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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 25, 2012 18:38:27 GMT -5
  In the distance a woman screamed. "Shurikan has come to kill us all! Run for your lives!" Some Varden members headed the call and started to flee, only to be stopped by the soldiers trying to go the other direction to face whatever threat had just come upon them.
The best word to describe what was happening was chaos, but it was not without reason. The woman had been wrong that it was Shurikan. But indeed there was a black dragon. The dragon circled above just out of range of any arrows. In appearance the dragon did indeed look like Shruikan except for the fact he was much to small.
Firern tucked his black wings in slightly and slowly descended towards the ground. Arrows flew at him and he growled as a few found their mark, the rest simply bounced off his hard scales. He landed on a small hill just outside the Varden camp. Soldiers rushed out of camp towards him weapons at ready. Firern's ice blue eyes were mournful. There was no anger or rage. And he made no move to attack the Varden soldiers.
A lone figure sat on the dragon's back. His ears were pointed and his hair looked like it had been bleached in the moonlight. He sat hunched in the saddle as if exhausted and in great pain. He wore no armor, but was dressed in fine clothing. His only weapons were the two rider swords that hung at his sides, but Emiryal made no move to draw them as the Varden soldiers drew near. Nor did he cast a single spell. In fact he and Firern had not magical protection at all. They were as vulnerable.
"Please," Emiryal said weakly. "We mean you no harm. On my word as a Rider I promise that. I--" he paused and grimaced as a wave of pain seemed to over take him. No injuries were visible, if it was a wound he was suffering from it was hidden under his clothing. "I need your...help." Drops of sweat beaded Emiryal's face as he looked helplessly on at the Varden soldiers. He was helpless before them. Should they attack him his only chance was Firern, his dragon, but he was in little better shape than Emiryal. |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 25, 2012 20:24:19 GMT -5
Nandon stepped forward slowly and cautiously motioning the soldiers who had drawn there weapons to lower them but stand ready he frowned looking at the person "Who are you...And what business have you here..." nandon said slowly and cautiously knowing at any moment the situation could explode and it would not bode well for the varden or its soldiers... slowly he looked over the man looking for injuries as he noticed the pain on his face "Where are you hurt."
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 25, 2012 23:07:15 GMT -5
Emiryal swayed in the saddle and seemed to be fighting off unconsciousness. Firern turned his head to look back at his rider with concern. Emiryal leaned against the black dragon's neck for support as Nandon spoke. "I am Emiryal....a rider of the empire," he said. "My dragon is Firern." He half wondered if anyone actually recognized him or Firern. Probably not by name, but maybe by appearance. They had been at most of the major battles against the Varden.
The elf rider was glad Nandon had the soldiers step down, though he knew the situation was not good and even dangerous to him still. But what choice did he have. His breathing was labored as he answered Nandon's second question. "Hm, I have injuries just about everywhere," he said.
Emiryal slowly pushed his hands against Firern's neck to sit up right. He cried out in pain and abandoned the attempt. "Galbatorix's punishments are most through," he said through clenched teeth. "I betrayed him and was punished."
He didn't have the strength nor did he feel like listing off his many injuries. His back was sliced open in many directions from both the blade of a sword and whip marks. Unfortunately those two weapons had been laced with Sither, the kind the Razac used that make recovering painful and long. Burn marks covered his arms and legs. And purple trails showed where burrow worms had eaten him. The later being the most painful of all the injuries.
Firern had been injured just about as badly, but no wounds showed on him now. Emiryal had used what had remained of his strength to heal his dragon. The effort nearly had killed him.
The dragon reached out and touched Nandon's mind. He meant no harm to him. But simply shared with him the full extent of Emiryal's injuries including that neither he nor his rider almost had no magic energy left. He hated to tell Nandon that as he was revealing how vulnerable they were but he had to, otherwise Emiryal might die if he did not get help.
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Post by Nandon on Jun 25, 2012 23:21:52 GMT -5
nandon frowned for a moment and then recognized them and at the announcement of who they where one brave soldier stepped forward he looked to be a sergeant We aren't just going to let this empire dog into our camp are we nandon!" Nandon gasped momentarily caught of guard as the dragon touched his mind but he let his barriers down and listened to all the dragon told him then he slowly turned to the soldier "Watch your tongue or i will have you given lashes by my own hand!" nandon said angered at the mans reaction especially when he was this wounded... The man completely ignored nandon and jumped at rider and dragon his sword drawn and nandon instantly reached for the magic in himself and said "Slytha!" Violently and the man crumpled to the ground fast asleep... then he pointed at two of the soldiers "take him away and disperse! Also someone tell the healers in the healing tent i shall be on the way with our guest in a moment." Then nandon repeated his orders with a yell and they where oboyed then he slowly walked forward and held out a hand to help the man from the saddle "Is your dragon alright?"
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 25, 2012 23:39:31 GMT -5
Firern lowered his head and barred his teeth as the Varden soldier approached wanting to strike down his rider and probably him too. When the soldier jumped at them he growled and was about to snap at the man. However, before it came to that the man crumpled to the ground asleep. He was relieved by Nandon's quick spell that stopped him. Surely if that man had attacked the rest would've followed and Firern would've had to flee.
As the soldiers dispersed Firern laid down on the hill and let his wings fall to his side. He watched Nandon approach them but did nothing. Nandon would help Emiryal.
Emiryal fumbled with the straps on his saddle to release his legs from it, before accepting Nandon's hand. The elf almost fell into Nandon when he reached the ground. Had it not been for Nandon, the rider would not have been able to stand. He leaned heavily on him for support. "Firern is ok, I healed him with my remaining strength before we fled. He's just exhausted now," he said.
Firern watched and made a whimpering like noise and lifted his left wing slightly to show where three arrows had pierced the membrane. He had been hit by the Varden's archers before he had landed and Nandon had stopped the attack on them. |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 25, 2012 23:48:19 GMT -5
nandon nodded his head at emiryal and looked at the dragons wing for a second then muttered "Waise hail." and the wound would have hopefully healed... then nandon reached out his mind to the dragon "I'll take care of your rider... for now stay here and rest if any varden try to attack you tell me and i shall be here as soon as i can..." With that helping emiryal walk he walked towards the healers tent slowly.. when he arrived the healers just about laughed in nandons face "You expect us... to heal a rider of the empire when soldiers of the VARDEN are dying right now and we could save them?" One of the healers said. Nandon growled and set emiryal on a nearby vacant cot and took the man outside for several minutes... and a commotion could be heard then he walked back in and the healer had a pained look on his face then he said "Alright boys lets heal him..." the other healers slowly nodded not wanting whatever nandon had done to there leader and they slowly began to chant over emiryal chanting spells of healing that should take away the majority of the damage... when the finished they looked exhausted and nandon nodded "Will he be staying here?" the leader asked and nandon shook his head... he would keep a eye on emiryal personally "No... I shall keep him in my tent for now..." slowly he turned to emiryal and asked him "Ready to go?"
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 0:06:31 GMT -5
Firern was grateful for the quick healing spell. The spell worked and the holes in his wing vanished. Folding his wing by his side he curled his tail around him and rested his head on the ground. "I will wait here," he said. "And thank you for saving my rider."
It had been Firern's idea to come to the Varden for help. Emiryal had no liking for the Varden and in fact didn't like them much more than he liked Galbatorix. But Firern had convinced him otherwise and come here. Who else would've helped them? The elves were to far away. The Varden had been their only chance.
Emiryal winced Nandon helped him onto a cot. Laying on his back was painful and he cried out as a fresh wave of pain came over him shooting through his back. He only vaguely heard what the healers were saying and a commotion outside. It felt much longer than minutes to the elf as pain was his constant companion. His eyes were closed against the pain, then a shadow fell over his face.
Opening his eyes he saw the healer had returned along with a few others. He recognized the words they spoke as they healed him, he knew them by heart but was unable to use them now without killing himself. As they continued the pain receded and his wounds closed. The majority of his wounds were either healed or semi-healed now. The only one un-touched by the spell was the damage done by the burrow worms. Healing that damage would require a more intense spell that he doubted the healers knew or had the strength for.
"Yes," Emiryal said to Nandon and slowly sat up in the cot and swung his legs over the edge. The injuries on his back protested, the sither oil had made the spell less potent and had prevented it from healing completely. But the pain was bare-able now. However, his strength and energy was still gone. He carefully stood and reached for Nandon's shoulder for support.
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 0:14:33 GMT -5
nandon keeled down slightly so he could grab his shoulder easier then he walked out of the healing tent slowly noting that some of the wounds where unhealed and he seemed weak still... then he shrugged he had just come from his tent when he heard the yell and he had just been making a fresh batch of rabbit stew which he had laced with red wine and several other seasonings nandon had found nearby...nandon then reached out his mind and told the dragon where his tent was and to fly there then he turned to the elf with curiosity he had never seen another one of his race work with the empire and eventually curiosity over rode him and he decided he would ask his question while they ate
a few minutes later they reached nandon small camp sight which was off to the side of the vardens main camp and slightly hidden from view and his mouth watered slightly as he smelled the rabbit stew which had almost been ready when he left was now fully done. slowly he walked over and set emiryal down on one of the log stumps he used as a chair then sat down on the opposite side of the fire and grabbed one of his wooden bowls and ladled a good amount of the stew into it and offered it to emiryal "Care for some?"
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 0:25:33 GMT -5
Emiryal gratefuly sank onto the log stump chair. His rider blades hung on either side of him and touched the ground as he sat. In his condition the blades were next to useless to him. Not that he had a need for them now. The elf was nervous being in the heart of the Varden, he was at their mercy.
"Thank you," Emiryal said and accepted the bowl of stew. He allowed it to cool a bit before he ate some. It was surprisingly flavorful and delicious. "It's very good," he commented. His voice no longer hinted at pain, but it did tell his exhaustion.
Firern acknowledged Nandon's message and shortly took to the skies. He was tired but if he could he did not want to be separated from Emiryal. The black dragon landed near the tent and lay down. |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 0:30:47 GMT -5
nandon nodded his thanks and fixed himself a bowl "Its my own recipe... The secret is dragon dung!" Then he laughs implying it was a joke then he set the stew aside for a moment and stood up walking over to his tent and picked up a wine skin and walked back over and passed it over to emiryal "So... " he said curiosity burning within him as he dug into the soup "If you dont mind me asking... Why is a fellow elf... working for the empire..." he said slowly not wanting to offend the rider... then he looked over at the dragon "Firern has nice scales... almost like black diamond..."
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 0:52:42 GMT -5
Emiryal laughed lightly at Nandon's joke. Had dragon dung was great fertilizer but not really great for anything else. He accepted the wine skin and took a drink from it. The rider froze when Nandon asked why he served the Empire. It was a painful subject for him and for Firern. The black dragon was suddenly more alert and watched his rider waiting to see how he would answer. "Um yes he does and actually he looks identical to Shurikan except he's smaller," he said. Galbatorix and a few of the Empire riders had commented on the fact a few times. Emiryal ate two more sthingyfuls of stew, it was enough to empty his bowl and he set it down on the ground next to him. He clasped his hands together and rested his head on them and sighed. Nandon's curiosity was understandable about why he served the Empire. But it wasn't a question Emiryal liked to face. "As far as I know I'm not just a fellow elf serving the Empire, I'm the only elf," he said sadly. He felt horrible about it too as if he had betrayed his own kind by serving Galbatorix. "I'm sorry, I don't like to talk about this," he said after pausing for half a minute. "I don't want to serve the Empire. I used to fight against it when this war first started. I fought with our own people helping the outlying human villages fight back," he said. The memories were a fresh as if no time had ever passed. "I was captured by the Empire while defending a village. I don't know why they took me but they did. I spent over a year in Galbatorix's dungeons. I was tortured mercilessly and assaulted mentally all the time. I don't know why but they showed me the vault where the eggs are kept....Firern hatched for me and was taken from me. They...the empire tormented him....they broke his wings and....I don't want to talk about what else they did to him. But I couldn't take it, I had to stop them before they killed Firern. So....I swore allegiance to the Empire in the ancient language. I serve the Empire not by choice, but to save my dragon's life.""I...I my true name changed after our assault on Belatona. I betrayed Galbatorix and freed some of our prisoners. Both Firern and I were nearly killed by the punishment but we fled. I healed Firern with all my remaining strength so he would be able to fly here." |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 1:10:22 GMT -5
Nandon eyes widened slightly as he heard the tale and nodded sympathetically and gestured down at the bowl "Want some more?" He said thinking for a moment before saying "Its not your fault... galbatorix is a damned monster... That is why we fight...And... since you told me why you fought for the empire.... i see it as only fair i tell you why i fight for the varden..." Slowly he frowned gathering his thoughts.. "When i was young... before my mother was killed...She told me the story of what happened as to why i was born..." His voice came slightly painful as he spoke.. "My mother was a healer back when the first war started and she was helping the outlying villages as well... healing the wounded the sick... when the forsworn attacked the village she alone stood up in defiance against them..." He chuckled softly not really at anything funny... but merely as a way to realease the tension that had built within him over the past couple of seconds..."The forsworn...over powered her... and captured her... and one of them... she never told me his name... took her back to his liar... and invaded her mind..." Nandon takes a sip from the wine skin and clears his throat before speaking again... it was obviously a painful subject "And... And... he... .... Raped... her... unmercifully... and using the knowledge of her true name to keep her there... where she stayed for several years.... constantly tortured by the man...Untill finally she discovered she was pregnant with me...and knowing that changed her true name and she managed to escape... She fled back to the forest where she gave birth to me soon after...." he said slowly... he then joined emiryal with his head in hands...
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 1:26:55 GMT -5
Emiryal was somewhat absorbed in his own misery when Nandon started to tell his story. But as he continued he became shocked an enraged at what he heard. His own misery was left behind. It seemed that everyone had been harmed some how by the Empire or those who served it. Nandon's story was sickening to say the least. "I'm so sorry to hear that," he said. "That is not right...I suppose you don't know the name of the Foresworn that did it? Well I don't suppose it matters now." The elf knew the names of all of the former forsworn and one of them had done the horrible deed. All he knew was it wasn't Morzan, he was Murtagh's father and would've been with Selena then.
He stood up ignoring the pain and his weariness. He seemed very upset, Firern watched him passively, but though their bond a torrent of emotions and words was passing. Finally Emiryal spoke aloud to Nandon. "I...there is something you should know. Galbatorix sometimes calls the current Empire riders Heirs of the Forsworn....to change my true name I accepted the title...heir of the forsworn is part of my true name. I feel horrible to have my name connected with such great wrongs."
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 1:31:02 GMT -5
nandon nodded lightly then frowned twitching lightly at the mention of the forsworn... "Yes but you no longer serve the empire... You are here among the varden and not as a prisoner... but as... My guest..." Nandon said slowly "You are not one of the forsworn no matter what your true name says... which... even though im not good with true names... Would have changed again today... when you first came to the varden wouldnt it?" Nandon asked not really knowing then he was once again filled with anger and he stood up quickly wincing in pain as his thigh hurt
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 1:54:00 GMT -5
"Maybe, it has changed again," Emiryal said thoughtfully and somewhat hopefully. He looked at Firern and looked at Nandon. "Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya," he said. The spell would block Nandon from hearing what he said next. He turned away from Nandon so he wouldn't try to read his lips, and then he said his true name to himself. The one with the heir of the forsworn title in it. Unfortunately is resonated with him and filled his whole being with something like power. He let his spell drop for not being over heard and looked at Nandon with a haunted look.
"My name has not changed. An Heir of the Forsworn is who I am whether I like it or not. My name is forever stained with that title," he said. Yes he had come to the Varden but he had no loyalty to them.
"I do not serve the empire any longer but I know Galbatorix and it is only a matter of time before he finds me....besides I'm not staying with the Varden," he said. He just couldn't stay here. Yes they helped him but he could not fight with them. Surely the King would find him and when he did he'd either die in the punishment or be broken again and swear loyalty once more.
"I am sorry Nandon. As much as I have changed it seems I am what you despise most. Will you strike me down then?" he asked seeing Nandon's anger and seeming to know it must be directed at him. After all he symbolized everything Nandon fought against and all that had gone wrong. |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 2:05:54 GMT -5
Nandon frowned again as he heard the spell said then his ears seemed to be filled with wool for a moment and he heard nothing then he heard what emiryal said and he frownded again wincing once again at the name "Your destiny is not so easily set... Your true name has much power over you yes... But it cannot shape who you are in the future... Your true name is like a legacy... It shows who you where in the past... as your life goes on your true name will get longer...So if you do not wish to be held by that one title forever fill the remaining space in your name with good...." Nandon winced again clutching at his thigh... it was causing him more pain today for some reason "I could never strike down a fellow Alfykan..In cold blood..." ((Dont know if that was right or not...))
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 2:15:19 GMT -5
Nandon spoke true and Emiryal had to nod in agreement. "Well spoken," he said. "And to know your true name can be a curse. You know who you really are and I don't like who I am." His name already was quite long as Emiryal was over a100 years old, but it would get longer and hopefully with something worth while instead of something to be ashamed of. He dipped his head slightly in thanks to Nandon. "Nor could I," he said. He couldn't strike down another elf in cold blood either or any of the other races for that matter. what he didn't say was that he had done just that, but he hadn't chosen to do so he'd been under orders from the King. "What is wrong?" he asked noticing the pain Nandon seemed to be in. He doubted he could help as he was still weakened. |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 2:20:48 GMT -5
Nandon nodded his head lightly and gestured to his thigh which he still held "When there was the counter strike on beltona by the few riders there where soldiers who couldnt feel pain... and i ran into a group of them and i tried to kill them but they slashed me across the artery in my thigh.... i was saved by some varden healers... but it still causes pain...which is sometimes worse than others..."But.. i shouldn't speak of this now when you have endured much more then me..." Then he chuckled lightly "Its not as if your going to capture me..." He let it as a statement meant as a joke but after a couple seconds thought he could see that it could happen...
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jun 26, 2012 2:32:45 GMT -5
Emirayl just couldn't get a break. He had been at that battle and of course had been with the Empire. "I erm I guess that's kind of my fault. I was providing the spell for a the painless soldiers in that battle," he said. "When I'm rested maybe I can try to heal it more and stop the pain. I've studied under Galbatorix and probably know a few spells your healers don't that might help."
He laughed a little bit at Nandon's comment. Capture him? "No, no. Of course I wouldn't do that. Beside I do not serve the Empire any more."
Emiryal felt torn, had he not betrayed the Empire surely his being here would've been to harm the Varden. And part of Emiryal wanted to go back to the Empire again. He was afraid of himself. Over the years he had been twisted by the Empire's ways and he wasn't sure if what little good remained in him was enough. Well he'd find out now, now that he no longer served the Empire. |
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Post by Nandon on Jun 26, 2012 2:39:14 GMT -5
Nandon shook his head "No... you where under the orders of galbatorix then... and you arent now.... The fault isnt yours..." Then nandon shook his head once more "I'll be fine... This wound isnt my first..." Then he chuckled again at his own comment before his face grew serious "This is some advice my mother gave me when i was young..." Then he frowned trying to recall it before speaking again "Life... is like a book...It has its twists and turns... its protagonists and its heroes... it also has those who fade into the back ground never to be heard again...You decide what you are... you write your own life story..." He smiles remembering his mother for a second before continuing on "I right now am but a background character in your life story...Your servitude to galbatorix was merely a twist...Who knows where your path shall take you next...But you can always be sure... every story has a end... and while some are longer than others... they all remain the same in that aspect..."
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