Truth, the Eye, and the Beholder Fanfiction

The sound of the rain intensified in the silence that followed. Maroo watched Commander Vael curiously, unsure what else to say to this man. People and communicating with them wasn’t exactly her forte. It also didn’t help that this man seemed startling familiar and was making her shyer than a newborn cub. Deciding it was time to retreat, she employed her favorite and usual excuse.

“Well, I, uh, better get going, go check on Marv. Never know what kind of trouble he’ll get into without me.”

Maroo gave a nervous nod and started to take her leave, her heart racing. However, before she could make it to the door, let alone three steps, Vael stood up behind her, his gruff voice ringing out.

“You’ve grown.”

Maroo froze at those words, confusion coming off her in waves. She turned and looked at Vael curiously, wondering what he was talking about. Vael shrugged, trying to appear apathetic, but it was obvious her amnesia had disappointed him.

“You don’t remember? Shame, it wasn’t that long ago even.”

Maroo’s confusion grew, her eyes narrowing. Thunder roared in the background, but neither of them paid it any attention. Something in the back of Maroo’s mind was unlocking, slowly making itself known. Vael stepped closer and closer to Maroo, hesitantly reaching out.

“Five men, in full plate armor, shining gold in the setting sun… Bloodied and bruised, cloaks and visible clothing torn…”

Maroo tried to keep from panicking, the memories refusing to cooperate. Why did that sound so familiar?

“Marching West, grumbling among themselves. Wind softly howling, broken by the scream of an arrow... An arrow with a Great Owl’s feather.”

Maroo gasped and whirled around to fully face Commander Vael. She fletched her arrows with owl feathers, stolen from nests when the parents hunted. They weren’t as durable as eagle, but they were seen as bad omens and scared her enemies. If they don’t die in the first shot, they’d die from fright.

Vael seemed to smile at Maroo’s reaction, although it appeared as a grimace. He gently grabbed her shoulders, his grip firm and reassuring.

“It struck one man in the shoulder and forced him to his knees. Then a woman flew from the tree tops, raven hair streaming behind her… And she clawed at one man, leaving three long scars on his face…”

Vael pulled one hand away from her shoulders to lift away his helmet, the silver glinting in the low light. Maroo’s memories stirred at the sight of it moving, as his face became more and more familiar.

She saw the scars first, like he wanted her to. They started at the top right of his forehead, just below his hair line, and trailed diagonally downwards. It faded when it reached the top of his nose and reappeared on his left cheek, ending at his jaw line.

Easily hidden with a helmet.

Maroo shakily rose her hand to trace the scars, her long nails easily fitting into the shape. She lightly trailed it downwards, following the pathway. She even pressed her nails back down onto his cheek when she went over his nose. Could that have been her?

Something stirred again and she was remembering a warm fire, and a low hum. Voices collecting together and filling the air, reverberating through her. She found herself humming, trying to piece the lyrics together. She turned her back to Vael, trying to calm her racing thoughts and pounding heart.

Vael walked the remaining distance between them and reassumed his grip on her shoulders. He leaned forward, closer to Maroo’s ear. His breath was warm on her neck and sent chills down her spine. He hummed to the song in her head, his voice deep and warm.

*“In mountains she rules of old/
Her forests deep and caverns cold/
To her we raise, her name we praise/
To Ehlonna of the Wood…”

Maroo realized she had joined in, halfway through the phrase. She refused to turn towards Vael, the floodgate opening up. How could she forget?

“Valiant?”

Vael didn’t answer, instead removing his steel gauntlet to pull aside her hair, revealing her neck. His lips had barely brushed against her crook when the large doors were thrown open. Vael and Maroo jumped apart, Vael quickly pulling on his helmet.

Nina stood shyly in the doorframe, Maroo’s boys standing behind her. They all looked curious and a bit suspicious, eyeing Vael wearily. Barchi was the first to speak up, his voice gruff and questioning.

**“Sae is this whaur ye twa wur hiding? Ah weel, it's aboot time tae be heading oot. Let’s load up.”

Maroo nodded a bit too enthusiastically, walking forward.

“Right, right, we’ll be there in a minute. Nina! Girl talk!”

Nina gave out a soft “eep” before she was drug away by Maroo towards the kitchens, and consequentially, the servant’s quarters where Nina stayed.

Jundus watched in confusion, one eyebrow raised.

“The hell’s her problem?”

Marv shrugged and lumbered inside the throne room, noticing Vael’s gaze trailing after Maroo.

In some locked up part of him, Marv sighed. It was going to be a long day…