(This follows on directly from the DG-SOH: Epiphany & Emergence post, the night before meeting with the Oracle)

Coren watched as Li-eira came back to the main area of camp. He and Tob had finished their little dice game and the ranger had since retired to his tent, so had the others, except for Janus. Coren simply stood there, glowering as Li-eira, somewhat flushed, approached him.

"You're late for first watch", Coren stated, his voice low and threatening. The edges of his white beard were stained red from the wine he'd drunk with Tob. He didn't look at Li-eira but instead seemed to be gazing intently at Janus as the druid neared his tent.

"Wait here a moment", Coren commanded. Without waiting for a response, he thundered off towards Janus.

Her friend's menacing tone was enough to stun Li-eira into submission for a moment, it was clear that he was angrier than she'd seen him, and a part of her was scared. She didn't like the low growl in his voice; it was almost calculated like he didn't want to rouse the others. Her stomach lurched in warning as she saw Coren bearing down on Janus, she shook her head to clear it and started after him.

Coren approached the druid, a dark look upon his shaggy face. Janus turned and saw the big man, but before the man could speak, Coren was right on top of him. With one of his powerful arms, Coren pushed Janus backwards. It was hard enough to move the man back, making him stumble, but not enough to cause Janus to fall to the ground.

"So, druid, what were yer doing over there!?" Coren hissed, pointing with a waving finger over to the area where Janus had spoken to Li-eira.

Janus took two or three backwards, stumbling steps, looking up at Coren as if the big man had gone round the bend. His natural instincts were to put the big man on his ass, as only Beldrem could, but after the initial flash of red, a thought flickered across his mind, fast as lightning through a night sky. When you find yourself facing the bear, you must either stand tall, or play dead.

Janus straightened his tunic, and brushed at it, making sure that no stray bits of bread or pork fat had tumbled from the beard onto his clothes. He did not smile, nor sneer, when he looked back up at Coren. "Do not seek to intimidate me, Coren dan Balor, it cannot be done by the likes of you. Lay your hands on me again, at your own peril, this is no threat, merely a warning, I won't forgive it twice."

Janus was growing angry, an emotional reaction he rarely indulged, or experienced, but the big man had riled him. "As far as what I was doing, over there," he waved his left hand where he and Li-eira had spoken, but his right, balled into a fist, "It's a quaint little custom we have in Derugar, its called talking. It's what people do when they want to communicate. It must be different here in the Northlands, where evidently, you shove each other around like spoiled children behind the woodshed."

Coren stood his ground, a tall, menacing figure made wider and more impressive by the fleece of the polar bear he'd killed years ago. He did not step closer to Janus and neither did he touch the man again. Instead, he pointed his finger in the druid's face.

"Talking? Is that what they call it in Derugar, druid? Then I wouldn't want to get into a conversation with you" Coren spat out the words, the rage obvious in his eyes. "I saw the two of yer. Y' had your arms around Li-eira out in the dark there. Then later I saw the flustered look she had as she returned, the blush of 'er cheeks, the way she smoothed down 'er dress like..."

Like you had just tried to take her maidenhood, Coren thought. He screwed his eyes closed, trying to keep the images of Li-eira with another man out of his head. What did he know of maidens and how they might look once they became women anyway? He'd never known a maiden and had hardly seen any in his lifetime. The only women he had 'known' were whores.

Coren, reluctantly, opened his eyes. "...like whatever words you'd said had upset her or hurt her or...".

Li-eira found herself embarrassed and miserable as her big friend made insinuating remarks at Janus. She wanted little less than to step in between these two men, one that she considered family, and the other that had empowered her and gave her the acceptance that she'd always craved. But what alternative did she have? She gathered her courage and stepped in front of Coren. She was almost certain that neither one of the men would appreciate her participation in this matter, but it was worth alienating them both to calm things down.

Li-eira stood as tall as her four feet eleven inches would allow and pushed her hand into Coren's stomach, demanding his attention as he towered over her. "Coren. Stop." She kept her words short and simple, not knowing if he could hear them over his explosive temper.

Janus had been ready to reply, to the charges levelled at him by the Northman. He bit the words off before they could emerge as a memory flooded back to him, from his first conversation with Li-eira. "Don't get me wrong. Coren is a good pure hearted man, and the closest thing to family that I've ever had. ...but he's been moody of late when it concerns me." and how he had responded to her concerns. I will defer to your judgment however, and let you address it in whatever way suits you best."

He held quiet, and breathed deep, trying to let his anger at being shoved flow out of his feet into the ground. He had been shoved before, there were plenty of larger boys than he, who had tried to use their size to bully him in his past, and this had been no different. He needed the calm of the forest, he needed to understand and accept, and Li-eira was buying him time. He liked the man, after all, and he would be damned if he would let a few words and some irrational jealousy throw him off stride for more than a few moments.

Coren hadn't noticed Li-eira step up to him and hadn't felt her small, pale hand push into his abdomen. It wasn't until he heard her small voice that he blinked and looked down at her. She didn't look hurt or upset. Angry, perhaps, and all of that was directed at him and not the druid. There was also something else deep within her eyes, a courage or power that wasn't there before, and behind that a kind of happiness even though she was angry. To Coren, in that moment, she looked more beautiful and fragile than ever.

"I...what were you and Janus up to out there?" Coren asked, still angry. But his anger was now directed elsewhere. "Yer looked flustered and he...", Coren glanced at Janus, almost snarling, "...he was laughing behind your back".

Li-eira closed her eyes for a moment to settle herself, very much relieved to hear Coren using words instead of force to resolve things. She tried hard to understand why he was so upset, It was only an embrace. It may have felt like more…but it was simply that.

Just last night they had agreed that there would be no reason to assume that any of their new companions would act upon her with malice. She opened her eyes and looked hard at her friend, this Giant Bear of a man, making a fool of himself with his concern for her safety and her feelings. A part of her felt sorry for him, but the smell of wine that surrounded him made her too angry to feel the soft emotion of pity. "We were talking. ...and ...I was flustered because I had embarrassed myself."

Coren knew where this was leading. Despite what people thought of him, he wasn't stupid. A little slow on the uptake sometimes but his mind was not dim. He had spoken to Li-eira just a day ago about her and Janus and it had been clear what the sorceress had felt for the druid. He'd seen the two of them talking and laughing together on their trip into the mountains. Something had been building between the two that was obvious.

Still, he had set his course and now he had to sail towards his destination. Though, probably, the way was beset by storms and the final port would be different to that expected.

"Did he harm yer, lass? Because if he did, I'll..." Coren curled his right hand into a fist and squeezed it with all his might. He knew Janus hadn't hurt her, he knew the druid was a trustworthy fellow even if, to Coren, he seemed a little cold. But the ache that began to throb in his clenched fist felt a lot better than the realization that was bubbling up from within his heart. He'd rather take a dozen sword cuts than that little truth.

Li-eira almost missed the look in his eyes, her tongue so ready to lash out and still the raging beast that stood before her. His eyes were glazed with anger but they were haunted with something from within him. Conversations that she'd had with Aislinn and Yasminna came crashing down on her, making her stomach churn with the obvious possibility that they were right and that Coren had deeper feelings for her. Her face grew pale at the thought and she needed to leave.

She looked up at him and shook her head, but her voice held no malice. "No Coren…he didn't hurt me. …but this is too much. I will sit watch with Aislinn tonight." ...and I will deal with our problems tomorrow. She stepped from between them and patted his arm in an awkward fashion. Her mind was too heavy with emotion to consider the wisdom of stranding Janus on watch with Coren.

Coren stared at Li-eira, his mouth opening and closing as he turned to watch her leave. She's just walking away? That's it? he thought. Meanwhile his mouth managed to splutter out a few words, "Lass...We...I..." ...want you to be with me, his thoughts continued. I don't want you to be with Janus. I want you. I... What? What did he feel? He'd been denying it for the last few months but, damn her, the Oracle was right. He loved Li-eira.

Li-eira paused in her retreat and tried to summon a small smile for her big friend. "We'll talk on this more…soon. My mind is too heavy with thoughts of our visit to the Oracle to think straight."

Turning to face Janus, Coren took a step forward, his dirty right hand still balled into a tight fist. "Looks like it's just you and me, druid", Coren said in a low, ominous voice. He glared at Janus, daring him to act, whilst he studied his rival.

Janus nodded a bit, unafraid and uncowed. He began to work on the situation with the dispassionate logic it deserved. "It would seem that way."

Li-eira made her retreat to the fire a slow one, stopping once more to turn and look at Janus, an apologetic look clear on her face. At the fire she stopped long enough to retrieve Coren's wine skin and take it with her. Once at her tent she waited until Coren's posture relaxed before seeking the solace of her privacy.

They'd only been together for a few weeks and already Janus had helped Li-eira more than he ever had. And Li-eira seemed to care about the druid, whereas she'd only ever wanted to be friends with Coren. And, if he was honest, it was easy to see why.

What was he compared to Janus? The man was better looking than he was by far. He was not grubby, didn't drink in excess, had a patience and grace, thought about people and things and had a wisdom that belied his years. He had power and magical abilities that were something like Li-eira's so he understood all about that witchcraft stuff. Coren had never felt comfortable about that side of Li-eira's nature but Janus would. And he listened to Li-eira and her problems. Hell, that man was practically three steps away from being a god!

It would've been easier if Janus had just fought back. Punched him or got angry with him or something. But the druid just stood there, in control. Right there and then, Coren both hated the man and admired him.

"By Vwrg's Hammer, I just want to hit you Janus", Coren spat out between clenched teeth. Still, his right hand relaxed a little. "But that won't fix anything, will it?"

Coren's shoulders sagged. Against an ogre, bear or even a dragon he stood a chance. But this problem couldn't be solved by swinging an axe at it. He'd lost and he knew it.

One of his fingers emerged from the fist to point at Janus. "So you didn't hurt Li-eira over there in the darkness but you did more than talk", Coren continued. "Don't think I don't know what's goin' on. I've seen what's been going on between the two of you and know where it's leadin'. Yer come along with yer good looks and charm and, like a moth to a flame, you attract her right to you".

What was he going to do? What was the right thing to do? Fighting the man wouldn't help and would probably drive Li-eira away. Arguing with him wouldn't change anything. He was damned well stuck with no way out of this. That didn't mean he had to stop caring.

He cared about Li-eira, more than anyone else he'd ever known. But she wasn't interested in him. And Janus seemed to be a fair man, probably the best of this little group. Damn that Oracle. Janus' nightmare had confirmed the first prophecy and he'd been denying the second for so long now. Damn it.

"Damn it!" Coren swore out loud. "Just... just look after ‘er, druid".

For a moment, he looked Janus directly in the eye, gauging the man, making sure he wasn't playing them or treating this all like a game. Then Coren looked away and closed his eyes tight.

Janus stood his ground, mostly just watching as different thoughts and emotions swam across Coren's face. He recognized a few of them, or thought he did. He could tell there was a storm broiling in the man, and it went deeper than Li-eira had admitted to, maybe deeper than Coren himself had admitted to. Janus gave a half smile, the corners of his lips rising just perceptibly, as he made his way back over to the fire. He motioned for Coren, as he passed him.

"Come on, Coren, let's stand the watch, and get to know one another." He wouldn't revert back to calling him Master Coren, now; the need for formalities and politeness seemed to fall away, replaced by a need for two ears, and an open heart.

Coren's eyes widened in surprise at Janus' reply and at the smile that appeared on his lips. His comment about looking after Li-eira did not mean that everything was all right between them. Far, far from it. He had just lost something that he'd been denying he ever wanted or needed and this man was part of that. Right now, he did not like Janus one bit.

Coren shook his head. He was damned if he was going to discuss his thoughts and feelings with this man. "I'll stand watch with you", Coren agreed, because that was his job and it needed to be done, "but as for getting to know each other, that'll have to wait until I am in a better mood".

Janus made his way to a log near the fire, and sat with his back to it, his eyes moving back to where Coren stood. "I don’t fear your bad mood, or your anger, Coren. Do you?" He settled into position and produced his pipe from a pocket in his cloak, and his taac pouch, and begin to load it, as he continued. "You seem to be labouring under a few misconceptions, and I would set you to rights."

Coren sighed and let his shoulders slump, the white fur cloak sagging a little around them. He looked away from Janus and up towards the mountains to where he knew the Oracle's temple to be, carved out of the very mountainside.

"Damned witches", he muttered and followed Janus towards the fire.

(to be continued…)