Timedancer: Upon these Parapets by kiatrix [Reviews - 0] 
Timedancer: Upon these Parapets *Disclaimer* I don't own Brooklyn or the Timedancer saga. All original characters are spawned by my brain. Everything else is owned and etc by Disney and etc.* Previously on Timedancer: "Jeez, is my nose really that big?" Brooklyn ran a tentative hand over his frozen self. "This is too weird! I wonder if..." He removed his hand from his stone faced twin and pinched his forearm. "Ouch! Nope, definitely real! So why am I here?" ~ The Devil's Deal Brooklyn saw her mood change, sensed it almost before it did. He approached her, taking one of her hands in his. "Don't worry about me, Sata-chan. If I do go ... I'll be back before you even notice I'm gone." He pulled her into another embrace. "And I'll love you always." She reveled in the warmth of his arms, allowing herself to show her grief. Brooklyn's heart swelled, feeling all the love that he would miss without Sata on his travels. The tingling started again. Brooklyn's heart sank. "No ... not now! Not now..." He surrendered to his sadness as he pulled back from his mate. "I have to go now, Sata. Don't forget me." Sata looked at him, watching the blossom of the Phoenix flames widen around him. Her tears fell steadily now, her throat tight, barely letting her speak the words she felt. With all of her sadness, she gave her final plea to her mate. "Don't go ..." Brooklyn looked into her eyes, all the sadness she felt compounded by his own. He took one last, good look at his mate. "I love you, Sata." He backed into the Phoenix flame, which fully engulfed him. A moment later, it subsided ... and he was gone. ~ Crossroads, Pt2. Scotland, 994 A.D. The ball of flame hovered for a moment, before the dark red gargoyle dropped to the ground and landed on flexed knees. His wings which had been flared behind him, caped now around his shoulders as he looked down at his empty arms. Brooklyn sighed, shoulders slumping. "Sata." Even after so long without her, it hurt anew after each dance, each sunset... to realize he was alone. He was still for a moment, then got to his feet and looked towards the setting sun, "Well, where have you dropped me this time?" he asked, one hand clenching around a pouch at his belt. He glanced around at the wooded hill he was on and trudged towards the top, "At least it's quiet. For a change." He topped the hill and crouched down, shoulders hunching slightly as he looked down at a castle, "Huh. That looks like Castle Wyvern..." Brooklyn reared back, almost falling on his tail as he exclaimed, "That is Castle Wyvern! Those are my rookery sisters and brothers!" He leaned forward again, wings flaring out to the sides. "But where is Goliath?" His gaze skimmed the parapets where the gargoyles of the castle were preparing to take their rest, "Hudson.. Bronx?" He looked quickly over to where he, Broadway and Lexington usually roosted and noticed that their usual places were empty. "Goliath gone, Hudson gone... no, it can't be." Brooklyn didn't bother getting to his feet, instead raced on all fours to the other side of the hill, the side that would show him the approach to the castle. Spreading out before him was a horde of men that he had last seen over one thousand years before. "No no... NO!" Brooklyn roared, eyes blazing as he reared up and spread his wings. The sun rose. **** The sun set on the smoking ruins of Castle Wyvern, the sporadic fires the only light where once torches and candles had burned. High on a hilltop overlooking the castle, the mantling figure of stone cracked, incandescent lines cracking in the stone skin and blazing white eyes cracking free, followed by a primal scream, "NO!" Brooklyn sank to his knees, the field before him empty. His wings drew in around him and he covered his eyes with his right hand, "Not again." he whispered. He dropped his hand and stood, trudging to the top of the hill. Right now, his younger self had just awoken, innocently grumbling about being stuck in the rookery until an Elder let them free from their grounding. And somewhere, on a hilltop further away, Goliath and Hudson were flying back. Brooklyn spread his wings and caught an air current. He winged down to the castle and landed amidst the bodies and stone. He folded his wings about him once more and slowly knelt to one of his rookery sibs, reaching out a talon to touch the cold broken stone. On the other side of the castle, another figure was also reeling in shock. A deep scream made him look up sharply, "Goliath." Brooklyn breathed, darting from his crouched position into a nearby tower. He set his back against the wall, head leaning back as he listened to Goliath scream. Unnoticed, a winged shape took flight and fled the devastation. Brooklyn remembered that primal scream. He could almost hear it in stereo, the first in his memory and now, hearing it again. That scream was what made him decide to leave the rookery, to see what had caused one of his clan to scream with such anguish. He stayed, hidden in the darkness until he heard Goliath and the others leave. He stepped out, watching their figures diminish in the distance. He slumped against the wall and closed his eyes, "I can't take this, not alone." Brooklyn reached down into his pouch and pulled out the gold and blue talisman. His talons clenched around it, the muscles standing out on his forearms as he tried to crush it in his talons, "First you take me from my home, then you take Sata and now THIS?" He turned in a rapid movement, wings flaring and eyes blazing as he slammed the trinket into the stone. The seemingly fragile talisman, once broken so easily by Demona, merely clinked in response to the abuse it was taking. Brooklyn stopped as his hand began to hurt. "Ow." he said numbly. His eyes dimmed as he leaned his forehead against the stone, lids dropping over his tired eyes. His wings slumped, Brooklyn too weary in spirit to even cape them or hold them properly behind him, leaning his weight heavily against the castle. The talisman in his hands began to buzz and Brooklyn opened his eyes to look at it, "Anywhere.. just not here." he pleaded with it. The ball of fire swiftly enveloped the slumped figure. Scotland, 1024 A.D. Brooklyn opened his eyes and found himself standing in the same spot when the flames finally disappeared. Another heavy sigh shifted his shoulders and he lifted his wings up, putting the talisman back in his pouch. He looked over his shoulder and then did a doubletake. Same place, different time. The castle was in a state of near ruin, not as bad as when he had seen it in a previous dance, but moss was starting to cover Bronx, who was closest to him. Brooklyn caped his wings and walked over to the stone beast, and patted him on the head, "Good boy." He spent a few long moments looking up at Goliath, then moved over to check on the figures of Lexington, Broadway and Hudson. Finally, he strode over to his own statue and compared it to himself. He was older, taller and broader, more muscular after years of adventures but yeah, same big beak. Brooklyn grinned to himself and reached a hand out to remove a spider web that was formed between his outstretched wing and arm, "Sorry Charlotte, but show some respect, will ya? I'm asleep, not dead." With an eerie sense of de ja vu, a winged form wafted overhead. Brooklyn darted into the shadows and he looked up. "Yow, this must be before she made that deal with Macbeth and the Sisters." Brooklyn muttered to himself, the moonlight pitilessly illuminating the aging gargess who would one day become Demona. Brooklyn remained in the shadows, absently listening to Demona cajole, rage and vent at the silently listening Goliath. Brooklyn waited until she had flown off before stepping back out of the shadows, his deep voice reflective. "That's an earful. She must be lonely if she's talking to stone... then again, I'm hardly one to point fingers. I talk to a piece of evil costume jewelry." He shook his head, running a taloned hand through his mane and jumped up on the nearest parapet, crouching down to look at the ruins of the castle, "At this rate, I'm amazed this place lasted until 1994." His pouch began to quiver annoyingly and Brooklyn stood back and sighed, "Finally. Get me out of here. Take me home... please." he whispered. Scotland, 1106 A.D. This time, the ball of flame erupted over a field, high enough for Brooklyn to spread his wings and catch an updraft. As he floated on the currents, he looked around and then gave a groan, "Again? You seriously have a twisted scope of what I mean when I say I want to go HOME." he snarled, looking upon the ruins of Castle Wyvern yet again. The moonlight glided over the moss covered outlines of six gargoyles. A woman's scream ripped through the night air. Thankful for anything that could distract him from his memories, Brooklyn whirled in the air and sped towards the sound. The source of the scream was apparent, as a woman was being pushed between three laughing men. "That's hardly fair," Brooklyn snarled, eyes blazing as he folded his wings and dove towards the group, "How about we even the odds!" The woman screamed again as a dark red creature barreled into one of the men tormenting her. She dropped to the ground as the two remaining men spun, drawing swords as the regarded the now landed creature holding up their companion. Standing at his full height, wings mantling and eyes glowing, Brooklyn snarled, "Pick on someone your own size, like me!" as he threw the man into one of his companions with a swift movement, albeit that wasn't an accurate assessment, Brooklyn being rather larger than a human man. The two men collided with a dull thud and rolled into the ground. The third man nearly dropped his sword and said, "Gargoyle!" in surprise. Brooklyn narrowed his gaze and crouched, claws extending forward as he took a heavy step towards him. He flared his wings, his shaggy mane standing on end as his deep voice growled "Yeah, want to make something of it?" The two on the ground got to their feet and ran, as did the third, dropping his sword as he ran. Brooklyn straightened again, putting his hands on his hips and puffing his chest out a bit, "Works like a charm, everytime. Well, almost..." A muffled cry sounded behind him and he turned, once again crouching slightly and dropping his wings to appear less intimidating to the woman he had just saved, "Are you al-erk!" Being spontaneously hugged was not a common occurrence for the red gargoyle and he said, "Uh miss? Ma'am?" as the woman sobbed into his chest, her arms wrapped tight around him. "There there?" Brooklyn offered lamely, gently patting her on the back, "Are you alright?" "You saved me, oh thank you gargoyle, thank you!" she enthused, then stepped back, dashing tears from her eyes with her hand, "Did those ruffians hurt you?" "Aren't I supposed to ask that question?" Brooklyn said in bemusement, stepping back and looking at the woman, "I'm just a little bit tougher than you are, ma'am. Are you okay?" "Oh aye, don't worry about me." she said, hands still trembling as she reached up to smooth back her hair, "Though 'tis a good thing you woke when you did, else I may not be." "Er," Brooklyn grumbled, "What do you mean by that? It's almost dawn." The woman looked over at the skyline and gasped, "But it is. Will you be able to make it back to the Castle?" turning worried eyes back to the red gargoyle. "Uh, I'd rather not..." Brooklyn drew his wings in. Somehow, the thought of him sleeping the day away next to a statue of himself was just a little too creepy, even considering all the things he's seen. "Then you must come to my home. Come, gargoyle, I owe you my virtue, if not my life. The least I can do is let you sleep in my care." She reached out and took Brooklyn's hand, "My husband will not mind." Rubbing one hand over his head, Brooklyn obligingly followed the woman, "My name is Brooklyn and... thank you." "I did not know that your kind had names... and such a curious one at that." The woman spoke as she walked, "My name is Mary, my husband is John and we have a wee one at home, named Gordon. Ah, such a surprise for the tyke." Brooklyn walked in silence and then asked, "Okay, this is going to sound like an odd question and I certainly don't mind... but why aren't you afraid of me?" Mary shook her head and said, "Since we've moved here five years ago, I've always found your presence peaceful. You would no more frighten me than my own son would." Brooklyn frowned and said, "Uh, my presence? Can you explain that? I'm a little confused." "After your sleep, I have no doubt." Mary looked up at him with a puzzled frown, "You've been asleep. John said you were all just statues, not real gargoyles. But you were all far too.." she shook her head, lapsing a moment, "I come and visit betimes, hoping one of you would wake one evening. I was on my way home from visiting you all, when those men attacked me." "You visit us?" Brooklyn mused, "Why?" Mary shrugged her shoulders, "I guess the story captured me. I heard it on my grandmother's lap, long ago, about the vikings and the gargoyles saving the Princess and... ah, there's my home now. Come, the sun is almost here. Come!" she dropped his hand and lifted her skirts, running to the door and shouting, "John! You must come see, we have a visitor!" Brooklyn paused outside the door, listening to a man's voice questioning inside, "Visitor? Who would visit at..." a tall man stood in the doorway, eyes widening as he took in the visitor. Brooklyn gave a small wave of his hand and a sheepish, "Hello." The man stood frozen, eyes wide as his wife bustled past him and pushed him to the side, "Come inside, Brooklyn. I dare say that there's room for you by the stove, if you don't mind the heat that is?" Brooklyn gave a shake of his head, "No ma'am." He waited for the man to step aside, then ducked his head, stooping and turning slightly sideways to enter through the small door, "They just don't make doors like they used to," Brooklyn muttered. Mary escorted him to the stove and then said with a smile, "Have a good sleep, Brooklyn." as he hunkered down in the corner and the sun finally made its appearance. ***** The next evening, the family of three stood watching the statue. A boy about five gave an excited cry when cracks started to form along the skin, then a second cry of fear as the gargoyle flexed out of the stone fragments, wings spreading with a yawning roar and eyes glowing brightly. Almost immediately, Brooklyn's wings bashed into the corners and Brooklyn gave an embarrassed and subdued, "Oops." as he dropped his wings again. "Gordon, do not be afraid, this is a gargoyle. He saved your mother's life." Mary's chiding voice and gentle hands urged the boy out from behind her skirts, "Did you sleep well, Brooklyn?" she asked. "Quite well, ma'am. Thank you, and your family..." Brooklyn offered, glancing at Mary's glowering husband. "Well, let's eat then!" Mary said cheerfully. After his first satisfying meal in several days, Brooklyn carefully set the plate back on the table. The chairs the family had would not accommodate his tail, so he had eaten squatting on his haunches, tail curled around his leg and his wings carefully folded. John cleared his throat and said, "A good meal, as always Mary." Brooklyn hastily seconded that, "It was delicious. Thank you." John shook his head, "Mary told me what you did, and it is you we must thank. A place to sleep and a spot of food can barely repay you for what you have done. Now..." he glanced over at his wife, "Mary, it's time our young lad here went to bed. I'd like to talk to our visitor for a while." Mary stood, moving over to her husband to give his cheek a caress before she said to Brooklyn, "No doubt curious about why your kin did not wake with you, I admit to being curious myself, but.." she moved over to collect her sleepy son, "Duty calls." "Yeah, duty." Brooklyn said dully, watching the woman leave with her child. John cleared his throat and Brooklyn looked back at the human. John dropped his gaze first then looked back up at the gargoyle, "You aren't one of the gargoyles at the castle, like Mary believes." "Yeah, about that..." "But you look like one of them. I went there today, there are still six statues growing mold as they've done for the past hundred years. Hard to believe that there are more than two such creatures that look like you. No offense." "It's the nose, isn't it?" Brooklyn said with an attempt at humor, he lifted one hand and rubbed his beak, "Kind of stands out in a crowd." John gave a short laugh, "That it does! That it does indeed. You're related then?" "Not quite... it's complicated." John shrugged and leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest, "And where else do you have to go tonight?" "Good point." Brooklyn admitted wryly, glancing down at his still belt pouch, "No where, for now, I suppose. You know the story Mary has about the gargoyles at the castle?" "Aye, put to sleep forever." "Well, not forever... that is me there. Well, was me... or will be." Brooklyn groaned and rubbed a hand across his eyes, muttering, "Stupid tenses." John hummed and then said, "So you're a magician?" "I wish. Then maybe I could control this blasted thing..." Brooklyn reached down and pulled out the Phoenix Gate, showing it to the human, "This piece of scrap metal hijacked me and is teleporting me through time." "Hijacked?" John asked curiously, as he carefully leaned over to examine the Gate, though his hands stayed well away from it. "Er, I suppose you could say ambushed me and is now controlling where I go." "Ah. So you did not show up to rescue Mary, it was coincidence." "Well, I don't know. I seem to go places where I'm needed. Sometimes I can't figure out why... sometimes I can't help." Brooklyn finished quietly, looking down at the Gate as he absently cradled it in his talons, "Just watch." John looked up at the brooding gargoyle, "I take it you had to watch a few things you wish you did not, by your manner." Brooklyn snapped his head up and put the Gate back in his pouch, "It's a gargoyle's nature to protect." John sighed and stood up, "So I've heard from Mary, but not from the rest of Scotland. Still, you seem to be a good man.. gargoyle." John was momentarily flustered then regained his composure, "You're welcome to stay with us for as long as you wish." "You mean, as long as the Gate lets me stay." "Is that the way of it then?" "Yeah. It sucks." Brooklyn said shortly. John frowned at the phrase then shrugged his shoulders, "However long that may be then." ***** Every night, Brooklyn glided to the castle after eating a meal with Mary, John and Gordon. The young lad became quickly entranced with the gargoyle. The happy family soothed something in Brooklyn and for a while, though he still hurt at every sunset, imagining Sata and his children, he found a measure of contentment. Twice Brooklyn defended the small family steading from armed brigands, barely needing more than to show himself and roar before they ran away. But every night, like pulling at a wound, he flew to the castle and walked to his clan. At first it was his own statue that he cleared off, but then he found himself using gentle talons to clear the lichen from under Lex's wings. And then Bronx's snarling mouth. And Broadways big ears. He had never been alone in their ancestral home before. After he woke in the rookery that one day, the devastation he witnessed of his clan and family had been swiftly pushed aside, as he was pulled along in the wake of Goliath's rage. And then they had woken in Manhattan. Since that day, he had not looked back except in his dreams. And now, a mere two weeks ago, he once again witnessed the massacre of everything he had once known. But this time he did not have Goliath's driving will pulling him, or the distracting rivalry of his rookery sibs, or even Hudson's solid presence. And Sata... He landed tonight up by Goliath and hopped up on the stone next to his leader. In the dim moonlight, Brooklyn could almost imagine Goliath awake. Brooklyn ducked his head and hunched his wings over his back, "Goliath, there are so many things I've wanted to tell you..." Brooklyn wasn't sure how long he talked to the brooding stone figure, but the edge of dawn lined the horizon when he glided away from the castle. ***** A month later, as Brooklyn walked besides Mary, carrying a large barrel on one shoulder, the woman surprised him by asking, "What do you do up at the castle every night? You always return to sleep and seem so sad." Brooklyn shifted the barrel and was silent for a few steps. Mary walked besides him in silence, knowing her large friend would speak when he was ready. Finally, his low voice rumbled out, "I... they're my family Mary. I haven't seen them in a very..." a deep sigh, "very long time. I look at their faces so I can remember them." "They look cleaner than I've ever seen them." "Well, it seems wrong to let them get overgrown..." Brooklyn said quietly, "They're ... well, without them..." he trailed off as they reached the storage shed and he set the barrel down with a careful twist. Mary put her small hand on his thick wrist, "You protect them, as you protect us." Brooklyn looked down at her hand and gently moved it from his wrist as he took a step away from Mary, "Don't rely on me, Mary." Brooklyn said darkly, his voice a low growl. "As soon as you do, this cursed thing will whisk me away and leave you defenseless." he gestured at the belted pouch holding the Phoenix Gate with one hand, the other making a sweeping motion as his wings flared open. "We've lived here for some years before you came. We can hold our own. I do not say you don't make it much easier! but we'd be fine." Mary defended proudly. Brooklyn sighed and caped his wings again, "That doesn't make it any easier for me." "Take me to see them?" Mary asked as Brooklyn turned away. His beaked face looked over his shoulder, "Why?" he asked shortly. "I visited them before you came here, I'd like to see them again." Mary said simply, putting her hands on her hips, "If you say no, I'll just have to trek there on foot, in the dark." Brooklyn turned away, raking his talons through his mane, "Man, and I thought Eliza was headstrong." he turned back and held out one arm, "Well, if you put it that way." ***** Brooklyn woke several evenings later to the loud roaring of fire in his ears. At first he thought, 'Phoenix Gate', but then again, the Phoenix Gate never smelled smoky. Nor was it ever quite so hot. He flexed out of the remains of his skin and looked around in alarm, the small holding was on fire. Brooklyn turned from his customary spot by the stove and escaped the flames by the simple expedient of clawing through the wooden wall. He stumbled out, coughing and smoldering. He turned back to the flames, squinting his eyes as he looked for sight of John, Mary or Gordon. A few sheep were milling around in their pen, bleating in fear. The horses were no where to be seen. Something glinted in the firelight and Brooklyn knelt on the muddy ground, fingers picking up a torn piece of mail shirt. The family owned no armor like this. His talons clenched around it and his eyes flared as he looked up from the piece of metal. He cast around, the trampled ground making tracking unnecessary. It was obvious which way the raiders went. Leaving the twisted metal behind, Brooklyn started to take off after the family when Mary's voice called out, "Brooklyn! We're here!" He twisted around, skidding in the mud and snarling before realizing it was just Mary, John and a frightened Gordon. "Are you alright?" Brooklyn asked anxiously, caping his wings and striding through the muddy ground to the family. John grunted and said, "Aye, but you nearly weren't." "The fire wouldn't have hurt me, I was stone." Brooklyn started, crouching as the boy ran towards him, "And not to state the obvious, but your walls aren't exactly gargoyle proof." Brooklyn lifted the child in one arm, the boy slinging his arms around the gargoyle's thick neck. "Aye, but them smashing you would have," Mary said, tipping her chin up, "I'm sorry if you took burns, Brooklyn." Brooklyn glanced between the proud Mary and the tight jawed John, "You set the fire?" he asked, incredulously. "Aye, she did. Daft woman..." "Daft nothing!" Mary interjected hotly, "Would you rather they had destroyed Brooklyn?" Brooklyn looked back over at the blazing home, then at the determined look on Mary's face. Gordon sniffled into Brooklyn's neck. "You destroyed your home, for me?" Brooklyn asked, thumbing himself in the chest with his free hand, his voice higher pitched than its norm in surprise. John slumped his shoulders, "Aye, and she did right by that too." Mary gave a smudged but happy look to her husband. Brooklyn shook his head and looked back at the house, his throat closing up on the words he wanted to say. John stepped up and reached a hand up to the gargoyle's shoulder, "We can start rebuilding on the morrow." Mary moved up besides her husband, taking his hand in her own, "Naturally. And maybe we can convince Brooklyn to carry up some of those stones we had been eying when we first moved here." Brooklyn looked down at the humans and gave them a grin, "Lady, consider me your willing volunteer." ***** Mary watched as the large gargoyle set the remaining stone in the new wall around the home. Rebuilding had gone amazingly fast with both adults and one gargoyle tirelessly working. Gordon also helped. Within a week, most of the home had been rebuilt. Brooklyn wiped at his face and grunted, "I hope that's the last of these for tonight, Mary. I .. kind of wanted to go to the castle tonight." "Gordon and I will go with you," Mary stated as she handed the gargoyle an ewer of water. "I don't know if that's such a good idea," Brooklyn said bluntly. He pulled out the blue and gold Gate and said, "This has been twitchy lately, I'm worried that it'll go off when I'm carrying you." "Does that mean you'll be leaving soon?" Mary asked, her voice sad. Brooklyn shrugged, "Probably. We've been so busy rebuilding I haven't gone up there to... clean." he finished sheepishly. "I was also thinking, with all this stonework we've done here, to maybe shore up some of the roosts, before they fall down of old age." Mary looked towards the distant view of the old castle, "When you leave, there will be no one to do that for you." she mused quietly. Brooklyn hunched his shoulders, "Yeah. I'll get around to it, after we finish with your home though." "Ach, the house needs little more than what John and I can accomplish ourselves. You go to your clan." Mary waved the gargoyle off with a friendly flick of her fingers. She laughed as Brooklyn gave her a courtly bow before he disappeared into the night. Mary walked to the house and called into it, "John?" ***** The next night, Mary and John were gone, though they had left a note that they had hiked to the castle with Gorden earlier that day. Brooklyn frowned at the scratch of paper and started out into the night. He didn't see them as he came gliding in, but instead noticed something else. He landed by his statue and looked at it. The stonework supporting the parapet had been carefully repaired, crumbling mortar replaced. He touched it with wondering fingers. Mary's voice came from behind, "John and I talked it over. When you leave, whenever that will be, we'll take care of your clan for you, as best we can." Brooklyn turned around and eyed the family, Gordon who was practically bouncing in excitement, "Did you see, Brooklyn? I helped!" He laughed and shook his shaggy head, "Guys... you don't know how much this means to me." he looked away, back at his own younger features. As he reached a talon out to once again touch his own face, his belt pouch suddenly quivered and he glanced down at it with a grimace. He backed away from Gordon as the boy started to approach, "Stay back" he ordered harshly, claws outspread, "I have to go." Mary reached forward and grabbed her son swiftly, tears starting down her cheeks. She knelt by her son and hugged him close, whispering in his ear. "Good bye, Brooklyn," John said quietly, raising a hand in a simple goodbye as the flare of fire surrounded the dark red figure. ***** Scotland, 1126 A.D. Gordon trotted his horse up the path to the castle, whistling under his breath as he traversed the well tamped path. He drew his horse to a halt however, as he noticed a figure in a dark cloak leading a horse up to the castle. Gordon spurred his horse to a fast little jig and called out, "Well met, stranger!" his voice a cheerful counterpoint to the jangling of harness, "What brings you way out here?" The blond man turned to regard the approaching horseman, stopping his advance. Once within range, the blond man said simply, "I heard there were gargoyles here." Gordon snorted as he dismounted, "Oh aye, along with ghosts and ghoulies." The blond man narrowed his gaze at the brown haired horseman who was patting his snorting mount, "You don't believe in gargoyles?" "Och, who does? Stories to scare children by," Gordon said easily, regarding the stranger carefully, "Surely you don't believe in it?" The man glanced back at the castle and pointed, "Then why do those gargoyles grow no moss, when the castle around them does?" Gordon looked up at the castle, the setting sun just touching the tips of Goliath's wings, "My family and I go up there to clean them." he stated matter of factly. "You... clean them?" came the incredulous question. Gordon shrugged and said simply, "Whim of my mother. She took a fancy to them when I was but a lad, said it was a shame that such works be left to rot." "Then at sundown..." Gordon grinned and said, "They make a pretty enough display, we have beautiful sunsets here on the coast. Here, look," he turned and pointed at the castle, "It outlines that top fellow right nicely. Though I fancy the fellow with the beak, myself." The black cloaked man stood and watched the sunset with Gordon, who sighed contentedly to himself and leaned his arms on the saddle of his horse, "I find it relaxing, m'self, to know there's a bit of history and mystery in that castle," he commented to the black cloaked fellow. The sun finally set and the black cloaked man said bemusedly, "Just statues." "Aye, always have, always will be, I suppose." Gordon stated, as the man turned to mount his horse. Gordon frowned as something fell from his cloak and he bent to retrieve it. "Hold sir, you dropped your .. hood?" he held up the black mask, frowning at the red stitching going across from one side to the other. The man in black circled around and took the item from Gordon, "Have a good evening." the blond man said simply, before turning and cantering away. Gordon watched the man ride away with a troubled frown, then looked back at the castle, "Maybe we should do a little less cleaning and touch up then you may have wanted, Brooklyn, but at least ye'll be alive again, someday." He turned back to his horse and mounted it, kicking it to a canter as he returned home. |