Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn felt a twinge against his pride for just a moment until he realized that none of them had fought beside him in anything like this before. Even the few times he and Arryn had fought together were nothing like what they were facing tomorrow. Dayn shrugged. "Of all the things to worry about when the fighting starts tomorrow I guarantee you won't have to worry about me."

 

[Dragongal]

"Dayn, the fletchings of her arrows will brush your helmet, that's how accurate she is. You move, though, there could be issue. We're just trying to cover all of our bases." "Now, refocusing again, from what we've been told by our informant, there's a few off-shoot rooms off a main hallway. You need to keep your eyes on those, but your main job, Dayn, will be clearing the hall so we can get to the rooms."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Can do." Dayn couldn't help but feel like he was still being sized up by Matthias, Kalie, and Theodas.

 

[Dragongal]

"Alright. So, tonight while I go on watch, Kalie and Matthias, you're checking in with the local Guard about all of this, Arryn and Dayn, you're working with local rumors about the cave cluster up there. All of you may want to tail someone at one point; do it but be stealthy. Everyone got it?"

 

[BookWyrm]

As the group split up Dayn couldn't help but still think everyone was still unsure about him in all of this. "I don't underestimate them, yet I feel like they underestimate me.", he explained to Arryn as they walked alone. "I understand that you all have been doing this for some time, but it seems like they are loathe to try something new with the plan. Having someone who knows how to fight in armor can be a huge benefit, especially in tight corridors."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at him with a slightly concerned expression. "Dayn, they're not underestimating you. That's how all of use used to talk before any mission. To any of our team. We have to make this as easy as possible so it could go as smoothly as possible. With your heavy armor, we need you with the slaves." Arryn paused and took Dayn's hands before pulling him into a hug. "Besides, they know I would murder them if you got killed."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn leaned into the hug though he stared off into something distant, his mind wandering. "It's just...weird. I'm still having to adjust to how things are done with them. I haven't worked with a team since the campaign, and even then we were experienced enough to not have to talk tactics." Dayn finally tucked his head against Arryn and responded to her hug by wrapping his arms around her. "I feel like I have to prove something to them."

 

[Dragongal]

"No, no, mo chroi. Think about it: once we're close to the target, we can't talk. Sometimes we can't see each other. It all has to be timed perfectly. We have to get the slaves out, but if we don't have a plan, we could take too long and then the slavers are liable to murder the slaves and escape. You proved yourself when you bested them at the party contests, remember?" That was also the night that she had been poisoned.

 

[BookWyrm]

"I have tried to forget that night to be honest. Still, that was play, not combat." Dayn chewed on his cheek for a few moments before sighing. "I know they want to get everything planned correctly. There are more lives than our own to keep in check during all of this. Still, I can't help but wonder, but it is nothing to worry about."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and stepped back before taking his hand and gently pulling on it. "Come on, let's find an inn so we can ask about rumors. Okay?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled as he matched Arryn step for step. She knew the town and therefore led the way while Dayn kept his eyes and ears open. "Let's just hope some of the rumormongers are useful."

 

[Dragongal]

Overall the evening went rather well. They had learned that the caves on the West side of the mountains were said to be haunted by a number of creatures, including giant spiders, basilisks, and zombies, and on the east side there was supposedly a number of ghosts that would block the way and ask questions of any who approached, and if one failed to answer, they would be thrown from the mountain. Of course they were concerned with straight North, where the caves were supposedly uninhabited except for a few hermits, territorial mountain lions, and the occasional ghost story. They met up with Theodas and gave him the information, then returned to their rooms. It was very late (or early?) by now. The moment they were in privacy, Arryn wrapped her arms around Dayn's neck and leaned heavily on him. "I'm tired."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Me too." Dayn slowly turned Arryn loose as he began changing into his night wear. "Tired of hearing fairy tales about ghosts and basilisks. Tired of thinking about this whole operation tomorrow night. Mostly though, I'm tired." Dayn flopped on the bed and reached a hand out to Arryn. "So why don't you lay here and cuddle up with me and relax a bit? I always find snuggling with a beautiful woman helps the mood."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled a bit as she finished pulling on a loose shirt and crawled into bed next to Dayn to take his hand and cuddle up with him. "Well I wouldn't know that, I'd only know about cuddling with a handsome man." Arryn giggled and gave him a quick kiss.

 

[BookWyrm]

"What about cuddling with a dashing wolf?"

 

[Dragongal]

"Well I suppose I know about that too, but right now I just want to cuddle with my man." Arryn nuzzled against Dayn's neck.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn pulled the blankets up around them both before laying on his back and letting Arryn lay against his chest.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and cuddled up to Dayn. A few moments later she was fast asleep. As hours passed, though, she began to stir. The nightmare of the raid where her teammate had been burned to death had returned to plague her. Only it wasn't him, it was Dayn. Her Dayn. Arryn knelt over Dayn's body helplessly as she tried to heal him. She knew it wouldn't work, but she had to try. The smell of charred flesh was making her sick but she tried to heal him. She had to try.... She couldn't live without him, he couldn't die, he just... couldn't.... Soon the dream shifted to the time the dog had attacked her, only this time, the dog hit Dayn in the chest, and took the time to bite into his throat. Was someone holding her back, who was holding her back, why would they do that? Arryn finally broke free and ran to Dayn's side, trying to heal him as fast as she could and failing miserably as he bled out in her arms.... she couldnt even bring herself to lose it and kill the man, her sorrow and desperation had so consumed her. Again the dream switched, this time it was when the lance had gone through her forearm. Except as she was fading from consciousness Dayn picked her up to carry her to safety, and seconds later his blood spillt on her as the lance pierced through his armor and his heart. There was nothing she could do... and it was because she had saved herself. She hadn't known, but she could have saved Dayn if she hadn't healed herself. In her confused, horrified dream state she wondered why had she healed herself...? The final mixed-up rendition was a copy of Raoul's death. Arryn and Dayn were fighting together, he was in a lighter armor, and suddenly he took an arrow to his shoulder. Arryn threw up a shield around them and moved to his side to check the wound. Was the arrow poisoned? She'd have to find a way to counter it, she couldn't let him get hurt. Once she had removed the arrow dream-Dayn told her to lower the shields so they could return to the mission. What was the mission...? It didn't matter, Dayn had seemed so confident that it would be okay, she knew she couldnt say no to him, so she lowered the shields and they continued on... and soon after... one of the enemy had made their way behind Dayn and reached around and slit his throat. Arryn stood in shock for a few moments before killing the man and kneeling next to Dayn as she tried to heal him. He was still somewhat conscious.... If she could only heal him just a little more... maybe his blood would stop painting her hands crimson, maybe he would be okay.... But she was reaching her limit. Again she was helpless and useless... and Dayn paid the price. As if the memories themselves weren't bad enough, now it was Dayn who was dying....


Arryn sat bolt upright with a scream, gasping and struggling for breath. She felt like she couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move. She hadn't had a nightmare so severe in so long....

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn jumped as he awoke, looking all around for some unseen attacker before seeing Arryn. It had been so long since she'd had a nightmare like this. As he sat up he pulled her to him and held her tight. "You've really got a set of lungs on you hon." He hoped a joke might cut through the trauma and ease her pain. "You are gonna be okay beautiful, I'm right here."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn immediately responded to Dayn's actions by wrapping her arms around him and holding him tight as she buried her head into the crook of his neck. It was still difficult to breathe, but she was starting to control it now that she had a small grip on reality. She moved her hand to graze over Dayn's neck and chest, making sure that there weren't any unseen wounds on him. Once she was certain that he was okay, she practically collapsed against him as she struggled to calm herself so she could breathe.

 

[BookWyrm]

"Hey, easy, easy love." Dayn pressed his face against Arryn as he held her tightly against his chest. She is checking me over to make sure I'm okay. Damn those nightmares. "I'm whole and well. You keep caressing me like that, though, and I might get the idea you are wanting something."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had to smile a bit at his little jest. Now that she could breathe though, the panic faded and the emotions really set in as she started sobbing against him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...." Sorry for both waking him and for dragging him into this mess. She couldn't stop thinking about all the blood and horror of the nightmares, even now that she was awake and had her arms around Dayn. Even now she still held him possessively, though she wasn't sure if it was to protect him and make sure he was okay, or for her own comfort.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn nuzzled against Arryn's cheek as he started to play with her hair. "Shh, fy rhosyn." He started to sing quietly as he scooped her into his arms and nuzzled against her.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn held onto Dayn desperately as she cried. "I love you." Slowly, she started to catch her breath as her sobs quieted and she listened to Dayn. Whenever she thought back on the nightmares she would whimper a bit and nuzzle against him as she hid her face into the crook of his neck. "I love you. I'm sorry I woke you... the nightmares... were really, really bad... I-I saw...."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Don't bother hon, they don't matter anymore." Dayn brushed the hair from Arryn's face before leaning in to kiss her. "You know, even in tears you are beautiful."