Apollo's List
POV: Alexandra
Doc left the room and I had pulled Derek into the room. I had gotten a lot of resistance from him until Ronan yelled at him and reminded him that his orders were to be with me at all times. The threat of punishment seemed to speak directly to Derek as he stiffened up and walked into the room with the chair that he had left by the room. He muttered as he set it down in the corner where Doc had told the soldiers to set up my work area, “I’m going to go get your desk, Lex.” He tucked his head down like a little boy that got heavily scolded by his father. I stifled a giggle watching the big strong man being reduced to a small pouty boy in a matter of a few seconds. I turned back to Ronan, “It’s very amusing seeing Derek around you, Ronan.” He smirked, “It comes from absolute respect. Oh, not saying he doesn’t respect you but I’ve had more time with the kid.” I smiled back at him, “I think his respect for you is different from his respect for me. Mine is not rooted in fear of punishment. Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. I am the best friend of his future wife.” He laughed hard and then doubled over in pain, “Do me a favor and stop making me laugh kiddo.” I winced in sympathy, “Sorry, Ronan. Sometimes my wit slips out without thought. I’ll try to reign it in.”
Derek came in carrying a small desk and set it up in the corner with the chair. A small group of soldiers came in with notebooks, pens, potion bottles, a small cauldron, and a smaller table to set all of that up on. I thanked the soldiers, and they all gave a quick nod to the General as they left the room as if staying in there would make the wrath of the Gods come down and smite them or something. I rolled my eyes at the sight and then turned to Derek, “What’s the deal with you all not wanting to come in here?” He took a quick glance at Ronan and lowered his voice, “Two reasons and I think you know the very obvious first reason.” I folded my arms across my chest, “Oh you mean the orders from Lucien?” He nodded, “Yeah, he didn’t say we could visit in those orders so we have been keeping away to keep our compliance to the order.” I sighed, “I knew it, I’m going to have to tell Lucien that you all are taking those orders too literal.” He shook his head and he had fear in his eyes, “I really wish you wouldn’t. With His Majesty’s orders in place the way they are, we all have an excuse not to come here.” I furrowed my brow, “What do you mean an excuse?” He scrunched his face and chewed on his lip, this was often an indication that he wasn’t in the mood to tell me. I looked at Ronan who smiled at me and then I looked back at Derek, “If you don’t tell me, I’m going to tell Jess about how you were flirting with me earlier.” His mouth popped open and he gasped, “I did not!” I shrugged, “Hmmm, I suppose you should ask yourself if she would believe me or you.”
He clenched his jaw and muttered something about how I was unfairly playing dirty. He sighed and lowered his voice almost to a whisper, “It’s the General. He’s not entirely pleasant when he’s sick so we all kinda figured he’s probably worse when he’s injured. We don’t have a point of reference.” I dropped my hands to my hips, “You all are absolutely ridiculous. I’ve been in this room with him for almost an hour and he’s been nothing but cordial with me. The only thing wrong is keeping him in bed.” Derek glanced at the man sitting up in his bed staring back at the both of us then he shrugged, “I guess I’ll find out since I have to be in here assisting you. You are going to have to owe me later.” I smiled, “I’ll bake you a big batch of those cookies you like when we get back to Blackwood.” His eyes widened, “With the icing this time?” I nodded, “Yeah, especially if you help out well enough.” He nodded at me with determination, “Just let me know what I need to do, oh great and glorious Lex.” I laughed, “Alright, down puppy. Hey, I kinda like that. I think that’s what your nickname is from now on.” He shot a pleading look at me, “Oh, please don’t, especially not in front of the General. He will pick on me until the end of time.” Ronan added, “I’m already going to pick on you for getting your ass kicked by a tiny little female.” I giggled, “Cut the man some slack, General. She’s way stronger than she looks.” He shrugged, “I wouldn’t know, kiddo.” He turned to Derek, “Don’t worry Chalshin, if she calls you puppy, I will keep it to myself and not pick on you for it.” I laughed, “I was just messing with him, Ronan. He’s really not going to get such a lame nickname from me.”
A silence descended upon the room as I arranged the desk how I wanted it so that it was functional to my scattered, unfocused brain. Ronan cleared his throat as I finished, “So what’s the next step in this process?” I was sitting in the chair in front of the desk, “I suppose it would be best to summon the one who could possibly teach me how to use the magic I think I need for it. I think, Derek, you should go stand near the General. I’m not entirely sure how he will react to you. He gave His Majesty a hard time and I worry he’s probably going to injure you somehow.” He nodded and walked over to the bedside, “Yeah, better safe than sorry. I need my strength to keep watch on you.” I sighed and nodded, not wanting to say what was on my mind since it would make Ronan laugh hard again given his propensity to pick on Derek. I took a deep breath and said, “Apollo? I need to speak with you.” A gold speck floated in the air and slowly manifested into the tall, dark long haired God. He smiled at me, “My beautiful girl finally summoned me. It is a proud papa moment.” He picked me up in a big bear hug and my head was buried in his bicep. I started tapping his arm, “Apollo?! I’m trying to breathe.” He gasped and placed me down on the ground again, “Sorry, baby girl, I forget you need to breathe. So what was it that you needed?” I smiled up at him, “I need to develop a new healing magic and I suspect I can do that with the power of the sun but I’m not quite sure how I can put theory into practice. Do you have any insight?” He rubbed his chin and hummed to indicate that he was thinking. He nodded, “It is possible but it will take a while to manifest the light magic it would take to accomplish it. You will need to find an area where you can meditate under the direct sun and you will need to gather a few items to help you. Hand me the paper and pen so I can write the materials down and what you must do.”
I offered him a place at the desk and he took some time to write down detailed notes. I was thinking about how naturally the magic for Aphrodite came to me so I asked, “So how come the magic from you won’t just come to me naturally?” He looked at me confused, “You have my magic naturally. Why do you think your fire magic is so powerful, it is powered extra, especially by the sun. Light magic is different, this requires you to cultivate and grow it through the sun and some extra medicinal properties. You’d likely have to cultivate some other kind of dormant magic that you have within you from Aphrodite as well. I couldn’t tell you what that magic was though since I know little about her magic. No one has done this type of magic in a very long time and not in the application you would like to apply. Light magic requires concentration and visualization of what shape you want it to take. In this case, it would be healing magic. I assume you have someone you would like to try on?” I nodded and pointed at Ronan, “The General wanted to be my volunteer.” Apollo looked up at Ronan and smirked, “You are a brave man, General. This is not a very easy magic to master and there may be some trial and error. You could be further injured on her first try. My baby girl is really smart but I still don’t imagine that she would hit it on the first try. You might be burnt by it. Are you still willing to try?” Ronan gave a determined nod, “I would like to be part of the history made here.” Apollo nodded, “Very well, I will try to help lessen the burden on you General.” He got up from his chair and placed a hand on my shoulder, “Gather these items for today and I will be back tomorrow to guide you on the first steps.” I took the list and read through it, “Okay, anything else?” He took a quick glance at Derek, “Nope but I am curious if this is a new boyfriend.” I shook my head, “No, he’s just my bodyguard.” Apollo raised an eyebrow at Derek, “You seem to be strong. Guard my baby girl well. I must go now, I am being summoned by the big guy.” I nodded, “You must not keep him waiting.” He smiled and disappeared into the golden orb which floated quickly out of the room.
Ronan grunted, “I don’t think I would ever be natural speaking with a God like that. I was on edge the entire time.” I giggled, “That was on edge for you? You looked very calm.” He shrugged, “What can I say? I hide my emotional state well, it is a skill few have.” Derek leaned back into the bedside chair, “I just didn’t want to piss the guy off. He looks like he could break your neck just by sticking his thumb on it. I cannot imagine how painful that hug was.” I shrugged, “It wasn’t that bad. More importantly, I think I need to gather these items.” Derek got up and walked over to me, “Let me see?” I handed him the paper and he nodded at the paper after reading it, “Most of this should be easy enough. These items…” He walked over to the desk and picked up a pen and circled three items on the list, “These will need to be sent for. One of them is from Chalshin, one from Blackwood, and the other from Delnaro. They aren’t native to this area and I very much doubt that Doc would have these medicinals in his possession. I’ll go check with him now though.” I nodded at Derek, “Thanks for helping out.” He placed a peck on the top of my head, “It’s what I’m here for Lex. Don’t you worry.” With that, he left the room and Ronan sighed, “You know, I’m kind of upset.” I turned away from the opening of the room, “What are you upset about?” He smiled, “That boy would have been a good man for you, and you a good woman for him.” I smiled and shook my head, “Derek is a great guy, don’t get me wrong but I had never thought of him as more than a friend. I am in love with another and so is he.” Ronan leaned back in his bed to where he was flat on his back and he folded his hands on his chest, “I know that of course but had you ever thought of if you couldn’t have your happily ever after? What would you do?” I smiled, “I had thought an awful lot about that and I concluded that I would just become a spinster and travel Vellum helping out the people in need. I have a drive to serve the people of this realm. I have never felt more at home than here and I want to give back to the people. I know my purpose and it will happen with or without marriage to the man I love. If that is the fate I am to be afforded, so be it. It will hurt that I cannot be with him but I won’t be able to change anything so I will carry on.” Derek walked back into the room and sighed, “Well, we hit a small snag. This one right here? That is considered a poison and amongst taboo medicine which is illegal to use in Vellum.”
