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Post by Max452 on Dec 19, 2012 21:16:39 GMT -5
Seth inhaled the crisp air as he wrapped his cloak around his muscled body. The air was fresher here in the Spine than most places he had encountered over the passed few weeks. He angled his nose a bit higher to follow a particular scent. He felt the soft caress of the snow hit his face as he exposed it to the sky. He inhaled again. Pine, evergreen, dirt, and a what could only be described as cold, hit his nostril in seconds, along with another scent. Bitter...sweet.... Seth thought to himself and to Hyperion, who was soaring high above the sky, a mere speck to those on the ground.
She was here. The blind Rider told his bond as he angled his face to the east, where he had been heading toward for the past hour. He had been tracking Glory for a good while now - following her in hopes to return her to her senses...and to get her to come back home. Seth snuggled his coat around him some more before continuing onward, using his senses and the energy around him to guide him to Glory.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 19, 2012 23:35:08 GMT -5
Red on white. The two colors stood in stark contrast to each other as Gloriann wiped her dark blade against the snow. Travelling merchants, on their way to sell supplies in Ilirea. Katriana had sent her to cut off these lines. War was creeping closer, as the Shade Rider planned on moving in to take back Alagaesia. The Varden had stolen it, and Katriana wanted her home back. Glory planned on helping her every step of the way.
She'd sent a fireball at the carriages during an early part of the battle, and now they sat, smoldering, sending black ash falling toward the white snow. Her work here was done. Sundavar was a ways ahead, picking off witnesses who were also travelling nearby.
Glory pulled her fur-lined cloak closer around her after sheathing her blade. She smiled to herself as she walked down the road.
Soon, my lady...soon we will recover your home. And I am glad to be by your side the whole way.
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Post by Max452 on Dec 20, 2012 0:09:49 GMT -5
It was more than half an hour when Seth caught the smell of burnt wood. Oh no, Glory, what have you done? Seth asked himself as he ran the remainder of the terrain, hearing nothing but silence, but could smell the blood and ash in the air.
I smell Sundavar. I will go ahead. Hyperion told his bond as he swooped high in the sky toward his scent. The blue dragon was eager to find Sundavar, and hopefully before she had done something unforgivable.
Be careful. Seth told his bond as he zoomed passed the trees, easily avoiding the obstacles, now that he had succeeded in mapping out his surroundings with their energy. He could sense the end of the woods and the the lining of the trail as the smell of fire grew more dense and close. He could also distinctly and intensely, smell the bittersweet smell of Glory.
He jumped out of the woods and onto the road, right in front of Glory. His blind eyes settled on her, as his senses focused on her unique energy. "Glory." He whispered faintly.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 20, 2012 0:22:03 GMT -5
Gloriann had hardly taken a few steps away from the wreakage when she heard someone coming up behind her.
Sundavar...you missed someone, she stated. She could sense her dragon's irritation, not for having overlooked someone but for Glory's insistence on perfection. Her Rider would never be satisfied until she was certain Katriana would approve of her work. She didn't want just all right; she wanted to be outstanding, to shine under her mentor's gaze.
Would you like for me to deal with him? Sundavar asked. She still had a few other stragglers to deal with.
No, that is fine. I will take care of him myself. Gloriann turned to face the man. Dressed entirely in black, the girl looked remarkably like her mother from back in her older days, and her expression even matched. Haughty, proud, a dash of cruelty, but mostly simple superiority. She gazed at the man for several moments...he seemed to be familiar somehow. She had heard him whisper her name. But it didn't matter; whoever she used to know, if he did not follow Katriana, she no longer held any sort of attachment to him.
"And what brings a lone traveller out to the Spine this fine winter's morning?" she asked him. "It is dangerous to be walking alone."
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Post by Max452 on Dec 20, 2012 0:44:30 GMT -5
"The danger is worth it, if I am able to see the black rose that is hidden in the dark." Seth replied with hope on his face. Seth's features slackened as Glory held no recognition for him. "She made you forgot me, didn't she? Or was it you, Glory? Did you choose to forget me?" Seth asked, turning his frown into a sad smile. "You've already forgotten our last conversation." He gently placed his hand over his heart, mimicking his last gesture to her. "I've come to bring you home." He told her, wondering if she would attack him this time. Her voice sounded so different than before. It was...colder, and he idly noticed, that her voice sounded from a higher plane...had she grown taller? He couldn't tell yet, but it sounded like it. He blinked, the glossiness of his eyes more apparent as he used his other senses to focus on her, ready for whatever she did this time.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 20, 2012 1:03:39 GMT -5
Gloriann arched an eyebrow at his statement. He surely did know her, she could now tell. But it mattered very little to her.
"My home is by my lady's side," she informed him. She drew Theyna slowing, with a clear ring of steel. She could tell he was a seasoned warrior; battle with him would be fun. Her voice rang out in peals of laughter.
"I remember nothing that my lady has deemed unimportant to our cause. She is all that matters now, and anything else is merely a distraction." She remembered sitting at Katriana's feet in tears, spilling out her sorrows over certain events, and she comforted her, bidding her sadness away. Any memory which caused her pain, or loneliness, or discomfort was brushed from her mind like tears from her face. Glory remembered only blurred images from before the clariy Katriana gave to her, muffled voices that meant nothing to her now.
Glory lowered her sword for a moment, eyeing him curiously. "If you truly wish for me to know you...why don't you come with me? Join my lady's cause, and we can be together, as you seem to wish." She held out a hand in invitation. He was a strong and fierce warrior, she could tell. He would be a valuable asset to Katriana. And Glory had to admit to herself that she was intrigued by him, as if he stepped out from a pleasant dream to speak with her.
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Post by Max452 on Dec 20, 2012 1:30:18 GMT -5
Seth angled his ear toward Glory, hearing her sword exposing itself to the cold winter snow. It looks like they couldn't avoid this; he would have to make her remember him, all he needed was to get close enough...
"Memories are what makes us who we are, Glory; they're not a distraction. And its the little details of a memory that help us in our darkest hours; its all important....like the smell of a bittersweet rose; that motivates me."
He gripped the hilt of his sword carefully, ready to unsheath it when he felt himself pause at her next, inviting words. He closed his eyes, merely out of the habit to steady his breathing. He desired them to be together, but he knew, with the Shade, it would never be possible - she would corrupt them; Glory would be lost to him forever, and her cause was unjust. "You were always able to tempt me, Glory." He let out a slow breath and flashed her a somber smile, "but, I'll have to decline that thoughtful offer." He unsheathed his sword fully, revealing to Glory a blue one and half handed Rider sword. "I want you, Glory; the one with her own mind, not the Phantom that she making you into." He gave her a reluctant look. "It looks like I'll have to make you "see" me, this time." He lifted his sword, Manin, into a poised position as he gathered the energy around him to help him in this fight.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 20, 2012 1:46:50 GMT -5
Glory sighed and gently dropped her hand as he refused her offer. A part of her knew it was pointless, but she had some hope.
"Well then," she said, raising her sword again, "I suppose there is no longer a choice." Her expression hardened and her voice became cool and low. "I must kill you." In an instant, she swung Theyna toward him, sliding her feet over the trampled snow to speed her approach. "Thrysta," she said, compressing the air behind him, to push him and make him fall against her sword in a quick and easy death.
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Post by Max452 on Dec 20, 2012 2:07:17 GMT -5
The energy around him allowed him to calculate where Glory was as she charged at him. Her words pained him, but a part of him knew that it wasn't his Glory that said it. However, this Glory was very bent on killing him. Taking a more concentrated expression, Seth raised his Manin to block Theyna just as he sensed the energy behind him change. "You always seemed to favor that spell." Seth replied casually as he uttered a spell of his own, that seemed to create a barrier behind him right as he was being pushed toward Theyna. He skidded to a stop and twisted himself so that his sword was now protecting him as he swatted Glory's sword away from him. He sidestepped away, creating more room between them. "Did you grow taller, Glory?" Seth asked randomly; when he had swatted her sword away, he noticed that it was held higher than their last encounter. He desperately wanted to "see" her now, if only to get an updated version of the vision in his head. "I really don't want to hurt you Glory; just stop and come home with me, please." Seth pleaded with her as he gave himself a defensive stance, not wanting to go offensive unless he had to, and he really hoped he didnt have too.
***
There. There was Sundavar. Hyperion spotted the dragon, his long time friend and gave a roar. Sun! Hyp called out to her, hoping she would remember him. Stop this foolishness! The dragon demanded to her.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 20, 2012 2:33:51 GMT -5
Glory's brow furrowed in concentration as her opponent easily avoided her blow and her magic. She must have fought him before; she found she could easily imagine what he might do next, and he seemed to know the same for her. She halted her slide as he began speaking to her again. She really cared little for words. Words meant nothing in the face of battle, but she decided that, for the moment, she would allow him a few sentences.
"How should I know if I have grown?" she asked. "Not that it matters. If I have, perhaps that will give me an edge, throw you off balance at make it easier to land a killing blow on you." She understood after that initial attack, what she had suspected in the beginning. He was blind, unable to see her. However, she noticed he located wherever she stood with ease, beyond even the capacity of ears. She would still need to test that theory before she acted upon it, however.
"I told you before, my only home is by my lady's side. If you will not join me there, then you and I have no business with each other beyond the clashing of our blades. Theyna." Her already muffled movements from the snow and her thick layers became silent under her spell, even her breathing was unhearable. She doubted his sense of smell was strong enough to give him enough of a precise location to find her. She shuffled back and forth as she approached him before swinging her sword at him. If he did not move, he would be beheaded. However, even as she made her move, she knew he would not go down that easily.
~~~~~
Sundavar licked her bloodied talons, the last of any possible witnesses being nothing more than half a corpse next to the road. She flared her wings outward and arched her back when she heard a familiar voice in her mind. She let out a threatening growl at the sight of the blue dragon. Here would be a challenge, but here also would be a bothersome danger as well. Eliminating this kin of hers would be quite at task. She readied herself to battle him when his words reached her, making sense in her mind. She hesitated, tilting her head at him.
I...I know you... she said, her wings still raised. Memories that had long been suppressed came forth in her mind, memories of time spent with this dragon. Hyperion... she said. For a moment, the reunion was sweet, but then Sundavar lowered her head and growled again. You must leave! she told him. Take Seth and go! Gloriann is dangerous, and the Shade has changed her! She's made Glory forget everything she once held dear, and turned her into a heartless killer. Beyond that, Glory's abilities have been enhanced. She can match even the most agile elf in combat now, and she has been practicing magic that no one should touch. Sun whined for a moment, her mind starting to cloud over again. You have to take Seth and flee! Glory will kill him!
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Post by Max452 on Dec 20, 2012 21:41:53 GMT -5
Seth shrugged at Glory's mention of her height. "I dunno," a sly smile formed on his lips; he wasn't really trying to hurt her, merely trying to get her back to her usual self, "maybe now, I won't have to lean down so much when I kiss you." The smile faltered a bit at her next words. "You're not my enemy Glory, you never will be...what?..." His voice trailed off when his ears no longer registered her presence. He tilted his head to the side, following her lingering scent. For a moment, he thought she disappeared, but he could still follow her smell - it was very faint, but there; he couldn't get a precise location on her. However, his usage of the energy around him was enough for him to "see" her perfectly. Her image was like a light in his dark vision, tiny specks of energy outlining her figure and the weapon she was now hurling toward him. He ducked down and somersaulted away from the slicing blade and rolled back onto his feet.
"Testing out my vision, are we?" He asked her, a teasing tone layering his voice. "Come back home and I'll happily show you - even your Lady doesn't know about this." He tried to appeal to her thirst for knowledge, a thin smile on his face; his face ever hopeful. He kept his sword on guard, however, not knowing what she was planning.
***
Hyperion landed a few feet from Sundavar. He whined when she commanded him to leave. No. He replied stubbornly. If what you say is true, then all the more we must stay and help! We will not rest until you are both home! Sun! Come back with us! Please! Hyperion pleaded with his kin. Seth will not die, nor will I, until you and Glory and back. We have grown strong. Hyp assured Sundavar as he folded his wings against his lithe body. Sun, please, come back with us. We miss you. I miss you. Hyperion let out a whine, desperate to get Sundavar to hear reason.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 20, 2012 22:16:42 GMT -5
Sundavar whined against Hyperion's stubbornness. She feared for their safety if they kept after their quest.
I can see you two have grown strong, but don't underestimate what Katriana's done to us, she said. She was fighting to keep her mind clear now. Because of her own limited personal exposure to the Shade Rider herself, having spent more time with Vanilor, she was more easily able to break free. Most of her confusion was given to her secondhand through her bond with Glory. Just look at what we've done...and beyond the obvious, I feel the Shade has somehow tied us to herself. Even if Glory is able to remember who she is, I don't think we'll be able...to go home so easily. She eyed her blue friend for a moment, sorrow reflecting in her wide, dark eyes. We miss you too, Hyp...And I know Glory feels the same when I tell you...all we really want is to go home now...
~~~~~
Glory glared as he kept speaking to her. She was annoyed by how he seemed to be taunting her, expecting her to remember things. To want to remember...but she didn't. If she remembered, all the pain and sadness and distraction would come back to her. She couldn't afford any of it. She hesitated when he mentioned he knew something even Katriana wouldn't know...her curiousity pulled at her to discover it. But she couldn't take that chance. He would take her away, and then Katriana would be angry with her. That was the last thing Glory wanted, her greatest fear. She had seen the great Shade Rider when she was angry, and it never was a pleasant sight. Gloriann nearly trembled at the very thought.
"Istlari," she said, backflipping to create some space between her and Seth. She created a ring of fire around him, not so much to burn him as to distract him. Just because he was blind, she felt she shouldn't underestimate him. She had an odd feeling that he somehow could still see her. So, hiding behind the flames, she said "Sundavar." It was a much more advanced spell, and it created copies of herself, right down to how much energy they gave out. Her voice and her scent were copied as well, and they all spread out along the circumfrence of the flaming ring before she let it die down.
"You cannot trick me," one of her clones said.
"I know what you want...you just want to take me away from Katriana, don't you?"
"You are sided with my lady's enemies...that make you and I enemies." The last one to speak charged at him, spinning her blade in a winding arc down toward him. Having her energy spread this thin cost Glory a bit, though. She moved a bit more slowly, and her clones could only deal a minimum amount of damage. This spell was mostly meant to confuse her enemy until she could get close enough to attack him herself.
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Post by Max452 on Dec 21, 2012 0:13:18 GMT -5
Hyperion snapped his jaws and stomped his paw onto the ground, agitated by Sundavar's words. We will break the chains she holds on you! Our bond is stronger than her's! He clawed at the ground in anger. We will bring you home, Sun! Trust us! Have faith in us and remember us! We will never abandon you. I will not allow it! He told her with all the determination his heart and heart of hearts held. Just come home with us. The blue dragon pleaded.
***
The heat of the fire reached Seth before the actual flames. Producing a quick shielding spell, Seth was enloped by an invisible layer of protection and the flames did no harm as they encircled him. However, he realized that Glory had no intention of killing him with those flames as he sensed her move away for a moment while he dealt with the hot heat. He located her immediately, but was surprised when he found himself concentrating on mulitple personages that seemed to have spread from one single source. What magic did she make you learn? Seth asked himself in wonder as he felt himself being surrounded; the energy around him illuminating the copies of Glory. He turned his head to face them all, manuevering his torso to turn, but his feet remained rooted, balanced. He felt the heat leave and he turned to face Glory's voice. "There is no trickery involved here; I have been honest with you, as I always have been, Glory. Yes, I want you to leave Katriana - she's changed you - and I want you to come home with me." He told her, gripping his sword tightly as his head continued to spin to each clone as they spoke to him. "Glory, I love you - I am not your enemy." Seth told her, all teasing aside now, replaced by a somber, but serious voice. He closed his eyes out of habit, as he sensed a clone attack him. Seth quickly brought up his sword to parry, taking care not to even harm the replica as he pushed her away to block the other attacks he soon sensed. The time to speak was over; action was the only way to get her to "see" him. He now just had to get close enough; he could sense one of the energy bursts moving slower than the others and knew Glory was planning something. Moving at an incredible speed, Seth fought against the multiple Glory's with an uncharacteristic focus as he did not desire to harm them all too badly; they were Glory after all.
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Post by Tismri on Dec 21, 2012 14:30:22 GMT -5
Sundavar gazed at Hyperion in hope, but it was faint. She leaned up and nuzzled him gently.
I will trust you, she told him. I just want to be home with you, so much. Neither Glory nor I are happy with the Shade.
~~~~~
Glory stared at him, absolutely stunned by his confession of love. He loved her? No, that couldn't be...if he loved her, why didn't she remember him? Surely whatever she loved wouldn't have caused her pain...even if she was seperated from him, she would have cherished his memory.
She moved against him, surprised by how fast he was. Her clones were unable to keep up, though he seemed to be avoiding harming any of them. He knew how to deflect their attacks and repel them without hurting her. His careful actions made her reflect on his words. Did he, really, love her?
She was getting tired from her spell, and slowly she began releasing her clones one by one. But whatever strategy she'd had to fight him with was gone as she began desperately trying to remember who he was. As she dug through her mind, all she heard was Katriana's voice, admonishments, praises, criticism, over and over. But she had to know now, who this was, this man who wanted to take her away, this man who knew her so well, who confessed his love for her. And she felt she should know him, but everywhere she looked in her mind, Katriana's face would appear again. Glory knelt in the snow, hands on either side of her throbbing head as she searched desperately for him.
I'll be back before you know it... When did she say that? And to whom? The thought just briefly crossed her mind, and she chased after it.
I'll miss you... His voice. You better get going. Eva and Eos are probably waiting.
She likes you! She likes spending time with just you!
Um, so...you like me...um...like, like me like me or like me as a friend like me?
...Both.
I decided that they smell bittersweet...that's the only word I can think of.
It's sad, but has a lovely smell; not overwhelming.
Glory! Glory! Are you okay?
Seth, I'm scared!
Seth...Seth, that was his name. And now that his name returned to her mind, she could vividly remember everything, no matter the echoing sounds of Katriana's voice in her head. Her spell completely faded away and the sword dropped to the ground. Glory looked up at him with a longing gaze.
"Seth...?" she asked. Now that she recognized him, she saw that he had changed. He had been training hard, probably for the sole purpose of bringing her back. Tears began to flood her eyes as she reached out to him, struggling back to her feet. "Seth!"
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Post by Max452 on Dec 22, 2012 1:53:08 GMT -5
Hyperion hummed at Sundavar as she nuzzled him. He missed her deeply. We will find a way to break your chains, Sun. I promise. Then we can be home again, together. Hyp assured her as he nuzzled her back.
***
Seth moved fluidly, pushing the clones away rather than piercing them with his sword. He would not harm Glory. As he continued to manuever, he felt Glory's clones disappear one by one, until he sensed her off to the side. He lowered his weapon as he heard her knees hit the snow. Glory? He could feel a growing tension coming from her, and he uttered a spell that allowed the energy around her to be seen more clearly to him. He found her, kneeling in the snow with her hands to her head; he sense confusiong coming from her. He approached her carefully, unsure what what going on, but hoped, that she was remembering him.
"Glory?" He heard her sword drop. Then he heard his name. A hopeful smile creased his lips and he rushed toward her as she stood up. "Glory!" He skidded over to her and without a second thought, embraced her. "Glory." He sighed out her name as his hand darted up to trace her face, to see her.
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