Of Dragons and War III

[Zelda]

"Well if you cant find them it doesnt mean they are dead does it?" Zelda offered the only ray of hope she knew....unless proven otherwise someone was still alive.
"Remember when Arcon fell off that cliff in Zarconia?"
Rosaline nodded, her eyebrows knitted in concentration.
"Well we all thought he was dead right?"
Rosaline nodded again, trying to work out what the Queen was getting at.
"He wasnt though was he?"
This time she shook her head, perplexed at what Zelda was trying to get at.
Seeing her look Zelda sighed and spoke quietly,
"What I am trying to say is that everyone gave up hope that he had survived, I didnt, and look, he came back. Remember no one is dead until you see the body with your own eyes."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline nodded slowly.

"I'll be sure to remember that." She sat quietly for a moment, "I must look terrible. Houses falling, crying like a child," She stood and moved to a barely noticable trickle of water coming out of the hill. They had dug a small nitch in he hill side to serve as a basin, with a gap to let the water continue to fall and refresh the basin. She dipped her hands in and washed her face. Feeling only slightly better, she moved back to where Zelda had waited.

"I want to go into the village, see . . . I need to see it," She paued, "will you come with me?"

[Zelda]

"Of course I will, shall we take Naekos as well? He may be able to shed some light on what happened."

[Iwant2bafencer]

"Sure," Rosaline nodded.

She helped Zelda to her feet and they started out of the grove, just as Rylus came over.

"Rose," he tried to smile.

Her answer was to take him into her arms, hugging him tightly.

"No one is dead until you see the body with your own eyes," she quoted to him.

He nodded just as she had.

"We're going into the village, you can come if you'd like."

He shook his head no and went back to the horses.

[Crin Dalmeiier]

Talmour left Rosaline in the capable hands of the queen and found Crin surveying the wreckage, her expression absolutely unfathomable. To most, she would have looked bored, but Talmour could easily boast that he knew her the best, just as she did him. They were partners, after all. There would never be a romantic interest between the two of them--she was (against her will) undeniably attracted to Falcour--but they had been each other's support system through a very difficult period of their lives. Talmour had left his way of life behind, and Crin had been his only friend in doing it.

So he knew exactly what was happening in her head right now.

"Whatever you're thinking, stop it right now," he said with a hard note in his voice, harshly enough for Crin to look over at him with the same unreadable look in her eyes.

She chose not to comment on the order. Instead, the two watched the carnage all around them, eyes growing more and more opaque as the damage deepened. They should have been helping, but instead they just stood there. Talmour kept an eye on the pair near them as he did so. "You move pretty fast for a man who claims he's not in love."

"I never said I wasn't in love."

Crin shrugged. "Moving along awfully quickly, aren't you?"

"I could say the same for you and Falcour."

She didn't bother to deny it. "Perhaps."

"It's going to get worse." Suddenly, love seemed trifling, a whimsical thing that neither felt they really deserved. There was a war coming, and they were standing in the middle of a destroyed village. For now, who loved whom couldn't possibly matter. "The Russic are going to destroy this place. All of it."

"Are we crazy?" Crin wondered, voicing what was on both of their minds. "The dragons have always been scavengers. What evidence is there that they'll actually help us--or even let us live?"

"Life's a chance." Talmour shrugged and followed Crin's gaze. If the situation were any less dire, he might have smiled; Falcour, in order to ward off some of the heat of the indian summer and to provide a shivering survivor with some warmth, had stripped off his shirt. "Either way, it makes you want to cling tightly to what you've got, doesn't it?" Crin made a noncommittal noise at that, and he gave her a strained smile. "C'mon, let's help get the bodies buried. We'll probably have to camp near here tonight."

"All right." Crin picked up the remnants of her cloak and carried it off to help Ame, Senyik, and Darion transport bodies with their cart. Talmour watched her go for a moment before turning to check to make sure that Rosaline was okay. It was funny the way life worked out sometimes. He had always thought he and Crin might end up married someday, well after he was done with his fill of women and drinks. War changed everything; she was with Falcour now, and he would be happy to give up women and binge drinking just to see Rosaline smile again.

It's amazing how life can horsewhip you, he decided, and headed off to find Meekal and Naekos to see if either was willing to help dig the grave.

[Miri Belakai]

Finding everyone busy with burying the bodies, Miri quietly went back to the first man she had found. Luckily, he was still alive, and his wounds had stopped bleeding. Wordlessly, she offered him a hand up, juggling the baby in the other. She helped him stumble to only standing structure - a small shed next to a house in the middle of the village. Once there, he nearly collapsed, and she helped him down to a sitting position against a pile of wood.

"Is there another village nearby?"

The man nodded. "A few hours walk east, through the woods. Not on the main road. More protected."

"Good. Hopefully we can get you and a few others there tomorrow. For now, rest, and care for the child." She handed him the boy, her arms relaxing for the first time in hours. "I'll go find the other wounded and bring them here."

To her dismay, only one of the people she had found before was still alive. She helped the old woman to the shed, then went back out to the street to see if the others needed any more help.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline and Zelda walked slowly towards the village. Rose was fighting against running full speed in the other direction. Once they got to the village they walked even slower as they took in the scene.

"That was Sarah Masson's home. She used to watch Rylus and I when our parents were busy." She remembered, not really speaking to anyone.

"Lady Rosaline?" A Voice asked tentatively from behind them.

Rose turned to see Darion had joined them.

"Yes Darion? And don't call me Lady, it's not my title." She replied.

"My appologize. Miri says there is a village near by where we can take the . . the wounded. I was told this is your village, perhaps you know how to get there?" He asked.

Rosaline turned to look at the charred buildings.

"This used to be my village, it's wood and ash now. Yes, I know where it is."

Darion nodded and started to move away.

"Darion," She called after him.

He stopped and turned.

"You say there are survivors, where are they?"

[Darion McNair]

"They're being gathered over there." Darion pointed over to one of the last buildings that could even be called a building. "They're aren't many but I'm surprised that many actually survived." he looked around again at the devastation caused by the raiders. "I'll take you to them." he finished, looking back at Rosaline. She nodded.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Zelda excused herself to go check on everyone else. Darion led Rosaline quickly to the last building standing, it just happened to be the church at the far end. Rose walked quickly into the church to find two people and a tiny babe. She looked to Darion quickly.

"That's all of them? No one . . there's no one else?"

[Darion McNair]

"As far as I know, yes." Darion replied quietly. He looked over at the survivors and saw that the old man was staring at him with a perplexed look on his face. "Is something the matter?" Darion asked.

"You . . . you look farmiliar." he replied. "Have I ever seen you before?"

"I . . ." Darion stumbled for words, caught off guard by the man's comment. "I might have passed by here in the past." he said, "When I was on my way to Arconia." Then suddenly the man's face lit up.

"Yes, now I remember! You were a passing traveler I opened my home to because the inn was full . . . some drama troupe passing out of Arconia or something."

"Ah." Darion replied, remembering. "Yes, your hospitality was most gracious."

"Gracious . . . yes." the man trailed off.

"What is it?" Darion presed the man further.

"Well you see." the man began, "These weren't really bandits that just hit our town randomly. They came to my home, demanding to know something about a 'Darion McNair'. I told them I had no idea where you went, which was the truth."

"What are you talking about?" Darion asked further, by now very concerned.

"He said something about the King of Dion demanding your head. I've never even heard of Dion and told him as much. But he didn't believe me."

"Oh God . . ." Darion's face became shocked. "I escaped the king of Dion after he invaded my country." he told him, very ashamed. "He has a ransom on my head." Darion chest felt as though it would explode, these ordinary bandits were actually highered mercenaries looking for him. He looked over at Rosaline who was just staring at him with a look of utter disbelief.

[Iwant2bafencer]

"You are wanted by the King of Dion?" She asked in shock. "Do you have any idea what this means? King Dedaelus is a cold and relentless man. If he hates you enough he will send quad after quad of men looking for you and every place you've been there will be death." She spoke quietly but her voice was filled with some sort of passion wether it was anger, fear, or hate, netiher could tell. "Darion, what did you do to get on his bad side?"

[Darion McNair]

"I did nothing but fight for my country." he replied. "Dion invaded Bosconia and I am the last surviving Captain of my homeland. He seeks my head, yes." he streached out a hand behind him for emphasis, "But I had no idea he would resort to this!"

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline put a hand over her eyes and sighed.

"Let us pray that you're at the bottom of his list so other villages to not have to suffer as mine did. That way I wont have further need to kill Dedaelus."

"You say this is your village child?" The man asked, "meaning you lived here? What is your name?"

"My name is Rosaline Collier, my father Lucian was govenor of Caledon." She replied. "I believe you two were close Mr. Quinith."

"Ah yes, I remember now. Yes we're close." He replied with a small smile.

"My Rosie?" The old woman next to Mr. Quinith asked as she turned from where she lay to get a better look.

"Oh Sarah!" Rosaline sighed, her voice filled with relief she ran to the old woman and hugged her. Mrs. Masson cried.

"Rest now Sarah, youll be alright." Rose soothed, laying the woman back down.

"Mr. Quinith, you . . you speak of my father like he's alive. Is . . . is he . .?"

"Why yes child. He left a week ago to deal with some buisness in the next village.

Rosaline cried out with relief. Caught up in the moment she threw her arms around Darion, hugging him.

"My father's alive!" She laughed.

[Darion McNair]

Darion could do nothing but smile, however weakly. He could not stop thinking about the fact that the entire destruction of Caledon was solely his fault. She pulled away from him, overjoyed still only to see him with a blank stare on his face.

"I'm sorry, Rosaline. I had no intention of ever bringing this upon you or your town. Dedaelus is hundreds of miles away and I had never expected him to reach me with any force here."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline shook her head.

"It's not your fault Darion. Dedaelus is a heartless man. Killing is what he lives for. When we get back to Arconia I'll help you deal with him."

Darion nodded.

"Can you watch them for a few minutes? I have to tell my brother about our father and get them some water."

Darion nodded again and moved to lay his blanket over the woman.

Rosaline ran from the church and through the streets and quickly as she could.

"Rylus!" She called when she was within ear shot of her brother. She sprinted past the group, concentrating only on her brother. "They're alive!" She cried again.

"What?" He called to her.

She gave up on yelling to him and finished her run, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Our parents, they're alive." She smiled, tears running down her cheeks.

Too shocked for words, Rylus simply held his sister.

[Moonitic]

Meekal, who had been hurrying from place to place to do whatever he could for whomever he found, stopped cold at the news. If someone who had been after Darion had done this...a horrible thought filled his head.

"I hate to be the one to bring this up in the midst of your celebration," he said, "but Arconia is in danger." He looked to Darion across the way, & added quietly, "So are Ken-Dall & Moon."

[Darion McNair]

Darion shook his head, the thought of Ken-Dall being in danger was more than he could stand right now. "No no, your Highness." Darion told him. "Arconia is much too powerful for a group of bandits to assault it like this. What's more, both Ken-Dall and Moon are guarded by Strike Force members. And as I was telling Rosaline, Dedaelus and Dion are both hundreds of miles away. It will take a long while for another attack to reach here, if it ever does."

[Moonitic]

Meekal nodded. "If you say so." Still, the thought didn't sit right with him. He sighed. "Maybe I'm just coming up with any excuse to get back. I know I should be here, but I can't help but think of what I left behind." He looked to Darion. "I want to be the one to protect her, not some strike force. Not some guards. Me. That's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it?"

[Darion McNair]

"Yes, I too have the same feeling about Ken-Dall. But you're Highness, you have a job to do as well, you must trust Krasala and Slade to protect your wife for now until you can be with her again." there was a long pause between them before Darion added "This mission will help protect your wife as well, in addition to the whole of Arconia. Think of it in those terms, you are helping your wife by being here."

[Moonitic]

"You're right again. I just don't think of those things." Meekal shrugged. "I never had a reason to. In the past, I just acted. No matter how rash it was, I just acted." Another long pause. "...and that's how Kliff got killed." He bowed his head. So much death...& to think, that wasn't even the beginning.