Egghunt in the Empire [closed]

[Gildor]

"Of course," Cirtolthiel answered with a soft yet firmly reassuring tone. He felt the staff move from under his fingers when she placed a delicate hand around it. With a bit of reluctance, Gildor allowed his hold on the wood to relax when she gently pulled it away, though he gave her a nod of agreement. He then turned back towards Arsen and ran his hands along the horse's side, searching for the saddle. He had just found it and was gripping the front and back firmly for mounting when Cirtolthiel caught his attention again.

"Wait..." she said, a hint of confusion and perhaps a little embarrassment in her voice, "Do you mind how I carry it?"

Gildor turned his head slightly towards where he heard her with a single raised brow. It was a bit of an odd question and he couldn't help but wonder why she asked it. "So long as it's with care and respect, no, not particularly," he answered after a brief moment's thought, then proceeded to haul himself onto Arsen's back.

It took him a couple of shaky tries and finally a gentle boost from Amerylis before he made it up. After nodding a weary thanks, he felt for and fixed the stirrup straps so they would fit the length of his legs, then adjusted himself in the saddle comfortably. For someone running on so little sleep and magical energy, it didn't take him very long to get himself situated.

"By your-" he started to say once he was finished and ready, but a deep, sleepy yawn suddenly caught him off guard, and he covered his mouth. So the tiredness was still there... he was just very good at hiding it.

Gildor shook his head and shoulders with a quick jerk to wake himself back up, mumbled a polite, "Pardon me," and cleared his throat. "By your lead, Miss Liduen," he finished properly this time, then gripped the front of the saddle to maintain his balance for whenever she began to move Arsen forward.

[Cirtolthiel]

As Cirtolthiel waited nervously for Gildor's response, he turned to her with a raised brow. She felt her cheeks burn slightly in embarrassment - it had undoubtedly been a weird question. Gildor paused before he answered her.

"So long as it's with care and respect, no, not particularly," he told her, and mounted onto Arsen's back. Cirtolthiel's shoulders slumped slightly at his response, tightening her grip on the staff. She watched him struggle with mounting, and finally Amerylis had to help him.

"By your lead, Miss Liduen," Gildor finally said, and they began to move. Cirtolthiel walked along, remaining silent. She stared off into the trees, wondering about the "last time's" of random things - like the last time she sang, or drew, or even strung her own bow. It disheartened her when she realized that all three were probably over six months ago. Her footsteps were noiseless, and using the staff as a sort of walking stick, she thought of a song. Under her breath, she began to sing softly:

"He drowns in his dreams,
An exquisite extreme I know..
He’s as damned as he seems,
And more heaven than a heart could hold.
And if I try to save him,
My whole world could cave in.
It just isn't right...
No, it just isn't right.

Oh and I don't know,
I don't know what he's after.
But he's so beautiful,
Such a beautiful disaster.
And if I could hold on,
Through the tears and the laughter..
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster?"**


She glanced around when she finished, pretty sure that no one had been listening. She shifted her pack on her shoulder and fell silent again, wondering how long it would take to get to the city.



------
** - credit goes to the song "Beautiful Disaster" by Kelly Clarkson

Eeeesh, I know it's Kelly Clarkson =P but it's a good song.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis watched as Gildor struggled to seat himself in the saddle. One thing Amerylis had learned was that Gildor wanted as independent as possible. She moved behind him to assist him onto the saddle, steadying Arsen and holding the saddle down while Gildor climbed over.

"By your lead, Miss Liduen," Gildor said, the leather under his hand groaned in protest of his tight grip.

Amerylis nodded without saying another word, and pulled on Arsen's reins. He jerked into motion. Amerylis took the path that looked the smoothest to ride on. There were few roots for Arsen to step on or over, making it a more comfortable ride from Gildor.

Amerylis listened as Cirtolthiel began to sing. Farid's halfwitted babble died down as he fell into a sort of trance. He watched the back of her head absentmindedly.

Once she had finished her song, Farid made his from beside his sister to Cirtolthiel's side. Amerylis reached out and grabbed him by the forearm, pulling him back. "Wipe the drool from your chin." She said, not bothering to whisper. Farid turned a bright red and shrugged off her hand, glaring at her angrily.

He made his way up beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist, feeling more confiedent than he had two weeks ago. "That was wonderful." He said, his face still a deep shade of pink. "Where did you hear that one? Is it an original?" He asked, suddenly feeling less confident than before. He turned even redder than before as the reality of the situation hit him.

[Gildor]

As soon as Gildor grew accustomed to the steady, rocking pattern of Arsen's walking pace, he slowly began to drift off to sleep... but he couldn't allow himself to fall asleep entirely, lest he slip off Arsen's back and break his neck or worse. To prevent this from happening, he muttered a few carefully placed magic words, (which was a bit of a dangerous thing to attempt with so little energy left) to keep himself from passing out.

Soon after, he fell into a sort of half-sleep trance. His head drooped against his chest, though he remained sitting upright. He heard Cirtolthiel singing clearly, but none of the words registered in his tired mind. She had a lovely voice, though. If he remembered to, he would have to ask her to do a duet with him on flute after they made camp for the night. Well, that and if he was feeling up to it, and if they didn't make it to Furnost by nightfall. With the two-and-a-half hour swimming distraction thanks to Farid, he doubted they would.

He heard a little more bickering coming from Amerylis to Farid, and later Farid speaking with Cirtolthiel. Again, he paid little or no attention to what they were actually saying. His mind was hazy and tired enough.

Their voices eventually blended into an unclear symphony of sounds around them; the songs of birds calling from above, the soft, repetitive thud, thud, thud, thud of Arsen's steps, the crunching sound of grass and leaves beneath four sets of treading boots, (Kaala had decided to join them on foot while Mirror flew by himself). This mixed with the sleepy uncertainty of how much time had passed helped blur the line between consciousness and unconsciousness in Gildor's mind. It was wasn't until hours later, when the sun was dipping low behind the trees, that he noticed something out of the ordinary. In his trance, he could just barely decipher it; the faint, distant sound of twigs snapping somewhere behind them.

Breaking his self-enduced rest spell, he snapped awake.

"Letta," he suddenly said, his tone soft and low though harsh and threateningly serious. He had used the Ancient Language, yet there was no magic behind the command. It was still enough to halt the group's movement a few seconds later, probably because he had been so quiet until now.

He paused a moment before he spoke again, listening quietly and concentrating hard on the sounds of the forest. The birds had long since stopped chirping, and without the group walking and talking there was nothing but the sound of silence. Nothing, nothing was there but silence, yet Gildor appeared to hear something through it, beyond it...

"<Someone is following us>" he whispered at long last, still using the Ancient Language, still keeping his voice as low and hushed as possible...

[Koloblicin]

Arabelle quietly followed the group along the path to Furnost. She wasn't quite sure thier allegiance, though they didn't seem to be Empire. Although it would actually make things easier if they followed the Empire. Her disguise was very convincing and had thus far served her very well. Although now she wished she didn't have it so now all she had was to hope that they wouldn't notice her following a little ways back. She would just wait, but curiosity is human nature and this time it managed to get the best of her.

She followed them for a short time unnoticed for the most part, but then the group suddenly stopped. She heard a mumble, although she couldn't make out what was said but Arabelle was rather sure that it was a warning of some sort about her presence. She cursed her curosity mentally cursing her stupidity as well. She quickly ran through what she could do: running was out, one was on horse and would surely catch her, fighting was completely out of the question as there were far too many for her to handle especially since at least two were elves, even one elf would over power her so she would in no way have a chance against two. She finally came to a decision; she would stay put and hope that they had not stopped because they heard her, although that was hoping for too much...

((In case you didn't know I am not just jumping in I was invited by Gildor))

[Kaala]

Kaala seemed in a daze as Gildor returned to camp, taking almost no note of him as he leaned against the tree. She watched absently as Cirtothiel took Gildor’s staff , Amerylis helping him to mount Arsen with a slightly worried look. She gathered her things and followed the group from camp, taking note of Mirror flying off before she turned, eyes blank and staring. She couldn’t help but run her fingers over the small medallion, its presence in the lake intriguing her. “Why would someone leave something so precious behind?” She asked herself, confusion causing her brow to furrow.

She snapped out of her slight trance as Cirtothiel began to sing. She smiled as the song settled over the group like waves from a gentle sea. She looked at the group and wondered how she could have come so far from the elf mourning in Ellesmera to this. Her thoughts were interrupted as Amerylis and Farid began their bickering once more. She rolled her eyes at the two as they argued before Farid moved ahead and wrapped his arm around Cirtothiel’s waist. She grinned at the bright red flush covering his cheeks.

"Letta,"

She stopped at the sound of Gildor’s voice more than the command. She shook her head and glanced around, wondering what could have awoken him. She noticed he seemed to be concentrating on something quite intensely, his face still showing traces of exhaustion.

"<Someone is following us,>"

She immediately fell into the familiarity of the ancient language as she stiffened slightly, un-noticed to the untrained eye. She stilled her breathing and listened intently, hearing nothing but the slight brush of wind on trees. "<Are you sure you aren‘t hearing things?>" she asked, her voice filled with confusion. She stopped as she heard the slight sound of clothing rustling, the sound unlike that of the garments the group wore. They sounded coarse as they rubbed together, almost as though they were threadbare. She narrowed her eyes and without turning asked Gildor, “<Do you know how long they’ve been following us?>”

She sent a warning to Mirror informing him of their guest but telling him to wait until they knew more before making himself known.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis halted and looked back to Gildor. Arsen came to a quick halt and snorted in protest. Amerylis calmed him with a few quick strokes. As he mentioned something about them being followed, Amerylis's hand inched to the hilt of her sword. Her bright eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for any sign of a disturbance. She thought she saw what looked to be a shadow on the ground and the swaying of leaves when there were no gusts of wind behind them, but before she could be sure, Farid's stepped in her view.

Farid came to a halt infront of Amerylis and between Arsen and Cirtolthiel, ignoring that his head was in kicking range of Gildor. "<So what should we do. I could use magic to capture them.>" He said grinning broadly, which was followed directly by Amerylis snorting and replying, "<Yes well, we want to expose them not kill them. With your faulty magic that is what would happen.>" Farid was presently blushing even more now, and went on mumbling.

Amerylis ignored him and peered back up to Gildor. "<What do you suppose we do then?>" She whispered back. Adrenaline pumped through her veins now; she wanted to act soon. Her hand twitched on her hilt slightly and a small smile danced over her face.

Farid sighed. "<What so you'll listen to him and not me? He can't even see if someone is there. What if it's just a gue->" He was cut off by a slap across the face, not hard but enough to sting.

"<Will you just be quiet. Save this for later.>" She hissed, her eyes narrow and deadly. Farid shot her a few venomous glances as the pain in his cheek swelled. His ego stopped him from rubbing the pain away. He sulked and remained quiet, letting the anger swell beneath the surface and keeping it at bay till later. Possibly a sparing match with his sister.

Amerylis looked back to Gildor expectingly, seeking his guidance, as if nothing had happened. After all it was not her cheek which was not throbbing and red.

[Cirtolthiel]

Cirtolthiel finished her singing, her eyes half-lidded and her steps slow. Farid bounded up to her side, once again sliding his arm around her waist rather confidently. Cirtolthiel tried as best as she could to hide her discomfort, causing her only to fidget a little.

"That was wonderful. Where did you hear that one? Is it an original?" he gushed. Cirtolthiel nonchalantly picked his arm from her waist and set it back to his side. She did not look at him, knowing that it was unusual for her to do this, but she wasn't in the mood for his blasé flirting. Her lips tightened slightly.

"Thank you. It is one of my own compositions, yes," she sighed softly. She swallowed and kept her eyes to the ground. Before she could try to steal a glance at Farid, Gildor halted them.

"Letta," he had snapped awake, his voice strangely cool and calm. Cirtolthiel, like the others, froze and turned in mild surprise. Gildor paused, letting the silence sink in. They waited for his explanation.

"<Someone is following us>" he whispered finally. They grew silent once more, then Kaala spoke.

"<Are you sure you aren‘t hearing things?>" she asked, her voice bewildered. The sound of something brushing through the leaves was heard. "<Do you know how long they’ve been following us?>” she asked Gildor. A shadow was seen from the corner of Cirtolthiel's eye.

"<So what should we do? I could use magic to capture them.>" Farid said, somehow grinning broadly. Cirtolthiel narrowed her eyes and her gaze passed to Amerylis.

<Yes well, we want to expose them not kill them. With your faulty magic that is what would happen. >"Amerylis snapped at him. Farid mumbled some more. "<What do you suppose we do then?>" she asked Gildor. A small smile was on her face, almost a menacing smile. Cirtolthiel cringed slightly, while Farid sighed loudly.

"<What so you'll listen to him and not me? He can't even see if someone is there. What if it's just a gue->" he began, but was interrupted by a smack, courtesy of Amerylis' palm.

"<Will you just be quiet. Save this for later.>" she hissed at him. He did not rub his cheek, as Cirtolthiel expected, but glared at Amerylis. Cirtolthiel rolled her eyes; she was used to the whole bickering thing.

"<My proposal,>" Cirtolthiel spoke up, joining in on the ancient language, "<is that we should wait. No soldier will ever defeat us, and it might just be a friendly visitor,>" she said in a low voice, not caring that it was Gildor's advice that everyone was seeking, not hers. When nobody responded and everyone's gaze were still fixed on him, she raised her eyebrows. "<Not like anyone cares what I have to say, hm?> she mumbled angrily and stepped off silently ahead, not waiting for any of them. They could deal with the person.

[Gildor]

((OOC: Just thought I'd give you all a little reminder before starting, since no one seemed to notice... "It was wasn't until hours later, when the sun was dipping low behind the trees, that he noticed something out of the ordinary." The time/setting has changed slightly, so try to keep that in mind.))

For (what was left of) his sanity's sake, why did they all insist on asking him what to do? Perhaps under regular circumstances he could have guided them through this situation, but he just woke up for not crying out loud, (he undoubtedly would have been if it wasn’t essential they all remain quiet as mice)!

He could feel a collection of expecting stares and, (for some peculiar, more than slightly disturbing reason) a couple of anxious grins aimed in his direction. He remained silent for a while, trying desperately to clear his tired mind of dreams and instead focus on possible schemes... but to no avail. He was frowning in thought and rubbing the sleep from his eyes when Cirtolthiel finally spoke up...

"<My proposal is that we should wait. No soldier will ever be able to defeat us, and it might just be a friendly visitor>"

The others appeared to rudely ignore her with silence as their response. The only reason why Gildor didn't say anything right away was because he was so utterly baffled by how brilliantly obvious of a solution this was. However, before he thought to open his mouth to praise her, Cirtolthiel took the lack of reaction the wrong way.

"<Not like anyone cares what I have to say, hm?>" she huffed, and suddenly began walking off on her own, her footsteps barely audible as usual.

It was then that Gildor found his voice again. "<Nonono, get back here, Cirt! That was perfect>" he whispered quickly and perhaps a little more loudly than he intended to. He waved a long-nailed hand in the direction of her softly retreating footsteps in order to get her to come back. And did he just call her... Cirt? "<The only suggestion I have to add to that would be wards. We should throw up a few wards around us just incase our guest knows how to use magic or has arrows>" something which he wasn't about to do in his current condition. He may have recuperated a little from his several hours worth of a half-nap, but he probably wouldn’t be fully rejuvenated till after a hot meal, a full night's sleep, and maybe a few rounds.

[Koloblicin]

Arabelle continued to her muffled conversation going on for several minutes. She had continually been unable to hear what was being said. After some careful consideration she decided against using magic to hear what was being said, after all she would likely need the energy if she was to survive.

After about seven or eight minutes passed with no more conversation, at least none that Arabelle detected, and the group remained in relatively the same postitions Arabelle figured that they were sure of her presence. Well, at least they haven't attacked, she thought, thats something to be grateful for.

Arabelle closed her eyes slowing her breath calming herself to think of an appropriate solution for her problem. After eliminating running once again as well as other stupid courses of action, such as fighting, she decided what she would do. She hoped that her assumption that some of them were elves was true.

Arabelle took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then without putting off action any longer she called out in the Ancient Language, "<Friends of the Varden>," her voice faultered the smallest bit then she called out again, "<I mean you no harm, I only ask that you do not harm me as well. I also beg that you understand my reasons for the way I am dressed as it is difficult to travel in the Empire without looking like one of them.> One could detect the smallest bit of venom when she said the word 'them'. Arabelle hoped what she had said would keep her from harms way, she prayed to the gods it would for if it didn't she would not survive this encounter.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis stiffled a laugh at Cirtolthiel's new nickname. She covered her giggles by clearing her throat. "<Do you need- I mean..- can I...>" She stumbled for the right words that wouldn't offend him. "<Since your so tired would you like my help with the ward?>" She asked awkwardly.

A new voice rang in her ears. "<I mean you no harm, I only ask that you do not harm me as well. I also beg that you understand my reasons for the way I am dressed as it is difficult to travel in the Empire without looking like one of them.>

She quickly put a ward over her, Gildor and Farid, without either of their approval, in case the newcomer wwas trying to sway them with words. She clicked her tongue and Avalon jumped from Gildor's shoulder and disappeared into the forest. She plucked a few hairs from the girl's head and returned.

To Amerylis's delight, the bird still listened to her. She took the hairs and followed the birds trail from the woods with her eyes. Avalon nipped at her ear, wanting a treat, which got her nothing but a scowl. Avalon studied Amerylis with her beady eyes then screeched and plucked a few hairs from Amerylis's head then took flight back to Gildor for safety.

Amerylis rubbed the place where he hair was just a few seconds earlier. She studied the outline of a thin girl in the brush. "Well I don't think I can trust someone I can't see. Show yourself." She called to the intruder.

[Cirtolthiel]

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Cirtolthiel's small steps jumped to strides. She strode on through the forest, heading to the city, fists clenched and eyes set. No, this was not a shy act; it was more out of frustration and probably jealously. They didn't need her anyways. She'd probably meet up with them in the city.

"<Nonono, get back here, Cirt! That was perfect>" Gildor whisper-yelled to her.

Cirtolthiel stopped dead in her tracks. What had he just called her?

She turned around, her expression aghast, yet at the same time, emotionless. She stared. And stared.

No one had called her that in probably eighty years. She stood there for a few silent minutes, thunderstruck, neither angry or hurt. And quite suddenly, she came to her senses. She blinked a few times and a sharp intake of breath escaped her lips.

What are you waiting for? he voice in her mind urged her. Keep moving! She took a hesitant step backwards, then another one. But before she could take off sprinting, a new voice stopped her.

"<I mean you no harm, I only ask that you do not harm me as well. I also beg that you understand my reasons for the way I am dressed as it is difficult to travel in the Empire without looking like one of them.>"

Cirtolthiel's gaze passed to the dark trees beside the group. She could tell it was a human. Good, then they could deal with...her (it sounded like a female) after all. Retaining her dignity, Cirtolthiel turned on her heel once more and kept walking, but somewhat slower than before. She heard Amerylis' voice call out to the human, but Cirtolthiel did not turn. She would wait for them in the city.

[Koloblicin]

"<Well I don't think I can trust someone I can't see. Show yourself>" The words rang in Arabelle's head. She was afraid to step from her hiding, but she was in no position whatsoever to bargain. Besidses, if there were elves present they could see her anyway. She mentally prayed to the gods once more while standing up then walked out into the open away from the protection and sanctuary of the quiet trees.

The air seemed tense and the stress kept building with each passing second. When Arabelle felt she was a sufficient distance from the trees she slowly, so as to not make any threatening movements, removed her sword from its sheath and placed it on the ground followed by her buckler.

After she had placed both on the ground she stood nearly every muscle tensed. She breathed deeply and slowly countin her breaths, each one could be her last.

[Gildor]

"Hm," Gildor wondered aloud as Cirtolthiel ran off, "'Somethin' I said...?" He certainly hoped he hadn't unintentionally insulted her as Amerylis had just unintentionally insulted him...

"Well I don't think I can trust someone I can't see. Show yourself," she called to their still hiding guest. Now that struck a cord, but Gildor kept his mouth shut. She didn't mean it towards him, and now wasn't the time to be picking an argument.

Instead, he settled on pointing out something blatantly obvious Amerylis had unwittingly overlooked for a bit of payback.

"<Did you not hear her, Amerylis, or is your knowledge of your own tongue so rusted?>" he asked with an underlying tone of mockery, masked behind his usual smirk and lazily half-shut eyes. "<She said she meant us no harm, so in saying so she must mean so. I have yet to come across someone who can tell a half-decent lie in our language>"

Silence befell the group after that. He had either successfully embarrassed Amerylis or their guest was finally approaching. Judging by the lack of laughter coming from Farid and the sound of boots drawing nearer, he assumed the latter. The footsteps stopped, and were followed by the sound of shuffling fabrics and supplies and the soft tinkle of metals. At first he took it to be gold coins, but soon realized the girl was removing her weapons, whatever they were, as a sign of truce. This along with her previous statements in the Ancient Language were enough to convince him she was trustworthy... for now.

"<Tell us young traveler, what's your name, allegiance, and purpose in following us?>" he asked, though hardly bothered to turn in the girl's direction. It was difficult to tell where exactly she was standing without using any sensory magic, and it would still be a while before he tried to use any again.

[Kaala]

Kaala sighed as she watched Cirtothiel’s back disappear through the trees. She muttered under her breath quietly so the others wouldn’t hear her. “And that is why I travel alone.” With that she turned and focused on the group of people around her.

'Somethin' I said...?"

“It’s always something you say Gildor.” She snarked, her voice slightly tinged with amusement. She shook her head as Amerylis called out to the stranger, now known to be female.

"Well I don't think I can trust someone I can't see. Show yourself,"

“<Amerylis, do you even->” she began.

"<Did you not hear her, Amerylis, or is your knowledge of your own tongue so rusted?>"

She shook her head in frustration as Gildor cut her off. “I swear people don’t even have common courtesy anymore.” she grumbled, brows furrowing together.

"<She said she meant us no harm, and so she must mean it. I have yet to come across someone who can tell a half-decent lie in our language>"

She couldn’t help but be taken aback by the mockery practically pouring off of Gildor’s words.

She fell silent as the stranger approached, her feet crackling leaves from the undergrowth. She watched as a young woman looking about her mid twenties made her way out from the trees. Kaala looked her over closely as the woman laid her weapons on the ground, a universal sign of peace. She took in the shoulder-length curly black hair, and the almost shocking grey eyes. Looking closer she picked out that the woman’s eyes were flecked.

Upon closer inspection she found that her estimate of the woman’s clothing had been correct. A form-fitting but tattered black shirt was worn over dark red leggings, which fell a pair of travel worn boots.

"<Tell us young traveler, what's your name, allegiance, and purpose in following us?>"

Kaala kept her eyes trained on the human and placed her hands on the hilt of her rapiers. She wouldn’t let the woman escape if she was empire, if she wasn’t? Well, then all would be well.

[Cirtolthiel]

The voices behind Cirtolthiel eventually faded, and Cirtolthiel was left in the silence save her own footsteps and breathing. Night was falling, and soon the group would probably be setting up camp. Cirtolthiel was surprised they had stopped for so long, she had expected them to make it to Furnost by sundown. Apparently not.

She stopped for a few minutes and sat down on a large rock, gripping the staff tightly. She closed her eyes. Sighing deeply, she savored the silence, only to be intruded again. A sudden realization hit her like a tank.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the staff.

And for the second time that day, words had managed to escape her.

Then rather abruptly, she began to grumble a stream of curses. She gripped the staff harder, her knuckles turning ghostly white, and she nearly slammed it against a tree in frustration. But before she could even raise the fine wood, she halted her thoughts. She stood up, sighing deeply again once more. There was no alternative - Cirtolthiel would have to return to the group. She knew Gildor would absolutely freak when he realized that she had left with his beloved staff.

"<Well, aren't they going to be happy to see me,>" she muttered sarcastically to herself. She looked back in the direction of the group, annoyance slowly setting upon her. Automatically, her shoulders slumped and her eyes narrowed. It seemed that she had been doing a lot of this lately.

However, Cirtolthiel was quickly catching on to her habits. She remembered a friend -well, someone she considered a friend, anyways - had once told her good qualities were weighted down by self-loathing. Cirtolthiel had always been very aware of this about herself, and she was starting to learn that she had to give herself some credit. She was being unfair to herself, as odd as that sounds, and it was about time she walked in happy with who she was.

Posture relieved, she put on her most gentle, carefree smile and walked briskly back to the group. They were probably about a mile away, but if perhaps she walked quickly enough she would arrive in 15 minutes or so. Deciding on that plan, her mood changed pleasantly and she strode with a confident sway. Maybe you aren't so bad after all..

Her estimate of her arrival was about right. Through the darkness, she could see the group still in the same place, waiting and waiting for the visitor. She paused, still about a quarter-mile away, deciding it would probably be best to come after the stranger had revealed herself. Twirling the staff, she slowed her pace, watching as intently as the others.

[Koloblicin]

Arabelle was relieved that so far her actions had kept her from being harmed. She only hoped that that would continue. After a short span of the group conversing among themselves, she was asked another question.

"<Tell us young traveler, what's your name, allegiance, and purpose in following us?>"

<"My name is Arabelle Gerik. I am alligned with the Varden, despite,"> she gestured at herself, <"my appearance."> Arabelle briefly considered lying about why she had followed them, but she disregarded that without further thought gaining trust was the only way she would survive, besides that it would be a rather stupid thing to lie about.

<"As for why I have been following you, it was truthfully immensely foolish on my part. My curiosity got the best of me, I was wondering why a group from the Varden, as I assume you are from them, would be travelling through the Empire. Although I know I do not have much room for bargaining, why is it that you are all going through the Empire?">

[Gildor]

All that was being said was probably very important information, but Gildor wouldn't know it. He wasn't listening, which was ironic because he was the one who asked the three questions in the first place. His tired mind had wandered northward towards the lakeside city with Cirtolthiel. Well, his thoughts weren't exactly with Cirtolthiel. They were with what object Cirtolthiel had accidentally taken when she so suddenly and unexpectedly left...

...And when the realization finally hit him, he exploded into a series of severe Ancient Language curses so horrible they were hardly ever heard even within the long lifetime of most elves. So much for first impressions.

"Th-that little-!!" he stopped himself abruptly to keep from cussing anymore and grit his teeth together. He'd save the rest for when he found Cirtolthiel.

"She bloody ran off with my staff!" he finally exclaimed as an excuse for his sudden outburst. His staff was his weapon, his defense, his offense, his independence, and his eyes. It was no wonder he reacted the way he did... and was about to...

Arsen suddenly tensed and began to paw the ground and pace back and forth. Despite his extensive training to remain calm and collected, Gildor's rage towards loosing his staff seemed to unsettle him. The angered elf appeared to be using sensory magic again, for Arsen's skin began to twitch uncontrollably as though he were being attacked by a hoard of barn flies. Instead of absorbing the vibrations of the living things around him, Gildor was sending out his own magic-induced tremors in an attempt to locate Cirtolthiel... and those tremors were beginning to make the ground tingle and the grass around them visibly shake.

Were he not so magically exhausted, he could have made these vibrations extend throughout the forest to find Cirtolthiel, and then he could have tripped her or stopped her with a spell. But the tiny earthquake he was causing ended quickly, and he slumped in the saddle. He didn't seem to be in any physical pain, only tired and frustrated beyond description. Not only was he without his staff, but he was currently too weak to do anything about it on his own.

"Sorry to c-cut this all short, but... it seems I have a need to reach Furnost and... a-and a need find Cirtolthiel... qu-quickly," Gildor muttered breathlessly but dangerously, as if daring anyone to object and fight him, even in his current state. He desperately needed to rest again, he needed to calm down, needed his staff back, and needed a really, really strong drink, badly.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis was trying to pay attention to what was going on, but it was truly hard considering Gildor was saying things that could make a general blush. She was already angry at him , but this was ridiculous. She understood his need for the staff, (the staff that he wasn't even using) but was that all necessary? Maybe... He had trusted Cirt enough to give it to her, and she had lost her temper and stormed off.

Before Amerylis could decide on who's fault it was, Arsen began pace. She pulled on his reins in a sad attempt to keep him still. He just pulled even harder on the reins and yanked them from her hands. She quickly retrieved them, noticing his hide twitching involuntarily. Panic spread through her as the ground beneath her feet shook. She had not time to worry about Farid, since she was to preoccupied keeping Arsen down and Gildor safe.

Just as fast as they came, the tremors ended. Gildor slumped over in the saddle, exhausted. She soothed Arsen by stroking his neck, then looked back to Gildor. Her anger twords him suddenly gone, only to be replaced by worry.

"Sorry to c-cut this all short, but... it seems I have a need to reach Furnost and... a-and a need find Cirtothiel... qu-quickly,"

Without hesitation, Amerylis gathered Arsens's reins and started off in the direction of the city. They walked a bit before she finally noticed Cirt, and by then they were beside her. She shot her an angry glare, and yanked the staff from her hands. Her hand tightened around it as she thought of knocking some sense into Cirt, then she went to the saddle and placed the wood against Gildor's hand.

"Here is your staff. It seems Cirtolthiel got bored and decided it was best to return. I hope her excursion wasn't too tiring." She said in a tone that was sarcastically pleasant. She found the rope that usually tied her sheath to the saddle, then tied the staff so that Gildor would have it with him and still be able to hold on. "There. Now it's right beside you. " She said patting his leg then returning to the front of Arsen. She pulled him into a trot and continued down the road, ignoring Cirt as they passed her.

Farid watched as Gildor's staff was tied down. A tiny smile spread over his face then he extending his hand to Arabelle and gave her a boyish grin. "Care to join me?" He asked playfully as he looped their arms. He smiled to Cirtolthiel sadly then shrugged, the best apology he could or would give.

Amerylis slipped off the road as they neared the gates, so that everyone could cover themselves. She pulled her hood on over her ears an leaned agianst a nearby tree. Her anger had died down now, but she still wasn't pleased with Cirtolthiel.

[Cirtolthiel]

Quite suddenly, Cirtolthiel heard Gildor's screaming curses. Her mouth dropped. "Oh -" she cursed rather loudly, knowing that Gildor had finally realized that his staff was gone. She began to sprint their way, but before she could even take more than four steps she bumped into Amerylis. Amerylis glared at her.

"I-I..." Cirtolthiel stammered. Amerylis yanked the staff from her hands and shoved it to Gildor. Cirtolthiel could only stare.

"Here is your staff. It seems Cirtolthiel got bored and decided it was best to return. I hope her excursion wasn't too tiring." Amerylis said venomously. She tied the staff to Gildor, as if she was implying that Cirtolthiel stole it. Then she patted Gildor and brushed past her, leading Gildor and Arsen. Cirtolthiel was so humiliated, she wanted to burst into tears.

"Gildor?" she began pathetically. It seemed that her self-confident idea had just gone down the drain. "Really....I'm so..sorry...about that...I..." she trailed off, trying to keep up. She gulped, regaining her speech. "Okay, as ridiculous as this sound, I...forgot...about the staff. And I apologize for storming off with it like that." She turned to everyone else. "Actually, I'd like to apologize to everyone for running off. It's not like me to do that." Se was undoubtedly embarrassed, and glumly plodded on.

She thought again about how Amerylis had made a fool out of her, and it made her angry. Who did she think she was? But she didn't let her anger get to her, and instead simmered in silence, watching Amerylis with narrowed eyes. She straightened up again, confidence renewed, and fell back in step with Farid. To her complete shock, his arms were interlinked with Arabelle's. He shrugged at her, and walked past.

Okay, so I was only gone for about 30 minutes, and just about everything changes. Life just wasn't being fair right now.