Thread: Castle on the Hill {Kay & Local}

The village was abuzz with news of their new lord, for weeks, how he was one of the men that defeated the evil that had destroyed so many humans and cities. Athena only knew this because of the blind old healer woman that picked herbs close to the castles grounds was her only connection to the village. She came once a week, her wrinkled hands carrying the weaved basket and long white hair skillfully braided down her back. The gargoyle met her in the pasture every week at dawn. Athena had grown a tolerance for fighting off the transformation back to stone, with disciplined practice every time she did so she added just a second more of life in the world of light. The basket carrying woman finally arrived, Athena had been pacing a patch into the green meadow. Is he still to arrive at the castle, Healer? She asked, her voice smooth as the sun began to glitter across the horizon. Nice to see you too Athena. Chucked the healer, or Lady Nerva as some called her, Still worried about your precious castle I see. She began to kneel down and pick thyme and mint from the various plants. I told you before old woman, it is not my castle. But a small smile tugged upon the corners of her lips, even as she knelt down to help the woman pick her plants. He comes this week, the town is alive with chatter about him. A bachelor too it seems, the young misses of the town are coming to me for love potions. She wheezed and let her milk colored eyes look up to the gargoyle and studied her as if she could see. It is time for you to move on Athena, creatures like you are not meant to stay in one place like this. I do not wish to move on, I do not wish to wander any longer... This is where I shall stay until I no longer see it fit.... And either way youll not be getting rid of me that easily, someone has to tell you when youre picking poison, you bat. The women laughed and for a brief moment every week Athena felt human. Athenas father used to make her stay in her stone form for months on end, day and night. He wanted her to get used to the realm of dream, is what he used to call it. It was essentially her mind creating a world in which her consciousness stayed while she was in her stone form. She could stay there for decades now, no matter how hard her wings beat or her legs ran she would go nowhere but in her own mind. Here she was safe, here she was free from time. The gargoyle could feel the outside world around her inside of her realm, the feel of Midnight, the black cat rubbing against her knee, or the chill of the crisp autumn day against her cheek. She enjoyed sleeping here in front of this castle, it was quiet, peaceful. Now a days she only came from her stone form to see Lady Nerva and check upon the castle. But now things were changing... Gargoyles did not like change... As the sun sat upon the village the familiar itch to become flesh again seemed overwhelming as she knew today was the day that the Lord was to come to the castle. First was her fingertips, toes, elegant spirling horns, the ends of her wings. Slow and steady. The various tones of her skin returned, the scuffs upon black boots, the slight sheen of her armor began to sparkle in the light, eye lashes and red hair giving a healthy sheen, the sword from tip to handle sparkled in the golden rays. Athena's hands naturally wrapped tighter around the handle as she continued to change. Athena's heart gave a strong thump as her lungs gasped sharply at the pine soaked air, her amethyst against her breasts gave a soft glow of purple before fading quickly. Her head lifted slowly, green eyes blinking against the gentle sunset. She quickly stood let her wings stretch around her before giving a large gust of swirling leaves below her. It only took a couple grand beats of her wings to get her to the balcony of her tower where she folded her wings against her back and they began to disappear into her skin, her jaw clenching at the pain, it never got better, but the room was simply not made for her grand wings. Athena walked inside and took her swords from her back and set them upon their rests on the stone walls. It was a small room, books, scrolls and gems lined the walls. Various chests cluttered the room, they were filled with many precious things that she had collected over the years, powerful things, ancient things, all of which she had saved from the hands of reckless humans. Her drawings were scattered upon the small desk, they were all of faces that she had once known, once loved, hated...killed. In the rafters there was a hammock for her to lay in and look out the hatched window at the stars when she had nothing to do. The gargoyle tried to rest in her hammock, but she could not, her body was restless. She began to pace upon the thick wooden rafter, surefooted. Her hands fiddled with her gauntlets around her wrists, and tugged at her metal corset around her chest. Gargoyles hated change, agonizing horrible change. Voices..... She paused in her pacing and crouched upon the beam, her horned head tilting to the side and listening, waiting. Athena became far more interested when she heard a knock upon the door. Once, twice. Bang! The heavy wooden door splintered as it tore from the hinges. If she had been human she might have jumped but being as still as a statue was simply her forte. So she watched. It was dark in her room, only moonlight lit the various shelves, and her gleaming blades upon the wall. Her red hair had been loosened and now draped around her face, floating softly in the winds that whistled through the window as she stayed crouched like a cat. He was.... not what she expected... Her brows furrowed as she looked at the large man. He was that of a warrior that was for sure, he was no lord by any means. She had expected some human who has simply stood on the back lines and watched as he sent his men into battle... Not this mark covered beast of a man, who was drinking his wits away. She did not like intruders so there was a part of her brain that was screaming at her, telling her that this human had no right to stand where he stood and look upon things that he did not deserve to know. Her lips turned down and pursed as her hands gripped the beam with deadly force as his hand inched closer to the books upon the shelves. He is drunk, Athena. Stop being so... possessive. He will do no- Her little speech to herself was cut short as he pulled a book from its place and he began to flip through the 200 year old book like it was nothing more than a worthless piece of paper. Athena jumped off of the 18 foot high beam and landed beside him in a graceful crouch. Her green eyes bright and fierce. You should not touch things that are not yours Human. She said in a solid voice, as she snatched that in the bottle of wine from his hands before her boot covered foot came up and landed against his waist, pushing him hard back to the ruined door. It was a strong shove, enough to push any normal sized man onto his backside. She slid the book safely into its place before taking a swig from the bottle, her eyes never leaving the human. And there she stood, in her normal attire, armor gleaming softly and tanned skin, horns curling elegantly around her head, and scarlet hair falling across her shoulders. Athena was a perfect human, if it werent for the extras.