureen eyed him quizzically, then did as asked.

She felt something placed in her hands.

“Can I look now?” she asked once she was sure that he was done.

“Absolutely.”

She opened her eyes cautiously. What she saw in her hands didn’t immediately strike her as anything. But as she looked at it dawned on her what it was.

“Julius,” she asked with awe, “is this what I think it is?”

Julius merely nodded.

“How? Why?”

“After your death you father had decided to give most of your belongings to me. The dresses and trinkets I could do nothing with. But this… this reminded me of your strength. I wanted to remember you strong, fighting to protect others. I would always carry the other memories as well, but somehow this held special value to me. I think I know why now.”

“Julius… I cannot accept this.”

“Yes you can, and you will, as well as one of those swords. They were made for the both of us, and it is not fair for me to keep both.”

“You mean…?”

“Yes. Those swords that we have been practicing with are the same ones that were made for us. It is only proper that you have yours.”

“But it is not mine, it is hers.”

“She is you. I see the same strength in your eyes. I know the fire that burns in your soul is the same that burned in hers. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe to the core that you and her are the same.”

Maureen was speechless.

“Try it on.”

“Surely it can’t…”

“I think that it will. And we won’t know until you try it on. So get to it.”

Maureen silently made her way to the bedroom.

She laid the outfit on the bed, reverently. She couldn’t believe what had been given her.

She expected the leather to be stiff, difficult to move in.

She was surprised to find it flexible, so much so that it was almost hard to believe that it was armor.

She walked over and examined herself in the mirror. It fit perfectly, skin tight. One area reflected the lamps in the bedroom.

She almost laughed. It reminded her of so many Hollywood heroines. She had always thought that the outfits must be horribly uncomfortable, now she knew better.

She was still examining herself in the mirror when Julius opened the door. He just stood in the doorway, watching.

He noticed something, and decided to fix it before she thought that it was correct.

He walked up behind her. She didn’t even notice his presence until he was right there. She jumped, and turned.

“You scared me.”

“It fits doesn’t it?”

“You were right. It fits perfectly.”

“Good. Now turn around.”

“Wh…”

“Just do it,” he said before she could even finish the single word question.

He pulled loose a knot at the back of her neck, and retied it.

“Okay.”

“What was that about?”

“Your neck guard was too loose. Those things have a nasty habit of loosening up during a fight, it is better to tie it snug at first than to have it fall off during a battle.”

“Oh.”

“If it’s okay with you I would like for you to practice with that on in the mornings from now on, while it is still cold. You need to get used to it.”

Maureen smiled her agreement.