A very disheveled looking Ninquelote wandered through the masses of casualties, watching as the wounded were taken from the field and the dead were taken to be disposed of.
"What do we do with the Dark Elves, milady?" A soldier asked.
"Burn them." was her hoarse reply. She resumed her search, silent tears running down her face. As the sun began to rise, she found what she had been looking for, yet had dreaded finding. A figure hung limp on a cross bar nailed to a tree, and though it was dark, she knew that Lomien was on it. She ran forward, stumbled over a dead Dark Elf's body, and landed at his feet. She knelt there a moment, too afraid to reach out to him, too afraid to look at him, when she did, she was surprised to find him alive. Nin stood, "I need a healer." She called as loud as her voice would allow, "Someone get him down from there."
Lomien stirred slightly, and in doing so fell face first onto the ground. Pain wracked every part of him "Ow" he groaned, surprised nothing was broken.
"Lomien!" Nin cried, falling to her knees beside him, she gently rolled him onto his back, "I need a healer!" She cried again, "Lomien, my love, can you hear me?"
His vision blured, he grabbed her by her neck thinking her to be one of his tormentors. Pain seering through his body, his entire frame covered in welts and bruises.
Hearing a voice desprately crying out for help, Celeste, still in her cloak, though now extremely bloody from opening her wounds, ran toward it. Realizing it was Nin, she sped up, willing her legs to go just a little farther. She stumbled to an abrupt halt, however, when she saw the hand around her neck, then saw it was Lomien. "Nin?! Lomien?! What's happened?!" She then grabbed Lomien's hand to yank it from Nin's delicate throat, causing immense pain to herself.
"Who..who are you?" he asked, pain so intense it made it hard for him to see and hear...feeling his hands pryed off of her throat he slumped against the tree "What..who..wh
at happened..who are you?" he asked, his voice slurred slightly.
Celeste's eyes were a bright ond worried green. "Lomien! Are you alright?! Then turning to Nin, she moved the tall elf back into a sitting position. Turning back to Lomien, Celeste asked, "What happened?" Took both his hands and tried to calm him, before he made any more harsh moves.
Nin gasped for air, then leaned over him again, "Lomien, Lomien it is me, Ninquelote, your Nin..." She looked up a Celeste, "He was tied up, they must have tortured him..." Tears streamed down her eyes as she looked around for a healer, but there were none in sight at the moment.
Celeste looked up into Nins eyes, her own eyes still a startling green, and relinquished Lomien's hands for his love to grasp. "Do you think we could carry him?"
"I...I doubt it." Nin said softly, taking Lomien's hands in hers, "Besides, I don't know what they've done to him."
Celeste glanced around her small party, looking for a possibly workable wagon or cart, but found none. Standing up and gasping at the pain that ran down her entire body, she hefted Lomien's arm around her shoulders. "Come on, we have to try" and motioned for Nin to do the same.
Nin pulled Lomien's arm over her shoulder and stood also. The picture looked rather silly, two slender females, trying to carry a taller, and much broader male.
The two women began the long walk back to where they hoped to find a healer. Celeste knew that every step she took opened her burns to expose the sensitive skin below. She winced, but thankfully Nin didnt notice. Celeste didnt like showing weakness. I just hope we can get him back...moving him, especially in our states of being, probably wasnt the best of ideas, but its all i could think of. Please, Lomien,just hang in there...and Celeste, just keep going...
Nin continued forward, too exhausted to do anything more than put one foot in front of the other.
Lomien stood back "I can walk" he said softly. He walked slowly to where the breach in the wall stood, only to stumble and fall on the masonry...his tattered leg giving out.
Celeste grabbed at him, "No, you cant" and hoisted him back onto her shoulder, giving a yelp of pain as she tore open the skn on her shoulder.
"Celeste, your in to much pain to do this sort of thing...i'm fine...i just need some time to recover and rest" he said. He could sense her pain, and he sympathised with her....having been torn to ribbons himself.
"Then I shall carry you." Nin said pulling his arm back around her shoulder, "Celeste, you will have enough trouble carrying yourself."
Lomien rcoiled in pain "I told you...i'm fine, just need time to rest" he sauid through gritted teeth. Most the blood had dried, pain just cut like a knife through im if he so much as moved...though this was slowly fading.
Nin's kneed buckled and she found herself suddenly on the ground.
"I'm fine, really, let mejust help you inside" as she stooped to give Nin a hand. Ugh...I'm not sure I can even take anoher step, but I must try... Eyes going a dull red, showing her anger at not being able to help as much as she would like and at Lomien's refusal to her assistance, Celeste hoisted Lomien and started walking with him again, not taking no for an answer. I shall get him to a healer first, for he is far worse off, then I shall go back to make sure Nin has gotten herself to one as well, and if not, I'm sure Ill be able to endure one more...
Nin stood again and helped Celeste with Lomien.
Lomien stood on his own two feet, by now more irratated than ever "Would somone mind telling me what's going on here?...got a rather nasty bump in the head and i can't really remember much before that at the moment" he said placing a hand on a cut above his forehead.
"The battle, Lomien. The Dark Elves must have gotten a hold of you." Fresh tears rolled down Nin's cheeks, "They tied you up and, knowing them, tortured you."
"Yeah...they did...alot of it to, the several others taken with me where less fortunate" he said grimmly. Lomien sat on a pile of crates "Any one know where a room with a half decent bed is? part of the torture was sleep deprivation" he said with a smile.
Nin couldn't help but smile a little as she sat down beside him.
Ryoni's body was covered by another dead wood elf's body as she stirred slightly, pushing his heavy body off of hers. She stood up and rubbed her temples. Wh-what happened? Did...we win? Ryoni thought to herself as she looked around slowly. We won? ...but where is everyone?
Noticing the wood elf's body move, and a set of vaguely familiar white hands emerge, a weary Lomien walked over. Seeing Ryoni "Well it would appear they gave you a knock on the head as well...though i do say you are lucky, come along" he said lightly, gently pulling her out to avoid re-injuring her if she had been hurt.
She followed behind her as he gently pulled her along, looking around slowly. "Oww..." She breathed softly, noticing a dagger in her side. She looked down at the dagger strangly and grimaced in pain. "Where did this little bugger come from?"
"You may have fallen on it" he said wearily, dried blood and scabs covering his body from the torture administered by the Dark Elves. Looking down at the dagger in her side, he sat her on a fallen portion of masonry "Now hold still...this might hurt" he said having grabbed a few things that he needed from a store room. Lomien removed the dagger from her side checking it over "Well your lucky...at least it doesn't appear to be poisoned" he said staunching the wound "Now is there any pain around this wound besides the immediate point of entry?" he asked concerned. His face, though slightly bruised and bloodied from the beatings was rather lively, though he was still quite sore from being beaten across the back and legs, though they had not had the chance to use the flog which was good, as he at least had his clothes intact. He did however lament the fact that his armour had been destroyed.
Ryoni bit her lip to keep from crying out in pain when he removed the dagger from her side. She shook her head slowly. "I don't feel any other pain, but doesn't some poisons take a while to fully kick in?" She tenderly placed her fingers on the wound, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through her body from the touch of her fingers.
"A poisoned blade has a distinctive color...this one is only coated in your blood" he said softly "I wouldn't agravate it. You're very lucky then that it only damaged flesh and not anything vital" he said with a smile.
She smiled weakly back and nods. "Yes, I am very lucky...though believe me, it came pretty close to my liver." She lowered her hand back to her side and looked up into his face. "So...what happened Sir?
"In short my dear....we won, though most of the defenders are now dead or soon to be. I was hit over the head at the breach...and came to with my hands around Nin's throat...she looked like one of my tormentors...yeah..so im not sure where we will go from here...perhaps further in...it seems like there is a great war brewing and i don't want to be caught in it" he said grimly. "All i want right now is a little r&r time...and a break from being at the front of a war would be nice..but that follows me every where i go"
Ryoni moves uncomfortably on the stack and looks around. "I need to get some rest too...my body hasn't recovered fully yet from my years of being tormented and the few fights that I have been in lately." She gingerly leaps off the stack and tests to see how well she can walk.
Nin came to stand behind Lomien, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'd be careful if i where you...to much movement will re-open the wound" he said leaning against Nin when he felt her hand on his shoulder. "And how are you love?" he asked her.
The small woman nodded once and waved at them both. "I will find a room so I can gather my strength again. See you both when I wake back up." Ryoni carefully moved down the halls, finding a room before entering it and closing the door. She then climbs into the bed and falls asleep.
"Better, now that I know that you are alright, my love." Nin replied softly.
A slight laugh escaped him. Lomien looked out across the smouldering battle field. The Wood elves had won, but at a cost.....in many places there where far more Wood elves than Dark Elves They can ill afford such losses, and armour is slow in making its' way to the front Lomien thought to himself, as he walked to the Castellan's rooms having been told he could use him by the lord of the castle himself i look forward to an actual bed and not a wagon barrel
Nin looked forlornly out at the battlefield, so many dead, and so many souls who remained, bodiless. She turned and followed Lomien.
Darting quickly into a dressing room, with a grunt and a growl of pain, discarded his blood caked clothes in exchange for black pants, and a blood red shirt much better. He thought as he collapsed on the bed, his aching body all to ready to rest.
Nin was not quite as weary as Lomien, and so washed before dressing. Nin entered the room in a long pail blue dress that set off her eyes. "How are you doing my love?" She asked him, sitting on the bed beside him.
"Enjoying a soft feather bed for the first time in what feels like an age" he said, his voice very muffled and distorted as he had his face down in the bed. Hauling himself up to the arrangement of pillows only to nest in them as well "That dress looks good on you" he said softly, looking at his arm. First it had been burnt by Nin, and then beat and battered by his captors, and until now he had kept it hidden...because it looked like a mess what a mess!!! he lamented to himself.
Nin stared at his arm, "Should I go find a healer?" she asked softly, "That doesn't look good." She allowed herself to let her long white fingers rest on a small bit of his arm that was not so bad as the rest.
"It's fine...it doesn't even hurt...i have full feeling in it, though some of the movement is obstructed because of the scabbing...other than that...it's all good" he said with a smile to be honest the stupid thing itches like all get out...and your fingers resting on it feel quite nice he thought pleasantly to himself.
Nin gave him a look that was half smile, half mixture of skepticism and worry. Nin sat closer to him and began running her fingers through his black hair.
"What are you so worried about?" he asked, sensing her worry and far to put out to tap his abilities.
"You," she said absently, running her fingers through his hair, "Are you truly alright? You truly do not think that you need a healer?"
"Yes Nin i'm fine...i'm only sore because of the constant beatings...all the wounds have dried up" he said reassuringly "Where do you want to go to now love? I think we should await my brother's assault here...though there would be no way to get our armies here, likewise there is no way the wood elves could come back with us" he lamented this, for the combined might would be more than enough to crush Ullari, though the wood elves would be unable to break through the port fortresses, and he doubted the Alliance could mach the amassed might of all of Ullari's thralls. At least at the moment.
"For now at least, we stay here." Nin said, smiling down at him, "You need much rest, we both need rest. We should await Earoluim and Eldur here. When they arrive we shall decide what our next move shall be. If that decision has not already been made for us."
"Yeah...you mean so long as they manage to get through with their heads still on them, and we aren't driven from this fort righ?" he asked teasingly, turning around and kissing her on the lips.
Nin started to say something, but was cut off by Lomien's kiss. She sighed happily, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Lomien smiling at her, rested his head again on the pillows this time facing her "My my you look alittle happy" he said smiling at her, before scratching at a spot on his shoulder this will be interesting...i hate scabs...things always have to itch so badly he thought to himself.
Nin blushed, and smiled, "I am happy that you are alright. When we couldn't find you, I was so worried." her eyes grew dark as she spoke, but she shook her head and looked back up at him, "Do not scratch at it, you will only make it worse." She smiled, taking his hand in hers.
"I know" he said kissing her hand, then resting his head on it. "What is it that made your eyes grow dark love...tell me..please?" he asked her, stroking her arm.
"I feared that I had lost you Lomien....I never want to feel that fear, but it has become so common." Nin's fair features grew pained.
"Easy love..come here" he said pulling her close to him. "What is it? what about it has you so upset and in pain?" he asked softly, trying to calm and ease her.
Nin let him pull her close, and wrapped her arms about him, "I am just weary. Weary of fighting, weary of fearing for this world, and most of all, fearing for you."
"Well one part of that delema can be ammended, in that you need to learn how to feel without it affecting you so much...the other two would be amended if you had stayed away from my brother and i like i had warned your father and mother....oop" he said, realising he was delving into somthing that he did not want to reveal to her "Take it from me...yes i can feel all the spirits around me, it does not faze me, many of whom i talk with after a fashion...sending them on their way to the after life before they trouble anyone or further damage themselves" he said softly.
Nin looked up at him, "What about my mother and father?" She could not remember him ever saying anything about her parents.
"They...as you know...died..Ullari killed your father when he was trying to sneak into get you...your mother chanced upon me....thinking i was the culprit flew at me...me not being able to see so well, and her shining some increadably bright light in my eyes...lashed out...Ullari never found you..hearing your mother's death cry, he realised that somone else was there...not whishing for a fight...he fled" he said softly.
Nin bowed her head, she did not know how her parents had died, she had always assumed that it had happened during the Dark Brotherhood's attack on Telpurion, but she guessed that was because of Gurthar's tampering with her memories.
Lomien, turned over, staring off into the narrow window onto the burnt and charred battle field.
Nin propped her head up on the hand that had been burnt by the deamon, and placed the other on Lomien's shoulder, "What are you thinking about love?"
"I wish i could bring her back for you Nin...i wish i didn't lash out so quickly.." his voice trailed off "There are so many things i could have done Nin that i didn't do and it caused hurt...or that i did do and brought death and war"
Nin's fingers gently traced along his shoulder and upper arm, "It is alright Lomien, it was an accedent. Lomien, things happen, whether we will them or not. All we can do is accept them and make the best we can of our situation, and try to make it better."
"My whole life Nin i have been fighting...always fighting, first in the Dark elf wars, then in the under ground in the gangs....and now this. Death follows me, maiming and taking all around me, but never me...never me oh no it leaves me to reap the bitter after math" he said bitterly, tears welling in his eyes. He was glad his back was turned to her.
Nin moved closer, wrapping her arm around him, "But death has not taken me, Lomien. We both have been left in the aftermath, and we will survive it together." she whispered softly in his ear.
Lomien had swallowed the bitter pill of fate for thousands of years, and it was begining to show "I still have you Nin...and i will not lose you" he said turning back to her, she would be able to read his mind..he had no barriers up. His mind strayed to first his family, the deaths of them, his sisters and brothers, both older and younger for he came from a large family. Then on to the loss of the two he had loved before Nin, and his fleeing to Ecthelion, only to be betrayed by his one remaining brother, whom he now wanted dead more than ever.
Nin looked into his eyes, she saw what he was thinking and her heart was pained for him, she held on to him tighter and buried her face in his chest.
"Does it bother you my love...that you where not the first?" he asked sorrowfully, trying to get her to talk. Lomien gently wrapped his hands around her slender form.
"No, it does not." Nin said sincerely, looking into his eyes, "You are much older than I, it may be expected."
"To be honest Nin, you are actually the first..the first i was able to love, the others i had known for maybe a year...as is custom for such things...but they died shortly after" he said giving her a gently squeeze and kiss on the forehead "I don't think of them as lost lovers Nin...just close friends who died" he said playing with the back of her head "You are my love, no one else"
Nin took his hand and pressed it to her cheek, smiling a little, and lay her head down on the pillows, "I almost whish that we could remain here forever." she sighed.
"As do i Nin, after...when this war is done, i will take you where ever you want to go to, settle down, and spend as much time there as you please" he said dreamily, he wanted a world safe for her...but he knew that this would come at the price of his brothers life...and that meant breaking a promise he had made along time ago...a promise that had kept Ullari alive more than once.
Nin just nodded and closed her eyes, very close to drifting off to sleep.
Lomien, giving her the illusion in her mind that sher was still holding on to him, slipped reluctantly from her embrace. He had heard a cominque from one of his scouts...a message had been intercepted...a message to Lomien and his presumned alive captors. The letter read My dear brother, how unfortunate that they have captured you. Oh of course it was all at my bidding. Now then that you are out of the way for the time being, i will take your lovely little prized wife that you stole from me...use her, and return her to you as little more than a broken, and worthless husk...rest assured she will still be alive...though im sure by then you would have wished her dead. I enjoy savoring her in the ritual...oh and to sweeten the deal...you both will get to whach each other die Lomien fumned over the letter.
Nin stirred a litle as Lomien left, but did not open her eyes.
Ullari, walked amidst the ruins of the grey lands battle field, the Dark elves had perfectly created the diviersion he needed to get across. Dressed as a hooded and shrouded traveler, as well as his ten body guards. Nearing the river he recognized a ruined armour set "So my brother lives...hmmm, very well then we will have to wait more patiently then ever, though with the wood elves now split and divided in civil war...this should be simple" he thought, continueing across the plain to the edge of the woods.
Nin opened her eyes to look up at Lomien, she was taken aback, seeing that he was not there. She rose, pulled her cloak about her shoulders, and went in search of Lomien.
An hour after she had left, Lomien returned. Finding her gone "Hmm...must have gone out for a walk or somthing" he said leaserly...still troubled by the letter does that mean he's here? but why now? he must be getting desperate he thought casually.
Ullari, shrouding his presence so that he would be taken either as a stranger if seen, or entirely undetected if not. Seeing Nin this will be to easy he thought, reaching out and paralyzing her abilities tinker with this alittle, shut down her abilities and snare her he thought to himself, concealing any recognizable signature, and hoping that he wouldn't chance upon Lomien till he had his prize.
Nin stopped abruptly, feeling her connection with the spirit realm severed. She looked around, cursing herself for not having re-erected her barriers, and searching for the source of the deed, she saw only one small group of people standing not far from her.
Noticing her distress, Ullari put on the facade of a young, yet experianced healer "Trouble ma-lady?" he asked feigning to be one of the many healers of the castle.
"Perhaps." Nin was a little suspicous of this hooded stranger, yet there was something strangely familiar about him... "Who might you be?"
"One of the cheif healers ma-lady, the name is Erantar" he said with a slight bow "What is it that ails you?" he asked pleasantly, appearing genuinely concerned.
"A burnt arm and little rest, but that can wait," She said, trying to see the features beneath the hood, though he would be unable to tell, "I am looking for someone. A tall, broad elf with dark hair. Have you seen him?"
Ullari smiled "No i have not" he said, then as four of his hench men came behind her, he decided enough was enough with the games. One of them a Minotuar grabbed her "Now if you make any noise above a whisper....you will suffer dearly...come this way" he said, still masquing his voice and features....saving the cruelest surprise for when they arrived.
"Oh, will I?" Nin asked defiantly, but she did not struggle, she knew better than to struggle against such a group when no one was near enough to help her.
Arriving at the house, the dead inhabitants could be seen impaled on spikes in the ground. Once inside Ullari went into the back room throwing off his robes and returning "Well well Nin isn't this nice...you even dressed for the occasion....more like over dressed.....oh well that can be ammended" he said tearing the dress from her "Where this...it's all you'll be needing" he said throwing a long thick black blanket at her. Ullari unblocked her abilities...the better for the Demon's to savor.
Lomien sat shot upright somthing....why can't i shake this feeling that there's somthing amiss he said wandering outside. He had taken with him his midnight black battle armour, and Gurthang strapped to his side Nin...where are you..somthings wrong...or am i just out of it? he reached out to her mind.
The colour drained from Nin's face, and her eyes grew wide as she realized who the stranger was, "Ullari," she breathed, clutching the black blanket about her.
Sensing turmoil in her, Lomien was frusterated that he could not find her or for that matter he couldn't locate her mind Nin, what's wrong...my love speak to me he pleaded to her, trying to get a response.
Ullari smiled "Well now you look nice...bring her in here" he said. She was hauled into a wide open room. What caught the eye though was the pentagram painted in blood, the five candles at each point, and the pulpit on which sat a book.
Nin's mind flew in search of Lomien's, Ullari is here. She then pulled strong barriers up about her mind. "What are you doing Ullari?" She demanded, "Look at what you have become."
"What am i doing?...earning ultimate power, and at the same time destroying my step brother" he said lightly "What i've become? give me a break the Lomien you've fallen in love with is a masquerade....he's just like me...we both made a pact with the Dark coven...just he didn't have the stomach to continue with it" His henchman brought in various potions, and strange smelling things "My lord why do you you play with your food?" one of them asked sarcasticly.
Lomien froze what do you mean he is here....where, are you alright? he asked earnestly, trying to discern where she was.
Nin sent him an image of where she was, but then withdrew her mind. "No," she murmered, "he is not just like you, he does not allow his darker side control him. Ullari, listen to me," she pleaded, "listen to reason, come back to us, forsake these dark arts. Ullari, you are our brother, do not alow your lust for power to destroy that."
"That is where you are wrong....i am Lomien's adopted brother, indeed his family and mine where at war for awile. I whached Lomien kill my family, then my brother and three sisters" he said bitterly "Yes Lomien lost all of that...only after though, and at the hands of pirates. So no Nin, i don't think i can come back to "you" as you would say...i did love you Nin.." he said sorrowfully. Ullari removed the blanket from her "I am doing this Nin, not only for a chance for power...but to bring back some of which that i lost...i'm sorry you got caught in all of this" he said tying each hand down to a point in the pentagram, likewise each foot to a point so that her head rested on the remaining point.
Lomien, recignizing the walkway sped for it why would he choose the old saloon house?...oh no..the book..there's a copy of that book there!!! he said running. Lomien met up with four of Ullari's minion's, killing them without question...then kicking himself for not interogating first.
Nin was a little shocked by what Ullari said about his family, but she pushed it from her mind, "And I loved you Ullari." she yelled at him, "I trusted you, and you threw it away!"
"Threw what away? you always fawned after him, and then he married you....so don't try to sell me that.....i do love you though Ninquelote" he said kneeling down by her head "I am truely sorry for what is about to happen to you...i have tried to find other ways, but none of them work....and i want the one who loved me back...the one your husband took from me when she was lost at sea with him" he said kissing her lightly on the lips.
Nin turned her head away from him, "He only married me to keep me from you, to keep you from doing this to me." She turned back to him, looking up into Ullari's eyes, "If you love me Ullari, then why did you make that pact with the Dark Coven? Why are you doing this?" Tears came to her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"Because through what they prescribed i can bring back what i lost....the love that i was going to marry...and possibly even my family" he said "I'm sorry Nin....i really am, i've spent the last couple thousand years to try somthing else...even different victims....you're the only one...i'm sorry" he said gently holding her face as he kissed her. Ullari walked up to the pulpit, flipping throught the pages "Bring them in" he said, four others like her where brought in...only to have their throats cut, the blood gathering into a basin "This is to make the tatoo mix to apply to you Nin" he said, sorrow rife in his tone "This will burn alot...though on the bright side for me at least once this is applyed...Lomien will want nothing to do with you"
Lomien skirted the woods, searching for the house. Spying it in the distance, he felled two more guards as he moved along his eyes black as night, his abilities made him seem like a shadowy blur to his victims before they died Nin, my love...speak to me please! he begged, running his hand through another guards head before he realised that he did it "That...was grose" he mumbled nauseated.
Nin turned away, feeling sick when the others' throats were cut. Sensing Lomien's mind searching for hers, she reached out and touched his mind so that he could know what was happening. "He will come for me Ullari, and he will make you pay."
Ullari, took the burning blood mix, holding her down, he tatood a pentagram into her stomach, the blood seered the flesh "Now let's see what we do next here...ahh getting close to the first incantations" he said to himself.
Lomien entering the house we shall see who pays in the end he replyed to her. Entering the room, he felled the two remaining guards at the door. A very shocked Lomien looked on at her "Well...this..is unexpected....i see you have already begun defiling her Ullari, let her go" he growled.
Ullari merely chuckled stepping away from the pulpit towards Lomien "I hear you only married her so as to keep her away from me....some love that is, she doesn't even love you Lomien...and it is you who have used her...keeping her trapped and imprisoned with you" he sneered at Lomien "I think we let her decide. Nin, if you chose me....this will all end and be done with...if you chose him...well that remains to be determined"
Refused to cry out as the blood seared her flesh, she looked up as Lomien burst into the room, a feling of relief and satisfaction comming over her. "Do not lie to me Ullari, I know that you will not stop this if I submit to you. My loyalties, and my love lie with Lomien."
Lomien walking over and undoing the bonds on Nin's feet, using his power to void the pentagram she had lain on "Ullari, today marks the end of that promise i made to my beloved mother. I promised her that i would protect you and not see to your harm...however in your humiliating me like this...you have voided that" he said, his voice icy and low. Lomien deciding against elements, prefering the satisfy of hand to hand, drew Gurthang, vaulting Nin and charging Ullari.
Ullari's eyes blackened with rage at her response, only to widen in terror at the sight of Gurthang. Ullari brought his taloned guantlet into Lomien's side, whaching as it glanced side ways and he was sent sprawling through two walls and onto the dirt by Lomien.
Her feet unbound, Nin managed to free one hand and proceed to untie the other. Once unbound, she grabbed the black blanket from the floor and her dagger from where Ullari had discarded it along with her ruined dress. She hovered near Lomien and Ullari, waiting.
Ullari, staggering from the attack, only to have his taloned guantlet ripped from him by Gurthang. Ullari drew both his swords, only to flinch in pain as knives buried themselves deep into his arms and wrists. Lomien angrly advanced towards him "I trusted you Ullari..we where brothers..doesn't that mean anything to you?" he asked him, backing him up to a large river. "Brothers? you killed my family and then my wife to be...and take the object of my affection..how is that possible?" Ullari cried in response "Your family attacked the people first, your fiance left without my knowning. And Nin is not yours, she never has been and never will be while i still live" Lomien growled, fire and lightning erupted from his hand, a piercing cry and defening blast followed. Where Ullari stood there was now only a gaping hole and steaming river.
"Is...is that it?" Nin asked softly, appraching Lomien, "Is he dead?"
"I don't think he is my love....i do hope so though" he said, kneeling down and wrapping her up in her blanket "Come on you....my my Nin...always getting yourself into trouble..nothing has changed since i was charged with whaching you has it" he paused, sensing the dark energy within her. Arriving back at the room he set her down in a seperate changing room. Lomien quietly walked over, flopping onto the bed utterly miserable and screaming within.
Nin let Lomien carry her to their room, "Lomien," she said softly, "I feel...there is so much dark energy within me...." her usually silvery-blue eyes had a dull red cast to them, she shuddered, "What is wrong, what has he done to me?"
"He has...he has defiled you after a fashion Nin" he said softly, from his nest in the pillows. A slight tinge of disgust range in his words...followed, by Ullari's ominous words he will not want you...to him you are as good as dead these words plagued her as a result of the mark on her stomach.
Nin turned her back to Lomien so he would not see her silent tears, and donned a new dress, "It is true isn't it? What he said," she whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "you can feel the darkness inside me now, you want nothing more to do with me." She stood there, her thin arms wrapped around her, shivering despite the long sleves that she now wore.
Lomien walked quickly and softly over to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, then wrapping her up in a coat "Yes..it is true that i can feel the darkness in you" he said quietly even now feeling its' claws grab at him. Picking her up, he gently set her on the bed still wrapped up. He sat there not sure what to say. Ullari's words preyed on her weakening mind You are useless and defiled in his eyes now, you're better off dead! the dark voice sneered at her. Lomien, looking up at her "Why would i not want anything more to do with you Nin?" he said stroking her head softly.
The Dark energy began lurching inside of her. Like a sickness waiting to be born, all it needed was a Deamon prince to complete the deal.
Nin's eyes glowed a dull red, she cried out and clutched at her stomach. When she took her hand away the dress was stained red, perfectly resembling the mark beneath. "This is why," she moaned miserably, "the darkness inside me is why...He was right, I am better off dead now."
Lomien gathered her up into his arms, placing his hand over the mark, he began drawing out the Dark energy, though it was determined to cause her immense pain "I love you Nin, stay still my love, this may hurt. If it is to much let me know" he said. The pain would be akin to having one's organs wrenched out. "I love you Nin, i will take you either way, but i will not have you dead" he said determidly, feeling the heat leave her body rapidly as the energy took form, taking with it the heat in her.
Nin cried out as Lomien drew out the dark energy, she bit down on her lip and balled her hands into fists until beads of blood showed on her lip, and the palms of her hands where her fingernails dug into them.
Tears slid down Lomien's face, drawing the last of it out, he calmly dissapated it in the immaterium. Lomien caused her to sleep, knowing that she needed it. As himself, he curled up to catch som shut eye as well. Uncurling her fingers he gently stroked her back before dosing off into a light sleep.
Nin was grateful to let sleep come from her, and losed her eyes willingly. Some hours into the night however, she awoke suddenly with a cry, a cold sweat clinging to her body.
Lomien shot up, his first thoughts being wow..it's night and im actually sleeping...haven't done that in a long time turning to Nin "My love...what is it?" he asked her placing a hand on her shoulder softly. It was then he realised why he got the shivers when he bolted up..all the windows where open, though he had no qualms with this.
Nin said nothing, just sat there, shivering and shuttering.
Lomien drew her close "Nin what's wrong my love, shhh your safe, it's over nothing can hurt you" he said softly in her ear. The cold was bitter, and in the distance howls could be heard, adding to the night calm.
Nin turned and buried her head in Lomien's chest, "I...I don't know..."
Wrapping his arms around her gently, so as to avoid any wounds "Nin you're shaking...what did he do to you Nin, please i want to know my love" he said. His body was in revulsion, every fiber of his being screaming against her, but he surpressed it...though she would be able to read his mind now, and see that revulsion in him. He held on to her, kissing the top of her head.
Nin pulled away, tears in her eyes, "You tell me." she whispered, her voice injured, "You are so repulsed by it, you know what is in that book, you tell me what he has done, you know better than I."
Seeing her pull away saddened him alittle, though it fueled the revulsion, as he turned over facing the opposite side "Like i told you...it is a dark and disgusting ritual....i described it once to you already. What you experianced was one of a hundred phases" he said, his voice shaking alittle.
"Oh Lomien," she murmered, tears running down her cheeks, "what has he done to us? You have done what you can to help me, but still you are repulsed by me, and still I feel that I would be better off had he killed me."
"You are lucky Nin, for death would not have come..." he said distantly still facing away "That you only experiance what you do now...is fortunate...i..i should know" his voice trailed off into a mumble. "Ullari suffers from what you do...however as you know it has driven him down a dark path...i to suffer from the same thing...that was the only way we escaped alive from the coven...though we'd be better off dead now" he said bitterly "If i had not found Gurthang, and escaped....none of this would be happening"
Nin looked at him, "Help me." she whispered, "Please, my love, help me. I am so frightened. Frightened of what dwells inside of me, frightened of what might happen, frightened of losing you..."
Roling over to face her "Nin, you won't lose me. I'm here to stay no matter what love" he said softly to her "What are you scared that might happen?" he asked tenderly.
"I fear many things, how this war will end, what might become of us....There is so much to fear in this world now." Nin looked at him, tears still in her eyes.
"There has always been much to fear in this world Nin, you only now realize this because you where so cruely thrust into it and exposed to it..." he said sleepily with a deep throated yawn. Lomien weeled around to see a wraith scout standing in front of him "Sorry to disturb you my lord, but master Seriph has told me that he has retaken and rebuilt the Northern fortress, as well as secured a stable link between Arda and Telpurion" the wraith said in a raspy voice before leaping out the window. Lomien was shocked...a stable route could easily prove the undoing of Ullar's forces now that the Alliance had access to its' other half in Telpurion.
Nin stared at Lomien, "That was...unexpected." she said slowly.
"To say the least" he said softly to her. Lomien sat up, propping himself against the pillows taking Gurthang off his side "This is what has been biting into my side" he said slightly annoyed. Lomien hung the sword above him on the mounts, removing his mail shirt from under the one he had on him.
Nin watched Lomien, a look both of sorrow and longing in her eyes.
"What is it?" he asked her, his voice slightly distant and forlorn. Lomien's mind wandered to and fro, as he stared off into the distance.
"I long for the way things once were, when we were happy..." Nin's voice trailed off and she bowed her head.
"You mean when you where happy, ignorant and blissful..." he said with a slight tinge of bitterness at the memories of those days...they where anything but happy, she being one of the few pin pricks of light in that dark storm "Yes i do wish for those days to return" he said lightly.
"No," Nin whispered softly, "there were times, when we were truly happy, no matter how short they may have been. Ullari was right..."
"Right about what?" he asked her guardedly "Yes there where times when we where happy, some lasted longer than others"
Nin could not bring herself to look him in the eye, "'Lomien will want nothing to do with you' he said, 'so far as he is concerned you will be better off dead' ....He was right, your very being is repulsed by me...and without you, I am better off dead." a single tear rolled down her cheek, leaving a shimmering trail on her white skin.
"I am not repulsed by you Nin...if i was i would have left you there" he said softly, whiping the tear from her face. He was getting the sense that she was somehow repulsed by him, undoubtedly Ullari revealed more than was prudent to and Lomien could sense that...and this made him distance himself out of habbit fearing the worst.
"You are, I could feel your very being straining against my presence when you drew me close...You know not how deep that cuts" she said softly, shaking her head a little, more tears rlling down her face.
"Nin..." his voice trailed off, not sure what to say. Lomien starred off into the distance. He wanted to help her, and ease jer pain but he didn't know how, and it was making him miserable. He could sense her distancing and it wasn't helping.
Nin just sat there, her head down and tears falling into her lap.
Lomien rested his arm on her shoulder "This doesn't change anything" he said placing his other hand over the mark. White veins shot through his hand and lower arm, looking like it would fragment. Ignoring the intense pain that triggered that power release he embraced her, drawing her close "I'm here love and you won't lose me" he said softly, a tear trickling down his face from the pain. He was in so much pain, because he had rejected the ritual, for he had practiced it long ago..on Anarvin his first love, in denying her that which sought to empower him he had long earned the emity of the Coven's...for such rejection had come at a stiff price in lives both guilty and innocent. They where consumed in the death cry of the ceremony. This killed Anarvin, and left Lomien scarred.
Nin pulled away a little and looked up into Lomien's eyes, confusion and pain showing in her face. Then she burried her face in his chest, it didn't matter to her what he had done, what was past was past.
Lomien let go, sinking onto the far side as she pulled away miserable, he had been dupped into it, so had Anarvin. He stopped once he realised what was truely happening, but only was powerful enough to protect himself...and even then just barely.
Nin wrapped her arms around his middle, "I am so sorry my love, for all the pain...for all the pain that I have caused."
"Pain?...what pain have you caused me Nin?" he asked, the white lines in his hand and lower arm turned a sickly purple....the energy had found a new host, though Lomien was baiting it to ease her pain and suffering. The energy inside her raged to and fro painting images of horror in her mind, biding her to kill herself. With that images of how people ended themselves coursed through her mind as it sought to drive her to it. A deamon had taken form inside of her.
Nin gripped Lomien's shirt, siliently struggling to remain in control of her mind, she had not broken the connection with Lomien, should he wish, he could know all that was going on inside her.
Lomien decided he had had enough of Deamons rampaging inside of her for at least a life time "Easy Nin, here...do you want him out?" he said reffering to the Deamon, his hand had dark vines tracing through it all the way to his arm, these where whear he had confined the energy to be released when he no longer had use of it.
Nin nodded stiffly, trying not to whimper. She clutched Lomien's shirt, struggling to stay in control, she could feel the presence of the deamon inside her, driving her mad. All she wanted was for the pain to go away, to spend just one night at peace in Lomien's arms, without having to worry about the fate of the world, or about the fate of what was hers to love.
Lomien silenced the Deamon, transporting the energy to a place he thought could use alittle explosion....the fighting ring. A distance rumble was heard. She was free of the Deamon, as well as the dark energy, but like a pioson or sickness there would be after affects, in her case for along time "There my love, see, all it's all gone" he said placing his hand on the small of her back.
Nin shuddered, she realeased his shirt, but kept her arms wrapped tightly about him. "Thank you." She whispered.
"Let me know if there is anything i can do to help" he said softly, drifting off to sleep again maybe...just maybe i can get a restfull nights sleep....ugh..no i can't not until Ullari's head sits mounted on the wall! he thought to himself.
Nin lay next to Lomien, unable to sleep, but she let him rest, for she knew he needed it.
"You need to rest love, you need your sleep" he said with a yawn.
"You rest my love, I shall be fine." she whispered, pushing a bit of hair from his face. She was still shaking, though barely noticably, and her mind was still in turmoil from all the night's events.
Lomien, by now his mind was alert and he could hear everything she was thinking. Reaching out to her forehead, he blocked the memories from her mind "Rest now my love" he said softly to her "or do i have to knock you unconceous?" he said teasingly
"I want those memories." Nin murmered softly, "Please promise me you will let me keep them? If I sleep now, then in the morning?" she asked.
Lomien fell asleep before she could reply, this was the first time in awile since he had slept safely....and he wanted to enjoy it as much as possible.
Nin smiled a little, she would bring it up in the morning. Being unable to remember the happenings of the night, she fell asleep
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