What REALLY happened to Imoen (a novel)

[Kaltia]

*sniffle* poor Neomi...*cries*
Damn this senstive side of me

[Galadria]

Well, I understand that I'm not supposed to hug you, but I'll pat you, here. *pats* Here is some more:

XV
No one seemed to know what to do with themselves the next morning. Noemi crept around with swollen, red-rimmed eyes, while Morgul hung nearby, vainly trying to comfort her. Odo and Cythera sat side by side at the bow, conversing in low tones without any of their usual banter, while Sefa sat by herself on a hatch cover, watching Noemi with wonder. After what seemed a long while, Attalus and Galadria came on deck. The dark mage went immediately over to her sister, squatting in front of her and clasping her hands in hers. She forced a smile.
"How's my Em, this morning?" she asked with an assumed brightness.
Noemi just shook her head. "Awful, Gal," she finally responded. "I dreamed about him. I can still hear his awful voice." She tore her hands from her sister's grasp and hid her face in them, and began to sob. "Oh, Gal, what am I gonna do?"
Galadria sat down beside her and put her arm around her shuddering shoulders. "I'll tell you what to do, Noemi." She said quietly," You just need to realize some things." The redhead raised her tear-streaked face to look expectantly at her.
"You need to realize that everyone here loves you." Galadria went on with more force, "You need to realize that you're alive and free. But most of all," she grabbed her sister's head by either side, forcing her to meet her gaze, "you've got to realize once and for all that we won. Us, not him. We killed his body, here, and banished him to another existence, somehow. And Em, don't you realise that he knows. Wherever he is, he couldn't think of us as his victims or his slaves, but as his conquerers. He knows he made a mistake, that we were stronger than he. If he ever thinks of you, he winces. Got that?"
Noemi managed a tentative smile, "Yeah Gal, I do. We beat him. I need to think of that."
Galadria nodded in agreement. "Good," she applauded, "because I need you. I don't need some draggeldy little girl, but a mage of great might, confidently wielding her power against a terrible foe. It'll be a great fight, and we'll need all our skills. Understand?"
The redhead smiled in acknowlegement, and her sister made to rise, but Noemi caught her hand. "Just one thing, Gal," she whispered. "Can I sleep with you tonight? Like we used to? I think I'd sleep better, and Tres knows I need it. Okay?" she pled.
The dark mage smiled at her indulgently. "I'll have to ask Attalus," she replied, "but if he agrees, all right." The women had frequently slept together as girls, and even as they grew older, they often had shared warmth under inadequate blankets near lonely campfires. Of course, Galadria's marriage had changed all that.
"Attalus will agree," Noemi said excitedly. "I know him. Oh, thanks, Gal."
Her sister waved it off and rose, suddenly conscious that every eye was on her. She bridled. Pretending to glare, she took in each in each one, then said, sternly, "Well, now that I have your complete attention..."
Everyone laughed, breaking the tension. Even Noemi managed a weak little chuckle. "The ship's captain has informed me," she went on, "That if his reckoning is correct, we will make landfall tomorrow, and probably debark at Baldur's Gate a little later. So, see to your packing and make your plans. We have things to do."
That night, as she wanted, Noemi slept cuddled up against her sister. Her dreams did not disturb her. Attalus made do in his bedroll on the deck.

[Kaltia]

Oh dear, it's starting...poor Immy
Gal, 'cos I'm scared of you, you can hug me [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Galadria]

LOL, Okay, *hugs* Poor Morgul, you should say. For that, another installment:

As per prediction, they came ashore later on that next day. Attalus hired horses to carry their baggage, and soon they were turning into the quiet side street where sat the House of the Dome. That was its new name, courtesy of Cythera, who considered herself an authority on christening things. Sefa couldn't believe how excited she was to get home. She had never had that feeling before, and she considered it a very pleasant one. They drew up to the gate, and Attalus knocked at the wicket.
It opened almost immediately, and Rantis, Lania's husband, answered the door. He recognized Attalus immediately and beamed with pleasure and relief. The two and the stablehand had been watching the place in the group's absence, and he had been worried about thieves breaking in, in the absence of its formidable owners. Now his worries were over. He surreptitiously placed the club he had in his hand behind the door, and after welcoming them home, went back inside the wall to open the main gate. Sefa went running into the house to say hello to Lania.
She found the cook, naturally, in the kitchen. She was not cooking but relaxing in a small chair by the cooking fire. Sefa rushed to her and hugged her.
"Well, hello, child. Back already?" Lania greeted her mildly. Galadria had anticipated a much more prolonged trip, and they had been prepared for an absence of several months. She and Rantis lived in back, over the stables, so it had been no hardship. "Did my Lady find what she was looking for? Is everybody all right?"
Sefa was rooting around in a large stone jar, searching for sweets. She came up with a broken cookie, and took a large bite of it. "Yeah, we found a magic dish, and my Lady is very pleased," she mumbled around crumbs. She swallowed. "Lady Noemi had some kind of crying fit, but she's okay now. I killed an orc," she ended proudly.
Lania snorted. She had been a barmaid in one of the group's favorite inns, and often loudly told the story of the first night she met them, when they had staggered in, hungry, cold and wounded, and how she had helped make them comfortable. Since she could cook, they had called on her to move to the new house, and preside in the kitchen. They had not regretted her decision to move in with them, for she was an excellent cook, but now she felt privileged to comment on their quirks, on the basis of long acquaintance. "Lady Noemi has been all nervous since that szent ouf got his hands on her. She was merry and bright in the old days. Teased me something terrible. Cast a spell once to make a mug o' ale I was delivering to some gent that had been staring at her, boil. Burned his mouth dreadful, it did. He blamed me, and she was falling all over the place, laughing. He was going to hit me, but the Lady stopped him with a paralysis spell."
Sefa was looking around for something else to eat. "Did you hear about my orc?" she asked, anxious that her feat not be overlooked. Her status among the servants was rather low, and she wanted to improve it. "It was about to stab my Lady in the back, but I stopped it."
The cook made a noise something like pft. "I'll wager my Lady would have survived without you, youngling. She's much too great to be taken by an orc, especially one small enough for you to bring down. There's more cookies in that red box." she added, more symphathetically.
Sefa gratefully grabbed another sweet. After she had bitten off another mouthful, she said, stubbornly, "My Lady thought not. She praised me."
"My Lady is way too generous and easy," Lania responded. "Picking up lazy brats that stuff themselves while she unpacks. Out of here with you." She swung at Sefa's posterior, but the girl nimbly evaded her and sped out the door, feeling guilty.
She ran to the stableyard in back to find the men involved in unpacking the horses, as the three mages were carrying on an intense conversation in a corner. Morgul hollered, "Ho, girl, help me with these bundles." Sefa grabbed one side of a large bag filled with bedding and helped carry it to the storeroom. Attalus and Odo were trying to get the huge and heavy magic basin up the back stairs, and were having difficulty. The big knight turned his sweaty face to his wife.
"Gal," he called," would you give us a hand with this?" Sefa was somewhat shocked to hear him request physical help from his slender mate, to whom he generally deferred extremely. Galadria turned but made no attempt to rush over. She merely made a few gestures and muttered a magical phrase. The men at once straightened, the strain going out of their faces. They then moved quickly up the stairs as if the basin were a pillow, calling thanks.
"I wish my Lady would lighten our load, said Morgul beneath his breath. Sefa looked him a question, and he turned red. "It's supposed to be a simple spell, but I've never managed to get the handwork right."
Sefa wondered why Lady Noemi didn't lend them a hand, but the redhead ignored them. She actually had been neglecting Morgul for some time, distressing him, as he had been hoping that their relationship was getting back on its old footing ..After they had unloaded the horses, he went to his room to change clothes and refresh himself.

[Kaltia]

It has begun
Sounds omnious, but since I have a general idea of what's happening...it's true *sob*

[Galadria]

You are right, Kaltia. Read on.

Sefa ran up the stairs to go to her room but passed the mages on their way out of the Lady's study. "Oh, there you are, Sefa. Come on up to the roof. We're going to get the men to position the basin." They all continued together. They entered the great room under the dome to find the basin sitting on a bunch of rags, with Attalus and Odo lounging on a couch, awaiting them. They at once sprung up and lifted the lightened basin, as Galadria directed them to put it at the point which the setting sun's rays would last touch.
Galadria looked around and frowned. "Where's my other apprentice?" she asked no one in particular, "He needs to see this. Sefa, run fetch him."
Sefa, with the energy of youth, galloped back down the stair to Morgul's room. The door was closed., so she banged on it. Morgul opened the door, and scowled when he saw that it was only his fellow apprentice. "What do you want?" he demanded.
The girl drew herself up. "It's what my Lady wants," she replied stiffly. "She wants you on the roof, now."
The dark youth made a face."I'll be there in a trice," he said flatly, and slammed the door shut. Sefa scampered back to the roof.
In only a brief while, Morgul joined the group. Galadria addressed him. "You see, we are placing the basin in the last of the setting sun. Prellis, in his work on scrying technique, says that that is important."
"But my Lady, " the dark apprentice objected,"does not the sun change its position depending on the time of year? The basin was deeply buried, and the spring that filled it fixed by nature." Galadria nodded understanding, and started to answer, but she was cut off by Noemi, white-faced with rage.
"You dare?" she cried to the startled apprentice. She spun to her sister. "Do you let this lout, who knows almost nothing, argue with you?" She turned back to Morgul, as if to abuse him further, but Galadria put one arm around her waist and the other over her mouth.
"Noemi," she said firmly,"go to your room. I will speak to you later." The redhead tore out of her grasp and ran sobbing to her quarters. Everyone turned to Morgul, who appeared confused.
"What in blue torment was that, Morgul?" asked Attalus.
"I do not know, my Lord." the apprentice replied. "She has been ...different since we went on this trip. I fear she no longer loves me."
After a long silence, Galadria gently suggested,"Perhaps it would be better if you went away for a few days. A time of quiet study. Have you a place you could go?"
Morgul replied gratefully, "Yes, my Lady, I could go stay with my uncle in Calimport. The library there is famous."
"Then, go," the dark mage replied. "Return when you feel you will benefit from further practice." The youth turned and left.
Everyone left collapsed on the couches, except Sefa, who perched on an arm.
"What on earth is wrong with Noemi?" demanded Odo."She used to be so friendly and light-hearted, now it's constant tantrums. Could Smaractus have done something to her mind?"
Galadria shook her head,helplessly. "She's been worse, lately. After we rescued her she just seemed numb,don't you remember?"
"I said I welcomed this romance," Cythera confessed in a low voice, " because it seemed to focus her. But it seems she's just getting more unstable."
"I agree," chimed in Attalus,"Gal, do you think we need to call a physician in, one that specializes in the mind?"
Galadria responded,"I know of none such, here in Baldur's Gate. But I need to talk to her, get some idea of what's happening, and specifically, what brought this outburst on." She grimaced and rose, looking Cythera in the eye. "Do you want to come, Cyth?"
The blonde magician demurred."I don't think that would help, Gal. You know how she is. She'd try and get me to side with her, and end up being mad at us both. No, I think you should go alone."
"All, right," Galadria said with resignation, "I guess I'll get it over with. Wish me luck."
Cythera reached out and clasped her hand."You know I do, dear Gal," she replied warmly. The others made noises of agreement, except Sefa, who was keeping her mouth tightly closed. When her mistress had left to confront her errant sister, she slipped down beside the little blonde, who put her arm around her shoulder. Attalus and Odo were deep in low-voiced talk.
"What will happen, Lady?" Sefa finally asked.
"I do not know," Cythera reponded softly, "I suspect that they will have it out, and Noemi will let Morgul come back, only as apprentice, not lover."
Sefa made a face. "I hope he's gone a long time." she whispered. Seeing the blonde brows draw together in dissapproval, she added quickly," you just don't know, Lady, he was so cross all the time."
Cythera smiled a little. "You will learn in time, Sefa, that when a man -or woman for that matter- loses his love, it can have a bad effect on his temper."
"We'll. I won't miss him." Sefa said with some spirit..
"Sefa, its not you or Morgul that we're primarily concerned with here, but your miatress," Cythera responded gently. "Can you, eager though you are, replace him? He saves Lady Galadria much work, and she needs all the help she can contrive at this time."
Sefa subsided, but couldn't sincerely wish for Morgul to return. They all sat and waited to see if Galadria could work some different magic.

[ 09-01-2002, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: Galadria ]

[Kaltia]

oooh...good as ever [img]smile.gif[/img]
But one thing...Mory's going to Calimsha? Does he mean the empire or the city, which is CalimPORT?
Sorry to nit-pick [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Galadria]

Originally posted by Kaltia: oooh...good as ever [img]smile.gif[/img] But one thing...Mory's going to Calimsha? Does he mean the empire or the city, which is CalimPORT? Sorry to nit-pick [img]smile.gif[/img]

LOL, good point. I just meant the Empire, which I have always disliked because of the Calimshite merchant that enslaved Viconia. I shall, however, change it, because I like the way that it sounds better.

[Galadria]

All right, this is now in its proper place. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Galadria quietly opened the door to Noemi's room, and found her lying on the bed, sobbing vigorously into the pillow. She sat on the edge of the bed, and ran her fingers through her sister's crimson locks. She noted, for the first time.how sparse the room was. Except for a picture of herself and Galadria, she had left everything bare. For a moment she grieved, in a strange way. Then, Noemi, to her surprise, burrowed her head in the pillow more deeply. "Go away," she said with a muffled fierce voice.
Puzzling a little, she rose as if to leave, only to have her wrist grabbed in a fierce grip. A ray of hope came into her heart. This was indeed like the old days. This was not "sad , depressed Noemi." This was mad Noemi. The redhead, tousled, pulled her flushed face from the pillow and glared at her.
"Gal," she said angrily, "You embarrassed me in front of everybody!"
The dark mage allowed herself an amused smile. "Em," she answered reasonably, "what was I supposed to do? You interrupted me, sabotagued a teaching opportunity, and ended what promised to be an interesting discussion, not to speak of ruining everybody's evening and running my apprentice off. Yes," she said, nodding, in reply to an inquiring look from her sister, "He's gone. For good, I'd say. I let him leave freely."
To Galadria's indignation, Noemi nodded in satisfaction. "He's gone, eh? I thought so, maybe," she stated flatly. "Good."
Her sister grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her , roughly. "Em, what are you saying? You were lovers. Is this your way of discarding him?" she cried incredulously.
Noemi's head bobbed in the fierceness of the shake. "Careful," she said with a grin and a chuckle, "you'll scramble my brains."
"What brains?" demanded Galadria. "You deliberately drove off my apprentice on the eve of an expedition, just because you aren't in love with him anymore? When did you come to this ...decision?"
Noemi extricated herself from her outraged sister's grasp and sat, crosslegged on the bed, with a strange little smile on her face. "Well., now, I'll tell you, Gal" she said placidly, even proudly. "It was the other night. You know, the one I spent with you and Attalus, You remember, I was cuddled up to you, feeling your warmth, smelling your perfume..."
"I don't wear perfume," Galadria objected..
"Your scent is perfume," Noemi went on dreamily. "I had my arm across you, under your breasts."
"Noemi," said her sister uneasily,"what are you getting at?"
"Why, it's simple, sister dear," the redhead answered."I was lying there, marveling how different everything was than the night before, and I didn't think your little pep talk was all of it. I felt good. So safe, so comfortable, not having bad thoughts, but just relaxing there, drowsy. It never had been like that with Morgul, or even close. Then it hit me. I never felt like that with Morgul, because I wasn't in love with him. That was just my body. What my soul, or whatever the rest of me wanted was...you."
"Me?" Galadria gasped."But I'm your sister. And we're both women."
Noemi shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I'm in love with you. I can't be happy without you.You're the only thing that matters."
The dark enchanter was scandalized. "Noemi, how am I supposed to respond to that? I'm married, to a man that I love. Do you expect me to kick him out, break his heart? Live together to become two old incestrous lesbians?"
Noemi laughed at that. She was, Galadria marveled, perfectly serene for the first time in she didn't know when. She shook her ruddy head. "No, dear Gal, I don't expect anything like that. I love Attalus, too, and I think he loves me. I wouldn't do anything to hurt him. No, I'll be content just to live at your home. Our home." she corrected. "I won't say I wouldn't like to make love with you, but I like men, too. I won't be celibate. I just won't, can't, love them like I love you. So," she concluded," I know you won't get rid of me, 'cause you love me, too. I'll just stay here, and take part in your life, and I'll love you. You can't stop me, mighty sorceress though you are, even if you kill me. So there, Lady Galadria, what do you think of that?" she finished with a flourish and a toss of her flaming hair.
Her sister took a deep breath. "Well, Em, I'm not sure what to say. I still think that this is some misplaced gratitude, combined with the fact that you have become suspicious of men's motivations since ...your imprisonment." She had a sudden thought. "Em, we've never talked about it, but Morgul said something the other night that's got me thinking.When you were his prisoner, did Smaractus rape you?
Noemi made a face. "Oh, yeah," she said matter-of factly," every once in a while, at night. The last thing he would do after torturing me. Worst thing about it, he'd say things that were supposed to make me think he liked me, even cared about me. But I knew all the time, he was just fattening me like a prize cow, for slaughter, and using me for his own pleasure, in the meantime." She shuddered at the memory. "Believe me, he did far worse things."
Galadria looked grim. "Doubtless. Em, were you a virgin?"
Noemi looked evasive. "Maybe."
Her sister shook her head, engulfed in a flood of pity and rage. "No wonder you have a problem with men," she said bitterly. .
The redhead shrugged. "Not all men. But you know what I thought about, while Smaractus was doing his little act?"
Galadria was not sure she wanted to hear the answer, but she asked anyway. " What, Em?" she whispered.
"You, of course." She grinned. "Not us having sex, not at first, but it became that. It went from 'Gal's coming to save me' to 'It's Gal making love to me, not this degenerate.' It helped," she finished.
"Well, I'm glad something helped," Galadria began to reply slowly, but Noemi cut her off.
"No, Gal, hear me out," she demanded. "I may never get to say these things, again, and I want to...I've got to." Galadria nodded unenthusiastically. She went on, "Do you know what I felt like when, that last day, my cell door opened, and I was steeling myself for another day's pain? I was repeating my chant, 'Gal's coming to save me,' and I opened my eyes, and instead of Smaractus it was you. I thought I was dreaming, or insane. Nothing good had happened in so long, I was afraid to believe it, at first. But it was you, and Attalus behind you. I know he says I was babbling, but I remember, so clearly, what you said. You said, 'Em, baby, it's me, Galadria.' You looked so worried. I think I was just incoherent with joy. It just burst inside of me. I couldn't say anything, then, and we had so much to do, that I never got around to thinking it through.
"After we bought the house, I had a fling with that artist, and then Morgul. But I just wasn't happy. Things weren't right. I made love to them, but it wasn't fun, not like I thought it should be. Then, like I said, you let me sleep with you that night, and everything just clicked into place. I felt like I did back when we were girls, sleeping together. No nightmares. No trouble getting to sleep or waking up early, reliving the bad times. I knew that I didn't love Morgul, I loved you. The minute I realised that, I went right to sleep, and I resolved the next day that I would be real mean to Morgul so that he would leave, and he'd stop looking at me with hurt puppy dog eyes. I knew you wouldn't stop him. And then I would be free to just love you." She closed, and nodded to her sister, a happy grin on her face.
Galadria, stunned by these revelations, shook her head incredulously. "Em," she said carefully," you know I can't be your lover, but I'll never make you leave... I can't help your feelings, but I know mine. I love you, but I'm in love with Attalus."
"I told you, that's all right with me. I'll be having breakfast with you, even if I'm not the one sleeping with you. Even then," she added impishly," maybe I'll manage to sleep with you every once in a while, like the other night, you know, just sleep."
"Well, that'll better have been good, because its going to be a long time before it happens again." Galadria rose from the bed. "Now wash your face and come back upstairs. They're all worried about you. Odo thinks you're going mad."
Noemi jumped up and dived her hands into the washbasin. "Dear Odo," she mused, "If he only knew." Galadria heard her singing as she closed the door. Despite it all, she was somehow relieved.

[Galadria]

The Last installment for the day. I have to cook dinner (pot roast and roasted vegetables and a green salad.) [img]smile.gif[/img]

XVIII
Everyone, including Galadria, marvelled at the abrupt change in Noemi. No more sulks or rages. She not only sang, she sat by herself in long reveries, softly gazing at a flower or a book. Sefa came across her once in an otherwise deserted passageway, dancing dreamily to music only she could hear. She began to write poetry, working for long hours at her desk. Galadria began to find little specimens of this in her pockets and other places. One read:
I know you think I'm awfully queer,
But I am one who holds you dear.
With me about, you've naught to fear.
Another:
I know to my state you'll ne'er descend,
But you and yours I'll e'er defend,
Upon my love you may depend.
This was in the elvish mode called linnead that she had been so enamored of when they had visited the elf kingdom Solieforasher, years ago. At first, Galadria was both touched and irritated by these little attentions, but one day she came into the laboratory one morning and found this, propped on the guardian golem:
I'm awf'ly sorry Morgul's gone,
So take his place I've tried and done.
For me, you'll always be the one.
She read it twice, then sent Sefa, who had been sweeping the place, for Noemi.
In a few minutes, quick footsteps were heard in the hall, and in skipped her sister, face alight and eyes sparkling in anticipation. Galadria gave her a sour look. "Em, what's all this?" she asked, "Are you offering to act as my apprentice, now that your ex-lover is no longer around?"
"Yes, Gal," answered the redhead, eyes widened," What's wrong with that?"
"The problem," the dark mage blazed, " is that you're not an apprentice. You're a full-fledged mage." Noemi tried to protest, but Galadria held up her hand, silencing her. "Now, I know you meant well, and that you feel guilty about running Morgul off, so that I have to do my own spadework, but believe me, I'm quite capable of doing it by myself. Sefa helps to the extent that she can, running errands and cleaning up and so on.
"But, what I need from you is to be what you are. I want you to work on your spells. You've been neglecting that lately. Cythera is far ahead of you, now. I checked when she was here." Cythera and Odo had been gone some days, but were expected back, soon. "What I don't need is you wasting your time tagging along with me cleaning up and preparing my spells. I'll prepare my own, Tres knows that I did it myself long enough."
Noemi's mouth drooped in disappointment. "But, Gal," she protested, "that can be helped. You can teach me, like you did Morgul, and it will go faster. I'm a lot smarter than he is. That way, I'll be more powerful, and I can help you at the same time. By the way," she asked innocently, "what was the answer to that thing about the placement of the basin?"
Galadria controlled her exasperation. Noemi was so transparent! "The answer," she said in an ominous tone, "is that I think that the sybils moved it, depending on the time of year, but filled it from the sacred spring every so often. Em, that is changing the subject. You're just doing this to hang around me."
"No I'm not," the redhead shook her head vigorously at the mere thought. "See, I'm learning. You're teaching me. I'll be scrying before you can say, 'imp.' That I enjoy your company is a mere side-benefit. Can I read that tome you were talking about? You can quiz me."
"Em, we're going to fight a demon. I need another power spell from you," answered Galadria in a martyred tone.
"All right," she agreed quickly ,"teach me that dessicating spell you used on that mosadorn."
Her sister sighed and shook her head. "Em," she said tiredly, "that spell is far too advanced for you. You saw, it nearly killed me."
A cloud came over Noemi's face. "No, I didn't. I was clutching your former apprentice by the bow, mutually congratulating ourselves for something that you did. That's one reason why I want to be your apprentice, so next time I'll be there for you, like he should have been, instead of putting it off on little Sefa. I won't leave your side, when we have to fight."
Galadria shook her head again. "Em," she spoke carefully, " despite what you think, you and Morgul did well. If you two hadn't conjured those elementals, the mosadorn might have capsized the ship before I got my spell off. I still can't beleve how quickly you summoned them."
The little redhead's face brightened a little. "You think so?" she asked excitedly, "We had practised it. You really think we helped?"
"I do," said Galadria firmly.
"You don't think we...I...let you down?" more timidly.
Galadria put her arms around Noemi's neck, touching her dark forehead to her sister's fair one, peering intently into her eyes. "Sweetie, you've never let me down."
The freckled face lit with a blush. "Thanks, Gal," she finally said. "I kinda thought you might never hug me again."
Galadria stood back from her in astonishment. "Why," she asked, amazed, "would you think that?"
"Well," Noemi said with embarrassment, "after I told you I loved you, you acted kinda offended, and the you...you said it would be a long time..." she trailed off. "I thought that you wouldn't like to touch me iny more."
Her sister laughed gently in derision. "So little you know me? I was shocked, not offended. I told you I loved you. That didn't mean you were just my friend. You and I were always as close as sisters could be, even before we knew we were even kin. I'm not going to stop hugging my sister, just because she's a little confused right now. I still think that this is just a phase, and you'll get over it." She kissed her on the cheek. "See. Won't stop kissing you, either. Good Tres, I'd nap with you if I didn't think it would be encouraging these fantasies of yours."
"Now," she said decisively, "I'll tell you what you're going to do." Noemi smiled at her commanding manner. "If you're to be my apprentice, you have to do what I say. Go find Sefa. I want you to teach her to shoot with that old bow of yours. Do it in the stableyard. Don't shoot the horses, or Attalus will be upset."
Noemi stood up with a happy smile on her face, and pretended to salute. "Yes, Mistress." she answered in a mock-military tone. "Same old Gal," she added whimsically, "our leader!"
"You'd better believe it. And check your desk afterwards. I'm going to leave two spells that I want you to learn. And that tome you mentioned. Read and study it. I'll ask you some questions about it in a few days." She paused and smiled as Noemi made a face. "It's very thick," she added maliciously. The redhead's face grew longer. "And," she concluded, "if you flunk, I'll punish you. You'll wish you were back with you-know-who."
The redhead rolled her eyes in patent disbelief and strolled out the door, but quickly popped her head back in. "Only if you promise to rape me afterwards." She stuck out her tongue, and sped off.
Galadria laughed to herself but called after her rapidly retreating footsteps, "And no more bad poetry!"