Where there is ruin... (Ireland)

[Aiden Finnegan]

Stone suddenly seemed to vanish as Aiden had pounded upon it. Had he done that? He wasn’t trying to use the Power. He was just frustrated and-

"Only one issssss worthy. Let he claim the treassssssurrre,” a voice hissed from beyond the opening. Aiden felt himself instinctively shiver as his eyes met Jaxen’s, who appeared to be standing in a dark, circular chamber. Aiden’s brow furrowed and his head began to shake slowly. He gripped Sage’s hand tightly.

Despite his persona and lifestyle, Aiden had indeed devoted most of his life to the stories and figures from mythology. A monomyth that had sprung up constantly was the Hero’s journey. It just so happened that many an adventure was modeled after the Hero’s journey. What had Aiden wanted? An adventure. What had he gotten? An adventure. Of course, there would be a trial of sorts in exchange for a boon. That is what always happened. Aiden felt the urge to roll his eyes as he made the mental connections.

Ask and ye shall receive, he thought to himself ruefully.

“I think that voice in there wants Jaxen and I to fight. Maybe to the death,” Aiden spoke soberly as he turned his head towards Sage, “If I die… Well…”

It would have been cliché for Aiden to admit his love for Sage in that moment, but he couldn’t find the words. He was not sure yet. Would he sacrifice himself for his boyfriend? Without question. But after the heartache of the past, Aiden still could not say those words lightly. Not even in the face of death. He had never fought another ‘God.’ Ever. He had gone hunting with Nox a few times, but never against someone who could harness the Power and if Jaxen’s show was anything to go on? Well, Aiden certainly felt like his work had been cut out for him.

As if by instinct, he embraced the Power and wove a few strands of Earth together before tying them off. A lithe, stone dagger materialized in Aiden’s left hand and he passed it into Sage’s hands before pulling him close. He kissed him deeply and tenderly. His head pulled away slightly and he breathed, “Save yourself, above all else.”

With that, and in a dramatic flare of showmanship, he pushed away from Sage and walked through the opening in the stone wall. He paused as he stepped through and turned around, weaving a shield of Air into the opening of the wall. Aiden did not think that Jaxen would attack Sage, but the man was a trickster, and a trickster always used what was at hand.

Aiden breathed in deeply, puffing out his chest and spun around, still holding tight to the Power.

“I think we both know what is to come next, Jaxen,” Aiden said soberly to the other man, “Just don’t drag it out…”

Aiden’s face was a mask of indifference as he looked about the room. Slitted, glittering eyes gazed at him from the shadows that edged the chamber. A strange, snake-like woman stood at a dias to Aiden’s left. She was regal and alien, a vision of something otherworldly. Were these the Tuatha de Danann? Aiden might never find out, but it was a problem to cast aside for the moment.

“I see no obstacle course. Only you,” Aiden broke the silence again as two fireballs erupted in his waiting palms, “No hard feelings, yea? Let’s just make this quick. I rarely perform for free.”