Rose and Mizzy [M]
 

A woman with long straight black hair walked in through the throne room doors. Her head held high and her crystal blue eyes shone with dignity. She was beautiful in every sense of the word. Her gown flowing softly as she walked up to the throne.
"Your Majesties," she said in a clear voice "You requested my presence?"
"Yes, we've heard rumors..." The king began
"Rumors that you have seen something, Seer, and haven't told us." The Queen cut in. She seemed highly upset even though she was normally the more level headed of the two. Her emerald eyes shiny in the bright lights of the throne room. She look like she was in perfect health even thought she had had a child not even three days ago.
"Yes, I've seen something. Yet it was unclear. Something blurred my vision. I know not what it is that I saw. I've been trying to recall it... but it has yet to come back to me. I'm sorry my queen."
"What is it that you remember?" The queen hissed harshly. "There must be something"
The seer studied her queen silently for a moment. No one knew what kept her from answering right away, but she seemed to be waiting for something.

"My Queen, your daughter is in good health I assume. I heard she was quite a beauty...." She paused again her eyes seeming to look far away "...The thing I saw my Queen...You will not enjoy. Death and destruction. Fires and pain. The only hope for your people in a tight bundle in a cradle, but it most not remain here. Your kingdom will fall. As you will with it. Your people in chains. Your daughter..." Her eyes fluttered over the cradle by the throne "... Two must take her far from this land. She will know nothing of us or you. Until she is old enough and strong enough to save us from the dark."

"What?" the Queen stood her voice a high shrill "You expect me to give up my daughter?!"

"....There is no other way to save your people... The Dark is coming. She will rule. You will fall." She bowed her head and waited.

"But who should we trust with our daughter?" The King spoke softly.

The seer thought of this and looked at her leaders.
"A young couple... One you trust. Make them promise you to watch after your daughter. They may say no at first but explain to them... Tell them what I've said. You have.... till the full moon raises into the northern sky.... that night will be our end" She bowed her head once more and turned to leave. She knew they needed nothing else from her. She started to walk away with a fear in her heart. She saw her death. She knew she could not save herself. She just kept hope for the future.

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The sun was high in the sky and shiny brightly over Asui's family home. There were no roads to there house, and no neighbors to speak off. They lived in a nice quaint little valley surrounded by mountains. No way in or out unless you could fly or knew the hidden entrance. Her parents never explained why they lived there, but what more could she want? They were safe and happy.
The nearest town was nearly 150 miles away and they only traveled there when they really needed too. They grew everything else, or hunted what they needed for food. Right now Asui's sister was down by their lake playing in the water while trying to keep from doing her daily duties. Their father was out in the yard tending to their crops. Their mother was singing in the kitchen as she made lunch. Asui herself was out back hanging the clothes. The perfect little family, and they were hoping for another brother or sister soon.
Asui's bright green eyes scanned over the forest in front of her. She thought something was out there. Watching. Waiting. Yet she couldn't be sure. Her beautiful red hair, slightly wavy today, fell over her shoulder as she reach down for another shirt. She was well built and dressed in earthy tones and clothes that allowed her to move easily. She loved her peaceful life, and would tell anyone that. Yet something was missing, and she could never quite put her finger on it.
That is when Asui heard the scream. Loud and filled with pain, and without a doubt from her sister. There was nothing dangerous in this valley. Her father had made sure that they would be safe. They were always extra careful. She never knew why... Her sister screamed again bringing her from her thoughts. She was already running. Turning around the house. Her mother grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in the house. A bag was shoved into her arms. It was heavier then she remembered it being last time she held it. They practiced leaving in a rush before. She was always told that she would have this bag. Always. No matter what her parents would give it to her somehow. And now she looked into her mothers eyes and saw pure fear.
"Mo-" She began but she was cut off
"Shhh!" Asui was dragged through their house and out the back door.

They ran silently through the forest soon they would split up. Asui felt terror building up in her. She never thought they would have to do this. She remember the plans as her mother whispered something to her so softly that she almost didn't catch it.
"We'll meet at that special place. If I'm not there in the time limit you know what to do. I love you..."
And with that her mom switched course. Leaving her on her own. She would be alright. She would. She had to believe that or all of this would be for nothing.
Even at the distance from their little home Asui heard her fathers screams. She didn't want to think about it, but deep down she knew it was just her and her mother now. She hoped that she would meet her like she said. Yet her words had felt like a goodbye. Tears started streaming down her face, but she forced herself to keep moving. Pushed past tree after tree until she could almost see the way out. She was tired and scared. Thats when the last scream hit her ears. Her mothers voice. It was ringing loudly in her ears. She thought she heard "Not My Baby" but she wasn't sure if that was possible. Sobs locked themselves in her throat and she pushed through the hiding place of the way out. She locked the door behind her, but she knew it wouldn't matter. It was well hidden and her path couldn't be traced. She had been taught well... but little mattered now. She had lost it all....

At least a half a days distance from where the screams had fallen silent, someone else seemed to be on the current ruler's blood list. It was a odd sight to behold as a small unit of armed soldiers were perusing what looked to be a scholar.

"There's no escape, even you know that.. why do you run?" The commanding officer of this group of five seemed to taunt and laugh the unmounted elf they were chasing. Making a quick hand gesture to the others they quickly spread out in formation surrounding the hooded being they had chased onto a cliff side.

"Your crime is studying in the dark arts, your punishment is death" The commander grinned wickedly "The way you go is up to you."

"Heh.. It's only a crime cause that wench you call a queen has no idea the power behind the scrolls!" He seemed a bit cocky for someone who was back into a corner, but he had his point. The queen only knew fire magic as did most dark elves of this region, to learn another element was almost unheard of and if you managed to do so then you were exiled as a traitor to the crown.

'I didn't come all this way just to die..' He thought to himself knowing in his current state he was in no position to fight these soldiers head on. The idea he got into his head next was either going to work.. or he'd have to risk it and jump from this cliff side. With any luck the bluff would work and he wouldn't have to try and aim for the river below with high odds of missing.

"Any last words before we deliver your head to the queen?" They knew they had the upper hand, the pray they had been chasing was injured, even if he managed to slip away from them he'd probably bleed out elsewhere.

He had to smirk at the last words, he couldn't have asked for a better line. "Gi ussen dal tu'jol l' videnn Usstan lar ulu tau, doer fotus lu' sila elge rath pholor l' tresk'ri nindel vel'bolen took dosst vaen breath. Sila fotus dosst zakath lu' despair!" The chant was far from correct but it would have enough effect to maybe get him out of this bind he seemed to be in.

As nothing happened the commander of the group burst out laughing "Aw.. did your dark goddess abandon you? Finish him and take his head" he said with a flick of his hand to order the command but he was stopped short as the ground started to rumbled under the wyrm's claws as the beasts paced and seemed ready to bolt as a seconds notice.

He stood there with his hood still up hiding his face, though he still had a smug grin across it knowing the downfall of mounted soldiers was the mounts. A thunder crack heard directly over head easily spooked off three out of the five as another one was dismounted and it's beast ran off into the forest.

'Geese.. I didn't think it'd have that affect... ' He wasn't going to question his good fortune as he took the opening he had and dashed off into the forest. He wasn't familiar with this area he hadn't had the time to look into it between running and trying to stay low to avoid what just happened.

"H-heh next time just jump the cliff" He breathed to himself as he kept running, he didn't have a choice seeing as the leader of the group was trying to give chase. Though after a while he finally lost the commanding solider.. the other problem was he ended up losing his own way as well.

"Ugh.. damn it .." he hissed out before grabbing his chest and half slamming his back against a tree. "Well .. running might have been a bad idea.. heh" He still seemed to have a slight smirk, he almost found a grave sense of humor in this the fact that the soldiers might have still killed him in some form or another. A few silvery white bangs hung out of the front of the hood he had manged to keep up this whole time as he hung his head down. He needed to try get somewhere to properly attend the wound, really he had a rather uncanny luck streak today seeing as the stab should have killed him but it missed his heart by mere centimeters.

For the moment he was rather vulnerable, not really having the strength to fight back after such a run and the loss of blood was starting to mess with his head. He should be ok so long as no one saw his face, he wore the battle mage attire that held the symbol of the queen's personal guard. Most would stay clear of anyone in such wardrobe, he oped for now it just bought him time.

Asui sat there a moment to catch her breathe and clear her thoughts. There was only one reason to go to the meeting place now, but should she? It could be compromised... Why had this happened to her family? They had done nothing wrong. She opened the bag her mother had given her and looked through it. Food and some water, a blanket, some medical supplies and something she didn't know would be there. A book. It was what had made the bag so much heavier.
She couldn't deal with that now. Closing the bag she stood up and looked around.

"Time to make a choice..." She whispered to herself. Her eyes scanned the forest in front of her to the right was a way out of the forest and towards a town and to the left she would go deeper into the forest... Most anyone would get lost in there. It would be safer, and it would take her to more supplies... She sighed to herself and went to the left. She started out slowly be careful not to leave any trail that she had gone that way.
Twenty minutes later she appeared in the doorway of a well hidden shack. She pulled her necklace off and inserted the key into the lock. She would spend the night here and then in the morning move to another location and get a horse. There was a farmhouse... miles away. It was placed between where she was and the nearest town. The owners didn't know her... but that didn't matter. She would buy a horse off them, or if she felt she couldn't risk them knowing her she would steal it. Things were harder to decide when you didn't know who your enemy was.
She sat in the corner and lit a small oil lamp her parents had bought for this little hide out, and pulled out the book. There were no windows in the tiny shack. So there was no way the light would shine in the darkness of the forest and attract unneeded attention. She opened the book to the first page and read it.


Tears fell from her eyes again for the second time today. She had never known such a sadness as she had this day and things kept getting worse. How was she suppose to beat a "dark queen" when her real parents couldn't? How would she know who to trust? Things could have changed. It had been years since her parents had talked to anyone outside of the family... that she knew of anyway. She flipped through a few more pages. It was a lot to take in. She found a page with a picture of the royal symbol on it. Asui studied the picture. Anyone with this symbol was her enemy. Tears fell down her face when she flipped a few more pages ahead. There was a hand sketch of her family. Her mother holding her new born sister and her father holding her. She didn't remember posing for it, but she knew someone else had drawn it. There was a name at the bottom, and a date. She had been so young when they had it drawn. She missed them already. They were the only family she had ever known. It wasn't in the book. The page had been set there for safe keeping, and behind it was the royal family. Her real mother and father. Drawn by her fathers hand. Such detail. She could tell how much they had meant to him. Beautiful and calm with a child in her real mothers arms. Could it be her?
Lost in her thoughts she almost didn't hear it. The twig snap not to far from her. She had some control over the earth. She had been trying to get better over the years, but her family never had the skill. She was odd like that. She could do things they couldn't. She didn't even look like them. She finally knew why. She felt out with her senses. There was only one person, but she didn't get the sense she had from when she was in the valley. It was someone different. Someone that was lost maybe? She couldn't take the chance. She closed the book and put it away and turned out the light. She curled into the corner and got ready for whatever happened next. She knew the place was well hidden but someone that is lost can find things they are not supposed to very easily.....

After resting against the tree for a few moments he had picked up a bit of movement near him, deciding it was better to move then to risk resting further he did so. Odds were it was just a wild animal but he didn't have the energy to fight if it wasn't. He kept his hand pressed against the wound on his chest, the cloth he had pressed against it to try and stop the bleeding was drenched as it ran down his arm. He was still trying to get his boundaries, there had to be a road out of this damn forest. "Tsk.. just a bit longer.. I can't afford to let the goddess take me just yet..." he said aloud to himself as he walked, not like he was talking to anyone but he had this dumb idea that talking aloud maybe the goddess would stop making his life a living hell. At the least for a few hours. After a little while longer of walking the forest grew still as night fell across it, had he really been walking that long? He wasn't even sure any more seeing as the loss of blood was starting to take a hard toll on him. Only certain branches of dark elves held the ability to see in the dark, seeing as he wasn't of any of the house bloods under the royal family he didn't possess such a gift. Though somewhere in his blood line someone did, it wasn't to a great advantage from what he could see but shapes at least were helpful when you were in unfamiliar territories.

A twig snapped under his footing as he froze, trying to keep his breathing under control he stood there listening. After a moment he decided nothing paid any mind to the sudden noise as he walked forward and crossed paths with a shack in the middle of no where. He laughed slightly before walking towards the building and putting a hand on the wall for support. Something about this place seemed to strike heavy on his heart as he retracted the hand and then returned it against the side of the wall in a fist. The building didn't look like anyone had been here in ages, but it was also dark too either way he didn't care by this point. "Sinestra... I should have listened to you and became a priest." He still talked aloud to himself, it seemed easier then thinking to himself with how he felt at the moment. "All of this... and I never got the revenge Neimi deserves!" He hissed out resting his head against the building.

Shortly after he stopped talking again he slowly went to his knees, not that he had a choice in the matter. He continued to try and keep himself steady with the shack's wall as he went on to say another small bit. "Little one.... I'm sorry, I couldn't make it in time... Please forgive me" He breathed out, the whole him he had been trying to control his breathing though in the last bit he couldn't help but show his true condition with labored breaths. Mere moments later he seemed to rest his full weight against the building side as he arm he had pressed against the wound fell limply towards the ground. If his mind was with him he could have tried to get into the shack at the odds of there being left over medical supplies, really if his mind had been with him he wouldn't have gotten into any of this today, he would have kept his mouth shut like a good little drone.

Asui froze as the voice spoke outside. He wasn't speaking to her. Not that she could tell anyway. He sounded like he was in great pain. She thought for a second on what to do, but even the fear in her heart couldn't keep her from looking outside. She opened the door and stepped out. She could see well enough in the dark to find the man, but not much else. It was dangerous to just take a nap in the open. The wild animals in this place would eat you alive. She made another judgment call. He didn't seem to have the predatory sense that the others had...

Against every fiber in her being she walked over to him to wake him. She touched his shoulder gently trying to wake him, but he didn't move. After a few more attempts she decided that he wasn't going to wake up in whatever condition he was in, and that she would have to move him to see what was wrong. She didn't dare light the outside and draw others near. She was taking enough chances already.

Slowly and carefully she dragged the man into the tiny shack. There was enough room for her family. But the four of them were tiny themselves and could pack into small spaces easily. She was the tallest. Even taller than her father had been. Yet this man made her feel small. She hoped that he would be alright, and then she hoped that he wasn't going to kill her....

Finally she got him inside and closed the door. Stepping over him she light the lamp once more and looked down at him. He was bleeding heavily. No wondered she couldn't wake him. She had medical supplies... but nothing to treat this. She had a choice. Her family told her to never do it again. Ever. Yet, she figured it was the only way. He needed help... And so did she.

She touched his chest softly and her fingers started to glow a faint green color. In mere moments his wound was healed. No scars to even prove he had been hurt. She had used a lot of energy healing him that way, and had taken a lot of risk. Yet she felt she had no choice. Her heart was kind and pure. She was naive and young. It was what made her different from the dark one. It was what gave her the advantage, and it was what would save her life over and over. Yet she knew none of this.

She got up slowly looking more pale then before and using the wall to steady her as she went to the bag to get some water. She was mostly drained now and wouldn't be able to fight him off if he was one of the ones trying to kill her. She could only hope he wasn't. She drank heavily from the canteen, and watch the man. He was still asleep. Resting more peacefully now then he had before. Now all she could do was wait, or run. Three tough decisions in under an hour. She was not ready for her life to change this much. She wanted to rewind time and stay with her family forever in that nice dream world that they made for her. She closed her eyes to think...

Morning would eventually fall upon the two, though the daylight hardly brought sanctuary with it for either of them. There was no way to even know it was morning inside the shack aside from a little that managed to seep in through the door and a handful of spots in the wall. His internal clock was telling him he needed to get up, and that he needed to do it now. His senses were back to normal by this point and he felt like he wasn't alone, not really being watched by whoever was near but there was still a odd chance that remaining asleep would bid ill for his health. About the same time he started to think to himself to prepare for whatever was near the thought of what happened last night came back to him, he has to be dead there's no one someone just recovered from that among of blood loss. Let alone the fact he knew he had passed out... something was wrong here. His eyes shot open as he silently moved reaching a hand for something attached to his belt though he stopped mid movement seeing the only thing near him being wise was a young girl.

'What in the world...' He thought to himself as he relaxed his arm for the moment. She seemed to still be asleep and his movement probably wouldn't be enough to wake her, not with how he was trained. Her skin though he seemed to question his knowledge as to where he had seen that color before she was by far not one of the queens underlings. Not that the facts made this situation safe, there were plenty of other races who despised the dark elves no matter your clan background.

He sat back a little more thinking on her looks though his only thought he quickly shook off. 'There's no way she's the one they are hunting... why would they need to send so many after such a small girl?' That thought aside he noticed he wasn't bleeding though he had noticed before his curiosity often made his mind side-track from important matters. He seemed to test the spot a second, there wasn't even a wound there anymore, scar, stitching nothing. There wasn't any proof he had been a brink from death at all remaining, not even the most skilled of priests could pull that off.

Was it something the girl had done? If so he had to admit he was impressed, and it would explain why she was out like a light for now. It would require some powerful magic ability to use whatever force she had used. He had to admit his curiosity was raising by the second, sure the girl had family somewhere she looked far too young to travel alone the world would eat her alive or at least outside of this forest. For now his questions would have to wait, he didn't want to startle her and test what powers she possessed. The longer he sat there though he seemed to get unpleasant memories he had been so blind all of those years ago why didn't he stand up before. Though if he had of he probably would have been dead long before now as well.

His dress alone was of the dark queens, of the battle mages to be exact. This girl had to know that anyone in such attire could bode ill for her, they had the orders to kill any light skinned elf they came across. Up until recently he would have followed such a order without hesitation but now he had no reason to follow a order. His only plan was to recover what was lost and to get the revenge he wanted... He wanted to see the current queen fall, he hardly cared who took her place after that so long as they left what he had left in the world alone.

Clenching his teeth due to his thoughts he quickly forced himself to relax before he did anything stupid, like what happened the other day with the calvary he had picked a fight with. He'd at least stick around to thank the girl, possibly avoid whatever family she had recalling back on a few horror stories of what the light skinned elves did as a sign of rebellion to ones they caught... Not that he thought he'd have a issue defending himself, but he didn't want to completely drop his guard just to be on the safe side. If he could help it he didn't want to fight his way out of here either. 'Neimi...' He went back to thinking to himself to calm his inner rage. 'This girl looks about your age'.

Hours seemed to pass before Asui opened her eyes. Nothing had changed in the small room she now shared with a stranger... His eyes were closed and his breathing was slow as if he was asleep. She didn't think he was though. She knew she had probably been out for a while. Proving the point that she wasn't in danger from him. She moved slightly and went through the bag for water and some food. She was weak. It hurt to move at all, but she knew she needed food. She couldn't tell if it was light out or not, but that wasn't her concern right now.

She pulled out the water canteen and some food. Dried meat and bread. There wasn't much because she had planned to be in town in the next day or two. She would share it of course. Why heal the man and then make him starve. That just seemed highly unkind. She looked over at the man and wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't moved when she had started to. Maybe he was asleep...

She hadn't yet lit the light again, but she was going to have to so she could divide the food. She lit the light but stared at it to long by mistake and now had spots of color in her vision. She sighed softly and tried to ignore it as she went to the task at hand. She made sandwiches from the bread and the meat and wished she had more to work with. It was hardly a good meal, but she would make do.

Remembering that she had to be thankful she was alive brought fresh tears to her eyes. Silently they slid down her face as she thought back to their screams. She pleaded to the heavens that their souls were safe wherever they had ended up, and prayed that she could do what it was they asked of her. Her mothers last wishes for her to survive as all that kept her going...

He knew very well she was awake, but he was also taking the time to figure out a few things about this girl. In order to do so without outright questioning her he kept his eyes closed, even though he had moved from where she had left him the night before. Either way it seemed to work he noticed as she went about whatever she wanted to do. He had rested his back against the wall of the shack long before she had begun to wake, he preferred resting in this method. It also wasn't too uncommon where he was from, you needed a position in case you had to strike with little to no notice.

By this time he had figured out the girl seemed to be alone, whatever happened seemed recent. He could tell by the way she acted, the young girl might have been silent in her tears but the sadness was still there. He continued to wait though before he bothered to move or speak, at the least till she finished eating. No point in startling her at the risk she could choke. Though he was still content with his thoughts of trying to figure out why a light skinned elf was alone let alone in the forest at her age. He'd get the information if he stuck around but he wasn't counting on her trusting him enough for that to work out.

After he was sure she was done eating he continued to keep his eyes closed as he spoke, his voice was soft to keep from scaring her too much but it held it's strength behind it as well. "Traveling alone at your age is dangerous you know..." He didn't mention the fact that her supplies seemed to be counting on if she could reach a certain destination in a allotted amount of time and that it would have been smarter to carry extra in the case she had been discovered by someone intend to do her harm.

He waited to see what she would say, let alone if she even understood common tongue. He knew a bit of the light skinned elves native language from busying himself with scrolls when he had the chance, but things would be easier if she just knew common. Really he owed her his life, though if she had been taught anything he was sure she knew what that meant. It was a sort of code that the dark elves followed, they disliked being indebted to someone for any reason thus they would do as the person asked just to remove said debt. At the least he was going to try and follow her to whatever town she was seeking, if she wanted to go alone after that it was her choice.

She looked at him a little startled, but over all kinda expected him to say something sooner or later. Her parents had made sure she was well versed... Well, as well versed as she could be.

"Not in this forest... Not for me. Outside of it your probably right... but its not like I want to travel alone..."

She didn't know what else to say. It wasn't really any of his business. She just wanted to figure out what to do next. She handed him some food and then started to go through her bag.

"So how are you feeling anyway? You were in pretty bad shape..." She paused not really wanting to share with a stranger the amount of skill she had for something that wasn't even supposed to be possible... "You really gave me a scare last night."

She wasn't telling him anything he didn't already figure out that was certain, though even knowing this forest she could be in potential danger now that he thought about it Matters weren't helped that he had a sort of price on his head, though she didn't need to know that. "You'll have to go outside of this forest sooner or later, and I think you know that the dark elves hardly have sympathy for your kind." She seemed to know more then she was letting on and the way she spoke he figured putting it bluntly would hardly hurt her.

He declined her offer of food, in the case something did happen he wasn't going to have it on his shoulders that she was short on supplies. He advised to her she should hold onto it, though he was still trying to figure out why she'd go out of her way yo help him. She'd have been better off leaving him for dead. She'd end up getting herself into trouble if she was going to go around helping the very kind that wanted nothing more then to see her in chains or dead.

"Heh... I had already accepted my fate." He had to admit he had expected to never wake let alone be in good health, though she seemed to avoid saying she had healed the wound. For now he left well enough alone getting the sense from her she wasn't going to talk about it that easily. "But, aside from being the walking dead I think I'm fairing rather well." He seemed to avoid looking at her as he spoke, he was trying to read the girl but she wasn't like most people he had encountered.

He didn't go into saying how he had managed such a condition of when she found him, figuring she didn't care to idly chat that much. At this point he wasn't even sure what to do, he could get to the next town easily enough to get supplies. If he had a choice he would have been prepared and that wound would have never happened. He sighed a little knowing there were questions he had but out of respect for the fact she had saved him he didn't ask.

The girl seemed to fall silent once again on him, he wanted to offer her some form of assistance seeing as she did save him. He owed her more then she'd know, a second chance at executing revenge and reclaiming what little bit of life he had left. His thoughts quickly went back to Neimi, he feared the worse had already happened but that would not keep him from reminding the queen just who she had crossed. Odds were high he'd fail but he'd leave a mark, not all of his kind were senseless drones.

She sighed. Listening to the words he said she knew that they were not willingly talking about things. A lot of things. She wasn't sure if this was good or bad for now it would have to do.

"Your kind likes to hunt mine for sport, slavery, or whatever else you deem us useful for. I know this well enough. I lived on my own in a valley closed off from the world. Only leaving when I absolutely had to. I can survive without others for long periods of time, and I can outrun even your most skilled assassins. I'm not looking for pity or sympathy. I just want my life as my own. Isn't that enough?"

As she spoke she packed everything up in the bag and turned her back to him. She removed two floor boards from the back corner of the shack to reveal supplies hidden from anyone that would just happen upon this place. She stocked up on bandages, canned food, a blanket, and some other things. Packing all of the new stuff in a second bag.

"Shall I assume you are coming to the next town with me at least, or are you going to go off on your own and get yourself killed again?" She smiled softly at him to show that it was meant to be lighthearted. "I know the way your kind is and you owe me nothing unless you feel you do. You can live whenever you wish to. I'm not one to chain others to me."

She spoke with an intelligence that seemed to surpass her years, or maybe she was older then she looked. Either way for a split second she thought she saw shock in his eyes.

"I have enough supplies to last until the next town. I had more then enough to share..." She tried to believe that but her mother hadn't packed as much in the bag as they had always told her. She had known that she was not going to be meeting Asui... and this realization seemed to bother her.

He seemed to listen to her, questioning what he had first thought about her age, either way she reminded him much of Neimi. "I never said I was giving you neither now did I?" He was referring to her saying she didn't want his pity or sympathy, he saw no point in giving either if she knew what road lay before and behind her. "Though i'd appreciate it if you didn't lump me in with the Queen's brood..." The very thought seemed to irk him, sure he was stuck in these colors for the time being but as soon as he got to a town they were to be burned.

Not that he really had much room to talk about lumping someone into a category seeing as he had done the same thing, and his history would be very fitting to what she had just said. Though after his slight hint of annoyance he fell quiet again listening to the rest of her words. Really if he parted ways they'd end up going in the same damn direction any way. There was one of the military towns and then a small trader town of sorts being the two closet areas to go to. The one was out of the question for either of them.

He smirked slightly at her hint of humor, though he had to admit he wasn't expecting to from her. "I could go off and get myself killed again... But then I would have failed at what I even came out here for in the first place." He knew he'd be going to the military encampment, it had merchants there as well but he cared little for that fact. He was going to destroy the whole camp if they let him go long enough. But first he'd pay this girl back by getting her to the town she was seeking.

Sure by the condition he was in last night she probably thought he wasn't all that strong or if anything stupid, but she would have been sorely mistaken. "I'll accompany you to ensure you get there... afterwards I'll be parting ways with you." He didn't tell her his plans she didn't need to know and from the looks of things she had her own problems to deal with.

Standing finally as he looked down at her he finally let on he knew about what she had done last night. "Though I'm also following you because that power you used last night intrigues me." He had read enough scrolls and tomes to know each branch of magic and what it was capable of, but this one seemed different like it was in the ranks of the lost magics. He still never bothered to lower the hood he had up so reading any expression he made was nearly impossible and the poor lighting in the shack didn't help matters.

She blinked but didn't miss a beat. She knew that it was a danger for him to think that it was her. So... She laughed at him. Full on really real laugh.

"When I found you last night you had passed out in front of the shack. There was blood all around and your clothes were as cut up as they remain now. Yet when I tried to find the source of the blood..." she paused and over looked his body again

"...When I tried to figure out where your wounds were everything was healed. I dragged you inside and passed out myself. Onto the "Your Kind" - "My Kind"; You're the one that started it and I have no reason to keep you from putting you on her side. You wear her color. I should have let you die." She hissed out the last part with all intent of a threat. She would not be bullied into answering questions not even spoken. She picked up the second bag and tossed it at him.

"You have to understand one thing. This forest has many gifts. It saved your life. I had nothing to do with it. The sooner you learn that... The safer you'll be. On another note, I don't need you to "accompany" me anywhere. I can make it where I need to go on my own."

She put on a brave face and didn't falter at all. Anyone would believe that to be the truth. She picked her bag up and stood. She felt short in his presence and highly self conscious. She didn't feel like a princess... She didn't even feel like her life was worth others dying for her. How many had lost their lives to keep her secret? How many more would she bring death?

"Either way... I guess its up to you. I couldn't stop you if you wanted to tag along. Why even bother trying." She rolled her eyes finally and blew out the light.

Taking the lamp with her as she ducked around him and out the door she stepped out into the quiet blankness of the forest. She had scanned it with her senses but not with her eyes so when she looked around to be sure she was right she was relieved to know she hadn't missed anything. She wasn't sure if he could follow her at night in the forest so when she got about seventeen paces from the shack she looked back to make sure he was there, and to get one last look at her past life leaving her behind. The stillness of the shack in the lonely darkness didn't bring joy to her as it had the day before. There was nothing more but a hole in her heart filling with anger and hate as the day went on and she knew her family was dead and gone forever.

He'd let the topic go for now, but he knew far better then to believe that she didn't have something to do with him being alive. Though her next words seemed to cut into his normally calm personality. if he wasn't keeping the hood up his eyes would have shown her what danger she was potentially in by her comment, but he managed to keep his self calm for the time being. She was still young, most would not have been so stupid to question why someone in the queen's colors was nearly killed.

"Your right I did, I apologize for that... no name makes a conversation rather difficult." He seemed to pause clenching a fist before he went on just to control his temper. "You should have, most would have gladly saw it as sport a chance to get back at the queen. But these colors are no longer mine, not after what was taken from me. The queen will know what she has done...." He seemed rather serious but stopped his sentence there, she didn't need his details and from the sounds of it she wasn't fond of the idea of him following her, though he thought she might be putting a show on for the time being.

"Well if that is the case I will be on my way" He smirked slightly under his hood, she couldn't see in the dark but he could a little. He'd trail her just to make sure none of the soldiers that had been on his trail crossed her path, not that he didn't think she could take care of herself but if it was a group she'd be in trouble. "Good luck in our travel then Mi'lady" He didn't know anything about her past history but the way she acted he was poking fun at her with the mi'lady part and half showing respect at the same time as he preformed a formal bow before walking off in a slightly different direction.

He noticed as he stayed out of her view that she kept looking back every once in a while. It must have been hard on her she seemed to be use to someone always being there with her and now she was alone, he knew how she had to be feeling. 'You put on a tough face but your scared, you'll have to admit it sooner or later to yourself. You'll be better off when you stop hiding everything and accept help when it's available.' He kept his thoughts to himself and made sure to remain undetected by her. At the least if she was jumped and couldn't handle the odds he'd have a advantage of surprise as well, not that he needed it.

At the least he'd trail her to the edge of the forest, from there the town was easily seen and she could get there. He'd go about his own business to avoid getting her wrapped up n the crossfire.

She was half way out of the forest when she felt something. Footsteps running through the forest. They seemed to be getting closer. The people that had been after her moved quieter then that... With soft footsteps. She might not be in any danger from them. Yet she doubted that. She walked to the closest tree and pulled herself up into it. She sat there for a few minutes waiting to see what would happen. Four men stormed into the clearing she had been standing in mere minutes ago.

"Stop...." He must have been the one in charge. He was tall and well built with hate in his eyes. "Spread out. He's gotta be close."

The four men went off by themselves. They were unprepared for what this forest had in store for them. They would never again see the light of day. Before the night was over blood would be spilled. Even if she did nothing. She had not been lying when she told the man that the forest had many gifts, but with gifts come the worst of curses. The Queens' Brood wouldn't survive here. She hoped silently that the man would survive for now. She didn't want to have anyone notice the power she had. So.. even though she could kill all four at once.. she never would. Not at the cost of her secret. She took out the farthest one away on her right. He had covered some distance. Roots came up from the ground below him. A silent killer. None of his companions knew he was dead. Then she turned her attention to the one are her far left. The ground opened up beneath his feet and he disappeared into ground before and sound could escape his lips.

All of a sudden she heard "SOUND OFF!" it was a loud boom from the man that spoke before. He knew something was wrong. Otherwise he never would have given away his position.. right?
"Beta here sir!" Called back the one she had left standing.

And with that they became high alert. No one else made a sound. She held her breath deciding what she wanted to do.

The leader of this now one man troop seemed to smile before his next words. "Thalion I'm rather surprised at you. Killing all but one of my men and you never let them get so much as a scream off." He acted like he was talking to someone but it wasn't his lone knight. But that knight did not last long as he seemed to be afflicted by something out of the blue.

The solider seemed to double over in pain as his skin showed boils and in places he just suddenly burst open as steam left the wounds. Mere moments after this the man drooped dead right behind his commander.

"Thalion!" He barked again "Crimson mage, traitor to the crown. Show yourself" A slight hint of panic in the man's voice, he knew that he was being toyed with. Aside from the slight hint of fear the man showed no emotion once so ever and the fear was quickly hidden through his years of training and service.

"I've not been called that in a while..." A familiar voice sounded from near-by. Thalion never knew the girl that had saved him was there, he had his own motives. "You came with so little troops I never bothered to waste my time on what the forest could do for me." The hood was still covering his face as he stepped forward towards the last of the queen's squad.

"should have known you ween't behind them vanishing, your methods always were bloodier" The man spoke as he had his weapon at the ready, a lance with a green aura at it's tip. "The queen wants your head on a platter..personally" He spoke again as he weighed the odds he had in this fight.

Thalion seemed the least bit concerned as he stood there almost lazily from the looks of it. "She should come here herself instead of sending weak underlings... I should leave you alive to tell her that." The commander had found his opening by this point as he went to strike forward but was stopped dead in his tracks as the deceased solider that was behind his grabbed his foot.

"what trickery is this!" the man cried kicking his foot free all too late as Thalion was in far too close for his weapon to be of use. He quickly put a hand upon the commanders face as his palm glowed for a brief moment before he released him again.

"go back to your queen her seeks can read your minds eye and see what I plan, her blood will be mine" Thalion hissed out at the man before turning and walking away. Leaving the commander to scream in his agony, though the man did as he was told though from his body movements it seemed forced and not of his own will.

Thalion only walked a few mere steps before casting his hand back to the corpse of the solider he had killed. The body quickly caught ablaze, though after the corpse was consumed the flame died out slowly not touching anything else.

He wiped the corner of his mouth and seemed to look at his hand before walking again. there had been a dab of blood there, though he knew why and for now he didn't have the time to worry over such things.

She stayed where she was and watched as he walked ahead of her. She had seen what had happened, but couldn't believe it. 'Traitor to the crown' were strong words. He was a mage... but how could he be alive. Everything she was ever told... Oh wait. She saved him. He would have died..
She followed him silently jumping from branch to branch. Though if he was a mage he would know she was there. After a little while she gave up. She just couldn't help herself. She jumped down behind him, though a ways away, and spoke to him again.
"Traitor to the crown? What did you do to out yourself on her bad side?" She was ready for him to turn and tell her it was none of her damn business but she had no idea what he would do. So she waited. They were almost out of the forest now. Almost out of its protection. They would part there. And she would be alone again. Why did it matter... Why was she trying to make friends?

((If you read before I edited it a bit so it went together a bit smoother for later ideas >w<))

He knew he was being followed but he ignored it for the time being taking a wild guess at who it was. It was rather easy seeing as the forest was still after it's feast it had a little bit ago on the corpses of the dead. As she jumped down he sighed a little before stopping his walk. She saved him no matter what he thought he couldn't just blow her off. He was a odd one for his kind, most would have already blown her off no second thought or would have tried to kill her from the start.

"Your a odd one... But to answer you it's not what I have done. It's what I'm going to do" He said rather coldly but it had a slight hint of amusement in his voice before he turned to look at her he had removed his hood in the process of this. With with the hood not hiding his face any longer it showed that the right side of his face had a scar that seemed to be from a combination of a gash and a burn. His right eye was pure white it seemed to still react as normal but it's seeing capabilities were probably limited if existent at all. His hair was silvery white and was pulled back into a low ponytail though it wasn't very long unlike most dark elves it was considered short really. His other eye seemed normal enough aside from being a wild crimson red in coloration but that was a trait known to his kind as well.

"I was left for dead a few years back, a suicide mission. The queen knew if I remained in my rank I could have easily dethroned her with a army of followers along with the four others she sent off during that mission. When I returned alive the queen quickly put myself and the sole other survivor in a cell. My comrade died shortly after out return. The others were killed on the field.. it had been a set up from the start." Pausing briefly before he went on he seemed to dislike recalling the event. "I had escaped the queen's hold once before, but little did I know she had a plan to lure me out of what hole I had crawled into. She made sure to spread the word that my wife was killed and the daughter of a deserter deserved nothing more then slavery."

"Poor judgement in my enraged state caused me to get caught a second time and placed back into holding. The dark queen had no plans to kill me at this point, she'd rather watch as her subject stewed in his misery as she tried to break my will." There were far more details to this story that he had left off, like what the mission even was that him and the others had been sent out to do let alone what he had endured to get out of the cell so he could proceed to his revenge.

"I let her believe what she willed, acting as a broken soul to build my way back up in the ranks once more. For the past few years I had taken the role of acting like the queens little puppet only to gain access to the scared tombs." He seemed to smirk a little "I was already one of the best in the kingdom with fire magic, I added the barred knowledge of necromancy to it. After the queen found out we'll just say I was instantly put on her wanted list." After a moment he wasn't sure why he had told this girl all this, why did she care.

"There you have it, you asked you got your answer.Now if you'll excuse me.." He bowed slightly to her before turning and starting to walk again. "If you must know my plan was to ensure you made it to the village outside of this forest, from there I take my leave." There was no point in getting her wrapped up in what he was going to start. Plus being the type of elf she was she'd have plenty of trouble without following him around or the other way around.

It was a sad story all in all. Yet it was a story heard often. Families crushed by the Queens grip. Rumors still hit them even as far out as they were. In the middle of no where news of family friends would come in sometimes. Mom and Dad would hide it. They would open letters while the girls were a sleep. It seems that Dad went to town more often then he let on. They would cry over the sad things and laugh over the good. Yet they would never share the stories with the girls. Asui had over heard them one night. The whispers so soft they barely would reach her ears.

"...Thats the third one this week. If the letters keep coming in this way we'll have to move. The Queen is killing all of us. Either she knows something or she's afraid of rebellion." Her mother dried the tears that were on her cheeks and held back a few more sobs.

"We'll be fine. I'll stop going to town for a while. They won't say anything there anyway, and if anyone asks why there are so many letters they will lie. Our sources always send mail safely. Magic or the like. You know that. We have to many contacts. We're safe. Most don't know enough of anything to tell anyone where we are. I know. We made sure of it. Covered our tracks. Things will be fine..." Her father moved his hand to his wives face to wipe away the last of her tears.

Asui flashed back to the present. To the elf walking away. She followed him silently. She hoped that his daughter would be okay. She hoped everything worked out. Just before the edge of the forest she stopped.

"You're right. You probably would bring your share of trouble, but I don't think its more then the trouble already following me. The Queen... She has it out for me...." She lifted the back of her shirt up as she turned toward him. She knew what the seal was, but not how rare until reading about it in the book. "...I'm the only child of the last Queen..."

She was taking a chance. Trusting that he might be willing to help her. Since their goals seemed to... follow the same train of thought. She turned back around and looked at him.

"We could... Work together? You help me and I'll help you. Sort of thing. If you want..."

He never bothered to take notice of the girl being lost in her own thoughts as he started to walk away, he had things he needed to do and with the queen's own knowing where his current location was meant it complicated things all the more. Though after a moment or two he noticed she seemed to follow him, not that he cared either way. She would draw her own trouble just by being a light skin but he wouldn't have expected what she was about to tell him in a hundred years.

"I'd rather know trouble follows then to have it appear unexpectedly myself... I could have remained a slave to the queen's will." He knew if he had stayed his death would come soon enough, he still remained a threat to the queen for a few reasons but they could be brought up later. He seemed to expect the queen was out to get this girl, the dark queen had it out to either kill or enslave all of the other races though he held a high distaste for the light skinned elves that once ruled the lands.

She seemed to make him stop to show him something as she moved her shirt, though it wasn't a symbol he thought he'd ever see. He could have bet his life that he would never see it, but yet there it was right in front of him. He seemed to let out a slight laugh, he found a odd bit of humor in this before he spoke again. "By the goddess... " He wasn't even sure what else to say, all those years ago that girl they were sent to hunt down and she was standing there, fate was indeed a cruel mistress. "So that's how it is.. I see" he seemed to be more talking to himself then her before he redirected his attention to her.

He heard her out, not that he felt he had a choice in the matter. Some greater force seemed to bind his fate to this girl in one way or another or else she would have been dead all the years ago. Earlier when he had been saying milady and being slightly formal he almost felt like he should be apologizing for his rudeness. "I won't be able to follow you through certain areas.. though the dark queen rules most of the land there are areas where my kind are far from welcome... As far as you helping me, don't worry yourself about it. If you take back your rightful place on the throne you'll be helping more then you'll know."

He knew she couldn't really help with what he needed to do, plus he had all intention to avoid being seen with the girl when, once she regained her rightful spot on the throne. There wasn't going to be a when it would happen. "If we're going to be traveling together it'll make it easier on you to move through most of the towns that are owned by the queen, safest place is in plain sight." He never explained why he believed that so openly, but it had proven its self countless times. Also what he was saying is a light skinned elf traveling with his kind normally meant one of a few things, either way it wouldn't be questioned at all in most towns till they reached the outer towns and villages where the queens influence wasn't as strong or not existent at all.

Though if she was the last remaining royal tie her kind had left it further proved she had lied before trying to cover up that she had saved his life. "I still plan to part ways with you for a short while though, there's no point in taking you to a heavily defended barracks camp." He wouldn't go if he didn't have to, but he had heard rumors of the encampments around the lands having captives... he needed to know for sure before he gave up on Neimi, even if it took searching every cell owned by the queen he had vowed to find her or at least proof that she had moved on.

"I need to go to that town... After that... I'm not even sure where I'm going to be going. I'm just... Everything happened so fast. I was told that this mark was not as it is. I'll be careful to hide that from others. It would be easier to travel with you. As your slave as it were. I know this. Which is why I'm trust you with my secret... My life is in your hands, and at the end of this if I do take what is.. what seems to be mine... You will be rewarded. Yet no reward would bring back your family if she has hurt them. I pray that be not the case. I could go to the town while you take care of what you need to do, or I could stay in the safety of the forest. I was not lying to you when I said the forest saved you. You would not have found me if it hadn't wanted you to...." she trailed off. She realized she had been rambling. She took a breath and looked at him.
"I'm sorry... I'm talking to much. It is.. unlike me."

She knew where the town was, and could get there fine. Yet she was uneasy. Something was keeping her on edge. The forest is safe. It was the only home she had left. She could live out her life there in peace. No one would get to her. She could do it.. but somehow she knew there were to many people counting on her. It was all up to her, and now she was trusting a dark elf. By the gods.. what was wrong with her.

She fusses with some things. Her shirt or her bag trying to easy the tension she was feelings. She could go by herself, but even though she knew so little about this elf.. she hoped he would go with her. She was a mystery to him as well and she knew it. He didn't seem like a threat even though he knew something that would get her killed. She needed to be more careful. In her mind she was beating herself up. Taking a chance. Telling him something she shouldn't. If she was like this her family will end up having died for nothing. Something happened just then that would change her forever. A soft blue glow appeared to shimmer into view behind her. It lit the forest in an eerie glow. She turned towards it to see what it was.

"…My Princess, I'm glad to see you alive…" The image flickered in and out and it was hard to see the person clearly "...I'm sorry, I don't have... mu-.... time...."

It blacked out completely for a mere second and Asui blinked

"...I was yo-... fam-... Seer. My na... Ryais.... It's good to see you well. I was the one to foresee your future, this moment and many in time.... Your family... loved yo-...." The flickers got worse. "I'm weak. I don't have much time. This man will help you, even if he does not yet know it. Asui, You will face many challenges but you will overcome all. Wounds will heal and mend. Your will shall be done. Take... yours... Claim... rightfu-"

And then she was gone. That beautiful image. The woman was the Seer. known for her wisdom and magics. She just stood there her mouth agape with an understanding she had not known before. She had to fight. Had to save what was left... She had to go on...

He waved off her saying sorry for talking so much, honestly he didn't care. The girl really did remind him of Neimi she was quite the chatter box, not taking it after himself or her mother. "You don't have to apologize. I'm sure it's been hard having to deal with everything all at once, I know very well what it's like. But just so you know we are on equal grounds when you say I hold your life, you in turn could just as easily hold mine." Sure she was a light skin but when it came to a traitor to the crown the guards of any town would hardly think twice, and he was sure some of the larger populated towns he would have to watch himself. He didn't say much else aside from that, he believed in the gods and higher beings but he more believed in fate then the fact the forest saved him.

He had noticed she was being fidgety as they walked, it was hard to not notice. It was very obvious something was on her mind. He never said a word about it, he figured after they got out of the forest and to a town where she could get some rest she may calm down. He took a wild guess she had never been far from where she lived before, she was acting like a new recruit in training or that was the best way he could put it to himself in his mind. But there was no danger around or at least where they currently were she could be as finicky as she wanted for the time being. She didn't seem to want to talk much after her little chatter spree , not that he blamed her this was a very unlikely partnership if he had ever seen one.

Though his thoughts were disrupted when a glow caught his attention and the girl had stopped, now that he thought about it they never exchanged names. Though he never thought about it until now, it could come later though as he studied the odd light. He had seen something like this before though this one seemed to be weak at best.

After the final words from the seer he had to think to himself why the hell did he get tangled up in this again, sure he owed the girl but to be told by a seer he was to help her even if he didn't yet know it. He had caught what the woman had called the girl though he made a mental note of it in the case they never got to formalities. He noticed the girl seemed to be in awe almost at what she was told. "Come on, standing here won't get your task done any faster" He was right standing there was just giving the dark queen time to locate them and he knew for a fact she had seer's of her own and they watched everything.

He still was't entirely sure about this idea, sure helping her would assist in his own goal but at the same time he knew very well how her kind was, just as cunning as his own when it came to it. 'this will be the death of me..' he thought sourly to himself, the girl was young she had a lot she needed to learn, she may have known all she needed to about her forest but outside of it the world was not as forgiving... He had already started walking away from her figuring she'd catch up, at the least once they arrived at the town no one would question her being with him. Though getting a place to stay would be a hassle in it's own way... His own kind made him sick at times he had to admit it.

She let everything sink in. A seer? Not a seer... THE SEER. The weight of everything felt so much heavier now. She said that there was much to come... but no details. Why was she so weak? What has happened. The "stories" her parents would tell... probably weren't stories. The seer was powerful. The Queen wanted her. As she was better then all of the others she had. She was locked in chains and bond to the Queens will via magic and curses. She could only see the future. Everything else was taken from her.

The stories told of her locked away deep in the castle somewhere. No one could see her except the Dark Queen. She was chained with her hands above her head and to her feet. She had been blindfolded and there were wounds all over her. From the many types of beatings she would endure. The dark Queen would use her and then bind her powers. So she could only do what she was told....

Asui turned around to see the other elf far ahead of her. She really had to stop this. Living in her mind this way was going to be dangerous. She ran after him but didn't catch up until the very edge of the forest.

"Wait... I just... um..." She bowed oddly and spoke again "I'm Asui Kaine. The last name is from my family, but not the royals. If that makes sense... and I... well... I thought you'd like to know." She was rambling and shuddering and was making a fool of herself. "I hope... that I'll be able to help you on your journey... Should I go to the town by myself so you can get what you need and meet me there later, or do you think that unwise?"

He smirked a little at her once she got around to introducing herself, she seemed to rambling once more but he put his hand up to stop her from saying sorry again about her talking so much. "Bowing to me is below you" He said casually before speaking again to finish the exchange. "Thalion Kenarn, at your service milady" He preformed a formal bow, though he seemed to know more about royal formalities then he let onto. Not that he really had to bother with them but the girl did at least deserve a bit of respect, she was going to have to deal with enough on this trip to regain her homeland he didn't need to add to it.

"As I said before don't worry yourself with helping me, I'll make due." He was normally able to execute whatever he needed without fail, the condition she had found him in before was from the process of escaping the queen's hold once more. Though he question made him think a few moments, it was unwise to leave her alone in this town. But to take her with him wouldn't be a good idea either.

He sighed a little thinking over the options they had and they were few at that. "I'll at least get you a room in the town, you can wait there, I'd normally just give you the coin you need but I doubt you'd manage to get a room that way." Once they were further away from the queens influence she could get rooms or supplies all she wanted but until they got that far she'd have to trust him.

He started walking again seeing as she wasn't lost in her thoughts this time as they headed towards the town, it wasn't a overly large one but it had enough guards patrolling it that was certain. He had pulled his hood back up before they entered, and most of the passerby's seemed to pay them no mind at all, aside from a few who seemed to take interest in the young girl. He knew what went on in their minds and it wasn't happening, he seemed to dare a few that ventured too close for comfort. He needed to keep a eye on her and to make sure no one noticed who he was, though the common folk probably wouldn't have any idea and he didn't see any wanted flyer plastered anywhere.

Though he did get a few odd looks from the guards seeing as he was still in the queen's uniform and it was rare for her close guard to be out and about. 'Tsk.. i need to ditch this get up soon as well.. ' He thought to himself as he finally located the inn and pushed her in the door. As he walked towards the counter he seemed to weigh out what he should say and it left a bad taste in his mouth at the thought of it.

"Well what do you want mage?" The inn keeper barked at him as he stopped at the counter.

Thalion seemed to pause before he spoke to the man, detesting what he was about to say, he desperately wanted to ask for two rooms to give the girl her space but he knew that would look suspicious. "One room, for myself and the slave" He made a lazy gesture towards Asui.

The man seemed to think over his thoughts and what Thal had requested. "It'll cost you extra, I don't like mages and the likes of that in my inn"

Thalion shrugged before putting a small coin pouch on the counter "That should cover whatever your demands were... I also expect for my pet here to be left alone or you'll have more reasons to hate mages..."

The man seemed pleased enough with the amount as he handed over a key ring with a single key on it. Taking it from the inn keeper he quickly pushed Asui along and towards the room that the key was to. Once they were both inside he let out a heavy sigh "the goddess knows I want to bite my own tongue off at times" he said aloud though it wasn't really directed towards anyone but more towards what he had to say and he knew this wouldn't be the last time. Most of his kind wouldn't have a second thought about saying such things to a lesser or what they thought to be a lesser being, be he knew what it was like being on the other side... it wasn't something he wished upon even his worse enemy.

"I'll put a barrier on the door, you shouldn't be bothered... and if it is broken I'll know. But until I get back go take a bath or something you should while we have the chance and they should bring food up in a few hours, you can open the door it won't disrupt the barrier. Just be sure to close it soon after." He bowed to her though it wasn't as formal this time before he opened the door again to leave "the beds yours so if you get tired feel free" With that he left the room and shut it behind him flicking around for a brief moment to implant the barrier on the doors surface. She didn't trust this place to uphold their end of not bothering her.

Once he was done he quickly left the inn and walked down the main street of the town towards one of the exits. He'd worry about his clothing after he returned but until then he was going to use this to his advantage, apparently this was a poorly informed area of the queen's hold.

Asui looked about the barren room. A bath sounded nice. She might as well enjoy the pleasantries while she can. So she did just that. Took a nice long hot bath. Dried herself off, and then went to sleep.

Her dream betrayed her mind. She saw death all around her. A dying land, and a dying people. The sun never shown in the sky, and darkness forever reigned supreme. Asui walked in this land of death and darkness trying to find someone... anyone alive. But there was naught. Her dream seemed to go on for days and she searched. Hoping that there was some place still left untainted by whatever plagued this land. Until she found it. A small flower growing in defiance of the darkness. Its leaves a dark green then she had ever seen and its petals a dark purple. She reached out for it. Touching it gently to be sure it was 'real' when she felt a sharp pain in her left side.

Icy and Hot at the same time. She felt steel pierce her skin and the blood from her wound spill to the ground. She looked but saw nothing. There was no one. There was no blade. She was still alone... but her body was bleeding just the same. Pain stuck her right arm. The same thing happened again. A wound but no reason for there to be one. Then something sliced her face.

She screamed and woke from her dream. Sweating and panting and searching for an enemy that was not real... But her wounds were. She was bleeding. it was more then just her arm, her side, and her face. Cuts of all shapes and sizes spanned her body and she could barely move without pain somewhere. A sicking whisper filled her little room.

'So its true little princess. You survived. You'll be my pet. And you're people will fall.' an evil crackle filled the room and then was gone. Leaving Asui to her suffering.

She had been told a story once. When her family visited a town in their travels. Of the Queen and her gifts. Whispers of rumors saying she could find anyone as long as she had a name and they were asleep. Some said she needed something that was once theirs.. but it made little difference. The queen knew she was alive. Whatever hide Asui from her for so long was no longer there to protect her.

Asui made herself move. She walked back to the bath and sat in it. Knowing the water would stop the bleeding for now... She had to think of how to heal. She would scar if she did it wrong... and she wasn't sure how much power she had anyway...

The knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She had to make a choice. So she silently asked her parents for guidance and started to heal. Her body started to glow a faint green. Slowly the worst of her wounds healed. Her face, arm, and side were fine. Everything else was still wounded but nothing she couldn't live with. She needed food... and that was the only thing that she thought would be behind the door.

She jumped out of the bath dripping wet and walked to the door pulling it open a little. A short elf stood there holding a plate in one hand and a cup in the other.
"I was told to bring you food slave." His voice was ruff... but something about him was odd. She didn't move to open the door farther or even to grab the plate. She closed the door and waited.
She hoped she was wrong... but didn't think so...

Without a second to think something heavy hit the door behind her. Once. Twice. Then silence. She wasn't sure what had happened but things were getting crazier by the second... So much for one last day of peace.

It took at least a few hours of walking to get to where he needed to be as he stood before a grand gate. The colors of his uniform made the gates open from the guard that saw him. They were hardly trained to know what faces to expect and from atop the gates it wouldn't be easy to tell any of the mages apart anyway. He had no idea what was going on back at the inn, the barrier he had placed on the door wasn't disrupted not from the outside anyway.

Tapping his foot he waited for the gates to fully open before walking in, the first guard he crossed paths with he quickly shot his hand out towards and grabbed the mans face. "I'd advise you telling me what I wish to know... though either way your life is already forfeit." He kept the hood covering most of his face and this base was unaware of what was going to happen to the entire compound. He'd make sure that the queen knew he was very much still alive.

Forcing the guard to take him to the commander of this base. Just outside of the door the man screamed to the top of his lungs as his flesh melted from his very skull. The person inside the room stood quickly with a sword drawn though after the door opened he stepped back a little seeing who he was faced against. "You! Your suppose to be dead, why do you plague me specter!" The man yelled towards Thalion his blade shaking a little in his hand.

Thalion cared little what he was being called as he stepped forward. "Where is she.. and don't tell me you don't know." The man seemed to stay behind the desk not that it really would save him from Thalion's wrath once he got his answers. "Who? Wait.. you still think.. She's probably dead by now I don't know! It's been how many years ago now?"

He was still walking forward as the man blabbered out his sentences not that it was going to stop the mage, he had one thing in mind destroy everything in this base. He grabbed the sword with one hand as the commander tried to strike out at him, though it seemed blocked by some form of barrier covering his palm. His other hand quickly grabbed the man's shoulder as he looked into his eyes. "You know... now tell me!" He growled to the man, all of the commanders knew such information if there was anyone who could be used as a leverage of sorts in any of the bases.

"S-she's the capital, they were taking her to the capital last I was told I swear that's all I know." The man exclaimed before cringing. "Very well.. " Was the last words Thalion said releasing the man's shoulder, what he needed to do was already done. "You shouldn't play with swords... you could get hurt" He spoke as he walked out of the room and the man's body seemed to move on it's own as he ran the sword through his middle, similar to the trick he had done in the forest forcing the man to run to send his message.

He didn't trust the information he had gotten so he checked the captive area just to be safe, though he already knew Neimi was here. There were a handful of captive elves in the holding cells though, they seemed to of the fallen kingdom. Seeing as he had killed the guard on his way down here he fetched the keys and went about freeing each of the cells, bindings and all. Though they didn't move unsure of how to take this from a dark elf. "Either run or stay here I care little either way but you have your chance to flee now and find a new start." He said before leaving that area afterwards. What a day to try to make amends for his past, surely the goddess was doing this as a sick joke.

Probably wasting at least another hour or two he went about clearing the rest of the barracks continuing the use of the dark magics he was being shunned for in the first place. Though the price to use such enchants was a heavy one. As he started to leave the barracks behind him lighting all of the buildings on fire before hand he coughed once and looked at his hand. "Heh .. that's what I get huh over doing it again" He needed get back to the inn the girl wasn't in a safe place and he knew it, plus if he was coughing blood up his barrier wasn't going to hold out forever.

The banging continued as the girl thought of what to do. She grabbed the towel she had forgotten before. She hadn't been seen really. The door got in the way, but still. She wrapped herself up and looked around the room. There wasn't much here that could help her... No weapons... No where to hide... She wondered silently if he put a barrier on the window as well. He hadn't said so. Maybe she could get out that way... if she needed to.

She walked back over to the door. Why had no one come to see what was going on? Was the owner in on it too? She took a deep breathe and stared at the door.

"What do you want." Her voice was forceful. She didn't want to run away. She wanted answers.

He had half a mind to go straight to the inn to check up on the girl, but he figured she should be fine it was only a few hours wasn't it? He hardly knew he had lost track of time that was certain. Instead he needed to find a change of clothes, walking around in these colors was just asking to be noticed seeing as they were the robes of the queen's men. He needed something that'd draw less attention, plus these had blood on them... even if it wasn't his own or at least most of it wasn't.

After finding a vendor and getting what he needed he started to head back towards the inn, he wasn't really in a hurry but then again his energy level wasn't going to permit him to be in a hurry either. Though upon entering the building he got a odd look from the desk worker, but the man behind the counter never said a word.

The little event going on at the inn by the time Thalion got back there and towards the room. Though he still didn't know about the little vision or voices the girl had heard as to what was causing this little bit of trouble with the man with the room service. The worker seemed frustrated and explained he had been trying to do as he was ordered and the girl refused to answer the door aside from one time.

Ok so her actions were a bit odd, but he couldn't blame her really. She was probably the only light elf in the area let alone everyone here saw her as a mere object. After saying a few words to the flustered man he left what he was trying to hand over with Thalion.

Touching the door with his other hand the barrier seemed to fade before he opened the door. Though he wasn't expecting her to be in a towel and staring at the door. He sighed a little before sitting the tray with food down on a table in the room. "I said you'd be safe, you really need to trust me a little I think I know what I'm doing after all these years."

He didn't really say anything else as he walked over to the sofa that was along the side wall of the room and sat on it before falling over. 'I need to stop doing this, it'll get worse each time' He thought to himself, plus if he had to keep a eye on her as well then he wouldn't always have the chance or luxury to rest. Though either way for the time being he stayed where he was letting out a few heavy breaths before his breathing returned to normal. At the least during the walk here he had stopped hacking up blood, that would have probably freaked the girl out more so then whatever happened here.

"I don't think I was safe.... She found me. Not long ago I had wounds... and that man was trying to break down the door.." She tried to explain everything but the words came out in a rush of broken thoughts. Not much making sense even to her. She stopped suddenly looking at him. "You're hurt... What happened?"
She had gotten up and walked over to him still clutching the towel around her. She wanted to help. The urge to heal him was so strong, but she didn't know if she could... She couldn't even tell how bad it was.
"We need to get you out of those clothes, your wounds bandaged, and get you to bed. We can't travel with you in this state."

"thats not good.. lets hope our luck stays true for a while longer. I'll work on a different barrier next time.. or during the periods we rest, a stronger one so to speak. Though he quickly noticed she dropped her own worry and started questioning is state and what had happened.

He sighed a little waving a hand lazily in the air. "eh don't worry about it, most of the blood isn't mine.. besides I bothered to get new clothing.. wearing the queen's colors as a wanted man is hardly the attention we need heh." Even with him saying that most of the blood wasn't his she still seemed worried as she went on.

He frowned a little before sitting up a bit. "don't worry about it, they'll heal by morning on thier own. Maybe one day i'll tell you what happened. But for now you need your rest and i have a barrier to set up to ensure that happens." He paused for a moemnt before speaking again, also you getting dressed might be a good idea as well.. " He was stubborn in his ways, he had made due for a while on his own it was odd to have someone worry about his state of being again. Though he was in fine condition to travel after a bit of rest. "just don't worry about it, even if she knows our current location it'll take time to get here, we'll be long gone by morning."

She looked at him. Judging to see if he really would be fine... She thought he was lying to protect her. As if she couldn't handle the truth on top of everything else that was happening. She worried but dropped the subject. It wasn't her place to pry. At his words she remembered that she was in fact only in a towel. She had been subconsciously holding it close to her. Her mind traveling elsewhere. Like the man that tried to break down the door, or the queen trying to kill her, or his wounds as he sat there. Yet now she flushed a bright red and turned from him.
"I hadn't realized... I had totally forgotten.." Embarrassed and shamed she found her clothes and quickly changed. When all was said and done her face was still bright red and she didn't dare look at him.
"Do you think you'll be able to keep her from me if I sleep? Didn't you say thats how she found me? Does that mean my family had protected me somehow? I didn't know they had that kind of power.... They seemed.. normal...."

He waved off her sudden moment of panic as she changed, it was rather funny in truth. Everything that had happened she had forgotten all about just having a towel on. She better get use to events such as these quickly or this was going to be a long trip. He seemed to think over hwo to answer her as far as her sleep went and her family protecting her. "im sure they were nromal to say the least, maybe they were some that had been traine dto be protectors.. theres also wards and runes that can hide ones location if need be. Theres a number of ways to conseal where someone is if you don't want them to be found." He grinned a little, he had a few tricks for that if they needed them, ones the Queen would never know about.

"as far as if i think I can gaurd you while you sleep, more then a easy task." He laughed slightly before going on. "im no second rate mage, theres more then a few reason the Queen would like me dead. So don't worry about her finding your dreams again, it won;t happen." He swore this pretty much to her, he couldn't afford to let it happen, he was lucky the Queen didn't just try to kill her the first time she was found.

"Are you sure... I'll be safe? It was so real... The pain... and then the wounds... You said there were runes... Maybe you should teach me ways to protect myself. Just in case... we were to be separated... It would make more sense if my parents had been trained as protectors. Who better to intrust the fate of the dying kingdom too.....? "

She stopped talking lost in her own thoughts trying to remember if there was anything... odd about the things her parents would do... But they were always in hiding. So things were always very protective and such. Counting exits. Finding the safest routes. Studying maps and town plans. She never really questioned where it all came from. Or how they knew what they did. They were just pale elves in a changing world. Trying to out run the changing times. It was never more then that... until now.

"You said you weren't a second rate mage... but I never said you were. I was just.. You're magic seems to hurt you. I don't want to cause more pain.... not to someone thats trying to help me... I even don't wish to cause pain to those that would hurt me, but I know I have to...."

He thought on it a moment, teaching was a option.. it might be a bit of a struggle with someone he wasn't sure had a stable magic ability but still. "You'll be fine, you have my word." He was still debating on the teaching part though, but he did finally sigh slightly. "I could try and teach you some method of protection, I cannot make a promise you'll be able to use it though. There is different types of magic wielders in this world.. not all of them can learn basic spells such as a protection rune." Sure she had told him she didn't heal him from before but he still knew better then to believe that, and from what he knew it wasn't any magic he had crossed paths with during his travels.

He shook his head a little as she spoke. "Not all magic causes pain, only a few types. All of the types that inflict pain or cause damage to the caster are known as forbidden arts, they were used during the dark ages, commonly to get information from the other side seeing as they are also where all of the controlling arts are hidden as well." He shrugged a little "well just say i knew this was going to happen and did it anyway, it hardly is as bad as it looks." So he was lying a little but it didn't matter that much, as he said he knew it would happen.

"So teaching you or putting a barrier up isn't going to cause any harm.. unless your on the other side of said barrier." He was trying to make her stop worrying over everything she was too young to be doing that much thinking, though she was going to have a rough time getting to her rightful place if she didn't want to harm anyone. "At least you know that you will have to.. We'll try to avoid conflict as best as we can if that'll ease some of the weight on your shoulders."

She thought about all that he said and knew few things for certain, but she suspected that he was far worse then he was letting on and that they wouldn't avoid conflict very easily. Her path was one of pain and death to others. Even if it was just to get to her place and free her people. Thus changing the world into what she hoped would be a better place. Yet she knew little of the world and its people. Nor much of anything when it came to ruling and politics. Her parents did talk with her about such things but she had thought they were just stories for when they spoke it was like legends or bedtime stories. She never let herself think of a shiny castle and a pretty life. She knew she would always be on the run with her family. She knew the world would always catch up to them and they would have to move again... but now they were dead. No more running or moving....

After a long silence she sighed a little.
" I know two things that may help you to teach me. I put my life in your hands and trust you as the only friend I have. I had healed you in the forest. Calling upon the powers of nature to cure you. I'm pretty sure I could do more then that, but I've never really tried anything except growing things and healing animals... I also have some control over water it seems. That is what had saved my life while you were away... I did not know of this power until today... I don't know where these gifts came from or what I may or may not be able to do with them, but I figure its easier for you to teach me if you know some of the things I can do...."

She looked down at the floor waiting for judgement to be past knowing not what would be said or done.

'What if I could heal the damage he got from using his magic?
Maybe that's how I could repay him.....' She thought to herself as she stood there.


[was not sure how to show thinking >.<;]

((your fine that's how i normally show it is with ' instead of " or some go and use the italic for it :3 ))

He seemed to think for a moment before speaking. "So nature then... strange.." he muttered a little before noticing the questioning look she was giving him. "Normally one controls a single element, the healing ability you spoke of is from life or the forest whatever you wish to label it as. But water is from another strand of magic altogether." He seemed to go back to his thinking on this matter. "I think .. once we get the two we know of under control I may see if the other natural elements respond as well to your command.. but that can wait there is a lot to do as it is."

"But we'll have to start on that tomorrow, you still need rest." Pausing a moment he thought of something else to say, something he had forgotten to answer for her. "as far as where your powers come from, probably your blood line, even if your mother and father had none of these said gifts somewhere along the line someone did. Either way consider it lucky, it'll save us twenty years of basic magic training." Though he still seemed to be thinking heavily on this, not that she had to tell him she healed him in the forest he knew that easily enough. But there were enough questions he had to fill a damned tomb from front to back. It was rare if not unheard of for one being to be born with wild magic let alone for them to have the gift of multiple elements maybe even truly having the gift of nature itself.

Asui smiled a little grabbing a blanket and curled up in the corner. She felt safer there. Away from the window and the door. She knew it wouldn't matter, but it was her paranoia getting the best of her again. She tried so hard not to think of it all, but if someone could hurt her in her sleep... How would she ever be safe. She put her trust in a stranger. Someone she barely knew... Someone that had once worked for her enemy.

Magic or not she barely felt safe as she closed her eyes to sleep. To much talking and not many answers. More questions. Questions of who she really was, of what she was meant for. How was she going to deal with all of this... Alone.

Morning came soon enough, though he had spent most of the night in a restless sleep. This wasn't a easy task, hell if anything this journey would be the death of him before it was over with. To say he wasn't bothered by that fact would be a lie, but truth be told he didn't mind the idea of it. So long as this girl managed to get to her rightful place and restore the lands he'd call it a job well done. In the back of his mind he feared his daughter was already dead, to go about thinking she wasn't was foolish. His mind kept drifting, how things use to be. Everything was so easy back then, there was no real war just two sides with disagreements. There wasn't any mass graves like there were now. The longer he thought about it the more he realized that they needed more people for this, between the two of them there was no way they'd make it to the castle let alone inside without being killed.

Asui woke before he did, and looked around the room making sure he was still there and alive. When he was her heart rate settled back to normal and she got up to get her bag. Silently she moved about the room. When she finally found her bag she pulled out the book. She hadn't been able to read much of it. Maybe it would help them in some way. She opened it to page one and remembered the words on the page without reading them. She flipped to the next page. There was a list of names. Contacts. The page before had said something about safe houses. Maybe this was them. Next to each name there was an address, and a date. All of the dates were from fairly recent times. None later then two weeks. One was in this very town.

She thought about what this could mean. A safe place. So close? It was hard to believe. Just then there was a sound from behind her and she jumped. She hadn't realized he was awake.

"I didn't wake you did I?"

"Hardly... I've been up off and on." He shrugged slightly before sitting up finally deciding it was time to give up on any more rest for today. Though he did do something a bit odd, or what would seem odd to most. Hold one hand in front of him he glared a little at the underside of his wrist before pressing on it with the other hand. "Tsk.." His hissed out before he removed his other hand. He didn't care quite yet to explain what he was checking for, or why he seemed a little annoyed with his findings this morning.

"either way, we should get moving. At the least from this building... As fun a thought as it is to think the Queen knows where you are at the present time." Over all they did need to move, staying here was hardly safe. But that didn't mean they had to leave town just yet, just that this tavern wasn't a good spot to be in.