Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn hugged Arryn and sighed. He remembered the woman's words clearly, but he wondered what it would take to get Arryn to listen to her. Then again, was she even telling the truth?

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn buried her face against Dayn's neck. "I'm worried that she wants to drag you into this too. I don't want that. I don't want you having to deal with that. You're mine, and I don't know if I can protect you from her."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn laid his hands on either side of Arryn's cheeks as he met her gaze. "I'm not going anywhere. If it means having to stand beside you for all of this, even in your dreams, I will find a way." Dayn's features softened as he leaned in to kiss Arryn's forehead. I just want to be able to soothe her worry and let her rest. Before Dayn realized what was happening he felt a strange tingle running along his body, and only too late did he notice that Arryn had their connection open. As he pulled away he noticed a dark, mist like aura forming around them both. But...this didn't feel bad. No, it felt.......peaceful? Yes, Dayn could almost feel it easing him into sleep faster than any draught or spell ever could. And with their connection being open Arryn was no doubt feeling this as well.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn hadn't even tried to struggle against the strange magic. When she opened her eyes, she was in the ballroom again. "Gods Damn! Why won't you let me leave!" She didn't even know where the woman was, just that she knew the woman would hear. After a few moments, though, the woman appeared. "Leave me alone!" It was only at this moment that she realized that Dayn was with her. She immediately stiffened up and put herself between Dayn and the woman.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn laid his hands on Arryn's shoulders as he leaned down to kiss her neck. "It's okay Arryn. Nothing is going to hurt either of us."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn and hesitated. For some reason he was in the same grey doublet outfit he was wearing when she had first met him. She looked down at herself and realized that she was still wearing her old armor. The woman's voice dragged her attention back up as well as her guard. "Good, I was hoping to get you two together, since it seems like the only way Arryn will be willing to speak to me." Arryn would have backed up and protected Dayn more if he hadn't taken her shoulders. "I still don't want to." "But we need to speak." "You killed ten of my team, scarred me, and scarred my husband. You drove me insane. You have been giving me the most painful visions, and I nearly died yesterday and you appeared to him with some vague nonsense?!"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn had an idea, but he knew that Arryn was definitely not going to like it at all. It's a risk, but I have to show her everything will be okay. Slowly, deliberately, Dayn moved in front of Arryn and cupped her cheeks in his hands. "You are going to be okay. I promise." Dayn lowered his hands and turned, walking over in front of the woman before giving his best bow and kneeling before her. Something about this woman deemed her much higher than mere nobility, and it commanded respect. Dayn allowed himself to raise his eyes to meet the woman's gaze and give her a knowing smile. I trust you in this, don't make me regret it.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had frozen in shock when Dayn went up to the woman. She wanted to pull him away from her and protect him, but she was too shocked to even move. The woman smiled kindly. "You may rise, Sir Braegland. I commend you on your ability to recognize royalty." This shocked Arryn even more. Deep down, she knew she ought to at least hear this woman out, but that meant that Arryn might actually have to forgive her. Arryn stepped forward as Dayn stood and took his hand, then looked at the woman. "You know our names, can we not know yours?" "Very well. My name is Síochána." Arryn paused. Her name meant Peace in Northern....

 

[BookWyrm]

As Dayn stood he bowed his head and laid his right hand over his heart. Next thing he knew Arryn held his left hand and was standing beside him. He smiled to her and gave her hand a short squeeze. "If she meant any harm she would have struck out at me by now. But, if it makes you more comfortable." Dayn was suddenly enveloped in shadow before coiling around Arryn's legs as the shadows formed up around her. Though Dayn had cloaked Arryn within him she could see clearly through to Siochana, just as she could see Arryn. <I can be close enough to caress all of you.>

 

[Dragongal]

"Dayn? How...?" She could feel that it was him but it was... weird. What kind of magic was he using? Did it hurt him? "One of Lluena's friends gave that gift, no? They never were especially good with explaining things." Arryn looked up at Siochana. "Arryngale, before anything else, allow me to apologize for the nightmares. They were supposed to be messages, but it was too difficult to control when the power struggle began, and your own fear and problems with ice magic turned it into nightmares." Arryn stayed silent. That was what Dayn had said Siochana had said the first time, but.... Arryn didn't know if she really wanted to forgive her. "Who are you, really? You said you're royalty and we know your name... why can you do what you do?" Siochana hesitated, as though this were a topic she had wanted to get to later, and said, "I am the Banshee Queen."

 

[BookWyrm]

The mention of Lleuna made sense, though Dayn was still unsure of who this friend was or what gift he had been given. But his shock at learning that Siochana was the banshee queen made Dayn growl. Yet, he found himself questioning whether this was such a dangerous thing or not. <Your Radiance,> Dayn couldn't forget he was dealing with royalty. <What is the meaning behind this? I thought banshees were creatures of darkness, yet you seem safe enough.>

 

[Dragongal]

Fucking knew it. Arryn glared at Siochana when she revealed her status. In honesty should would have felt safer if Dayn was in his corporeal form, human or wolf. She didn't know enough about this shadow form to fully trust that it didn't have any side effects. Siochana seemed like she could understand their shock and worry, though. She told Dayn, "You are also a creature of darkness now. Look at yourself. Are you evil?" She sighed a bit before continuing. "Banshees have a bad reputation, it is true. And it is not entirely undeserved. Banshees are lethal if they choose to be. But the job of a banshee is to guard graveyards. A graveyard is meant to be a place of peace. A place for family members to visit and mourn, and for the dead to rest. Ideally, a memory garden, in a way. Those who wish to rob graves, damage them, or, as is often seen, finish a fight on graveyard grounds, shan't have a fun time if a banshee has decided to protect that graveyard." Arryn hesitated. It made sense, in a way.... "But, I wasn't a threat to any graveyard. Neither was Dayn, or any of my team." Siochana sighed heavily and looked rather forlorn. "We were forced by the human necromancer. We had no choice. To add to it, he convinced us that your intentions were to destroy the graveyard and burn the church in order to sell the bones and burned holy wood on the Black Market. I was still entirely against it, but my banshees could not deny the necromancer. I could only stand in the background and watch. He is the only one who has ever been able to force his will on my people. So, we prepared. Gathered more dark magic and energy and prepared spells and weapons. When I saw that you were of the Griffin line, I intervened. You were already half-unconscious by then. However, we had to damage you. The blade had already gone into your shoulder when I told them to stop. But it wasn't enough damage to free my banshees from the necromancer's will. I knew everything about you the moment I heard you scream. That's all I need, a scream, and all my banshees needed. When you and Dayn returned, it was the same, but I intervened on his behalf as well." Arryn had tears glistening in her eyes just from the mention of that night. As much as it made sense in a way, Arryn still didn't want to have to forgive Siochana. "Cad mar gheall ar May?" Siochana shook her head sadly. "Tá brón orm , ach bhí sé i gcoinne ár uacht. Ní raibh a fhios againn go fóill do chúis fíor as a bheith ann. Bhí sí ar cheann de mo naimhde mBean fad is a bhí siad faoi thionchar." Arryn shook her head a bit as tears started to course down her cheeks. Now she really wished Dayn were corporeal so he could hold her.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn ripple both with anger and sorrow as he slowly shifted from the dark mist into his human form, yet even before he had completely shifted his arms were wrapped around Arryn so that he appeared holding her with his head laying against her neck. All of it made sense, but that didn't mean it helped the pain at all. "Who is this necromancer that torments all of us?", Dayn spoke at long last. He raised his eyes to meet Siochana's. "Where can I find him?"

 

[Dragongal]

Her knees feeling weak from the pure emotion overwhelming her, Arryn leaned heavily against Dayn and did her best to keep quiet. "I wish I could tell you. His skills in dark magics are formidable. The knowledge required to draw that summoning circle and use it? And the corrupted ley line? Banshees have remained a mystery to most everyone, but he somehow figured it out. I know it was the same caster the first time and the second." "O'Rourke. He does the dark magic." Arryn wasn't willing to forgive just yet, but she was willing to force more of the blame than before on O'Rourke.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn clenched his jaw tight, causing the muscles and veins along his neck to bulge against his skin. "I'll tear him to pieces." The words came out in a growl. The dark aura formed around Dayn as he stood there holding Arryn. It writhed with renewed energy, almost like it was feeding on the collective anger. "I'll find him, and I will tear his fucking throat out!"

 

[Dragongal]

Siochana chuckled. "Calm yourself. You're still in Arryngale's dream at the moment. Can't catch him here. I didn't call to Arryn to talk about him, though." Arryn looked up from her she'd buried her head against Dayn's neck. She reached up and slowly, tenderly brushed his hair back. While his rage was understandable, it didn't bring her any happiness to see him this way. Rage wasn't a good feeling, nor something that was good to carry. She would know. "Why have you been trying to reach me? And why did you speak to Dayn...?" "There's been a power struggle. Over you. It was temporary, but there's the risk that it's not over just yet. You're safe, as long as you listen to Dayn, you're safe. And... I did wish to apologize." Arryn looked back to Dayn and brushed his hair back again instead of responding.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked from Arryn to Siochana as his temper cooled. He finally lowered his head as tears began to fall. "It feels wrong, all of it. Everything that was done to me and Arryn by...by your banshees. You know none of it will ever heal. You know that now we are both marked and could be executed as monsters if others found out. We will bare these markings in our flesh, will have to deal with the burning and the nightmares and memories for the rest of our lives. But.." Dayn couldn't hold a glare against Siochana. In honest truth he had been moved more emotionally than he could have imagined. "We're alive because of you. For that you have my thanks, and knowing that...I forgive you."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn pressed her head against Dayn's chest. He was right. The nightmares, the memories, the occasional pain in the scars, they'd never go away for either of them. But more than that, Arryn could never get her friends back. She could never get the two years she had lost to insanity back. But if that hadn't happened... would she have met Dayn? Arryn couldn't say. In the end though, she had to admit that, if Siochana was telling the truth, she had saved Dayn's life. Did she not owe her for that? Arryn was struggling to try to let go of the fear and hate she had carried with her for so long.... But if she had saved Dayn.... "I... I... forgive you... I suppose...."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn held Arryn tightly as he kissed her cheek. He knew it had taken a lot for her to finally forgive Siochana for what had happened to her. Ten good friends lost to those banshees, plus everything else. It really made things difficult to want to forgive something or someone. "I know it's not going to bring them back," he whispered to her, "But I'm proud of you."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked up to Dayn and smiled a bit before pressing her face against his shoulder as she silently cried. Siochana quietly said, "Thank you. Both of you. It mayn't seem like it, but it truly does mean much to me." Siochana looked to Dayn. "Dayn, take care of her, right now especially. You know what to do. Arryngale, once your body is fully adjusted to your magic, I think you will find it a great tool. When you gave of your life force to save Dayn...." Siochana faltered a bit. "I knew I had to save you somehow. I don't think you'd have survived. I am sorry it has caused you such pain, but I did what I could." Arryn kept her head pressed into Dayn's shoulder.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked at Siochana and smiled as he nodded. "Thank you." He turned his attention back to Arryn as he tucked his head against her's. "Let's get some sleep hon."

 

[Dragongal]

Siochana smiled a bit and the dream faded away. Both Arryn and Dayn woke up immediately after that. Arryn looked up to Dayn and smiled a bit sadly before hiding her face against his neck and sobbing. Everything she had found out within the last few minutes was finally catching up to her and she just needed time to release. She still had her arms wrapped around Dayn's neck, but one of her hands was tangling in his hair. When Arryn had finished crying for the most part, she still stayed hidden against Dayn, but quietly said, "I love you."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn held Arryn as she cried, letting her deal with the emotion in whatever way she needed to. When it seemed like she was letting up Dayn pressed his head against her's and kissed her cheek. "I love you Arryn, with all of my heart."

 

[Dragongal]

While tears were still running down her cheeks, she was too tired to actually keep crying. Arryn took one of Dayn's hands and held it to her chest in that possessive way she did. She still didn't look up from his shoulder. "I heard her mention taking care of me, and that you knew what to do... I won't ask what that means, but thank you. You always take such good care of me. Thank you, mo chroi."

 

[BookWyrm]

"That's what the lanterns, incense, and candles was about." Dayn smiled even though Arryn wouldn't see it before drawing on that soothing darkness to cover them once more. "Rest well my love."