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Post by Tismri on Mar 25, 2009 12:20:59 GMT -5
OOC: okay, there are three people I would like to join this thread. Trinn as Nasuada, and maybe as Elaine; Backabuth as Zak; and Max452 as Einar, whenever her computer gets over its cold. lol.
Marola sat on Rauthr's back as they flew over Surda. She looked around. She had always hated Surda, for multiple reasons. Mostly because they supported the Varden, her enemies.
She sat back and sighed. She had a feeling that what she was about to do was idiocy in the highest degree. Here she was, an Empire Rider, about to insist on speaking with the leader of the Varden. She had no doubt that they would just as soon kill her as let her even land in their city.
Rauthr, tell me again why I am doing this, she told him.
Because you have gained the belief that you should know your enemies and they should know you, he told her, and you have become slightly more merciful as of late. Marola sighed.
Soon, they were flying over Aberon, the capital of Surda. A number of dragons stirred in alarm. She didn't doubt that many of them did not recognize her. She had never yet met any of the Varden Riders in open combat, except for one fool who tried to assassinate the king once. But they were still wary of her, she had no doubt, and had probably heard of her. She pulled the hood of her cloak over her face as Rauthr landed in a courtyard of the castle. She glanced around. If Zak was here, he was sure to have noticed them by now and would be coming to her side in a few moments. She waited for whoever would represent the Varden to come meet her.
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Post by Backabuth on Mar 26, 2009 14:36:11 GMT -5
Zak glanced at the sky, searching for Marola and Rauthr. He sighed when they were not in sight. "It would have been so much easier if she had ridden down here with me...but then Rauthr would be left out." Zak mumbled under his breath, pulling his hood farther down over his eyes.
Minutes later, Zak and Ikal trotted into the courtyard of the castle, spotting Marola and Rauthr. Zak guided Ikal over to them, then slipped off the stallion, gripping the hilt of his sword. "I hate it here."
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Post by Tismri on Mar 26, 2009 15:31:09 GMT -5
"You're not the only one," Marola told her bodyguard, not even turning to face him. She just waited. "The sooner they come out to meet us, the better. I would much rather be in Gil'ead at the moment." She held down a wave of emotion as thoughts of her son came to mind.
He's changed your heart, Rola, Rauthr told her, That's why you've felt this meeting was necessary.
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Post by Trinn on Mar 27, 2009 15:38:12 GMT -5
Guards spilled into the courtyard in which the unknown dragon had landed, spears held at the ready, sheilds glinting in the sunlight. At the fore of the group was Elaine, her brown eyes drinking in the emerald dragon and its rider. No, she had never seen this one before, nor had Eridor. A man stood beside the green dragon in a familiar way, and Elaine calculated that he was the riders companion. Cursed courtyard. No room for me to land with green-scales taking up all the space. grumbled Eridor in his thundering voice.
Peace, Eridor.
"Well met, shur'tugal." Elaine said in a neutral tone. "For what purpose do you come here? I certainly hope it is for peaceful matters." She turned her gaze pointedly to the sky, where a flock of dragons glided above, watching the green dragon carefully. She returned her sight to the rider. "It would not go well for you and your friend," here she glanced at the man, "if you did anything unsavvory."
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Post by Tismri on Mar 27, 2009 17:09:04 GMT -5
Marola narrowed her eyes slightly at the woman, then looked up at the grey dragon flying in the sky. She could tell he was larger than Rauthr, and definately older. She returned her attention to the woman.
"My matters are peaceful enough," she said, showing no emotion at the moment, "though I must say I cannot tell you honestly that my intentions are friendly. I am not, nor ever will be a friend of the Varden. However, I swear I will cause neither you nor none of your people while I am here, if I may meet with two people: your leader, Nasuada, and Einar, your Rider and to me a traitor."
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Post by Max452 on Mar 27, 2009 19:31:45 GMT -5
"A traitor to one, is a friend for another." Einar's soft voice pierced behind Marola. He had stood in the shadows as he watched Marola and Rauthr swoop down and decided it was best to keep to it unless she tried something. He noted the man beside her and the protective atmosphere he seemed to have for her. Upon her request, he emerged like a silent predator. His arms were crossed and since he wore no cloak, his arms were bare, revealing his muscles.
I wonder what they want. Stigandr glided in the air, above the courtyard and next to Eridor as he spoke to the gray dragon.
"I see the news of my...deferment to the Varden has reached the Empire's ears." Einar's eyes watched Marola carefully, trying to assess her actions and motives. "If you wish to speak with me, I prefer it to be done in front of Lady Nasuada."
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Post by Tismri on Mar 28, 2009 21:15:26 GMT -5
Marola reguarded Einar for a few minutes, a mix of emotions flowing through her. On one hand, she was furious that he left the Empire to join the Varden. Had he not been raised by the king himself? He owed his very life to Galbatorix, yet look how he repaid him: betrayal.
On the other hand, she was very close to betraying the king herself. Keeping her son's birth a secret from Galbatorix was difficult, and at times she almost felt guilty for it. But he could never ever know about Cortell. No one could, except her trusted servants taking care of him in Gil'ead, and Zak.
Another feeling she felt, that she never imagined she would feel for any of the Varden, much less at traitor, was pure and absolute gratitude. Einar may not have known it, but in killing Tyr he had eliminated her greatest threat to her son. It was for this that she wished to speak with him.
"What you say is true, Einar. You do have friends now, probably better ones than you had in Uru'baen. But in my eyes, you have betrayed us. You murdered one of the king's most loyal servants, Tyr Valentine, and after that hid in the wilderness and finally joined those who were once your enemies. Those together make up the qualities of a traitor." She paused for a long while, staring into his eyes. In hers, they did not show the rage she normally would have felt for a traitor. There was not anger or bitterness. The only thing she allowed to show, and Einar would have had to gaze very deeply indeed to see it, was the gratefulness she felt for him. She continued speaking in a softer voice, so neither Elaine or Zak would hear.
"I really would rather say what I have to say to you in private, Einar. What I have to say is for your ears only. I promise that I have no hidden deception to what I am saying, and I promise to do you no harm. Please, Einar."
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Post by Trinn on Mar 31, 2009 13:11:25 GMT -5
Elaine stiffened when the rider spoke of her allegiance. Eridor dropped his alltitude to fly ever closer to the courtyard. "Fine," said Elaine, "I will take you to Nasuada under truce. Dismount in peace, and be sure your partners do no harm." she said in regards to the horsman and the dragon.
***
Eridor snarled. I know not. The last time a strange rider wished to speak to Nasuada, things had become tense. Your rider seems to know them, though. What are their names?
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Post by Tismri on Mar 31, 2009 15:53:00 GMT -5
Marola turned to face the woman, her expression inscrutable. She couldn't help but smirk at her obvious discomfort at knowing her allegiance. What had the Varden to fear of a single enemy Rider in their midst? None, unless this Rider and her dragon were stealthy, deceptive and not afraid of death. Which, of course, Marola and Rauthr were. But she had come in peace, and she would abide by her promise. She dismounted from Rauthr, giving him a quick glance.
"Neither I nor my partner will attack you except in self-defense," she replied, "As for him," she indicated Zak, "Zak is here to protect me from anything that appears as a threat. If he even suspects one of your people mean me harm, he has orders to eliminate them. Such are his commands, and they come from our great king." This was just slightly tweaked from the truth. Galbatorix had ordered Zak to spy on her when he suspected her of treachery, and to cover this up, Zak had told her the king assigned him as her bodyguard. As far as the rest of the world knew, this was true.
Marola glanced back at Einar.
"I will speak with you before I leave," she said.
Rauthr's forest green eyes glittered as he looked around and tasted the air. The hostility was a pugnant as the early spring flowers. He didn't like the fact that Marola was going in to speak with one of her greatest enemies by herself, with only that other scrawny two-legger to watch her. He looked up at the sky and saw two dragons circling the air above him like vultures. The silver one he recognized as Stigandr. He could hardly hold back a snarl of disgust at the traitor.
My Rider may have a reason not to harm you or yours, but I have no such restraints. One day we will fight the Varden, and my teeth are going to be digging into your throat, he told Stigandr.
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Post by Max452 on Apr 1, 2009 0:59:13 GMT -5
Einar listened calmly to Marola. His eyes went fiery on the mention of Tyr Valentine, but kept silent as she continued on. He heard the pleading in her voice on the request to meet with him alone. He still felt uncomfortable on a private meeting, but would acquiesce to her. He continued his silence as Elaine spoke to her and she in turn. He scoffed slightly when she mentioned the "great king."
Once she directed herself at him again, he inclined his head in agreement. He watched the bodyguard with a raised eyebrow as Marola spoke of him. Why should the King send her a bodyguard? What is she hiding? He wondered to himself.
***
Stigandr's throat growled low.
Aye. I know them. Not unlike Einar, she is a deadly killer...Marola is her name and the green dragon beneath her is Rauthr. They are a deadly combination if they choose to be. He watched quietly at he hovered in the sky.
Once the talking was done, he heard Rauthr's voice speak. Stigandr didn't back his hostility at Rauthr's threat. Be warned, hatchling. My scales are far sharper than your tongue and teeth combined! He bared his teeth at the green dragon.
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Post by arwyn on Apr 2, 2009 16:12:47 GMT -5
Eragon emerged from the shadows of the gate. It was obvious he had run part of the way, but his chest didn't heave. Saphira had flown him the rest of the way and landed calmly behind him. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw Marola.
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Post by Tismri on Apr 2, 2009 16:53:40 GMT -5
Marola gave a slight nod to Einar, then turned to follow Elaine. She stiffened when she caught sight of a young man and a large sapphire blue dragon. She knew who he was at once. All her long years of training, all the long months since Rauthr hatched, she was waiting for a moment such as this.
Eragon...Brom's apprentice. This Rider...this boy was taught by the very man who kill her father all those years ago. She felt her blood scream for vengeance, her mind crying out her vow to her father. All the old hatred returned to her in that single glance. She reached back and grasped the hilt of her long blade. She would have used it in that instant had not her promise not to harm the Varden stopped her.
She stood there. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think about anything except her father. She stared at him, and every ounce of hatred within her was evident in that look.
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Post by arwyn on Apr 2, 2009 16:56:15 GMT -5
Peace little one. said Saphira. We are not responsible for your father's demise.
"Yea, too bad I killed the Ra'zac or you could have thanked them for taking revenge on Brom." spat Eragon.
Eragon! Saphira was surprised by this outburst.
Eragon settled into a glare,
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Post by Tismri on Apr 2, 2009 17:03:44 GMT -5
OOC: very few people know she's Morzan's daughter, by the way. And hardly any of the Varden had ever heard of her. Just to let you know. lol
Marola's glare deepened at them, and she watched him like two strange wolves meeting in a dark forest.
"You robbed me the pleasure of killing them myself. Do you know how long I worked for my vengeance? How hard I drove myself to kill your mentor? I shall take it out on you one of these days." She vowed this before all present, anger burning in her eyes.
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Post by arwyn on Apr 2, 2009 17:07:42 GMT -5
Eragon rolled his eyes. He turned to climb back on Saphira. But she took off.
Saphira!
Apologize.
WHAT!!!
I said apologize. You have been extreamly childish.
Eragon turned to look at Morola.
"I'm sorry." he muttered. The blow to his pride was obvious.
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