Searching Out Strangers (Isrydia, Brenton)

[Quetzal]

Arlyn wasn't sure whether or not Rella's question to him was rhetorical, but he answered all the same. "The second one. We dragons understand and value respect highly, but when it gets down to petty things like if a person stands or sits or sometimes even speaks, it just seems more controlling than respectful," the dragon knew how humans thought but didn't think the same way himself.

Isrydia laughed when Rella mentioned sleeping in the woods rather than a palace. "No, it's not a palace. Just one of the normal elvish houses like these," she waved a hand at the cosy treehouses dotted around, "And I would let a stranger into my house since I'd feel bad leaving you outside and you don't seem like to kill me in my sleep. Arlyn would stop that if it came to it," she explained. She trusted people easily - too easily - but it was hard to force suspicion on everyone.

The young woman glanced down at her hands. "You're observant," she took out the adjustable telescope she had been fiddling with earlier, "I've always been interested in the stars, mapping them, seeing their patterns, and above all finding out what they are. Looking through this makes them bigger, but it needs work to magnify everything as much as possible. I'm still working out the calculations," she showed how the lenses could move. She didn't really want to let anyone else touch it just yet, since it was still delicate.

A voice filled their heads. It took the two a moment to realise who it was before it registered. "Vaentr," Isrydia named the speaker aloud. "I think it is. Brenton's first dragon. He's wise and sensible so should be listened to," Arlyn added in case Rella didn't know of the Eldunari. They hadn't heard him speak much so couldn't recognise the voice, but from what he was saying of his life he was the dead dragon. Isrydia would have made some sort of gesture of respect had he had eyes to see. "I'm sorry, but you can't force love no matter how much Brenton suffers due to a lack of it. There's still time for it to grow, though. Not all love is at first sight, after all. Whatever happens, I do truly want Brenton to be happy, don't mistake me in that," she spoke both aloud and in her mind so everyone might hear. Arlyn nodded thoughtfully. He was indifferent partly because he didn't know what would make Rella and Brenton happiest, and partly because he was confused about love and what was happening.

"Come on, I'll take you to my home so you can freshen up," Isrydia said to Rella. Vaentr and Grazael would still be able to contact them mentally if needed. Arlyn flew overhead, staying with them since he trusted Rella less than his Rider. He was happy to fly with Grazael should the golden dragon want to follow. Isrydia's house was not far. The door opened onto a largeish multi-purpose room lined with shelves. A kitchen area was in one corner, a couple of tables about. One was empty, the other covered in paper with equations, calculations and intricate star maps written over them. "There's a spare bedroom upstairs and to the right, and there's a bathroom too," Isrydia informed Rella.

[Harbor]

The corner of Rella’s mouth quirked up to Arlyn’s response. ”Mostly I was wondering how to extend certain pleasantries that really are limited to two-legged races.” She shrugged. ”Errant amusements.”

Well. At least Isrydia’s house sounded somewhat normal, at least by one race’s standards. Living in a tree didn’t sound any different to Rella than living ‘outside’, except one was more apt to cause themselves harm when the leapt out the window for some reason or another, but she resigned to limit the reasons she may wish to do so while she was here, for the sake of her legs if nothing else. And of course she was observant—how else would she have survived as long as she had? Brenton may not have told anyone what she’d been up to when he’d first seen her though, so Isrydia’s statement was fair. The exact use of the woman’s lenses wasn’t as obvious to Rella as it must have been to their maker, however interesting they were to look upon. The stars were too far away to be of much, if any, use to learn more about them, weren’t they? Why bother to learn about the neighbor’s apple tree if your trees only grew cherries? They were in different worlds.

The image that an abrupt presence inside her head fabricated was bleak, and she couldn’t prevent herself from feeling the ache of it, but that part of her mind that always stood away maintained that Brenton, for all his strengths, had the unfortunate tendency to overreact so incredibly as to make him appear absurd. As miserable as it seemed to make people when they loved someone who didn’t love them back and, admittedly, so far hadn’t tried, Rella couldn’t empathize. She’d made a point never to love anybody. The only person whose death could truly have harmed her was already dead, and that was the way she liked it. It left her safe.

Despite her lingering frustration being only too happy to latch onto the fact that some other being was playing toward her more ‘human’ side, as friends had called it, Rella stomped the vexation down. ”The whole lot of you should understand that just because I shouted and growled a bit doesn’t mean I hate him,” she grumbled, refusing to acknowledge the subjective wisdom of a person or being she had never met. She already questioned Brenton’s mental processes, if he fell in love with people on sight and proposed seconds later. It wasn’t natural. But she tried not to let first impressions give her too much bias. He still had chances. His friends were just so bloody interfering. Or maybe her friends, to apply the word loosely, had just taught her that it was normal not to stick your neck out for one another.

”Excellent,” she replied to Isrydia’s offer, following after her. Rella wasn’t accustomed to having to climb up a wind of stairs just to get to one’s house, but then the elves were very strange. It was only fair that their habits and their architecture be just as peculiar. It was a pretty house, but Rella didn’t want to get too attached to it just in case a storm blew the house down overnight, as she suspected might happen. The elves’ homes didn’t quite look built to last, with all the wood and no brick or mortar. She thanked her for the directions and ambled up yet more stairs, glad she’d walked the whole way here and had the muscles to handle it.

Having water to wash her face and hair with felt as sweet as a blessing, and Rella spent several minutes wringing her hand kerchief out and scrubbing down her face and hands. ”What do you do when the winds get to blowing?” she asked as she came back down the stairs carrying her cloak over one arm, her needle and a bobbin of thread in the other.

[Brenton]

Brenton groaned as he rolled over but already he could feel energy flowing into his body from Vaentr and Grazael. Both dragons were willing to help him and it made the elf king happy but he couldn't be too happy for he had angered Rella. With a glance around he leapt up and muttered a few spells, causing his body to be clean and well groomed. His clothes and armor were mended while his curly black hair fell around his soft featured face. He smiled slightly and took off running to calm his mind, springing into the trees and sprinting from branch to branch. Several times Brenton swung around the tree trunk and flipped into a higher branch until he was running a good thirty feet off the ground. Unknowingly he dashed right over where Isrydia and Rella were but he didn't stop and the only sign he passed was the shaking of branches.

Grazael shot into the air, spiraling around for a few seconds, as he roared in pure joy. Already he could feel the walls crumbling and Brenton was letting him back in enough to know where he was. Grazael flew up next to Arlyn and looked at the smaller but older dragon. It's strange what we've been through together, brother. Imagine if Brenton hadn't been at that party or I hadn't hatched when you were there. We never would've met and things would be so much more different.

[Quetzal]

Arlyn was happy that Grazael joined him in the air. It was good to fly with his greatest friend (aside from Isrydia), feeling lucky to have known another member of his species since being a week old when there were so few dragons around. He flipped over to try flying on his back, then dipped a wing and flew in lazy spirals. "Fate is an odd thing. You may have hatched for someone else decades from now. If Isrydia hadn't been so drawn to my egg, she'd never have found it. It was pretty well-hidden by whoever hid it and the Spine is a big place. I would have had to wait for ages," he replied, unaware that his egg had been found by the Empire Riders Rerukusu and Radgar since Ragdar had wiped his and Isrydia's minds once it was clear they were not Empire supporters. "Minus two months, we've been together all your life. I'd never have come to Ellesmera, Isrydia and I would have had a much more shaky start, who knows what would have happened," chances were he'd be bound to some Empire Rider. He noticed the trees shaking below but thought nothing of it; animals were never scared to race right into elven cities.

Isrydia waited for Rella to do whatever she needed to, organising the messy array of papers crowding her desk. The telescope she rested in a box on a shelf. A few sheets were covered in crossings out and messy scrawlings as she had pursued something that turned out to be incorrect. These she discarded. The rest ended up in scruffy piles.

Rella returned down the stairs looking cleaner, carrying a cloak and needle and thread. It was a long way to Ellesmera to anywhere, so it was to be expected that her clothing may have suffered some damage. Isrydia personally hated sewing since her mother had taught her, complaining loudly that her brother got to train with a sword rather than a needle. She missed them for all their arguments and would have to visit them sometime. As for what happened when the winds blew, she shrugged. "Elven houses seem to last an awfully long time, so I guess they're more resistant than normal. Probably have some magic in them. I think since the tree which the house is built into can move and sway with the wind, the house moves a bit too so doesn't suffer damage. It does creak a lot, though, and unless the windows and doors are all shut loads of leaves get in," she told her. "It's very different to a normal house. Weird how some people decided to build houses in trees, others underground, and most just built up wherever they could find flat land," she commented on how different architecture could be.

[Harbor]

Rella found herself a chair safely away from all of the important-looking papers and bits of glass and strung the needle, sticking it in her mouth to knot the end of the thread. Feeling underneath the fabric for the tear, she asked, ”So do people ever get tree-sick from all the bobbing about? It makes more sense to me that humans should have the houses up here, really. Elves can probably outrun such petty things as wolves and bears.” Elves could probably outrun the sun if they tried, and where was the fairness in that? If there were gods, why would they create one race so far above the other? If they operated in different spheres it would make more sense—most animals were faster and tougher than humans but because of the vastly different life values humans were never envious of the animals. Elves on the other hand were born with their own worlds in their hands, whereas humans had to scrape and claw their way into and out of everything they ever wanted. Where was the sanity in creating a race designed to simply be better than the other one? Sooner or later the elves would get it in their heads that humans weren’t clever enough to rule themselves and they’d take over the job, and then where would that leave humans fifty years in the future?

”Who would want to build a house underground though?” she wanted to know. ”I can only imagine it would be damp and full of nasty little critters with big eyes and claws.” Not that she had anything against those creatures, she just didn’t want to bed down with them. There were sure to be plenty of interesting insects down there though, and Rella had always had a fondness for insects. They were small and unattractive and often considered dirty, just like Rella had been back before she grew up and out of the street muck. But when you chanced to look upon one of the bolder ones up close they really were beautiful, complicated little creatures. Just nobody ever saw them that way because nobody bothered to try.

[Brenton]

I have seen many Empire soldiers and riders through Brenton's memory, as well as Vaentr's, and none of them seem real bad. Most are forced into servitude and in trying to change their name they become twisted. Only a few have escaped and they share the horrors today of what they went through yesterday. Emiryal Nyteshaed hides himself from the world and avoids fighting while Brenton fights to try and attone for his error in behavior. Grazael was young in a grown body but these words were scholarly as he flew next to Arlyn.

Brenton stopped on the edge of Ellesmera with a smile on his face while the wind blew against his burning hot skin and cooling it. He sighed and sat down with his back against the tree he was in. This was why he enjoyed kingship, not because of all of the elves being loyal but because the forest spoke majestically of freedom and salvation. He ruled a safe haven with caring words and strong friendship which made him happy.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia had been to Farthen Dur a good while ago, back when she had been William's apprentice. The underground dwellings had been far from damp and full of nasty creatures. She wasn't so keen on creepy-crawlies herself, but they were more commonly found up in the trees than in the dwarven houses. The dwarves were masters at carving rock and stone, lining their expansive halls with wonderful carving depicting scenes from history and legend alike. Jewels glittered, light barely reached the high ceilings. "It doesn't move that much. And I imagine the elves would get fed up with running away from the animals after a time," she couldn't think why the elves had originally chose trees to live in, having neither the mind of an elf nor the knowledge of history that far back. "I've seen Farthen Dur myself, though, and it's all stone and magnificence. If anything it's a bit cold and while it's light, it's not natural light. I don't like being underground, either. As safe as it might be, I can't help but feel it's too hard to get out quickly and there's all that earth above," she doubted she would fare well living down there.

Arlyn knew that many of the Empire's soldiers were there against their will, but others did join out of choice. Many did genuinely believe the Empire was the best way forward, or simply thought it was they would be the ones to quickly end the war since the Varden had been the ones to start it. "I know many of them aren't forced. Some do believe the Empire is the best option for Alagaesia through their own accord. Many of the smallfolk in Kuasta where Isrydia grew up supported the Empire because they didn't care about the arguing of nobles who were all so distant to them. Whoever ruled didn't effect them, and the Varden had brought war and disruption while the Empire may have been harsh, but not so disruptive as war. The rest were largely indifferent for similar reasons. Isrydia just wants an end to the fighting," he and his Rider did not support the Empire in the slightest, but as they had in the past they wouldn't work for the Varden unless they saw it would improve someone's life.

[Harbor]

Rella smiled at the image in her mind of frustrated elves in all their finery and long hair went bobbing about through the trees, throwing up their long legs in search of refuge as the vicious nuthatches and marmots bumbled after them. "Yes, those poor harried elves," she murmured to herself, taking care in her stitches not to do something so foolish as to impale herself on the needle.

The common girl tried to hide her displeasure with her own limited knowledge when Isrydia bespoke of a place she'd never heard of as if it were common knowledge. Farthen Dur didn't sound like it was named by humans, but she could be wrong. So what was it that lived there, had created such 'magnificence'? Ah well, at least she was among friends. She bit off her thread and sought out another tear she'd seen in the cloak before. "Is Farthen Dur another elvish city?" Isrydia didn't seem like the type to mock her for her ignorance, but one could never be too careful. Then again, since when did Rella care what other people thought of her?

Rella frowned into her needlework. She never had before. Once Mam had died there had been no one else to care about, no one else to wonder about. Losing one person she loved had been hard enough, so five-year-old Rella had set herself to never care that way about another person, it just wasn't worth it. Until she'd gone and followed a complete stranger into a strange land and realized that she'd been following a king. But women hardly ever got to choose their partners, did they? Highborn women married complete strangers all the time. Just because Rella was commonborn didn't mean she'd get to escape all the miseries of her noble counterparts, not when she routinely spent so much time among them. Rella wanted to live a better life, but why did she think she would get to pick and choose between which aspects of such lives that she agreed upon? Noblewomen didn't run about barefoot, but they had enough food to eat every morning and every night they got to sleep underneath real blankets. Noblewomen didn't get to choose their husbands, but they would be treated by the best healers their husbands could afford if anything ever happened to them....if ever they were hurt or ill and they hadn't yet finished all that they wanted to in life...if they weren't ready yet. Rella sighed. Men just complicated everything. They didn't even have to try, that was just the way they were.

[Brenton]

Brenton sighed as he stood up off of the tree branch and looked out at the forest for a few seconds longer before he took off running for the center of the city. He couldn't avoid the population and eventually he would have to talk to Rella about what had happened or he would never see her again. So he was off in search of Isrydia to get her opinion on what to do, since women often times could explain better than men things that had nothing to do with hacking apart someone with a sword. And that was something he knew how to do which was the problem, he was too different from Rella to be a good husband but the king refused to give up on her no matter what happened. As he came into sight of the tree he slowed but the last few feet he sprinted at a dead run and propelled himself into the window, barely avoiding hitting a wall.

Amazing enough, the landing was silent and caused barely a rustle as if the wind had blown the branches which moved the tree. Yet Brenton sensed something wasn't right so he stood up tall and walked toward the door, just to hear Rella's voice as he exited and was in plain sight but behind the girl. With a curse, Brenton ducked back into the room and looked around just to see he was next to Rella's things which made it worse for the wear. Quickly the king slipped back out of the room and ran down the hall, diving into the next room, a small closet, where he muttered a spell to make the door disappear from sight.

Isrydia, this is a terrible situation to be in but I need to talk to you and it requires you to get rid of Rella from that room quickly. I entered from the trees thinking you were alone and was going to talk to you about what had happened to get your opinion but if she sees me then I'm in trouble. In order for one door to open another must close, look for the door that is closed without letting her know. Brenton slumped against the wall as he pulled his cloak around his shoulders, while he contacted Isrydia mentally and hoped she would heed his words so he could leave the closet soon.

The entire time that Brenton was running around and trying to avoid being detected by someone that would leave in a heartbeat if she saw him, Grazael flew over the trees with Arlyn. He kept his mind connected to the king and so when he felt the fear and worry enter their link, Grazael faltered in his flying and angled back toward Isrydia's house where he sensed his rider. How was it that one human, even part elf, could get into so much trouble in one day and still live to tell the tale afterwards? Grazael looked over at Arlyn and sent images of Brenton running through trees and then what he saw through Brenton's eyes right before he ran into the closet. Hopefully the blue dragon would know what to do in this situation because Grazael sure didn't know what to do and it was bothering him to be helpless like this when it involved Brenton.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia was only mildly surprised Rella hadn't heard of Farthen Dur. She'd spent most of her life as a commoner, so was aware of how much less she'd known about the world before she had been dragged into the midst of the magic, elves, dwarves, urgals and dragons that had been only a vague idea that was nice to dream about before. Just over a year ago most of the people she knew would not have heard of any elvish or dwarvish cities. She had known them as a storyteller, but those she told stories to had not. "Oh, sorry... Farthen Dur's a dwarven city. It's in the Beor Mountains, the tallest mountains in Alagaesia, which give it pretty good protection," she explained.

Brenton's sudden appearance a far greater shock. She couldn't help but look toward the sudden movement. When she realised Brenton was there, she forced herself to carry on moving her gaze as though she was simply looking idly round the room, concerned Rella might twig that something was up. It wouldn't do their relationship any favours for Rella to think Brenton had followed her here or something. Allowing his mind to contact hers when she felt his presence as he started speaking, she assumed he'd hidden somewhere. "It might take a short while, else Rella might get suspicious. It'd be rude to make her leave the room, but I might be able to leave myself and we can talk elsewhere. Don't say a word though; all communication will have to be mentally, else she'll hear your voice," Isrydia warned him.

With that, she yawned widely. It was true that the was getting tired, but it would be weird to just leave the conversation suddenly like that. "I'm getting quite tired. You can retire when you like, but I might go to bed soon," she gave advanced notice, not wanting to seem in a hurry to leave.

Arlyn followed Grazael back towards Isrydia's house. He regarded the images quickly, unsure what to make of them. Just as clueless about what to do as the other dragon, there wasn't anything he could suggest. "There isn't much we can do. Brenton will just have to wait it out. I think it's up to our Riders and Rella what happens next," he was calm about all this, even a bit amused at Brenton's bad luck at finding Rella in Isrydia's house.

[Harbor]

Rella scowled instead of showing her shock and frustration—the first at hearing that an entire species had been in existence in Alagaesia without her knowledge, the second at her lack of knowledge. She had always prided herself on what she knew, but then, her knowledge was limited. The deep and narrow chasm. She could tell you with whom every nobleman and woman in her city cheated with, for how long, and on what nights or days they did it. She knew whose children were teething and whether or not the parents or children accepted the growing pains with grace. She knew how much money each teller and merchant in the market quarter made, which months were their best, what time of day she was likely to get the best deals on merchandise, and when buyers were most willing to pay more.

But a fourth sentient race in Alagaesia? No, apparently that didn’t fit into her narrow education. How vile it was that the people of the world with the most freedom of body and heart were the ones most constricted by slavery of the mind. How unfortunate it was that the sheets one was born upon dictated what sheets they were permitted for the entirety of their lives. ”Lucky for them,” she mused absently, running a finger over her stitches. Neat and even, hardly a lump to show they were there except for the miscolored string.

She lifted one brow in amusement at Isrydia’s fatigue. Craning her neck to peer outside, she shook her head. ”I swear it gets dark earlier here.” She clipped her thread and tucked both bobbin and needle back into the small matchbox she stored them in. Linking her fingers together and stretching back, she remarked, ”I don’t think I’ll get used to sleeping in a tree if it ever starts to move. I won’t keep you up.” Rella stood, throwing her cloak over an arm, and strode out of the room, one hand slightly spread at her side as though the tree would keel over any minute. A pocket in the cloak caught on a door handle not far down the hall, straining as she took the next step without realizing it had hung up on something. By the sound she would have more mending to do, but that could wait until morning, or whenever Rella decided she ought to wake up. She had no work here, why rise early? She untangled the cloak from the handle, bid Isrydia a good night, and found the room the Rider had offered to her.

Within a minute she’d tossed the cloak over the bed, tucked her pack underneath one of the pillows, shoved her boots underneath the frame and climbed up into an open windowsill. The early darkness bemused her, but the forest was still beautiful, just harder to see.

[Brenton]

Brenton crouched down as Rella walked by outside the hidden room while he held his breath and waited patiently, if not nervously, for her to get to the room he had just entered through. Unknowingly to him, Brenton had dropped his ring that he had fashioned from gold and silver back when he was thinking about Rella coming to the forest. It had to have been just outside the door to the girl's room, in the shadows where he had hid briefly, but that made it all the worse because if she found it then he would have three options. One was to embrace the darkness and spite within long enough to lie his way out of it and hopefully he could still pull it off without using magic. After all his voice had gotten to where he was able to spin silken lies made from the most beautiful of thoughts meant to twist all who heard. Yet that was devious and underhanded and the king hated that route for it meant he was relinquishing his control to Galbatorix once again.

The second option, much more difficult to take but probably the easiest to accomplish, was to wait until Rella walked to him in her fury and in that moment he would apologize and tell her the truth about tonight. Yet she could think that he had been spying on her or that he was not respectful enough to listen to her when she wanted to be alone even though he had shown up to talk to Isrydia.

Third, the final and most heartbreaking option of them all, was to accept that there was no chance of him being with Rella and to just say good bye. Maybe even giving her a horse to ride home would be a good way to go but just that thought made him ache inside and his throat tighten as a slight gasp came from his mouth. He felt so helpless and it wasn't fair to be forced to feel this way no matter whether or not he got himself into this particular situation.

With a start, Brenton realized that he had kept the mental connection with Isrydia in preparation to talk to her and that he had just thought all of those things where she could know them as well. Oh well he was going to talk to her anyhow so might as well start now with the truth. With defeat in his motions, the king ended the spell and stepped out of the closet, making sure Rella was actually in her room and that Isrydia was still there. He gave a small sigh and looked at the female rider with a look of pure horror and confusion as well as frustration and sadness.

I didn't know, at least not for sure, that she wanted me to fight without magic. It...it comes naturally to me and even when in the heat of the moment, I held back my full strength. All it was was a simple restraint spell and it hurt to do it but I did it instinctively. Now I come here and see her here thinking that I can talk to you alone and it feels like whatever deity that the humans believe in is out to get me just because I am not a full human.

His voice normally so calm and commanding or smooth and warm was now weak and soft, filled with pain and fear of what he would have to do if he couldn't apologize to Rella. Brenton looked at Isrydia and brushed his black hair from his face to reveal the fact that his eyes were filled with tears and he looked like he was going to be sick just talking about it. Yet he had to talk about this to someone who would listen or there would be issues later if he couldn't find the strength to talk when it mattered.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia was close enough to Brenton to have no change in opinion of him upon seeing those thoughts in his mind. There was a chance Rella might not find the ring, and even if she did, there was no reason for her to believe it belonged to Brenton. The truth would be the morally right thing to say, but this was one of those strange situations in which the truth would cause more suffering to both parties than a little white lie would; Rella would be more upset and angry about Brenton's actions, and Brenton would be heartbroken. "If she finds the ring, I'll just say it's mine and I lost it around the house. I could even say you gave it to me if she in some way connects it to you, but it should be a lie that's easily believed," she reassured the king in her mind. After all, this was her house, so why shouldn't a random ring lost on the ground belong to her? Riders were respected so it was very possible she could have been gifted something so expensive and fancy.

Bidding Rella a goodnight in return, it wasn't long before Brenton slipped silently into the room. She had heard Brenton's side of the story through Grazael and Arlyn, but Rella had given her most of the picture. She hadn't realised just how devastated he could be to have messed up a chance with a woman he'd only spent a few hours in the company of. To her, it didn't make sense to be quite so upset about someone he had spent so little time with. Then again, she knew Brenton well enough to know that while he was content to let people come and go like any other person, when he was attracted to someone he tended to stick to them like a lost puppy, giving himself entirely to them. She didn't think it could be 'love' he felt since she wasn't a believer in love at first sight, only having experienced real love for people she knew well and felt comfortable around. She thought what Brenton felt was more of an attraction - a very strong one, yes, but simply intense and desperate liking rather than true love.

Love or not, Brenton was upset and for once she was not the subject of his feelings so she could actually do something to help. As a friend, it make her sad to see him so broken in place of his normal over-confident, strong self. Funny. Isrydia had long believed that the many humans who claimed women were inferior were wrong; after all, she was a knight, a Rider, as strong and as intelligent as any man, and she was a woman. This served further proof in a different way. Rella was an ordinary lowborn human female, with no dragon or magic as Isrydia had, but she could fight, she was clever, and she had reduced a strong king to this. Of course, love and lust weren't the only ways a woman could have power, but this was strange to see.

Isrydia knew that Brenton always had to be so formal and put up a strong face to appear a good leader to his people, so supposed that when he did break down like this, many things would have built up. She walked over to him and offered a hug, something else she doubted his rank would allow him. Sometimes no words had to be said to comfort people, and welcoming friendly arms were just the thing. Words would still be needed now.

"She doesn't see it that way, I'm afraid. If you apologise to her in the morning, I'm sure she will give you another chance. She's come all this way, after all. I'd say... don't try and show off or make yourself look good. Just talk to her with respect, have a normal conversation, and treat her on the same level in actions instead of just saying you are. It's far better if she finds you good points for herself rather than you shoving them in her face, and it also means she'll see your flaws, but that'll just make you seem like a normal person. As for the gods, aren't they supposed to care for everyone? I doubt they care about your heritage. It's your actions they care about, and I think perhaps they have nothing to do with this. Rella's mind isn't controlled by the gods, and neither is yours. You can make up your own minds about each other," she gave a long response. She didn't speak aloud either, as it would sound strange for Rella to hear her voice speaking to a supposedly empty room.

[Harbor]

Once safely ensconced in the surprisingly comfortable windowsill Rella inspected the ring she’d found in the hallway. Gold and silver looked peculiar mixed—she’d never seen it before in the nobility’s baubles, at least. But it was interesting to say the least. She slipped it onto her thumb, the only finger it somewhat fit on, and eyed the way it caught the moonlight. ”Pretty,” she decided, slid it off again and set it on a small table beside the window. Fascinating as it was, she had promised not to steal from people that meant her well and so far she hadn’t met anyone she disliked enough to steal from. She’d give it to Isrydia in the morning. She hated going in and out of rooms more frequently than she had to—something about doorways made her feel constricted in a way that cramped windowsills didn’t. Even knowing she was being a suspicious commoner she couldn’t help but believe in the crawling sensation doorways gave her. It was hard to completely lose that feeling she’d been raised with. Besides, her mother had lived all of Rella’s life in just one room, rarely leaving it. Rella had taken on similar habits, or at least her desires had.

Noting the faintly warm breeze wafting in, Rella stood, shucking the woolen skirt she’d worn here, from human lands where winter could still touch and chill. She had thinner leggings on underneath, and they would better allow for what she wanted. She hoisted herself out of the window, feet still on the sill, and turned so she was facing outward; heights had never bothered her. It was one short leap from the sill to the nearest branch, easily thick enough to hold her weight. The bark was smoother than she’d expected though, and for one moment her hands slipped. They tightened though and she managed to steady herself. She brought one leg up over the branch, and managing to crouch on top of it crept toward the trunk of the tree, which she used to bring herself back to the roof, which was at a difficult angle for her to get to from the window.

For all that she couldn’t see far through the leaves it was a lovely feeling to be up so high. The wind wasn’t thick enough to feel the house moving but the breeze was sweet and she hadn’t ever heard the sounds of leaves or trees before reaching the edge of this forest. It was a delightfully peaceful sound.

[Brenton]

Brenton hugged Isrydia after a brief pause where he debated whether or not his status as king would allow such a thing even with someone who was as close as Isrydia to him. It allowed it with anyone he was in a relationship with and with any family like Arya, Eragon, Drayden, and Castien but he wasn't sure about Isrydia who was just a friend. Finally he realized he didn't care because this was one situation where the king got to decide what he would and would not do in life. Isyrdia, I just... Unknowingly he had started to talk aloud but the king heard his own voice and his eyes widened ever so slightly while he quickly disengaged his arms from the girl. He had to get away from the house before Rella came downstairs or he would be caught and that could be bad.

With a muttered apology and good bye, Brenton was gone, a blur of black hair disappearing through the door and into the dark night where he immediately scaled the trees and skidded to a stop right in front of Rella who was on a branch. Before she could say anything he swore softly and flipped backward off the branch, landing in the next tree and running from branch to branch hoping that she would hope she wouldn't think he was following her. It would all be bad if she caught him at all but since she had seen him then it could be worse.

Brenton dashed across the branches until he reached the palace where he sprang down and landed in front of the door, walking in and stopping. He rested his hands on his knees and breathed heavily just against the wall while his mind whirled around in confusion. Maybe sleep would be welcome in a time like this or maybe it would be worse and he would end up crying all night because he was afraid of the next morning.

He would just have to take his chances and go to sleep and hope for the best in the morning because that was all he could really do at the moment. So the king went to his chambers and collapsed on the bed, instantly falling asleep and welcoming the warmth and comfort that it brought to be asleep.

((So after this post I'm gunna post like it's morning))

[Quetzal]

Isrydia had non such restrictions with who she could be seen to embrace, but she was aware Brenton wouldn't normally be allowed to show signs of affection or need of comfort in public. However, in private, no one was there to see and he wouldn't have to be so formal with everyone all the time. It took her a moment to register the implications of his speaking aloud. She stared at him in shock for a moment, glancing up as if that would give her some information as to what Rella was doing in response. She might not have heard. Isrydia did not know she had crept out the window to look at the forest so was unlikely to hear. Brenton dashed off, and Isrydia hurried up to her bedroom. Should Rella have any questions she would try answering them honestly.

Opening the window, she took in a few gulps of crisp night air. For some reason, night air always smelled better than the air during the day time. Isrydia liked the night. It was often associated with evil and bad things, but it was the realm of her beloved stars, it was quiet and peaceful if you avoided the drunks (which was rarely a problem in the elven cities), and everything was different to the daytime. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of ice blue catching the moonlight, knowing it must be Arlyn. Closing the window, she turned to sit on her bed and read a book. Should Rella want to question her, she'd be there to answer, but if not she would just go to sleep until morning.

Arlyn saw Rella in the tree and thought nothing of it until he also spied Brenton dashing out in a great hurry. Oh dear, the guy was terribly unlucky. It would be a shame if the king had messed things up any more. Finding Rella's mind, he warily sent her a message. "I think he'd just come to see Isrydia, by the way. He couldn't have known you'd be here," would that make it any better? The night was cool and calming enough to perhaps sooth some nerves, but this might be beyond that. He wasn't sure.

[Harbor]

Rella's eyes had widened when Brenton rustled through the branches just before her. His expression when he saw her made her grimace with regret. Perhaps she had been too harsh when she'd stormed out. He looked afraid. She'd never accidentally frightened someone before. It was like accidentally making a bed. So Rella settled onto the roof of Isrydia's house and knocked her forehead on her knees. She wasn't in the habit of doing things by accident, she was just such an intentional person. "No worries," she sighed to Arlyn's assurance. It wasn't like she was going to keep him away from his friend.

Rella only hopped back through her window a couple hours later. By the next morning she and her sewing had wandered their way down to a spot of sun on the leaf-strewn ground. She sprawled out on her stomach, threaded her needle, and began sliding through stitches in the worn fabric. The ground was nice and warm from the sun too.

[Rella muse is low right now, sorry.]

[Brenton]

Sunlight had been filtering through the trees for an hour or so by the time Brenton was able to drag himself from the palace where he had been using several small spells to fix the table that his magic had destroyed in the first place. His mind was buzzing with nervousness and fear as he tried to figure out what to do when he walked out into the air with his face being struck by the cool air. Brenton swallowed nervously but smiled cheerfully at a citizen of the city as they walked by and waved at him with the elven traditional greeting. At least he could still put on the façade of being calm and collected in a stressful situation like this one was to him.

In front of Brenton was the house of Isrydia's where he had ran into Rella after nearly being caught inside and being scared out of his mind like that. With a shallow and ragged breath, Brenton gathered his willpower and walked over to where Rella was at stitching up the rip in her clothing. He sat down and crossed his legs, trying to be patient but barely containing his nervous nail biting. Finally he couldn't handle it anymore and the king spoke softly, almost inaudible.

I wasn't following you last night. It was an accident, really it was, but I ran from the edge of the city through the trees and was stopping to talk to Isrydia when I jumped into the window. Actually I was in the house when you were but you...you didn't want to see me so I hid in another room, dropping a ring that I'd been making since returning to Ellesmera. It was when I thought you heard me that I bolted out of the house and into the trees, thinking I would be gone before you saw me, but you were there and I was scared even more.

Yesterday though, I...I didn't mean to anger you in any way and I'm sorry for that. It was foolish of me for thinking that you would be wanting me to use magic and I should have asked even before starting the fight. It's just that I really feel close to you Rella, no one scares me, and I wanted to impress you because I feel like you deserve better than me. Not many people would agree with that and they would say that I deserve better but you are the most beautiful person I've met and you deserve so much more than money or land. You deserve someone who can devote their entire life to you and who can be there no matter what, putting you before anything else, but I can't do that. I want to so badly but I'm afraid of what will happen if I do and you leave anyhow. You deserve better, Rella, and that is why I wanted to impress you is so that maybe you wouldn't think about just that.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia was tired out after the eventful evening. Once she was sure Rella wouldn't come asking questions, she put down her book and quickly changing into a comfortable loose nightdress. Snuffing out the candle, she snuggled down under the warm blankets and drifted to sleep on the soft bed. Arlyn generally refused to disconnect their minds completely, and felt her faint presence become fuzzy with dreams. He flew for a little while longer, the small dragon's thin wings glowing dimly near-white in the light of the stars and moon. Unlike most towns, Ellesmera must be used to seeing dragons flying about by now. Eventually he too went to sleep, leaning against the tree trunk. He missed the days when he was small enough to sleep in the same bed as Isrydia.

In the morning, Isrydia woke unwillingly to the light of day. For a while she lingered in bed, but she couldn' laze about all day. Groggily she got to her feet, changed into a casual light blue dress and a jacket, then checked to see how Rella was doing. The woman was not to be found in her room, which worried Isrydia until she noticed her sitting outside. Either Rella got up very early, or she'd slept for longer than planned. Arlyn was awake, but hadn't moved much. He was lying nearby, wings outstretched and eyes half-closed as he bathed sleepily in the sun waiting for his Rider to get up.

Isrydia opened the door softly, and he looked around at her. She didn't move. Brenton was approaching Rella, and she couldn't interrupt that. Instead, she just watched and listened as did her dragon, the two pleased with Brenton's apology and hoping things would go all right for the two.

[Harbor]

Rella glanced up at the shadow that stepped around her and smiled peaceably when she saw who it was. He liked anxious, so she let him sit beside her in silence since she was afraid to say something that might startle him. He was more prone to exciting at seemingly small sparks than she'd expected of a man but what could she expect of someone with crossed blood? It really wasn't fair to try if she was only familiar with one half of his heritage.

What he had to say was a lot prettier than anything she could have come up with--her abilities lay mostly in actions, with thoughts and speech following. When he finally finished she smiled again, completely calm. "That was very pretty. Listen, Brenton, as I told Isrydia I have a matchstick temper; starts fast and doesn't last. You're not the only one to blame, I shouldn't have assumed you would know exactly what I'd want without specifying. Fighting is just a way I get to know people, it's how I get comfortable with them, and I just have a grudge against magic. It isn't something I understand and therefore it isn't something I can respect." She moved so she was sitting close to him, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her back. "Would you explain it to me?" She tied off one of her threads and another thought came back to her. "Oh and Brenton? Whether or not you want to admit it you are a king. You aren't always going to have time for me and that's how it should be. Honestly I need time on my own to be happy so I won't always have time for you either. Think you can live with that?"

{Sorry for the wait, I have a long term house guest atm.}