Counsel

[Tismri]

Tenel Ka sat at the large, circular stone table, her mind occupied with the matters she was there to discuss. The leaders of the nations threatened by the Shade's army had chosen Tronjheim as the location for their war counsel. With her at the table were Queen Nasuada, Queen Arya, King Orrin, and King Orik. Tenel Ka could see the grim expressions on each of their faces. None of them enjoyed the thought of another war so soon after the last. Tenel Ka wondered why Eragon, the hero of the war against Galbatorix, was absent. They would need the Riders' help against the abomination.
"I have to admit, this army sounds like a living nightmare. Members of all races, dragons, and even many Shades?" She paled at the thought. She recalled Romulus telling her of his encounter with one Shade years ago, and she shuddered. "How do we even face something like this?"
~~~~~
Tento wandered through the halls of Tronjheim, somewhat impatient and anxious. She'd volunteered to be an escort for Queen Arya, to make sure she arrived safely. It wasn't that she doubted the queen's ability to protect herself, nor Firnen's. Officially, she'd simply volunteered out of formality. Personally, she had other reasons for travelling.
"If he's not here, I'm going to pulverize him," she muttered to herself.

[Jay]

Jaygon walked into the room and paused looking at the leaders. He was dressed in what he would consider a more wear which consisted of a fine silk tunic and leggings, as well as a cloak which was emerald green. Jaygon bowed to the leaders present and took a step forward, "My apologies for being late I underestimated the time it would take to get the guards to understand that I am supposed to be here, my deepest apologies." Jaygon walked to the round table and took a seat quickly scanning the faces in the room, "I will be the representative for the Riders since Eragon is otherwise occupied at the moment. And rest assured the Riders will defend the peoples of Alagaesia as is our duty to do so. If I may offer my advice on my lady's earlier question, I advise patience and caution. I know that none of us are ready for another full scale war so soon after Galbatorix was brought to justice and therefore moving to quickly would end this before it even begins." Jaygon leaned back in his chair for a moment seeming to think. "I caution patience, to move to quick would be to start a war that no one is ready for."

[Max452]

Queen Arya sat elegantly at the stone table, opposite of Queen Mother Tenel Ka, and besides Queen Nasuada. The elven queen listened to Ismalia's ruler with her traditional blank expression. She had gazed over the attendees of the meeting, not surprised that Eragon was not here; he had told her he was destined never to return, as Angela had predicted it. She wasn't one to believe in such things, but for now, she knew exactly why Eragon was not present. She missed him dearly as well as Saphira, but their duties took precedent and Arya would not be a distraction for him.

Her eyes flickered over to the new arrival and was surprised that Jaygon was sent in Eragon's stead, but hide her surprise well. She listened patiently to what the Ancient had to say, as he held much wisdom and experience. "Aye, patience indeed is necessary, but preparations must be made. Shades are not known for their patience, Master Jaygon, but for their lust for power. We must unite if we are to conquer this new enemy and be prepared to face them; this new enemy harbors abominations that even Galbatorix knew better to meddle with." The Queen of the elves stated with caution as she turned her gaze back to the other occupants, signaling to them that she desired their opinions as well.

***
Aiden yawned as he lazily rested against Lenora's talon. He was in one of the massive mess halls of the dwarven city, awaiting the end of the meeting with all the leaders so he could actually have something to do. Lenora was dozing, having drunken three barrels of the dwarven mead out of some contest with a rather large dwarf. Needless to say, Lenora won out, but was now feeling the full effects of a hangover; she obliged to just sleep it off. So now, as his dragon was sleeping, Aiden felt content to just sit about, daydreaming for the time he would be able to visit Du Weldenvarden; his temper had calm down some over the last sixteen years...unless riled up.

[Tismri]

Tento gave up on her mindless wandering, knowing it would get her nowhere. She idly made her way toward a mess hall. She wasn't exactly hungry, but it seemed a good place to sit.
She was a little startled when, as she entered, she spotted a familiar red dragon. A smile briefly crossed her face, followed by an annoyed look. Why did he always manage to appear just as she gave up waiting for him? She approached quietly from behind.
"You're actually not out causing trouble for once," she stated, crossing her arms. "Have you actually gorwn up a little, or did you just get kicked out of somewhere?" She gave him a smirk and wrapped her arms around him. She wouldn't admit it to just anyone, but she'd missed Aiden. A lot.

[Max452]

OOC: What exactly is their relationship again? Or have we not determined that? lol

In the back of his mind, Aiden felt like something painful was about to happen. He wasn't sure why he got that feeling, but it only seemed to appear when... Oh crap. He thought as he heard a familiar voice right behind him. Turning around and getting to his feet, Aiden gave Tento a sheepish smile. "Tento! What..how...its good to see you!" He rushed out, ignoring her jibes at him momentarily as he had the sinking feeling that she was going to hit him for not visiting her sooner. He saw her move and expected her to punch him, but was surprised to find himself embraced in a hug. He chuckled nervously as he returned the hug, wondering if its a ploy to lower his guard. "Hehe. I missed you too!" He stated and then realized her earlier words. He leaned back a bit, to face her. "You know better to ask that sort of question: of course I never grow up!" He gave her a cheeky grin, wondering if he should wake Lenora from her nap; she did have a bad headache though.

[Tismri]

OOC: Erm...I had it in my head that they were courting or something. lol, like they rarely see each other, but spend all their time together when they do.

Ten smiled as Aiden returned her hug, his remarks making her smirk. She knew he would never grow up. He would probably live for centuries as a Rider, unless he did something so moronic that he ended up getting killed; she wouldn't put it past him. But he would always remain completely immature no matter how many years passed.
"Well, in that case," she said, releasing her hug and quick as a whip punching him softly in the face. Softly for her at least. She'd spent the last couple of decades attempting to learn how to control her strength. It was still difficult at times, but she was mostly able to keep from accidentally injuring someone or destroying a city with a careless movement. "That's for not coming to see me sooner."

[Max452]

OOC: Cool deal. I figured after that mission they were sent with Kari that something had to happen, especially since I was planning on having Lenora set them up (hence Ten pretending to be with Aiden lol). Hehehe!

Aiden knew that cheeky grin would land him on the floor. Even with her controlling her strength and temper, Tento still could send him flying - and she hit him softly this time. His eyes blinked a few times before regaining vision and when he did, he found himself staring at Ten. "Tennnnn!" Aiden whined as he stared up at her, scrambling to his knees and entering a begging stance. "You know I would have come sooner if I could!" He gazed up at her with innocent eyes. The years and relationship with Tento had tamed Aiden's temper and Aiden would never admit it though, and Lenora would constantly tease him, that Tento had him wrapped around her elven finger. "I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you!" He gave her a hestitant smile, trying to appease his elf. These were one of the rare moments that Aiden was found inconceivably whipped by his girlfriend, rather than found in a shouting match with her.

[Tismri]

Tento watched as Aiden took a kneeling stance after he recovered from her blow. A smirk crossed her face as she stepped closer to him.
"I do enjoy the sight of humans on their knees," she told him, resting her elbows on his shoulders and gazing down at him with a smile. She raised an eyebrow at his promise.
"Oh? And how exactly do you plan on making it up to me?" she asked. She leaned down, hovering her face near his. She enjoyed teasing him almost as much as kissing him sometimes. His whining was always so cute.

[Max452]

OOC: LOL I recognize that line! lol

Aiden blinked at Tento's teasing, his mind registering the sudden change of energy coming from his lover as she approached him. His whining had stopped, but his heart rate had picked up now. It had been so long since he had seen her; he missed her more than he would ever admit to anyone, save Lenora. "I bet you do." His voice was low as she rested her elbows on his shoulders. He could feel the familiar electricty that shot through them and gave her an impish grin at her question. "By giving you whatever you want." He whispered to her, leaning his face upward to meet her lips, but stopping just short of connecting them. He knew what she was doing, and he wasn't going to be the one to give in first...well, maybe. "Anytime, you want...." He illicited as he brushed his lips against hers, but pulled slightly back, teasing her.

Ugh. Must you two start already? My head is throbbing too much to even deal with your speech to one another. Get a room already. Lenora complained, not exactly a happy dragon when she had a hangover.

[Tismri]

Ten grinned at Aiden's promise, struggling against herself as he brushed his lips against hers. She wanted to tease him some more.
"Whatever I want?" she asked him. She brushed her lips against his neck lightly, breathing in his scent, her hands brushing into his hair. "And do you know what it is I want right now?" She smirked and pulled back from him, looking him in the eyes with a very impish sort of grin.
"I want cake," she told him.

[Max452]

Aiden's breathing had increased and his heart was on a rampage at what Tento was doing to him. His body shuddered at the kiss she gave him on his neck, desiring more. His eyes had a glazed look on them when she pulled away to look at him. "What?" He asked, a devious glint in his eye. He then registered her words. Cake? That's what she wanted? The glassy look dissipated into a surprised one. "You want cake." His voice lost its seductivenes and was more deadpanned. "We haven't seen each other in months and you want cake?" He looked at her in disbelief, finding himself getting riled up at her teasing. "Cake!?" He blinked and pulled away, standing up as he did so. "Where in all of Tronjheim, am I going to find cake?" He asked, exasperated and a bit annoyed at Ten's demand. "That. Was not what I thought you wanted. Of all things, you want cake!" He dramatically fumed, the romantic mood gone because of cake.

OOC: Post 3000!! Yay!

[Tismri]

Tento was still grinning as Aiden crumbled under her teasing. His mood completely changed. However, that did not change the fact that she'd said the truth. She was really craving some cake right now.
"Well, we are in a dining hall, silly," she told him. "I was talking to some cooks earlier while I was walking around waiting for you to show up, and they promised to make a cake for me. So, if you could be so kind," she leaned into him again, giving him a light kiss on the lips, "to go get that cake for me," another kiss, "then I would be most grateful...and return the favor of giving you whatever you want." Her eyes sparkled lightly, enjoying how easy it was to tease her lover.

[Max452]

"What?" Aiden's darkening mood halted as he processed her words. She had already talked with the cooks...she...was teasing him and lost! His eyes grew wide as he stared at her. "You..." His voice trailed off when she leaned in, setting his senses on overload; he could smell that sweet, woodsy smell, almost like honey - he loved that smell. He loved it almost as much as he loved her taste. She kissed him lightly then, causing him to fall back into submission. "Mmmhmm.." He returned her kiss the second time, as he was caught off guard from the first one, his mind pleasantly dazed. "I can do that..." He told her with an agreeable nod, especially at what she compromised to. He leaned in to kiss her again, but paused as he thought about the cake. If he went and got that blasted thing right now the he could spend the rest of the day with Ten, in his room. His eyes grew excited at that prospect, that he forgot to follow through on kissing her. "Gotcha! Cake! I'll go grab the cake!" And with that, he bolted off to the cooks, intending to bug them thoroughly for Tento's cake - not realizing how easily Ten got him to do what she wanted.

[Tismri]

Tento couldn't help her laughter as Aiden leapt to his feet and charged off to retrieve her cake. He really would do anything for her, especially if she promised him what he wanted in return. She sat down at a nearby table while she waited for her lover to return. While he was gone, she thought of him. They had been together for a number of years now, but oddly she sometimes found herself feeling as if their relationship was missing something. Elves generally chose their mates with care. They would remain together for however long they wished, and then part ways. But Aiden was human, and his kind was different. Humans practiced marriage, which as far as she was able to tell was a vow to remain mates for life. She wondered if Aiden desired to make such a promise to her. After all, they would likely live for centuries. Would they really want to spend all that time together. Tiny doubts gnawed at her, but in her heart, she knew that the answer was yes. No matter what, she knew she belonged with Aiden. Nothing could ever change that.

[Max452]

No more than quarter of an hour passed when Aiden came rushing back into the mess hall. He had a wide grin on his face, pleased with himself for accomplishing his task. Following him, were two dwarves, carrying a rather large platter. "Ten! Sorry to keep you waiting! But they had just taken the cake out and was letting it cool!" Aiden bounced over to his beloved and the dwarves then placed the rather large cake in front of Tento; it was the length of man's arm and the width of 2 inches. "Look at this! It'll take you days to eat all this!" Aiden declared with jubilation, eager to please Tento. He wasn't much of a sweets person, so he never had trouble with Tento in trying to get her to share with him; it was usually him giving whatever he received from others to her since she loved them so much.
"For you, Tento!" The dwarves saluted the elf with pride as they presented her the cake. "It is made with the finest sweets in all of Alagaesia!" They boasted. "Eat it well!" They gave her a big grin and marched off back into the kitchens.

Once they left, Aiden sat next to her on the bench, straddling the seat as he faced her. He slid over to her with a appraising grin at the cake. "I never knew they could make such a large cake." He turned to face her completely. "The cooks assured me that it is one of the sweetest, most delicious of all cakes." His eyes shone with signs of wanting approval for his great retrieval, but mostly the sign of wanting to please her - to make her happy.