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 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:07 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:10 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:41 pm
---|| Some number of years ago ||
Hoof beats sounded out a light rythmic 'tallot tallot' against the hard packed earth of the winding forest trail. The whole of the Dark Sakura Estate was surrounded by woodland, but this forest was different. Strange trees foreign to this region took root in the rich soil spreading a rustling canopy overhead. Trees that grew nowhere else on the continent here. Each rustling leaf whispering a hushed hymn in harmony with every swaying blade of grass and every singing bird. In the distance a stream gurgled adding it's own bubbling melody.
Every stem, every leaf, ever blade of grass was perfect. A palette of emerald, jade and topaz greenery. Flowers blossomed in rich jewel tones and it seemed as if even the sun as it played through the canopy high above, spotted the earth in an organized and artistic pattern.
Sierra smiled as she rode through, urging her palfrey from a trot into a canter, her cloak and skirts streaming out behind her in a dazzling array of coloured silks. Even though it was mid-autumn and the rest of the world was beginning to slow and dim with the chill of the winter, this place never froze. It was unseasonably warm and it blossomed all year round.
These trees, never lost their leaves. These flowers never shed their petals. The grass never browned. Frost could not touch this magickal place, snow never fell here.
The Aelalaer Shydal was a magickal place that stayed warm and green always.
While Sierra loved and visited all of the woods and gardens, this was her favourite place to come. It reminded her of the gardens of her homeland that she would spend so much time in with her mother as a child before-- well that was a long time ago.
She shook the thought from her head, causing the golden charms that dangled in a fringe, framing her face, chimed and jingled musically as they struck one another in delicate protest.
Here she could find peace. The otherfolk were content to give her he space as she was content to give them theirs. And nobody else from the guild ventured in here very often. Sometimes individuals would wander the edge of the mystical place, drawn in by the unnatural beauty. But it was too ethereal and nobody ever came this deep into the heart of the emerald forest.
Nobody except one person.
The thought of him brought a smile to her lips even as her cheeks flushed.
He would be here somewhere, watching her. She wondered with hopefully anticipation, would he show himself?
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:58 pm
The air carried with it a certain stillness that was unique in only so many places of the world...and was more akin to the beginnings of the world itself.
Of course, he had never lived that long to begin with, so for someone like himself, he pretty much was still a whelp in the grander schemes of life.
Perhaps...someday, the weaving of the Fates would place him in better esteem, some form of renown even.
He would very much like that, even if it was perhaps his single greatest vice.
Standing atop the wide berth of a tree bough, the Kyonuske stared out, watching a distant movement in the ground below. It was early, yet, however he had been trained in hard degrees of vigilance.
Even here, in his charge' so called 'Flower Forest' anything could happen, be it natural or purposeful.
Pulling up the lower cowl of his hood, he gave one last look at the lightly cloud laden sky, and promptly pushed off the bough, leaping forward. His cloak billowing out behind him, he nimbly made his way through the maze of wood and leaf, aiming to out flank the rider.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:30 pm
The cloaked rider's eyes flashed a brilliant gold as the horse sped under her, urged forward as she applied a slight pressure to it's flanks, squeezing with her legs. Nudging with her heels, the horse didn't need any encouraging as it lengthened it's stride breaking into a gallop and running full out as the path stretched straight ahead of them.
There wasn't much wind down here, as the trees shielded the forest's heart from anything stronger than a breeze. But the wind of their own movements, kicked up by the power of their own speed, blew her hood back, her hair coming loose from the silk scarves and billowing behind her in a crimson streak.
She could sense him, very near and it filled her with a strange sense of elation, even as the thrill of her mount racing beneath her filled her with a sense a surging rush of joy and adrenaline.
Her smile broke into a grin as she leaned forward and stretched out along her mount's neck, creating less drag and letting the eleven horse fly along the wooded trail.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:35 pm
While arguably, a man of his profession was trained for a variety of situations--- being able to outrun a pure bred Elven steed was not one of his better talents.
He began to lag behind, but not severely so--- as he still maintained a sense of concealment while pushing himself as hard as he dared within the Flower Forest.
He had no shred of doubt within his mind now that she had found him out-- as there was no other reason for the sudden increase of speed.
Unless it pure torture on her part, knowing that he would follow, no matter what.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:05 pm
She chuckled softly, her laughter like a tinkling bell as she felt him fall behind. As she leaned forward, she whispered something in the horse's ear and as it broke it's top speed, she gathered herself and lept straight up. Catching an overhanging branch, she swung acrobatically into the trees.
Flattening herself against the far side of the tree trunk, she held her breath and waited for him to catch up, even as she tried to ignore the tug of fire calling to fire. She didn't want to give herself away. Swallowing her own power, she tried to mask her presence.
She didn't want to make things too easy after all.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:13 pm
A few moments later, she might, in her own fashion, catch a not of rustling fabric, even as he came pushing through. He did his best to mask his sudden presence and tumult with the swaying of the branches on the wind, the rustling of the ever green leaves upon the boughs...
But some part of him also knew the rules to this game.
For it had been one that they had played many times before, and he had grown wise to her.
Of course, he wouldn't ever let her have the pleasure of knowing such a fact.
After all, sometimes losing, had its own prizes as well...
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:23 pm
Closing her eyes, she listened patiently as he drew near. For a human, she had to admit that he navigated the forest branches fairly well. He was quick on his feet and well balanced. And while he was quick-- he wasn't exactly quiet.
Perhaps a human would call him stealthy, but as he neared, his cloak caught on the branches and they tugged at him gently as he pushed through, his boots rasping against the bark of the bough.
Her ears twitched at each 'faint' sound, for to her, they were clear as a bell. And they said 'Here I am.'
Quickly she shimmied silently up the tree and stepped out onto the bough above-- seeking to drop on him from above and take him by surprise.
She paused, holding her breath to see if he'd noticed-- before swooping down, suppressing laughter.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:37 pm
He would allow himself the faint pleasure of a smile, even as he crouched upon an adjacent branch.
She came swooping down, much like he rather guessed, and now she would fall upon the fluttering fabrics of his cowl and cloak. He had used her acute hearing to his advantage, feigning movement in order to make her confident in victory and come out from her hiding place.
They had, after all, played this game one too many.
"My lady, you have all the grace of a doe in sheer panic this afternoon!"
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:05 am
Except she landed in a graceful crouch, facing him with her eyes shining. They danced with laughter as she regarded him with mock offense.
"Better a panicked doe, sure footed and fleet than a lumbering ox with no trace of wits."
She quipped back with a grin. She stretched toward him, her lithe body moving with graceful ease and remarkable balance. Her movements were fluid and almost feline in a way, as she stalked toward him in her graceful, sweeping crouch.
"I would not be surprised if every living creature has not fled the thunder of your footsteps, my dear."
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:45 am
"Better they than I, for I don't think that the wood would be much appreciative of me making a mess of things."
He straightened himself up, even as placed both hands upon his hips.
"Now-- you know I asked that you lodge all excursions with the attendants. I shouldn't have to spend half the morning scouring your very own estate to find you.
If anything were to happen---"
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:53 am
She smiled impishly at him and spread her hands wide, balancing on the balls of her feet.
"I remember you mentioning something of the sort in passing, and I also remember objecting. Really! If a lady can't be safe strolling in her own garden, what IS the world coming too."
Rolling her eyes she grinned. She knew he knew that she was perfectly aware of what sort of world this was. But she also knew, that he knew she was no stranger to combative arts.
She might be an exiled elven princess, but she was also used to the hard life of a sell-sword. She was as deadly as she was delicate.
She could understand this sort of paranoia, if she were still in her home world where there was a plentiful bounty on her head-- but here. She had no true enemies. Nobody whose life goal was her torment and destruction.
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:28 am
"Nevertheless, it has fallen onto me and my brethren to see that you are well guarded.
I won't exactly be able to keep overlooking your glaring obstinacy for our 'curfews' much longer you know..."
He didn't smile, but the slight emotion in his eyes combined with his light tone suggested that he was wryly plying the tounge back at the girl, even as he shrugged both his shoulders and held both hands up.
"Besides, you will come to miss my nagging presence come three moon turns from now."
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:36 am
"Curfews?"
She guffawed softly and even though she didn't laugh, it was as if she were chuckling at him through her eyes. They danced with the unvoiced laughter as she regarded him.
"I know it's easy to forget with my appearance what it is, but you are all bebe's in comparison to the length of my years. Yet would try and enforce a bedtime on someone older than the very founder of your bloodline?"
Now she laughed, the musical sound of tinkling wind chimes. She couldn't help herself, the notion was just so comical. She hadn't exactly counted on the extremes the Kyonuske would go to try and guard her.
Tens of centuries ago, in a distant world-- There had been curfews. And lessons. Endless instructions and orders that were to be obeyed, always. When she had been a youngling, a daughter in her father's house. She had been groomed and trained from near infancy to take a seat on the council and on the throne.
She pushed the memory away ruefully as she smiled apologetically at the young Kyonuske who looked utterly exasperated with her lack of cooperation. Obviously, he didn't find it funny. She cleared her throat gently and tried to compose her face in an appropriately serious expression as he spoke--
"Besides, you will come to miss my nagging presence come three moon turns from now."
Her expression faltered before she quickly reigned it back under control a picture of peace and serenity, even as her heart sank and her limbs felt leaden. She'd grown very fond of him in the short time they'd been acquainted, for indeed, to an elf it was but a breath in time. But that hadn't mattered, so quickly she had been drawn to him. Thinking of him brought a smile to her face even in passing thought-- and now he was leaving? But why? Wasn't he supposed to protect her? Or had she done too good a job of convincing him that she could take care of herself? Had he had enough? Decided she wasn't worth the hassle? Her mind raced even as the flood of 'why's' pushed her heart deeper into despair.
On the surface she smiled gently and tilted her head, her voice didn't waver-- though it was soft and breathy as she asked,
"What do you mean?"
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