Filliandari
On her first morning out from the Yawning Giant, Filli prayed for spells and Asher immediately appeared before her. "You are going the wrong way, Chosen. In more ways than one. Wait here for the Inquisitors. We will help you, Fillindari, but you must let us. Stay." He commanded her before departing. That left her a choice, to stay like a good girl, and come to heel. Or run. Faster. She also learned that praying for her spells provided a traceable link, but apparently only outside the dungeons.
Anger flared, and for a moment, she considered remaining and giving all of them a piece of her goddamn mind, but common sense kicked in quickly enough for her to begin fleeing long before the paladins could reach her.
Life outside the dungeons was safe, almost ridiculously so. She did not need her spells to defend herself. However, that same time of day and action of praying was part of her tenants. It was not unheard of to skip a day or two if circumstances didn't allow it, but as angry and self-righteous as she felt, she didn't want to surrender her lifestyle completely, nor turn her back to the Goddess of Light and Life. So, she placed a knife beside her, unsheathed and easy to grab before she began her prayers. If the Nephilim wanted to threaten her, she would be prepared to threaten him right back.
As she completed her prayers, a golden light flared, and Asher appeared. "What are you doing, Fillindari?"
"Praying," she answered succinctly, opening her eyes to glare at him, "Does that bother you?"
He sighed. "You are being difficult. Half a millennia of good service to your fellow mortals, and suddenly you are a petulant child. Where are you going? You were called back to the town by an Emissary of the Powers you claim to serve. Or has service lost its meaning to you?"
"I have already tried to explain to you what I need right now, Asher, and you have chosen to disregard my thoughts, feelings and wishes. More than that, you've outright insulted me because of them. I have nothing more to say until you come to me with an open mind and fewer intentions to return me to a life of loneliness."
He closed his eyes, and she could sense he was communicating with his Goddess. Then he returned his gaze to her, his silver eyes burning. "I can see that unquestioning faith is no longer a part of you. Then let me be a little more clear. If you insist on becoming a demon's strumpet, you risk undoing everything you have done before." He crossed his arms, glaring down at her as he waited for that to settle in.
"YOU are the one making me question my faith, Asher!" she cried out in frustration, "I just wanted one thing from you, I wanted help. I wanted understanding! I want to not be alone forever!" There was raw emotion in her voice, carrying centuries of loneliness and isolation.
"I'm so tired, can't you see that? Tired of being an object instead of a person, of being watched every moment of my life, of always saying the right thing and looking the right way. I'm so tired..." her voice cracked, and she turned away to hide the tears in her eyes.
His light enveloped her. It was cool. Calming. Not hot, not warm like Eris...
"We are not perfect beings. But we strive to be. After everything you witnessed in your trials, it was believed that you would never be interested in such things. We should have anticipated your flaws and weaknesses. I would be honored to mate with you as needed. And if our relationship is so soiled at this point, you could have your pick of any celestial being.
There are, as I mentioned, spells that could also close that void in your heart. The heavens will bend to your needs to cure you of this affliction."
"There you go, insulting me again. Do you really think I want something so... meaningless as a dutiful copulation? Because that's all it would be to you, or to anyone else you approve of, because no one sees me as a person."
"It is mortals that look for confirmation of love, Fillindari. We feel love for all mortals of the Light. It is unspoken but ever true. So yes, I love you." He said coolly, and she found herself remembering Eris saying those words as his warm lips brushed her neck. All while his burning hands explored every inch of her.
"Your sincerity is overwhelming," this was said with a sigh, "I'm not coming with you, Asher, and I don't want you to do anything with me, so you can just go."
"If you insist on acting like a child, then I will have to treat you as such. You are too important to the world to throw your purpose away. Where are you going?" he demanded.
"You'll know when I get there." her hand slipped down to rest on her knife, not grabbing it, but bracing herself.
He noted her hand. "You would strike me? You must know that would not avail you. Come, I will take you back to Aglavrin, we can even travel through the Celestial Paths, that you might see the rewards of service."
"I'm not going with you. And the knife isn't for you. I'd rather be dead than keep living like this, Asher."
He sighed again, "We both know you cannot die. Just come, there is no sense in idling." He out reached to grab her, perhaps intending to pull her along like a naughty child.
Immortality was such a damned inconvenience when trying to make a point. "Right. Yet another choice that's been taken away from me!" Filli snapped angrily, and grabbed the knife, interposing it between herself and his hand as she scrambled to her feet. "Leave me alone, Asher."
Asher swatted the knife aside and grabbed her by the front of her robes. He seemed prepared to take her by force if she was unwilling to fight. His total disregard for her choices, opinions and feelings was absolutely enraging, and in a moment of true blind fury, she struck out, running the knife down his arm, yelling, "I said leave me ALONE!"
He hissed as light shone from his wound before it healed, nearly instantly. In reflex he released her robes then backhanded Filli hard enough to drop her on her rump.
Then, he gasped in shock, his silver eyes widening at what he'd done. "Forgive me, Chosen, I did not... You must return to the Light, Fillindari. If you couple with a fiend, you will doom the world! You will release the King of Sacrilege from his prison and everything you have suffered through will be for NOTHING!"
He vanished in a golden flare as her cheek swelled and tears filled her eyes. She had no words for him, although his departing statement was enough to shake her further. The only problem was she didn't know if she could believe him, or if it was just another attempt to persuade her to remain alone and chaste.
But... she owed him at least the chance to explain, right? She can't make a real decision, unless she has the whole story.
So, while she continued on her way to the Holy City, thoughts of Eris now competed with fear of what she could be dooming the world to and she found she was ready to listen to Asher's reasoning the next time she prayed.
Filli was about a day from the city, and a day from her reunion with Eris, when she prayed again. Sure enough, Asher appeared in a beam of light.
"I wish you had simply told me you were going to Aurevail. I would fully condone you seeking the wisdom of all the Light's faiths."
