Seeking the Frozen Flame of the Past [Nasrin]

[Marakai Trin]

This was it. This was the last place he'd not been - other than the cities of Connlaoth, blast them - and he was losing hope. He'd met hundreds of people, dragons, elves, trolls, but not the one he was looking for. He held very little hope of ever finding her, here or anywhere.

The massive man stepped under the boughs of these nettled pines, an innumerable amount of dead needles crunching underfoot. Red eyes - barely glowing at all, nearly closed he was so weary - shifted here and there for any sign of anything at all. All he could see were trees. Hundreds upon hundreds of evergreen trees, the carpet of needles beneath his feet choking out all other plant life before it even had a chance to grow.

"......"

This forest was so quiet, it nearly felt sacred - he didn't dare break the silence with. Idle monologue. Everything he'd had to say had been said - he'd screamed and roared his frustrations to the sky, in sun, wind, rain and snow. Nothing ever answered back save his own echoes, and that was almost as frustrating as this unending search.

He never should have left the city of the Tenkou. Kranath likely would have ended there anyway. Everything that he had set out to accomplish had just been a waste of time. Otohime was gone. Thousands of dragons could have been saved had he just been patient. But no....

And so, here he was, at the end of his rope. He didn't know what he would do after this. He had nothing left, save killing that bastard all over again, but that, honestly, wouldn't make him feel much better.

So, head bowed, he continued walking, searching, a Titan amongst these ancient trees, the massive sword he usually carried so easily now carving a furrow in the earth as he dragged it behind him, no longer feeling he had the strength to wield it.

What was the point, if he couldn't find her?

Otohime...

[joylss]

Soundless is the shifting of lissome foot bare and posh against nebulous fields. Escorted by the arm of vernal breeze as it sneaks beneath white and wispy fabric, speculated to be weaved exceedingly only through the strings of fine cobwebs and winter dewdrops under musty suns. A foreign presence would mark itself beside the wandering man, transfixed and unmoving in juxtaposition to the breeze of the Niahian foregrounds. Here, recluse in the profound heart of forests is contrarily soothing, enclosed by trees a thousand years ago and others a thousand more.

Even after centuries of bygone despondency and ill-fated nights, the once dainty heart of Tenkou's former princess was, for a time, witlessly obtuse and naive, ascetic to be detached from the governing affairs of both court and country, eager to be complacent of her birth lands; but while the fervent of sundering hardship may pierce her skin, and the detrimental prod of reality to prick her heart, profound memories of negated yore had not been discarded in her attempt to flee a deleterious past.

Heartfelt reassurance surfaced from thawing ice--- for, permit twain globes of silver to pursue Marakai's actions redeeming its place in the intricacy of her mind, and they would come to reflect the deeds it had wrought ample years before. Albeit, come what may, the princess is now but a crepuscular shadow of her formerly frolic and joyful self; for greys of misty hues have hence exploited the impediment of idealistic paradigms, wrought kingship from the paragon of Tenkou's hapless destruction. But notwithstanding all in all, the welkin of pious zealotry has yet depleted her of philanthropic kindness-----for there exists still a directive individual that lives closer and dearer to her like any family member.

Alive and well.

"Your massive presence stifles the trees, and your shadow radiates a foreboding aura in a ghastly form. Centuries have passed and not once since have we encountered intruders -- I have been heedful to your wanderings since your first step through our borders." Where her foot dwells, snow white submerges the lawn in forlorn winter; and where her presence left its mark, from the grassy terrain springs a feast of ruby-red blossoms. "Look at me, mystic stranger. I am not blind to your misery. So, why have you deign yourself to come here?"

(OOC: Gaah it took forever for me to be satisfied at the reply. But finally its done!)

[Marakai Trin]

At the sound of the words behind him, those dimly glowing eyes snapped shut. He recognized that voice, all of the inflection and the light, melodic sound that sounded almost otherworldly against the otherwise silent environs.

He could hear her. He could smell her - her scent to him like as a bloomed rose in stark winter, a perfume so beautiful yet cold. But it couldn't possibly be - surely, in his constant despairing of her absence, his mind was playing tricks on him.

He dared not turn around. Eyes shut still, he fell to his knees. A single tear squeezed out from the corner of one eye to trace a line down a pale cheek.

"Surely in my search for you, I've been driven mad and lost my senses. I hear you, smell you, but you cannot possibly be there. I've lost hope of finding you, Otohime. I search this strange world I've awakened to, but you are not there."

He drug that sword forward, only to sink it's full length into the earth, leaning heavily upon its hilt. His head remained bowed, even as tears continued to drop from his grief stricken eyes.

"I hear your voice and see your face in my dreams and every waking moment. It would not be a stretch to hear it now, even fully awake. Surely my senses have taken leave of me. I'm sorry, Otohime...I'm not strong enough to continue looking, any longer. This heart and soul of mine screams for release of this misery, and I cannot help but give in."

His head bowed yet farther, the creaking of his armor echoing strangely in the silence.

"Figment of my tortured mind...trouble me not. I cannot bear it any longer. I dare not turn to face you, only to find you are not real."

[joylss]

"You cannot waver. And at similar circumstances --- I cannot lie, but once you have endowed me a promise that you will warrant  your presence by my side and you have left without wane. However, your salvation has not been cryptic to my ears, nor those of neighbouring villages. We are entitled to compel regal duties as prince and princesses of our lands, and you are merely bounded by salient duties more important than the both of us." fervent solicitude stocked her heart, dismantling a sentiment deposited years since her mate's crestfallen departure. But Otohime would not surrender her grievance to the impeccable character of her disconsolated mate, for she herself had been preoccupied with adjusting her newfound position on the throne of Tenawar. The crown has yet to fit suitably upon her head, and she would not permit it to waver and watch the second fall of Tenkou where her late mother had failed.

The princess makes her touch palpable by approaching Marakai in brief, brisk steps, and enclosed her dainty fingers around wrists sore from overuse and abuse. Years have rendered her skin scarred; Barefooted and unaccompanied had she walked the path down unpaved road since his departure, and upon the climax is where she acknowledges her journey had not been pleasurable --- but then, so was his. Curse faith to have swept her off a comfy bridle path and ravish her singular solace, only to have her delivered in a predicament without aid. A dozen twelvemonth had pass since she last felt soothing hands, fingers that she could discern since the early of her birth. Had she been capable of combat several decades before, she could have single-handledly extricate Mithra of her demise. However, life is a wretched and inequitable thing; the deceased would not return, regardless how the world of magic may boast its flair to the skies beyond.

The weight of her own ignorance incapacitates her, arguably as copious as Marakai had been. And her fingers would refuse to relent his bridled cuffs, eagerly and pleading seeking his resolution. "You are not in the wrong, Marakai. Your deeds have astounded your people and even those of mine, I care not whether you succeed or whether Kraneth perishes. I only wish for your return, so I may relay reassurance that you are not alone."

[Marakai Trin]

Her touch and her words caused an instant change in Marakai's mood. His eyes shot open, and the utter absence of the usual glow gave way for brilliant illumination. Although typically such a light would indicate aggression or stress, this was excitement.

Her touch, a familiar but well welcomed chill, warmed his flesh despite her innate physical coldness. Her words, not that of a spectre or figment of his tortured mind, brought flame to his heart, and it was reflected in his surprised, wide-eyed gazed. With a start, he stood, sword abandoned, and with both of his large hands he took her small one to clasp tightly, and glowing red orbs stared much surprised into silver ones.

In her eyes, he could see his face, gaunt with previous grief but brightening with an insurmountable appearance of profound relief. He looked upon her face, not at first registering her words, having truly heard nothing but the sound of her voice, real, so reassuringly real, in his ears.

Despite all of this, the tears did not stop. Unusual, it was, for this stalwart, princely Dragon to shed tears, but this appeared to be the end of what for so long had been his search, arduous ant fruitless as it had been. But this....this could be an end to things, to slay the uncertainty and grief that had twisted his soul nearly in twain.

And so, the words came, almost not even a whisper and barely leaving a mark on the silence.

"Otohime...I cannot help but hope your words are real. For so long, I have searched for you. Please. Please, tell me you are truly here before me. You say I am not alone. I feel your touch, and it is real, the sweet chill of your skin yet warm upon my own flesh. I love you, Otohime - please. Tell me you are really here."

[joylss]

"Do you fear fallacy being imposed on you so, daft prince?" like blossoms of silver tinged in red upon wintry weather, coy is the smile and lithe chortle that will bring on perpetual means. Otohime is not oft subdued to the wordless complexes of intellectual intricacy, professing matters of the mind too embellished to manifest into acoustic words when a scenery so flimsy, so saccharine that will thaw ice from even the most dastardly hearts, is put to play betwixt threadbare fingers.

As would such be the case, said nimble digits would come to pry at the call of familiar articulate command, asserting intimacy behind the neck of the man who was once Aerie's former sovereign ruler. Tresses of black and silver coming undone with a seamless tug, a tangible reminiscence to the years that have been prolonged as their minds have aged, albeit, their bodies have been preserved unlike so, a reverence of the immortal gift renowned upon the livelihood of their noble race.

Titter of laughter and fondle stroke from wayfaring thumb, Otohime shall now play the part of the savant, conducted in unforeseen and esteemed prospects. "Do not weep for sorrow, Marakai, but surely I shall see you smile again when you hear this:" the princess elevates his hand, fingers interlaced and tightly knit with that of her own, before leaning burly fingers against the supple paunch of cheek in residue of the mawkish lachrymose since their reunion. "I will only find elation in this momentous dissemination, but it will truly lightens my heart, my love, that dragons of the Tenkou have not been completely annihilated by the fell doings of Kraneth. We are in fact, as of now, reestablished as Tenawar, the Golden Hidden City of Dragons. That what's left of my decree is that --- Marakai, my love, I have come only to welcome you as our King."

[Marakai Trin]

The prince found himself in shock at these words, these three truths that would surely change his life forever.

First, Otohime was alive and real before him. That was the absolute best that he had hoped for, a search to reconcile and come back together after his departure so long ago. But now there were two other shocking revelations, and were he but a man, he imagined his heart would have stopped.

Despite the carnage he had seen on that last day before his horribly long hibernation, the Tenkou were not all dead. Despite the torn and crushed remains scattered about that final battlefield, there were remnants that Otohime had reshaped into a new Clan, a new kingdom. After thinking for so long that he was the last...this was an elation beyond every other. He had not failed. If his confrontation with his sinister brother had allowed these dragons to escape, as well as save the life of his betrothed, then it was the opposite. He had succeeded.

This last shocking truth, though...it knocked him reeling, the haphazard string of thoughts he had managed to put together suddenly scattered like dust in the wind.

King. That was.....that was much, much more than he could have ever hoped for.

"Otohime...this is....." he tightened his fingers around hers, feeling her tiny digits sliding betwixt his own. A true show of affection and intimacy after so long.

But he couldn't hold it. After so very long, a hand was far too little. He wanted her. He released her hand, wrapped both of his arms about her small body, and pulled her to his chest, hugging away his years of solitude.

Still, his tears came unbidden.

"Otohime....this is so much more than I could have ever hoped for. I thought for so long that with the destruction wrought by Kranath that everyone had perished... I had even begin to think that you, too, had fallen beyond the veil of the afterlife. But...there are more? And you want me to become King? This is...almost too much."

He turned his head down and planted a very long overdue kiss atop her silver haired head. "...how...how did you escape? And these others, what of them? You must tell me everything, please, leave nothing out."

His arms, as long as they were, were able to completely encircle her, one starting at her side and resting nearly at her waist, the other with hand behind her neck, pulling her toward him. He rested his cheek upon her head.

"To find my love again, and so much more....this is surely more than I had ever looked forward to."

[joylss]

Her body bequeath to burly arms acknowledged since the youth of her long extended life, Otohime cannot look upon her long-lost mate's face and quell to believe this is a dream. Sleek arms no thinner than the bodies of basking snakes veers coltishly over scarred features earned from years of seamless endurance. For oft with the collection of scars one bares just as many stories, and time would consummate to their years lost when she would have him tell her.

There is merit in waiting, consoled upon an irrevocable play. Her nimble digits consigns itself to rid the tears staining his cheeks, titter of laughter as she wipes them off coyly without skeptical invitation.

"Truthfully, I would not dispense scant regard to revoke my rule for freedom, but, these are my people, and it is my relied as my paramount duty that I cannot abandon them." this, words that conjured from the bottom of irreproachable heart, speaks, a betoken of Marakai's presence in privy of her innermost yearnings. Count the most fallible thoughts of self-serving princess, perhaps if she had opt to pursue bolder endeavours, she might even return his kiss to the cheek....

Comfort is procured through the unfriendly steel of his breastplate, professing the warmth swirling beneath chided metal. She rests her head onto the sheen of his stricken chest, relishing in the steady beating of rhythmic heartbeat. "Won't you come home with me this time, Marakai?"

[Marakai Trin]

A smile lit up the Prince's features. A broken past was piecing itself together again before his very eyes, myriad shards of sorrow sliding to fit together to at last form a mosaic that he could look upon fondly.

This broken man, wandering for so long in search of the largest missing shard of himself, had finally found that piece and was now trying desperately to fit it with the whole - this endeavor proved difficult, as the piece he'd found at last had other pieces with her. He'd have to fit them in place, too - the picture of his life would now be bigger.

Marakai lessened his hold on her, straightening his back to look down upon the picture of cold beauty he held in his arms. His tears had stopped their flow, ceasing at her touch, and now his countenance was lit with that smile.

"How could I not, after so long? I do not think I would ever dare leave you again. Yes, Otohime. I will come home with you, this time and every time hereafter."