Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn had gone dark to the world around him as well. Sleep seemed more and more like a release now instead of relief. A release from fear and worry, and excuse to slip away from the world for a few hours and go numb to everything. He didn't like that, but at the moment he couldn't fight it.

 

[Dragongal]

After a few hours, another nightmare set in. but since Arryn hadn't closed of their connection, Dayn could experience it too, not that Arryn knew that. Dayn would just see things as she did, and feel them as she did, but he couldn't know her thoughts or feelings.


Arryn looked around in confusion. Where was she...? A graveyard. It was night and snow covered the ground and the graves. There was a church across the yard from her. Why was she here...? Her weaponry and armor was on, so was this after a battle? After a few moments of silence she walked toward the church, only to hear an earsplitting scream from across the yard. She took off at a sprint to find a young lady kneeling in the snow, sobbing over a patch of red snow - though it was clearly not of her own blood. After checking for enemies, Arryn hesitantly walked over to the woman. The moment the woman looked up, Arryn felt a cold stab of fear in her heart, and slowly, a cold started to set into her bones. The young woman was the banshee she'd seen... the beautiful one. Tears ran down her face and her honey colored curls were a mess from sobbing. Her dress was made of fine silks, but was torn around the edges. As the woman stood, Arryn backed up. No, no, no, gods, no.... The woman started getting paler and the air got colder. Arryn was about to turn to run, but the woman reached out and grabbed her wrist, sending icy pain lancing into her arm. "Stop! Why are you doing this?!" The woman merely cocked her head to the side a bit and pulled Arryn forward, making her fall onto her knees. Sword, sword, where is - The woman had her sword now. Arryn expected the blow to come, but the woman tossed it aside instead. And then again, perspective switched, and the cold became unbearable. She wanted to scream as the pain lanced its way through her - the woman's? - arm, forcing her to start casting a freezing spell on Arryn's arm.


At this point, Arryn's magic went into a defensive stance, fully closing off their connection, though she was still caught in the dream, Dayn was now cut off.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn had opened his mouth to scream when the connection had faded into a bright flash, leaving him blinded and in writhing in pain for a few moments. When the pain died away Dayn had to question whether or not he had actually opened his eyes. He was staring into utter darkness. Nothingness as far as the eye could see, or well, not see. Yet, there was something of substance to the darkness. Layers, maybe? Dayn found himself realizing that the blackness had shape and form, maybe even smell to it. As he was contemplating these things a pair of eyes opened only a matter of feet away.


You.....


The voice was quiet yet it held such power that Dayn found himself trembling as he stared into the eyes. The events that proceeded could only be recalled in a blur. Dayn felt something move around him like a fog, and then it moved through and into him. Next thing he knew he was sitting upright in his bed, panting, and staring at the wall. He turned quickly to his side, forgetting all about his encounter, and put all of his thought into waking Arryn. "Arryn, Arryn wake up!" He pulled his wife against him and cradled her to his chest. "Wake up Arryn. It's just a dream."

 

[Dragongal]

Dayn...? Mo chroi.... Arryn slowly managed to drag herself away from the vision and towards Dayn's voice. Her eyes fluttered open for a few moments before she squeezed them shut again and hid her face against Dayn's chest as the tears started to fall and the cold started to ache. "Mo chroi... Gortaíonn sé... Cosain dom le do thoil...."

 

[BookWyrm]

As Dayn held Arryn against him he felt a sudden pain shoot through his chest. Everything began to wash out to a grey color as the eyes appeared to him again as Dayn's heart beat in an erratic pace. He felt his stomach twisting in knots and threatening to spill out whatever contents it held. His skin rippled as goosebumps rose. It felt like something was burning under his skin, almost like someone had set his blood on fire. And then, just as quickly as it came, the whole sensation ended as the eyes disappeared.


Dayn looked around as he tried to make sense of the color of everything, though he quickly turned his attention back to Arryn. Though it took maybe five seconds the whole experience felt like it had lasted for hours, leaving Dayn confused and feeling like he had neglected his wife the attention she needed. "I'm right here love. I won't let her take you."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had noticed Dayn's heartrate accelerating, but it had calmed almost immediately, so she assume that it was because of the current situation. How did he know about her, though? At the moment, she just shivered and cuddled closer to her husband.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn waited until Arryn had calmed down before slowly laying her back into the bed and pulling the covers up around her. He leaned in and kissed Arryn's forehead before moving over to the dresser where he kept his gear. "I've got to go. I'll be back in an hour, maybe hour and a half." After sliding into a pair of thick trousers studded with rivets Dayn pull on his gambeson and maille before slinging his sword belt on. It all makes sense now. After sliding into his boots and throwing on few pieces of armor and his cloak Dayn turned to look at Arryn once more. "Don't fret," He said with a smile, "I promise I'll be back." Dayn left before Arryn could protest. After a ways he veered off and ventured into the woods a few steps before turning around and using his aeromancy to hide his tracks. He didn't need Arryn following him for this. "It'll be safer if she doesn't get involved anyway."

 

[Dragongal]

"Dayn...." Arryn had been too dazed to react until it was too late. Why would he need his armor and weaponry? How could he promise that he would be back if he needed his blade? He couldn't shift if her had chainmaille on, what could he be after? This was about her, wasn't it...? She was a healer, his partner, his wife. The only reason he'd leave without her is if her didn't want to risk her, which meant he was in danger. Yet as hard as she tried, she couldn't find the strength to move much. After what felt like hours but was probably only a few minutes, she managed to stand.


She knew that she should let him be. He had made his decision, and she should respect that. But that didn't mean that she had to like it. Still shivering, she moved to a chair in the front room with her blades and a sharpening stone. If he didn't come back in an hour and a half, she'd be ready to go find him. If someone or something else returned, she'd be ready for that too.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn made good time down the mountain and to the pass where Matthias, Kalie, and Theodas had come to their aid all of those months ago. He looked around the clearing, his hand never straying far from the pommel of his sword. He sniffed the air quietly before turning towards the woods off to his left. A crow had perched itself on a branch and stared at him intently, cocking it's head to this side or that as he watched him. It burst into flames a second later. At this point he was taking any precaution. Eyes and ears could be lending aid to anyone with the skill to bend one's will to their own. But Dayn had to ask himself what he was really doing out here in the cold.


What was that anyway? Why did I see it? Where was I?


He was pulled from his thoughts by the hairs raising up on the back of his neck. Spinning on his heel he turned, sword in hand, to meet whatever threat he had felt. He cried in pain as his arm was twisted around, his sword falling to the ground, and his body lifted into the air by an unseen but powerful force. When he finally managed to look at his foe he felt his stomach drop. A dark, cloaked figure stood with it's hand outstretched as he watched him.


Interesting.


So this was the source of the voice. Dayn struggled but couldn't free himself.


You have spirit. You will do well.


The figure walked up and touched Dayn's forehead. Pain laced through Dayn's body right before everything faded to black.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had waited as patiently as possible, which meant sharpening her blades until they could slice paper with ease. If someone had hurt him, they would have an up close experience with her blades. When an hour and a half rolled around, though, she pulled on her travel clothing and strapped on her grieves and swordbelt and left. She had expected to find Dayn's tracks, but there were none. She tried to tap into her lycanthropy and find his scent, but to no avail. Their connection seemed closed off, to add to the issue.

 

[BookWyrm]

The world was swimming and dark and painful. Dark. Dark. Layers of darkness that formed vague shapes. But Dayn wasn't looking around. No, he was sprawled out on the ground. Each time he tried to move the pain threatened to render him unconscious again. How long had he been laying there?


Arryn. He had to get home to Arryn. He promised he would come back for her. Dayn struggled to get his arms under him, and he pushed himself up despite the pain that laced his stiff muscles. When he fell back into the dirt Dayn cried out as the pain shot through him, arcing like webs under his skin. He opened the connection and searched for Arryn desperately, though it closed just a few moments later. It was enough though....enough to get through. Dayn got his arms under him again and forced himself back onto his knees, though his vision faded to a small tunnel as the dark closed in.


When Dayn finally made it to his feet he had to brace against a tree to keep from falling over. He looked around and spied his sword a few feet away and slowly made it over to pick it up and sheath it. Once again he called out for Arryn, this time finding her and locking the connection in. "Come on Dayn. One foot after the other."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had already started heading in the direction of the pass, though for another reason. She walked into her old house and nodded to her mother before running into her old room and searching through the trunk to find a worn leather breastplate. It was cut up in places and had definitely seen battles, but it was hers nonetheless. She pulled it on and ran out before her mother could ask a question.It was then that she felt the first pull on their connection. It was short and painful, but more than enough to let her know where to go. She took off at a sprint in the direction of the pass. Not long after she felt the connection open again and stay open. Dammit, I'm too far for this bullshit. As appealing as shifting was, it would more likely harm than hinder. If anyone caught sight of a red wolf running, well.... That would be trouble. After what felt like far too long, Arryn reached Dayn's side. He looked like he could barely stand. She closed the gap and wrapped her arm around him to help support him.

 

[BookWyrm]

By the time Dayn saw Arryn coming for him he was braced against a tree and panting. "Arryn?" His body was refusing to work with him on anything, so when she threw her arm around him Dayn accepted the aid gratefully.


"I....I don't know what happened."


They had finally made it back to their home and Dayn was laying across the furniture in the great room. "I remember..." Dayn recalled the figure vividly but...did he tell Arryn? It wasn't likely to make any more sense to her as it did to him. "I...I don't know."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn walked back into the room with a massive pile of blankets and furs and practically poured them on Dayn before taking off her armor and weaponry and crawling under the blankets so she could sit next to him. She gently brushed back some of his hair as she listened to him. "Do you remember, or not know?" Was he trying to keep her out of it? It was too late for that. He'd run off and she had had to go to save him, it was too late to keep her out of it. "Dayn, please tell me. You ran off without me, leaving me with nothing to do but sharpen my weaponry and wait, and I go to find you barely standing.... Please, talk to me. Tell me what you remember, even if it doesn't make sense."

 

[BookWyrm]

"When you had your nightmare, our connection was still open. It let me see the dream." Dayn went on to recall the events in detail, from his own strange vision to the figure at the mountain pass. "By the time I was able to move you had found me. Here we are now."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn for a few moments before turning her eyes back to the fireplace. So, he knew about her? That was concerning. She had wanted to keep him from worrying, and now he knew about her. She looked back and him and smiled a bit before nuzzling against his cheek. "Seems we've both suddenly got demons to fight. But at least we can fight them together."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn couldn't help but wonder if that thing had been a demon, or something far worse. Hel take it. Dayn pulled the blankets and furs up around the two of them before holding Arryn tightly. "Besides the whole black figure it wasn't a bad walk."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and leaned against Dayn. "And besides the nightmare it'd have been a nice nap." It seemed like he did need to rest. She very slowly used some of her healing magic to help him relax, even if he didn't know it. He seemed like he needed it after the intense pain of earlier.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn yawned and stretched, only to feel a wave of relief wash over his body as he snuggled up against Arryn. The furs were a nice touch and extremely comfy. All at once he felt extremely tired, goofy, and really flirty. "Hey there good lookin'.", he said as he flashed Arryn a cheesy grin. "What brings you to these parts?"

 

[Dragongal]

Okay, that was not me. Arryn played along, of course. "Just trying to take care of someone who's a bit hard-headed sometimes."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Is that so." Dayn was still smiling in his goofy way as he leaned in closer. "Is hard headedness a bad thing?"

 

[Dragongal]

"Sometimes it is. Sometimes, though, it's pretty endearing." Arryn didn't move. If he wanted to kiss her he'd have to put the effort in himself.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's smiled turned quite genuine as he leaned forward and let his eyes close. Thumph. Dayn's head came to rest against Arryn's neck as sleep suddenly overtook him.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn in surprise. That had been quite sudden. I may have overdone it.... Arryn sighed and hoped that it was a healthy sleep and not some side effect of everything that had happened. She settled down and rested her head against his before falling asleep as well.

 

[BookWyrm]

It seemed like the time between his head hitting Arryn and his eyes opening up again had only been a matter of minutes, but Dayn actually slept the rest of the day. He looked around curiously at all of the blankets and furs that were gathered around them and couldn't help but wonder if Arryn had slept as long as he did.