Shadow Among the Shadows
Hellstrom watched and listened from the shadows as Emalia gathered her champions for the trip into the mountains to find the temple. Hellstrom knew her intentions, but it no longer mattered. Hellstrom had been following ensuring Emalia's safety from a distance for the past weeks, and he knew more than he cared to. The only thing left was to ensure that Emalia made it to her destination safely. He briefly considered revealing himself to the group when they mentioned his name, but thought better of it. He knew how much turmoil his presence would bring with her pregnancy. Hellstrom sat back into the shadows some more and watched, waiting for them to depart.
Emptiness
Emalia pulled herself together enough to rise from her bed. Though it felt like hours, it had in truth been only minutes since Jayden's departure, and she rose, wiping at her eyes. Her jaw immediately set as she stormed down the stairs, grabbed her pack, and headed out of her door.
As she passed the Jihad Compound gates, the guards this time did not look at her curiously. In fact, it appeared that storming through the gates must have made her look more official, or perhaps, just less lost. She went straight to Nephesh's room, her fists curled and teeth grinding as she moved. "We need to go... now."
There was barely time to spare in Emalia's mind. She would get Westbridge behind her promptly and get things done and the temple found. She walked quickly, never looking back to be certain of Nephesh's following her, and within minutes, they were at the bridge.
Colin was sitting beside the water when Emalia and Nephesh arrived. If her face were to have worn a color, it would have been black, she appeared so determined. "We need to go."
"What's wrong?"
"We just need to go."
"Well, alright... where are we going?"
"North. We're going to find that damnable temple and prove G... Jayden wrong.He thinks he knows me... thinks I'm evil... well.."
Colin's hand rested on Emalia's arm, and she could barely keep herself from bursting into a renewed gale of tears. She scrunched her face and set her jaw even more. "Hey... Hey, what's going on?" Colin's voice asked.
Emalia glanced over at Nephesh's note, asking why Jayden would think her evil, before shaking her head, and answering them both with, "We go now, and he believes I'm evil because I choose to listen to Grobnak and follow the Apprentice."
It seemed to pass well enough. The less she had to explain to either of them, the better grasp she would have on her broken heartedness. 'Where is the woodsman?' Nephesh asked. Hellstrom. Emalia growled inwardly.
"I don't know. Chances are, he isn't going to want to come anyhow."
Colin examined the map Emalia had handed him earlier and looked up. "Well, it looks a good distance away. It would be good not to rush off. We can take some time to properly prepare this time."
She knew he was right. Both of them were, as Nephesh joined in the protest of taking flight. Her face was deep crimson, her fists were clenched. She was worn but she wouldn't dare show it... until Colin put his hands on her shoulders. At the touch of warm hands, her misshapen wall around her soul dropped to the ground and she sobbed.
The party had agreed to set of tomorrow, to at the very least allow for supplies, when the energy of magic brought Emalia to attention. She looked about, "Who is that?" and stood. A man walked from the shadows beneath the trees: silver hair and a trench coat with no sleeves. This was a stranger, and Emalia was suddenly on guard.
"Looks like I found you at last," he spoke.
"You know this man?" Colin asked Nephesh.
"He is one of the faithful," Nephesh wrote, "And a former Guardian."
"It seems like an introduction is not needed, then," the man said.
"Why are you here?" Emalia asked. Deep within, her mistrust set her to using her lifeforce. It began to slip from her and into the air in the form of calm, and having been so drained only a couple days before, then becoming again emotionally drained after he meeting with Jayden, this new development was one she could not handle. Her power was weak and the more worried and irritated and distrustful she became, the more of it leaked out and away from her.
"I was sent here by the Apostle of Ragnarok, Grobnak himself, he seemed to think you would be in need of my assistance."
This broke what little remained of Emalia's trust. This sealed her determination. She was no longer going on this journey for the Jihad - she vowed inside that right then, that tie was broken. She was no longer going to refrain from going because of the Guardians - she vowed after Jayden left her door that she was no longer of them. The only reason she would keep this journey was to bring down the RoK and bring back The Apprentice. Only two things did she now believe in. Colin, and The Apprentice. She would do it for them, and then - the rest of the populace.
Tension rose as the party discussed whether to bring the new member. Emalia had no trust, her guard was up as much as it could be, and she was weakening much faster than times before. Higher and higher spiraled her alert until her body could not take it. Her legs first gave out and she gripped Colin's arm for the second inevitability... Emalia passed out cold.
As she passed the Jihad Compound gates, the guards this time did not look at her curiously. In fact, it appeared that storming through the gates must have made her look more official, or perhaps, just less lost. She went straight to Nephesh's room, her fists curled and teeth grinding as she moved. "We need to go... now."
There was barely time to spare in Emalia's mind. She would get Westbridge behind her promptly and get things done and the temple found. She walked quickly, never looking back to be certain of Nephesh's following her, and within minutes, they were at the bridge.
Colin was sitting beside the water when Emalia and Nephesh arrived. If her face were to have worn a color, it would have been black, she appeared so determined. "We need to go."
"What's wrong?"
"We just need to go."
"Well, alright... where are we going?"
"North. We're going to find that damnable temple and prove G... Jayden wrong.He thinks he knows me... thinks I'm evil... well.."
Colin's hand rested on Emalia's arm, and she could barely keep herself from bursting into a renewed gale of tears. She scrunched her face and set her jaw even more. "Hey... Hey, what's going on?" Colin's voice asked.
Emalia glanced over at Nephesh's note, asking why Jayden would think her evil, before shaking her head, and answering them both with, "We go now, and he believes I'm evil because I choose to listen to Grobnak and follow the Apprentice."
It seemed to pass well enough. The less she had to explain to either of them, the better grasp she would have on her broken heartedness. 'Where is the woodsman?' Nephesh asked. Hellstrom. Emalia growled inwardly.
"I don't know. Chances are, he isn't going to want to come anyhow."
Colin examined the map Emalia had handed him earlier and looked up. "Well, it looks a good distance away. It would be good not to rush off. We can take some time to properly prepare this time."
She knew he was right. Both of them were, as Nephesh joined in the protest of taking flight. Her face was deep crimson, her fists were clenched. She was worn but she wouldn't dare show it... until Colin put his hands on her shoulders. At the touch of warm hands, her misshapen wall around her soul dropped to the ground and she sobbed.
The party had agreed to set of tomorrow, to at the very least allow for supplies, when the energy of magic brought Emalia to attention. She looked about, "Who is that?" and stood. A man walked from the shadows beneath the trees: silver hair and a trench coat with no sleeves. This was a stranger, and Emalia was suddenly on guard.
"Looks like I found you at last," he spoke.
"You know this man?" Colin asked Nephesh.
"He is one of the faithful," Nephesh wrote, "And a former Guardian."
"It seems like an introduction is not needed, then," the man said.
"Why are you here?" Emalia asked. Deep within, her mistrust set her to using her lifeforce. It began to slip from her and into the air in the form of calm, and having been so drained only a couple days before, then becoming again emotionally drained after he meeting with Jayden, this new development was one she could not handle. Her power was weak and the more worried and irritated and distrustful she became, the more of it leaked out and away from her.
"I was sent here by the Apostle of Ragnarok, Grobnak himself, he seemed to think you would be in need of my assistance."
This broke what little remained of Emalia's trust. This sealed her determination. She was no longer going on this journey for the Jihad - she vowed inside that right then, that tie was broken. She was no longer going to refrain from going because of the Guardians - she vowed after Jayden left her door that she was no longer of them. The only reason she would keep this journey was to bring down the RoK and bring back The Apprentice. Only two things did she now believe in. Colin, and The Apprentice. She would do it for them, and then - the rest of the populace.
Tension rose as the party discussed whether to bring the new member. Emalia had no trust, her guard was up as much as it could be, and she was weakening much faster than times before. Higher and higher spiraled her alert until her body could not take it. Her legs first gave out and she gripped Colin's arm for the second inevitability... Emalia passed out cold.
Wrong Turn at Family
Emalia now laid in her familiar bedroom, pouring her soul in the form of tears and screams into the depths of her pillow. She had left Colin dozing on the banks of the stream, promising him she would return in short order, and went to the Guardian Clan Hall to seek out Jayden. Her "grandfather" sat by the healing waters, reading, and appeared more than a little concerned when she requested to speak with him privately.
The arrived through a portal into her living room and she bade him to make himself comfortable. The discussion started well. Emalia was nearly delighted to hear that Jayden seemed not to know where the Temple was. "It turns out... that it is the place where it will be determined whether the RoK falls."
"What was your perception of the Temple?" Jayden asked.
"Just a place... nothing more."
"And this is what troubles you now?"
Emalia shook her head. "If I go, I will have lead everyone to it... If I go, everyone will know where it is... and the only step left then, is to find the sword to bring down the Rok, or destroy it... Grandfather... I would start a war."
"Then why would you wish to pursue this?"
"Because I am torn."
"Torn to what child?" Jayden asked.
"On one hand, I believe that bringing down the RoK is the answer... I... think anyway. And Grobnak tells me it is my destiny."
"This Grobnak person... He troubles me, by telling you such false things.."
Slowly the grip of distrust wrapped it's fingers around Emalia's heart. As Jayden spoke, it clenched its vice tighter. "I am a follower of all that is good and kind...And you are walking down the wrong path child..."
"I don't understand... how... How is it wrong?"
"I try to see past this...but it gets hard with every passing sun.. You are following the dark, when you MUST follow the light. Child... You must not let this happen"
"But... Grandfather, The Apprentice must be brought back... it will stop the RoK for eternity!" Emalia said with exasperation.
"That is a lie! The Apprentice is a joke child..."
Emalia's soul was crushed. She shook her head slowly, "No. He is real and if we don't stop the RoK it will happen again and again..."
"Child I warn you... Follow not in this path, it will lead to you demise, and countless lives will be taken."
Emalia listened as Jayden told more of his tale, but already, her mind was being clouded by the resistance. She believed this with her heart, and to hear Jayden - the one she called Grandfather, the one who had vouched for her so many times - demeaning her beliefs closed her even further. " I don't understand how stopping the RoK for eternity could possibly be evil..."
"Because everything about this tale, everything that has happened points to this evil... This person you think will restore balance will not!"
"He is a God... how could he not restore balance?"
"A God? How dare you speak of Gods as such lowly life forms such as this thing that should restore balance. You are lost child... Find your way...I suggest this...or you will find yourself in a dark corner praying for death..."
Jayden moved to leave and Emalia stood, a sob escaping her. How could this be the result. She looked to Jayden's back in disbelief. "I can't help the unwilling..." he said.
"Unwilling!?" Emalia nearly shouted. The swiftness that Jayden used to turn around shocked Emalia. "You raise your voice at me!?"
"Yes! Because you are wrong!" Emalia shouted over Jayden's shocked gasp. “You're wrong about me. You're wrong... wrong!"
"Goodday child..."
"Mark my words! I'll save the world! AND YOU'LL THANK ME!"
The snap of Jayden's cane accompanied his exit from her home, and Emalia fled up her stairs. So she ended up upon the pillows, sobbing deeply. Though now, her mind was made up. She'd show Jayden that she knew what to do. She would find the temple, and she'd help end the repetitive nature of the RoK. She'd restore balance, like The Apprentice intended from the start. The world depended upon her now... she wouldn't let it down.
The arrived through a portal into her living room and she bade him to make himself comfortable. The discussion started well. Emalia was nearly delighted to hear that Jayden seemed not to know where the Temple was. "It turns out... that it is the place where it will be determined whether the RoK falls."
"What was your perception of the Temple?" Jayden asked.
"Just a place... nothing more."
"And this is what troubles you now?"
Emalia shook her head. "If I go, I will have lead everyone to it... If I go, everyone will know where it is... and the only step left then, is to find the sword to bring down the Rok, or destroy it... Grandfather... I would start a war."
"Then why would you wish to pursue this?"
"Because I am torn."
"Torn to what child?" Jayden asked.
"On one hand, I believe that bringing down the RoK is the answer... I... think anyway. And Grobnak tells me it is my destiny."
"This Grobnak person... He troubles me, by telling you such false things.."
Slowly the grip of distrust wrapped it's fingers around Emalia's heart. As Jayden spoke, it clenched its vice tighter. "I am a follower of all that is good and kind...And you are walking down the wrong path child..."
"I don't understand... how... How is it wrong?"
"I try to see past this...but it gets hard with every passing sun.. You are following the dark, when you MUST follow the light. Child... You must not let this happen"
"But... Grandfather, The Apprentice must be brought back... it will stop the RoK for eternity!" Emalia said with exasperation.
"That is a lie! The Apprentice is a joke child..."
Emalia's soul was crushed. She shook her head slowly, "No. He is real and if we don't stop the RoK it will happen again and again..."
"Child I warn you... Follow not in this path, it will lead to you demise, and countless lives will be taken."
Emalia listened as Jayden told more of his tale, but already, her mind was being clouded by the resistance. She believed this with her heart, and to hear Jayden - the one she called Grandfather, the one who had vouched for her so many times - demeaning her beliefs closed her even further. " I don't understand how stopping the RoK for eternity could possibly be evil..."
"Because everything about this tale, everything that has happened points to this evil... This person you think will restore balance will not!"
"He is a God... how could he not restore balance?"
"A God? How dare you speak of Gods as such lowly life forms such as this thing that should restore balance. You are lost child... Find your way...I suggest this...or you will find yourself in a dark corner praying for death..."
Jayden moved to leave and Emalia stood, a sob escaping her. How could this be the result. She looked to Jayden's back in disbelief. "I can't help the unwilling..." he said.
"Unwilling!?" Emalia nearly shouted. The swiftness that Jayden used to turn around shocked Emalia. "You raise your voice at me!?"
"Yes! Because you are wrong!" Emalia shouted over Jayden's shocked gasp. “You're wrong about me. You're wrong... wrong!"
"Goodday child..."
"Mark my words! I'll save the world! AND YOU'LL THANK ME!"
The snap of Jayden's cane accompanied his exit from her home, and Emalia fled up her stairs. So she ended up upon the pillows, sobbing deeply. Though now, her mind was made up. She'd show Jayden that she knew what to do. She would find the temple, and she'd help end the repetitive nature of the RoK. She'd restore balance, like The Apprentice intended from the start. The world depended upon her now... she wouldn't let it down.
Dawn Breaking and Awakenings
The sun has a way, when it sets, of making things that are bearable into monsters. When it rises, monsters fade under the glisten of dew drops and warm rays. Thus woke Emalia on the dew covered cliff, overlooking the Elven Valley. The beauty of the sunrise caught her for a moment, and she watched the slender fingers of light curl ever so slowly over the tops of the eastern mountain forests. Time stood still for a moment and allowed her the ability to breathe easily as if nothing in the realms mattered. In that moment, she realized just how badly things had gone in the day prior. She pulled from the moment to wipe the collected dew from her face with her moist sleeve, and stood up to gaze upon the majesty of the morning.
It was a precarious walk back down the mountainside. Far to the south was Westbridge - this sight she had seen before. She was not ready to return there yet. After the passage of a couple of hours, she reached the base of the mountains and set off through the plains, toward a path lined with trees that looked ancient. She reached them, strolling slowly until she came to a wooden bridge. Here, the water gurgled and trickled close enough to dip a pair of feet in, and so Emalia did.The water chilled her for a moment, but as she grew accustomed to the freezing water about her feet, her eyes settled on the glimmering surface and her mind began to wander. There was no telling just how long she had stared, but when she heard a pair of footsteps, she immediately looked up. The reflected sunlight had blinded her for a moment, but the large frame belonging to Colin was unmistakable. There was no time, though she tried to get up and put her boots back on in order to leave, she heard his voice call to her, "Emalia. What are you doing here?"
In the moment atop the mountain, when time obligingly stood still for her, Emalia had realized more than a few things. One of these things was her decision to reach out to Jayden when she returned to Westbridge. The other, was that she actually - somewhere in herself - missed Colin. It was more than simply missing however. When she mulled over the minutes of their argument, she realized that as she chastised him and berated him, she was hurting inside. When he wasn't there, for the first time not there, she noticed an emptiness that went beyond simply missing a friend. After all her arguments to the contrary, it took the short absence to make her heart... "Nothing at all."
"Don't worry. I can leave."
Emalia sat calmly, her eyes locked again with the stream as she spoke. "I'm sorry. I know I was cruel to you the other day... and I'm sorry." The tension broke within the air, and Colin knelt beside her.
"I don't understand what I did."
"I guess it is to do with how we ended up together, partially... and that Brin is on her way... and when put with everything else... I just don't know."
"I'm sorry this happened," Colin said, gesturing to her stomach.
"You were no more at fault than I. I could have told you no. I know that much."
Longer they sat and Emalia poured her thoughts out to Colin. Gradually working herself around to telling him the discovery she had made in the still moment of the morning. As though through magic, Colin had forgiven her... and more importantly, she had begun to forgive herself. They sat over a brunch of apples, blackberries, and partially stale bread discussing Nephesh, then Brin, then themselves. Having made up in more than a few ways, they watched the clouds from beneath the trembling tree leaves.
Emalia took in a breath, and again, time seemed to slow down for her. She would seek Jayden for the other side of the story. She would find out what he thought, and weigh them together. If the stars lined up, then perhaps - just perhaps - she would be on her way north. For now, however, just the knowledge that Colin was beside her again, after how much she believed she didn't want it, put her in a calming rest. Her only residual thought as she lay there making out shapes in the sky was to wonder what had happened to him to give him the odd twitch in his neck.
It was a precarious walk back down the mountainside. Far to the south was Westbridge - this sight she had seen before. She was not ready to return there yet. After the passage of a couple of hours, she reached the base of the mountains and set off through the plains, toward a path lined with trees that looked ancient. She reached them, strolling slowly until she came to a wooden bridge. Here, the water gurgled and trickled close enough to dip a pair of feet in, and so Emalia did.The water chilled her for a moment, but as she grew accustomed to the freezing water about her feet, her eyes settled on the glimmering surface and her mind began to wander. There was no telling just how long she had stared, but when she heard a pair of footsteps, she immediately looked up. The reflected sunlight had blinded her for a moment, but the large frame belonging to Colin was unmistakable. There was no time, though she tried to get up and put her boots back on in order to leave, she heard his voice call to her, "Emalia. What are you doing here?"
In the moment atop the mountain, when time obligingly stood still for her, Emalia had realized more than a few things. One of these things was her decision to reach out to Jayden when she returned to Westbridge. The other, was that she actually - somewhere in herself - missed Colin. It was more than simply missing however. When she mulled over the minutes of their argument, she realized that as she chastised him and berated him, she was hurting inside. When he wasn't there, for the first time not there, she noticed an emptiness that went beyond simply missing a friend. After all her arguments to the contrary, it took the short absence to make her heart... "Nothing at all."
"Don't worry. I can leave."
Emalia sat calmly, her eyes locked again with the stream as she spoke. "I'm sorry. I know I was cruel to you the other day... and I'm sorry." The tension broke within the air, and Colin knelt beside her.
"I don't understand what I did."
"I guess it is to do with how we ended up together, partially... and that Brin is on her way... and when put with everything else... I just don't know."
"I'm sorry this happened," Colin said, gesturing to her stomach.
"You were no more at fault than I. I could have told you no. I know that much."
Longer they sat and Emalia poured her thoughts out to Colin. Gradually working herself around to telling him the discovery she had made in the still moment of the morning. As though through magic, Colin had forgiven her... and more importantly, she had begun to forgive herself. They sat over a brunch of apples, blackberries, and partially stale bread discussing Nephesh, then Brin, then themselves. Having made up in more than a few ways, they watched the clouds from beneath the trembling tree leaves.
Emalia took in a breath, and again, time seemed to slow down for her. She would seek Jayden for the other side of the story. She would find out what he thought, and weigh them together. If the stars lined up, then perhaps - just perhaps - she would be on her way north. For now, however, just the knowledge that Colin was beside her again, after how much she believed she didn't want it, put her in a calming rest. Her only residual thought as she lay there making out shapes in the sky was to wonder what had happened to him to give him the odd twitch in his neck.
Fault lines
"You stupid fool. What did you really expect to happen? You knew she didn't love you. How long did you think it would be before she couldn't stand the charade anymore?" Colin's thoughts berated him mercilessly as he sat staring at the engagement ring laying on his smooth palm. It was a beautiful work, the platinum band etched to show small vines of ivy, twisting along the circumference. It mirrored the twisting of his own thoughts, yet his thoughts were not nearly so beautiful.
But how could she have been so cruel? The darkness in her eyes and the things she had said. After all the times he had been there for her.. "No! Been there for you!", his mind countered, "You weren't there for her, you were there because YOU wanted to be. You wanted to get some of that hot little body of hers so just like some kind of addict you did whatever you had to do to get it."
Wait, no! That's not why he had spent all this time with Emalia. Of course he did think she was beautiful, and the moments of closeness they had shared were amazing, but he loved her, he truly did, and only wanted the best for her. "Ha ha ha, the best that YOU can give her. Face it, it's been all about you all along. She told you so herself."
Colin squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists trying to shut out the voice in his head. "NO! STOP IT!", Colin shouted, his voice echoing loudly off of the walls of the cave. For now his thoughts seemed to comply and the nagging voice fell silent. Colin looked about him. Why was he in this cave anyway? Sure he had wanted to be alone, and he knew he was sure to be alone here, but this was not a good place to be. He didn't know where he was going to go but it needed to be away from here.
Colin stood up from the riveted steel box upon which he had been sitting and shoved the ring into his pocket. He quickly made his way out into the daylight.
But how could she have been so cruel? The darkness in her eyes and the things she had said. After all the times he had been there for her.. "No! Been there for you!", his mind countered, "You weren't there for her, you were there because YOU wanted to be. You wanted to get some of that hot little body of hers so just like some kind of addict you did whatever you had to do to get it."
Wait, no! That's not why he had spent all this time with Emalia. Of course he did think she was beautiful, and the moments of closeness they had shared were amazing, but he loved her, he truly did, and only wanted the best for her. "Ha ha ha, the best that YOU can give her. Face it, it's been all about you all along. She told you so herself."
Colin squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists trying to shut out the voice in his head. "NO! STOP IT!", Colin shouted, his voice echoing loudly off of the walls of the cave. For now his thoughts seemed to comply and the nagging voice fell silent. Colin looked about him. Why was he in this cave anyway? Sure he had wanted to be alone, and he knew he was sure to be alone here, but this was not a good place to be. He didn't know where he was going to go but it needed to be away from here.
Colin stood up from the riveted steel box upon which he had been sitting and shoved the ring into his pocket. He quickly made his way out into the daylight.
Emalia sat on the edge of the cliff at the overlook, her eyes riveted on the dead air before her. Only briefly did she think of Hellstrom as she sat down. Her thoughts were mainly on the course of events that had now taken place, and whether or not she had given fate and destiny a chuckle.
She had gone home and told Colin everything and as always, he was there for her, comforting her. She fell asleep in his arms, feeling a bit better and woke the next morning - this morning - dragging Colin to the Jihad compound for a visit with Nephesh. Grobnak be damned, she was going to see the boy now that he was again awake.
The guards should have been her first indication of things to come. The questioning, wary eyes that locked on her as if wondering what she was doing there. After a bit of wandering, they had located Nephesh and all was joy... for a moment. The halfling had been under the impression that the journey had proceeded without him, which triggered Emalia's painful thoughts, which led to her finding out that even Nephesh knew what the Temple was for.
Emalia's mind - snapped. She wanted nothing to do with anyone. In her mind, they were all frauds. The innocents were not at all innocent. She had been duped. She squatted on the ground and let come from her the most soul rending sobs she could muster. Then... then... it happened. The calm.
Like the inside congealing outside, her very lifeforce seeped from her to form a cocoon. It hardened about her - keeping everyone out. From within, she could hear nothing but constant static. There was nothing to see, for the part of her sending for the shield was pure emotion. Only when she realized she was doing it, did she look up and break her focus slightly, right as the boy used his magic to enter her shield.
No sooner had she dropped her force and Nephesh's spell of rejuvenation landed, than the rage within her finally gripped her. She loathed her weaknesses - how could she protect herself if the boy could intrude upon what took her mortal soul to create? If he could get through, anyone with some sort of ability could. Curses upon the journey - for if she couldn't seal herself trying her hardest - she and her child would never be safe. How could she trust anyone to be what they claimed? Her mind snapped shut like a vice - people deserved to die by the RoK, they were vermin.
Her words poured out and seemed to solidify into daggers. She cut into Nephesh with her dark stare, then straight into the heart of Colin when she sent him off with the engagement ring she had thrown at him.
She cast a spell to leave, only to return moments later for her pack. There she saw the effects of her wrath in the form of a sobbing child. Her heart softened a bit, enough to offer an apology. Regardless, if anything else, Nephesh was still a boy.
And so she ended up here - leaving Nephesh to his rest. She wouldn't go home... should Colin be there (which she doubted, but she didn't want to face him). She wouldn't go to the Guardians (no matter that they had no idea of her dilemma and, indeed, may have been the help she truly needed), she wouldn't stay at the compound (she had definitely had enough of finding out just how many others knew about the Temple). Lastly, she wouldn't be going to the Temple, for without being able to protect herself, fate and destiny could shove it. No, she would sleep in the woods tonight, away from people... and everything else.
Still not yet night, she laid upon the grass and put a hand on what would be Brin within her flat belly. She thought of the childs' father and her soul sunk... she had been so cruel. Then she thought of the power she had commanded for the first time. Of all the times she had tried - only once was she sufficiently enraged did it work... what could that mean? She drifted off - the effects of the rejuvenation spell wearing down, her spirit completely drained beyond the spell. Her last thought before her deep, dreamless slumber was hoping that Nephesh would forgive her missing the morning prayers.
She had gone home and told Colin everything and as always, he was there for her, comforting her. She fell asleep in his arms, feeling a bit better and woke the next morning - this morning - dragging Colin to the Jihad compound for a visit with Nephesh. Grobnak be damned, she was going to see the boy now that he was again awake.
The guards should have been her first indication of things to come. The questioning, wary eyes that locked on her as if wondering what she was doing there. After a bit of wandering, they had located Nephesh and all was joy... for a moment. The halfling had been under the impression that the journey had proceeded without him, which triggered Emalia's painful thoughts, which led to her finding out that even Nephesh knew what the Temple was for.
Emalia's mind - snapped. She wanted nothing to do with anyone. In her mind, they were all frauds. The innocents were not at all innocent. She had been duped. She squatted on the ground and let come from her the most soul rending sobs she could muster. Then... then... it happened. The calm.
Like the inside congealing outside, her very lifeforce seeped from her to form a cocoon. It hardened about her - keeping everyone out. From within, she could hear nothing but constant static. There was nothing to see, for the part of her sending for the shield was pure emotion. Only when she realized she was doing it, did she look up and break her focus slightly, right as the boy used his magic to enter her shield.
No sooner had she dropped her force and Nephesh's spell of rejuvenation landed, than the rage within her finally gripped her. She loathed her weaknesses - how could she protect herself if the boy could intrude upon what took her mortal soul to create? If he could get through, anyone with some sort of ability could. Curses upon the journey - for if she couldn't seal herself trying her hardest - she and her child would never be safe. How could she trust anyone to be what they claimed? Her mind snapped shut like a vice - people deserved to die by the RoK, they were vermin.
Her words poured out and seemed to solidify into daggers. She cut into Nephesh with her dark stare, then straight into the heart of Colin when she sent him off with the engagement ring she had thrown at him.
She cast a spell to leave, only to return moments later for her pack. There she saw the effects of her wrath in the form of a sobbing child. Her heart softened a bit, enough to offer an apology. Regardless, if anything else, Nephesh was still a boy.
And so she ended up here - leaving Nephesh to his rest. She wouldn't go home... should Colin be there (which she doubted, but she didn't want to face him). She wouldn't go to the Guardians (no matter that they had no idea of her dilemma and, indeed, may have been the help she truly needed), she wouldn't stay at the compound (she had definitely had enough of finding out just how many others knew about the Temple). Lastly, she wouldn't be going to the Temple, for without being able to protect herself, fate and destiny could shove it. No, she would sleep in the woods tonight, away from people... and everything else.
Still not yet night, she laid upon the grass and put a hand on what would be Brin within her flat belly. She thought of the childs' father and her soul sunk... she had been so cruel. Then she thought of the power she had commanded for the first time. Of all the times she had tried - only once was she sufficiently enraged did it work... what could that mean? She drifted off - the effects of the rejuvenation spell wearing down, her spirit completely drained beyond the spell. Her last thought before her deep, dreamless slumber was hoping that Nephesh would forgive her missing the morning prayers.
Down With Air
Sanria stood in the snow, now cursing her lack of intelligence. She was to her knees in snow, rather far from the tower. With her distinct lack of undergarments, and only a thick cloak above her robe, she found she was at a bit of a disadvantage with the perpetual winter. Quickly she took stock of the area. Her invisibility spell continued holding, and judging from the wandering minotaur guards that crossed near her path, they didn't have the ability to see through it. The trouble, she figured, would be the invisible woman making tracks in the snow.
She waited until the guards were well on their way before she began to chant in a harsh whisper. Soon enough her legs, rapidly chilling in the air, rose above the snow. Her teeth chattered and slowly she floated forward, only feet above the snow covered ground. The grounds around the tower were massive and seemed to be crawling with hulking minotaur guards. Each had a giant gold ring in his snout, and unlike the band that hunted them earlier, these Minotaurs were staggeringly huge. Sanria was almost there. Deftly, from her pack, she pulled a bottle of pass-door, hoping to conceal it quickly within the invisibility spell. She slowly, chatteringly, eased past the outer guard. Even on the inside of the foreboding tower, guards were posted at the door. She had managed to float just past them, when a sound erupted from her cleavage, "Sanria, Are you there?"
All she could mutter as she dropped the noisy crystal to the floor was "Crap." Her concentration dropped for a split second, her body became visible, and all bets were off as the nearest guard gripped her robes in his hand. She was yanked from the air like a rag doll, and hit the ground with such a force that the air left her in a torrent.
This did not bode well at all.
She waited until the guards were well on their way before she began to chant in a harsh whisper. Soon enough her legs, rapidly chilling in the air, rose above the snow. Her teeth chattered and slowly she floated forward, only feet above the snow covered ground. The grounds around the tower were massive and seemed to be crawling with hulking minotaur guards. Each had a giant gold ring in his snout, and unlike the band that hunted them earlier, these Minotaurs were staggeringly huge. Sanria was almost there. Deftly, from her pack, she pulled a bottle of pass-door, hoping to conceal it quickly within the invisibility spell. She slowly, chatteringly, eased past the outer guard. Even on the inside of the foreboding tower, guards were posted at the door. She had managed to float just past them, when a sound erupted from her cleavage, "Sanria, Are you there?"
All she could mutter as she dropped the noisy crystal to the floor was "Crap." Her concentration dropped for a split second, her body became visible, and all bets were off as the nearest guard gripped her robes in his hand. She was yanked from the air like a rag doll, and hit the ground with such a force that the air left her in a torrent.
This did not bode well at all.
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