Arya: Ethan

'Who was Ethan? Her heart began to beat harder as she thought of him. I need to see him and how see he's doing. Why does he affect me so much?' Arya felt a yearning for him but found it hard to accept.

'It can't be helped, I have to see him now.'

She looked down at her dirty clothes.

'But I need a bath.'

Arya rang the bell for a maid to come and assist her.

The maid was a young, tall woman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Her name was Saga and, she hadn't been employed more than a year, but she was a first-class maid for a noblewoman.

She had first been scared when she saw all of Arya's tattoos. It wasn't every day you helped a mage in a bath. At first, she had thought the runes would kill her with a touch, then that they would be destroyed in the bathwater. Arya had barely laughed, but not in a mean way.

Saga was the eldest child in a family of five. She had grown up in the city but had had to start working when she was ten to help support the household. She reminded Arya a bit of Greta from the orphanage she had grown up in. Always happy but easily stressed at the same time.

"Saga, I can't find my way in the castle. Could you show me where Ethan is? The man who was whipped in the courtyard. His wounds would be dressed and cleaned."

Saga looked at Arya with widened eyes.

"He is dangerous, my lady."

Now she sounded scared. My lady, may I speak freely?

"Sure."

"He was handsome and hot before they starved and whipped him. But he's dangerous. Don't go to him, don't go near him. When he tried to escape, he killed two guards with his bare hands without magic or weapons..."

"Why did he try to escape?"

"He was told that a new lord was coming from the Lodge. He will try to harm you or kill you, my lady."

"He cannot harm me. So, he doesn't like the Lodge? It was said that there would be male magicians who were friendly to the Lodge. Where are they?"

"All the wizards and witches disappeared two years ago. Only Ethan was left. He saved many from the demons that attacked after all the other mages disappeared. That's why he's a hero..." said Saga.

"Saga, what was the rebellion about, and when was it?"

"It was about six months ago. They don't like Robb ruling the city, or rather the Lodge ruling it with the king. I guess they wouldn't like you taking over either. No offense but, you're from the Lodge."

"And Ethan was in the rebellion."

Saga hung her head but nodded slightly.

"He was popular with the people and still is. That's why he hasn't been executed... I think. But don't forget he's lethal, my lady. Don't go to him, please."

"I have to. Can you help me dress?"

"Of course, my lady. Your clothes that came from the Lodge are in your closet. They sent them to us and came right after you arrived."

"What a coincidence", Arya muttered.

"They wrote that they would suit your status as a lord, I mean lady..."

Dressed in a blood-red short kimono, that ended mid-thighs and, with slits up to the hipbone, Arya walked through the corridor together with Saga.

With each step she took, her entire leg was exposed and, parts of her buttocks. Rune patterns snaked their way from her calf up and around her thighs and over her buttocks. The other runes were hidden by her long-sleeved kimono of silk and velvet.

Different kimonos were the usual dress among witches. But Arya used to dress more like Guardians as she often fought close to enemies. She was a warlock, after all. But, kimonos were really comfortable, she had to admit.

The tower had several dungeons of three types. The first was a place for the nobility with a bed, table, couch, and wardrobe. The second type was for ordinary inhabitants with a bed of straw and barred windows. The last type was a place without light. A place where the person would be forgotten in total darkness.

"After walking for a while, they arrived at the dungeons. Several guards sat playing cards in a dimly lit room that led to the corridor of cells. Saga seemed to know some of them.

"Hey, Saga, why are you coming down to this rat hole said one before another poked him in the side. Now everyone had caught sight of Arya and, she recognized two of them. They had been standing as gatekeepers when she arrived at the sun castle. They had been rude, but now they bowed deeply with trembling voices. "Your Highness... my lady... what can we... do for you..."

Arya sneered.

"I want to see Ethan."

"He's in the first cell on the right. His wounds have been dressed as you ordered."

He's in the first cell on the right. His wounds have been dressed as you ordered.

Arya walked past the guards. "Unlock his cell."

She walked through the door and saw Ethan lying on a bed of straw. He lay chained up despite being sick and unconscious. But his Yang mana was living its own life, surrounding him with sparkling bolts of lightning.

Arya barely had time to take one step into the cell before she was surrounded by his Yang; caressing her body. She gasped loudly and moaned with pleasure. Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

"Leave me," she said to Saga and the guards.

They did so without protest when they saw her reaction and how her runes had begun to glow.

Never had her heart pounded so hard and fast in her chest. And wave after wave of Yang was rolling over her.

She walked over to Ethan's bed and pulled a lock of hair away from his forehead. Raven-black hair, hard, rough masculine features but gaunt yet youthful like any mage.

She continued stroking her hand over his cheek and then placed her hand on his hot forehead. Fever, he had a high fever. For a moment, she felt panic creeping up amidst all the excitement. She shook her head as if that would help her with all the emotions.

Despite her arousal, she was pissed. I don't even know him, yet I'm completely enchanted by him. It must be the magic of his Yang. But it felt like it was more than that.

"I hate you." she let out.

'I wonder what it would feel like to kiss his lips,' she thought.

'I can't let him die. But, she had no runes to heal others, only runes to heal herself. If I use my self-healing and press my hand against his wounds, they might heal,' she thought.

It was worth a try. Arya didn't think he would survive without magic.

He was wearing only his tattered pants and the bandage around his torso. With air, Arya cut the bandage and freed part of his wound, and on the wound, she placed her hand. She connected her Yin with one of her five self-healing runes and let the magic heal her own body. Where she had placed her hand on Ethan, there were no longer any wounds. tog tag

It would have been impossible, but it had worked. His wounds were gone but, it was only where his skin had been in contact with hers.

Arya bit her lip lightly and looked away towards the cell door. They were alone.

Arya breathed in deep breaths as she removed Ethan's bandage. His body had really been torn apart by all the lashes. His Yang suddenly penetrated her and, she widened her eyes as she suppressed a scream. Heat spread like fire through her body as she came and her eyes teared up.

"I hate you, why are you doing this to me." Ethan was unconscious and wasn't doing anything but Arya was completely engulfed in his Yang mana. She would never be able to leave the room now. She was like a bird in a cage trembling from the interplay between his Yang and her Yin.

Arya took off her kimono and let it fall to the floor. She stood now naked, heated, and let her gaze glide over his body.

'I'm hoping it will work to heal him with skin-to-skin contact and self-healing runes.'