Of Dragons and War IV (Old accidently deleted thread)

[Moonitic]

"So..." Darion said to Meekal as they stood there in the silence that followed.

"So..." Meekal returned. They both looked around, glanced at the others...glanced at each other. Managed a smile. "I guess we wait," Meekal said after a moment.

Darion nodded, folding his arms. "It appears so," the man said. "Enjoying the trip?"

Meekal rolled his eyes. "Immensely." He kicked at the dirt, nodding slowly, obviously at a lack for something to say. "You?"

"Oh, yes."

Meekal nodded again, also folding his arms. "So..." he said after a few more seconds ticked by, "think we'll find any dragons?"

"I sincerely hope so," Darion replied.

The King of Muu managed a smile. "Yes, so do I. If not for our cause, but to get us home sooner." Home, Meekal mused. Once they returned to Arconia, the concept of "home" would be very different.

"Something troubling you, Meekal?" Darion asked.

He shook his head. "No...not really. I was just thinking about home. When we get back, 'home' won't really be Arconia anymore. I have a kingdom of my own, with people who need me." He sighed. "I spent most of my life in Muu, but I never felt so welcome as I did in Arconia. And Moon has been there so much longer, even visiting when she was a little girl. How will she handle the move? It will all be so strange." So very strange...

[Darion McNair]

“Yes.” replied Darion, “It may very well be strange. But I’m sure the strangeness will pass with time.” He sat down where he stood with his knees propped up and the inside of an elbow resting lazily on one of them. “Think of the opportunity you have for your people, your highness. You could bring reforms and prosperity to the people of Muu the likes of which they had never seen before. You should grasp this opportunity with both hands and make the best of it.”

“I have yet to consider the people’s reaction to their being lead by me. Many of them might still consider me ‘Meekal the Daft’.” He said with a shrug. “But I thank you for pointing that out. Moon and I will try our very best to bring prosperity to our people.” His eyebrows raised and he nodded assuredly. “The quicker that unfortunate nickname disappears, the better.”

Darion learned back and laid flat on the ground. He rested his hands behind his head and stared straight up at the sky. “What I wouldn’t give for a good instrument or a good book. I haven’t played any wind instrument in years.”

“You play?” Meekal asked, interested. “I know very little of you Mister McNair other than the fact that you are a warrior.”

“Even warriors need a time of rest. Music and philosophy interest me the most, other than the art of the sword.” He smirked and laughed curtly to himself “But don’t ask me to paint anything. If my skills with a sword were like my skills with a brush I would be long dead by now.”

Meekal chuckled at the comment. “I would think that knowing only combat would be a meager existence at best.” he offered.

“This is true.” Darion replied. He propped himself up on his elbows. “And I would think one such as yourself is learned as well. What interests you, your highness?”

[Moonitic]

"My father thought little of pursuits that would not bring power or wealth," Meekal confessed. "Though my brother was trained to be a soldier, he did manage to learn the finer things as well. Unfortunately, I did not have that chance." He sighed, & sat as well. "That is, until I met Kliff. He taught me about geology. Finally, I had something I could call my own. Something interesting, and someone willing to teach me, not ignore me. I guess I took it a little too far when I started talking to the rocks..."

"I see..."

"But then, one evening Lord Tellurine came back from a mission & brought something far better than any rock. My future wife..." Meekal sighed, a far off expression on his face. "Meeting her gave me a purpose, a reason to live. A reason to become someone better." He glanced at Darion, who watched with great interest. "I am the man I am now thanks to her. She is, as crazy as it sounds, what interests me. I don't know where I'd be without her, but I know that I'd do anything to keep her safe." He shrugged. "Not much, huh?"

[Darion McNair]

For a moment, Darion wasn't sure what to say. Ken-Dall meant as much to him as probably Moon meant to Meekal. The devotion that felt for her was certainly admirable.

"Your devotion to your wife is good to hear, your highness. If that be your sole interest then so be it." He stood and opened his saddle bag to grab a piece of bread. Breaking it in half he threw one of the halves to Meekal. "Eat up your majesty, we do not know when they might be back." With that he took a bite of his own piece.

[Moonitic]

"Thank you." Meekal accepted the bread, but did not eat it at first. He looked at Darion, & said, "My rocks & my wife are the only things I've really known. But that's changing. I am interested in truly being a good leader for my people. They've lacked one for so long...and I want to be a good husband, &...father. I know the baby isn't mine, really, but I want to help raise him-or her-to lead well in the future. Someday, maybe, I'll have time for music, art, philosophy and the like. But right now, there is so much else I must learn. So much I've missed out on. And with the war coming..." Meekal bowed his head & took a bite, chewing slowly as he contemplated all he had said, & even more of what he had only thought.

[Zelda]

"Again, that depends on what you decide to focus on. Keep thinking of the past, and perhaps it will. As for the child...just call it a halfling's instinct. Full elves frequently discern an unborn's gender."

Zelda snorted, "Halfling's instinct my foot! You KNOW!."

Naekos just looked at her, his eyes devoid of any emotion except a sinister glitter. "Are you going to sit there and insult me, or are you coming dragon hunting?"

Zelda sighed, the forest was coming back to life around her. The birds were starting to sing, and two starlings were having a very loud arguement in a nearby tree, which was moving very slightly in the still air. Abercrombie was looking at her with his deep brown eyes that asked very clearly "Why was she sitting on the ground when he had a perfectly good saddle she could use.?"

Rolling her neck in a circle Zelda stretched her muscles. "Well are you going to help me up or not?" She offered her hand to the halfing, her eyes looking at his.

"Zelda, you are perfectly capable of getting yourself up. When I pulled you out of the tree I made perfectly sure you wouldnt harm yourself." Naekos turned and made his way to his horse, which was waiting patiently in the shadows.

Rolling her eyes Zelda pulled herself up and quietly apologised to Abercrombie for sending him on a wild goose chase. The horse wickered in reply. Mounting up, she trotted over to Naekos.

"What now?" she enquired, her eyes roaming around restlessly.

"This.." he replied, and shook a tree.

"Omph..." THUD came the reply as Rosaline fell to the ground.

"How many times have we had the eavesdropping discussion Lady Rosaline?"

"What evesdropping discussion? I dont remember any eavesdropping discussion." Rosalines face was blank, her eyes sparkling.

Naekos resisted the urge that coursed through him to punch her, though his fists clenched rhythmically against his sides. Another fight was not needed for moral.

"Mount up, we are going." he growled, muttering the whole time about insubordinance.

"Naekos, wait. Promise me you will be there if I need you?" Zelda's voice was quiet, even but tinged with fear. "I will try to be positive, but the memories are still there."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline got to her feet after her rather painfull fall from the tree and brushed her pants off. She grumbled something to Nækos' back and moved to get Shadowmaker who had jumped away when Rose fell to the ground. She rubbed his nose breifly before swinging up into the saddle. She pulled him over directly behind Zelda and waited for the other two to finish their conversation.

[Crin Dalmeiier]

OC- I don't know what you did with the gypsies while I was gone, and I'm not going to bother to find out because they're mine and all. In my reality, they're not too far from the bickering.

IC-
Crin was the last to arrive. When she did, she wasn't surprised to find that Falcour had a pipe out and was fiddling with it. Talmour held a leather sack of ale. Ame leaned back against the trunk of a tree.

"How goes it?" Crin asked in the native gypsy tongue, although her accent was still clumsy. She sat down next to Ame.

Falcour had sent out the call five minutes before, drawing the gypsies from their various activities. They all recognized the cry of a T'ruak beast, even though it was foreign to Arconia's soil. It was the old code that there was a meeting desperately need.

Falcour spoke first. "We're Russic."

Crin tilted her head. "Aye. For the most part."

"Russic. What are we doing here?" Talmour wondered, taking a long chug of ale. "With a bunch of petty, power-loving fools, nonetheless? There are other ways to do this."

The others rolled their eyes in agreement.

"So...we ditch this?" Ame asked, voicing what they were all thinking.

"These people are lining themselves up for slaughter. They've yet to inform the Arconian public that, hey, there's a big war going on. WE'VE been doing that." Falcour pushed tiredly at his forehead. "Why are we bothering? We're Russic. The Russic are coming. Let's go back to our homeland where we belong and watch our country take over the entire world."

"Isn't that like chickening out?" Ame wondered.

"No, it's like, 'I'm tired of all of this stupid crap.' We told them the war was coming, we began to prepare their people for the war. And THIS is how they handle it?" Talmour let out a gusty sigh and pushed his back into the tree trunk, lifting the sack to his lips. "Forget it. We're more of a help back with the whole clan."

"Haven't I done enough?" Crin wondered quietly.

The others froze and stared at her. "What?" Falcour asked, not certain that he had heard right.

"Enough. I've done enough." Crin looked at the rest of them. "I tried to help the queen with the assassin. I got thrown in a tower. I tried to help them find dragons. They bickered and fought. I try to help the Swordsman. I get thrown to the ground and into a fight with him. Why am I still bothering? I gave my childhood to the Zarconian government. Now I'm giving my adult life to a government that's in shambles." Now she looked directly at Falcour. "You asked what I wanted to do after the war. Well, here's my answer: I want to go home. I want a home to go to."

A silence descended on the four for a long time, until Ame finally broke it. "So. That's it, then? Let's all go home?"

"No." Talmour sighed. "As much as I hate what's going on here, I've got to stay."

The other three nodded; he didn't have to explain.

"Let's leave these people to their dragons and go back to the Arconian capital, at least. Prepare these poor sods for the war. From there, we'll decide where to go."

Crin sighed. "I wish I could."

Now Falcour looked hard at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, Talmour and I are both pledged to the Swordsman."

"So?"

"So. We gave our word."

Instead of answering, Falcour leaned forward and grabbed her sleeve, pushing it all the way back to the shoulder. The Dalmei'er tattoo glowed slightly when exposed to the light. "You're a Dalmei'er in the Gideon clan first and foremost. You serve the gypsies, not the Sworsdman."

A little unnerved by the now-burning look between Falcour and Crin, Ame cleared her throat. “So. That’s it. Let’s go.”

“All right.” Crin stood, adjusted her sleeve, and looked long at Talmour. “I guess this is good-bye for now.”

Talmour surprised them all by pulling her into a rough hug. “Don’t die on me,” he told her. He then hugged Falcour and even Ame. “Good wishes on your journey. May the ale be ever fresh.”

“And you, too.”

With that, the two gypsies and the Dalmei’er took their horses and left.

[Darion McNair]

Darion watched as the gypsies started away on their horses. Meekal looked at him inquisitively but there was nothing either of them could to in the situation. The group was getting smaller, and Darion wondered to himself if any others would abandon the mission before it was completed.

“They seem to have little faith in our objective.” Darion commented to Meekal. “The loyalties of a gypsy are seldom to be trusted, in my opinion.” he looked over to the King of Muu who simply nodded solemnly.

“This mission seems to be wearing on all of us. But I still believe the ends will justify the means. These dragons will undoubtedly prove useful.”

“I trust the Swordsman’s judgment in this matter as well.” he replied. It was then that Talmour and Ame wandered back towards them after watching Crin and Falcour ride off for a minute or two.

“Your companions have enough adventure for one day?” Darion inquired. Though he was disgusted, he worked hard to insure that his comment was without insult.

“Yes, uh, they’re heading back to the clan for now.” the corners of Talmour’s mouth tightened and he shrugged. “Falcour had other ideas.”

“Indeed.” Meekal replied, seemingly annoyed. “Two less weapons in the group. Lets hope we don’t continue to lose people.” he raised his eyebrows at Talmour.

“Not to worry, your majesty.” Talmour replied, squatting down next to where Meekal sat. “Ame and I aren’t going anywhere for now.”

“For now?” Meekal replied, a bit acusatively. Talmour scratched his head and worked hard to recover.

“Well. . . erm. . . you know what I meant.” he offered, a bit embarrassed.

Darion looked away from the group and glanced at the sky. It had been hours since Senyik had left. They needed to get going. He had no idea how the situation with the queen was going but they needed to get it resolved soon.

[Moonitic]

[written with permission of the Arconian Queen]

Nækos nodded. "I will be there." Then in one swift move he mounted his own horse. Still grumbling, Rosaline did the same. He ignored her & said, "Let's get you back. I don't like it out here." The ladies nodded, & they spurred their horses on, circling to head back to the group. When they arrived, they noticed the shrunken size of the party, but did not yet comment. Nækos raised an eyebrow at Darion, while Zelda eyed Meekal, realizing she had something very important to tell the rather reluctant new king.

[Zelda]

As the threesome made their way out of the forest and headed back towards the group, Zelda realised that Meekal was looking slightly worried. As she passed him she whisphered "Are you ok Meekal?".

The young king shook his head, his eyes wide with something resembling fear.
Zelda was about to ride off when she noticed this and pulled up short.

"Whats wrong?" the queens voice was soft, her eyes gentle as she talked to Meekal.

"Nothing." he mumbled, his eyes looking everywhere but her face.

"Meekal..." Zeldas voice was quiet, but the inention was there.

Meekal sigh and suddenly it all came out.
"I dont know what to do. I am expected to automatically know how to lead, to reign. People still see me as Meekal the daft. Darion and Naekos have tried to help, but they have just made me more confused and scared then when I started. What am I supposed to do???"

[Moonitic]

The incidents of the day had taken their toll on Meekal, & Zelda's questions broke down his , fragile, relatively cool reserve. It tired him, mentally & physically. How he wished he was back home, able to sit down & really think about what he had gotten himself into. He felt...overwhelmed. Yes, overwhelmed. And completely frustrated.

Zelda recognized his look. It was the same one she'd seen in a mirror far too often. She wanted to say something wise, or something reassuring. But all that she could think of was, "Do your best. Do what you think is right, and forget everyone else's opinion." Then, she chuckled softly & added, "Except for your queen. I say that both as a queen myself, and as one of Moon's friends."

He smiled at the mention of his beloved, but continued to ponder Zelda's words. "How will I know what is right?"

She slid from her horse, answering, "You'll know, Meekal. Start trusting yourself. You've done the right thing before."

"And I've done the wrong thing many more times," he returned, a hint of sadness & regret tinging his words. He administered the spell that turned Moon evil....& she ended up pregnant. He helped her release Zarcon from the dungeon...& he lost her over a cliff. He didn't know how he could ever trust himself again.

The Arconian queen nodded, her own thoughts drifting back to the past. This time, she did not let them take her. She gave herself a mental shake & replied, "Forgive yourself, Meekal. That's all in the past. Look at all you have now. Look at who you are now. People change. Be the man you've become."

Meekal smiled. "Thank you, Zelda."

[Iwant2bafencer]

Rosaline side stepped Shadowmaker a few feet away from where the main group was gathering. After going to get his mount, Rylus rode up next to her and took her hand in his.

"Whatever happens, I want you to know that I'm staying with you." He spoke quietly but he made his point clear.

Rose could have broken down right then and cried on her brother's shoulder. Instead she offered him the strongest smile she could, which didn't amount to much and nodded.

"and I you Rylus," She gave his hand a slight squeeze and glanced to the main group, "I'm glad you came with me Ry," she said after a while.

"I love you too Rose," he replied softly.

She glanced over to him, studying his eyes for a moment, then nodded. Side by side they waited for the others to start moving.

[ThornOfTheBlood]

(OOC: I guess this is where I start, I 'll go alone for a while and if things get to a point that opportune me to join up with people, then so be it.)

Thorn raised his blood coated fingers to his nose and breathed deeply. Still fresh, he thought. He sighed an aggravated sigh, and stood back up, bow in hand.

He had been tracking the injured deer for several hours now, and the blood trail was becoming less noticeable. He had shot the doe in the early mists of dawn, and had yet to find it. He had gone for a clean heart shot but missed by inches, and ended up in this pain staking chase.

He took off once more through the forest, he had lived like this for two years now, outside of civilized communities, and hadn't seen or heard a person in almost a year and a half.

His mind was lost deep in thought and his foot landed in a large blood slicked pile of leaves and he went down with a crash. He cursed rather loudly for several minutes and stood up, his entire torso was covered in deer's blood, but he was rewarded with the sight of the deer.

He walked over to it to retrieve his arrow, and as he laid his hand on it, it thrashed wildly. Thorn barely had time to leap back before his legs were smashed by the flailing deer.

It was whining now, soft, low whines that touched Thorn, and almost made him sad he shot it. I have to eat... He patted it's neck softly as he reached to his belt and pulled out his hammer.

He took one more quick breath and brought the hammer down as hard as he could upon the deer's head.

OOC I hope this was alright, considering I haven't written anything in a while)

[Darion McNair]

Nice work Thorn! You say you haven't written in a while eh?

.....could have fooled me.

[ThornOfTheBlood]

OOC well...not ONLINE writing, every once in a while I try to write a book, and I'm going to try again after I finish re-reader a Storm of Swords by G R R Martin, he is my favorite author, and if his 4th books in the game of thrones series doesn't come out this year, I'm sending hate mail...lol j/k 'bout that but still it better come out soon lol OOC

[Darion McNair]

Darion was pleased that the group had returned. he stood, looking at them all in turn. His eyes fell on Naekos, who seemed to notice the lack of gypsies. “There are two gypsies missing from the group. Where did they go?” he asked Darion. He also glanced at Meekal and Talmour in turn.

Darion shook his head in regret. “They felt the need to depart, Swordsman. Their loyalties laid elsewhere and I didn’t think we needed disloyal gypsies with us. Falcour all but spat on the oath that he and Crinn gave to you. I had two options: draw Halcyon or let their worthless hides leave us. I chose the latter.”

“As did I.” Meekal confirmed. The Swordsman did not seem swaged in the least concerning this situation. His unyielding gaze fell on Talmour.

“Are all gypsy word’s useless?” he asked. Talmour seemed to shrivel under the Swordsman's accusative gaze. He shook his head and stammered a reply.

“N-no. Ame and I are staying. I’m not going to break my word to you Swordsman.”

“Good.” Naekos told him.

[Miri Belakai]

Feeling very much an outsider, Miri continued to wait by the horses with the wounded. It had been a long afternoon for them, and she wished she was able to just pack them up and take them to the nearest village herself. But those who knew the way were involved in arguments, and her gypsy friends had either left or were with the Arconians, still talking. Senyik might have known the way, but he and Darion were busy with the queen or Naekos, she couldn't tell which. So, as her usual quiet self, she helped the wounded stay calm and sane through the pain, and waited for the turmoil to settle.

[Zelda]

Quick bump