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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 11, 2015 21:24:34 GMT
"You ask me to stay here and watch as you go over the wall?"
"Av--" his teeth grit as she grabbed his collar, but he remained quiet and kept everything hidden.
"Like hell. I outrank you. And if anyone goes it'll be me."
He studied her, gaze calculating as he spoke again, voice calm and level. "You're going to go and leave the commander with one less knight who is one of the best fighters he has?" A hand came to rest on the cot to prop himself up, leaning due to her grip. "He's low enough on men as is, and you're by far the best he has. You're going to throw that away to cross the wall that you may not even come back from? Unless you'be forgotten the men sent out that all perished but one, and he died shortly upon return with his tongue ripped from his mouth."
Zay gently pried her fingers from the fabric. "I can't stop you. But either way, it's been decided that I'm to go on the next scouting. The commander and I have already discussed it, and I'm to start testing my abilities tonight."
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Post by Avery on Jul 11, 2015 21:43:11 GMT
"Av--"
"Don't."
"You're going to go and leave the commander with one less knight who is one of the best fighters he has? He's low enough on men as is, and you're by far the best he has. You're going to throw that away to cross the wall that you may not even come back from? Unless you'd forgotten the men sent out that all perished but one, and he died shortly upon return with his tongue ripped from his mouth. I can't stop you. But either way, it's been decided that I'm to go on the next scouting. The commander and I have already discussed it, and I'm to start testing my abilities tonight."
Tensing, her shoulders slowly hunch forward, gaze shadowing again "Don't act so condescending. Forget what happened? Never." she whispers, voice breaking, hands gripping the sheets tightly, knuckles white "As if I'd forget him. I don't ever forget someone who's died for me, for the cause." teeth gritting, she trembles a moment before standing abruptly, angry tears in her eyes, starts for the exit "You know nothing about the war, X'zayvean, don't presume to think you do just because you remind Galen." she mutters, walking out
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 11, 2015 22:05:52 GMT
"Don't act so condescending. Forget what happened? Never. As if I'd forget him. I don't ever forget someone who's died for me, for the cause. You know nothing about the war, X'zayvean, don't presume to think you do just because you remind Galen."
Zay remained still as a statue as she stood, jaw ticking as his old demeanor slipped back as he distanced himself unconsciously. And he made no move to run. How could he? No, he knew nothing of the deeper parts of the war, but he understood enough. His hand clenched. He knew enough of war, loss and hate to know nothing good came out of it, and he knew the less men they sent beyond, the more of a chance they stood again against another raid, like the one that took Aru's family, the one that took his own.
Swearing to himself as he let himself venture too far, he stalked through the back and slipped through the shadows, unseen and unheard. In a brisk but silent run, he ran until he came to a clearing, inspecting it.
Words: WORDS Addressed WORDS Mentioned: WORDS Aru looked up, hearing one walk out and his face brightened, though it dimmed and feathers lowered as he felt the tention and the anger rolling from Avery, and he stood. "Mom...?" |
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Post by Avery on Jul 11, 2015 22:29:28 GMT
"Mom...?"
Stilling, her eyes widen slightly, wipes at her eyes quickly "I'm okay baby." she murmurs, voice cracking, trying to compose herself for his sake
"You lie." Galen states, tone firm, steps towards her
In a flash a knife is in her hands, held out towards him, eyes sharp "I wouldn't try what you did to me last time if I were you. Commander." she adds on last minute, face reserved "This isn't like when he died. I won't lose myself again."
"But you already are." he retorts "Look at yourself. The anger is clear on your face."
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 11, 2015 23:04:20 GMT
Jumping straight into training, Zay started using just his own body, creating an armor around his hand and testing it on a tree, his face expressionless and impassive. He kept it up, extending the ice, making it like armor, testing it again, and kept up his pace.
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"You lie."
"I wouldn't try what you did to me last time if I were you. Commander. This isn't like when he died. I won't lose myself again."
"But you already are. Look at yourself. The anger is clear on your face."Aru watched them, wide eyes, feathers completely flat. "What's happened?" |
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Post by Avery on Jul 11, 2015 23:20:05 GMT
"What's happened?"
"Just a disagreement between your father and I." Avery grits out, voice terse, eyes locked on Galen "My anger is under control. Want me to prove it, right here and now?" she mutters, planting her feet before she darts towards him in a blur
Eyes sharpening, his sword whips out in a flash, steel sliding against iron with a screech, sparks flying before they exchange blows, thuds sounding one after another
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 11, 2015 23:29:20 GMT
"Just a disagreement between your father and I. My anger is under control. Want me to prove it, right here and now?"
Brows greasing deeply, Aru watched a moment, gaze bouncing from one to another. "But, mom--" he flinched at the sharp sound, "--t-this isn't going to solve anything."
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Post by Avery on Jul 11, 2015 23:59:13 GMT
"But, mom --t-this isn't going to solve anything."
A few minutes later Avery gets thrown, Galen standing still, sword pointed to the ground, eyes sharp "Try that again, Malyns, and I'll have your head."
Hitting the ground hard, she cries out, trembles as she tries to get up, falls, wound opened "I won't let you allow him to cross that wall." she whispers, voice cracking, hair in her face, tears sliding down her face slowly "You and I both know what happens to those who are naive. Are you going to watch Solin's death all over again?"
Face ticking, he goes deathly still before he moves in a blur, leans down, lifting her by the throat, face shadowed, holding her up off the ground "I'd watch your tongue." he murmurs calmly
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 12, 2015 0:07:46 GMT
"Try that again, Malyns, and I'll have your head."
"I won't let you allow him to cross that wall. You and I both know what happens to those who are naive. Are you going to watch Solin's death all over again?"
"I'd watch your tongue."
Aru watched with wide and troubled eyes, tending when Avery's thrown. "Stop this," he whispered. Flinching when the commander rushed over, his feathers ruffled and grew stiff. "Stop," he said a little louder with a crack in his voice, fists clenched. "This is pointless fighting. It won't solve anything and will just hurt everyone in the end."
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Post by Avery on Jul 12, 2015 1:20:48 GMT
"Stop this. Stop. This is pointless fighting. It won't solve anything and will just hurt everyone in the end."
"The world is full of pointless fighting." Galen mutters, hand starting to tighten before it loosens, lowering her to the ground "I miss him too. He may have been your companion, but he was my son. And that pain still lingers. But you have to move forward. He died for a cause, one that your rogue wishes to take on."
Trembling, she covers her mouth with a sob, eyes shadowing before her head lifts, gaze full of tears but pleading "Don't let him go. I'm begging you." she whispers, pressing a hand to her chest "Send me instead. I'm your fastest fighter, I've trained for this. Please!"
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 12, 2015 1:33:20 GMT
"The world is full of pointless fighting."
"But this doesn't have to be part of it," he murmured, relaxing when Avery is released.
"I miss him too. He may have been your companion, but he was my son. And that pain still lingers. But you have to move forward. He died for a cause, one that your rogue wishes to take on."
"Don't let him go. I'm begging you. Send me instead. I'm your fastest fighter, I've trained for this. Please!"
Aru listened, hesitating, realizing that neither knew. He hadn't told even the commander? He looked down, feathers lowering in knowing as he gripped the hem of his tunic, wringing it. Would Zay be upset? Would he not? Grant it, Aru didn't want him going, but he knew. "He'll come back. I know he will. He always does when he goes beyond the wall." His voice faded, the end becoming next to nothing but air.
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Post by Avery on Jul 12, 2015 1:42:20 GMT
"He'll come back. I know he will. He always does when he goes beyond the wall."
Silence overcoming the both of them, Avery's eyes widen and flick to Aru as Galen's narrow in thought "What do you mean?" Avery whispers, voice slipping, tears trapped in the corner of her gaze "What... Aru..."
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 12, 2015 1:54:59 GMT
"What do you mean? What... Aru..."
His grip tightened on his shirt and he squeezed his eyes shut. First Zay's scars, now this? Zay was going to be furious, but he felt they needed to know. The words came tumbling out, "H-he's been twice. The first time I-I followed, it was right after my village burned." He took a breath. "H-he told me it was just a nightmare I saw-- I-it was how he got hurt, protecting me. H-he went to find one of the legion commanders that led the attack, a-and he found him and would've gotten away had I not followed him. I almost believed him, until I saw all the blood."
By now, he was in tears, both out of guilt for telling and the renewed guilt of the past. "The s-second was for the wildling that had helped him after that. Like an assassination." He rose his head. "I-I promised not to tell." A sniffle. "I promised, and I broke my promise." He bit back his tears the best he could, biting his lip as he tried to catch his breath. "Don't tell him I told you."
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Post by Avery on Jul 12, 2015 2:12:00 GMT
"H-he's been twice. The first time I-I followed, it was right after my village burned. H-he told me it was just a nightmare I saw-- I-it was how he got hurt, protecting me. H-he went to find one of the legion commanders that led the attack, a-and he found him and would've gotten away had I not followed him. I almost believed him, until I saw all the blood. "The s-second was for the wildling that had helped him after that. Like an assassination. I-I promised not to tell. I promised, and I broke my promise. Don't tell him I told you."
Eyes wavering, Avery watches him before she walks forward, arms wrapping around him gently, one hand grasping the back of his head "It's alright, Aru." she murmurs quietly, grip loose "But I'm still not letting him go."
Studying her, Galen sighs softly before shaking his head, small half smile "Fine. I'll talk to him about it, alright?"
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Post by X'zayvean on Jul 12, 2015 2:20:05 GMT
"It's alright, Aru. But I'm still not letting him go."
"Fine. I'll talk to him about it, alright?"
Aru laid his forehead on her shoulder, sniffling. "I don't want him to go. I don't want to lose anyone else." A hiccup. "But someone has to go, don't they?"
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