The mess Hall, is a conglomerate of buildings. To the left is the burned out remains of the governors palace beneath which now is dug a huge pit for fires. In the center are many rows of tables and long benches. To the right the smell of slaughtered animals and food being prepared. The mess hall is built to house thousands, and the decaying buildings that form it are heaviliy supported, with many tents pitched in and around the building. It is in all respects a huge bar, where fights are frequent and death will usually follow. For the occasion of festival or party Ullari had built a huge dias to which he could call his own. This is guarded by a dozen Minotuars as Ullari takes little interest in having what's his broken and taken over by the common soldier.
Gurthar walked into the huge mess hall, dressed in simple black garb looking for a drink an maybe a brawl.
Rhaspody exited the mess hall after getting a drink, wearing a simple black low cut dress. She stretched her arms over her head and then stretched her body. She spots Gurthar wandering and called out to him. "Gurthar, come here please." Her long golden hair was in her face as she peered out at him through her hair.
Hearing a familiar voice amidst the fracus of the hall, Gurthar turned seeing where the voice had come from. Seeing Rhapsody he smiled an walked over to her.
Rhapsody smiled back and looked up at him. "Gurthar, would you care to train with me?"
"I would not mind that at all" he said with a slight smile "You look rather relaxed"
She shrugs slightly. "Its nothing really, I can't stand wearing armor all the time, so I slipped something comfortable on and I did get something to drink to calm my nerves down."
"I agree, i've had one or two drinks myself and as you can see im not at all in battle attire" he said with a laugh, gesturing to his black attire.
She laughs as well and looks at her own. "You copied from me...except you're not wearing a dress."
"And the arm guards" he said showing her two ornate arm peices.
"Yes, I don't know why I didn't notice them..."
Rayne entered the mess hall from her tent. She had changed back into her long black dress, and her hair had been rushed and re-braided. As she passed Rhaspody and Gurthar, retrieved a plate of food, and sat down at one of the tables, the only sound that she made was that of her rustling skirt.
Gurthar unknowingly let slip a look of sorrow
i was where you where at young one.....oh how it seems so long ago an yet so recent he thought, draining his mug before refilling it. Gurthar perched himself on a table against a wall corner.
Rayne ate silently with her head down, her eyes on her plate. As she ate she tried not to think of the day's events, the humiliation she had suffered, before Gurthar, and worst of all, before Ullari.
Guessing her thoughts, Gurthar let slip a letter, throwing it on an ornate knife. The blad with his note attached landed perfectly in front of her plate reading
Welcome to the club, i've known what you are now feeling...on a scale unimaginable. He does care about you Rayne, he can't afford to show it though...or so he thinks Gurthar knew he was tredding dangerous grounds with Ullari's personal thoughts, but these where nought compared to what else he had seen an been told.
Rayne threw Gurthar a dirty look then read the note. As she read, a look of pain and sorrow crossed her sharp features, but only for a moment. She crushed the note in her fist and let it burn. "You know not what you speak of." She mouthed at Gurthar, then dropped her eyes back to her plate, leaving his knife where it was embedded in the table.
Gurthar was by now tired, he let his masque drop all the scars he had earned in his long service showed
you are only making your own life more miserable little one...you'll end up like me except you don't have the power to conceal your wounds he thought to himself bitterly, though it did not show on his marred features.
Rayne continued to eat, she did not even see his scars.
Gurthar arose to leave in his shame he realised he had forgotten to heal so much, bitting back all manner of harsh retorts. A young soldier was however determined to set him off. The youth bringing high his sword brought it crashing down on the Crusnik. Gurthar without so much as a blink raised his arm guard, which absorbed the blades impact an lethality with ease. A now very startled youth looked a very angry Gurthar in eye "Boy, you picked the wrong night to fight" he growled, his voice far deeper an with a far more menacing tone than it had ever taken on before.
Rayne looked up upon hearing the clash of the sword against Gurthar's arm guard. She glared at the youth, he deserved what was surely coming to him for attacking Ullari's highest ranking commander.
Gurthar maintained the legendary cool that he had about him, flipping the boy into a seat with ease he looked calmly at him "Do not under any circumstance boy attack unless you know your enemy, his weaknesses, and that you are certain that you can kill them without hesitation" he said sternly to the very much surprised to be alive youth.....who found that the clothing on his legs an hands had been pinned with four ice shards, which melted as he calmed down an payed attention to Gurthar "y-y-yes my lord, i'm sorry" the boy said shakily "No need to worry lad" he said with a smile. It was this easy going, and secound chance attitude that had earned Gurthar the respect of all the men under his command.
Rayne raised an eyebrow in surprise, but returned her attentions to her plate without a second glance.
An arrogant Minotuar Cheiftain bellowed a challenge, raising high it's massive sword charging Gurhtar. Seeing the beast he threw the youth out of the way, drawing his own sword. The beast stopped, bewildered that Gurthar was choosing to fight with a blade instead of his magic "You wish to fight me crusnik..in a blade dual?" it laughed, the brute stood an easy two feet taller an at least that much broader than Gurthar.
Rayne looked back up again, growing irritated with the noise.
Gurthar, as if in dancing, began weilding his double edged sword like an extention of his hand, easily meeting an blocking the blows of his opponent, whislt making it ever harder for his opponent to block his attacks. Already growing bored, Gurthar swung up onto the beasts' back with his own hand wrenching its' shoulder out and breaking it before leaping clear of the return blow. With a roar of pain the Cheiftain awaited his next move. Gurthar realized that his other arm was bent at an unatural angle, with several large holes in it...from the Minotuars' teeth.
Rayne watched the display. Though she despised weapons, she had to admit to herself that Gurthar's skill was impressive.
"Well well well, tsk tsk tsk tsk...it would appear that you have broken my arm Minotuar" Gurthar said with a smile "Now it is a fair fight" with that their blades rang out again. By then a large crowd of Dark Army troopers had gathered around the fight to whach.
Rayne returned her eyes, once again, to her plate as soldiers blocked her view.
Gurthar let out a loud growl as a secound Cheiftain barreled into him, sending him clear over the crowd and onto Raynen's table, wincing in pain as he felt the blade hilt smash into his back. "Well your a sight for sore eyes...really getting tired of Minotuar arm pit" he said with a grimace looking up at the aproaching cheiftain, he set his broken arm an drew his sword, crouched an poised to strike.
Rayne launched out of her seat and rolled to her feet as Gurthar smashed into the table. Her temper flared and she lashed out at the charging Minotaur, sending a gust of fire into his harry face.
"I wouldn't suggest that" Gurthar said with a nervous tinge "That will only make the rest of......them mad, this could be fun" he said driving his sword through his challengers chest. Turning just in time to see one of the beasts break Rayne's arms as he held her aloff.
Rayne kicked the beasts face, using the force to propel herself out of it's grasp, without the use of her arms she fell flat on her back. She rolled to her feet again and hurled a lightening bolt at the Minotaur, watching for other attackers as the creature fell to the ground with a burning hole in its chest.
Finishing off the Minotuar chieftain, Gurthar had had enough. Extending his arms outward he stalled the three remaining beasts, now having complete control over them "That is enough, now you bunch of oversized cows can leave and return when you are ready to be civil" he growled. The shocked Minotuars left readily. "Are you all right?" he asled Rayne seeing the beast that had grabbed her getting ready to charge "No you don't..out now!" he barked. The beast, now looking like a beaten puppy scuttled out the door after its' fellows.
Rayne glared after the Minotaurs, "Stupid creatures, they cannot bear not to get into fights." She flinched, gritting her teeth against the searing pain in her arms.
"Ah but that is what makes them so handy in battle" he said notcing she was in pain "Would you like me to fix it?" he offered as he cleaned up the mess the beasts had made. Gurthar removed his sword, setting it atop the table an wiping away the blood.
Rayne sank onto drew in a shaky breath, closing her eyes. "I...I would appreciate that." She said, looking up at him.
"You're always getting your nose bloodied" he said with a smile "I'm going to turn off your nerve endings...trus
t me...Minotuars don't make fixing things easy...stupid cows...don't ever say that to their faces though unless you are ready for the brawl of your life" he said with a laugh. Gurthar worked quickly, his hands not even touching her, his eyes had a red glow to them, which was the only indication he was using his ablility.
Rayne laughed a little at Gurthar's words. She felt nothing as her bones began to set, she looked away, feeling sick at the sight of her skin rippling slightly from the movement of her bones.
"Sorry about that...with Ullari" he said, his voice had an unusual sorrowful note to it "The skin thing is kinda gross....makes you think you have bugs..i've gotten used to it...took a few hundred years or so to do so but i have....." His voice trailed off.
"Thank you Gurthar," Rayne whispered softly, not meeting his eyes, "I owe you." It hurt her pride a little to say that to him, but she knew it was true, and she wanted him to know that she wasn't entirely a child.
"You're not worthless Rayne...and for somone who has been abandoned by everyone your.......i know how you feel though" he said smiling at her "You don't owe me anything...i might as well use my curse to the best ends while i can still use it"
"Of course I am not worthless, and I have not been abandoned! You do not know me, do not dare to presume that you do." Rayne's temper flared again, then she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "My apologies," She said, though her voice was still a little shaky, "you are doing me a favor, I should not let my temper get the best of me." She sighed, and sat silently, her eyes far off.
"There are many who think you are Rayne, an yes...i know all there is to know about you Rayne. I was there when Ullarie brought you in...i used to be in the place of favor that you found yourself ushered into as his personal favorite..." his voice trailed off, his voice was soft an melancholy "You are not the only one Rayne who has been raised by Ullari"
"Raised? If you know me so well then you would know what I gave up to follow Ullari." She said a little bitterly, "All that I had, I gladly left for his sake, the life of luxury that I lead, my inheritance, my father..." She choked, she had loved her father, it still hurt that he had denounced her before the High Counsel, but she had no regrets about following Ullari.
"I'm aware of that" he said cautiously "You where also very young an had much to learn...as far as he was concerned...you where a child......at least your fathers' denoucing an a change of life style was all you had worry about" his voice sounded far away as he said the last few words.
Rayne looked up at him curiously, but did not ask what he meant, she could see the pain in his eyes. "I still am a child..." She said softly, and a little regretfully.
"But a child can grow an learn...." he said softly to her "There is nothing wrong with being a child Rayne, you are, an by all intents an purposes you should be enjoying that now, an this ugly war later" he said working up her arm "These brutes are so annoying..i sympathise with the medics complaints"
Rhapsody looked over at Rayne and smiled sadly, knowing that she too is a child as well. She was in fact a scared little girl, but she hid that with hiding her face in a mask of bravery and show little emotion.
"I do not wish to be a child any longer," Rayne said determinedly, a little bit of her childish defiance showing through, "a child cannot serve my lord as one ought."
since when did i become father to two girls?!?!? he thought, confused about how he got himself into "You are a child Rayne, no one expects you to be any more...trust me little one...enjoy your youth while it lasts...immortality is a harsh curse" he said almost bitterly.
"Though, how can we truely enjoy being a youth while in this war? Our childhood was taken away when we joined Ullari. We need to grow up now Gurthar." Rhapsody replied quietly, trying to choose her words carefully.
"And you two want me to teach you? And what is it that qualifies me for such a task?" he asked even toned, He was happy to help, but the ghosts of his past refused to be quieted.
Rhapsody's mouth snapped shut as she looked away from him, not knowing exactly what he was looking for. She shakes her head slowly. "I know not right now..."
"Easy Rhapsody, you may speek your mind...i won't make fun of either of you for it, i would hope you know me at least that well" he said reassuringly. Gurthar was not sure what to do. He wanted to help, but he was hampered by his past. He looked at the two of them, all three where orphans, Rhapsody he had found along the road, Rayne had joined an been ostrasised from her family, and Gurthar...well Guthar had a past darker than what any would guess looking at him.
Rhapsody sighed softly and looked past him, thinking. "What I want would be impossible to achieve Gurthar."
"What do you want Rhapsody? Tell me an i will tell you as to its' impossibility" his voice light "I will teach you an show you everything that you ask to be taught, the promise that i made will not void itself easily"
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before starting. "Ullari reminds me so much of my step father. I...guess I want a father figure back in my life again..."
"You won't find it in him" Gurthar warned before his voice trailed off with a tinge of sorrow "Ullari's heart died along time ago, long before his obsession with the lady Ninquelote....indeed, he only wants her for her power..and because she is weak enough to bend to his will" Gurthar said in a low voice, eyeing Rayne for an out burst.
"I know...that's what I figured." Rhapsody said with sorrow in her voice. "If you need me, I will be in my tent" Rhapsody pushed past him and exited the mess hall to go to Rhapsody's tent.
Whaching her go, Gurthar let out a low sigh "Well then i guess i need to finish up your arm then don't i?" he said smiling to Rayne "Sorry about the side track"
"Why do you speak of Ullari so?" Rayne asked, not entirely unkindly, "He is our lord and commander, he deserves our respect, not our gossip."
"There is a reason why i do not speak of this to the masses, i do not wish to cause division. At the same time though i won't stand by an whach somone who is trying to seek his favor get torn apart.....i know all that i do...because i have either experianced it first hand, or whached others fall victim to it. His heart is not there Rayne, it is litterally gone....i've reached out to heal him...there is a dark presence that dwells in him...consumed most of his feelings an emotions" his voice trailed off "It has nothing to do with Lomien an Ninquelote...that is more or less a sibling rivalry..hah..who would have guessed that such a thing could set the world aflame in war an blood"
"I shall not be 'torn apart,' you need not worry about me." Rayne said a little hotly, "And as to the war, the fault lies with Lomien, Ninquelote, and the council. Had they not denied Ullari what was his by right, and had Ninquelote not rejected him, Telpurion would still be the glory that it once was.
"Rayne...Ullari had plans to level Telpurion despite Lomien and Ninquelote....i can show you the letters, he and was trying to bring me into it...as i already had a great deal of knowledge to the city...in the end i joined him...after the council framed my family for a massacre of a loyal Vampire coven....after that i joined Ullari...in fact he owe's a large part of the Telpurion victory to me...not that i want any part of it" he said bitterly "If you want proof..i have the letters of our corrospondance"
"All that he did, he was driven to Gurthar." Rayne said, "Even in the few years that I was old enough to understand, I watched as Ullari was constantly put down by the Council, hidden in the shadow of his brother's new-found power. Then Lomien betrothed himself to Ninquelote, crushing whatever hopes once Ullari had, and pushing him ever further away."
"Rayne...it was a ruse, and again i can prove that to you via his an i's corrospondance as i've saved all the letters. He wanted to use Ninquelote to unleash a fell power that would have plunged the world into darkness. Lomien crushed Ullari's hope in that he denied Ullari the chance to unbeatable power...a power that would have destroyed the very Island of Telpurion in it's birth cry alone"
"I don't believe you." Rayne said standing abruptly, "Ullari is not heartless. Ullari loved Ninquelote, even I in my young age could see that. She denied him his greatest desire, and he was devastated." She never raised her voice much, but her eyes burned. She shook her head and sat back down, "I can still see that when I know he is thinking about her." She murmered, her eyes far away.
Gurthar simply looked on that may be true girl, and he did love her....he also was heartless enough to want to use her in a ritual that would have killed her he thought bitterly. Gurthar finished up with her arm, having been distracted by their conversation.
Rayne's eyes slowly focused again as she moved her arm, trying it out, "Thank you Gurthar." She said softly.
"You're welcome" his reply came soft, at that moment, though his features remained the same, he looked ancient....like a being who had grown weary and burdened by the sorrows an struggle of the world.
Rayne looked at him curiously, though she didn't ask what was troubling him.
"I'm not going to attack Telpurion Rayne, there is to much to fight there an not enough to justify the horric loss of life that would come about in taking that island...i think, and i hope an can disuade Ullari from leading his prime legions into such a death trap. Hopefully i can paint attacking the Alliance in all out war in such a way that he will go for that instead...at least that would give purpose to the miriad of lives we must lose either way" he spoke thoughtfully "That and i am not comfortable leading so many men to war..." his voice trailed off.
"Why?" Rayne asked him, "Ullari trusts you above even his Brotherhood, why do you doubt yourself?"
"Because Rayne there is to much to lose, and i failed so many of my battle brothers...at the cost of their lives...long ago. Ullari hails it as a victory...if only to help masque my pain, which does little to do" he said bitterly "I don't want to do so again....and i'm afraid that will happen if Ullari is so bent on waging such a brutal war against such a well fortified enemy"
Rayne looked Gurthar in the eye, she could see the pain in them. She nodded, she understood.
"I'm not coward Rayne, i would fight Lomien's rabble sooner than any one here no matter the odds....i just want to do so without the burden of losing lives that have sworn loyalty to me"
Rayne laughed a little bitterly, "I know you are no coward. I am likely Ullari's most powerful sorceress, and yet you treat me as a child when all others keep a respectful distance. Whatever I think of you, I have never believed you a coward."
Gurthar raised an eye brow at her comment on her being the most powerful sorceress, but said nothing "I treat you like a child Rayne because you are one" he said not at all unkindly. Gurthar also did not fear her an saw no reason to do so....though this was because he could kill her in an instant if she decided to attack him.
"But I must cease to be a child, this world is no place for children right now." Rayne bowed her head, she knew that she was immature, and she hated it. It had always kept others away from her, which she did like at times, but no one took her seriously, save for those who had seen her fight but knew nothing more about her.
"Yes you may cease to be a child Rayne, that takes time an lots of it...as well as a little word known as patience" he said teasingly, not to be mean but to hurass her as he knew she had next to none.
Rayne glared at Gurthar, but she was not angry, she knew that he was right.
"Relax Rayne, i was only teasing you. Honestly despite your faults you have more potential here than the vast majority of the rest" he said with a smile.
"I know that I have potential, I have not yet been defeated by any I have met in combat...Save by you and Lomien." She amended a little bitterly. She knew that what she said sounded like she was full of herself, but she was not trying to gloat, she was merely stating a fact.
"I know, and there is no shame in losing so long as you learn from your mistakes and improve....though word from the wise....leave Lomien alone...that pointing eared nuisance always has somthing new up his sleave" he said with a grimace.
"That is one mistake I have learned from. I have never seen such power as he displayed." Rayne said
"Take it from somone who has survived a number of encounters with him...he never reveals all of his strengh, so he always has somthing to catch his oponents off guard..ensuring an easy victory...an a very charred opponent" he said with a grimace...Guthar was not fond of having fire thrown at him thanks to Lomien.
Rayne looked up at Gurthar, "Well, at least I have something to hold over you." She smiled darkly holding her hand before her eyes and summoning a small ball of fire about her hand. She slowly moved her hand about, letting the flames lick her fingers.
"Or do you?" he said with a light laugh. Rayne's wriste pointed down, burning a hole in the table and into the ground beneath "You can weild fire Rayne..but you cannot defend against somone who can use your own body against you" he warned. Gurthar was trying to teach her to think outside the limitations of her magic "You have a psychic potential Rayne....one just strong enough to break somone of mid strengh.....if you learn to tap it" he said. Gurthar had every intention of turning her and Rhapsody into the best that they could be, as he saw alot of potential in them...and Gurthar was not one to sit idly by and waste such potential, and it also gave him somthing to do besides deal with pesky recruits.
"And how do I do that?" Rayne asked, letting the fire go out abruptly and looking up at him, all business now.
"That depends on how fast you learn, how patient you are. With that one thing though there is much else to learn, such as protecting yourself from psychic attack....and possesion" he said the last with a shudder.
Rayne nodded seriously, "Will you teach me?" She asked.
"Yes i can do that, but as far as the psychic link goes....i can only give you instructions...i can't give you first hand experiance as i don't posess that level of power.
"You truly believe that I have that kind of power?" Rayne asked him.
"Not to use as an offensive weapon, there is just enough though to be able to use as a barrier against controlling attacks. However you must know when to use it, because if your barriers are overloaded you will slip into unconcieousness and possibly death"
Rayne nodded seriously, "I wish to learn." She said determinedly.
"Then i will teach you to the best that i can" Gurthar said. He was all to happy to be teaching one on one. He hated teaching masses....to much noise and not enough effort put in by the students to be worth the time.
Rayne smiled a little, though the determined gleam remained in her red eyes.
Gurthar returned her smile, only to frown as a messanger came running over to him "As i'm sure you've learned...messangers sent to you are rarely if ever a good thing" he said with an exasperated sigh. The messanger, a young girl ran up to him, nearly out of breath "Thank you, sit and a have drink..you've been running for awile" he said opening the letter, letting out an exasperated groan "And he expects me to baby sit the entire army?!?!" his eyes livid "While he goes and...." he cut himself off realizing the girl was still there "You have done well...you may leave now" he said to the messanger. Gurthar buried his head in his hands "Why?..i thought he had given up on that...ugh!!!"
Rayne looked at Gurthar questioningly, "What news?"
"Our leader has played the escape artist....and is now missing" he said realizing what was written on the letter "Apparently he had captured Nin and was about to do away with her...last our spy saw was Ullari engulfed in flames and falling into a river" his voice trailed off. Gurthar read and re-read the letter. "Rayne...normally i would dismiss this, but this is Ullari's most trusted spy...see for your self...i thought..i thought he wanted to marry Ninquelote...not kill her..." he was very clearly for the first time confused, and visibly troubled...somthing no one in his entire service to Ullari had seen him do.
Rayne snatched the letter from Gurthar, reading it intently, "What...What does this mean? Ullari..." she lowered her voice so only Gurthar could hear her, "Ullari isn't...dead...is he?" there was nothing in the letter about Ullari's condition, only the fact that he had disappeared into the river.
"Correct, there is no mention as to his condition.." his voice then dropped to a whisper, as he looked at the secound piece of paper...a paper containing an order that he was to fill "I thought he gave up this ritual...why Ullari...why do you want to kill her, and do all that is entailed in this" he said with a shiver.
"What is it?" Rayne asked him.
"What is what?..huh?" he said snapping out of his daze, turning to her.
"What ritual?" Rayne asked him in a whisper, "What has he been trying to do?"
Gurthar handed her the reef of papers detailing the ritual "You might want to find somthing to hurl in..." he said, his face noticably sickened even at the mention of it.
Rayne took the papers, but returned them to Gurthar without finishing the first page, "What is it for?"
"It's for necromancy...bringing back those that are dead" he said quietly "Not only that, but it also grants the weilder immense power....but tell me Rayne...how is power worth all that?" he asked softly.
Rayne did not know how to answer, she just looked at Gurthar, unsure of what to say.
Gurthar looked at her intently "Rayne.....i thought he had given up on this..." his voice trailed off, his face looking sick.
Rayne stared mutely at Gurthar, Ullari loved Ninquelote, she was half the reason for Ullari's pain, and for his war...She did not understand what she had just read, her mind reeled, more from the thought that Ullari might be dead than anything else.
Guessing her thoughts, Gurthar nodded "I thought he did to...." he said quietly "And i don't think he's dead...he's been through worse...trust me" Gurthar said involentarily rubbing his back.
"You think so?" Rayne asked, referring to Gurthar's belief that Ullari was still alive.
"Yes...word from the wise..when he returns....find the deepest hole to hide under that i haven't already taken and sit there for about a week" he said with a smirk....some not to fond memories resurfaced with that.
"I shall stand beside my lord, no matter his temperament." Rayne said a little hotly.
"I'm not saying abbandon him...by all means no...i'm just saying let the bratty pages and errand runners get it...cause that they will..in other words...keep your distance for the first week or so, then he'll calm down. If you don't believe me..then don't come running to me when you've had your hair burnt off for no apparent reason" he said with a slight laugh.
"I have braved his rages before, Gurthar." she said "You shall not hear of it from me."
"Yeah...Rayne....he hasn't had that kind of rage ever since you joined....last time it happened he made me walk around all day in an ice box...that i had to create!" he said trying hard not to laugh.
Rayne looked disbelievingly at him, "All the same, I shall stand by my lord." she said
"Same here...just uh....keep away from anything that could be used to turn you into a entertainer....he get's in some really whacky moods...and if you don't want to be really humiliated...yeah" he said shuddering...he hated ice for that reason.
Rayne looked questioningly at him but did not ask, "I shall keep that in mind." she said.
A few hours later, a very grouchy Ullari walked in, his armoured guantlet crushed and twisted, his other arm bent at an unatural angle.
"Uh-oh" Gurthar said with a quiet groan "This could get interesting....we might want to make ourselves scarce"
Not hearing Gurthar, Rayne jumped from her seat, "My lord! What happened?"
Ullari was indeed in one of his moods time for alittle bit of fun now he thought, commanding Gurthar to freez Rayne i think an ice dance is to be had
Gurthar felt his body jerk to Ullari's command Rayne you are going to pay for this....if only you would listen!!! he said as his arms froze her in a block of ice.
Rayne's stunned face could be seen through the ice.
Ullari flew into a rage, bringing his remaining good fist smashing down into the ice block...shattering it and sending Rayne flying backwards. With white eyes Ullari lunged, blinded by his pent up rage....only to fall with a thud to the ground. Gurthar calling for two Minotuars "see to it that he doesn't get up till his eyes are normal coloured" he said turning to Rayne "are you all right?" he asked softly, no look of scorn mock or even pitty in his face.
A very cold, very stunned Rayne sat on the floor, staring at Ullari, "I...I'm alright Gurthar...Thank you." She said softly
"Here, come on kid your shaking like a leaf" he said setting her on a bench and throwing a blanket over her shoulders "Now hold still...just making sure the old raging bull didn't shatter anything...." his voice trailed off.
"I am fine, nothing hurts." Rayne said, still watching Ullari.
"Very well" he replyed "I hope i didn't hit him to hard...last i recalled we did have a campaigne to plan and he did have somthing he wanted to tell me....oh and don't worry...he told me to crack him over the head when he gets like this....he felt really bad for what happened to me...and the others" his voice faded. Gurthar casually played with an ornate throwing knife.
Rayne nodded and swallowed, "So...He won't get even more mad when you let him back up?" Rayne asked quietly.
"He won't remember it...he'll think it's a hang over or somthing along that line, and by the time he does remember...he won't care" Gurthar said casually "And i don't intend to let him back up until that aweful glow disspapears....ugh..i think i may have to manipulate his mind...and that's somthing he will get mad about" he said with a shudder "so what to do...be tortured or wipe recent memories and get stuck on latrine duty...or worse...hospital or recruit duty" Gurthar spat the last word "This could be fun"
What's wrong with the recruits? Rayne asked him curiously.
"Sharing the same barracks, bathroom and mess table with them for three months...need i say more?" he asked with a cringe "if the smell from walking by those barracks doesn't say it....ugh" he shuddered
"True." Rayne said, shaking her head at the thought, "That, and they tend to be a rowdy lot, fighting over the smallest things, always attempting to best one another." she looked disgusted as she thought of them hacking at each other. In her mind, it took no skill to hack at an opponent with a weapon, what took true skill was mastering an element, and wielding it effectively.
"Though i suppose there is also endless fun to be had...." Gurthar said with a laugh...he liked torecruites that made themselves thorns in his side.
Rayne smiled a little, "That is probably true." She looked back to Ullari, "Are you sure he will be alright Gurthar?" she asked.
"Right now it's hard to tell...it really comes down to a wait and see...all because of that stupid mark i'm sure" Gurthar sighed "And that depends on what you mean by all right"
"Mark?" Rayne asked.
"Yes...a mark" Ullari said with an exasperated sigh "Its' etched into his back in the form of an eight pointed star....that he accuired as part of a ritual to gain power...the catch is in part what has led to this god forsaken war"
Rayne looked up at him in surprise, Ullari had spoken of various rituals, but she had never been present for any. Toward the end, she had been under house arrest--of sorts--by her father...Until the Brotherhood's attack on Telpurion, when Ullari had sent a small group to free her.
"Ullari dabbled in the dark arts long before the war...the mark he has contains immmense power, that can only be harnesed courtesy of our little war starting catch...and even then...the power is so unstable it is more likely to kill the user and everone within miles around them instantly...Ullari knew this and still....what i can't figure out is what it is that drives him to it" he said looking on.
"What was the catch?" Rayne asked quietly.
"Ninquelote" Gurthar replied sadly, he had been a friend of hers and was rather found of her till the war started. He was to young at the time to understand and took blindly to Ullari's side. Now he served Ullari both because of the oath he swore and the deeds he had done in Ullari's service.
That figures, Rayne thought to herself everything seems to have something to do with her. "You were a friend of the lady Ninquelote? she asked Gurthar.
"Oh sorts, my father and hers where good friends so she and i where on speaking terms. She was always being whached over by Lomien though so i rarely if ever got close to her....Lomien was a very good body guard...as my now dead friends can attest to" he said with a slight laugh "They where going to try and scare her or somthing...the picked the wrong window and ran out of it screaming like a bunch of school girls.."
Rayne allowed herself a small amused smile, "I am sure he was, judging by my brief encounter with him." Her eyes were distant for a moment and a slightly pained look crossed her face briefly.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"I have never been so humiliated." Rayne said through gritted teeth.
"That was the tip of the ice burg...no pun intended. When he is in such a mood that is only the begining" he replied softly.
"I believe it." Rayne said regretfully, "How can we hope to defeat him, aside from by sheer numbers."
"By him you mean? And what do you mean defeat?" Gurthar asked absentmindedly.
"I doubt that this war will end unless Lomien is killed," Rayne asked, "how can we hope to accomplish that if he has such power?"
"He can be killed....i missed his jugular vien in fact by only a few inches. To be honest....i do not think we can win this war...he holds most of the cards, even though we outnumber the alliance four to one. Ullari is rash when it comes to matters of tactical descision, and Lomien is likewise far to calm in all but the most un-nerveing situations" Gurthar said bluntly "Lomien knows that if we attack, even through the pass there is little chance we will have of taking Eldamar unawares. We will need alot more men, or the dragon's permission to use their paths if we are to do that....the latter is highly unlikely"
Rayne nodded, the dragons had always been more disposed toward the Alliance. "We will win this war," Rayne said softly, "we must."
A black butterfly with scarlet glowing dots alighted on Gurthar's shoulder. A smile crept across his otherwise sombre features "Well now this is good news, it would appear that the wood elven empire has collapsed entirely, meaning the Dark Elves will now be able to send at least two legions of their fabled black guard. Not only that the foul fiends have managed to unite as one....though i can imagine their leader would make poor Ullari look like an experimenting kid....punishment potential just got worse" Gurthar said with a sigh.
"The Dark Elves are coming here?" Rayne asked.
"Yes...and who do you think will be the dancing girl and bar keep?" Gurthar said...perfectly livid at the idea. Gurthar despised Dark elves, and as much as he didn't care what happened to Rayne....knew that she was better off left in that ice block "I think i'll hide you for a few days, at least until they settle in and Ullari gets over it" he said, still obviously ticked at having to entertain Dark elves
"I am one of Ullari's favored, I can look after myself." Rayne said a little hotly, "I am curious about the ancients like me."
"Suite yourself, but you'll be shackled with bonds that will block your powers....and believe me...any awe or curiousity you have about these ancients will wear off the first few minutes of your new profession as their toy" Gurthar warned "To be honest i don't think Ullari even can stand them....he only keeps them around because of their power that they can lend him, and for that i don't blame him one bit" To Gurthar, Rayne was an ignorant child, and to be an ignorant child in the hands of a master who was all to willing to take advantage of it as a release for his anger.
Rayne looked at him a moment, "You truly think that I should not be around?" she asked him seriously.
"You'll be turned into little more than a hapless plaything....and...and i don't whant you to experiance that" he said slowly. Gurthar was surprised at himself for showing so much emotion "I'll leave it up to you...but believe me...i've seen what they can do..." his voice trailed off.
Ullari walked in to the mess hall, in very much the bad mood that he had been in earlyer though now he had a handle on it.
What caught Gurthar's eye where the Dark elven generals. Seeing that they where momentarily pre-occupied with talk he threw Rayne under the table and into a bench chest "Not a word" he hissed, leaving lid ajar. She was tucked underneath the table in a box "Glad people are in need of glass dispensory boxes" he muttered as he ordered another beer, leaving just enough in it so that he could control it as he pretended to throw it into the box Rayne was hiding in.
Rayne was surprised by Gurthar's desire to protect her, she had afterall been his rival since the beginning of his office as Ullari's second in command. He let him hide her, biting her lip as a piece of broken glass cut through her long black dress, and into her leg. She tried not to move as she peered out of the box through the gap in the lid. She watched as Ullari and the Dark Elves entered the hall, transfixed by the extraordinary grace of the beings that were said to be the most brutal in the world.
Ullari turned and led his enturage over to Gurthar "Captain Lelaith, where is Captain Rayne. I want her to entertain our guests" Ullari said with a cruel smile. Gurthar sat rigid "W-what?" he said feigning surprise "She went off to Telpurion and won't be back for a couple of days" he said lightly. One of the Dark elves, a magnificant specimen turned to him "Then i suppose you will have to do crusnik...though i must say...we won't at all be able to have as much fun with you as with a woman" he said calously. Gurthar stood with a bow "Very well let me just get this trunk to my tent and i shall join you" he said tieing the box shut and walking off to Gurthar's tent
Rayne felt betrayed. Why would Ullari let them speak so of her? She was one of his favored. Why would he suddenly lend her out as a plaything? She winced and stifled a whimper as Gurthar lifted the box and the glass dug deeper into her leg.
Ullari led Rayne into the center of the room. The room smelt of drugs and other things, all of whom foul "I have brought your entertainment" Ullari said cooly "Allow me to have a word alone with her" he said leading her over to a corner "Are you frightened? speak your mind Rayne" Ullari said taking off his gauntlets and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder "Rayne i am sorry to do this to you...but i am, the Dark elf captains will do as they please for tonight...it is nesscesary Rayne...to win the war" he said.
Rayne cringed again when Ullari put his hand on her shoulder, she couldn't look him in the eye, "For the first time in many years my lord, yes, I am frightened." she whispered, a strand of her usually very neat black hair falling into her face as she stared at the floor. She finally raised her eyes to his, they were still very dull, "Why?" the hurt was very apparent on her face, Rayne had never been one to hide her emotions, and right now she felt betrayed by the only one she trusted.
"What do you mean why?" Ullari asked alittle dumb founded. He began injecting her with some of the drugs....ones that would render her abilities useless, and then another set to dull her sense of pain.
Rayne flinched as Ullari began injecting her, "Why must you do this? Why me. My lord...Ullari, I have always been faithful to you."
"Which is what made you available for such a thing...besides they requested you...or at least somone of your rank" he said, holding off the last injection..the halucenigene. He would withold this till he led her back.
"What have you injected me with? What is that?" Rayne asked, staring almost fearfully at the last injection in Ullari's hand. "Ullari..." she allowed herself to grip his arm, "help me...please."
"I am sorry Rayne...it would appear that Crusnik that saved you all those years ago is the only one who cares. I can't help you Rayne...so many thousands of years has broken me, and what is left is what you see here...i am giving these to you Rayne so you feel as little pain as possible...they won't notice" Ullari said injecting her with the final dose. Walking her over to the Dark elves, then leaving the tent. He wanted ro protect her, but he also wanted to win the war.....it crushed him to hurt her so, and he was glad Gurthar at least was willing to show some care to her. What he felt for Rayne was perhaps love....but he was so bitterly torn.
Rayne watched Ullari go, then turned to face the Dark Elves. The betrayal was still in her eyes, but she squared her shoulders and gazed about her, her eyes burning mildly again. She waited for one of the elves to make a move.
With her hands shackled and powers blocked by the injection....Ullari was not aware that they had added that to his stash that he had given her. The Dark elves descended on her. Eight hours later they threw her out like so much trash. The drugs had worn off long before they where done with her, having sated every desire of theirs they discarded her, at the feet of Gurthar "Hey Crusnik...this one is fun, though be sure to hype her up...Silence!" Gurthar cut him off. The Dark elf speaking took a step back, with a hand on his sword. Gurthar eyed him "Leave" he said coldy, his eyes flaring red. Turning to Rayne "Are you awake Rayne?" he whispered softly in her ear.
Rayne layon the ground shuddering, she was awake, but barely. She was to humiliated, and in too much pain to respond.
One of the Dark elves came back "Hey Crusnik we want our toy back for another round...few more people showed up, and i want her as the surprise" he grinned evily. Gurthar Calmly stood up, taking hold of the Dark elves body and snapping it in half "How about i make you suffer in the worst way" he said cooly the Dark elf, setting the two halves well behind Rayne. She would not have heard this for he had silenced the unfortunate. "Rayne, i need you to talk, i need to heal these wounds before the bring the Vampires in" he said ernestly, carrying her into a little used portion of the vast mess hall, and well out of sight of the revelers.
"Then heal my wounds Crusnik." Rayne moaned quietly.
Gurthar darted into a medicae door returning with what he was looking for. "Be still, i'll restore you as best i can Rayne..." he said quietly what did they not break or take! he thought to himself "Do you want me to numb you so you don't feel the pain?" he ask softly. He had set her on a table, though it now looked like a surgeon's work place than a dinner table.
"Just get on with it Gurthar." she growled, the immense pain had put her in a foul mood. That, and her reaction served to mask her humiliation.
Gurthar sighed, working away at her wounds quietly.
Rayne flinched as Gurthar worked, "I am sorry," she whispered, the tears in her eyes more from the humiliation than the pain, "I guess I owe you yet again."
"You owe me nothing" he replied gently, though at the same time concealing just how much he cared for her....why he had no idea as all she was for him was pain an torment. He continued to grecefully work, having finsished up with her lower half, and begand working on her back. To her it would feel like a very well given back massauge, only soothiing and cooling at the same time.
Rayne tried not to cringe, she hated letting people touch her, but she knew he was only helping her.
Sensing her unease, he let out a sorrowful sigh not that i expect anything different he thought bitterly to himself. Finsishing her arms he stood back "There now, see if you can walk on them an tell me if there is anything that hurts unbearably"
"My pride." Rayne whispered almost inaudibly, she moved around a little and felt no real pain. "Again, thank you Gurthar." she said quietly.
"I would mend that to....if i could" he said quietly. Ullari walked in through the medicae tent door, sending all the hair on Gurthar's neck and arms up on end "Yeow!...oh..sorry Ullari, i thought you where a Vampire or somthing" he said regaining himself.
Rayne looked up to see Ullari enter, then looked away, her cheeks a little flushed.
"Ah Rayne up so soon? How's about another round?" he asked her, walking over to her. "She is sick Ullari! leave her alone...they brutalised her Ullari, broke all for limbs in four times as many places! And even with my healing her she still needs to take it easy for at least a week before she can resume regular activities...this is maddness!" Gurthar caught on the word Shit! he thought, knowing of all the words that was one to not ever say to Ullari.
Rayne looked sharply up at Gurthar, "Ullari," she intervened, "why do you do this?" her voice was quiet and not at all forceful, "Why did you give me to them? You have always protected me..." Rayne had not cried since her fathers denouncement of her, but now she was on the verge of tears.
"Because somone like you is always nice to keep on hand in case of such things...i don't know" he said flatly "Gurthar if you care so much about her...then fight me in a duel...winner keeps her...not that she is worth much" Ullari said, playing cruely on the well concealed emotions of Gurthar who stood shocked at what he just heard. Ullari had backed away and Gurthar was now near to her "I will fight this Rayne..and you will owe me nothing...." he whispered to her.
Rayne stepped between the two of them, "I will follow my lord, to whom I have pledged my loyalties time and again. I will not allow you to fight over me." She cast a grateful look at Gurthar, but stepped over to stand beside Ullari, though she stood a couple of feet away, not nearly so confedent as she had always been when standing beside Ullari.
Gurthar whached her go "Ullari" he said sternly "She is sick, and needs to recover...they gave her somthing that needs time to reverse and heal..get someone else to go. Ullari, if they give her whatever it is that they gave her again...i may not be able to reverse the effects...and the effects are fatal" he warned. Ullari raised an eyebrow at what he said "And yet still she will be served" he said cooly "After that Gurthar she is all yours"
Rayne looked a little fearfully up at Gurthar, "Please my lord," she whispered, turning to Ullari, "I do not know if I could bare to be put through that again. My lord...you know not...Please Ullari."
"Please what Rayne? What do you mean?" Ullari growled. Gurthar moved up beside Rayne, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her "Ullari!" he said in surprise.
Rayne shrugged Gurthar's hand from her shoulder and stepped toward Ullari. She placed her hand lightly on his arm, and stared at her long white fingers for a long moment. Finally she lifted her eyes to Ullari's, and whispered so only he could hear her, "Please my lord, please do not give me to them again. I have never asked you for anything, not the riches I forsook to follow you, nor any sort of comfort. But I ask this of you now, please show mercy on your servant." Rayne bowed her head again, hoping that Ullari had not noticed the tears beginning to gather in her eyes.
Ullari looked at her for a moment Gurthar thought he would change, then to see the look in his eyes "You willingly gave it up Rayne, so you will endure it again...it won't be that long...nor more than an hour, they have to make good on their end of the deal. Gurthar you can pick her up at the back again" He said leading her away. Two hours later, Rayne was depostited at Gurthar's feet again. Bringing her back to the table, though this time she was fully concieous courtesy of what they had dosed her with.
Rayne cried out as she was again dumped at Gurthar's feet.
Gurthar began to search for any trace of poison "What did they do to you?" he asked, slightly horrified at the lacerations across her body. Replacing her tattered dress with a new one of the same type, he began healing the internal wounds. Gurthar kept his hands away from her, instead controlling his ability mentally...though this exhertated a tremendous amount of energy. A model of her made of water appeared. It was through this that Gurthar repaired her "Water is transparent so it makes it much easyier to clean things up" he said gently healing her wounds, numbing her pain receptors so she couldn't feel anything.
Rayne just groaned as he worked, she was in too much pain to say much more,even with her sences dulled.
Gurthar looked at her, deciding now since he was done to let her feel again "How does everything feel?" he asked though he was still searching her earnestly, despite his being done. "Rayne..why did you go back?" he asked her softly, searching out the toxins in her.
"I feel awful." Rayne groaned. She looked up at Gurthar, "As I said, I have pledged my loyalty to Ullari, I will not forsake my oaths. I have always been true to my word, that will not change."
"And that is good Rayne...you do however need to distinguesh the line between service and suicide" he said gently "You feel aweful because of what Ullari gave you..." he said trying to stop the poison "Rayne i am loyal to Ullari, and i would die for him in battle which we have sworn to do...you did not swear to be his plaything and...." he was cut short by a messanger. Reading the letter, he set it down on the table opposite him "...and to be demoted to a servant" he finished.
"My oaths go beyond the battlefield." She reminded him, "What does it say?" she asked, looking at the letter.
"Easy now, you'll reopen your wounds!" he cautioned "It would appear Ullari has left you to me to dispose of you as i see fit" he said sorrowfully. "You have been demoted and replaced by the head Dark elf captain"
Rayne sat up abruptly, ignoring the searing pain all through her body, "What? Why? Why would he..." her eyes filed with tears, her service to Ullari had been her whole life, was that truly being taken from her?
"I will restore your posistion for you" Gurthar said quietly, gently laying her back down and resuming healing the wounds she had opened back up.
Rayne didn't struggle, her mind was in turmoil...Why had Ullari done that?
"I will restore your spot Rayne...but first i need you better and for that i need you to stay out of reach of the Dark elves no matter what Ullari says...ok?" he asked her gently "You are loyal to him Rayne, you need to learn when to say no or else it will get you killed" he cautioned her.
Rayne looked up at him, "Thank you." she whispered, but in her mind she was thinking How can I say no to him?
A Dark elf captain came up behind Gurthar, looking down at the woman he had replaced "This is who i replaced? ha! you alot of fun i'll give you that woman" he laughed cruelly. Gurthar turned to him "So it would appear you approve of having your way with a helpless and betrayed individual?" he asked, his voice low an menacing. Another Dark elf came up behind the Captain "Gurthar, i believe i delivered the package to you? Yes thank you Arrancar" Guthar replied, taking the bewildered captain by the throat and destroying him..after temporarily blinding and defening Rayne so she had no idea what was going on. When she came to Arrancar was sitting with her, Gurthar no where to be seen.
Rayne looked around her, bewildered, then saw the Dark Elf sitting over her, "What did you do with Gurthar?" she growled, sitting up and sliding slowly away from him, "I swear, if you so much as touch me..."
"Gurthar left, he will be back soon. No need to worry little one, i'm a friend of his...and would you stop re-opening those wounds? oi, poor guy patched that one up at least three times in your sleep!" he said play fully "And your abilities are still disabled...you wouldn't be able to touch me. Gurthar blocked them so as to make sure he didn't get himself burnt on accident"
Rayne looked at him suspiciously but said nothing.
Gurthar popped in a moment later glaring at Arrancar "I told you not to wake her up! oooh and now look, she reopened some of her wounds!" he said with an exasperated sigh "You feeling better?" he asked her lightly.
Rayne relaxed a little at Gurthar's entry, "I am, thank you." she said quietly.
Gurthar bowed slightly, motioning for Arrancar to leave. Turning to Rayne "Your former position as captain has been restored, and it is yours if you want it" he said gently to her, hoping that she wouldn't ask how he managed. "You need to rest for at least a week, maybe more, the poison that was given to you has been removed, however i would advise you not do anything with your abilities" he said with a quirky smile.
Rayne blinked in surprise "....How?....Of...of course, thank you."
Gurthar allowed a slight laugh to escape him "Let's just say i challenged o'le darky to a duel and you now no longer need to worry about any one making a bid for your seat....i don't think Ullari could pay them enough..so their representative took the seat of another who was killed just two days ago" he smiled at her "You are welcome Rayne"
Rayne smiled, though it didn't look like much of a smile due to the pain throughout her body, "Thank you." She echoed.
Gurthar smiled at her placing a warm blanket over her "I think i'll leave your fire abilities blocked till i can figure out just what that poison does" he said softly to her "Speak your mind Rayne" he said alittle firmly, sensing she had alot to vent.
Rayne shook her head a little, she did not want to talk at the moment, "I want to go to my tent." Was all she said.
A head rolled through the flap to Gurthar's feet, a message stuffed in its' mouth...the head was Arrancar's. Gurthar disposed of the head before Rayne saw it. "It would seem that i will be the one to deny you now Rayne. I can't let you go back to your tent" he said firmly. Gurthar had brought several blankets and pillows for her "I hope these will do for now...at least we are in a solid part of the mess hall...not one with canvas"
Rayne looked at him questioningly, "What do you mean? Why not?" She asked.
"I'm glad this is a solid part of the mess hall so the only way they can get in is through either of those two doors in front or by elements...both of which we will hear before they have any chance to. And why? because your not being dead has given Ullari a new game....whoever kills you or takes your seat from you can have it" Gurthar said bluntly.
Rayne was too worn to react to this, all she wanted was to lay down in her tent and fall asleep, and perhaps to awake and find this to have been a dream. She had serves Ullari faithfully since her childhood, she knew that he was subject to strange whims, but he had never done anything like this before, not to her, his favorite.
"Do you want me to take you to your tent? your to weak to fight Rayne" Gurthar said softly to her "You are barely strong enough to walk, and you need to rest"
Rayne shook her head, she realized that they would be better off where they were. "Would...if it is safe enough for you, would you mind getting something from my tent?" She asked him, "A small red box inside my chest?"
"Believe me...the o'le darkies won't touch me....after that exhibition...i think their knowing that im in here is enough to keep them away. Sure small red box, inside chest got it" he said darting out.
A few minutes later Ullari walked into the tent, out of the same door Gurthar had left.
Rayne stiffened at the sight of Ulari, but she stood and bowed her head, "My lord...what brings you here?" She asked, confused and rather frightened.
Ullari looked at her, saddened at what he had put her through is this what it feels like to have a heart? he wondered "Rayne...i'm sorry" he said quietly. He was dressed in a simple black kimmono and nothing else, nor armour or weapons.
Rayne looked at him, a little stunned. Her legs felt like jelly underneath her, she wobbled a little, reaching behind her, trying to find the table for support.
"Can you stand child?" he asked her softly "Or did they take even that luxery away from you?" he said sitting her on the bench "Are you alright? you can speak your mind little one you won't get punished for it"
Rayne shuddered a little at his touch, she sat there staring first into her lap, then at him, then she snapped. For the first time in many years, she broke down, for the first time since the death of her father, she cried. "Oh Ullari, I am so frightened." she cried quietly, burying her face in his chest, "For so many years I have wondered about the others like us, but now I wish I had never layed eyes on them. I have lost everything to them, but worse than anything, I have lost your favor."
Ullari stood stunned, before gently wrapping both arms around her "others like us? them? why does my favor matter so much to you Rayne" he whispered, normally he would have swatted somone who dared get that close....he was changing though why should she suffer as well....poor kid he thought to himself "It would appear Gurthar did a fine job repairing the damage done to you" he said gently stroking her, he was tired of being such a tornado....and he was begining to regret the entire war, though he wanted Lomien dead...for many more reasons other than denying him gurthang and Ninquelote.
Rayne suddenly snapped out of it. She stood, horrified at what she had done, "I...My lord...My apologies..." Her legs gave out from beneath her and she sank to her knees. Her long black hair, which had long since come undone from its usually neat braid, fell like a curtain in front of her face as she bowed her head, "I am so sorry my lord..."
"There is no need to be sorry" Ullari said catching her, kneeling down in front of her "It is i who betrayed you....for that and all that happened to you, i'm sorry" he said kissing her forehead lightly "Now are you going to answer me or not?" he asked her gently.
Rayne looked up at him, bewildered, "You...you are not going to strike me...to turn me over to them?"
"No i will not strike you Rayne...you've been through enough to last you a life time" he said softly still holding on to her gently "And as for you beeing turned over...never again Rayne...never again. They are still allies, but i won't make any new one's at your expense" Ullari picked her up and sat her on the bench, looking her over, sensing the fear in her though it pained him much.....he had freed himself of the dark pact made long ago, thus he at last could feel again.
"I...I do not understand..." Rayne murmured, looking up at Ullari, "My lord, I have always served you, that has become my entire life, you protected me, and I served you...you protected me..."
"What don't you understand? Speak your mind Rayne you won't be stuck for it or chided or punished...your safe here" he said to her, kissing her forehead again "You remind me so much of...." his voice trailed off.
"Everything..." Rayne whispered shaking her head, "You used to protect me, but you..." she hesitated a moment, hoping he would not be angry, "you betrayed me... Why do you give me to them, then come and speak tenderly? What do I remind you of?" her voice was quiet, but a little bitter, and frightened.
"I never did want to give you to them Rayne...but why? because i made pacts with that coven...pacts that would require me to sacrifice Ninquelote in a hienous ritual....i forsoke that Ritual, so they came an took the closest thing to me to use as a pet" he said squeezing her tightly "I came back because i broke the pact, i rejected it though it would have won the war. It's no longer worth it to me" he said softly to her.
Rayne pulled away and looked up at him, "You...you cannot do that, my lord, you cannot break your pact with the Dark Elves, not for me, I am your servant...I...."
Ullari silenced her with a kiss turning red alittle "You're more than a servant Rayne...there are other ways that don't involve you being turned into a toy" he said softly to her "How are your injuries?"
Rayne's cheeks flushed bright red, she stared dumbly up at Ullari, her mouth agape.
Ullari looked at her with a smile "No this is not some cruel trick of mine Rayne...it's over your safe" he said softly "I-i-i love you...." he murmered almost inaudably.
Rayne continued to stare at him, her mouth open. She was completely stunned, she didn't know what to think.
"If you leave your mouth hanging open any more your going to catch a fly or worse" he teased gently closing her mouth. "You have yet to answer my questions little one" he said gathering her up into his arms.
"Qu-question?" Rayne didn't struggle, she just continued to stare at him, very much in shock.
"Never mind little one, your in shock...what's buzzing through your mind" he asked "How do you feel?"
"I...Wh..." Rayne struggled for words, she was so confused, "What...what do you mean?"
Ullari placed his hand gently on her head and began to stoke it lightly "I love you...i'm done tormenting you and trying to push you away....what's going through your mind" he asked her lightly.
Rayne closed her eyes, his touch was soothing, but she opened them again, "I...But...N...Ninquelote... You do?"
"She is taken by another....albiet i still want her dead...if only to repay Lomien" he said alittle bitterly "What though? speak freely Rayne...as far as i'm concerned you can speak about whatever it is that you want"
Rayne was still dumbfounded, "You...you l...you love me? ...Why?" the poor girl was so stunned, and having trouble understanding what was going on.
Ullari laughed alittle "Yes i do love you Rayne" he said smiling at her stroking her head an shoulders. Gurthar had crept in the back seeing the odd sight he left, desciding to ask Rayne later.
Rayne shook her head, trying to clear it, she was so muddled, and Ullari was not helping her at all. "You mean that? You really...love me?"
"Yes Rayne i really do love you, and nothing more is going to happen to you" he said smiling down at her "You are lucky to have Gurthar as a caretaker..." he said softly.
Rayne blinked, "Where is Gurthar? He should be back by now..."
"He came in an left..here's the little red box you wanted" he said lighty kissing her cheek "I do love you Rayne...h-h-how can i make this up to you?" he asked her, setting her down on the bench across from him, looking her in the eyes.
"I...There is no need to my lord..." Rayne was desperately attempting to make sence of everything that was going on.
"Tell me how? how can i make up so many years of torture?" he asked her, tipping her chin up slightly.
"Torture? No," Rayne shook her head a little, "There has been no torture... You...I...I cannot believe this..."
Ullari looked at her "There has been no tourture? What did Gurthar give you a memory loss drug of his? what can't you believe?" he asked her gently.
"I have followed you willingly, it has not been a torment until today." Rayne told him honestly, "I don't understand what is happening, I have been little more than a pet for so many years. I sit by your side because I have followed you without question from my childhood, and because I decorate your meeting table. I am naught but a prize, but you say you love me."
Ullari stood quietly there "You aren't a prize anymore Rayne, you're not a decoration...for so long i treated you like that so as to push you away" Ullari said quietly "I do love you Rayne.." he said reaching out, pulling her closer to him.
Rayne let Ullari pull her close, she still was not sure what to think, but she rested her head against him and closed her eyes. She was worn thin, and could hardly think clearly, but she felt safe in his arms.
Ullari swept her legs up off the ground "Speak your mind Rayne, even if it is ill towards me, speak freely you will not be punished no matter what it is" he said softly, nipping the nape of her neck.
"I do not know what to think my lord." Rayne said quietly, then shivered a little when he nipped her neck. It felt strange to her, to let someone touch her, and not feel uncomfortable.
"Will you be mine Rayne?" Ullari asked simply "And you need not call me lord anymore" he said alittle teasingly. He had drawn her closer, as he nipped her neck again an exhaled onto it.
Rayne looked abruptly up at him, her face flushed, "Will...I?"
"Will you...will you marry me?" Ullari asked his ears burning red, he wanted her. More than anything he was afraid to lose the chance that he had been given "I want your answer to be for you Rayne....and you only" he said firmly to her.
Rayne flushed brighter, "I...I don't know what to say..." she stared up at him, so much was happening, so fast, she could hardly take it all in.
"Say what you want Rayne, you are no longer in any danger" he said tickling the back of her neck with his hand. "I won't throw you out either if you say no love" he said softly to her, pulling her tighter just alittle.
Rayne shivered, feeling his fingers on her neck. She didn't know what to say, she felt that she had always been lower than him, she was his captain, his servant. She had always followed his orders, and now he wanted her to make a choice for herself. She wished to please him, but she did not want to disobey him and say yes only to do so. Did she love him in return? "I...I do not know..." she whispered.
"Take your time" he said kissing the top of her head. placing one hand over her waist, resting the other on a table. A Dark elf walked in, from the looks of him a powerful one. Spying Rayne "Ahh so you found my company's pet? would you be so kind as to return her? we want her again" he said cruelly eyeing Rayne. The Elf took a step towards Rayne
Rayne shuddered and shrunk against Ullari, she did not want him to break his alliance with the Dark Elves, but neither did she want to be passed amongst them again.
The Dark elf reached out to her taking hold of the back of her neck. Ullari, feeling her cringe against him i told you love...no more will you live in fear he telepathed to her, his free arm shooting out and grabbing the Dark elf's hand inches from Rayne's face, from the elf's hand a spike could be seen dripping with some exotic poison "No Dark elf" Ullari said, going so far as to insult the commander by refering to him by his race...a tremendous blow to pride "What do you think you are doing?....she is ours! give her to us so that we can finish her" he growled, only to scream in pain as his hand and wrist burst into flames...the ashes falling from Ullari's hands.
Rayne flinched as the Dark Elf grabbed her by the neck, "I am not yours," Rayne said low and dangerous, through gritted teeth, "and if you so much as touch me again, so help me..."
"You'll do what?" the Dark Elf mocked her "You worthless plaything!" his arm reformed with a sickening sound. Ullari stared on in disgust "I will kill you if you so much as touch her again" he warned. The Dark Elf approached Rayne again grabbing her roughly by the neck, choking her "Well well Ullari, can i finish her off?" he asked with a cruel smile "You where so much..ugh!" The Dark elf gasped, Ullari had thrust his katana throught his heart and brain "Even if you are one of those accursed immortals you will not survive that...." Ullari glared at the Elf pulling Rayne back into him as the Elf slumped to the ground "Where were we?" he asked her softly kissing her neck then full on the lips "have you thought of an answer yet?" he asked gently.
Rayne shuddered, staring at the dead Dark Elf on the ground, "I..." She looked up at Ullari and nodded, she would marry him.
"Thank you" he said drawing her closer "You are not an object Rayne and i intend to prove that to you....and to start you can call me by my name" he said softly to her, nipping her ear.
Rayne smiled a little and pressed close to him, it felt so strange to her, not to care that someone was touching her, to actually feel safer when she wa with someone.
"Where do you want the wedding? and when?" he asked her, tilting her head forward to kiss the back of her neck "I am sorry for how i have treated you Rayne" Ullari said hiding his face in her hair as he let the tears flow.
Rayne's eyes widened when she felt something wet on the back of her neck, she twisted around to face Ullari, "My...Ullari...are you aright?" she whispered worriedly, brushing tears from his cheek with her long white fingers.
"There is so much i regret Rayne...this war odly though i do not....there is more to it than fretting over Lomien's wife or that cursed blade. His family and mine have always been at war....this time around it managed to set the whole world on fire" he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Rayne hesitantly took his face in her hands, she did not know what to say, but she wished to comfort him. It was so strange to her, the way she felt. Was this what love felt like? The desire to hold someone, to dry their tears? She had never seen Ullari show so much emotion, and she had never been so close to him, it felt strangely comforting.
Ullari let his head rest in hands "What is it Rayne?" he asked her softly.
"I...I've just never sen you like this." Rain said softly.
"I know love...what else is on your mind though?" he asked her kissing an nipping her at the base of her neck.
Rayne shivered at his touch, "I don't know," she whispered, "so much is happening...I can't take it all in..."
It was clearly by now approaching night time, as the frigid tempratures began to set in "What don't you know? Taking all of what in?" he said playing with her neck alittle "Are you cold?" he asked her softly.
"Everything that has happened..." Rayne murmured, "Yesterday I was one of your favored, today I was turned into the Dark Elves' toy, and dumped in the dirt...And now, here I sit, with your arms around me while you kiss me and ask me to marry you..."
"I am sorry for that Rayne...you won't ever have to endure that again" he said kissing her firmly on the lips "I was trying to drive you away...trying to get rid of you because i was afraid..." he replyed quietly.
"You? Afraid of what?" Rayne whispered.
"Losing" he replied gently. "I made the pact to asure myself victory....from the start i didn't want to lose you, but i nearly lost what i wanted"
"And what is that?" she asked quietly.
"You....love..feeling..a heart" he said holding her tight "Tell me what is going through your mind?" he asked her softly rubbing her back.
"I feel so strange," Rayne whispered, "I don't know how to describe it..."
"How so?" he asked her. Ullari set her to one side, adjusting all that was on the table so as it would stop digging into his back "What do you want?" he looked her in the eye.
"I..." Rayne looked down at her hands in her lap, avoiding his eyes, "I love you too." She whispered, barely audibly.
Ullari was slightly surprised Kissing her lightly on the top of her head, stroking her back at the same time "All your sorrow is over, i won't hurt you again Rayne..."
Rayne wrapped her arms about Ullari's neck, "Thank you," she whispered.
"It's the least i can do to make up for all that i have taken from you" he said sadly, wrapping his arms around her.
Rayne rested her head on Ullari's shoulder, for the first time that day, she was happy. But she abruptly jerked her head up, "My box! Where did you say it was?" She looked up at Ullari.
"It's right here" Ullari said gently, taking it off the table an setting it in her lap "What's in it?"
Rayne relaxed a little when she saw the box, "Thank you." She smiled up at him, "This is my most valued possession. I did not want the Dark Elves to get a hold of it if they went searching threw my tent," she opened the little red box, and showed Ullari the simple silver necklace inside, "It was my mother's. It was to be just one small piece of my dowry...But it was the only piece that I ever received. As it was I had to steal it." Her eyes grew a little sad at the memory, but she shook her head lightly and smiled up at Ullari.
Ullari reached out with his hand, closing her hand over the necklace "Keep it Rayne, not because i don't want it, but because i want you to have somthing left of the life you lost" he said brushing the hair out of her forehead "What is it that's going through your mind?" he asked her tenderly.
Rayne smiled a little, "I am still in a lot of pain, and I must look a mess...But I don't really care. ...I am with you." Her cheeks flushed a little red, and her eyes unfocused as her thoughts drifted, then a look of fear crossed her face.
Ullari flushed red ever so slightly around the ears "After all that you have been through you look fine..in fact it seems Gurthar took care of more than just your injuries...pain? how can i help?", then recognizing that all to familiar look shuddered alittle "What is it? Rayne?" he said pulling her close and tilting her head back alittle.
"Gurthar said that the Dark Elves would be hunting me for my seat at your meeting table." What little colour Rayne's face usually showed, had draned from it as she looked up at Ullari.
"They won't ever harm you love" he said firmly. "How did Gurthar find that out? I only found out about it before i came here" he asked amused "That Crusnik...he has his ways, no matter what the task is he always gets it done....that is why he hates Lomien so much...because he can not complete his task...i would order him to stop trying but that would hurt him deeply" Ullari sighed "He is so loyal...he is the perfect soldier..utterly devoted in battle...yet that is the extent that he will go..in arms...I am sorry i used you Rayne" Ullari said almost tearfully.
"They are not under your command," Rayne whispered, pressing fearfuly against him, "how can you assure that?"
"I can because if i don't kill the first one who trys to hurt you than i know Gurthar will....and Gurthar is not a nice one to have hunting you" Ullari said absentmindedly "I told you Rayne...i love you...and i will not let them get you or hurt you in any way" he said reasurringly.
Rayne nodded, she appreciated his reassurance, "Thank you." she whispered, laying her head back on his shoulder, "What is going through your mind?" she asked Ullari, he was a hard person to read, not like her, she was an open book.
Instead of answering immediatly, he pulled her close, kissing her roughly full on the lips "I am sorry for what i have done to you Rayne..help me...what can i do to mend that for you? i want to give you back as much of the life that you lost as i can....i want you to be happy again" he said nipping her neck then shoulder.
Rayne returned his kiss, wrapping her arms tightly about his neck, ignoring the pain. She stared at him, trembling when he nipped at her, "I...I forgive you." She whispered, "An...and if I can stay by your side," she lay her head on his shoulder, "then I will be happy."
"You're in pain...are you alright? Where do you hurt?" he asked her caressing her back and shoulders.
Rayne nodded, "I am alright, it will pass with time. I think Gurthar has done all that can be done." She smiled a little, then flushed bright red, "Your touch is gentle...it feels good." she mumbled through her embarrassment.
"You sure you are alright?" he asked setting her down "W-w-what do you mean?" he asked, quite red himself. "Answer me this Rayne....did you say yes because you love me? for you? or because you want to please me...i don't want you to say yes for the latter" Ullari said gently "I won't throw you out or hand you over to the Dark elves either" he said resting both hands in his lap as she sat across from him.
Rayne nodded, "My mind is still muddled. I...I know that," Rayne looked at him and placed her hand on his, "I...I do...love you." her face flushed, but not as bright this time, she was still getting used to the feel of that word in her mouth, 'love.' She smiled at him, her cheeks still pink, "I love you Ullari." she whispered.
Ullari smiled at her, no trace of malice in his eyes...only happiness "I love you to Rayne" he spoke softly to her, a biting chill wind had come over the mess hall...Ullari was fond of the cold though so he did not notice that the water was begining to freeze.
Rayne smiled and threw her arms about Ullari's neck, intending to kiss his cheek, but she recoiled and cried out as several of the wounds around her shoulders ripped open. She fell from the bench and stayed there, on her knees, shuddering and biting her lip.
"Rayne!" Ullari cried out, gathering her up into a blanket and carefully staunching her wounds....tears welling in his eyes at the sight of them why did i do this? Was that pact really so powerful as to make me fall apart like that? I can rememeber caring about somone like this before so i know this is not new... he said cradling her head "What do you want? Can i get you anything Rayne...you look like you are in alot of pain" he said worridly.
Rayne leaned her head against Ullari's shoulder and grabbed a fist full of his sleeve at his fore-arm, "It will pass." she said though gritted teeth. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she bit down on her lip again until blood pooled in the indentation that her teeth made.
Ullari gently grabbed hold of her jaw an kissed her "Rayne if you are in pain i want to ease it for you....what hurts? how can i help you?" he asked her thinking for a brief moment to give her a drug to kill the pain no...who knows what the Dark Elves gave her....and i'm sure she has had enough with drugs he though lightly stroking her back an caressing her head, as he kissed her forehead then cheek, then lips, then nipped her down the lengh of her neck.
Rayne returned his kiss then whimpered a little. Gasping for breath she wiped the blood from her lip with the hand that was not clutching his sleeve. "Everything hurts...Oh, curse them, them and all their ancestors." she growled through the pain, "They do not, any of them, deserve to rest in peace."
"Not all of them are Evil...the cabal's are the one's you want to stear clear of" sighing bitterly "I am one of those beings" he said, his voice rife with disgust. "What can i do to help you Rayne?" he asked softly "What is on your mind...please tell me if you don't mind" he said nezzling her neck, and exhaling down it.
Rayne broke into a cold sweat, she whimpered and pressed her forehead hard against his chest, she twisted his sleeve in her fist, pressing against her leg with the other. Her face was pail and her knuckles white. She drew in a few ragged breaths, trying desperately not to collapse from the pain, she felt faint.
"Rayne! relax Rayne your body is straining itself!" he said prying her off of him and cradling her again, he began to bandage and staunch her wounds...he was a healer, though he had not used this ability in many hundreds of years "Tell me what hurts Rayne...specifically...i need to know" he said ernestly...part of being an incanter was healing magics....somthing he had perfected long before the war...in fact Gurthar owed much of his skill to him.
Rayne shuddered, "My...my shoulders," she gasped, "I think they all broke open...all the wounds..." She reached back, wincing from the pain, and touched the back of her black dress, her hand came away red.
Ullari turned her so that her back was facing him, carefully peeling away the back of her dress so as to exposs the wounds he let out a slight gasp "Wh-w-wh-what did i do to you?" he asked her, stunned at the wounds "Kera norte lef ki na mortis sarks un do eilis nad hy" his hands shimmered with a blueish energy, a feeling of calm washed over her as the wounds began vanishing "This rejects the effects of your wounds, reversing it so that there isn't even a scar left" he said being sure to amplify the calming effect, though it was taking a fair amount of energy to do so.
Rayne cringed as she felt her dress being pulled away from her wounds, then relaxed as Ullari's incantation took effect, "Thank you." she whispered, she was still in a lot of pain, but the worst of it was being healed.
"What else do you want me to do? Where else do you want me to heal you?" he asked softly. Ullari had drawn a large fur coat around his shoulders that covered his body completely, making him look like a bear with a Elven head and blueish hands.
"You have healed the worst of my pain, but...I...I feel strange..." Rayne whispered, wrapping her arms about herself, trembling, "I am cold..."
"How so? Rayne you need to tell me so i can root it..." he stopped as he cam across a dark mass...Poison!...they Poisoned you! Ullari cried out inside, drawing the poison out. A dark liquid materialised into an empty cup "It's a halucenegin...one of the worst kind to" he said drawing her under the fur coat, taking her hands in his. The poison was leaving her...but the after affects would be much like that which Ninquelote is experiancing.
Rayne shuddered and leaned against Ullari, she could feel something wrong, but she did not know what it was, though the feeling started to dissipate a little. She felt miserable, she was still in pain, and she was still cold, even pressed against Ullari underneath a fur coat. "What did they do to me?" she whispered, shivering, "I feel so strange."
"The drug they gave you...impares your ability to make descissions on your own to be bent to whomever administers it...after word it sits latent...but this only serves to errode your body to the point where you are no more than a servant wraith given a body...an eventually...eventually you begin to rot while living...." fresh tears springing up in his eyes "Oh Rayne i'm so sorry...." he spoke sadly "Here...take your revenge, have your revenge on me for what i have done to you" he said miserably, handing her a long, sheathed knife.
Rayne recoiled from the weapon and gaped at Ullari. Closing her mouth, she shook her head, "You were bound by your word...by your honor." she pushed his hand that held the knife aside and took his face in her hands, "I allowed this to happen. Nearly my entire life has been devoted to your cause, to you. I submitted to your order in order to further that cause, I will not punish you for that, for my own choice."
Ullari eyed the poisoned blade, running the flat edge along his skin "What do you want me to do Rayne? Anything...i'm done with tormenting you and compelling and manipulating you...what..what do you want me to do?" his head slumped in her hands abject misery rife on his face.
"First, sheath that weapon and put it away, I do not want you to injure yourself... Second," Rayne leaned forward and gently kissed his lips, "I will be alright...Won't I?"
Ullari flushed red, he held her kiss, when he released her and took her into his arms again "The worst part of it is over" he said quieting her mind so that she could rest "That is...if wrenching nightmares are better than what i put you through" he mumbled inaudably as he dozed off to sleep with her tucked under his fure blanket against him.
Rayne wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, wishing the moment would never end, "What is going through your mind...my love?" She asked him, savoring the feel of those last two words as she said them.
A silent snore was the only reply to a very worn out Ullari, he had his arms wrapped around her his fire element meaning they would both be plenty warm against the biting cold. Ullari's mind wandered...for the first time into pleasantry's....the life he lost when he divided and rebelled the council.
Rayne smiled and closed her eyes as she too drifted off to sleep.
Hours later, she began to struggle in her sleep, she pushed against Ullari's arms, fighting against his hold on her. "Let me go, fiend!" She pounded her fist against his chest, "If you so much as touch me again, I swear by my own father's spirit I will kill you." She cried out fearfully, still in her sleep.
Ullari felt a dull thudding against his chest that was begining to hurt a heart attack?...no..can't be, it's in the left side he thought drowsily. Growing tired of the incesant pounding his eyes shot open at what she said "Rayne..Rayne my love it's ok, your safe" he said catching her fists in his hand, holding her tight with the other "Wake up love you're safe" he said sweetly as he tilted her head up.
Rayne tried desperately to pull away, then collapsed in his arms and wept, finally awake.
"Talke to me Rayne, what's wrong? i told you that you are safe..speak to me my love..what is it?" he said gently stroking her back and head.
"I...everything they did to me..." Rayne shuddered, "The dreams are more real than the memories." she clung to Ullari, shuddering.
"My poor Rayne" Ullari nearly sobbed "Tell me what they did to you....i want to know...i will repay them Rayne, just please tell me what they did to you" he said through gritted teeth, resting his head on her good shoulder.
Rayne rested her own head on Ullari's shoulder, she shook her head, "No...No, I wish to forget it...I do not want to recall." She sobbed, clinging tightly to him.
Ullari reached his hand out, placing his hand on her forehead, clearing and soothing her mind, his memories meshed with hers, his where initially bright and beautiful, only to turn down a dark path...wars and loss had been his lot for the last three thousand years. He read her mind, shaking all over with rage and anguish "Rayne..." he muttered feeling his body give out from the immense sorrow. His entire frame sagged forward, blood flecking his lips.
"Oh Ullari," Rayne whispered, "why? Why did you do that? I did not want you to know..." she wrapped her arms around him, kissed his forehead, and buried her face in his shoulder as she began to cry silently.
"They and their families and their coven's and their Cabal's will pay for this! I never ment for you to be used like that....i knew they would be rough with you and i know now that Gurthar's healing abilities are beyound probably anyone alive" he said, his voice disembodied, he let her kiss him and cry into his chest...somthing her would have severly punished her for only yesterday "I love you Rayne...i am sorry" cold icy tears rained onto her.
"Don't," she whispered into his chest, "do not avenge this. You cannot afford a two-front war, for that is what it will become if you do what I am sure you intend."
"As you wish...m-lady" he said kissing her on the lips. Ullari would find a way to avenge her, or at least find out who did this to her without starting another war.
Rayne returned his kiss, "Thank you." she whispered. She kept her face buried in his chest, she was still trembling a little as she wrapped her arms around him. "Say something," she whispered, "please? Let me hear your voice?"
"I love you, i'm sorry, i'm hear to protect you now Rayne...and..and to love you" He said softly kissing her at each statement. Ullari held her, stroking her back, playing with her hair an neck.
Rayne held tightly to him, not wanting to let go, tired, but not wanting to sleep for fear of what lay in wait for her, she shuddered at the thought. She looked up at Ullari, "What is going through your mind?" she asked him quietly.
"Right now...you...you need not fear the night's sleep anymore..i will protect you even from that" he said softly to her "Rest my love, you will be safe....the most pressing thing on my mind is where? where do you want our wedding?"
Rayne looked up at him, "I...I do not know...I had never thought about that before... Where do you think?"
"I was hoping that you would have some ideas....i have not the slightest clue" he had an odd dumbfounded look on his face "You need to rest though" he spoke softly searching out any injuries or any inner turmoil to quell so that she could at last be at peace.
"As do you." Rayne couldn't help but smile up at him a little, resting her head on his shoulder. She knew she could not sleep, but she closed her eyes and nestled her head under his chin.
Ullari placed his hand on the back of her head, drawing up a mental barrier of sorts...though this one redirected anything that would disturb her to his mind. Smiling softly he began dozing off.
Rayne sat against Ullari with her eyes closed and her face hidden in his shoulder. She sat and listened to him breath as he dozed off, she was still a little frightened, but for now she could be happy.
Ullari's eyes shot open "Oooh...i forgot...gotta do somthing real quick" he said gently setting her atop the table wrapped in the fur blanket "I'll be back in a minute love" he said dissapearing through the medicae door let's see if i can't lure those Dark elves in with my being absent he thought to himself hiding in the rafters behind Rayne, masking any signature or sound.
"Oh...Ok..." Rayne's face fell a little as he left. She pulled the blanket tightly about her, but it was no substitute for the feel of Ullari's arms. She pushed the blanket off her shoulders, despite the weather, she was not cold. She sat there, wanting to get up and move around, but she knew better than to do so before she had recovered more.
Ullari did not have long to wait, soon an enturage of Dark elves entered...the same one's for the most part who turtured her "Ahh well looks like we found the pet at last" he said cruelly grabbing her neck "You didn't think we where done yet did you?" he asked her kissing her forcefully on the mouth. Ullari cringed, making use of the shadows he got closer make this quick...less suffering for her he thought ready to spring if anything else happened.
Rayne pulled away and slapped the elf as hard as she could across the face. "Don't you dare touch me again, I swear you will regret it." she growled, retreating into a corner.
The Dark elf wrenched her out of her corner sending a fist into her stomach "I see you got some fight left in you" he said strangling her, and biting hard down on her neck. Ullari had had enough, however he was more than willing to toy around with the Dark elves before killing them "Just what do you think you are doing?" he asked, his voice seeming to come from every where at once. The Dark elf held her by the neck at arms lengh "I'm claiming what is mine! Do not deny her to us!" The Dark elf cried out as blades whipped into his comrades, felling all but two of them.
Rayne cried out and tried to push him away, she froze at the sound of Ullari's voice. "I told you that you would regret it." she whispered, trying to pry his fingers from her neck.
"Ullari, it would appear you have somthing to do with this worthless little plaything...now step out before i snap her neck" he challenged squeezing her neck tighter "She's alot of fun Ullari...have you tried her out ye...blooch! ugh..you!..i..how could y-o-u" he cried as Ullari appeared suddenly beside him with a sword thrust into his side "I told you to let her go" he said cooly, as the elf slumped to the ground, his subordinates running off.
Rayne collapsed in a heap on the ground as she was released. A black and blue hand print was already beginning to show where the Dark Elf had held her, and blood oozed slowly from the place on her neck where she had been bitten.
"I told you i would free you of them" Ullari whispered into her ear as he picked her up "Other than the bite mark an your neck every color of the rainbow....how are you doing?" he asked her with a slight laugh.
"I...I'm aright." Rayne whispered. Shuddering a little, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held tightly to him, burrying her face in his neck. "I was so afraid..." She whispered tearfully into his neck, "I did not think I could bear to be passed among them again...I thought I would die of shame."
"What are you afraid of Rayne? And you will never be treated like that again, so long as i can help it" he spoke softly, an almost musical note in his voice....this was a gift of his he had not used since long before the war...it was soft, soothing, comforting, and relaxing at the same time.
"I never thought a man would dare touch me. But for the first time in my life, I had no way to protect myself, I was helpless." Rayne whispered, she hated that feeling, and she would rather die than feel that again.
"What did i do to you?...was that pact really that blinding?" he whimpered into her neck. "You need to train with your fists and weapons as well Rayne.....fire weilding is a precarious and fickle thing, whom as far as i know Lomien is the only one to be able to control it at such power at will" his head was still buried into her neck.
"After today, I would carry a dagger. But I will not learn to hack at opponents with anything larger. I despise weapons, you know that." Rayne responded quietly.
"At least then let me teach you how to fight with your body?" he nearly begged her, Ullari did not want her to be in that posistion again, and he knew that there where many incantations that restricted elemental use to render the weilder useless in a fight.
Rayne nodded, "I can already dodge most anything, but I will do that for you Ullari."
"Thank you" he said caressing her neck, nipping her shoulder than kissing her forehead lightly "I want you to be able to survive, there are magic attacks that will render your abilities useless till the encanter releases you....i want you to be able to fight without your abilities"
"Speaking of which," Rayne said, narrowing her eyes a little, "what did Gurthar do to me? I would realy like to be able to use my abilities again."
"You where given a toxin that when combined with a person's element will gradually impare them till they are little more than living machinations, bent to the incanters will. That is all i know, Gurthar tells me that it does far more but didn't have time to elaborate" he said whimsically "So no i don't think you will be getting your ability back" he said pecking her.
Rayne pulled away a little and looked up at him, "For how long?" she asked
"Till he finds a way to extract it" he said simply.
Rayne sighed, a little exasperated, "I hope he finds a way soon then." she mumbled.
"He knows how to extract it now....it would just take your ability away, so from what he told me he has had his little doc staff running rampant trying to find away around it" Ullari said slouching back alittle, tilting his head up to look up into the rafters there better not be what i think there is up there he thought to himself, he had sensed an odd presence when he was in the rafters...one that had hunted and nearly pounced on him.
"I would rather have my powers back and face the potential consequences, than never be able to use them again." Rayne said, then she noticed Ullari looking up into the rafters, "What do you see?" she asked, following his gaze.
"The consequences are death" he said pointedly to her lowering his voice to a whisper "It's not what i see...it's what i sense" he said warily Dark elf assasins he thought. These where far superior to the slobs Lomien encountered. These had been at their work for thousands of years. Masters of toxology, and hit and run tactics, Ullari was right to fear them. He figured though that they where not after him....yet.
"What is it?" Rayne asked, lowering her own voice.
"Nothing you need concern yourself with at the moment" he said setting her down. Ullari kept his gaze wandering one, two, three....oh my i feel honored four he thought to himself as he spied the assasin's.....though his senses where the only reason he could even see such deadly being. The cold set in again.
Rayne slipped her arm through Ullari's, looking a little worriedly up at him.
A portion of the wall colapsed behind them, a bitter cold wind as well as snow spilled in. Ullari had his fur blanket resting on his lap, as if he could care less about the cold, which was true "When are you four going to introduce yourselves...or do i have to come up an flush you out myself?" Ullari asked playfully.
Rayne spun around, her hair whipping about her face in the wind. She looked inquiringly up at Ullari.
Four black forms fell from the shadow's three kneeling one standing "My name is shadow mistress uriel...my master has ordered me to reclaim his pet" she replied coldly. The lithe assasin had no pity or emotion in her eyes. Even her sleek armoured form gave off no emotion.
"Your master may have me again, when I am cold and lifeless." Rayne whispered coldly to her, her long black hair still whipping around her face. She fell into a shallow crouch, ready to spring in any direction.
Ullari put a restraining hand on her shoulder whispering into her ear "I admire your determination love but you'd be reduced to a limbless toy faster than what you knew hit you...these are dark elf night assasin's, there are only one hundred of them and they are all very deadly" Ureil stiffened "What are you whispering to her?" she demanded. Ullari responded letting fly multiple knives and fire blasts. When the dust settled only Ureil was left alive.
"Nintey-seven." Rayne said smuggly, still ready to spring.
Ureil let out a scream of rage, dissapearing than reapearing behing Ullari, cutting a gouge in his back. Ullari grunted in pain "Aww now Ureil you are making me stand up....mistake..yours!" he belowed, letting forth a gout of flame. Ureil mearly laughed vanished and reappearing behind Ullari driving a blade down for what she was sure would be the killing blow, only to whach in horror as Ullari blocked it "H-h-how!" she cried aborting her attack and reapearing in front of him, her black long sword drawn. Ullari had a long black katana inscribed with gold runes drawn to fight her.
Rayne snatched the knife that Ullari had attempted to give to her earlier from the table and dove for Ureil, driving the blade for the place where her armor ceased to cover her neck.
Uriel vanished, materialising behind Rayne "Foolish girl" she cooed as the blade flew from Raynes grasp "Pay attention to the one you are fighting!" Ullari growled, his blade conecting with her torso armour. Ureil screamed as the blade broke through her armour but did not go into her body.
Rayne pulled her elbow back, connecting with Ureil's face, and rolled to the side before she could get a chance to strike.
Ureil crumpled to the floor, gasping for air as her side burned, she looked up pitifully at them "Please, i am only acting on orders" she begged. A dark look came over Ullari "I have half the mind to inflict every pain an every torture that your master made her endure!" he growled. The young Ureil recoiled in terror, her eyes wide with fear.
Rayne straitened up, reeling from the pain that still wracked her body. She placed a hand lightly on Ullari's arm, "She looks hardly older than I..." she whispered to him, gazing at the terrified assassin.
Ureil sat whimpering as Ullari looked on in slight contempt "What would you have me do with her" he said smarting from the slash in his back.
Under other circumstances, Rayne would have encouraged Ullari to dispatch the assassin. But looking at her, huddled on the floor, looking fearfully up at her aggressors, Rayne couldn't bring herself to do that. The elf looked how Rayne had felt only hours ago, "I do not know..." she shook her head, "Send her away." she whispered, turning and sinking onto a nearby bench, resting her face in her hands.
Ullari stripped Ureil of her armour, and weapons, leaving her with only a thin kimono. Ureil whimpered and shook "Please don't hurt me" she begged him. Ullari after disarming her looked at her "Now begone, the Lady Rayne has shown you her favor do not come back and tell your master to trouble her no more" Ullari warned turning her out into the snow "I-i-i-t-t-t'ssss ssssoooo c-c-cold out here" Ureil whimpered, her Kimono no protection against the winter storms "Rayne is the keeper of your fate" Ullari said turning aside to check on her "Rayne..what's wrong?" he asked her softly.
When Ullari turned to Rayne, she was trembling, though not from the cold. She shook her head, "She looked just how I felt..." she whispered into her hands.
Ullari put a hand on her shoulder, kneeling down in front of her "It is over Rayne, no more will you have to experiance that" he said softly yet firmly to her.
Rayne nodded a little, her shoulders shook a little as she tried not to cry. Without looking up at him, she wraped her arms around Ullari's neck and burried her face in his shoulder again.
"I can sense your pain...if you need to cry then let the tears flow Rayne" he said softly "what can i do for you?"
Rayne bit her lip for a few moments, she knew what she wanted him to do, but she was not sure she wanted to ask, "Just hold me?" she finnaly whispered into his shoulder.
"As you wish" he said gently wrapping his arm around her, sitting down beside her "Are you hurt? what's going through your mind?" he asked her softly, drawing the fur blanket about them. Moments later a very pathetic looking Ureil stumbled back in "C-c-c-can i ssstay p-p-p-please??" she begged, her lips blue from the cold. Ullari shot her an icy glare to which she recoiled from "That remains up to the Lady" he said giving Rayne's hair a gentle tug.
Rayne didn't look up from Ullari's shoulder as Ureil came back in, "I don't care," she whispered, "she's not a threat now, let her stay."
"You're in a rather chipper mood" Ullari teased her quietly before turning to a very near frozen Ureil "You can stay" he replied cooly to her. Tears welled up in the young girls eyes "Thank you" she whispered.
Rayne just sat there with her face buried in Ullari's shoulder, silently cursing herself for her tears. "Why am I like this?" she whispered, "Why can I not control myself?"
"Bacause in an instant you experianced ever form of defilement imaginable at the behest of one you looke up to. Why can't you control yourself? i don't care Rayne, you've been through alot....." his voice trailed off slightly.
Rayne looked up at Ullari, tears glistening in her red eyes, "You were bound my your word, your honor. You made a pact for the furthering of your cause, I do not blame you for that Ullari," she said quietly, looking him in the eye, "do not blame yourself."
"But it blinded me...and i almost lost what i also wanted" he said quietly "There are other ways to further one's agenda without harming those that have come to rely on them. What i blame myself therefore is the degree that i betrayed you to...i offered you up so willingly and with little secound guessing...after i broke the pact, and i realised just what it was that i had so carelessly condemned you to"
Rayne couldn't help but not meet Ullari's eyes when he mentioned betrayal, she did not wan to admit that she had felt betrayed, she did not want him to know the pain that it had caused her, "You did what you believed you must. No one should expect any less of their lord, than to do what he believes nescisary." was her quiet responce.
"When does that justify though such a heinous betrayel? Yes i can do as i please but i also have an obligation to see to it that those under me are well looked after...especially somone like you...you where before practiacally my daughter Rayne, and now my fiance....and i put you through all of that?" he said with a slight whimper...seeing the betrayel rife in her eyes.
"I am no better than the rest of the Brotherhood, and you do not need me as you need Gurthar and your other advisors. Why should you not give me as a gift to your allies? I am of little consequence." Rayne wanted to believe what she said, but she knew better, and as much as she wanted to do Ullari's bidding, there had been many times when it had hurt to do so, though she would never tell him that.
"Because unlike the rest of them i love you" he said poking her nose lightly "Whoever said you where of little consiquence...i suppose i have..." his voice saddened "And why give somthing so close and precious to me away to those things" he said bitterly. Ullari regreted having pushed her away and tormented her for so many years...for reducing her image in her mind to little more than a desk decoration.
Rayne caught his hand as he pulled it away and held it to her cheek, "Thank you, for your words." she whispered. After almost two-thousand years, she was finally hearing words of approval, and even affection, from the one who she has striven for so long to please.
"You deserve them Rayne" he said kissing her full on the lips, pulling back and gazing into her eyes "Your struggle is over, you no longer need to fight for my affection" he said softly to her.
Rayne returned his kiss and smiled a little up at him, "All these years, I guess I never realized that was exactly what I was striving for. Your notice, your attention, your love..." she blushed a little and kissed his hand, which she still held, "How have you found me worthy of that?"
"From the moment i took you in i liked you, you where fiery and passionate about what you set your mind to...and that is what first drew me to you" he said softly "how about you? Why did you reach out and seek that from me though i drove you into the ground an humiliated you?"
"You were an icon, one with power and a future, but no known past." Rayne said, her red eyes far away, "You had a purpose, a cause. Not like most citizens of Telpurion, who merely lived their lives, the same thing day after day. I wanted more than that, and you gave that to me. You gave me a purpose."
"Only to tear you appart, humiliate you and nearly kill you" he said miserably. "What past i have Rayne i would have traded it for yours and i'm sure Lomien an Nin would gladly do the same....we have fought this war for centuries, and our forefathers before us....only recently have old ties been rekindled and open war made"
"You would trade your past for mine? You would trade the influence that you had earned, for the dull life of repeditive luxurey that I was doomed to lead before I joined you?" Rayne looked up at him in wonder. How could he want that?
"Because i have been at war long before you where born....i whached Lomien's family score what they thought was the victory blow...whipping out every last member of my father's clan...though he spared me..why i do not know...but i am sure he regrets it now" Ullari said with a grin "Why would i trade it? because i want to settle down and be done with this whole thing....live out the rest of my days till somthing finally takes me"
"Then why did you break your pact with the Dark Elves?" Rayne shook her head, hardly beliving what she was hearing, "With their help you could have won this war with little trouble, and settled down." She gazed at him a moment, then bowed her head, "Ullari, I am willing to do what they want in order to help you to win this war."
"because it is not worth it to me to whach you suffer......you wouldn't last the years of torment...the wretching humiliation....nor could i bear to send you through that ever again" he said firmly.
She would have been ashamed to admit it, but Rayne was realeved by his responce. She nodded, "As you wish." she whispered, smiling a little as she kissed his hand again, "What would my lord have me do then, to help his cause?" she murmured.
"I would have you act freely, to chose what you want...what do you want Rayne?" Ullari asked her "Speak your mind...like i have said before...you will not be punished for anything you say to me" he said tenderly to her.
Rayne smiled a little, "To continue to serve you, and to stay by your side." she said softly, pressing his hand to her face again. "I-" Rayne stopped and cast a glare at the broken wall as her hair blew into her face yet again, she was unused to it being unbound.
"You what?" he asked her, pulling out a crimson red ribbon and tieing her hair up in a braid "hmm....nah" he said undoing it, reforming it into a bun slowly and carefuly.
Rayne turned her head so that he could reach her hair, enjoying the feel of him playing with it, "I wish to stand at your side for the rest of time," she whispered, "I wish to help you to win this war, and settle down with you. After all that you have been through, you deserve to settle down."
"Why me?" he asked running his fingers through her hair as he undid the bun and began scrathing softly at the back of her neck "Why?...what is it that has made you endure this so long?"
Rayne smiled and placed her hand on his free hand, "You know me, once I commit to something, I'm in, with everything that I am."
"That still doesn't answer my question though" he said teasingly.
"You offered me the chance to live, and I took it, gladly. Then through watching you, and serving you, I grew to admire you...and then to love you." she whispered the last phrase.
"Hmm" Ullari sighed, caressing her neck nipping it an her shoulders gently "And why did none of this change when i so carelessly threw you to the wolves time an time again?" he said running his hands the lengh of her arms, then wrapping them around her stomach squeezing lightly.
Rayne sighed happily and leaned against him, resting the back of her head on his shoulder, "Because I am loyal to you, I would do anything for you, and...and I love you." she whispered, closing her eyes as she reached up behind her to caress his cheek.
Ullari drew his hands around her more firmly, smiling and shivering alittle at her touch. A satisfied smile crossed his face yes, no more will she endure this....no more sorrow an pain so long as i can help it he thought pleasently to himself. Looking down at her "Would you like to go somwhere or do somthing love?" he asked her gently stroking her side.
"I...I don't know. Go where?" She turned a little to look up at him, leaving her hand where it was on his cheek, "You descide." she smiled.
"Wherever you want...i can take you back to your tent so you can sleep....where would you like to go?" he said as he stiffled a yawn.
"I couldn't sleep," Rayne smiled, "so much has happened... Though, you look like you could use some sleep. Are you hungry?" she asked him, suddenly realizing that she was.
"Yes i am...what would you like to eat though?" he asked her with a long yawn.
"I don't care," she smiled, "I an so hungry... I haven't eaten since before you came back yesterday afternoon." she rose to her feet, grabbing Ullari's hand and gently pulling him toward the main area of the hall with her.
Ullari smiled as he followed her into the main hall. Looks of wonder followed the two of them how did she manage to get that close to him? was perhaps the dominating thought on their minds. The chef came bustling over to the two of them as soon as they sat down "My lord what will ye be havin tody?" he asked ignoring Rayne as had been the way of things in the past. Ullari looked kindly up at him "Somthing fit to celebrate an engagement" he replied simply, it being all he could do to not roar in laughter at the cook's flabbergasted look "Y-y-yes sir...be right out" he said rushing off. Ullari stood up on the bench seeing he had got everyone's attention "As of today men i am now engaged to the lady Rayne!" thunderous applause and shouts of joy followed as Ullari took his seat again the noise died down.
"Ullari!" Rayne exclamed, her face turning as bright red as her eyes. She looked at him, smiling broadly, her red eyes bright and dancing. She had never looked like this before, her eyes looked like the calm dancing burn of a small fire, not their usual look of a blazing forest.
The poor chef came scuttly back out again with bread butter and Ullari's favorite strong ale "And what would ye lik my lady?" he asked, obviously still confused and looking like he was questioning how much he had to drink. One of the captains...Ullari's only loyal dark elf captain an a nice chap to arose "Where will the wedding be m'lord an lady? Let's here it!" the room rang with the cheers and toasts again. The chef shook his very muddled head "i'm terribly sorry my lord what will you be having as well?"
Rayne looked about her, flushing even brighter, then looked up at the chef, "I...Whatever he has." Rayne looked over at Ullari, her mind was so muddled both with embarrassment and excitement, she couldn't think straight.
"Surprise us Chef" Ullari said lightly. The chef placing his hand on his hips turned to Rayne with a sigh "Very well then what to drink?" he asked her politely. Ullari took a chomp out of a loaf of bread eyes widening in pleasure "mmm mm mm...fresh out of the oven!" he said with a satisfied yawn as he bit into the warm loaf again. "Lady Rayne...so were will the wedding be sunce Ullari is determined to deny us an answer" the same captain asked, with a very pathetic look on his face. Everyone was in a good mood, and they knew they had nothing to fear from Ullari's mood swings now.
"Just some wine." Rayne smiled at the chef. Her eyes widened as her name was called out, "I...I don't know, we haven't really talked about that..." she looked over at Ullari, but saw that he would be no help to her, "Perhaps where the forest comes almost to the sea's edge, about a mile from the camp." she smiled at Ullari, hoping he liked the idea.
"Hmmm i like that" he said kissing her full on the lips before returning to his seat in front of her. "What do you have in mind? Is there any date certain?" the questions poured in from the captains an leautenants.
Rayne's eyes widened and her face flushed even brighter, if that could be possible, as Ullari kissed her. She sat there, staring across the table at Ullari, a giddy smile on her face, unable to quite take in all the questions.
"Why not today?" Ullari asked. It had stopped snowing and the sun had peeked out over the landscape. Moments later the chef brought out the meal, a massive steack on a bed of mashed potatoes steemned exotic vegtables, and several fine bottles of wine to go with it.
Rayne's jaw droped, "I...today?" she gaped at Ullari, "You...do you think we should?" She didn't know what to think, it all seemed so fast. But then, what did that matter? "I...I look a mess." She smiled at him.
"You? you look fine" he said kissing her full on the lips, sitting down an cutting into the steak. He looked up at her lovingly "If you are ok with today then cool...and if your worried about looking a mess...i'm sure i can do more than amend that" he said refering to his personal spa staff "Do you have a dress to wear?" he asked her softly.
Rayne returned his kiss this time, she sat there, gazing at him, "No, I don't have a suitable dress, just more like this one." she said looking down at her black attire. She loved her black, but she would not ware a black dress in her wedding. "When do you think I could get one by?"
"Now if you'd like.....i kept the one i made for my former fiance...and i think it would fit you much better anyways" he said kissing her forehead. "It would seem that you are in need of alittle pampering my dear" he said with a funney accent. "Are you going to eat? i can't eat all of this"
"Oh, of course." Rayne looked at her plate like she was surprised to see it, then took a bite. After a few moments she looked back up at him, "You made it? I would love that." she smiled.
"So when? what day and where?" he asked her as he downed a mug of strong liquor.
Rayne took a sip of her wine, looking thoughtfuly at Ullari, "Where I said before, if you like that idea as well. As to when...perhaps tomorrow would be better, we both need sleep."
Ullari let out a huge yawn, before begining to doze off on the lengh of the seat...he had had alot of liqour an food..and that made him drowsy "Tomorrow sounds great" he said softly.
Rayne moved to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder, "My lord, shouldn't you go to your tent?" she murmured, smiling, "Come, I shall see that you get there."
Ullari smiled "Thank you" he said rising to walk out with her "What's on your mind?" he asked playing with her hair.
Rayne sliped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked, "I...I am looking forward to tomorrow." Rayne blushed a bright crimson, "I never realized that I wanted this until it was offered to me."
Ullari gave her arm a squeeze "Well i am glad that i can offer you such a thing" he said softly as he bumbled along back to Rayne's tent
Rayne followed Ullari into her tent.
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