Protector Of The Small (Osir)

[Moira Andriu]

• Time: Five-Thirty PM
  
• Setting: Palace Hallway
  
• Weather Conditions: Outside is clear, and the sun is set.

Children. Of all the things in the place to use as slaves the Pharaoh used children. Little girls, and boys who should be having fun, who should be having a life of fun, and love, without war, without sacrifice. The woman tossed her fair hair as she paced back and forth in the hall. She knew Osir was close by, she had told him to go with her. Moira ran her fingers over her blond hair, and tilted her head toward the cavernous ceiling of the palace.

She had thought he had been a good man, honorable, prideful in a good way. She heaved a sigh as she resumed pacing. Which he? The Pharaoh or Osir. Had she read him the wrong way? It wasn’t necessarily Osir’s fault, but he stood by and let it happen. She heard his footsteps, and without facing him said, “So, is this how you’re pharaoh does things?” The words were laden with bitterness. “He puts innocent children in rags and has them see to palace duties.”

For as long as Moira could remember children, of all status, had been left free to roam, free to grow. She faced him, arms folded across her abdomen. “How the hell could you possibly stand by and watch that happen? How can ya stand to look at yerself in the mornin’!” Her accent thickened as rage built inside of her. The fiery temper of the Irish that cursed her was beginning to show. “A wee little lassie like that should be with her family, no matter what! Isn't that just grand?”

She moved back into her pacing, muttering in Gaelic under her breath, and cursing anything and everything. “I taught two were different,” the words came out quickly in a thick brogue. What she had said, if he could decipher it, was ‘I thought you were different’. Moira shook her head, eyes the color of smoke gazing at the wall. “Yer Seti, he should have more sense than this! Working a child till she’s skin and bones—What the bloody, buggering, blooming hell is wrong with this place?”

Moira had seen the way the child had winced when she had approached with her weapon out, she had seen the fear. “Tell me Osir is it yer job as a guard to beat the slaves when they misbehave?” She spat the words out before she could stop herself. The sheer disgust had her normally pretty face twisted into a sneer like scowl. She was probably pushing her luck, but when Moira got to a certain point she kept going.

[Osir Shadii]

Osir looked down with shame. Why did he even let that happen? He didn't like the idea of children as slaves, but still he went by the Pharaoh's orders. It was something that torn him apart on the inside, but he did nothing to stop it. "Miss Moira, it was never my decision to send children into labor such as that. I am just obeying what Pharaoh Seti has asked of me." Osir said, almost without emotion. What was he to tell her? He wasn't sure.

"I would never.." He began to say, soon pausing with concern. Osir was torn by the mere thought of this now, and so could not manage to muster out more than what he had said. But was he pained by the look on the little slave girl's face? Was he pained by the words that seemed to echo from Moira's mouth? He wasn't sure. Osir was not sure, and never did he think that anything such as this would come to him in such timing.

The proud man was near in shock now as he looked to her face, and noticed that she was not in a good mood. But what could he do about it? Was he really like an old drone--a blindly loyal hound to the great Seti? It had seemed so. "I wouldn't. But I am loyal." Osir said managed to speak out, only realizing that he sounded a bit like a young pup, to a head dog.

[Moira Andriu]

Moira snorted at his words in a very unlady like manner as she continued to moved to and fro. She had heard words like his before. It’s an order, I’m doing my duty. It was a bunch of malarkey if you asked her. Though she had used some of those words herself. “I have heard too much about obeying Osir,” she replied darkly. Things that Moira kept buried came out in hints, in bitter statements that came in the heat of battle. “Did ya not see her? How can ya say that it wasn’t yer decision if ya didn’t do a damned thing about it?”

She let out a sardonic laugh. “Ye would never?” She repeated with a searing tongue. “Well, I hate ta tell ya it’s happening, right now. Yer pharaoh is doing it, yer people, yer homeland, everyone ye have ever known.” The Irishwoman pinched the bridge of her nose between her finger and thumb. She squeezed her eyes closed as she tried to control her temper. Her pale cheeks were flushed red with rage and embarrassment.

“Loyalty only goes so far my good sir,” the warrior ground out as she opened her eyes to look into his. “Loyalty is one thing, ignorance is another,” She moved closer to him, chin held high in a defiant gesture. A fighting gesture if anything. “Ya stand there and tell me that enslaving a child is okay because yer king….yer pharaoh commands it. That’s not loyalty. Loyalty is going onto a field, and shedding yer blood for him, loyalty is taking an arrow for him, not enslaving children.”

[Osir Shadii]

No. It wasn't right. But what more could he do about it? It wasn't his business to actually say so, it was the great Pharaoh Seti I's! Even though he was the commander of his army, he was still helpless to the true power that the king wielded. But was all lost because of this? Or would his stubborn attitude kick in at the moment, with out warning?

"Now, listen! I am doing my duty and nothing more! And I am keeping my mouth shut, because it was never my business! It was Seti's, and I am loyal to the king!" Osir told her, somewhat angered. He did not like that feeling of being trampled on, even if it was by a woman, and so he felt he had to speak his mind.

"Surely you know of the king's will? He greatly dislikes those who are not loyal, and rewards them with beheading!" The proud man began to respond, still with some form of rage in his eyes. Usually he wasn't one that angered quickly, but when it came to things such as this, he had all the more reason to be. Indeed.

[Moira Andriu]

A small smile crossed Moira’s face as Osir finally snapped at her. Maybe she had been egging him on just to see the other side, to understand more about the man in front of her. “Too often have I heard of duty, But am I not of a clan? Of a kingdom such as you? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. This is a chance to do something, to fight for something. It is your business Osir! Don’t ya get that? Everything about this place has to do with the people in her, the people who protect her. That’s you boy-o.”

She paused to her bearings as Osir began to speak once more, She held her tongue until he was done. He wasn’t Irish, had he been then there would have been interrupting, cursing, hitting, laughter and more. “Aye, I know of the king’s will,” she whispered. “T’was a kings will that killed one of my brothers, he shed his blood for my king.” She tossed said head up as he spoke of decapitation. “Would it or would it not be worth it then?” She challenged.

“Save a thousand lose a life,” Moira moved until they were toe to toe, her head tilted to stare him in the eye. “I was taught that. If, say, I lose my head for disobeying yer king, not mine, yours, but it saves all the children that were enslaved against what little will they have. Would that or would that not be worth it?”

[Osir Shadii]

Osir's head sunk low to the thought of what she was saying. She was right. But would his nature allow him to see truth in her words? Could he really believe this? Surely he could. But he felt so deeply about his duty. His sworn duty as a protector of the royal family, and the kingdom. The law was something he took seriously, but he felt terrible just thinking about what she was saying.

What if he himself was in the little Hebrew girl's shoes? What if he had to endure the same torture that she had felt? She wasn't noticed, and she wasn't to be called by name either. Truly it was like the coldest winter night--forever in the same necropolis. But could he really face the Pharaoh? No, that was impossible. What other method could he try?

"I've never thought of it like that. My duty was always to serve and protect the people of Egypt. But who am I really protecting? Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in the shoes of the slaves that are controlled. Like that little girl. But what could I do? I can't stand up to the Pharaoh with out failing him in the end! I just can't do it." Osir told her, close to being sad.

[Moira Andriu]

Moira watched the Egyptian quietly, her dove gray eyes moving back and forth over his face, trying to read him, but he like so many good warriors could hide behind a mask. A mask she ahd worn many times before, and still did on ocassion. It was hard she knew to be held down by duty, honor, loyalty.

When she was a girl, before her mother died, Moira had tried to be a knight like her brothers, she had gotten pretty far with training with them before her mother told her of her duty to her family, to their clan to find a suitor, get married, settle down and have children. She needed to bring honor to her family by doing so, stay loyal to the clan by keeping peace with others. Moira closed her eyes for a moment, opened them again to hear his saddened words.

"Osir I'm not askin' ya ta do anythin'," Moira finally said, the flames of rage dimmed to embers. "All I wanna know is if ya knew of this mistreatment, if ye helped in it. I'll fight the fight. You do yer job, I'll do mine." She smiled slightly. "You protect the big, I'll protect the small. They're not big enough yet, not strong enough."

[Osir Shadii]

"My lady, you have my word. I would never have done anything against the slav..I mean the citizens." Osir said, trying to cover up his usual words with something that might make Moira see that he wasn't a bad person. Not a bad person at all. But a good soul, with dedication and pride. Hopefully she could understand this.

"I wasn't aware of this treatment, but I would wish that children were not enslaved. I would never wish harm on such youth. It makes me feel almost bad, to think about it though," he said soon looking to the floor, and then looking back up to speak again. "But as you say, Miss, you do your job, and I will attend to mine."

Osir tried to force out another smile again. Just trying to show her that he wasn't a terrible person. If it was his duty to protect and serve the royal family and the people, then he would do so. Osir would keep his word to not harm the innocent children though, even if they were Hebrew.

[Moira Andriu]

"My lord," Moira began when he fumbled with his words. "Right there ya proved to me just how ingrained yer mind is. Ya use words like slave, lord, king, kin and won't change them for anyone." She could tell he was a good man, a brave one. Somehow she found herself believing every word he said.

"Let me ask ya something," she said as he gazed at the floor. "If you weren't a general, if you had no duty to yer king would ya do somethin' about it?" It was something that had been brewing in her mind. A hypothetical question really. And as she had said he would do his job, and now, now Moira had a new job. She was going to be hell bent on figuring out that child.

"I know yer job Osir," she said softly. Heart racing, she cupped his bearded cheek for a moment. "If I read ya right," she smiled in response to his small one. "I know ye'd stop it if ya could." She dropped her hand back to her side. "But if I happen ta be beheaded and all, just...funeral pyre would be nice." It came out in a joking tone, but the seriousness of the situation made it real.

[Osir Shadii]

I don't think I could change that. It is all I know! From being raised as a protector, that is all I know. Osir thought as he listened to her words. She was right though, and he now knew it all too well. Moira was indeed a good hearted soul, and it was something that he liked--no matter how tough he may have seemed on the outside. The commander was even growing fond of her, even though they had recently met some time ago.

"Indeed. I would have at least tried to do something to stop it." Osir said in a quiet tone, hoping that no one had overheard his words. "But, if I could get away with it now, my answer would still be the same." He said kindly, with a smile. That Moira was really a good soul.

"But, my lady, you should not worry about beheading. If there is a will, then there most certainly is a way. Continue to show your brave face, and you might have a golden opportunity to help those mistreated." Was what Osir said, trying to sound good in nature.

[Moira Andriu]

Moira had learned in the short time she had known Osir, or any Egyptian for that matter was that when there was silence there was thinking. Back home if there was silence someone was furious, and was refusing to talk to anyone. She could at least try to understand where he was coming from, they were raised different, obviously, their countries and monarchy differed in their ruling, and use of servants, though from what she had seen they were slaves more than servants.

At his quiet words Moira once more got the vibe that had he been heard discussing his empathy for slaves there would be trouble, and lots of it. "Then that's all I need to know," she replied. "All I needed to hear is that if ya could ya would." She returned the smile that was given to her.

"There's a way to avoid beheading?" Moira asked with an amused smile dancing across her eyes as well as her lips. "That's always good ta know. And for the record,” she smiled. “Moira will do nicely; I’ve been called other things for too long.” A piece of her glowed with pride that he thought she was brave. Another part of her could wonder if she could drop the walls of her heart to let someone like him or the little girl in.

[Osir Shadii]

Osir nodded. "Then, you have my word, Moira." He responded to her. His face was still very bold in appearance, yet it lacked a cold look to it. Osir was a good man, and while he had sworn to his duties, he also had the decency to not strike women or children. A good soul. Proud. Fearless. And all the other titles that have been given to him. The man was respectable.

"And yes--there is a way to avoid beheading." The great commander told Moira, only soon to talk once more. "But you need not worry about it. No harm will come to you as long as you remain in Egypt." Osir vowed. He had grown quite fond of Moira, and so he would keep his word as a protector.

Osir then smiled, and looked into her eyes. She had lovely eyes. Something unique. "I will make sure of it." He told the woman, surely seeing her as a respectable warrior.

[Moira Andriu]

A shudder in her heart had Moira glancing away from the man in front of her. She could see something in the way he looked at her. There was a smile, a truth in his eyes. It was becoming harder to tell if this was where she belonged, but things were falling into place, one by one. The girl that she had sworn to protect to this man who it seemed was going to keep her safe. “Yer a good man, Osir.” She said softly.

She smiled slightly as he replied to her question about beheading. Ironic how he had told her not to worry about beheading when he himself had brought it up. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t the harm come from Egypt?” Gray eyes danced merrily with laughter. “Since we are talkin’ of a kind of forbidden thing.” She paused as he smiled and looked into her eyes. Her heart skipped a few beats, and her words caught in her throat as he said he make sure she was safe. “And fer that I thank ye,” she replied, accent thickened a bit by nervousness.

When he didn’t have the ‘warrior’ face on Osir was approachable, even if Moira had approached him in such a way as that she knew what he could do. She had seen the dummy, she had seen the swift, sure moves of his swordsmanship. She wouldn’t go as far as saying she feared him, because she didn’t….not yet. What could she say to him then? Admit that he had stirred something in her that had lain dormant for so long? No. She had to protect herself, protect the girl…protect her heart. “Perhaps ye could show me the scrolls on yer history now?” She offered after a few moments of silence.