OOC: This thread is open by requests! Please read up and post your plotting ideas here (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=20668.msg303725#msg303725) if you are interested in joining!
The winds were terrible that day, and the sun; blinding. Cloudless skies often meant the snow covered grounds of the tundra would ice over, and make travel conditions slippery at best. Though it were true, as Aezaentii and her small band of runaways walked beneath the dripping icicles from trees, the young woman could not help herself as she paused beneath them, closing her eyes and smiling as she felt their cool rain upon her flesh. It was a lovely contrast to the inviting warmth of the sun and the howling call of the wind.
But it was nature, and this.... she closed her hands into fists at her side, taking in the sweet smell of the sun through the pine needles and fresh melting snow waters; this was freedom.
"Do you thin we ought to stop here for a rest? We've been on this tundra for a while with no real trees in sight for days."
"Aye, it is a relief to see a tree, and here we've got a whole copse of 'em, eh Aezaentii?"
The young woman smiled and turned to the two men who were gushing over the very sight she was basking in. She nodded.
"We have traveled far and will travel farther still. Let's make camp and enjoy the sun while it is still high and blessing us."
They didn't have much in terms of supplies, the little they did have they clung onto as securely as their lives. But ever since they had gained their sentry, the great furred behemoth from the mountains, things seemed to get easier and Aezaentii smiled up at the beast as she approached.
"Let me sit on your shoulder."
A simple request, no command, but the beast flicked it's stubby ears before bending on one knee and putting out it's large hand for her. She stepped into his palm, using his thumb for support and turned to him with a nod, and he lifted her up onto his shoulder.
The world was so much different from up there. The sun felt warmer,t he world- bigger, and even the winds had a different smell and taste. She leaned in against the great beast's neck as the pair walked past the line of trees while Aezaentii's eyes surveyed the land. So much land, but so little life.....
But the sudden fluttering of a pair of black birds had her turning-
and she felt her heart catch in her throat.
"Greygor! Over there!" The beasts blackened nose chuffed as it saw the figure too, lying in the snow unmoving. It didn't take the great beast long to cross the lands and small stream to the figure, and he let the girl off his shoulder as Aezaentii approached the figure, eyes brimming with concern.
Damien was hungry.
It had been too long since he'd fed. Days. Nearly weeks. He wasn't entirely sure how he'd wound up on his back in the snow- he had a vague memory of stumbling in this direction the previous night- but he had no real interest in moving.
Then he heard voices. Oh no. He needed to move, he really needed to move. What if he couldn't control himself, what if he attacked?
He felt more than saw the girl kneel beside him and tried to shift away, groaning as every muscle in his body protested the movement.
The groans only fortified her fear the poor man was in agony. Alone in the snow was a terrible fate, and soon she placed a soft, small hand on his shoulder and said, "Are you alright? Do you need help? We can offer you food and shelter. We even have a lady who can stitch up wounds..."
His eyes snapped open, a spark of red flaring to life in his pupils. With a groan, Damien pushed himself up onto his elbows and blinked at the stranger.
Who was she? What was she doing out here? What did she mean "we"- who was she with?
Dozens of questions spiraled through his mind, but all he could managed to croak out was, "Food...please..."
Hunt. Bite. Kill.
Her clenched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, fingers curling into fists. "Please. Hurry."
The woman stared at him for longer than she'd like at his request, but nodded before she turned towards her giant beast.
"Greygor, my bag," she asked, her hand out and waiting as the large giant plucked it from his fur and bent all the way over to delicately hand it to the girl. A girl is what she looked like compared to the massive beast, her eyes so large and doe like they nearly conquered her face out of the rest of her paleness. Her skin was pale, her lips- pale but chapped; even her hair was pale as it wove it's way down from atop of her head and cascaded over her shoulders.
She might also have seemed child like because of her heritage. The fae, (as she was evidently suh with her short, but pointed ears), were often very young looking and spirited. But she was wise enough and old enough to be as woman as any other.
Taking her bag, she thanked the beast and fetched out three sticks of dried rabbit meat. It was the last bit of meat she had on her person, but she had eaten earlier that day- and who knew the last time this man had a bite to eat.
With the jerky resting in her hand, she held it out for him.
"Here, eat this," she told him gently, her eyes sparkling, hopeful he'd feel better after he had at least some of that.
He almost pounced on her for the food, but managed to restrain himself. He did grab snatch the meat out of her hands with barely more than a grunt and scarfed it down.
Not enough. It would hold him over for a few more hours maybe, but he needed to feed.
Damien forced himself to breathe and looked up at the girl with a little more focus. "Th-thanks." He pushed himself into a proper sitting position. "Who..." His eyes flicked past her to the hulking beast and he swallowed. "Uh, who are you?"
She couldn't help the broad smile consuming her lips as he remained knelt beside him.
"I am Aezaentii," she told him, a hand pressed to her chest before she extended it towards the beast. "And this is Greygor." Her grin grew crooked. "Greygor is a bit intimidating, is he not?" She turned to him, smiling proudly before she turned her attention back to Damien. "But don't worry, he won't hurt you. Unless of course I asked him to." And her grin remained playful, if not a little coy.
"Might I have your name, stranger?"
He swallowed. "Uh, right: and you're not going to ask him to, Miss Aza- Azan- damn that's a mouthful." He offered a lopsided smile. "You got a nickname, lass."
With a little grunt of effort, he got to his feet, then bowed at the waist. "Name's Damien. It's a pleasure."
Markus had been watching Aezaentii and Greygor from afar. "So brave yet caring...she reminds me more and more of Lillian everyday." The advisor whispers to himself. Seeing that her and the stranger began conversing, he notices something odd about the young man. Back in his adventuring days, Markus remembered meeting undead with similar features as him, some friendly, some hostile, and some just shambled. Though the stranger seems no harm, and Markus knows his queen is more than capable in defending herself, he decides to intervene anyways, to at least assert the queen's position.
Walking up to them, Markus clears his throat. "She has many nicknames, but you may address her as your majesty. You my boy have just met The Queen of the North, the beautiful yet strong queen that will bring eternal peace to Le'raana."
"Queen of the North?"
Damien tilted his head. As far as he knew, the tundra had no monarchy. "Uh, sure. I mean- yeah, sure. Your Majesty."
Aezaentii blushed, dropping her gaze.
"I'm no Queen, at least not yet, but we do travel with the intention of seeking peace."
"I...see," Damien said slowly, tilting his head to the side. "Ah- actually I don't see. But hey, if he calls you a queen, I see no reason to disagree, m'lady."
He gave her a rather charming grin, somehow finding it in himself to dredge up a bit of human emotion despite how close to the edge of that beast-like hunger he was.
Greygor grumbled as Aezaentii turned to him and smiled. She ran her finger's against the beasts' side before looking over towards Markus. Then her gaze once returned to Damien.
As she studied him, even she noticed something was a little... off. But then again, these were lands were many creatures and human types thrived. Down south..... it was rare to even believe a creature such as Greygor was even real. Yet there he was, a towering beast at her side...
And a companion, a true willing friend.
"Are you really all alone out here? The tundra is very unforgiving, to those without, or even with, numbers."
Damien chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, I'm alone, lass. Usually safer that way, in my case." His eyes flickered over her companions and then, slowly, back to her. "Who're your friends? M'lady."
"Me? I am but a humble servant to the rightful Queen of the North, but to refer to me by name, I am Markus Krey. The hunter outstretched his hand. Though his gesture seemed friendly enough, his eyes shot daggers at this Damien. "And what brings you to this area alone?"
Damien certainly didn't miss the look Markus gave him, but he took his hand anyway.
"That's my own business," he said with a friendly smile. "Normally I keep to myself around Fell, but I thought I'd get a change of scenery."
Her attention perked up.
"The Fell?" Her,eyes locked onto his. "Is that where you're from?"
Damien looked at her and offered a crooked, almost sheepish smile. "Err...sorta. Don't worry 'bout it, lass. I'm no mage, so I haven't got the sickness..."
She studied him astutely.
"I wouldn't presume you are.... You... seem different than most." But what he was exactly she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something was off, sure, but she felt no less threatened by him than she did with Greygor.
"But if you've been to, or at least near The Fell... I would be interested in asking you a few questions, if you wouldn't mind sharing them with me." She offered him a kind smile. "I can offer you more food at a spot around our fire, and a place to travel with us if you'd like."
His smile softened a bit at the edges, genuinely touched by the kindness of a stranger. It had been a long time since he'd felt so...human.
"Food and a fire would be much appreciated, milady." Quickly, he added, "But I don't wanna impose on ya. Sure there's not something more I can do for you? I'm happy to answer your questions of course, but don't ya want...something else?"
Aezaentii raised her brows before chuckling softly. She shook her head.
"You mean payment? Or some type of quest?" She smiled at him, truly, genuinely. "We ask for no payments here. We are all freemen and women just seeking for a better place to be, a better place to live and a better way at doing it."
Damien tilted his head at her, smiling in an almost puzzled sort of way. "Forgive me, I know it's not real proper to ask a lady her age, but how old are ya, lass?" She looked like she might still be a teenager, but spoke like a practiced diplomat or something.
She couldn't help but smile in return. Perhaps his smile was infectious, or perhaps she was a bit amused he felt the need to ask.
"I am sixteen," she told him simply.
A low whistle and his eyes widened a bit. "Youngest queen I ever met," he chuckled, smile crooked. "Not that I've met all that many, or course. Or any."
She dropped her gaze, blushing before her eyes went to Markus then back to Damien.
"Queen is still up for interpretation. But I see no reason why someone of my age can't lead. In fact, I hadn't even chosen to do so, my people, those who follow me, it was their will that I lead."
Smile softening at the edges, Damuen bowed at the waist and took her hand gently.
"Then surely you are more worthy of the title than most, milady," he murmured, pressing a quick kiss to her fingers. His eyes didn't have the same glint they'd had when he was truly alive, but for the first time in a long time they held something very like it.
Aezaentii's cheeks burned and she was quick to take back her hand. She wasn't used to any such attentions, at least ones she felt so confused over. Her one hand held the other as she turned to Markus, then looked back to Damien.
"Why don't you come with us. We'd be more than happy to help you and you.... maybe you can help us. We are seeking the Fell, or at least land near to it. I don't suppose it's too much to ask if we're getting close?" Or too presumptuous of her to believe that's where he had come. BUt her smile was there, as was the sparkle of hope and friendship in her eyes.
"I..."
He looked from her to her companions and back a few times. The older man didn't like him, he could tell. But the girl...
Something about her was compelling, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to spend more time around her. That in an of itself made her noteworthy- he hadn't showed such interest in anything since he died.
Which was probably exactly why he should stay far away from her.
He smiled. "I can lead ya to the ruins, milady, but I'm not sure I should stay with you much longer after that. I'm...not really the type you should be consorting with."
She couldn't help but smile at his reply.
"Shouldn't I be the judge of that? Often times men are too quick to judge themselves. Women too. But I will not hold you against your will should you choose to stay.. or go."
Damien chuckled at that. "Very well. As you say, milady," he murmured, smiling crookedly at her.
He'd leave once he took them to Fell, but there was no reason to quash that generosity of hers.
Markus raised an eyebrow at her offer. "My queen, are you sure about this? This far out there will be many men looking to take advantage of..." He glanced towards Greygor, then slowly slid his thumb across his scar. Remembering what she had done to Greygor, Markus suddenly stiffened.
"I'm sorry my queen. Of course you can handle yourself, I was out of place to question that. Though I advise you to be wary about him." Markus then walked over to Damien and clasped a hand on the supposed tour guide's shoulder. "Touch Queen Aezaentii at all, and I will personally castrate you with my arrows."
Damuen but back a hiss and jerked away from the man. "I get that you're cautious, but it's rather rude to jump to assumptions like that," he said coolly, any playful glint leaving his eyes as he narrowed them at him.
If Aezaentii had heard the threat she made no comment of it. But she was at her sentry's side and walking along Greygor towards the camp. The men weren't surprised to see their leader return, however, spotting the new face among them left a lot of them wearing a questioning gaze.
"This is Damien, Greygor and I found him, starving in the snow and I asked him to share our camp with us."
The explanation was all they needed for them to nod towards the new member in acceptance, but there was still the evidence of doubt by the way no one directly communicated or interacted with him as they continued to work on setting up camp.
She couldn't blame her people for acting this way. They had gone through enough. Even still, she smiled as she turned towards him.
"We found you in quite a mess of yourself, why don't you rest. The men will be gathering to hunt for food soon and if you aim to travel soon, you'll need your strength."
Damien was like a wild dog, hackles raised and eyes flicking around warily as he crept into the camp behind Aezaentii. He nodded once and offered her a very small smile. "Thank you, lass. Very kind of you."
"If you'd like, you can rest in my tent," she offered. She wasn't using it at the moment anyway and had other important matters to deal with.
"Ah- that's alright." He cast the older man with er a wary glance, then smiled at her. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't know how happy you're people would be with me."
She frowned and looked from Markus back to Damien.
"It's my tent. Who would oppose?" And why? It's not like she'd be in there sleeping with this strange man.
"Well... If you insist." He bowed slightly at the waist. "Thank you, milady."
She smiled clearly and gestured for him to follow. And as she lead him across the camp, the ground shook as Greygor seated himself at the western most point of the camp.
Damien cast the giant another wary look, but followed after the young woman easily enough, murmuring his thanks again under his breath.
She pushed the flaps open to her tent and gestured around.
"There's not much here, but you can use my bed roll to rest upon. We travel light, so we've got not much of anything on us." Not that they truly had anything on them to begin with. The camps were not exactly a place you could call home.
"What I'm saying is, if you're a thief, you won't make it far with us." And though it was a jab, it was a playful one as she offered this stranger a smile.
"I'm no theif," Damien chuckled, giving her a crooked grin. He placed a hand over his once-beating heart. "On my honor, you're people are safe from me."
Well. At least from theft.
Her eyes were bright as she gave him a crooked grin in reply.
"Rest up. We'll have supper soon enough." And she stepped away from the tent and let the clothe drop. Drawing in a breath, she moved across camp, and began to gather her men to discuss the next hunt.
Damien settled himself into the tent, looking around curiously. He didn't actually need sleep- he hadn't since he died- but the respite from travel was welcome.
When Damien gave Markus a glance, the hunter returned the look with a scowl. There was just something awry about him. His queen's kind nature will never let her find out, so it is only up to him.
He watched the wanderer's every move near Aezaentii. After he went into his queen's tent, Markus was ready to jump in to stop anything from happening, but Aezaentii left unscathed. He wanted to keep an eye on him in there, but his majesty required him for hunt planning.
"Markus.... Would you and Lena lead the hunt this time? I can procure water and more fire wood with some of the others."
Markus gave one more quick glance at the tent before bowing down. "It would be my honor milady. Lena is a fine huntress herself."
Aezaentii placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Don't worry about our safety. Greygor is keeping an eye out on us all."
Markus curtly nodded at her reassurance. "Yes, I have trust in Greygor's strength, and I trust your strength even further. I will not fail you milady."
At that the hunter turned around and called for Lena.
She smiled and watched Markus depart, eyes lingering on the shimmering world of snow. It was truly a beautiful place, even if its temperatures were terrible and the terrain, dangerous and hard to trek. And it seemed to remain peaceful, even as Aezaentii gathered a small party to hunt for wood for a fire. It was while she was out there it began to snow, and she smiled and reached a hand out, watching as the flakes floated down onto her palm.