Fifty-Fifty (open to anyone)

[Gazeil]

Gazeil knew that. She knew that the Empire soldiers did not hold the same moral code as her. And she also knew that at this very moment, it was either kill or be killed. But the hybrid couldn't bring herself to do it. It looked easy for Eärendur; he probably had decades of experience on his side, but the only things she had killed were animals, or by accident. "I know," she shouted back, repeating her thoughts in those two words to the other elf. Gritting her teeth, she blocked one of the attacks from a soldier, grunting as she got pushed back by masculine force. She brought her arm up and slashed at the opponents chest, creating enough of a diversion to mould herself back a bit before bringing her fist to connect with his temple. Immediately, she knew that he had blacked out.

She watched as Eärendur killed a soldier that looked quite young. She felt like throwing up; there was so much blood. It stained the sand, and it drenched her fingers and the hilt of her dagger that was once clean. "I...can't..." She grimaced as the bile rose from her throat, only to be forced down by sheer will and pride alone. It was either kill...or be killed. Perhaps she should have listened to the advice given to her; she was a good fighter. She just lacked the heart to wound harshly or kill.

Muttering an apology in the Ancient Language, she promised to make it up to whoever ruled the Earth, and cut an advancing soldier's throat; the blood seeping from the wound to cover the red uniform even more scarlet. A small sob came, but again, she killed another. And another. It seemed as if she was not listening to herself anymore; Gazeil had shut her eyes, basing her attacks on her senses.

Block, kill, block, kill...

It seemed like a practiced routine; until the mistake came. A sword came and slashed at her shoulder. Gazeil had tried to avoid it, but it hit nonetheless. Crying out in the burning pain that filled afterwards, she managed to throw her dagger into the attackers heart, before the body fell, taking her only weapon with him.

OOC: My character seems cowardly, but...she just has strong moral codes?

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur was surronded on three sides by soldiers, and from behind by corpses. The soldiers surronding him, were all brandishing longswords, and aboutto attack. When the soldiers began to close in on Eärendur, with speed only an elf can have he began to fight back. Three soldiers fell victim to his sword, while six more fell victim to the Ancient Language.

Eärendur, then began to slash and hack at them like one possesed. The soldiers in his path didn't stand a chance, and they began to pile at Eärendur's feet. Once they were all dead, Eärendur then turned around to go help Gazeil, maybe she was a traitor, but for now, he was going to help her against the common enemy.

[Gazeil]

She had only her fists to fight with.

Correction.

Fist.

Her wounded arm fell limply by her side, taking on many hits, yet never failing to return one. Her blows gradually started to weaken as she struck a soldier in the temple; the best place to hit for a quick fall, for she could certainly not kill anyone without a weapon. Not because she didn't have the ability to, but because she would not, under any circumstances, stain her hands with blood. That was absolute, even if it meant death.

Using the Ancient Language was also an option...once. But she found herself already very much depleted of energy, fearing that one word too many just may cost her her life. In both ways. Still, using small words here and there helped, even a little.

The stream of opponents gradually began to stop, mostly because of Eärendur and his killing frenzy. She no longer looked disgusted; but more of an empty look took on as she glanced at the numerous lifeless faces that stared up at her. No-one would be here to bury them...to respect the dead was also another code for her, but here...

Well, Eärendur may not let them bury the corpses. More than likely they would be burnt (cremated; she refused to use the barbaric word 'burnt') or left for the wild.

"Brisingr..." She said weakly, a small fire flickered in sight, before fading away. She had no energy to utter a curse anymore.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur made his way over to where Gazeil stood, wounded and stabbing an encroaching soldier in the chest, he heard the few remaining soldiers yell "Fall back! Fall back!" Eärendur, cleaned his sword on the sand, and then putting his right hand over Gazeil's injured shoulder, he muttered "Waise Heill"

Eärendur knew the soldiers wouldn't be coming back, so he walked over to where Elendil stood, strangely the horse survived the battle. Eärendur looked at Gazeil and said "I still don't trust you fully, but you can accompany me to Surda if you wish. If not, you may follow me out of this sand pit, and then we can part ways."

((OOC: You can say yes to come with me to Surda if you wish, or you can say no if you wish. It dosen't matter.))

[Gazeil]

A huge wave of relief washed over her person as she heard those two words repeated. To her, it was like the clanging of victory bells, even if the soldiers only chose to retreat. Her male companion healed her wound, for which she thanked him graciously for. "That was a close one..." she murmured lightly. Now that the danger was over, she was somewhat embarassed over her refusal to kill any of her opponents, even when in the heat of battle, it was different.

"You do not trust me?" She asked, before shrugging, "Suit yourself." Gazeil wasn't particularly fond of trusting the other either, even though the male elf had done nothing to arouse her suspicion. "...I will follow you." She stated, after hearing the male's proposal, "But why Surda?"

Maybe the question had been answered long ago, but if so, she had thoroughly forgotten.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

"I head to Surda to tell the Varden, my noble Queen Islanzadi is ready to aid them. First let us find our way out, and then we head to the Varden." finished Eärendur sitting atop Elendil, who began to slowly trot away from the battle field.

[Gazeil]

She nodded; that was understandable. Trudging after the trotting horse, she grudgingly decided that she had no choice anyway. Best to meet with the Varden...or not? For though she did not side with the Empire, she also had no wish to side with the Varden either. In the end, perhaps she should just go her way when the other reached his destination. After all, all she wanted was to get out of the accursed desert.

Then, a thought struck her and without any hesitation, she ran up so that she was side to side with the mounted elf, "You say that you are from the courts of Islanz...Queen Islanzadi?" Having never met with said queen, or any elves in particular, it wasn't that much of a big deal if she forgot to use the proper title. But she guessed that the other wouldn't be too thrilled.

It had just occurred to her. In accordance to what her mother had said before, he was a part of the courts of the Elf Queen...yet she did not have any idea as to what happened to him after she was born. "Did you...know my father? Volder..." she trailed off. She didn't even know his surname; she knew that her one was self-appointed by her mother. Gazeil knew not the reason why, but she didn't really care either way. She was, however, curious as to what her father was like.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur looked down at Gazeil, and chuckled "I knew him. Volder Halfelven, as we now call him. He lives south of Osilon now, doing what, I know not. He left Islanzadi's court, shortly after he returned to Du Weldenvarden. It appeared he was ashamed at having abandoned your mother."

Eärendur continued "Perhaps that's not the information you seek though. Volder was perhaps one of the only people in Islanzadi's court who would rather have left the Empire and that usurping Dragon Rider Galbatorix alone. Perhaps his views have changed since he left all those years ago, but that's how I remember him. There was only one other fault in Volder, he wasn't prepared for what happened the day he met your human mother."

[Gazeil]

She refrained from showing any expression on her face. But as soon as she heard the other refer to him, her face tightened considerably. Was the name 'Halfelven' give on a whim? Or did it actually hold some meaning? It it was the latter...then she did not like what it showed her. Tightening her grip on the bow she slung over her shoulder, Gazeil controlled her emotions. There was nothing to get so riled up about; it was all she could assume at this point.

She could not, however, hide her sudden interest. So even Eärendur knew of his surroundings, whereas she did not? "South of Osilon?" she repeated, murmuring it to get it memorized. She would be sure to pay the place a visit fairly soon.

"I see..." It nicked on the edges of her pride as she realised that this male elf knew more than she did, but that was not her fault. Her mother had refused to speak about him in more than two sentences. "...thank you." She finished, almost too quietly.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur looking down at Gazeil asked politely "You look troubled milady what is it?"

[Gazeil]

Gazeil shook her head, "No, I'm just thinking..." Deciding to switch the topic before things became a little too uncomfortable, she jerked her head towards the direction they were headed in, "In any case, how do you know which way to go?" Tilting her head some, the hybrid questioned with full curiosity. Had the other really travelled through the deserts so much that he had memorized the way out?

No...that was half impossible. The sands all looked the same, and unless he could see something from a top his horse...well, it didn't matter how many times one braved the Hadarac Desert. The outcome would be the same as one who had never travelled through before...except, the newer traveller would have the harder time surviving.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur pondered a moment, thinking the best way to anwser the question. If she knew nothing of magic, he would lose her in the explanation. If she knew of magic, then well it would be easy to explain but hard to teach. Eärendur simply replied "Let's just say it's a gift given to us from the Grey Folk. The Grey Folk were after all the first to arrive to these lands. And by us milady, I obviously mean we elves."

[Gazeil]

"I see..." The Grey Folk? She had not heard of them, nor had she heard of this so called 'gift' in which the other did not elaborate upon. That was alright; if it included magic, she would be lost in the first few sentences. "So all elves have this gift?" She said, not really a question, but more so a confirmation that the other had said so...or implied, anyway.

That would mean that, despite the fact that she was half-elf, she was not born with the gift. Pity...it would have helped her a lot in this situation.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

"Aye milady" said Eärendur nodding, "Elves are born with it, but few know how to use it. I know of only a few others who can use this gift, King Evandar, was one of them."

[Gazeil]

"I see," she commented, still curious as to what the gift was. "Does this mean that it's like...a latent power of some sort? Or gift," she added, shrugging. There might be a difference, but to her...in this context, both were the same.

Hearing the deceased Elf King's name, she peered at the other, "King Evander?" If the other knew, then it meant that it wasn't too much of a big deal if other's knew if another had the gift or not. Or maybe it just meant that the ones who did have it knew each other...and that was all. "Did you know him personally?" Gazeil queried, trying not to sound like she was prying.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur smiled and replied "Aye milady, I knew King Evandar. I grew up under him, he taught me in the ways of the Ancient Language, and magic in general. My father was a noble in his court, and one day, my father took me to Evandar's court, and Evandar took me under his wing. He taught me for about twenty years, and then I worked with him for about another ten." Eärendur laughed and then added "I almost forgot how old I am, I am 141 years old milady."

[Gazeil]

"141?" She repeated in a hushed whisper. She knew that elves could live for a very long time and still stay young...but she didn't expect the other to be that old, and so good looking at the same time. Yes, she did think that. But what harm was there in admiring another's beauty? One could do so without romantic feelings involved.

"Aha, I'm only 19 myself...I probably seem really immature to you, huh?" In her opinion, immature was an understatement. She was probably viewed as a child under his gaze, maybe even less.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

Eärendur looked down at her and then replied, "For your age, no I don't think so. Compared to elves, maybe just a little. But I think on our journey out of here, you will grow older and wiser and that will all change. Many challenges await us while we leave the Hadarac."

[Gazeil]

"More than just a little, I'm willing to bet," she half-muttered, her eyes half-lidded. Maybe the other was just trying to make her feel better about the ordeal, maybe not. Then again, how did she know? The other showed no signs of what he was thinking. And she wasn't stupid enough to try and enter his mind; that would completely ruin whatever 'trust' they had going on at the moment.

"How far until the end?" She asked, because despite her stamina, she still felt tired. And after the skirmish with the soldiers, she was all the more willing to just drop down into the sand. But it was far too hot for that anyway.

[Fäolin Nädindel]

"About two more days milady. There are many barriers before us, before we leave this place. I also think we will meet with more Empire soldiers....I welcome it" smiled Eärendur, not looking down at Gazeil, but looked deep in thought.

"Milady, have you ever met an Eragon Shadeslayer?" asked Eärendur, suddenly, looking down at Gazeil.