Fire and Ice

[Max452]

Ian's eyes scanned the army that had come forth upon Carvahall; it seemed his scouts spotted only a small amount. To his relief, Ian spotted the defense preparations against the army. It was here, as they flew, that Ian felt Ruby leave the saddle. "Ruby!" Ian called out, thinking that she had fallen off, however, as she performed her spells, he realized that she had done that intentionally.

We've been spotted, Ian Castiel informed his rider as he made sure that Ruby landed safely.

Then let us give them a proper greeting. Ian declared, unsheathing his twin blades. It'll give Carvahall a nice distraction. Ian added.

Castiel shot his rider a pleased emotion, understanding his rider's intention to give Carvahall some time to launch their frontal attack. They had not seen nor noticed the Riders that were sent by Bromsland yet. With unneeded encouragement, Castiel shot out a loud, deafening roar, followed by a spray of fire on the flanks of the enemy.

Screams were heard and Ian did his best to block them out as he launched himself off of Castiel and into the rear of the army, hacking away with his swords. Castiel continued his aerial assault, noticing that his flames did only half their damage. Ian! Be wary, they have magicians! Castiel warned his rider as he let loose another wave of fire on the flanks.

***
The commander spotted the rushing army, but still held his arm high in the sky. Not yet, not yet! He watched, waiting for the enemy to be in range of his archers. As he waited, he heard a loud, piercing roar in the sky, and spotted the shimmering of a white dragon in the back of the foe's army. For a moment, he wondered if the Shades had brought their own riders, but was dissuaded from that idea the moment he spotted flames igniting them on fire. Enthralled for a moment longer, the commander shot his arm down. "Loose the arrows!" He commanded at the top of his lungs. A wave of fiery arrows soon torched the sky as they flew toward the rushing army. He hoped that the foot soldiers would follow up soon for he noticed how little affect the arrows seemed to have. "Magicians! They have Magicians!" He heard a soldier yell before they loaded another line of arrows. "Loose!" The commander shouted again, watching the sky bath itself in flames once more and hoping that they all survived the night.

OOC: Hmm, what other riders shall be with Maude...ponder on this, I will.

[Trinn]

The dwarf flew up over Magda's head, shrieking fearfully as he began to plummet back towards earth. Maude ended his misery by swiping her grandfather's rider's blade up to decapitate him as he fell past her. She leaned over Magda's side and grimly watched the head and body of the dwarf plummet back to earth. Her bond lurched forward again, diving down for her next victim. Maude leaned forward, tight against the dragon's neck to increase their aerodynamics.

Magda caught up an urgal in her jaws this time, but promptly ended him so that she could burn a row through the enemy as she passed close overhead. It was then that Maude spotted the white dragon. Magda! she exclaimed, growing excited. Magda understood, and immediately spiraled back up into the skies.

She raced towards Castiel, and Maude stood up in the saddle so that Ian would know they weren't enemies. As they drew steadily closer, Maude marveled at how Castiel had grown. Much larger than the last she had seen him. And Ian... his face was somehow older. A deep yearning for him bloomed in her chest, and for a brief instant she forgot the battle. But the shouts of dying men were hard to ignore. Now was not the time for distractions, nor love no matter how strong. War was sacrifice. It was enough that he would at least know she was here fighting with him. Turn around Magda, we will say our hellos when we have won this fight.

Magda threw back her head and roared long and hard, before backflipping around and soaring back into the fray.

[Max452]

Castiel swooped upon the enemy, snapping his mighty jaws as he chomped and clawed his way into the army, causing massive damage where ever he went. His main targets were the magicians, as he sorted out the fodder about him. He spotted Ian below him and quickly dove to retrieve him as they thought of a way to lure the magicians from their positions.

Ian ran beside Castiel as the dragon lowered himself just enough for the young Rider to jump into the air and grip the saddle straps. Climbing, Ian returned back to the saddle as Castiel ascended into the sky and then Castiel proceeded to wipe out a line with a massive spout of fire. They returned higher into the sky to survey the battle. It was here, that Ian spotted a red dragon racing toward them. His heart pounded in excitement as Castiel confirmed that it was indeed Magda that was approaching.

For a moment, Ian locked his eyes with Maude, glad to finally see her after what seemed to be such a long separation. No words were spared between them, but Ian's eyes danced with emotion that Maude was only allowed to see - love and affection - as he hoped she understood that he would be seeking her immediately after the battle.

A swift lurch from Castiel jarred Ian's eyes away from Maude as the dragon avoided a fire bolt from below. Castiel growled and snapped his jaws at the intrusion between his Rider and his mate, let alone his own with Magda. Soon. They both knew. Castiel returned the great red dragon's roar with his own, boisterous one. They will get to test their skills on one another soon, for it did not go unnoticed by the white dragon on how much Magda had grown.

Returning to the battle, Castiel allowed his rider to dive back into the army's ranks to sift out the magicians, whilst he returned to roasting them all alive, preferably the one that had just fired that fire bolt...

***
The battle was a gruesome one as Ian continued to hack his way into the rear army's ranks. Blood and gore gushed everywhere as Ian unleashed his might upon the enemy. Graceful in this art of death, Ian twirled about him, ensuring that Arucane and his Vigil (his other sword) never was barren from blood. After a moment, Ian recognized what was a magician in the ranks. Reacting quickly, he somersaulted to his side - a quake was heard - , slicing an enemy's legs while he was at it, before returning promptly to the balls of his feet. Ian glanced over to where he was moments before and spotted the earth had sprouted out spears of rock. He glowered at the magician who had performed that spell.

It was true, that Ian had become a fine duelist of the blades, but it was ill compared with Ian's proficiency in magic. Taught by his mother and father, Ian was beyond exceptional in the art. And so, displaying uncanny irritation, Ian sheathed Vigil quickly before launching his own magical attack. "Adurna!" Ian exclaimed. His open palmed was outstretched and glowing as he ran toward the magician. The air before him seemed to thin and a chill was felt by those around him as a wave of snow and ice erupted from his hands, icing the lining before him. The streaming blizzard moved fast and unyielding as it traveled to the magician. The man's eyes were wide with surprise, and tried to counter the spell with his own, but was quickly overwhelmed and encased in ice. Ian followed the icy pathway he had made, cutting down those that were encased in ice with Arucane. He finally reached the magician and with precision, slashed at the weakest points of the ice and the man's body, ending him swiftly. Ian continued forth, eyes masterfully surveying the field, making note of Ruby's position, but also that of the enemy. The Rider ran further into the fray, cutting down anyone that was a foe.

***
"Hold the line!" Einar's voice commanded as he and Carvahall's footmen defended the main gates into the outerwall of the city. He jabbed Edoc'sil into a man's chest, slicing him diagonally with clear irritation. This was not where he wanted to be at the moment. His wife was nearly due with his unborn child and he would rather be with her than in this accursed excuse of an attack; in his eyes, the enemy's army was nothing compared to the battles he had faced. However, as one of Queen Nasuada's vassals, Einar was ordered to come. For Carvahall held a strong hold over the land, for not only was Lord Eragon's relatives stationed her, but the city held an overpowering presence. It would give them a disadvantage, physically and mentally, in the war. So, with much persuasion Einar and Stigandr had come to aid (the silver dragon was beside his rider, swatting away groups of men with his mighty paw). Einar gripped his sword tighter, allowing his battle lust to seep through him as he fought mercilessly. The enemy here would pay dearly for making him leave Gianna's side.

[Tismri]

Ruby moved faster than the human eye could see, and outran many magical attacks on her. She'd placed some basic wards over herself and Crescent Rose, but a few attacks managed to get her, causing her some minor cuts before she halved her attackers with her scythe. As she made another swing, a familiar bright blur ran past her. She blinked and glanced back, seeing the fiery golden hair of her eldest sister. What was Yang doing here?
The brief distraction cost her some precious time, and as she turned back, a blade carved a gash in her side. She gasped in pain as she fired a bolt at her attacker and fell to her knees.
"Fancy seeing you here, sis," a voice said as Ruby felt her side being healed. Ruby glanced up at Yang, noticing that her eyes were already bright red.
"Don't worry about me, Yang," she said, struggling to her feet. "You need to concentrate on some more important things."
"Believe me, I know," Yang replied. Once she was satisfied with Ruby's health, she went back to brawling with the soldiers.

[Trinn]

Magda dove down once more. She landed with a heavy thud in the midst of the enemy, spraying fire over their flesh. Her wings kept aloft, ready to take flight in an instant. Maude hacked and slashed the foe from either side of the spot on Magda's back, Rider's blade in one hand, one of her old scimitars in the other. A strong hand suddenly clasped onto her right leg, trying to force her off the saddle. Using magic, she freed her left leg from the saddle straps and swung it over to kick the kull in the face. The blow broke his nose and caused him to stumble backwards. Maude released her other leg and jumped off from Magda's back. She landed on the shoulders of the kull, promptly sliding Rheona's snowy length through the top of his skull between the curling horns. She pushed off of his shoulders to smoothly back flip away. She landed just as the kulls body hit the ground. The enemy began to circle her. Maude watched them, twirling her blades in her hands to keep her momentum going.
***

Warm blood washed her hand, staining the pale skin. Teodora grimaced as she dislodged her blade from the dwarfs chest. Blood had never settled well with her. Unfortunately she couldn't blame a man for this war. Although, that shade rider's dragon was male... that would have to do.

"Blasted Shade Riders and blasted bloody war!" She cursed, swinging and twisting, dispatching foe after foe. Next to her stood Einar, a force of nature in battle. There had been a time when she was unable to keep up with the rider, but sixteen years had changed her quite a bit. For one, she had probably grown a little more exasperated. For another, she had grown stronger and more capable than ever before. And what was even more; The large burly dragon that hurled black fire down upon the enemy was her bond. He was a brute, but he meant well.

Give them hell, Torreck! she called to him. He answered with a deep but massive roar. The black dragon dove and rent a path through the enemy, before sailing back up into the sky.

"Say... Einar, is that not your boy over there?" She asked, spotting a young man that bore an uncanny resemblance to the warrior beside her.

[Max452]

Einar was engrossed with tearing the unfortunate enemy's limbs from his body when Teodora's question struck him out of his berserker bloodlust. My...boy... His mind repeated Teodora's words. His green eyes darted over to the indicated spot before widening in a myriad of emotions, ranging first with relief, to concern, then to fear as he spotted a swordsman attacking Ian's blindside...

***

Ian's blades swung with precision and finesse as they each found bodies to gorge upon. The white Rider was splattered in blood (some his own, but mostly of others) as he skidded across the ground on his back in an attempt to avoid a swinging mace. Blades close, Ian lifted his shoulders from the ground, allowing his back to arc as he pivoted his hip to the right. His legs were out stretched and cutting through the air as his hip granted him the momentum he needed to twist himself back to an upright, kneeing position. Quick and agile, Ian somersaulted away from the mace swinger (slapping his sword back into their sheaths right before). Flipping onto his feet, Ian darted his gedwey ignasia at the opponent. "Brisingr!" He commanded quietly as the fire surrounded his hands. Growling, Ian shot out the flames from his fists, hitting the mace holder square on his chest, before placing them back toward his chest in a 45 degree angle. Running at the man, Ian leapt into the air and did a roundhouse fire kick to his opponent's face. "Yah!" Ian grunted out as his flaming leg made contact. Ian landed back onto his feet, dust swirling, as he went back to grip the pommels of his swords.

Ian surveyed the area once more and realized that he was now closer to the main gates. Had he already cut through the enemy's flanks? He glanced back briefly, noting the strewn of bodies that canvased the land. So much destruction and death...He involuntarily shivered; he would never get use to the deaths.

"IAN!" He heard his father's voice and snapped out of his reverie. With much luck, his father's call had alerted him to a sword's blade. Reacting quickly, Ian parried the blow. His mind now focused, Ian began to dispatch his foe. He stabbed Arucane into the man's chest and watched with dissatisfaction as the life faded from his face. With that enemy disposed of, Ian darted his eyes over to the voice of his father. He smiled as he spotted his father. Their eyes connected - relief in both of them - before being pulled apart by the battle.

Ian had spotted Ruby being knocked down and quickly ran across the field to help her, while Einar had spotted another Rider in trouble. "Teodora! Man the gate!" Ian heard his father cry out before he skidded near Ruby.

"You all right?" Ian grunted out to Ruby as he blocked a scimitar from a very young looking elf. He glanced at Yang's retreating back before returning focus to the elf.

***
Einar raced over to help Maude, having noticed a group of Urgals taking interest in the girl. As one of them charged at Maude from the front, another decided to charge from behind Maude, hoping to squish her. With uncanny speed, Einar rammed himself into the back charging Urgal, tackling him to the ground and piercing him with Edoc'sil. He rolled off the beast, seemingly unaffected from the charge and fall and went to help Maude dispatch the other Urgals.

[Tismri]

Yang had been fighting with some reservation before now, wanting to conserve energy in case this turned out to be a long battle. However, seeing Ruby get injured caused her to snap. Nobody hurt her baby sister and got away with it. She drew more power from the summoned spirits, acting a little reckless as she did. It appeared that her entire being was suddenly lit aflame, and with every punch she delivered, the fire caught onto the enemy soldiers, causing screams of terror and pain as they burned, if they didn't immediately die from a flaming bolt drilling through them. She ducked, kicked, flipped, and mostly punched her way through the soldiers, keeping aware and blocking with her bracers whenever a sword was swung at her.
Keep in control, the back of her mind reminded her, a habitual check to be certain she wasn't relying too much on the spirits as she fought.
~~~~~
Ruby watched Yang move forward as she heard Ian appear next to her. Placing her scythe point into the ground, she fired bolts at the enemy continuously. "I'm okay," she assured him. One soldier got too close for comfort; using the handle of her scythe, Ruby leveraged herself, swinging both feet into the man's stomach. The instant her feet were on the ground again, she lifted her weapon and swung, truncating him in an instant.
~~~~~
OOC: You know who hasn't shown up here in a while? lol

Daemon stood at the wall with a row of other spell casters. He observed the battle carefully. It was nothing like fighting against Galbatorix's men back in the day, who had been trained soldiers and deadly magicians. It appeared to him that Katriana was lacking in the resources to train her followers properly; or perhaps they were all just much more inexperienced. Either way, Daemon felt that Carvahall had the advantage in this fight.
"Focus on finding their magicians, hmm," he told his men; he found it crazy that he was the one training these kids. Du Vrangr Gata had formed an academy years ago under Nasuada's rule, and he and Meera were among the teachers of it. Now it seemed his performance was being put to the test. "When you find them, don't cast any sort of spell. Instead, break into their minds and take control. Remember what we taught you."
Of all the times to take a field trip, he complained to himself.

[Melantha]

Melantha sat astride Andromeda on her new saddle made for battle. They had flown all the way from New Drou Arabea to protect Carvahall from attack from the Shade army looming ever closer. Melantha stared down at the small fairth that fit in the palm of her hand. She had create the fairth from a memory that popped into her head of Dubban smiling ear to ear on top of Seth’s shoulders. It brought her great joy to see them so happy.

Andromeda stood proudly in position beside her fellow dragons and their riders waiting for the command to attack. She surveyed the formation of the four other dragons and riders Eragon had chosen she half expecting to see Abaddon standing there next to her out of habit. He was her mate they had fought almost every battle together during the last war. Being apart from her mate brought her great sadness; she kept her feelings to herself not wanting to upset her rider further.

The sound of Soldiers preparing for battle echoed around them as she continued to look down at the small fairth that to most would seem like a scrap of paper, but to her it was an image that drover her to fight, a reminder of why she was fighting, her family. For every single Man woman and child who’s lives had ended and whose families had been torn apart because of war.

Andromeda heard battle cry’s from foot soldiers on the front that slowly spread up the ranks. “Mel I think the battle is about to being”

Melantha gave Andromeda a mental nod then whispered a spell in the ancient language. The fairth in her hand rose up in her hand and in an instant it burst into flames and was turned to dust. In the event that she was captured during the fight she couldn’t risk the image of her son and husband being found on her person, The enemy would not hesitate use it to torture and torment her.

The call to charge was followed by the sound much like the sound of rain falling on a tin roof followed by a large crashing sound as steal met steel. Andromeda roared out adding to the Symphony of roars from the four other dragons. Each dragon leapt into the sky one after the other, Andromeda was second last but was quick to catch up. Each Dragon and rider pair then swerved off into different directions dousing the enemy in a rainbow of flames.

Melantha hell on tight as Andromeda swerved and dipped low behind enemy lines to pick up enemy soldiers in her maw, Sword in hand Melantha lent over fending off the enemy with her sword until

Andromeda returned to the sky with the enemy soldier between her jaw. She shook him as she flew up high into the sky then let him go over the enemy’s ranks. The body fell and hit the Soldiers bellow like a bolder flung from a catapult.