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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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 Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:20 pm
Corrah nodded. Yes, he could deal with that. After all, that was the code that he himself lived by. Harm nothing save in defense or for nourishment. Perhaps this woman - Niyana - wasn't as bad as she first seemed.
"I cannot offer you much," he said apologetically, ducking under the branch of a tree, "but what I offer you will keep the larger predators away from you."
From up ahead came the sound of a waterfall, a small one, but a waterfall nonetheless.
"We are grateful for whatever you can give us," Celebor spoke up finally.
He still didn't speak to Niyana, however, either by mouth or by thought. He didn't know yet if she was angry with him or just focused on Corrah, but he would let her break the silence between them ... just in case.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:51 pm
Niyana nods, "Thank you Corrah. We really appreciate it and we will return all that we use. She might have judged him wrong. She herself was not good with people skill and maybe she was too quick to jump at him.
Her hand held Celebor's as they walked but not squeezing it. She was trying not to read too much into his actions...but had he not thought she could take care of them or at least herself?
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:26 am
As Corrah led them up the mountainside, the sound of the waterfall grew steadily louder, until it suddenly came into sight, the fog reflecting off of a small cascade of water that was flowing over a small cliff, no taller than any of the three who were making their way towards it.
"Behind the water," Corrah said solemnly, "is a small cave ... it should be large enough for the two of you."
He pointed at a small ledge that ran along the cliff's face. "Follow this," he instructed. "It will take you to it. You will have to crawl to get inside, but you will be safe in there."
He raised his face to look around cryptically once more. "The predators will not find you in there."
As Corrah turned to leave, Celebor stepped forward anxiously.
"We thank you for what you are doing for us," he said quickly, "but can we ask for one thing more? In the morning, when we leave here again, we will not know where we are or where we are going. The night is too dark, too misty for us to see. Will you return and at least point us in the right direction, perhaps guide us a bit?"
He waited anxiously for the man's reply.
Corrah paused and looked over his shoulder, his blue eyes glowing in the blackness.
"If that is indeed your wish," he murmured softly, "then I shall return."
He dipped his head slowly in a small show of respect, and then turned to leave once more.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:00 am
Niyana looked at the water fall in the darkness and her eyes lit up. It was so beautiful...and mysterious, she gasped softly, "This is so beautiful...no wonder you would wish to protect it Corrah sir." She moved over to look at the fog covered water then turned to look at the ledge to get behind the falls.
She bows her upper body lightly, "Thank you sir and thank you again for coming back in the morning and helping us.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:07 am
Corrah nodded, not sure how to respond to the woman's sudden kindness.
"Just keep yourselves safe," he said flatly; and then he turned around and was lost to view.
Celebor blinked after the man, then turned to Niyana. "Well ... I guess we should go inside," he suggested hesitantly, wondering if Niyana was angry at him, though he still couldn't figure out why she would be.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:04 pm
Niyana bows, "Thank you sir." she watched him leave then looked over to Celebor and nods, "Yes...I guess we should." She moved to the ledge and edged along it disappearing behind the waterfall.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:10 pm
Celebor followed Niyana carefully, crawling into the hole behind the falls behind her. Once they were inside, he felt around to see if he could sit up (he could) and then he sat with his back to one wall and his legs crossed and cupped his hands in his lap and created a small flame of light.
"You all right?" he asked Niyana, holding up the light so that he could look at her.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:28 pm
Niyana sat across from her mate her legs drawn up to her chest and her arms around them. She was looking out at the water though she could not see it well until his magic skill was used and light reflected off the water. . "Yes Celebor, I am fine. I am sorry I pushed us on when you wished to return home." She didn't look at him then shut her eyes
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:40 pm
A troubled look appeared in Celebor's eyes and he reached forward and put one hand on her knee.
"No," he said softly, "no ... don't be ... it's all right. I mean I have to admit I was a little nervous, since we don't know the area at all, but ... we'll be fine here, if Corrah is to be believed ..."
He swallowed hardly. There had to be something else ... she still seemed quite irritated. He moved to sit next to her and put one arm around her shoulders, drawing her close.
"I'm glad though that he didn't turn out as violent as he seemed," he murmured. "I was afraid for us at first ... afraid he might try to hurt you ..."
He pulled her close again and pressed his lips to her hair, kissing her on the top of her head.
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:49 am
Niyana allowed her mate to move closer to hold her close as she listened to him. It was a good thing he had said us first. She didn't know why it bothered her so much but he had made her feel so useless...she was not a socail creature but she knew how to handle herself some times.
"I can defend myself Celebor...I have done it all my life. He was more like an animal and it was my fault for setting him on the defensive becuase I tensed up and showed anger instead of stay calm...I know my temper goes off some times as well as the fact that I can't hold myself up socially." she tensed in his arms and sighed, "We should rest..."
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:22 am
Celebor was confused for a moment. "I know you can defend yourself ... I know how strong you are ... but in a fight, even the most skilled fighters can be injured, and I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you ..."
He pulled her up into his lap and cuddled her against his chest. "When I lived with my Great-grandmother at the palace," he murmured, stroking her hair tenderly, "I was taught diplomacy ... which I had thought had no place here, that it didn't matter ... but only tonight do I finally understand what it means. Yes, there are times when we must fight, but it is better to avoid it if we can. Not because we are weak, or because we don't have a good reason, but because life is precious and fighting always results in injuries, sometimes in death, no matter how skilled the fighters are."
He slipped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "Remember," he said softly, smiling warmly at her, "I have never doubted your strength ... I will never doubt your strength."
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:53 pm
Niyana watched his arms moving around her lifting her into his lap then holding her closer. "Yes you did doubt my strength. I know you are strong Celebor and were probably taught to defend women but you didn't have to shelter me..." she said softly. He could make her feel so stupid and loved at the same time that it hurt.
"I know one can be injured and kill and if I had been then it was entirely my fault for jumping the gun." she said flatly. "Beside I don't have to fear any man being inappropriate with me...after all your the only male that has ever showed an interest in me."
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:51 pm
Now Celebor was completely confused.
"I ... don't understand," he said perplexedly. "I know it's probably just me being foolish ... but I don't understand why you think I doubt your strength ... I ... I have never been taught to defend women, I was always taught that women can defend themselves just as well as men, despite what many people believe ... but I was taught that it is better to avoid fighting when it is possible ..."
He leaned his head back against the rocky wall of the cavern and sighed, the sound lost in the roar of the waterfall.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, closing his eyes to keep tears from falling. "I wish I knew what I had done wrong ... how I screwed up ... but whatever it was, I'm sorry ..."
He had never felt so badly in his life. Sure he had made others angry before, but he had always known what he had done, and how to make it right if he wanted to ... but this time, he wanted more than anything to make it right, but he had no idea how he could do so.
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:12 pm
Niyana sat in his lap listening to the waterfall and his movements. She sighed loud enough to be heard, "I don't want you to be sorry Celebor...I don't know why I was anergy and I am sorry that I got heated. I know you have my best interest at heart...I just want us to be a team...I don't want to lose you. But I know you will still go risking your life..."
She didn't know where all this was coming from but maybe it was that she didn't think it was fair that he would go out and risk loosing everything and yet hold her back when she didn't even intent to attack anyone.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:16 pm
Celebor's face burned. He hadn't even thought of that ...
"I guess I just got caught up in the moment," he murmured softly. "I panicked."
He leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Next time," he murmured softly, cupping her cheek in his hand, "if I do something to make you angry ... tell me so that I can stop whatever it is ..."
He ventured a hesitant smile. "But I have to say, you did an excellent job talking with him, once he had calmed down," he offered, trying to make her feel better - though his words were from the heart, true and honest.
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