Begin Anew
Original



Yami shifted the young drow boy that he held in his arms against his hip and took the moment to brush the child’s distracting snow-white hair from his eyes. The boy gave him a curious stare, but said nothing, only blinking his wide strangely accented auburn eyes. Yami tried to shake the feeling of being read like a book and looked back at the trail he walked upon.

Only a day earlier had the child come into his care. The mother, apparently, a deserter of Lloth and her people had fled with the child to the surface in hopes of a chance at a new life. Unfortunately her treason had been discovered and the woman was chased every inch from the Underdark to the Surface. The journey had claimed her in the end, but not before she stumbled across Yami and begged him to take the boy and keep him safe.

Yami was still unsure why he had promised the drow woman the safety of her child’s life. It surprised him even now as he walked with the boy who stared dully at the canopy of trees above. The boy had watched his mother die in the hands of their own people, and being the age of seven he should have been able to understand the implications of her death… Yami decided the boy had taken to silence instead of crying in grievance. The half-demon couldn’t decide if he was happy about this or not.

The Prince of Aurora pondered if he had made the right decision to not intervene with the drow scuffle. It hadn’t been a fair fight—two drow priestesses, a scout, and a handful of warriors against one drow priestess and her child. He had no spells prepared, nor any magical instruments to assist the woman. She had seemed of kindred spirit, but the half-demon wasn’t about to throw his life away for a stranger. So instead, when offered the boy, he had taken him and slithered off into the canopy of trees at the sound of the drows scout calling the others. He had begun to prepare a spell in hopes to at least give the woman a chance… but he had not the concentration to weave together any complex incantation that could do a handful of drow any harm. So… instead she had died.

Yami set the boy down and he stood with his hands hanging limply at his sides staring up at the sky above. He squinted painfully at it, but said nothing to voice his discomfort. Yami took a step back, his delicate hands at the voluptuous curve of his hips and stared dumbfounded at the child. Drow with their heat-sensing eyes should be in agony from the sun, but the child seemed to take the pain stoically… Typical drow behavior, the half-demon decided.

“Come, child.” Yami said in the drow language, offering the boy his hand. Miles stared at the hand then slowly, tentatively reached up to take it. Apparently his mother hadn’t treated him as most drow mothers did. The Prince led him off the path and down into a small spring. “Are you thirsty?” He continued in drow.

The boy dipped the edge of his boot in the water, watching his reflection ripple across the previously placid surface.

Yami sighed softly, releasing Miles’ hand and walking about the tiny spring, his crimson gaze blinking owlishly up at the bright blue patch of sky that wasn’t covered with the thick forest. The sun bothered him, and he wasn’t even drow…

The sound of something squealing snapped the half-demons attention back about to the boy. Miles had captured a small squirrel and squeezed it in one hand, marveling at the pain-filled squeaks it made. Yami frowned deeply, turning about fully. “Stop that.” He commanded harshly.

The boys’ reaction was only to squeeze the tiny creature tighter. It squealed painfully, twitching back and forth and raking its back legs and gnawing at the boys’ fingers in a attempt to break free. Droplets of blood ran down the drows black skin, but Miles seemed not to notice.

“I said stop that.” Yami commanded again, stalking forward. “Let it go.” With no response but a twisted smile of satisfaction from the drow boy the half-demon knelt, shaking the boy. “Miles, I said let it go!” The squeal of the squirrel was terrifyingly loud and Yami felt a flare of anger rise up unexpectedly.

The sound of the half-demons slap was so loud that it literally echoed against the dense trees and an eerie cloud of silence seemed to fall upon them. Miles had dropped the squirrel and stood, staring wide-eyed with tears at the half-demon. Yami wasn’t sure who was more surprised.

“I-I..Y-you…” Yami stuttered, unable to explain himself. He had never hit a child, and had never expected to. He had eleven children, and not one of them had he even raised his voice to, at least, not without good reason… Yami continued to stare at the boy, moving his mouth with an effort to speak, but words failed him.

Miles eyes dropped down to the squirrel that lay lifeless at their feet. “Like mommy…” Miles said softly, the first words he had spoken since the half-demon had been given charge of him.

Yami stared wordlessly, searching the others face that was clouded with melancholy. “Miles…dear…”

“Like mommy…” He said again, tears spilling from his eyes. “Why did they hurt mommy?”

Yami blew out a slow breath and shifted his feet underneath him. “Your mother wanted happiness for both you and herself. But some people didn’t want that.”

“Why?” The boy interjected miserably. “I miss mommy.”

“Yes, darling…” Yami said softly, a small sad smile lifting his lips. He was well aware of how it felt to lose a loving mother. “You, see, Miles, your mother loved you so much that she made sure you’d be happy in expense for her own happiness. Does that make sense?”

The boy nodded, ever so slightly.

“I promise… that no one will ever hurt you again. Do you understand?” The half-demon said, reaching up hesitantly with his hand towards the place he had hit the boy. Miles didn’t flinch, so Yami placed his hand gently against the drows face, rubbing his thumb against his black skin. The difference of the pale whiteness of the mans hand on the boys dark ebony skin was striking, but even in his distraction, Yami continued. “I will take very good care of you. Do you trust me?”

“I trust you… Since mommy did.” The boy said softly. He reached out and placed his little hand against the middle of Yami’s chest, tilting his head slightly. His tears had ceased to fall long ago and he seemed to be distracted by the others emotion. “Why do you hurt here?”

Yami pursed his lips in mild confusion. Why did he? Was it because the boy reminded him so much of himself when he was that age? Having no one to love him but his own mother and his brother? Always hiding from the crowds in fear that everyone would reject him? Never knowing what it felt like to run down the streets of a busy city with his family without any real reason but for the sake of letting their children enjoy the bustling little marketplace….

Yami shook his head to clear away the painful memories of seclusion and stared at the child quietly. Was that really the reason he had taken Miles from his runaway mother? To give the boy a childhood he had never had the chance to have? Why did Miles know that and he didn’t?

Yami was careful to keep his face emotionless and stood, offering the boy his hand again. “We’re going to go home now. It’s in the outskirts of a city called Aurora. It’s far far away from here.” The boy took his hand and the two found their way back onto the trail and towards home with Yami continuing softly, “You’ll have lots of brothers and sisters, and cousins, and an aunt and uncle and my husband Kaelin who will love you more then anything.” He smiled down at Miles. “But, unfortunately, none of them can speak drow. Do you mind learning elfish?”

The boy nodded excitedly, though it seemed more so for the answer to his next question. “How… many siblings…?”

Yami smirked, “Five sisters and six brothers.”

Miles’ auburn eyes went wide. “Cool…”

Yami chuckled, “Yes, cool…” He patted the boys’ downy white hair affectionately. “I promise that you’ll be very happy.” The half-demon paused then reached into one of the pouches hanging at his hip and pulled forth a small journal. “Do me a favor, Miles. Take this,” He handed the boy the yellow journal that was threaded together at the bind with tanned leather, “and write down everything you remember about your past. All of the bad things you’re going to leave in there forever, and all of the good things will be there so if you ever start to forget about your mother or anyone else you loved, you can look back into it and remember. Will you do that for me?”

The drow hugged the journal to his chest, staring down at the ground as he walked. Coincidently his arms crossed about his chest in a drow sign for friendship or surrender…strange that the two words would be expressed through the same sign. “I will…” The boy said after a moment. “Thank you.”

Yami stroked the boys white hair fondly.


Two days later the drow and half-demon appeared before a cluster of rocks the size of small cottages. They were placed in a neat circle and in the middle no vegetation grew. Yami shifted the pack at his belt and then took the drows hand. “I need you to be very quiet, Miles. Do you understand?”

The drow nodded sternly though his face showed signs of uncertainty. The boy bit his lip and looked up cynically at the half-demon. “What is it?” he asked, unable to deny himself the burning question that he dared let escape his lips.

“It’s a portal.” Yami replied flatly, eyeing the dimensional gateway with certain venom. “To my… to our home.” He faced the drow completely and then crouched down so that their eyes were level. “I am going to be saying many powerful incantations. I cannot lose my concentration. If that happens…” He trailed off, his eyes wandering away from the boys’ terrified gaze. “Just…hold my hand and don’t let go…Understood?”

Miles once again nodded fervently and clutching the half-demons hand he allowed the man to lead him into the barren patch of dirt. Yami offered the young drow a comforting look and then closed his eyes, beginning to chant.

It was over in little more then half a minute. At first it had felt like a gust of powerful wind was going to tear them asunder…but after a moment the wind subsided and the two were standing in a field of rolling grass, four towering boulders set strategically around them.

“Hm…excellent.” Yami said softly. Miles looked up at him. “We are here.” Yami confirmed, gesturing to his left. Miles’ auburn gaze followed the mans’ outstretched hand and in the distance no more than a mile away he could see the outline of a mighty city. The drow bustling with new-found energy darted away, running several yards before stopping, breathing heavily for no other reason then to try and ease his pounding heart in his chest. This…was home?

The snowy-haired drow turned about with a little laugh that brought a smile to the Prince. Yami, chuckling softly, walked to the drow, and as he went by let his arm drop around the boys’ shoulders, leading him towards the city.

“The city is called Aurora.” Yami said softly. “I will introduce you to the King…”

“The King?” The boy said with his eyes wide. “Like the Matron Mother?”

“Something like that… Though not quite as harsh, I would like to believe.” The Prince said, with a soft chuckle. “His name is Ankei.”

“Have you met him? Is he nice? Do you like him?” The boy said, his questions rattling together so fast they were nearly incoherent and Yami took a moment to decipher them. Drow, was after all, not his first language… or his second… or his third for that matter.

Yami laughed, “I should sure hope so. He is my brother.”

Miles stared in awe at him, then tilting his head he watched the other mans faraway gaze at the kingdom. “You like him… don’t you?”

Yami jerked back, blinking several times as he looked at the boy. “Pardon?”

“You like him… a lot.” The boy continued softly. Yami pursed his lips; one eyebrow arched but said nothing. “Is he pretty?”

“Let’s make this clear. He is my brother—“

“—that doesn’t mean anything—“

“—And I’m married.” The half-demon continued, scowling at the boy. “And my brother is married. Happily. Both of us. Now let it go.”

“But…”

“Let it go.” The half-demon said in a deadly soft tone, his crimson eyes narrowed dangerously. Miles dropped his gaze to the ground his hands clasped together in front of him as he walked. Yami studied him in fuming silence for a moment, and then frowned. How would the boy know that? “Miles… How do you know these things…?” The half-demon asked after a moment.

“Huh?” The boy said, looking up worriedly. “What do you mean?”

“About me… things I’ve never told anyone… You just seem to know… Why is that?”

“Because you were so happy when you spoke of him.” Miles said, tilting his head. “Wasn’t it obvious?”

/No./ The half-demon thought inwardly. / It wasn’t./

“It wasn’t, was it?” Miles asked softly, hesitantly.

“Are you reading my mind?” The Prince asked annoyed, scowling slightly. He already had a telepathic daughter whom he had to block his mind from.

“N-no, sir.” Miles replied, wide-eyed. “I was… just…”

“Just what?” The Prince pressed, his voice edged with vexation.

“I’ve…always been able to tell how a person feels just by looking at them… I got in trouble for it a lot… Mommy said it was okay to be different…and not to worry what other people thought, because we weren’t going to be staying where we were for much longer.” The boy chewed at his bottom lip. “Mommy said it’s okay to tell people what you think, even if you know they’ll disagree.”

Yami ran his tongue across one fang absently, “I see. Your mother was a good person, Miles.”

“I know…” The drow replied quietly, lowering his gaze.

Unable to find any words of comfort, the half-demon settled with patting the boy on the head, in hopes that the action was taken as a comforting one. Miles, perhaps just to humor him, smiled up at him, though the smile did not reach his melancholic eyes. Yami looked away with a surpassed sigh.

/Miles is going to be a strange one./Yami thought, then smirked. /He’ll fit in well with this family.

In the distance four figures appeared over the horizon and yelling jovially and waving enthusiastically, Yami was able to pick them out, even at the distance. Scout, Vyse, Edward and Aeres… Yami laughed out loud and Miles looked at him curiously. Of course the most high-strung, energetic and candid of his children would greet them first.

/Typical./

“Who are they?” Miles asked softly, auburn eyes wide.

Yami chuckled, “Your family.” He replied.

This time, Miles’ smile did reach his eyes. “Cool.” He whispered breathlessly.

Yami only chuckled.

[Ramirez]



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