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Salinye · 08-01-2006, 05:42 AM

Two Years Later:

Shyani sat upon a rock on a hill that over looked the distant town of Serubia. The leaves of the trees were just starting to bloom, and the nights were finally turning warm again. Her heart ached just to see the forest she used to retreat to for solace. It had been two year since she had been there. Two years since Lendarion had stolen her away with his cursed magic. She wondered if he had reason to return here, or if this was just a random stop on their journey. Either way it didn’t matter she wouldn’t get to stay. She had long since let go of illusions of a knight in shining armor coming to save her from the curse she was under.

She remembered a time when she had a small sliver of hope. It came in the form of a kindly ranger named Himlin. They encountered him while traveling through a set of hills that were well known as a haven for bandits and thieves of all sorts. Being the friendly sort and not lacking in intuitive perceptive, he asked if he could travel at their side. He mentioned something about “safety in numbers”. She of course was forbidden in anyway to reveal the powers that Lendarion held over her. Most just took in her filthy attire and submissive countenance and assumed her his slave or concubine-An assumption that made her ill.

You would think that Shyani would welcome any additional company, instead however, it was something she had come to dread. Lendarion loved nothing more than to torment her in front of others. His greatest joy came when any of them would muster the courage to try to defend her. Oh the look of shock and disgust when she would defend the very man they sought to protect her against. Little did they know she had no choice. If she allowed the men to resort to physical violence, she would be forced to defend Lendarion in order to defend herself. She could never get used to the disgust in their faces as she stood at Lendarion’s side and chased them away.

This ranger, however, he was different. He had a keen sense of his surroundings, and knew that something was amiss almost immediately. He wouldn’t react to the dark man’s taunting, even though he was visibly disturbed by it. Late that first night he came to her as she was scrubbing up some pots they had used over the fire to cook dinner. “If you can just put up with him until we reach Canton, I’ll help you. I have very good connections. I can offer you great protection. I know you must be scared or you would have tried to escape by now.” He placed a hand upon her arm. “Please, let me help you.”

Oh how she had wanted to run away with that ranger. Her heart cried out to him wanting to explain but when she tried to open her mouth, to beg for help and to let him know that he had just offered her the impossibilities of her hearts greatest desires, that all too familiar paralysis overcame her, and all she could do was turn her back on him, return to her tent and weep. Himlin knew. He knew she was captive, and he foolishly tried to save her.

She spent the next day giving the ranger the cold shoulder. She even went as far as to speak rudely to him and ignore his kind questions and requests of her. It became clear to him that for a reason unknown to him, she would not allow him to help her when they reached the human city. Lendarion felt the tension growing between the two and intentionally heated the situation by grabbing her harshly for making a snide remark to him beneath her breath. Himlin could stand it no longer and struck the dark lord over the back of his head with the flat of his sword. If only the ranger had been more cold-blooded and used his blade properly. That moment of mercy would cost him his life. Lendarion staggered, as the blow was not a weak one, however, it was she who screamed in agony and dropped to the earth bleeding from the back of her head. The ranger was so stunned and taken off guard by this that he didn’t even see the murderous blow coming. When she awoke, his dead body lay at her side. She vowed never again to reveal the curse that was upon her to anyone-no matter the cost.

Shyani, having long since forgotten the touch of a tender hand was slowly losing her will for life. It was only moments like these amongst the trees and the animals that helped her keep a grip on her emotions and sanity. Looking over her shoulder she saw the dark lord sitting by the fire. She was not permitted to leave shouting range from him, but had discovered if she turned her back on him and sank into a meditative state, she could find small moments of solitude when she could almost forget…almost. Pulling her knees to her chest, she leaned her chin down upon them and stared at the horizon through the trees and offered silent pleas for deliverance to her goddess. At least he can’t take away my prayers.

Being an elven ranger, she was naturally more attuned to nature than others around her often were. Feeling the hairs stand up on the back of her neck she lifted her chin off of her knees and really began to study the horizon. The breeze was still gentle, but now that she was paying attention, she could feel the slight electrical energy that seemed to flow with it. Speaking in a soft voice and without turning to look at her captor, she spoke a slight warning to him. “Lendarion, it might be a good idea to seek shelter sometime soon. I believe a rather strange storm is brewing.”

“I don’t believe I addressed you or your thoughts. Now grab your things, our resting is over, we have things to do.” You’d think he would have learned to trust her instincts by now.

Shaking her head in quiet anger, she gathered her things and obeyed. Why would he care? If we get stuck in a downpour, it won’t be him getting soaked to the bone while trying to get some sort of a lean-to created. As always she followed along never voicing her thoughts and all the while aware of the clouds nearing them from the East.

**Editing to remove sig**

[ 08-01-2006, 05:46 AM: Message edited by: Salinye ]

08-01-2006, 05:42 AM	#3
Salinye Manshoon Join Date: March 22, 2005 Location: Washington State Age: 50 Posts: 153	Two Years Later: Shyani sat upon a rock on a hill that over looked the distant town of Serubia. The leaves of the trees were just starting to bloom, and the nights were finally turning warm again. Her heart ached just to see the forest she used to retreat to for solace. It had been two year since she had been there. Two years since Lendarion had stolen her away with his cursed magic. She wondered if he had reason to return here, or if this was just a random stop on their journey. Either way it didn’t matter she wouldn’t get to stay. She had long since let go of illusions of a knight in shining armor coming to save her from the curse she was under. She remembered a time when she had a small sliver of hope. It came in the form of a kindly ranger named Himlin. They encountered him while traveling through a set of hills that were well known as a haven for bandits and thieves of all sorts. Being the friendly sort and not lacking in intuitive perceptive, he asked if he could travel at their side. He mentioned something about “safety in numbers”. She of course was forbidden in anyway to reveal the powers that Lendarion held over her. Most just took in her filthy attire and submissive countenance and assumed her his slave or concubine-An assumption that made her ill. You would think that Shyani would welcome any additional company, instead however, it was something she had come to dread. Lendarion loved nothing more than to torment her in front of others. His greatest joy came when any of them would muster the courage to try to defend her. Oh the look of shock and disgust when she would defend the very man they sought to protect her against. Little did they know she had no choice. If she allowed the men to resort to physical violence, she would be forced to defend Lendarion in order to defend herself. She could never get used to the disgust in their faces as she stood at Lendarion’s side and chased them away. This ranger, however, he was different. He had a keen sense of his surroundings, and knew that something was amiss almost immediately. He wouldn’t react to the dark man’s taunting, even though he was visibly disturbed by it. Late that first night he came to her as she was scrubbing up some pots they had used over the fire to cook dinner. “If you can just put up with him until we reach Canton, I’ll help you. I have very good connections. I can offer you great protection. I know you must be scared or you would have tried to escape by now.” He placed a hand upon her arm. “Please, let me help you.” Oh how she had wanted to run away with that ranger. Her heart cried out to him wanting to explain but when she tried to open her mouth, to beg for help and to let him know that he had just offered her the impossibilities of her hearts greatest desires, that all too familiar paralysis overcame her, and all she could do was turn her back on him, return to her tent and weep. Himlin knew. He knew she was captive, and he foolishly tried to save her. She spent the next day giving the ranger the cold shoulder. She even went as far as to speak rudely to him and ignore his kind questions and requests of her. It became clear to him that for a reason unknown to him, she would not allow him to help her when they reached the human city. Lendarion felt the tension growing between the two and intentionally heated the situation by grabbing her harshly for making a snide remark to him beneath her breath. Himlin could stand it no longer and struck the dark lord over the back of his head with the flat of his sword. If only the ranger had been more cold-blooded and used his blade properly. That moment of mercy would cost him his life. Lendarion staggered, as the blow was not a weak one, however, it was she who screamed in agony and dropped to the earth bleeding from the back of her head. The ranger was so stunned and taken off guard by this that he didn’t even see the murderous blow coming. When she awoke, his dead body lay at her side. She vowed never again to reveal the curse that was upon her to anyone-no matter the cost. Shyani, having long since forgotten the touch of a tender hand was slowly losing her will for life. It was only moments like these amongst the trees and the animals that helped her keep a grip on her emotions and sanity. Looking over her shoulder she saw the dark lord sitting by the fire. She was not permitted to leave shouting range from him, but had discovered if she turned her back on him and sank into a meditative state, she could find small moments of solitude when she could almost forget…almost. Pulling her knees to her chest, she leaned her chin down upon them and stared at the horizon through the trees and offered silent pleas for deliverance to her goddess. At least he can’t take away my prayers. Being an elven ranger, she was naturally more attuned to nature than others around her often were. Feeling the hairs stand up on the back of her neck she lifted her chin off of her knees and really began to study the horizon. The breeze was still gentle, but now that she was paying attention, she could feel the slight electrical energy that seemed to flow with it. Speaking in a soft voice and without turning to look at her captor, she spoke a slight warning to him. “Lendarion, it might be a good idea to seek shelter sometime soon. I believe a rather strange storm is brewing.” “I don’t believe I addressed you or your thoughts. Now grab your things, our resting is over, we have things to do.” You’d think he would have learned to trust her instincts by now. Shaking her head in quiet anger, she gathered her things and obeyed. Why would he care? If we get stuck in a downpour, it won’t be him getting soaked to the bone while trying to get some sort of a lean-to created. As always she followed along never voicing her thoughts and all the while aware of the clouds nearing them from the East. Editing to remove sig [ 08-01-2006, 05:46 AM: Message edited by: Salinye ]