Comfort is what Emalia desired more than anything, and cookies were what she felt could provide it. Annie seemed to sense that saying anything wouldn't help, and thus delivered the plate of cookies in silence. Emalia picked one up and took a bite. Like many things do when one is grieving terribly, it tasted flavorless and only served to coat her tongue in a gritty chocolate mash. She put the cookie back onto the plate, dropped her head onto the table, and sobbed into her arm.
She wasn't there long before Jayden appeared. It really was the last thing she wanted, for someone else to see her crying, and so she hastily dried her tears and attempted to smooth back her hair. Here was another person she would have to admit this to... someone that she really, truly, cared about, and who had become almost like family to her. She spoke of the Jihad and waited for the look of distaste... but it never came.
Jayden put a hand on hers, patting it gently as he asked her what brought about her change of ideals. It shocked Emalia to see the kindness that she was still given from the man she had come to regard as her grandfather.
They spoke of destruction - the very thing the Guardians were not - and how it was better left to the evil Jihad. Up until that point, Emalia had almost been prepared to forsake her joining with the Jihad... but evil... she didn't believe it for a moment. None of the Jihad had ever treated her badly, nor done anything to her that would support the idea of evil. When Jayden asked if she had been followed...
Emalia's head rested in her hands, now. She took a short moment to notice just how heavy a head really was, before Jayden pointed to her that he had never lied to her, nor pointed her in the wrong direction. All she wanted, was to have some choice she had made be right.
Emalia spoke more to Jayden, telling him what had transpired between she and Hellstrom. "Hellstrom is young... inexperienced with words." "His solution is not to leave me so long as I say nothing to him. How can that be love at all?" "I do not know child... I know that I would never leave your side for voicing your opinion. it is our...God given right to voice our opinions." "Do you think, perhaps, Hellstrom isn't the one for me?" "Perhaps."
The admission did come as a bit of a shock. So did Jayden's accusation that the Jihad wanted nothing more than to break her away from the Crimson Guardians in the name of gaining members. No, they never forced her to leave. Even Grobnak had told her that she didn't have to abandon them. It made no sense. She was bridging the gap, bringing them together, not being torn away. The only tearing being done was by those that looked at her the way Hellstrom had, the way the people in the shop had, the way... almost everyone had.
Emalia continued talking until Jayden invited another to sit with them. Behind her was Hellstrom, and Emalia froze with panic. This is not who she wanted to see - yet here he was. Soon after, a noise came from the rooftop, and much sooner after, the door opened with no one there. Jayden wanted to leave, Hellstrom called for action, Emalia finally stood up and screamed.
Again, she and Hellstrom bickered. He didn't fear anyone, he didn't need to, he was going to go to the wood - and the final straw broke when Hellstrom chuckled out, "Don't worry for my welfare." It was all Emalia could take.
"Well then... why worry for you at all, yes?"
How he could have said something so thoughtless, Emalia didn't know, and couldn't understand. Caring for one another didn't mean only one side. Her heart felt as if it had finally broken in two. She knew she must go to Elbryan. To protect her family and her friends - she would leave the Guardians.
Hellstrom told her where to find the skeleton, and Emalia went to Jayden. She knelt at his side, requesting a prayer. It soothed her and helped to restore her sense of self. She apologized to Hellstrom, and as he left, her Uncle Sandorin entered. One more she hadn't told... One more she couldn't handle. She sat at the table as her weariness took over, and fell asleep listening to the speech of two old men.
Revelation
The light breeze seemed to grow colder as Emalia came closer to the overlook. She glanced over her shoulder several times, marking her progress by exactly how far away Westbridge was, and just how well she could see it. When the trees of the wood finally obscured her view, she knew she was close, and using the game trail, came at last upon the Overlook, and the figure sitting upon it.
Emalia truly had nothing to say, and readied herself for the worst. After what had passed the last time in this place, she was ready for her dismissal from Hellstrom's life. She began to speak, but was interrupted by Hellstrom's curious request to take the discussion elsewhere.
In the woods of Darrowmere, Emalia at once began to speak. "I care for you so much, Hellstrom, and I don't understand... why... you can't believe in me... or at the very least... respect my thoughts and feelings."
Hellstrom spoke plainly, "I’ve said all I intend to about the Jenovese. I've made my feelings about them known to you and that’s all I intend to do. I just pray that someday you see Grobnak for what he is."
'And there it is,' Emalia thought. 'This is the end of my possibilities with this man.' "However, I'm not willing to let it destroy what you and I have. I have a proposal for you, if you will hear it."
Emalia agreed in absolute dumbfoundedness to hear his words. Hellstrom spoke, and Emalia's heart sank. "Speak not to me of the Jenovese or their Faith, and I will hold my tongue as well on my point of view."
'This is love?' Emalia's mind reeled. 'Silence between two people that should share everything with one another?' "I'll say one more thing on the matter." Hellstrom looked down into Emalia's eyes. "When the day comes and the swords are gathered, I will be standing there as the RoK is destroyed. As I feel is my duty to those I love." "And what if I am right?" "Oops."
The anger Emalia felt was barely contained. To her, what had just been said, was that her thoughts were wrong absolutely, and someday, with the one she was supposed to love glaring at her in triumphant truth, she would see. The argued, but as Emalia continued to speak, she realized that no matter what she said... it wasn't about her.
Emalia hung her head, closed her eyes, and agreed to Hellstrom's terms. 'At the very least, I can keep him near me.' When Hellstrom smiled and asked her for a walk, she felt kept. She wanted not to be with him, and excusing herself, she left Hellstrom in the woods with a spell of transportation.
Emalia truly had nothing to say, and readied herself for the worst. After what had passed the last time in this place, she was ready for her dismissal from Hellstrom's life. She began to speak, but was interrupted by Hellstrom's curious request to take the discussion elsewhere.
In the woods of Darrowmere, Emalia at once began to speak. "I care for you so much, Hellstrom, and I don't understand... why... you can't believe in me... or at the very least... respect my thoughts and feelings."
Hellstrom spoke plainly, "I’ve said all I intend to about the Jenovese. I've made my feelings about them known to you and that’s all I intend to do. I just pray that someday you see Grobnak for what he is."
'And there it is,' Emalia thought. 'This is the end of my possibilities with this man.' "However, I'm not willing to let it destroy what you and I have. I have a proposal for you, if you will hear it."
Emalia agreed in absolute dumbfoundedness to hear his words. Hellstrom spoke, and Emalia's heart sank. "Speak not to me of the Jenovese or their Faith, and I will hold my tongue as well on my point of view."
'This is love?' Emalia's mind reeled. 'Silence between two people that should share everything with one another?' "I'll say one more thing on the matter." Hellstrom looked down into Emalia's eyes. "When the day comes and the swords are gathered, I will be standing there as the RoK is destroyed. As I feel is my duty to those I love." "And what if I am right?" "Oops."
The anger Emalia felt was barely contained. To her, what had just been said, was that her thoughts were wrong absolutely, and someday, with the one she was supposed to love glaring at her in triumphant truth, she would see. The argued, but as Emalia continued to speak, she realized that no matter what she said... it wasn't about her.
Emalia hung her head, closed her eyes, and agreed to Hellstrom's terms. 'At the very least, I can keep him near me.' When Hellstrom smiled and asked her for a walk, she felt kept. She wanted not to be with him, and excusing herself, she left Hellstrom in the woods with a spell of transportation.
Chance Meeting
Emalia sat in the same place she had when Colin left, staring to the north. She could have blamed her lack of movement on the fact that her body was so weak, it was ready to fail her - but that would not have been the full truth, nor the true reason... she was afraid.
I just won't go. Emalia stood up and started back into the gates of Westbridge, but the idea kept occurring to her, 'If I really care for him, I'll go up there and do what I said I would.' She paced round and round inside the gates which seemed to rather irritate the guards. It wasn't until she bumped square into someone that she stopped.
Today wasn't going to be her day. At all. After everyone had told her he wasn't coming back, all the voices seeming to sing in chorus from her mind that the man didn't want her obviously, and that he had gone away to be clear of her: Melchior stood before her like a phantom in the flesh.
She noted immediately his eyes - how different they were, and how much better he carried himself. He was no longer a dirty drunkard, but a man with some sort of purpose in his life. Emalia's face went even more pale than it normally was and a tremor, well hidden, ran through her.
It's never easy to tell someone, your first crush no less, that you are involved with someone else. It was the very same here as she stammered out the fact that she had moved on. Emalia assured Melchior that she had been nothing but honest with her feelings, and that she had not done anything with any other but be interested.
Everything seemed to go over well, for the most part. Emalia examined some peculiar wounds on Melchior's arm, then sought to speak to him regarding the Jenovese and the Jihad. Her words were immediately shut down, and when Melchior's questions on the earnestness in her heart began - she had no true answers.
For just a moment in time, Emalia gave up on the discussion of Faith to say goodbye to her friend. "Perhaps we shall meet again." "There is no perhaps if I've anything to do with it."
Emalia squeezed Melchior in her arms and turned to walk away, but before she could get far, Melchior made her another promise after a kiss to her forehead in a quiet voice, "We WILL see each other again. I cannot let go the person who saved me."
Emalia smiled, revolving the words in her mind, "the person who saved me." 'Yes.' she thought. 'I did help someone... and I have to help them all. I have to help them... all.' The two parted at last, Melchior off to his journey, and Emalia finally heading through the northern gates of the city as she trudged to hers.
I just won't go. Emalia stood up and started back into the gates of Westbridge, but the idea kept occurring to her, 'If I really care for him, I'll go up there and do what I said I would.' She paced round and round inside the gates which seemed to rather irritate the guards. It wasn't until she bumped square into someone that she stopped.
Today wasn't going to be her day. At all. After everyone had told her he wasn't coming back, all the voices seeming to sing in chorus from her mind that the man didn't want her obviously, and that he had gone away to be clear of her: Melchior stood before her like a phantom in the flesh.
She noted immediately his eyes - how different they were, and how much better he carried himself. He was no longer a dirty drunkard, but a man with some sort of purpose in his life. Emalia's face went even more pale than it normally was and a tremor, well hidden, ran through her.
It's never easy to tell someone, your first crush no less, that you are involved with someone else. It was the very same here as she stammered out the fact that she had moved on. Emalia assured Melchior that she had been nothing but honest with her feelings, and that she had not done anything with any other but be interested.
Everything seemed to go over well, for the most part. Emalia examined some peculiar wounds on Melchior's arm, then sought to speak to him regarding the Jenovese and the Jihad. Her words were immediately shut down, and when Melchior's questions on the earnestness in her heart began - she had no true answers.
For just a moment in time, Emalia gave up on the discussion of Faith to say goodbye to her friend. "Perhaps we shall meet again." "There is no perhaps if I've anything to do with it."
Emalia squeezed Melchior in her arms and turned to walk away, but before she could get far, Melchior made her another promise after a kiss to her forehead in a quiet voice, "We WILL see each other again. I cannot let go the person who saved me."
Emalia smiled, revolving the words in her mind, "the person who saved me." 'Yes.' she thought. 'I did help someone... and I have to help them all. I have to help them... all.' The two parted at last, Melchior off to his journey, and Emalia finally heading through the northern gates of the city as she trudged to hers.
The Chase Leads On
Hellstrom was walking through Westbridge on his way back to the Guardians hall when he decided to take a break and rest on a bench in Market Square. The market was not terribly busy but there were a few people wandering around to the nearby shops collecting supplies and bartering for goods.
A call came over the telepathic link from Jayden asking Hellstrom to go to the coffee shop in Westbridge quickly. Thinking there was some kind of trouble Hellstrom freed his axe of its holder and ran for the coffee shop as he was not that far away. He opened the door swiftly and looked around the room. Seeing only the waitress, Jayden, and Emalia, he put his axe back in the loop and asked Jayden what he needed. The silence that followed was enough for Hellstrom to assume that it had something to do with the Jenovese so he added "If this is something to do with the Jenovese or Grobnak I will be leaving now, I cannot stay while her beliefs are being belittled." Emalia asked Hellstrom to stay, and at her request he did.
A loud Thump sounded from the roof of the Cafe, and the three looked up at the ceiling above them. "Where you followed?" Jayden asked Hellstrom quietly.
"I don’t believe so, but I was warned this would happen." Hellstrom replies just as quietly as a frown creases his face. "Its ok, I will leave, it is me he is after." After an argument about who was going to go and who was going to stay, Hellstrom throws the hood of his cloak up over his head and makes for the door. Emalia called for him to stop and he did turning his head slightly to the side hiding the hurt look on his face within the deep hood of his cloak. Emalia tried to apologize for hurting Hellstrom, but he knew in his heart that he was the one that was that was doing the hurting on this day. It would be better if he got away from the city. He would stop destroying his chances with Emalia and he would lead the spy away from Emalia and Jayden.
He pulled his green cloak tight around him as he departed the cafe and ran full sprint into the ancient elven forests north of Westbridge. After running some maneuvers trying to lose his pursuer Hellstrom finally approached the clearing in the wood where he exercised and practiced. In the middle of the clearing he pulled off his cloak and shirt. stuffing them into his backpack and began his exercises. At least he might as well provide a show if his pursuer was able to find him here. What Hellstrom had forgotten was he had no way to contact the Guardians without that insignia on his cloak.
A call came over the telepathic link from Jayden asking Hellstrom to go to the coffee shop in Westbridge quickly. Thinking there was some kind of trouble Hellstrom freed his axe of its holder and ran for the coffee shop as he was not that far away. He opened the door swiftly and looked around the room. Seeing only the waitress, Jayden, and Emalia, he put his axe back in the loop and asked Jayden what he needed. The silence that followed was enough for Hellstrom to assume that it had something to do with the Jenovese so he added "If this is something to do with the Jenovese or Grobnak I will be leaving now, I cannot stay while her beliefs are being belittled." Emalia asked Hellstrom to stay, and at her request he did.
A loud Thump sounded from the roof of the Cafe, and the three looked up at the ceiling above them. "Where you followed?" Jayden asked Hellstrom quietly.
"I don’t believe so, but I was warned this would happen." Hellstrom replies just as quietly as a frown creases his face. "Its ok, I will leave, it is me he is after." After an argument about who was going to go and who was going to stay, Hellstrom throws the hood of his cloak up over his head and makes for the door. Emalia called for him to stop and he did turning his head slightly to the side hiding the hurt look on his face within the deep hood of his cloak. Emalia tried to apologize for hurting Hellstrom, but he knew in his heart that he was the one that was that was doing the hurting on this day. It would be better if he got away from the city. He would stop destroying his chances with Emalia and he would lead the spy away from Emalia and Jayden.
He pulled his green cloak tight around him as he departed the cafe and ran full sprint into the ancient elven forests north of Westbridge. After running some maneuvers trying to lose his pursuer Hellstrom finally approached the clearing in the wood where he exercised and practiced. In the middle of the clearing he pulled off his cloak and shirt. stuffing them into his backpack and began his exercises. At least he might as well provide a show if his pursuer was able to find him here. What Hellstrom had forgotten was he had no way to contact the Guardians without that insignia on his cloak.
Resignation
Hellstrom’s bear was sitting right where he had left it when he got back to the lookout. He immediately knew from his bear that whoever was coming was not coming any closer, as if they were afraid to come closer that they were. Hellstrom stood at the edge of the overlook looking out to the horizon. Hellstrom waited until he heard the light footsteps of Emalia coming up from behind him and he smiled slightly as she sat down on the edge of the lookout at his side.
Emalia started trying to talk to Hellstrom but he remembered something that Elbryan had said to him earlier. "Would you mind if we went someplace different?" Hellstrom asked, and after Emalia agreed Hellstrom thought for a moment and opened a door to the dense forest of Darrowmere. Emalia and Hellstrom stepped through and Hellstrom closed the door and it disappeared.
The talked for a while. Hellstrom offered to throw aside matters of faith as Elbryan had advised. Emalia looked hopeful for a second until Hellstrom reminded her that on the day when the swords were gathered he would be standing there as the RoK was destroyed. This dropped her gaze back to the ground. Finally she agreed to try. Hellstrom smiled for the first time since she had shown up on the lookout that day.
The talk continued for a bit longer and Emalia decided that she needed to rest. Hellstrom nodded and Emalia departed through her magic to where Hellstrom knew not. Hellstrom decided to stay in Darrowmere for a while. He hunted down some of the local wildlife and built a fire and roasted some squirrel, though it tasted like ash. Things with Emalia were not good. But it was a step in the right direction.
Emalia started trying to talk to Hellstrom but he remembered something that Elbryan had said to him earlier. "Would you mind if we went someplace different?" Hellstrom asked, and after Emalia agreed Hellstrom thought for a moment and opened a door to the dense forest of Darrowmere. Emalia and Hellstrom stepped through and Hellstrom closed the door and it disappeared.
The talked for a while. Hellstrom offered to throw aside matters of faith as Elbryan had advised. Emalia looked hopeful for a second until Hellstrom reminded her that on the day when the swords were gathered he would be standing there as the RoK was destroyed. This dropped her gaze back to the ground. Finally she agreed to try. Hellstrom smiled for the first time since she had shown up on the lookout that day.
The talk continued for a bit longer and Emalia decided that she needed to rest. Hellstrom nodded and Emalia departed through her magic to where Hellstrom knew not. Hellstrom decided to stay in Darrowmere for a while. He hunted down some of the local wildlife and built a fire and roasted some squirrel, though it tasted like ash. Things with Emalia were not good. But it was a step in the right direction.
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