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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1363419" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>Part six of the adventure, typed by myself and drag n fly jointly, can be called:</p><p></p><p><strong>Of Visions, Terror, and Drinking</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Oh great,</em> Shaun thought, <em>what worse news could we have?</em> He hadn’t been told yet, but Elenya had overheard that Lucius had demon blood in him. Shaun was unsure what this meant exactly, but it didn’t sound like anything good.</p><p></p><p>“What disaster befalls us now?” he said quietly, just loud enough that Elenya elbowed him hard in the side. Fortunately, no one else heard, or saw her quick jab.</p><p></p><p>“Our scouts to the south confirm the Countess has indeed moved forces to the north. Nothing more than a large raiding party tempted Kulloden, but a much larger force is slicing north between Kulloden and the mountains... perhaps twenty thousands spears altogether.”</p><p></p><p><em>Twenty thousand?!</em> Shaun, Tess, and Siabrey shared the same thought. <em>The force that we fought at Mephys was what... one... two thousand?</em></p><p></p><p>“So...” Siabrey said after a stunned pause, “there’s 20,000 orcs...”</p><p></p><p>“Orcs... gnolls... hobgoblins.. nothing too unusual as far as we’ve been able to tell, save they’re led by some of my former comrade clerics,” Hidalas interrupted. Siabrey sighed, and then started again.</p><p></p><p>“So there’s 20,000 orcs, gnolls and hobgoblins marching north, under the command of experienced war clerics,” she recited in a worried tone. “We are but eight, nine if we drag Tess’ brother along. Nine against twenty thousand?” she looked around the room, as everyone’s eyes went big.</p><p></p><p>Hidalas held up his hands. “Of course not even Her Majesty would send you, Siabrey, into such odds,” his voice said with only a trace of his former anger left.” On the morrow, we’ll be marshalling 15,000 of the Imperial Guard to march with you... with myself and Dingalas as junior commanders to Lord Lucius...”</p><p></p><p>“So... lemme get this straight,” Shaun said, trying to figure things out in his mind as he sat party on a marble statue in the room. “We’re going to drag 15,000 guys, in armor, out into the desert? I get hot in my <em>leather</em> armor, I’d hate to be wearing scale mail or plate...”</p><p></p><p>“No... no no no...” Hidalas laughed. “Fair rogue, we may be daft at times, but we certainly aren’t that daft,” he said with a smile. “The plan at present is for you to break off from the main army somewhere in the vicinity of Obash to head off to wherever you need to go in the desert. Your wizard friend wasn’t very specific when he informed us of where you need to go,” Hidalas gestured towards Xanadu.</p><p></p><p><em>You bastard!</em> Siabrey felt like shouting, <em>You know Hidalas and Dingalas were here and you didn’t tell us!</em> It would have a been a friendly chide, one she decided to save till later.</p><p></p><p>“The army will stay between you and most of the Countess’ forces, hopefully. Some will undoubtedly slip through our net, but we’ll greatly reduce your problems.”</p><p></p><p>“They’re marching north?” Siabrey asked worriedly. <em>They might be headed for Lucius’ saving weapon!</em> she and Tess thought simultaneously. Hidalas nodded, though he pointed out again, “Our troops are far better trained, and we shall keep most of them from harassing you on the way to your destination.”</p><p></p><p>Shaun’s face remained dour. “I thought you said there was bad news?” He hated to be a party pooper, but he saw everyone else’s faces were relaxing far too early. “There’s got to be another kicker in here somewhere...”</p><p></p><p>Hidalas sighed. “Well, Shaun, there is a ‘kicker,’ if you wish to call it by that term. For the past week or so we’ve had a loyal Tarantor priest on the ground in Holstean, and we used him as the focus for our temple’s <em>scrying</em> spell. This morning, he was discovered... and we have his last message.”</p><p></p><p><em>How gruesome is this going to be?</em> Tess had to mentally ask, seeing how Hidalas’ face curled slightly at mentioning the final two words of his sentence.</p><p></p><p>“In a few minutes probably it will be an hour till midnight, and several priests of Tarantor will arrive with the scrying ball we used to keep track of the priest. We have left his final message on here for you to review... so you know what you might be up against in the future...”</p><p></p><p><em>Oh great,</em> Shaun thought, his mind thinking of all the horrid, dangerous things he’d seen in recent weeks... flaming demons, lion headed creatures, shapeshifters, ice demons, frost salamanders...</p><p></p><p>A few minutes later, and as Hidalas predicted, four priests of Tarantor arrived, carrying on a platter between them something covered in a purple velvet sheet. As the priests entered one of the private chambers of the Pelor Temple. The velvet was removed, revealing a clear, smooth crystal ball, large enough it had to be held in two hands.</p><p></p><p>“Look into the scrying ball, and you will see what we fear,” Hidalas said, as the priests began their divine chants. </p><p></p><p>The ball seemed to lurch larger in size, till it was seemingly the size of Shaun’s chest, and its clearness became opaque... and then black. The blackness suddenly parted, revealing a horrifying figure whose blazing light burned through the darkness.</p><p></p><p>Her eyes were like emeralds shining in the sun, her skin milk white, almost transluscent. About her hung black robes, with blood red runes all over their dark form. In her hand was a long, black staff, a massive diamond at its head. Around her fair featured face finally hung a mantle of flame, burning brilliant crimson. The Countess’ eyes flamed brightly, as if looking directly out of the scrying ball at Lucius.</p><p></p><p>“Foolish mortals,” a voice, a terrifying mix of the tenderness of a mother and the thousands of screams of undead, rumbled through the chamber. “You think you shall deny me what is mine? My son’s soul? Show this fool that acts as their eyes what they shall face should they resist me!”</p><p></p><p>The ball then spun rapidly, and the party seemed to now be looking out a tall window... evidently from one of the highest towers in the palace. Outside, another view greeted their eyes that filled them with horror.</p><p></p><p>Just beyond the city wall, the party could easily see all manners of beasts... orcs, gnolls, hobgoblins and goblins, ranging in colors from blue, to red, to normal, to horned even. Among them hung many of the bright blue spiders the party knew intimately, as well as massive, dark black spiders the party did not recognize, with enormous pincers coming from their fronts. Skeletons marched as if on parade on the battlements, and above the teeming hordes of countless thousands flew a sea of dragonflies, and the same purple, flaming flying demons the party had seen before... </p><p></p><p>It seemed as if all the armies of the Abyss were rising at her beck and call. </p><p></p><p>The view then spun back around, centering on the whitened, thin visage of the countess. “You anger me with your insolence. Return to me my son, and surrender your arms, and you shall join the new power on this earth. Refuse...” her many voices trailed off ominously, and she held out her hand, seemingly towards the viewers. It glowed bright blue, and the party heard, seemingly coming from the ball itself almost, an unearthly, ungodly scream, as if someone’s very soul was being flayed alive and shredded before their very eyes. For several seconds the undying scream echoed in the air, a smile spreading on the Countess’ lips, before the ball went blank.</p><p></p><p>After the horrifying visions that they saw in the scrying ball, the party decided almost unanimously that before heading out with the army to possible death and doom that a little bit of drinking was in order. </p><p></p><p>“Siabrey, I want to go to a tavern... now,” Lucius said rather emptily.</p><p></p><p><em>You saw your mother... and you want to forget,</em> Shaun’s mind thought. He took Lucius by the shoulder, and led him outside to a small establishment. The party, even Xanadu, followed. Lucius ordered four ales, and all the rest had at least one, save Siabrey and Xanadu.</p><p></p><p>Rather quickly Lucius downed his ales, and within seconds, he began feeling the effects. His head started to loll, and quickly everything became funny. </p><p></p><p>“I think,” Lucius slurred, “Xanadu needs a drink... and so does Siabrey, my love!” He almost slid out of his seat, and a stone sober Siabrey caught him.</p><p></p><p><em>No ale for me... I’m worried about you Lucius,</em> Siabrey thought, her face reflecting concern as the boy continued to down more ales...</p><p></p><p>“Um... I have a stein of dwarven ale left,” Shaun said quietly... and then looked at Xanadu. “You should honor your Lord’s request, and drink,” he said with a grin. Xanadu scowled at Shaun, before reaching over, and downing the gigantic stein in one swill.</p><p></p><p>“That was a fine stein... be a good fellow and refill it, Shaun,” Xanadu smiled thinly, as Shaun gaped in shock.</p><p></p><p>Siabrey meanwhile felt even fainter... it was Lucius’ first time drinking and she could tell. As she sat with her arms crossed, watching Shaun pull out his last stein of dwarven ale and Xanadu swill the strong liquor, she couldn’t help but focus her eyes on her love.</p><p></p><p><em>Lucius hardly reacted when seeing his mother through that scrying ball, even though she killed a man practically in front of his eyes. Has he really completely buried all his feelings for her?</em> Her eyes narrowed as Shaun slapped the young man on the back as Lucius choked down another mouthful of the foul-tasting substance. <em>Somehow, I doubt it.</em></p><p></p><p><em>He’s probably just blocking the pain, Siabrey. You would be too if you found out your mother had gone bad.</em></p><p></p><p><em>Still,</em> the other side of her mind argued as Lucius stumbled over to her and gave her a giggling kiss on the cheek. <em>part of her showing us that was to get to him. I can only hope that she hasn’t…</em> </p><p></p><p>Relenting to Lucius’ attempts to drag her out onto the small open space jokingly referred to as a ‘dance floor’ as Tess and Shaun started up a musical duet, she nevertheless held a part of herself back from the festivities. There were going to be many tests in the days ahead, and she wanted to keep her mind and body sharp.</p><p></p><p><em>My dear Lucius,</em> she thought as her whirled her around, loopily and somewhat dangerously at times, <em>please be safe.</em></p><p></p><p>After many hours of drunken galavanting that even Xanadu reluctantly joined in when Shaun trotted up to him holding out the stein, Siabrey grew a little tired of having to catch Lucius as he lost his balance and fell every three steps, and finally convinced him to go to bed with the comment that “Horseback riding with a hangover is not much fun, honey. Trust me.”</p><p></p><p>As Siabrey led Lucius back towards the Temple nearby, Shaun looked after them and sighed. . As he watched Eleyna dancing to Tess’s music, he made a decision.</p><p></p><p>“Eleyna, can I talk to you for a minute.” She turned to him, her face flushed, hair all disheveled, and looking even more beautiful for it if that were possible.</p><p> </p><p>She giggled and reached out for his hands. “What is it Shauny? Do you want to dance with me some more?” He shook his head and pulled his head out of her grasp. </p><p></p><p>“No, please. Can we go back to our room for a minute?” Eleyna saw how serious he was and stopped her antics. “Alright.” She turned to Tess. “Will you play that for me another time, Tess?”</p><p></p><p>“Of course my dear.” The bard answered, and was about to add a comment about sunburns when she saw the look on Shaun’s face. For the first time in a long while, he looked deadly serious.</p><p></p><p><em>Uh oh…</em> she thought, as they walked down the hallway toward their room. <em>What does he have planned…</em></p><p></p><p>Upon reaching the small room that they shared together, Shaun closed the door behind him and drew a shaky breath.</p><p></p><p>“I feel like tomorrow is going to be the first time in my life that I’m not going to have a swagger.” He murmured half to himself.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, and why is that dear?” Elenya, astute as ever, swirled up to him with dancing eyes. “Do you want another sunburn?”</p><p></p><p>Shaun reached out and grabbed his love’s shoulders gently and stared into her eyes. <em>Sweet Heironeaus, I’m scared. I’m scared that this wonderful women will become hurt, or worse, because of me…</em>. “Go back to your father’s, Elenya.” He said firmly, giving her a slight shake. “Go back to your father’s and wait there.”</p><p></p><p>“Wh….what?” Elenya was shocked, and her happy smiled faded to one of hurt alarm. “Do…do you not want me with you anymore?”</p><p></p><p>Shaun shook his head vehemently. “No, it’s not that! Elenya…please, go back to stay with your dad. Or stay here, in the Temple! I’m sure they’d love to have you, and you could keep learning about magic…” Unfallen tears glistened in Elenya’s eyes, and her next words almost broke his heart.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t you love me anymore…” her barely audible whisper clung to the corners of the room.</p><p></p><p>Shaun gave a broken sob and pulled the woman he had come to love into his arms. “No, Elenya. I love you more than you can imagine.” Her body shook with relieved sobs as her lifted lips sought out his, but he held back.</p><p></p><p>“It’s just…I don’t know if I’ll survive this battle to come…I don’t know if you’ll survive…”</p><p></p><p>“We’ll survive together.” Elenya’s firm assurance surprised him. <em>She has so much spirit, I can’t believe how amazing this woman is…</em></p><p></p><p>“Shaun,” Elenya’s voice was soothing yet firm. “I let you go once when you went to work with that Ilia woman, and you almost died. I left everything I had in Kulloden, for you…because I love you, Shaun.” Her voice quavered and she bit her lip. “I can’t stand the thought of anything bad happening to you, and me not being there. Don’t you see, I <em>need</em> to be with you. Just like Siabrey needs to be with Lucius.”</p><p></p><p>Shaun held her in his arms, gazing down at her beautiful face, and sighed. <em>She would probably follow me anyway if I left without her..</em> his mind resigned.</p><p></p><p>Acting on impulse, Shaun dropped to one knee.</p><p></p><p>“If you will go with me then, and be by my side.” He reached up to unhook his gold coin necklace, his most prized position. “I want you to wear this.”</p><p></p><p>Elenya took the proffered gift gently, gazing at the images engraved into the surfaces of the coins as their reflective surface threw light-sparkles up onto her face.</p><p></p><p><em>It is the symbol of my giving up my own thieving life…for you…</em> Shaun thought silently. Elenya seemed to understand his unspoken explanation of what the token meant, for she smiled in that way he had come to love, and placed the necklace gently around her own much slimmer neck. Reaching down, she pulled Shaun to his feet and planted the biggest kiss he had yet to receive on his face. </p><p></p><p>After several minutes they pulled apart, flushed and breathless, while Shaun was mentally chastising the God of Pelor for being so picky about the antics that went on in his temple.</p><p></p><p><em>Sheesh, if I was a God, I’d like it if people did stuff like this in front of me, It’d be like my own private peep show…</em></p><p></p><p>Once again, Elenya demonstrated her ability to read his mind as she punched him playfully on the shoulder. “It’s too late anyway, let’s just cuddle. Tonight’s the last time we’ll be spending in a bed for a while, so let’s enjoy it.”</p><p></p><p>As they snuggled under the warm blankets, Shaun again felt like the most blessed man in the world.</p><p></p><p><em>I will always love you, Elenya. I promise…</em></p><p></p><p>The morning air was blended with nervousness and excitement, as about an hour before dawn, the party rose and began preparing for the long journey to come. Travel rations were purchases, water skins, refilled, and their horses groomed and loaded up with supplies. </p><p></p><p>Siabrey sat for an hour on the steps of the temple, polishing her katana and watching for the colums of troops that she knew would be ariving soon. Xanadu came out to visit her close to the end of the hour, fastening his cloak securely.</p><p></p><p>“No sign yet.” The warrier voiced, standing and stretching till the vertebrate in her back popped. Lucius had been tossing and turning all night, and she had gotten very little restful sleep.</p><p></p><p>“They’ll be here soon.” The wizard also stretched. “There’s just something about the air on the day of a march that’s invigorating, isn’t there.”</p><p></p><p>Siabrey nodded. <em>Although I’ve never marched with a company this large though…</em></p><p></p><p>Their silent thoughts were split as a loud trumpeting came from up the road, and the steady beat of thousands of feet and hooves hitting the dirt made their way through the dappled morning air.</p><p></p><p>“Right on time.” Xanadu smiled. </p><p></p><p>“I’ll go get the others.” Siabrey sheathed her blade and trotted swiftly into the Temple. Grumki had arrived earlier and was busying talking to Lucius about his own first experience getting drunk</p><p></p><p>“I had downed about 15 steins before I felt anything,” The big half-orc was laughing, “But I tell you something, I felt it all that night, and the next morning, and the next night. Sick as a dog I was! I can only begin to describe the things that my stomach decided to get rid of...”</p><p></p><p>Lucius was looking rather green at this point, and smiled gratefully at Siabrey as she rescued him from Grumki’s much too detailed description of “I didn’t remember eating those turnips, but boy did they smell bad…”</p><p></p><p>“Come on, everyone. The troops will be here soon, so let’s mount up!”</p><p></p><p>As the massive war party was still several minutes away, the party had plenty of time to securely seat themselves in their saddles and arranged themselves prettily in front of the Temple. </p><p></p><p><em>Lucius looks magnificent</em> Siabrey’s mind cooed. She had spent part of the night polishing her love’s armor, as she doubted he would be well enough in the morning to do so. The elbow grease had been worth it, as the as massive eagle-patterned armor possitively glowed under the sunlight.</p><p></p><p>Tess, for her part, had noticed Shaun’s necklace dangling from Elenya’s neck, but didn’t say anything. It seemed that the two wildest members of her party were settling down.</p><p></p><p><em>And I’ll continue being the old maid.</em> she signed resignedly.</p><p></p><p>They had barely waited five minutes when around the corner of the street, the first lines of the column came into view. It was even longer until the entire mass of troops stood arranged in front of them.</p><p></p><p>Lucius’s stomach gave a heave as he looked over what were his troops, before Xanadu leaned over and whispered in the boys ear. “Perhaps Your Lordship should make use of his bards to inspire the troops? I am sure some are just as nervous as you are.” And the wizard smiled and winked softly.</p><p></p><p>Lucius grinned back and spurred his horse over to where Tess and Shaun sat upon their steeds, also gazing in admiration over the column.</p><p></p><p>“Say, would my two favorite music-makers mind singing up a ballad to help us get underway?”</p><p></p><p>Both immediately agreed, and after a short conference, raised their voices into the morning air in a traditional battlemarch tune. Even Xanadu found himself drumming his fingers on the saddle’s pommel as the troops raised their own voices. Grumki’s voice echoed over everyone else’s in an offbeat version of the marching song, but everyone only smiled and clapped the half-orc on the back, immediately wishing they hadn’t when he returned the favor.</p><p></p><p>As they rode out of the city that morning, Siabrey glanced back at the city where so much had happened over the past week, and with a feeling of dread, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the walls would still be standing when and if they finally returned.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1363419, member: 15043"] Part six of the adventure, typed by myself and drag n fly jointly, can be called: [b]Of Visions, Terror, and Drinking[/b] [i]Oh great,[/i] Shaun thought, [i]what worse news could we have?[/i] He hadn’t been told yet, but Elenya had overheard that Lucius had demon blood in him. Shaun was unsure what this meant exactly, but it didn’t sound like anything good. “What disaster befalls us now?” he said quietly, just loud enough that Elenya elbowed him hard in the side. Fortunately, no one else heard, or saw her quick jab. “Our scouts to the south confirm the Countess has indeed moved forces to the north. Nothing more than a large raiding party tempted Kulloden, but a much larger force is slicing north between Kulloden and the mountains... perhaps twenty thousands spears altogether.” [i]Twenty thousand?![/i] Shaun, Tess, and Siabrey shared the same thought. [i]The force that we fought at Mephys was what... one... two thousand?[/i] “So...” Siabrey said after a stunned pause, “there’s 20,000 orcs...” “Orcs... gnolls... hobgoblins.. nothing too unusual as far as we’ve been able to tell, save they’re led by some of my former comrade clerics,” Hidalas interrupted. Siabrey sighed, and then started again. “So there’s 20,000 orcs, gnolls and hobgoblins marching north, under the command of experienced war clerics,” she recited in a worried tone. “We are but eight, nine if we drag Tess’ brother along. Nine against twenty thousand?” she looked around the room, as everyone’s eyes went big. Hidalas held up his hands. “Of course not even Her Majesty would send you, Siabrey, into such odds,” his voice said with only a trace of his former anger left.” On the morrow, we’ll be marshalling 15,000 of the Imperial Guard to march with you... with myself and Dingalas as junior commanders to Lord Lucius...” “So... lemme get this straight,” Shaun said, trying to figure things out in his mind as he sat party on a marble statue in the room. “We’re going to drag 15,000 guys, in armor, out into the desert? I get hot in my [i]leather[/i] armor, I’d hate to be wearing scale mail or plate...” “No... no no no...” Hidalas laughed. “Fair rogue, we may be daft at times, but we certainly aren’t that daft,” he said with a smile. “The plan at present is for you to break off from the main army somewhere in the vicinity of Obash to head off to wherever you need to go in the desert. Your wizard friend wasn’t very specific when he informed us of where you need to go,” Hidalas gestured towards Xanadu. [i]You bastard![/i] Siabrey felt like shouting, [i]You know Hidalas and Dingalas were here and you didn’t tell us![/i] It would have a been a friendly chide, one she decided to save till later. “The army will stay between you and most of the Countess’ forces, hopefully. Some will undoubtedly slip through our net, but we’ll greatly reduce your problems.” “They’re marching north?” Siabrey asked worriedly. [i]They might be headed for Lucius’ saving weapon![/i] she and Tess thought simultaneously. Hidalas nodded, though he pointed out again, “Our troops are far better trained, and we shall keep most of them from harassing you on the way to your destination.” Shaun’s face remained dour. “I thought you said there was bad news?” He hated to be a party pooper, but he saw everyone else’s faces were relaxing far too early. “There’s got to be another kicker in here somewhere...” Hidalas sighed. “Well, Shaun, there is a ‘kicker,’ if you wish to call it by that term. For the past week or so we’ve had a loyal Tarantor priest on the ground in Holstean, and we used him as the focus for our temple’s [i]scrying[/i] spell. This morning, he was discovered... and we have his last message.” [i]How gruesome is this going to be?[/i] Tess had to mentally ask, seeing how Hidalas’ face curled slightly at mentioning the final two words of his sentence. “In a few minutes probably it will be an hour till midnight, and several priests of Tarantor will arrive with the scrying ball we used to keep track of the priest. We have left his final message on here for you to review... so you know what you might be up against in the future...” [i]Oh great,[/i] Shaun thought, his mind thinking of all the horrid, dangerous things he’d seen in recent weeks... flaming demons, lion headed creatures, shapeshifters, ice demons, frost salamanders... A few minutes later, and as Hidalas predicted, four priests of Tarantor arrived, carrying on a platter between them something covered in a purple velvet sheet. As the priests entered one of the private chambers of the Pelor Temple. The velvet was removed, revealing a clear, smooth crystal ball, large enough it had to be held in two hands. “Look into the scrying ball, and you will see what we fear,” Hidalas said, as the priests began their divine chants. The ball seemed to lurch larger in size, till it was seemingly the size of Shaun’s chest, and its clearness became opaque... and then black. The blackness suddenly parted, revealing a horrifying figure whose blazing light burned through the darkness. Her eyes were like emeralds shining in the sun, her skin milk white, almost transluscent. About her hung black robes, with blood red runes all over their dark form. In her hand was a long, black staff, a massive diamond at its head. Around her fair featured face finally hung a mantle of flame, burning brilliant crimson. The Countess’ eyes flamed brightly, as if looking directly out of the scrying ball at Lucius. “Foolish mortals,” a voice, a terrifying mix of the tenderness of a mother and the thousands of screams of undead, rumbled through the chamber. “You think you shall deny me what is mine? My son’s soul? Show this fool that acts as their eyes what they shall face should they resist me!” The ball then spun rapidly, and the party seemed to now be looking out a tall window... evidently from one of the highest towers in the palace. Outside, another view greeted their eyes that filled them with horror. Just beyond the city wall, the party could easily see all manners of beasts... orcs, gnolls, hobgoblins and goblins, ranging in colors from blue, to red, to normal, to horned even. Among them hung many of the bright blue spiders the party knew intimately, as well as massive, dark black spiders the party did not recognize, with enormous pincers coming from their fronts. Skeletons marched as if on parade on the battlements, and above the teeming hordes of countless thousands flew a sea of dragonflies, and the same purple, flaming flying demons the party had seen before... It seemed as if all the armies of the Abyss were rising at her beck and call. The view then spun back around, centering on the whitened, thin visage of the countess. “You anger me with your insolence. Return to me my son, and surrender your arms, and you shall join the new power on this earth. Refuse...” her many voices trailed off ominously, and she held out her hand, seemingly towards the viewers. It glowed bright blue, and the party heard, seemingly coming from the ball itself almost, an unearthly, ungodly scream, as if someone’s very soul was being flayed alive and shredded before their very eyes. For several seconds the undying scream echoed in the air, a smile spreading on the Countess’ lips, before the ball went blank. After the horrifying visions that they saw in the scrying ball, the party decided almost unanimously that before heading out with the army to possible death and doom that a little bit of drinking was in order. “Siabrey, I want to go to a tavern... now,” Lucius said rather emptily. [i]You saw your mother... and you want to forget,[/i] Shaun’s mind thought. He took Lucius by the shoulder, and led him outside to a small establishment. The party, even Xanadu, followed. Lucius ordered four ales, and all the rest had at least one, save Siabrey and Xanadu. Rather quickly Lucius downed his ales, and within seconds, he began feeling the effects. His head started to loll, and quickly everything became funny. “I think,” Lucius slurred, “Xanadu needs a drink... and so does Siabrey, my love!” He almost slid out of his seat, and a stone sober Siabrey caught him. [i]No ale for me... I’m worried about you Lucius,[/i] Siabrey thought, her face reflecting concern as the boy continued to down more ales... “Um... I have a stein of dwarven ale left,” Shaun said quietly... and then looked at Xanadu. “You should honor your Lord’s request, and drink,” he said with a grin. Xanadu scowled at Shaun, before reaching over, and downing the gigantic stein in one swill. “That was a fine stein... be a good fellow and refill it, Shaun,” Xanadu smiled thinly, as Shaun gaped in shock. Siabrey meanwhile felt even fainter... it was Lucius’ first time drinking and she could tell. As she sat with her arms crossed, watching Shaun pull out his last stein of dwarven ale and Xanadu swill the strong liquor, she couldn’t help but focus her eyes on her love. [i]Lucius hardly reacted when seeing his mother through that scrying ball, even though she killed a man practically in front of his eyes. Has he really completely buried all his feelings for her?[/i] Her eyes narrowed as Shaun slapped the young man on the back as Lucius choked down another mouthful of the foul-tasting substance. [i]Somehow, I doubt it.[/i] [i]He’s probably just blocking the pain, Siabrey. You would be too if you found out your mother had gone bad.[/i] [i]Still,[/i] the other side of her mind argued as Lucius stumbled over to her and gave her a giggling kiss on the cheek. [i]part of her showing us that was to get to him. I can only hope that she hasn’t…[/i] Relenting to Lucius’ attempts to drag her out onto the small open space jokingly referred to as a ‘dance floor’ as Tess and Shaun started up a musical duet, she nevertheless held a part of herself back from the festivities. There were going to be many tests in the days ahead, and she wanted to keep her mind and body sharp. [i]My dear Lucius,[/i] she thought as her whirled her around, loopily and somewhat dangerously at times, [i]please be safe.[/i] After many hours of drunken galavanting that even Xanadu reluctantly joined in when Shaun trotted up to him holding out the stein, Siabrey grew a little tired of having to catch Lucius as he lost his balance and fell every three steps, and finally convinced him to go to bed with the comment that “Horseback riding with a hangover is not much fun, honey. Trust me.” As Siabrey led Lucius back towards the Temple nearby, Shaun looked after them and sighed. . As he watched Eleyna dancing to Tess’s music, he made a decision. “Eleyna, can I talk to you for a minute.” She turned to him, her face flushed, hair all disheveled, and looking even more beautiful for it if that were possible. She giggled and reached out for his hands. “What is it Shauny? Do you want to dance with me some more?” He shook his head and pulled his head out of her grasp. “No, please. Can we go back to our room for a minute?” Eleyna saw how serious he was and stopped her antics. “Alright.” She turned to Tess. “Will you play that for me another time, Tess?” “Of course my dear.” The bard answered, and was about to add a comment about sunburns when she saw the look on Shaun’s face. For the first time in a long while, he looked deadly serious. [I]Uh oh…[/I] she thought, as they walked down the hallway toward their room. [I]What does he have planned…[/I] Upon reaching the small room that they shared together, Shaun closed the door behind him and drew a shaky breath. “I feel like tomorrow is going to be the first time in my life that I’m not going to have a swagger.” He murmured half to himself. “Oh, and why is that dear?” Elenya, astute as ever, swirled up to him with dancing eyes. “Do you want another sunburn?” Shaun reached out and grabbed his love’s shoulders gently and stared into her eyes. [I]Sweet Heironeaus, I’m scared. I’m scared that this wonderful women will become hurt, or worse, because of me…[/I]. “Go back to your father’s, Elenya.” He said firmly, giving her a slight shake. “Go back to your father’s and wait there.” “Wh….what?” Elenya was shocked, and her happy smiled faded to one of hurt alarm. “Do…do you not want me with you anymore?” Shaun shook his head vehemently. “No, it’s not that! Elenya…please, go back to stay with your dad. Or stay here, in the Temple! I’m sure they’d love to have you, and you could keep learning about magic…” Unfallen tears glistened in Elenya’s eyes, and her next words almost broke his heart. “Don’t you love me anymore…” her barely audible whisper clung to the corners of the room. Shaun gave a broken sob and pulled the woman he had come to love into his arms. “No, Elenya. I love you more than you can imagine.” Her body shook with relieved sobs as her lifted lips sought out his, but he held back. “It’s just…I don’t know if I’ll survive this battle to come…I don’t know if you’ll survive…” “We’ll survive together.” Elenya’s firm assurance surprised him. [I]She has so much spirit, I can’t believe how amazing this woman is…[/I] “Shaun,” Elenya’s voice was soothing yet firm. “I let you go once when you went to work with that Ilia woman, and you almost died. I left everything I had in Kulloden, for you…because I love you, Shaun.” Her voice quavered and she bit her lip. “I can’t stand the thought of anything bad happening to you, and me not being there. Don’t you see, I [I]need[/I] to be with you. Just like Siabrey needs to be with Lucius.” Shaun held her in his arms, gazing down at her beautiful face, and sighed. [I]She would probably follow me anyway if I left without her..[/I] his mind resigned. Acting on impulse, Shaun dropped to one knee. “If you will go with me then, and be by my side.” He reached up to unhook his gold coin necklace, his most prized position. “I want you to wear this.” Elenya took the proffered gift gently, gazing at the images engraved into the surfaces of the coins as their reflective surface threw light-sparkles up onto her face. [I]It is the symbol of my giving up my own thieving life…for you…[/I] Shaun thought silently. Elenya seemed to understand his unspoken explanation of what the token meant, for she smiled in that way he had come to love, and placed the necklace gently around her own much slimmer neck. Reaching down, she pulled Shaun to his feet and planted the biggest kiss he had yet to receive on his face. After several minutes they pulled apart, flushed and breathless, while Shaun was mentally chastising the God of Pelor for being so picky about the antics that went on in his temple. [I]Sheesh, if I was a God, I’d like it if people did stuff like this in front of me, It’d be like my own private peep show…[/I] Once again, Elenya demonstrated her ability to read his mind as she punched him playfully on the shoulder. “It’s too late anyway, let’s just cuddle. Tonight’s the last time we’ll be spending in a bed for a while, so let’s enjoy it.” As they snuggled under the warm blankets, Shaun again felt like the most blessed man in the world. [I]I will always love you, Elenya. I promise…[/I] The morning air was blended with nervousness and excitement, as about an hour before dawn, the party rose and began preparing for the long journey to come. Travel rations were purchases, water skins, refilled, and their horses groomed and loaded up with supplies. Siabrey sat for an hour on the steps of the temple, polishing her katana and watching for the colums of troops that she knew would be ariving soon. Xanadu came out to visit her close to the end of the hour, fastening his cloak securely. “No sign yet.” The warrier voiced, standing and stretching till the vertebrate in her back popped. Lucius had been tossing and turning all night, and she had gotten very little restful sleep. “They’ll be here soon.” The wizard also stretched. “There’s just something about the air on the day of a march that’s invigorating, isn’t there.” Siabrey nodded. [I]Although I’ve never marched with a company this large though…[/I] Their silent thoughts were split as a loud trumpeting came from up the road, and the steady beat of thousands of feet and hooves hitting the dirt made their way through the dappled morning air. “Right on time.” Xanadu smiled. “I’ll go get the others.” Siabrey sheathed her blade and trotted swiftly into the Temple. Grumki had arrived earlier and was busying talking to Lucius about his own first experience getting drunk “I had downed about 15 steins before I felt anything,” The big half-orc was laughing, “But I tell you something, I felt it all that night, and the next morning, and the next night. Sick as a dog I was! I can only begin to describe the things that my stomach decided to get rid of...” Lucius was looking rather green at this point, and smiled gratefully at Siabrey as she rescued him from Grumki’s much too detailed description of “I didn’t remember eating those turnips, but boy did they smell bad…” “Come on, everyone. The troops will be here soon, so let’s mount up!” As the massive war party was still several minutes away, the party had plenty of time to securely seat themselves in their saddles and arranged themselves prettily in front of the Temple. [I]Lucius looks magnificent[/I] Siabrey’s mind cooed. She had spent part of the night polishing her love’s armor, as she doubted he would be well enough in the morning to do so. The elbow grease had been worth it, as the as massive eagle-patterned armor possitively glowed under the sunlight. Tess, for her part, had noticed Shaun’s necklace dangling from Elenya’s neck, but didn’t say anything. It seemed that the two wildest members of her party were settling down. [I]And I’ll continue being the old maid.[/I] she signed resignedly. They had barely waited five minutes when around the corner of the street, the first lines of the column came into view. It was even longer until the entire mass of troops stood arranged in front of them. Lucius’s stomach gave a heave as he looked over what were his troops, before Xanadu leaned over and whispered in the boys ear. “Perhaps Your Lordship should make use of his bards to inspire the troops? I am sure some are just as nervous as you are.” And the wizard smiled and winked softly. Lucius grinned back and spurred his horse over to where Tess and Shaun sat upon their steeds, also gazing in admiration over the column. “Say, would my two favorite music-makers mind singing up a ballad to help us get underway?” Both immediately agreed, and after a short conference, raised their voices into the morning air in a traditional battlemarch tune. Even Xanadu found himself drumming his fingers on the saddle’s pommel as the troops raised their own voices. Grumki’s voice echoed over everyone else’s in an offbeat version of the marching song, but everyone only smiled and clapped the half-orc on the back, immediately wishing they hadn’t when he returned the favor. As they rode out of the city that morning, Siabrey glanced back at the city where so much had happened over the past week, and with a feeling of dread, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the walls would still be standing when and if they finally returned. [/QUOTE]
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