The Calm Before The Storm

It was no surprise to Sabella that The Oracle was also an ordained minister. The wedding was a hastily set up affair, something that both Sabella and Nathan did not wish to delay. Ben and Rory were helping Nathan with his dark brown suit. It didn't fit him perfectly, it was actually Tom’s but it was  lean and practically new. It felt odd ‘not’ to have his blades but he didn't think he’d need them, not this day.

Rory dusted off his shoulder as Ben tied his tie. “Are you ready for this?” He asked with a grin.

Meanwhile….

Rose, Helen, Leila and Francis all were helping Sabell with her dress. Everyone who could see which was just about everyone had made quite the dress from two others. Rose did the veil herself and was helping tie it into her hair as the others made finishing touches on her dress that trailed behind her several feet. It was white with a lot of sequence embroidered into the sheer white fabric. Her bouquet was white too, roses and babies breath. 

“Are you ready for this?” Rose asked in barely more than a whisper. “Nathan is...well Nathan.” She said. But it was clear what she meant. He would be a handful for any woman let alone someone as young as she.

Sabella couldn't believe she was marrying Nathan in less than an hour. Thinking back to the first two days that they knew each other one never would have thought that this is where they would be today. Their short relationship had been through more ups and downs than most couples have in a lifetime, but they had survived it all and more. She knew that nothing could shake them and that, besides Westley, Nathan would be the only man she would ever love. She felt connected to him...apart of him and each of them understood the pain of losing one that they loved. She could think of no one better suited for her than Nathan and she could not wait to start their new lives together. They still had much to face, but she knew they could face anything side by side.

The dress, while quickly put together, was quite beautiful and Sabella knew Nathan would like it. Her hair was pulled partially back and she stood still as Rose secured the veil she had made into her hair. Outside, the first snow of the year had begun to fall and everything was being blanketed in the soft, white powder giving the estate a magical feel. She smiled at Rose's question and looked over her shoulder at her slightly.

"I can handle him. Nathan is a lot of bark towards me, but no bite...and I can bark back." She then became a little more serious after a moment. "Nathan and I have been through a lot and we don't always agree on everything, but I know he loves me and I know I love him and in the end that's all we truly need to know. Everything else we can get through. He makes me happy and I cannot wait to marry him."

Nathan wasn’t much of a conversationalist, especially when it came to Sabella. For some reason though talking about his feelings right then seemed alright and so the words just rolled off of his tongue.

“She can’t cook, hates to clean, won’t do what I ask most of the time, likes to sleep in, is stubborn as a mule and will argue that the sky is green when it is clearly blue just to get my hackles up,” he said plainly. Both Ben, his best man and Rory looked at one another with odd expressions. And then Nathan smiled. “I do like a challenge,” he said and his eyes sparkled as if he was speaking about the most spectacular woman in the world right then.

The three men made their way to the main lounge just off the hallway. The bottom floor lobby, hall and lounge has been decorated by the flowers that were all around the estate in the various gardens. They had to improvise and most now would need to be replanted but the estate looked wonderful and the flowers were arranged well and made the whole house smell alive and fragrant. The Oracle put on his black suit, he only had one that was in any decent shape. Rory wore his vest and Ben only had a nice, clean gray shirt. Rose, who had been sleeping with Ben in these last few weeks, Ben was a black man but Rose was not your typical woman. She cared for all things living and she found Ben to be warm, honest and uncomplicated. She often referred to him as the perfect man. Someone that doesn’t speak unless he has something to say and he as a large..heart among ‘other’ things. She was all smiles and nodded her head approvingly as she stepped slowly down the hall. Tom, their man of many talents played the fiddle, a traditional wedding march that actually sounded pretty good, especially with the acoustics of the hallway.

Sabella was behind the other girls and Leila held her train behind her, moved up the hall and were dressed in their finest dresses though not all of the same color or style. They each had a small bouquet of flowers in their hands and each seemed to glow with the happiness of a wedding of all things happening right then. Leila was crying though, she had lost her Brandon when they had been taken and they had made her do things that gave her terrible nightmares as well. She needed this too it seemed as her tears were happy tears and she  never faltered in her duty as maiden of honor.

Sabella knew that not only was this day for her, it was for all of them in the estate. They all needed something that gave them hope that things would be alright in the end. It pained Sabella not having Amy there with them, but she and Nathan had vowed to get her back...at any cost. Today would be for thinking about those that were with them and remembering those that were not.

As Sabella walked down the hallway with Leila behind her holding her train, she thought about Westley...the first man she had ever loved. Since beginning her relationship with Nathan, she had not seen him but she still thought about him often.

Westley, I just want you to know that I love you still and will always love you. You were my first love and will always have a place in my heart. I know that you would want me to be happy and Nathan does make me happy. He and I have each lost someone that we loved and we understand each other in this way. I was terribly lonely until I met Nathan and I know that he loves me as you did. If I don't ever see you again I want you to know that it is because of you that I am the strong woman I am today and I will never forget that. Goodbye Westley.

OOC-She's thinking all of that in her head.

The women, to do a real reveal for Nathan, didn't move aside until she was only about 20 feet away. Once they shifted off to the side and followed Rose to the left only Leila remained to keep her train lifted. Sabella would see Nathan swallow hard and spots of color bloomed in his cheeks. To see him blush when he saw what he was getting was rare and Rose had to bite her lip to stop herself from chuckling. Two other women covered their faces with their flowers and made it look like they were only smelling them. 

Leila stepped around her and righted her veil was last time then took her place with the others to the left. Nathan never took his eyes from her and even with the veil he could see her face. 

“Nathan Carver...and Sabella, please join hands,” The Oracle began and Leila moved to take her bouquet as Nathan held out his hand for her. Once she took it she noticed his was warm and damp from sweat. They turned and faced one another and the Oracle began...

Less than 15 minutes later they were officially married and there was a chorus of applause and cheers as Nathan kissed Sabella for the first time as man and wife. Soft words were spoken to each other for only their ears to hear and tears of happiness rolled down Sabella's cheeks. A large meal had been prepared for the celebration afterwards and wine flowed freely. Outside, the snow had stared to come down harder, but inside fires were burning in the fireplaces. Laughter rang inside the estate for the first time in weeks and everyone seemed to be smiling and having a good time. In the back of her mind, Sabella knew that danger was coming, but she wasn't going to allow those thoughts to ruin her evening with her new husband.

The master bedroom suite that normally was used as a storage room was cleared out and remade into what it was originally was. After the feast Nathan was alone with Sabella for the first time as man and wife and he took his time getting her out of her dress. They made love several times, he seemed to be ready again only a few minutes after, each time. They now sat in a large, copper and wood tub with various parts of their body swollen from their love making. The water was cold and Nathan tossed in another bucket of snow that Rose had brought them then tossed the bucket down and it landed on its side forgotten. They both let out long, relieved sighes and Sabella settled back against him in the tub. He leaned over and kissed her shoulder then laid his head back once more.

“Well, happens now?” He said not really wanting to think of the future. A future he was certain at least he had no existence in. It didn't change anything though, not for him. Sabella was naked and laying contented upon him. Her dark, damp hair rested back onto his neck and chest. “Where do we go from here?”

It was well after dark and the estate was quiet and still as Sabella settled into the cool tub with Nathan. In the next room the bed was a complete mess and his clothes lay scattered all over the floor. Thankfully, he had taken his time getting her dress off and had placed it carefully on one of the chairs before picking her up and placing her onto the bed.

She lay partially atop Nathan and her fingers lightly caressed his chest. She considered his question for a moment before quietly responding.

"We continue to fight. We must not give up hope and we must continue to instill that hope in those around us. We will take things day by day and as they come and work together to protect those we care about."

He felt an unusually strong sense of sadness right then when he thought of her being alone once more. If he could leave...if she would come with him...and that thought died almost as quickly as it came. He had tensed and then relaxed back when he knew that there was no way to leave these people and be able to live with himself. Albereth would then take the Oracle and the world would be hers to toy with. No, not that. He could go alone and try to kill her himself? And end this all together? But he didn’t even knew where she was. With his luck while he was out finding her they’d come when he was gone. So that was out too. He smiled when he saw her admiring her rings. He had made them himself and the large diamond on the engagement band The Oracle gave him as if he knew he’d be marrying her...and Nathan only assumed that he did.

The next days were more of the same save for where they slept. The people seemed to ‘want’ them in the master suite, made apparent when Nathan came up to Sabella’s room the next day after training and found hers and the one he had been staying in devoid of any of their personal effects. He didn’t much care for people touching his things, not even Sabella, though her less so, but still he didn’t like it until he found out where they put it all. The master suite was quite spacious and strange or not he accepted it without an argument or even a cross word. Something that surprised Sabella. She expected him to explode at that but he liked the large bed and private bathroom and being able to have Sabella prance around naked as much as she wanted.

Nathan had taken to spending an hour in the trees behind the estate working with his own powers. Extending his range and making them more dense to inhibit sound and smell. Doing so made his nose bleed and the shadows seemed...resistant to it as if they knew it was hurting him, which indeed it was. It was Sabella though that he heard coming toward him. He withdrew his shadows quickly then turned to move toward her voice. He met her just inside the treeline but just as he waved to her the headaches began and when he finally reached her his nose began to bleed.

Sabella could sense Nathan's sadness, but he would never speak of what was the cause of it. He had always been a man to hide his emotions, but lately it seemed as though he carried the weight of the entire world upon his shoulders and there was nothing she could do to lighten the load. Those first few days together were incredible and had Sabella been given a choice she would have remained in bed with Nathan all day everyday, but there was work still to do and they could not forget that Albereth still sought The Oracle and that Amy was still in her possession. The honeymoon was over and it was now time for the real work to begin. No longer could they underestimate Albereth or her powers. To do that would certainly mean disaster for them all.

It had snowed again the night before and a fresh white blanket covered all that one could see. She had seen Nathan go outside an hour before, but he had not yet come back in and Sabella was growing worried about him. She knew he was working hard...too hard, but there was no stopping him. She spotted him walking towards her through the trees and immediately her expression became one of concern when she spotted the blood running from his nose. She rushed to him and pulled out her handkerchief and pressed it against his nose.

"What happened?"

At first, Nathan didn’t understand her question. And then he felt the blood on his lip and tasted the metallic, coppery flavor. He got out his handkerchief quickly from his pocket to staunch the blood. “I...I don’t know, perhaps it is just dry,” he said woodenly but the air was quite damp though it was cool. That and he wasn’t a very good liar. “Am I late for supper again?” He asked in hopes that she’d think of something much more pleasant right then. ‘But part of you wants her to know’. He said to himself. To prepare her...He abandoned that train of thought when he looked into her gorgeous eyes.

The worry was evident in Sabella's eyes. Thankfully, the bleeding stopped fairly quickly, but Sabella knew that it wasn't dry air that had caused it. She desperately wished that he would talk to her...tell her the truth. It was quite cold out but right then Sabella didn't feel it. She sighed as she looked at him.

"I wish you would tell me the truth...whatever it is we can work through it...together. Something has been bothering you for quite some time...I can see it in your eyes...hear it in your voice. Please...just talk to me."

He moved and set his hands on her shoulders. A plume of warm air came out of his mouth when he exhaled and his face held a grim expression. “The devil take Albereth and the Oracle both!” He said and then kissed her hard and passionately. He would have preferred not to have known about the future. But in all honesty he may not have stayed otherwise. But now he’ll never know and he had no intention of running or leaving Sabella. He would stay with her to the end, whenever that end came for him. When he finally removed his lips from hers he was more than a little satisfied that she gasped for breath and spots of color bloomed in her cheeks.

“It is my power...when I use it,” He began then paused to rub his head. “To any degree it causes me pain,” he said plainly. In all reality he felt like exploding at everything and everyone. “Lately though I’ve been...becoming dizzy and now...now it causes my nose to bleed. I don’t know why,” he lied.

Sabella opened her mouth to respond to what Nathan said, but before she could he grabbed her and kissed her hard and very passionately. She found herself kissing him back. All too soon he pulled back and Sabella found her face flush with sudden desire. It took a moment for her to right herself, though she now longed for the warmth of his arms and their bed. She grew concerned though, when Nathan admitted that using his powers brought him pain.

"Perhaps you should talk to Father...maybe there is something you can do..."

“No,” he replied quickly and his voice had a tint of finality to it. That and he didn’t want to talk about it either. “Let us go home, I wish to make love to you now,” he said as if he were talking idly about the weather. Headache or no his body wanted Sabella right then and her expression and her scent told him that she was ready for him as well and he pulled her along by her hand and didn’t really notice her grin.

Later at supper they were all at the long table. Rose stood and showed off the dark gray suit coat she made for the men. They had alot of this material for some reason, it was here when the house was purchased and stored as if forgotten about. She and a few of the other women were making more of them as a sort of uniform. The women’s versions of it looked fairly modern and sharp. The different styles all had a demure collar high up on the neck that matched the men’s coats. Nathan applauded their efforts and raised his glass to her which made her blush.

Now when they sat at table, Sabella was at his right side. She had sat across from him usually but earlier today, while he was making love to her he had ‘demanded’ that she sit next to him for tonight and every meal there after. Many of the women didn’t care for that though and felt it was some kind of ‘demotion’ or an attempt to keep them down but Sabella would know that it had nothing to do with that. Her presence seemed to calm him and the more she was next to him the more even tempered and pleasant he truly seemed to be.

They discussed Albereth, Kindle and Quell and talked about how they could best protect the house and whom this 4th horseman might be. The Oracle took his meals in his room still, his face had a droop to it and though he was talking again his words were awkward and he needed help to walk. Sabella still made a place for him though, where she usually sat.

When dessert was served, a plum and raisin bread pudding with a sauce made from bourbon, Nathan stood and raised his wine glass. “I am appreciative of all of your efforts. We’ve come a long way, you and I,” he said as he gestured around the room. “You all have worked hard and if it was possible I’d say you all deserve a holiday. But as you know for us, there are no holidays save for this moment. For the minutes that we can share in one another’s lives and enjoy a fine meal together. I am proud of you all,” he said and everyone smiled and cheered in agreement to his words. “I know it is difficult to do what you do not understand. Your continued trust in me will be repaid in full when we defeat Albereth and her minions,” he said and they all cheered again and pounded the table. “Now Ben,” he said and gestured and ben got up immediately then moved out of the dining room through the east hall. “Today, right now infact, I will correct a grievous ‘oversight’ that I made when i did not give my beautiful wife a bride gift,” he said as ben re-entered the room and held what looked to be a round, silver clef atop a silvered serving tray. He brought it around and leaned over to set it down in front of Sabella. He grinned a wide grin and he winked at a confused and suspicious Rose as he moved to sit back down.

At dinner that night Sabella did as Nathan had 'demanded' and took her seat beside him instead of in front of him. She could see a few of the other women eye her suspiciously, but she knew the true purpose was to keep Nathan calm. She had discovered soon after they began their relationship that her presence had this effect upon him and whenever he would start to become upset about something all she truly had to do was to stand or sit near him. Nathan was a man with a terrible temper and while Sabella was perfectly content to let him yell at her, she was happier when he kept his temper in check around the others.

The mood at the table that evening was lighthearted and laughter and smiles filled the dining room. Sabella loved the suit that Rose had sewn from old fabric left in the house and she spotted Rose blush at Nathan's approval. Approval from him was few and far between and he didn't give it unless he truly meant it. As dessert was served Nathan suddenly stood and raised his glass and she and everyone else followed suit. His toast brought a smile to her face and tears to her eyes. She took a sip of her wine, and was expecting Nathan to sit down and start on dessert but he didn't. Instead, he instructed Ben to go retrieve something and Ben left the dining room. Sabella looked over at Nathan when he suddenly began to speak about a bride gift. She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, but she continued to smile. Suddenly, Ben returned and placed before her a silver serving tray with a round, silver clef. With everyone now watching she reached over and carefully pulled the clef from atop the serving tray...

It took alot of thought and indeed he had to employ others to aid him in its creation. He used every smithing skill he had ever been taught and then some plain old ingenuity and engineering to boot. Under the clef was a headdress. Not just any headdress but one that looked regal like something a Roman queen might wear, an ornate diadem or crown of sort. It was made of the same carbon steel that he had learned how to work and he covered it in gold, bronze and copper. Along the front of it, that rested along the forehead were 5 light blue, almost white stones that glittered like diamonds in the dim light. The stone were set so that they could set just so up against her skin and also protruded through settings that held them in place. The very same stones he plucked from the amulets worn by the drones that Albereth had sent. Rose had delved their purpose for him and he had asked her to keep that a secret, until now.

Gasps resounded around the room and indeed Nathan had never made anything so beautiful or so grand. “I call it Quora which Rose tells me is latin for something to do with intelligence,” he said and everyone chuckled or smiled at his humor. “May I?” He asked and gestured toward Quora with the obvious intent on placing it on her head.

Sabella gasped as her eyes fell upon the headdress. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was so beautiful in its design that it left her speechless. It gleamed in the candlelight and Sabella ran her fingers gently along the five stones that had been applied to the front of the headpiece. They caught the candlelight and sparkled in the dim light. Sabella recognized the stones as those from the amulets that they had taken from Albereth's drones. The piece was extraordinary, but it caused Sabella to wonder what the purpose of the headpiece was. When Nathan asked if he could place it upon her head she nodded and let him take it from her hands.

Carefully he set it upon her head and allowed her to adjust her hair so it sat properly. She could not see it but she did look like a queen and if the gaping mouths in awe weren’t enough conleth tilted up the silver tray so she could see her reflection. She did look like a queen or at least a princess. And then because she had thought about it, she began to hear voices inside her mind. The people in the room were thinking about how beautiful she looked. Some of the men thought of crude things, like wanting to fuck her and some of the women were thinking jealous thoughts and wished they were her so Nathan could fuck them. It was all a cluster of voices and thoughts and she was hearing everyone not just one or two. The odd thing was that it took no effort at all. Nathan ofcourse thought it looked wonderful on her as well as wanting her to wear it at least once during sex, which he wanted right then. She heard their fears, their dreams and their thoughts both on the surface and what was hidden deep down.

Ooc: ofcourse you have to decide what she really wants to know. If she wants to know what nathan is hiding, she certainly could right now. She could also hear thoughts of people outside of the estate, maybe even to the town.

The moment the headpiece was placed upon her Sabella could feel a sudden surge in her powers. She had experienced power surges before, but those had all been unstable and destructive. This surge was not only stable, but she felt her energy increasing instead of decreasing. Voices immediately filled her head and she realized she was hearing the inner thoughts of everyone at the table...including Nathan. Closing her eyes and focusing her mind she found she could very easily shut them all out...or pick out just one that she wanted to hear. Not only that, but she could read the minds of anyone in the mansion without them being near her. All she had to do was think of them and suddenly her mind was immediately connected to theirs. Curious, Sabella then decided to see if how far her powers could now stretch. She thought about the nearby village and it instantly appeared to her in her mind's eye. She could see everything...every detail and read the minds of anyone in the village she wished. Slowly, she pulled her mind away and her eyes opened. She felt more powerful than she ever had before and that power was reflected in her eyes. She looked over at Nathan and a few tears came to her eyes.

"This is incredible."

Nathan smiled over at her but when it looked like she was going to cry his heart went out to her. “Oh, no no, don’t cry darling. It’s alright,” he said smiling and he hugged her then kissed her forehead and cheeks. He tasted the salt from her tears and squeezed her to him. Everyone in the room was unsure of what it was all actually about but Nathan knew. He knew and he was concerned that she may inadvertently learn something he didn’t want her to. It was then that Sabella felt something odd, a thought that stood out from the others. A close thought, a mind that was in this room. Hate and thoughts of death and revenge were prevalent and the memories of a young boy and a fire. She knew immediately it was sloan and her eyes involuntarily shifted to Marcus who clapped like everyone else but his eyes looked at Nathan with such hatred and contempt she was amazed she hadn’t seen it before. His thoughts were sloan’s but it his face, his body was definitely marcus’s. Memories of Sloan changing his face and his power to modify his outward look came through the link, the Quora seemed to be able to speed up the relay of information.

Sabella closed her eyes for a moment as Nathan kissed her and then hugged her and tried to relax her mind. As she did her mind suddenly picked up on something odd...something wasn't right. She focused her mind and feelings of hate, death, and pure revenge filled it immediately. There were also memories of fire and a young boy. It was Sloan! But how could he...? Opening her eyes they shifted instinctively to Marcus and Sabella knew the moment she laid eyes on him that something was wrong...very wrong. It looked like him...and yet it also didn't. How could this be? She then saw in her mind's eye images of Sloan changing is appearance. He was a witchborn! And he was in this very room. Sabella forced herself to remain calm but Nathan would suddenly hear her voice in his head.

As I tell you what I need to tell you, you must remain calm and not show any outward sign that something is wrong. Continue to eat and smile and drink and do not look at me like I am talking to you. Sloan is here...the Quora has shown me this. I know now that he is a witchborn like ourselves. He has transformed himself to look like Marcus and sits at this very table. Do not look at him! Do not give us away! Not yet...We need a plan and quickly.

Nathan's eyes changed from loving and affection, to grim, dark anger within an instant. His thoughts didn't go to Myrna though as they used to. Now they went to Sabella and what he knew Sloan wanted to do to her. In Nathan's mind at least. There was fear too in that. Fear that he could hurt her or someone else.

"If you can read him, can you hold him?" he asked simply.

Sabella kept her expression happy and did not look over at 'Marcus'. Instead she took a sip of her wine and looked over at Nathan with a smile while at the same time responding to his question.

I am certain that I can, yes.

"Do it," was his only reply and then he slid aside so she could see him clearly. Even before she began Sloan's hand moved like a viper. When she had seized him his blade was not an inch from Francis's throat. She screamed in horror and fell back out of her chair away from the knife that had just been at her throat. men and women pushed back quickly from the table, men shifted to move in front of the women and their faces drew down to grim, dark, angry looks such as Nathan had right then. The last thing Sloan remembered was Nathan jumping onto the table and his fist coming into his field of vision.

Later, he didn't know how much later, he awoke with the feeling of a cold, wetness. Nathan drew a now emptied bucket and tossed it down behind them. Sabella, Ben, Rory, Rose and himself, were all looking at him from the other side of the bars that made up the small cell. A cot for sleeping sat against the opposite wall. It had a white pillow and the blanket that covered it was of a dark green wool. Nathan crossed his arms as he looked into his eyes. In that gaze there was no look of pleasure or satisfaction. Only a cold, deep hatred. Not burning as it had been, Somehow Sabella had tempered that and turned it into something less hot and primal.

“You have not the right to hold me!” Sloan said and he shifted like a snake and came at the bars. An arm flailed out to grab someone...anyone but they were too far from his grasp. “I’ve committed no crime!” He said in disgust. He was his own image now. Apparently when he is unconscious he can not keep his made up shape. Odd too his ability to change his voice to sound like other people. It was unsettling to say the least. “You’ve committed murder,” Nathan began. ‘I’ve done nothing! All witches are enemies of god! They must be burned out!” he said and cackled wildly. “And I never forget a face!” he said as he looked around the room. Rose swallowed and had a fearful look in her eyes. Ben stepped up to her and put his arm protectively upon her shoulders. Rory stared bloody murder at him and his thumb flinched on the hammer of the musket he held to his side. Sloan looked over at Sabella.

“You now...I remember you,” he said and grinned as if this was some kind of reunion for him. “The young man you were with, he led us on a merry chase and we looked for you but couldn’t find you. Did he die? I thought that I had shot him but we did not find a body. All witches deserve to die,” he said as if he were disappointed. He couldn’t know that Westley had died in her arms over a year past from now.