~Tainted Love~(1x1)~(Fiercely Filled)~

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julia moaned and hunched her shoulders, her hand going to the back of her head as her eyes fluttered open again. "Hurts . . ." she murmured, the headache coming back with a vengence.

Emilio smiled at Ryllura and the boy, although he was confused about him saying that Arueyan having quite a few spells on him. Didn't his mother only cast one spell? Where could the other spells have come from?  

[WitchAlchemist]

As they reached the castle, Arueyan held open the door for Emilio to take her inside. Arueyan looked up at Emilio as he passed and patted Emilio's arm as if in reassurance. Then he quickly lowered his hand and looked away towards Ryllura and the boy, as well as Kaysal, who all entered before he shut the door.

Kaysal darted around Emilio in a circle a couple of times, seeming much like an anxious dog. "Don't go to sleep, Jules!"  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julia blinked and looked down at the dog. "Kaysal?" she asked, recognizing the voice, but surprised to find him as a dog. "H-how?" she asked, in a bit of shock.  

[WitchAlchemist]

Kaysal scrunched his nose. "You did it..although you don't remember.."

Arueyan found himself gravitating towards Emilio as he looked up at his wife, pressing against his son's leg a bit as a child might when they wanted to be close. His head just reached Emilio's belly button at his current size. "You want anything to drink, Julie?" he asked mildly.  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julie blinked. "But . . . I don't have magick . . ." she murmured and then heard Arueyan. "Y-yeah . . . some water would be nice . . ." she said softly, nodding a bit.  

[WitchAlchemist]

Arueyan nodded. "Okay." he darted off to the kitchens and reached for a glass..finding himself too short. With a sigh, he pulled out the nearest chair..a rather precarious stool actually as he climbed on it and did his best to keep his balance as he reached for a glass.

Ryllura finally released Darek and he rubbed his wrist as he glanced around, apparently awe-struck by the castle if his amazed expression was any indicator.  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julia finally noticed Ryllura and Darek and looked at them curiously. "Emilio? Who are they?" she asked her son.

Emilio blushed slightly and then shifted Julia so that he could point to Ryllura. "She's my friend mom. Her name's Ryllura . . ." he said and then raised an eyebrow at the boy. "And . . . he's who we picked up from the guys who had pulled you off your horse." he said with a frown.  

[WitchAlchemist]

(I'm alive! <3)

Darek shrunk a bit again, moving a little closer to Ryllura. "I'm really sorry." he said meekly, "I hate things like that..but my uncles are the only family I have..if I didn't come along with them, they'd have left me for dead."

Ryllura placed an arm around his shoulder, ruffling his hair gently. "It's alright, Darek. You did no harm, and you offered to help the Queen."

Darek paled, "T-The queen? She's the-" he looked near fainting. "I'm really, really, really, really sorry. Please don't send me to the gallows your queenship." he said, looking between Julia and Emilio pleadingly.  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julia blinked. "Well . . . It doesn't seem that you deserve the gallows, so I don't think you need to worry." she said with a small smile.

Emilio snorted. "You don't deserve the gallows, but don't think you'll escape punishment." he said, protective of his family.  

[WitchAlchemist]

Darek cringed and mumbled, "I'm really sorry.." he sounded like he meant it. Ryllura reached a hand to brush against his face as a comforting gesture and he backed up, stiffening before realizing she wasn't trying to hurt him.

Ryllura had seen that behavior before. "Did they hit you?"

Darek hesitated and then nodded. "If I didn't do what they said..they hit me..or when they got drunk or didn't get their way on a heist.."

"Where are your parents?" she asked.

"Like I said, my mom was a fairy..but I don't know where she is..and my dad..well, the uncles said he died from illness but I don't think his death was natural.." he said sadly.

Ryllura felt a spike of pity for the fifteen year old, orphan boy and knew he could use some help..but he was likely to run at the first chance he got. Not because he enjoyed his life, but he probably wouldn't trust any kindness..and he did need at least a little punishment. Although what she was about to suggest was far from horrid. "Emilio..you've never taken a squire. Perhaps this boy might suit." Squires were more for knights, but anyone with a skill could have one, although they were called apprentices in other trades..Darek could serve Emilio loyally and in turn, gain a home, some skills, and hopefully a little confidence.

Darek's eyes widened. "Me? A s-squire?" He sounded astonished.  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Emilio shrugged. "Sounds reasonable. He owes at least some service for causing us some trouble." he said with a small smile.

Julia smiled, glad to see her son showing compassion.  

[WitchAlchemist]

Darek blinked as he looked around before making a clumsy bow, partially because of how low he tried to bow. "Thank you..and I'm sorry again..thank you..I won't fail you..I'll work hard..I promise!" he said fervently before straightening so quickly he nearly fell over.

Kaysal burst out laughing in doggish barks. He couldn't help it. The boy was a mess of nervous nerves and stumbling. He was adorable.

Darek seemed to think he'd done something wrong because he slumped a bit.

And then the sound of breaking glass entered the air and Kaysal and Darek jumped, Ryllura didn't seem surprised. "Ary!" Kaysal darted to the kitchen and found his brother next to an overturned stool with broken glass littered about him. A fair-sized shard had gotten stuck in his left arm and was trickling blood, staining the glass red. Arueyan seemed dazed although his eyes were watering as he gingerly held the arm he'd already broken earlier.  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julia immediately began pushing against Emilio. "Put me down! Emilio! I can walk!" she said, and once she was steadily on her feet, she followed after Kaysal and rushed into the kitchen, gasping at the sighed. "Gods, Arueyan!" she said and ran to his side, crouching down next to him, since it wasn't safe to kneel and she held his arm gently, wanting to get the glass out. "Hold still for me okay?" she said softly as she took a hold of the glass, ready to pull it out.  

[WitchAlchemist]

Arueyan watched his wife enter and crouch down next to him, feeling his arm being held. He sniffed as he looked at her with watery eyes before nodding. "Be careful, Julia." he said softly, watching her carefully. He was still concerned for her health, but he knew his stubborn wife and it was best to let her get the glass out at least.

Kaysal watched, moving about anxiously. He could smell the blood and it was rather nauseating. Kaysal looked up at Emilio, wondering what he was making of this.  

[chibi_blue_mouse]

Julia nodded and then pulled the glass out of the wound as carefully as she could, believing that the glass was what he had been talking about. She then grabbed a towel from a nearby hook and pressed it firmly to his wound to stop the bleeding.

Emilio watched the scene with worry in his eyes before leaving the room and going over to Derak. "Alright, I need you to complete your first task for me as my squire. The boy in there had fallen and got a cut, he also has a broken arm. Can you heal him?" he asked.