The Next Step Forward (Open: Riders and Elders)

[Melantha]

Melantha woke as the midday sun began to set. A warm glow shone through the window, illuminating half of the room. Squinting she looked around remembering the past nights events.

“I tired to wake you earlier for your turn to take a bath but you fell back a sleep so I thought id let you rest.” Neona said sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.

Melantha nodded silently sitting up in bed. Thinking hard she tired to gather her thoughts together but her brain seemed to still be sleeping. She looked around the room noticing something missing, it took her several moments to realise “Dubhan!” she blurted out looking over to her mother. “Where is he?”

“He woke up a few hours ago, I saw to it that he was bathed and fed. Andromeda is with him now and he is having a ball playing with some of the hatchlings and their riders.” Neona smiled

Her worry settled, she trusted Andromeda with her life and that extended to that of her sons. She knew Dubhan was in safe claws? “Thanks mum.” She said climbing out of the bed. “Did you get any sleep?” she asked watching her mother’s facial expression and body behaviour suspiciously.

Neona smiled tiredly “I’ve been resting here and there.”

“Ohh mother, try and get some sleep.” Melantha walked over to the chair her mother was sitting in. “come on.” she took her mothers hand and pulled her out of the chair and lead her to the bed.

Neona was too tired to resist and went along with her daughter. She climbed into bed and lay down.

Melantha saw to it that her mother was lying in bed then she took her sheathed sword attached to her belt, before turning to leave. “I’m going to take that bath and then see if the elders have returned. ”

“Alright, let me know how it goes, if you need me ill be here.” Neona said closing her eyes, eventually falling to sleep.

Melantha nodded leaving the room quietly, she closed the door behind her as softly as she could.
It wasn’t hard to find the Bathroom the castles lay out was quite clear. The bath was already set up the water was cold but that was easy to fix. Melantha waved her hand over the tub “brisingr du adurna.” She said heating the water until it was just the right temperature.
After removing her torn tattered clothes she climbed into the bath and lay back into the warm calming water.

*************

Climbing out of the tub and wrapping her self in a towel Melantha was happy to see fresh set of clothes waiting for her on a stool by a basin and a mirror. She changed quickly glad to find the pale green Tunic and Tan leggings fit perfectly. She put her belt on attaching her sword to her hip and then turned to the mirror as she brushed and dried her long black hair.

When she was done Melantha quickly cleaned up after her self then left the room in search of any of the elders or any sign of their return.

[Deleted]

Alorah landed with a clattering and scraping of talons on stone. She touched down first with her back legs, her large wings spread for balance. She then slowly dropped down onto all fours, her weight sending a tremor through the courtyard. Lucian lithely swung from the saddle and climbed down his bond's leg. Stepped onto the ground and set off at a swift pace. He had set out on his own mission weeks earlier and was glad to return to the now familiar sights of New Doru Arabea.
Sixteen years is such a short time in the face of our lifespan, and yet we call this place home, he mused, It is strange for wanderers such as we to have a place to call home at all...until this place was built...we had not had a home since the time of Vroengaurd, before we left on our exploratory mission.
Alorah let loose a yawn, her massive jaws opening wide. They closed once more with a snap.
While you stand here contemplating the past, old fool, I'm going to take a nap.
Lucian laughed as she once more spread her wings and took off, the wind of her flight causing his hair to blow around him.
Still smiling, he entered the castle, casting his mind about to sense the students at work in their various activities.
After assuring himself that all was well, his mind turned to darker things. He and Alorah had recently sallied forth into Alagasia, using their scouting abilities to take stock of the situation and relay news to the other elders. He had been in loathe to leave New Doru Arabea. Their forces were stretched thin as it was, and leaving the castle under the protection of so many young riders did not sit well with him.
He strode down the hall, his riding boots striking the stone steadily. As one of the few remaining teachers, he knew not what he would do, but he was sure he would think of something, anything, to take his mind off the carnage of war, so similar to that of sixteen years prior.

[Melantha]

Melantha continued down the hall no sign of the elders, She began to worry perhaps they had gone to battle with the shades and perhaps even they had become overwhelmed with the hoards of red eyed demons. Just as she was beginning to think that she was the most senior rider left in New Doru Arabea she saw him coming up the hall in her direction.

She hurried down the hall to meet him, She came to a stop sighing in relief while, she didn't recognise the Silver haired elf by name she knew she had seen him somewhere before and that he was one of the few Ancient Riders. At that moment she realised how much she had lost touch with the riders and everything to do with them. The inhabitants of Alagaesia had been mostly peaceful for sixteen years and that senesce of security had made her feel comfortable enough settling down and start a family.
A decision which was difficult to make and even more difficult to bring to life but in doing so she had lost all contact with the Riders order.
No one had anticipated the peace to come to an end so suddenly and it to be broken by an all out war with multitudes of shade enemies.
Her disappointment was in her self for not keeping in touch with the Rider community.

“Elda, I am Melantha Rider of Andromeda I am so relieved you have returned. ” She said wide-eyed almost forgetting all her manors when greeting another speaker of the ancient language particularly an Ancient Elvan Rider.
“I have grave news to report to the elders.”
Melantha wanted to report the news of last nights attack Aberon immediately, but the elders where nowhere to be seen. She looked around to make sure they were alone before speaking, as she didn’t want any of the Young riders hearing.

“Aberon fell last night, the castle was infiltrated during the wedding reception.” She looked down from the elf’s face to the floor as she spoke not able to look at his face slightly ashamed.

Andromeda looked up in the sky as a large shaddow passed over head She simultaneously averted her attention to Melantha's mind alerted by the subject matter of the conversation to pay attention. As she did she noticed a large dragon fly overhead, one of the ancient riders have returned she thought.

[Deleted]

Lucian smiled as the young rider approached, or rather, she was young in comparison to him. He recognized her from his time spent among the Varden and her name struck a chord of memory. However, as far as he knew, she had not been in contact with any of the Elders since the end of the War with the Empire.
His smile faded, however, when he saw the look in her eyes. Something had upset her, something terrible. He nodded quickly in order to return her greeting, anticipating the news that had put her in such a state.
“Aberon fell last night, the castle was infiltrated during the wedding reception.”
His grey eyes widened, staring at he as she bowed her head. His mind raced. If the Capital of Surda had fallen, then it was plausible that King Orrin had been killed or taken captive, and the rest of the land would soon follow. This was a huge blow to the alliance of peoples that had formed in the face of the Shade Rider's rise. The armies of Surda would be turned inward, battling a foe that lay at their very heart, and Orrin's valuable tactical expertise and council would be absent.
Lucian rested a hand on her shoulder, forcing his features to remain calm and unclouded, though he knew his eyes were anxious.
"Melantha, do you know of the fate of the other main cities, or perhaps of the king?" he asked.
If he was going to report this to the other elders, he would need as much information as was availiable.

[Melantha]

Melantha felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, she looked up to meet the elf’s eyes “I do not, I stayed long enough to hold back the enemy soldiers so that the wedding guests could escape before takeing my mother and my son and retreating.” She paused trying to gain her composure, Andromeda’s presents in her mind was comforting.
“I do not believe that the king was present, I assume He was in Gil'aed with Queen Nasuada.” Melantha tried to remember every detail leading up to the attack that she could knowing every bit of detail was important.

“The nature of the attack was odd, the enemies army was made up of mostly non shade soldiers and lesser shades at first. They came in droves but we took them down one after the other only to find more had taken their place. The size of the corridor in our favour, they could barely swing their weapons. With each new wave more bodies filled the corridor and fewer shade soldiers begin to a appear but they were stronger than the last and the six of us left couldn’t take them any longer, that’s when we decided to retreated back into the reception area and make a run for it.” Melantha spoke her whole body tense knowing that things were going to get much worse than they already had if something wasn’t done soon.

“Do you think that may be this was merely a hit and run attack to shake up the confidence of our leaders.” she said optimistically thinking aloud

Andromeda sat silently watching Dubhan play as she listened in on her riders mind and the reactions of the elf, not having much else to add all she could do was silently support her rider by just being there.

[Deleted]

Lucian's elegant brows drew together. He was relieved that the King had not been present, but this was still quite the blow. The city had not only been taken by numerous soldiers, but shades as well. The creatures seemed to multiply like rabbits in mating season, though they were not nearly so benign.
He smiled softly at her optimistic suggestion.
"I wish it were, dear one, but Aberon is too great a prize. In my experience, when a capital falls, the country soon follows."
He took off at a steady but fast pace down the hall, motioning for her to follow.
"Our forces are stretched too thin to truly mount a counterattack and retake the city. It is usually only Riders and very powerful Elves who can destroy shades, and we do not have enough of either to properly combat their numbers. Eragon has not been properly seen or heard from in some time, aside from vague reassurances that he is indeed alive. I know not where he is or what he is currently doing, but we sorely need him," he sighed, "There are a few I would be willing to contact to attempt to retake Aberon, but it is, unfortunately, not my decision to make. It must be taken before those who rule."

[Melantha]

Occ: I get carried away some times when I start a Creative discussion between Mel and Andy... and well it gets deep.

Melantha watched the elf for his reaction, her serious expression turned into a frown she stayed quiet and let him continue.
She followed his brisk steps keeping up with an elf was easy compared to chasing a child who had a knack at disappearing acts. She listened inattentive, She had never learnt much about battle strategy when it came to the bigger picture of things but even she had noticed how thin the armies’ forces were spread. So If the Shade army had captured the Capitol they now held a strategic position and every city in Surda was in danger. She summarised in her head nodding wordlessly.

As the elf spoke further she nodded sharing his concern as to why Eragon was missing at the very time he was needed the most. But she couldn’t judge him, she was sure he had a very good reason to do so and she hadn’t exactly been there when the war was in its first stages.
She tried to push the feelings of guilt from her mind but the thoughts only continued.
She felt guilty for, not honouring her duties as rider properly, for not staying to fight, for not being able to do more.

‘Mel, not that again, your being silly now.’ Andromeda pleaded. She hated when her rider would torture her self over things that weren’t her fault or out of her control.

‘I can’t help how I feel! I have been selfish these last few years; I know this much is true. ’ A scowl appeared across Melantha’s face as she retorted to Andromeda’s plea.

‘Yes you are a Rider who has responsibilities but you are still also human, and part Dwarf i guess. you have every right to be selfish if you call starting a family and wanting a quiet life and settling down selfish after all we wen't through in the last war. I do not regret the past sixteen years.’ Andromeda knew things were getting tough and it seemed like everything was slowly collapsing around them but she couldn’t let her rider pull her self down when they already had to worry about the enemy trying to do just that.

‘I do not regret a single thing, I only wish the peace had lasted just a while longer so at least Dubhan could understand and be able to look after himself if... if something were to happen.. to us.’ she only spoke to to Andromeda but the words were difficult enough.

She followed the elf absentmindedly as to where the elf was leading her.
Melantha was close to tears thinking about Dubhan having no family to take care of him and probably would have broken down in tears if she hadn’t almost walked into a wall.

She had to take a moment to recover her emotions and her focus before even looking at the elf again going on like nothing had happened hoping he hadn’t noticed. She was sort of thankful for the wall; Even though she hadn’t walked into it still had managed to knock some sense into her.

Her mind returned back to the conversation with the elf.
“Andromeda and I will do everything we can to help in any way we can.” Melantha declared knowing she spoke for both Andromeda and herself hoping to make up for the past.

“In the end Yes, the decisions are up to our leaders.” Melantha had an idea she even stoped walking wondering if it’s worth mentioning deciding it was she jogged the short distance to catch up with the elf.

“But perhaps we could aid them further by gathering some more information, Andromeda and I could fly over the city virtually undetected at night and survey the city, Andromeda’s black scales can barely be seen at night and from a distance she is practically invisible.”

‘Oh your so kind, thank you for volunteering me.’ Andromeda chimed in to her riders mind trying to lighten up he mood.

‘Us, volunteering us.’ Melantha corrected understanding the dragon’s sarcastic humour knowing Andromeda would have stoped her from bringing up the idea if she truly did not agree with it.

Melantha returned to the elf “I don’t know of many other dragons that can see better at night, it could give us a better idea of what we are up against.” The more she thought about it the more she felt the elf would disregard the idea.

[Deleted]

Lucian looked back at her, surprised by her request. He stopped walking and brought one hand to his chin, considering.
Lucian...Alorah said, projecting her thoughts so that the young rider would not be left out of the conversation, You cannot allow it.
"But she is right, more information is needed."
Do not risk a capable Rider. There are too few as is.
Lucian's brows came together, though the expression did not detract from his natural elven beauty.
"The young one makes a good argument. She and her bond would be well suited to this task."
Alorah sighed.
Since you have obviously chosen her side, I shall amend my previous statement. She cannot go alone.
Lucian nodded, his eyes on Melantha, considering.
"Yes, but you and I could not possibly accompany her, Alorah. You are much too large for a stealth mission..." he spoke to Melantha, "I will allow this mission, but, as you have heard, my bond will not allow you two to go alone. Do you know of anyone who could accompany you?"

[Melantha]

Melantha was surprised at the elf’s reaction she was sure he would say no to her offer. Another presents projected itself into her mind his dragon. Melantha and Andromeda listened carefully as the elf and Dragon debated.

“Another Dragon and Rider or?” Melantha bit her lip. The question made her stomach do flips. Of course she knew some one, there was only one person she wanted to fight along side, the only other person she trusted with her life besides her mother and Andromeda, her husband, but he had gone missing in action for a while now.
Getting teary thinking about him, Melantha turned and stared out the arched window at the grassy training fields out side as she tried to pull her emotions together.

Andromeda sensed her riders sorrow and that was unable to continue the conversation. “Melantha’s mother is an accomplished magician, She fought along side us during the attack on Aberon, Perhaps?” Andromeda proposed the first thought that came to her mind.

“No” Melantha said firmly wiping her eyes with the sleaves of her tunic as she turned back to the elf. “That won’t work, one of us has to stay here to take care of Dubhan.” Melantha knew Andromeda was just trying to offer up suggestions but the truth was they didn’t really know of any one else suited to this task that was readily available.
“I can’t think of any one else that would be available for this task. But let me assure you both that Andromeda and I are entirely capable of doing this alone, we will be very careful, we can not afford not to be reckless not with so much at stake.” She said a somber tone filling her voice.

Andromeda agreed they were capable of doing it alone, it would be better if they had company but there was a shortage of experienced riders, they couldn't afford the added luxury of company in such dire times.
"We can leave in a day or two, that should give us enough time to prepare and recover from last nights battle."

[Deleted]

(OOC: I wasn't sure if you were looking to turn the infiltration into an RP. I have a character I could bring in if you desire ^^. Sorry for the short post, too. I believe I have food poisoning and that does absolutely nothing for my creativity.)

Lucian nodded.
"Very well. If you would like, I could administer some healing. It may not be my strong suit, but you do pick some things up when you've lived as long as I have," he smiled slightly, as though embarrassed to point out his own age.
He was glad to see that the pair was so willing to go on this mission alone, but he was worried that even two days would be too long. He did not want to rush them into danger, however, the winds did not seem to blow in the Riders' favor.

[Melantha]

occ: sorry i have taken so long. I hope you are better and yeah lets do that sounds like a fun thread. Sorry my post kinda sucks.

Andromeda wondered if the other elders would approve of this mission, even if they didn't they would be far to busy to object.

Melantha smiled sincerely at the offer "Thank you for the offer, but im afraid only time will heal these wounds."
Looking at the elf like any elf she could never tell how old they might be but one thing was certain he was much older than herself.

There was a long silence before she spoke again
"Its settled then, unless you know of another suitable rider and dragon or other capable person to accompany us we shall go alone." she said nodding decided on those terms.
Melantha preferred to work alone she found it hard to trust strangers, but she wouldn't say no to help especially when dealing with such a dangerous enemy.

[Deleted]

(OOC- that's absolutely fine. And it doesn't suck, we're just at a slow point right now ^^)

Lucian smiled slightly.
"I know a man. He's not a Rider, but he is quite competent. He was formerly an assassin of the Empire before he joined the Varden late in the war. He is an adept warrior and no stranger to stealth missions. He is an elf like myself, and may prove to be of great use," his elegant brows drew together slightly, "I believe that he will be arriving soon on business of the Queen, delivering messages."
Lucian knew that the man he spoke of detested work that was so 'unfitting' for a warrior of his class, but he had no choice but to obey orders. This would make him rather irate by the time he arrived. Not only that, but he was a little eccentric in his own right, and Lucian did not know how he would react to Melantha.

[Melantha]

Melantha nodded wondering if she new the elf man as Lucian reviled that he was formerly aligned to the Empire there was a chance that they had crossed paths. The thought made her a little uneasy, she too left the empire to join the Varden after years of abuse during her training as a rider. The Empires trainers went exactly patient or kind like the ones who now trained young riders in New Doru Arabea.

"We must meet your friend as soon as possible so we can discuss the details of this mission." Andromeda replied wanting to learn every detail of the man who would potentially riding on her back and accompanying them on this very important mission.

Melantha agreed with Andromeda looking around the hall noticing the a few young riders coming up the hall she turned back to the elf lowering her voice "Perhaps we should continue this conversation once your man arrives, i must start making preparations for our departure as soon as possible."
Melantha was already going over the things she needed to do and prepare before they departed in her head.

[Deleted]

Lucian nodded, noticing the students as well.
"Indeed. I shall alert you as soon as he arrives."

**************

Nextith scowled to himself as the castle of New Doru Arabea appeared as he crossed a rise. Numerous dragons trumpeted greetings as he rode swiftly toward the castle on horseback. The black horse beneath him whinnied in a slightly fearful manner at the presence of so many predators. Nextith quickly soothed it with his mind, not wanting to be thrown.
The horse clattered into the courtyard of the castle within a short while. Nextith swung down from the saddle, gripping a satchel of scrolls in one hand. He handed the horse off to a stable boy who had come running at his arrival. Then he strode into the castle, not waiting for an invitation. His black boots sounded against the stone floor with each step. He stood straight and tall, his riding cloak billowing behind him. He ran one hand through his messy black hair, his blue eyes snapping with a startling intensity. His pointed ears were left visible by his short hair.
Nextith send a brief, searching thought out, looking for the nearest elder. Upon sensing who the only elder in the castle was, he winced slightly.
Lucian...I was hoping that it wouldn't be him. He's so....soft. He can fight like a hellcat but he's more of a philosopher...I always get the feeling he's disappointed with me or something, even though he swears up and down that we're friends.

[Melantha]

ooc: short but sweet

**************

Melantha had the saddlebags packed with food, supplies and camping equipment just in case they were forced to camp out over night. She had checked over her armour cleaned and oiled it and it hung on the mannequin in the corner of the room ready to go. She nervously waited for Lucian to send for her with word of her new travelling companion.

Neona sat on the edge of the cot watching her daughter arrange her bags.

“have you told Dubhan?” she said breaking the silence.

Melantha stopped what she was doing and turned to her mother. “I told him yesterday during our picnic, I think he understood he seemed a little upset but today he seems okay.”

Neona nodded “Let me worry about him when your gone, you cannot afford to lose focus when venturing into such dangerous territory. He will be just fine with me I did raise you after all. ”

Melantha smiled “Yes, I suppose you did.”