"Laythie & Rinmar"

Artist: Myschief

Email: chibis5@hotmail.com

Website: --

Character's Story:
Excerpt from Laythie's journal: 'I feel so alone, so misunderstood. I'm the only one like me, half demon, half angel. Why? Why can't I be normal? What is 'normal'? I wish there was someone else like me....'
Demon/Angel
The sun, a pale red in color, rises over the horizon, bathing the land of Syllumina in light. Though it's early yet - only about 5:15 our time - there is already a person on the go. A closer look might reveal an angel, and an even closer one would reveal a young woman-angel/demon. An outcast from the Earinta City, the home of all angels. As she walks to the crest of a hill, a breeze ripples her cloak, showing her to be a rather unusual looking person, even taking into account her mixed blood.
Wings that seemed to combine angel and demon in an odd, yet almost appealing way, sapphire-blue hair, blue-gold eyes, uncommon, yet somehow... She had a look of sadness, and even as she smiled, closing her eyes and letting the sun warm her face, it did not leave, just lessened. In a smooth and fluid motion she swept her cloak off, revealing her clothes. Almost everything she was wearing was the same shade of purple. Shirt, skirt,and armbands. Her boots, cinched at the ankles, were a lighter shade, and her sword - well, that probably doesn't count as clothing! "I don't know why I bother wearing one of these. I can keep myself warm, easily, and it cramps my wings up." She shook the offending item, then tossed it over her head. "Well, it can become a child's play cloak. I won't need it again. Well, maybe when winter comes." She couldn't help thinking that when winter came, she wouldn't need her warming spell, either, because she'd be dead. She walked down the hill, making for a distant village, at least a hundred lits away. By the time the sun was a finger-span high, she was less than two lits away from the village.
*Maybe I shouldn't go in. Angels must be a rare sight here, as far as it is from the rest of the world, but what would they do to me? I'm no angel, that's true.* She might of turned away, but her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten in near to six days. An eyebrow rose, and she said, "I guess that decides that!"
She walked into the village, surprised to see that the only inhabitants out and about were children and an old - she blinked in surprise - female angel. Having learned, both while Journeying and studying in Earinta, not to show her emotions, she quickly wiped the surprise off of her face. She would have gone straight to the local inn, but a couple of the children spotted her and raised an uproar.
"Ooooooh!!!" One of them said, and grabbed her hand. The young girl looked at her, pleading expertly with her eyes. "Play with me, please?" "Rinai, shouldn't you ask her name first?" The angel asked, having turned around. "Why? She can play with me even if I don't know her name, can't she?" Rinai asked. "You are a stubborn little girl. Welcome to Withren Liast, child. I am Trintae Myelvor. You are?"
"Laythie Ikanae. Do you know where--- Eeep!" Rinai had apparently gotten impatient with the formalities and pulled on Laythie's hand - which, because Laythie hadn't been expecting it, caused her to lose her balance. She ended up laying in the dirt with Rinai and a boy named Kikir on her back shouting, "Wheeee! giddy-up horsy!!" Laythie folded her wings in a way that wouldn't get messed up by the two kids, and looked up at Trintae, laughing helplessly. Trintae shook her head, but couldn't hide her smile. "Ahem. You were saying? Rinai, don't hit Kikir!"
*I haven't laughed like this in almost a year. I was going to ask where the inn was, but it appears that I'll be stuck for a while, so that would be sort of useless now!*
Trintae laughed. "Yes, it would, wouldn't it? When they let you up, follow this road until you see a sign that says Niernit Tisair. You turn left and walk about thirty paces until you get to Niernit Tisair proper."
*Thank you. I think, though, that might be a while!*
Trintae walked off a ways, laughing. Laythie was the children's 'horsy' for a handspan, at which point their parents came to herd them off. Laythie stood, and popped her back by bending over backwards.
*You know, of course, that that should be far more awkward than it is, right, Laythie?* She straightened and glanced to the side. "Rinmar, how long have you been there?"
*Not long. A quarter finger at most. I was wondering what was taking you so long.* The red eyed, navy furred demon answered. *Now I know!*
"Rinmar-"
*Yes?* He looked overly innocent.
"Never mind. Come on, I'm hungry, and so are you. Even though you just ate two days ago. What were you doing, that you're hungry again already?"
*Nothing.* Laythie just shook her head, wondering if Rinmar knew that she knew exactly what he'd been doing. She decided that he probably didn't. She adjusted her sword, saying some words that she really shouldn't of known, considering where she'd been raised. Rinmar asked where she'd learned them.
"Where do you think?" She looked at him rather pointedly. Rinmar opened his mouth in a grin. "Exactly."
Laythie walked down the road wondering why she felt so uneasy. She looked to the right and left, and saw nothing. Except-- *Rinmar, was that a litse demon?*
*Where? I don't- Oh. Yes.* His eyes glowed, making him look fiercer. *I HATE litse demons.* "Why?"
*Because no hijker has ever lived in an encounter with litse demons. I've seen one - once. It ripped my parents apart, then left - laughing.*
"Oh." It wasn't exactly expressive, but he understood. He nuzzled her hand, scanning the shadows for any sign of the litse. As they approached the inn, several people ran off, yelling, "Demon!!" Rinmar shook his head, and sighed. At least, it was the equivalent of a sigh.
*Why they always have to scream their heads of over me, when I'm not even the real threat, I may never know - or understand.*
*It's called instinct, Rinmar. Demons have been preying on humans for as long as the angels can remember. They 'scream their heads off', as you put it, as a defensive measure.*
*How is that defensive?* He looked puzzled.
*It warns the warriors that may be strong enough to defeat a demon that there is a threat nearby.*
*Oh...I still don't get it, Laythie.*
Laythie sighed. *Neither do I, Rinmar. But we should be careful. I can sense some guards drawing near - and they have silver-tipped spears.*
*Oh, lovely news, Laythie. That litse is going into a house, and I can smell children in there.* *That is not lovely news, Rinmar. But breakfast can wait.* She reached over her shoulder and drew her sword. Holding it at the ready, she leaped to the nearest window of the house that Rinmar had pointed out. Her demon senses kicked in, telling her that this was the right house beyond doubt. She opened the window with a powerful kick, and landed in front of the cradle - just before the litse could snatch the baby in it up.
"If you want this baby, you'll have to go through me, first!" Laythie's voice acquired a roughness, and her eyes took on a red sheen. She looked at the other children, huddled in a corner. "Rinmar, guard them."
He leaped between the children and the litse, who had been looking at them speculatively. The litse's eyes narrowed, and it swung back around to glare at Laythie.
"You will pay for this, angel, one slowly pulled feather at a time. Aaaaagh!!" It leaped at her, two-nire long claws aiming straight for her throat. Laythie moved like lightning and the litse blinked in surprise to find that it's claws were being held away on the blade of her sword. It snarled, furious, and tried again, only to be blocked once more.
"What's the matter? I'm not that hard to reach - am I?" She twisted the blade, and cut off several of it's fingers. "Oh, and I'm not an angel. I'm a half angel, half demon, baka."
The litse almost stood still, which allowed her to cut off an arm. It infuriated it all the more, and it leaped at her again. His claws raked her arm, slicing through her armband. Laythie followed it's slow arc to the floor, then looked at the litse, and swung. It made contact, cutting it in half. The bottom half, with the force of the blow behind it, flew into the wall and shattered to pieces. The top half thumped to the floor, and started clawing its way towards Rinmar.
Laythie leaped, and landed with a leg to either side of the litse. It looked up, and for a moment actually looked scared. Laythie slammed the sword through first the head and then the heart of the demon. It shrieked and writhed, but died. She looked its corpse over, satisfied, and said, "You won't bother this place again." The room suddenly filled with people, the relieved parents of the children, town guard and no few people who just wanted to see if the litse was really dead.
Laythie's eyes slid closed, and when she opened them to see a child hugging her leg, they no longer had a red sheen. She flexed her right arm, and winced. She clasped a hand over the claw marks and smiled at the girl who was hugging her leg. She realized that it was Rinai, and tickled the girl with the tip of her wing.
A guard looked over the mess, and then at Laythie, then leaned over to whisper to the commander of the towns small garrison.
Laythie was laughing with Rinai when she heard someone clear their throat. She looked up, and her smile faded. "Yes?"
"Did you do this?"
"This?" Laythie looked around. "Yes."
"How? No one, not even Trintae, has been able to destroy it." The commander of the garrison looked wary.
"Perhaps, Lirin, the litse could only be destroyed by one with demon blood." Trintae said. Lirin started, and turned to her.
"Are you saying that she has demon blood?"
"Why don't you ask her, Lirin, not me. I may be an angel, but only the Goddess knows all."
Lirin turned back to Laythie. "Well? Do you have demon blood?"
"You could be a bit nicer in asking, but, yes, I do." Laythie turned her head away. "If you want to kick me out of your village now, you can. I wouldn't hold it against you, but, even so, that cannot change the fact that I saved several children from death this day. And I couldn't have done it without my demon blood."
Lirin looked indecisive, frowning in concentration. Finally, he said, "Were it my choice, I would let you rest and eat, before asking you to leave. However, I am not on the village council, so it is not up to me."
Laythie smiled a sad smile. "May the Goddess bless you all your days, Lirinoth Sakiyer. I would be satisfied with some food before leaving, but, as you say, it is not your choice, nor mine." She looked down at her arm. "I will abide by whatever your council decides."
Lirin looked at her, surprised. "How did you-" He cut himself off as he saw her smile. "Never mind. I would ask you to stay nearby, and not to let that pet of yours on the loose."
"Rinmar would not hurt anyone. He will stay close, or he'll leave the village. Right, Rinmar?" Rinmar growled a 'yes'. "See? But I would like to know where the well is, please."
"Why?"
Laythie showed him the cuts. "I would like to wash the blood and poison out before my skin regenerates. Being poisoned is not my idea of fun, especially not on an empty stomach." Rinmar snorted. *You, Laythie, are the only person I know that can make light of being poisoned. And - how did you know that litse's are poisonous?*
*How else? I could feel it the moment it cut my arm.*
*Remind me to test that one of these days.*
*Shonsda.* Rinmar sneezed at her, telling her exactly what he thought about her insult.
*Whatever, Rinmar.*
Lirin thought for a moment, then said, "The well is in the center of the village, not very far from here. Don't rinse the stuff off into the well, though."
"Do you honestly think that I would?"
"You can never be too careful. I just realized that I don't know your name." Laythie was already on her way out, so she threw her reply over her shoulder. "Laythie Ikanae." She stepped out the door and walked towards the well, which before she had thought to be am elaborately carved piece of rock in the middle of the square. She drew a bucket of water, and sat on the ground. She poured the water over the cuts, and then drew another and poured that one over it as well. She then drew a third bucket of water, and put her arm in it. She held it there, moving it occasionally to make sure that the poison was all being pulled out. After the sun had risen two fingers higher, she took her arm out of the bucket, and probed the cuts gently with her fingers. "Clean cuts, they wont leave much of a scar." Laythie muttered to herself. She watched as the skin drew itself together, and then fused to show barely any evidence of where the cuts had been. She stared at her arm, tracing the design of a phoenix that had been there since her birth.
"Better?" Laythie quickly covered the design, and hoped that Trintae hadn't seen it. She nodded, and looked at Rinmar. *Go get an armband for me, Rinmar.*
Rinmar winked at her, and trotted off. Laythie watched him go, and wondered why she had a feeling that she'd just sent him into danger. She shook her head, but the feeling didn't leave. So, instead, she decided to ask Trintae a question.
"Why do you live here, instead of at Earinta?"
"Is there some law that says I can't?"
"No. I was just asking." Laythie turned away. "I... I guess I ask too many questions."
"No, you misunderstood me. I was trying to get you to laugh. And if you don't ask, how will you learn?"
"Heh. I wish my teachers had been like you. They always said I asked too many questions, and that I would learn better if I would still my tongue." Laythie smiled her sad smile. "That's not how they used to teach." Trintae looked angry. Laythie smiled at her, forgetting for a moment to keep the phoenix covered.
"I think I learned enough to keep me alive out here. But, then, maybe it's just luck that I'm still alive."
"The Goddess takes care of her own, Laythie. And - What's that?" She pointed at Laythie's fore-arm.
"This? Nothing." Laythie covered it again. But Trintae didn't believe her, and pulled her hand off of it. She pulled Laythie's arm up, and stared at the design.
"I...have only seen this design once before. And considering your mixed blood, they wouldn't've let you see it. So how is this Phoenix on your arm?"
Laythie sighed. "It was born with it there. It's the reason that I was never really accepted. There are others of mixed blood in Earinta, but none are like me." She looked out towards the mountains past the village. "I am...different."
Trintae would have responded except Laythie jerked her arm out of her grasp and stood up quickly. "Rinmar.." She whispered, and before Trintae could say anything, she was racing off, heading for Rinmar. She heard Trintae say something, but ignored her, and kept going. She heard Rinmar cry for help again, and ran as fast as she ever could. Faster, faster, then, Whhoooosh! she was flying at top speed. She flew like the wind, breaking to an abrupt stop just past their camp site, having cut through several attackers with her sword.
Laythie flew at them again and sliced through several others. She landed next to Rinmar, brandishing her sword. She glared at them, silently asking them if the _really_ wanted to attack her. They looked at her, at each other, then back at her, held a little conversation and decided that she wasn't worth attacking. One stepped forward, he appeared to be their leader. and pointed a long, bony finger at her.
"You ssshould not guard demoness, girl. They do not make good petsss."
"Rinmar is not a pet, he is a friend." Laythie leveled her sword at his neck. "And I protect my friends. That means, get away from us unless you want to die." "You are feisssty, girl. You will come to regret thisss 'friendssship' with thisss demon." He smiled evilly.
"You're a fine one to speak! You have demon friends, they're all around!" "Ahh, but thatsss different. You sssee, I am a demon myssself, and can be friendsss with anyone I want."
*And I can't have the same choice? Laythie is my friend, and I will not allow you to hurt her.* Rinmar glared at the hissy demon. *You choose your life and friends, why can I not do the same?* "Becaussse you are not like me. You have alwaysss needed to hide behind sssomeone." Rinmar snarled, and would have leapt at his throat had Laythie not been holding him down gently. She opened her mouth to ask the demon something, when an odd light filled the hollow. Trintae appeared and pointed a finger at the demon.
"I th cors o th Chikaioz, si nid, kah, noh!" 'In the name of the Goddess, get you, demon, gone!' he screeched, and the light intensified. When it faded, he and his friends were not there. Laythie dropped her sword, and kneeled next to Rinmar. She ran her hands gently over his body, sensing how badly he was hurt. Her eyes slid closed, and a pale blue light enveloped her and Rinmar. He nearly jumped out of his skin, but at a gentle admonition, stayed still. The glow faded, and Laythie's eyes opened.
*You couldn't do that before..* Rinmar said, and stood.
"I know." She wiped a hand over her face, and then showed him the phoenix on her arm. "When this is not covered, I seem to draw power from the things around me, allowing me to do things that I could not otherwise do. Even though I draw the power from other things, I still have to channel it and direct it at something, in this case, healing you, and that takes a good deal out of me. It is easier now, than when I was younger."
Laythie sat on her heels, and held a hand over her face. Rinmar looked at her, and for the first time in many, many years, smiled. Not grinned, that's different. Smiled. He moved over to her bags and rummaged for a minute, then moved back to Laythie.
*Here. I got you an armband, just like you asked.* Laythie watched, tears in her eyes, as he gently used his fangs to fasten it around her arm. He nuzzled her neck, and added, *I wouldn't want you to think I'd forgotten.*
Her tears spilled over and she hugged him. *You are the best friend I have ever had.* "Thank you.."
Trintae watched them, an old prophecy running through her head. 'The Phoenix is the Goddess' own sign, and any marked with it are destined for greatness.....Know you who read this, that She will choose one, and this One is to be unique. She will be Marked, and will hold close a demon, and yet it is no demon. Shunned by both demon and angel, for being neither, she will at once be both. My vision ends.'
"Laythie. I would like to speak with you."
"All right."
Trintae sat down next to Laythie and picked up the arm that was marked. "Have you ever felt like you're being drawn to something, through this?"
"Yes. Sometimes its like I'm being asked, and other times its like I'm being ordered." "Which direction?"
"West - north-west."
Trintae closed her eyes and whispered a prayer to the Goddess. "And you are following it? Letting it lead you?"
Laythie nodded. "What else am I supposed to do? I have no home, no friends, nothing ahead, and too much behind. If I die, I will not mourn for myself, but for those who never knew me."
"Go with my blessing, then. It may very well be your destiny."
Laythie smiled, and turned to the mountains.
*****************************************
Laythie stood in a large doorway, idly stroking Rinmar's fur. A moment of indecision, then they walked into the room. She looked around as, one by one, torches leaped to life, giving the room an eerie look.
"Ssso nice of you to join me. Welcome to my humble abode." They turned towards the voice. Rinmar's fur stood up on end, and Laythie's wings rustled. A growl started low in his throat, escalating quickly to a howl. He would have jumped for his throat had Laythie not gently restrained him.
"We will get him together, Rinmar. One of us alone would not be able to kill him, but together we may have a chance." She drew her sword, and closed her eyes. "Do you really think that you can beat me? I have lived for far longer than you can posssssibly imagine."
Laythie's eyes opened almost lazily, and she slowly stripped the armband over the phoenix off. "My imagination is in no way limited, demon." Her eyes had the red sheen again. "On the contrary, it can create things far more deadly than you are." "What-!! Why do your eyesss have that red sssheen?" He peered at her, eyes narrowed. "You haven't guessed yet?" Laythie shook her head. "Poor, poor, demon. And I thought you had a good imagination."
"I do. But you cannot posssssibly be what I'm thinking of!" He was growling at her. Laythie nodded. "If you are thinking that I am a half-demon, you are right." "No.." He breathed, then rushed towards them.
"Yes." Laythie met his attack and quickly reversed it. She followed it up with a kick, and sent him crashing into the wall. Rinmar growled and trotted up to the demon. He bit the demon, hard, on the leg.
*That's for what you did to me.* Rinmar let go and went back to Laythie. She walked up to the demon, Rinmar at her side, and said, "What is your name? I should like to know." "Why ssshould I tell you? I--hurk!" Laythie cut him off by jabbing the tip of her sword under his chin. A single raised eyebrow over a red-sheened blue-gold eye spoke more than saying anything could have. "Okay. My name isss Thanmar." His eyes narrowed. "And now you will sssee why I am feared!" He put out a hand and Laythie went sliding backwards, Rinmar with her.
Laythie's eyes widened, but before she could do any thing, her sword was pulled out of her hand. She felt herself rising off of the floor, and was helpless to stop it. She watched as her sword was twisted and reshaped until it was a sharp edged torture device. Thanmar smiled at her, and with a gesture Rinmar went flying towards him. Thanmar grinned at him, and slowly thrust the bade through an invisible bubble and into Rinmar.
"Ssso, brother dear, how doesss it feel? To be hurt by sssomeone you are related to?" Thanmar grinned and twisted the blade. Rinmar screamed. Laythie was trying to get over to them, but couldn't.
*Not good. You may be able to kill me, Thanmar, but if you hurt Laythie, I swear to the Goddess you will never know anything even remotely like peace again.* Rinmar turned his head looking into Laythie's eyes. *I am sorry. I..cannot hold on any longer.-coughcough- I..love..you..Laythie...* His head fell to his chest, and no matter how much Laythie screamed at him, it didn't rise again. "Pah. That wasss to easssy. Now, for you." Thanmar tossed Rinmar's body, still with the blade in it, away, and started walking towards Laythie. She was on her knees, sobbing against the side of the invisible bubble. As Thanmar approached, she looked up. Slowly she rose to her feet, and stared straight at him, mindless of the tears coursing down her face.
"You bastard." Laythie whispered. "How could you?"
"Easssy. He hurt me, once, and thisss isss my revenge." He pulled his upper lip back, revealing his fangs. "I will enjoy allowing you to join him, Laythie. Oh, Yesss!"
Laythie glared at him, and the bubble slowly cracked. "I am not so easily killed! If I am to die, I won't die without a fight!" The bubble burst, and she floated to the ground. Her eyes were turning red, and suddenly the phoenix on her arm flared, bathing her in brilliant white light. She walked towards Thanmar, light intensifying with every step. "Where is the honor in killing someone who is defenseless? Nowhere. I will not go down so easily, so come, and fight with one who is full of Fire!"
Out of nothing appeared a complicated blade, a sword older than time itself. She grasped the hilt, and she was the picture of the Phoenix's Chosen come to life. Thanmar charged at her, pulling his blade from its sheath. He swung, only to find that he had been anticipated. Laythie blocked the blow, easily reversing it back on him by using his momentum behind a blow of her own. He blocked it, not nearly as easily as she'd blocked his. he turned it on her, using the same tactic. They traded blows in this fashion for a while, and just when he thought she was sufficiently used to the pattern, she reversed the blow - under his blade, not over it.
It entered his stomach and he gasped. "Seem's you let your guard down, Thanmar. What a fool. I revenge Rinmar with this blow, Thanmar. May your soul never know the light of the Goddess' domain, and reside forever in the pits of Nidern." Laythie jerked the blade upwards, tearing Thanmar in half. She stepped back from his body, as a dark light poured out of him, accompanied by an earsplitting shriek at which she didn't even flinch. "Die with dishonor."
The light surrounding Laythie faded almost to nothing and she dropped the sword, her fingers suddenly nerveless. She ran to Rinmar's body, and gently extracted the twisted sword from it. She gently picked him up, and hugged him to her, oblivious to the fact that she was getting blood all over her.
"Rinmar....I love you. I wish we'd had time to be together....But wishes rarely come true..." She sobbed into his fur, oblivious to the world around her. After a while, she was all out of tears, and she was hugging Rinmar to her. Nothing would be the same without him..Or would it? Laythie jumped as a hand was gently laid on her shoulder. She whirled, reaching for the sword, only to stop.
"R-Rinmar?" She could hardly believe her eyes, because it was not dog-like demon standing in front of her, it was a handsome male half-demon, half angel, with hair the same color as his fur had once been. His eyes were red, and his wings...undescribable. Although her heart told her that it was him, she wondered how that could be. "Is it really you?" "Yes"
"But, how? You were..are dead. Right? So how-how can you be here, like this?" Laythie's eyes threatened to spill over again.
"My former body died, and my spirit. I did not know that I would be allowed to live again, in my proper form, and yet, here I am." He smiled, and wiped a tear off of her face with his thumb. "Please don't cry, Laythie. Miracles so rarely happen."
Laythie closed her eyes, and opened them, crying. She gently laid his former body aside. stood, and threw her arms around Rinmar's neck. "I love you, I love you." She repeated over and over, crying in his arms. He shushed her gently, holding her close. As she stopped crying, he pulled away.
"Better?" Laythie nodded. "Good. Life is too short as it is, so let's get out of here, love." Rinmar wrapped an arm around her waist, and she smiled up at him. The two of them left the room, and the fortress, hugging each other all the while.
************************************
The gates of Earinta opened, and in flew Laythie and Rinmar, now happily married. Whispers raced through the city as to why Laythie had returned. Few recognized Rinmar, but those that did felt a passing fear for their city. As they flew, they searched out certain people in the crowd, looking for familiar faces. At the steps of the Rinthe-Diore, they landed, making little noise. Their eyes swept the crowd, searching instinctively for threats, coming at last to rest on the Head Angels face.
"Why have you returned, Laythie Ikanae, Rinmar Shukuran?" "Because we wish to have a home once more, Lord Thakereth, and no longer wish to be roamers of Syllumina." Laythie stepped forward, closer to him. "Is this forbidden?" "You were cast out, the both of you, for mixed blood. What makes you think I want you back in my city?"
Laythie took another step towards Thakereth, and another, stopping in front of him. "Two reasons. One, there are other half-demons in this city, and two, Earinta is not 'your' city. It belongs to everyone, 'be they short, tall, stupid, smart, demon, angel, human or half. Earinta is a City for all the races of Syllumina.' That is a direct quote from Literin Mordekt, as I'm sure you know, Thakereth."
He paled. "How did you quote that?!? You were allowed nowhere near the Vault of Ancients, when you were studying. How is it possible that you know the name of it, let alone be able to quote it?"
Laythie showed him her right arm, letting him see the phoenix on it. "The Mark. It tells me things, now that I have learned how to keep it in check without an arm-band." She turned and idly walked back towards Rinmar. A guard stepped in front of her, holding a spear leveled on her throat.
"It is unwise to turn your back on Lord Thakereth, halfling."
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Move, now." Laythie fixed her eyes on him, and after a moment, he did. She smiled and walked the rest of the way to Rinmar.
"Wait. How did you learn-"
"To control the abilities it gives me?" Laythie interrupted. "I found love, Thakereth, and it is stronger than ever at this moment." She shared a secret smile with Rinmar.
"The Mark, or your 'love'?" Thakereth asked, absurdly stressing love. "And I see that I was right to put you out, for it seems that you have no morals."
"Our love, the Mark, it is connected." Rinmar glared at him. "And why do you say that we have no morals? We are married, so where is the harm in loving each other?"
"Bu-"
"For shame, Thak, you have a naughty mind."
"Trina?"
"Yes. Who else would call you 'Thak'?" Trintae grinned at him.
"Are they really-"
"Married? Yes, I wed them myself. And before you ask, the Phoenix may be the Sign of Rebirth, But few know that it is also the sign of Love. So, if you think about it, Thak, it comes as no surprise that the two are connected. Her mark and their love, I mean." "But why should I-"
"Let them stay? Because, the wilds of Syllumina is no place to carry and birth a child, even if you are the legendary Phoenix's Chosen." Trintae was grinning, obviously enjoying this. Thakereth, however, was more than a little annoyed at not being allowed to finish a single sentence. He glared at Trintae, daring her to answer his next question without him even starting it out loud. She laughed and answered it.
"Yes, Laythie is."
"Grrr." Laythie laughed at him, and turned to the crowd.
"Should Thakereth let Lady Laythie and Lord Rinmar stay?" The answer was a resounding 'yes'. Laythie, who had had her head buried in Rinmar's chest to keep from laughing, turned and shouted her thanks. As Laythie and Rinmar walked down the steps a female angel gasped, and hurried over, catching Laythie in a big hug.
"Momma, you're still here!" Laythie hugged back. "How's Da?"
"He's down in the dungeons. Why, I don't know."
"Oh. That's easy to fix." Laythie's eyes slid closed and the ground began to rumble slightly and it cracked. Out of the crack rose a demon, handsome and obviously Laythie's father. Laythie's mother was hugging him for all she was worth before the crack had even closed. The demon hugged her, and then pulled back, and his eyes widened.
"Laythie?"
"Hello, Da. Glad to see you again." Laythie hugged her father. "I hope you were at least fed decently, Da, cause you could use a bath!"
"This is the respect I get after living in a dungeon?" He picked Laythie up and whirled around, making her giggle.
"You should count you blessings that I haven't gotten sick, Da!" Laythie laughed.
"Why would you be sick?" Her father asked, setting her down.
"Da, meet my husband, Rinmar. Rinmar, Da." Laythie introduced them.
"Love, you forgot to mention that your father was a Dithen demon."
"Does that bug you?"
"Not at all. It's just one of those things.." Rinmar sneaked a glance at her. "And before you even ask, no, not those things!"
"Darn." They laughed.
********************************
Epilogue
Standing high on a hill, overlooking Earinta, Laythie and Rinmar watched their children playing around the base of the hill. Fifteen years had passed since they had been re-accepted into Earinta, and they had a large family. Rinmar put his arms around her and whispered in her ear. "Ever wonder what it would be like if I wasn't here?"
"Too many times, love. And None of them would be here without you." She gestured to their children. "There never was, and never will be, anyone else for me."
The sun set, and the happy family walked home, bathed in the red glow of the setting sun. *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Comments: hehe i just finished this story this morning, and then the 'net went away..so, its a bit late, but its still the 22nd! I apoligize to those of you who think that this is too long, but I couldn't really make it any shorter without it losing somrthing, y'know? Thank you..:D

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