Ecthelion, is the chief city of Telpurion. Once the pinacal of High elf archetecture, design, and creativity Ecthelion has fallen into ruin with various factions now fighting each other in the once fair streets. Ecthelion is the only city left to survive Ullari's initial war, though this left most of the city in ruins. Subsiquent fighting by petty warlords, and former generals has left the city scarred beyound recognition.
Seriph gazed out into the city as the sun arose
it has been so long since i have been here he said with a sigh. Seriph started, as he eyed the large group of black hooded figures on the dock
I didn't think we where expecting a welcome party he thought warily.
Lomien, feeling the ship dock stirred quietly "We've docked already?" he asked drowsily. Lomien's eyes shot open catching the voices on the dock and sensing the disquiet in Seriph's mind
those aren't dock hands he thought to himself, closing his eyes again. That would have to wait he thought, not at all happy to be awoken in such a way.
Nin stirred, wakened by Lomien's stirring. "We have arrived?" She asked, her head still on Lomien's chest.
"Yes we have" he said looking down at her, reading Seriph's mind. Lomien had a slightly troubled look on his face as he saw out of one of Seriph's eyes
what's going on Seriph? am i needed? he asked, not likeing the memories that the black hoods brought up, and how familiar they looked.
Seriph eyed the fifteen of them as they came on board
It looks like we may be in a bit of a rough spot...i'll see what i can do to dissuade them he said approaching their leading. "What can i do for you?" he asked cooly "We own this port" one replied gruffly "We will now conduct an inspection of what you are carrying if you don't mind" he said with a grin
uh-oh trouble Lomien Seriph said to him.
"What is happening?" Nin asked feeling him stiffen beside her, she assumed that he was talking with Seriph, oh how she wished she could read minds too.
"I think we may be in..." his words where cut short as the door broke down, an in walked ten of the hooded figures "I do hope you intend to fix that" Lomien said icily, holding Nin tighter "Well well looky what we got her...a fat prize if i do say so myself, and what is this? a nice sword as well" one of them said with a laugh.
Nin jumped as the door burst inward, she glared up at the figures who had intruded on her few moments of peace with Lomien.
"I would suggest you leave, she is not a prize and that sword is not your sword is not yours to take" Lomien growled, his tone dangerous and low, one arm around her, and one resting beside him. "Aw you mean that pretty little thing isn't up for grabs" The thug said mockingly. Lomien struggled to contain himself, enraged at the disturbance and the insults.
Nin boiled, angered by the thugs' unguarded looks, but she remained calm. "Do not allow them to get to you love." She murmured so only Lomien could hear.
Lomien stared at them, the blackness began to creep in around the edges of his eyes "You really should take that back, she is mine, and is not your prize scum now leave at once" he growled, his voice taking on a slight disembodied tinge to it. Lomien kept his arm around her, his hand he had off to the side begand shaking, brief electric currents could be seen along it "Aw, but you see the group i belong to owns this port, and she would fetch a high price on the streets...enou
gh to cover your entry fee" he sneered eyeing Nin greedily. Lomiens' body began to quiver, heating up in his rage.
Nin took her eyes from the robed figures and turned to Lomien, placing her hands on his face, "Lomien don't," She whispered gently, trying to calm him, "They aren't worth it." She faced the thugs again, "You may not have me, nor anything else that we possess. You do not know who you are dealing with." she said, a dangerous glint in her now silvery blue eyes.
The blackness stopped so that it looked like they where black around the edges "Careful mortal, i don't feel like killing you or anyone for that matter today, so leave" he cautioned, his voice gutteral. "You? kill us? i don't think so. Fine then i'll take her from you by force" he said walking over to them. Lomien had had enough, outstreching his hand, turning Nin's face into him and covering her ears he let fourth four powerful lightning bolts. Four of them dropped dead, gaping holes where their hearts used to be, the smell of burnt flesh filling the cabin. The thugs looked on in slight fear now their eyes wide with terror.
Nin let Lomien hold her, she was still emotionally exhausted, she wanted to help, but she had little strength, and decided to save it in case he needed her.
The others decided to flee. Whaching them go Lomien looked down at Nin "It's over, it's ok little one" he whispered softly into her ear.
Seriph seeing the five come running out i thought there where ten?...oh.. he said as it dawned on him, whaching as the others left following them, calling out to them with shouts and curses to stop and explain themselves.
Nin looked sadly up at Lomien, "It pains me to see how our island has changed, and I have not yet seen it. We should go, it has been so long since I have seen my home."
"Very well" he said walking up onto the deck, glancing over at Seriph who had an odd look in his face "What's got you so riled up?" he asked him laughing. It was a good day, though Lomien was thinking about returning to the fighting rings to earn more money as he hadn't brought alot with him. Lomien tossed the five bodies over board with a snort.
Seriph smiled at Lomien "I'm guessing you did a number on them...oh my" he said seeing the holes in each of them.
Nin followed Lomien onto the deck and waited.
Lomien, now shrouded in a black cloak, Guthangs' golden sheath an hilt protruding from his side, walked off into the city very much at home now as he began looking for a place to stay.
Nin threw her own cloak about her shoulders and pulled the hood over her head, shrouding her face in shadow so as to attract less attention, and followed close beside Lomien.
Lomien slid back into his dark mindset, knowing how much Nin hated to see him when he was like that i can only imagine what she must think of me now he said. Noticing an inn at the top of the hill, one of his favorite haunts in fact when he cam to visit. Lomien entered in, payed for his reserved room and headed upstairs "Ehh Eldalir, who's the girl ya got with ya this time?" the inn keeper called up to him harmlessly "she is my wife jax" was his simple reply. Jax knew better than to ask anything more, quietly returning to his buisness.
Nin followed, gathering the skirt of her black dress before climbing the stairs. As she followed him she wondered where his mind was, what he was thinking.
Calmly opening the door, Lomien entered into the bunk bed room. The room was well furnished, and quite large. Kicking off his boots, Lomien curled up into the corner, dozing off. He was tormented by his guilt and regret.
Nin again sat on the floor beside Lomien and wrapped her arms around him. "Love, why do you let yourself be troubled? I am here, I always will be." She lifted her hand to his cheek and gently turned his face toward hers, "What are you thinking?" She asked looking into his eyes.
"Why has death evaded me? by all rights i should have been dead nearly six thousand years ago. What havoc i have wrought on this world, the turmoil an chaos, the wreched misery and sorrow" he said, looking away, coughing up a gout of blood from the misery.
Nin was startled by the blood, but did not show it, she gently wiped the blood from his mouth, "Lomien my love, look at me. Think also of the good that you have done, think of the lives you are trying to save from death and misery, think of the Alliance. Your men are not loyal to you without good reason, you inspire that in them, with your cause, your honor, your passion for the good of Arda. You must see that."
"What happened before though...with Ullari, and the hunting, fighting in the gangs of the streets" he said weakly coughing up another bout of blood as his misery intensified. Though this was because she had seen him at the edge of his former darkness. He had met her when he was turning from that path, and it was only now calling to him Tonight i return to the rings he thought to himself, he knew there was money and prizes to be had. Most of the prizes where unfortunate young girls who had been captured. Lomien had freed many such unfortunates, though he hated having to kill for the pleasure of others i'll wait till Nin is asleep he said sitting up and holding her to him.
"Lomien, stop this." Nin said wiping the blood from his mouth again, "You must not continue to punish yourself for what is thousands of years in the past. You cannot do this to yourself." She looked at him earnestly, "What do you plan to do tonight, or do we wait until morning?"
"Well we need money" he said slowly "I have my plans, but as for you little one i want you to sleep" he said reaching out to her forhead, he hated doing this but it was the only way he would be able to. Reaching into her mind, he manipulated it into unconciousness so that, like a tranquilizer it would put her to sleep for at least an hour "I'll be back soon my love" he said holding her close to him until she fell asleep, his hand not leaving her head till she had.
Realizing what Lomien was doing Nin began erecting her mental barriers, attempting to push him out, she wanted to go with him, she would not leave him. But he was stronger than she was, she lifted her hand to caress his face as she slid into unconsciousness.
"I'm sorry my love" he said, laying her down in her sleep. Lomien, locking the door, leapt out the window from roof top to roof top, towards his destination. Three hours later he could be seen walking back up the ally to the Hotel entrance, a young girl clinging to him in one arm, and large sack in the other.
Nin hardly stirred, though still asleep her sleep was no longer the one induced by Lomien.
Lomien lept through the window depositing the sack of gold coins with a thump, then setting the girl down on the couch in the other room "You will stay here tonight, tomorrow you will head down to the ship i showed you, where Seriph will meet you" he said softly closing the door. Lomiens' body was bruised and battered, he sat down next to the basin, carefully cleaning his wounds. Finishing that he went over quietly picking nin up and walking to the couch sitting down an stroking her hair. The little girl stood in the door way, whaching them.
Nin opened her eyes slowly, looking up at Lomien and passing her hand over his cheek. Feeling the eyes of the girl on them she turned to look at her. "Who is this?" She asked Lomien softly.
"A rescued child. I won her as a prize from the areana duels....more specifically for fighting a dragon, sufice to say i earned quite a bit of money" he said smiling down at her, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
Nin smiled happily as Lomien kissed her cheek, then realized what he had just told her, she sat up suddenly awake, "You fought what? Lomien, what were you thinking?"
"Was wondering when you where going to catch onto that now do i have to put you back to sleep again or are you going to calm down?" he asked her, already thinking about heading out again to the areana. If there was one place Nin could never convince her way into, it was the areana.
Nin sighed, "You do not need to put me to sleep. I just wish that you would be more careful." She said gently brushing her fingertips across his cheek.
"Very well my love, well i'm off the next round starts in twenty minutes, and no you can't come" he said smiling at her, kissing her forehead.
Nin wrapped her arms around his neck as he leaned forward to kiss her, "Just be careful my love." She whispered in his ear.
"I will, i will always come back to you Nin" he said. Lomien leaped out the window diving through the allyways to where he needed to be. The little girl that he had brought back came up behind her "You know him?" she asked with a slight smile on her face, her eyes sleepy as she had endured alot.
Nin followed him to the window. "He is my husband." She said softly, gazing out the window after him.
Near dawn, Lomien came staggering back he had freed fifteen children, all of whom including the girl where now in the ship with Seriph and the wraith guard. Lomien leapted up onto the living room window sliding in silently, his body covered in bruises and even a burn mark down his whole arm. He deposited several small pouches of gold much like the one he had brought back earlyer. Looking around he ventured into the bedroom looking for Nin, hoping she had slept through the night.
Nin sat on the couch, she looked up when Lomien entered the room. "Oh Lomien," She cried running over to him, seeing his state. "Are you alright?"
"It's only surface wounds my love" he said looking at her "We may have enough children to start that academy of yours that you talked about awile ago" he said smiling at her. Lomien enjoyed the areana, it was a chance to unleash his energies and to fight powerful opponents, but he was worried what it was doing to her. "Nin? Do you not want me to fight any more my love?" he said looking her, kissing her forehead and holding her tight. Lomien liked nothing more than to come home and find her safe.
"It's alright dear, I just worry." She said resting her head on his chest, content to just stand there with his arms around her. "You think so?" She asked, referring to his comment about the academy, "That could be wonderful." She smiled, wrapping her arms around him
"Almost all of them are girls, there are three boys though..they keep to themselves mostly" He said to her, very much enjoying the moment "I'm thinking about returning to the areana tonight again" he said to her, carefully guaging her reaction as he slumped down on the couch.
Nin's face fell as she sat down beside him, "If you wish." She said quietly, "But for now, show me our home." She said looking into his eyes, though she dreaded it a little, she wanted to see everything that had changed.
Lomien was already begining to doze off, this had been his rutine when he came here, only recently had he started accepting prizes "Nin, if you don't want me to fight, then say the word and that could very well be the end of it love. Come now, i'll take you to our old home, it hasn't changed abit, save for the slight decay of years" he said smiling to her, putting on a black silk shirt over his pants, glaring at the wound on his arm "bah, it will heal" he said looking around for somthing to eat.
"You can fight love, I know that you want a vent for your energy, and I like the idea that you are saving those poor children, just don't be careless. I want you to return to me in one piece after." She smiled, but there was still some worry in her eye.
Taking her head inbetween his to hand he looked her in the eye "What is it that you worry about love?" he asked her, gently playing with her hair as he spoke.
"About you, about loosing you." She whispered, pressing his hand against her face with her own.
"Nin, i will always return to you...maybe alittle beaten up..but nontheless i wil" he smiled at her, not wanting the moment to end.
Nin smiled, closing her eyes, "I suppose I know that, but I still worry."
"Wait for me hear my love, and please rest. Don't lose sleep over me. I will return to you i promise" he said picking her up and laying her down on the lower bunk. Lomien turned to leave grabbing a loaf of bread, and scarfing that down along with a large mug of ale.
"I will be here when you return." Nin said softly watching him.
"Fare well love" he said, walking out the door and down to where he was headed to.
An hour after he had gone, seriph showed up at the door, giving a gentle knock.
Nin opened the door for him, standing aside to let him in.
"Where did Lomien go now?" he asked exasperated.
Nin looked at him, slight worry showing through her smile, "He left about an hour ago for the arena."
"Again? he sighed. "Mind if i crash on the living room couch? Those kids are as loud as a riot" he groaned.
"Of course." Nin smiled, gesturing at the couch.
Seriph colapsed on the couch, very worn out from keeping fifteen kids busy. He dozed off into a sound slumber, though he did not snore.
Early in the mourning wile it was still dark out, a battered an torn up Lomien lept through the window, vaulting Seriph at the last Minute and landing softly on the ground. Lomien walked into the bedroom, collapsing on the couch, falling asleep quiker than usual.
Nin smiled and sat down beside her husband, she stroked his hair as she watched him sleep.
The sun began to rise, casting light on Lomiens many new battle wounds. He winced alittle in his sleep, his damaged body getting some much needed time to recover.
"Oh Lomien," Nin whispered to herself, "why do you do this to yourself?" She leaned down and softly kissed his forehead.
Lomien winced slightly, his eyes fluttering open alittle "Nin?" he asked, one of his eyes partialy swolen over "Wha-where am i?" he asked disoriented because he slept so hard, though his injuries did not help at all.
"You are in Ecthelion love, the inn remember?" She said softly.
"Yes i do now. Nin, i don't need to fight anymore, we have enough money to buy anything" he said weakly, the ancient sword wound on his face was bleeding now.
Nin smiled, though still worried, and wiped the blood off his face with the hem of her black dress. "How are you my love?" She asked leaning over again to kiss his cheek.
"Come here you" he said pulling her down close to him. For the first time since he could remember he actually began to shed his tears "For the first time, i actually thought i wouldn't make it home" he said earnestly to her his tone then taking on a lighter note "Why do you bother with an old beaten up and broken down crate such as myself?" he asked her teasingly. Lomien held her tight, happy to see her "I'm not going back Nin, i don't think i could do that to you again" he said softly to her.
Nin wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight, "Because I don't know what I would do without you." She whispered, burying her face in his chest.
"Today is my day off Nin, what would you like to do?" he asked her, though he didn't want this moment to end he knew he owed it to her to show her arround her former home.
"Well, after you get some rest, I would like to see the home where I grew up, and the Palace of the Counsel." Nin said closing her eyes, not wanting the moment to end.
"Th-the palace of thorns? What is it about that place that intrigues you so much?" Lomien said teasingly, ruffling her hair with his hand "Your home is un spoiled save by the time of it has spent uninhabited, alot of it is grown over by ivy" he said to her, kissing the top of her head.
"I want to see it, I still cannot remember what happened that day." Nin said, her eyes far away.
"Very well then, when do want to begin?" he asked her softly caressing her head.
"When you are rested." She said softly, "You have had a long night, you should sleep."
"I've slept at least for eight hours, it was midnight when i came in, and the sun as you can see is rising" he said to her. "I really am well rested, i ate plenty at the areana...an don't ask me where that is" he said in mock rebuke tossling her hair again.
Nin laughed, her voice light and musical, "Alright my love. Home first then?" She asked.
Glad to hear her laugh again, taking her hand he led her to her old home.
Her hand in his, Nin followed Lomien through the city to the familiar street. There she took the lead, walking swiftly up to the manor, then stopped. The once white architecture was decaying and covered with ivy vines. She approached the house slowly, memories flooding back, memories of her life in this home, of growing up with Lomien and Ullari, of her wedding, of Ullari's betrayal.
Lomien came up behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder "Would you like to see where we got married? you remember right? in the back of your house along the stone path leading into the guarden?"
Nin nodded, her eyes far away.
Lomien walked her to the stone walkway, parts of the wreath had now overgrown into a large bush, blocking the way into the garden "The palace if you wish to visit is actually visible from here, see" he said pointing to a large dome that was partially caved in near by.
Nin gazed at the garden, scenes of her life playing before her eyes. Playing with Lomien and Ullari as children, sitting and talking with them when they were older, and walking that stone path between rows of their friends and family to where Lomien waited for her..."So many memories..." She whispered softly, "And now everything is gone."
"I whached you, be born and raised here. There are few memories that hav remained long with me, the first being when i came back after a long time away, and you asked me why it was that i left you for so long and returned with strange marks and colors on me. The next being our wedding day" he said almost dreamily "I never would have known that the little girl i was initialy paid to whach over would one day become my wife" he said kissing her forehead.
Ninquelote smiled up at Lomien, her eyes refocusing. "It seems silly now, but I always wanted to spend my life with you, even when I was very small, but I had no idea exactly how things would end up.
"To tell you the truth..at the time when i was looking out after you, i had to remind myself that i wasn't your father. At the time i was engaged..." his voice trailed off, he hadn't spoken of that before. "I remember those little looks you used to give me" he said with a laugh.
"What about the time when we were engaged?" Nin asked him smiling curiously.
"I was engaged to another, you where young, she died on the day when we celebrated your...i think it was when you where 200 years old. You where so niave an happy at that time...you thought i was so out of it because i was tired" he said realising he had known sorrow all his life, he never did speak of his parents or his past.
Nin looked at him in surprise, "I had no idea Lomien, why did you never tell me?" She asked him, gently caressing his cheek.
"Like i said it happened a long time ago, you where so young and we where barely little more than guardian and charge at the time" he said to her "Nin, one of these days if you'd like when we have time to spend together i will tell you at last all that you wish to know..but such a tale would take alot of time..." he said smiling to her "Shall we visit the palace then?"
Nin looked back over her shoulder, gazing at the overgrown garden. "Yes, yes let's do that." She said.
Lomien walked off, taking a secret path he had long used to get to the the palace of thorns
Nin followed close behind him.
Lomien walking up the narrow ally way to the inn door, Nin's head tucked into him again. He stopped short as a group of ten large men appeared blocking his path.
Nin looked up and saw the men when Lomien stopped.
The leader, a tall elf stepped out with a leering smile at Nin "There is a high price for that little beauty you got in your arms there brute....name your price an will give it to" he said, the others behind him smiled darkly looking at her.
"Well, well boys..i do have a price for her infact" he said gently standing her on her feet "Whatever do you want her for anyways?" he asked amused for once, resting two hands on her shoulders.
"Ullari has a price on her head, he said we can do anything we want with her so long as she is alive when she arrives...which she will be" The leader said with a laugh.
Nin stiffened and glared at them.
"Well then, hear is my price" he said, four energy blades spang from his knuckles as he lept into the, cutting them to ribbons. The leader, now pinned beneath his boot "Now street trash what do you say to her?" he asked suddenly his vision went black as another ten came in five on each side of the ally way. Lomien collapsed unconcious running a knife through the leaders heart before slumping against the wall, dazed and pretending to black out.
"Now little girl, will we have to rough you up to or will you copperate? we would prefer you alive and squirming" one said wickedly.
Ninquelote stepped in front of Lomien, "You shall never take me alive, Ulari will never have me." She said softly her eyes beginning to glow white as she reached out to the man's spirit. Using her powers she induced a feeling of fear in him, a fear for his very life.
"Oh but how will you deel with the rest of us little girl?" one of them said coming up behind her, running his hand from her waist to her writs "Now need i break these pretty little things and kill him in front of you? or will you come with us?" he said whispering into her ear.
Lomien stirred, standing up like a drunk "You can not have her!" with that said they burst, filling the ally way with their blood. Lomien turned to the one behind Nin "Let her go" he said calmly.
Nin shuddered, feeling his hands on her. "Remove your hands, or your fate will be worse than theirs." She said in a low tone.
"No" was his simple reply as he grabbed her neck choking her "Lomien, either you back off or this one dies!" he said with a wicked smile.
Lomien calmly stepped back "I told you thug...you can not have her" he said whaching the thiefs eyes widen as he was hurled past Nin to his feet. First his legs broke, then his arms and back as Lomien sent him flying over the buildings. Lomien cast a worried look at her "Are you alrigh love?" he asked, more than tired of people trying to take her from him.
"I'm alright." She said rubbing her neck.
"Come on you, i think you've been through enough for one day" he said as they walked up an into their room. Lomien sat hunched on the couch, tired an weary from the day.
Nin sat down beside him, also exhausted, "Are you alright my love?" She asked him, laying her hand on his arm
"Yes, i am fine....just sleepy" he said, curling up, resting his head on her lap before dozing off. Sleeping soundly for the first time in awile, his mind an heart unburdened.
Nin smiled down at him, then carefully slid out from under him and lay down beside him, she wrapped her arms around him and fell asleep.
Next day:
Lomien's eyes shot open, seeing the sun peek in. Feeling a slight constriction, he looked down to see a familiar set of arms wrapped around him. Smiling, Lomien slid out leaping quietly off of the couch in search of somthing to eat, remembering he hadn't eaten much of anything in the last two days. Finding what he needed in the well supplied pantry, he decided eggs, bacon an a side of toast sounded nice now where did that keg of strong ale go? he wondered. Finishing he breakfast, setting some aside for Nin when she awoke he changed out of his by now ruined shirt an pants into a fresh one, maching the former in all save it smelt much better and didn't have burn rips in it. Lomien carefully picked Nin up, cradleing her, before dosing off again holding her tight.
Nin woke up and smiled, finding herself in Lomien's arms. "Love," She whispered softly, sorry to wake him, "might I get up to find something to eat?"
"You may, there are eggs, bacon an a piece of toast i saved you on the counter if you like" he said setting her aside. Lomien dissapeared through the living room window.
Nin smiled and watched Lomien dissapear, wondering where he was off to this time, then went to eat.
Lomien continued running down the ally ways, renewed of energy now resembling a vengful black wraith other than anything else. Lomien arrived at his destination, the den where the thugs had come from the previous day. With an inward below of rage he set into the inhabitants, with a massive explosion he whached from a nearby roof top as the building burned, the fire rage casting a black cloud of ash into the sky.
Ear walked down the side of the street in this strange new city, his hood up and over his face, hiding it from the light of day and everything else atound him. His arms folded his arms into the front of his belt and skirt, his tail sweeping at the ground behind him.
Nin jumped as she heard an explosion from somewhere in the distance, she went to the window to see the black cloud rise.
Lomien cruised the streets an ally ways hunting any of the purple robed gangsters, the remnants of whom where now terrified. Leaping from wall to wall often the only thing they saw before death was a black shadow.
Nin returned to her meal, wondering if the explosion had anything to do with her husband.
Lomien, arriving at the water front say the gangsters ships. An hour later these to where all ablaze, the cries an screams of crew members could be heard. Slipping quietly into an ally way, he ditched his cloths that stank of what he had been up to, donning a suit that was the same save that it didn't smell horrid. Smiliing like a chesire cat, he walked on to the inn.
Nin finished her meal and sat down, wondering where Lomien could be for so long.
Slipping quietly in through the bedroom window, Lomien began looking for his sword "I think i may just decide to show up to the areana tonight with a bit of a surprise...pay that fellow back for that nasty spear" he muttered quietly to himself, thinking Nin was asleep an not whishing to wake her, he crept around the room shrouded in black as he began looking under the bed.
Hearing movement in the other room, Nin got up and walked through the door, "What are you looking for, love?" She asked him smiling softly.
"Oh, i thought you might be asleep..aha here it is" he said pulling Gurthang from underneath a floor board. "You should rest, you've gone through alot" he said to her softly, quickly setting aside several peices of battle gear for the coming fight tonight. Having wrapped everything up in a small bundle, he threw it into the trunk. Lomien curled up into a corner on the uper bunk bed, unusual for him as he hated being atop rickety things.
"Lomien love," Nin looked at him curiously, "you are acting awefuly strange. What is the matter?"
"I'm just tired that's..all..." he said realising he was atop the bunk. Lomien quickly fixed that "The fires in the brawl district.....those are from me" he said his voice trailing off.
"I had a feeling." Nin said softly, siting down beside him, "What hapened?"
"I found the gang that molested you in the ally way the other day.....i found the one who ordered the hit, it turns out it was the leader. I destroyed most of the place...the fires will take care of the rest" he said quietly looking out the window..seeing the black smoke rising "That an i am also considering going back to the ring tonight"
Nin was suddenly worried again, though she tried not to show it, "I thought you said you wouldn't go back." She whispered.
Catching the sudden catch in her voice, he turned looking her in the eyes "What's wrong Nin?" he asked gently, searching her eyes for an answer.
"I just worry about you, you know that." She said softly, not meeting his eyes, "Yesterday, you told me that something happened, and that you would not return. I just worry that something worse will happen tonight."
"Tonight is my last night Nin, then tomorrow we will leave together for the Telpurion woods for the final leg of our journey to the wood elves" he said to her "However love...if you would like me to stay here tonight i could do that as well, it's up to you" his eyes where laughing, he was quite happy either way "Just be sure Nin that you are entirely at peace with your answer"
Nin looked up at him, and couldn't help but smile at the look in his eyes, "Go then." She smiled, "But don't be all night?"
"No i won't be all night, how could i? I think you're forgetting what night this is" he said teasingly. Of course she would forget....Gurthar wiped that from her when he attacked he thought, kissing her full on the lips before disapearing out the door before she could react. Lomien made a mental note to be sure to find somthing for their anniversery on the way back ya know..i can read minds any time i want, but i never seem to do so when i would've liked to he thought flitting through the shadows to the areana.
Nin sat there stunned for a moment, watching him disappear. What is he talking about, what night is it? she wondered thoroughly confused.
Hours later, with the sun almost set Lomien staggered out of the areana doors, bruised an bloodied but still alive now what to get her? he wondered noticing the fires that he had started earlyer where burning out of control in the gang districts, but everthing else around was unharmed it would seem they are cleaning house he thought bemused.
Nin sat in the room, waiting for Lomien to return, Elves have long been famed for their patience, but she was growing worried.
Lomien was by now at his wits end what does one get his wife when he's been married to her for two thousand years? he wondered, thourghly exasperated. He settled on a set of rare crimson orchids an a new gauntlet to replace the one damaged by the Minotuars at the fortress. Realising that it was dark an that he was now late, he scuttled through the ally ways back to the inn. Once there he alighted on the opposite side, walking with out a sound to the open window where he sat perched above, not sure why he was hidden on the roof.
Ear uncomforatlbe with the happenings around him, walked into an alleyway off one of the streets that he had chosen to walk down, merely walking into the shadows and disappearing. He walked onto the soft wooden floor of Lomiens room, not wanting to be a ghost or spectre for the moment. Letting his heavy boots thud against the floor. "What has the hour brought you M'iLord,?" He asked quietly.
Nin had not heard Lomien perch himself on the roof, she looked up at Ear as he entered, "Lomien has not yet returned, I expect him back soon however." The worry barely perceivable in her voice.
Lomien dropped in through the window, hiding the sack with the money an what he had bough carefully in the top bunk....making sure it would be out of Nin's reach "Ear, well met. What is it that i can do for you?" he asked, his bruises an cuts where now well concealed beneath a deep blue shirt that he had picked up for that reason.
Nin spun around, hearing him drop to the floor, "Lomien," She strode quickly over and hugged him, "Are you alright my love?" She asked worriedly.
Ear bows his head, but sniffed the air as Lomien greeted him. Looking square at his new fasioned blue shirt. He frowned slightly to where Nin could not see it beneath his hood.
May i count myself lucky that dear Nin does not have such an acute sense of smell he telepathed to Ear. Screaming inwardly because of the searing pain, from a nasty burn on his chest, he non-the-less embraced her "I'm fine my love" turning back to Ear "Ear, today Nin an i celebrate our wedding anaversery" he said awaiting to see the look on her face.
Nin's eyes widened, "That is what you referred to before you left. How could I have not known?"
"Yes that is what i reffered to when i had left" he said tassling her hair.
Ear could not help but chuckle at the two, as well as Lome's Telepathic message to him. His tail swept around him as he did so, kicking up a little dust.
I think our little gang problem is somhow related to Ullari and his Dark Army, possibly members of the original dark brotherhood...the very powerful one's that we had trouble with in making our escape Lomien said smiling down at Nin "Well then love what do you want to do? Oh and i brought you somthing" he said producing the rare Orchids and crafted armour peice.
"Lomien!" She exclamed, her eyes widening a little more, "They're beautiful. You know you didn't have to do this." She smiled, accepting the gifts.
"I know, but isn't that what makes it so much fun?" he said laughing, it had been so long since he had seen her so happy, and he wasn't about to let it end. "I had the arm an body piece made to replace the one's that had been damaged at the fort...by those Minotuars...ugh..nasty beasts...oh how the reek to...sorry i just fought a dozen of them" he said with a grimace.
"They're beautiful!" She smiled, wrapping her arms about his neck. "Thank you."
"You...my love, are welcome" he said pecking her forehead.
Nin smiled, pecking him on the cheek in return, then blushed a little, remembering that Ear was still watching, "How was the arena?" She asked, her arms still about his neck.
"The arena...yeah that was probably one of the most intense brawls i've had..." he said cutting himself off "This is supposed to be the day for you to be happy love" he said poking her nose before kissing her full on the lips.
Nin laughed, "What about you? It's your day to, you know."
"I know it is, but it's been so long since i have seen you smile" he said changing his shirt...he hated whearing blue. He stopped as he remembered the huge circular burn mark on his chest AH!!! how could i forget that?!?!?! he thought to himself.
"Lomien, what happened?" Nin exclaimed, her eyes resting on the burn.
"I got jumped in the Areana....one of the moderators let one guy use fire, the first blast caught me full in the chest...it was week though an from a great distance....he didn't want to kill me..i did not return the favor"
"We should get that taken care of, love." She said looking up worriedly at him.
"How? all the Docs around here are controlled by the gangs....who may i remind you aren't to keen on me being here...i've destroyed most of their best fighters...besides...i've sustained worse"
Nin looked between the burn and his face, "You are sure you are alright?" She asked him, still worried.
"Yes Nin, i'm fine...it's just a surface wound really" he said with a slight smile. Lomien began searching for a shirt to put on in order to cover up the nasty wound. Lomien's head spun in the direction of the window, as a baleful cry echoed through the night i though i killed that in the port fires!! he thought frantically....the ideaa of fighting a renegade custodian did not appeal to him....especially one that could weild fire an water with great skill.
Nin smiled a little, but spun toward the window as he did, "What was that?"
Lomien cast a worried look at her..knowing she would want to come. His reply was simple "Renegade elite custodian general......yeah problem...especially cause this one can summon some rather nasty stuff" he said with a grimace looking around for his armour. Lomien kicked himself for not telling her that not all the custodians where on their side.
"Why is it a problem?" She asked, "I thought all the custodians were either guarding the Palace of Thorns, or with you."
"I tried to create a new legion of custodians, summoning them from the spirt realm. Some...a couple hundred of the most powerful...rebelled and are now loose...they can weild elements..some very well an very advanced" he said grimmly. Lomien had a unique link with them, so he could sense those hunting them getting closer.
Ear let out a disatisfied grunt and took a step towards the window, "Let me worry about the Elemental Custodians, you two need to fall back to a better defendable refuge." He told Lomien through his mind, "Let me handle them,....... it is my duty.." He added breifly afterwards.
Very well Ear, but do not use any power that relies on the spirit...that will only make them stronger Lomien warned him, he knew what those monsters where capable of..but in force? Only creat a diversion Ear, you won't be able to defeat them..not in the numbers that they are in now. Create a diversion an meet us at the edge of the Telpurion forest beyond the Dagorlad in no less than three days time he said turning to Nin "Love, hurry, pack your things we will leave at once....and celebrate our anniversary later, come there's little time" he said gather what little he had brought.
Nin pulled the couple of things that she had brought back into her bag and stood ready to go. "Be careful Earoluim." She said softly before nodding to Lomien to lead the way.
Lomien led Nin through the pitch black. A normal being could not see in this kind of blackness, but Lomien could..after a fashion, by useing the spirit realm to guide his every step along the way. Leaving Ecthelion, he led Nin to the Dagorlad
Ear stood at the window, motinoless and without sound. His eye glazed over under his hood, a pale cream as he stared out into the space just outside the window.
The cries grew closer, and with it a chill came about, both inward and external. Twelve dark hooded figures on horse could be seen aproaching the inn. A blast was soon heard at the door, followed by shouts of alarm an screams of pain. All twelve where soon inside the room with Ear "Where is Lomien, he has somthing of ours. Give it up an you go free Daemon" the voice was cold, gutteral, and entirely disembodied. Its' very essence talored to chill an dishearten.
Ear turned slowly around, his eyes still pale and glazed over. "And you have something of mine." He said to them, through soul and mind instead of voice.
And what is it that we have of yours? one said to Ear. Custodians where all to familiar with the realm of the telepath. All twelve had long doubled edged blades that shone with a bluish hue.
Ear looked at each rebel Custodian with peircing eyes, which had now shaded into a rich emerald green hue, no longer was an iris viewable, "Don't be such ignorant shadows in the world, you know of what I speak." his voiced echoed in their minds as one, his image beginning to falter before them, like after images of a plucked string on a lute.
Like it will matter soon anyways..fool With that the each sent blasts of each element at Ear; fire, water, earth, air and spirit. some where very advanced in the more deadly.
Ear stood tall as the elemental damage collided with him, The fire and the water rolling off of him as if they were nothing to him, throwing his arms in front of him as the earth and the air collided with him, setting him back into a skid, the spirit setting into him and sending him back a bit further. He stood there for a long moment, finally he peeked out over his arms slowly, his green eyes ablaze and his sword in his hand.
Eldur reached Ecthelion by late afternoon. He felt such a strong feeling aroun him, it was a place with many powerful spirits. That made it difficult for him to reach Ninquelótë with his mind to find her. This place was so wrong for her. It had been hours when he finally spotted where se was, in an inn in the other side of the city.
He run there but when he reached the place she was not there anymore, he could feel her nowhere. But upstairs he felt of Ear, surrounded by a vast mass of spirits. He ran upstairs feeiling a great power of all the elements being summoned. He entered the room and saw Ear ready to strike.
Ear did not hesitate to strike as the door flew open and a new face entered his view, the room suddenly exploded, sending debris out into the streets below, the wall behind Earoluim all but gone.
The wraiths turned on Eldur an Ear, powerful creations gone horribly awry. "Need we summon the Deamon princes Ear?" one of them sneered, knowing that he was a Deamon prince and thus would vanquish himself in combat soon if he was not careful.
Eldur threw back his hood leaving his glowing silver-purple eyes appear. He knew he was not omnipotent, but he also knew that the wraiths did not know the limits of his powers. He materialized a bow and arrows out of solid air and threw one to the closest guardian.
The wraith danced aside, lashing out psychicly at Eldur, incensed at his attack.
Eldur was vulnerable at this attack at the moment, being connected with the spiritual realm made it impossible for him to set his mental barriers and cut connection. The only thing that saved him a bit and lowered the damage was the fact that he was deaf, and his mind was working a bit differently: with images instead of simple thoughts. Still, he knew that this was only a first time mistake, the wraiths wouldn't be fooled again. He attacked psycicly back to the wrath, throughing another arrow at the same time straight to the point it was moving to.
Ear looked about the twelve, suddenly striking out at the two with darker auras than the rest, consuming them both in black fire.
Eldur sent a quick image in Earolium's mind, trying hard to keep it secret from the wraiths. *It was showing Ear killing the two wraiths he was fighting while Eldur would make a counterplot on the rest, explaining at the same time that himself was vulnerable to spirits and he didn't have enough strength to fight them for long.* He made a powerful attack in the closest to him wraiths in order to attract their attention. Eldur just hoped Ear would not be surprised by his mentally communicating with him since it was the first time he did so except with Ninquelótë. He dared not look at him in order not to reveal that communication to their enemies.
One of the wraithes died instantly, consumed by Ear's dark fire. The other though sent a poisoned spear for his foot. The blade was sharp, dripping with a nasty poison.
Ear moved his foot quickly and moved to behead the dark aurared custodian.
Two deadly swords comprised of energy sprang from each of the Custode's hands. Dual weailding them, the wraith stood ready for Ear's attack, cutting his blade off at the hilt.
As two wraiths died and one paralyzed from Eldur's strong attack, he sent an image of pain to Earolium showing him that he could not continue for more. His only weapon against them was his mind; and that was unprotected too. He could not bottle up his pain for more, that costed him his life energy.
Realising that their intended target was not here, the wraiths vanished out of thin air, as their comrades in the dagorlad had called to them, claiming travelers had passed by that they might want to investigate.
Eldur sat down as the wraiths left the inn. He was exhausted and needed to replenish his strength. He waited for his enemies to be out of range and removed the anti-pain spell he had set on himself. The pain came at once, and his cry was so loud in both sound and psychic that it was heard and felt two hundreds meters away. He lied on the floor and passed out.
Ear lifted Eldur and the broken blade of his sword and quickly left the inn, heading out the town and wuickly into seclusion. Planning to meet up with Lomien and Nin in The forests of Telpurion.
Seriphim arrived at the rooms, seeing Ear and Eldur walking off in the distance "And ya'll left me to clean up the mess? thanks!" he said paying the innkeeper and cleaning up the room, which by now looked more or less like a bombed out warzone than one of the nicest suites in Echtelion. Finishing his work, he decided to head back to the border forts, the Alliance had retaken the ruins and where already in the process of making it a formidable bastion let's hope Lomien can get the wood elves to send men here, now that we have secured a stable route between Arda and Telpurion he thought to himself.
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