Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 21, 2014 20:42:39 GMT -6
Travel was usually an occasion for one to look forward to. The start of an adventure on one's own; a trip taken to be with friends or otherwise loved ones; a journey in pursuit of knowledge beyond the limits of where one currently lived had to offer. Idina had experienced trips in all three categories, and she had loved them all for their own reasons.
This trip was none of those, and she hated it.
A fire danced in front of her - it was controlled and, yes, necessary, but it still sent prickles up her spine. She sat as far away from it and from the man accompanying her as she could, out of high levels of discomfort around both. Her cloak would provide all the warmth she needed anyway, she had decided. That's why she had the thing, after all. The blonde curled more tightly in on herself, trying to shield all of herself from her surroundings, but her feet were still visible as always. She gave her head a shake so her hood would shield her eyes from the blaze a little better.
Soul and spirit, she cursed internally, I want to go home...
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 21, 2014 21:02:48 GMT -6
The fire danced in his eyes, the tips of the searing flames flicking against the black canvas of the night sky around them. The drone of cicadas and crickets filled the eerily calming night with white noise, and a cool draft blew against the back of his neck, sending his hairs into upright curls. He'd always hated sitting by a campfire, or any fire for that matter. Ever since the war, fire was just a sign of tragedy.
Burnt corpses. Decaying edifices. Ashes blown into his eyes.
The drums of war seemed to call to him from the fires, and he had no other option but to turn away to look at the girl with whom he was travelling. She seemed cold, even under her heavy brown cloak; perhaps it was her feet that stuck out underneath her flowing white skirt that made her body look chilled. Either way, if she did not get warm, hypothermia could be an issue.
"Sit close to the fire. You'll get sick if you don't." He growled; such words would normally be spoken with care, but he spoke them as if he was burdened.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 21, 2014 22:11:06 GMT -6
She tilted her head so one eye could look at the elf from under her hood. The hour made it hard to see much of him, but she guessed by his voice that he hadn't suggested she come closer out of worry. Replacing her head where it had been, she pondered his words.
Were it just the fire alone, Idina might feel better about approaching it. But he had been grating against her nerves all day - as though he hadn't been since they'd met in the spring - and she felt even more apprehensive of the flames because of this. Her cloak would keep her warm, she knew it ought to.
Her feet were growing cold, however, and she knew it wouldn't take long for the rest of her to follow. The last thing she needed was to get sick...
A defeated sigh passed through her lips, and she inched herself closer to the fire. Once she was close enough for her feet and legs to feel quite warm, she curled in on herself again, placing her forehead on her knees. She was still a decent distance from the blaze, and out of arm's reach from the Clanless; this was good enough for her.
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 22, 2014 19:38:06 GMT -6
The blonde curled up by the fire and hid her face with her knees. Upon seeing this, the elf nearly snorted with derision at her feebleness. They were out in the wilderness, and it wasn't going to get any easier than it already was. Idina should have known that upon embarking on this quest and perhaps packed some shoes and warmer clothes other than just the shreds of cloth and the butterknife that she called equipment.
He'd told her the day they left that she'd need stuff, but when they left she was carrying next to nothing, which really enraged him further. Complaining about the length of the journey, constantly asking for something to eat, it was like taking care of the most annoying child he'd ever met...and having lived among high elves, that was saying something.
Thank the Havens that the day had finally come to an end, and he no longer would have to put up with her until the next day. Were it his choice, he;d have grabbed another spellcaster to undo the barrier that blocked them from their destination, but something in his mind told him that he could trust her to an extent.
Or perhaps it was just him saying he wanted to keep an eye on her.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 22, 2014 20:05:09 GMT -6
After a few minutes, Idina began to feel the discomfort of her position. The dull headache she had been carrying all day wasn't being helped by the pressure of her knees, and her back wouldn't thank her if she kept this position up for long. Grunting, she lifted her head, while keeping her eyes closed, and turned so her back would face the fire. The tail of her cloak was tucked safely under her, her back straight, her legs crossed in front of her to hide her feet.
"I am plenty warm," she said before the Clanless could get after her again. "I just need to not look into the flames tonight."
It still baffled her why he was brought her along on this journey. While her legs were strong and her eyes observant from her childhood of travelling, the blonde couldn't understand why he needed her, of all people, to come with him. He could have asked any other magic-user to complete the task for him!
"Some part of you should know I only started relearning my craft less than a year ago," she hissed, breaking the silence. "What makes you think I would be capable?"
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 22, 2014 20:47:50 GMT -6
The Clanless rolled his eyes and shoulders at the blonde when she spoke, thinking her weak for not looking into the fire. He'd been staring at it for a good length of time without feeling its effects too much.
Her inquiry did raise questions, though. Why did he ask her? She wasn't as good as many of the other casters that roamed the free lands that they just left. He'd considered just telling her he wanted to keep an eye on her, but even he didn't understand his motivation for bringing her...however, lying would shut her up and allow him time to figure it out for himself.
"To keep an eye on you. Make sure you don't go spreading the word around." He grunted.
He'd caught her talking to her flirty friend from the Water Tribe a few days ago, and he'd taken her aside to tell her about this little quest. He could see in Idina's eyes that she wanted to tell her friend who she thought he was, but perhaps it was his blade that stopped her. Still, with him gone, it would have allowed her that chance. But he would never have drawn her blood, despite threatening it many times. He'd seen far too much bloodshed in the battlefield.
The fire continued to spring about in a tribal dance that scorched his eyes with memories of war.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 22, 2014 21:04:10 GMT -6
The blood in her veins stirred in response to his reply. "Spread the word around? As in tell people what I know of you?" She tried to keep her voice level, and the crackle and pop of the fire helped mask her tone. "I gave you my word that I would not say anything." After a pause, she added: "And in case you wondered, the point of your sword did not influence that answer."
Closing her eyes, Idina made her breathing as quiet as possible so she could exercise proper calming techniques without setting something off in the elf - she felt as though she was getting on his nerves just as much as he was hers. The fire was not big enough to roar, and she was thankful for that. Since she wasn't looking at it, a quieter fire was easier to ignore and to be calm about.
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 23, 2014 13:14:03 GMT -6
"Sure." The Clanless grunted with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He had no doubt that the point of his blade had influenced her answer in some way.
The night drew on, and he never once looked back at the girl, too fearful of what she might say to him. The same fear that struck him when he had returned to the Highlands to fight. He'd faced his old friend, the leader of all the Elven Nations, not knowing what would be said to him.
The same fear of when he returned to Wildgard, and wanted no one to see how he'd changed.
No, he hadn't changed.
He'd returned to how he always was.
He looked up at the stars, thinking of the fighters that passed away in the fights. The stars he counted reminded him of their sacrifices, and their ageless lights made him think that perhaps they'd joined the stars in the night sky, looking down on him.
Stupid High Elf spirituality. He groaned to himself; he'd always hated High Elves for their snottiness, and had never expected to be thinking like one, especially while wearing Clan colours.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 23, 2014 13:35:30 GMT -6
The sarcasm in his voice stung in her ears. He doubted her loyalty, and that doubt shook her to the bone.
In truth, the more time she spent around him, the less Idina wanted to tell anyone of who he had once been; who would believe her? Faljere had been a happy soul, a friendly and almost familial figure to her. And the Clanless... He had been right, he was not at all that same elf. She would be more than happy if he left her alone for evermore after this journey was over.
But why was she on this journey in the first place?
After several minutes of silence, the healer decided to speak up. "What is it, exactly, that you need me to do once we reach the Celtlands? You mentioned a barrier, but what needs to be done to it?"
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 24, 2014 11:30:30 GMT -6
The barrier.
That's right. He'd needed her for the barrier. All of her complaining had made him forget the true reason he'd dragged her out with him.
"I read up on it. We're going to find a forest, where creatures will want to tear you to shreds. They're big and dangerous, so don't get in my way. Next, we'll find and old cavern riddled with obstacles to stop any plebeian from entering and taking the knowledge within. There will most likely be guardians; Celtic warriors tasked with keeping the place safe. Don't get in my way with them, either. Finally, we'll get to the portal, which will take us to the inside of the temple, and that's where the barrier is. The barrier requires a blood sacrifice to activate, and from there you'll dispel it. We'll get inside, and climb the many steps to the temple's tower, and then the job is done. Good enough for you?"
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 24, 2014 11:50:38 GMT -6
Idina listened carefully to his descriptions of each of the horrible tasks they would have to go through - or rather, that he would be taking on while she tagged along without doing much, it seemed. At least he wasn't making her do all of this herself, and he seemed to believe she wouldn't die through the course of these things, so that was good. If he was confident in her not dying, it couldn't be all that bad.
Wait...
"A blood sacrifice?" she repeated, aghast. "Is that why you needed me to come along? What, does it have to be the blood of someone other than yourself?" Despite the initial surprise in her tone, she wasn't upset; she hoped to understand why it was that the elf had dragged her out here.
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 24, 2014 12:06:35 GMT -6
Clanless rolled his eyes at Idina and looked over at her with as much derision as he could muster.
"Yes, Idina. A blood sacrifice. And I don't know. Maybe it's my blood, maybe it's yours, maybe it's the blood of a slain beast. I'll find out once we get there. You can never be too safe." He sneered.
The fire was dying, and with it the life and heat that it possessed. The Clanless closed his eyes for a moment.
He could see the last days of the war, when all the fires were going out, and the drums of war were ending their chorus. He walked solemnly back to the Wood Elf capital city, his feet stained with the blood of all the dwarven and elven corpses he'd walked over on his way back from the Crucible. That was once a High Elven place of great power, but had become where the Dwarf Lord Gauhmdun had proclaimed himself victorious, as it had once stood as a monument of victory for the High Elves over the Wood Elves.
The Clanless and a team were sent there to eliminate him, but with a massive dwarven army in the way that was readying to strike the last standing city, it seemed the task would be suicide. He and Lia were the only ones who made it to the Crucible, and once inside, it was only he that confronted the Lord. It was only he who drew his weapon to the dwarf's neck, and only he who returned to the city, carrying his people's enemy's head on his blade like a ritualistic instrument.
Cheering.
Music.
But all of this slipped past his solemn face.
On that fateful day where the fires finally stopped, and the drums of war ceased to sound.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 24, 2014 12:29:51 GMT -6
Did he really not know what needed to be done? And yet he dragged her out here anyway? Anyone with less patience than the healer might have lashed out at him upon hearing his answer; yelling, physical violence, anything to take out those frustrations. Idina, however, silently contemplated taking a certain drunk Nord up on his persistence of getting her to drink...
Now now, a voice told her when she closed her eyes. A little bit of patience here.
In the silence between the two of them, she noticed that the fire had become less talkative. Small flames greeted her when she looked over her shoulder. It was alright now, she figured, to face them again. It was only big fires she had to watch out for; nightmares of memories kept this knowledge fresh in her mind, but never had these fires gone out in her dreams.
The small size of the fire cast only a small pool of light around, just enough for Idina to see the Clanless had closed his eyes. Faint warm light softened his features, making him look younger, perhaps more vulnerable, and his expression complemented this. He didn't like the fire any more than she did, she deduced.
She saw no need to tell him to relight it, then.
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Post by Faljere D'ael Elderbaden on Jun 24, 2014 14:56:50 GMT -6
The Clanless awoke with a gasp. His head sprung upwards, and he looked around defensively, seeing nothing but the logs upon which him and Idina had sat, the circle of stones they'd used for a fire pit, and the girl herself, leaning over said fire pit with one of his pans. What was going on?
He'd fallen asleep early, he'd known that, but he'd always been a light sleeper, if he even slept at all.
Of course. His dreams. He'd have very lucid dreams that would seem too real to wake up from. In fact, all of them involved him, and had some symbolic meanings he never understood. But they'd keep him asleep, which in a way could be considered healthy.
He sat up against the log and pulled his cloak from in front of his body (he'd used it as a makeshift blanket, apparently) and back onto his shoulders before wiping his eyes and cracking his joints.
"What's in the pan?" He demanded.
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Idina Doc
Wildgardian
Could we start again, please?
Posts: 258
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Post by Idina Doc on Jun 25, 2014 0:30:39 GMT -6
The loud gasp started Idina, a humanoid noise after having heard nothing but nature and cooking sounds since she'd awoken. Even so, the Clanless' awakening in such a way was a good thing, as it brought her out of her thoughts before the fish in the skillet were to burn. Satisfied with her work, she placed the hot pan on the far side of the log from him. Six whole, small fish were sizzling in it.
"Breakfast," she said in answer to his question. "You were sound asleep when I woke up, which admittedly surprised me, but I figured I ought to make myself useful anyway." She gestured towards her cooking. "The fish is as good as fresh, if a bit saltier; I keep dried fish on me when I travel, and I rehydrated them before cooking. Feel free to remove the heads, tails, and skins yourself if you so choose, and be mindful of the bones. Neither of us need to choke to death."
Surveying the area as she spoke, she found a deeper pan that she had filled with water earlier when rehydrating the fish. The cover for it lay nearby, and she took both in her hands and assembled them before holding the pan over the fire. "Tea?" she asked over her shoulder.
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