ERD
No.
Never before had Erd been filled with such ire, such a desire to lash out. Typically a young man full of boyish grins and easy laughter, there was no way that violence would ever appeal to him. They had served their time as weapons of war, tools for a cause that they had no care for, and it had robbed the young warlock of any desire to ever fight or draw bloodshed through physical or magical means… Yet with Moira, this woman of flaxen hairs and crimson splendor, he wouldn’t think twice.
Standing as stock-still as he could manage with Ard leaning against him, Erd’s narrowed eyes of piercing color glared at the said woman. He wouldn’t forgive her. Not for this. Not for how she so rudely had acted, sending his precious, wonderful brother into a lapse of… Of…
Abruptly, the ire melted into confusion. Moira’s expression itself seemed to change and warp, twisting, her brows going from narrowed and furrowed to raised with understanding and surprise. Her mouth, clenched so tight with displeasure, seemed to slacken as something overtook her. Realization, perhaps? Whatever it was caused her to speak, and the words that she murmured were not what he had been expecting.
Apologies drifted through the air, completely directed at his brother. Erd glanced Ard’s way, spotting no immediate reaction. Very few could pull him from the trenches of disassociation. Mouth parting, the older warlock paused before he could speak, deciding to let the woman, Moira, say her piece. He did bristle, however, as the phoenix-woman tucked her wings and cautiously approached, seeming to understand the need for ‘slow’ and ‘calm’. Even as she got closer to the twins, Erd stood bristled, waiting, just in case… But the world seemed full of miracles.
Moira dropped down to the earth, her legs folding with remarkable elegance as she let herself rest against the grass at their hooves. Imploringly she looked up at Ard, speaking to him with a sort of familiarity. An ear tilted back in curiosity. Did she understand? Did she know? It was hard to say, but instead of speaking or interrupting, Erd allowed it to happen. Ever so slowly did Ard come back to himself, and much to his surprise, managed to choke out a few raspy words.
’Erd?’ As his brother’s gaze, beautiful and sorrowful, searched for him, Erd immediately tried to smile and reach out for him.
“It’s okay,” he soothed, letting Ard take as much time as he needed for reassurance. He could feel his younger brother’s trembling and unsteadiness, and did not even try to move. “You don’t need to apologize, Ard, you didn’t do anything wrong. There was just a misunderstanding. You’re alright. Nothing’s gonna happen now, I promise. Take your time. You’re safe.” And he meant it. Letting Ard try to collect himself, the older twin cleared his throat and glanced towards Moira with a flick of turquoise eyes.
The ire that he felt for the woman had diminished, but there was still a note of caution to him. Rolling his shoulders back, the warlock spoke, expression somewhat scrunched. “I, um. That… Wasn’t the best way we could’ve met. I’m sorry. You said your name was Moira? I… I’m glad you’re not dead.”
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