Naveen

Talon:

It took me a few hours to fall asleep. And the entire time I held onto Rina, gently running my fingers over her back. But drift off I did, and when I finally woke before the sun I was surprised to find her still pressed up against me. Usually during the night we shifted apart but snuggled for a bit whenever one of us woke for brief moments. I watched her for longer than I should have, committing to memory her sleeping face before gently extracting myself from under her. I wanted to leave without waking her but that wasn't too be as she stirred almost the second I shifted to get out of bed.

The kiss she gave me floored me, it felt different than the passing kisses or the passionate ones that we did. This one felt laced with emotion, feeling, and it made it all the more special. I returned the kiss myself and gently had to extract myself from her before any maids came in and saw me with her.

Rina:

I turned away as soon as we separated. I didn’t want him to see my face. I didn’t know is I could hide everything that quickly. My maid (a new one) came in a little bit later to help dress me and do my hair. I wore a green gown, similar to one I had received as a gift from an elven woman. This one was more human in style, but it echoed elven dress. After my hair was twisted and pinned up I put cream and powder on my face to help conceal the dark circles under my eyes. As I did so I worked on withdrawing myself from my emotions.

I thought of how I had been before Talon. Before Maleen and Wren. I had been alone and I was okay with it. I didn’t care how others felt. I didn’t care how I was seen. I had Aero and Iris and that was enough. I did what needed to be done even If I got hurt during the process. But I bore physical pain far better than I did heartache.

When I was done, when Talon returned, I was composed. I was ready. We went to the garden, it was secluded enough for privacy, but public enough to force me to stay collected.

I sat down on a stone bench. “Talon, I need to tell you something,” I said. My heart was stone.

I'd dressed quickly and made my back to my room. I washed up, using a simple basin and a cloth before dressing. I decided against my padded gambison. Choosing the more hardy leather. Rina had been attacked last night, and I refused to let anything happen today.

I buckled my swords to my waist and made an effort to tidy the room just to give her more time. The return trip felt like it took forever and I had this itch at the back of my neck that I couldn't place. Something felt off in the world my senses screamed at me. But I couldn't place it beyond simply being trapped in this damned castle.

The gardens had become our safest haven outside of her chambers. Privacy abounded, and the sun did the both of us some good. I remained standing beside her after she sat down. Her tone made that itch stronger and I turned to face her with a puzzled frown.

Rina:

“I am going to accept the duke’s proposal,” I said coolly. It took a moment before I could look at his face. Before he could say anything else I continued, “Nothing I have done has produced any results for either of us. I need more power. I need someone who can help me reach my goals.” It hurt to say. I knew it sounded selfish. I knew it sounded like Talon was simply a tool that no longer worked for me. But it had to be this way.

She was going to accept the duke's proposal. Those words created a tightness in my chest. And a pain within my heart. But that wasn't all she was going to say to me it seemed. That tightness spread to the rest of me. This was a sharp contrast to the kiss she gave me earlier, that kiss was telling me I was special. Her words made me feel like nothing but a means to an end. A tool that it seemed she was about to cast aside.

Rina:

I looked between his eyes, trying to see what he felt. I thought there was pain there, but I didn’t know if it was me trying to see the same feelings I felt in his eyes.

“William can give me power. Connections. Men if it comes to that. I don’t see a better option for me. I have to marry him.” I looked down at my lap. It was excruciating trying to be flippant about this. He wasn’t saying a word. That was good, according to the plan, but it broke my heart. He wouldn’t fight to keep me.

I could only nod. I had no defense, no protest. Logically what she was saying made sense. With just me she had no chance to get anything done. We needed allies and a political marriage wasn't unheard of among almost any race. But I felt there was something more she had to get out. Another piece that would change things even further. So I held my tongue.

Rina:

I paused for a moment waiting for him to say something, anything. He remained silent. I sighed. “So, that ends things between us,” I said it dismissively. “And with William I won’t need you as a guard. I think it would be inappropriate. It would look bad.” I fidgeted with the fabric of my dress but my voice never wavered. “I think it’s time for you to go home. I can’t take you with me when I live with the duke, and you can’t very well stay here without me. So, there’s nothing for you here.” I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t.

And there it was. I knew it likely wasn't going to be good. This blow however was far beyond what I ever expected it to be. I couldn't breath for a moment, and I had to look away from her. "I knew when you were going to be married that we would not continue what we had. I hadn't thought you would tell me to leave." I hadn't even noticed that my shoulders had slumped, that my face had fallen so much. Drawing myself up I gave her a low bow, "But this is your choice, and your will. I hope you accomplish what you want Rina. I enjoyed the time we had together."

I straightened with my head held high and back straight. Turning I walked away, that tightness returning to my chest as I left to pack my gear and return home.

Rina:

Let him go. Let him walk away. “Wait,” I said, a slight strain in my voice. I stood up and hurried after him. I knew I should let him go, but couldn’t bear to let him walk away with that.

I caught him by the wrist and went around to face him. “I’m still going to do everything I can for your people. I’m not going to give up. This is just the only way to-” I sighed and shook my head slightly. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.” I slid my hand from his wrist to his hand and squeezed it once. “Goodbye, Savien,” I whispered then let him go and turned back to the garden.

I knew Rina was many things. I'd seen her be kind, confident, energetic. But this was none of those things. I had seen her be strategic, clever, and thoughtful. But none of those had the same devastating impact on me as this did. I had even dealt with her anger, her stubbornness, and her selfishness. But this went beyond all that.

As my jaw clenched and words failed me I walked away. She could have simply let me go, she could have held her tongue. But it was only through practice that I didn't let the pain show. I'd not trusted her at first but over the time I'd come to know her inside and out I had found and placed trust and faith. And while I believed every word she'd uttered today, I didn't have any faith that she would hold true to her word.

I was sure that it had been hard for her to get that out. But that only made the lances in my heart all the worse. It was the first time I'd ever seen Rina be cruel.

Rina:

My heart was a million throbbing pieces when I returned to my room. It was a constant struggle to keep a grip on the hysteria in my chest. It was done. It was over. I had to move forward.

That evening I went to see William and accept his proposal. I also told him that the prince had made attempts on my live in the past and that my guard had returned to his people today. He had heard about what happened to the elf last night, but he didn’t question why I had sent my guard away.

In the days and weeks to come I withdrew further into myself. I had to. My happy moments were gone with Talon. My time was taken up with wedding plans and discussing tactics with William and meeting more of his people and connections.

The only time I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about Talon was at night. My heart and body ached for him. Even when I managed to avoid him before bed, I would have a dream of him.

Packing was easier than expected, and no one troubled me after seeing me in full armor and with all my weapons. I only looked back once, after I'd left the castle gate and was making my way through the city. From where I was I could see a window of Rina's rooms on the castle walls. That tightness returned to my chest and I made myself not look back again.

That day I stopped by Maleen's cottage, sharing with her the letter and all that had been transpiring at the castle including my journey back to my people. I gave her directions on how to get a hold of me should she need my help ever and a tight hug.

It took me a week on foot to make the journey and that time was spent in solitude with only my dark thoughts and wounded heart for company. I was almost relieved when I drew my great-sword from my back and stepped into the mist of my mountain home.

I lingered with my people for a time but with a strong talk with Calaen and the High Priestess I left the stronghold of my people and with a few others of my race for company, set out to visit and meet with the various tribes and groups of elves to reestablish relations that time had lost.

Rina:

I couldn’t bear the idea of being married, but if it must be done I was glad that it was William. He may have been old enough to be my father’s father, but he was kind and respectful. I didn’t love him, I likely never would, even once I was past the lingering feelings for Talon. I did care for him though, and I thought he felt the same way.

My stomach was in knots the day of the wedding. I was dressed in a beaded golden gown that was heavy and difficult to move in. I prayed that I wouldn’t need to fight today, there wasn’t much I could do in a dress like this.

The ceremony was a blur in my mind. It was done. I was married. I was no longer princess. I no longer had a right to the throne.

He held my hand in his in the carriage while I stared out the window. And then the carriage stopped abruptly. There were several royal soldiers in the road. They said William was under arrest. His men would have fought but he ordered them to stand down.

Everything there after happened so quickly. I was taken to his home while he was taken back to the castle. In the morning word was sent that he had been beheaded. I was unfeeling through all of it. Shocked more than anything. I was no longer princess and I could not exactly call myself duchess. William’s men were loyal to him, not me.

Next, they came to arrest me and there were too many of them to fight. The first thing I did was to signal Maleen and Dorian using the stone that she had given me and I wore on a chain around my neck.

I was held in a guarded tower above the prison. In morning, the prince ordered me to be whipped in the public square for rebellious actions and consorting with a traitor to the crown. However, he pardoned me from execution due to his “kindness toward his sister”. It was a political move and it worked.

The twenty lashes didn’t seem like much when they were walking me up to the block. It was the public humiliation that bothered me, if only slightly. I was still so numb to the events of the past couple days.

The first lash brought sharp clarity and pain. After the next five my dress and skin split open. By the end I was barely conscious. When it was over I felt a familiar presence there to pick me up. Before I blacked out completely I thought it might be Talon.


Maleen:

Through the whipping I had my face pressed into Dorian’s chest. I couldn’t bear the sight of it. He held me tightly. I was sick with worry and sympathy for Rina. How had it fallen apart so quickly?

When it was over Dorian and I rushed to her. It took a few enchantments but I was able to convince the guards that we were supposed to be there to tend to her. No matter what I did though, they would not let us take her away. She was still to be kept under a close eye.

When we got to her room and Dorian laid her on the bed face down, I got to work on her wounds. The first few things I tried only made it worse. I was stricken and sobbing before long desperately trying to help her. Finally, Dorian said the whip might have been enchanted to ward off magical healing. He said he had used weapons in the past. With the look that I gave him, he refrained from going into detail.

I did my best to tend to the lashes with non-magical salves and treatments. When I was finished I wrote out a letter to Talon begging him for help. I didn’t say what happened to Rina, only that things had gone bad here. There was also the matter of some underlying current of rancid magic. It made me ill to be in the castle, but I stuck it out for Rina. In the letter to Talon I informed him of the magic and that I thought his goddess might have something to do with it.

It was a surprisingly nice feeling to be able to feel some progress being made for a change. While I worked with my fellows to establish relations with other elves I wasn't bogged down by standing around while nothing happened. Not every group was willing to work with us, but at least we were never turned away.

It was on a warm day while spending time among a city or river elves that one of my men ran up to me with a letter in hand. By how haggard he looked I had him to rest in my bed while I took the letter out and sat on a bench just outside the small hovel I had been given to sleep in. Maleen's writing jumped out at me, just by the signature on the front alone before I opened it up.

My frown deepened the more I read and by the time I finished it, I was almost glaring at the ground with my heavy thoughts.

"Sir? Are you alright?" One of my men asked while approaching me. I glanced up at him then back down before answering.

"It's a letter asking for help."

"From one of the other elves?"

"No. A friend."

The man was silent for a moment then said softly, "You have but to ask and we will march with you to provide aid sir."

Huffing out a sigh I stood and clapped him on the shoulder. "I know you would. But we still have work to do here. Gather everyone up. We'll meet here in an hour."

"Yes my Lord."


While I waited for everyone to gather I took the time to prepare myself for travel, and long before the hour even was up the elves I'd brought with me were gathered around. I told them what was happening, and that I would need to go. I left one of them in charge, one who hadn't taken the lines to his skin but had been a valuable asset thus far in our dealings. He seemed proud of my choice, and welcomed the challenge of it all. I told him to make use of the man still asleep in the bed, that he'd probably ran himself ragged just to deliver a message.

While I knew every one of them wanted to follow me I selected only two. By myself would likely be more than enough. But with two who had also been enchanted like I had, we would be as fit as an army.

We set out the next morning, including sending a runner back to Calaen about what was happening and where I was to be headed.

Rina:

The process of healing my back was incredibly painful. I didn’t leave bed for the first week. Maleen and Dorian stayed, despite Maleen’s illness. I felt better with them with me, though I knew I was still a prisoner.

My biggest worry was that Aero and Iris were gone. They had disappeared after I was whipped and I had not seen them since. I didn’t even feel their presence. I was bothered deeply by their absence and I felt weaker for it.

Maleen gained access to the royal library somehow and spent much of her time buried in books. She was looking for something.

She came back to my room one night white as a sheet. She had met Lady Alia. Any doubt she had before about her being the source of sickly energy was gone, she told us. She sat down and told us more about what she had been researching. She told us that long ago there had been a very powerful sorceress. She originated in Naveen, so the stories said, but she had travelled the world masquerading as a goddess at times or otherwise pulling the strings behind the scenes of a kingdom. War often followed in her wake. She brought disaster and chaos. She fed off it. But she was impossible to kill. She used blood magic to keep herself alive as long as there was a descendent of hers living.

Dorian stiffened. “Naricia,” he said stonily. The witch he had hunted. The one he was a descendant of. Maleen said she wasn’t a witch, that she had once been human, and thus why she had used such magic to preserve herself. This was the woman she thought Talon’s goddess was. This was who she thought Lady Alia was.

Dorian and I sat in shocked silence for a time. Then the next several hours we talked about plans. Everything that was suggested was shot down by either Dorian or Maleen, each possessing different knowledge of the woman based on their own experiences. She couldn’t be killed. She couldn’t be trapped.

Maleen admitted then to contacting Talon. She wrote him a week ago but he had yet to respond. She didn’t know if he had even received the letter. I gritted my teeth and nodded. Perhaps we would need his help.

After another day of discussing our problem we came to the only conclusion that we had to leave. We would have to gather more information and allies if we were to accomplish anything.

I kept coming back to one thing Maleen had said. The sorceress brought disaster and war wherever she went. She wouldn’t ruin Naveen. I couldn’t run away from that. As much as I hated the prince and everyone he consorted with, they had to know that a snake lay within their den.

I sent Maleen away. I didn’t want her getting hurt by my actions. Dorian stayed with me. He said it was his duty to protect me as well as do everything in his power to thwart Naricia.


Maleen:

It tore me apart to leave the two of them but they would not allow me to stay. I made sure that they would use the stones to tell me when they left the castle. I would be waiting for them. I rode out, determined to find Talon if he was out there. I had a feeling he was coming. It was just a matter of hunting him down. I held my stone in my hand letting energy flow through it to amplify its distance. It would warn him that things were wrong and also let him know where I was and what direction I was going.

Talon:

We made good time, and while I pushed them I heard no complaints. They trusted me and I them. Along the way we foraged and hunted for our meals. I was glad for the company too. The last time I'd made such a journey it was alone with nothing but pain. I hadn't forgotten Rina, or the feelings I'd held for her. But she was to be married, and had broken off everything between us. So my feelings had been set aside and sealed.

In the midst of consulting a map of the land with my two companions I frowned while my gaze snapped up. It was like an itch in the back of my mind. Faint, and insistant. Slowly my eyes dipped towards the map, "Here. We go this path."

"But their will be better shelter this way Talon."

"I know...just trust me on this. Please."

Rina:

It was very possible that today was my last. My plan was to confront Alia (or Naricia. Whoever) in front of the whole court. Dorian would be there with me. He probably wouldn’t make it out either. I hoped Talon would take care of Maleen.

I tried to dress the part of the princess. I wanted to look like the girl they all knew. Even if I hated them all didn’t mean they felt the same about me. I hoped it would grant me even the tiniest bit of credibility.

I walked into court for the first time since I was whipped with my head held high. My back still hurt, especially with the fabric of my dress rubbing against it, but it wouldn’t matter for much longer.

I got as close to the Prince and Lady Alia as I could without being stopped by a guard. Then I spoke up and pronounced the woman for what she was. When I finished a bell-like laughter echoed in the silent room. It was her.

Everyone in the room looked confused and dazed. “You think this is true?” Alia said, looking at me. “Or course it is. You’re dripping with dark magic,” I spat. No guards moved to take me away. No one else said anything in response to me. It was like they were all… under a spell.

Of course, they are. Nothing I said or did would ever reach them. Dorian must have been under it as well because he had vanished from my side. I didn’t have time to look for him.

“Why don’t we play a game? You and I? Former princess versus future queen?” He eyes sparkled quite literally. “How?” I said, standing still with dread in every cell of my body.

She lifted her hand up and uncurled it. On her flat palm, laid Aro and Iris in dagger form. My stomach clinched. “Pick one, and to your best to touch me with it. If you do, then I will let everyone understand what you have told them about me. If you can’t, then you will have lost every shred of respectability from them and likely you will be chased form the castle. Are you willing?”

It was hopeless. I could not win against her. “Aero,” I said and the sparrow flew from her hand and into mine.

The next ten minutes were spent chasing her while she laughed like a child running from a friend. Every time I thought I had her she slipped away. Then, I leapt at her and tackled her to the ground. Adrenaline rushed through me as I sunk Aero into her heart. It didn’t even occur to me that of course it wouldn’t kill her.

Someone screamed. The room was loud again. I felt hot blood boiling over my fingers. It was the wrong dress. Alias was pink. This one was yellow.

I jerked Aero out of the queen’s chest. “You tricked me!” I shouted. The crowed around me was still again but she wasn’t there.

“No,” A voice whispered in my ear from behind then I felt something slide through my back and out my chest. “You simply failed.”

I fell to my knees in agony. “You can thank your elf for this,” She murmured to me and pulled the sword out. Everything was hazy. I was dying, I knew that, except I still had my senses.

“Rina!” Someone called. People were moving. Someone was shouting for guards. Someone was shouting for me to be arrested. The queen was dead. “Rina!” Dorian was there yanking me to my feet, pushing through bodies so quickly. When the soldiers came he somehow fought them off.

How I ran with him while I was dying, I didn’t know. I would drop dead at any moment, it had to happen. But Dorian didn’t let us stop. Aero was flying around me, into the throat of any soldier who tried to grab me. Where was Iris? What would happen to them when I was dead? Would they turn to daggers permanently?

We were in the stables. Dorian lifted me onto a horse and somehow I held onto the reins. Then we were running. Everything was blurry. I was so close. Any minute it would be gone. It would be lack. I was so close…


Maleen:

I knew I was nearly to Talon when I felt Dorian calling me back. They were alive but they needed immediate help. I was torn between going to them now or meeting Talon and going to them together.

After another moment I made my horse gallop in the direction of Talon. There was temporary relief when I saw him on the road ahead but my heart was flooded once again with worry for Dorian and Rina.

“Talon! Something happened. Alia, she’s the great sorceress Naricia. Rina and Dorian did something. They got out, but something is horribly wrong,” I said in a rush when I met him in the road. I didn’t even have time to acknowledge his companions but I was glad for their help.

I grabbed the reins and listened to her rush of words. I looked towards my two companions and nodded. "Get ready, we may have a fight on our hands." They both readied themselves, loosening the straps on their weapons, tightening their backpacks. Looking up at Maleen I gave her a grave smile. "We can deal with that first bit when there is time. For now lets go make sure Dorian and Rina are alright."

I was fully in battle mode, the orders flowed naturally and I didn't have room for any kind of feeling or emotion behind it. Simple, straight forward, and ready for anything. I took only a moment to make my own preparations before looking the way Maleen had come. "We're ready. Lead on Maleen. We can keep up with your horse so long as you don't gallop to hard."

Dorian:

I didn’t stop to think until we were well away from the castle. I had to set the horses loose and take Rina on foot. She didn’t respond to a word I said which scared me. But she walked well enough. We were in a thicket of trees and underbrush when I thought it was safe to stop and assess our wounds. I had many scrapes and gashes, and my arm was bleeding pretty badly. After I tied it I looked over at Rina. She had blood on her chest and hands but I was fairly sure it wasn’t her own.

I took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at me. “Are you hurt? Rina say something.” She was dazed, in shock. She just shook her head in confusion.


Maleen:

Tears trickled down my face as we rode but the wind wisped them away. When we reached the thick underbrush I slid from my horse and scrabled through it until I reached the two of them. There was something horribly wrong with Rina. I had to heal her quickly or it would be too late.

“Rina!” I rushed to her and laid my hands on her body focusing on where the blood was. Her eyes looked at me as if from a distance. I tried to heal her and then took a step back as if repulsed by her. There was nothing wrong with her body, but she was riddled with dark energy. She blinked at me then in recognition. I stared at her.

Rina:

Maleen somehow broke through the fogginess. I focused on her for a moment then someone behind her caught my attention.

Talon.

My vision went blurry as I stumbled over to him. I didn’t have to think as I put my arms around him. Everything crashed over me then. What had just happened today. The past couple weeks. The two months since I had seen him. I didn’t realize that I was crying. For the first time since my father had died, tears flowed freely.

Talon:

I very nearly kept running when Maleen scrambled off the horse and through some brush. I had to slow down before turning and following after her. What awaited me had me drawing one sword half out of it's sheath. Dorian looked like he'd been to hell and back. He was covered in small wounds, while a bandage around his arm was soaked through with blood.

I took a brief look around then motioned for one of my companions to go over to him and check him out. The other drew his weapons and moved past the pair to keep an eye on the woods. I focused on Rina and Maleen. The blood covering Rina drew my attention first right before I realized she was heading my way and suddenly hugging me. I hesitated a moment, looking to Maleen in confusion before I gently set my arms around her. "Hey, come on. We need to make sure you are alright. That's a lot of blood Rina."

Rina:

I hid my face against him when I realized I was shaking and sobbing. “It’s not mine,” I managed to get out. I didn’t know if it was true, but I knew I wasn’t hurt. Somehow the sword through my chest had been an illusion. I wasn’t dead and I wasn’t dying. I felt an immense anxiety and sorrow in my chest but otherwise I was unharmed. I couldn’t not stop crying or clinging to Talon.

Maleen:

I tended to Dorian’s many wounds but I kept glancing toward Rina. The horrible energy I felt around her was receding, but could still see it in her aura. It was dark around her chest.

Talon:

I wasn't really sure what I should do. This was the woman I'd developed feelings for, who I thought had feelings in return. Who had used me like a tool then tossed me aside. And now here she was sobbing into my chest and I could do nothing. I gave a helpless look to Maleen while she and one of my elves tended to Dorian's wounds, but inevitably my gaze found it's way back to the soft crying form in my arms.

Rina:

My sobs dissolved to tremors as I slowly composed myself. It was mortifying that I had cried in front of others. I took a moment to clear my mind before I pulled away slightly from Talon. My hand was halfway to my face to wipe the tears from my cheeks when I stopped and starred at the dried blood. My stomach flipped over.

Everything came back in a rush. Naricia. The queen. I killed my own mother… I gave a nauseous moan and sagged in Talon’s arms.

Gently I eased her into a sitting position when she sagged against me. "Easy now. Take a breath, it's alright." I murmured to her. I rubbed her back slowly, looking again to Maleen for help. I was out of my element here, and starting to come out of the battle focused state.