Fate is cruel.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal was stationed at Dras Leona. He had been living her for a week or so now. The large town was defensible and close enough to Belatona to keep an eye on the Varden. If they attacked they would go for Dras Leona next. It was dawn and he stood at his window in the palace. The faint line of sunlight was only starting to show itself over the horizon. He found himself thinking back to Vroengard and Leliah.

He had not much chance to interact with his own kind, but Leliah was more than that. He found he couldn't stop thinking of her. He walked over to the wash basin in his room and poured water into the bowl. He stared at the water for a moment before he said, Draumr kópa. The water swirled in color but resulted in a grey slate looking image. He sighed and then released the spell before washing his face.

He had been trying to scry Leliah but like him she apparently had protected herself from being scried. Firern was not in his room here. It was too small for him. He had been given one of the storage rooms to sleep in. Through his link though he knew Firern was still asleep.

He decided to clear his mind by going for a morning ride. He didn't want to wake Firern though. So he quickly dressed and hung his twin rider blades on his belt. Then he went down to the stables. The stable boy there bowed low to him and after repeating yes sir may times finally retrieved a sable horse for him. The boy had not saddled it upon Emiryal's request. He preferred to ride horses bare back. He would've done the same on Firern but his scales would've cut into his legs and he probably would fall off.

He quickly mounted the sable horse and with a touch of his foot behind the horse's leg he was off. It had been quite some time since he had ridden a horse. He mainly rode Firern now. The streets were quiet as he guided the horse at a trot through the city and out through the main gates. Once out of the city he urged the horse into a run. It wasn't as fast as Firern but it was nice to get out of the city and clear his mind from...Leliah. He stopped the horse. This wasn't helping. Whatever he did he couldn't stop thinking about her.

[Kiara]

Leliah was within Belatona, She was thinking about her Encounter with Emiryal and Firern, Vroengard. She smiled and decided to go out for a little fresh air; she ran to the entrance and exit to Belatona. She slipped through the gates un-seen and took a deep breath. Her eyes brightened but slowly dimmed as she saw Dras Leona came into view, She walked with a certain grace and determination. She saw a shadow of a Horse and Rider, She ran towards them; hoping to find company.

Leliah recognized the Rider of the horse, the first thing she saw were the twin black Rider blades strapped around his waist, “Emiryal!” She saw that he had stopped “What has happened? Are you okay? Leliah’s face showed worry and concern.

Yesterday seeing Firern and Emiryal fly over-head behind Thorn had shook her mind; she was wearing a black cloak that bellowed behind her as she ran. She looked around; it was just her, Emiryal and the horse he was sat apon. She blinked slowly, her long eyelashes causing long, thin shadows on her cheeks. She had not stopped thinking about Emiryal since their encounter on Vroengard. He would probably ask her how she got there, She would just say she had some Help from a Varden Rider.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal saw a figure running towards him. His hand instinctively went to his sword, but he didn't draw it. He smiled when he realized who it was and turned his horse towards her and urged it into a run towards her. He slowed the horse when he reached her.
"Leilah!" he said cheerfully. It was unusual for him to show any emotion in his words. "I'm alright," he assured her as he dismounted his horse. He took a step towards her but then seemed to second guess himself and stopped. He wasn't sure what she meant by what happened. He had recovered since Firern's stunt at Vroengard.

He glanced back towards Dras Leona then back to Leliah. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "You really shouldn't be here. It's dangerous." He wasn't the only rider stationed at Dras Leona, Murtagh and Thorn were there as well as a few others. He was too worried about her to think of how she had gotten to Vroengard though he'd probably ask her later.

[Kiara]

Leliah let out a little snort as she giggled. “I am not exactly a weakling, She took off her cloak and flipped it over, It had Galbatorix’s signet sketched across the back. “I am no spy; It’s only for when I am near places like this.” She smiled at the male in-front of her. She sighed. “Firern didn’t have to do that, it’s just the colour of his… scales. They remind me of the day my Parents died.”

A grim smiled flashed across her face, My parents trained me so that my mental barriers are impossible to break through, I suppose they did it for my safety. She did not think of being in the Varden, she thought of being a traveller going to join the Empire. “You mustn’t worry about me Emiryal.” She smiled and looked around. She thought of Emiryal; their en-counter on Vroengard was one she would NEVER forget, Even if they gouged it out of her. She saw that he had reached for the hilt of his sword when she was approaching, She didn’t mind, She would have done the same thing.

Leliah’s very own sword was strapped around her hip, She would un-sheath it if she needed be. She hated killing things, It made her feel sick to her stomach, Killing a human; Their lives had only just begun compared to the Elves. She looked around and saw nothing of a specific danger. She did not want to have to kill anything so early in the morning, It was un-earthly that every living being in the world has once killed someone or something. She yawned as she had not had enough sleep as she normally would have, She was up all night; trying to think what to make out of Firern and Emiryal flying ahead yesterday. She did not let it show that she was upset about yesterday’s events, Or that she was there. She looked around. ”I am sorry, I made Firern use all his energy on that illusion; I shall repay the energy used.”

Leliah smiled; there was truth in her words and that was all she really cared about.

((NEW LONGEST POST EVER!!!!!))

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal was surprised by the symbol on Leliah's cloak. Quite resourceful to do such a thing. Though the symbol couldn't help but remind him of his slavery to the mad king. "That's quite resourceful of you. That would probably food our watchmen as long as you didn't draw to near," he said. What was he saying?! He felt like he was betraying the Empire, but well he didn't like the Empire then did he.
"I can see why Firern would remind you of our parents death. He does look very much like Shruikan except for the difference in size. He wanted to do that illusion for you though; even I couldn't have stopped him from doing that. Don't worry about paying him back the energy. We have both recovered from that, and any energy you give him we would eventually have to use against the Varden," Emiryal said.

"Strong mental barriers or not, I can't help but worry about you Leliah. These are dangerous times and if the Empire were ever to harm you I would not be able to help you," he said. He despised the oaths he had been forced to take. He was not free to do as he wished.

Had she spoken her dislike for killing, Emiryal would've agreed with her. But the irony of it was he had probably killed many in the name of the Empire, he had no choice. And then there was Murtagh who he knew did not hesitate to kill anyone who threatened him and had no remorse for doing so. Emiryal was not like that.

He glanced at Dras Leona and dread over came his expression. "Leliah," he said. "Please come with me." He quickly mounted the sable horse who had waited patiently and offered a hand to help Leliah onto the horse. "A patrol of Empire soldiers are coming this way." He could hear them in his mind as he had been contacted by the spellcaster with them and asked if everything was alright.

((Congrats on your new longest post record =D ))

[Kiara]

Leliah took Emiryal's hand and climbed onto the horse; She did not mind that it didn't have a saddle as long as it rode as fast as needed. She looked behind her; they were not yet in sight, They didn’t have much time Emiryal! Hurry! She did not want to speak physically in-case she was heard by the patrol approaching. She threw the hood up and over her head with the flick of her wrist. She knew how to kill, heal and control air with the ancient language but that was just about it; She knew how to contol magic with movements and not words.

She looked behind her again, This time she wrapped her arms around Emiryal should he spur the horse forward and she fall and be taken hostage by the Empire. She awaited Emiryal’s response as to spur the horse forward.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal helped her onto the sable horse. He almost blocked her from his mind when she spoke to him mentally. He usually only let Firern and of course the Empire spell casters speak to him. Her sudden words promoted an attack, he pulled back his attack when he realized it was Leliah. He had never felt her mind before now. If Leliah were to study the emotions in his mind from the brief touch she would've noticed his mind was dark, tormented and that she and Firern were the only light in his life.

But her words were not needed to be spoken. Speed was of the essence. Emiryal waited only a moment for her to wrap her arms around him before he urged the horse into a run. The sable horse immediately responded. The sable was one of the Emirpire's best horses, as the stable boy had insisted on no less noble of a horse for Emiryal to take. They plunged into the trees that were near the open plain. Emiryal slowed the horse to a gallop when they would be out of sight of the patrol.

Emiryal looked back but the tree's hid the grassy plain from view. Then he touched Leliah's hand, since her arms were still around him. He couldn't image anything worse than the Empire capturing Leliah. If he could he'd do everything in his power to prevent it, but the fact remained that his oaths bound him and he may not have that option.

[Kiara]

Leliah reached up with one hand and tugged on the edge of the hood; making it fall and conceal her face. The patrol of Empire soldiers would see the signet etched across the back of her cloak and be fooled. She daren’t look back in case they saw her and recognized her as one of the Varden. She wrapped her slender arm around his waist once again and held on tight, they were now moving.

Leliah thought that if the hood blew back while they were riding; her face and hair would be revealed, they would know straight away. She kept one arm wrapped around Emiryal’s waist while the other was holding her hood down.

[Emiryal ♕]

As the sable horse crested a ridge Emiryal stopped the horse. They were out of sight of the Empire patrol and he knew they wouldn't come this way. "They won't find us here," he said. He had twisted around slightly so he could look at Leliah's face, which was obscured by her hood now. He pulled the hood back from her as he spoke.

He wished right then he could just leave with her and never return to the Empire. Firern could follow them of course. But that was not possible. He was sworn to the Empire, he wasn't sure if that were even possible.

[Kiara]

Leliah slid of the horse with the grace of many an elf. Her eyes were filled with the joy and happiness that was taken from her long ago, but it wasn’t all there. “I enjoy your company Emiryal, I have never really had many friends. When I was a child I left Ellesmera and I was taunted by the others, Because I was daughter of two riders.” She sighed and cursed slightly under her breath. For some reason that she did not understand, there was a lump in her throat that allowed her to say no more. Her lip curled up into lop-sided smile.

Her pale peachy lips curled up fully. She thought about how she wouldn’t be able to be with Emiryal how they were both from different sides that despised each other. Once she felt able to speak she pulled up all her courage, She bit her lip and finally spoke but she spoke with a slight nervousness. “Emiryal, Her cheeks went a bright red. I like you, Very much.” She bit her lip in anticipation for his answer.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal also dismounted the sable horse. He held onto the reigns though. The horse pulled slightly on them as she tried to make a nearby bush into a snack. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the joy and happiness in Leliah's eyes. He longed to share that same emotion with her but as always a cloud of despair and sorrow hung over him. Ever since he had been captured by the Empire he had known little happiness and even less joy.

Her words were not unexpected but perhaps actually hearing it outloud was something else altogether. "I like you very much too," he said. It seemed a bit awkward to say as he felt more than just a like for Leliah. But he was on the Empire's side and she on the Varden.

[Kiara]

Leliah shook her head, She hated the way that she was with the Varden and he with the Empire. She sighed and thought for a second. She reached out her arms to hug Emiryal; to give him all the love he had never received. She loved him; Deep, Deep in her heart. She looked up and smiled; Her eyes twinkled, she stopped. She noticed that Emiryal wasn’t okay she sighed. “Emiryal? Whatever is the matter?” Her voice showed more than concern, it showed worry and anxiety. She felt something churn in her stomach, She suddenly felt sick. She bent over in pain, She frowned. She suddenly felt out of breath. She ran somewhere and spewed before walking back to Emiryal cursing slightly under her breath.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal hugged her when she reached out her arms. Her love was something he wished he could return more fully. But perhaps he didn't know how to open up and let himself truly love her as deeply as he wanted to.

He was about to answer her when she suddenly ran off. He took a step forward and was stopped by the horse. She was enjoying the bush she was eating and didn't want to follow him. He had almost forgotten he had been holding the reigns. Leliah soon came back though. "Are you alright," he asked his concern for her obvious.

He waited for her to answer before he answered the question she had asked before. "What's the matter is the Empire, Leliah. They destroyed who I was," he said. He was tempted to show her what the Empire had done to him and Firern but decided against it. He didn't want to worry her.

[Kiara]

Leliah smiled “Just an upset stomach.” She sighed. She felt bloated; as if she had eaten too much, when this morning she had eaten this morning was some berries and grapes. She sighed heavily. She looked around, She held onto his arm with nothing more than sheer love. Her passion for him was burning and undying.

She sighed heavily as she heard him say about the Empire. “I don’t like killing people, Or anything in that respect. But it’s what we must do to survive.” She looked up at him, Knowing that they should be together, and that nothing should stop them.

Emiryal was the light of Leliah’s life, The only reason she agreed to stay within Belatona. Her pale cheeks blushed, Turning a shade of pink that they had never seen before, She took her cloak off and lay it somewhere on the floor. It was a hot, sunny day and Leliah’s cloak just made her feel uncomfortable in the heat.

[Emiryal ♕]

"Waíse tilt heill," Emiryal muttered quickly. He didn't like seeing Leliah even somewhat ill and without thinking had acted to ease her discomfort. However, out of habit he had laced the healing with dark magic to quicken the spell. It wasn't until after he realized Leliah might disapprove of him using dark magic.

With his free hand he touched her hand that was on his arm. Her words about the Empire seemed to upset him a little. "I don't like killing people either but I don't have a choice. I've killed many and I'm not allowed to show any mercy. I don't choose to kill to survive, instead I'm forced to by my oaths. Is that survival or am I no better than the king himself?"