i never thought i'd see you again. [elves only]

[Emiryal ♕]

[anyone is welcome to join this thread but only with elf characters, no other races please.]

Emiryal tightened his grip nervously on his horses reigns as he rode through the lush forest of Ellesmera. The chestnut mare was calm and walked at a steady but smooth pace. The elf had recently broken free of Galbatorix's grasp with help from Varden Riders. As much as he appreciated their help he could not stay with the Varden. He simply did not like them all that much. There was but one place in all of Alagasia he could go, Du Weldenvarden.

As a rider of the Empire he had been unable to enter the forest. But now he was free and it was time he returned home at last. The elves had been wary of allowing him access despite him being an elf. After four days of waiting his request to return had been accepted by the queen herself. Emiryal's family lived in Nadindel and was of no social importance. Yet his status as a Rider and a former Empire Rider apparently had gotten the attention of the queen.

According to the reply he was to go straight to Ellesmera, the heart of Du Weldenvarden. He was not to waiver from his course.. Once in Ellesmera he would be judged to find if he was worthy or an enemy in disguise. Emiryal didn't like it, but he understood why they had to make sure.

He had been surprised that no escort had been sent to bring him to Ellesmera, but Firern had suggested that this was part of judging them. Any Empire soldier would love to gain access to the elven woods and use it for the Empire's benefit. If Emiryal were with the Empire still he very well could disobey the queen's decree and wander off. "It is the first of many things we must prove ourselves with," Firern said.

"You speak as if you know the elves. Firern you were born in Uru'baen and have never been here nor met any elf on friendly terms," he said. "How is it that you are so wise in our ways."

[/b]

Something like laughter filled Emiryal's mind. "But dear one, I know you and through you them." Emiryal nodded, firern only knew them through his memories but as a dragon he seemed to be able to take that knowledge and place it into wisdom.

"Must you ride that?" Firern asked indicating the horse Emiryal rode on. The black dragon was flying overhead as there was no room for him to land on the path. "We already discussed this. This is pretty much how I left, on horse back to help villagers defend against the Empire. I find it only right to return in the same manner I left."

"Fly with me tomorrow?" Firern asked accepting Emiryal's reply. The dragon had not flown with his rider since they had entered Ellesmera and he longed to take to the skies with his rider once more. "Tomorrow," Emiryal promised.

The city of Ellesmera came into sight now, or well at least if you knew what to look for, which Emiryal did. Waiting near the edge of it two elves stood waiting for Emiryal. As he drew near he dismounted and was about to speak the elven greeting when both elves waiting for him spoke in unison. "Atra esterní ono thelduin," they said.

Emiryal responded in turn with the appropriate greeting. "Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr," he said.

To his surprise the elves spoke once more, honoring him by it. He was rarely addressed this way even before he had been taken by the Empire. "Un du evarínya ono varda," they said. "Welcome home Rider Emiryal of the house of Laetri. You quarters await you were those of old once stayed. I trust you know the way? There will be a feast tonight in your honor. Rest today and let what must happen be tomorrow," one of them said.

"Thank you, it's good to be home," he said his voice slightly emotional. Since his capture he'd sorely missed Du Weldenvarden and mourned that he'd never be able to go back, but now here he was.

He handed the reins of his mare to one of the elves then climbed onto Firern's back, who promptly took off and flew towards the largest tree in the city, he landed on a porch with an open door. A single strip of black material hung on the outer railing marking it for Firern and Emiryal.

The elf dismounted and walked into the room. A corner of it allowed Firern a landing perch but it could be closed in bad weather. It was a one floor room but that didn't matter. He was home. He sat down on the soft bed, tears of joy in his eyes. "I can't believe it," he said. "I'm finally home, where I belong."[/blockquote]

[Aelodil]

Vlaer and Belgabad had been staying in Ellesmera for the week, Vlaer was especially glad. Belgabad was, as always, busy gathering a mountain of elks to have a proper dinner. After Belgabad finished, Vlaer got on the saddle and they began walking around Ellesmera.

The Rider and his dragon whom they had saved, with the help of another two Riders and Murtagh's run-away. Glad beyond imagination, Vlaer and Belgabad cared none of the formalities and said, "Emiryal! Firern! How are you? Do you recognize us?" they were overjoyed to have been able to change the course of their lives.

[Emiryal ♕]

Hearing a voice Emiryal got up and walked to the balcony. There he saw Vlaer and Belgabad. Firern stood beside his rider looking at them. "We are well," he said. "I don't belive we've ever formally met, I only recognize you from Firern's memories." At the time of his rescue he'd been unconscious and unable to use magic from the drugs. Firern had been better off at the time and emiryal only knew what had happened from what firern told him.
without hesitating Emiryal vaulted over the low railing on the balcony and with the aid of a spell landed softly near vlaer and Belgabad below. Firern remained where he was. Emiryal greeted both the dragon and rider in the formal elven greeting. "What brings you here?" he asked. It seemed most Riders favored the varden and stayed with them.

[Aelodil]

"Nothing really, we were on a...how would you say? Vacation? Ah, yes, vacation from war and bloodshed. We heard that a small black dragon and his Rider came and so we decided to check whom it was." both Vlaer and Belgabad said.

Belgabad contacted Firern mentally and asked, "Would you want some food? I still have plenty left over from my last hunt." he sent Firern an image of around 20 elks piled up. Smiling Vlaer said, "I have reason to believe that you haven't had a proper teacher to teach you so far Emiryal-finiarel, nor you Firern-finiarel. Belgabad and I have talked of this long and we have decided that if you wish a teacher, come towards us."

Vlaer happily grasped Emiryal's arm in sign of friendship and kept his arm on Emiryal's sending a flow of energy into him for what he had missed out on because of the drugs and being captive and tortured by the Empire. Belgabad then did the same to Firern.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal smiled at their reason for being here. Before he could respond Vlaer had continued on speaking. "My training is somewhat inadequate but not entirely. My skills in magic or equal to any elf, but my rider skills are less. I was trained some by Galbatorix and Murtagh," he said. He glanced at Firern. "Firern is half as younger than he looks, Varul my main mentor forced me to increase his growth."

The elf was surprised as Vlaer sent him energy. "Thank you," he said.Since his capture he hadn't yet fully recovered from it. His eagerness to return here prevented him from resting up before.

Firern smiled, "That is kind of you ebrithil, if you are sure you don't mind, I am hungry," he said. He not eaten much since they had entered the elven forests. He added his thanks as well as Belgabad gave him energy.

[Aelodil]

Vlaer burst out with laughter, filling the air with what sounded like music. Belgabad seemed amused as well. "If that is so, then consider us your Masters and you our students," they said before continuing, "Emiryal, Firern I apologize but I wish you to come to our house for now. We must start training immediately!"

Vlaer climbed onto Belgabad as Emiryal did much the same and Firern and Belgabad took off, two meteorite-like shapes flying upward. When they reached their house, far off next to a mountain and in the middle of a dense forest Belgabad threw 5 elks in front of Firern before laying down.

Vlaer walked over to Emiryal and as he and Belgabad gave even more energy to their students they explained, "You will need it for our training." Vlaer then said, "Firern now that you have finished, follow Belgabad to the top of the mountain.

Vlaer began his teaching much as Belgabad began his. "What must you train Emiryal?" asked Vlaer while Belgabad questioned Firern, "What do you believe you must train little one?".

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal complied and climbed onto Firern's back once he flew down from the balcony. "With all due respect master, there is a feast for us this night, I would not wish to insult my queen by not attending it," he said. He didn't mind training now though he would insist on leaving when the feast came time.Firern spread his black wings and took to the sky following Belgabad. Smooth flaps of his wings carried him easily. As they flew Emiryal smiled and looked at the scenery, everything was so familiar to him, it was almost overwhelming.

Once they arrived Emiryal dismounted Firern, he didn't need to take off his saddle as he'd already done so and had stored it in their quarters. The black dragon ate only 4 of the elks before he was full.

Emiryal's hands rested on the hilts of his twin blades, his mind was alert and ready to counter any spells with a few words. He was used to harsh training in which he had to be ready for everything and anything. "Well to quite an elven saying, we must train our minds, soul and heart. We must be one with ourselves," he said. "What do you intend to teach us today?"

The elf smiled but did not turn to watch Firern take off to follow Belgabad to the mountain. The dragon had taken off quickly in a half spiral in an attempt to show off. The result actually was quite impressive, it was one of the moves Firern had often used to avoid attacks from Thorn and Shruikan during training.

The black dragon remained in the air once he reached the mountain top. He wasn't going to land for fear Belgabad might choose to train fighting. Landing would give Belgabad the upper claw. It was obvious their Empire training had taught them to always be wary. "I must train in strength and skill so that I may not be weak," he said his words sounding like something the Empire Riders might say.

[Aelodil]

Laughing Belgabad suddenly soared above Firern and surprisinly fast for such a large dragon raked his massive cpaws to Firern's wing.

Meanwhile Vlaer said' "That is true. How wepl are you as a swordsman though? You may be the strongest magician in mind yet be swept by a single backstroke." he quicklygot up and unsheathed Oblivion obviously gesturing for a spar.

[Emiryal ♕]

Firern tucked his wings and fell to avoid the larger dragon's claws. Then spreading his wings he angled up to do an inside loop around Belgabad so he could dive down at him. The young black dragon had more than enough fighting experience to know not to underestimate an enemy. As he dove down he opened his mouth to bathe Belgabad in blue-ish black fire.

Emiryal smiled he was not the strongest magician, that actually was his weak point. However, due to Galbatorix giving him two Eldundari, that was no longer a weak point. Isikal and Carimiev were still with him, he'd fled and managed to retain them. Both dragons were delighted at being free from the Empire. "I am a better archer than a swordsman," Emiryal admitted drawing both of his twin rider blades. The black blades reflected no sunlight.

Emiryal flexed his hand testing his grip on his blades before he began to circle Vlaer. One sword was held in defense the other in offense. He sprang for Vlaer slashing at his side to attempt to unbalance him, then rapidly kicking his opponent to finish the job. It was a dirty way to fight but that's how you survived in the Empire.

[Aelodil]

Swaying downward to avoid the kick Vlaer parried the sword and disengaged to take out his bow and shot an arrow to Emiryal's right, one to his left, one above him, and one aiming at him hoping to trap him no matter where he went.

Belgabad had wards around him and so the fire did nothing against him. He had a strategy. He knew he was bigger and bulkier and so allowed Firern to slam into him before he bit Firern's side and slammed his tail into Firern's other side.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal was going to dodge to the left until he saw Vlaer fire three more arrows at him. "Gath sem oro un lam iet," he said tapping into his magic. Only the arrow headed straight for him changed direction from the spell and landed in his hand as he let the rest fly past him harmlessly.

Firern roared in pain as he was bitten and Belgabad's tail slammed into him, knocking the air out of him. He fell a short bit as he recovered before spreading his wings and landing on a hill. He winced as he had landed, it seemed Belgabad had broken a few of his ribs, which made flying painful. He glanced up worried Belgabad would continue the assault, that's what any of the Empire dragon's would've done.

Emiryal had left his bow back in his room having not thought they'd train today. Instead he darted forward and swung his sword at Vlaer. If he remained close enough Vlaer wouldn't be able to fire arrows at him at such a close range. Emiryal hesitated in his blow as Firern's pain reached him, he winced in shared empathy and faltered his blades easily missing Vlaer.

[Aelodil]

Belgabad and Vlaer took the advantage as they swapped opponents. Vlaer jumped onto Firern and slashed at him while Belgabad slammed his tail infront of Emiryal, causing a miniature earthquake before knocking him off balance with his wings.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal offered not complaint at the sudden change in the battle or lack of reprieve to heal his dragon. They were used to fighting Empire Riders who sometimes fought dishonorably and took advantage where others would not. Firern roared at Vlaer and backed away quickly enough to avoid getting a sword impaled into him. The movement pained him with his broken ribs but he ignored it. Emiryal had once offered to cast a spell to make him feel no pain, but he declined. He didn't want to be like the Empire soldiers. Often that was a curse because you wouldn't know how bad you were hurt and when it was time to flee. The black dragon opened his mouth to blast the rider with a wave of blue fire. Why blue when he was a black dragon? Emiryal had never figured it out.

The elf stumbled back when Belgabad slammed his tail in front of him but did not fall. He ducked low as Belgabad's wing grazed the top of his head failing to knock him off balance. Instead he darted forward and with the aid of magic jumped onto Belgabad's back, both his twin swords aimed to impale the dragon.

[Aelodil]

Vlaer simply let his wards take care of the fire while using magic to blast himself onto Firern's back and planted his sword in Firern's back and used it as a ladder or handle to hang on.

Belgabad quickly shifted to unbalance Emiryal however wasn't able to stop him from impaling one of the swords on his back. Roaring he flew up and started casting circles and dropped to the ground quickly and shifted his neck and bathed Emiryal with fire tinged with a little black like goo.

[Emiryal ♕]

Firern roared in pain as the blade pierced his scales and wards. Emiryal winced in sympathy feeling his dragon's pain as though it were his own.The elf managed to remain on Belgabad's back as he clung to a few spikes on his back as well as his sword that was impaled in him.

Emiryal's expression had changed from an intention of a friendly fight to a deadly one. His eyes harbored a fierce determination somewhat characteristic of the Empire Riders. Despite having changed his name, he'd been raised as an Empire Rider.

He raised his left hand, with his Gedwey Insignia as Belgabad turned to blast him with fire. "Skölir nosu fra brisingr! Brisingr thaefathan letta gath un lam iet. Morte kvistr stenr! Anori Brisingr Draumr abr Sundablaka it ator Virliger!" he shouted stringing together quite a complicated spell. He reached for Carimieve and Isikal, the two Eldundari he'd been given by the Empire, for energy to fuel the spell.

The spell protected him from the fire, but the fire did not just go around him it condensed into his hand and grew larger and hotter. Suddenly a loud crack resounded in the forest as branches and rock caught on fire and flew at both Vlaer and Belgabad relentlessly.

Next he wrenched his sword out of Belgabad's back before jumping from his back and throwing the fire in his hand below him. The fire took the shape of a dragon made of shadow and fire. It roared angrily seeming to be fueled by Emiryal's now intense emotions before it rammed itself into Belgabad's side, fiery teeth and claws trying to grab on and tear off scales.

Emiryal did not sit on the fire dragon's back but stood upright and steady despite the motion of the beast. "Waíse heill," he said quickly healing Firern from a distance, quick took up considerably more magic than it otherwise would have. He branished his sword and slashed at Belgabad's face.

Emiryal was taking this battle to the extreme and was using a massive amount of magic now. Firern roared in triumph as his wounds healed and he took to the air and preformed complicated maneuvers to dislodge Vlaer, all while occasionally turning his head to nip at him or blast him with fire.

[Aelodil]

Vlaer used energy from the Eldunari of Belgabad I to ward himself and Belgabad. Meanwhile Firern was turning an flipping and nipping. Vlaer simply catapulted himself with Oblivion to Firern's wing and slashed at the thin membrane before jumping down and used magic to get himself to Emiryal where he lunged at his right shoulder.

Belgabad roared in pain as the fire dragon mauled his side. He then flew back to Firern and slammed his massive body into Firern's winh and whipped his tail at the other.

[Emiryal ♕]

Once free of Vlaer Firern dived for Belgabad, but was met half way. The black dragon tilted his wings upwards at an odd angle so that he slid under Belgabad avoiding the attack and leaving Firern free to attack Belgabad's belly, which he did so with ferocity, tearing at the bigger dragon with claw and tooth. Vlaer's blade had been deflected by one of Firern's wards so his wing had come to no harm.

Emiryal blocked Vlaer's blade with both of his twin rider swords with surprising ease. It was clear the drain of magic was taking a toll on Emiryal though, he looked tired and his arms trembled as he blocked Vlaer's attack. The fire dragon continued his relentless attack on Belgabad, remaining with him even as the large dragon flew for Firern.

Carimiev, one of Emiryal's Eldunari resounded in Emiryal and Firern's minds. "Emiryal! Firern! Stop this madness! You are going to get yourself killed and Isikal and I can't supply you with energy forever. This is NOT the way of the riders. Cease this fight now!" he said.

"I can't Carimiev," Emiryal answered not giving a reason why. Then aloud added. "Anori Brisingr Draumr abr Sundablaka it ator Virliger!" This created a second Fire dragon this one with Carimiev's essence to control it. The other fire dragon roared in protest at Emiryal then both fire dragon's vanished and the elf fell from the sky. Carimiev and Isikal had cut off their energy from Emiryal, the result was Emiryal using his own energy and quickly having it depleted. He had fainted and if not for Carimiev and isikal would've died from using to much energy. The Eldunari supplied him with just enough that he would not loose his life.

Firern roared in worry and dove for his rider. He caught him and landed on the ground standing protectively over Emiryal with a vicious snarl.

Carimiev and Isikal appeared on either side of Firern as illusions. Carimiev was a brilliant emerald green dragon, he was larger than Firern and seemed wise. He looked up to the skies where Belgabad and Vlaer were. Isikal a smaller blue dragon growled next to Firern. Their shapes were only illusions and would do no good. The only reason for this was so Vlaer might speak with them, as he was likely to close his mind thinking it an attack otherwise. "Ebrithil, do you think it wise to have confronted Emiryal like this? He knows little of the traditional Rider ways. When you fight him he will fight to the death," Carimiev said.

[Aelodil]

Vlaer quickly got on Belgabad and had him land. "I apologize, Emiryal-finiarel, Firern-finiarel. I meant not to bring you to such exhaustion. However, I am glad to announce how I am proud to say, you are proficient and I would be proud to call you my student." Belgabad said much the same to Firern.

Vlaer grasped both Firern and Emiryal's leg and drained energy from himself into Emiryal and energy from Belgabad into him then into Firern. He then healed all their wounds with his power and Belgabad's and said, "Come, let us go greet the Queen." as he said so he climbed on Belgabad again.

[Emiryal ♕]

Carimiev and Isikal vanished from view, their illusions fading. Carimiev touched Vlaer's mind. "Ebrithil, you could not have known. But now that you know don't push him so far next time. He knows only the ways of the Empire Riders and needs much guidance," he said.

Firern tensed as Belgabad landed as though expecting the fight to continue. As if to prove that a flicker of flame light up his mouth as he prepared to attack, but no attack came when he realized their intention. He backed away from Emiryal so Vlaer could help him.

The energy Vlaer gave helped but being healed from his injures was more appreciated. Firern stretched his wings testing them a bit. "Thank you for your praise, I am glad you think so highly of us," Firern replied to Vlaer.

Emiryal slowly came to from unconsciousness after Vlaer gave him some energy. He still felt weak, simply from verging on destroying himself. It didn't matter how much energy Vlaer gave him, going that far always required a price. The elf slowly sat up with a grown and his head in his hands. He glanced at Vlaer on Belgabad and held out a hand to indicate them to wait. "--ugh Vlaer...ebrithil I am in no condition to meet the queen," he said as his stomach churned. A bought of nausea swept over him but he managed to retain his composure. His head pounded with a headache and he felt numb all over.

[Aelodil]

Grimacing Vlaer helped Emiryal mount Firern and said, "Come, we shall have you rest at our house." He and Belgabad flew to the middle of the deep forest where they be a tall tower made out of an ancient tree where the top had a balcony strong enough to support Belgabad's bulk and more and large enough to hold a castle.

They landed there and helped Emiryal down into Vlaer's own bed and gave him some stamina before saying, "Sleep and rest Emiryal-finiarel."