Mind Misadventure

[Melantha]

Melantha and Andromeda had been given a few days off after their last mission. Today Andromeda spent the day lazing around the castles grounds while Melantha use her free day to spend it with her son.

Dubhan wanted to spend the day exploring the halls and grounds of New Doru Arabea to show His mother all the places that he had discovered while she was away.

“So where to now?” Melantha asked as she followed her son down a spiral staircase leading to a dimly lit hallway.

Dubhan turned back to his mother “This is the special room I found, it’s really cool, you will see!” he said excitedly as he bounced down the hall way eager to show his mother the glowing stones that he had found while she was away.

Melantha smiled “Okay but if its too special we might have to go back we don’t want to get into trouble ” she said glancing down the corridor seeing a plain gray door.

Dubhan hurried the rest of the way wanting to get the door open before his mother got there. He turned the handle and opened the door easily and entered.

Halfway down the corridor Melantha sensed magic up ahead “Dubhan wait!” She called out but Dubhan had already reached the end of the corridor and was pushing the door open.

Melantha started to sprint after him as she tried to decipher the magic that was protecting the room up ahead. The strength of the magic increased as she approached which could only mean that they probably weren’t suppose to be there.

She stoped short of the doorway and looked in horror and amazement at what was inside “Dubhan need to go right now.” She insisted shocked at what he had found.
There were at least fifty Eldunarí of all different colors and sizes all sitting on individual black cushions sitting inside ornate wooden shelves.

Dubhan looked over at his mother waiting for her reaction, which wasn’t exactly what he expected “But we just got here and they so pretty?” he said looking confused and worried by the look on her face.


“Yes, they are beautiful but we need to leave” Melantha managed to say entranced by the beauty of all the colours and the way each heart of hearts pulsed radiating light, she had only seen an Eldunarí once back when she was training within the Empire and it had been a very quick encounter but it had been long enough to know that she was looking at a room full of them.

“aw Why? Cant we have just a few more minutes? Please!” Dubhan pleaded knowing that the stones weren’t dangerous from experience having been in the room before.

Melantha managed to draw her eyes away from the Eldunarí and refocus her attention to Dubhan. “They aren’t just s …” Melantha tied to explain as she stepping through the doorway in attempt to grab her son and pull him away. As she crossed the threshold into the room she felt several consciences collide with the mental barriers of her mind like a dozens of arrows repeatedly hitting against a shield.
‘Help!’ she panicked touching on Andromeda’s mind.

Andromeda felt the disturbance in her riders mind and joined fully with her riders mind. ‘Back off!’ Andromeda warned the other dragons with a mental roar.

Melatha tried to back out of the room but her feet and her legs wouldn’t obey her. In a panic her next thought was to try reason with the Dragons. ‘Mor'ranr Fricai’ she said in hope the minds of Eldunarí would pull back.

Dubhan turned back around when his mother didn’t respond. Pain was the last thing he could have anticipated seeing on her face after all the surprising expressions she had given. “Mother? Is there something wrong?“

‘Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal!’ she begin to beg as the constant assault on her mind was becoming too much to handle.

Andromeda heard a thunderous roar and shouts as she was focusing her mind and thought on helping Melantha ‘hold on Mel, something’s going on.’ She said trying to hear what the riders in the distance where saying but it didn’t help keep her mind focused on the task at hand.

Dubhan stood in shock after she didn’t respond watching her expression go from bad to worse.

‘Letta!’ She cried. The strength of all the minds combined was too much to push back just the two of them.
She dropped to her knees with her hand holding her head

Dubhan ran to his mother “We will go now!” he said in a panic grabbing her arm and attempting to drag her out of the room with no avail.

‘Eka weohnata néiat haina ono!’ She urged as she felt the first mind slip by her mental barriers. She felt Dubhan’s touch and his attempt to pull her away but it only left her lying on the floor unable to move.


Occ: so I’m trying to find a way for Melantha and Xanthe to meet and then for Neona to reunite with Xanthe.

Occc: I get that Eldunarí would be heavily guarded so I figured a young boy would naturally by pass all the magical wards since his intentions are pure.
Kind of like In Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone. Where harry only wanted to get the stone to save it from getting into the wrong hands but not use it. Which made it appear in his pocket. Oops spoiler alert. Lol Magical loop holes.

Occcc: The Eldunarí sense that Dubhan is young and innocent so that’s why they don’t bother him. On the other hand Melantha is a Rider, much older, has fought in wars, has seen a lot of things, Hurt people in some cases causing their death. So that’s my reasoning.

Occccc: Also I’m sure the magical wards triggered off some ones silent alarm… so there is an opening to join in.
It’s no fun RPing by your self.

[hagvar]

OCC: Hey Mel long time no rp for the both of us.

Gidion was walking in no particular direction thinking to himself as he walked. Just as he turned the corner of the adjoining corridor he heard shouting some of pain and some from fear. Gidion ran towards the sounds past a plain gray door and in to a room with a a completely unexpected site. First he saw his old friend melantha kneeling on the floor holding her head in her hands. With her was her terrified son trying to get her away. Then he saw what the room contained, close to fifty Eldunarí. At this point Gidion understood the situation and instantly started chant in the ancient language trying to calm the dragons doen.

"Basil I need some help" said Gidion in a perplexed tone "we have to get them out before the dragons do something to them."so basil lent his mind and strength to Gidion, hoping they hadn't arrived too late.

Gidion continued chanting making sure his toung didn't slip or stumble over any of the words. When he finished he looked up to see if his spell had worked even if for a little bit of time just to get them to safety.

[Melantha]

occ: yes indeed and its nice getting back into it.

Xanthe was among one of the first dragons to find the tinny hole and penetrate the riders mind. She joined the few dragons sifting through the many memories that was contained in the riders mind.

Andromeda attacked the minds of the other dragons "Get out!" She roared fighting them off with her own mind.

Memories flashed before her eyes tinted in vibrant colours as the dragons filed through her minds memories. Every memory made her feel a mix of different emotions one after the other. The overwhelming feelings and the pressure on her mind gave her headache. "Please stop!" she cried out tears streaming down her face as one of the dragons was sifting through some rather unpleasant memories.

Xanthe ignored the riders pleas much like the other dragons, She knew exactly what she was looking for having spent years yearning for any information about her rider. she could tell this rider was young much younger than what her rider would be, chances of her knowing Solaris were slim but any chance was better than none. It wasn't until she got to a fifth memory of a woman with long black hair did she begin to recognise her. "Neona?" She said astonished this rider had memories of her riders wife.

Dubhan continued to pull at his Mothers arms in attempt to get her away from what he had thought to be glowing stones. "Mommy!" He cried helplessly. It was all his fault his mother was getting hurt he thought to himself in a panic.
Hearing foot steps Dubhan looked up wide eyed to see a man he vaguely remembered "Please help!" he begged.

Xanthe threw herself into the riders memories looking for more information but found her mind slowed and a tug pulling her from the riders mind ... "no... how do you know this woman!" Xanthe demanded.

Having your mind being slowly pulled from your body was a painful experience she was discovering. Melantha and Andromeda tried focusing each dragon's mind individually to push them out with growing success but the longer the Dragons stayed inside her mind the weaker and more distant from herself she became.
The dragons seemed to have calmed down and several had retreated. The hammering slowly came to a stop until all but one dragon seemed to be left lingering on a recent memory of her mother. It was a memmory of the morning she had returned from her mission and found her mother and her son asleep in their room. she felt a feeling of relief and love. glad to have returned to what was left of her family "My mother" she responded surprised by the dragons request.

Xanthe wanted to know more of what this rider knew but it was only after she realised all the other dragons had left that she realised the damage they had collectively caused. Silently ashamed she retreated from the riders mind returning to her Eldunarí.

With her response she felt the last of the dragons leave her mind only leaving Andromeda who she heard let out a mental sigh of relief. Melantha managed to open her eyes but found herself still unable to move, Her minds commands slow to connect to her body. "Andromeda i can't move." she said fearful of what it could mean.

Andromeda felt her riders fear. "It will be okay Mel" she said unsure of her own words. "I sense another with you i think its Gidion." she said egger to get her Rider out of there and looked at to find out what the dragons had done to her rider.

Dubhan was relived when his mother opened her eyes the expression of pain no longer on her face. What ever the man who he recognised as a friend of his mothers, had done helped. Dubhan squeezed his his mothers limp hand. "Mommy! I'm sorry i didn't listen to you!" Dubhan said tears welling up in his eyes convinced that everything was his fault.

Melantha could see a mans boots out of the corner of her eyes but un able to move she couldn't make out much else. She opened her mouth to speak but words were difficult to form "nnn... da..." she tried frustrated. "gi... he." Melantha stetted her mind out to Gidion every inch caused her head to throb 'Gidion please help, i can't move.' she managed before retreating back to her own mind.

[hagvar]

Gidion looked up to see Mel looking less and less in pain. Then he felt a conscience that could only be his friend and he let her in for a brief moment. Only long enough for her to feebly ask for help.

Gidion looks to her son and says " it's ok I'm here to help we needs to get her away from here as quick as possible before my spell wares off. Keep close to me I'd hate to loose you on the way" Gidion said with urgency. So he picks her up in his arms and takes off down the hallway. Not a second too soon either as he was leaving one of the more aggressive dragons tried attacking him but he was able to fend him off.

Gidion ran through corridor after corridor till he came to his home while he is in the city. It's a nice place with three small rooms a balcony for each of the rooms and the main room large enough for Basil and a large landing balcony as well. He took Mel in to one of the smaller rooms.

Gidion turned to her son Dubhan and said " your mom will be fine she will just need to rest awhile and be watched. If you need anything please ask." He went to the balcony of the room to get some fresh air and waited for Mel to regain consciousness.

[Melantha]

Dubhan was distraught that he had caused his mother so much pain; he had no idea that the stones were dangerous.

Xanthe was desperate for more information she needed to know how this rider knew her riders mate. But now the riders mind was temporarily guarded with magic, as was the other occupant. But some one they had missed the young mind that had gone unnoticed. "Child" she whispered gently too him.

Dubhan looked up from his mother side as the soft voice of a dragon spoke to him, remembering what his mother had taught him he quickly guarded his mind.

Xanthe had gained a quick glimpse into the boys mind long enough to hear is thoughts and feel his emotions before he put up walls strong enough to stop prying minds but not strong enough to block out the minds touch.. "I am sorry child I mean no harm I wish to make amends for what my kind have done." While she was genuinely sorry for what the damage the dragons had collectively caused to the boys mother in their frenzy, she was not confident that she could do anything to mend the riders mind.

Dubhan considered for a moment desperate to fix the situation "Promise in the ancient language that you mean no harm and that you will make my mom better." He demanded.

Xanthe was shocked by the response, some one so young demanding she make a promise in the ancient language.

"My dad always says no promise is worth its weight in words unless it’s made in the Ancient language, " Dubhan explained

Xanthe torn but not willing to let the opportunity to reunite with her rider slip by she obliged to his request.

“Your father is a very wise man, very well.” She said continuing with her promise in the ancient language.

Satisfied with the dragons promise “okay so what do we do now?” He asked. Dubhan stood as he watched Gidion lift his mother off the floor.

Xanthe sensed through the boy they were running out of time. “Take me with you, Open your mind to me and I shall guide you to where I reside Hurry!" she said with great urgency.

Dubhan only had a second to react because His mother’s friend Gidion was already carrying her out of the room. He let the dragon into his mind nervous about what he was doing but at the same time worried for his mother.

Xanthe tugged gently on the boys mind pulling him towards Eldunarí.

Once he was sure Gidion had turned his back Dubhan moved fast putting his trust in the dragon. He ran over to the far wall towards a stone that looked like a glowing golden apple. He reached up to the shelf and scooped it up as fast as he could before tucking it inside his tunic and running back to Giddion who he continued to follow.

Xanthea left the boys mind and hid within her Eldunarí once she felt the warm touch of the boys’ hands as he lifted her Eldunarí off the shelf.
She knew she would have to wait and hide a while to avoid being detected within the boy’s position.

The struggle to fight off the Dragons minds had surprisingly depleted a lot of her body’s energy and her feeble effort to reach Gidion left her exhausted. Even keeping up her mental link with Andromeda, which was usually an effortless task, caused her head to throb. “Gidion is here.” She told Andromeda sharing the image of Gidion as he lifted her into his arms.

Andromeda felt her connection with Melantha become weaker. “Your safe now rest, I’m coming.” She said just before their mental link closed.

Melantha took Andromeda’s words as permission to let go of any connection she was trying to hold onto letting their mental link slip to a close as she passed out.

She stretched her mind out in search for the rider and friend. “Gidion how is she? Where are you taking her?” she asked worried for her rider wanting to be by her side.

Dubhan followed Gidion down the corridor keeping up with the man’s running pace with ease. He kept one arm secured over the dragon’s mind stone under his shirt as he ran occasionally looking over his shoulder afraid some one had noticed.

He slowed his pace to match Gidion’s as they made it to what he could only guess was Giddion’s house and followed him inside to one of the small rooms. He kept his eyes focused on his mother so he didn’t notice too much about the room. Dubhan watching Gidion put her on top of a bed. He looked at Gidion as he spoke nodding silently in response to afraid to speak. Dubhan climbed up on the rather large bed and sat next to his mother watching over her while she slept.

[hagvar]

Gidion was out on the balcony for a few moments when Mel's bond Andromeda ask how she was and where she was. Gidion replied "she is resting for now I can't assess the damage until she wakes. If you would like to come see her my home is at the top of the western most tower." He said this then cut the connection and continued to ponder a few things about Mel and his classes.

OCC: sorry about the Waite had a busy week

[Melantha]

occ: that’s okay. Sorry I didn't give you much to work with in that last post. Feel free to get creative with your characters reactions to all of this.

"Alright, well I am on my way." she replied, with Gidion’s directions Andromeda hastily launched her self in the air and flew in the direction Gidion had mentioned. As she reached the tower she could smell her riders distinct scent. A faint sweet citrus rose aroma drifted in the air as a gentle breeze swept through the balcony circulating through the tower. Andromeda landed on the larger balcony adjacent to the smaller one she saw Gidion on.
Upon landing she carefully she made her way through the larger room and poked her head around into the smaller room where her riders scent was coming from.


Dubhan waited nervously surly the dragon in the stone would talk to him again he hoped, sneaking peak at the bright amber stone from under his tunic. At the sound of talons scraping a stone surface Dubhan looked up to see Andromeda head in the doorway.
"Andy!" he said slightly startled but relived to see a familiar face.

Andromeda first noticed Dubhan on the bed-sitting upright next to Melantha who from what she could tell was very much asleep. 'Are you okay kiddo?' Andromeda replied touching his mind. She turning her head and looked at him with one charcoal coloured eye to get a better look at him.

Dubhan stared at the dragon for a moment before answering, "I’m okay." he said tears starting to well up in his eyes. Before he knew it his eyes betrayed him. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he broke down. "Its all my fault" he said aloud as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his fingertips.

Andromeda wished more of her body fit into the room so she could comfort the boy "Its not your fault Dubhan.” It pained her to see him so distraught. “It was an accident, No one should have been able to get into that room not that easily.” She said trying to reassure him that he was not to blame for his mothers current condition.

Dubhan listened to Andromeda but wasn’t convinced. Looking down at his tunic where the stone lay hidden he felt guilty for taking it, even though the dragon in the stone had asked.
Biting his lip he tried to sum up the courage to tell them what he had done. “I need to...” He began to say but stoped startled by the movement next to him.

Her dreams had been vivid, many of them past memories skewered together and warped in unrecognisable ways. She tried to remind her self that they were just dreams but the next was a nightmare and one that she had lived though.
She watched the knife come down and pierce her side. Melantha's body jolted itself awake. She let out a small gasp as her eyes flashed open.
It took her a few moments to get her bearings but what she saw was confusing.
As she squinted around the room she could see Andromeda at the foot of the bed. Turning her head she saw Dubhan on the bed next to her and in the background she could see her friend Gidion standing close by.
She closed her eyes again the light from the sun shining through the balcony causing her head to throb.
“Where am I?” she panted.
She tried to remember falling asleep in the room or on the bed but it only made her head hurt more.
“What happened?” she said frowning frustrated and confused at why she couldn't remember.

Andromeda was distracted from Dubhan the moment she saw her rider move. The look of fear on her riders face only made her worry grow.
‘Its okay mel, I'm right here.’ Andromeda reassured. She glanced at Gidion hoping he would know what to do next.

[Deleted]

(OOC- Is it alright if I jump in here?)

Alorah was alarmed when she sensed the Eldurnari's sudden stirring. Their mental attack was like a trumpet being blown to anyone who could sense such things. So many dragons acting in sync was especially difficult to miss. She raised her head from her kill, cocking it in an almost avian manner as she searched for the source of her fellows' distress. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the activity ceased. If Alorah could have frowned, she would have. As it was, she gave the dragon equivalent by rumbling in displeasure. She disliked it when things happened without warning, giving no time to plan.

Abandoning her mostly devoured meal, she heaved her impressive bulk up from where she had lain against the ground. Spreading her wings, she crouched before launching into the air, flapping with enough force that the gusts from her wings caused the trees below to creak. She took to the sky, emerald scales glinting in the sun. As she flew, she stretched out her mind, searching for the source of the commotion. It did not take her long to sense the presences near the room in which the Eldurnari lay. A maternal rush of anger ran through her. Anger that the hatchlings she sensed had dared to approach the Eldurnari when the dragons within could be so volatile and anger that the dragons would inflict harm upon those within. She snorted, smoke billowing from her nostrils as a visible sign of her displeasure.

As the presences began to move, away from the school and into the town nearby, she landed once more near the school itself. The Eldurnari, as best she could tell, had settled once more. Alorah reached out with her mind once again, this time to contact one of those who seemed to have gathered together.

Andromeda, what has occurred? she asked, her tone one of maternal concern.

Alorah had always had a soft spot for any hatchling. Though she knew that many to whom she spoke would hardly consider themselves as such, there was such a gap in years between them that she could not help but refer to them in this manner. She sensed now that one of them, Melantha, seemed to have been injured in some manner. Her concern grew.

[hagvar]

Gidion heard the commotion as Mel woke up. He walked into the room while listening to the conversation. He reach out to her "your alright Mel listen to me I need to have access to your mind, I need to no the extent of the damage they inflicted on you" Gidion said with a concerned tone. "You and your son where attacked by Eldunarí. I have to try and fix the memories that the may have destroyed. This will take some time and I will need to concentrate so if we could be in private I would appreciate it" Gidion said turning to Andromeda & Dubhan.

[Melantha]

occ: I'm going to read this back and find so many mistakes. Ill try and correct this when i wake up tomorrow so sorry if you have troubles reading it.

occc: okay ironed out a few things. nothing major.



Andromeda felt the touch of a familiar mind "Elda Alorah! My rider Melantha was attacked by the Eldurnari, Rider Gidion is tending to her now but i would appreciate you and Elda Lucian's wisdom on maters of the mind ." she replied knowing that that the ancients would have more experience in dealing with the mind.

Melantha sat up and squinted around the room nervously from Andromeda to Gidion. Pushing through her headache she listened to what he had to say she turned to Dubhan concerned that he had been hurt in some way " are you okay?"

"I'm fine they didn't hurt me." Dubhan reassured.


Melantha turned back to Gidion relived Dubhan was un hurt but still un able to remember what had happened worried her. "I don't know." she told Giddion. Looking at him she knew his name but when she concentrated she couldn't recall how she knew him, the memories she tied to recall were hazy, the one thing she could recall was colours Yellow, Black, White and Purple. "I don't remember if i trust you." She said panicking she looking to Andromeda for help.

Andromeda's concern grew as her rider spoke, how much had Melantha forgotten she thought to herself . "Mel its alright Gidion is our friend he is here to help" she reassured.

Melantha pulled back from Andromeda's mind the contact made her headache hurt more. "no, I can't it hurts." she groaned holding her head in her hands wishing the throbbing would stop. She wanted to believe her bond but she was afraid to find out how bad it was and afraid the pain would get worse having some one in her mind.

Andromeda lowered her head in defeat, She was deeply worried when Melantha revealed that their only form of communication caused her pain. She turned her head slightly to see Gidion and spoke privately to him 'I think it is best if i stay here until she calms down, i don't think it is wise if i leave her in this state. Also Elda Alorah was alerted to the attack and has contacted me so I have asked Elda Alorah and Elda Lucian to assist us.'

The room was silent which made Dubahn feel even more nervous This is all my fault thought to himself as he wiped tears from the corners of his eyes trying to hide how upset he was.

Andromeda could see how upset Dubhan was and thought that it was probably best he didn't see his mother in her current state. 'Dubhan why don't you go outside for a bit?'

At Andromeda's request Dubhan stood and began to leave the room, as much as he wanted to stay with his mother he needed to get the yellow stone to talk to him again.

Andromed moved from the door way to let Dubhan pass 'She's going to be alright she's in good hands.' she told him hoeing that it would put him at ease.

"I love you mommy" Dubhan said as he squeezed past Andromeda and left the room.

Melantha looked up as Dubhan spoke. As he spoke the phrase he uttered was so familiar she was surprised she knew exactly who he was, her child, her memories of him coming into the world and growing up clear as day. "I love you too" she blurted out with no hesitation. As she thought of him her headache eased but only for a moment until he was gone and she was reminded of her current situation.

Dubhan had no intention of waiting outside the room, he snuck out of the tower and ran until he was sure he had found a quiet spot. Angrily he pulled out the Yellow stone from out of his tunic "You were suppose to help! You promised!" he yelled at it in mind and voice.

Xanthe has stayed quiet for quite for a quite a while as she could sense others around her Eldurnari but once she was sure that no other minds were close by but the boy's she came out of hiding.
'Quiet you silly boy! Do you think it would be wise if i had shown my presents in front of another rider while you are in possession of my Eldurnari."

"Your what? What even are you?" Dubhan questioned disregarding the fact that she had insulted him.

"you'r only a hatching aren't you "Xanthe sighed realising the age of the boy as she felt his mind. "I am a dragon, or at least i was a dragon, your holding my heart of hearts or as the elves call it my Eldurnari."

"Why are you in there then? Will you help if i get you out?" Dubhan asked pondering ways to break open the Eldurnari and free the dragon.

Xanthe followed the boys train of thought and chucked to her self "No it doesn't work like that, you see every dragon has one inside of them, you could say it hold our minds."

amazed at the thought of holding a dragons mind in his hands "if I'm holding your mind where is your body?" Dubhan asked.

"It perished long ago." she answered slightly annoyed at all of the boys questions. The thought of the day that she had lost her body and rider brought her great pain.

"I'm sorry" Dubhan sympathised he felt sad for the dragon he didn't know that dragons could live without bodies even after they had died and it made him sad that this dragon had lost her body. "My name is Dubhan, sorry i yelled at you but my mother needs help and i don't know what to do."

"Its quite alright child and I'm sorry i called you silly, i can see in your mind and i can tell you are smarter than most children your age." she paused every word she spoke was truth
"My name is Xanthe i want to help you and your mother but i cannot do so with others present, you must find a way to get us alone with her." she continued.

"But why can't i tell them." he questioned

Xanthe wanted the woman alone to continue searching her mind for traces of her riders bond. She had been in Galbatorix's presents long enough to know how to find loop holes in a promise made in the ancient language. It didn't matter whether she could help the boys mother because she knew giving a good honest try would for-fill the promise she had made to the boy.
"You might get in trouble if the riders found out that you took my Eldurnari and then i wouldn't be able to help you, No more questions you must return before some one notices your gone now go!" with that Xanthe pulled back her mind and hid herself.

[Deleted]

Upon hearing Andromeda’s response, Alorah reared slightly. An angry growl built in her throat. While she knew not all dragons were as kind or maternal as she, however, she was furious with her fellows for having inflicted harm upon a young one. Especially when the elders, herself and Lucian included, had promised them their safety. For them to attack with such force as to render Melantha in need of mental aid without having first determined the Rider’s intentions towards them….

Her culminated anger burst forth in the form of a ferocious roar. The birds in the area took flight and a few of the other dragons present looked, both physically and mentally, towards her in alarm. She hardly noticed.

Lucian had sensed the wards in the Eldurnari chamber being set off and had immediately stopped what he was doing in order to determine the source. Much like his bondmate, he sensed the dragons’ sudden activity and the presences of the humans there. Standing from his desk, where he had been in the process of planning a lesson in the ancient language for their trainees, he quickly left his rather spacious office, moving quickly towards the chamber. He walked at a clipped pace, not wanting to worry any of the students by running. Despite this occurrence, it would be poor judgement for him, an elder and teacher, to allow suspicions and worry to spread.

By the time he arrived, the humans were gone. His elegant face set in a frown, the elder began to murmur in the Ancient Language, naming passphrases and the like. When he was sure it was safe to enter, he stepped inside and immediately moved to the center of the room. Stretching out his mind, he allowed the dragons, despite their distress, to contact him. Some charged directly to him, nearly causing him to wince. Others reached out to him with feather light brushes of their minds. He and the other elders had worked hard to gain the trust of these dragons. Some of them had been very damaged upon their arrival at New Doru Araeba and had required assistance. Some, he was still working with. While a few were still wary of him, they knew that his intentions towards them were good.

Lucian slowly, moving carefully, began to calm them. He welcomed their mental presences, allowing them to voice their concerns and alarm. Though they were numerous, by acting as a simple conductor, he was able to keep from being overwhelmed, riding out the mental currents without difficulty. Some of the dragons were only confused, having been peacefully dormant until their brethren had suddenly made an attack. Out of fear, and rationalizing that, if the others deemed the foreign presence a threat, it must be, they had joined in. A few, however, particularly those who had been under Galbatorix’s control, had attacked in force as soon as they sensed the intruder. Lucian gently impressed upon them why this was not acceptable, knowing that their time under a tyrant’s rule had left them in a state of paranoia. Within a few minutes, they had calmed, some happily and apologetically, others grudgingly.

As the last of the dragons withdrew from him, he felt Alorah’s rage blast through him like a white-hot fire. He instinctively braced himself against the force of her emotions. With a bond so old and complete as theirs, it was often difficult for one to keep from being pulled into the emotions of the other. The elf immediately acted as he had with the Eldurnari, allowing himself to be a conduit rather than a receptor.

Unforgivable! They behave as beasts, not dragons! They have injured the young one in their unnecessary attack! Are they so ignorant of their own power that they do not moderate it? Or do they perhaps not care about the well-being of others? There was no true provocation!

Lucian understood her rage, now. Alorah was very maternal, and had never laid a clutch of her own. She attempted to take all young ones figuratively, and sometimes literally, under her wing. He reached out to her, soothing her, assuring her that he had dealt with the Eldurnari personally.

After a moment of his efforts, his bondmate calmed enough for him to speak rationally with her. His mind stroked over hers in the comforting way one might stroke a hand over another’s head.

My dear one…friend of my heart, please, be calm, he soothed, I cannot comprehend the situation when it is so overshadowed by your anger.

The dragon took a deep breath, her mind evening out. Then, she explained to him what Andromeda had told her. As she spoke, Lucian left the Eldurnari chamber, checking the wards there before making his way to where he sensed his bondmate to be.

I see…I would suppose that they attacked with enough force to do damage….hopefully it can be reversed painlessly.

Moving quickly, he ran from the school and to Alorah. The monstrous green dragon crouched as low as she could, belly against the ground. Still, Lucian had to use her foreleg as a ladder of sorts, climbing nimbly with a practiced hand. Upon reaching the top, he settled into the hollow where his saddle would normally sit. While riding bareback was uncomfortable, they needed to move quickly.

We will arrive shortly, Alorah informed Andromeda, heaving herself into the sky once again.

[Melantha]

occ: hoping to revive this thread to get Xanthe reunited with Neona.

Dubhan stared at Xanthe's yellow glowing mind stone for a moment longer as he struggled to come up with a plan. Before he could think of what to do next he heard foot steps, quickly stuffing the apple sized glowing stone back in his shirt under and under his arm. He sprinted back to the tower, hoping no one had noticed he had left.

Andromeda sat silently watching her rider, she dared not touch her riders mind and cause her further pain but the complete absents of her riders mind felt strange.

Melantha lay curl into a ball silently holding her head trying to make sense of her jumbled memories. While past memories came to her in fragments more recent memories where starting to piece themselves back together, what had happened was slowly coming back to her. "Dubhan wanted to show me around the castle, he wanted to visit all his favourite places" she said softly in almost a whisper.

Andromeda felt a glimmer of hope when her rider broke the silence. "yes" she said giving her rider a gentle mental nod in response before retreating.

Melantha winced slightly at the connection but welcomed the conformation, she didn't want to exclude Andromeda from her mind it was almost as painful as having her there. Melantha thought back to the attack confused as to why they had attacked in the first place, perhaps they were lonely? she recalled the dragons going though her memories non of which she could recall except one that had occurred only days ago. it was of her mother and son sleeping. "One of the Eldunarí asked about my Mother?" she said confusedly.

[hagvar]

Gidion Watched as memories slowly came back to Mel. "If you allowed me to help you I could mend your memories much quicker. If I don't help it could take a few months to years depending on the extent of the damage caused." He said in a soft tone hoping not to disturb Mel to much. He stood there watching his friend suffer, but all he could think about is why the Dragons would attack with out being provoked. When Mel mentioned the one Dragon that was looking for Mel's mother and that it had even Mentioned her. This intrigued Gidion and he sat at the foot of the bed pondering weather he could find this Eldunarí and see if what it said was true.

[Melantha]

Dubhan snuck back into Gideon's house still without a solid plan. Franticly he looked around the main room looking for a place he could temporarily hide Xanthe until he could the others away from his mother. Looking over his shoulder he pulled out Xanthe's heart of hearts from his shirt. Hesitating at first he placed it inside a vase that sat upon one of the lower shelfs of a towering bookshelf.
It was a small relief to have it off his person but it wasn't over yet, he still needed to help his mother by getting the others away.


Andromeda thought what the dragon had asked was odd also? "Maybe the Dragon knows you're mother? How many Dragon's does she know?"

"I.. I don't know?" Melantha responded thinking for a moment but not being able to come up with an answer but only with more questions about her mother "Where is she?"

"One of the Riders took her to Osilon she wanted to collect some things from her house she left early this morning." Andromeda replied hoping it would spark some kind of memory in her riders mind.

Melantha shook her head unable to remember much aside from parts of the accident and random chunks of the past that became more fragmented as they faded into the past.
Melantha slowly pulled her hands away from her face when Gideon spoke hoping if she looked at his face hard enough she would remember him but all it did was cause more of a head ache. "I'm sorry i just don't remember you?" she said afraid to let a stranger into her mind.

Andromeda
"Mel he's right, some one needs to asses the damage and try to repair it and I trust him. Beside I'm right here if he tries to hurt you i'll turn him into lunch. " Andromeda was some what serious about her statement, she would destroy anyone that tried to hurt her rider or any of their family but on the same token she knew Gideon just wanted to help.

Considering Andromeda's words she looked from her bond to the man named Gideon staring at him waiting for some part of his demeanour to give her a clue of any ill intention that he may be hiding.
Andromeda could see Melantha becoming tense and anxious again "Please Mel its all going to be okay, the Eldunarí that attacked you not Gideon he's the one that pulled you out." she pleaded

"I'm afraid, but if it will help to remember then i'll do it." she said bracing herself.

[Deleted]

It was only a few minutes after Alorah's promise of arrival that the pair soared by overhead. The green dragon gave a trumpeting call, hailing Andromeda and letting her know of their arrival. Alorah was much too large to land near Gideon's home, that much became clear to her after a single overhead pass. As such, She flew low enough for Lucian to drop down from her back. He landed lithely on the roof above where Andromeda perched, dropping into a crouch to distribute the impact before standing again. He was fortunate that his body remained youthful in its physical capability. Though, he was still sure that an elf of his age should not be doing things like jumping from dragon-back. This was why he was a teacher and rarely left to join the war in a soldier's capacity.

The Ancient stepped to the edge of the roof and let his mind ghost over Andromeda's, alerting her to his desire to speak without disturbing those within Gideon's house. From just the briefest, lightest sense within, he gleaned that Melantha was indeed in a bad state and that Gideon was readying to help her. It was best not to add to the confusion with his own mental presence. Though, in a different part of the house, he did pick up the presence of Melantha's son and what sensed like a dragon. That was intriguing, but, not his main objective in coming here.

Andromeda, what is the situation here? Alorah is quite angry and I am afraid I cannot gain a clear answer from her. Could you perhaps tell me?

He was deeply concerned by the occurrence and what it may have done to Melantha. He had become a sort of specialist in assisting others in regaining themselves, though not truly by choice. He had spent a number of years guiding the young Varda through the perversion Galbatorix had inflicted on her mind, and had made the attempt to help her twin brother, Eladan, despite the darkness that clung to the male's very being. He had served in this capacity with a great number of the Eldurnari as well, which was why he had been able to calm them again. He would not intervene here if his help was not needed, after all, he did not want to deprive Gideon of this opportunity to help another. But, he would offer his aid if it came to that.