Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn bolted up out of bed and unsheathed his roundel dagger, which he kept under his pillow, in one smooth, practiced motion. It took him a couple of seconds before he realized that Atria had awoken from a dream and that there was, to his relief, no intruders into their bed chamber. "Atria.....is everything okay?" He sheathed his dagger before wrapping his arms around Atria and holding her against him. He didn't know what she had been dreaming but figured it must have been bad enough to wake her like that. He rubbed his thumb along her cheek bone as he held her, trying to find the words to say.


"I'm here for you Atria, love. I want to help you, to repay the kindness and love you showed me, but I can't if you won't let me."

 

[Dragongal]

She jumped a bit at first when Dayn touched her, and again when he said her name. She'd forgotten he was there, actually, she'd forgotten he'd existed; not that that meant she didn't feel for him, she'd actually also completely forgotten where she was, and had she been asked the year or season, she likely wouldn't have been able to answer. She let him hold her tight as she caught her breath, feeling somewhat safe - after the dreams, there was no such thing as a complete sense of safety. Every few seconds she'd shake her head slightly, trying to get her mind off of the memories that threatened to overwhelm her and take her from Dayn. She searched for words through the mess that was her state of mind at the moment. She began to quickly speak in Northern, "Is é an aisling mar go bhfuil sé ag tarlú arís . Is dóigh liom eagla den sórt sin ...." She caught herself, looking at Dayn. Common tongue, right.


“Y-you’ve had nightmares before, right? Of battles past? A-and they’re almost exactly like the real one, same fear and panic and everything but there’s no stopping it…? I… I mean, I once spoke to an old war veteran, he said that was pretty normal, especially when you weren’t sleepin’ somewhere yah felt safe, and it even then comes and goes, no matter where you’re sleepin’.” She looked at him searchingly, quietly asking, "Right...?" She had to know if he could understand what she wanted to explain to him.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn was all too familiar with the nightmares of war. After the campaign he had spent months trying to get over some of the things he saw, and some of what he did. "Yes, the dreams can persist for quite some time, even in a safe place. I still have nightmares from that night, and the campaign. They are like scars, emotional trauma that sticks with you. Even some of the oldest soldiers still wake at night in a cold sweat remembering things from wars and battle decades in the past." Dayn felt his heart hurt, he knew the trauma and horror of these nightmares all too well. He didn't want her to have to go through this.





"But don't give them heed. Focus on me. I am here, fy caru. I am with you, and there is nothing you need to fear." Suddenly Dayn felt the words rising within him, but he didn't hold them back. He knew this was the truth, and he wanted her to know his heart.





"I love you, Atria."

 

[Dragongal]

She hardly heard his last statement, but she could understand it enough to break from her reverie and look to him. She put her hand on his wrist, running get fingers over his hand, letting him know she understood and felt similarly, she just didn't have the words at the moment. Her heartbeat hadn't slowed, and she was still on edge. She had to tell him now, before she couldn't. “I-it’s just soldier’s sickness,” she said quietly, almost more to herself than to him, as though she were commenting on an insect. It was just a giant man-eating tarantula. She added for explanation, “Nightmares and old memories that won’t let me be. It is nothing.” Even now that she was awake, unwanted memories pestered her mind, and even in Dayn's embrace, they barely slackened off. How long had it been since the last nightmare like this...? The nightmares were there almost every night, but not nearly so vivid and like the real event as this was in a long time... a month? Three weeks? That sounded about right.... And the dreams had gotten considerably better, comparatively, since being with Dayn. Yet fate seemingly wasn't very fond of Atria.


She held on tighter to Dayn as she could feel her composure cracking under the weight of, well, everything, as her adrenaline wore off. “Dayn,” she whispered, admitting something she never thought she'd hear herself say aloud, “I’m scared.” Her whole body was shaking and tears were beginning to run down her face. “I can’t make it stop, and I’m scared. I don’t want to have to experience it again, the memories are bad enough, but being trapped in the memories, without escape, and - and, the panic, the helplessness, the guilt….” She closed her eyes, saying, “I’m just so scared.” There was no such thing as control with those dreams, nothing she could trust. There wasn't anything she could do, unlike in a real fight, in the dreams she couldn't control her fear or emotions. She just had to sit back and watch it all play out again, over, and over, and over. She felt so exhausted, like she'd healed someone on the brink of death, and she couldn't keep her eyes open for more than a few seconds at a time, but she couldn't sleep until she knew everything was safe again, on a level more than knowledge. She knew she was safe, but she couldn't convince her body of that, seemingly.


Her voice cracked as she quietly and painfully admitted, “I went insane once already, a year ago, alone in the forests... I don’t want it to happen again, Dayn.” She put her head against Dayn's chest as she let herself truly cry for the first time in years. Would he even willingly hold the crazy woman, now that he knew? Maybe he'd understand if she could explain why and how she went insane, what the dreams where, how the screams of her last mistake had echoed through her mind as she'd started losing the ability to tell what was real from what was a memory. Those words couldn't form, though, and she was too exhausted to find a way to put all of those complicated things into something so tiny and simple as words. She couldn't do it tonight anyway, besides the exhaustion, she was too busy crying in Dayn's arms.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn felt the weight of Atria's confession, but it didn't change his view on her. In truth he didn't care, because he understood what it was like to lose grasp on the world. Dayn held her there in their bed, letting her cry as she rested against his chest. "I'm not going anywhere love." He didn't have any better words of comfort, no poetic sayings to describe the pain or remove the hurt. Simply with one statement he let her know that even now, after see confessed to her secret, he was going to be with her until the end. "I love you Atria, and I am here for you." He slowly rubbed his hand on her back, trying to soothe her pain as she continued to cry. Dayn suddenly felt tears slid down his own cheeks, though not to the same extent.

 

[Dragongal]

Atria gently took his hand, not daring to look him in the eyes. It seemed like a night for confessions. She couldn’t stand him saying her name anymore. Every time he said her name since last night, it had been like a knife in her heart. She figured she was going to lose him, but at least then he’d know the truth. She didn’t want to lose him, she was starting to feel like her old self again, and she didn’t want him to leave, because then she couldn’t say she’d get any better. “Arryn. My - my name’s Arryngale Eleran,” she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Dayn. I love you, but I couldn’t tell you.” She hadn’t used her birth name in over two years. It hadn’t felt like a lie until last night.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn was taken back slightly by this new information. Atri-she had been using a false name? But why? What had happened that had caused the need for such mystery and clandestine dealings that she had to use a false name? "Arryngale." He let the word sit on his tongue, waiting to see how it tasted. Though he felt slightly wronged by such secrecy, he couldn't help but think that Arryn tasted so much better than Atria. "Arryn, why the secrecy, love?" He couldn't think of anything more to say. He loved her, with all his heart and might he loved her, but he needed to know...everything.





"I love you, A-Arryn, but if we are going to be together we must be able to be honest with each other. What is it that you are holding on to?" Dayn lifted her head, holding it in his hands as he wiped away the tears. "No matter what your past is it will not change my love for you."

 

[Dragongal]

“Arryngale Eleran is dead,” she whispered. It hurt her to say it but not as much as keeping quiet would have. She sighed, then very quietly said, her voice shaking, sounding defeated, “She died with her team. All that’s left now is - is memories. A hollow title with a couple of tricks….” Tears still ran down her face. She didn’t want to do this. She was exhausted, she wanted to pretend she hadn’t told him, just… go to sleep. It seemed for a moment that even the nightmares were better than this.


“I was born Arryngale Eleran. Atria was my title as leader of Night’s Ascension. My friends called me Arryn. Two years ago, one of our missions was… it was botched. It had been a trap and nobody had any idea. Everyone on the mission - ten well-trained young men and women - died. I barely got out alive, and nobody knows why I made it out. In reality, though, I don’t think I actually did get out alive. I think Arryn died with her team. That’s why it never hurt to tell you I was Atria.” She paused, trying to figure out where to go next. So much to explain, so much she didn’t want to explain. She was so tired that she couldn’t even realize that there were things she’d have to further explain. Why could this not wait until morn? “I mean, I thought so; it felt like it then.


“I didn’t feel bad at first, because… I mean, Arryngale’s dead, that’s what I believed, that’s how it was, I wasn’t lying. Where I once would have fought for the Hel of it, I sat back and let the Guard do it, where I once would have let my temper guide me, I kept my mouth shut. Where I once could fight with amazing skill, I couldn’t even move my arm. Where I once was plenty sociable, I now held people at arm’s length, but… then I couldn’t. Not with you. And the more time I spent with you, the more it seemed like everything wasn’t so clear-cut. The more those acquired habits and fears faded away, not all of them, not all at once, it’s still there, but I could tell.


“And every time you called me Atria, it started sending a lance through my heart. I couldn’t stand it last night, when you said you didn’t want to lose me, and you called me Atria. I couldn’t tell what was true anymore.”


“There’s people, that… they know my real name, and if they knew who I was, they’d try to kill me. Even using my nickname, it’s happened. They’d go after my family again, or anyone I was near at the time, they don’t want to let go of what I did.”


Arryn closed her eyes. She didn't want to stay awake anymore, it was too hard to fight her exhaustion, but she fought to stay awake long enough to hear his response.

 

[BookWyrm]

"It doesn't matter Arryn, you are real and alive to me. Your past doesn't matter any more, and if there comes a time when you must face that past, I will be with you. You are not alone any longer." Dayn wanted to kiss her, to run his hands over her body, to let their love and passion finally release. No, not now. Dayn caught himself before he went down that path. Whenever he and Atri-Arryn, did finally express their love to each other, he wanted it to be at a time when they both could experience the fullness of the moment. Smiling through the tears Dayn kissed Arryn's forehead. "Now lets put aside the past and rest, gods only know that you look like you need it." Dayn laughed, maybe a little weakly, as he adjusted himself, laid back and let Arryn rest on his chest like she had been doing, and within minutes he was fast asleep.


(If you want to time skip you can)

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn woke to a dark, grey dawn and a slight chill. The window was open, letting in the cool air. She pulled the blanket up higher and nuzzled lightly against Dayn’s neck. “Dayn, it’s dawn, we have to get travelling soon,” she murmured. She intended on keeping to their plan. She sighed, thinking over what their plans required, when she suddenly remembered last night. He knew now. He knew her name. He knew she’d gone insane. he’d said he loved her. She’d said she loved him. And for the first time in a long time, she’d felt truly safe.


“Beloved, thank you…” she quietly said. “I don’t know why I told you last night, I guess because my heart hurt, but… I think I’m glad I did.”


Not long later, they were out of the inn, freshly provisioned. As they were leaving the city, Arryn remembered something suddenly, and told him to wait in the street. She ran into a medicine woman’s shop, then returned, taking his hand in hers. “Had to get some regents,” She said with a coy smile, before leading him out of the city’s bounds.


(It’s your turn this time, I don’t know if you want to skip to the next city or what, I don’t want to take over.)

 

[BookWyrm]

Upon feeling her hand return to his own Dayn smiled. "Unless there is anything else, I guess we can be on our way." Dayn kissed Arryn before walking with her out of the city. Dayn had left his horse back at the Heron. He gave Angus plenty enough to cover the board fee and provisions even if the trip passed on into the winter. Dayn loved his stallion immensely, but he had never been a horse for long journeys or colder weather. After about thirty minutes Dayn took an off shoot from the main road that led them to a small farm home. "I couldn't bring Athias on this trip, but I did manage to find provisions while you were in one of the shops yesterday. I sent a message here yesterday, they should have what we need." Dayn knocked on the door of the home. An older man, probably around his mid to late forties, opened the door and smiled. "Ah, you must be Master Dayn. I received your request, I have everything you need!"


The man led them around to the barn were three horses were waiting, saddles on and waiting. "Is everything to your liking Master Dayn?" Dayn took a few minutes to look over the horses. They were smaller than Athias for sure, but they were sturdy. A stout breed known for their placid personality and incredible stamina. "They are just as described. I've never found any this well bred in the South before. Where is the line from?"


"I used to raise them back North, Master Dayn. In fact, I actually owned the farm not far outside of the Braegland estate."


Dayn turned back to the man. "Is that so? I used to travel through there, in fact I remember that farm. What happened?"


The man smiled. "It's still there. I made enough to move down here, so now I get to avoid that wretched Northern winter. My eldest daughter runs it now. She married the son of Sir Malcolm the Red. What was that boys name?"


"Hamish is married?"


"Yes, that was the lad. How do you know Sir Hamish?"


Dayn smiled. "I might have met him before. The horses are perfect, we'll take them."





Dayn and Atria had traveled a short distance leading the horses, the third horse carrying the extra equipment was following Dayn's horse. "I've always loved these horses. They have the most friendly personality. I remember the man from my child hood, but if I had told him that I was a Braegland he would have tried to give the horses away. My family have done business with his farm for years. I still can't believe Hamish is married. Old Malcolm and his wife had been having troubles having children for years, and Hamish came around about the time I did. We grew up together."





(The horse breed will resemble the medieval traveling horse)

 

[Dragongal]

Atria was hesitant around the horses; most animals didn't like her. The fact that her horse didn't seem to mind her at all was a happy relief to her. She listened to the conversation intently. When she and Dayn had begun traveling, she commented in reply, "Seems I'm not the only one who needs to hide their identity." She stroked her horse's neck, happy to be riding instead of walking. "I'd like to see your estate sometime, maybe meet your family and old friends. I think it'd be nice. Though I doubt they'll like our courting...." She wanted to meet his family, but what would they think of her...? Arryn didn't want to be some dirty secret, but she also didn't want to lose Dayn. Third son or not, he was still a noble. "What was it like, your estate? Growing up? You said your dad was from the North and your mom from the south, but you didn't say where you were from."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled as he recalled old memories of him, his brothers, and Hamish, though it was mostly Dayn and Hamish, getting into trouble when they were younger. "My families fief is north of Codark in the river country just before the northern border. The fief is around sixty acres split into halves by the river that flows through the land. The lower half is plains where the primary crop is wheat, while on the upper side in the lowland hills the crop is wine. Our fief is flanked on the right by that of Sir Malcolm the Red, one of my families dearest friends and closest ally. Our estate is situated on a hill above the town of Riverbend, which was, obviously, built around the bend of the river. Riverbend is the heart of our fief and a source of good income, so luckily the families attached to our fief are well off. From our estate we are granted a full view of the fief for miles. It is beautiful, honestly. I was lucky enough to have the room overlooking Riverbend and wheat fields. It's still there for me whenever I come through."


Dayn thought for a little while about his home. He recalled memories of Riverbend during the fall celebrations with the great harvest festival and the wine, food, and music. His family would always be in the city celebrating with the families for the whole week of the festival. He loved his family. It was then that something occurred to him.


"I'm glad that you want to see my families estate, because we have to pass through it to get to Ironcrest. If my thoughts are correct we are only five days, maybe seven at the worst, from arriving at the fief. I thought we might be able to take some time there before heading on into Ironcrest, which is four days travel from our estate."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had been listening intently to Dayn’s descriptions of his home. She still loved listening to him as much as she had when they’d first began speaking. His home sounded beautiful, and she did want to see it. But when he told her that she would, her heart skipped a beat. “Truly? But… will you not get into trouble if your parents knew I was common born?” As much as she wanted to see this home he’d so eloquently described, she didn’t want to cause any rift between him and his family. “I mean, Dayn, I’d love to, really, but… I don’t want to act like we’re not close. I mean, not be as obviously courting as normally, I understand, but… I don’t want to be some dirty secret, and I don’t want to get you in trouble.” She didn’t even have a dress to wear, she’d look like some dirty traveler their son had happened to take a fancy to. From his descriptions, they sounded extremely wise and fair, however…. Well, at least her last name didn’t sound exactly common. If she used that name, anyway. She still had things she had to tell him before they got to Ironcrest, that was clear.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn slowed his horse from the customary amble of a traveling horse to a walk, with the other two following suit soon after. "Let me explain a couple of things about my family. My brother Geoff, bannerman to my eldest brother Japhet, is married to the daughter of a merchant from Riverbend. Geoff and Isabella live in the town in a nice home with five children last I heard. My sister Lillian is courting one of the men-at-arms that serve our house. The only sibling that has married another noble is Japhet, tying us to a Southern house that has a fief only a few miles south of our own. Arryn, they will not see you as a status, but as the person you are."

 

[Dragongal]

“Not sure if that’s the best thing for them to see either,” she mumbled. She glanced at him, and sighed, “I did let you think my name was Atria.... Though, I mean, not entirely a lie. Quite a complicated issue, that.” Now that it was daytime, she could talk about it with much less pain or thought. Fact was fact, in the daytime. She sighed heavily, saying, “I suppose I should explain some things from my… history before we get to your home. You were right, last night… we need to be honest. Not that I was lying because I didn’t trust you. I mean, I didn’t know you, and…. I don’t really like thinking about all of… that.” She chuckled darkly, saying, “Arryn or Atria? I don’t even know most of the time.”

 

[BookWyrm]

"I like Arryn, but then again I liked Atria before I knew Arryn. Now that I know her better, I don't really care what she calls herself or to what status she was born, as long as I can call her my dearest love, and her the same for my, and I can fall asleep with her head resting on my chest every night for the rest of my days, I'll be the happiest man alive."


They traveled on until the sun began it's downward path towards the far horizon. Dayn had been leading them along the main roads mostly for safety. This far out the bandits weren't so prevalent, but nastier things such as forest trolls and wargs were, though they didn't bother the travelers along the main road very often. About an hour before night fall Dayn spotted a hold fast a little bit further up the road. As they road up to the building Dayn unmounted first, taking a moment to hand the reins of his horse to Arryn. "I'll check to see if they have a room." After a couple of minutes Dayn came back out with a boy, probably about twelve, who he handed a coin. "We will get our things, but anything left on the horses needs to be kept with them. Lead them around back and make sure that everything is there come morning and you might get another coin or two. Got it?" "Aye g'd Mas'r, no 'un be runnin' way wit yer tings unduh me watch."


Dayn watched the lad lead the horses around back as he muttered something about apples, water, and a nice brushing. Dayn smiled, chuckling to himself as he led Arryn to their room. He opened the door and was met with warm, humid air. Dayn had asked them to run a hot bath for them. To his surprise it was waiting on them when they got to their room. "I can pull the privacy wall out, or head down to the tavern, if you want."

 

[Dragongal]

"As long as you promise not to get into a tavern fight, dearest. I'd actually go for a drink myself, however, I have - well, had - a nasty habit of getting into tavern brawls, and I'm not quite sure if I've passed through here before or not," she said with a chuckle. She also didn't trust herself not to drink after last night. If she was honest, she'd admit to having been rather distracted all morning; memories were a bitch sometimes. Of course, as close as they were, she was still not comfortable with undressing in front of him. Besides, maybe if she got a chance to be away from him, she could figure out how to explain her past to him without feeling herself catch everytime she thought of how he might get hurt. It had to be done before they got to Ironcrest, and tonight was as good as any.


She gave him a gentle kiss before he left. She sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. After she took off her shirt, she ran her fingers over her broken rib. The area was still bruised, and her rib was still broken. Why is it taking so long to heal? With my innate nature, and those potions, it should be healed by now.... She slid into the warm water with a heavy sigh. How do I explain it to him...? I guess I'll have to start at the beginning.... Here comes another night of painful honesty.





After drying off and dressing in a loose full-sleeve shirt and black pants, she sat on the bed, reading through her medical text. She had it almost memorized, but she still enjoyed reading it; the writer had had a sense of humor. She pondered while reading the words. I don't know if I could bring myself to tell him about the trap... I can't even stand thinking about it when I'm alone. I'll just tell him everything up until that point. He'd understand. She paused, and moved to look out of the window of their room. Wait, have I been here? Oh, shit... I really hope he doesn't mention my name in that tavern.... If he's not back soon I'll go and get him....

 

[BookWyrm]

After the kiss Dayn had closed the door to leave Arryn in peace to enjoy her bath, but he couldn't help but feel a slightly tugging inside him. Shaking his head he turned to head to the tavern, but even after a couple of lagers the longing still lingered. He shook his head again before running a hand through his hair, trying to just not focus on Arryn for a moment, but to no avail. He loved her, and above all he wanted the best for her, but he help but feel a desire for more...intimacy. He laughed slightly. Gods, how long has it been? I haven't, not since Kara.....


Dayn was suddenly brought out of his thoughts by the maid. "You want another?" "No...thank you. I'm done for the evening." Dayn gave her a couple of coppers before heading back to the room, his desire's put on the back burner for now.


He opened the door to find Arryn staring out the window. "Quite the sight isn't it?" Dayn placed his coat on the hook before taking off his mail and gambeson. Even though the room's temperature was still a little humid from the bath the open air felt good on his bare chest. The talisman Arryn had made for him still hung about his neck. He walked over behind Arryn before brushing her hair over, exposing one side of her neck before he began to slowly, tenderly kiss her exposed neck as he slid one hand to her hip, the other gently massaging the back of her neck as he worked his way up from her neck to her ear and cheek. "How was your bath, love?", he asked before continuing to kiss and caress her, enjoying the feeling of her skin against his lips.

 

[Dragongal]

"Fine. No tavern brawl, I assume?" she said. She turned to him and lifted his chin, kissing his lips. "Slow down, beloved," she murmured, putting her head against his chest. She still wasn't ready for too much intimacy. There was too much he had to know before she could allow that... he'd even have to know about the trap, and she wasn't near ready to explain that. She had too much to tell him first, and that would take time. Luckily, when he came in, he didn't ask anything about her last time through here. Good. That had been, what... almost two years ago, year and a half? It wasn't long before she lost it. In fact, she'd started losing her grip on reality in the woods a few hours from here. She shuddered at the memory. She looked at Dayn apologetically, saying, "It's been a rough day for me, dear. It's... well, it's not far into those woods just to the East of here that I, uh.. started to slip, um, from sanity. It's not... pleasant to recall. You can go bathe, um, tonight I have to tell you some things, before we get to Ironcrest... you were right last night, we need to be open with each other."





She gave him another quick kiss and moved back to the bed, sitting with her back facing the bath, reading her medical book while she thought. Alright, so... I suppose I'd have to start from when I was seven to explain, then skip to the fights, and....

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn held onto Arryn's hand, letting it gently slip from his grasp as she walked over to the bed. Just the feeling of her skin was to him better than the strongest of wine or mead. He was curious, though, that she had only walked over to the bed and not out of the room. Was she becoming more comfortable around him? He walked over to check the water. Still nice and warm. Slowly he took of his shirt, glancing back to see what Arryn was doing, before removing his pants and climbing into the water. It shocked him, the water being still a bit hot even now, but it felt good. He sighed as he let himself sink into the wooden tub, the feeling of his tight muscles unwinding was relaxing to say the least. He had entered the bath facing Arryn's back, though he pretty much expected her not to turn and look at him. Part of his positioning was to see the door, and part of the reason was to watch her.


A few minutes later Dayn stepped out of the now cool water before finding a towel or something to dry off with. He felt strange being naked around her, even with her back to him. Quickly he pulled on a clean pair of pants before walking over to the bed and siting down next to Arryn before kissing her cheek. "I'm yours. My ears, my heart, my love, all yours beloved. I know it isn't easy talking about the past, but no matter what I am here for you."

 

[Dragongal]

She smiled to him, gently kissing his lips. She took his hand in both of hers, tracing the lines on his hand gently. "I'm glad you are. I haven't talked about it since I left two years back." She looked at his eyes, and she wanted to pause, to pretend she hadn't meant anything at all. She shook her head and looked back to his hand. "When I was seven, it was suggested that I learn how to fight. My mother thought it a brilliant idea, as long as I was for it, and, by gods, was I for it. In our little valley village, most kids learned how to fight. Hefty majority. Anyway, I began training under different dwarves, then humans too... anyone I could learn from, really. The dwarves were the most common, because, " she smiled and laughed slightly at the memory," we were almost an extended family, and they enjoyed training me."


Her smile faded as she added, "When I was only a bit older, there was... there were newcomers to the village. Not unheard of, we'd get one or two every year or so. But, these men were different. They didn't set up homes, they set up bartering businesses, and a messaging service nobody would use; everyone anyone needed to contact was a block away, not over the mountains. I didn't like them, they were too.... like city-folk, I guess. They were so aware of rank, and, and money, I couldn't stand their presence. One of them one time pushed my friend because she was in the way.... He didn't end up lookin' too pretty after that." She grimaced at the memory. Not her first scrap, but she was still angered by the memory of Demi hitting the ground and crying out as her body hit the cobblestones. He was so much bigger than her. It wasn't fair!


Arryn cleared her throat. "Anyway, Not much happened, my friends and I trained for fun, we went in the woods, played minor pranks, y'know, kid stuff. But when I was fourteen... Norim Cavecoat's daughter - she was only seven, was - she was taken. Right off the street. And some of the men, those city men, they were missing, we knew who it was, and... they sent a message to Norim, saying that if he didn't pay a certain amount, they'd sell her as a slave. She was seven, Dayn. She never did anyone harm, she was a sweet little girl!" Arryn shook her head, obviously disgusted still, after the years had passed. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. They'd not found Gee in the best condition, and imagining what would have happened if she'd been sold.... The girl had had nightmares for months after that, she used to ask Arryn if there was any herb or draught that could help. That wasn't what kids should be worried about.... "He came to my house and explained the whole situation... he was the only one in town who could pay the fee required, and he was going to do it, and I thought to myself, it wasn't fair. It wasn't right."


"So, I called up my friends, and we met up in an old barn. Nobody went near there, they said it was close to collapsing, but it was fine. Anyway, I told them my plan. We knew all of the caves in the mountains near there. All of them. We knew all of the town gossip, and how to get information. And we knew how to fight. So, at fourteen, I led a raid, with a team of five, on a Black Market group. The trick was making sure Gee - what we called Norim's daughter, Gertrude - got out safe. One of Kalie's arrows made sure of that.When we returned... victorious... a bit bloody, though none was ours... we were welcomed back as heroes. I thought we were going to be punished, but...." She smiled slightly at the memory. Norim had insisted on throwing a party for them, and in classic Dwarvish style, it was filled with alcohol she, as a young mage, couldn't drink, but it was still a highlight of her time in the North.


Again, her smile faded. "Well, problem was... we didn't get all of the Black Market out." She paused, trying to figure out where to go next. She could still feel the tears in her eyes, calling up the old memories, some good, some bad. She looked at Dayn hesitantly.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn reached up and laid his hand on Arryn's face, gently running his thumb along her cheek. "Its okay Arryn. Take your time, cry if you need to. I am here for you." Dayn held her for a few minutes, letting her calm down some before slowly unwinding his arms from around her and kissing her gently. "Whenever you are ready to continue." In honest truth Dayn was absorbed into Arryn's story. He had always heard of Black Market groups or sex traffickers, but fortunately he had never had the "pleasure" of encountering them. They didn't tend to last long in the more managed regions or provinces, especially not around the fiefs.

 

[Dragongal]

"Um, after that, there was one or two... discoveries... those idiots... those terrible beasts unworthy of being called men, they were using the caves near the valley to hide Black Market goods. Including slaves." Again, she shook her head, letting her tears of rage and pity fall. She looked back to Dayn, saying earnestly, "There were kids, Dayn! Young children, and men and women, but almost all children. And - and there was blood, the shackles were cutting open their ankles and wrists, and the wounds would get infected, and - and gods, in fourteen years working with every kind of wound I thought possible... it was children, Dayn. How could the gods let that be, it wasn't fair at all. It wasn't right." She leaned her head on Dayn's shoulder, shuddering slightly at the memory. She had to keep her composure. "First time I saw this, I nearly lost it and murdered every single slaver in sight. I wanted to so badly. I almost blew the whole plan. We - we, I mean... nobody knew, and I felt like we should have. But, we didn't. So, we, um... we took them out. my team, the numbers grew, we were a team of ten by our second... raid, and a team of fifteen by our third. We all agreed, to not kill unless it was necessary - it terrified the people we were trying to help. And, well, the jails aren't the best for Black Marketers, you know, nobody really likes them, so... yeah, I had that thought to keep my from slitting their throats. Matthias and I, we were the real leaders, Kalie being third in charge - she headed the archers. We didn't have a legitimate order of command, it just fell that way. We never let anyone in unless they could pass certain tests, but we had a fantastic team. They were... they were great people. They all knew the risks, I made sure of it, and they still did it.."





Arryn cleared her throat, saying, "Um, eventually, we got all of the... filth," Arryn nearly growled the last word, "away from our village, but we had leads now. Connections, outside of the village. We trained, prepared, relaxed, and then... pursued. We stayed in the North, for the most part, returning home between missions. When we were about to separate to raid an outpost one time, one of my lads, he said, 'What if we get lost and can't find the meet-up point?' and I pointed to the North Star, and I said, 'See her? That's Polaris. Follow her, and she'll lead you home safe and sound.'" Arryn smiled, more tears running down her cheeks. "They were a good group of kids, Dayn... they were so... noble. So kind, and they were so brave, and.... Anyway, they called me Polaris jokingly, and I insisted that we save that name for the star for navigation, so they gave me the next best thing, Atria. After that, in towns, when we were getting information, the leaders used astrological nicknames. Matthias was Sol, denoting that he usually headed daytime missions and dealt with the public, Kalie was Vega, and Demi was Dubhe. I didn't to be a leader in such an official way, none of us wanted the title, but it stuck. We used it because, well... our real names had traveled around the black market a good distance, so sending one or two people with a different name in to ask questions worked better. Eventually one of the lads suggested the name 'Night's Ascension,' and, well, it stuck. I mean, we'd basicxally made a guild, in a way.


"At one point, we even returned a kidnapped elf... the elves of course, threw a ball for us... it was insanity. Beautiful, chaotic, grand insanity. We'd made an allegiance with the elves and humans. A faint allegiance, only extended to some humans, but... they didn't hide from my team when we entered their woods. We actually had one of them join us, his name was Theodas, and... and it seemed like everything was going so right, we'd only lost one or two members. But..." her smile faded again, and she shuddered. "About eight months in, we'd returned to our village for downtime, and... and, we were all in our homes, and in the middle of the night, I hear this crashing from next door, and, and it was an assassin, trying to kill Kalie. She slept with her dagger at her bedside, so she held him off until I was there, but... she got hurt, and..." Arryn paused, remembering that night. She doubted her father would have been proud of her. There was so much blood from that man, and she hadn't stopped. She'd thrown him out of the house - literally - and called to Matthias, almost like a mouse with two cats - one considerably more savage, one who'd wanted more than just the information. They let the man live, in the end, but he probably wished they hadn't. "I was so enraged... we - Matthias and I - we nearly totured the man. Matthias tried to hold me back, tell me we just needed to get the information, but I didn't want to stop." She looked at Dayn, her tears falling harder than ever. "I didn't want to stop, Dayn, he wasn't supposed to go after Kalie, he was supposed to kill me. I was the raider leader. And she got hurt because of me! She nearly died! It wasn't right, Dayn, it's - it's...." Her voice died out. She looked to Dayn, shaking her head, whispering, "I know I shouldn't have done that to him, Dayn, but... I couldn't stop, I didn't want to stop. I felt so guilty, and angry, and - and... I just...." She closed her eyes, holding Dayn's hand tightly. Admitting to torturing a man was shameful and embarrassing, and it had been a night she was ashamed of, she hadn't wanted to tell him, but he needed to know to understand why she hid her identity so much, and everything had started going slightly downhill after that night. But at that second, she needed a respite before she could continue. She glanced up at Dayn, whispering, "I'm sorry, I...." Again she closed her eyes. She had no idea why she was apologizing, but she felt like she had to.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn closed his eyes. The rage was all too familiar to him. Slowly, his lips parted as he spoke. "The night Kara and Lia died, when I found the men who had done it, I took my time as I killed them. The men her brother's brought, I killed them quickly enough, but in terrible, horrible ways. Many of the men had gang raped my wife. The first one I found I swung at him, not with the intent to kill, but to cause him to block the blow and expose his abdomen. You see, mail can only lay across certain points, and the groin is one of the more vulnerable points even in full plate. I sank my dagger halfway into his groin and twisted it before wrenching it free, but I didn't finish him. I left him to bleed out in pain. Most of the men weren't wearing any armor, so I disfigured, dismembered them, all working my way to Kara's brothers, but I didn't finish any of them. Some of the wounds were not outright fatal, but they were crippling. Many of them died of infections and gangrene instead of blood loss or fatal wounds. When I got to the brothers they dropped their weapons, they didn't even put up a fight.


"I tied the younger brother up and made him watch what I did to him. They had rode in on horses, and with some spare rope I made a noose and threw it over a tree limb. I pulled the noose over his neck, purposefully not in the hangmen's knot to keep from breaking his neck, before tying his legs together and onto a stump before leading the horse out and partially strangling him. I did that too him five times before removing the noose and unbinding his legs. I took four of the horses and tied a rope around each of his limbs before then tying the ropes to the saddles of the four horses. I gave a signal and the horses ran off all at once...you can guess the result. The second brother I impaled on a stake while he was still alive."





Dayn was crying by this point. "I understand the rage Arryn. I know what happens when you are driven to that point. Many of those men laid outside of that burnt down cabin for days before dying. Some were eaten alive by carrion birds or wolves, all the while those that weren't had to listen to their comrades being consumed right beside them. I understand, what being pushed to the breaking point does to you Arryn, and I have learned not to think any less of the people who go there."