Just the right gifts ( open to everyone)

[agnes]

Agnes slipped up into the carriage and sat across from him. She shook her head, though the smile was irrepressable. " No..actually Jeb is more like me.. which is why we got along so well. He's a little less then a full year younger then I am. " She explained as well. " Its beautiful.. but the winters are fierce. "She explained softly. Then again the city was on a mountain side.. it was to be expected. The Carriage itself rolled off down the streets as she looked out the window. " Oh.. if you look there.. "She pointed between a few building. " Its the Temple of the One Thousand. " She explained. As they rolled passed the outside of the temple itself was literally walls of sculpted faces some beautiful and kind.. others fierce and hard.. there were still some that seemed wickedly divine.

[damienlove]

"Well that is a relief. I am glad at least one of them is like you. Are we going to tell him the truth" When she spoke of the temple his eyes shot right to it. He studied each and every one of the faces as they past. A few times he had to ask himself if he knew that person. He quickly let the notion slip from his mind as they passed. "So um what is that exactly a temple too it looks....interesting to say the least"

[agnes]

She watched out the window as she lifted a brow. " You couldn't lie to Jeb , even if you wanted to. "She smiled a little. " He has that way.. about him. "She shrugged. The brows lifted as she shifted a bit. " Well according to the histories.. "She grinned. " There were Elder Gods.. however they fought bitterly, and in the end they began to to slip further and further away from humanity. Then.. they were simply .. gone. In their place rose up the one thousand. They are called the Little Gods, because they all have different facets of life and death in which they hold domination. For every day there are rites to be observed in their honor. As to where they came from.. or how some even became Gods at all, its unknown. There are some factions that dispute their validity. However, we are all raised to observe the One Thousand. "She explained softly.

The carriage continued its tour through the city as the houses were closely set , some two and three stories with the sounds of well.. the lives of those within it. Agnes watched it all quietly as the grin appeared again as they came up to the side gates of the large monestary. It was not at all like those people imagined in the far far east. The monestary itself was massive building with the thick granite wall built around it. The wrod iron gates were barred from the inside , however there was a smaller door to the side. The carriage slowed to a halt as Agnes drew in a breath and grinned. " To be perfectly honest.. this is the only reason I wanted to come back at all. "She admitted with a shrug as the footman hopped down and opened the door to the carriage.

[damienlove]

He listened carefully when Agnes explained about the gods of the region. It seemed the best he could do was make assumptions about the temple. "Well who shall do the explaining to him then. I am sure he will want to know who the rough looking man is escorting his sister" It seemed like in no time they were at the monastery. He waited patiently for Agnes to exit the carriage before sliding his way out. Head lifted as he studied every inch of brick an iron as he soaked in the large building in front of him "Well shall my friend?" He smiled and offered his arm halfway ready to skip the rest of the way.

[agnes]

Agnes chuckled softly as she looked at Damien, " I will tell him, don't worry .. he'll understand. "She stated as she had patted his knee lightly. As they had stepped out the small door opened. A young boy in the dull brown robes looked at the couple. It was almost picturesque the image of the lad holding the door open for them, the well manicured lawn stretching out just behind him. The lad himself was perhaps twelve years of age , yet the deep brown eyes carried a gentle serenity within their depths. He didn't speak at all, as he bowed his head to the pair in greetings. Agnes dipped her head as she stepped inside, just before Damien then again rested her hand on his arm.
The soft step of the sandled feet moved along the crushed stone path as the sway of the prayer beads moved with his every step. Agnes looked around and drew in a deep breath here, not that the air itself was any different from the other side of the stone wall, but there was a peace here that seemed to radiate from everything around them. As they followed the lad, they were lead around to a stone patio. seated at a table speaking in hushed tones was an older man with a ring of white hair, all that was left of his thick mane when he was younger, his companion was a younger man , that when he looked up strictly an image of Agnes herself. The oh so serious dark brown eyes. Both men instantly smiled when seeing the pair as they rose from the table.
Agnes's hand slipped away from Damien's arm as she lowered herself in a curtsy, as both men only inclined their heads. " So.. this is the sister in which my brother speaks so highly of? " The older monk spoke, his voice was rich and smooth.. almost as an aged whiskey. His eyes danced with an inner internal happiness. " I am Brother Donovan.. " He spoke quietly before offering his hand out to Damien curious as to who the large man was, as the glance given to Jeb's small negative shake of his head, stating he hadn't any idea.
Agnes smiled and gave a small nod. " Caleb told me to seek you out , Brother Donovan. " She glanced to Jeb then looked to Damien. " My manners.. I am Agnes , Jeb's sister.. and the gentleman with me is a very good friend of mine and escort for the journey here, Damien Love from Rhyfellion. "She introduced them.

[damienlove]

Damien followed Agnes and the lad down the path. Eyes still studied the stone structure in front of them. Seeing the two men he bowed his head seeing as Agnes had already introduced himself. "It is a pleasure to meet you both. " Seeing the hand extended he took it and gave a friendly shake. He smiled feeling a bit more comfortable setting than the family residence. The men only held his attention for so long. Now inside the walls he had to study the rest of his surroundings. Damien was obviously a bit busy in thought not paying too much attention to what was going on around him. He tried to remain halfway attentive if he needed to speak again

[agnes]

She glanced to Damien then looked back to Jeb. " I wanted to congratulate you for your vows. "She spoke softly as she reached out and lightly took her brother's hand. " I am so proud of you. " She stated softly. The younger of the two laughed softly.

" Thank you, Agnes. When I heard that you were forbidden.. I did try to warn you. "he spoke , the voice was sweetly kind. It beaconed the ear to listen. she ducked her head and smiled.

" You did.. and I would not listen. I knew the life Mother and Father planned was not one I wished for myself.. and I could tolerate living within the Abbey. "She pointed out as Donovan simply sat back and allowed them to visit.

" But your abilities, Agnes.. you left to develope them, how far have you come? "He inquired softly, it was the tone that did not believe that his sister had actually done anything with it. As did the expression of pity within his eyes. Agnes looked at him and frowned slightly as she withdrew her hand from his.

" Of all of us.. you I would have expected support, Jeb. "She stated softly and folded her hands onto her lap. " I am a Grand Magi there, I am a test away from competition of the college. I have moved to a new lands, in which I aid in rosting out monsters and fiends. " She stated quietly.

It was that comment that brought Donovan's attention back toward the two. " Then you have become adventurers? The pair of you? "He asked with a chubby hand to wave at them both.

" We have. There are several of us that accompany one another upon such journeys. To distant lands as well as other planes of existance. " She stated quietly.

" And you lad.. to take your woman along? " Donovan found this a little curious, though Jeb seemed to disapprove and locked in a battle of wills with his sister's stare.

[agnes]

( I'll just bring this to an end )

Agnes and Jeb had spoken for a bit longer before she lead Damien back to the home of her parents. Pointing out other buildings and notable places along the way. She seemed strangely quiet though this time there was no prodding to bring the young lady around, sometimes thoughts were meant to be private.

They were greeting again by her mother and siblings, dinner would be served soon and it was custom to dress for dinner. Agnes lead Damien up to their room and cutting through any embarassment she collected a dress and left him there to change himself while she moved down to one of the other guest rooms. When they rejoined one another to make an entrance the young lady had dressed more of her station as she walked in on his arm.

Dinner was far easier to deal with as Agnes began to speak of Rhyfellion and the events they had seen come to pass. All of which had made her father's lips white with fury , until the man rose and departed without so much as a glance back. Agnes drew in a breath but allowed him to go without chasing him down. She had suspected things to go in this manner. The rest of the meal however had been light hearted and sporting. At the end of the dinner Agnes had brought out the gifts , and told the tale of how Damien had retrieved them for her, since she had been mugged. The grand telling brought looks of approval upon the knight.

With the gifts handed out and the children sent onward to bed the adults retired to another sitting room to enjoy the company of one another. Both her brothers told tales of what had been going on.. what political changes had come to pass. The manuvering of the houses, the rush for the seats as one became empty. They all found the whole thing rather amusing if nothing else. Agnes spoke softly to her mother as she kissed her tenderly upon the cheek and promised soon to return. Her mother moved to kiss Damien on the cheek and bade him to look after her girl. All of which Agnes rolled her eyes, when her mother had departed it was her sister in law Francis that called Agnes and Damien out on the farce.

Agnes only smiled and admitted to it, that he was indeed a very good friend, but an escort only. They all spoke more easily still as the glasses of wine and scotch were shared. Soon it was time to call it a night as Agnes walked with Damien up to the room. " We will leave at first light. "She spoke softly. " I don't wish to bring the Marked Ones back.. nor anger my father any further. " She lightly kissed him on his cheek and slipped off down the hall to sleep in the bedroom that was once hers.

The morning seemed to arrive eagerly enough as Agnes had the footman again repack her belongings onto the carriage.. Damiens as well. She waited for the others to rise as it was a brief goodbye.. her father shook Damien's hand.. and barely hugged his daughter before returning to his study. She pushed it aside as she waved goodbye to the others and they set off again for home. Odd.. home. She waited until they were at the very same spot she had woved the spell before.. as she stepped out and with the deliberate pull of energy from around her she opened the gate. With the carriage through she walked through herself , turning to see the Marked One watching her. The small shake of her head as the gate was closed and the footman helped her again to the wagon.

Just as they had when departing, they dropped Damien off first at his keep... before Agnes returned to the academy. The young lady paid the footman for his time and carried her things back inside.