Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

"If I would have known you were after flowers I would have taken you around more gardens." Dayn laughed. "Or we could have looked around the elven garden more. I found some flowers out there that I wanted to show you." Of course Dayn didn't mention that he was a wolf at the time he found the flowers, or that he was eating a deer that he had killed. One day he might end up having to reveal his secret to Lenza, Matthias, and the others, but he hoped it would be in a situation of his choosing and not because of some happenstance or another uncontrollable shift.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at him and shrugged, with a smile still on her face. "It's just a promise I made. No need to go crazy over it." She left her sketchbook filled with flowers on the table, and reached into her pack, pulling out a few tins. She opened one, revealing some coffee beans. "This makes a type of tea that is supposed to keep you awake, but it's not very good," she laughed as she glanced to Dayn. She knew he liked it, but she couldn't stand coffee. She had tins with other herbs and some minerals too. She didn't show Lenza all of them, since they had labels, and Arryn knew Lenza could figure them out. Elnza smiled, then hugged her, making Arryn stiffen for a moment before hugging her back. "Sorry about what happened, Ma." "Wasn't your fault. Thank you for keeping your promise." Lenza stepped back, then said, "Mind if I speak to Dayn privately for a moment? Oh, and Theodas said he wanted to talk to you, he's at Matty's at the moment."





Arryn looked from Dayn to her mother, then nodded, smiling slightly. She walked outside and across the street. Once Kalie let her in the house, she asked, "I heard Theodas was lookin for me?" "Yes, he seemed to think it very important. He's in the other room."





Lenza looked at Dayn for a few seconds before saying, "Well, it seems you have been good for Arryn."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn nodded. "We've been good for each other honestly. We both had things that we needed the other to help us through. Actually, well, we're still a work in progress." Dayn looked to Lenza and smiled. "What is it you need Mum?" Dayn hoped Lenza wouldn't mind him referring to her as such. Hel, she was going to be his mother-in-law soon enough, might as well get used to calling her that now.

 

[Dragongal]

Lenza chuckled. "Even Arryn refers to me as ma'am half the time. I won't hold it against you, though. Of course, you've probably heard enough threats from the dwarves already. You don't have to know anything except that I'll enforce them, and I'm probably the best shot with a crossbow you've ever seen; if I decide you should be gone, it'll happen before you know I'm after you. I don't think I have to worry, though. You seem like a fine lad. However, I know you're a Lord." She held up her hand to keep Dayn from interrupting. "I don't care about your rank. The thing is, you have to acknowledge that Arryn isn't a noble. I do expect you to treat her like a Lady, but I know her, and if you treat her like she's glass, she'll get insulted. If you're at some party with her, keep an eye on her - her temper seems near gone now, but she hears something she'll consider... superior, you're going to have a brawl on your hands."





Arryn walked into the main room, standing by the center fireplace, Theodas was waiting for her. "Arryn! Finally, I realized where I recognized your fiance from!" "What?" "I was travelling down South, and in one fief, there were posters with his image, saying he was - " Theodas stopped. Why was Arryn laughing so uproarously? He'd thought it very serious....

 

[BookWyrm]

"I know. She has never come off as being weak or mild natured. I guess that is one of the reasons I love her so." Dayn looked at Lenza, his smile fading slightly. He knew she should know about this. "Arryn's not my first. I was married once. She wasn't like Arryn though. We never traveled together. She was more, more like glass I guess, but wonderful in her own way. We had a daughter as well." Dayn looked off, knowing that there might be a little emotion even though the wounds were healed. "They were murdered one night while I was away." Dayn was content that no tears fell. I guess it is fully healed now. "When Arryn and I met I hadn't been planning on pursuing someone again. Thank the gods that changed though."

 

[Dragongal]

Lenza nodded. "Points for being truthful to the in-law, I'll give you that. Just keep her from getting killed, okay? I understand that you're both going to be fighting together, and things could happen. But she needs to mind her temper sometimes. Though, after how she was last time she was here, and how she is now, it doesn't seem like much of a problem."





"Atria, I'm not joking - " "I know you're not, but I already know." "How could you be with a man - " "Theodas, he explained the whole thing. I've even met his family. It's a terribly long story, but it's all horrid lies. You know noble families tend to hold grudges and try to defame instead of directly fight." "So... well. That doesn't explain the necklaces you both have, or the odd number of wolves I've noted." Arryn stayed silent.

 

[BookWyrm]

Haven't I had this conversation before? "By everything that I am or ever will be I will protect her, I promise you that. As for her temper, I'm starting to learn her triggers, so I think I can start to get the jump on them soon enough." Dayn was curious what Arryn was doing. He wondered if he should go see her or not. "She warned me countless times about you, but its the others I'm concerned about. None of them have seemed, well, accepting, if you understand what I mean."

 

[Dragongal]

Lenza laughed. "You haven't met Kalie yet, and Matthias is nervous around new people sometimes when they're on his turf, though the lad does his best to hide it. Theodas, though, I'd not know why he wouldn't be very friendly. I know they've spent the last few days watching the house - when you were unconscious and bedridden, and then yesterday they watched for me. After what happened to Matty and Tad, Arryn's been nervous someone might go after me. I'd like to see them try, if we're honest."





Arryn looked at Theodas, and quietly asked, "What about wolves?" "Atria, let us not kid ourselves. You know something about him. I think I might too. Is he safe to be around?" "Very." Theodas nodded. "That is all I cared to know. I won't tell anyone."

 

[BookWyrm]

"I'd say you'd give anyone a run for their money. Though I must insist that my soon to be mother-in-law not get any crazy ideas. I might be a knight but I don't necessarily want to ride off to rescue everyone." Dayn laughed. He was beginning to worry now. She'd been gone for some time. Gods I hope she hasn't run off on some ridiculous quest. "Actually, I want to ask you something now that Arryn is gone." Dayn paused for a moment before continuing. "Arryn's nightmares have been slowly declining over time, but every now and then she'll have one. Last night she said her scars were hurting her. She's comfortable with me massaging her back, and I was wondering if there was some kind of salve, or anything really, that would ease her pain." Dayn sighed, he needed to expose himself a little for her to understand. "I am an....empath. It's only Arryn though. We're connected, deeply, and last night I could sense her...I don't know how to explain it. I knew she was having a nightmare, I just woke up too late to catch it. I'm trying to learn the signs better, but I want to be prepared for if I don't catch them in time."





Dayn teared up some as he recalled the times she'd had nightmares around him. "I feel so useless when she has them. They are the one thing I can't protect her from."

 

[Dragongal]

Lenza nodded slightly, thinking for a few moments. "The thing is, because her scars were carved as they were - well. The way the enchantment works is that it prevents the wounds from closing, thus forming the scar tissue, and even then the healing is slow. That's why her scars are legitimate, the only magic on them prevents them from being healed by anything, it doesn't actually still keep her scars existing. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some of her scars reopened at times. It's likely more the memory that's making her hurt - the ghost of the pain. There's not much I can do about that, I'm afraid. However... I'd have to look through some books... I don't she's been looking to make something similar, but I do have more experience... I'll have to see what I can do."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Thank you." Dayn sat for a few moments in silence before standing up. "If I could be excused, I think some fresh air would be nice."

 

[Dragongal]

Lenza shrugged. "Of course."


"Now that that's all cleared up, is that why you've been so cold towards him?" "I... admit to that, sadly. I wanted to be certain of him before anything... you know I am a horrid actor." "Yes, that's why you got night reconnaissance. If that is all, I should return and make sure mother hasn't killed my betrothed just yet." Arryn smiled and walked outside, nodding to Kalie as she passed.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn bowed slightly before walking out of the house and taking a deep breath of the cool air. It felt good to be able to walk on his own again, let alone have a clear head. He stretched out with a yawn before scratching at his growing beard absentmindedly. Off in the distance Dayn heard a wolf howl. He smiled, closing his eyes and listening to the symphony as others joined in. He liked the fact that there were wolves in the area. Even before becoming Moon-Born he had admired wolves.


As he stood there, his arms behind his head and a smile on his face, the breeze blew a familiar scent his way. He knew Arryn was getting closer to him even though he kept his eyes shut. He was enjoying himself to much to care at the moment. "Hello love." He finally said when she was close enough to touch him.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled, seeing the opportunity to pull him into a warm embrace. While she realized he might have been enjoying some time to himself, she didn't care enough at the moment to stop herself. She lightly kissed is cheek, saying with a little laugh, "I think it's time you shaved, love." She nuzzled against his chest, then very quietly said, "Theodas wanted to talk to me about the posters he saw in Kara's family's fief. This whole time he'd been trying to remember why you were familiar, and he got spooked when he did. He also figured out about the wolves, but he's fine with it, since I assured him you were safe to be around."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn tensed for a few seconds over the mention of the wolves, but relaxed only slightly once Arryn explained the situation. Finally he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed playfully before kissing her back. "I'm sure they'll all have to know eventually. I've been thinking about it when I was bedridden. It would be nice to have others in the know just encase something were to happen."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded. "Eventually." She kissed him lightly, then said, "what would you like to do? If you're up to it, I can take you to a part of the woods wher eyou could go wolf and hunt...? Or a stream if you want to fish, or we could stay home, or anything."

 

[BookWyrm]

"I wouldn't mind stretching out some to be honest. As long as it is far enough away that no one who doesn't need to know can't find us." Dayn smiled as he tussled Arryn's hair, finally stopping when it was mussed up enough that it laid funny. He smirked, trying to keep his laugh in as he said, "That is very.....becoming on you love."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn laughed and said, "Maybe so, but I'll never be as purty as you." She fixed her hair, then took his hand and strated leading him across the meadow and into the woods. The trees were oaks and maples and pines of all kinds, the meadow had been covered in thistle flowers, herbs, and clover. After a while, she stopped in a clearing, turned away from him, and said, "Undress, and get running... we should try to be home by dark, it gets real cold at nights."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn laughed slightly as he started to undue his belt. "You know you don't have to look away any more." Dayn couldn't help but tease some. Within seconds of getting undressed Dayn had shifted. While Arryn had her back turned he quietly snuck up behind her and gently nipped her butt. <Hey beautiful, want to join me for a lovely run this evening?>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn jumped forward and looked at him with astonishment, lightly smacking his muzzle, though she was smiling. "That hurt! You have to be careful, remember, you accidentally break my skin, I'll be a lycanthrope too, and I'd really rather not. I was actually going to gather berries..." She was ruffling the fur behind his ear, when she paused. "Hey, we should go visit Libro now, while you're shifted we could get there and back, no problem. What do you think?"

 

[BookWyrm]

SMACK!





Dayn's eyes widened before his ears laid back flush against his head apologetically. <Sowwy. ouch...> Dayn mopped, his head drooping some. But her smile gave it all away. He had been careful to not break the skin, but the smack still stung. Then all of the sudden she was ruffling the fur behind his ears and everything was happy again. <I suppose we can. Who is this Libro guy anyway?>

 

[Dragongal]

"I only hit you lightly, love. It wasn't supposed to hurt... sorry if it did." She scratched under his chin and explained, "He's an old dwarf living in a mountain cave - all he has ever done is study history, lore, and magic." Arryn stopped petting him and carefully got onto his back, getting more practiced. "Okay, I'll guide you. Let's go!"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn took off at a quickened pace, letting Arryn guide him as they dashed through across the meadow and through the trees. Every now and then, in between following directions, Dayn let himself relax and enjoy the run. She was right, though, in that it didn't take them long at all to arrive at Libro's cave. Or, at least, Dayn figured it was the dwarves' cave. <Do you think he'll mind me like this? We did leave all of the other clothing back in the forest.>

 

[Dragongal]

"He'll be fine. I'd have gone to him with my scars if I could have. That's how much I trust the old dwarf." She got off of his back and walked up to the stone face next to the "cave," looking around. She picked up a rock and found a hollow in the rock, taking our a small, hollow copper hammer, and tapped it on the stone.The false cave entrance disappeared, and the real one appeared in front of her. She smiled to Dayn, and said, "Come on." She led the way into the cave, the torches on the side walls lighting as she walked forward.

 

[BookWyrm]

<Right behind you love.> Dayn followed her carefully, paying more attention to her behind rather than to where he was actually going. <I really didn't mean to nip too hard earlier.> Dayn walked up besides her and laid his ears back again. <I kind of got focused on what I was nipping.>