Mission Impossible [closed]

[Gildor]

The sun was setting over Aberon, and the street lamps had already been lit for the night to come. Another day had ended, and a new journey was about to begin. The beginning of this journey, however, would be anything but smooth and heroic.

With some difficulty, Gildor had managed to get his belongings back from Aberon's prison, (he had to scare a couple of taunting soldiers with a bit of magic before they decided to listen to him). By then the sun had already begun to set, and the open air market was closing down. He had to pay a little more than he usually would for supplies, since he kept a few grumpy merchants working longer and he was in no mood to haggle with them.

He was now sitting at the unpolished counter of a run down bar near the edge of town, with his pale wooden staff leaning against the empty stool on his right. The traveling bag slung over his shoulder was packed with fresh supplies and ready to go, but it's owner was certainly not. He was slumped over the counter, his head resting on folded arms. Judging by his staring, half-lidded eyes he appeared to be only half-concious... But then again, his eyes were almost always staring and half-lidded. A cleaned dinner plate and six empty mugs surrounded him, and there was a seventh clutched in his hand that still had some mead left in it. He seemed to be trying to either drink himself to death before going off on his punishment mission, or trying to get rid of some kind of bout of severe depression. Neither appeared to be working.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis had learned enough about Gildor from the soldiers to know he would be in some bar. She had so far visited two, and had been hit on by may drunks who thought her to be a tavern wench. Lets just say things ended bad for them. She pushed her way through the doors of a bar near the edge of Abernon. Sure enough Gildor was slumped on the bar, a glass of mead in his hand.

She slipped in the stool beside him. "Well that's attractive." She said jokingly. She ordered another glass for him and one for herself. "Here. I heard what happened. Can't say I blame you for wallowing in self-pity." She said handing him the other glass. "But you should know it wasn't your fault. That rider could have landed. But he didn't. It was more suicide than homicides." She said, sending images of her where-abouts to Kaala. She set her bags on the floor and sighed.

"I know of someone in the city who sells Faelvinr. But they rarely have any in stock. Had to pay a high price for it." She said handing him a wineskin. "Use it wisely." She said sipping her mead.

[Kaala]

Kaala had gotten so tired of searching for that bloody elf. She was just about to enter one of the many taverns when a thought from Amerylis told her where to find them. She turned from the entrance to the tavern with a sigh. She put her hands on her hips and began the long trek across town.

About ten minutes later, Kaala reached said bar. She pushed open the door and made her way to the counter. "Mead." she told the barkeep, as she took the seat on the other side of Gildor. She took her mug from the man and immediatly downed it, ordering another. She put her head in her hands before running her fingers through her hair, trying to comb out the tangles that had made their way into the waist length mass during the hectic day.

[Gildor]

"Well that's attractive."

Gildor didn't move a muscle when Amerylis's now familiar voice hit his ears. Thanks to all the mead, the magic-blocking drugs had been flushed out of his system and his sensory magic was working perfectly once more. He sensed her presence the moment she walked into the bar, and Kaala's shortly after that.

"What are you doing here?" he grumbled, but accepted the fresh mug of mead anyway. "I told you already, I work alo-"

"I heard what happened. Can't say I blame you for wallowing in self-pity."

"Who's wallowing?" he mumbled, and began gulping down his eighth mug. Who's wallowing indeed...

"But you should know it wasn't your fault"

Gildor almost choked on his drink from a light laugh.

"That Rider could have landed, but he didn't. It was more suicide than homicide."

"Hmph. The lad certainly was the type for something like that," Gildor agreed, though said nothing more on the subject. There was a pause before Amerylis spoke again.

"I know of someone in the city who sells faelnirv, but they rarely have any in stock."

Gildor perked up a little at that. "Really now? You must tell me where I can find-" he stopped speaking when he heard what sounded like a full wineskin being placed onto the bar counter beside him.

"Had to pay a high price for it. Use it wisely"

Confused, Gildor pushed himself up from the bar and placed a delicate hand on the wineskin. For a while he didn't move or say anything. Truth was, he didn't know what to say. This was an awfully kind thing to do for someone... especially someone who had already tried to get rid of her once today. She had also been kind enough to help him deal with the Council and his wounds and fatigue. Both she and Kaala had. And now this. It made Gildor wonder what exactly her motives where.

"Thank you," he said after a while, not turning to face her. As always, his pale, glazed eyes were staring at something distant and nonexistent, but they had a distinctive sort of twinkle in them now. "You've been much too kind."

He picked his traveling bag up off his shoulder, and set it on the counter. After carefully tying the wineskin of faelnirv to the satchel beside his waterskin, he placed it on the floor beside Amerylis's pack of supplies.

"This doesn't change anything, you know," he said strictly a moment later as he went back to his mead. "I'm still going on this mission alone, like I do all my missions." He downed the last of the drink in a single gulp and slammed the empty mug on the counter. "Oi, barkeep!" he called before Amerylis could get another word in, "'Nother round."

"Ya've already drinkin' the last o' me mead supply, Elf," the bartender answered rather irritably, "An' I won' be gettin' another shipment in till next week!"

Gildor was not about to let something as small as a lack of mead end his drinking binge. "Whisky then. Something strong."

"Why not have some o' that faelnirv stuff the lady gave ya?" the scruffy old man suggested. "I've heard that stuff's mighty strong."

"I'm saving it," Gildor answered, then added in a softer tone, "For something special."

[Amerylis]

"Thank you. You've been much too kind." Amerylis laughed. "Well it's always been my objective to make everyone happy." She said softly, not directly to him. She sighed and looked up to Kaala.

"Well. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes. what happened? Did you get lost?" She asked taking note of her knotted hair. She slid Kaala a wineskin full of Fealnirv, feeling no need to warn her as she did Gildor.


"I'm saving it," Amerylis nodded her approval but said nothing. She drank some of her mead and then sighed. "For something special." Amerylis c*cked and eyebrow. She said nothing and downed the last drop of her mead. "Well barkeep you better make that to go. Put a few bottles on the counter. She put some money on the counter. "We have to leave soon. If the council hears that you haven't left, there will be hell to pay." She stood up and stretched. "And I'm tired of this damn heat."She pulled her bags up and checked to make sure her ties were tight so that nothing could fall out.

She pulled her hair into a high ponytail and tied it there. It hung down to her lower back. She smiled. "Plus how are you going to travel drunk?"

[Kaala]

"Well. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes. what happened? Did you get lost?"

"No," she said, indignantly. "Just trying every bloody tavern from her to the Councils' Hall. I swear if another drunk touches me thinking I'm a barmaid, I can't be held responsible for what happens." She reached into her pouch and pulled out and ivory comb and began the process of getting the knots out.

"Well barkeep you better make that to go. Put a few bottles on the counter."

As Amerylis slid the skin toward her, Kaala gave a greatful smile. She tied the skin to her belt and grabbed one of the bottles of whiskey, pouring two mugs and putting one in front of Amerylis. She had downed seven or eight mugs and was filling it back up again by the time Amerylis next spoke.

"We have to leave soon. If the council hears that you haven't left, there will be hell to pay." She stood up and stretched. "And I'm tired of this d**n heat."

She watched as what appeared to be two or three Amerylis' got up and began checking the ties on several sets of bags. She shook her head, trying to clear the growing fuzzyness...without luck. The only thing she got was to fall out of her chair, landing with a resounding thud, much to the amusment of the other occupents. She stood shakily and cursed. "Amerylis luv," she slurred, her eyes still not focusing right, "It appears as though you're the designated rider tonight." She stumbled over to her stool and sat back down, trying desperately to keep her balance.

"Council won't care much when he leaves, they just don't want him here cause between the two of us, all the liqor will be gone by morning. Besides, the only way to get out of here tonight is if Gildor rode Mirror. Something which I highly doubt he's up to yet." She said with a smirk, glancing at the elf next to her. With that said, she ordered a bottle of rum and watched hungrily as the barkeep brought it out warily.

[Gildor]

"We have to leave soon. If the Council hears that you haven't left yet, there will be hell to pay."

"Council won't care much when he leaves, they just don't want him here..."

"Plus, how are you going to travel drunk?"

"...the only way to get out of here tonight is if Gildor rode Mirror. Something which I highly doubt he's up to yet."

The two continued chattering about their plans for leaving as they got up from the bar and gathered their belongings, (one a little more drunkenly than the other). The whole while, Gildor hardly made any effort to join them or to even move from his barstool. Quite frankly, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Are you women deaf?!" he asked in an outrage. "I've already told you countless times! I am going on this mission alone! No 'you' no 'us' no 'we'! The Council said nothing about us having to travel together! You, Amerylis, merely suggested the idea, to which the Elders answered with neither a yes or a no. And since this mission is my punishment, I will give you both an answer now... No, no, and no!"

The bar was completely silent as Gildor turned back to his fresh glass of whiskey and downed the whole drink in one shot. Once the burning sensation in his throat had passed, he placed the glass down with the other empty mugs and folded his arms on the counter.

"I will leave when I want to and I will travel at my own pace. I don't need your dragon or horse or any of you to help. Go back to the Council tomorrow and get your own assignments. This one is mine and mine only, and neither of you are welcome to assist in it."

His words were as authoritative and final as any military commander's, yet there was a deadly undertone of bitter venom in them at the same time. It was as though he were daring either of the ladies to challenge him.

"Besides," he added after a moment's silence, "both of you younglings would only get in my way."

[Amerylis]

"No," she said, indignantly. "Just trying every bloody tavern from her to the Councils' Hall. I swear if another drunk touches me thinking I'm a barmaid, I can't be held responsible for what happens." "Amerylis luv, it appears as though you're the designated rider tonight."

Amerylis raised an eyebrow. She smirked and looked down at her drink, swiveling it around a bit in her glass. She set the glass down distastefully. "I think it's best you lie off the drinks. At least for now. I can't carry you in the saddle with me." She said taking Kaala's whiskey bottles and handing them back to the barkeep.

"Are you women deaf?!" he asked in an outrage. "I've already told you countless times! I am going on this mission alone! No 'you' no 'us' no 'we'! The Council said nothing about us having to travel together! You, Amerylis, merely suggested the idea, to which the Elders answered with neither a yes or a no. And since this mission is my punishment, I will give you both an answer now... No, no, and no!"

Amerylis looked back to Gildor with a dumbfounded expression. She looked at him with a glare of pure hatred. She clinched her teeth and tried with all her might not to attack him like should would any other pig-headed man in the city. She sighed and sat down in the chair beside him.


"I will leave when I want to and I will travel at my own pace. I don't need your dragon or horse or any of you to help. Go back to the Council tomorrow and get your own assignments. This one is mine and mine only, and neither of you are welcome to assist in it."

"Well now you are being unreasonable. It's not like we would-"

"Besides," he added after a moment's silence, "both of you younglings would only get in my way."


Amerylis gasped. That was the LAST straw. "Okay listen here. I don't know where you get off thinking that just because I'm younger than you that I am no more capable of finding this thing than you are. I could do plenty of things better than you. AND not because you're blind either. So don't go pulling that card out on me." When she was finished she found herself standing beside him, her face nearly touching his. She pulled herself away and blushed a bit. She picked up the last of her drink and downed it.

[Kaala]

I will leave when I want to and I will travel at my own pace. I don't need your dragon or horse or any of you to help. Go back to the Council tomorrow and get your own assignments. This one is mine and mine only, and neither of you are welcome to assist in it."

"Well now you are being unreasonable. It's not like we would-"

"Besides," he added after a moment's silence, "both of you younglings would only get in my way."

"Okay listen here. I don't know where you get off thinking that just because I'm younger than you that I am no more capable of finding this thing than you are. I could do plenty of things better than you. AND not because you're blind either. So don't go pulling that card out on me."

Kaala couldn't help but snicker at Gildor's predicament. "I believe you just got stuck with us friend." She told him, a silly grin spreading across her face. She groaned slightly and called to the bartender. "Could you get me just a glass of water? I need to sober up just a bit before we leave."

After saying this, she layed her head down on her bar. She turned her head slightly and directed a thought to Mirror. "We should be leaving tonight but I don't know. The latest is tomorrow. I won't be riding you more than likely though. I'll have to stop on the way out of town and buy a horse so I can make sure that Gildor doesn't try to give us the slip." She stood shakily and took the offered mug of water from the barkeep. Turning she stumble her way out of the door, muttering an apology to the patron who was on the receiving end of half of her mug of water.

Stepping out of the door, she made her way off the porch and followed the building to the desert out back. She waited a few moments and heard wingbeats as Mirror decended, his bulk almost entirely blocking the moonlight from her gaze. She waited until he curled up before coming to rest against his side. She closed her eyes as he brought his wing up to cover the top of her head, forming almost a barrier from the world. "I hate not being able to ride you." she told him, her eyes filled with sadness. "We haven't been able to spend a decent amount time just between the two of us." She sighed and leaned her head back, resting herself against Mirrors warm belly. Soon, Mirror was keeping watch over her sleeping form, his eyes watching the shadows warily.

[Gildor]

His last comment certainly seemed to set Amerylis off.

"Okay, listen here. I don't know where you get off thinking that just because I'm younger than you means I am no more capable of finding this thing than you are. I could do plenty of things better than you... and not because you're blind either, so don't go pulling that card out on me."

"I don't need to in order to prove my superiority in strength, skill and experience," Gildor answered smoothly with a light shrug of his shoulders, apparently unmoved by her words. His left shoulder, the one that was broken only hours ago, still tingled with a faint aching. If they got into a fight now, she probably would be a bit of a match for him, considering his current physical and mental state, (not to mention all the alcohol in his bloodstream... which was probably the reason why he was acting so pigheaded to begin with). He placed a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it gently, a smirk growing on his countanence as he did. He had an idea; one that might get rid of both Kaala and Amerylis.

"I'll make you a bet, little Amerylis," he said, his smirk handsomely devious now. He turned around in his chair and leaned back against the counter, then suddenly switched to the Ancient Language as he said, "<Let us take this outside. If you can defeat me in a fair fight, I will allow you, Kaala, and her mount to join me on this little egg-hunt. However, if you fail, the three of you must leave me to work alone.>"

The deal certainly looked tempting. Gildor was weak, tired, depressed, and above all drunk. Not only that, but he didn't have a sword with which to duel. All he had was his thin, rather flimsy-looking wooden staff topped with soft hawk feathers. His blindness certainly put him at a disadvantage as well.

Pale eyes looked past the young Elf as he grinned and placed his right hand out for her to shake it in the human fashion of agreement. "Do we have an accord?"

[Amerylis]

"<Let us take this outside. If you can defeat me in a fair fight, I will allow you, Kaala, and her mount to join me on this little egg-hunt. However, if you fail, the three of you must leave me to work alone.>"

Amerylis looked at him for a moment. "Fine." She said simply ignoring his handsome grin. She brushed past him, knocking shoulders with him. It took all her might not to turn back to see if he was okay. At this point, she truly didn't care. "Men are disgusting creatures when drunk." She said, not bothering to hide her anger or to keep her voice down. She kicked open the door and turned to wait on Gildor.

She glared at him with such intensity that, given he were not blind, he would have cowered in fear. She unsheathed her sword, letting it hum lightly as it slid along the metal sheath. She dropped her bags by Mirror and walked to the middle of the clearing. "I'll take it easy on you. Even though you don't deserve it." She spat.

[Kaala]

Mirror watched the display with interest. To see these elves fight would be something to see. He made sure to seal his wing over Kaala to keep her from waking from the sounds, knowing she needed her sleep.

"I suggest being careful, young one. For a blind man, he is strong, even in this condition." He cautioned her, keeping his eyes trained on the door of the bar. Just as an after thought he spoke to Gildor.

"Careful, Gildor. She is not one to be taken lightly, especially in your case. With those injuries, she may best you." he said, hoping that neither of the two would be seriously injured. If it became too much, he would have to intervene. With that, he laid his long neck on the dusty ground, watching Amerylis with half-lidded eyes.

[Gildor]

When Amerylis shoved past him instead of shaking his hand, Gildor's grin only widened. Normally he avoided fighting as though it were plague, but the alcohol in his system had a mind of it's own. That, and he was inwardly curious to see just how strong this girl was. Who knew? Perhaps she might end up impressing him.

He gathered his things and followed her out, the end of his staff skimming the ground as usual. Once outside, they headed around the back of the bar silently, where no one would hear or see them except for Mirror and his resting Rider. The great dragon sent a warning to Gildor, but he hardly acknowledged it despite the fact that he knew he was being a little overconfident. He set his belongings down with hers and turned away without a word.

The sun had finished setting by now, and the air was cool with darkness. Gildor waited as Amerylis walked past him and positioned herself approximately five meters in front of him and drew her sword. Although he had a couple of silver daggers tucked away in his boots, he elected not to use them unless he truly needed them. He doubted he would. He doubted her sword would even touch his staff... and if it did, then she was in for a nasty surprise.

After skimming the ground around him and tapping it twice with the end of his staff, Gildor took his stance. "When you're ready, love," he called gently, that same smirk still plastered on his face.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis looked him up and down for any weaknesses. "Always." Amerylis said. She took a few steps twards him. She held her sword with both hands. The cool wind blew her hair lightly, sending shivers down her spine. She looked him over, doing her best not to act drasticly. It was not her that usually made the first move, but it seemed that he wouldn't either. She bowed to him in the traditional was before dueling then took a deep breath.

Amerylis regretfully took two swift steps forward, then stepped to the side in order to confuse him. Just as she did so she brought her sword down in three quick movements. It was apparent that she did not want to do this, but it had to be. She tried to imagine him as one of the imperial soldiers, in order to flush away her guilt. A feirce glint appeared in her eyes as she remembered all the things he had said to her.

[Gildor]

"Always."

Gildor held his breath a moment so he could hear more clearly through the breeze. Fortunately for him he was downwind, and the faint sent of Amerylis's hair was being carried straight to him. He probably wouldn't rely on sent very much during the fight, but it was always nice to have one more upper hand. Besides, it was a rather sweet sent. Was is lilac, rose, or...?

She started to run at him, first straight on, then stepped to the side in an attempt to confuse him. Gildor took a step back, then planted his feet in the ground and took up his staff in both hands. He didn't need to use it right away, however, for he simply dodged her first three blows, missing the first two only by a hair's width. On her third strike, he ducked out the way of her blade at the last possible second and knocked her out from under her feet using the end of his staff. He stood as she hit the ground and smirked down in her direction.

"You're holding back," he said smoothly.

[Amerylis]

Lucky for Amerylis her butt broke her fall. She growled and stood, dusting off her travel clothes. She ran her hand along her ponytail, then straightened her back.

"You're holding back,"

"Oh shut up." She said gripping her sword tightly. She took a few steps back and blocked her sword, embarressed that she forgot to do so before. She adnvanced on Gildor agian and brought her sword down on Gildor's hurt shoulder, thinking that it would be harder for him to counter or block it without breaking his staff. She quickly turned her hand and jabbed at his stomach with the hilt, while he was still trying to counter the other attack.

[Gildor]

"Oh shut up."

Unable to help himself in his drunken state, Gildor let out a laugh at that. She was so young and inexperienced compared to him, and the things she was saying were just absolutely hilarious and-

Pain suddenly errupted in his left shoulder as the hilt of Amerylis's sword came crashing down on it, catching Gildor by complete surprise. He almost dropped his staff as his right hand reached to grip his reopened wound, and he stumbled backward as she swiped her weapon at his stomach. She certainly wasn't holding back now, but to go for his injured arm... now that was just mean. It was so mean, Gildor found himself impressed by her fighting tactics already. Hit the enemy where he's most weak, even if the move his cheap. He liked it.

However, it was now his turn to go on the offensive.

After regaining his balance with a few more steps and a hop backwards, he stopped gripping his aching shoulder and took his staff up in both hands again. Amerylis had managed to hurt him, but it wasn't so bad as to disable his left arm completely.

Gildor waited as he felt her pounding footsteps running straight towards him, each vibration hitting him through the dusty earth, giving her position away with each running step. However, he lost contact with her presence a second later as she jumped into the air... but by listening carefully to the wind rushing past her form, he managed to predict the exact moment at which her sword would come crashing down on his head. Bending back in anticipation for the impact, he held his staff up in front of his face as though the thin wood was going to protect him from her blade. Even though it's sharp edge was blocked with magic, the sheet force of her blow would surely snap his wooden stick in half...

There was a clang of metal and a clack of wood as the two weapons collided. Gildor grinned. His staff hadn't even splintered against the impact.

"Surprised?"

Not allowing her even a second to answer, he jumped up and kicked Amerylis hard in the stomach, sending her flying backwards. He stepped forward, twirled his staff lazily in his right hand and planted the end on the ground.

"Give up before you end up on your behind a third time," he suggested, though there was no sarcasm in his voice this time around. "Even a blind man can see that you're outmatched here."

[Amerylis]

"Give up before you end up on your behind a third time, even a blind man could see that you're outmatched here." Amerylis glared up at him. She spit some of the blood that had come from her biting down on her tongue while she was kicked a few feet in his direction. She stood back up and thought for a few minutes just how he knew where she would be. Obviously he could hear her. But what else... She crossed her arms and looked to the ground. unable to think of anything else she sighed and looked back up to him.

She continued twards him, like before and raised her sword with one hand on her weapon. She brought it down, and just as he was about to counter it by giving her another blow in the stomach, grabbed the staff. She quickly dropped her sword and kicked it far away. She pulled the staff, and along with it Gildor, closer to her. With one swift move she kneed him in the stomach then knocked his feet from under him. She threw one leg over him and straddled his stomach. She leaned down whispered, "Still weak now?"

[Gildor]

Naturally, Amerylis did not heed Gildor's warning. When would the girl learn?! Gildor took a step back as he felt her stand and charge him again, apparently going for the same attack twice. He shook his head in disgrace and took his position again, waiting for her to try and break through his staff once more.

However, instead of her sword coming down on his staff again, Amerylis caught him by surprise. She had thrown her sword away and had grabbed his staff instead. Confused and off guard, his sightless eyes went wide as he was suddenly pulled into her and kneed in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Before he could regain his breath, she had knocked his feet out from under him and had him pinned to the ground under her. His shoulder throbbed with pain upon impact with the ground.

"Still weak now?" she asked innocently, but there was no mistaking that underlying venomous tone.

Gildor could only cough for a moment in response as he tried to reestablish his senses. For a moment, it seemed as though he had lost... but physical combat wasn't everything he planned to use against her.

"Alright, alright! I'll admit you're no-*cough*... no weakling," he muttered breathlessly, and continued coughing lightly. He was giving her the illusion that her last blow had finished him, and since he wasn't receiving anymore blows, it seemed to be working. He stopped coughing for a moment, closed his eyes, narrowed his brows, and began breathing in lightly, looking as though he were in a horrible amount of pain...

...When actually, he was concentrating on the words, May she be thrown off me and slammed to the ground.

With a that single projected thought and a flash of white light, Amerylis was tossed backwards and hit the dusty ground yet again, this time about fifteen meters away from her foe. As soon as the magic it took to accomplish that spell was drained from his being Gildor began coughing lightly again, but managed to plant his staff in the ground and slowly push himself up to his feet once more. He held his staff in his right hand and gripped his stomach with his left... apparently he was wearing down after all. Incase Amerylis decided to retaliate his last blow with magic, he quickly cast a strong ward around himself using the energy he had stored in one of his four sapphire earrings. He actually hoped she would retaliate with magic... He was... Well... a little afraid he hurt her with that last spell.

If she was willing to call a truce now, he would probably be more than willing to accept. Amerylis had certainly proven herself in Gildor's eyes, even if he was too busy coughing to admit it.

[Amerylis]

Amerylis grinned with satisfaction. "Thank you"She leaned down. "Oh gods! did I hurt you th-" Before she could finish, she felt herself hurdling through the air. After a few minutes she pulled herself up. She looked at him with pure hatred. "Oh you coward. Couldn't fight me like a re-."Amerylis stopped there because she to had tricked him during this fight. She closed her eyes and held out her hand. May his staff unite with my hand, She thought. Suddenly the staff lurched from under him, allowing him to fall to the ground. She smiled reluctantly. "Well. I believe you win."She said, using his staff to hobble back to him. Every bone in her body ached. She extended her hand to help him up from the ground.

"Guess we won't be going with you after all." She said handing him the staff back. She hobbled over to her sword and picked it up. She lifted her skirt slightly and cleaned it with the hem. After she sheathed it she stood as straight as she could. "I doubted your abilities. I am truly sorry for thinking you to be an easy win. May your journey be safe."She said bowing and returning to Mirror's side.