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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 17:41:52 GMT -5
The hour of the wolf... the hour of the wolf was not known to many. It was a time meant to manifest on the brink of the dawn. It was when a person couldn’t sleep, and all they can see were the mistakes, the regrets, things that could have been, but never came to being. Their personal demons tormenting them, until all they could do to get out was to intoxicate themselves. For most, it got better when the dawn came into full bloom, or when they finally found rest. Not for her.
The ship creaked as the structure rocked back and forth at the dock, the full moon and bright stars providing the traveling sailors all they needed to navigate properly. Though perhaps productive in the desire to survive in general, the light had proved naught but a menace to the stow aways below deck.
There was no longer any reason for Rowen’s apprentice to trust her judgment - she knew it, and she knew why, but despite how much it should have mattered to her, she couldn’t care less. She couldn’t find any reason to tell him why - why she was risking both their lives. She wasn’t going to lose face by telling him what she did - or, rather, what she did not do. She was long past correcting such a mistake, but there was a chance, though small, that she could attack the source of a great deal of trouble.
Rowen exhaled heavily, her mouth sealed shut, as the ship drew further and further from dry land. She swiftly made her way around the cargo hold kept in a certain section of the ship, her goal burnt into her mind. So much had been crammed into a short period of time. More so than she ever wanted for one lifetime. She had witnessed people dying by the thousands in a battle she could have said no to, her apprentice almost dying because of it. Meanwhile, she could do nothing. She couldn’t do what was necessary for a thief to last long after that day - she couldn’t bring herself to end someone’s life. Not directly. How she would have loved to say no one had died because of her since that one scenario, but it would have been a lie. She had helped a certain someone escape from prison, and watched that same person initiate a massacre. She could have done something, but she chose not to - and the streets were covered by the dead because of it. She had the chance to make sure it never happened again - but she did nothing. Now she had to fix that. Somehow... somehow she was filled with the delusion that maybe, just maybe, she could get her life back on track if someone else’s life took a sudden stop. Somewhere, deep inside, she must have known that this was folly, but for the time, she was driven by guilt.
Rowen took Byron by the hand, and led him to the deck, where other passengers were. Under normal circumstances, she would have been nervous - paranoid, at the possibility of being seen, and thrown into the brig immense, but these weren’t normal circumstances. She was looking for him. The one that did it - she had tracked him there, to that ship. Or she hoped she was on the correct vessel - there was no way she could be completely sure. But if Grohn was there, as she had moderate reason to believe, she would make sure he payed the price for his crimes. Now that they had set sail, she could only hope that this gave her some kind of edge.
She looked toward Byron, seeing his questioning gaze. She provided no aid, her eyes empty of any obvious emotion. It was different than how she used to be - she was always angry, or mad, or obnoxious, and a step away from some sarcastic and snide remark, but now... she was just hollow. She put her hood up, as a mild protection of things to come. As a wanted individual, she should have been more careful, but for once, she had something more important in mind. She had to stop the man responsible for the massacre from ever repeating the same act again. She was blind to what it may cost her, only desiring to set one thing in her life straight.
She felt the knife under her cloak, less prepared for anything than she had been in her life. As time went on, it was clear she was becoming more impulsive, and it would cost her everything if she didn’t get it together soon.
She took a sip of a small bottle, her eyes searching for the one she was looking for hoping to remain unseen by any onlooking figure looking for a bounty.
---
"Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go To heal my heart and drown my woe, Rain may fall and wind may blow, And many miles be still to go, But under a tall tree I will lie, And let the clouds go sailing by..." sung the elf to anyone who would listen. He was clearly drunk, that could be seen from anywhere inside the small pub near the docks. "Send me one more eh?" He said gulping down the last of his ale and slamming the mug on the table. "You have had enough Master Elf...Please follow m..." He was cut off as the elf lifted a finger to the old bald bar-keep. "Just one more eh Abbot? Abbot, mi friend Abbot...." He grimced as he remember slightly what he had done all those years ago. "Aye, I think your right my friend, i'll be getting out of your hair..."
The elf stumbled out of the bar and made his way down the docks, siging loud enough for anyone to hear within a mile from the drunk elf. "I go To heal my heart and drown my woe, Rain may fall and wind may blo......." Lerris was cut off as he stood before a rather large boat, one which somehwhat held a rather emorable passenger. For some reason he thought he knew this women.....
He had no reason to get on the boat, and for some reason something told him to stay away from this red-haired women and her companion. But his legs carried him onward, and without a thought the boat set sail.
Oh great you bumbling fool, now your stuck on a boat to who knows where...
Now, that's what he would of said, but it ended up as a muffeled mumble of sorts and he took a seat on the ships deck in the shade hiding his eyes from the light. d**n did it hurt, like knives in the eyes when he opened them. So he let his head fall back, and his head pounded with each breath.....
---
Rowen gripped the small bottle of liquor in her hand, searching warily for the person who was responsible for a great deal of pain. She had to, or... or she didn't know what. All she knew was, it had to be done.
The last thing she wanted right then was an obstacle. Something that would prevent her from doing what she did best, despite the fact she was already having hell doing so. That something was Saphire.
She took in the rest of the small vial, before she cast the empty shell overboard. She looked to Byron, and then back at Saphire, unknowing what to do.
---
"Amin caele beika sereg....." Lerris muttered to himself over and over again, trying to control himself atleast a little. He did not want to move, or think or be awake for that matter, he wanted sleep. He shifted his weight and found himself a better spot to get some rest, he could find out where they where going tomorrow. Now who was that women, and what did.....
Rowen
Lerris almost lept to his feet, but he tried his best to stay calm and hide his surprise. Oh, he now knew who that was and why he should have stayed as far as possible away from this boat. "Amin estela ta nauva anlema...." He wanted the journey to be longer then today.......
---
Rowen ran her fingers through her hair, thoughts of how much she hated her life just then running through her head. She liked what had happened the last time they had met even less than the infinite number of conflicts she and Saphire had. And, what timing, he had to show up when she was within a short distance of getting herself drunk.
“What do you think of this, Byron,” Rowen said quietly to him. “May as well get this over with, eh?”
She didn’t wait for a response. She walked at a moderate pace to where Saphire was.
“Are you stalking me,” she asked, as her first words of sarcasm in a long, long time.
---
Lerris raised a hand to sheild his face from her, "I.....uh......." Lerris groaned and shook his head. "No, are you stalking me?" Asked the brown haired elf as he let his hand fall to his side. "Listen Rowen, I don't know where this boat is going or why im even on it, until it docks I guess your just going to have to deal with me siting here. I'll try my best to stay out of your buisness and...." His voice trailed off and he let his head fall back against where he was siting. He didn't feel like doing anything let alone talking.
---
He really didn’t look with it - at all. For a moment, she wondered if he had the same problem she did.
“No, I’m not stalking you,” she muttered. “I actually came here by choice.”
She cracked her knuckles, unwilling to simply let him be. At the same time, she didn’t want to fight. She didn’t know what she wanted, but whatever alternative she saw was not to her liking.
“Am I correct in assuming, that you, Sir Saphire, have taken a recent liking to the local pub?”
If she was right - well, if she was right, then she would be one of the proud few to have seen an elf in that certain situation that he appeared to be in right then.
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Lerris shook his head, "Never again will I touch ale to my lips...never...." Lerris said wiping the sweat from his brow and coughing at the same time. He stood slowly not paying any attention to Rowen and made his way to the side of the boat, he looked over-board and watched the water flow by...it reminded him of a place he should of seen, but had not yet gotten there on his journey in this life. He smiled slightly, it felt good, he could feel his head still spinning, but it helped a little.
---
“I wish we could both say that,” she said, shaking her head. That had slipped out - but if he really was drunk, then she could hope he wouldn’t remember it tomorrow. She smiled weakly to herself.
“Oh, this will be a moment to treasure,” she said, regardless of the fact it appeared as though she was being ignored. She smirk faded - she still had something to do, and yes, she’d more than likely get thrown in the brig for it, and then be sent to some prison somewhere, but at least then it would be for something. And then there was the option of breaking out... again. If she could find the same luck she did last time. But then it all depended on what happened, first and foremost, with Grohn. If she killed him, or if it was the other way around.
---
Lerris watched the scenery fly by and begun singing to himself while he waited for where ever they where headed. "When spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough; When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow; When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air, Come back to me...........Come back to me, and say my land is fair....." Lerris' voice drifted off and he hung his head thinking of nothing and everything.
---
Rowen couldn’t say she had heard Saphire sing before - then again, she had never seen him drunk before. She couldn’t hold in at least one snide remark.
“I suggest you stop,” she said in a voice that was neither here nor there. “You might make the children cry...”
She smiled, but her grins were never long lived. She had a job to do, and she was wasting time. She had to find who she was looking for - but all the same, she was drawn to tormenting or mocking the drunken elf any way she could.
---
Lerris flashed her a frown and went back to hanging his head, "Amin n'rangwa edanea.......Rowen....Valina!" The dark haired elven man said smirking and spiting overboard. "Amin fauka...." He said shaking his head. He then realized that the usual weight on his back had some how gone away...he checked and checked then spun around. He was bloody defenseless......
---
Rowen apparently had been oblivious to the fact Saphire was minus a staff, and her chance at getting rid of him for good were pretty much doubled. When these thoughts caught up with her, her eyes simply went to the ground. She didn’t want to - well, she didn’t think she wanted to. Her thoughts were muddled and confused - but if she had wanted to, she mightn’t do anything regardless.
“... if you don’t understand humans, then that makes two of us,” she muttered only loud enough for those in the immediate area to hear.
---
Lerris laugh slightly, and shook his head "Where is this thing heading?" He asked burshing some hair out of his eyes. He shifted his weight on the rail, he didn't like being without his staff, especially around Rowen. He would need to find a weapon....soon. He sighed as he looked overboard, he shouldn't even be here...
Stupid elf
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“Heh... would you call me crazy if I didn’t know?”
No, she wasn’t sure. All she did know was that Grohn was meant to be there. She suddenly became away Byron was listening to her - why in hell should he trust her judgement if she going about, not even knowing where she was headed? But, all the same, she wasn’t telling anyone what happened at the prison - the only ones who did know were herself, Grohn, and the ranger - she didn’t care to see the ranger again, but she wanted retribution against Grohn.
---
Lerris shrugged, "I already call you crazy Rowen....." Lerris said with a slight smirk to the red-haired human, he turned his attention back out to sea. You couldn't see the dock anymore, so Lerris supposed he was in for the long ride to no-where it would seem. His stomach grumbled, and he coughed slightly...he hadn't eaten in quite some time. His head spun again and reminded him that his body wouldn't accept much food after all that ale. "Amin anta kaim......"
---
Earlier that day...
"There they are! Catch them, you bumbling idiots!"
Grohn ran faster, his brown hair getting in the way of his face.
"Quick, make for the boat!" a fellow criminal told him. How Grohn would have loved to throttle him right then and right there...but he couldn't waste time. He kept running, he was good at escaping from bounty hunters and those sorts of people, and he was doing just as well this day. He was the last of the 4 criminals, whom one of which built the boat, and one by one they jumped on the dock and onto the boat. They pushed away just as he had gotten on the boat, and they were heading for another coast faster than the guards could follow them. They would reach it by nightfall, and pick up passengers as they acted as regular sailors.
* * *
Grohn put his cloak on, he was getting cold. He got up and walked to the bar, it was barely nightfall, and they had reached their destination right on time. He spent a few hours there - drinking, to wash his troubles away.
He was about to leave when he saw a drunk elf. What was this? Why would there be a drunk elf? He'd never seen this before, and he thought it was somewhat suspicious. He decided to follow him, but remain unseen. Quietly, he exited behind him and quickly took refuge in the darkness of the shadows. He watched him, as the boat rocked gently back and forth. It wasn't long before a woman approached the elf - he knew her face, but where? He searched his memory but couldn't put a place on it. Like the elf, he too was drunk, and did not know that this other woman was drunk. Who was she? He still couldn't place her. It bugged him very much, as he listened to conversation...he couldn't understand elvish, so he had to make educated guesses on what the elf was saying.
---
At the moment, Byron seemed completely oblivious to all that was around him. the past few days had been a blur to him. Rowen had suddenly decided to come aboard a boat, something she usually never does, as she is caught in a small space with no escape. But the thing that bugged Byron more, is Rowen's attitude and mood over the past few weeks. She had seemed empty. Emotionless. Basically, for lack of better words, she was the absolution of nothingness. She just did her normal everyday things, without any regard for those around her, which was much to Byron's distaste.
Now she had drug him onto a boat, that she had no idea of it's destination, and also an old...."friend'...was on the boat. In Byron's mind, Rowen had never, ever liked this Lerris elf. But there was always just something there that Byron could just not put his finger on. And now, it was worse...he was drunk. Byron did not understand most of what was being said, as Rowen was still in the process of teaching him elfvish, but he got the basic gist of things. He had no idea what was going to happen next, but Byron had been sensing it was something important. For now, just for his well-being, he would keep his mouth shut, and listen. Rowen had been keeping some things from him lately, and now seemed like a good chance to find it out.
---
"Then sleep," she said in reply to Saphire's mutterings. "I, on the other hand, have things to do."
These things she needed done - she was sure Byron was more and more lost as she spoke. He didn't understand. She didn't want anyone to understand. Blast, she needed a drink... but she needed to have some form of control in order to nail Grohn's head to the wall, like she wanted to. But then again, when the time came, she wasn't sure if she would. Try - she had to try. She didn't know if she could set her life back on track if she didn't.
---
No, he couldn't sleep not here, not with Rowen right behind him with who knows what weapons on her and Lerris with nothing what so ever. No, there would be no sleep not here. Lerris took a seat once again, his head still pounded but atleast he knew what was going on....or what wasn't going on. Rowen and her apprentice just happen to be on the same ship he stumbled onto, she's out to do something.....whatever that was is yet to be seen.
Humans, always after something....couldn't they just take a rest for once, enough with war and politics and just bloody rest. Nope, not them, they where worst then the dwarves. Lerris moaned Quit complaning you brought yourself here now bloody deal with it! Lerris sighed and let his mind drift from Rowen, to anything BUT Rowen.
---
Rowen scoffed as he remained still.
"Fine, don't listen to me. Come with me, Byron."
She reluctantly turned her back on Saphire - without his weapon of choice, he wasn't as much as a threat, but a threat nonetheless. But if she never just dropped it for once, she'd lose her chance at Grohn.
She took several steps away, looking for the one responsible for much of her grief. She'd find him, and make him understand that it was a bad idea to cross her.
---
Who is she, who is she, who is she, d**n it?!?
He was filled with drunken rage (for whatever reason he didn't know), and made sure to keep out of the dim light of the moon. He kept his hood up.
Who is this girl? he thought. Guess there's only one way to find out...
Normally, he wouldn't have done what he was about to do, but he was aggravated, and drunk. He stepped out into the open and announced to her, "Hello, my name is Naldor, who might you be, and what is your business here?"
He made sure to keep his hood up, but he was going to take it down as soon as he was pretty sure he was safe in this person's presence, but if he weren't safe and he knew it, he would still keep his hood up.
---
“My business is not your concern,” Rowen said darkly - she didn’t like the fact that she had been approached by this man - she didn’t need the distraction. But then again - the man’s voice was similar enough to the one she was looking for - true, coincidence perhaps, but there was only one way to be sure.
“I’m looking for someone actually,” she said, coming up close to the figure. “A man, short brown hair, blue eyes, about your height, and supposedly on this boat. Have you seen anyone with said description?”
Yes, the description was that of likely many men on that boat - but she wasn’t looking for an answer. She was looking for one of two implications - was it him or not?
---
That voice - the angry voice - he recalled it so well, so well...but he still couldn't place it---
The girl.
He knew who it was.
The "Bringer of Vengeance", he thought. He had called her this at their last meeting - three years ago.
He changed his voice to a somewhat lower tone, hoping she wouldn't notice. "Well, no I haven't, but perhaps I would know them by name?" he asked, faking politeness. So many things he had forgotten to conceal - oh well, he doubted she would know, he was a master of disguise.
---
At that point, she was visibly angry. There was no way to be conclusively sure. And she wasn't going to stand there, in such a way all the other passengers would see her as definitively disturbed.
"Why do you want to know," she said in paranoia. She wanted to rip off his cloak, and expose what she suspected. But she couldn't stand it if she was wrong. Maybe she should just nail his head to the wall, and pretend it was him.
"Why don't you take of your hood," she said after much thought. She had to know, despite what it could mean.
---
"My hood?" he asked, nervously. He knew that he would still have the same eyes...but his hair had grown out since they last met. Perhaps she wouldn't know it was him...he decided to obey her, and to take his hood off. He smiled warmly, but it was a fake and forced smile.
"I am not whom you are looking for," he said, once again, faking politeness. "I hope that my facial features help you to see that."
He was tearing himself apart inside - she was going to know who he was, he knew it. He could only wait, and let time tell.
---
Right then and there, she wanted to hang herself. She didn't recognize him - the time had done it's damage, and she felt nothing short of a complete and total idiot. It didn't help that she was now accompanied by a splitting headache, of which happened to be a result of her choice of beverage.
"Byron, wait for me below deck."
She didn't want to be seen, on the verge of upturning everything she'd eating in the past twelve years - least of all by her own apprentice. She turned her back on the one she had been looking for, and finally found. A bad move on her part. Hell, she didn't know. She wasn't prepared, she'd had a lot to drink, and she was acting solely on desperation. This was not a good combination.
---
Byron just stood quietly, listening to all that was being said. Why am I to wait below deck? Why does she keep leaving me out of things? Byron thought to himself. He was tired of her doing this to him. So Byron politly agreed with a nod of his head, and strode off. He knew something was up with this newcomer. Some flicker of recognition was in his eyes of Rowen. He knew her somehow. And Byron intended not to be left out of this one.
Byron quickly, and quietly turned around and headed back towards the group of people. He wanted to know what was happening. So he used everything he has learned from Rowen so far, and put it to good use.
---
"Where are you going?" he asked, thinking of drawing his sword. He reluctantly didn't, deciding not to reveal his identity yet. He knew she'd recognize his sword, and the dagger that had pierced her leg at their last meeting, which was all too similiar.
---
Rowen wasn't paying attention to him - she didn't want him to be there any longer. She walked over to the side of the ship, well away from Saphire. She didn't need any unkind remarks from the likes of him.
She leaned over the side, and expression as if she was going to be sick. She reasoned with herself - her other options. She just had bad luck in the beginning - there was still a chance to catch him. But, really, she was a lot happier than before she made a mistake.
---
Ha, she has no idea its me, Grohn thought to himself, smirking darkly. He didn't see anyone around to see him smile, and he drew his hood back up. He didn't notice that his sword was sticking out of his cloak just far enough to see a light glimmer of blue on the inside. He walked over to Rowen, his sword was at his right said, and he was to Rowen's left.
"Wonder where we're going?" he said. He was a great faker, and he thought he'd pretend to be this girl's friend until the time was ripe to stick his sword through her.
"Its a beautiful night," he said, not waiting for a reply. "The moon and the stars are unveiled, and the sea shows a glimmer of reflection of the moon." He faked a sigh. "What do you think?"
---
Lerris stood and looked hard at the man, he smirked and slightly laughed at him. "Amin umma malia....." I don't care.... Lerris shook his head at the man and turned his back to him hanging his head over the rail. "Antolle ulua sulrim..." Much wind pours from your mouth Lerris muttered as he looked at the passing water.
Something was going to happen, and it had to do with Rowen.....Lerris smacked himself in the forehead with his palm,
Stupid, stupid Elf...
---
How dare he approach her. How dare he speak to her. She'd been working up a good mad for three years, and she was not going to have it ruined by his optimism.
Those were her thoughts until she actually took a look his way.
His sword was glowing. There was only one person she knew who had a sword like that. She reacted on instinct.
Wham!
No words, no warning, nothing but a well placed blow to Grohn's jaw. She didn't know if she'd have the guts to kill him, but she sure as hell wasn't letting him get of easy.
---
"What was that for?!" he shouted furiously, without a clue that his sword was slightly unsheathed. His blue eyes regained their burn, and his urge to murder came back, and he just wanted to kill her, but, not knowing she knew who he was, he kept the act of "Naldor".
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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 17:54:04 GMT -5
She seized the front of his clothing, and hit him again with her opposing hand. She wasn't yet satisfied - she wouldn't be satisfied until she saw him dead, by her own hand if possible, but by the act of another if necessary.
"I will not be played for a fool," Rowen growled, her hand gripping his clothing. Her fist collided with his cheek, oblivious to the fact that the other passengers were no less than dumbfounded by her outburst. The likelihood that she'd be sent to the brig for this - then prison, unless she made some sort of escape before then. But that was the thing about boats - she was stuck, isolated in one structure, with no hope of escape until they made it back to dry land. She didn't care. She would sooner see Grohn floating face down on the ocean than pay attention to what everyone else might think of it all.
---
His eyes stared into hers, his were black now, and fiery.
"I suggest you let go of me," he warned, grabbing the hilt of his sword. "If you don't, I will be sure to give you a quick and painless death." The last word rolled off his tongue as a hiss rolled off a snake's.
He wasn't yet angry as he had been that night they first met, where he had killed dozens of people.
But he knew that he would kill her if she didn't let him go and then he'd have to kill everyone if he killed her. "So," he said, "Will you let go of my clothes, or not?"
He knew he had people who would help him on this boat, the other criminals he had escaped with.
"I've got friends," he said, as the point of a dagger came to the back of Rowen's neck. "This, lady," he teased her, and then laughed softly, "Is he your last chance to let go of me or else its-" He made a motion like the cutting of a throat to her. "Your decision."
---
She wasn't afraid - she was only completely and totally furious at him for daring to try and fool her again. She was angry at herself for not seeing through it at first when he tried - and most of all, she despised the fact she was stupid enough to send Byron away.
"I haven't spent the last few years of my life in the hour of the wolf just to let you go," Rowen growled, finding the hilt of her dagger. "No."
She drew her weapon, automatically feeling the same way she did when she had the chance to kill him the last time. Reluctant. No. Not now, not then. She hid the fact as best she could. She wouldn't be thought a fool again.
---
He saw the dagger, and he signalled to the other to push the dagger harder.
"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way," he said. "Either way, you die." He laughed darkly, trying to hide the fact that he was actually scared.
--
Rowen didn't dare look behind, to see the friends that Grohn must have made over the years she hadn't seen him. She winced at the pain in her neck, her grip around the dagger tightening.
"What better way to die than taking you with me," she grinned reluctantly. She already knew, however, that her chances were growing weaker and weaker as time drew on.
---
"But no one can kill me, lady," he told her. "You see, I'm more skilled in many ways than you are."
He wasn't going to die here - he was sure of that.
---
"Are you sure of that," Rowen said, buying herself time to think her way out of this. She couldn't count on Saphire to do anything useful, and Byron likely didn't even know what was happening. "Particularly taking into account that, last time, you ran away."
Her grip was still on Grohn's clothing, her other hand holding a dagger. "I'll tell you what," Rowen said in a low voice. "Call off your friends, and I won't kill you." I'll just beat you into a different incarnation.
---
"Yes, but don't worry, they will always be nearby," he said, nodding toward the man behind her to back off. "And I've still got a handy dagger. Remember how I left my mark. Or should I say, marks? Do you have a scar in your shoulder?" He wore a hopeful smile as he said this, hoping he had left his calling card.
---
"I've had a scar on my shoulder long before you," Rowen hissed. Now... now it didn't matter what happened. All that mattered was blood.
She looked for a moment, as though she were going to back down. In reality, there was no way in hell she'd give up after all her pain. She sheathed her dagger, and rammed her fist into his jaw, and brought him to the ground at the same time. She had him pinned on the ground, her newly drawn dagger at his neck. "I don't care what happens to me," she growled. "But now you die."
---
He drew his sword, now angrier. "I'll take you down with me, which, I really don't see the point of, considering."
"Let's just settle, we can just be calm with each other for a few minutes, cannot we? At least if you are going to 'kill' me, let's make it a fair match, eh?"
He knew she wouldn't make it a fair match, and he expected he knew what she'd say next.
---
"You've got I don't know how many guys with you, a bad reputation for betrayal, and you think I'm going to trust you?"
She threatened him with her dagger, though reluctant to finish it. Why? Why couldn't she do this? Why couldn't she do a d*mned thing since she fought at Rohan? She was so close... A quick move, and both their lives would be over and done with. Regardless of the fact, she remained.
With her free hand, she hit him across the face. With all Grohn's friends standing right behind her, it occurred to her it might be the last thing she ever did.
---
As Byron circled back to the little 'meeting' happening, he noticed that Rowen and the big guy, he forgot the name, had gone off to the edge of the boat. To talk, apparently. But Rowen did not just talk to random strangers. Something was going to happen. So Byron just continued his hiding in the shadows until something big happens.
Byron noticed another man heading up behind Rowen and he thought this to be the time to act, but decided against it. Rowen had handled bigger foes than this. She could take care of herself. Soon enough, the other man brought his dagger away from her, but then something happened that Byron knew it was his time to act. Rowen had just knocked this guy square in the jaw, and he dropped hard the ground. Nice hit! Byron mused to himself.
After that, Byron decided to head out of the shadows to aid Rowen. The bigger guy had a dagger, as his friend, so it was two daggers against one. Not fair in Byron's mindset. He decided to focus on the other guy. Rowen could get her prize. There was something that Rowen had against this man, or else she would have not made the first move.
Byron headed out and unsheathed his sword and dagger. A grin crossed his face. He had come to liking fighting with people. He even had gotten a slight thrill out of killing. Byron crept up on the other two men there, and grabbed on behind with a big bear hug around the neck, pinning his dagger to his throat. He held onto the hilt of his sword and pointed it at the other man. A crazed look in his eyes. The thrill was goning back to him. The fear he say in people's eyes just before it happened....OH! He loved it! All that was needed to know now is what Rowen would do.
---
There was nothing she could do. Her time had finally come, and she was completely at a loss. She didn't have the other man to worry about any longer, but regardless of the fact, she remained still. She was half waiting for someone to take her away, to the brig, half waiting for her senses to kick in, and let her kill the man. She didn't know what to do... She had a sense of losing face as she had the knife against his neck, but nothing to do about it.
---
Lerris had still been hanging his head over-board when all of this was going on. "Aye my head..." he mumbled as he turned to now face Rowen smack another man square in the jaw. He laughed slightly then it hit him, he realized what was going on right that instant....this was bad.
He searched franticly for any weapon he could find on himself, A hidden dagger he had forgotten, a small knife in his boot.....nothing. He had left the staff back at the pub, and now he was defenseless, the elf spun and made his way into the shadow. He made his way around to the other side to get himself a better look, Rowen had a dagger to the man's neck...surprising enough....he wasn't dead yet.
Then, Lerris saw it... A man with a small blunt club in his belt creeping his way towards Rowen. The elf smirked and made his way around the back, he crept up on this man and silently, slowly, slipped the club out of his belt and stood up behind him giving him a nice crack on the back of the head. The man fell...of course, and Lerris smiled, Stupid Humans...
---
Her joints locks, her eyes hollowing out. She could do... nothing. Her grip on the dagger failed. It fell to the side, her hand clenched into a fist. She couldn't have what she wanted. But there was the next best thing. It didn't matter that he was armed, and she wasn't, but she hit him across the face as many times as she could before he reacted.
---
Grohn did not take the beating lightly. He went crazy, knocking the sword out of the man's hand and then tripping him. He held a sword to the man's neck, the man who was on the ground and he unsheathed another dagger to throw at Rowen.
"Now," he said, between gritted teeth, trying to hold his rage and fury back, "Can we all play nice?"
He didn't expect them to listen to him.
But Rowen and the man didn't know how many friends he had on this boat. For all they knew, they could be the only ones on that side.
"So," he said, "I've got more friends on this boat than you can count, likely." He laughed. There were only two more other than the one who had pointed the dagger at Rowen's neck, but they could not know that. And besides, one of them was directing the boat and the other was barkeeping, but they would come if he called. To him, they weren't really friends - he had no friends, so they couldn't be.
---
Byron just store at the dagger being pointed at him. How did this happen!? He thought to himself. He had never been beaten so quickly before. This what not what Byron wanted. The anger boiling in Byron, he did not know what to do. He had never been caught in a situation like this. He had to think of something to do. He knew, that in his boot, he had an extra dagger, like always. But the large man standing over him would see him grab for it. It was all up to Rowen, or that crazy elf from here on out.
---
Rowen just stood there, with entirely nothing to do. One foul move, and she could lose her life's work... and her friend. She messed up... again. How many more people had to die because she couldn't do what she needed to? Her eyes darted from the fallen dagger, to Grohn. No... nothing she could think would work. Nothing she could accomplish with the right speed, so that Byron would make it out unscathed.
"Saphire," she started, wincing at the thought of what she was about to do. "Help..."
---
Lerris wasted no time in doing what he had to, he creeped his way amongst the fight. He noticed that Byron fellow with a dagger to his neck and Rowen standing around doing nothing. "What the hell is the matter with you.....?" The elf mumbled, "Do what you do best...kill him..." When she did nothing, he sighed and figured it was up to him to get them out of this.
"Saphire," she started, wincing at the thought of what she was about to do. "Help..."
Lerris made his way towards the man with the dagger to Byron's neck. It wasn't as if he could just sneak up on the man like the last, this one was being watched. So, the brown haired elf did all he could think of and ran towards the man, "Caela ie'lle! He lept and swung, catching the man across the chest. Sending him and Lerris to the ground, Lerris prayed Byron or Rowen had something in mind, because he had nothing.
The elf jumped to his feet and the man focused his dagger on Lerris, the club the elf had stolen now lay across the deck and he was now once again defenseless.......
---
She had half expected him to do nothing - but as she watched the scene play out, she saw that she was in error.
First things first - make sure Byron was alright. She got him to his feet before she gave anything else any consideration. She looked toward Saphire, and then Grohn, the latter clearly with the advantage. She aimed to correct this situation.
She kicked the dagger she herself had dropped to the ground Saphire's way, as she took Grohn from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck. Now, it was all up to either Saphire or Byron. She had already successfully proven she was inadequate for doing anything useful.
---
With his foot, the elf flipped the dagger into his left hand circling around the man whom had held the dagger to the Byron fellow's neck. "Nadorhuan rim...." Lerris spat, "...I'quelin edan naa ba edan...." The man lunged and Lerris lept out of the way but the tip of the dagger skimmed his neck. He rolled to his feet and flipped the dagger to his right hand stabbing at the man, the human dodged and caught Lerris in the shoulder. He moaned and pushed the man back with his foot sending him to the ground and the knife skidding across the deck of the ship. Lerris' body heaved with each breath as he turned to see Rowen grab a man around the neck....
Kill him and get this over with!
---
Rowen squeezed tightly around Grohn’s neck, hindering his ability to fight. But that didn’t change the fact that he was armed, and she was not. The constant fear of being stabbed ran through her mind. The concern was replaced by something else as one of the many guards aboard the ship pulled her back, prying her from the one she whole heartedly desired to show the meaning of pain. Before she could do anything about it, her hands were bound behind her back. And more were coming. She could only hope that none of them were too good of friends of Grohn.
“You’re all being sent to the brig for the rest of this voyage. When we reach our destination, you all are under arrest.”
The guards made attempts to detain everyone else involved, though she herself had already given up. Was there any longer a point to stand her ground? She already knew she could not go through with what she came for.
---
"Ahh, thank you for freeing me," Grohn said to them, brushing off his sleeves happily.
"You're under arrest as well," the guard said to him.
"Oh, but I'm very good friend of the captain," he said.
"Doesn't matter, you're a law breaker," the guard replied.
Now Grohn was going to be angry. Not only did Rowen offend him in the worst way, twice now, but now he was arrested and going to be sent to jail for another 6 years if he didn't find a way out of it. He decided to make a bargain with Rowen.
"Tell you what," he said, "I will get these guards off you if you stop trying to kill me, just for now."
Did he expect her to take the bargain? No, he expected her to spit on the idea.
---
How dare he ask for something. Rowen wanted him dead. And now she couldn’t have it, her hands bound behind her back, and likely a death sentence in front of her, once they found out who she was. No. She wasn’t doing anything for him, even if it meant that she would go to the gallows. Rowen, deeply offended as she was, spat on his face for daring to make such a suggestion.
The guard behind her yanked her back. She knew she was going to be sent down below, along with everyone else. Despite her dreary future, she found she didn’t care.
---
He wiped the spit from his face. He realized that, for some reason, the guards had not grabbed him yet. He stabbed the two that were holding Rowen, he knew it would free her, but he needed something to play with. More and more guards began coming, and he began fending them off with a swing of his sword.
---
"You can't take them all," Rowen growled, hoping one would get Grohn, if she could not. Many more were coming, that could not be denied. Surrounding them, weapons drawn. She didn't fight it. She just didn't care any longer. She suspected Byron would struggle - and perhaps Saphire as well. But as long as Grohn was dead, or caught, to be sentenced to the same fate she would certainly be, none of it mattered.
---
"I thought you might be a little more useful," Grohn said to her, as they closed in on them. He quickly cut her bounds, handed her a dagger, and began killing again. He hoped she would take the opporitunity, and she would help to fend off the guards. If not, they were pretty much all doomed.
---
He gave her a dagger. What - what did he want her to do? Help him? No, no, no, she wouldn't do that. Not for anything. He didn't deserve it. She acted solely on impulse, as she gripped the dagger, and slid it into his arm as he attacked the guards. When she realized what it was she had done, she didn't regret it. Rowen hoped it hurt like hell, because he deserved no less.
---
He realized it now, this was just like Rohan...this wasn't his fight. He was sick and tired of digging Rowen out of everyhole she threw herself into. He knew now, she was here to kill that Grohn fellow...now, Lerris saw no real reason why he should be captured in the first place. All he did was defend himself...forget the guards who had his hands bound behind his back. Tell them you had nothing to do with this.....
That, is what Lerris wanted to do. Then he realized these stupid humans wouldn't listen to a bloody word he would say. So he stood as Grohn fought off all the men...it made no sense really, Lerris could of sworn he said he had many others with him. There was no way the two of them would win this fight, and Lerris didn't really care..when they got to land. Lerris would send for Mirkwood...they would get him out...he hoped.....
---
"How does that feel," Rowen hissed into Grohn's ear. She dug the dagger deeper into his arm, praying that his pain was great. Her grip on the dagger strengthened, until her knuckles. It hurt, the fact that one who had killed so many, without provocation, was so near, but she could do little about it. With her free arm, she brushed her eyes. She wiped the salthingyer onto her clothing, her teeth grinding together. She couldn't stand the fact he was alive, more so the fact he was alive because she let him live.
---
Grohn winced quietly from the pain, and fended off one more guard before tending to his arm and Rowen. He raised his sword, and cut her knuckles, causing her to release the dagger, and he drew it out. He stuck it in her arm and said slyly, "Like this."
But he did more to her than she to him. He twisted the dagger, around and around and around until she could do nothing but scream from the pain, still fighting off guards with one arm, he had much skill and experience. He wasn't going to kill Rowen until the guards had let up and stopped attacking.
---
Someone - one of the guards, no doubt, pulled her back, the dagger sliding out of her arm in the process. She was almost thankful - though, in the long run, her capture would surely lead to much worse than what she had just been given. As the guard drew her back, his grip on her firm, she held her arm, covering up the fact that she was in a lot of pain. She had survived worse - and aside from that, she wasn't letting anyone else now how she felt.
---
She had been pulled away and restrained. No loss. He was fighting off guards to no end, when one came behind him and knocked him out with his elbow. He fell to the ground and was dragged away, but he didn't know where, hell, he didn't even know what was going on. Who knew where he could end up? Only time could tell...
---
Byron was still slightly in shock. Why was he being arrested? To the guard's eyes he had done nothing wrong. He guessed it was just because he was accompanying Rowen. He was used to this though. Rowen was always in some trouble and as he was closest to her, he got called out for being a trouble maker too. Byron was still on the ground when the guard reached for him. He quickly eyed the dagger the Grohn had dropped, and he snatched it up and slid it into his boot. If he was going to be trapped in the brig with this Grohn character he had better be prepared. For Rowen's sake.
The guard quickly bound his wrists and escorted him, Grohn and Rowen to the brig. It was going to be a long journey to where ever they were going.
---
Grohn woke up in a strange room which he soon realized to be a prison cell. Bars surrounded him on all sides save one, which was made of stone. In the cell next to him was that girl - the one who kept trying to kill him. He saw her, but she did not yet see him.
On the other side was someone he did not know. He went to grab the hilt of his sword - but it was gone! He looked out straight ahead, and saw it laying on a table out of reach, along with his three daggers. He reached out of the locked bars and he fingered the hilt - he almost had it - and it clammered onto the ground, attracting the attention of the guard and the other prisoners.
---
The boat rocked back and forth, Rowen glaring at the guard who locked the door on her. She didn't watch him leave - her eyes were on Saphire, who was in the compartment next to her. Oh, how she hated the fact they all were in separate places - it made it that much harder to strangle Grohn.
But she didn't see where they took Grohn yet. She wasn't paying supreme attention.
"Saphire," she whispered to him, only loud enough for he, and possibly Grohn if he strained to hear. "Byron means everything to me.. Thank you."
She winced as she said it - it didn't sound right, it didn't sound right at all. If she could have rewinded the last ten seconds, she would have been silent.
---
"....Edan, lets hope i never have to save your bloody boyfriend ever again..." Lerris spat sitting up slowly, a little blood came out and he frowned at it. The elf shook his head, after this he was never leaving Mirkwood ever again. His eyes shifted to see the Grohn fellow in another cell and he smirked, the fool probably knew almost no-one on the boat. Lerris sat up leaning against the wall and let his head rest against it, no more drinking...ever again!
---
"He's not my bloody boyfriend," she hissed in return, rediscovering why it was a bad idea to thank anyone for anything, regardless of what it concerned. Blast, she needed a drink... unfortunately, a nice set of bars was standing in her way. She still remembered the last time she was in a place like that - having gone literally insane under the possibility of no future. It didn't bother her as much anymore. Death would be a satisfactory escape from where she was. "And I would greatly appreciate if you took heed to your own concerns - find someone else to repress, hm?"
---
Lerris shook his head, "I don't think it matters WHAT he is anymore Rowen...Thanks too you i get thrown into a jail....and we all end up in prison or dead" Lerris' voice trailed off as he mumbled about the stupidity of humans, he let his head raise off the wall and he closed his eyes. He pictured home, somewhere he had not been for years...not since.... The elves eyes popped open and he lept to his feet. He was NOT going to prison, Mirkwood wouldn't help him let alone acknowledge the fact that he was even an elf of Mirkwood.
There had to be...a way out.
---
"I believe the or dead selection only applies to one or two of us," she retaliated. What in hell was this? She could picture Byron and Saphire leaving the prison after one or two days, but she was going to the bloody gallows.
She didn't like it - she didn't like the fact that Saphire was complaining to her, retorting her gratitude, and referred to Byron as a what.. and she wasn't discreet about showing it.
---
Lerris shook his head with a smirk, he could tell Rowen was angry with him but then again....when hasn't she been angry with him? He sighed, he really saw no way of breaking out or even surviving prison. So he sat down onto his knees, placing each hand across his thighs and went into deep thought, meditation if you really wanted to call it that. Lerris hated referring to it as that, he saw it more as...a way of thinking without disruption. With Rowen there he figured he get little time to think so...he tried to block her out...even though he could still here her grumblings.
A pictured formed into his mind, one of him leaving Mirkwood not two weeks back.
He turned and smirked, about time he left the place for good. The old shack he and Fain had built was now all boarded up and left to rot for all the elf cared. He didn't really know where, or why he was leaving....it just seemed like it was time to move on......
---
She fell silent as Saphire stopped responding to her. In a way, it was worse than arguing. She didn't like the quiet... smoothing her hands on the bars, she began tapping her nails, into a rhythmic clink clink clink, much like she did when she was arrested at... wherever the hell she was when she landed herself in prison. Call it compulsive behavior, or call it... no, no, there was nothing else to be said. Bright side, she may end up annoying someone in the process... She was hopeful.
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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 18:04:28 GMT -5
The vision ended and Lerris' eyes opened slowly, he frowned at Rowen and spoke. "Could you stop that?" He said lifting himself from his kneeling postion and falling back against the wall once again. Thinking hadn't helped much, all it gave was visions of the past, which did not help one bit because Lerris remembered nothing about breaking out anyway. "Rowen.......Say we do escape from here....where do you go then? we're on a boat, in the middle of nowhere...." Lerris sighed, realizing she had no real answer, "Forget it..." he mumbled.
---
The sound of metal was clear in her ears, though she ignored the noise, and stared at nothing. She ended her compulsive actions when asked, though not because of the request, but because of the question that came subsequently to said request.
"Doesn't matter," she said, despite the fact he told her to forget it. "Regardless of what happens, I'll likely end up drunk and, therefore, in prison anyway."
Her tone was bordering on - heaven forbid - civil. The time for hisses and yelling had come and gone. She didn't feel the need any longer.
"I can imagine hiding below deck in the meantime. Or hijacking someone's room, what have you."
She smoothed her hand on the bars that stood between her and any kind of hiding.
"But the likelihood we'll need to worry about that are small."
---
"Hey, you!" the guard shouted. Grohn was amazed there were still guards left after his mascarade.
He groped harder for his sword. He needed to get it, it was his only chance of escape. He listened now to the conversation on the other side of him.
"Rowen...Say we do escape from here...where do you go then? We're on a boat, in the middle of nowhere..." Then an added on "Forget it...
But the "Rowen" girl he knew to be the one who hated him so much answered anyways, "Doesn't matter..."
He knew what he'd do. Take over the ship, and kill everyone else. Then he'd be free to go wherever he wanted.
He reached...reached...his finger touched the hilt! He slid it closer and tried to pick it up...but it was stepped on. He looked up at the guard, who had his sword drawn.
"Oh, hello," Grohn said. "Are you the guard?"
"Yes, and when we get to land, you'll be in jail for good."
"Oh, thats nice," Grohn said, and he pulled his sword out from under the man and he stumbled back. Grohn impaled him...
Squish.
The sound that would haunt him for the rest of his life after he killed his mother...
He slipped the keys off the mans belt and freed himself. He was free. Finally. He didn't spend six years in prison this time. Yes. He was free!
He walked over to Rowen's cell and began searching for her key. He found it, and turned the lock, and opened the door. He then walked in the cell, locked the door, and threw the keys out of the cell not too far for him to be unable to reach with his sword, but out of reach of Rowen.
"Hello," he said, as he intruded. "Nice ride, isn't it?"
---
The calm that Rowen had possessed for a mere few moments vanished like a glint of snow in hell. She knew what she said - she knew she had just stated it mattered not. But she couldn't stand by and let Grohn escape what he so richly deserved.
But, despite the fact, it didn't begin with anger. It began with shock, clear and vibrant.
"What?! You - you-"
She stumbled over her words, completely and totally lost.
---
Grohn smiled slyly. "We are going to have a fight," he said, looking at his sword. "To the death. Fair or not, if you want to kill me so bad, then you will."
He raised his sword in front of him, and looked at Rowen. "You know, I'll let you have one free hit." He set his sword down.
---
She just sort of stood there. She didn't have the will to fight - yet at the same time, she wanted him dead. The conflicting interests was driving her over the edge.
"Why are you doing this," she said in a voice low, though bordering the edge of an eruption. She wanted to get him - she wanted to get him so much, but she didn't so much as touch a weapon. She could imagine what Saphire or Byron must have thought of her. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.
---
"Why am I doing this?" he asked. "Well, I thought you wanted to see me dead, little girl? Other than that, it would give me great pleasure to kill you." He smirked evilly now. "I trust you'll take the free hit? Well, take it or leave it."
---
This just kept getting better and better... She snatched the sword - best hold onto it. As long as she was armed, and he was not, her life would at least be prolonged a little while.
She backed to the side of the cell.
"Think you can get the key," she asked Saphire. If he could, at least she could safely say Byron wouldn't have to taste prison just yet.
---
Lerris smirked, of course he could the elf stood slowly and then went prone reaching his skinny arms out through the bars, the keys of course....where just out of reach..no more then a few inches.
He sighed, and cursed under his breath. Suddenly as if possesed by something that needed those keys, he thrust himself against the bars reaching, stretching for the keys. With a jingle the keys where lifted and brought 6 inches back towards the cell. Lerris fell to the ground and slowly brought the keys to him....
He turned, smirking at Rowen
You know, your not the only person who has ever stolen...
---
"Ah," he said. "I see how it is. Now we're all against poor, defenseless Grohn. Well, if thats the way it is..." He charged at Rowen, throwing his fist in her face. He twisted and bit her arm, and she dropped his sword. Quickly he retrieved it, and pointed it at the elf through the bars.
"Drop the keys," he said. The elf seemed hesitant. "I said: DROP THE KEYS!" Then he turned to Rowen and said, "Don't you move, or I'll skewer you."
---
Rowen grinned.
"I suggest you leave," she nodded to Saphire with a smirk. There was nothing Grohn could do. He was the one who locked himself up in a cage, and now... now he would have to live with that. As far as being skewered - she could tolerate that, so long the guards sent him to whatever fate he deserved. The gallows, decapitation - whatever worked. So long as he would hurt anyone again.
---
Lerris nodded slowly, working on the lock and making his way out of the small cell. He laughed at Grohn slightly before pointing at the locked cell, "Not much authority from inside a cell Edan....." He spun the keys on his finger smirking at the fool human. He turned slowly, looking at Byron. He wasn't real sure what to do with him, if anything. He took a deep breath and locked eyes with Rowen, "Don't get yourself killed women, Because you still owe me a knife in the stomach....." Lerris said throwing the keys to Byron, "Don't let her die either lad, thats my suggestion...we still have a fight I want to settle...." With that the elf turned and made for the deck, he still wasn't sure how he was getting off the boat....but there had to be a way.
---
"Don't get yourself killed women, Because you still owe me a knife in the stomach....."
"If you say so," Rowen replied, staring down her opposition. Well, that really hadn't lasted long. What was once hold onto the sword was now get the bloody thing back.
"Leave, Byron," she said in a voice of authority, contemplating exactly what move she'd make before she got empaled. Half a second later, she slid past Grohn's weapon, tackling him head on. One arm around his neck, struggling to suffocate him, the other prying the sword from his grip. Meanwhile, her apprentice was doing what she had plainly told him not to - keys in one hand, a sword in the other, he was fully prepared to enter the fire-fight.
---
"Oh, so two against one, huh?"
He jabbed Rowen hard in the stomach, making her loosen her grip. He could hardly breath, and when she loosened up, he took a huge, deep breath and then headbutted her with the back of his head. He stood up, and looked at both of them.
"If either of you try anything, I swear, I'll kill you both!" he screamed, as Rowen lifted herself from the ground.
---
"Swear all you like," Rowen hissed. She stood to her feet, ready to stand her ground. "Byron, you don't move away now, I swear I am going to kill you." Byron would have been used to death threats by then - she gave them out regularly. As a result, she really wasn't sure he'd listen or not.
"And as for you, Grohn, we can both die together, for all I care."
And she didn't - she really didn't, as long as Grohn ended up in the gallows.
---
HA! Byron laughed to himself. Riiiight, you're gonna kill me Rowen. That's a real empty threat.. Byron looked at his surroundings. He needed to help Rowen and the elf, that is what he knew for sure. But how? Byron peered all over the brig and spyed a good-sized dagger on the table next to him. Must be that Grohn guy's. Byron reached slowly for it, making special care not to have Grohn see him. He finally grapsed the handle of the dagger, and as quickly as you can comprehend, he had his left arm around Grohn's neck, and his right arm, with the dagger, pointed directly at Grohn's back, behind his right lung. The advantage was Byron's. This he knew, and smirked at the fact. There was nothing Grohn could do to get out of this besides letting Rowen and the elf go.
"So...Grohn, is it? It would be much appreciated if you could let my friends go. Apparently you have done something they did not like, and you deserve to pay for it. So please let them go." Byron hissed in the man's ear.
---
(lerris is outside the brig at this point)
She was going to kill him. Well, no she wasn't, but from the look on her face, she was both thrilled and infuriated that Byron had disobeyed her. She would sort her emotions out later. For now, she had to make sure Grohn was left behind in the escape - dead or alive.
Rowen stepped out of the cell, already feeling better. The idea of being inside one of those was humiliating.
"A word of advice," she said to Byron in a neutral tone. "Leave him in the cell. He'll get what's coming to him regardless."
She hid it well, but she was worried. Grohn had a knack for turning the tables with the little to no advantage on his side.
---
Grohn chuckled malevolently, as he often did. "Has anyone ever told you," he began, "That you mistrust your skills?" He kicked this man in the shin and stepped on his foot. He didn't let the dagger go. He elbowed him in the stomach. He didn't let go. He bit the man's arm as hard as he could. The man still clenched to the dagger. "So," he said, "Not letting go, eh? Well, I'll try a different approach then." He grabbed the dagger and tugged on it, though it cut the palm of his hand, the adrenaline kept the pain away. All Grohn could do was think about killing everyone in the world, everyone who was somebody, for who he was envious of. He was nobody, just a petty murderer, killing for no reason. He wanted everyone to die. Then he would die in so many years, and there would be no more worries.
He tugged and tugged, the dagger was coming loose. But then the man, instead of pulling, pushed the dagger, into Grohn. It went into his back and he cried in pain. He turned around, and swung his sword at the man's thigh. He cut him deeply, and Grohn, being satisfied, ran past him. He'd not closed the door. That was his escape.
---
Rowen wasn't going to stand by as this went on. As Grohn made a run for it, she cut him off.
"You are not getting off that easy," she hissed at him. He was armed - she wasn't. But at the very least, he was freshly wounded. Though still a very prominent threat, she had that on her side.
This was her looking at every factor that she could think of. Maybe she had no weapons, but she was going to fight, win, lose, or draw.
---
Lerris appeared as if right on time to help out once again, the elf bounded his way through the door and tackeled Grohn to the floor, knocking Rowen away in the process. He strateled the man holding his hands and arms down with his knees, and he began wailing on Grohn's stomach as best he could, trying some-how to stop this mad human.....
((Sorry for the horrid short post, but, I seem to have no talent at the moment...don't worry it will be back soon enough...)))
---
Rowen was not entirely thrilled about being knocked to the side - and anyone who was at all acquainted with her would know that she wasn't inconspicuous about her agitations. But, for once, she didn't voice said agitations.
"Saphire - someday, you have to get yourself in a near death situation, so I can even the score."
That being said, she made a semi-circle around the two, looking for a means of assisting.
---
Byron lay on the ground near the cell. His leg was in searing pain. Byron clutched his leg for it was bleeding immensely. Byron used his free hand to grab for his shirt. He needed a way to stop the bleeding. At least for now. He had not had a wound this deep in quite a long time. Grohn was going to pay for this one. He was going to die. On this boat. That Byron was sure of. Byron eventually pulled his shirt off and began to wrap it tightly around his leg. Byron clenched his teeth hard. The pain was horrible.
Byron listened around him. From what he could hear, Lerris and Grohn were fighting. He was not sure of Rowen right now. He was facing the opposite way of the action. Nevertheless, he wanted to be a part of the fight. Byron finished up with his leg and tried as hard as he could to get up. Soon enough, he struggled to his feet and staggered to get a nearby weapon. A nice size sword. His sword. A sense of welcome formed in Byron. He was in his place with his sword. A grin split upon his face as he limped over to the fight.
---
Rowen continued to examine the situation. Saphire did, indeed, have the upper hand - but at the same time, she herself felt useless. What was she supposed to do? She was unarmed, not particularly dangerous, and yet again in debt to someone who claimed to want her dead, and yet saved her life more than half a dozen times. She didn't pretend to understand elves - but their mentality did come in handy every now and then.
She looked away from the quarreling two, very briefly, seeing Byron, ready to do his part. She hid the fact she was feeling mildly guilty of having forgotten about him, and his current status. You'll live, she would have stated if he complained about it. Not out of coldness - well, yes out of coldness, but it took a lot to make her feel sorry for anyone, and even more to make her show it.
"Byron," she said in a voice of authority, not necessarily loud, but a tone that commanded attention. "End this."
---
Byron pondered this command. Who was she, at this moment, to tell him what to do, even though it was what Byron already planned on doing. She had been nothing but mean and rude to him the whole trip and the months before. Now she was expecting him to do her business. Why should he? She forgot about him practically bleeding to death, while she watched Lerris and Grohn fight, she got him placed in the brig, and firstly she dragged him onto this boat. And where are the guards? Byron asked himself.
He knew what he had to do, but Byron was slightly hesitant. He was not sure why, but he did not want to kill this man anymore. Byron suddenly made up his mind and charged towards the two grown men rolling on the ground. Byron raised his sword high in the air and brought the handle harshly down upon Grohn's head. Knocking him totally unconcious. Byron stood there and watched as Grohn fell limply to the ground. Still unsure about this, Byron held his sword at the ready, eyeing Grohn ever so carefully. He had fooled him once, it was not happening again.
---
Lerris looked up at the injured human standing above him with a little shock, and more or less thanks. The elf slowly rose to his feet and fell back against the closest wall to catch his breath, he looked up, and gave Rowen a questioning look. When she did nothing Lerris took another deep breath and leaned his head back against the wall with a thud. He made a promise to himself then, one that he intended to keep Never, under any circumstances..get on a boat.. He smirked to himself and opened his eyes looking to Byron. "Ok edan...." He said still trying to catch his breath, "You have the sword, your enemy lies at your feet, so I ask you this..." His gaze went to Rowen. “If you end this humans life it may make the rest of this trip easier, if you don’t...it may cost me, and perhaps your girlfri...Rowen’s life...” Lerris said shaking head for naming Rowen anyone’s girlfriend....he saw that as almost....impossible. “So please, edan, tie him up....throw him overboard....do something...”
---
Rowen watched Saphire speak to Byron - possibly the first time he's ever spoken to her apprentice. It always did tick her off when she found her student disregarded by others, but now, being the ignored herself, it felt... odd. Almost unpleasant, but not quite to that extent. Her eyes swept to the ground, and intense feeling of awkwardness passing, on her part, at least. Thoughts of what has just happened - she had done nothing for anyone, and now she regretted it more than anything.
---
Byron looked maliciously at his prey. Not dead, but sleeping. That was the way Byron liked it, but not for Grohn. A sense of murderous feelings overtook Byron as a look of almost untainted evil brushed over his eyes. "You! Elf. Help me tie him up. I have a plan for this one. Byron told the elf. He was not in the mood to be polite. Byron watched as the elf went to get some rope. Byron knew that soon the guards would be coming, but luckily, night was falling and they would have cover of darkness on deck. Byron looked over at Rowen a grinned She was thinking about something. He was not sure what, but she had an unhappy look upon her face.
Lerris soon came back and found himself under the supervision of Byron, who had taken control of Grohn. Once Byron had gotten Grohn tightly tied up, he decided he was going to tell Lerris and Rowenna his plan.
"Okay. You two are going to help me, as well...youare in this mess too. Byron said as he was pacing the room searching for weapons and other things to help them with their task. "Once we have good ground cover, we will go up to the deck, with Grohn. Upon reaching the deck, we will go right and we should find two lifeboats. In one of them, we will place this Grohn fella and sent him off to sea. He will never be heard from again. Probably die of starvation. Once that is done, the rest is up to you guys. We can either take over this vessel, or use the other lifeboat to get off. What do you think? What should we do? By this time, Byron had stopped pacing and was standing next to Rowen. He was not sure about his plan, but the final decision was up to them.
---
Something about the way Byron maneuvered didn't sit well with Rowen. She could deal with most of his faces - his coldness, his occasional sarcasm, anger - but this was a new trick. Authority. She didn't like it. She did not like it at all.
"That's enough, Byron," she said in her own tone of authority, her eyes locked on him. "Your plan if fine, but.."
It had gone far enough.. Things he said, some of the suggestions weren't right. Take over the vessel? Were they thieves or pirates? The literal difference may have been subtle, but that difference was prominent enough to her.
She was not inconspicuous about hiding her displeasure.
"We are not going to commandeer a ship," she said plainly. She couldn't find the words to express her feelings toward it - it just was.
---
He had gotten the rope, that was fine...atleast it ended with Grohn tied up. Now, Lerris wasn't about to take any bloody orders from some...some...human. He cursed under his breath and looked to Rowen as she almost "scolded" Byron. "Manke tanya tuula.....?" Lerris stood from where he sat and spun on the two humans, "Do what you want edan i'm taking one of those boats and leaving...with or without you..." He shook his head and made for the door. Stopping to turn to make sure he caught Rowen's gaze, "Ya auta yeste' ya?" He smirked and was around the corner.
---
What Saphire said brought back the Rowen that had been left behind at the war. The one who did not take kindly to fun at her own expense. The response was instant. She followed the elf without any second thoughts. She accosted him, slamming him against the wall, much like she would in the past.
"What the hell was that for," she hissed, not seeing any way she provoked his snide remark. "Just what gives you the right, huh?!"
---
Lerris could have struggled, but he didn't. He could of faught back, but he didn't. He just smirked at Rowen and said two words, "Welcome back...." He then tried to get her away, but seeing no exit he sighed. "Look Edan, you need to get some bloody control over yourself, stop shaking like a rookie in battle, I saw you when I attacked Grohn...You did nothing!" He almost shouted, but held himself back incase others where near. "You let, your injured, apprentice...who can barely walk...take care of everyth...." His voice trailed off as he realized he had been given the same speech from Abbot.
"Stop shaking like a Rookie Lerris! Get your mind under control you fool..." Lerris stared the elf right in the eye as he spoke. "You let Fain, an injured apprentice, an injured one Lerris! He did the work for you, he did everything!" Lerris in a rage punched the Blade-master across the face. Fain sat in shock behind him, gulping for air.
Lerris was back staring at Rowen now, and she did look like she was about to kill him. "Let me go Rowen, get back to your apprentice and get off this bloody boat..."
---
As he began, she could hardly speak, it was so infuriating. But toward the end, as he trailed off, and began again, her grip loosened, her expression becoming softer.
"Are you all right?"
She mentally kicked herself for saying it. It wasn't the kind of thing you said to someone you were about to beat into oblivion. But from the look of it, she wasn't going to anymore. Something more was going on, she could tell by the way he spoke, but she would not be conspicuous. A simple are you all right would do.
---
Lerris normally, would of been more then surprised at this, but this time he hardly had his mind on what was, and wasn't like Rowen, for now that was up to her. He sighed and looked away from Rowen, "Do you remember...quite some time ago, In Mirkwood...I think you where there..." He took a deep breath, "I killed a old friend of mine....for no other reason then he had, along with the help of other elves, more or less thrown me out of Mirkwood, to... "find myself" as they had put it. I was still a bloody child...Years later I returned to Mirkwood, with a sword...and Killed that elf. You perhaps, maybe...can realize why I use the staff now? I can't stand the feel of a sword in my hand anymore....." Lerris sighed and looked back at Rowen, "I had an apprentice once, named Fain, Byron and him have faught...without either of us knowing. Rowen, don't lose your apprentice...Now let me go, and get out of here.."
---
"Not so fast," Rowen said in a neutral tone. No. That that easily. She couldn't quite pinpoint why she was doing anything she was doing. It just was. Maybe it was because she had a few things to get off her chest. Maybe it was because she thought she could help. Who knew? But this was her moment she could say something everyone who had once known was long dead. "What do you want me to say, Lerris?"
Lerris? That was a surprise, even to her. She tried not to show it - despite the strange situation, she had to maintain a certain high level of dignity to not completely lose it.
"Saphire," she covered, as if it was offending. "Do you want me to say I'm sorry? Or do you want me to say I understand? Because I do, more than you know."
When he didn't respond, she had second thoughts. If he wasn't going to give her some signal, what was the point? She was almost at the point of panicking, but she kept her cool, and went on.
"Um, my parents were exterminators, you might say," she said, abhorring the fact she used a space filler. Um. It wasn't even a word. "People thought they were immoral in their methods, so things were getting harder. They wanted to make sure nothing happened to me, so when I was eleven, they basically sent me away." Doesn't make sense, does it? Sending me away to a certain death, rather than risk me under their keep, she almost said, but didn't. "Then I met my teacher. He was good to me - but all the same, it took me a decade before I could tell him what happened. He sort of laughed it off, and, er, I didn't take it well. We ended up on opposing ends of an argument. And when he needed me most, I didn't do anything for him because I was angry. I watched him being mauled to death by wargs because I held a grudge against him. And now he's dead because of me. So yeah, I understand. I was a coward, I pretended it never happened, and you look where I am now. Don't you pull the same thing, don't keep running away, because if you keep running, it's going to catch up with you, and it's going to be a hell of a lot worse if you don't face it."
She came to the realization, as she said this, that she never mourned Philip. She never mourned her father, not her mother, no one. If she payed attention when she had the chance, maybe... No. Maybe nothing. Her life was what it was, and there was no changing it now.
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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 18:12:54 GMT -5
Grohn slowly came to conciousness...he could hear things, but they were inaudible, he couldn't understand a word of it... His eyes opened slowly, and he realized that his arms were tied to his body. What the hell? he nearly said, and then remembered where he was. He'd begun to sit up, but then he slouched again and listened to the conversation. Something about Rowen's past...he really didn't care. He just wanted her dead. And now he could do it. He slowly and inconspicuously reached for the one remaining dagger at his belt...he got it, and cut the first bound, quietly. He cut the remaining 5 just as quietly, and he was free. They dropped to the ground, just as Rowen was finished. He grabbed his sword off the ground, and stood up. "Well, here we are at last," he said, brandishing it in front of him. "Time for you all to die." He had a shot at them. ...but something was holding him back from killing them, the ones who so much wanted him dead. What was it? The malevolent smile he'd been carrying disappeared from his face. He almost dropped his sword. He couldn't do it. He couldn't kill them. There was a block in his mind. It couldn't be...could it?! He admired her. Rowen. The one who'd so long as three years wanted him dead. If he'd given her a sword, and said, 'Kill me,' she'd gladly take that offer. But he admired her. What was it that made him feel that way? He had no idea. But it was true. His feelings turned to disgust. "I'll let you go this time," he said, "but don't expect to be so lucky next time." And he turned to walk away. --- Rowen didn't like the fact her once-in-a-blue-moon feeling where she wasn't two steps from ending someone, and of her own free will had been challenged by - who else? - Grohn. But then... "I'll let you go this time," he said, "but don't expect to be so lucky next time." What was that about? She could fight now - give her a sword, and she could show him she was not one to be trifled with. ... but what was this? Was she really expected to just let him walk away? Let all this be just in vain? No... it wasn't right... it just wasn't. She'd been through hell and back again, him involved - but now her issue was over. Done. What about revenge? For the simple sake of retribution? What about everyone who died? Was she to let more die at his hand because she let him slip through her fingers again? "Do you think I'm going to just let you leave after what happened," she asked, carefully considering what she was doing. She wanted to leave - she did, as much as everyone else did. But this was bigger than that. "No. Byron, give me your sword." She didn't wait for him to comply - she took it herself. She wasn't going to let what happened in prison, happen again later. She had to make sure it was over for good, the only way she knew how. --- As Lerris was going to ask about a hundred questions, Grohn appeared. "Well, here we are at last," he said, brandishing it in front of him. "Time for you all to die." He had a shot at them. Lerris spun on his heels to face him, as did Rowen Then he said something that not only confused him, but shocked him. I'll let you go this time," he said, "but don't expect to be so lucky next time." And he turned to walk away. He saw Rowen's confusion flash to anger, and he almost on instinct jumped out of the way when she took the sword from her apprentice. When she went for Grohn instead of him he sighed, he had no idea what to do. Rowen had to face her own demons....and this was no time for him to get inbetween Rowen and someone she wanted dead. He had tried that once, and gotten a dagger in his shoulder in return. So, it was up to her, either way....Lerris gets off this bloody boat. --- Rowen remembered vividly what happened the first time she fought with Grohn. He had her down for the count, despite the fact it was two to one in her favor. She remembered, no matter what happened, Grohn always would worm his way out of a situation, no matter how much he looked like was about to face judgment. This time... This time, she wasn't going to risk it, in the sense that he would, yet again, miraculously be ahead in the battle. Because there would be none. Rowen was at the perfect angle - she rammed him head on, her - or rather, Byron's - sword preventing any attempt against her, the side against her adversary's chest, cutting through to his skin. Right behind Grohn, much to Rowen's satisfaction, was the very cell she had been held in. Pulling away quickly, she shut the door on him, a weary smile spreading on her face. She gathered the keys from the floor, lest he find a way to get them. "This is going overboard," she mused to herself, firmly gripping the ring of keys. She made for the door, stopping briefly, looking at Saphire. "Are you coming or not," she inquired of him, though she knew the answer. --- "No he's not," said Grohn, slyly. Lerris was just in reach of his sword, and it was pointed at his back, gently touching it. He would kill him, if he moved at all. "I'm sure you don't care if the elf dies, huh, Rowen?" he said, as, with his sword, he poked his sword through the elf's clothes and pulled him against his will closer to the bars. Then he held him there, and put his sword to his neck, and said, "Well, go ahead Rowen. I'm sure you don't care about the elf. Just leave him here to die, like you did to me. It doesn't matter." --- That was cold. Real cold. Rowen just stood there, an expression full of concern. Worry? Over him? Why? Had this been after one of their infamous epic battles, she would have turned her back in a heartbeat. Good riddance, she would have thought. But this wasn't then. This was right after she spilt everything she held inside for ten years. She didn't want people to know - assume her weak, what have you, but she shared herself, and now she couldn't go on pretending it was all still how it was. She gripped the keys, holding them behind her back. "You let him go, and I'll give you the keys," she said sternly, covering any emotion she may have shown. --- He drew a dagger and put it to the elf's back. "Deal." He took his sword from the elf's neck, and reached it out for the keys. "Don't try anything, or I will kill him. You know I will." He smiled evilly. She still looked hesitant, but, reluctantly, she put the keys onto the sword. He brought his sword back in, and dropped the keys in his hand. He sheathed both the dagger and the sword, and pushed the elf harshly away from the bars. "Good Rowen," he said, like a master to his dog. "Now, I don't mind what you do, just as long as you get outta here." --- A quick trick - and a hard one to pull of at that. If he noticed that one key was missing from the ring... She didn't even want to think about that. Pocketing the one key that would open the door to the cell Grohn was now in, she quickly nodded to Byron and Saphire. "Now, let's get the hell out of here." She didn't bother to explain what had just happened. But she suspected they would understand when Grohn failed to free himself from the cage. "Well, then," she said to Lerris as they were around the corner. "I only have to save you half a dozen more times, and we can call it even." That wasn't what she wanted to say. She wanted to know if anything she had said before made any kind of impact - or if she just wasted her breath explaining herself - her mistakes that came back to haunt her years after they occurred. --- He tried each one. The first, the second...all the way up to the 12th. None worked. He counted the amount of cells in the immediate area. 13. There were 13 cells. "That evil little..." he cursed her name loudly and it echoed through the empty cells, save for the man at the end whom Grohn had been next to at first. "You got any bright ideas?" he asked him. "Only one," the man said in a gruff voice. They were a cell separated now, and they were both standing at the sides of their cells that faced each other. "Gimme yer s'ord," the man said. "Why should I trust you, old man?" he asked. "Because I'm your only way out." Grohn didn't have a choice. He handed the man his sword. The man quickly grabbed it, and started sawing the lock. The man seemed to have wit and strength Grohn didn't have. Grohn never would have thought of cutting the lock off, or would he have been able to do it. Shavings fell to the floor one by one, as he sawed his way through the lock. It took a few minutes, but the lock was off. It dropped to the floor, ringing the halls with a loud ding sound. Then he walked to Grohn's cell and began working on his. After another painstaking few minutes, it dropped to the floor, and Grohn walked out. Then he laughed. "Cheap metal," he said. He asked the man for his sword. "Thanks ya," the man said, handing the sword back. "Whats yer name?" "Grohn," he replied, "Also known as the bringer of death." Squish. That sound still haunted him, even at the moment he killed the man. He could trust no body. And so he walked towards the exit. --- Well, this had been a fine time on this boat. Not to mention the horrid head-ache he still had from drinking a little to much ale. Which in fact had resulted in all this, if he had not drank so much, he would of never gotten on the bloody boat. But right now that seemed like years ago instead of a day or so. He could feel a small trickle of blood going down his back from where Grohn had been nice enough to stick a dagger, bloody fool, next time Lerris had a real weapon like his staff...He would give that human a thump or two. He turned to Rowen to say something, but nothing came out really. He shook his head and kept walking beside her. Eventually as the time passed he found some words, "You didn't really let Grohn out did you?" The elf asked, following Rowen to where ever they where going. He knew the answer already, but for some reason thats all he could say at the moment. --- That wasn't what she wanted to hear. But then, what she wanted to hear would be something coming from the person she'd tried to kill off and on for lord knows how long. She stopped abruptly, pulling a single key from a pocket, displaying it to Saphire. I hope you realize I wouldn't have done this if it wasn't for the fact several more would be dead if I did nothing, she wanted to say, but nothing came out. "I don't expect you to understand," she simply stated. "But if you knew what I knew, you'd want to make sure he stayed put, same as me." --- Lerris stopped and spun on Rowen, "Rowen......" The elf stopped, for some reason, he really did not want to have a conversation with this women. He had seen this all before, it started as a regular conversation. One about anything really, he had seen how it ended, him and her in a hospital bed. "Forget it, lets just get off this bloody boat and get to land, any land...I'll ride straight to bloody Mt. Doom if it means I get off this boat..." He didn't mean it really, he had walked the ash mountains as a scout years ago. It was not something he wanted to ever see again. He shut up then and just kept walking, to wherever they where headed. He glanced at Byron a few times, and almost shook his head. Something was going on between Rowen and him, he could see they played it out like either much hate and anger, or some sort of weird understanding. But Lerris saw something rather odd, the apprentice had ordered the Master today. Something he never remembered Fain doing. He stumbled when he thought of Fain, almost fell on his face. But he caught himself, and let all thoughts of anyone but himself out of his head. --- "You asked, I answered," she mumbled right after his reply. She looked at him as she watched, reading his movement, looking for some obscure clue that he actually gave a d*mn about what she had said earlier. She guessed not - but despite the fact she had shown a great many different sides that day, she was still as stubborn and hard-headed as ever, and it wasn't her style to fish around for answers. "You're not going to pay attention to what I said, are you," she inquired straightforwardly. She almost regretted saying what she did before - particularly because Byron heard. She somehow felt this would weaken her image - the show of feeling. --- He sighed, and stopped to turn to her. "Listen Blackhawk, I know you've had a helluva life. I never really knew my parents either alright? Half my life, I grew up around swordsmen, and trainers. They never treated me like some child, they held respect for me like I held respect for them. MY blade-master Abott died BY MY BLOODY HAND..." Lerris yelled. "Is this what you wanted to hear human? Your life is worse then mine? Be happy Rowen, Mani uma lle merna?" His gaze switched from her to Byron, "And you, I take no bloody orders from some edan.....Lle naa haran e'nausalle....get your own rope" As he finished he spun back on Rowen. "I can be a much darker Elf then this Rowen Blackhawk....Leave me be, I don't want to talk to any one...not now, not ever. Leave me be human...." With that the elf turned from the both of them, and stormed away. --- Rowen accosted him once again, slamming him against the wall, much like she did - but for different purpose. "One," she said, glaring him down with eyes that said she'd kill him if he moved - highly different from what went on underneath. "The only person who gets to threaten Byron is me, got that? Two, let me tell you something - I know your life was pretty messed up, from what you told me, but if you think everything I told you was for some kind of competition, you're dead wrong. I spilled my guts to you because I thought I could help you get over it - hell, maybe I thought it would help me get over it. Well, you sure as hell proved me wrong. So, let's try it the blunt, and by far less pleasant way. Move on! Grieve your loss, and get over it, because you are wasting your time going on like this. Don't play the feel sorry for me game, and don't play the you couldn't understand game - please tell me I am getting through to you!" This was driving her crazy - absolutely nuts. If there was anything worse than fighting the elf, it was trying to get past his entirely too thick skull. --- Grohn had followed them to where they were, and when Rowen was done shouting, he covered her mouth, and pointed his sword at her so-called "apprentice". "Come with me," he ordered. Neither of them had a choice. "This is rather like before, eh?" he told Rowen as he drew a dagger and pointed it at her back. He led them to a cabin somewhere in the upper deck and pushed both to the floor. "Now, see here. No one does that to me and gets away with it. No one. You've done far too many things to me, lady." -he knew she hated being called that- "And now, you're both going to die, hand in hand, boyfriend and girlfriend. Good-bye." He rose his hand to strike the final blow when his hand was grabbed by another. --- Lerris held his hand back and smirked at the bother-some human. "Gurth Grohn......" He spun flipping the human over his shoulder and onto the ground. He twisted the wrist of Grohn and saw the blade fall from his grasp, he swiftly kicked the human in the ribs and the elf shook his head , "Agaryulnaer..." He spat as he fell to his knees brining the full force of his fist onto Grohn's stomach. "Apprentice, get the blade...." When he did nothing, Lerris turned his head to Rowen "Get the blade Blackhawk....?" He let his gaze once again fall to Grohn, "Fool, three against one are not good odds for a human such as yourself." He smirked..... ((I realize now, Gluey, we beat you up far to much....lol, sorry if this wasn't what you all had in mind, its the only thing that came to mine  ))) --- Why did he keep calling her Blackhawk? She rarely every used her surname anymore. Hearing it felt... odd. Rowen picked up the sword, holding it tightly in her grip. "Saving me again, are you," she inquired. "I am never going to catch up with you at this rate." The way she said it was strangely lighthearted, which was not quite what she had intended. Not after he had blown off everything she tried to say. But at the same time, she was having a rough time keeping her feelings straight. --- "Three?" Grohn questioned. "I beg to differ." He smiled malevolently and shot a look at Byron. "The one who does nothing," he said. "How about...the Bringer of Nothing?" He laughed, looking at Rowen, no idea that the title "Bringer of Death" had originally been given to her by the elf holding him. He had stolen that title from her three years ago, when they met. He then titled her the "Bringer of Vengeance". --- Lerris backhanded the man across the face, "Shut up Edan, your in no place to talk...Leave the bloody apprentice out of it!" He smacked him one last time before using his full strength to hold him down. This man truely needed to be locked up, along with just about every human on this boat. Not that the elf was not guilty of some things that happened on this boat, but he never had the intent of killing anyone. Even though, at the rate things where going it looked like he might have to take a life. He spoke to Rowen, but kept his eyes on Grohn. "So what now Blackhawk, Rowen you have the sword...do what you need to do." --- Rowen smiled - the same kind she used to wear before she took someone's life. But this wasn't like then. This was for a reason, a purpose - it was going to end her pain, and his seemingly lifelong vendetta against the world in general. "Move your head, Lerris." She made a deep stab in Grohn's neck, missing the main artery by the smallest comprehendible measure. She knew she missed it. Because the man didn't deserve a painless death - he deserved to suffer, and god willing, she was going to deliver. "Saphire," she said, temporarily switching back to the use of his surname. "Help me toss him overboard." --- Lerris smirked slightly, he was not smirking at the mans death...but at the fact that this...was all over with. "With Pleasure Rowen." He stood slowly, grabbing the man by his arms and lifting him up, he felt blood dropp onto his bare arm and he shivered slightly before gripping tightly waiting for Rowen. He dragged the man slowly so his feet faced Rowen, "lets get this over with, and get off this bloody boat." The elf said with little emotion in his voice. --- "Couldn't have said it better myself," she breathed in reply as she lifted the man's legs. If only the others knew exactly how long she had been waiting for this. She wasn't going to waste her chance again. "I'm ready when you are," she leaned on the side almost patiently. Certainly patient, taking into account she had waited literally years for it all to happen. --- Lerris smirked and lifted the man over the rail, he simply dropped the man head first off the boat. Choaking on his own blood and on his way to his grave beneath the sea. As the man fell, Lerris turned, Rowen could make sure he died...Lerris wanted no part of it. He noticed Byron still standing alone, after what Grohn had said he had done nothing. Something seemed rather wrong with him, but Lerris shifted his mind back to Rowen who now stood behind him. "So its over....What now for you Rowen?" He wasn't sure why he asked it, he wasn't sure if he really cared, but it came out of his mouth...and he couldn't take it back. --- "I... I'm not sure." Rowen gripped the edge of the boat, feeling the weight she had felt for the longest time being lifted from her shoulders. But there were still other problems. There were always other problems. There is no normal life, she remembered Philip saying to her one day of an unsure time. There's just life. "I don't want to.." She chuckled to herself, shaking her head. The rest she had spoken to him in elvish - she knew Byron would not understand. She kept secrets from him like any normal person would keep knives from a child. "The life of crime isn't as appealing as it used to be." And it wasn't. In Rohan, she came to the realization that she was risking everything she cared about every waking moment. She didn't want to tread on the line, just to see her apprentice killed or caught to be killed later on. But she had already chosen her path, and it seemed too late to turn back now. "And what of you, Lerris," she spoke again in human tongue. "What now?" She was no longer going to be conspicuous about what she meant. She couldn't picture him listening, and she hadn't a clue what would make him do so. --- Lerris sighed, leaning against the rail, the elf had no real answer. He sure wasn't going home, that much he knew. "I just want to stop going on these little "adventures" of ours..." Lerris said in elvish, trying his best to make sure Byron almost understood nothing, Rowen had looked like she was trying to also. "I remember, all those years ago......You would jump at the chance to have my back turned to you.....I suppose some things have changed since then." He smirked slightly and looked over his shoulder at Rowen. "Your shoulder still hurt? Mine does." The elf said in human tounge, Byron must have known about that...then again. Lerris directed his gaze back out at sea, "I haven't seen that sword in 11 years Rowen, do you even remember it? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, I can hardly remember what it looked like...let alone where I left it." The elf fell silent, looking out at the ocean. --- Rowen almost winced when Lerris mentioned her shoulder. She didn't want Byron to know - yes, he already knew something had happened - that she was weak on one side - but he didn't know how. And she didn't want him to. "No, no, I don't recall exactly what the sword looked like," she said in elvish. "Perhaps I would if you let it go." She was joking, but it occurred to her too late that it wasn't the best moment. Or was it? The last time she had said something she intended to be light hearted, she was nineteen, and Philip was making a remark about the odd coloring of his eyes. She was out of practice, and ignorant to what was and was not appropriate. "Sorry," she covered soon after her statement. --- (((OOC: You didn't take my sword, did you? If so, I WANT IT BACK!))) Grohn awoke, his lungs full of water, which he tried to cough up. There was a strong pain in his neck. He felt where it was. Blood, he thought when he saw his hand. He looked about. The boat was towering over him, and the sky was beginning to light up with signs of morning. He then realized where he was, and what had happened. Angrily, he unsheathed a dagger and stuck it underneath the boat, cutting a hole in it. Water began to fill the boat, and Grohn, being satisfied, and believing all aboard were about to die, swam in the eastward direction. Soon he heard a small plop, and he, being surprised, turned around to see what it was. It was his sword, which he took and sheathed. There had to be land in this direction, eventually, at least. He noticed the boat begin to tip, and he laughed wantonly. Then he heard another, louder plop and a splash. He turned around and saw a boat, and cursed, quietly. He swam to the other side of the boat and hid, until the lifeboat was out of sight. He then restarted vigorously swimming towards the light on the horizon in the east. --- She didn't know what she would have done then. She knew exactly what she wanted, but everything she ever had turned to ashes. She was still gripping the edge of the boat when she felt a heavy tip on that side. "Did you feel that?" Was it her imagination? She thought not. This is not my day, is it? --- Lerris nodded, something was indeed wrong at that point. The boat began tipping, and Lerris turned to Rowen. "Yeah I felt it, somethings wrong, lets get to the life boats before we stay around long enough to find out what is going on..." The elf spun around looking each way for the small boats, when they eventually caught his eye he turned to Rowen "You coming? I'd hate to have it end on this boat.." The elf said already making his way towards the life-boat. He didn't realize until after he was seated in the boat that he had actually asked Rowen if she was coming, this had been the strangest day ever. --- Rowen placidly cast Grohn's sword off the side of the boat - she never wanted to see that thing again. "Of course I'm coming," Rowen followed him without any second thoughts. She could feel her apprentice's eyes on her. Regardless, she still had no plans on telling him any of the secrets she had kept thus far, let alone discuss what he may have inferred from what he heard. "You'd hate for it to end, eh," she inquired in a comical sophistication that seemed unique only to her. "I'm flattered." She stepped into the boat nonchalantly, making motions to lower it into the water. |
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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 18:21:45 GMT -5
Lerris made no heistation lowering the boat into the water, Grohn was quite out of sight by now and Lerris started to forget the fool. He threw Byron a paddle, asking him to start rowing, he took ahold of one himself and began to do his best to get to land. Land, it seemed like years instead of a day or so, the elf wanted to see something but ocean for once, and get atleast a foot on dry land. Byron seemed to be silent, just paddeling his way to shore as Lerris began singing softly to himself, "Out here on the ocean water, I tried to stay in shallow but she pulled me out too deep. The warmth of the water and the chill of the air, have clouded everything. And now I find myself fighting the ocean just to keep my head up. Every emotion, every desire suddenly means everything. The turn of the tides are unpredictable. Inviting as they seem......" Lerris' voice drifted off as he shook his head and went back to silent paddeling. --- It took everything she had to not mock Lerris for his voice. Not that he was bad, but it was in her nature as an annoying, self-righteous, arrogant woman with self-important delusions of godhood. Once she had convinced herself this was a bad idea, it took all she had to not say anything that could be interpreted the wrong way - wrong way being anything that could set either of the other two off, Byron her main concern. By some kind of divine intervention, she remained silent - a state she was neither fond of nor used to. She would have much rather spend her time aggravating someone, just for the fun of it. Instead, she found her hand on his, wondering if the song had ended because he had stopped singing it, or merely because she was lost in her own psyche. --- Lerris sighed as he finished his song, almost thankful Rowen didn't make some crack about his voice. She must off been off in her own mind for her hand now rested upon his. The elf smirked to himself, and did nothing about it really. It was not like the elf would jump off the boat because Rowen touched him, although years ago he would of actually thought about it. He continued Rowing, again realizing he would of given Rowen the paddle instead of Byron, just because she would of done the same to him. He smiled slightly, and began humming to himself once more, a little louder this time, but not enough for everyone to really understand the song's tune. He swore he could see land, but did nothing to paddle any faster. --- "Well then..." Rowen blinked back to reality by Lerris' unintelligible humming. Shaking her head, she searched for something to say after her ambiguous beginning. She found her fingers brushing against his palm, as she ran her other hand through her hair. Well then what? "... for your archive of information, my shoulder does still hurt." The words were in elvish, almost continuing the conversation on the boat - no - ending it. "And as an additional piece, don't expect to find me behind a grand-scale plot leading to your eventual demise." That was also in a foreign tongue - the less her apprentice knew, the better. But what she said extended a little farther than that. It meant I'm done, and now I don't know what to do with the rest of my life. She could only imagine what Byron would say if he knew what thoughts roamed in the confines of her mind - nothing pleasing. "However, for future reference, death flies on swift wings to those who don't do what I say." The words were said with humor just on the edge of good taste, like it always was with her. --- Lerris laughed slightly, and felt somewhat bad that the two of them where speaking in elvish for the purpose of leaving Byron out of the know. He shook his head and spoke "Well it's good to know I don't have to look over my shoulder anymore, for now I can't think of anyone who wants me dead..." Anyone who's still alive that is. The last thought was kept to himself, but he smirked none the less and continued his paddeling. He could see land now, it was about time, it wouldn't be anymore then an hour or so before they reached land. "What about Byron, you seem to leave him out of the loop when ever you get the chance...... The elf said in his native tounge. To tell the truth he wasn't quite sure why he asked, perhaps just to start a conversation..perhaps because he really wanted to know. Either way, it was said and he couldn't take it back. --- "It may come as a surprise to you," Rowen said to him, in a light form of sarcasm. "But I don't trust easily. Not him. Not my own master, for all of the fourteen years I knew him. But, in a bizarre way, I think I can trust you. I know, I'm as shocked and dismayed as you are about all this, but you asked." She paused for a moment or two. "If you are in need of a sharp blow to the head, to erase this knowledge that clearly must be eating away at you, I'd be happy to oblige." --- Lerris nodded slightly as he chuckeled, "No sharp blows to the head Rowen, not now..." He smirked and looked over his shoulder at Byron. The man calmly rowed, starring at the water. Poor edan, even his master didn't trust him....Lerris sighed and went back to rowing. Anything really to keep his mind off of Fain, it pained him to see Rowen treat her apprentice this way. But he did his best not to ask too many questions, he wasn't quite sure if Rowen had been surious about trusting him, but for now he would take it as she would not kill him over a sword anymore. --- Finally, he became tired, and VERY hungry. He'd not had something to eat in...he didn't know how long. The salthingyer rushed up against his recent wound, making it burn like hell. I'd better reach somewhere soon - an island, Gondor, I'll even settle for - Esgaroth... he thought to himself. He had a past in Esgaroth. There was almost no way he was ever going back. He was hardly moving. Small fish that stayed up near the surface brushed his feet now and then, but nothing really hurt him, except what he thought might have been a sting ray, once. He looked for it, and actually went under water, but he didn't see any trace of one. It was a while, when he finally looked behind him and decided it might have been faster to go the other way. It was then that he saw darkening clouds behind him. A storm was coming. Lightening crackled off in the distance, followed by a faint roll of thunder. The storm seemed to be chasing him, and he couldn't escape, no matter how fast he tried swimming. It wasn't long before it was upon him. Lightening crackled nearly right next to him, the sun gave up on trying to peak through the clouds, he knew there was no way he was going to get away. So he tried to stay stationary. That didn't work too well. The storms strength and danger was increased tenfold because of the fact that there was lightening, and he was in the water. He'd get a shock every time it struck the water. Some were worse than others, depending upon the distance. 10 foot waves tried to drown him, so he swam fast as he could now, giving up the stationary plan. Soon enough the eye of the storm was upon him, and he thought he was safe, for he looked naught behind him, where was the worse of the storm. Too soon for Grohn, the eye passed him over and it over him came 20 foot waves. He tried to breathe, and got a lungful of water. He was going to drown, if he didn't get found soon, or hit land. Finally, he passed out, shortly before the storm was over, and remembered very little more of what was going on. --- Rowen was about to say something - naturally, a mix of sarcasm and truth, but she hadn't the time to say a word, as all the signs of a storm came on. "d*mn it," she muttered under her breath, as she turned her head to the direction they were traveling. The sooner they found dry land, the better. She did not want to be on the water when the storm came around. Her eyes darted left to right, as she soon found what she was looking for. Her hand moved from his hand, to his shoulder (his better one, as it were), as she pointed into a direction parallel from the course they had been taking. Crazy as it sounded, she was avoiding the infliction of physical injury on his person. "Land," she informed him. "See if you can get us there before that storm hits." --- Lerris nodded and looked over his shoulder, she was right a storm was on its way. He began paddeling faster and faster, hoping the apprentice would be able to keep up with his pace. Water splashed and he hoped he wasn't drenching Rowen behind him.......The elf shook his head, What? He let Rowen drift from his mind and set it on reaching dry land and began paddeling as hard as he could push himself. This elf was not getting caught out here during a storm, they wouldn't survive long on such a small boat. --- Rowen felt useless as the sight of dry land inched closer and closer. She wanted to do something - assist by some means, not just wait for their small boat to be torn apart. She wanted some form of control over the situation - now... now she was completely helpless to whatever happened. She was yea close to snatching an ore from Byron, just so she could do something helpful, but in the end, she did not. Her blood ran cold as she felt the familiar sensation of raindrops on her face, the sound of thunder shifting through the clouds above. Faster, she thought bitterly as the storm was practically on top of them. --- As they where close to shore, Lerris lept out of the boat landing with a splash in the knee-deep water. He threw the ore in the small wooden boat and guided them until they hit with a thud, and the boat sat still. "Alright Byron send this boat back out to sea, no need for it now, or for anyone to know we arrived from a ship." The elf said trying his best to cover up what had happened with Grohn out on the ship. The rain was coming down now, not as hard as it would once the storm fully reached them, but enough to wet the elfs dark brown hair so it stuck to the sides of his face. He stuck out a hand to help Rowen off, and realized it looked odd before he could take it away..so as not to look anymore odd by pulling it away he smirked and kept it there. --- Rowen hid the surprise she felt as Lerris offered her a hand. She accepted with a small fraction of reluctance, stepping down from the boat. Her ankles briefly touched the water, but it wasn't something to complain about. It wasn't due to the fact she was already wet, and seemingly destined to be soaked when the real rain came along, but because they all had just gotten out of the worst possible situation, complete with the brief possibility of a prison sentence, the antagonist who just would not die, the risk of losing her apprentice, and a fair share of verbal conflict. A little water was nothing to rag about now. She nodded her thanks to Lerris, privately praising whatever higher power there was that she was now on solid land. There was just one thing she wanted to know right then. Which land was it? --- Poke. Ow. Poke. Ow! Poke. What the hell is poking me?! Grohn woke up, with a mouthful of sand, which he spat out. Caw! he heard in his ear. He killed the defenseless sea gull, and felt blood trickle down his neck in a reopened wound. He then coughed up some water. He must've had passed out during the storm. He was lucky to be alive, and he knew that. He was on land now, he guessed it to be well past noon. He was hungry, so he began to search for food. He looked in bushes, up trees, but he couldn't find anything, save a coconut and a few blueberries (no others were ripe). He broke the coconut open with his sword, and drank the milk inside. He ate the blueberries. That will have to do for now, he thought greedily to himself. He was tired, so he layed down in the soft sand. He fell asleep almost instantly. When he awoke, he didn't open his eyes, but he noticed that something sharp was poking him, again. But it didn't let up, and it emitted no caw. (((OOC: Feel free to tell how you braved it and survived the storm. I jumped ahead...again. Anyways, continue on.))) --- Lerris nodded and turned watching Byron cast the boat back out to sea. He also saw the storm wasn't about to give up and was on its way towards them no matter what. "I suppose our best chance is to go further inland from here, perhaps we might reach a town or atleast a small village and find out where we are.." The elf said raising an eyebrow to both humans, "And even if we don't find a town, it would be better to be in the woods when the storm hits then here on the beach..." The elf almost muttered as he turned and began walking away from the beach. When he did not here foot-steps behind him he looked over his shoulder, "You coming?" --- "When are you going to stop asking that," Rowen inquired, eager to get out of the god-forsaken rain. "Of course I'm coming." And of course, she did. Last time he asked that, they were both on a boat that was about do sink - was there even a real question? Now was a similar, though vastly less dire situation. She was on unfamiliar territory, just before all hell broke loose above them. Of course she was going to come. --- The elf shrugged and made his way into the nearest wood, which from what he saw wasn't all that big. No chance bigger then Mirkwood, and smaller then Fangorn, but a forest none the less. Lerris swore he heard running water nearby but shook it off as probably just the rain. As he entered the forest, the rain stopped pelting so hard, but some still came through the tree tops. He shrugged and stopped at what he pictured to be the center, or atleast close to it. He shrugged and turned to Rowen and Byron who had not said a word the whole walk in the forest. "Well we have a choice here, we can either keep walking and try to brave this storm until we reach a village that might not exsist for quite some time, or we can stay here and wait it out. It's not the best of places but it will keep us somewhat dry....." The elf said, his eyes shifting back and forth from the apprentice to the master. --- At first, the idea of moving on seemed more appealing - one, they would make better time, and two.. well, there really was no second reason, but Rowen was all for progress. But after a moment of consideration, she concluded which was really a better solution in the long run. "I'm all for staying," Rowen said, surrendering to her own logic. She only hoped the storm didn't last. --- Lerris nodded slowly and found himself a seat beneath a tree that had fallen and now sat against another making a nice shelter from the rain that did make it through. The brown haired elf leaned his head back against the log and let out a deep breath and a sigh as he closed his eyes. Not that he was tierd of walking, but tierd of not staying in one place. No matter what happened he still had somewhere he needed to go tomorrow, even if the storm didn't let up they had to go eventually. Lerris didn't bother with looking for food, and hardly even thought about making a fire seeing as how there was nothing to start it with. If only he hadn't been so stupid as to leave his things back in the Inn before he got on the boat. "Stupid...ale... The elf muttered with a smirk on his face. --- Byron sat on the ground quietly. He had barely said a word in the past few hours. He hardly remembered the past few hours for that matter. Something had taken him over. Something he enjoyed. Something powerful. His mind and body lusted for that again. That power. That evil desire. That anger. He needed it. But now was not the time. He had a feeling it would come back though. Byron stared off into the blank canvas of him world. He needed to change something and he knew what it was. Rowen. He needed to change her. Or their status. Ten years. They had know each other for close to ten years, and she still did not come even close to trusting him, when he has told her his entire life story, she goes and tells this elf who wants her dead more than he tells him. It was going to change. Tonight. He just needed to wait for the right oppurtunity. While the elf was sleeping, he would wake Rowen and speak to her privately. It was about time he got some things off his chest... --- After moments of pacing, waiting for the storm to end, she stopped. Simply stopped, and stood still. Anyone who knew her at all knew she liked control, but even she had no say in the weather. d*mned inconvenient... She slumped by a tree, bowing her head. The rain was always something that seemed to lull Rowen to sleep - she could not explain why, but the rhythmic patter of drops against the plants and leaves that gave them shelter was soothing. After less than fifteen minutes, she nodded of into sleep. --- Byron finally made up his mind. He quickly scanned the clearing and made sure the elf was sleeping before his clambered over to where Rowen was resting by a nearby tree. "Rowen. Wake up." Byron whispered harshly into her ear. She awoke with a start. "Come with me." he concluded and without waiting for an answer we stood up and walked into the blackened trees shrouded by the pitch night sky. Byron stopped abruptly about 50 yards from the clearing. And spun to face Rowen. She was right on his heels. "I have been thinking for a long period of time Rowen." Byron said, as he took a deep breath. "We have know each other for ten years time. Ten long years of arduous training. Long nights on quests. And even more time travelling. yet through all that time, I know nothing of you, and you know everything of me. A relationship is about trust. I know you have had a rough and questionable past, but I have too. Yet I shared it with you. That is what friends do. When I met you, I finally thought that I was where I belonged. I found my place. Apparently I was wrong, and I can not be trusted I guess. Byron looked deep into Rowen's eyes before he continued. "I am leaving you now. I will hopefully never be back to trouble you again. I wish you the best in your travels." And with that, Byron grabbed his belongings, staff, and left. Forever. --- Rowen listened in shock. What? Was this? What does this mean? Of course, she knew what it meant, but she didn't want to know. She didn't want to understand. Byron was everything. No, she didn't trust him, not with facts, not with information, not even with himself. But at the same time, he was all she cared about - he was everything she had worked for in the past decade. "You wait just a minute," she said, struggling for something to do - something to say. She would rather him yelling at her, so she could react the way she knew she could. But this? She didn't know how to deal with this. But she couldn't stand by, and watch everything just walk away. And she didn't. She followed him a few steps, spun him around, and gripped the front of his clothing. "You listen here, Byron," she said, trying to sound as threatening as she could - and strangely failing. "You are not leaving," she said, clearly struggling. "Do you understand me? If I personally have to knock you out, I will." Idle threats - it was all she really had left. She had always prided herself with the ability to think on her feet.. but now, nothing came. --- Byron eyed her sadly. "Please," He softly said to her. "Just stop. I am leaving. Get on with your new life and I will get on with mine." He walked a few more step before bidding her farewell, and continuing his new life. --- Her muscles tightened. How dare he be so calm. What, didn't he care at all? Yes, she kept secrets, but what- Her face paled. She wanted to say that she herself was the one who was being abandoned, but she knew she wasn't faultless. Rowen did not need anyone to tell her she messed up. But all the same, she couldn't stand there. Every fiber of her being told her to stop him - instinct told her to act with force, like she was used to. It was all she knew, and all she could preform. She yanked him back one last time, and acted on impulse, punching him square across the face. Why... why didn't it make her feel any better? She swallowed, not caring that his nose was bleeding freely, not caring how he felt physically. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. She just wanted him back. --- Byron staggered, reeling back in immense pain. What the hell was that for!? he yelled to himself. Byron clapped his hands up to his nose and cupped the blood dripping out of it. Now he was pissed. Byron brought his hands down quicker than he ever had before and snatched his staff off the ground. He had been training with his staff for the past few years, andhad gotten fairly good with it. His eyes blazed with the same fury they had the other day. He felt the need to destroy. To kill. But not to Rowen. He had not enough strife with her to inflict that much damage. Before he knew it, Byron was charging towards the surprised Rowen at full speed and his staff raised high. He swung his staff at her as she ducked out of the way. She then saw the seriousness of Byron's fury. For a brief moment, Byron thought he saw a flicker of fear bestilled in her eyes. He loved it. Byron spun and whacked her hard on her right arm. d*mn! Wrong arm...Did she know he knew her weakness? He needed something to grab ahold of her with. Or something to get leverage on her. Byron saw in slow motion, Rowen running towards him and without knowing it, she had him in a headlock in seconds. And second after that, thrown upon the ground like a ragdoll. She has been improving Byron thought. Rowen backed up and looked down at Byron. Is that a tear in her eye? Byron wondered. Byron reached quickly for his staff and scuttled across the ground to her and swung his staff up towards her face, but changed it at the last second for her feet. Direct contact. YES! Rowen the great has fallen to the ground. Byron clambered on top of her and presesed down on her shoulder blades. He saw the grimace in her eyes and he smiled. "Now you look here! he snarled at her, I am leaving whether you want me to or not. You don't seem to care about my opinion, so why should I care about your's? Byron got up off her, and he watched Rowen rub her left shoulder. Byron grabbed his staff and held it high above his head and brought is harshly down on the side of her head. Not hard enough to cause permanent damage, but enough to knock her out for a few hours. He scooped up his belongings and walked off. Byron took one last look at the world behind him and smiled. "Good bye Rowen." --- With every attempt at Byron, her heart sank lower and lower. It was said that to truly see a person, the real person underneath the mask, you had to fight them. Get them angry. Then you saw the real person. And she did fight, she fought like hell, and while her strength gradually increased, she grew emptier with each passing moment. Was there anything worse than seeing your own student turn on you? How about surpass you? What about pick on your weaknesses, use their long collected knowledge against you? There was. He was enjoying it. Enjoying it, the fall of his own master! Rowen could see it in his expression - like she was another opponent. Like any other traveler with a full purse. But she wasn't. She was his teacher, for heaven's sake! His mentor. You just... you just didn't do that. You didn't... When she woke, only the Lord knew how long later, she clenched the earth under her, the will to burst into tears welling up inside. But she couldn't. She was strong, better than that. She was Rowen. When was the last time she actually cried, really cried? She grimaced at the irony of it all - having just gotten done telling Lerris it was all right to mourn, so long as you recovered. But what was the point?! Everything she had done in the past decade revolved solely around Byron - her troubles, her fears, her expectations - all gone! Every sacrifice in vain. Betrayed by her own pupil. Was there any getting better after that? But who's fault was that? She chocked back the tears as the thought crossed her mind. Who’s fault was that? She knew. She knew what she did, but what was she supposed to do? She was supposed to be strong, when loyal, loyal to the limit, when faced with enemies, to hate and to fight to the bitter and bloody end. Her past reflected otherwise. Betrayal, cowardice. No one was supposed to know. She was on all fours, staring at the ground, justifying her actions any way humanly possible. But analyzing again and again, she always came out the wrong end. The driving force that sent Byron away. He was gone. Dead. Worse than dead. He had rejected her. Rowen stood feebly, a tear burning down her cheek. No one was allowed to see her weak. She stumbled away, shoulder throbbing, directionless, so she could lament in peace. |
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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 18:27:26 GMT -5
The elves eyes popped open, and he shook his head to free his hair from the dew that still stuck after the long night of rain. Lerris stood with the help of a hand on the log, sunlight shone through the open spots in the trees, it was a few trees... some alive, some dead trees. It wasn't all that pleaseant, he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. On instinct he reached for his staff, when he found nothing he shook his head with a smirk and stood fully with out the help of the tree to hold him up.
He turned, and realized the apprentice and Rowen where nowhere in sight. The elf shook his head, realizing they had left without him. Not that he really expected them to wait for him in the first place. He stretched out his muscles and began the long walk to nowhere, in truth the elf still had no idea on where he was and decided the best idea would to be get out of the forest as soon as possible. So he picked one direction and walked slowly, humming to himself.
Now that Rowen and Byron where gone the elf walked without much thought, he just hummed, and on occasion sang to himself as he wandered through the forest.
---
Rowen did not know or care where it was she ended up. She was slumped against a tree, one identical to a hundred others, calculating the odds she's be found.
Always the strategist, she thought miserably. But she didn't want to be found - she wanted to cry alone, but alone was so empty. And when one was there, she would have felt violated.
Her knees raised, Rowen hid her face from any life that might come across her, and allowed herself to cry.
---
As the elf wandered about, humming, he swore he heard crying, wimpering maybe. He sighed, and wondered who, or what was making such a sound. He shook his head and made for the direction of which he thought it was coming from. When he got to tthe exact point, his eyes almost popped out of his head....it was Rowen.
He looked about for Byron, wondering where he was and what Rowen was doing siting here crying in the middle of nowhere. He took a deep breath and spoke, "Rowen?" Was all he could say.
---
Rowen stood up in alarm, and fought to regain the image she wanted everyone else to see. She wiped away her tears on her arms, but her cheeks were still red, and had to choke back the sobs that had taken over only a moment before. Despite her attempt, it was still plainly obvious what she had been doing.
"What do you want?"
She couldn't come up with anything else to say. She felt embarrassed, like she knew she would.. but at least she wasn't alone.
---
Lerris shook his head, that he wasn't quite sure of. He didn't know why Rowen put up this image of always being tough, he sighed and starred back at her blankly. "Rowen, I want to know whats wrong, I'm not here to argue or laugh at you......" The elf took a deep breath, "I'm just here, tell me what happened...please.." He asked shrugging, he hadn't really expected her to say anything to him really, "Where's the apprentice?"
---
Apprentice? I have no apprentice. Not anymore.
"Byron is dead to me," she said coldly, her voice still etched with traces of sorrow. She hated herself for saying it - he was the one she had gone crazy over in Rohan. If someone had told her a few years prior that she was going to say that, she would have killed them for suggesting it. Biting her lip, another tear streaked down her face.
---
Lerris raised and eyebrow, and shook his head, Byron was gone. He knew that much, the appretnice had too be somewhere off on his own now. Lerris took a step forward so he was within arms length of Rowen, his eyebrow no longer raised. "Need a shoulder to cry on, pick one." The elf said shrugging, he knew it might not of been the best thing to say, but he had said it anyway. Then he finally noticed, a small red mark on the side of her head, which was a bump, she had been hit...there had been a fight.
---
Rowen was caught off guard. Lerris had never struck her as a person who really gave a d*mn about what anyone else felt. She felt like a little kid, looking up to others for comfort. It didn't occur to her that she had never done that before, even as a child.
But despite how trial and error told her not to trust him, she did. And she did as he had suggested. She picked a shoulder, and let the tears fall.
---
Lerris let her do so, he wrapped one arm around her back and let her cry. In the mean time he tried to figure out what had happened, he knew there was a fight between the two. Someone, either it was Rowen or Byron had resorted to violence to get away from the other. He looked about the ground and realized this was not the place the actual fight had happened, leaves still sat without looking moved, and there was no open area where two could of stood. He sighed, and patted the red-haired womens back.....
---
Rowen had finally reached what seemed like the boarder of calm. Her head was nuzzled in the dip of his neck, as she sucked in a sharp breath of air through her nostrils. Her head was still spinning, and it still hurt, but at the same time, she was more clear.
She clumsily wiped away the stains on her face, as she pulled away. She looked to her feet, hands in her pockets.
"Thank you," she said genuinely. She didn't know what else to say. It seemed only right.
---
Lerris nodded slightly, "Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa Rowen, don't be ashamed of your tears....I cried far too much when I lost Fain.....Trust me I know what you feel right now..." The brown haired elf said as he ran a hand through his hair trying to think of what to say next. He realized that he couldn't possibly feel all of what Rowen did, Byron had turned on her, and even gone as far as to hit her, hard, to get away. That was nothing like what had happened to Fain, when nothing else came to mind he stood infront of her with nothing left for him to stay he stayed silent, he wasn't sure what this ment really. After a few days on a boat, Lerris had gone from praying he would never see Rowen again, to helping her, to actually caring. The elf sighed and waited....
---
Rowen nodded mutely, her gaze shifting to meet his. She didn't know exactly how he had lost his student, and she was not in the mood to ask. She swallowed, unsure of what she was to do next. Where would Byron go? Would he have just kept going the direction they had been traveling, or stray away? The last time he had tried to leave, he went off to the next town. It was the logical choice.
Rowen leaned in, and pecked Lerris on the cheek. She turned around, taking a few paces away into the direction that seemed best. She turned back briefly.
"You coming?"
---
Lerris smirked, and nodded slightly catching up to her. He walked in silence not sure what to say about what had just happened, the elf decided it would be best if he said nothing about it for now. He scanned the area, and wished he had his staff, he could really use it right about now since his back ached from sleeping in such an odd place as under a fallen tree trunk. He sighed and shook his head, the trees eventually gave way to open land. Lerris took a deep breath and looked down off the large hill him and Rowen stood upon, there was a village.
---
The one and only thing on Rowen's mind was Byron. Her eyes darted from person to person, her hopes of finding him rising steadily. If he was here, he wouldn't be hard to find. It wasn't a large place, but then again, towns like this generally were not.
Rowen made her way down the hill, feeling anxiety over what was, or what was not to come.
Rowen looked back to Lerris. She was nervous - what if Byron wasn't there? What if he was?
"What happens now," she asked him.
---
Lerris shrugged, "We find out where we are, and if Byron has decided to show himself around here..." The elf said shaking his head. "Lets go.." he said making his way down the hill towards the town. As they reached the gate, which was wide open, Lerris noted no guards of any sort, this truely was a small town. The first person he saw, starred at him, the elf gave back a friendly smile and they hurried off. He raised and eyebrow as she ran away, and made for the next person. "Excuse me, sir, could you tell us the name of this village perhaps?" The man starred in awe and nodded, "Name Aryan, just west of The River Isen." That sparked something in Lerris' memory, he knew this place. "Thank you.." The man nodded and hurried off. Then it hit him, they had never, or rarely seen elves, he smirked, and wandered why the women had ran off. He turned to Rowen, and she looked like she was still scanning for Byron.
---
"Stand up," a voice said.
Grohn, unwillingly, agreed. The sword was pointing at his throat. He stood up, raising his hands, and looked at the man as if to plead for mercy.
"Please help me sir," he said. "I have just braved the storm on a small boat. I don't know where my boat is. I need a place to stay-" he stopped to cough up a little water "-Will you not be hospitible to me?"
It was always his trait: he was able to lie, and get away with it. He felt this man would be useful. The man lowered his sword, seemingly pitiful for Grohn. "What's your name?" he asked.
"Naldor," Grohn replied. He was sure he wouldn't know his name anyways, but he had to be safe.
"Hi, Naldor. My name is Thorngam. I live in a nearby village. Follow me. I will take you back to my home."
For miles they walked, or it seemed to Grohn. He was hungry. A coconut and a few blueberries did not suffice his hunger. His cloak he'd lost at sea, along with two of his daggers.
Finally, they came to a small hut at the end of the village.
"This is my house," said Thorngam. "Please, come inside."
---
Rowen had some idea of what she would do if she found Byron. She could never imagine it being easy, but supposing she didn't find Byron... she didn't know what she'd do then. Despite the fact that it was because of him that she no longer wanted to be a thief, she could no longer imagine herself in that role.
"He's just a kid," Rowen said, half to herself, half to Lerris. She hadn't given any notice to anyone else around her, only noting whether or not she saw Byron. She broke away from her search very briefly. "Would you help me find him?"
---
Lerris nodded, not knowing where to look for Byron. He shrugged, "This isn't a big place, my best guess would be the inn, if they have one. If not the pub, because I can actually see that." The elf took a step forward, and stopped. Oh no, he wasn't going in there, last time he did he ended up on a boat with a crazed man and Rowen. "Maybe, you should check the pub, i'll look around outside..." The brown haired elf said shaking his head at his own stupidity.
---
Rowen nodded. She strode over to the pub, almost in disbelief that she was going to do that again. Last time, she ended up in prison. And then she met Grohn. And, very indirectly, it seemed, that's how she lost Byron. But she had one thing going for her this time - she had no intention on buying a drink.
She stepped through the door, scanning the room for her apprentice.
"You want somethin'," she heard the bartender address her. She couldn't believe how much she did... but she couldn't afford to. How awful would it be if she came upon her student when she was intoxicated?
She shook her head, running her hand through her hair. She pushed past a few on the inside, looking for his familiar face.
---
Lerris did his best to try and find Byron, but hardly saw anyone who looked remotely like the man. He talked to a few men, giving his description, but got nothing. He hoped Rowen had better luck then he because he was getting nowhere. He had found the inn so he went inside.
When inside he went straight to the owner, and gave Byrons description. "Never see the fella, why ya looking for em?" The short owner asked with a raise of his left eyebrow. "We are not here to kill him, he is an old friend of mine, nothing more, thank you." With that he left and made for the center of town towards the pub.
---
Rowen gripped the side of the door on her way out, a pained expression on her face. It took everything she had to not drown all reason in ale. She swallowed, shaking her head when she saw Lerris. She didn't find Byron. It seemed like her worst fear had been realized - it seemed like her apprentice, who she had only denied a little while ago, was gone for good.
---
When he saw Rowen, the brown haired elf made for her with a frown. "No luck?" He asked and also said about his search, he wished he could help her but almost thought, what's the point of finding this old apprentice of hers, he had hurt her. Lerris, nodded to the east. "I found a armorer down there who said he could build me a new staff..." When Rowen frowned he shook his head, "Just incase we run into a little trouble, plus I haven't been down there yet we can look for Byron." With that he took off at a slow walk.
---
Rowen followed reluctantly. She was desperate to find him - but what were the chances? The odds were against her. Too d*mned logical for my own good. Though logic was something she prided herself with, she now only wished she had more hope than cold heartless numbers.
---
As they reached the armorer, Lerris gave the man the type of wood and how long. Within a half hour he had his new staff, this one dark brown instead of his usual black. He hefted it in his hand and paid the man the small amount of silver he had stored away in his pockets. The man smiled and went back to his buisness, Lerris let one end slide to the ground to use the staff as a walking stick and went down the next street. As they rounded it they once again found no Byron, and Lerris was beginning to lose hope. He sighed and looked to Rowen, she did not look like she was about to give up.
---
"Where haven't we looked," Rowen looked up at Lerris stubbornly. She couldn't think of anywhere offhand, but mulish as it sounded, she wasn't going to quit until every body in that village accounted for. Even then, it only meant she would have to move on. She remembered when she first accepted him, the idea of someone else being present took a lot of getting used to - but now, the past decade with him there, there was little to look forward to if she was solitary.
---
The elf shook his head, he was beginning to think Byron may have gone somewhere else. Even if this was a small town, there still was plenty of people to crowd the streets with, and the odds of finding Byron where slim to none. He ran a hand through his dark brown hair to buy him some time to find what he was to say. "Rowen, I don't think Byron is here....." The elf said shifting his weight onto his staff, "I'm starting to think he may of headed to a larger place, maybe he thought we would come looking for him at the closest village......." The elf shrugged, he could tell Rowen still wanted to look for him.
---
"Maybe," Rowen nodded dubiously. Maybe a lot of things. But, right then, it was a huge relief that there were other options. Other possibilities. As long as she had some sort of direction, she would have hope.
"Lead the way," she said after a pause.
---
Lerris nodded slightly, but he wasn't all to sure where he was headed. If they where west of Isen, the closest city he could think of was Edoras. That would take maybe a week to get there, four days at the least. He shook his head, Byron couldn't be that stupid to travel that far with no food. Then it hit him, Byron had stopped at this very place purchasing food and possibly clothing, some how the man hid his identity. Or he stole it, he was the apprentice to a theif......
He was headed for Edoras, if he was smart he would stay somewhere near helms deep when he reached it and head for Edoras the next day. That was Lerris' plan, "Alright then...follow me...I'll tell you where we are headed on the way.." With that he took off down the street at a slow walk.
---
Rowen followed, impatient for whatever was to come. She was clear-headed enough to know not to hurry him, but she wanted to find Byron before too much time passed.
She went ahead a few steps, her hands in her pockets, facing Lerris as she walked.
"Yes," she inquired. She had never before walked into a situation where she didn't know she was going. She didn't count the boat. She acknowledged that she wasn't clear of mind just then. But now, perfectly sane, or rather as sane as she could be considered, taking into account who she was and what had happened, following an elf to whatever future lay ahead.
---
Lerris sighed as the town passed by, making his way around working men, and women with their children. "I think Byron is in Edoras, or atleast on his way there." The elf said running a hand through his hair to buy him some time, "Seeing as how he was your apprentice, my best bet is that he stole food and whatnot, enough to make it there without much trouble. He won't stop much, so we will have to hurry, and from what I can see he is on foot, not a man here would sell his horse." The elf took a deep breath, listening to his staff thud over and over on the dirt road on the way out of this town. "We, won't have to steal, I sold a few things I still had left from the boat...." He jingled his pocket, "Not much, enough to feed the both of us for maybe three days, four if we don't eat much." The elf said shrugging. "So, you up for a long travel to Edoras?"
---
"Of course," Rowen replied surely. If her apprentice was there, then that was where she had to be.
"So, I take it you've been here before?"
She hadn't. Yes, she travelled extensively, but through it all, she seemed to have missed out on this particular area. Which, in the long run, made it harder, not knowing where to go. But Lerris seemed to know where he was going - so now she had to rely on that to get her apprentice back.
---
Lerris nodded, "Yeah, I came here years ago with Fain....." He shook his head, and made for a merchant, or atleast one who he thought was one. "How much can this get me?" The elf asked holding out a few silvers and a gold or two. The man hurrumphed and shook his head, "Not much, but for you Lerris, I'll throw in a little extra." Lerris shook his head, "How do you know my name?" The elf said raising an eyebrow, "Your Master Fain's teacher...right?" Lerris shook his head, "Not anymore, Fain died almost ten years ago." The man sighed, and nodded his understanding that the elf rather not speak of it. He handed Lerris a small sack, and filled it with a few dried fruits, a couple loaves of bread and some cheese. "That should do it, won't last you any more then a week or so." Lerris nodded his thanks and motioned Rowen to follow, they could leave this place now. "The fastest route would to be cross River Isen, but....I don't think we have any thing onlong the lines of a boat....So, it's either that, or the long way.." Lerris shook his head, "Through the Misty Mountains, down passed Isengard and maybe Fangorn, then down to Edoras..your choice Rowen..."
---
Rowen listened to the conversation, hoping to absorb anything she could about Lerris' apprentice. Lerris already knew ninety percent of all her secrets, so why not? She was entitled. But then she recalled what happened with Byron. She was spoken to directly before she could give the circumstances much thought.
"Oh yeah, like I'm going to know what to do," Rowen frowned, and shook her head. "This is unfamiliar territory to me. Ergo, It's probably not the best decision in the world to leave me to that choice."
---
Lerris shook his head, it looked like he would be making the decisions around here. "Alright then, follow me...we want a fast way to Edoras, and to Byron, so we head for the River. Don't ask how we are getting across, i'll worry about that when we get there." From what he heard, it wouldn't take long for the elf and the red-headed human to make it too the River. He turned and made for the exit...
No more then a half hour passed when the elf swore he heard running water. He looked to the sky and it seemed they would have a rain-free night if it stayed this way. The river would be out of the question for crossing in the night, or so the elf thought...he wasn't about to attempt anything in the dark. It would be another hour or so before the reached the River, judging by the faint sound he heard. But he continued walking, Rowen not far behind him or next to him. "We're going to have to stop the night at the River, I don't think it's the best idea to cross in the dark, especially without a boat."
---
Byron wandered the open plains on Middle Earth. How many days had it been...four? He was not totally sure, but he sure was tired. That night Byron left Rowen he just stormed out of the forest and ran in an easternly direction. He was not sure what was that way, but he was going there. Just some place to get away from Rowen and the elf. He passed through this one really small town on the first day, but did not stay. He just breezed through it. He was of no desire for him to stay. He decided to head to Edoras. The closest larger town as far as he could tell.
Byron came upon the expansion of Edoras sooner than he thought. A brief two and a half day journey. Byron decided not to stay in Edoras long. He just wanted to go far away and journey the lands before him.He was excited and happy about his new life! He was finally free and open to do what he wished. Now there was no one to drag him behind, and take him on mysterious boat rides where he almost dies. Yeah...he was better off without Rowen.
---
"That's fine," Rowen lied in response to Lerris' statement. It wasn't fine. She didn't want anything, not that river, and not the time of day to stand in her way. It was impulsive - and she was very much that way. But, somewhere in there, she knew what was the proper choice. "Then... then I suppose we'll have to wait until the day."
Her voice betrayed the misery she felt at that moment. If she had been alone right then, she'd imagine herself having a drink at the bar. Probably repeat her old mistakes. But the difference would have been she wouldn't have cared.
---
Lerris shook his head, and just made for the river. A hour or so passed and Lerris saw it, The River Isen lay before them, its waters rushing onward pass Gondor and out to sea. He sighed, "Well I guess we're here, I don't know about you but I've had about enough of walking.." He laughed slightly to himself, of course she hadn't, all she wanted to do was find Byron. Of course, being the helpful elf he was, he had accepted to help her find her running apprentice.
He found not many trees stood near the massive river, and he shook his head. He prayed for no rain, and found a spot near the Riverbank. Sitting down he let the pack that hung from his shoulder fall to the ground lightly. He pulled free some dried fruit and dug in, he had not eaten since the bar back before he got on the boat, and the elf was starving. Althought his appitite large, he ate little, trying to ration out their food best he could, he was half way to his mouth when he realized he should stop, he turned looking to Rowen who was still standing, "Want some?"
---
Rowen shook her head. She realized then exactly how hungry she was, but out of her own stubbornness, she declined.
"No, I'm fine," she said, holding one arm in the other. She shifted uneasily, not wanting to sit, not wanting to stand, but just desiring to continue her search. Regardless of how she may have needed or wanted to, she couldn't just eat after all that had just happened.
---
Lerris shrugged and flipped the dried peice of apple back into its bag, and tied it up. He took a deep breath and watched the water flow by, it wasn't much excitement, and for some reason he could tell Rowen had no intention of talk what so ever. So the elf stayed silent, and thought about many things.....How they where going to cross the river, home, Fain.... He shook his head and set it on how they where to cross, there had to be some way and the elf intended to find out how.
---
It was quiet again - and this time, Rowen could think of nothing to break the silence she found so painful. The chill nipping at her skin, she wrapped the cloak she had around her, in a futile attempt to stay warm.
"Why are you so quiet," she finally asked, rubbing her hands together. She didn't expect an answer - she just wanted the silence to end for what short time she could make it end.
---
Lerris looked up to her with a raised eyebrow, he could hardly see the woman in the dark. He let the eyebrow lower, since he doubted she could see it "I'm quiet because I figure you wanted time to youself away from the talkitive mouth of a elf.....I am silent because I try to think of a way to get across this bloody river to find your apprentice with you......I'm quiet because I don't know what to say.." The elf shook his head, he could already see where he was leading this, and he didn't want an argument. He took a deep breath and looked up to her, "Sit Rowen, you can't stand all night, you need to be rested and ready to walk quite a way tomorrow." The elf said patting the ground next to him.
---
"I'll manage," Rowen said, remaining planted. She was tired, true enough, but she wasn't moving. She exhaled, finding something to say to change the subject.
"Not every conversation has to end in a conflict that can only be resolved with one of us face down," she said almost randomly. "And, believe it or not, I am in no mood for that."
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Post by Rowenna on Jul 17, 2006 18:34:59 GMT -5
Lerris shook his head, "Believe me neither am I Rowen, I'm done with fighting you..... I don't ever want to again, and this is another conversation i'm done with, telling you i'm done fighting." The elf laughed to himself, he hoped to never say that again. "You can stand if it suits you best, But at some point, please, get some rest..." The elf un-did the staff strapped to his back and lay it beside him, he lay back using the bag as a pillow, not that he was about to fall asleep out in the middle of nowhere with no protection from rain that had the possibility of coming. He just lay there and looked up at the stars, keeping quiet.
---
Rowen stood there for a time, contemplating her various options. One, leave. Take a walk somewhere, and work of her nervousness. Two, give in to Lerris' suggestion, and get some rest. Neither were truly satisfactory - taking a walk would mean she'd be completely dead by morning, and giving in would damage her ego. It took more thought than the average person. Finally, she muttered something unintelligible to herself, as she slumped down a few feet away from Lerris, her knees raised, just staring into the darkness.
---
Lerris smirked, but kept his eyes on the stars, not wanting to really move from that spot. He was exhausted, he had not slept in several days and felt if Rowen had pushed him to cross the river he would not of made it. The elf sighed, and prayed that on the way to Edoras they atleast could find shelter, even if the trip should take no more then a couple days the elf didn't think he could take much more of sleeping on the ground. Neither of them spoke for some time, and Lerris still lay awake, starring at the night sky, he could hardly make Rowen out in the darkness and wondered if she was still awake.
---
"Are you awake, Lerris," Rowen asked drowsily after a time. Her head was rested against her arms, that were likewise against her legs. Other than the position of her head, she hadn't moved at all. She had actually been trying to sleep, despite what appearances might have suggested. But, whether or not she had been trying, she was still awake, and the odds of her getting any sleep seemed impossible.
---
The elf brought a hand over his face and up over his head clearing some hair from his eyes. "I'm awake..." Lerris said taking a deep breath, he had not moved all this time and realized it could of looked like he was dead asleep. He sat up slowly, stretching out the muscles in his neck and back, as he sat up straight he looked out to the river. Crossing it, was the last thing on his mind and he shook his head turning to Rowen with a frown he knew she couldn't see....He had no idea how they where going to or why they where chasing Byron across this middle-earth, it made little sense, but now was not the time to discuss that...so the elf stayed silent.
---
Rowen instinctively looked to her side, not expecting to actually see him.
"Why are you helping me," she asked blankly. She looked ahead again. "I can't imagine you actually getting anything out of this - hell, I can't imagine you understand why any of this is happening."
She shifted slightly, becoming almost numb from her lack of movement. She couldn't wait until dawn. She turned towards him again.
"How come?"
---
Lerris sighed, "Because..." The elf started shifting his weight on the ground to the other side. "I had a apprentice once too, and I know how it feels to lose one...." Lerris shook his head, that was the best reason he could come up with. "If I could think of more, I would tell you Rowen, but I can't not now anyway, for now just know im here to help if I can." The elf shook his head, a weak explanation, but atleast he gave one.
---
Rowen, holding her head in the palm of her hand. The mention of his apprentice sparked a question in her mind - well, it was almost a question.
"Tell me about your apprentice, Lerris," she said in a neutral tone. She knew absolutely nothing about - Fain, was it? She knew nothing about him, and either he was shying away from speaking of him, or he just happened to not have said anything.
---
Lerris sighed, and there was a very long pause before he spoke. "Fain, he was young when we met. He stumbled upon my house on his way out of Mirkwood, he said they where throwing him out. They of course wanted the young one to "find" himself which they had done to me. I took Fain in and by the time he was old enough to lay hands on a sword he was already a pro with knowing how to use it, we practiced everyday and he got better and better with each time we faced one another." The elf shook his head, "Thats the reason he died, he did not know when to back down from a fight...Fain never seemed to question what i said, he just went along with it knowing one day it would be his turn to say the same things to his own apprentice." Lerris' head slumped, "He never will now, no one will ever learn another thing from him, he was a fine elf, a bloody good one." His head hung, Lerris went silent.
---
"Sorry," Rowen mumbled quietly. She was glad that she finally knew something about the apprentice - but at the same time, she was suddenly depressed.
"Feel free to ask me anything," she continued. She didn't know why, but she felt that she owed him. Generally, she hated the feeling - but this was different, in a way. It wasn't about almost getting killed - again - it was about information.
---
Lerris sighed, he thought for a long time about a question to ask Rowen that would make sense to be asking. "You, once where an apprentice to someone, I recall......Had you ever done something like this, attack your master in order to run off and be by yourself?" The elf shook his head, "I understand if you don't want to answer...." He went silent and held his head up from it's slumped position.
---
"Who told you I was attacked," Rowen asked in a voice that was both surprised and skeptical. She finally brushed it off. "No," she said simply. "Philip and I used to argue pretty often, though. He was almost as hard-headed as I am, but still approachable. He used to say it's a good thing I love you, because I really don't like you right now."
Rowen cracked a smile. She never thought she would find any pleasure in speaking of Philip - in fact, she spent more than a decade trying to forget him. But now she found she recalled the joy much faster than the last few moments she had with him.
---
Lerris smirked, he could of seen Abbot saying the same thing every time they both picked up a practice-sword and Lerris would win every round. Abbot would not say anything more then a thing or two though, just grunt and on occasion say "good job, or good work lad." Lerris never got much out of his master, he never had much time to talk. Except those few days he had spent with his master, and on one of those days.......he had met Rowen.
The elf smacked the ground with his fist, he had lied of course back on the boat. He remembered all to well what that sword looked like, he had killed with that sword, only one man. Lerris' fist where balled up, both smashed into the ground as if he was ready to punch a hole through it.
---
Rowen looked up in alarm - though she wouldn't have been able to see very much, she could tell very well what he was doing.
"What's wrong," she inquired. For once, she didn't see anything wrong with what she had said. Was it something she said? She wasn't quite sure, but all the same, she wanted to know exactly what had made him so angry.
---
Lerris rose his hand from the ground and placed them in his lap as he starred straight ahead. "Rowen, back on the boat I told you I hardly remember that sword you tried to take from me, that was a lie. I know exactly the shape, size and weight, I killed my master with it minutes before you showed up in Mirkwood." He sighed and continued, "It lay there still, with his dead body buried with him. He gave me that sword, and I repayed him by killing him with it....That is whats wrong." The elf went quiet again and starred straight ahead.
---
"Oh," Rowen said, lowering her gaze. She thought for a moment. "Did talking about my teacher remind you?"
Though her voice was solomn, if that was the case, she wouldn't be sorry for talking about Philip. It made her feel whole, and possibly even happy. After all, he had brought it up. Though she might not have felt the slightest bit guilty, she would still have some form of pity on the elf.
---
Lerris nodded in the darkness, "Yes" the elf managed through the lump in his throat. He said nothing else, not wanting to test that lump and not wanting to break into tears infront of Rowen. He stayed queit for some time, trying to calm down, once he felt he was under control he coughed once testing it and nodded to himself with a frown.
---
She wanted to help - strangely enough - but she wasn't going to kid herself. She wasn't at all good at it, particularly after a decade of burying that part of her. She knew if she tried, she would have gotten bored after a short period of time, and probably end up making the situation worse than it already was.. and if anything, she wasn't going to say sorry for something she didn't feel responsible for.
She leaned over, and brushed her lips against his cheek. She didn't want to hear what he might have said. She quickly backed off again, and lied down on the ground. She was no longer tired, but more willing to just fall asleep.
---
For the past 6 days, Byron had done nothing but sleep, eat and walk. Walk to where? He had no idea. From his bearings, Byron believed he was heading towards the forests of Mirkwood. A fine place to start his new life. In the darkness...emptiness and despair of Mirkwood.
Byron began his journey began near the shadows of Isengard. He walked for a day or so, passing by very few other travellers, and soon enough, he came to the River Isen. Once he felt it safe enough to cross, Byron did so. Nearly losing his new staff along the way. After that obstacle, Byron was finally on a straight away path to Mirkwood. His new home, and that is where he would stay. Something forbidden was happening...he just knew it...someplace...for some reason...and anger was festering in Byron heart...
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Lerris blushed in the darkness and was thankful it had been a moonless night. That was the second time Rowen had done that, and gone away quickly, or the first time walked away quickly with out an explanation. He noticed she had lay down and said nothing after she had and must of not wanted to talk about it, or something of the sort. Humans, no, women could be strange, strange people. So Lerris stood and walked over to her. He took her by the hand and lifted her from the ground, he kissed her back on the cheek and thought it was about time he got a chance to pay her back.
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Rowen hadn't thought he would respond that way - she found herself grinning over it. She had to force her apparent felicity down, though she wasn't sure he'd be able to tell regardless.
"What does..."
She trailed off, not wanting to say something wrong. She grinned again.
"I hope i didn't misinterpret you," she stated, as she looked up, and kissed him on the mouth.
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Lerris put an arm around her waist pulling her closer, he returned the kiss. As they came apart Lerris was grinning like a child, he would of spoke, said something....anything....but nothing came out. He just stood there with a smirk on his face, his hand around her waist, starring back into her eyes, he was now happy to be on this trip to find Byron and felt like he had to find him at any cost. He went from thanking the darkness, to wishing the moon was full so he could see her, "I need no moon" The elf said under his breath, "vanimle sila tiri...."
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Rowen rested her arms against his, quite forgetting about the world around her. The last time someone had said something of the like - well, she was never bothered by him again. This was vastly different - that didn't change the fact she was yea close to saying something sarcastic.
"Lle maa quel, " she joked jovially. She leaned forward, kissing him on the cheek again. She didn't pull away, when she whispered, "Get some sleep. I'd hate for you to fall into the river tomorrow because you're too tired."
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Lerris nodded, not that he thought he had any chance at all for sleeping that night. He didn't really want to move away from her arms, so he did the next best thing and lifted her into his arms. "Then your going to sleep also, because I plan to make it across that River with you alive." The elf said as he carried her back to where he had been laying using the pack as a pillow, he went to his knees and set her down with her head on the pack and sat beside her. There was no way the elf would sleep, he just couldn't......
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Rowen was most definitely taken by surprise as Lerris lifted her from the ground. She would have killed him if he dropped her.
"Oh," she replied, once she was down, her hand draped over her forehead. "Well, that's always a plus, isn't it?" She smirked, eyeing his vague outline. "Alright, if you insist.. Quel esta."
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Lerris smirked, "Good night" the elf said shifting his weight, he sat for quite some time thinking to himself on what had just happened with Rowen. Not that it was a bad thing, not at all....... For a while he sat there, in the darkness listening to Rowen's breathing, with his eyes out towards the river. Eventually he stood taking up his staff, and walked further towards the river Isen.
The elf poked around from no more then half an hour, trying to think of the best way to cross. Somehow Byron had found a way, or the man would still be here, Lerris climbed atop a fallen log that no doubt had washed down from further up towards Isengard. He walked out to the end of it, sticking a little more then half way over the large river. He broke off a large peice of the wood and threw it across, hoping to hear a thump, instead of a sploosh....The elf heard a thump. They could jump, that was the way to go, the quickest too, they could jump.
The elf made his way back to Rowen who seemed to be asleep. He silently set down his staff and lay down next to her. Atleast he had an idea, he could take some comfort in that, and finally he shut his eyes and drifted off.
---
Rowen slept very soundly through the night. Granted, not enough of it, but then again, sleeping was never the problem. Waking up - that was the problem. But as the sun rose from the east, there was no staying in her state of unconsciousness.
Sitting up, she ran her fingers through her hair, that had been sticking up in odd places a moment before. She had half expected to find Lerris awake, but found she stood corrected.
"Lerris," she brushed her finger across his forehead. She almost hated to wake him - almost, not quite.
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Lerris' eyes opened slowly, and when he noticed it was Rowen he smirked. " 'Quel re Rowen..." The elf said in a half awake, half asleep state, for a time he just starred up at her with his smirk until he realized they had to start sometime. He sat up and reached into the bag he had brought from the village. "Hungry?" Lerris asked pulling free a handful of dried fruit, offering some to Rowen.
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"As a matter of fact," she said truthfully. She was hungry the previous night, she merely did not eat. But today, she couldn't afford to not eat. If she expected to get far at all, she had to. And besides, the initial grief had already passed by. Now there was just determination.
She accepted the fruit without too much enthusiasm, but nor with any form of antipathy. It was food, and it was going to keep her going, but there was little to no felicity found in it.
---
Lerris threw a few peices into his mouth, no he was hungry, but wanted to get over this river and on his way to Edoras. They ate in silence and when he was finished he threw the bag over his shoulder and stood with the help of his hand on his knee. "Last night, I found a way across...it's no more then a five minute walk from here..." Lerris said casting his gaze out towards the way he thought he had gone the night before, "We're going to have to jump, the log reaches over the water maybe a little more then half way.....So when ever your ready..." He said extending his hand to her.
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"You don't need to ask," Rowen nodded, accepting the offered hand. She stood to her feet, ready for whatever was to come.
She didn't quite want to let go of his hand - so she didn't. What she did do was look at him importantly.
"Show me."
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Lerris smirked and picked up his staff and took her off to the log he had found the night before, and tried his best to map out his way back to it since the night before he could hardly see it. They walked for more then five minutes until Lerris saw it, "Thats it." The elf said with a smirk and brought Rowen to it. "We're going to have to go out one at a time, because I don't think it could hold both of us out there." Lerris brought her around so they stood right next to the log, "No use in wasting time then, I'll go first to check how the log will take jumping, better me too fall in then you."
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"Yes, try not to fall," Rowen said in reply to the remark. She grinned, kissing him quickly, before she pulled away, withdrawing both hands into her pockets. She looked expectantly.
"You fall, I shall be forced to drag you out - that happens, I may end up killing you for it."
She was only joking, but her expression was very serious. She finally cracked a smile, shifting slightly. She didn't expect any problem, or she might have wanted to go first.
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Lerris smirked and climbed up onto the log, he could see the otherside this time so he threw his staff and it landed with a thud on the other side. He slipped the pack from his shoulder and did the same, it landing almost right next to the staff. He walked slowly out to the tip of the log, testing to see if it could hold his weight, it could of course seeing as how it had done it the night before. The elf ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath he backed up on the log, ran and lept.....
He landed with a not so graceful thud and a roll on the other side and groaned as he did so. He lay sprawled out next to the pack and staff with a frown, "Well atleast I made it over..." He said standing up clutching his side, he motioned with his free hand to Rowen to join him over on the other side.
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Rowen grinned. That was certainly graceful, she thought to herself, as she backed off, bracing herself for a run.
She took off, sure she would be just fine. If he could do it, then she could as well. As she landed on the other side, her feet slid against the dirt. In a slightly precarious position, she seized Lerris' hand to prevent herself from falling as he did.
"Glad that's over and done with," she said, more to herself than to him.
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((OOOOK)))
Lerris nodded, and bent down lifitng the back with his hand that was clutching his gut. He flipped the pack over his shoulder and picked up the staff, letting go of Rowen's hand and strapped the staff to his back. He took a deep breath and settled himself knowing the worst of the trip was over, all they had now was a LONG walk to Edoras. "Well, lets get to it then..." The elf said as he took to a slow walk, he was in no rush after landing like that.
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Rowen followed, more eager than the day before. She noticed he was not quite in a hurry as she was.
"Did you hurt yourself," she asked, forcing down a smile. From where she was standing, it didn't look like too bad a fall - and she personally knew he had been through worse than that. She caused a good part of it herself, after all.
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"I'm fine" The elf lied walking a little faster, no he was injured but not bad enough to make him stop. He took a deep breath and hid the pain, it wasn't that bad and he could take it until they stopped again. He slid a hand through his hair to find the right words but none came so he kissed her, "Glad you made it over Rowen, actually I'm glad I made it over, you don't have to kill me now...." He smirked at her, "We should be able to reach Edoras in a few days, from what it looks like three no more then four days from now we should be there. Edoras is not a large place, Byron shouldn't have to many places to hide..." That was if Byron was there....
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Rowen grinned in reply, searching for an adequate thing to say.
"Thank you," was all that came out. She returned the kiss, soon pulling away. She chuckled as she reached up, and ran her hand over his hair, intentionally messing it up. She turned ahead, waiting for her guide to show the way.
---
Lerris laughed slightly and shook his head getting his hair out of his eyes. His gaze swept around the vast majority of hills and realized they must of been nearing the Gap. Not that this was his first time here, Mirkwood was just north, home was north and he was heading east to Edoras to find the former apprentice. He sighed and smiled to himself, atleast the trip until they reach Edoras should be easy no more jumping over rivers, no more Grohn....Rowen.
"So.." The elf started, "What do you plan to do when we actually find Byron...." Lerris frowned, that might not of been the best of questions so he quickly added, "it's ok if you don't wanna tell me, or don't know....I wouldn't either."
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