Running Shadows: Rebellion in Numenor

OOC: It's all good, Fayt. =) I always take that stance whenever dragons are concerned. I just love them too much! ^^

Atreyu happily hurried off to Keiran, but not so fast that he made a lot of noise. While he and Keiran were friends now, the Dragon was still territorial and tended to shoot flames first and ask questions later. He slowed his pace as he got closer to Keiran's area of the woods. The smell of a dead animal was enough of a clue that a random wanderer should turn around, but Atreyu was here with a purpose.
"Keiran? Hey buddy," Atreyu smiled as the Dragon came out of hiding. "I brought you some snacks, but it looks like you've already eaten." He glanced to the carcass of a large elk. It looked like it was a filling meal, but Keiran still stared at Atreyu with hungry eyes. "Oh, alright. But just one or I'll never get you to do anything today." He tossed a leg of pork towards Keiran, and the Dragon egarly ate it. Atreyu rolled his eyes. Keiran had come to love his food more than Dragon food.
While Keiran ate, Atreyu sat down next to him and patted his side. Today was going to be a dangerous day. Atreyu was going to try flying for the first time.

 

Now on the roads between the mountain range where the dragon lived and the place he had once called home, Kain formulated his next steps carefully. Having only his armour, sword and a limited food supply he felt that he would need to regain some of his possessions that where too important to him and would aid him in his travels.
Being a criminal to his country he knew that reaching his house would not be as easy as it used to. Keeping his helmet on Kain headed towards the capital city where the castle lies as well as his home. It would only be a less than a day from his location just outside of a small town where he first picked up on being wanted.

 

"Mi'lady," came a voice behind Goldwin.

She turned to see her personal guard walking inside the salle looking for her. The man's name was Trys, and he'd been with Goldwin helping her train in the ways of Dragon-hunting as well as behaving correctly in the court and political awareness.

"What is it?" she asked, standing up and letting her sword dangle limply in her hand, the tip just running along the straw-covered floor.

"You're needed at the castle," Trys replied, a small, perfunctory bow added at the end of the sentence. "Both your parents are still ill in bed and there is an emissary from Moraning coming within the hour."

"And it's my job to speak with them?" she grumbled. sheathing her sword angrily. "Gods, it's like they're already dead, isn't it?"

Trys frowned, hearing the frustration in her voice. "It's good that your parents have a daughter like you to help ease their passing and you're becoming Lady of Numenor... manipulation of power won't happen with someone like you around. Though it would be better if you had a man and some children to make the throne more secure-"

"Not happening any time soon," Goldwin snapped, though not unkindly. "The last thing on my mind is a family... I need to worry about the way things have been going: bad to worse; I've plenty to say to that Moraning emissary when they get here."

Gabriel sighed, looking down at his black cloak; it was spattered in the dead man's blood; it would take days to get out. Underneath it he wore only a black, cloth vest covering his bare, muscular chest; he found himself cocky enough to wear just this with worn leather pants every day he went out hunting for the scum that was starting problems.

This country is brewing the war all on its own, he thought as he strode out of the alleyway where the wanted man's body lay. Yes, I've pride for this land; yes, I'm proud of all the people I've killed that have pissed me off; yes, the blood magic and dark power makes me stronger than following any of the rules the rest of the light Summoners and Necromancers use.

He turned to make his way to the Lord of Moraning's castle to collect his reward; he didn't need a body or a trophy to prove he'd killed the Numenor spy; the Lord had the power to just see his memories of the incident and therefore pay him what he earned easily enough.

 

Alice blushed at her fault. She was so detrimed to get to town that she totally passed up a stream. But first thing's first, she nodded gratefully and took the water, drinking it slowly, knowing that drinking water too fast when dehyrated can kill you just as well as not drinking at all. When her thirst was quenched enough to speak she returned the water. "I'm extremely grateful to you, I'm in debt... And silly thing is... I'm a nomad. But while I slept I was rob and couldn't retrieve my items. And I guess that disappointment only made me want to get to town quicker so I must of ignored the stream. How embarassing." She said all while straching the back of her head.

 

Pantilimon frowned slightly as Alice spoke, replacing the flask on her belt. "Robbed hm?" she mused, tapping her lower lip thoughtfully. "I dislike theives in this area. They attack at random, which is ridiculous. Most people living here have targets or a reason... robbers only want money." a tone of disgust reached her voice at the word 'money'. She wasn't very well informed of politics but money always left a bitter taste in her mouth no matter how it was brought up. Which was why she had none, life was simpler that way. Shaking off her musings, pan stood up, offering Alice a hand. "Don't worry about the debt thing.If no stranger helped me, I would have been dead a long time ago; consider it my repaying you for someone else's kindness." she winked at the girl. "Pass it on someday."

 

Alice nodded and then took her hand to help her up. "Thanks. And I'll make sure to do that." Once she got to her feet she streched, feeling much better but still weak and hungry. "Oh, by the way, my name is Alice."

 

"That is a lovely name-." Pantalimon's eyes flitted around and she stopped talking half way through the thought. Soft, slippery voices whispered the name Alice at her before silently fading away. She looked back at Alice, wondering if she'd heard anything; but the young woman's expression didn't speak of any oddity so she kept her question to herself. "You can call me Pan. You're headed to town right? Any reason besides water? I'll walk with you there, in case you fall over again."

 

Atreyu, now lost in thought, was nudged back to reality by Keiran's nose. The Dragon's eyes were large and friendly, asking for more of the tasty treats. Atreyu just laughed and stood up, dusting his pants off. Keiran stood as well, his massive tail swishing along the ground in anticipation. Atreyu stretched his arms over his head and yawned. What Keiran did after that made Atreyu stare at the Dragon in wonder. Keiran stretched first like a cat and then tried to mimick what Atreyu did, but using his wings instead of his forelimbs. Atreyu had to laugh-- it was just too funny a sight. Every day, he learned something new from Keiran, and it was most often a pleasant learning experience.
"Okay," Atreyu began, facing the sleek black Dragon. "Today, Keiran, we're going to fly together."
Keiran growled feircely and backed away from the young man. The Dragon's stance was warning and nearly hostile. This idea did not appeal to him.

 

"Watch what you say, Mi'lady," Trys warned as he and Goldwin left the salle. "The emissary will understand that your parents are unable to speak, but anything you say they will be held responsible for."

"I know," Goldwin replied evenly. "I'm not going to whine like a child at their ridiculous taxes or unlawful rules or the immoral behavior of their soldiers within our borders... though I rightfully should."

Trys nodded in agreement. "Don't you want to change into something more... court-appropriate?" he asked now, eying Goldwin's usual, short-skirted, mail-coated training outfit she wore daily.

Goldwin snorted. "I'm not getting pretty for a b.astard from a tyrant's country," she spat matter-of-factly. They reached the castle now, and they both climbed the steps up through the main gate and down the hall into the throne room.

Gabriel pushed his way through the crowded streets of Moraning up to the Lord's castle; there were many that knew him by name but he ignored any calls that came toward him, especially the frightened ones that wanted to know about the bloodstains on his cloak.

He climbed the stairs of the main entrance and was stopped by two guards.

"What's your business here, boy?" one of them asked as they both stepped in front of the door.

Gabriel lowered his head, giving the man a rude stare fro under his eyebrows. "I'm here to collect what I'm owed," he murmured just loud enough for the guard to hear. "As you can see," he added, gesturing to the blood on his nice cloak. "I deserve a bonus."

The guards looked at each other and then moved aside. "He's in the throne room," one began as Gabriel shouldered past them. "But he's not alone."

"Oh, perfect," Gabriel smiled. "I love showing off."

 

Atreyu kindly held out his hand to Keiran. "It's okay, Keiran. You can trust me." The Dragon gave a flick of his tail as a response and another disgruntled growl. Getting food from a human was one thing, but letting a human on your back in flight was another.
Atreyu didn't rush Keiran into anything. He wanted Keiran to be comfortable with whatever they did together. It had taken him months to get Keiran to eat out of his hand, and he was willing to take the necessary time on this as well. But patience wasn't one of Atreyu's strong suites; and just as he was getting fed up of waiting for Keiran to come back towards him, the Dragon was at his side.
"There you go," Atreyu smiled with a genuine good nature. He took it slow at first, stroking the Dragon in spots he learned the Dragon loved (just like areas where dogs cannot scratch themselves) and speaking sweetly. It was only ten minutes until Atreyu got onto Keiran's back. And it was only then that he realized staying on the Dragon in flight would be difficult.

 

Blade continued to walk forward down the streets of Numenor looking at the piece of paper in his hand and soon stopped and looked up at the castle. so this is Numenor castle Blade thought to himself as he stared at the castle

 

Alice seemed confused at the sudden cut off by Pan but decieded not to bother her about it. "I like your name as well." She said before taking a few steps. "The only thing I'm worried about is eating at the moment..." She said as she blushed when her stomach growled.




"Sir," A guard entered the throne room and held his fist near his chest. "Gabriel of Moraning is here to claim what is owe to him."

The Lord snickered as he sat up straight before resting his head on his hand. "Finally, someone more interesting than you stiffs." The guard seemed to shuffle as he said this. "Send him in."

 

"Well they should have food." Pantalimon smiled even as Alice blushed. She could tell the young woman was self concious; it was something she didn't see much of so she found Alice to be endearing. "Do you need a hand or can you walk?" she added as they slowly made their way into town.

 

Alice shook her head. "No, I think I can walk on my own." She was stubborn when it came to people helping too much. And she've already showed her weaker side to this stranger, because for whatever reason she didn't feel threaten by her despite Alice's weakened state. "I have money so I'll pay for whatever we find, in case you're hungry too?"

 

Pantalimon considered the offer for a moment but shook her head. "No, I ate this morning and I'll find something later." she declined the offer. "So you never answered what I asked. Are you going to this," her arm swept a gesture meaning the whole populated area before them, "for anything but food and water?"

 

Alice still had her back to Pan. The truth was that she was here to find out how close the country was to start a fight with another, if it was at all, and to find someone who she couldn't even picture a face for. But how could she tell Pan about this? Information about the Seer was top secret, so she couldn't blab it to a stranger she just met. So Alice quickly thought up a lie. "I'm looking for someone who ran away from my clan. She was a close friend so I was hoping she'd rejoin the clan...or at least let me join up with her." Before saying this Alice looked back to Pan with a smile. It wasn't a total lie. Someone had ran away from the clan before her. But Alice watch her die.

 

Goldwin went to sit up on her father's throne, shutting her eyes and straightening her sword comfortably on her belt. "How long till he gets here?" she asked Trys.

"They'll send him in as soon as he gets here, Mi'lady," Trys assured her. "It will only be a few more minutes."

Gabriel walked into the throne room, eyeing the man in front of him as respectfully as he could manage. "My Lord," he began. "I'm here to collect the reward for the death of a supposed-Numenorian spy."

 

There was no need for Atreyu to tell Keiran what to do, the Dragon spread its wings and with one great burst of air and muscle, they were out of the trees and the sky. The feeling was amazing -- wind rushing past you, clouds just within reach next to you, and the motion of a Dragon beneath you. Atreyu could feel the muscles of Keiran as the Dragon soared through the air. It seemed like nothing could go wrong.
But of course, something had to. Atreyu hadn't accounted for how fast and far a Dragon could fly, and it was only minutes before they were above Numenor. A Dragon flying above the city known for its Dragon-hunters was not the best situation. Atreyu shouted over the wind for Keiran to turn around and get away from Numenor, and Keiran did just that -- but too sharply to Atreyu to keep his seat on the Dragon.
The fall wasn't long in reality, but it felt that way to the boy. Atreyu had never free-fallen before (and he wasn't planning to after this), so he had no idea what to do. He couldn't call Keiran to come to his aid, or he might be killed. He shouted, "Go!" to Keiran and then landed roughly on the ground.
It must have caused quite a commotion, but Atreyu wasn't conscience to find out what happened. He'd hit smack down into a haystack next to someone's house. It was just enough of a cusion to keep him from dying, but he was sure to have injuries.

"Dragon!!" someone who'd seen the event shouted. It was a man, apparently the owner of the home Atreyu had crash landed next to, in his thirties perhaps; and he was pointing at the retreating form of Keiran.

 

Pantalimon nodded. "I hope you find her. Good friends are nice." she commented with more sympathy than empathy. Pan liked people, but she'd never had and didn't need 'close friends'. On the other hand, she'd traveled with people who were very close to each other and they always made her happy to be around. As they neared civilization Pan's attention veered around from building to building, person to person. At first she was intreged, but slowly small voices piped up in a nearly inaudible way in her ears, distracting her from the new sites.

 

"It would appear you weren't all that kind to him either." The Lord, Micheal, noted as he examined the blood stains. "Let's see just how unkind you were." His eyes turned a rust red color as he peered into Gabriel's memory. Once he found and wittness the event of him killing the wanted man his eyes returned to their normal blank, dull tan color. Once they were normal again he chuckled. "I like your style." He glanced over to one of the guard. "You there, bring this man his reward right away. Faster you are the bigger your pay will be for the month." He watch the guard hurry off with an amused expression.



"Ugh." Alice rubbed her ears as they walked. Civilization was never her thing. Whenever her clan would go into a town she'd find the quietest part there to stay until departure or not enter at all. However, despite this, she still learned enough about how things worked in the largest of cities to the smallest of villages thanks to stories members of her clans told.