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Post by irishdragonlord on Nov 15, 2004 17:59:42 GMT -5
Tremors caused the throne room to vibrare; Tanreall was on his feet in an instant.
"Tarein! Take this boy to his quarters! Now!" he barked at one of the guards barring one of the other doors, each leading horizontally away from the throne room.
Artur himself rushed down the opposite hallway. Braendar didn't do much but stare. He could run away - if he killed the guard. He couldn't explain himself if or when he was caught, he couldn't - or at least thought he couldn't do anything.
As soon as the guard had retreated back down the hallway from his "quarters"- the Light bless his hearing - Braendar tore open the door. He had to do something. Anything.
"Bloody and bloody burning flaming ashes from the bloody Pit of Doom."
Thank the Light no one had heard that; their ears might have fallen off.
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Post by Crystal on Nov 15, 2004 19:31:59 GMT -5
((IDL... is your horizontal hallway INSIDE the throne room, or outside?))
"Burn you, you killed him!" Ariena whispered fiercely to Leun as she surveyed the empty quarters. Neither of the two were anywhere in sight.
Before, there had been two other guards inside the room. She fleetingly wondered where they both had gone.
Her hearing, enhanced in the grip of saidar, caught the quick sound of a guard's footsteps just outside, and his startled exclamation at finding the two limp bodies of his companions.
Ariena flattened herself against the wall as he came in, then dove for his back, catching him on the point of her knee and sending him to the ground. The ring of her sword being unsheathed seemed quite loud.
"Where did you take the boy?" she whispered harshly. "Where is he now?"
The guard seemed to be struggling to get back his breath as she knelt over him.
"Check the hallway," she said suddenly to her companion. "I don't want anyone to come right now."
The guard was squirming frantically, but she managed to hold him pinned down, with no little exertion - he was, after all, quite a bit bigger than she.
"Quarters," he suddenly rasped. "Down the hall and to the right."
Ariena raised one arm to rap him over the back of the head, having gotten the information she needed. The guard, sensing it, apparently panicked, flinging her off his back to crash into the wall near to the door. He seemed almost surprised at the little amount of effort it took.
"Leun," she cried in the painful haze, "help me!"
The last thing she noticed was that, as the weave of Illusion slipped from her grasp, she looked like a girl again. Then the darkness took her, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
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Post by TK on Nov 16, 2004 16:43:10 GMT -5
Snarling, Leun flung himself down the corridor, scimitar raised far overhead. Saidin blazing through his veins, his very self, as he consciously tapped into Ariena's angreal...
Light, is she dead?
The One Power amplified past the brink as it too rarely was, Leun struck through the guard's sheet of mail with searing Fire and tumultuous Air. It was melted and cropped away to naught. Raising his blade over the crouching man's back, he plunged it forth.
Stepping away from the now lifeless corpse, Leun crouched down by Ariena. She had been thrust against the wall with far too much strength for someone her size. He prodded with Spirit, and breathed a solid sigh of relief.
Alive.
He raised Ariena up and heaved her body over his shoulder. He sped down the hall as fast as he could with the added weight; al'Taren had to be around the palace somewhere.
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Post by irishdragonlord on Nov 16, 2004 17:23:33 GMT -5
((IDL... is your horizontal hallway INSIDE the throne room, or outside?)) "Burn you, you killed him!" Ariena whispered fiercely to Leun as she surveyed the empty quarters. Neither of the two were anywhere in sight. Before, there had been two other guards inside the room. She fleetingly wondered where they both had gone. Her hearing, enhanced in the grip of saidar, caught the quick sound of a guard's footsteps just outside, and his startled exclamation at finding the two limp bodies of his companions. Ariena flattened herself against the wall as he came in, then dove for his back, catching him on the point of her knee and sending him to the ground. The ring of her sword being unsheathed seemed quite loud. "Where did you take the boy?" she whispered harshly. "Where is he now?" The guard seemed to be struggling to get back his breath as she knelt over him. "Leun," she said suddenly, "check the hallway. I don't want anyone to come right now." The guard was squirming frantically, but she managed to hold him pinned down, with no little exertion - he was, after all, quite a bit bigger than she. "Quarters," he suddenly rasped. "Down the hall and to the right." Ariena raised one arm to rap him over the back of the head, having gotten the information she needed. The guard, sensing it, apparently panicked, flinging her off his back to crash into the wall near to the door. He seemed almost surprised at the little amount of effort it took. "Leun," she cried in the painful haze, "help me!" Then the temporary darkness took her, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious. ((If throne room is square, there is one front entrance, and two exits in the upper left and right corners  )) Braendar sped down the halls to where he assumed outside would be. Ariena and Leun were supposed to have horses; maybe they had gone outside? He had no idea. Light, he thought. This was a very bad day. |
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Post by Crystal on Nov 16, 2004 22:46:03 GMT -5
((I think we need handphones. XP
Ariena's going to stay unconcious for a while here.))
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Post by TK on Nov 17, 2004 15:04:42 GMT -5
"Halt!"
The order came from a line of armed guards, six in number, standing abreast to block the hall. Ariena's limp body hung over his shoulder, the pendant angreal dangling not more than a hair from his cheek. He had consumed himself in the void, and the weight seemed distant. Another's burden. Saidin was like a sea of fiery ice - an analogy that could not properly describe anything aside of the One Power - as it coursed through his veins, amplified.
Earth, Air, Spirit, Fire, Water - he hurled them all, too exhausted in both mind and matter to weave anything intricate. The guards fell beneath the might of the maelstrom.
Where is he? he thought, pushing past the bodies, not bothering to prod to see whether or not they lived. It did not matter anymore.
"Al'Taren!" he shouted, Air and Fire weaved to the best of his ability to send his voice ringing through the palace. "Where are you? Al'Taren!"
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Post by irishdragonlord on Nov 17, 2004 15:52:41 GMT -5
"Al'Taren!" Braendar stopped dead in his tracks. Leun! Where under the Light was he?! He doubled back the way he had came; the sound was coming from there. Right then, however, he crashed into Artur Paendrag Tanreall, with one hand on his sword, tearing through the halls. "Braendar! What are you doing here?" said the king, his voice a strange mixture of wonderment and irritation. Branedar had no chance to answer, for Tanreall rode right on top of him. "No matter. Those bounty hunters who got you want you, and one of them can channel!" He somehow managed to haul Braendar to his feet without being rough. "Come with me," he ordered. Braendar obeyed. He didn't know why; it was as if there was some sort of...well...pull to go with him. Some sort of desire. He couldn't explain it. He wanted to do the same to Leun, but this... outweighed it. I'm going mad, he thought. And immediately after that, Tied.((FYI, Artur is a ta'veren after all Keep that in mind in case any of this begins to seem too coincidental ^-^ )) |
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Post by TK on Nov 17, 2004 16:57:19 GMT -5
The halls were nearly bereft of sound now as Leun's Power-amplified shouts echoed off into silence, all to no avail. For all he knew, Tanreall could very well have killed the boy without his knowing!
He put Ariena to rest on the marble floor, rubbing his shoulder. The void could not block out pain in its entirety, and he was beginning to feel it throb.
I'll have to wake her, he thought. Healing was not his forte, most certainly, and all the angreals and ter'angreals in the world as well as all the strongest Aes Sedai with whom he could link to amplify his strength would be of little use if he did not understand the cursedly meticulous weaves! Healing bleeding horses and Ariena's shoulder were different in comparison to stirring consciousness, and definitely different from Healing whatever bruising she was suffering.
He conjured threads of Air, Spirit and Water - Air being comparitively large in size, Spirit noticeably slimmer and Water barely a wisp. He bent them into the form of Healing, and was prepared for the ter'angreal to improve them in strength--
But it did not. The hybrid weaves of Healing were of no greater strength, and then as suddenly as they were there, they were being whisked away. The entire feeling of saidin was being taken away from him, until he was dry and empty inside.
He made an attempt to seize. He could not. He focused all feeling, all emotion into a crackling flame, and tried to seize the unseen light. It was not there.
He tried to keep his breath calm, trying to regulate his breath, though it was too difficult. Either this was some cruel trick of the ter'angreal, or...
Light! Have I been burnt out?
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Post by irishdragonlord on Nov 17, 2004 18:41:03 GMT -5
The halls were nearly bereft of sound now as Leun's Power-amplified shouts echoed off into silence, all to no avail. For all he knew, Tanreall could very well have killed the boy without his knowing! He put Ariena to rest on the marble floor, rubbing his shoulder. The void could not block out pain in its entirety, and he was beginning to feel it throb. I'll have to wake her, he thought. Healing was not his forte, most certainly, and all the angreals and ter'angreals in the world as well as all the strongest Aes Sedai with whom he could link to amplify his strength would be of little use if he did not understand the cursedly meticulous weaves! Healing bleeding horses and Ariena's shoulder were different in comparison to stirring consciousness, and definitely different from Healing whatever bruising she was suffering. He conjured threads of Air, Spirit and Water - Air being comparitively large in size, Spirit noticeably slimmer and Water barely a wisp. He bent them into the form of Healing, and was prepared for the ter'angreal to improve them in strength-- But it did not. The hybrid weaves of Healing were of no greater strength, and then as suddenly as they were there, they were being whisked away. The entire feeling of saidin was being taken away from him, until he was dry and empty inside. He made an attempt to seize. He could not. He focused all feeling, all emotion into a crackling flame, and tried to seize the unseen light. It was not there. He tried to keep his breath calm, trying to regulate his breath, though it was too difficult. Either this was some cruel trick of the ter'angreal, or... Light! Have I been burnt out?Tanreall raced down the hall, obviously knowing Braendar was keeping up. Braendar wasn't sure if the kind found that odd, a boy keeping pace with him. "Boy," he said, "You are going to the guardhouse. Do you understand me?" Braendar agreed. Somehow he felt right agreeing. "You stay there until I get you. Do you understand me?" Acquiescence. "Good." A guard came and Tanreall continued on, while the guard brought Braendar around another hall, and finally to the courtyard to a group of guards. *** Tanreall rushed through the rooms. No man who could channel would get out of here; his guards had sword that was what had happened, blaming the bounty hunters. He hadn't bothered to question them; right now he wanted those hunters, channeling or no. They may just know something. He through the halls, and nearly trampled the bounty hunters. The girl was lying in a heap, and the other one seemed to be in a state of near shock. Artur rushed him and knocked him to the floor, unconscious. If the hunter could not channel, he would be reimbursed thrice over for difficulties. Tanreall then remembered hearing they had killed some of his guards. Maybe not thrice. |
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Post by TK on Nov 17, 2004 19:05:30 GMT -5
((Wow, unconscious XDD That seems to be a popular innuendo. If we were really knocked unconscious as much as our characters, then we'd all have perpetual lumps the size of golfballs all across our heads.))
The thought of losing saidin forever hadn't even been able to properly sink in, to wrap its tendrils around his mind, when he heard speeding footsteps down the hall. Only had he just been able to turn his head when Artur Paendrag Tanreall came, sword raised overhead. The man brought it crashing forth upon his skull. The world flickered into nothingness as Leun's body came heaving down, and the last thing he could remember seeing was the tiny gemstone tear from his bolero and go skittering down the hall.
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Post by irishdragonlord on Nov 17, 2004 19:15:17 GMT -5
((Wow, unconscious XDD That seems to be a popular innuendo. If we were really knocked unconscious as much as our characters, then we'd all have perpetual lumps the size of golfballs all across our heads.))The thought of losing saidin forever hadn't even been able to properly sink in, to wrap its tendrils around his mind, when he heard speeding footsteps down the hall. Only had he just been able to turn his head when Artur Paendrag Tanreall came, sword raised overhead. The man brought it crashing forth upon his skull. The world flickered into nothingness as Leun's body came heaving down, and the last thing he could remember seeing was the tiny gemstone tear from his bolero and go skittering down the hall. ((Lol, too true... well, we can fall back on the ta'veren excuse  )) Braendar was sitting nervously when Tanreall came back. "You can come with me," he said. Not to Braendar - the man Braendar guessed was the head guard. "Alright. And the boy?" "Him too," said Artur. Braendar felt like he would sick up. *** Leun and Ariena were brought to the castle infirmary; Braendar had no idea what would happen next. "What do you know about these too?" said Tanreall. For a split second Braendar felt as if he would tell the king everything, barely stopping himself. What was wrong with him? "Not much," he lied. "They weren't that rough with me, but besides taht all I know is they weren't very close." The best way to tell a lie was to put as much of the truth possible into it, they said. The king merely nodded when Braendar didn't continue. "That is fine," he said, and turned away. Braendar took that as an invitation to go. He went to his quarters and lay their for hours, staring at nothing, and for the life of him could not figure out why he didn't want to leave. |
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Post by TK on Nov 17, 2004 20:05:28 GMT -5
Darkness had spilled into the room, and as Leun's eyes began to open, he could hardly tell that they even had. Save for the pale glow of the moon, there was no light to speak of, not even that of a dimly lit torch.
As Leun cast back in thought, trying to remember what happened, he was met by a flood of images. He had watched the ter'angreal skitter away; Tanreall had struck him; he had tried to channe--
Leun flinched at that part. He could still sense the One Power - he had been fleetingly taught by a gentled man, Master Serim, in a small house on the coast of the Aryth Ocean... he had said how he could still sense saidar, and how it tempted him. The only way to persevere was to stop giving in, to stop trying to seize, or else it would drive you mad worse than the taint ever could. He bit back the temptation.
He looked over and could just barely see Ariena's motionless body in the bed across from him. And then it hit him.
There was no purpose in staying. Ariena and al'Taren would still be sought by the Aes Sedai of the White Tower, though if he had burnt himself out... a lump in his throat formed. Master Serim had spoken of pain in the gentling, of which Leun had not noticed. He would only serve as a burden to them.
This room is probably guarded, he thought. At first light, then; the first opportunity he got, he would use. He would go and retrieve the ter'angreal for Ariena - she might find use for it - and then would leave them.
The only option. He closed his eyes, trying to slip into sleep, though it was not the most comforting thought to sleep by.
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Post by Crystal on Nov 17, 2004 21:00:50 GMT -5
Ariena moaned softly as she opened her eyes.
The world hurt.
It was dark in the room, but underneath she could feel soft covers, soft sheets.
The wish to stay in that bed forever was overwhelming, but she forced herself to sit up. Aside from the buzz in her head, she seemed to be fine. Seemed like her little unconscious bout had restored some degree of strength as well. Her weapons and clothing had been taken - she was now garbed in a thin, white dress of cotton. Groping for the thong about her neck that held the angreal and her ring, it, too, was gone. Even the strip of cloth she used to tie her hair back in it's braid had been taken, and her long dark hair hung in loose strands about her shoulders.
Light, this was bad.
She saw Leun in the bed next to her, a dim shadow in the moonlight, wearing plain white as well. Weaving Fire irritably, she made a small ball of it hovering just above her shoulder. A simple weave, one that every novice knew, but it illuminated the room around them. It was quite a small one, and they were alone. A few other beds stood against the wall, but those beds were empty. The room as a whole was very bare.
She stepped over to her Warder, sitting on the edge of his bed. Strange - the bond between him and her seemed to have - lessened. She could still feel him, but not as strongly as she'd been able to before. Ariena frowned, puzzled.
She was hungry. When was the last time she'd eaten? Not that long ago - equally strange. One of the benefits of being a Warder was that one's appetite was satiated for quite a long time.
Unless...
The bond? Something had happened to the bond. She reached out to touch his face, brushing back the long brown hair. The bond between her, as Aes Sedai, and him as Warder was still there, but the double bonding had gone. She had been so used to the strength that now it seemed... weak. Through what was left, she could barely feel anything, as compared to before.
Leun wouldn't have let them be captured. What had they done to him? She felt a sudden pang of guilt. It was probably because of her. She hadn't been there to help him, and made herself a burden instead.
What had happened? Light, I hope there weren't any Aes Sedai here.
Ariena gathered the weaves of Healing carefully, touching both her hands to his head. They didn't multiply. The ter'angreal wasn't there anymore. She wished she had her own angreal right then. Water and Air and Spirit smoothed out most of the bruises and contusions on him. Releasing the weaves, she stared intently at him.
Ariena wondered briefly what al'Taren was doing. Probably a lot better off than they were.
The ball of fire flickered out as she laid her head on Leun's chest, waiting for him to wake up. Possibly... just possibly... with a plan. Something - anything - to get them out of there.
((Aww, c'mon, TK, admit it! You wanted her to! ;D))
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Post by irishdragonlord on Nov 18, 2004 16:05:15 GMT -5
Ariena moaned softly as she opened her eyes. The world hurt. It was dark in the room, but underneath she could feel soft covers, soft sheets. The wish to stay in that bed forever was overwhelming, but she forced herself to sit up. Aside from the buzz in her head, she seemed to be fine. Seemed like her little unconscious bout had restored some degree of strength as well. Her weapons and clothing had been taken - she was now garbed in a thin, white dress of cotton. Groping for the thong about her neck that held the angreal and her ring, it, too, was gone. Light, this was bad. She saw Leun in the bed next to her, a dim shadow in the moonlight, wearing white as well. Weaving Fire irritably, she made a small ball of it hovering just above her shoulder. A simple weave, one that every novice knew, but it illuminated the room around them. It was quite a small one, and they were alone. A few other beds stood against the wall, but those beds were empty. Then she stepped over to her Warder, sitting on the edge of his bed. Strange - the bond between him and her seemed to have - lessened. She could still feel him, but not as strongly as she'd been able to before. Ariena frowned, puzzled. She was hungry. When was the last time she'd eaten? Not that long ago - equally strange. One of the benefits of being a Warder was that one's appetite was satiated for quite a long time. Unless... The bond? Something had happened to the bond. She reached out to touch his face, brushing back the long brown hair. The bond between her, as Aes Sedai, and him as Warder was still there, but the double bonding had gone. She had been so used to the strength that now it seemed... weak. Through what was left, she could barely feel anything, as compared to before. Leun wouldn't have let them be captured. What had they done to him? She felt a sudden pang of guilt. It was probably because of her. She hadn't been there to help him, and made herself a burden instead. What had happened? Light, I hope there weren't any Aes Sedai here.Ariena gathered the weaves of Healing carefully, touching both her hands to his head. They didn't multiply. The ter'angreal wasn't there anymore. She wished she had her own angreal right then. Water and Air and Spirit smoothed out most of the bruises and contusions on him. Releasing the weaves, she stared intently at him. Ariena wondered briefly what al'Taren was doing. Probably a lot better off than they were. The ball of fire flickered out as she laid her head on Leun's chest, waiting for him to wake up. Possibly... just possibly... with a plan. Something - anything - to get them out of there. ((Aww, c'mon, TK, admit it! You wanted her to! ;D)) Braendar stalked the halls silently. His nervousness was why he had both his swords on his back; he knew that was why. Of course it was. The palace was a maze to him and only firmly planting Leun and Ariena's scent in his mind - and that maddening 'pull' that was getting stronger every minute - kept him going the right direction. The other reason he was out was because of the wolves. He refused to think of sleep; the wolf-dream would take him if he slept, and he knew it. No use in a lecture on being "tied", as it were. Oh, Light, what was going to happen now? He finally arrived at a door where some scent was wafting through. He put his ear to the door and clearly heard breathing; two breathings and two hearts. Slowly, oh so maddeningly slowly, he opened the door. It was Leun and Ariena all right, clear as day to his eyes. ((Ariena is still awake, right? She didn't fall asleep in that positition? ^-^;;; She woke up if she did, then, k? )) Braendar settled on his bed. "Ariena..." he began. Then a new smell hit his nostrils; anxiety and fear. This close it was obvious to his still underdevoleped nose; it was obvious under the situations she would feel like that. He took a deep breath and continued. "Tanreall... is... is... my guardian. My adoptive father; I don't know, but as far as he is concerned he has custody of me." He fought back a wince. "I don't know how we'll get out of here." He looked to Leun. "I really don't." Light, but was it totally necessary for him to be so helpless?! |
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Post by Crystal on Nov 18, 2004 19:26:59 GMT -5
"You got us into this didn't you." Ariena didn't stir from her place, her green eyes still closed. "You knew we'd get caught. I don't know how, but I think you knew."
Leun could have burnt himself out - she refused to think on the possiblity that he, indeed, had. Something had to have happened to break the Warder bond. As it was he was banged up pretty bad. She could have died when the guard had thrown her against the wall. And for what?
Two purses of gold that had been taken along with everything else they owned.
"Braendar, I don't care how you're going to get free, but if you can't I'll leave you behind. I swear to the Light I'll leave you behind. If Leun decides to save your sorry skin, and I doubt he will, that's the only thing that will make me stay. Do you understand me?"
She felt suddenly very tired, very sick of arguing. Opening her eyes, she glared a clear, green-eyed stare at the boy.
"Go away Braendar. Think of something to get yourself out of here. In the morning I'm going to try to lie our way out, but seeing as we're the bounty hunters and you're the prisoner I don't see how I can help you. Or maybe you could just stay here, I suppose. Tanreall seems to like you well enough. Now leave. My head hurts and I don't want to talk to anybody."
Ariena felt a little guilty for being so bitter at al'Taren - he certainly hadn't planned this - but she couldn't help it. It all seemed so stupid, so hopeless, so completely idiotic. She or Leun should have put their foot down at the first and stopped it.
But they hadn't.
"Please Braendar," she whispered. "Just leave me alone."
She didn't want him to see her cry.
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