Jena, still deeply out of breath, glances around her. She was extremly disoriented, and as she focused in on those around her she finally realized that Faironi was speaking to her.

<font color= "orange"> "I do not know, Faironi." </font> Jena glances at her hands and arms. <font color= "orange"> "It was so....real. My mother...she...." </font> Tears came to her eyes as she recalled her mother's loving warmness, her smell, her hugs and kisses, and her stories.

<font color=silver> Galein's voice drifted within the land of the living, though, he himself, was still asleep. Words he whispered were a strange dialect of elvish that even Fai could not make out, but a couple of words Jena did catch as his speech shifted to common was apparently a plan to raid and slaughter a local officer in a human village responsible for the death of several races - including the deaths of children. The words he whispered tore at her, for, from what he was saying, his plan of attack was merciless. It seemed to have succeeded, and the constable had burned alive within his own home, though Galein had struck him a mortal, crippling blow with a blade of sorts and fled into the night.

It sounded as though the elf was still troubled by it, and his sleep was filled with nightmares. This was but one example of evil he had ridden the land of. Over the next hour, through his mutterings and mumblings, Jena learnt that he had slain no less then two dozen men - and no less then five women, who's each evil outdid the last. Their sins ranged from slaughtering innocents, to slavery, to dispicable sins involving the domination of others in less then honest trades, from assassins to black market merchants to those who sold pleasures of the flesh - something long forbidden in the land, if what Galein had mumbled was true. At least, in the context. Child slavery in particular seemed to anger the elf, whether it be elven or human alike, though, the former he was more infurated at. From the sounds of things, Galein had become close to an assassin himself - seeking out and destroying targets with the aid of none, save advise from his two companions and occasionally, leading organised strikes against fortified human bastilions - be they formally elven or otherwise. It seemed, that the elf had left those rulers who were just alone - despite the fact that they were human...</font>

<font color= "orange"> “She was here….my mother….she…” </font>

Galein’s mumblings brought her suddenly back to reality. Jena was worried, and silently, so as to not wake him, she crept over to where he lay and sat on the ground. She listened, for the longest time, and to her surprise she discovered more about Galein/Aeriah than she ever thought possible. He was in a dream state: existing in a temporary world of his past, present, and future. Jena knew that dreams never lied. His unintentional verbal description of his dreams made her feel as though she was peering into his soul, heart, and mind. Silently she sat beside him, and every now and then her eyes would examine the visible scars and markings on his body: and she would note his facial expressions during his dream, his mouth as he mumbled in elven and common language, and she even glanced at his chest as it rose and lowered during the more intense moments of his dreams. She hugged her knees to her chest and gently placed one hand lightly on his forehead. Oh how she missed Aeriah……how troubled the two of them must be….

<font color=silver> Galein's mutterings about assassinations and strikes finally ceased, and another voice took its place - a voice Jena knew well. It was Aeriah's - and he muttered about... certain events, thoughts and feelings... he spoke of how he felt when he had first encountered Jena, and the lizards, and his concern for the lizard egg. It was Aeriah's tone, but had a darker twist to it - as though, something troubled him. It spoke of falling darkness, and then, nothingness, existing within a body of another... of feeling and knowing thoughts that were never his... of living memories that belonged to another. It's tone was sad and bittersweet - but what was perhaps, most surprising, was the note of concern it held for the other - for Galein - and how beset by doubt the elven heir was, and how, Aeriah felt sorrow for him, but, he could do nothing. After all, he was only a dream. A figment - a reflection of something that was never meant to happen. The voice spoke of another - a lost love - one whom he was unable to tell just how much he loved her, and how much sorrow he felt at their last parting... the mutterings faded, as the voices drifted into darkness.

Finally, a third, darker voice spoke. It belonged to neither Aeriah or Galein, as the elf's features twisted. It taunted him, as his mouth echoed the voice - a voice that was not his own. A voice that told him he would never succeed and it was futile. A dark voice that promised to be his undoing. It laughed at him, and taunted that his spell was futile - that it had only bought him time, and even should he defeat the humans, he would never rule... that it was not over, even should he succeed. It's laughter was dark, and chilled Jena to the bone. When Galein's "Ghost" spoke - Aeriah's voice - the third voice froze, as though, unsure of this latest turn of events, and grew cautious, almost wary, and faded without further comment. After that, Galein's sleep was peaceful, though, his blankets were sweat soaked.</font>

Fairioni listens, a grim look on her face <font color="#cc11aa">"The one problem with dreaming.. all and of you.. "</font>

<font color="#cc11aa">"Fading memories, reconstructing memories, and a dream -- a dream of you in a world without you""</font> Fairioni says, as she kneels next to Galein

<font color="#cc11aa">"Aeriah.. you may be forgotten.. but you are never lost."</font> she says, then shakes Galien gently<font color="#cc11aa">"Wake up.."</font>

Fai's eyes seem to be a bit more purplish than normal, and her staff gives her hair an odd green glow.

[ 02-11-2005, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Saliarasri ]

<font color=silver> Slowly, at Fai's touch, Galein awoke, blinking, and a single word on his lips died as he stared up at the other elf, his eyes, haunted, but disappointed, almost. Something he was about to say faded, and he sank back down into the blankets. <font color=skblue>"How... long?"</font> he asked weakly.

It had been little over a couple of hours, perhaps two and a half; three at most. It seemed clear that Galein wasn't rested at all - and were one to touch his brow, they would find it sweating as though he was burning up - almost as though he had a fever, but his skin was as icy as the grave. His glass-green eyes seemed more glass and obscured then pure green and he seemed slightly dazed. His icy-green hair was more grey then silvery and in all, he seemed drained. His skin was pale to the point of pallid, and he looked almost as though he were a living corpse...</font>

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Edit: OOC my 6000th post. Yay ^^. A dracolisk... *looks at it and makes a face* ugly little thing.

[ 02-11-2005, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

<font color=#cc11aa>"2 and a half hours. And judging from your reaction, I'm not so sure putting you back to sleep is a good idea."</font> Fairioni replies <font color=#cc11aa>"You seem to have a remarkable ability to haunt yourself. If you want to go back to bed, I can stay up for a bit longer, but you're sleep was rather irregular."</font>

<font color=silver> Galein just groaned, not trusting himself to speak again. Closing his eyes, he placed his palm on his forehead and wondered why Fai wasn't being more sympathetic. He reminded himself never to fall sick around her, and should he ever, he would make every attempt to find another to act as a nurse, rather then her. An evil thought entered his mind and he started chuckling, only to break off into a fit of coughing that racked through his almost-gaunt frame. It seemed that this dream had taken more out of him then anyone had first realised. His skeletal structure seemed to have changed slightly, and he'd lost weight. He looked like a living corpse...

He soon stopped coughing, and pondered on his thought some more. <font color=gold>"If I ever have children... Fai can mind them..."</font> A pause. <font color=gold>"On second thought... probably not a good idea..."</font> Then bitterly, he added mentally, <font color=gold>"If I ever have children... if I live long enough..."</font>

Closing his eyes, Galein groped around for a rag or cloth to wipe his brow with, muttering for his waterskin. His lips were cracked and dry, almost near bleeding and his eyes were bloodshot.</font>

Fairioni hands him her waterskin <font color=#cc11aa>"I'm trying to decide what to do. I'm not sure a cure wounds would help.. "</font>

Jena can see Fai trying to motion her to get closer, apparently she's uncomfortable about something, as she wipes off his brow.

Fairioni sighs as she casts Detect Magic on him <font color=#cc11aa>"Let me see what's wrong with you."</font>

<font color=silver> Fai's spell detected nothing specific, only the lingering magicks of another - but of what, she could not say... only, it was alien and reeked so badly of evil, the she-elf wanted to vomit from her very core.</font>