The Great Protector | Moon | Justice
for @evanurisweek
vir'abelasan - The Well of Sorrows*
"Please, stay," the dark-haired elf said, glancing anxiously over her shoulder. She thought she had heard footsteps.
"I can't. Forgive me, I can't," the other elf whispered, her voice strained and cracking under the effort. She paced restlessly around the lavishly furnished room, darting from one side to the other like a bird trapped in a cage.
"What are you thinking?" her companion pleaded. "You have to stay here, with me. Serving Mythal is better than going back there."
"Serving? We're slaves. Can't you see that?" she shot back. "Forgive me, vhenan, but I can't do this anymore. I can't live like this. In service. In this despair. In bondage. I'm not like you. I want to leave."
"You bear her vallaslin. You'll never escape Mythal. Please, come to your senses. They'll find you, and they'll kill you."
The elf came to a helpless stop in the middle of the room. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she continued, her voice breaking with emotion:
"Vallaslin? Do you think that's the problem? Of course... They'll find me because of it!" She raised her voice, panic creeping into every word. "I have to... I have to—"
Suddenly, she lifted her hands to her face and began scraping at the skin where her vallaslin lay, dragging her nails across it in frantic, erasing motions.
The dark-haired elf rushed to her at once, seized her wrists, and forced her to stop. Tears spilled from her eyes when she saw the bloody streaks running across her beloved's face.
"Listen, listen, Mariel! Forgive me!" she said quickly. "I... I'll go with you. Okay? Listen to me. I'll help you. We'll leave together. Please, don't ever do that again, vhenan."
She gently brushed her lips against Mariel's, tasting the salt of her tears.
"Did I hear correctly? Are the two of you planning to go somewhere?"
Mythal's voice crashed over them like thunder.
Both elves flinched and froze where they stood, staring at the majestic Mythal.
"I don't recall assigning you any such orders."
Mythal stepped into the room and approached the two elves, who stood clutching each other's hands in fear. Every step she took. Every sharp click of her heels against the floor sent a chill through their hearts.
"No... no," the dark-haired elf interrupted the silence. "We weren't going anywhere, my goddess. We were talking about gathering herbs for your ritual. You were preparing for—"
Her voice trembled, but she forced a faint smile as Mythal drew closer.
"Show me your face," Mythal said coldly, her gaze fixed on Mariel.
The elf did not move. She kept staring toward the window, beyond which the sun was sinking into the horizon.
The elf remained still. Mythal reached out, took hold of her chin, and forcibly turned her pale face toward her. Bloody streaks marred the vallaslin, running from her forehead down to her cheeks. Mariel's breathing was ragged, and she stared at Mythal defiantly as she slowly turned her chin from side to side, inspecting the wounds.
"There is no point in lying to me," Mythal said, shifting her gaze to the dark-haired elf as though she had only just noticed her presence. "I heard your conversation. Did you truly believe you could deceive me?"
"No, no, please. Forgive us," the dark-haired elf pleaded, dropping to her knees and bowing her head low at Mythal's feet. "It was a mistake."
"A mistake?" Mythal repeated with interest. "A mistake... Well then. Everyone makes mistakes, do they not, Mariel?"
She released Mariel's chin and slowly brushed her hand along the side of her scratched face. A cool light bloomed in her palm, and the scratches on the elf's face healed.
"I can forgive you, but can I trust that this will never happen again? Can I trust that my closest servants will not betray me? Is serving me truly such a burden to you?"
"Yes. Serving you is dreadful!" Mariel's words shattered the silence. At the same moment, she felt her beloved tug warningly at the edge of her robe. "I hate every day I spend with you. I hate being your slave. You're a monster who drags everyone to your skirts, and you care nothing for the feelings of others!"
The crack of a slap rang through the room.
"How dare you... I was kind to you! You were safe here, in the palace, and this is how you repay me? Both of you?"
Mythal looked down at the kneeling elf before taking a step back. Her heart filled with resentment and contempt for the ungrateful servant. It took several seconds before Mythal regained her composure.
"Very well. I understand both of you. Of course, service should not be forced." Mythal turned her gaze toward the window. Her voice changed, becoming softer, gentler. The two elves exchanged frightened glances.
"In service, you should feel that every step you take and every day you live belongs to your goddess. You should feel joy in carrying out her will... My will. And so it was. You also swore to serve me when you drew vallaslin upon your faces. I cannot release you, but I will help you serve better," a cold smile crept across Mythal's lips, and her eyes darkened. "You must be bound to me in spirit and body, only then can you be truly happy."
Mariel lowered her head in helplessness, and the elf kneeling on the floor did not dare raise her gaze. A dead silence fell over the room. Mythal clapped her hands, and two tall elven guards in golden armor and hoods entered.
"Take them to the vir'abelasan," Mythal said lightly, nodding toward the elves. The guards seized the servants by the arms, despite their resistance.
"She is innocent in all of this," Mariel cried out. "Take me! Let her go! She did not want to leave!"
Mythal stepped toward Mariel, who was struggling against the guard's firm hold.
"She chose you at the very end. Not the wisest choice for one of my servants. Take them away."
The crystal surface of The Well of Sorrows reflected in its smooth waters the last golden rays of the sun. Mythal stood not far away, solemnly watching from a rise as the guards forced the elven women to their knees and bowed their heads over the spring, gripping them firmly by the necks and awaiting her signal. Around them several other elves had gathered, observing what was happening with interest.
Mythal raised her palm, and the guards lowered the servants' heads to the spring in unison.
"I am showing you kindness. Remember this."
A few seconds were enough for each of them to swallow water, and Mythal raised her hand again, completing her revenge upon the servants who had betrayed her.
The guards released the elven women, and both surfaced from the water, coughing and gasping. Mythal instantly slipped into Mariel's consciousness. She felt each of her blissful seconds and every poisoned thought of escape.
"Now you will be mine forever, dear Mariel," Mythal said in her mind, and saw Mariel glance at her. "I will erase every disloyal thought. Yours and your beloved's. I will rid you of your moments of love and fill your minds with my love. This will protect you from rash decisions. You will serve me eternally, even after death. For I want what is best for you. Accept my kindness."
After a few seconds Mariel obediently rose to her feet and bowed low to Mythal. Then her dark-haired beloved repeated the subdued gesture of submission. Silently. Reverently. Submissively. And there was no sweeter revenge than that born from the betrayal of kindness.