A/N; Ahhh… Chapter time, eh?
Yay. 8D
So, haha, I have a new addition to the music I listen to while I write… Yesterday I bought the album Walk This Way off of iTunes, an album sung 'The White Tie Affair.' They're a very good band. You should check them out. ;D
So, as a summary of the last chapter… well, uh, Faolin decided that he was going to go with Arya, and then the introduction of Glenwing is made… I suggest you read Glenwing and his personality, as I think some of you will find it kind of interesting. xD; Maybe, maybe not.
This is kind of a filler chapter, I guess? Kinda boring. D:
ANYWAY~!
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"…And tell my mother that though she wishes our ties to be severed, I will remember her, even if it is not in the best way possible."
The courier nodded and set off, straight in the direction of the palatial throne hall located in the heart of Ellesméra.
Arya heaved a deep sigh as she leaned back against a tree, glad for the sturdiness of the whole entire plant. Through the different crevices of air in between the large amount of leaves shading the whole area, she glimpsed patches of the sky.
If it was one thing she admired the most, it was the ability to change and to have such a powerful effect on everything—and the sky had that ability. When the sky was a shade of the purest blue interrupted only with the golden rays of the sun, the whole aura radiating from it seemed to be the exact image of a halcyon day. When the sky was gray and storm clouds were gathering, however, a sense of gloom would often drape itself around the area relatively comfortably.
"Are you ready?" a voice asked from behind her, and without looking, Arya knew who it was.
"No," Arya murmured softly, turning around. "But we have to go."
Hand in hand, Faolin and Arya made their way to the edge of Du Weldenvarden. Glenwing, who had seemed to sober up from his last appearance, met them after a matter of minutes. A silent nod was all they needed for greeting, for none of them wanted to speak. In truth, Arya couldn't quite trust herself to speak, for fear of blurting out a renunciation of her wishes to become ambassador of the elves. As for the other two, they simply kept their mouths shut in order to think about their own thoughts.
Upon their calls, three creatures came trotting out of the forest to them. These creatures bore a resemblance to the human horse, and it was no doubt that somehow the two were related. Still, the Elvin horse was more purebred, and the elves prided themselves with that fact. Each and every horse of their creation was of a pure white color; white enough to rival even the color of fresh-fallen snow. They all had a nearly infallible sense of directness and surefootedness, not to mention the fact that they managed to execute all of this technique with a high level of agility and poise.
Ebony hooves struck the ground at an even rhythm, bringing the horses closer and closer until they stopped at word from their riders with a few words thought in the Ancient Language. Even though these horses were common among the elves, Arya still couldn't help but take a sharp intake of breath when the magnificent beasts neared. Staring at her with earnest chocolate brown eyes, her horse seemed to possess a high level of wisdom. Cautiously, Arya reached out and ran her fingers lightly through the silky white strands of mane that fell in waves along the creature's gracefully arched neck.
"They're as glorious as always," she murmured, remaining in her awed state before breaking out of it long enough to attach her saddle bags filled to the brim with supplies to the horse. She hated to burden such a beautiful animal with such a load, but she was forced to, as she certainly was not about to carry all of it on her back.
Faolin and Glenwing did the same with their horses, clipping on the saddlebags securely and firmly. Once that was done, Glenwing mounted, gripping the reins firmly and setting his eyes straight in front of him. Faolin, however, glanced over at Arya. He made a move to Arya as if to offer to give her a leg up, but she declined with a slight wave of her hand.
"If we're going to be living a life of hardship together, you are both my equals, Faolin, and I do not expect you to wait on me hand and foot," she told him before swinging her right leg over her horse's back and landing easily in the saddle. She adjusted her stirrups quickly and then settled right in to the saddle, making sure that she was comfortable. After all, she would most likely be spending many of her days in the saddle.
Faolin seemed to be a little puzzled at this statement, but otherwise went along with it, getting on his own horse.
"Are we ready?" Arya asked cautiously.
"I am," Glenwing said shortly with a little nod. Unceremoniously, he allowed his mount to head off first, though he obviously did not have the slightest clue where they were going. Dismissing this action, Arya proceeded to start her horse in motion, Faolin not far behind.
No words were said between the trio. Glenwing was still listening for the sound of the birds, storing them in his mind, as he all of a sudden realized that he would not be hearing their sweet sound as a primary source for much longer. Humming the melodies quietly to himself, a pleased expression crossed his face when he managed to memorize a large portion of the bird melodies he had heard.
After a while, Arya had taken lead of their group. Taking a deep breath, she sped her mount up, darting in to the desert. She felt the urge to take one last look at Du Weldenvarden, but resisted doing so, though she longed to. Biting her lip, she blinked away the tears that had all of a sudden threatened to spill out in the form of a furious torrent.
A few tears leaked out, and Arya wiped them away hastily before either Faolin or Glenwing could see the sun's light reflecting off of the crystalline substance. If it was one thing she hated, it was allowing others to see her cry. Even though to some it was a sign of showing emotion, which was good, it was a sign of weakness to Arya, and she would not be caught dead crying if she could help it.
Soon, the inhabitance belonging to Brom came in to view. Arya snuck a glance at both of her companions. Glenwing appeared at ease, while Faolin seemed to be anxious and tense. In truth, Arya sided more with Faolin when it came to determining how she felt.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply, trying to ignore the heat that the desert sand seemed to radiate, Arya and her two companions made it closer and closer to Brom's little makeshift hut. When they were around twenty feet away, Arya halted, and Faolin and Glenwing did the same. Dismounting, Arya made sure that her horse understood that he was not supposed to stray from the relative area. Faolin and Glenwing also proceeded to do so and then followed Arya inside.
It was quite obvious by now who the main leader of the group was: Arya. This was neither a spoken nor written pact—it was just something they had agreed on mentally. Arya didn't even notice the position she carried, though Faolin did—and he willingly followed. Glenwing was rather busy doing his own thing, but he did maintain a level of consciousness that told him he was to take orders from Arya, since, after all, this whole entire thing was her idea.
"Brom," Arya greeted the man, touching two of her fingers to her lips as a sign of a salutation. At a look from Arya, both Faolin and Glenwing did the same.
Brom raised his eyebrows at the sign of Arya making silent orders to the two male elves; to him, it was immediately evident who had taken control of the group. Returning the greeting, he turned to Arya and began to start out with business.
"So, Arya Drottingu, we meet again," he said simply, eyeing her with a look of appraisal.
"Indeed," she answered, then stopped there, seeing it fit to let Brom do most of the talking—since he, after all, knew more about the resistance than she did.
"And I am assuming that you are here for the purpose of taking up my offer of a representative of the elves?" Brom questioned. When Arya nodded, his eyes flickered to the two male elves behind her. "And I see that you have brought along yet another friend with you?"
"His name is Glenwing," Arya said, gesturing toward the elf that was currently looking at Brom with an appearance of intense curiosity.
"So clumsy looking… so flimsy… Yet nicely built… Strange, very strange…" Glenwing muttered underneath his breath, continuously staring at Brom as if he had never seen a human before—and, indeed, Glenwing truly had never seen a human until now.
Arya turned to Brom feeling somewhat flustered. "I apologize, Brom, for his words," she sighed, giving a rueful shrug.
Brom chuckled as he looked at Glenwing. "No apologies needed, Arya. I suppose all elves are entitled to their own opinions to humans, as humans have already formed their own thoughts on elves," he answered.
"Are these two elves interested in the form of becoming delegates of your race as well?" Brom continued to ask, motioning to Faolin and Glenwing.
Faolin finally spoke up, clearing his throat. "No, Brom. We are here mainly for the sole purpose of escorting our princess wherever she may go. She is the main representative; we are simply her guard," he remarked. His words surprised Arya, but when she took them in, warmth flooded through her.
Her guard… Faolin had truly left Du Weldenvarden for the purpose of defending her while she chased her dreams. Glenwing, too, but Glenwing had already wished to depart from his home in search for something else. Faolin… she had never asked him if he would miss something back at home, if he would want to remain back there…
Not sure how to word her thoughts, she simply resigned herself to placing a hand on the male elf's arm. Somehow, that conveyed her message well enough, though Arya still wondered if Faolin realized the full extent of her contemplations.
No matter—she would make this all up to him somehow.
Brom seemed satisfied with Faolin's answer. "Very well, then. And now, if I may… There is a task that must be completed before missions may be planned out." With a nod from Arya, Brom went on. "The Varden is currently located in the Beor Mountains. We must travel there, then on to Farthen Dur, the tucked away city where the Varden resides."
Arya waited for Brom to say more, but he didn't. "Is that all?" she asked.
Brom smiled at the female elf's eagerness. "Ah, I wish I could say so for sure, but no. There are other challenges you must face before having the ability to qualify yourself for the role of ambassador… But it will all come in due time, princess. All in due time."