Re: Aekkylinie: The Second War

[SugaredKittie]

Treena walked the halls in quiet happiness with Finley pausing only to notice the enraged figure of Prince Remar. She cocked her head to one side as she tried to decide whether or not he was fuming about her brother or Aislinn; neither were things he had right to be angry over. It infuriated her that he would have such callous disregard for his host and their city, she could not let it continue if she had any say in the matter. She looked up at Finley, a conversation passed between them in just a look, no words were needed, and then she shook herself, setting herself in the mindset of a Princess and the High Cleric. She made her way smoothly over to the still fuming man who was now talking in angry hushed tones to the messenger. She smiled in-spite of herself that her letter to the High Magna in Violetvald stating that there was no need for Remar to personally escort Princess Aislinn to Fieurcoast and then to the Magi city had actually made a difference. Aislinn was safe within Fieurcoast and their knights would escort her safely to the city without the need of the elf prince. Finally she dropped the smile as she approached the now panicked messenger and the extremely angry Remar.

"Prince Remar." She called as she closed in on them, her hands were clasped together in front of her body as a sign quiet reserve. "I do believe you are scaring our messenger. It is quite unnecessary." She turned to the messenger and smiled. "You have no need to stay here and be punished by a man who has no authority in this kingdom. Leave, there will be no punishment sought on you for delivering a message and telling the King what was said." The messenger took off in a hurry, completely forgetting to bow but she saw no lack of respect; just an afraid messenger who wanted nothing more than to leave Remar's side quickly. She turned her sights on the man in question and smiled coldly. "I do not know where you got your manners but this is not your Kingdom. This is my brother's home and he rules it with a firm and kind hand. You do not punish our messengers for just doing their jobs, if you do not like the message then blame the sender. It is your fault for being here when you knew you had no right to be here, not my brother's, or mine, or even Princess Aislinn's. I will not tolerate such lack of respect in this city. Aislinn was the one invited here, not you. You had no need to come and yet you made it known that Aislinn belonged to you and no one else, I would disagree comepletely. Aislinn is not a thing, she is a person. She is the first ever Human Magi to reach the level of training she has. She has been given a blessing from her trainer Alus and Rajah Keryth. If you disapprove of this fact, bring your complaints to them.

"I saw the look you gave my home when your ship landed this evening, it was not a look warranted by you, at all. This Kingdom survived an attack from a force that was completely unexpected and if that is so distasteful to you than perhaps you should have found the attacker and ended his madness with your own two hands. The fact that our kingdom was even salvageable at all shows just how resilient our people are. You will not show them disrespect like that ever again. You show our people disrespect you show our King disrespect. If I ever see that look on your face ever again I will bring my complaints directly to your father. I do not care if you are a High Elf or not you do not look down on those you have suffered greatly and have done something amazing with what was left." Treena stopped and took a breath as she looked into the stunned and angry face of Remar. She waited long enough for him to open his mouth to retort before she continued.

"I do not want to here anything from you unless it is an apology and that, Prince Remar, should be made directly to my brother and me at the same time. In fact, you could apologize to Aislinn as well seeing as how she fell in love with the people of this city just by stepping off the boat and seeing how after what they went through they were able to pick their lives back up and start again. Now..." She moved in closer and lowered her voice, she would make herself clear and understood before he left as he was told. "Aislinn will be staying here. In fact, she was going to come to our city without an escort long before you arrived. She has no need for you here and will perfectly safe in the care of the King and our knights. She will remain here for the full week and a half as she has planned or, if she wishes, she will leave whenever she feels the need to. Not when you wish her to. I do not like you Prince Remar, but for the peace between Summerdell, the Elves, and Fieurcoast I would have willingly kept my mouth shut about all of this if you had actually been staying, but you are not and I will not expend the energy it takes to put on a fake smile and pretend like the very sight of you does not repulse me. We have our own Elves here on this coast who have been a much needed support and friend to us and our kingdom, I will not extend my gratitude to a foreign High Elf who does not express happiness to be here."

Treena moved back and stared up at Remar. "I do hope you had a lovely time in our kingdom and that you will be willing to return someday." She said with a pleasant smile that did not reach her eyes. "I also hope that your attitude improves on your next visit. Thank you for visiting Fieurcoast and I hope that one day you will see it in it's glory." With that she turned on her heel and walked elegantly away from the confused Elf.

[RageDoomsday]

Aislinn stared at the dark wall. Her head rested on the soft pillow while Cearúil's hot breath pushed through her hair and onto her neck. She had not expected the scare she had right after she had crawled into her own bed. Cearúil had appeared out of a hidden tunnel and brought her to his room. They had laid together, talking quietly to each other till Cearúil had drifted to sleep. Aislinn watched him sleep for a bit before turning over to try and sleep herself. The kings arm was wrapped tightly around her and she felt safe but there was an alarm in the back of her head that wouldn't be dismissed.
Slowly she pushed herself out of Cearúil's hold and slid to the floor. The stone was cold on her feet and sent a shiver along her back before she moved through the passage back to her own room. She grabbed a house coat and some slippers before making her way back to the king's chambers. Cearúil has told her the other passage in his room led to the one Treena slept in and that was who Aislinn needed to talk to. She fingered the stone walls until she finally felt the other passage door. She pushed it open as quietly as she could and made her way down it. Emerging on the other side she saw Treena asleep in her bed. 'Should I wake her... I can wait till tomorrow.' She didn't want to wake her friend but she didn't really know when she would get the time to talk to her.

“Treena..” she pushed on the other princess “Treena, it's Aislinn. Wake up... please” she whispered as loud as she dared. She knew from her own home, even in the loud hours of the day the stone walls still carried vocies. She shook the girl again and waited

[SugaredKittie]

Finley sighed as he slid out from under the covers of Treena's bed. He had been sleeping in her room since they came to the castle, nightmares had plagued her the moment she returned and there was nothing else he could do but come and hold her while she slept. He sat on the edge of the bed, pushing his hair back from his face as he looked back over at the young girl. This had to stop was what he thought as he looked at her, he couldn't keep staying with her it was bound to get them both in trouble. It wasn't that he didn't love her, he just didn't want anything to stain her reputation. She was a princess and a studying Cleric she would loose everything if they found her sleeping with a knight. He ran his finger down her cheek softly before tucking the covers around her then got off the bed and made his way over the panel that hid the stairs that led both to her bother's room and down to his room.

Treena heard someone whispering to her and felt herself being shaken. At first she thought it was a dream but when she was shaken again she jolted awake, and sitting up quickly. "What' going on...?" She murmured as she blinked a few times. "Aislinn...? What's wrong...?"

[RageDoomsday]

"I need to talk to you." she huffed while sitting down at the foot of the bed. She crossed her legs and stared at Treena for a moment. Once she was convinced the girl was awake she continued. "I don't trust Prince Remar..." Treena's face told her that she already knew this, and she did. "But.. more then I led on in the letters. I never really said it right now, but I don't like him.. And tonight, when he tried to pull me away from Cearúil.." She stopped for a moment and breathed. Treena opened her mouth as if to say something but Aislinn hadn't noticed.

"When he tried to pull be away from Cearúil, he tried to use magic. Magic, Treena... On me! After he tried it on Cearúil, but I had felt it. Silently counter spelled it and he knew. He was so angry it radiated off of him. I fear thats not all either. He has bad blood in him, bad magic, dark magic. Why his family is trusted anymore I don't know!" she looked back at her oldest friend. A look of knowing but still confused was worn on the princess's face. Aislinn didn't know how to explain everything to her. The fact that she was utterly scared to go to Violetvald now. But she had too, since she was little she had wanted to be a mage. She was gifted at birth with magic like the elves. Since she was old enough all she could remember was learning the elves way of life. Everything they were, she wanted to be one. Now of course, like the adult that she was, she knew she couldn't be. But she still had the magic and she was going to be the best mage she could in her short life time. Aislinn sighed and rubbed her hands together.

"For the first time in my life Treena, I fear someone..."

[SugaredKittie]

Treena reached out and touched her friend's shoulder letting her own soft healing magic fill her friend's body. She could feel the dark taint that was still working it's way out, she wasn't sure what it was but she knew she could at least make sure it never spread. So let her power encase the taint and let it be held in the cocoon of warmth and light. She let her power breath along their skin and smiled at her friend. "I do not trust him, I never have since the letters. I worry that your family has been pulled into his dark magic but you can't. Your magic protects you and now with my own healing magic in you he cannot taint you. I will protect my brother with my own magic now that I know what he has done. He cannot hurt you, not there in the most powerful city in the world. I am sure there are many there that will keep an eye on him. Especially after the letter I sent to them regarding his unwelcomed visit here in Fieurcoast. I will not let him hurt you Aislinn. Ever."

She let her hand fall from her friend's shoulder and patted the bed next to her. "You can stay here if it makes you feel better, though I am sure you were probably just with my brother." She smiled knowingly. "It's safer if you are caught here in my room and not in my brother's, it would not look good on our kingdoms. I wish there was some way to make things right for everyone..."

[RageDoomsday]

Shaking her head she sighed. "I know its not safe to be with the King, thats why I left but my fear, its not like that. I am afraid for you all, for my home, and for the other elves. He is powerful but still just learning and I know he can not harm me there. Revanthas is my tutor as well as his, he will not let anything go unseen in his city. But your magic, even mine, can not beat an elf. The prince is strong, very strong even in his young age. I fear his father is in on it also."

Aislinn thought about the dreams she had been having since the night the prince had arrived. When she had been touched by the dark magic they one got weirder. She had dreamt of dragons, elves, harpies, dawrves, and other creatures that she had only read about in books. She loved reading bout the different creatures and races that lived and still live in the world of Aekkylinie. But what her dreams had been about, she couldn't remember most, just the images of creatures. One that always stuck in her head was a great full grown dragon, probably thousands of years old, trapped by a shadowy figure. The great beast seemed to look Aislinn right in the eyes, like she knew the girl was watching. Aislinn had taken to studying more about dragons just dragons. Alus has thought it odd at first, but passed it off as just amazement for the beasts. She had not asked a lot of questions for fear of someone thinking she had lots her sanity. She knew things, from her dreams, that the books and scrolls didn't even say. And still after all her studies through out the history of dragons, Aislinn could not find anything about the great green beast.
Another dream haunted her dreams often, herself queen almost in and undead like state with half elven children running around. Her eyes showed sadness in them as she looked at Treena.

"I fear something else... I fear I have be promised to the Prince." she hung her head and stared at the trim of her sleeping gown. That was the dream she had had almost every night she woke up in tears. That image was more terrifying for her then all the dark magic in the world.

[SugaredKittie]

Treena shook her head as she touched her friend's hand softly. "I do not think that my magic would beat his, but what he does is harm the body, mind, and soul, and my magic works against things like that. It won't stop him but it will make you more aware of what is happening and even a few extra moments of awareness might be able to help you."

She watched the fear seep into Aislinn's face and knew that it was more than she was letting on. "Right now Aislinn, there is not much you can do about Remar and either being promised to him or not. If your father has promised your hand to him we will find a way to keep that from happening. I will not let you marry someone who is harmful to your health and the peace of your home. If I must I will personally seek out the secret they are keeping and show it to your father. He will not be your husband with something so tainted lurking in his blood and his past." She smiled at her friend and patted the bed. "Come, get under the covers so as to not freeze. I can see you shivering from here even without the light. We can talk more when you're warm."

[RageDoomsday]

"I am fine." Aislinn stood and started towards the hidden door. "I will see you tomorrow, Treena"

Back in her own room Aislinn left out a long sigh before curling up in the desk chair. Her bag had been placed in top and she stared at it for a moment before pulling the books and scrolls out. As she pulled the first one out, a stone rolled out. "Kessuk..." she muttered the elven word for 'stupid' in a whisper to herself. Picking up the stone she dug in the bag for its twin. They were communication stones, red in color and not clear like normal. It was a 3rd year spell but Aislinn had not put much into it. She didn't need to because the distance they would be was not great. One was for Cearúil but she had been arguing with herself wither or not she should give it to him, they would clear up once used. With another sigh she sat them down and reached for her own around her neck. This one was a deep purple in color..

"Hinual" Aislinn whispered with her hand tight around the stone. With the word the stone began to glow and vibrate with energy. "Keenan, I need to speak with you. Now."
Keenan was Queen Adilya's younger brother and a good friend of Aislinn's. They had talked for years through letters, and eventually through magic. He was her most trusted friend even before Treena and Cearúil. Though they kept their friendship a secret, they relied on each other for basically everything.
She pulled the stone from around her neck and sat in on the desk after putting the others away. Slowly she started reading through her scrolls and books for the chapter she wanted.


After about an hour Aislinn's stone began a pulsing glow on the desk where she had sat it. She had been reading and jumped a little when the un expected light started. Grabbing the stone she received Keenan's messaged and looked around the rooms for water. "Ha!" she jumped up and started towards the bowl that had been places for her to freshen up last night. The maids had not taken it away..
"Eshaal..." she said dipping the gem into the water. Slowly through the ripples Keenan's face because to show, she knew hers also to him.

"My dear friend. Aislinn what is wrong?" the young elf looked tired, she must have awoke him.
"Prince Remar is on his way back to Vilotvald."
"I know, Magna Revanthas is not very pleased with him."
"I need you to do me a favor. I am sure they took camp for the night if they have left already so you should be able to get them for me before he returns. I need books, anything that is in the city about Dragons and dark magic."
"But Aislinn.."
"Please Keenan.. I can not risk Remar seeing me get them myself. He is not going to let me alone enough unless I am in my chambers." the elf on the other end sighed as she finished speaking.

"I will retrieve what I can in the morning. Why are you up anyway?"
"Can't sleep.."
"Still worried about the dragon problem in your home?"
"That, Remar and some other things."
"Aislinn don't worry about Remar, he will not harm you as long as I am around." the elf seemed to be trying to see the room behind Aislinn but of course since she was leaning over the water all he could see was the ceiling. As was all she could see on his end.. "No one is in the room with you are they?"
"No..." Aislinn turned to double check around the room.
"Oh, I figured you would be with King Cearúil."
"Oh! Go back to sleep you tarine." she giggled
"Ah yes, you did wake me."
"I am sorry, and thank you in advance for the book gathering."
"Yesyes, now goodnight Aislinn."
"Goodnight.." but the image was already gone. She sighed and walked back to the desk. Staring at the desk for a moment, she turned to her bed and walked over to it.
"Goodnight Keenan..." she mumbled and crawled into the bed.

[SugaredKittie]

Treena was up early. Earlier than anyone in the castle. She dressed in near pitch darkness since the sun had not risen and her fire had gone out long ago. She dressed in a simple gown then pulled her robes over it before putting a pair of riding boots on and slipping out of her room. This was her ritual, she dressed and left the castle long before anyone else was awake. She would go into the town and walk the streets, greeting all the villagers who had to be up at this time to make their living. She tended to the old, young and sick; bringing some extra food for the people who were living without. Many were still struggling since they had returned to Fieurcoast and she wanted to do all she could to help them.

But it all came at a cost. She was using more and more magic to heal people then she could give up. The more she used the more tired she felt each day. Even then she didn't stop, when her ritual visit she would return to the castle to study or go out into the woods to pick herbs and make herbal remedies for everyday problems. She was over extending herself, she was sure of that, but there wasn't anything she could do. She had to help her people, she was the only healer left in their entire Kingdom. She felt older and older than her seventeen years the more she went past her own reserves of magic and reached for the wild untapped magic. Part of her knew that if she continued to over extend herself and her magic it could turn deadly. But still, she continued her daily routine, she couldn't let her people down.

Finally she walked through the streets and out into the woods. There was a clearing not to far into the woods where she went to rest after expending so much. She leaned against a tree as she sat down, closing her eyes. She knew she couldn't keep this up, she couldn't keep being the only one to heal everyone. Before the attack Fieurcoast had several young girls who were trained in the basic ways of healing along with a few actual Clerics and the High Cleric. The last High Cleric had died before she was born, there had been discussion as to who was next in line to receive the title when her mother had her. The counsel decided to let Treena train and receive the title since she was the first born daughter to the King of Fieurcoast in over four generations. But now there was no one to help her and she refused to let the city crumble around her as long as she could continue to heal and help the people.

The sun finally begin to trickle through the leaves. It had finally come up so the castle would soon be bustling with people. Part of her knew she needed to return but the other part just wanted to sit here and sleep. She was so very tired.

[RageDoomsday]

Aislinn pulled herself out of her bed just as the sun light began on the window seal. The maids would be in within the hour. With a sigh she pulled of her sleeping gown and pulled on a soft indigo dress, one of the many made just for her stay in Fieurcoast. The dress was the same style of her royal robes back home. They had been made with the colors and fabric of Fieurcoast so the indigo showed just as beautiful with her dark hair and eyes as the reds and oranges of her kingdom. She flattened the dress down and smiled at the teal embroiderment she always admired on her clothing. The silver underlay shimmered as she tied the sides and went to the mirror to fix her hair.

Once she was ready she slipped out the chamber door with a book in tow and made her way to the gardens. Cearúil or Treena would most likely be out to find her, or send someone to find her, soon enough... but at the moment she wanted to read. Finding a spot against a large tree she slid to sit with her back against the trees trunk. She flipped open her book and buried her nose in it.

[SugaredKittie]

The sun blinded Treena as she laid against the tree. The cool of the evening night was quickly fading everywhere but under the tree with her. She knew that she needed to be up and moving. That she needed to get to the castle and go about daily life there as she did here in the city streets, but everything on her felt heavy and tired. She couldn't muster the energy to lift her arms or legs. All she could do was lay there under the tree as her mind raced on what she could do to get herself up and moving. By now, she was sure, the castle would be in an uproar as to why she hadn't returned and if her brother Cearúil hadn't sent out the royal guard to look for her yet he soon would.

Cearúil would be furious, at least outwardly. In private he would be furious and worried, and she couldn't have that. She needed to get up, but her body didn't want to respond to her wishes. Sighing, she resigned to her fate and waited for the royal guard to come and retrieve her.

The sound of hooves had Treena opening her eyes to see who was coming to find her, it was a surprise to only see two horses; one with her brother and one with Finely. Her mind raced as to why it would only be them, but she was also thankful that no one else would have to see her so vulnerable. There were many that would take that to their advantage.

"See your Highness? She is right where I said she would be." Finley answered as his horse came to a stop.

"I see that Finley, thank you." Cearúil answered as he dismounted from the horse and walking over to Treena. Kneeling beside her he touched her face gently. "Treena...?"

"Brother..." She murmured. "I'm sorry... I was going to come back... I'm just... so very tired."

"Have you been trying to heal the villagers?"

Treena nodded, a bare movement of her head. "I can't let them suffer..."

Cearúil sighed as he touched his forehead against his younger sisters. "They would understand if you can't help them all. They would be sick with sadness if they learned you were killing yourself by helping all of them as you are." He leaned back and turned his attention to Finley, who had dismounted and stood holding their horses. "Could you lift her onto my horse once I am on again?"

"Of course your Highness." Finley answered as he left the reigns and walked over to Treena.

Cearúil stepped away, returning to Invincible to mount up and ready for the extra weight. Once situated he had the horse kneeling on it's front legs so that Finley could place Treena on the saddle without too much trouble before returning to his own steed, Quickstep.

Once they were both situated Cearúil turned and returned to the castle at a brisk pace. They returned quickly and he made Invincible bow once more so Finley could retrieve Treena before he dismounted and left the horses to the stable boy.

"Take Treena to her room. We'll see if we can't find someone who has some basic training in healing to look over her." Cearúil said as he watched Finley carry his sister off to the castle before he himself went to look for Aislinn, the Summerdell princess would want to know what was happening to her friend.

[RageDoomsday]

Aislinn heard bustling on the stone floor in the castle. She watched a few servants run back and forth past the few windows in the hall to her right, the royal quarters where the family stayed. The princess closed her book and laid it on the stone beside her before standing. Slowly she crept to one of the windows and tried to listen to what was going on.
She didn't pick up much, just bits and pieces about a healer, weak, and.. someone killing themselves. She knew the servants talked a lot about things through out the city, but the later of the list worried her. Who were they talking about and why were they so busy this early. Treena's name then caught her ear and she quickly headed for the door.
What had the Princess done to herself now! She hurried down the hall as fast as she can without breaking into a run to find her friend..

[SugaredKittie]

Cearúil rounded a corner and slammed into Aislinn. He hadn't been prepared to find her nearly running through the halls and it took a moment for him to recover. Quickly he snatched her arm and all but dragged her through the halls to his sister's room.

"My sister thinks she can be the savior of our people and doesn't seem to care what it's doing to her own health." He muttered darkly as he pulled Aislinn around another corner. It took him a moment to realize that he was gripping her arm a little too painfully before he let her go and stalked the rest of the way without touching her again.

"You're her friend." He said as he flung open the door to Treena's room. "You talk some sense into her." He stood there, his lips in a tight line as he tried to wait patiently for Aislinn to enter the room before. He wasn't mad at her, in fact he wasn't that mad with his sister either. He was mad at himself. He knew this had been going on for months, but he didn't think anything of it. And being mad was better than his other choice; at least in public. He couldn't be scared and worried for his sister when everyone could see him, he had to be angry that she would endanger her life in such a way.

After a moment of impatient waiting he turned and stalked down the hall to his own quarters, he couldn't keep standing there or he was going to break something.

[RageDoomsday]

Aislinn was coming to a corner when someone slammed into her. Once she caught herself from almost falling over she opened her mouth to shout but saw it was Cearúil. Her mouth hung open for a moment, before she could find anything to say Cearúil had recovered and grabbed her by the arm. Why was he made at her! She didn't do anything. But the King's words made her see he wasn't made at her, and she knew it was not really at Treena.

"My sister thinks she can be the savior of our people and doesn't seem to care what it's doing to her own health." he nearly growled at her. Her face was pulled tight in pain from his fingers in her arm. He must have saw her face or just let go on his own moments later. She stopped after he let go for a moment but thought against staying there and followed him. He stopped at Treena's door and looked at Aislinn.

"You're her friend." He through open the door. "You talk some sense into her." Aislinn's face matched his surprisingly. Her arm still throbbed from where he had a hold of her before and angry rose in her. She had no idea what was really going on and Cearúil acting this way both worried her and Treena. She glanced into the room to see the servants tending to the other Princess starring at them.

Cearúil turned and left then and she raced after him. "Cearúil" she growled while her fingernails bit into her palms. She hadn't even realized she had made fists. Behind her a angry huff and a door closing told her one of the servant had finally moved and shut the door she had left open.
"Cearúil stop, Now!" She stopped and stomped her foot. "What is your problem!?"

[SugaredKittie]

Cearúil stopped, took a deep breath and let it out before turning to face Aislinn. He had quelled some of the anger, but was there, still flashing in his eyes as he stared at her. His jaw clenched as he stopped the first words he wanted to say. After another moment he moved forward, coming in close to Aislinn before he said anything.

"I am not talking about this right now." He whispered through gritted teeth. "Go in there and talk some sense into my sister before she kills herself." His hands clenched for a moment before he relaxed them, he wouldn't strike anyone, especially not Aislinn. "She can't move... She can't even raise a finger. She's draining away all of her energy and it's killing her. If she doesn't stop this she will die. If you don't talk her into stopping I'm locking her in the castle. Do you understand me?"

He stared at her for another moment before he turned on his heel and stormed off to his own room. Slamming the door before Aislinn could have a chance to regain her composure and follow after him; the lock slid into place.

[RageDoomsday]

"Cearúil" she wailed after him and banged on the door.

"I will not talk to her and you will not lock her in this castle. I am leaving if you do not come out here and talk to me! You have no right talking to me like you just did!" She banged her fists on the door before giving up and pulled her back against it.
What was wrong with him? She could only wonder. Slowly she slid onto the floor and sat there.

"Princess Aislinn?" a servant coming down the hall asked quietly.

"I am fine... leave me alone please.." she bit her lip attempting not to yell at the innocent maid. The woman nodded and left, only looking back once before slipping also into Treena's room. What was going on? She didn't know but she wasn't leaving this spot till Cearúil came out.

[SugaredKittie]

A loud crash sounded from Cearúil's room as he broke a small table over his desk. He was angry, and breaking something seemed to help control the anger. He was angry with Aislinn refusing to talk to his sister, he was angry with his sister continuously harming herself because she wanted to help others, but most of all, he was angry with himself. He hated that he knowingly and willingly let his sister continue her little "saving the city" excursions even after he found out that she had been sneaking out of the castle before everyone was awake. He hated that he made excuses for her when she walked about the castle in a daze; she was just tired from getting less sleep than everyone else. That's what he told himself. He made excuses when the shine in her eyes and the porcelain color of her skin faded leaving her eyes dull and her skin mottled in color. He watched as she slowly killed herself and all he did was make excuses.

By now he was certain that his sister's personal guard Finley had noticed the changes in the way the Princess looked and moved about the castle. In fact, now that he thought about it, Finley had tried to explain it to him once or twice and all he did was excuse it away saying his sister could take care of her health if she was getting sick. He had been ignorant of her suffering because he didn't want to see it. He had been so busy with running things in his city that he ignored his own sister and now she was paying the price of his neglect.

He stared at the pile of broken wood for a moment longer before he went over to the door and undid the lock, he knew Aislinn was still sitting there. He made no attempt to open the door, just turned and sunk himself into a chair, hold his face in his hands.

[RageDoomsday]

Aislinn sighed when she heard the crash of something inside Cearúil's room. She didn't know what he was doing in there but she knew he was angry. Finally after awhile she heard the door unlock, but it didn't open. She sat there... to upset to move, to angry to cry, and to proud to actually get up and enter the room since he didn't open the door.
She would sit here till she either got sick of sitting here, finally broke down and cried, or Cearúil actually opened the door.


After about an hour or so of following the embroidery on her dress, she swallowed her pride and opened the door.
"Cearúil..." she asked through the crack. She didn't peek in, she didn't dare, but just enough that he knew she was asking to enter.

[SugaredKittie]

Cearúil didn't answer. He just sat unmoving in his chair. The silence in the room was almost palpable but nearly as much as the more depressed air that made the room feel heavy laden. He was wallowing. Too upset with himself to care too much if anyone saw him like this.

'I let her down.' Was all that seemed to be on his mind, he couldn't think past the thought that he had almost lost his sister today. She was dying, he was sure of it, and he didn't know how to fix it. Magic had never made sense to him, he needed an opponent he could face with sword and shield, not something that attacked and left no trace. He angered him more that he was completely useless to help his sister. He would gladly take her place if he could, but the magic only seemed to touch her and left him with his brawn and cunning debating skills.

"She's dying..." He finally murmured, he had no idea if anyone could hear him. "She's dying because I wanted to be ignorant of what she was doing to herself..."

[RageDoomsday]

"She'll heal..." Aislinn said moving into the room. "She needs rest is all. Magic isn't a never ending source as much as some would like to think. And we get worn out very quick from handling it." she moved to the corner of the chair and sat herself on the floor in front of him.

"Magic is like.. well its almost like a life source. For us to use it, it flows through us like our blood. She isn't use to using it how she is. Maybe in a few years she can do what she is now.. but she needs rest. And once she is better rested then she is right now, I will talk to her. Even stay with her in her room if you want me too. But you can't be angry at yourself for it.. its not your fault."

Aislinn laid her hand on his knee. She hoped he could understand what she was saying. She knew now what had happened and what Treena was doing. "Now don't yell again.. or I might have to burn you." She smiled a little at the corner of her mouth. On her other hand a small flame danced warning to the king.

[SugaredKittie]

Cearúil sighed, a small smile playing on his lips. "I should have stopped her though. I should have make her rest when I noticed she was getting sick. She's just so stubborn and I just wanted to think everything would be fine. I was stupid, I should have said something. Even if I hadn't noticed things Finley brought it up to me, made me aware something wasn't quite right, and I still chose to ignore it."

Sighing he leaned back in his chair and put his hand to his forehead. "She's so stubborn, I should have known she'd let something like this happen. I just... I didn't want to think about it, I was too busy thinking about everything else to take a second look at my sister and she knew it. I was a fool to let her think she could get away with something like this."

He put his hand over Aislinn's and squeezed softly. "She's not allowed out of the castle for the next few weeks when she's rested. I'm not letting her go back to taking care of everyone when she refuses to take care of herself. She'll just have to learn how to do both."

[RageDoomsday]

"I will send and request more help, including healers to come aid the city. Their are still so many ill, it will be my way or helping you and your sister." she smiled a little and leaned against his knee. She sat there silent for awhile. She could hear the servants moving back and forth in the hall.

"I have been thinking..." she said silently as she stood and walked over to the window. "As much as I love my city, my home. I don't want to rule it alone..." she sighed and crossed her arms. "I want to rule beside you, where ever that may be. We can allow Summerdell to be given back to the elves..." she felt awful after the words left her lips. She knew that really wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to rule Summerdell, with Cearúil.
There was so much going on now. So much had changed and she figured she could just settle here. Though her heart say no... She frowned and stared at the garden below.

[SugaredKittie]

Cearúil watched Aislinn carefully. "That's not what you want..." He murmured softly. "You've never been a good liar. Especially with me."

He smiled to himself, it had been a nice thought, he almost wanted to believe it, but he knew Aislinn better than that. It would crush her to give up her city. The city she loved more than anything. He wouldn't let her do it, no matter how much he wanted her too. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Things never seem to work the way we want them too..." He murmured. "It's too bad my sister cannot rule alone, though she would make a great leader. Our city can't accept a single female leader after what it's been through... not yet anyway... and she's the High Cleric. The only Cleric in our entire city for the time being. She couldn't take over even if she wanted too... But we all like to dream..."

[RageDoomsday]

"I have years before I would even want to sit down and rule.. even if it was here with you. I can not just give up my mage training." She sighed and leaned into him.

"And it is what I want really..." she mumbled under her breath.

[SugaredKittie]

Cearúil shook his head. "I know you want to rule with me. I want you to be Queen to my King but to do that I would have to get a suitor for my sister and I already know that you and her would not agree to it. If I cannot do that then, for now, we are stuck until something magically appears on a silver platter. But until then we will have to live this miserable separation."

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