7.1

Eredin's risky, neck breaking, absolutely mad and very lonely ride to the North was not as helpful as he hoped it would be. The mage was still on his mind, haunting his every thought since he met her on the battlefield. He should concentrate on finding Cirilla, on trying to find a solution to the threat the White Frost was bringing. He was still absolutely dedicated to their cause, but the mage added to his fatigue immensely. She seemed to be just like the Frost... An Invaerne, with such a pale skin. Furious, hateful and cold, but at the same time fierce and fiery, when it came to destroying, fighting and willing to kill. The loathing she attacked him in the Old Sea keep with was remarkable. A true Loathen. Just like in his nightly hauntings. He knew her name from Ge'els, but he thought of her as Loathen, for the way she acted.

Eredin knew he should distract himself with something useful and productive for his people while Ciri was hiding again, that is why he rode to Tilath na Viell, to see the progress of the Frost destroying his world. But his visions and that woman were a case of Destiny, there was no denying it in that matter. Like every Aen Elle, he believed in Caerme and its influence on one's life. However, if he could change his or his folk's Destiny, he would go to hell and back to make it happen.
Frosty raindrops smacked his skin again, despite the skeleton mask he wore, but he felt nothing of it. The furiously fast ride didn't bring him the joy and distraction he hoped it would. Instead, he felt guilty for leaving so abruptly and started to miss something he couldn't define or name. He knew that he had to move her to the royal palace once he returned to the Capital. She was his personal matter, something that his Viceroy shouldn't know too much about. There were only two beings able to clear this situation...Himself and the little beannshie.A d'yaebl aep arse...With that thought he noticed his destination rising in the distance. Finally, he reached Tilath na Viell.

Getting up from her soft mattress resembled rising from the dead in the last couple of mornings. She was awake for some time now, but moving from the bed and dressing seemed almost impossible for Hadriana at the moment. It was still very early and she hoped to get a little bit of the fresh, nightly air for her lungs, but she felt tired and weak, so standing or walking seemed to be quite a challenge now. She couldn't eat properly, for she felt a nasty, constant nausea. Her limbs felt weak, she had a terrible headache from too much sleep and yet she was still tired. When will this nightmare end? She was still kept in her nicely furnished prison, the only visitor she had was Fiona, the Viceroy's maid. Because of her dimetrium cuffs and her battle injuries, dealt mostly by the King himself, she felt simply sick. Her spirit was close to a breaking point. Still lying on her bed, she began to cry silently, like she has been doing at least once a day since her arrival in Tir Na Lia. Why did they loathe her so much? What exactly did they want? Hadriana had many enemies and only a few friends. Many wanted her death, some of them because of her mixed origins, some because of her being a sorceress, others because of her political opinions or her gender. Right now, she wasn't sure what the reason for her situation was. She was not only angry, but also scared and insecure. She was scared to answer their questions, because she simply didn't know what was right and what was wrong in this foreign world. She tried to distract herself with different thoughts, not wanting to prevail in her current misery, so she started to concentrate on replaying her dream from the previous night in her mind.

Silently lying in his arms, like many nights before, she tried to fall asleep. It was something that was way easier for her when she was with him. He made every night something special for her, she enjoyed his closeness and the feeling of security and solace she had every time he was in the near. She wanted to keep that forever, but she somehow felt she won't. She turned her head up, to look at his stern, but beautiful face.

-Do you have to leave? Can't it wait ?- She asked him with a sleepy but hopeful voice.

-I do, but it won't take long. It will be exceptionally cold in the North for this time of year. The Frost must be controlled. I will be back very soon, you won't even notice my absence- he promised her. There was a tender touch to his normally cold and calculated tone.

-Promise me you will come back in one piece, as soon as you possibly can. Do it if you really feel something for me - she pleaded.

-I thought you never believed my sincere feelings for you...Is it concern for my well being I can sense in you now? What the hell, love? - He jested. He knew she could never, truly, fully let her guards down in his presence and it pained him, but he concealed it well.

-It doesn't mean I don't care- She replied. She never truly hated him, on the contrary. She was just scared of her own feelings and her lack of trust in him.

-I swear I will come back to you, always, Luned. Dubhenn haern am glandeal morc'h am fhean aiesin. As long as you stay with me- He replied with a sincere warmth in his voice. She has never heard him speak like this before.

Dubhenn haern am glandeal morc'h am fhean aiesin...„My flash will pierce the darkness, my brightness will dissipate the gloom". What does this mean? Why did he tell her this in her dream? She rarely remembered words or detailed images in her dreams, but these words appeared to have an extraordinary meaning. Was this a promise? Did he actually intend to bear the burden of life with her? Was he the one to make everything better? Strange as it was, this thought, felt pleasant to her, she could feel an imaginary weight falling off her shoulders. Whatever her visions meant, this promised something she longed for all her life. She felt it with such intensity that it scared her in some way, but she was determined to find out about the mysterious lover in her head. Hopefully there was her Destiny or a curse involved, not an approaching madness or a mental breakdown.

To prevent such a thing, it was now time to get back to her normal, dissocial, arrogant and cheeky self. It was hard to rise from her bed and get washed and dressed, but she wouldn't be herself if she never tried. With all her strength she got up, fighting a massive, pounding headache and a wave of nausea. She managed to walk to the window and when she tried to open it to get some cool and fresh air, she found it locked. So she was a prisoner after all... She felt sudden anger rising inside her and a barely noticeable flash of energy. Was this it? Her new life? Without even getting to breathe properly? Without thinking much, she grabbed a candelabra standing on her bedside table and used all her pathetic strength to smash the thin glass. Within a second there were sharp shards everywhere and a moderate amount of blood that came from a wide wound in her upper arm, that she just got herself. With a hiss and a curse worthy of a dirty dock worker, she grabbed a linen shirt lying on her bed and tried to stop the bleeding. Within seconds there were two guards and a very concerned looking Fiona in her chamber, appearing like she had some serious trouble with breathing.

- What is the meaning of this?! - She yelled, clearly not used to this kind of situations. Hadriana slowly breathed in and out before she spoke to the furious woman.

- I needed some fresh air. It got incredibly thick inside - She stated simply, managing to smile cheekily.

- And that is why you had to smash a window? Couldn't you just call for me? - Fiona's voice got higher.

- I was incredibly disappointed to find it locked and you were nowhere in the near. You apparently choose to let me rot in here forever... I didn't like it one bit. Now that I have your attention, could you please help me out with dressing? - She said with all the class she could muster. The servant's face grew red, she was seething with anger.

- That she will- Came an amused voice from the door. Hadriana took a look in this direction and saw a very amused looking Ge'els standing in the doorframe – Apparently you have enough energy to damage objects in my home, so I assume you will have enough strength to dine with me downstairs- He added.

Hadriana could only smile sweetly and nod. She looked quite pleased with herself. Still furious looking Fiona started to clean up the mess the mage caused, the guards were sent away by the Viceroy himself. Apparently, he was not as easy to provoke as his servant.

- For your information, His Highness just returned from his journey to Tilath na Viell. He will be joining us tonight, so make sure you look presentable...And behave nicely - He added, not really believing she would be actually polite to her captor. Apparently, he wanted Eredin to taste his own medicine and deal with the abominable woman on his own.

So the bastard was here.... Finally. This was her chance to learn about his motives to keep her in this dreadful, cold city like a prisoner. Maybe he would let her go if he realized that she had no true value for him. But what if he insisted on her being in Tir na Lia? Then she will have to think of something big enough for him to change his mind.

Despite her anger, Fiona chose a stunning set of clothing for the mage. Hadriana put on a deep blue tunic with silvery embroidery, which has a very deep neckline and a light coat made of the same material. Fiona wanted to take care of her hair, but Hadriana strictly refused it and made a simple knot at the case of her long neck, not wanting to look presentable for someone, who she tried to kill and failed. Not caring about her hair or face, she let Fiona lead her to the dining room. She was not in the mood for showing any respect... To anyone.

The Viceroy was already there, but there was no sign of Eredin yet. She wondered how his face really looked like, how he behaved outside his unit, without having his generals around him, without being ready for war. She never saw his face, for he always wore his skull mask in her presence. She could tell his voice was also modulated somehow, making him sound atrocious and demonic. This was probably his exact intention. Was he less intimidating without having his skeletal armor on?

They waited for the King before they started eating, so she busied herself with admiring the large fireplace in the dining room. She had still some trouble with standing and walking, she still felt dizzy and weak, but after her actions in her chambers, she felt more awake. She wanted to stand straight and proud while facing her tormentor.

After a couple of long minutes, Eredin's arrival was announced by an elf guarding the entrance to the dining hall. Hadriana turned around to have a look at him and when she saw the elf, her heart stopped for a while. He has been just as intimidating as when she first saw him, even without wearing an armor. Her fucking captor, tormentor and a potentially mortal enemy was actually fucking beautiful. Long, silky black hair was secured with a silver band just at the base of his strong neck. His emerald, bright eyes were piercing their way into her very soul, his gaze so intense, that she had trouble withstanding it. His pale skin was just as pale as her own, but he lacked glow, he looked tired, yet still stern and masculine. She has never seen a man that tall before, except for his Generals. Aen Elle were apparently much taller that Aen Seidhe. He was impressive... And he was moving just in her direction, getting much too close to her.

-Forgive me my tardiness- he stated, speaking apparently only to her- I had to change in more comfortable attire. I believe an armor will not be needed in your presence right now, or will it? - He mocked her. What is this fuckery?

- I hope it won't be needed- she replied, controlling her nerves as best as she could. He smiled at her, baring his unnaturally even teeth, typical for Elves.

- I am glad to be in the Capital again. It was exceptionally cold in the North for this time of year. The Frost needs to get under control- He said, turning to Ge'ls, whom he ignored as he entered.

It was exceptionally cold in the North for this time of year...The Frost needs to get under control.. These sentences and the sound of his real, unchanged voice instantly sent a cold shiver down her spine. Her knees got soft and her head began to spin. She looked at him again with wide eyes, now shocked to her core. She has heard these exact words, once... Spoken with this exact voice. In her recent dream. This couldn't be true... He was NOT the man she envisioned so many times for months...She never knew of his existence when it all started, bloede pest! This was her last thought before she fell unconsciously to the floor.