RP - A Visit From Breacan

[on_holy_ground]

The church was quiet, the last of his most recent visitors having just left the chapel. Darius moved slowly around the room, checking to make sure that everything was in order for when the next visitor happened by. Some might think it was an obsessive habit of his to do so, but in reality it was just part of the rituals that he followed that helped him to keep his 'calm facade', as some people liked to call it.

He had just knelt down to pick up a small piece of paper that had probably fallen from the pocket of one of the people who had come in to pray that morning, when he heard the sound of the front doors opening. He glanced up, and then rose to his feet to greet his newest visitor.

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[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan had been past the church enough times; so many times he had become used seeing it; so much he eventually tuned out the image. Today, he was curious about who the temple was dedicated too. The curiosity was enough, to bring him up the steps and pushing on the doors to enter.

He stood momentarily, to allow his eyes to adjust to the interior darkness. The first thing he noticed was the quiteness, followed by an expectant looking man about to greet him. He blantantly choosed to ignore the man for the moment. Breacan's gaze looked around taking in the church it self, till his look settled on something that caught his eye.

Two churchgoers pasted him to leave the church, and crossed themselves. The Dunlending didn’t exactly look like he was the church to pray. More like he was in the church, to thieve something for his current addiction, that they thought he had.

Breacan, moved his way through the pews, attracted by the pictures on the wall opposite him. He stood then looking solemnly at the station’s of the cross. Doing as a child would, while reading a picture book-look at the pictures to learn the story.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius wasn't the least bit put off by the dismissal, as he had seen it before on people that were either nervous, or curious about either religion or the church itself. He simply left the man in peace for the moment, allowing him to look around as he saw fit, and continued about his work tidying up the chapel so he didn't seem to be hovering.

He knew that the man would come to him if he had questions the he wanted to ask.

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan looked at the first station, noting the people. He moved down the stations to the fourteenth station. And learnt the story. Or in his mind grasped enough of the story to understand a ruler on a throne; condemned a man to die.

Now, he was ready to know who the man was.

He moved again between the church pews, quitely. Till, he felt close enough to talk to the man cleaning. Breacan sat upon one of the church benches. His gaze on what he perceived, to be a temple priest cleaning up. Then he said,

“Who was he?”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius stopped his cleaning and looked at the man addressing him. He was slightly surprised at the question, as it was very rare for him to have someone come here who didn't at least know who Jesus Christ was, at least in this day and age.

"He was the saviour of mankind."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan, remained quiet for a few seconds. A frown, appearing on his features briefly.

“He saved mankind from what? This saviour, what is, you know; his name?”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius sat in one of the chairs in the aisle in front of the one that the man had choosen and then looked at him with a soft smile.

"His name is Jesus Christ, and while the story is rather complicated, the simple answer would be that he saved us from ourselves."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

"Aye, You know; I have heard that name. I suspect though, use, in the wrong manner. Why do you perceive the story to be complicated? Those images, tell it simply enough." He indicated, to the stations of the cross on the other wall.

"This Valar..." Breacan Paused, searching his mind for a commonplace word, "...God. At what point, in a man's life; does he save them?"

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"I don't personally find it complicated, but many people who are searching often do. We often think things are much more difficult than they really are, as though it can't be as simple as it really seems."

Darius cocks his head slightly as he looks at the man, intrigued by the word he spoke of when referring to God.

"At any point in someone's life that they chose to accept him."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan nods his head in understanding,

“A man, you know; has his own free will. He goes about his life, doing as he pleases. Taking paths, he believes at the time were the correct choices. As always, fate is ever present in those choices. Fate, is a destiny, no God rules over.
If the man, chooses to accept this God, and fate plays a hand in his life. Making it impossible for the Jesus Christ, to save him. What happens to the man?”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"Nothing actually happens to him in the sense of the physical, but in the spiritual sense, he is assured a place in Heaven. He has the comfort of knowing that he will pass from this world and be in the presence of his God. It carries with it a sense of peace and the knowledge that you are walking with God wherever you may go, even when things become difficult in life."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan remained quiet for a while. In his mind he shifted the knowledge that he was given. Till, he could understand it in his own language and way.

“If the man saves himself and he does not require divine intervention. What, you know; does your God do about that?”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"Everyone requires intervention at one time or another, whether they realize it or not."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

"I suspect they do. What happens if the intervention, comes at that moment the man’s breath leaves his body? You know, he dies; before any saving can occur. How does your; God save him?"

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"God doesn't require words in order to save someone, however He will only save those who believe in who and what He is."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

"This Jesus Christ, is the same as all other Gods then. It was curiosity, you know; which is what brought me in here. I believe, I have learnt all I need to know."

Breacan rose, from his sitting position, preparing to leave. He searched, his jacket pocket and retrieved a box of matches; along with a cigarette. He placed the cigarette in his mouth.

"My people do not believe in such things; Gods. It is just as well. If your God, was ours, he would possibly been unable to save me."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius gets to his feet and looks at the man for a moment before responding.

"If my God was yours, then the only reason he would have been unable to save you, is because on some level you did not wish to be saved."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan, paused taking the cigarette out of his mouth, to speak again,

“You may be right. You know, I cannot begrudge no God, for failing to save me. There was a point, where nothing would have saved me; not even myself. Perhaps, it worked out for the best. For my debt was repaid, in that moment where no-one not even myself; could have saved me.”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"You believe that you are past the point of someone being able to save you then?"

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan's, gaze settled on the priest.
For the most part, the look held a touch of been insulted. The Priest's question clearly stating, he had not been listening enough, to what had been said. Breacan, shrugged off the look and voiced his thoughts,

“You know, I spoke of a past event. Even my words chosen, spoke of things past. Perhaps, I did not make myself clear? Aye, I considered I was beyond saving.”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"I am well aware that it was a past event of which you spoke. I however am asking about your feelings now, in the present."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan shrugged,

“My thoughts now, in this past year, in the present-accept I was worth saving and still am worth saving. You know, I suppose it is part of the healing process; I must endure.”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius nods, "Sometimes it is difficult to accept that we ourselves are worth saving, and learning to do that is often a difficult task. I myself had similar thoughts and feelings at one time."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan nods his head slowly,

“You know, truth be known I would like to, as you have done; place it behind me. It has been difficult to do so. There are some days, where I ponder, if such a thing is at all possible.”

He fiddles with the cigarette,

“What was it that you, yourself needed saving from? What did you do, that had you asking yourself; am I worth worth saving?”

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius is silent for a moment before answering. "I was someone who had to morals, and no qualms about killing anyone who got in the way of what it was I was after."

The simple answer, and true, but one that doesn't give away who and what he truly is.

[breacan.livejournal.com]

Breacan listened, when Darius finished talking he merely nodded his head. He appeared, not all suprised by what Darius was saying.

"Aye. It is not uncommon, to learn Warriors weary from battle and fighting; seeking peace and solitude in the healing arts or temples. You know, what you were then, I am now. Or a part of me still is."

He frowned,

"Truth be known, it is difficult for me to know. I believe, I am still that person. I suspect the difference is, I aquired honor. Or morals, as you would say."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"Something like that tends to have a way of changing a person, even if it's in just a small way."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

"Do you fear? The honor you have aquired, to keep you peaceful will be lost? You know, will make you return to the person; you once was?."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"I don't believe something like that can be lost, but only given away."

[breacan.livejournal.com]

"You know, depending on the circumstance; if it does not return perhaps it is better."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"And what kind of circumstances would those be?"

[breacan.livejournal.com]

He remained quiet for a moment then briefly reached up, taking from around his neck two wedding rings; attached to a leather thonging. One was silver and one was gold. He put them both, in Darius hand.

"To get the silver one back, required me to rip a man's finger from his hand. Then take his life, by cutting off his head. Before that, I did have some honor about me. Then it was gone in that one brief moment."

He paused, his expression dark,

"To get them together, back to me. Was the moment, you know; were my soul was not worth saving. It was the kind of cicumstances, that makes losing honor and those morals you speak of, highly worth it and it felt good."