RDM RP Page #23

Suddenly Marthril felt a familiar weight on his shoulder. Zhenjai had, not meaning to, crept up silently, and she now rested her large head on her Rider's shoulder.

"Oh!" Sincalia said, distracted from her question by Zhenjai. "More dragons!" she exclaimed happily. "Hello, Mighty Dragoness, you may call me Sincalia," she greeted warmly, turning her eyes on Marthril. "I take it she's your companion?"

"Yes, she is my companion, and a beautiful one she is," Marthril replied, gently rubbing the side of Zhenjai's snout. Hello, Zhenjai. it's wonderful that you decided to join us. I've missed you, he said to Zhenjai. Then, Marthril turned his eyes back to Sincalia and gave her the information she desired about the new dragons. It took about six or so minutes to do so, but he said all that he knew of them.

Erindor listened to the conversation between Marthril and Sincalia, adding perspectives and information along the way. Soon the warm food in his belly and drink began to soothe and relax the Rider to a gentle doze. "Oh dear..." he said, jerking awake after his head began to hang, "...I think its best we call it a night; we've a very important morning tomorrow. Would you like me to assist you in organizing the effort to inform the citizens of my morning address?" he asked Marthril.

"If you insist, Erindor. You do not have to, for it is you who is to be Sar'dan's coming lord." Marthril stood up, laying his arm over Zhenjai's neck, massaging the area of her jaw on the opposite side. There it was softer and easier to touch for his thin fingers. He gave a calming smile before he met Erindor's eyes. "You look tired...don't you think you shall need some relaxation before tomorrow's arrival?"

Zhenjai rumbled a greeting to Sincalia, bowing her head politely, and in polite draconian spoke, "My name is Zhenjai. Pleased to meet you, Sincalia; the honor is all mine. " She then turned her head to her Rider and softly added, 'I missed you too, Marthril.' Zhenjai said, a smile stretching along her maw as she crooned lovingly; Marthril's touch felt warm and reassuring.

Marthril kissed his favorite dragon on the side of her head. How was your meal?

Zhenjai closed her eyes. 'Excellent. And yours?'

Marthril replied, It was well...I suppose. He laughed heartily. If you consider being too preoccupied with today's events and conversations eating a meal, then yes, I ate, but it wasn't exactly good; instead, it was rather somber. It shall be easier to meal when my mind is at peace with everything. Then he returned his gaze to Erindor. "What have you decided?" he asked calmly.

"That there is no point in worry that interferes with one's ability to perform, and therefore I shall retire unto an hour before sunrise. Meet me in the throne room at sunrise, organize messengers to spread the word throughout the city to meet in the Great Plaza a half hour past sunrise. Search and rescue must be well orchestrated and efficient...and it must be coordinated tonight. Call upon the emergency service marshalls and get them all on the same tune. The city must not be without arms either, sentinels and any available soldiers must report to the city walls. And to make sure that everyone is fed, see to a communal breakfast and lunch so that Sardan may regain her strength...alas, we'll discuss that in the morning. Call upon all the assistance you need to carry out my orders. Sardan may be hurt, but she is far from defeated; an injured animal is the most dangerous kind," Erindor said, smiling to that as he stood. "Excuse us, but I've not slept in two days and I've the blood from some ten thousand Hert'zar on me yet...goodnight Marthril, Zhenjai."

Sincalia bid them goodnight and followed Erindor's dragging feet. "You're exhausted! You've pushed yourself so hard, Erin, just come rest," she said, pulling him in the opposite direction of something that interested him.

"I was only going to-"

"The only thing you're going to do is get cleaned up, and go to sleep," Sincalia cut in.

"Well my chambers are this way..." Erindor whined, stumbling a little as Sincalia steered him about.

"And let me guess, forty some floors up?"

"...Sixty-four, actually..." Erindor sighed.

"Oh good god! Why?!"

"Erador needs the vertical distance to take off from the castle," Erindor explained, his eyelids drooping.

After a while of walking, they arrived at his chambers. "Oh my poor Hunter, what have you done to yourself?" Sincalia crooned as Erindor winced.

"Battled with the Dark Lord, and finished an army of Hert'zar," Erin replied, a small measure of pride tugging his lip into a grin as he laborously made his way to his lavoratory with his arm around Sincalia for support.

"And you reek of it too," Sincalia mused lightly. 

Appreciating the lightness of her notion, Erin chuckled, "Aye," he said, departing from his Love to start the coals that would heat water. "Brisingr!" he said, a spark of flame racing from his hand to the coals which instantly glowed red and burst into flames. He closed the cast iron door and rotated the water valve to open, which began filling the bath basin with warm water.

"You shouldn't use magic if you're so tired..." Sincalia reminded him in a gentle whisper, coming up from behind to help him remove his armor.

As plate after plate fell, they relaxed into a passionate embrace. Erindor shivered from an unseen chill, "...Water's warmer," he smiled, and they stepped into the salt infused bathwater.

"Let me..." Sincalia sighed, concern written all over her face and eyes as she sat behind Erin in the waters, studying his every lasceration and black bruise. "Oh, Erin...you're a mess! The pain you must be in..." she lamented, gently washing away the dried blood, earth, and salt from his emerald flesh. Erindor watched her with tender eyes all the while.

"...There's something that I've been meaning to ask you," Erindor began a while later as they lay together in repose on the bed.

"Meaning to?"

"From that night in the woods on, I knew that my heart's search for its companion had ended, and its journey with another had begun." Erin spoke softly, gingerly, lovingly, "I knew from your singing laugh, lightning wit, deep wisdom, and genuine unconditional love that I wanted you above all others. Your mind and emotions enchanted me as equally as your beauty, and I couldn't stop thinking about you, and I still don't stop thinking of you..."

"...Erin?"

"Sincalia, will you be my mate, my life long companion, lover..."

"Yes, yes, and yes?"

"...and wife?"

Sincalia gasped, looking up into Erin's eyes from his broad chest. Erin could discern the very constellations reflected in her liquidy eyes before she spoke, "It would be an honor, Erindor, Rider of Dragons, to call you my mate, life long companion, lover, and husband."

Erindor smiled broadly, wrapping Sincalia tight in his arms and rolled them across the bed in a giddy display of affection. "Yes!" he exclaimed, laughing merrily, "oh I love you!"

They rested together, dozing lightly as they exchanged sweet nothings and "I love yous" before Sincalia whispered, "Thank you, Erin...for your support, love, encouragement, and companionship; you've forever changed me."

"...Thank you, Sincalia, for your love, strength, wisdom, friendship, and companionship; I would not be where I am today without you," Erindor whispered in sleepy reply before he sat up to pull the covers over their shoulders. Sincalia curled into Erin, who snuggled around her protectively.

...All was content for now, and so he dropped into dreamless sleep.

Once Erindor and Sincalia had gone, Marthril set outside with the others, and a few fellow healers, and began preparing the city for the coming events by informing the villagers. Over the night, they organized a team to help start rebuilding what was destroyed. Farmers, located on the outskirts of the forests, brought spare food and clothing for those who had lost everything. Slowly, as the dawn drew nearer with each passing moment, the civilization was begining to prosper again. They knew that it would take a certain period of years before it was back to normal, but it was all going quite well. It was almost a sleepless night for carpenters, farmers, healers, stone workers, and the like as determination for a better place to live drove them to these extremes. Marthril had to gently force the people to halt in their works, at midnight, in order to make sure they recieved their strength for the following day. With a band of soldiers, Marthril extracted the dead from the streets, separating the elves and humans from the Hert'zar, and mustered four piles of wood for a burning outside the city. Soft drums of mourning for fallen soldiers sounded beneath the stars; then flames rose to lick the darkened sky until the beginning of the new day.

By the time the sun had completely risen, Marthril had everything prepared for the crowning of the new king. The streets and the towncenter were decorated in pure white and silver. By the brink of the forest in the north, tremendously far away from the burning site, sat two white pillars parallel to eah other and they were decorated with grape vines as it would be with a Roman ceremony. A lengthy, snow-colored carpet stretched from the pillars down to the northern gates; it was brimmed with silver rose flowers, and in the very center was a metallic image of a dragon roaring to a glittering moon. Behind the pillars, centered in view, was a statue of the beautiful dragon Illatrius in all her likeness and glory. The statue itself sat like a proud lioness as Illatrius's neck was bent back in a way that made her look as if she was patiently waiting for the forthcoming lord of Sar'dan, waiting for the one who would watch over the city her Rider had left behind in regret. In front of her was a white table, bearing three candles where the one in the middle was the tallest. This place was not only made for the crowning, but would also be where Lord Malias's funeral would be held, and it is where a gorgeous wedding will arrive in time to come that shall bring joy and hope back to the city and to the two special people.

Satisfied with his work, Marthril walked up to the statue of his father's dearest companion, sighing while looking up at her wonderful face. He missed her so much, but it didn't quite compare to how much he missed his father. He wished his mother Nasayla hadn't betrayed them, else Malias would yet be alive. He laid his hand on the side of Illatrius's face as he reached up, and he rubbed it gently, wishing it was the real thing. A single tear trailed down his cheek; Marthril's throat ached as the sorrow swelled. All he wanted in this moment was to be alone in solitude along with the comforting, warm wind that brushed his visage and caused the vines to sway. Everyone was asleep, he knew that. Yet, for some reason he wanted everyone to wake up so the sorrow would disappear...at least temporarily.

Ar'rias exited the forest after his deer feast, and upon noticing Marthril, the Starlight Dragon lowered his head in understanding. even though the prince wasn't his rider, he easily understood the elf's feelings because of his ties to Theria. Ar'rias layed down like a cat on the dewy, green grass, gazing over at Marthril in deep, deep thought. A plume of smoke left his nostrils. He sensed Theria was awake, so he decided to draw her here. Theria, if you can hear me, please come to the northern gates. You will see me by the forest west of the place of ceremony.

Okay! I'm coming! came Theria's sweet reply and in another eleven minutes Theria was there at the gates searching around with her eyes for Ar'rias. For a moment she was captivated by the elegant scenery before here. "Huh?" She tilted her head to the side when she saw Marthril lonesome by the statueof Illatrius. He was sitting down at the dragon's side with a raised knee and his left elbow rested upon it. Marthril's left hand was clenched into a gentle fist as he supported his chin with it. He was in strong reveries, and Theria believed that it might be best to leave him alone. She saw Ar'rias and ran up the hill to greet him by a grouping of trees. "There you are," she said quietly, hoping not to disturb her cousin.

We should speak with our minds, Ar'rias thought silently to his rider. This is going to be a difficult day for Marthril, so it would be better to leave him at peace.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Sincalia watched from the bed with amusement as Erindor hopped from the bathroom into the bed chamber in a vain attempt to fit some skivvies on.

"They're stuck on your talons, dear," she crooned, her eyes sparkling. 

"Oh, got it...got it! No I don't got it!" Erindor exclaimed, falling over and caught himself on a bedpost.

"You should slow down," Sincalia advised, kissing him on the forehead as he pulled himself up. 

Erindor unhitched his talons and sighed in relief when the skivvies were around his waist. "I told Marthril to expect me at the throneroom before sunrise...its clearly after that event."

"Well that may be, but you sir have been awake for two days straight with little food or water...and have slept perhaps only six hours to make up for all that," Sincalia reminded him, walking on her knees and embraced him with her arms and wings. 

"This is truth," Erin admitted as he relaxed into her embrace, his head resting on her shoulder. "Erador? Where are you? I lost tract of you when you went hunting last night," Erindor queried, searching the lands for Erador's bright mind. 

Erindor would find it surprisingly close, "Take a look outside your window," Erador replied in his serious, confident voice. 

Both Sincalia and Erindor turned their heads, and watched the great Erador rise on a thermal to the windows. He beat his wings in a hover, "Goodmoring, Sincalia, Erindor," Erador greeted. "Congratulations are in order for the lovers!" he beemed, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for the big question! BUT! I've excellent news, I've met Aravath's sister, Cantalith! She followed us back from the rocky craigs..." Erador recounted the story and all the relevant facts.

"That's simply beautiful," Erindor remarked, smiling broadly. "I'm happy for you...a dragoness...finally! Hah...like a Pheonix, Sar'dan and her people shall rise from the ashes!"

After eating a wholesome breakfast and dressing in their finest, Sincalia and Erindor rode upon Erador's shoulders all the way down to the throne room. Garbed in fine white leather and silver silk, Erindor approached the great marble throne with hesitation.

Sincalia came up beside him and set a hand at his shoulder, "Step up, Big Boy," she sauced, giving a catty smile. 

Erindor replied with a kiss and moved in two large strides to the edge of the prominent seat and sat slowly. He shuddered, feeling the magics of authority recognize the new and alien individual. A great feeling of relaxation and confidence soothed Erin as the magics accepted the change in authority. 

"...Come sit with me," Erindor said to Sincalia.

"It seemed more like a monument and a symbol when Malias sat upon it. Seems to fit your larger form quite well," Erador observed as he sat on his haunches behind the throne.

"We'll need a second one, though," Erindor replied.

"Why?"

"For Sincalia, of course," Erin said, wrapping his arms around Sincalia's abdomen as she sat on his lap. Erindor set his head on Sincalia's shoulder and nuzzled her chin, "Comfortable?"

"Very," she crooned, leaning back into Erindor.

"You two..." Erador chuckled. "Where's Marthril?"

"I was wondering that myself..." Erindor replied. He closed his eyes and searched Sar'dan for the elf's mind. "Marthril, I await your council in the throne room."

Of course, came Marthril's reply, shaking away thoughts of the past. standing up, he peered out over his surroundings. It will take me a few moments to get there, for I am on the hills a little beyond the north gates of Sar'dan. I have been up all the night with preparations. The elf prince laughed in his own amusement. Even so, I am on my way. Then Marthril left down the hills on swift feet. Because he was an elf, he was capable of running faster than a human; so, reaching the gates became a matter of of five seconds. He was is such a hurry that he wasn't even aware of Theria and Ar'rias's presence by the forest. Marthril skidded across the dirt before turning down a wide street that would lead him to the castle of Sar'dan. He came up a flight of thirty-six stairs to the stone platform where the royal dragons of riders would typically take flight when they had the need to. Across this lengthy landing platform, he climbed up another five steps that brought him to the wide castle doors. Marthril stated his name and the doors were opened to allow him to procede.

"Erador? Where did you happen to hide the eggs? Are they coinceiled?" Erindor asked as Sincalia and him stood and rested instead against the back of the throne.

"They're by the fire in your bed chamber. I sent the order to have the coals maintained so the eggs would be warm," Erador replied in Draconian.

"Good, good. Have you talked with Ajin or Avarath this morning?"

"Aye, they're recovering from their ordeal," Erador replied. He stood and began trotting off, "I'm going to keep the eggs in my company...leaving them unprotected is foolish. I'll be back soon." 

Erindor sent a mental message of affection, "Been missing you. Don't tarry."

Marthril stepped into the throneroom and looked around. The place was empty, save for a servant going this way and that, tidying the place. Marthril leaned against the the left wall after the royal gaurds sealed the entrance. His patience was incredibly thick and it was possible for him to wait for hours before meeting with the person who requested his presence, even though he knew that it wouldn't really take that long. Marthril reached out his thoughts to Zhenjai, If you're awake, I wish you a good-morning, Zhenjai. We need to fly together some time. I dearly miss your company.

"Goodmorning to you, Marthril," Erindor and Sincalia welcomed simualtaneously. "You haven't slept, have you?"

"Good-morning to you both as well," Marthril replied, peering over to them. Then he laughed merrily. "No, I haven't at all. There was far too much to do." Marthril stepped away from the wall and came over to Erindor and Sincalia in order to greet them. He gave them a proper bow from the waist up and smiled. "It is very good to see you both on this special day. How fare you?"

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