Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

Arryn reached over carefully and brushed back some of his hair. "As bad as this sounds, I don't think that could happen." Dayn had repeatedly proved that he could be trusted, and would continue to love her no matter what happened.... what if her father had been right in her dream? Maybe she could show him without explaining it? She looked at her sleeves, which were speckled with her blood. She did need to change out of this shirt. Arryn kissed him lightly, then said, "Maybe it's time I did let you see the scars.... I really do need to change into better clothing, after all." Arryn sighed and said, "You need to know this much before I show you... I did not willingly let these scars get marked on my body, first off. Second, well, in the olden days, for a tattoo, they used to use enchanted blades or an alchemical acid-dipped blade to make scars that could be hairline thin, and not healable." Arryn could feel tears welling in her eyes, but she kept a straight face and an even voice. Arryn slowly sat up, trying to be certain not to pop her stitches. To lighten the mood, she commented, "Ow, I've only ever been stitched once, and that was my by own hand." Arryn glanced at him over her shoulder, then slowly took off her shirt, covering her chest with one arm. She could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks as she waited for a response.


The scars were thin in most places, but deep in others. A design like feathers was etched into her upper arms from her shoulders to halfway down her forearms, but the pin feathers were broken, and the Northern-style design of a shattered chain wrapped around the rest of her forearm. A number of other scars - actual injuries - mingled with the designs. On her back, a dying tree was carved left of her spine, the branches and roots spreading across her back. In the center of the tree was a trinity knot with one side broken off. Across her shoulders was the moon phases, and at the nape of her neck was a small griffin. On the inside of her right shoulder-blade, a long, deep scar showed why she could no longer wield a sword. She very quietly explained, "I assume they thought the griffin design on my shield was funny. The - the trinity knot is missing one part - Body, mind, spirit. I wasn't insane then, but I was physically crippled. They were - they were ironic bastards. They angled the blade specifically to cut muscles so I couldn't move my arm. That's why the scar is so big."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn sat there, tears streaming down his face as he looked at the scars that covered Arryn's back. The designs were intricate, obviously done by someone with a steady hand, and that made the situation worse knowing that she had not willingly received these marks. The intentional mutilation of her body with the scaring and the purposeful cutting of muscles was something Dayn had never seen before. This was something altogether new and the idea that she had endured this made Dayn sick. He reached out a shaking hand, wanting nothing more than to comfort his love, but he felt like he couldn't touch her for fear of adding any more insult to injury. "How........did this happen to you?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn cleared her throat and said, "It-it wasn't planned by anyone. When the trap was set, it wasn't planned. Um, have you ever heard a banshee's scream?" Arryn was nearly sobbing now, but she was trying to keep a straight face and a clear tone. "At close-range, their screams can have magical effects. Including loss of consciousness. Um... They killed my teammates while they were down, but for some reason, the banshees didn't put their blades through my heart.I managed to kill one before I fell, I don't know why I stood standing after one scream, when my teammates fell instantly, but... after I killed one, I couldn't stay standing. I only stayed conscious long enough to feel the dagger cut into my shoulder, and then I passed out. I woke up wrapped in bandaging... and, and there was - there was this nurse, and..." Arryn put her head in her hand. She was starting to lose her composure entirely. She'd never intended to explain this much to him. "I fear that if I don't explain more, or describe what happened, you won't understand completely, but I can't do it.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn reached out to her, gently laying his shirt around her before wrapping her in his arms and holding her closely, tears streaking down his face. For several minutes they sat in silence, Dayn resting his head against the back of her neck as he struggled through the tears. He could sense, no, feel her emotions on top of his own, and the pain stabbed into his heart like a blade. Banshees....how he loathed the bitch that gave them birth during their life.


After a while, Dayn had lost track of time, and only after he felt like he could cry no more, Dayn slowly lifted his head. Emotionally Dayn felt like he had just bled out; his eyes burned and his heart still screamed in agony, but he couldn't bring himself to cry another tear. "You don't have to explain any more than you have tonight. At least......not now. One day maybe.......but not now. I don't think....." To a degree Dayn didn't want to tell her about his empathy now. He hadn't expected it, but apparently it was just another gift from the Night Mother. Empathy, from something as dangerous as lycanthropy, he would have never guessed it. "I don't think either of us could handle any more crying for tonight.", Dayn chuckled lightly, trying to make the situation a little brighter.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded slightly, pulling his shirt around herself tighter, too tired to actually pull it on over her head (which would have hurt anyway, considering where her stitches were) and gently pushed him back so he was lying down, before laying her head on his chest, pulling up the covers, nuzzling against his chest, and falling asleep almost instantly. It wasn't that fate was kind to her and didn't give her nightmares - it probably would have if it weren't for the fact that she was sleeping because of her extreme exhaustion and no other reason.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's sleep was dreamless, thank the gods. I couldn't have dealt with any more pain that night. To think about the whole situation....No, he'd rather not. Not right now at least. Let the blissful ignorance of sleep wash away the nightmares for one good night. But, wait, just one moment. Yes, Dayn was dreaming. But, not a normal dream. He saw the moon, full and beautiful. But something was wrong. The moon's face was full of sorrow. Dark streaks slide down her cheeks, dripping down onto the earth like dark rain.


My heart aches for her, child.........





The voice was distinctly feminine, but slightly deep, and obvious emotion could be felt and heard. Dayn didn't understand at first why when he opened his eyes he found dark streaks on his face, but as the dream came back to him he looked out the window. The moon, though not as full, could be seen, and he thought he could see faint streaks down it's surface.


Dayn felt the warmth of the sun on his face, driving away sleep and bringing him back into the light of day. He opened his weary eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light that still managed to burn them. He didn't want to move. Arryn was still asleep against his chest, and underneath his ribs he could still feel the pain in each and every heart beat. So there he lay, each breath bringing him pain as he slowly tried to push the memories from his mind. What finally brought him comfort was that voice, the woman who had spoken to him in his dreams.


Take care of her child. Lend her your strength and your might. Let her rest in your embrace, knowing that she is safe.





Dayn let himself relax, feeling the tension loosen. With every breath he felt a knew strength driving away the pain.


Promise me you'll take care of her.





This voice wasn't the same. It was a man's voice, someone he didn't recognize.


Promise me Dayn. Promise me you'll take care of her for me....





"I promise, on my life, that I will take care of her..."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn opened her eyes slowly, looking up at Dayn then nuzzling lightly against his chest, closing her eyes again for a few seconds before sighing. She raised the blankets and looked at the stitches on her stomach, grimacing. She glanced up at him, mumbling, "Stitches are terrible," before pulling the covers back up again and readjusting his shirt around her shoulders. She reached up and brushed back some of his hair, smiling slightly, noting the scars on her arm as she did so. There was nothing she could think of to say, so she just sighed and quietly said, "I love you, Dayn," before resting her head on his chest again. After a few moment, she quietly asked, "Do I want to know the time...?"





Arryn put her hand over the stitches on her stomach, but no healing happened. She sighed again and said, "I have absolutely no mana. I feel so... hollow. I can't even make my eyes feel better after all those tears... is this how you mundane people feel all the time?" Her smile hid what she knew they were both thinking. She was injured, exhausted, overall sore, and he'd seen her scars. She didn't quite know what to feel at the moment, overall, she just felt... hollow.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked down at Arryn and smiled. "Yes, except for when our loved ones are hurting." Dayn closed his eyes, wondering if he really wanted to tell her now. Ah Hel, it didn't matter did it? "When she hurts, both of us feel it." Dayn looked back at Arryn, rubbing her cheek as one of his eyes turned green for a second or two before fading away. A thin smile crept across his face as he leaned his head back. "I really don't think you want to know the time love." Dayn sighed. He didn't care what plans they had made for today, they weren't doing anything. Dayn didn't even feel like getting out of bed, but if Arryn needed something he would, but only then.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn, trying to understand what he'd meant. "... Are you telling me you're an empath now?" She thought about that fro a few seconds, then nodded and laid her head on his chest again. "You're in for a fun time being around me, then." After a little bit, she asked, "Dayn? Would you mind getting me my pack? I have to have a salve or a potion or something to make the ache go away." She wasn't aching from her wound, merely mana drain, pure and simple. In essence, she had made the decision to neglect any requirements of the rest of her body and burn absolutely all of her mana - which all of her body is accustomed to - on one small spot. She paused, then asked, "Are you hungry too?" She hoped he would say yes. She didn't want to inconvenience him, and she knew he had a wolf-ish appetite now, so she could hope, at least. Arryn put in a conscious effort to keep the covers over her body - just because he knew about her scars didn't mean she had to like them all of the sudden, and she also didn't want to make him uncomfortable by the fact that she only had a shirt wrapped around herself, not actually on.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn reached over on the table next to him and grabbed a small canister he had laid out when Arryn had been unconscious. He had seen her use the potion before so he knew it was the one she would ask for. He handed it to her, the thin smile still on his face. "No, not right now. Not after last night." Dayn was quiet for a little while as he thought over her comment. You're in for a fun time being around me, then. "Fun......not exactly the word I'd use for last night......." Dayn didn't want to sound bitter, and he wasn't trying to be, but he hadn't the mind for tact at the moment. "Its only emotional. Something I picked up with the lycanthropy, and from what I can gather it is only with you." Dayn closed his eyes again before genuinely smiling. "Don't be embarrassed beautiful, I've been in far more risque situations. I was married at one time you know. But if it helps put you at ease, they are quite nice and....symmetrical." Dayn's opened one eye to look at Arryn, letting her see his playful side even amidst his exhaustion.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn took the canister, then paused after he finished speaking, blushing crimson and smiling in surprise and slight embarrassment. "First off, I was being sarcastic, I mean, I've made you cry how many times already, and second off... um... When would you have noticed that? When we were both sobbing last night? Now I don't feel bad for asking you to get me some food, whether you're hungry or not, you disgusting old man," she laughed. Arryn had never really received compliments of a courting manner, much less a compliment like that, joking or otherwise, so she had no clue how to respond but blush. She did note that Dayn also seemed tired, and not exactly... happy. Was it merely concern for her? Even with his empathy,s he wasn't feeling bad at the moment. Perhaps she could speak to him about it later.


Trying to stop blushing and grinning like an idiot after such a comment, she focused on the potion, opening the cannister and sniffing it. Yep, that was the right one. Though perhaps she should make more, it hadn't seemed to work too well with the pain from her broken rib. Oh, well, it would suffice for now. She downed half the canister, grimacing as the bitter liquid ran down her throat. No matter how many times she drank that, she'd never like the taste, but the ache did ease off a bit. Arryn closed the canister and put it on the table next to the bed, then paused and laid her head back on Dany's chest, and said, "Belay that food request for an hour or so, actually," before dozing off.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled as he leaned down and kissed Arryn. "You're adorable when you blush love." As he leaned back he found himself laughing, almost uncontrollably had it not been for Arryn dozing off. He smiled again, kissing her head before dozing off himself.


(All I had.....need more coffee)

 

[Dragongal]

A few hours later, Arryn nuzzled lightly against Dayn’s chest as she woke up. She sat up and slowly pulled on his shirt, being very, very careful of her stitches. She kissed Dayn lightly and said, “Let’s go get some food. I think I should be good to walk.” Arryn swung her legs off the bed, carefully standing up. Those stitches were most definitely made nice and tight, and she could feel the bloodloss, putting her hand on the bed for balance before straightening up. She then remembered what she’d meant to ask Dayn earlier. “Dayn, love, did you tell Japhet that there’s a corpse in an alley…? I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a mage or a bloodhound tracking me now from the blood on that dagger we left.”

 

[BookWyrm]

"Would you be surprised if I told you no?" Dayn sat up and stretched before running a hand through his hair. "I was busy trying not to wolf out and get you to the doctor at the time, so it didn't occur to me until...now actually." Dayn stood up and hugged Arryn, making sure to be careful around her belly. "No doubt they tracked it to the doctor, and more than likely he would have filled them in on everything they needed to know. But if Japhet comes around asking questions it won't turn into a big deal, but lets burn that bridge when we cross it. Food sounds nice." Dayn walked over to the tray he had brought in earlier, the fruit and smoked meats had been kept in small packages to keep them from exposure. He brought the tray over and sat it down on the bed before helping Arryn back down. "I figured we'd be hungry eventually, so I took precautions." Dayn smiled as he opened up a small container of smoked salmon before taking a bite of the delicious pink meat.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn let Dayn help her sit back down, then leaned on his shoulder. She paused, then sat up straighter and asked, "How is your shoulder, by the way?" After everything that had happened, she'd nearly forgotten about his injury, and that made her feel rather guilty. Her guilt did not outweigh her hunger, though, so she grabbed a pear while she waited for his reply. Not that she could really help him much besides maybe giving him some medicine, and she wasn't even too sure on that.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn lifted his arm and rolled it around without catch nor pinch. "I'd say it's back to normal." Dayn was surprised by his rapid healing even though he didn't show it. He hadn't paid it much attention when Arryn had been stabbed even if it had been hurting. Dayn finished off the salmon, moving steadily to some dried fruits, nuts and cheese, leaving the fresh ripe fruits for Arryn. His hunger was returning a little, but he still didn't feel like eating much. Something about all of the stress from the previous night had taken it out of him.


"How are you feeling? I mean, not stitches but everything else?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn sighed, and admitted, "Tired. My whole body's kinda sore. Honestly, I kind of feel like an idiot. I let my guard down, I got too comfortable in a city. It wa stupid of me, walking around and looking in those store windows when I should have been watching my back." Arryn sighed, shaking her head. "And I mean, I let the guy live twice after fighting him, was that wrong? I mean, the Guard judged him as only requiring prison sentence the first time, the second time i didn't think he'd be so stupid.... I don't know...."

 

[BookWyrm]

"You can't blame yourself for it love. We all make mistakes and let our guards down. Remember the tower?" Dayn had been embarrassed about the tower incident for days after it happened. "I'm just happy we were there for each other in both instances." Dayn looked down at his bowl, frowning as he noticed it being half empty. He sipped on a glass of water, the cool drink feeling good on his dry lips. He hadn't realized how little he had drank since the previous day until now. He felt slightly dry at the thought. After chugging the rest of his water he poured himself another glass. "I know this goes without saying, but we're not traveling until you're healed." I made a promise, and I intend to keep it, is what he wanted to say, but opted out of explaining the whole conversation between him and the two rather non present voices. As he thought back over the conversation Dayn realized something. That voice, the Moon Presence....it sounded like Kara......

 

[Dragongal]

"Well, it works, I don't want to be on the roads when Samhein comes about, and that's only a few days off." She was slightly chilled by the thought. Samhein, when the barriers between Hel, the Afterlife, and Trulane were he thinnest. When else would she have a worst time, considering that most of the damage on her body was from spirits? And how would Dayn's lycanthropy respond to that? Was it like a full moon, or would he lose it? At the moment, none of that was of utmost importance, but Dayn had just gained a far-off look in his eyes. Arryn put her hand over Dayn's, asking gently, "Are you okay...?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn blinked as he focused on Arryn, taking a moment before smiling. "Just thinking about something, nothing to worry about." Dayn shook his head as he chewed on another mouthful of food. "When is Samhein exactly? I've heard and read on it, but the texts were never specific on the date."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at him as though he'd said he'd never heard of Yule. "It's in four days, on the autumn equinox. Do you Southerners not prepare for it?" She knew that the North was considered superstitious country, but this was just unheard of for her.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn shrugged his shoulders. "By that do you mean we take the occasion seriously? No, most people in Riverbend don't. In the villages though it is taken as seriously as I'm going to guess it should be. It's odd, I've never had anything strange happen before, but now I'm not so sure what will happen." Dayn lowered his eyes, frowning slightly as he thought about his "condition" and the fact that Samhein was just four days away now. What would happen to him?

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn paused and said, "Well, we'll figure it out, then. Promise." Arryn could understand how something like this might concern Dayn. They were still working out his lycanthropy, after all. She finished eating her food, then laid down again. After a few moments, she asked, "Dayn, are you mad at me?" She'd noticed that he'd been acting oddly ever since last night, and she wasn't sure if it was just because he was tired, or not.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked over at Arryn before slowly laying down beside her, though facing the opposite direction. "No love, I'm not mad at you. I'm just.....dealing with some things right now." Dayn looked out the window to where the moon had been the previous night. "I'm not exactly sure what, or why, and I can't describe it very well, but I feel like....No, never mind. It's stupid anyway."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn and moved closer to him, gently laying her arm over his side, a little bit nervous that she might be intruding. She quietly said, "I'm sure it's not stupid, mo chroi. Not if it's bugging you. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I'd like to help you however I could." If she were honest with herself, she'd admit that she was a bit concerned that it had something to do with her scars, since she'd been so worried that he'd see her differently if she showed him. But she did also want to help Dayn however she could.