Say What, Now? [Open]

[Asher Avindel]

The first sign that someone was coming down the tunnels towards one of the entrances to the city was the flashes of light that kept appearing, in different colors. Greens, blues, reds, golds. Even a grey burst of flame, every once in a while, each time getting closer and closer to the entrance.

And then a grey werelight floated into sight, followed closely by a man dressed entirely in red, with a sword at his side, a bow and quiver of arrows on his back. His most striking feature were his ears, which were sharply pointed and elongated past the back of his skull. There was no mistaking it. This was no man, but an Elf. And he looked perfectly at ease walking through the tunnels of the Beor Mountains, a finger lifting every now and then to let a new light burst out, or allow the flames to spring forth from his hand, before fading once more.

Upon seeing the dwarven guards at the entrance, each with a weapon in hand, the Elf stopped and lifted his hands, before speaking to them in their own language. The dwarves blinked, and one of them nodded, before barking an order to one of the younger guards, who turned and ran off into the city. The rest turned their eyes back to the Elf, pointing their various axes, hammers, and swords at him.

To amuse himself, he pulled a crystal from a pouch at his belt and tapped a finger on it. As he did, each time, a flare of light blossomed in it, before fading once more. Before long, the dwarf guard raced back and spoke in a quiet voice to the leader of the guards. The Elf smiled softly to himself, as he tapped the crystal again. This time, a grey light flared from the crystal, and then faded once more.

Satisfied, for the moment, the Elf slid the crystal into the pouch once more, and glanced at the dwarves. He lifted a hand, and they shifted, their weapons pointed at him once more. He raises both his hands, and spoke quickly in their language once more. The dwarves nodded, and lowered their weapons, at which point the Elf smiled, bowed low, and took off towards the city.

The only reason the Elf was here, was because the Varden were here, somewhere, and he wanted to meet with them. He planned on offering what knowledge he could about the Dragons and the Riders. And it was extensive, since he had been around for most of the Riders Era, and his father had taught him quite a bit about the group.

[Aisling]

Artemis wasn't really fan of the dwarf city. She found it a little...too stoney for her liking. And all the ceilings were to low for her. The young Varden commander was too tall for this city. Even now, as she walked through the city of Tronjheim she felt so incredibly freakish compared to short, stubby dwarves that ran around at her feet. The Desert Chief cringed as many of the dwarfs stared at her a mixture of awe and fear. She knew that she had established a very harsh reputation. With a nick name like the Devil's Rage, you couldn't get more scary than that.

As she continued her walk she saw one of the dwarf guards coming at her. Artemis immediately felt her hand go to the hilt of her sword intuitively.

"Commander Artemis! There's an elf in the city." the dwarf said to her with labored breath.

"Yes, there are a couple. Now if you'll get out of my way," the young chief growled. She hated being approached in such a way. She was a person of importance, and should be treated as such in her book. You don't get a tittle like Commander for nothing.

"No, Commander! IT's a stranger!"

"Then how did he get past the guards then?" Artemis said dangerously. She did not feel that the Elf was hostile but anyone who was not authorized to go into the city were not supposed to enter without having their mind searched.

"He spoke to us in our language," the guard said with a loud gulp.

Artemis just frowned and shook her head. "Just take me to him."

The Commander followed the small guard through the city towards the gate. She found following him the most frustrating thing. His legs and stride were so small that she had to stop and wait for him to get a bit of a head start.

Artemis was already irritated but she took a few calming breaths. SHe didn't wish to be out right rude to the elf. That would probably happen later but it was important to start off on the right foot.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the elf. She didn't bother to stop the dwarf from walking. She frankly didn't care where he went. Artemis was still mystified by elves. She had fought along side Rider Faervel many times but she still could never get over it. She was even half-elf and she couldn't comprehend that side of her.

She approached the elf and greeted, "Hello and welcome to Tronjheim. I am Commander Artemis Nivangel of the Varden, can I help you?"

[Asher Avindel]

Seeing a dwarf bringing a half-elf close, the Elf stopped and stared at her, his head tilted, much like a cats. Hearing her speak, he blinked and nodded once, his head tilting back to its normal position.

Before answering her, he bowed slightly, and greeted her in one of the languages the nomads of the Hadarac Desert used.

"Ah. The Devil's Rage, yes? I've heard of you. As for helping me, that depends. I'm looking for your Dragon Riders, and the leader of the Varden. I have a proposal to make to them. I offer my knowledge and experience to them, to train them in everything I know about their Order, and their powers," he stated, his strange eyes staring at her, as if trying to peer into her very soul.

Suddenly, he spoke once more, in the Ancient Language.

"Eka ai fricai Shur'tugal."

I am a friend of the Dragon Riders.

And then he stopped for a moment, staring at the woman before him.

"If you're planning on having my mind examined, you should have one of my fellow Elves do it. Otherwise, your magicians will be...dazed," he stated.

[Aisling]

The Desert Chief blinked in surprise. She barely heard anyone speak any of the languages of the desert, besides her own people. There were many languages of the desert, all very similar but filled with slang. The Elf spoke the language, pure and without the tribal slang that Artemis had grown up hearing.

Artemis smiled happily, she did love when people respected her culture. Everyone in the Varden was so indifferent to the desert tribes. They thought of them as barbaric and uneducated, but the young commander hoped that she was proving them all wrong. She had already begun to prove herself.

"You have heard of me?" she answered in the desert language, "I promise I am not as scary as my reputation may imply. As for meeting with the Varden leader, Nasuada...she is not here. I am in charge here, just holding down the fort..." Artemis let loud a loud sigh, I'd rather be on the front line, she thought. She decided to purposely vague, she did not know this stranger well enough to reveal any secrets, friend or not, until his mind was checked she did not feel comfortable revealing such things. Plus she found, the elf's eyes eerie. And those with eerie eyes are ones to watch out for.

"As for the riders, one of ours is currently...out of reach," she said slowly, "But there is one more Rider Faervel. I can take him to him if you'd want."


Then the elf said something if the ancient language that Artemis didn't understand. She never learned the ancient language, just the few words she knew for healing but that was bout it.

"Faervel will examine your mind, he is off your race and very strong minded himself."

[Asher Avindel]

The Elf smiled, and replied, once more in her language.

"Yes. Word of you has spread throughout the Desert. You are spoken highly of among the tribes. And, the Elves. It's not often that a half-elf is born, you know," he told her, smiling as he did. At her sigh, his head tilted once more. "I see."

He was silent for a moment, his strange eyes staring at her. "Ah. Well, that seems... inconvenient," he stated, his mouth frowning slightly. "Ah, well. No matter. I can teach this Faervel then. I have come to teach your Riders about their Order," he stated, his head righting itself as he did.

He waited a beat, and then nodded. "That will suffice. Anyone else would require time off from such efforts. And I would hate to see one of your magicians damaged, just because of a routine safety precaution. Where shall we wait for this Faervel? Perhaps here, so I learn nothing of the movements of the Varden? Or, you can blindfold me and lead me to a secure room, if you wish. But, I have to ask that you, and whomever you bring with you, to shield your minds tightly, or I might glean where we're going and what's going on around us. That way, if I'm a spy, I won't be able to pass on any information to the Empire."

[Aisling]

Artemis smiled with pride. She did love that fact that her fame was spreading. The Othes tribe was feared amongst the tribes of the desert for being the most fierce and masters of the art of war. And to hear that the the other tribes were speaking of her fame...wel, that made the young commander very happy. The Elves talking about her made her feel even more proud but even a bit more intimidated and embarrassed. She knew nothing of her other half, and she considered herself more human than elf. But she did know the value of her rarity but at the same time, you must be worth a lot if the elves are talking about you. Or you mean nothing and they have nothing else to talk about. Artemis could see it going both ways./ Elves have such long lives that she was sure they must run out of things to talk about.

"Yes, us half-elves are rare, but I have l always considered myself more human than anything," The Desert chief said with a smile. "And Faervel is under my command, he comes to me. I don't go to him."

She paused, before shouting, "GUARD!"

Of course just about every dwarf guard came scrambling at her command. Artemis had a fearsome voice when she wanted too, it was heavily accented from her own language but still when there was that hint of anger in the tone, heads would roll.

"Yes! Commander!" All the guards said in unison with a salute.

Artemis smiled smuggly, she managed to scramble a couple of humans in there too. Human guards didn't fear her as much as the dwarves did. She was so tall compared to the dwarves.

"One of you go to the Dragon Hold and Summon Faervel and Lumen to me. At this spot. It is of the upmost importance," she said seriously in her best authoritative voice.

Of course as always no one moved right away. Either they didn't know who to send or where to go. Artemis let out an angry sigh.

"Who knows where to go?"

A young human guard raised his hand.

"THEN GO!"

The boy sprinted off as the other guards scurried back to their posts. Artemis crossed her arms in anger and muttered, "The incompetence of some."

[Faervel Ningannel]

Faervel leaned against Lumen's warm stomach, his eyes dozing off. He had just woken up from a long rest up in the dragon hold. Lumen was still resting, and the elf had no desire to wake the golden dragon. She had been very tired when they had arrived back into Farthen Dur. She and him had flown all over the Beor Mountains in search of that mysterious white dragon they had seen. Faervel longed to know that there was another rider out there or even that there was a wild dragon roaming around. Anything that would bring about they old days.

The elven rider longed for the past. The days he and Ashael would wander the forests, singing, dancing, and exchanging soft kisses underneath the tall canopies of the Du Weldnvarden. Oh how he missed her. Perhaps if she was alive still today they would've had a child by now. Faervel had always wanted a daughter.

Faervel was nudged out of his thoughts by a large golden head.

Your thoughts are disturbing my sleep, Lumen said to him over their link, Besides someone is approaching.

Faervel lifted his head as a young human soldier emerged from the large staircase of the dragon hold, completely out of breath from the climb. Faervel stood up from his resting spot and approached the man.

"Can I help you?" the blonde elf asked.

The man took a deep breath before saluting the rider. Faervel never understood, why they would salute to him. He had no position technically that would require them to salute to him. Faervel was a simple man and preferred to not be made a fuss over.

"Rider Faervel, you have been summoned by Commander Artemis. She is over by the north gate, she says it is of the upmost urgency!" the soldier said standing at attention.

Lumen swung her large head over and stared at man with her big eyes. We might as well go. This poor sod has disturbed my rest even more than you did.

"I will leave immediately. You are dismissed," Faervel said with a nod and smile. He never felt the need to be harsh with the guards, they were often just simple soldiers and did not fully understand everything that was going. He found that Artemis put to much pressure on them. But yet again the desert chief put a lot of pressure on him as well. He often what it would be like if he had gone to Surda.

The man scurried back down the stairs as Faervel began to tie the leather knots of Lumen's saddle in the hollow of her neck.
He got into the saddle and shifted his seat. He was stil a bit sore from their journey.

"Shall we?" he asked the dragon.

We shall, the golden dragon responded with mischeviously as she took off out of the dragon hold.

The flew a short distance before the arrived at the North Gate. Faervel saw the young commander talking to an elf. Faervel beamed with excitement. It had been so long since he had seen someone of his race. He dismounted Lumen and the two approached.

"You summoned me Commander?" Faervel asked Artemis with a bow of the head.

He turned to the elf and placed his two fingers to his own lips and said, "Atra esterní ono thelduin."

[Asher Avindel]

"Ah, well, perhaps, while I am here, I can help you get in touch with the Elf blood within you," he offered, smiling slightly. At her second reply, he blinked.

"Ah. That's different from the Riders of old. They answered only to the head of their Order. I suppose having them answer to the various leaders of the free kingdoms would be better, though. That way, if the Order is put back together, another Galbatorix won't happen."

At her shout, he winced slightly, his ears twitching visibly. And the sound of the guards moving all at once didn't help either, so the Elf lifted a hand to his forehead for a moment, his eyes closing briefly as he did.

And then he lowered his hand once more, once one of the humans had taken off.

The Elf raised an eyebrow at the half-elf infront of him. "They fear you," he stated, in the desert language. It was unlikely that the Dwarves or other Humans spoke it, as it was a pure dialect that the nomads rarely spoke infront of outsiders.

With a soft hum, the Elf dug into his pouch and brought out the crystal from before. To amuse himself while he waited for the Rider, he focused his eyes on the crystal, and muttered "Garjzla." Suddenly, the crystal flared with bright grey light, before he again muttered. "Letta." The light died as suddenly as it had flared, and he looked up.

The Rider was flying down from the Dragonhold. Tucking the crystal back into its pouch, he folded his hands behind his back, and waited. When the Rider spoke to him, Asher bowed slightly, though he made no move to return the hand gesture. And he spoke in the language of the humans, so that the commander could understand him.

"May peace live in your heart, Dragon Rider, Golden-One," he stated, bowing to golden dragon as well as her Rider. "You'll forgive me if I don't speak in the Ancient Language. I've been informed that the Commander doesn't speak it, and I don't wish to be rude to her, even if it means I don't follow customs set down by our Elven kin," he explained.

[Aisling]

"Well," Artemis said with a shrug, "When this bloody war is over, the riders who survive are going to have to figure something out."

The desert commander wasn't even particuarlly found of the Riders. She found them to powerful and to naive to know what to do with it. Now, she did love the dragons. Lumen was perhaps one of her favorite companions to talk to. She was a strong personality, and Artemis valued that in people to the upmost degree. But she found Faervel was to calm and to peaceful to really accomplish anything. The only time she ever saw him get violent was when someone mocked his dead lady. That poor sap's head almost exploded, she cringed at the thought.

"Yes...they do fear me. And it wasn't my choice. A lot of rumors were spread about me when I rose to my rank," the desert chief said with a deep frown, "That I was a cannibal, that I sacrificed people to the gods, and all that non-sense. All because I'm from a desert tribe. Apparently I'm barbaric, in case you couldn't tell."

Artemis watched as the elf played with the crystal. He was obviously using magic, and she did love to watch people use magic. Sure, Artemis could heal but that was the extent of her abilities, she was sure that if she tried to use harder magic perhaps she could but she never really wanted to try.

Then she saw Lumen and Faervel flying down form the dragonhold. It was a sight to see. she could never get over it. When they landed, Faervel greeted her and then the elf in that strag=nge elven custom he had seen him to before, and of course he spoke the ancient language.

The other elf said something about not being rude to her. Artemis just smiled and shook her head.
"Don't worry about being rude to me. I'm as rude as they come."

[Faervel Ningannel]

"And the stars watch over you," Faervel continued in the human language.

What a strange elf, to be wandering around,Lumen said sniffing the stranger.

Lumen, be polite, Faervel scolded. He himself felt a bit odd finishing the greeting in the human language, it just felt so odd to him.

As the commander spoke, Faervel muttered under his breath, "She's as rude as they come."

Faervel, be polite. The golden dragon teased.

Faervel just shook his head at his dragon. She always had a tendency to do tease him and prove him wrong. That was their relationship. Sometimes the elf found it hard to be bonded with someone who was so different from him. And Lumen and Faervel were totally different from each other.

The Elven Rider inclined his head toward the stranger. He seemed ancient to him. He could sense the wisdom that radiated off of him. Yet, he seemed familiar at the same time. But yet everything seemed familiar to Faervel though, his memories were always escaping him.

"Ancient One, what brings you here?" Faervel asked as he rested his hand on Lumen;s shoulder, he could already sense her saying something somewhat spunky to the elf. He was quite releaved when Lumen changed her mind.

Yes, Ancient One, Lumen asked, as her consciousness reached out to the Elf's, What brings you here?

"Ah," Faervel said as he looked to Artemis, "You want me to examine his mind. I figured that was the case. Especially after the magician who examined my mind is...no longer functional."

[Asher Avindel]

Well, perhaps I can help, if we get the chance," he stated, turning his head to focus his eyes on Artemis.

He turned back to the Rider and the golden Dragon, bowing deeply to the Dragon as he did. Then he turned back to Artemis. "Yes, well, humans are rather... stupid at times," he stated.

"As for being rude, I try not to be rude, but even I have problems with it. There are members of every race that can drive even the most patient Elf to be rude. I know. I've met them."

"I go where I go. As for what brings me here, I thought I would offer to teach you about your Order, and the history of the Dragon Riders," he stated, folding his hands behind his back. Which was when he felt the touch of the Dragons mind, and he turned his head towards her.

I offer to teach you of your race, Golden-One. Everything I learned in my 2,504 years. Everything my father, and Fundor taught me about your kin, Lumen Golden-Scale.

The feel of her thoughts enticed him, so he opened his entire mind to her, letting her go through every bit of his life.

"Look well, Golden One. Take in every bit," he offered, his strange eyes staring at the Dragon.

[Faervel Ningannel]

Lumen Golden-Scale, eh? I rather like that, Lumen said humming with pleasure, It's about time you two-leeged ones give me a good fancy name.

Faervel sighed, Lumen really did like to have her feathers puffed. The Gold Dragon had an ego bigger than any of her brethren and it often got the best of her due to her youth. The elf did love his dragon partner, but sometimes she was a bit more childish and naive than he was. I guess opposites do attract, he thought to himself. He had been trying to figure out why Lumen hatched for him those few years ago. They were so different, he often wondered why she didn't go for someone more fierce like Commander Artemis, but regardless he was honoured to have Lumen as a partner.

Don't let it go to your head, he said to his dragon.

Lumen just snorted, smoke billowing from her nostrils. She was more interested in why the elf would open his mind to her. Lumen was not a fan of shifting through people's minds. She found the mind sacred for those creatures who remained un-bonded to another. She eyed the ancient elf and said, I will learn what you have to teach, Old One, but I will not go through your mind. That isn't my place nor in my job description. I know you are no threat, but I'd rather leave your mind intact.

Faervel bowed his head at the ancient elf, and rested his hand yet again on Lumen's shoulder. He could tell she was getting tense.
"I would love to hear what you have to teach me. I was around when the order was at it's height but other than I only know so much."

We've been going with the flow as, they say, Lumen said, nudging Faervel playfully, for that's what Faervel would always say to her whenever something about their bond came up.

[Asher Avindel]

The Elf titled his head for a moment, watching the two speak in private. He could tell, as the expression had frequented his fathers face, so long ago, when he had spoken to his grey Fundor. Hearing her voice her denial of sifting through his memories, the Elf bowed slightly, and turned to Faervel.

"So I guess the job falls to you, then. But, there are things that I cannot tell you. Things that, because of promises made in the Ancient Tounge to the Dwarves and Urgals, that I cannot share with you, or anyone not accepeted by the races. Also, my knowledge of the Language itself is off-limits, until such time as I am deemed suitable to instruct you and any other Riders the Varden have with them. And my true name as well. Is that acceptable to you, Argetlam?"

Silver-Hand

The strange-eyed Elf stared at the Rider, his hands held out infront of him, as if offering his life to the Elf. It wasn't often that he let someone inside his mind, and twice before he had had to burn knowledge out of the minds of over-curious humans.

"You should also know, the process of burning knowledge out of ones mind can leave one useless for about three days. That is, if the process is fought. So, if you're checking to make sure I'm not with that traitor and his captive dragon, do not wander. I would hate to hurt the Varden. But I will if I must protect the Dwarves and Urgals secrets."

[Gibberish]

The large rocky outcrop jutting out from the wall of the cavern in which Farthen Dur was built offered an impressive view of the Dwarven city and an even more impressive steep drop straight to the floor.

The later fazed Arles little, as a rider he was well accustomed to even greater heights, so he sat with his legs dangling off the edge, a long curved pipe in his mouth, as if he were sitting on a stool less than half a meter off the ground. He blew a ring of smoke, before inhaling and allowing the rush of warmth to flow through his body, and then the slight tingle of magic as he muttered a spell of heal his lungs as the ash burnt them, the personnel insight of being a rider made him somewhat weary of any damage done to himself, he wouldn't want to be caught out of breath at the worst moment.

"I'm sure there are much more pressing uses for your abilities than to allow you to feed your addiction"

"Perhaps, but what is the point of fighting if not for the breaks afterwards?" Of course that was their official reason, they were fighting as a means for an end, they barely even admitted to themselves that they might actually enjoy the thrill of battle, the destruction of corruption.

Arles reveled a moment more in his pipe and the shared link between them, for a moment allowing wordless emotion to blend with her own. He learnt more about her in these occasions then he felt it was possible to know about a person without knowing their true name, before he stood up, the white plate of his armor glinting in the light from the city, his swords clanging slightly as he stood, before he strode over to his dragon, hauling himself into the saddle before she rose to her feet as he strapped himself to her.

"Hmmm, this city is hope"

"Perhaps, but the Empire deals in swords not feelings, we will require more than hope, more than this city, to win the war, hence we fight, hence the cities of the Empire must fall"

"When did we start sounding so...pretentious?"

"When were we not?"

Just as Lenora was about to respond once more across their mental link, the shimmering sight of the golden dragon crossed the sky closer to the city and dived down to a spot beyond their sight, Arles prickled with interest and Lenora's curiosity was evident.

"We have not been called for."

"Indeed."

In the next second, Lenora spread her large bat-like emerald wings, before thrusting down with them to boost herself and her ride off the ledge, free falling for several seconds as Arles laughed loudly at the feeling it sent through him, like the air has pulled his stomach upwards, for a moment he was weightless.

While Lenora was still a good number of meters from the ground, though it felt like whiskers, she spread her wings again, used the air thrust generated by her fall to rise upwards, gliding over to where the Golden dragon had disappeared from view. Arles had only recently arrived in Farthen Dur from the harsh landscape the Varden was currently fighting in on a quick relive so he had not yet had time to acquaint himself with the more experienced rider and his dragon, though this was as good a time as any, or perhaps they would stumble across a moment of danger, either way, both Arles and Lenora were eager for what awaited them.

Lenora touched down behind the vast bulk of the golden dragon, the ground shaking beneath her weight as her claws chipped into the rock. The force of the impact shaking the guard's positions slightly, causing them to curse, but noticeably tried to hide this from Lenora, she may not have been the most arrogant of dragons, though rather vain, but she still had a good deal of pride to tarnish.

"Greetings, I hope we are not missing anything too exhilarating," Arles called out as he leaped off Lenora, landing beside her with a practiced grace, he may not have been an elf, but he'd been taught how to fight by them.