here's the next chapter. kinda long, hope you enjoy.
thoughts are in italics
Cooking Class
Hours later, Trouble called a halt to the astral training session, citing exhaustion, then outlined a few rules for leaving the astral plane.
“Ok. Leaving this plane after being here so long, can be disorienting, I want you to close your eyes, and clear you mind.”
Tara did as she was told, closing her eyes to the sunshine, the barrier, the field; leaving behind the world of her making, and seeing nothing.
“Now,” Trouble continued. “I want you to see the living room. The window, the chair, the shelves and books, see it all in your mind.” Her voice was smooth, and pleasant, full of warmth, and reassurance.
“Ok,” Tara said, envisioning the living room and all it contained, including herself and Trouble, every details, right down to the empty coffee mugs.
“All right. Now, open your eyes, and blink several times.”
Tara opened her eyes, only to find the room spinning, so she did as instructed, and blinked several times, and to her relief the room wobbled into place. Trouble was on the couch, blinking her eyes, and starting to move her muscles one by one, starting with an arch of her back. Both women were soaked with sweat from the hours of astral training, their bodies worn from exertion, though they had been perfectly still.
Trouble rose slowly, the popping of her joints audible as she stood, and stretched her arms above her head, reaching for the ceiling for all she was worth, up on tiptoe. “Ahhh, urrrrrgh!” Suddenly, two thunderous pops echoed through the apartment, making Tara jump.
“W-w-what was t-that?!” Tara exclaimed from the edge of the chair, where she had landed after jumping.
Trouble chuckled. “Sorry bout that, Mouse. I was popping my shoulders. It’s kinda loud.”
“Kinda loud? That sounded like gun shots! I thought you had broken a bone, for Gaia’s sake!” Tara truly was worried by the unnaturally explosive pops, and wondered if Trouble had somehow amplified them.
“Comes from years of carrying gear, and using weapons. Used to freak out Sarai too. I’m perfectly ok though. No worries. Juice?” Trouble was already shuffling towards the kitchen, her body slowly loosening as her movements increased, an empty coffee mug in each hand.
“That can’t be healthy.” Tara muttered, watching her wander off.
“What was that, Mouse?” Troubled called from the doorway, where she had stopped.
“Can you get some for me?” Tara asked, sweetly, folding her hands primly in her lap, and giving Trouble a winning smile.
“Sure thing, Mouse.” Trouble said, finally entering the kitchen.
Tara let out the breath she had been holding in a fit of silent giggles, as glasses tinkled and the fridge opened, and closed.
“Oh, Mouse?” Trouble called to Tara.
Tara froze. “Eeep.”
“It is unhealthy.” Trouble finished.
“Damn.” Tara muttered, as Trouble walked back into the room with two extra large glasses of juice, her hands shaking slightly as she handed Tara one, a bemused smile on her face.
“Nice try, Mouse. But my hearing is pretty damn good.” Trouble settled herself down on the couch, one foot resting on the coffee table, leaning back fluidly into the couch. “ I don’t know about you, but I’m beat. And starving. How about a meal, then I’ll walk you back to your dorm room?”
Tara nodded as she took a long swallow of her juice, her eyes closing as the delicious liquid spilled down her throat, and splashed in her empty stomach. The effects of the astral workout were catching up with her, and her body felt weak, and kinda rubbery, affected as it was by dehydration. She polished off half of the tall glass before stopping for air.
“Soooooooo, Mouse. You got plans for Friday?” Trouble asked curiously over her glass, which she held in between both her small hands to keep from spilling it.
Tara arced her eyebrow, and rolled her eyes towards the ceiling, face scrunched up in thought, fingers tapping lightly on the side of her glass. “Art history in the morning, followed by study group. After that, nothing. Why?”
Trouble looked very childlike, as she raised her glass with both hands, and carefully took a sip, then lowered the glass with a pleased smile, eyes sparkling. “An old friend is coming into town, I thought you might enjoy meeting her.”
Hmmmm… Tara thought to herself. I wonder what this ‘old friend’ is like… not like I have anything better to do… and it would be nice to be telling the truth, when I tell Jennifer I have plans… Tara looked at Trouble, who was gazing innocently into her orange juice, a small, wistful half-smile tugging the corner of her mouth. Look at her. She’s so happy. I don’t remember her ever looking this happy… I definitely need to meet this woman.
“I’d love to come meet your friend, T. What did you have in mind?”
Trouble looked up from her juice, a broad grin slowly spreading across her lips, she leaned forward enthusiastically, putting her foot on the floor, and setting her juice on the table.
“Nothing too strenuous. She’ll be tired when she gets here, it’s a pretty long trip. Just dinner, a few drinks, some light conversation. She practices magic too, you’re gonna love her stories!” Trouble was practically bouncing on the edge of the couch with eagerness. “And she can’t wait to meet you.”
This caught Tara off guard. “You told her about me?”
“Uh-huh. I talk to her every day. She’s staying in a small village, with no electricity, or anything like that. The modern world doesn’t really exist there. So I talk to her through a telepathic link; tell her jokes, stories, listen to music so she can hear it, watch movies so she can see them…” Trouble trailed off.
“You give her the world.” Tara murmured, softly, thinking of the time Glory had stolen her mind, leaving her a shambling shell, that Willow had tenderly cared for. Her memories of that time were shards, and fragments of fear, pain, and confusion, but Willow’s love had shone like a beacon, that guided her out of the madness, and saved her.
Trouble looked down sheepishly. “I try. I hope you don’t mind, but I told her all about your adventures in Sunnydale. She has trouble sleeping at night, and asked me for a new story. So I told her about my friend Tara, the jolly, giant wiccan, who overcame her shyness, and family situation, to find true love, and join the Scoobies in protecting Sunnydale, and the world.” She glanced up nervously at Tara, a tentative smile on her lips.
Tara bought her self time to organize her thoughts, by taking a drink of her juice.
My adventures? She makes me sound like a heroine from a novel or something. I feel so… cool. She smiled as she lowered her cup, eyes sparkling. “I’m flattered that you, and your friend think so highly of my escapades. I do try very hard to survive them.”
Trouble raised her glass. “Here’s to surviving them.”
Tara too, raised her glass. “Here, here.” They both took a big swallow of their juice, then Tara looked to Trouble expectantly. “What now, oh fearless leader?”
“Now,” Trouble said, standing. “We cook.” She waited for Tara to rise from the chair, then led the way into the kitchen.
“So what are we cooking?” Tara inquired, carefully measuring her steps, so she didn’t inadvertently step on Trouble, whose stride was much shorter then her own. They made it into the kitchen without incident, Trouble flicking the light switch as she passed on her way to the fridge.
“Stuffed green peppers.” Trouble pronounced, as she bent down to rummage in the fridge, withdrawing a package of ground round, four green bell peppers, and an onion.
As Trouble laid out the items from the fridge and retrieved rice, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes from the pantry, Tara went to the large stainless steel sink and washed her hands.
“So how’s your head feeling, Mouse?” Trouble asked, as she knelt to retrieve a mixing bowl, from a lower cabinet.
“Quieter. I didn’t realize just how noisy it had gotten, till I put up the barrier.” Tara turned to lean on the sink, while Trouble arranged everything on the counter, and pulled a knife from the wooden block next to the stove.
“Good, good. Next time we’ll work on raising and lowering the barrier, quickly and efficiently, then filtering.” Trouble turned towards the sink, as Tara stepped aside, moving to inspect the ingredients.
“You ever have stuffed green peppers before?” Trouble asked, scrubbing her hands under steaming hot water.
“Once, I think. When I was little. I made them with my grandmother.” Her expression became wistful, as faint memories of cooking with her grandmother, in an ancient farmhouse kitchen, flitted through her mind.
“Well I can’t guaranty they’ll be like your grandma’s, but we can give it a shot, I think. Are the ingredients the same?” Trouble dried her hands on a dish towel, as Tara rechecked the supplies.
“Looks about the same. Don’t remember diced tomatoes… but the rest seems right.” She picked up a pepper ,and examined it closely. “Grandma cut everything up, put it in a big bowl, and I mixed it with my hands.” Tara scrunched up her nose at the memory of the cold, raw meat in her hands.
“Wanna take a turn at cleaning the peppers?” Trouble offered, giggling at Tara’s expression. “You’re a big girl now, I think you can handle a knife.”
“Why, thank you.” Tara said, picking up the knife, and proceeding to cut out the stem, and clean out the pepper. “Speaking of handling knives… Will you tell me about cold steel?”
Trouble pulled a chopping board from under the counter, and began cleaning, and chopping the onion. “I can tell you as much as I know. Sarai is the expert. She was my teacher, in a lot of subjects.” After finely dicing half of the small onion, she reached into the cabinet above her head, and retrieved a zip loc bag for the rest. “Can you cut the very tops off the peppers, and dice them up? There’s an extra cutting board in the same place I got this one from.”
Tara retrieved the second cutting board, and cut off the pepper tops and diced them, as Trouble opened the meat and dumped it in the bowl. “Cold steel is an ancient practice, derived from blood rituals performed in the countries surrounding the Carpathian mountains. The shedding of blood was phased out of it centuries ago, although when performed for the sake of magic, or energy, it is still most potent with blood.”
After emptying the package of meat into it, Trouble dumped the onions into the bowl, and indicated for Tara to do the same with the peppers, before reaching into the cabinet over the stove for garlic powder and black pepper.
“But I won’t be learning the blood letting part, right? Just the energy control.” Tara asked, as Trouble added several shakes of garlic powder, and a few of black pepper to the mixture, before opening a drawer, and producing a can opener. Tara was impressed with how fluidly the smaller women moved around the large kitchen, the location of every item in the room known to her.
“They are one and the same, Mouse. The difference, is the amount of energy you wish to call forth. The pattern alone, draws energy. Drawn in blood, it draws the most energy. The same for the release of energy. The difference is the amount of pressure you use. A little pressure, and you have a tingle, a little more and a pleasurable burn, past that is sharp, stinging pain, and then the ripping tearing pain of a full blown cut. You are going to learn how to make Willow tingle.”
Trouble quickly opened the diced tomatoes, drained them in the sink, and dumped them into the bowl, then handed the can to Tara. “Could you fill that with rice?”
“You got it,” Tara said, flipping open the tab on the box of rice, and pouring until the can was full, as Trouble opened the can of sauce. Tara handed her the can of rice, and watched intently as she poured the last two ingredients in, then moved to the sink, and washed her hands.
“I most commonly use Cold steel for relaxation, and release. And it is quite useful in foreplay, and sexual endeavors. Haven’t used it expressly for magic in quite awhile…” Trouble mused, returning to the mixing bowl with her still dripping hands.
Tara leaned her hip against the counter, and watched intently as Trouble dug her bare hands into the meat, vegetable, and rice mixture, and began blending it all together. “It’s an extremely effective bonding tool, and will intensify, and enhance your existing connection, and energies.” Trouble stopped mixing for a moment, turning to Tara with a perfectly straight expression. “You’ll be armed for her pleasure.”
Tara pursed her lips in an effort not to laugh, but her shaking shoulders gave away her amusement. “Will I be dividing, and conquering?” She asked with a smirk.
“That would be between you, and Willow, dear Mouse.” Trouble said, stirring the mixture a few more times, before proceeding to scrape the concoction from her hands. “Could you turn on the hot water?”
Tara made her way to the sink, quaking with laughter, as she envisioned herself dressed like Xena, preparing to conquer a prone, helpless Willow, who was dressed as Gabriel, on their bed. She snorted with laughter as she turned the hot water knob, catching Trouble’s attention.
“Is there something funny about proper kitchen hygiene, Mouse?” Trouble asked, as she hip bumped Tara aside, so she could wash her hands.
“No.” Tara said, chuckling. “But I think dividing, and conquering, turned out cheesier then intended.”
Trouble tilted her head from one side, to the other, thoughtfully, as she soaped up her hands, wondering how it had gotten cheesy. “Cheesy? Just where did your mind wander off to, Mouse?”
“Um… well. There may have been a mental image… with armor.” Tara confessed, blushing a deep crimson, and wrapping her arms around her waist as her laughter increased.
“Oooooh, Xena-esque.” Trouble responded with a broad grin as she rinsed her hands. “ A blond Xena and a red-headed Gabrielle? Interesting twist.” She murmured as she retrieved a dish towel, and dried her hands. “Are the peppers ready?”
Tara struggled to catch her breath. “U-u-h huh. Cleaned and ready. Sir!” She nearly choked on her laughter.
Trouble looked surprised, and mildly annoyed. She grabbed her breasts, and bounced them up and down. “Do I look like a sir to you?” she asked, incredulously.
“From the back, yes.” Tara managed to rasp out, before doubling over in hysterical laughter.
“Ha-rumph!” Trouble groused, opening a drawer and pulling out a large, wooden spoon. “Your girlfriend looks like a guy from the front.” she muttered, heading toward the meat mixture.
Tara stopped laughing. “What did you say?” she asked seriously, stepping towards Trouble.
Trouble looked Tara up, and down, then stood as tall as she possibly could. “Your girlfriend… looks…. like a….. guy…. from… the front.” she repeated slowly, staring Tara straight in the eye.
“You take that back.” Tara said, advancing a step, clearly upset with Trouble’s criticism of Willow.
“You take back what you said.” Trouble said, advancing a step of her own, wooden spoon firmly in hand.
“You take that back, or I’m gonna-” Tara began.
“You’re gonna what?” Trouble interjected, bouncing up on her tiptoes, eyes sparkling.
“I’m gonna…” Tara began, looking around the kitchen for ideas, her eyes coming to rest on the wooden spoon in Trouble’s hand. “I’m gonna spank you with a wooden spoon.” she finished quickly, reaching out, and snatching the spoon from Trouble.
Trouble looked wide eyed from Tara to the spoon, back to Tara, then took a quick step back. “Personally, I would prefer being beaten about the head with a wet noodle. No splinter issues with that.”
“Take back what you said about Willow.” Tara said, brandishing the spoon menacingly.
Trouble pursed her lips in determination, and took a step forward, her gaze firmly locked with Tara’s. “Take back what you said about me.” The two were now standing toe to toe, Trouble’s neck craned back so she could maintain eye contact, Tara holding the spoon high, out of the other woman’s reach.
“Last chance to take it back.” Tara offered, raising an eyebrow, and the spoon.
“I was about to say the same thing.” Trouble retorted, getting up on tiptoe.
Tara brought the spoon down behind Trouble’s back in a blur of motion, resulting in a loud -thwack-, and Trouble lurching forward into her in shock.
“What the fuck?! You hit my ass!” Trouble cried out, scrambling back away from Tara, towards the doorway.
Tara grinned evily, waving the spoon back and forth. “And I’m gonna do it again, if you don’t take it back.” She started moving towards Trouble, spoon held high. Trouble darted through the door into the living room, with Tara hot on her heels.
“Eeeeeep!!!” Trouble squealed, scrambling over the coach to get away, Tara clad in a skirt, couldn’t follow her over, and had to start edging around. “Picking on little people is so clichéd, your bigger then this, Tara.” Trouble reasoned from behind the couch.
Tara went to move left, and go around the couch, only to watch Trouble hop the couch and land in front of it. When she backtracked,Trouble again hopped over, managing to keep the couch between them. Tara faked left again, watching for Trouble to hop over, then dove right, onto the couch, catching Trouble’s ankle as they both landed.
Trouble tried desperately to crawl away, only to be pulled backwards, and slapped on the ass with the spoon again. Not willing to hurt Tara to escape, Trouble relented. “I give, I give!” She rolled onto her back, shoulders, and head dangling from the arm of the couch, leg still trapped in Tara’s iron grip.
“Take.. It… back.” Tara panted, rolling to her side, and reaching out with the spoon to prod Trouble’s ribs.
“GAH!!! Damn it, Tara!” Trouble yelled, squirming. “Torturing someone who’s surrendered, is against so many international treaties!”
“Do it.” Tara prompted, with a jab.
“God damn it, to hell, son of a bitch!” Trouble shouted, trying to wriggle free. Tara lined up for another jab, and Trouble threw her hands up in defeat. “All right! All right.” She breathed. “Willow does not look like a man.”
A bright smile lit up Tara’s face, as she released Trouble’s leg,and collapsed on her end of the couch. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” she asked Trouble, cheerfully.
“Ow! My ass.” Trouble groaned, still hanging off the other end of the couch.
“Trouble?” Tara said softly, after a few minutes of quiet.
“Yeah, Mouse?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?” Trouble asked, confused.
“For not calling Willow my ex.”
“Just because you’re apart, doesn’t mean you’re not together.” Trouble reasoned.
Tara sat up. “Seriously.”
This caused Trouble to sit up as well, and she waited for Tara to elaborate.
“I know I said we needed time apart, and that she needed to get herself under control… but… that doesn’t mean I see it as over. You know? She’s still my Willow. The word ex makes me want to spit. She’s not my ex, she’s my always, and after this time apart, we’ll be back together.” Tara stopped for a breath.
“'Ex' denotes an ending.” Trouble said, taking Tara’s hand. “You, and Willow are a lot of things. But over is not one of them.” She squeezed Tara’s hand reassuringly, giving her a knowing smile.
“It’s not over. We’ll be together again. She’s doing so much better, I can see it in her energy. I-” Trouble cut Tara off by squeezing her hand tighter.
“Soon. Mouse. It will all come back together soon. You just need to remain patient, and focus on the things that need to be done. All right?” Trouble’s sky blue gaze held Tara’s sapphire one, willing her to find calm, and acceptance.
Tara nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. Very good. Now…” Trouble trailed off, looking around. “What the hell were we doing?”
“Um, cooking?” Tara offered, holding up the wooden spoon as evidence.
Trouble scratched her head. “Huh. That’s best done in the kitchen, truthfully.”
Tara’s eyes closed tight, and she pulled her knees to her chest, shaking in silent laughter, as Trouble looked from the spoon, to the kitchen. and back again, her stomach rumbling. “Reckon we ought to finish that, then.” she stated, matter of factly.
“Hehehe. Ahem. Yeah, good idea.” Tara managed, before breaking into a fit of giggles.
Trouble plucked the spoon from Tara’s hand, standing quickly to keep Tara from snatching it back. “Oh! Wow. Head rush.” she exclaimed, shaking her head, and blinking. “Damn! My ass hurts.”
Tara, still shaking with laughter, rose as well, following Trouble back into the kitchen at a slow pace, the smaller woman moving stiffly as she headed to the sink. Trouble quickly washed the spoon, while Tara moved to lean her back against the counter, next to the peppers.
“What next, oh clueless leader?” Tara inquired, elbows on the counter, hands clasped across her stomach, watching Trouble with sparkling, mischievous eyes.
Trouble glanced back over her shoulder, rolling her eyes, and frowning at Tara. “Now, we stuff the peppers.” She said, moving towards the bowl of mixed ingredients, and cored peppers, spoon at the ready.
Tara stepped back demurely, her hands sliding behind her back, the picture of innocence. “I have no experience with putting meat in holes.” She said, without a trace of humor.
The spoon fell out of Trouble’s hand, clattering onto the counter, as she turned to stare at Tara in shock. “Did the Scoobies teach you to talk like that?”
A lazy smile eased it’s way across Tara’s lips, as she turned first left, then right, bouncing up on her toes, mirth bubbling up inside her. “Goddess, no! They were floored when I mentioned a woman having ‘genuine molded plastic’ stamped on her ass. The comment about meat in holes? Anneurysms, all around.”
Trouble’s head tilted to the left, her mouth scrunched up, and her eyes rolled up to examine the ceiling. “Too many cosmetic enhancements?” She asked, speculatively.
“Robot.” Tara said, with a slight shake of her head.
“Well, that’s new.” Trouble muttered, with wide eyes, as she turned once again to the waiting peppers, and meat mixture. “A real robot? That looked human?” She glanced back.
Tara nodded her head vigorously. “Uh huh. Very realistic. Had everyone’s attention right away.” Tara’s face lit up. “Oh! She threw Spike through a window.”
Trouble chuckled and turned back to the counter, picking up a pepper and the spoon. “Damn. Sorry I missed it.” She dug the spoon into the combination of ingredients, scooping up a fair amount and filling the pepper with it. “I give to you, a stuffed pepper.” She turned to Tara, and held the vegetable creation up for her inspection.
Leaning down just slightly, Tara peered closely at the green pepper, eyebrow raised. “So we meet again, my plump friend.” She was warmed by memories of an afternoon spent preparing stuffed green peppers with her grandmother, so long ago, and so far away from the woman she was here and now. The sun shining through the kitchen windows as it sank in the west, the little wooden stool, painted sky blue with her name on it, so she could reach the counter top. Her heart swelling with happiness, she gently took the pepper from Trouble’s hands.
“If I remember correctly…” Tara said, raising her gaze to meet Trouble’s across the pepper. “They taste best cooked.”
“You are very wise, jolly giant wiccan.” Trouble remarked, leaving Tara holding the pepper, while she walked to the stove, turned it on, then retrieved a well used bread pan from the bottom drawer. She turned to face Tara, and held out the pan. “In he goes.”
Tara tenderly set the pepper in the pan, and smiled brightly at Trouble. “Can I finish up?” she asked, bouncing slightly.
Trouble grinned back. “Knock yourself out, kid.” She stepped out of the way, allowing Tara to take her vacated spot at the counter, then set the bread pan down on the counter, within Tara’s reach.
“So, Friday…” Tara prompted ,as she picked up a pepper, and carefully filled it with the meat, then softly placed it in the pan.
“Friday…” Trouble said, slightly uncertainly.
“Friday. Your friend is coming over, you want me to meet her…” Tara paused, the third pepper in her hand, and turned to stare at Trouble with a puzzled look. “I know we talked about this.”
Trouble’s face was blank as her eyes darted back, and forth, clearly searching for an answer.
“Are you suddenly stoned?” Tara asked, eyebrow arched. She turned back to the bowl, and spooned out some more of the mixture, packing it neatly into the pepper.
“Nooooo,” Trouble drawled out. “Just got a lot whirling around in my mind. Spaced momentarily. Yes, Friday, very important.” She nodded her head so vigorously, she resembled a bobble head, and Tara couldn’t contain a burst of laughter.
“What time do you you need me here?”Tara asked, situating the third pepper in the pan, and reaching for the final one.
Trouble reached up to open a cabinet door, withdrawing a jelly glass. “Seven should be fine. She’s not due until nine, so plenty of time for last minute preparations. That work for you?” she walked to the sink, and filled the glass with water, before moving to stand next to Tara.
“Works just fine.” Tara answered with a nod, as she watched Trouble pour the glass of water into the pan, then look over to her with a grin.
“It will keep them moist, and delicious.” Trouble said, confidently, as Tara filled the last pepper, and set in in the pan next to it’s fellows. Trouble knelt to retrieve aluminum foil from the cabinet in front of their legs, taking a moment to find the right box. “Wax… no. Parchment… no. Reynolds! Yes!” She exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
In her excitement, Trouble overbalanced, and went from bouncing on her toes to sitting on her ass, a frown of confusion on her face.
Tara clamped a hand over her mouth to try to stifle her laugh. “He. Ha. Hmm. What are you doing down there?” She asked sweetly.
“Finding the foil.” Trouble replied, holding up her prize. “And re-injuring my ass.” She muttered, under breath.
Tara chuckled, and held out her hand to help Trouble up, easily tugging the smaller woman to her feet.
Trouble handed Tara the foil and proceeded to dust herself off, as Tara measured out enough to cover the pan and tore it off.
“How long do we cook them for?” Tara inquired, as she concealed the peppers beneath the foil, then crimped the edges around the lip of the pan with her long fingers.
“One hour, at three hundred fifty degrees,” Trouble declared, pulling oven mitts out of a drawer next to the stove. “No glove, no love.” She said in a low, serious tone, as she handed them to Tara, then turned to open the pre-heated stove.
Tara let out a snort, as she accepted the mitts, sliding them on, before turning to pick up the foil covered pan. She carefully slid the container in the oven, then closed the door quickly. “Ta-Daaaa.” she said, clapping her mitted hands together.
“I see you’re happy, and you know it. But do you know how to set a timer?”Trouble asked, pointing to a knob on the stove. Tara turned back, and studied the small knob for a moment, finding the hour mark, then twisting the knob to the proper position. She turned back to Trouble with a smug grin on her face.
“There’s nothing I can’t do.” Tara proclaimed, resolutely.
“You have no idea how right you are.” Trouble agreed. “Let’s clean this up quick, then we’ll work on raising and lowering your shield, until the peppers are ready.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Tara assented, as they both moved towards the sink. Trouble made quick work of scrubbing and rinsing the utensils, leaving them to dry in the rack, while Tara wiped down the counter top. Within a few minutes, the kitchen was spotless again, and the two women made their way into the living room.
“Oh!” Trouble exclaimed, stopping short, causing Tara to run into her. Trouble staggered as Tara’s larger frame hit hers, but she managed to stay on her feet, and avoid getting stepped on by a stumbling Tara.
“Hehehe. Ooops.” Trouble said sheepishly, as she stood up straight, and faced Tara with a tentative grin. “There was a reason for the dramatic pause, I promise.”
Tara gave Trouble an annoyed look, then smoothed back her hair, and straightened her shirt. “I certainly hope so.”
Trouble smiled brightly. “I have a book I wanted to give you. It covers minor offensive spells, and charms. Mostly ways to disarm, and counter attacks, nothing dark. No such thing as over prepared, here in the Dale.”
Trouble crossed the living room, and disappeared into the bedroom, emerging a few moments later, with a small, leather bound volume, unmarked, and well worn. Tara reached out tentatively, sensing the power emanating from the aged journal, and held her breath as Trouble set it lightly in her upturned hands. She opened the tome gently, easily recognizing the tiny writing inside as Latin, she leafed carefully through the sheer pages, confident the ciphers it contained were well within her capabilities.
“It’s the magical equivalent of a field guide. It was required reading for magically inclined warriors. Oops, forgot something.” Trouble trotted quickly back into the bedroom, while Tara continued to peruse the powerful book.
So much power… almost limitless potential. Contained in such a small, innocent, manuscript. And she’s trusting me with it. Tara turned the book over, and over in her hands, marveling in how light, and insubstantial it felt. The fates of men, and demons, countries, worlds, even dimensions, lay nearly weightless in her hands, as their keeper disappeared to retrieve yet more secrets.
You can never be too prepared… The comment echoed through Tara’s mind, teasing her. What exactly were they preparing for?
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by AstronSoul » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:26 pm 
....so when is the next update?
Coming soon: Replies and an Update! (not necessarily in that order 
)
