Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

Arryn was already pretty drained of mana as it was, but she knew she'd have to help Mazy once they were out of the caves. Oddly enough, there was some blood splatters here or there on the walls, but no corpses. Though it wasn't that odd since Arryn knew that the other's had gathered the corpses and hidden them away so as not to spook the children. When they reached the end of the tunnel,the remaining slavers that had been captured were tied up and unconscious. "We need to get out of here fast. Half these kids are on the brink of collapse from lack of food, the other half have injuries, some both. A few of them have a fever as well." The hike down the mountain took longer than she would have liked, but soon they were in the Guards' barracks waiting for a Commander of some form. The cadets were scrambling to find the people needed to gather the corpses and captured that the raid had left behind.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn sat on a crate, his back against the wall, as the group waited for the guards to get their heads together. His helmet sat beside him as he cradled Mazy in his arms. He hadn't turned the girl loose since they left the cave. Once they had arrived in the garrison Dayn had gathered a few materials and set down on the crate. Mostly he had cleaned the wound further and tended to it with some anti-septic ointments, singing to the girl all the while to help ease her discomfort. After a few minutes she had fallen asleep, though he still held her tightly and sang as they waited. She looks so much like my Lia, Dayn thought as he brushed stray hairs from her face.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had handed the boy off to Matthias once they had arrived. Now she walked over to Dayn and pulled up a crate. She sat down with a heavy sigh. Her exhaustion and the wear on her magic and body was evident in everything about her. Her pale (more pale than usual, anyway) skin, dragging feet, stooped shoulders, and tired eyes. Arryn looked at Mazy for a few moment . "It's probably the exhaustion and lack of food that got her more than anything. I cleaned the cut earlier but it was dark.... they'll be here soon to take care of her."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked up at Arryn and smiled. Despite both of them feeling weary, worn, and sporting some mana drain, they were alive. Yet...something was bothering Dayn. Mazy was so young, so innocent. What kind of monster would do such a thing to a child? "She sleeps good." Dayn finally broke the silence as he turned his attention back to Mazy. She stirred in his arms, and Dayn pulled a wool blanket out before wrapping her in it and cradling her to her chest against. His manners were protective, fatherly even. "What will happen to her?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn stayed quiet for a few minutes. "Well, since she told me she has no home, she'll either stay in the orphanage here or back in her home city. But she ran from the last orphanage, so I doubt she'll stay in one now."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked from Arryn back to Mazy and held the child tighter against him. He was quiet for a long while, but finally he turned back to Arryn and asked, "Would you mind it if she stayed with us? Not very long, but long enough to get back to Riverbend. There is a family there, the Captain of the guard and his wife. They have both been wanting children, but she is infertile." Dayn looked back at Mazy and gently brushed his thumb over her cheek. "Mazy deserves a good family, not some orphanage."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled a bit. "Funny you should say that. I was just thinking... mom is getting old. We can't have Matthias and Theodas there to care for her all the time once she needs it. And yknow, Rorich will be needing a new healer soon. If Mazy would like to learn. Mom wouldn't force her any which way...."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn sighed as his shoulders slumped forward. He had been so tense about letting Mazy go, and the best part was that he hadn't even noticed it. "I was worried that she'd be taken back to an orphanage. I should have expected you to have a plan. Do you think you mom would even want to care for another child?"

 

[Dragongal]

"I think she would, but if she didn't she could tell us. We have to go back home anyway, and Mazy will need time to rest and recuperate. I wouldn't want to make the journey back to Riverbend if she's in this condition. You know, the orphanages around here aren't bad at all. The other kids would be cared for. But if your friends in Riverbend like, we can see about having one of the other children brought down South for them." Arryn sighed and leaned her head on Dayn's shoulder.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn leaned over and kissed Arryn's head. "I'll send a letter their way and let them know about the children up here. Come on now, let's get back to the inn."

 

[Dragongal]

"Can't yet. We have to - " Arryn was cut off by a big, tall, darkhaired man, obviously of Northern descent, who had clearly seen many fights. He wore the uniform of the Northern Guard. "Who is the leader of this venture?" Arryn raised her hand tiredly. Despite the man being armed to the teeth and clearly holding authority, she was unimpressed. "Me. Arryngale Eleran-Braegland." Including her married last name wasn't necessary, but she did it anyway, just in the hopes of cheering Dayn up. The man looked at her for a second. "Have we met?" Arryn had to pause to think. "I think so. The name Atria North ring a bell or two?" The man immediately smiled, dispelling the officious and intimidating aura about him. "Night's Ascension! I remember you well. I thought this seemed too similar to be a coincidence, though much time has passed." Arryn nodded tiredly. "Yes, well, I had thought myself retired, but it appears not."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled at the courtesy, though the man probably didn't understand the weight of it. Of course that was perfectly fine, Dayn figured if the man couldn't guess what Dayn was by appearances only then he probably wouldn't make much of a guard. "Byddech yn ddiflas fel gwraig tŷ." Dayn laughed quietly as Arryn and the guard conversed.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked to Dayn and raised an eyebrow as she smiled. The Guardsman called back her attention with a simple question, "How did you get your information?" "'Fraid I cannot tell you that." "Well... I understand that. We appreciate what you've done. The children will be cared for, especially the two who attacked you. We have some mental medics we call on, we'll see what we can't do for the kids." Arryn nodded. "That's kind of you. However, Dayn and I would like to take Mazy, this girl here, with us. She told me she hated orphanages and ran from the last one, and we know a family who has been praying for a child." The Guardsman sighed as he thought. "She needs a healer." "We're willing to let her stay with a healer overnight." There was no way Arryn could help Mazy tonight - if the child needed her she would probably be too tired to move. The Guardsman sighed, then nodded. "I suppose we can trust you. All of you should go get some rest. Again, thank you al for what you did."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn hand Mazy over to Arryn for a moment. Once he had rigged his helmet to his gear he took Mazy back and held her close. "Alright, where is the healer?" Dayn looked over at Arryn and gave a short sigh. "You do realize I'd rather her stay with us. If she didn't need to be checked I'd probably put my foot down."

 

[Dragongal]

"I know mo chroi, but I have no mana and I'm too exhausted... you know I may not be able to wake up if she needs me. I pushed past my limits again." Arryn sighed, leaned close, and whispered, "Also... I don't want to risk having a nightmare with her around." Arryn looked at Dayn, clearly rather ashamed to admit it.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn moved Mazy around before reaching out and wrapping an arm around Arryn's waist as he pressed his forehead to her's. "I know, I know. I'm not mad at you, and to be honest I am barely holding myself up as is. We need the rest." Dayn leaned in to kiss Arryn's cheek before letting his head rest against her neck. A couple of tears slid down his cheeks. "She reminds me of my Lia."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at Dayn with wide eyes. She hadn't even realized... Arryn moved so she could wrap her arms around Dayn's shoulders. In this moment, she didn't really know what to say. "I love you." Arryn kissed his forehead and let him rest for a bit, then gently nudged him. "Come on, let's give her to the healers and go to the inn. Like you said, we need the rest."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn pressed his face against Arryn and held her for several moments before leaning up again. "Alright.", he sighed as he wiped his eyes on his glove. "Alright." Once they had found the healer Dayn asked for a bed for Mazy. He laid her down gently, making sure the blanket was tucked around her before brushing her hair back and kissing her forehead. It was all Dayn could do to pull himself away but when he did he managed to hold his composure all the way back to their room. Once the door was shut and his armor was taken off Dayn collapsed onto the bed as the tears began to fall in earnest.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn crawled into the bed and pulled Dayn close to her. Holding him tightly, she slowly moved one hand to play with his hair. "Shh, mo chroi. It's okay." Despite her words, she could feel tears rolling down her own cheeks as well. Anger at the slavers, pity for the slaves, pity for her husband, it all added up, though her heart was hardened to it more than Dayn's; this had been his first raid. Then again, Arryn had never lost a child.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn leaned against Arryn and just let the tears fall. In honest truth the raid was as he expected. The stench, the blood, the mistreatment, all of it. What he hadn't expected was Mazy, and that was what broke him. It broke him because she had reached out and took his hand. It broke him because she was so young and innocent. It broke him because she had been taken and beaten by those monsters. It broke him because she looked just like his Lia; her eyes, her smile, her loving innocence. Of course Dayn only knew of Lia from the few times they had been together, but the likeness was striking enough to pull on his heart strings anyway. Dayn buried his head against Arryn's chest, his arms wrapped around her as he cried.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn held Dayn close and continued to play with his hair as he cried. This wasn't the first time that one of the slaves had gotten close to her. She had gotten used to the feelings of guilt and pity and anger when the children showed their honest innocence and kindness. What broke her was when the kids had been too broken by the slavers - no more kindness or innocence or happiness of any form. At least they had managed to save most of the kids, though. While she felt like Dayn might have felt the same as he did now if any child had approached him like Mazy had, she wasn't going to tell him that.

 

[BookWyrm]

Several minutes later Dayn finally leaned up and rested his chin on Arryn's shoulder as he slowly regained his composure. "I miss Lia."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn lightly kissed his cheek. "I understand, mo chroi. I'm sorry that you have to miss your daughter. But I promise it'll all be good in the end." She really had no idea what to say.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn kissed Arryn's neck before finally pulling away and rubbing his eyes. "I know it will. Everything just...hurt, for a little while." He reached over and laid his hand over Arryn's before nodding his head towards their pillows. "How about we lay down, snuggle up, and get some rest?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded and settled down. Once Dayn was laying next to her, she took the initiative and brought to the blankets and curled up close against his chest, with her arms around him and her head under his chin. "I love you, mo chroi."