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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 8:36:21 GMT -5
Elaniver rode, firm in the knowledge that the herbs would cause her to wake eventually. They were one of the curiosities of the world. They did clot blood and help the wound to scab over but they also put the person to sleep for around a day, two at the most. By that time they have usually done their job, not healing completely but enough to survive. Elaniver knew therefore that he faced a somewhat daunting task. He had to rest at some point but with the amount of blood he had already lost there was a strong possibility that if he did sleep he wouldn’t wake up again. He therefore didn’t stop even when they emerged from the Spine a couple of hours later. It was dark by then and Elaniver resolutely directed the horses south. Beginning the long trip straight down to Surda.
They stopped only twice on that trip, and both times Elaniver had to make sure that he would wake up again. Mainly using the horses to tug him back to the land of the living, just in time to head off again. By day two they had just passed Dras Leona and the borders of Surda were within sight, with them the sentries of the Varden. Elaniver didn’t really care if they had spotted the man lying in his saddle with a woman leaning on top of him. He just cared about getting there despite breathing being a very difficult task. He would get there but in what state? More importantly what state would Autumn be in? The reigns of Autumn’s horse lashed to his wrist so he didn’t have to grip onto anything jerked slightly in his hand, yet he made no response to them. He just kept them heading in the same direction, praying that it was close to the time when Autumn would be awoken by the herbs work.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 8:56:25 GMT -5
Sleep had been such a good thing, the feeling of nothing in the void between living and the dead. She had felt nothing but some of the pain in her side, but that had faded to just a annoying feeling that she would have to learn to get over for the next few days. She felt herself slipping from the void, but not to the void of the dead, just to the void of the living. She felt the sleep go away and her body becoming active as her heart beat moved up, as the feeling that she was in someone embrace took over her, the feeling of a horse under her and the feeling of something that held pressure on her side.
Her eyes flickered, the sun was hidden by trees as she let her eyes open and just look where they had been set. She did not move, but as she watched she saw her horse's head moved in and out of her vision and then she let her head roll around to see Elaniver and he was not doing good.
"Elaniver, Where are we?" She looked at him, her steel blue eyes were soft instead of the hardness that she had taken eyes ago from the death of her father. She looked at him, looking into his black eyes, but as she looked, she saw that he was in discomfort and that his breathing was hard. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 9:12:56 GMT -5
Elaniver heard a voice and with a surprisingly draining amount of effort raised his head his eyelids flickering to try and get her in focus but to no avail. “Surdan border. Head for the capital.” He said in a weak husky voice before easing his head back down, his face lit up by the sun, as the outsides of his eyelids seemed to glare defiantly at the sky. His head lolling back as he focused on trying his hardest to stay awake. He was struggling to feel. Something that would have alarmed him if he had the bearings to notice it. He faintly felt a breeze on his face and he definitely felt the bulk of the horse beneath him, but that was about it. The scent of Autumn’s hair still lingered as they continued to ride. Getting further into the country. The sentries now escorting them further into the country. The sound of their steed’s hooves vaguely reaching him.
He briefly reflected that they probably had better things to do than escorting people into the capital, such as actually guarding the country from any possible assault made by the Empire. But this thought was quickly obliterated as he started to fade, glad that Autumn had awoken. But that was about the only emotion he felt he was able to feel at that time.
He felt the horse stop and his eyes flickered open; his blurred vision showing him dark blobs that he assumed was people. All of them highlighted by a light haze that he also assumed was either more people further away or just the desert. He tried his hardest to slide off of his horse. Bringing himself up into a seated position with a huge amount of effort. The pain of his wounds stabbing at him as well as the temptation to simply fall asleep and not wake up again. He slid off of the horse he had stolen from Teirm and clung weakly onto the creature’s flanks, his powerful legs wobbling slightly underneath him. He tried to take a step forward but immediately collapsed onto his knees then his front in two jerky movements. He stayed there, slowly fading away.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 9:27:54 GMT -5
She placed her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat as they moved. She feared that he would loss his life, for his heart was barely beating, but it was there.
She had awoken more by time they made it to the board. They had spoken to her, but she just pointed towards the capital and they nodded, knowing they would do just about anything they ask of her. They moved with speed, but she knew they would not make it to the capital by the end of the night, she heard them speak of the first town they would stop at. She saw the city coming into form and with one hand, she felt Elaniver's trying to keep him from falling off. In her other hand, she loosened the grip on the cloak that was ripped at the bottom, a repair was in order, but not until he and herself were taken care of.
As they arrived, she felt Elaniver get off the horse and followed, with a little more strength, but it pained her as she got off. She was caught by a guard, who spoke to her.
"No, I have been given a herb, you get him and then me, I will be fine, he has more dam..." She crumpled over a little before she lifted herself back up, her side burned with pain. "Damage then I do, get him, I will be fine." A woman came to her, asking if they needed a place to stay. She nodded, pointing to the two horses and explaining they were escaping the empire, but were wanted there for running from the king and not wanting to listen to such a man like him. The woman agreed to take the two in and told the guards to protect them with their life and get them healed. "Thank you M'Lady," They woman nodded, a smile on her face and then pointed the guards to her horse, explaining that is where they were to take the two, that their was a complete upstairs for a whole other family. Guards came and picked up Elaniver, others took the horses to the stables were the woman's house was, and then carried Elaniver and Autumn to a tent where a healer was, ready to tend to them. "Will I have to pay you?" The woman shook her head and after the two had been placed on beds in the tent she started working. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 9:46:49 GMT -5
Elaniver felt himself being picked up and simply relaxed. Slipping in and out of consciousness as the sun glared down upon them all. He didn’t know where they were but it had to be near civilisation as there seemed to be more people here than the plains. He could just about hear them bustling around there every day business. As he flickered in between life and death he gazed at the insides of his eyelids. One moment they were bright with the sunlight of outside. The next they were dark as the sun was blotted out. Eventually it was blotted out completely and he wondered if he had failed to keep himself alive before he felt hands on his wounds. He dimly felt severe pain but was too tired and had lost far too much blood to really do anything about it.
He wondered what exactly the mysterious hands were doing or rubbing into his wounds as he lay there, in agony but welcoming the pain. It gave him something to hold onto, something to keep him in this world instead of the next. His hand vaguely and slowly wandered outwards. Feeling the weight of someone next to him. His hand eventually came into contact with a shoulder, his fingers gently squeezed for a moment with a huge effort then he felt the person’s hair. Knowing now that it was Autumn he weakly stroked her hair for a moment before dropping his hand down next to her.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 9:52:28 GMT -5
They had laid her beside him, as if they were married, but they were not and she knew that something between them was different and that maybe one day, they would, but she was not going to hold her breath, for they had just met each other. She felt his hand and turned her face to look at him, smiling a she watched him, his face grew a little more colored and then she felt someone come to her. She looked and saw as they looked at her wound. She finally saw the slice that had gone three inches deep and it was 5 inches long. She cringed as she felt the pain as they placed warm water rags on the wound to keep it moist a little so they could look at it. They then placed a clean bandage on it and looked at her.
"What ever he did, it is working fine," She smiled and looked at him and nodded. She turned over a little, her body facing his and fell back into sleep, even though she had slept for at least two days, she wanted to sleep restfully and not on the back of a horse. She let herself slip in and out and then she was out. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 10:16:09 GMT -5
Elaniver was completely out; he didn’t notice the pain of his wounds being tended to. Neither did he notice when he was turned onto his front so the healer could do the same thing to the wound on his back. He barely felt whatever the mixture she was using go into his deep wound. He had no idea where he was, what time it was. Only that he was in good hands. The only hands on hand that could tend to him and hopefully the best hands for the job.
Two days later, Elaniver came back. He didn’t open his eyes immediately, just noticed how much less he hurt and how he seemed to have regained the ability to feel. He felt a cool breeze on his face and assumed that someone had left the tent flap open. He felt hard cool ground beneath him, mostly made up of sand and rock. He heard voices from outside the tent but didn’t bother eaves dropping on whoever it was who was speaking. His eyes flickered slightly and opened to a stream of light. He clenched his fists momentarily then waggled his fingers, then his toes. Everything seemed to be working well. He then took a big step and rolled over onto his side. Admiring that his vision was no longer blurred from lack of blood. He could make out every single fold and line in the tent as he examined where he was. He rolled back again and sat up slowly. Glad to see that his hammer was still at his belt.
He got up slowly, his immense bulk of muscles stiff as he rolled his neck from side to side. He looked down at the wound on his calf only to find that it wasn’t there. He didn’t know about the wound on his back but simply assumed that it had suffered the same fate as his calf had. He suspected magical healing, as he doubted very much that balms and salves could heal that easily. He walked towards the open tent flap, instinctively. He stepped out into the sunlight and looked around for Autumn wondering exactly where she was, eager to see her. Willing her to be ok.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 10:28:05 GMT -5
"Sir! It is good to see you are up and well... I am Duna, one of men who have been watching over you," It was a young man, who had blond hair and wore his sword on his belt like most everyone. The women even had daggers on their hips for protection. He wore a tough leather armor, but nothing more besides his pants and tunics. He looked up at Elaniver and then pointed to the stable and the house in which Autumn had been given a place of shelter. "The woman living in the house is Catlin, she has offered you and Autumn a place of shelter and a place for your horses. Autumn is tending to the horses, you two have been given a full upstairs with all that is needed to live, a room for sitting, a bed room, and also a place of cooking," The young boy told Elaniver about the place,"I hope you are feeling alright sir and I will leave you to explore or go and see your horse." He went off with that, leaving Elaniver to the tent and the open route to the house and stables.
Autumn worked on her own horse, the cloak was hung up on a nail. She had yet gotten time to fix it, but she would. She had brushed both horses down, bought grain, which had been delivered for them. She had fed them and even braided her stallions mane and tail to keep them from getting messy. She had brushed out her own hair, braided it down her back. Her sword was in the sheath, but it was placed on a bench beside the stall. Her bow was hung on a nail with her quiver and both saddles were placed on wood racks. Her pack had been taken to their room up stairs, which lucky for them, the house had been built into the barn, so there was a door that went inside the lower level of the house and also stairs that went up to their new home. Autumn's daggers were on her belt and she worked quickly. She had gained a new long sleeve tunic that was black along with some blank pants and boots that were much comfortable.
Autumn had spoken to the woman of the house and had asked them how long their welcome was and the woman was so gracious at given them the place for no pay for a few weeks, but after a month, pay would be needed. Autumn had agreed, since her and Elaniver would possible need the place for a while. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 10:43:17 GMT -5
Elaniver heard a voice from behind him near the tent as he stepped out and immediately turned, wrenching his eyes away from the sight of civilisation and the light of the sun to look at a young man who introduced himself as Duma. He nodded to the boy and stopped him just before he left saying, “how long have I been out for?” This was rather a crucial point to Elaniver. He had yet to get his bearings of time and dates right and as they should be. “Two days sir,” the boy said with a smile before leaving Elaniver to his own devices. The only parts of Surda he had really seen were the port of Reavestone and Aberon where his barracks were. Other than that he hadn’t really bothered to explore the various towns that scattered the country.
He didn’t bother exploring for now however, he simply looked up at the house the young soldier had indicated and started to walk towards it. Casting a swathe through the bustling crowd of people, buying, selling, eating and doing every other imaginable thing that you could do on a street without being arrested. He reached the doors to the barn and saw Autumn there, tending to her horse. He also saw his horse, which he was claiming, as his own grazing contentedly on some hay in its stall. He smiled and came quietly up behind her as she tended the animal. Snaking his hands around her waist and kissing her neck once before resting his head on her shoulder looking at her. “I’m back!” He said simply with his boyish grin firm on his face as he smiled into her eyes Joy filling him that she was ok and that he had come through to see that she was ok.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 10:54:23 GMT -5
She had turned, facing away from the door as she had been standing there, folding a blanket that were normal placed on the horses during the night. She was humming a tune in her head before she let herself going into her mind to explore the last days of her home. She had sent some young men to go and get her animals from her home, since she would be gone from there possible forever. They had a spellcaster with them, but she could only hope that they would be alright with her animals.
She felt hands go on her waist and someone kiss her neck. She knew the hands, she knew the lips, and the voice that was rough but smooth. She smiled, tilled her head to let him kiss her neck and then glanced as his face from her shoulder. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, having to jump a little just getting around him. She was so happy he was alright, just the thought that had run through her head that first night they were together was like death to her. She felt a few tears run down her face, from the though, her head buried into his neck and shoulder before she finally let go and looked at him.
"I am so happy to see you, Elaniver," She said to him, her voice soft, a few stray tears running down her face as she looked up to him, her steel eyes deep in his black eyes. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 11:09:03 GMT -5
Elaniver smiled as she jumped into him a little. He felt a small wetness on his neck as he lifted her up into the air and span her round a few times as they embraced. As she pulled back and looked at him he smiled back at her. Brushing away a few stray tears that had leaked down her cheeks. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to be seen.” He said in response before grinning broadly and kissing her. So happy that he was still able to taste her taste, smell her scent and see her beauty. So glad that he had pulled through the long nights in which he could barely even see where he was going and had so just pointed the horses south and made them move. So glad that he had endured all the pain as he lay in the saddle, all of his efforts dedicated to keeping her in the saddle with him and supporting her with his immense bulk.
He pulled away for a moment and smiled down at her as she slid down his body back to the floor. “What’s happened since ive been out?” He asked in an interested voice that didn’t meet his expression of sheer joy at seeing her again. His pitch black, consuming eyes melding in with her steel blue ones. Getting lost in the blue and enveloping the colour with his own. His muscles flickered slightly as the adrenaline surged through him at the mere sight of her after such an ordeal.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 11:20:36 GMT -5
She let him spin her around, the feeling of his arms around, his strong muscles holding her firmly, but gently as they moved in the middle of the stables. She laughed a little and then smiled as he spoke to her. He was more then happy to see her and to be alive, but she was just happy they were together and not separated by bars and feet that would have been waiting for them in the empire. She looked at him and then to his question smiled.
"I have just been settling in here and checking on you. Your healer has done everything she could and said that you would be fine. She got tired of me coming back and forth every few minutes," She said laughing as she stood there looking at him and then let herself go on to explain about the house. "The woman, Catlin, has agreed to let us stay here... The first month without pay and then after that we will need to pay some money every month, which is going to be cheap. She is very sweet. She has offered the use of the stables here as long as we need." She was not sure if he knew where they were, but she decided she would tell them. "You got us all the way to Duath, Elaniver." She was so proud of him, but if she had known she would have made him stop to rest for a full night and not a few hours. She looked into his soft black eyes and smiled up at him. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 15:22:00 GMT -5
Elaniver smiled at her answer; glad that he meant so much to her if he was back and forth to his tent for so often. As he found out exactly where they had got to a thought occurred to him, he was a warrior of the Varden and therefore needed to be summon able at any time and be there where he was needed almost immediately after being called. “How far away are we from Aberon?” He asked with a slight frown as he hoped it wouldn’t be too hard as his commanders where in the capital and he still had to report back to his superiors on the subject of the man he was supposed to meet in Teirm before his hasty departure with Autumn.
He smiled down at her and glanced around the stables to his horse, his eyes drifted over the seemingly comfortable animal and he smiled. He was glad that he had picked this horse, as it had proven to have the fortitude to go through such a long journey with such little rest. He was also grateful that the animal had been so comfortable with him throughout the whole journey. He didn’t know why this was; he had seen plenty of people thrown from their horses seemingly for absolutely no reason. “I can take care of paying for this place.” He said, being a warrior for the Varden did happen to pay. Especially due to his great works for the Varden, which was another way of saying that, he had been especially deadly in battles for the Varden.
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Post by renea on Mar 22, 2009 15:29:27 GMT -5
"I am not sure, from what I know, just on the board of Surda from what Catlin told me when I asked about this place," She said looking up at him. She looked at his horse, she was surprised the animal had made it also, but also to the fact that the people were treating them with wonderful care. She was surprised that the horse had made it, of course, being a war horse did help a little. She looked back at him and smiled up at him, still amazed that had made it to Surda without being caught. "Elaniver, would you like to look at where we will be staying, or would you rather go out and explore Dauth, I already have... I have also sent some people to my farm up north to get my cattle, I just hope they make it back okay." She did not know that Elaniver was part of the Varden Warriors. |
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Post by Elanzaros on Mar 22, 2009 15:44:27 GMT -5
Elaniver nodded at her answer, he would have to explore this point soon but they had time. It wasn’t as though Galbatorix was about to ride out and invade the Varden’s camp. He smiled down at her question and raised one playful eyebrow. “Is that a subtle invitation?” He said with a slightly jokish air before kissing her again. He continued to kiss her for some time before pulling away once more and smiling. Offering her one of his powerful and muscular arms, he grinned his boyish grin and said suggestively. “Fancy giving me a tour of the town?”
He smiled at her as he wondered when he would report back to his superiors, he hated that word. Superiors. It implied that they were somehow more important in the struggle against Galbatorix. He understood the need for leadership he just wished they would say ‘leader’ instead of diminishing everyone else’s efforts by naming them ‘superiors’. His war hammer hung loosely from his belt still and he glanced at it. His longest companion was a crafted lump of metal. That to Elaniver was a sad thing as his family were now dead. But that didn’t stop him being appreciative of the weapon. He didn’t mind feeling attatched to his weapon but he definitely drew the line at talking to it which was something some of his fellow warriors had a habit of doing. To which he had always looked incredulously at them and said, “you can placate it as much as you want it still isn’t going to care who’s wielding it.” They hadn’t listened to it though, determined I thinking that their weapons were loyal only to them.
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