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"Good, you save me the effort. Now go sit with your husband, and turn around and go home first thing in the morning." He turned his back, and returned to the fire, gesturing for Slade and Krasala to follow. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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"What? No fight? I can stay?" Moon raised an eyebrow at Ken-Dall, who shrugged. Together, they made their way to the fire, where two very surprised young men stood.
"Ken?" Darion said. Ken-Dall rushed to him & he opened his arms to catch her.
"Moon?" Meekal's reception was not as warm. Though seeing her there was an answer to his hope, he still knew she shouldn't be there. "What's going on?" Moon bit her lip & glanced at her guards & Nękos. Meekal, not understanding what was going on, said, "Did any of you know anything about this?" "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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"She decided," Nękos explained, "that her feelings trump all else, including her safety and that of her child, and so therefore would come charging after you - galloping, to the great risk of the child, before Krasala could stop her - despite every single warning not to that she received from everyone around her. I regret not allowing my two to physically restrain her. This will not be the case when she returns in the morning." It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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Meekal drew himself up at the Swordsman's statement. "You will have no need for that, Nękos," he said. "She will give your people no more trouble. I will see to that myself." His voice seemed to change as he spoke, growing stronger, more of a man...and a king. "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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He nodded. "I am glad to hear that. The authorization still stands, however, in case you should prove unfortunately wrong." It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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"I will not be proven wrong. I will handle this, Nękos." Meekal's hardened gaze swung from the Swordsman to Moon, whose watery eyes raised to look at him as he spoke. "And you..."
"Meekal, I..." She took a step toward him, imploring. Why did he act the way he did?
"Enough!" Meekal snapped. "There is nothing that you can say, Moon. What you did was incredibly foolish. You not only risked your life, you risked the life of your child, your sister & your guards."
"I know, but..." Moon attempted.
Meekal raised a hand. "'But' is not an option. What you did was petty, selfish and wrong. You are my wife now, Moon, & you will obey me. Tomorrow you will return to Arconia & you will not try to follow us again. You will listen to those who have been placed in positions to protect & care for you, & you will rest while you still can." He moved to her & took her arms, firmly, but not hard enough to cause pain. "Am I making myself perfectly clear, wife?" Tears slid down Moon's cheeks, but she nodded. Meekal softened & said, "Good." He pulled her close, kissed her forehead & said, "I think you owe some people an apology." Meekal nodded to Nękos, Krasala & Slade.
"I'm sorry," Moon said to the guards. "I was...wrong." She looked to Nękos & he raised an eyebrow at her. Before she could say a word, she turned & ran.
Meekal sighed. "Nękos..." He gestured in the direction she fled with a jerk of his head. "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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"You married her, not I." It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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"Aye, but she wants to apologize to you." Meekal managed to chuckle at the thought of What did I get myself into? Then, he cleared his throat. "Please. This doesn't need an audience to be effective." "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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He nodded. "Very well." The sounds of the fleeing scribe were loud enough, and he quickly found her at the edge of the trees in the darkness. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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Moon simply could not run anymore, & collapsed, shivering, to the ground as she sobbed. She couldn't be mad at Meekal. No, everything he said was true. And guilt, real guilt, was creeping into the corners of her conscious thought. She'd been horrible to everyone around her, & now she was getting what she deserved. Even still, she just couldn't apologize to Nękos. Not with everyone sitting & standing there, watching her. Judging. And him sitting there with such a....patronizing...look. He irritated her so much, yet she knew she did nothing to make his job easier. If she had just stayed home, she wouldn't be such a wreck now. But she was there, sobbing on the wet ground. "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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And he was there, standing silently over her, waiting for a reason to be there. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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She felt someone there behind her. An obvious presence. In her teary blindness, she did not see who it was when she jumped up & threw herself into his arms. She only assumed it was Meekal, there to comfort & collect her. "Oh, darling! I'm such a horrid wretch. How could you stand me? Can you ever forgive me?" "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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Nękos had only very rarely ever been in a situation this uncomfortable. For some reason, the first reaction that came to mind was...humor. "Well, honey..." was all he had to say, his voice distinctly different. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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Moon's eyes popped open. This was NOT Meekal! She threw herself backward & realized who stood there. "Nękos! It's YOU! What are you doing here?" "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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"I am following your husband's wishes, and following you." It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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"You could very well have made yourself known, instead of letting me make a fool of myself!" "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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"You could very well have opened your eyes, instead of making a fool of yourself. Again." He just couldn't resist the final barb. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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"Nękos, you are absolutely the most infuriating person I've ever met!" Moon shouted, fists clenched at her sides. "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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"Likewise, my dear. Now would you like to go back to sitting on the ground and crying, or would you care to return to your husband, or does standing there yelling at me satisfy you?" A genuinely quizzical look stole over his face. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag. - Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
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"I..." Moon's frustration reached its peak. She stood there, at a loss for what to say. Then, she found her tongue. "As much as I love arguing with you, I wanted to apologize." She took a deep breath, & softened her tone. "Yes, that's it. I am sorry, Nękos. I really have been rotten to you. I haven't listened to a word that you or anyone else has said. I've been stupid &...well, I apologize." She managed a smile after a moment. "And I'd love to return to my husband before we start arguing again." "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
-- Rudyard Kipling
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