27 - The Fennec and the Guardian

Elleron's hand reached for the wall the moment he appeared in the familiar room, and he leaned on it for support, breathing heavily. Slowly, he shrunk in size, shifting to a shape more comfortable to him. A smaller body needed less energy, and he felt less like he was going to collapse as a small fennec fox than as a human. Nevertheless, he curled up against the wall and let out a deep sigh.

A ball of fire hit the wall above his head, and he flattened his large ears to avoid the flames. Alaryon hit the wall the next moment, but jumped right back at the creature he was fighting, hands ablaze.

'Is this going to take long?' asked Elleron.

Alaryon threw another punch at the creature, then let it disappear.

'You're back already?' he asked, surprised.

'She's a very reasonable girl,' replied Elleron. 'Thank gods. I can't remember the last time I've been this tired.'

Alaryon sat on the floor next to the fennec and waited.

'Well?' he asked after a couple of moments. 'What did you do?'

'I spoke to her.'

'And?'

'And convinced her not to give up.'

Alaryon balled his hands into fists.

'You had no right, Elleron.'

'I was following orders.'

Alaryon hesitated, then spoke again, sounding less sure of himself.

'She had no right, either.'

'Don't let her hear you say that, old friend,' replied Elleron. 'None of us get to question her judgement. I'm sure she has her reasons.'

'And I have mine!' snapped Alaryon. 'I have watched her all her life. I have been there ever since-'

'One moment too late,' said Elleron faintly.

Alaryon's flaming fist hit the floor.

'Don't.'

'You are biased, my friend,' replied the fennec, unaffected. 'You still see her as the child she was then. And it's been twelve years. Things change in twelve years. Soon she'll have to decide where her life is going. How is she supposed to decide if you want to make her decisions for her? You really trust her this little?'

'She's young-'

'She's not a child any more!' Elleron stood shakily and glared at him. 'You've seen her grow, but you weren't really watching. You weren't paying attention. You're so consumed by guilt that you want to put her in a glass bubble and keep her from the world, just in case she gets the chance to become something.'

Alaryon glared back, then his shoulders hunched forward in defeat.

'I'd rather keep her from becoming anything than to have her be unsafe,' he said slowly.

'I understand your point of view,' spoke the fennec. 'But I also see the Lady's. And I know the girl. She's been extraordinary from day one, she can do so much, there was no reason for her to run away from everything she could be. All we have to do is let her grow a little.'

'I don't want her to be harmed.'

'None of us do. But it's part of life. Like death is.'

Alaryon glared.

'Don't go there, my friend.'

Elleron shook his head.

'I'm not going anywhere. I just want you to understand that she's perfectly capable of looking after herself, all we have to do is let her do so. And some things just need to happen.'

'Like they needed to happen for Achilles?'

'There's nothing we can do about Achilles now. There's nothing anybody can do about him, really. Gods help us all if we touch him. But that's not the case with her, thankfully. She could easily be one of us.'

'You know what that implies.'

'I know.'

'It's too dangerous. For her and for those around her.'

'And just because it's dangerous we should abandon the idea?'

'We need to find another way.'

'There is no other way.'

Alaryon looked pained for a moment.

'There is no other way...' he echoed.

'And what if it becomes her choice?'

He looked at the fennec, eyes wide.

'You wouldn't-'

'Of course I wouldn't. The question is, would you interfere?'

'I...'

'Think, my friend.'

'...I don't think I could. I would, but I don't think I could.'

Elleron nodded.

'None of us could.'

'Achilles could.'

Elleron gave a nod, then started pacing pensively.

'Interesting that you mention that... he's there now, with her.'

Alaryon stood sharply.

'He's there? Why?'

'I can't answer that.'

Alaryon's face turned into a mask of anger.

'I think I know who can,' he said, disappearing into thin air.