Deminia hid silently for hours in a deep, muddy, abandoned slave pit. She
could smell the years old blood that fell of the slaves backs as the Orc
whips tore them to shreds. It was like sweet perfume to her that sent her
heart into an erratic beat that most get when they fall in love. But this
beat was not for love, but hate.
Slowly, she emerged from her hiding place and attempted to climb out of the slick, muddy hole. Her hands clasped onto mounds of running dirt that slid when she began to make her ascent. This, however, did not slow her down. Only after a few failed attempts she managed to stand upon stable ground and checked her surrounding area.
After seeing all the Elven guards and defenders tucked away in their bunkers sleeping Deminia couldn't help but begin to softly chuckle. While these pitiful beings dreamt of returning the short distance home to their loved ones she stood posing a grand threat to their livelihood. She knew that she could take on the entire Elven fortress if she wanted to, and she would've. But she had to deliver the goods to the remaining Orc terrorists first.
Deminia walked a good quarter of a mile before she stood directly in front of the old Orc fortress. It's once mighty walls now laid in bloody ruins cascading entirely across the Crushbone terrain. The dark tower that housed the Great Ambassador Divinn and Emperor Crush somehow was the only thing that remained intact amongst all this rubble. On top of the tower was a white flag embroidered with the symbol of the Koada' Dal king upon both sides that flew wildly in the wind. The High-Elves had already staked claim of a land they have not yet totally won. Without hesitation, Deminia dived into the cold, murky water that filled what was left of the dwindling moat and began swimming to the underground tunnel where the remainders of the Orcs were struggling to survive. But it was quite unfortunate for her, for when she made that seemingly safe dive, she woke the man that would seal her fate. ***
Immediately Aurion jolted his head off of his desk and began to look around erratically. The echo of the waves seemed endless in his head as his heart sank to the floor. He didn't know what to quite make of the splash; whether or not it was an ally swimming or a foe seeking entrance to the tunnel. Whatever it was, Aurion had no choice but to seek the perpetrator out for the safety of all Elven kind.
He grabbed his sword and shield as he ran out of his tent and over to the moat of the fallen fortress. By time he had gotten there, all was still and quiet, and hauntingly dark. With the closing of his eyes, Aurion perked up his ears and listened intently for the sounds of wave ripples of any kind so he could find whatever it was he was searching for. His pointy ears picked up the snores from Elven tents hundreds of feet away and the soft hums of flickering flames in the wind. But after perking his ears up higher, he heard the sound of feet swishing deep in the water as clear as a bell. With that, he chased after it.
Wandering around blindly in the dark, he found his way over to the once has been moat that surrounded the crumbling remains of the citadel. The sound of the waves grew silent as his ears picked up a different sound..one of times past.
"Auri, darling, where's my perfume? I can't go anywhere without my Jasmine perfume. The smell of those flowers melts my soul every time." A sweet, feminine voice echoed deep within his aching memory. Her accent was light and crisp from living in Erudin so long with Aurion.
"Maylia, you wear that scent so much it's practically part of your blood. Besides, you smell good without it any ways..." he heard his past voice echo. Aurion's voice too had the light Erudian accent to it, though it faded away back to his elvish one. He let that accent die once he left Erudin..once his wife died.
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, a familiar object dropped down into the deathly still waters of the moat. The sound of the drop lasted for seconds as Aurion slowly moved towards the edge.
Aurion sniffed the air wildly as a strange scent rode its way in upon a soft, chilling breeze. After taking a massive breath, the scent began to warm Aurion's soul. He recognized it.the sweet, flower-like scent that he refused to accept. It was the scent of the Jasmine flower.
Immediately he collapsed to his knees and crawled over the damp, muggy ground to the edge of the moat. Shaking violently, he reached his hand out to the object floating on the water. His horribly pale hands hovered over the silvery object for a matter of time before he thrusted his hands into the water and grasped the object like a wild bear grabbing for an unsuspecting fish. Slowly, he lifted his damp hands out of the cold water and brought them closer to his blind eyes. He once again began to shake violently as a wave of fear swept over him, stealing even his screams away from his mouth. His hand dripped with jasmine scented blood around the silver locket he retrieved from the lonely waters. He too remembered the locket, but was unwilling to accept the thought of it. Violently, he unclasped the locket only to find a portrait of himself upon one side and a portrait of another beautiful High-Elven girl on the other. Blood poured steadily from the portrait of the girl and ran down upon Aurion's armor.
Aurion's eyes grew wide as a mad wave of fear swept over him. He felt his heart wilt as the bleeding picture of Maylia began to change. Her pale skin began to darken to a deep, haunting indigo like that of the ever hated Teir' Dal. The ice-blue of her eyes swelled to a deep purple that pierced into Aurion's mind forcing out an unwanted memory. It was her..she came back.
Angered, Aurion leaped to his feet and into the icy cold waters of the moat beside him. The temperature tore away at him as he pushed through the defending current against the jagged rocks below. He knew not where he was swimming, but fate did. His memories traced back to the day Maylia was murdered before his very eyes. Then, he was there.
He reached a small muddy tunnel that rose slightly upward on an unmarked path. Worn out and weak, he stepped out of the cold, dismal waters and onto the tunnel floor. He stretched his arm over his steel covered back and pulled forth a gallant sword enveloped in a dazzling yellow flame. Aurion could sense the darkness around him.it was so strong, but he saw nothing but a seemingly endless tunnel that extended into unknown depths below the surface. Not letting is physical state stop him, he pressed onward down that lonely tunnel without a single ounce of fear in his heart. Fore he too was lonely. and the sooner he died, the sooner the loneliness went away.
As he went onward, a strange shadow emerged from behind him in the darkness. The being stood motionless as a purple aura began to gleam hauntingly by its side. All it did was stand there and watch Aurion helplessly walk down the tunnel unaware of the danger behind him. Deminia always hated surprises..though, she felt empowered by surprise attacks on her foe.
Slowly in the darkness, she silently raised her bow of rune-carved bone to aim as she slid a steel tipped arrow to its side. The wooden frame of the arrow slid silently across the bone of the bow as Deminia pulled back on the Halfling-hair string. She was more than ready to end yet another pitiful light-walkers life.but something in her changed.something in her wouldn't let her pluck the string to end Aurions life.
Instead, she watched his every movement. For some reason, she was drawn into a trance by the way the light from his sword set off his gorgeous blue eyes. His hair fell in wet dreads of a flaming red across his pale, troubled face. Deminia felt her heart stop for a moment's time then start again in a frantic race to get back to its usual beat. She shook her head lightly, refueling her frozen heart with its ever burning hatred and began to aim her arrow precisely at Aurions head. She tightly closed her left eye and gazed out angrily with her right. But the unexpected happened..Aurion turned around; locking his eyes with hers. His face grew wide in fear as Deminia hesitated only a moment before releasing the string of the bow.
The lethal arrow shot out almost faster than the speed of light in its deadly path towards Aurions heart. But in their minds, the arrow inched along slowly as time around them seemed to have stopped. With a swift motion, Aurion threw his sword over in front of the arrows deadly plight slicing it in two and diverting its path. Deminias purple eyes blazed in fear and anger as he locked them once again with Aurions eyes. He didn't fear her at all..he welcomed her challenge with open arms. Angered, Deminia drew her massive Innoruuk's Cure and charged full force at Aurions worn-out body. Faking him out thinking she was going to lash at him with her sword, Deminia left high into the air and triple kicked Aurion across his jaw sending him falling hopelessly to the ground. Blood flew across the tavern walls from Aurions mouth as each kick landed with perfect precision across his mouth. His face pursed with pain but he tried to ignore it.he had to. As Deminia landed upon her feet Aurion kicked her knee caps out from in front of her sending her kneeling to the ground in horrible pain. After leaping to his feet, he intended to swing about his sword to remove her lowly head from the rest of her wretched body, but predicting his move, she sprung backward 4 back flips to evade the attack holding her sword right at fighting pose. She wasn't about to give in to those who stood up against the Father.
"You dirty wrench! How dare you come back here! Haven't you plagued my mind enough?" Aurion shouted as he stood up completely and raised his shield across his chest.
"What's the matter? Still upset bout your little pasty whore? Foolish light walker! Don't you know? One does not question the will of Innoruuk!" Deminia shouted as a mighty spectre rose from the fiery pits of Hate. Within it bony hands it wielded a blood encrusted Scythe that had the power to kill Aurion in one swing.
"You never could fight your own battles could you?" Aurion shouted as he drew the symbol of Tunare around the shape of the spectre while his hands were enveloped in a red static of magic. The spectre howled as is sunk back into the fiery pits from which it came.
Deminia watched emotionlessly as her pet was dismissed. Slowly, anger swept over her emotions as she once again charged at Aurion, lashing at him with her dark blade. Each time their blades met with sparks a-flying. Their strength was equally matched as after time and time again they were each pinned against the wall.
After nearly a half an hour of gruesome battling, Deminia had weakened Aurion enough to where he was easily pinned into the corner. She threw her sword at his neck, pinning the points into the stone leaving his head unable to be freed. He squirmed for only a little while before he gave up hope. It wasn't anything to fight for..
Deminia casually walked over towards Aurion and starred him strait in the eye. She smirked only a little before she once again began to speak.
"Maylia was the easiest kill I've had in years. I killed her quick High Elf..so think of it as a mercy killing. It could've been you..it was supposed to be you. I just figured it'd be a little more fun to kill her and watch you blubber like a baby in the shadows. I'll never learn of these feelings you lighter hearts have. Don't you know hate is power?" She laughed as she pushed one of his fiery locks of hair out of his swollen eyes. Angered, Aurion lifted his sword up with handle facing down. Immediately, he brought the handle down upon Deminias eye and kicked her back against the other cave wall. From up above, it sounded like it was storming, but the other soldiers heard Deminias scream.
Aurion pushed the shield away with all his might as Deminia reached blindly for her dropped sword. As she ran her fingers frantically along the damp tunnel floor, she felt the fiery breathe of Aurions sword against her neck. Immediately, the tunnels swarmed with Elven soldiers; High and Wood alike.along with Laeanla and Tornb. Laeanla readied her spells while the others drew their swords near the Teir'Dal body. Deminia was finally beaten.
With her swollen eye she peered up at Aurion then quickly stretched her neck to make the slicing for him easier. But Aurion instead pulled his sword away and placed his foot upon her chest to assure she would not try to escape. Aurion leaned over to Deminias face and looked deep into her purple eyes. He felt her fear throughout the tunnel.
"Think of it as a mercy save. I will make you learn." He whispered to her as he lifted his boot off her chest. The other guards closed in, waiting to kill her until Aurion motioned them back.
"Auri what do you think you are doing?! Kill her! She's the one who killed Maylia!" Laeanla shouted with her Qeynos accent.
"Nay, I want her to be chained up and put in cell 4DE. She is now officially a prisoner of war and as of tomorrow she will be taken to Felwithe by my side. Do you understand?"
"Auri you're kidding right? Inkie will try to kill you! She no belong in Felwithe." Tornb shouted as Aurion interrupted him.
"By my side! Take her to the cell now! You have my orders!"
"But sir..."
"NOW!"
Amazed, Deminia freely let the guards take her into custody. She did not understand why he let her live. She did not understand why she felt no hate when she knew she hated...what was happening to her? But as Aurion said..she will learn.
Slowly, she emerged from her hiding place and attempted to climb out of the slick, muddy hole. Her hands clasped onto mounds of running dirt that slid when she began to make her ascent. This, however, did not slow her down. Only after a few failed attempts she managed to stand upon stable ground and checked her surrounding area.
After seeing all the Elven guards and defenders tucked away in their bunkers sleeping Deminia couldn't help but begin to softly chuckle. While these pitiful beings dreamt of returning the short distance home to their loved ones she stood posing a grand threat to their livelihood. She knew that she could take on the entire Elven fortress if she wanted to, and she would've. But she had to deliver the goods to the remaining Orc terrorists first.
Deminia walked a good quarter of a mile before she stood directly in front of the old Orc fortress. It's once mighty walls now laid in bloody ruins cascading entirely across the Crushbone terrain. The dark tower that housed the Great Ambassador Divinn and Emperor Crush somehow was the only thing that remained intact amongst all this rubble. On top of the tower was a white flag embroidered with the symbol of the Koada' Dal king upon both sides that flew wildly in the wind. The High-Elves had already staked claim of a land they have not yet totally won. Without hesitation, Deminia dived into the cold, murky water that filled what was left of the dwindling moat and began swimming to the underground tunnel where the remainders of the Orcs were struggling to survive. But it was quite unfortunate for her, for when she made that seemingly safe dive, she woke the man that would seal her fate. ***
Immediately Aurion jolted his head off of his desk and began to look around erratically. The echo of the waves seemed endless in his head as his heart sank to the floor. He didn't know what to quite make of the splash; whether or not it was an ally swimming or a foe seeking entrance to the tunnel. Whatever it was, Aurion had no choice but to seek the perpetrator out for the safety of all Elven kind.
He grabbed his sword and shield as he ran out of his tent and over to the moat of the fallen fortress. By time he had gotten there, all was still and quiet, and hauntingly dark. With the closing of his eyes, Aurion perked up his ears and listened intently for the sounds of wave ripples of any kind so he could find whatever it was he was searching for. His pointy ears picked up the snores from Elven tents hundreds of feet away and the soft hums of flickering flames in the wind. But after perking his ears up higher, he heard the sound of feet swishing deep in the water as clear as a bell. With that, he chased after it.
Wandering around blindly in the dark, he found his way over to the once has been moat that surrounded the crumbling remains of the citadel. The sound of the waves grew silent as his ears picked up a different sound..one of times past.
"Auri, darling, where's my perfume? I can't go anywhere without my Jasmine perfume. The smell of those flowers melts my soul every time." A sweet, feminine voice echoed deep within his aching memory. Her accent was light and crisp from living in Erudin so long with Aurion.
"Maylia, you wear that scent so much it's practically part of your blood. Besides, you smell good without it any ways..." he heard his past voice echo. Aurion's voice too had the light Erudian accent to it, though it faded away back to his elvish one. He let that accent die once he left Erudin..once his wife died.
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, a familiar object dropped down into the deathly still waters of the moat. The sound of the drop lasted for seconds as Aurion slowly moved towards the edge.
Aurion sniffed the air wildly as a strange scent rode its way in upon a soft, chilling breeze. After taking a massive breath, the scent began to warm Aurion's soul. He recognized it.the sweet, flower-like scent that he refused to accept. It was the scent of the Jasmine flower.
Immediately he collapsed to his knees and crawled over the damp, muggy ground to the edge of the moat. Shaking violently, he reached his hand out to the object floating on the water. His horribly pale hands hovered over the silvery object for a matter of time before he thrusted his hands into the water and grasped the object like a wild bear grabbing for an unsuspecting fish. Slowly, he lifted his damp hands out of the cold water and brought them closer to his blind eyes. He once again began to shake violently as a wave of fear swept over him, stealing even his screams away from his mouth. His hand dripped with jasmine scented blood around the silver locket he retrieved from the lonely waters. He too remembered the locket, but was unwilling to accept the thought of it. Violently, he unclasped the locket only to find a portrait of himself upon one side and a portrait of another beautiful High-Elven girl on the other. Blood poured steadily from the portrait of the girl and ran down upon Aurion's armor.
Aurion's eyes grew wide as a mad wave of fear swept over him. He felt his heart wilt as the bleeding picture of Maylia began to change. Her pale skin began to darken to a deep, haunting indigo like that of the ever hated Teir' Dal. The ice-blue of her eyes swelled to a deep purple that pierced into Aurion's mind forcing out an unwanted memory. It was her..she came back.
Angered, Aurion leaped to his feet and into the icy cold waters of the moat beside him. The temperature tore away at him as he pushed through the defending current against the jagged rocks below. He knew not where he was swimming, but fate did. His memories traced back to the day Maylia was murdered before his very eyes. Then, he was there.
He reached a small muddy tunnel that rose slightly upward on an unmarked path. Worn out and weak, he stepped out of the cold, dismal waters and onto the tunnel floor. He stretched his arm over his steel covered back and pulled forth a gallant sword enveloped in a dazzling yellow flame. Aurion could sense the darkness around him.it was so strong, but he saw nothing but a seemingly endless tunnel that extended into unknown depths below the surface. Not letting is physical state stop him, he pressed onward down that lonely tunnel without a single ounce of fear in his heart. Fore he too was lonely. and the sooner he died, the sooner the loneliness went away.
As he went onward, a strange shadow emerged from behind him in the darkness. The being stood motionless as a purple aura began to gleam hauntingly by its side. All it did was stand there and watch Aurion helplessly walk down the tunnel unaware of the danger behind him. Deminia always hated surprises..though, she felt empowered by surprise attacks on her foe.
Slowly in the darkness, she silently raised her bow of rune-carved bone to aim as she slid a steel tipped arrow to its side. The wooden frame of the arrow slid silently across the bone of the bow as Deminia pulled back on the Halfling-hair string. She was more than ready to end yet another pitiful light-walkers life.but something in her changed.something in her wouldn't let her pluck the string to end Aurions life.
Instead, she watched his every movement. For some reason, she was drawn into a trance by the way the light from his sword set off his gorgeous blue eyes. His hair fell in wet dreads of a flaming red across his pale, troubled face. Deminia felt her heart stop for a moment's time then start again in a frantic race to get back to its usual beat. She shook her head lightly, refueling her frozen heart with its ever burning hatred and began to aim her arrow precisely at Aurions head. She tightly closed her left eye and gazed out angrily with her right. But the unexpected happened..Aurion turned around; locking his eyes with hers. His face grew wide in fear as Deminia hesitated only a moment before releasing the string of the bow.
The lethal arrow shot out almost faster than the speed of light in its deadly path towards Aurions heart. But in their minds, the arrow inched along slowly as time around them seemed to have stopped. With a swift motion, Aurion threw his sword over in front of the arrows deadly plight slicing it in two and diverting its path. Deminias purple eyes blazed in fear and anger as he locked them once again with Aurions eyes. He didn't fear her at all..he welcomed her challenge with open arms. Angered, Deminia drew her massive Innoruuk's Cure and charged full force at Aurions worn-out body. Faking him out thinking she was going to lash at him with her sword, Deminia left high into the air and triple kicked Aurion across his jaw sending him falling hopelessly to the ground. Blood flew across the tavern walls from Aurions mouth as each kick landed with perfect precision across his mouth. His face pursed with pain but he tried to ignore it.he had to. As Deminia landed upon her feet Aurion kicked her knee caps out from in front of her sending her kneeling to the ground in horrible pain. After leaping to his feet, he intended to swing about his sword to remove her lowly head from the rest of her wretched body, but predicting his move, she sprung backward 4 back flips to evade the attack holding her sword right at fighting pose. She wasn't about to give in to those who stood up against the Father.
"You dirty wrench! How dare you come back here! Haven't you plagued my mind enough?" Aurion shouted as he stood up completely and raised his shield across his chest.
"What's the matter? Still upset bout your little pasty whore? Foolish light walker! Don't you know? One does not question the will of Innoruuk!" Deminia shouted as a mighty spectre rose from the fiery pits of Hate. Within it bony hands it wielded a blood encrusted Scythe that had the power to kill Aurion in one swing.
"You never could fight your own battles could you?" Aurion shouted as he drew the symbol of Tunare around the shape of the spectre while his hands were enveloped in a red static of magic. The spectre howled as is sunk back into the fiery pits from which it came.
Deminia watched emotionlessly as her pet was dismissed. Slowly, anger swept over her emotions as she once again charged at Aurion, lashing at him with her dark blade. Each time their blades met with sparks a-flying. Their strength was equally matched as after time and time again they were each pinned against the wall.
After nearly a half an hour of gruesome battling, Deminia had weakened Aurion enough to where he was easily pinned into the corner. She threw her sword at his neck, pinning the points into the stone leaving his head unable to be freed. He squirmed for only a little while before he gave up hope. It wasn't anything to fight for..
Deminia casually walked over towards Aurion and starred him strait in the eye. She smirked only a little before she once again began to speak.
"Maylia was the easiest kill I've had in years. I killed her quick High Elf..so think of it as a mercy killing. It could've been you..it was supposed to be you. I just figured it'd be a little more fun to kill her and watch you blubber like a baby in the shadows. I'll never learn of these feelings you lighter hearts have. Don't you know hate is power?" She laughed as she pushed one of his fiery locks of hair out of his swollen eyes. Angered, Aurion lifted his sword up with handle facing down. Immediately, he brought the handle down upon Deminias eye and kicked her back against the other cave wall. From up above, it sounded like it was storming, but the other soldiers heard Deminias scream.
Aurion pushed the shield away with all his might as Deminia reached blindly for her dropped sword. As she ran her fingers frantically along the damp tunnel floor, she felt the fiery breathe of Aurions sword against her neck. Immediately, the tunnels swarmed with Elven soldiers; High and Wood alike.along with Laeanla and Tornb. Laeanla readied her spells while the others drew their swords near the Teir'Dal body. Deminia was finally beaten.
With her swollen eye she peered up at Aurion then quickly stretched her neck to make the slicing for him easier. But Aurion instead pulled his sword away and placed his foot upon her chest to assure she would not try to escape. Aurion leaned over to Deminias face and looked deep into her purple eyes. He felt her fear throughout the tunnel.
"Think of it as a mercy save. I will make you learn." He whispered to her as he lifted his boot off her chest. The other guards closed in, waiting to kill her until Aurion motioned them back.
"Auri what do you think you are doing?! Kill her! She's the one who killed Maylia!" Laeanla shouted with her Qeynos accent.
"Nay, I want her to be chained up and put in cell 4DE. She is now officially a prisoner of war and as of tomorrow she will be taken to Felwithe by my side. Do you understand?"
"Auri you're kidding right? Inkie will try to kill you! She no belong in Felwithe." Tornb shouted as Aurion interrupted him.
"By my side! Take her to the cell now! You have my orders!"
"But sir..."
"NOW!"
Amazed, Deminia freely let the guards take her into custody. She did not understand why he let her live. She did not understand why she felt no hate when she knew she hated...what was happening to her? But as Aurion said..she will learn.