Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

Arryn chuckled and undressed. She yelped a bit as she slid into the water. It was... hot. But normally it was the same temperature and it didn't hurt.... Thank the gods we're going to Libro after this.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn frowned and sighed before gently rubbing Arryn's neck. "We'll get this figured out."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded a bit and leaned her head against Dayn's chest as she sighed. "I hope Libro can help... I just don't know what's happening...."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn hugged Arryn tightly and kissed her head. "Lets get cleaned up and head out then." After drying off and getting dressed Dayn turned back to Arryn and offered his hand. "You sure you don't want a wolf pulled sleigh?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and finished pulling her clothes on before taking his hand. "No, but if I do fall, I know my knight will catch me."

 

[BookWyrm]

Thankfully the trip was an easy one. It was a little nippy yes, but Dayn managed even with his kilt. By the time they neared Libro's cave Dayn had finished a cheerful southern travel song that he had broken into during the trek. "That song has kept me going on rough rainy days."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and squeezed Dayn's hand. "It's keeping me going now." Arryn hadn't truly felt the cold much at all during the walk. When they entered the cave, Libro was sitting by the fire, reading. "The banshees again?" Arryn was taken back. "How did you - " "Magicked map, shows me disturbances. Only thing to ever happen in Gilowitz is banshees, and there's been rumor about you two, like last time for you, Arryn. I can't figure out why you're here, though. You both seem pretty healthy, maybe a bit tired. What is it?" Arryn looked up to Dayn, thinking he might be able to explain it better. He had been in a clearer mind than her for most of the cold spells.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn gave Arryn a confident smile before a gentle hand squeeze. "Arryn has been having cold spells ever since that night. They haven't been normal though. Her temperature has dropped and stayed down and she has been frigid to the touch. Even after using pyromancy I can't seem to warm her up. And then the cold started to seep in and cause pain."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn sighed. "Pain is an understatement. It started aching once in a while during the cold spells, then, yesterday... it was indescribable pain. But I don't... feel cold anymore. I don't feel warm either, but... I just don't know what's happening." Libro thought for a few moments before asking, "Arryn, did you spend some of your life force that night?" Arryn looked up to Dayn, then back to Libro. "Yes." Libro sighed and shook his head. "Well. There is a chance... that your magic has become... you could say tainted. Think of it as a well dug into the ground. Over time it will naturally refill itself, after the rains and other conditions, but sometimes something else gets into the hole before the proper water can." Arryn was tense and scared, now. "So... another curse...?" Libro shook his head. "No, just residue from the spells that didn't quite comply with your bloodline. And, well... it is possible that the banshees did it on purpose as a way to... repay you. For the damage. Once they are ordered to do something by a powerful necromancer, they must complete the task." Arryn squeezed Dayn's hand tighter. "I had a dream... with this banshee... but she was more like a ghost... and... will I become a banshee?" "No, child, fear not. You will not become a banshee. But, you truly must rest and learn to adjust to this new magic. That was what that pain was. Your body was drained of literally all mana, and the cold magic was then mixed in. Now you must learn to adjust." Arryn looked up to Dayn, wondering what he would think of this.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn closed his eyes and sighed, his face taking on a rather worn look as he did. As usual he was wearing his heart on his sleeves whether he meant to or not. At the very least Arryn wasn't going to become a banshee. Dayn had felt his heart skip a few beats when she brought up the dream and possibility of it happening. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he had gone pale as well, but relief came like a flood when Libro had waved it away. Yet Dayn still found himself broken slightly. He didn't know what to do with any of this, and he felt more than useless as far as trying to help Arryn recover.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn leaned her head against Dayn's chest, trying to help him feel better. Libro added, "Dayn, you're going to have to help her keep it in check. Rampant innate magic like this runs the risk of burning mana at high rates, without the caster even knowing. And she's going to need to practice."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn wanted to respond to Arryn in some way other than just being nothing more than a stone wall, but at the moment he wasn't sure what to do. He wasn't going to break down, not here, but he was going to need some time to let this all sink in. He nodded slowly when Libro finished talking. "I'll find some way to keep it in check. Thaumaturgic blocks or something along those lines, at least until she can manage it better."

 

[Dragongal]

"You be careful with your thaumaturgy. Rampant emotion will make it all much worse, and if you pass out, she'll need someone to remind her. That's all you have to do, remind her once in a while." Arryn smiled to Libro and nodded a bit. She didn't like how Dayn was holding so still... that clearly meant that he was upset, which upset her in turn. "Thank you for your help." Arryn turned back to Dayn and took his hand again, gently tugging it as they left. She didn't let go of his hand for the whole walk back home. She was honestly worried about him. When they got back home, Arryn took off her boots and coat and went back to their bed, rather worn out from the walk. She sat on the edge o the bed and waited for Dayn, fighting back tears. It made her feel like she'd done something wrong because he was so upset, and that maybe he was mad at her. Deep down she knew that was completely wrong, but at the moment she just wanted him to tell her that he wasn't upset with her, but with the circumstances.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn closed the door behind him after he'd kicked the snow from his boots. He carefully took them off alongside his jacket, placing each beside Arryn's in their respective positions. Since Arryn was in the bedroom Dayn took a moment to gather himself, sighing as he ran his hand through his hair. Things had been stressful, and the news today hadn't helped, but they would make it. He hadn't planned on being so stiff and quiet around Arryn on the way back, but in a way that was his response to things. Until he had time to think everything over he could be closed off to people, even Arryn, which hurt him to think about. After a couple of minutes he walked into the bedroom and joined Arryn on the bed. He slowly turned to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he rested his head in the crook of her neck with a gentle kiss. "We'll get through this.", he said after a few quiet moments. "We'll be okay."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn wrapped her arms around Dayn and held him close. Just hearing him say that made her feel better, despite the tears rolling down her cheeks. She was still just processing the information she had gotten. How might this change things for them from now on...? Now wasn't the time to think about it, though. She was tired and cold and just wanted to cuddle with her husband and make him happy again. As much as she knew he didn't mean to hurt her, he was killing her by being so closed off. She lightly ran her fingers through his hair. "I love you."

 

[BookWyrm]

That was all it took for Dayn to drop his guard. His shoulders sagged and his arms fell slightly loose, though he didn't fall completely on Arryn. She needed someone to hold her today, not the other way around. "I love you too Arryn." Dayn slowly scooped Arryn into his arms and cradled her against his chest. "I'm sorry if I upset you. I'm....I'm trying. Please don't be mad at me."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nuzzled lightly against Dayn's neck, and continued running her fingers through his hair slowly. She always felt so safe when he held her like that. "It's okay, mo chroi. I understand. I could never be mad at you."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn eventually laid back on the bed and let Arryn lay against his chest as he stared up at the ceiling. "What would you like for dinner tonight?" They hadn't actually had a true dinner for a few days now. He figured it was time to remedy that.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled a bit. Only Dayn would ask that at a time like this. Only her Dayn. Arryn nuzzled lightly against his chest. "I don't know. I'm just tired and cuddly. But I guess I should eat...." She was healing up from mana burn, after all. But at the moment she was just tired and cuddly. For a few moments she had to question if she was just trying to feel more warmth, but in the end she decided that she was just feeling cuddly. She needed to answer Dayn, though. "I guess shephard's pie or mushroom stew. Something warm."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled and chuckled quietly. He liked it when Arryn was cuddly. "I've got an idea that you should like. Let me get it started and I'll come back to cuddle." Dayn laid Arryn on the bed and gave a kiss before walking into the kitchen to prepare an old stew he'd learned from the campaign. It was made to be filling and hearty, but it was also surprisingly flavorful. Once he'd set the pot over the fire he walked back into the bedroom and crawled back into bed beside his wife and pulling the covers up around them.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had started to lightly doze when Dayn left, but she couldn't really sleep without him next to her. When he rejoined her she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled against his cheek before nestling her head into the curve of his shoulder. "Dia duit, mo chroi."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled and started to play with Arryn's hair, gently giving her a light scalp massage.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn would have purred if she could have. She knew that Dayn was okay when he played with her hair, and that definitely helped her calm down. "How are you, dearest?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn kissed Arryn's neck as he continued to play with her hair. "I'm here. I'll be okay, I just need some time to let everything settle."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded. "I understand. I'm glad we saw Libro, so we know what's happening. I was honestly... so scared I would become a banshee. It terrified me, but I didn't want you worrying too, not without due reason."