Gaia's Champion Ch. 15

"It would be the best thing to do. The sooner we get Darren back there, the sooner we can keep him and his magic safe," the fairy woman said.

"Yes, please! I didn't get out from under my dad's thumb just to wind up under someone else's!" the young man enthused.

The group then left the trailer, piling back into the cars with Darren in tow. Phalmina shrunk back down into her fairy form, to make room for everyone in the vehicles. For her though, she wanted to be ready, on the off chance that Darren's life force and magic called to anything malevolent nearby. With a city this large, there were bound to be a few spirits still lingering around and she wanted to take no chances.

They left the job site with no one the wiser about what they were up to. Oddly enough, the group, especially Jason and Sheena, felt an eerie chill run up their spines. They looked around for a moment before focusing on their journey. They had enough to worry about as it was, without adding to sudden fears and flights of fancy.

* * * * *

Jason and Sheena had no idea how right they were, feeling that something was watching them. That's because something was, but it kept itself hidden from sight and far enough away to not be sensed. At least, not right away. Since its awakening, it latched onto the scent of life magic and followed it around. It took a while for this spirit to gain its bearings, but when it finally did, it found that which it sought.

Unfortunately for it, it found Darren too late, as he was already surrounded by two Druids, a Shaman and a fairy. Ordinarily, such prey was a feast for entities like this, but not in its weakened state. If it tried to attack, it would be sent to oblivion trying to fight beings of such power head on.

The magic and life force that emanated from Darren was a sweet scent to it, and it wanted to devour the boy. But facing down such powerful Gaians at this point was tantamount to suicide. It hadn't woken from its slumber after all this time, just to be destroyed. It relegated itself to keeping its distance, while trying its best to avoid notice.

It knew there were places it could not go, but it also knew that the boy would not be protected forever. It would get its chance to devour his life energy and magic, it just had to be patient. It stuck to the shadows, following the group as they made their way to the park. It could only hope that none of them would take notice of it as it followed.

* * * * *

Phalmina sensed something nearby and peeked over her shoulder to check if anything was there. She saw something and extended her Gaian senses, hoping to feel something that could tell her what it was. A null and deathly feeling suddenly overcame her, and she knew what was tailing them. It was a wraith, an apparition that fed on death, destruction and magic.

She did not understand where it had come from, but she was sure that it was drawn to Darren's life force. Phalmina knew wraiths were often feral creatures with a hunger that needed to be sated. Most were often mindless and rushed headlong into places where they could be destroyed, but this one kept its distance. It must have had some modicum of intelligence, as it never drew too near the vehicles.

Phalmina was thankful for that, at least for now. Even though she should have told everyone about right away, she decided on keeping this information to herself for now. No need to worry everyone about a life sucking specter that hovered nearby. As long as it stayed distant, Phalmina didn't see the need to raise an alarm. At least, not yet, not until Darren's magic and life force was safe.

The cars soon arrived at the park, and she noted how the wraith was nowhere in sight. She couldn't even sense the damn thing nearby, which was a good thing. Even though Gaia's magic had just been reawakened here, it was strong enough to keep the creature away. Phalmina smiled and flew off to a small hole in the ground, which was known as a Fairy's Entrance to the underground grove.

"Xaera? Xaera??" Phalmina called out questioningly.

"I'm still here! Just started up a fire to keep warm," the troll woman called out. Sure enough, Phalmina saw the firelight in the darkness and raced to it. Xaera stood by it, embracing the heat and warmth of the flames with her hands outstretched.

"We're back and we need you to move the stone," Phalmina stated.

"Already?"

"We found out a few things when we spoke with Darren," the fairy woman said and filled Xaera in on what happened.

"He has access to Gaia's magic?" Xaera asked in surprise.

"Yes, but we need to transform the runes that were left on him quickly. Don't want any malevolent spirits coming after him," Phalmina stated.

"You need not tell me about the danger they represent. I've run into a few such spirits in the past and it wasn't pleasant," Xaera growled.

"In that case, there is something you should know," Phalmina went on as they approached the entrance, telling the troll woman of what she'd seen.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. It seems to be keeping its distance for now, as I lost all sense of it after we got into the park," Phalmina replied.

"Have you told the others?" Xaera asked.

"Not yet. I will, after this whole crisis has calmed down. No need to add another log to the fire just yet," the fairy stated.

Xaera looked confused for a moment, before she realized Phalmina was speaking metaphorically. She then hefted the stone out of the way and saw that the entire group was waiting outside. Xaera held the stone up until everyone was in the cave before she stepped back, resetting the boulder. She then turned and led everyone back down with Phalmina lighting the way.

The group headed straight for the stone and used it to get back to the mountain glade. Darren was a little apprehensive, but with his mother and sister there, his fears were calmed. They stepped onto the stone and were transported in a swath of green energy before it fell away, and they were no longer underground. Darren's jaw dropped as he stared at the surrounding glade, taking in its ethereal beauty.

"Amy! You're back! Wait, what the fuck is he doing here?" Elizabeth squeaked.

"Liz, calm your tits and just listen for a second," Jason started.

"Don't tell me to be calm! What is HE doing here?!?" she almost screamed.

"He's here because it's the only way to save his life, Elizabeth!" Eva said in a disappointed tone. Hearing those words from Eva deflated the thick woman's ire, and she looked embarrassed.

"What's wrong with him?" Emalia asked as she flitted up to the group.

"See for yourself," Phalmina told her and waved a hand in front of Darren's chest. When the muted runes appeared, Emalia's beautiful face took on a serious look.

"You think he can be saved?" the ebon-haired fairy asked.

"It's worth a shot. If either you or Lina will volunteer to help him?" Phalmina asked. Emalia appeared indecisive, just as Daelina flew up and examined Darren. Emalia was staring at the man, as though deciding, when Daelina piped up with her answer.

"I'll do it."

"Are you sure, Daelina? You know what it means to Bond with someone at the level that we are asking," Phalmina told her.

"Oh, I'm aware. Truthfully, I've been wondering about Bonding someone since I woke back up. This young man needs our help and besides, there is a little bonus to it," she said out loud.

"What bonus?" Emalia asked, cocking an eyebrow in question.

"He is kind of cute," Daelina admitted. Hearing this, Darren blushed, never having had a girl, especially one so beautiful, call him cute.

"You're absolutely sure about this? If you are, then we need to get started immediately," Phalmina told her.

In answer, Daelina took Darren by the hand and led him over to the stone and gestured to it. He was confused for a moment until he realized what it was she wanted him to do. Darren then kneeled on the stone, with Daelina correcting his placing, until he was positioned correctly. The fairy woman then took the place opposite of Darren and kneeled on the stone herself.

"OK then. Jason, Sheena, Eva, Xaera, Daelina, each one of you take a position around these two. We will need to focus our magics to adjust the runes that are branded into Darren," Phalmina explained. Nodding, everyone took their positions around the pair, readying themselves.

"Eva? What's wrong?" Phalmina asked.

"It's just... I've never done anything like this before. And it's my son!" she worried.

"It will be all right. What is needed from you is to focus your energies and magic, so I may channel it to help Darren. If you feel a little lost, just follow along with Jason. His magic is the same as yours," Phalmina assured her. Smiling, Eva stepped into her place next to Jason and took a deep breath.

"This will have to be done in two parts. The first being the adjustment of the runes in place, which will also cleanse them from the malevolent magic that resides there," she stated.

"Eva, hold my hand and open yourself to your magic. I will help guide you," Jason told her gently. Eva smiled and nodded, doing as Jason asked, seeking the essence of Gaia that lived within her. It came to her like an old friend, embracing her and bringing the magic into being around her. Eva sighed at the feeling of it, letting the magic wash over her as she tapped into it.

"That's it, just let it flow," Jason told her.

The others surrounding the stone had also embraced their magic, letting them flow outwards. The amount of power that swirled there should have been enough to drown them, but it continued to ebb and flow through everyone. Each one of them sighed at this, the feeling of Gaia's embrace soothing them.

"Daelina, you will be the conduit for our magic. You must be the one to shape the runes to what they should be," Phalmina told her.

"What, me?" Daelina squeaked.

"Yes. You volunteered for this; therefore, you are the one that has to do this," the blonde fairy told her.

"I... I've never done this before!" Daelina yipped.

"Just focus your intent on what you want to do, just like with any other spell. The runes will shape themselves in your mind and guide you. You just need to focus," Phalmina coaxed her.

"OK. Focus, focus, focus," Daelina whispered to herself as she mentally prepared herself.

"You almost ready?" Phalmina asked.

"Just a moment," Daelina replied, closing her eyes and concentrating.

Like it had with the others surrounding the stone, magic welled up from within the fairy. It poured out of her, much like a gushing spring, before she harnessed it, giving the magic direction. She focused on what she wanted to do, to create a Bond with Darren, one which linked them together intimately. The runes came to her like Phalmina had said, and soon; they formed out of her own magic, bringing life to the spell.

"That's it. Easy now, Lina. I'm going to feed you the power you need to reshape those runes," Phalmina told her.

"Nice and slow. I don't want to do anything too fast now. I need time to guide the runes, so they'll take and hold with the new shape," Daelina replied.

"Don't take too long. There's only so long we will be able to keep feeding you our magic," Phalmina told her.

"I know."

With that, Daelina began bringing new runes out of the fount of magic she was receiving. Each rune had a purpose, needing to be used to soften and wear away the malevolent magic that was imprinted upon Darren. With each new rune that was conjured, the corrupted red magic got progressively dimmer and more blurred. After several minutes of concentrating, one of the runes changed, its form shifting.

"It's happening! The change is taking hold! I need more magic!" Daelina cried out.

"Feeding you some more! Keep going, Lina!" Phalmina encouraged, amping up the flow of magic.

Daelina focused and imposed her will upon the corrupted runes. The first one was now more amorphous, slowly turning from red into green. It was taking shape into a rune that was more in line with a mutual benefit, rather than outright control. The other runes had lost their luster, the magic holding them together, slowly failing. A few more minutes of this and the rune's red glow faded entirely.

"You're making progress, Lina! Now, focus on what you want to happen, and the runes will form!" Phalmina urged her, keeping the tidal wave of magic flowing.

Daelina nodded and brought her will to bear on what she wanted, to seal Darren's magic and to Bond with him. The runes on him shifted further, glowing a bright orange, shifting to yellow and eventually, green. One by one, they took shape, becoming runes of a mutual and beneficial Bond between two souls. The runes on Darren took their final shape, coming into focus as she imposed her will upon them.

"Darren! I need you to focus your will now! Decide what you want of this Bond between us!" Daelina told him as they reached this point.

"How?" he shouted, trying to be heard over the swath of magical energy.

"Picture what you want in your mind's eye! Think it into being!" Phalmina shouted, as she maintained her will over the deluge of magic.

Darren closed his eyes and thought about what he wanted from this Bond. What he wished of Daelina and what he was willing to give her. Gaia's magic flared out of him and runes came into being almost immediately. This startled Amy and Elizabeth, not expecting Darren to come to this level of focus so quickly.

Soon after the runes could be seen, several of them laid themselves upon Daelina. They mirrored the position of where Darren's runes were placed, each one resting next to the other, in a perfect circle. Both circles then flared, the link between them both established. White light then poured from the circles of runes on Daelina and Darren, and it was almost blinding to look at.

From within Darren, a golden yellow fount of energy poured out of him, coming to rest between him and Daelina. Another mass of energy came from Daelina, this one with a more greenish tinge. Their eyes snapped open as they felt this, unsure of what to make of it. Joy lit Daelina's face as she watched her energy move towards Darren's. It wasn't just her face that was enraptured, but every fairy's there too.

Her energy poured forward, reaching out to Darren's, gently, as though asking permission. His energy responded, opening a path for hers to occupy. They came together, a song blossoming the moment they touched. The song was beautiful in its melody, a song of a blessed union, one which was welcomed by both.

The music continued as both energies merged, becoming a single entity. Before long, no one could tell what came from Daelina and what belonged to Darren. It was as though their very essence had combined as one, becoming what it should have been. The energy then separated, becoming two once more, but now of the exact some color.

The golden yellow energy, which flashes of green amidst it, drifted back to them, settling back into their bodies. The white light then faded as they drew the energies back into the circle of runes on each of them. Once the white light faded, along with the song, everyone could see that the Bonding had worked. The runes on both Daelina and Darren were anchored to them and did not waver.

"It is done," Phalmina said wearily, as she slowly allowed her magic to fade. The other did so as well, each one of them letting their magic fall away from them. Most of them fell to their knees, looking more than a little winded. Sheena was the first to recover, with Jason right behind her, standing on their feet unsteadily.

"What was that?" Jason blurted out.

"Was that what I thought it was?" Sheena asked Phalmina.

"Yes, it was," Phalmina replied, looking down on Daelina and Darren, smiling. The pair of them still kneeled on the stone, each one staring at the other. No words were being exchanged, but they needed none, as they both knew what the other felt. Neither one could have predicted this, but they were happy, knowing that what was between them now was real and true.

"What happened?" Amy asked, startling the fairy out of her thoughts.

"Is that what a bonding is supposed to look like?" Elizabeth asked.

"That was more than just a mere Bonding. That was a Union of Souls!" Emalia peeped, happy for Daelina.

"A Union of Souls?" Jason asked quizzically.

"It is something that is rare, sometimes almost impossibly rare! That energy you saw come out of Daelina and Darren, was their souls. You witnessed their souls, everything they are in their hearts and minds, merge as one! Now, they are one soul, inhabiting two bodies!" Phalmina breathed.

"How does that work? It sounds so... intimate!" Eva said as she finally came out of her tired state.

"It is! It is the most intimate anyone can be with another! There are only two ways it can happen like this! The first is when two people truly love each other, without pause or restraint, willing to give themselves to the other. To share in everything, heart, mind and soul," Sheena explained.

"And the second way?" Xaera asked, standing up and staring at the enraptured couple.

"When their souls are fated to be together, they will reach out to each other, as you just saw. Because they are fated, they know each other, and it is like meeting your truest love. As though you missed this person in your life so much, that to part with them again is unthinkable! Darren and Daelina... they are fated!" Emalia whispered.

While everyone was yammering about what just happened, Darren and Daelina leaned into each other. Smiling in the knowledge they now had of one another, they kissed, the passion between them setting their senses alight. Daelina's mouth opened and her tongue darted out, seeking Darren's. She found it and their tongues dueled, each one looking to drive the other into a lustful frenzy.

Their hands slid across each other's bodies, shivering in delight with each pass of their fingers. They stopped kissing and stared at each other, breathing heavily as they took in the moment. A polite cough interrupted them, and they both looked up to see the grinning faces of their friends and family.

"I enjoy having some nookie as much as the next woman, but do you really want an audience for that?" Sheena teased.

"Yeah! I mean, seriously, Darren? I know that we're all good now, but please, have a bit of modesty?" Amy chuckled.

"Were you modest with him? Either of you?" Darren asked, jerking his head in Jason's direction.

Amy blushed fiercely as Sheena looked back and forth between them, then shook her head. She knew Jason had likely been around the block since her disappearance, but this was something new! She hadn't expected him to become a total stud! She figured his Druidic powers had some hand in it, and if that was the case, she would have to ramp up her game.

"How did you..." Elizabeth questioned, her face redder than a tomato.

"I think the appropriate reply is... it's a Gaian thing?"

"It is! Now, if everyone will please excuse us!" Daelina chirped.

She then wove her hands together, summoning Gaia's magic, shrinking both her and Darren down. Seconds later, they were small enough to where they could barely be seen. The only thing that they could see a few seconds later was an orangey mote of light, flitting away to a thick lilac bush in one corner of the glade.

"Where are they off to?" Eva asked.

"I could give you three guesses, but I'm sure that you're only going to need one," Jason laughed.

* * * * *

Daelina carried Darren through the air, an experience he never thought possible! Yet, there he was, dangling in the air, held up only by the larger fairy above him. Her wings beat faster than a hummingbird's as she zipped through the air. The lilac bush they were headed to looked much larger, now that he was so small.

They passed through the bud clusters, heading for the heart of the bush. In the center of the bush was a tiny house which almost looked like a cottage. Daelina slowed down as they approached it, coming to a stop at the doorway to it. Darren's arms were released, and he landed on his feet, staring up at the house.