A Deal

The morning sun bounced off the cream colored walls giving the room a bright glow as the indoor plants swayed in response to the calm breeze wafting through the open windows.

A tall fair woman walked in, her golden brown hair almost sweeping the already spotless floors beneath her. "Of all the days..." She mumbled, picking up a quill pen, scribbling unclear words on the crisp scroll.

She looked up, her green eyes shimmering under the bright sun as she pursed her lips in deep thought. "What is that nauseating smell?"

She stood, her green gown turning luminescent as her dainty body passed right through the desk. "Oh." She smelt the loose air, her green eyes glinting in recognition. "Why am I not surprised?" She straightened her posture, walking down the stairs, the sound her poised footsteps bouncing of the brown walls.

She stopped in front of the black-cloaked boy, her hand flying to her nose, turning away swiftly as she battled the biological urge to empty the contents of her stomach. "You vile thing. How dare you come here looking like that?"

The young man raised a bloodied hand in question. "Like how?"

She stood up straight, her face twisting in pure disgust as she began to walk away. "Have you no manners, child?" Shaking her head in bemusement, she paused at the foot of the stairs, turning back to the blood and filth drenched boy. "You don't do you? You claim to loath him but here you are…" her green eyes looked over his unclean appearance once more, settling on his dark eyes and unwelcome smirk.

"You're undoubtedly and unfortunately a spitting image of he." She continued up the curved stairs.

"I am nothing like him!" His deep voice echoed throughout the empty building.

"Do not test me, child. You are here for my help not the other way around. You will look better if you wish to speak with me."

"I…fine." He clenched his stubbled jaw, his eyes glinting as he ran a hand over his body, the blood and gore disappearing instantly.

"That's more like it." Halfway atop the stairway, the woman fully turned, facing the now-almost-presentable boy. "Now…how may I help you…this time?"

"You're more than a hundred years old, not to mention your race. You have seen a great deal of most realms, you have-"

"Spit it out child." Her hands came together in front of her. "We both know that no matter what you may say, if your request is incredulous, it will not be granted. Now, get on with it."

"It's getting worse." He looked down at his hands, pitch black tendrils of energy surrounding them as he looked up at her, fear in his bold eyes. "The real color isn't here anymore. I'm not feeling it either. I need to get rid of it. How do I get rid of it?"

"Child, you can't." She took a step down the stair, her gown and hair forming an elegant trail behind her. "This was a waste of my time. Leave." She gestured to the large wooden double doors behind him and they flew open, the cold breeze rushing in, carrying his cloak and hair afloat.

"I'm not going anywhere without getting rid of this thing!" His brows furrowed in anger.

"You will do well to control your temper boy." She spat the last word out with much irritation. "You aren't just anywhere might I remind you."

He looked down, his fists clenching in frustration. "I know you have a solution to my condition. You simply want your so-called order in place."

A small smile spread itself across her beautiful face. "You're not wrong child. Order must be in place for things to go the way they should, and helping you would disturb that order. I will not have that. Now leave."

He clenched his jaw, looking up at her from her place atop the stairs. "So I can be helped?"

"Of course. Unfortunately you still have a spark of your original magic." She rolled her eyes at him. "If only you would just give in. Give into the corruption boy. Let order win like it should."

He looked at the woman speechlessly, restraining himself as much as his uncultured self could.

"There's no use, boy. Give in." Her eyes glittered, widening in confusion, then recognition. "Get out of here boy!"

"What? Why?" He studied the woman as her glittering eyes moved in a frenzy around the room, finally settling behind him.

A whooshing sound filled the air as the boy turned around to witness the arrival of another elegantly dressed man.

The woman rushed down the stairs, brushing down her gown as she laid a hand on her chest, lowering her head in greeting to the man.

"Daran, Vanrei Kiera."

"Daran, my dear guardian Galadriel." The breeze carried the man's irresistible voice as he smiled affectionately at the woman.

His eyes settled on the confused boy. "Well isn't this a surprise." He looked to Galadriel then back to the boy, the trees dancing in the wind. "A corrupt stray in the presence of the guardian."

He looked the boy over, a look of appraisal painting itself on his surprisingly female features. "What are you in need of boy?" He asked while approaching him.

The boy looked to the woman in hesitation. "Nothing."

"You are in the presence of a Vanrei, you will speak when asked a question." The man's piercing yellow eyes glowed, his voice booming.

The boy cowered at the sound, his head tilting down involuntarily. "I want to get rid of my corruption."

"Oh really?" The man eased off the boy, his golden cloak swaying as he gave him space to breath freely. "And you believed the guardian could help with that feat?" He looked back at Galadriel, his shoulder-length sandy-blonde hair flipping around as he raised a perfectly shaped brow at her.

"Yes." The boy blurted out without thinking.

"Well I also believe she's turned you down, talking on and on about her beloved order, yes?"

"Yes." He blurted out again.

"As I thought. Well then, as a Vanrei I believe I'm in a better position to help you, don't you think so?"

"Yes."

"Exactly. Except I would naturally need some sort of compensation in place, do you not agree, boy?"

"Yes." He clasped a hand over his mouth, desperate to stop answering against his will.

"Wonderful. So you will tell me the location of the emberglow. Will you not?"

"Y-" the boy closed his eyes, struggling against the man's overwhelming control. "N…" his eyes flew open in defiance.

"Speak, boy." The man's yellow eyes focused angrily at him.

"Y…e…s. Arghhh!" The boy clutched unto his scalp in pain.

"Very good." The man reached forward, his slender hand latching unto the boys hair as he pulled it back, making him look directly at him. "I suggest you leave your stubbornness behind when dealing with me. Do you not know who I am? You owe your life to me. All of your kind do. I am a Vanrei, a protector. I am Kiera. You will remember that name, stray…or your corruption will be least of your worries."

Kiera swung the boy across the room, a loud crack resounding as his body hit the foot of the stairs.

He turned back to a speechless Galadriel. "Now, where were we?"