Aedion Elessidil's Story

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Sarani felt her magic coursing through her as she laid her hands on Erieda's chest. She felt the wind swirling around her hair and transferring from her to the somewhat conscious woman laying in front of her. The life of their queen had been hanging in the balance ever since she'd been rescued three days ago. Sarani could heal the physical wounds, but the emotional ones were more difficult since so far, Erieda had refused to let Sarani heal her heart. But, at least she was allowing the physical ones. She opened her eyes and leaned back, the air that had been aroused from her magic settling back into the sky.

"Your Grace, the physical wounds have healed for now, but..." she took a deep breath, knowing that she had said this many times before and it had continued to have no impact, "your heart and mind will continue to express the trauma you have undergone through physical means, a sort of...conversion disorder. The only way for you to get back to your old self and actually heal would be for me to fix your emotional wounds as well," she said gravely. All she wanted was for her queen to get back to her old self; the one that had inspired so many fae to fight for their freedom. She sighed, "I do not take all of your emotional pain, only a fraction of it, and even then it will pass quickly. It's the only way for you to get well in enough time to have a fighting chance."

She got up from her seat on the ground and poured some herbal tea infused with a little of her empathic powers. I'm running out, I'll have to check in with Aphylla soon... "This will help for now, just rest." Handing it to Erieda, she turned to Kaenne, who had been standing behind them. Motioning him outside, they stood to the left of the tent entrance. She smiled at her half-brother, Aedion, who was practicing skills on the other side of camp. Looking at Kaenne, she bit her lip. "She won't let me heal her completely, at least not with what I'm saying, but maybe you can make her listen, I..." She ran a hand through her hair, a rare sign of the stress that the war had put on her. She looked Kaenne in the eye, her eyebrows creasing with frustration, "there isn't anything else I can do until she lets me heal her heart."

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Aedion wrapped the water tendril around his fist, focusing his energy on controlling the movement of the whip and molding the water with his mind. He'd been trying to improve his water combat skills for awhile now, since for the most part it was unreliable. He could use it in short bursts, but he had yet to maintain concentration enough to sustain a manipulation for longer than a couple minutes, and he needed more than that in a battle, especially against the Remei. He stared at the tendril, beads of sweat forming on his forehead form the exertion, and swung his fist forward, the water whip cruising towards a tree at an impeccable speed and crashing into it with a loud crack, causing a portion of the tree to splinter off in all directions.

He grinned triumphantly and looked to his right, catching his sister's eye as she exited her healer's tent, and smiled back at her. They had been through so much together so far, and yet here they both were, fighting with Erieda for the ultimate freedom. He had been thrilled that Simon had been able to rescue the queen three days ago, but he couldn't help but feel doubt at the road ahead of them, especially because they didn't know what else was in store for them. He looked into the distance, trying to see through the trees that hid them from Victoria, but he couldn't, even with his enhanced fae senses. At least he knew that they couldn't see through the trees back at them either, or so he hoped. They had been safe so far, but he knocked on wood anyway just so he wouldn't jinx it. He was superstitious that way.

Looking around camp, he spotted Simon surveying things around and he nodded a quick hello. Aedion was naturally distrustful of Shadow Wraiths, mostly because water and strength did nothing against a shadow, but Simon had grown on him since he'd joined the rebellion. His leadership skills were clear, obviously taking after his mother, and he couldn't help but be completely enthralled with the cause that Simon was creating in all of the surrounding fae. The sense of unity, of commitment between all of them, it was unreal, and Aedion was loving every second of it. He couldn't wait for the day he would meet the Montez' force on the battlefield, because all he wanted to do was smash his fists into a thousand Remei for what they did to his mother. They had been so close to the trees, to camp, and then bam, it was over. His mother was gone, and Sarani had almost followed after her. Looking at his sister, at Aphylla, at Simon and Kaenne and everyone else in the camp, he knew that he would never let that happen to anyone he cared about again. He'd die first.

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Three days, she'd been free. She'd managed to eat, but it was hard. She'd wanted nothing the first night, she drank water the second and now she was ready to eat but she had a long way to go until she was battle ready.

"That's progress, E." Erieda looked over at the ghostly image of her long dead brother, Thomas, as handsome as ever.

She knew he wasn't there. What that side about her psyche she couldn't say, but she wanted him there. She wasn't ready to let go yet. She lived for an eon, protecting him and she watched him burn.

"Don't start that again, you know what road that took you down." He told her and she sighed. He was right, or she was right, whichever. She had to heal, get better and bless Sarani's little heart, she was trying. She was at this three days.

"Your Grace, the physical wounds have healed for now, but..." The sweet girl paused taking a breath. "your heart and mind will continue to express the trauma you have undergone through physical means, a sort of...conversion disorder. The only way for you to get back to your old self and actually heal would be for me to fix your emotional wounds as well," she said gravely and Erieda looked at her, a small smile touched her lips. "I do not take all of your emotional pain, only a fraction of it, and even then it will pass quickly. It's the only way for you to get well in enough time to have a fighting chance." She said and Erieda took her hand. "Those scars are for me to bare, Sweetling, leave them be." She told her, gently.

"This will help for now, just rest." She urged and Erieda couldn't fight the warm feeling that washed over her as Sarani worked her magicks over her battered body.

"She's only trying to help and you know she's right."

Erieda ignored Thomas as Sarani took her leave, taking Kaenne with her.

Erieda forced herself to sit up right, her body racked with pain, but she took it. She had to. She could hear them. Erieda the Broken. That's what she was now. Broken. No Unkilliable, which, given the circumstances was still true. She hadn't died, she should have, but she hadn't.

Simon could have died freeing her, she could not let it be in vain.

She held out a hand and called on her power, the earth shook beneath her, as her hand slowly turned. Dots of sweat beaded on her olive skin, as she slowly rose her hand higher and higher, until with a low rumble, a tree root slithered up from the ground, puncturing the grass. This used to be easy, but she was still very weak.

She dropped her hand and took a deep breath. At least it broke ground, rising about a foot or two about the grass.

"Sorry to interrupt..I just want to know if its possible to see her." She heard outside of the tent and Erieda's heart leapt.

"Andrew?!" She called, her chest felt heavy from exertion. "Andrew, come see me, love." She called out, removing her sheets and covers and throwing her feet to the ground, before shakily pushing herself up from off the bed. She needed to see him. Her nephew, the only surviving child -in her eyes anyway- and the legacy Thomas had left on this world. She could barely stand, but she wasn't about to lay down now. Now with Andrew right outside of her tent. She managed a few steps before she fell into him. Between the two of them, she stayed up right, as she embraced her nephew, he was her responsibility now, but she couldn't possibly fail him like she fail his father. She wasn't sure she could live with herself. "Oh Sweet Boy, How I've missed you." She said, brushing her hand down the back of his head, cheek to cheek. "Forgive me...I failed you all."

&

"You are to watch her until she heals," Simon said, as he and Kaenne stood outside of Erieda's test, the night of her escape. "However long that takes, you must watch her like a hawk. My mother is weak right now, and far too important to risk losing." To this, Kaenne responded with a gentle nod. "On my word as a Fae, I will protect her." And with that, they parted ways.

Over the three days, things had been fairly quiet throughout the camp. Simon was working hard to ensure the smooth running of things until his mother became well enough to take control, including managing resources and training the younger, less experienced members of the rebellion. He had his hands pretty much full, which meant he couldn't spend much time with his mother during her recovery, save for his visits to her tent each morning. He planned to see her after Sarani was finished with her healing, but until then he would simply observe the goings-on around him. One male in particular, Aedion, caught his gaze and Simon watched on with an idle curiosity as the half-breed practiced. After exchanging a nod with Aedion, Simon shifted his stare elsewhere.

It was generally understood that Simon had a very limited window with which to spend time with Erieda, which was usually at the crack of dawn. If Sarani didn't finish soon, he would simply have to cut his losses and focus on his other daily activities. The camp had settled into quite a comfortable routine by this point, and it was Simon's job to ensure that the routine remained as such.

Meanwhile, Kaenne was silently looming over Sarani, watching the young fae as she went to work healing Erieda and taking in every word as if the girl was speaking directly to him. While Erieda seemed to decline treatment the treatment of her emotional ailments, Kaenne could not help but doubt her judgement ever so slightly, though he would never say such things aloud. It was not his place to comment at the time, so he remained quiet. However, he couldn't help but smile. She is strong as she is stubborn, he thought, looking down at the former queen and backing away as Sarani stood to take her leave. Before he could nod a farewell to the fae, she motioned him to follow her outside and, despite his conflicted thoughts of leaving Erieda alone without Slade present, he followed willingly. Erieda would be find for a few moments.

Once outside the tent, Kaenne locked eyes with Simon, who looked a little concerned but made no move towards the two. "She won't let me heal her completely, at least not with what I'm saying, but maybe you can make her listen, I..." Sarani started, catching Kaenne's full attention. "There isn't anything else I can do until she lets me heal her heart."

Kaenne released a gentle huff as his eyes locked onto Sarani's gaze, and he slowly shook his head in response to her concerns. "Erieda's emotional problems are her own to deal with, and she will deal with them only when she is prepared to," he said. "Her fae nature makes her stubborn. She wants to shoulder every burden so that the people around her don't have to, and she's strong enough to do just that." Kaenne glanced at the entrance to the tent, before returning his focus to Sarani. "It's true that her sanity has slipped considerably over the past year, but she is improving and will come back from this."

And just like that, Kaenne pursed his lips, taking a step back as Andrew approached. He had come to learn that the boy was Erieda's nephew, born from the brother she lost during the war. He had no place to deny Andrew right to see his Aunt, but even if he had chosen to be cautious with the lad, Erieda's sudden presence outside had caught him off guard and stunned him for a moment.

"Oh wow," Simon suddenly chimed in. "I get screamed at and he gets hugged?" There was a humorous tone to his voice, and a large smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "I think there's some favouritism going on here." With one hand hovering over the sword on his hip, Simon gave a nod of dismissal to Kaenne, who went to wash himself up as he usually did at this time of the morning when Simon was visiting his mother. He leaned in and placed a kiss on the side of her head, before stepping back and giving his cousin a warm smile. Not that he had any choice in the matter, but he would willingly give up his free time with Erieda. She and Andrew hadn't seen each other since Thomas' death.

Turning instead to Sarani, Simon spoke again, this time with a much less personal tone. "It would appear that I'm free for a while, if there are any tasks for which you require my assistance?" he asked, offering the girl a subtle smile.

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Sarani pursed her lips at Kaenne, understanding what he was saying and yet refusing to accept the words. Erieda was by far the most difficult patient Sarani had had, but at least she was being nice about it. She felt sweet whenever she was around the former queen. She felt...whole. Nodding at Kaenne, she felt a smile forming on her face as Andrew bounded over to them, his youthful face looking excited at the prospect of his aunt in the tent. She was about to say yes, but Erieda beat her to it.

She walked opened the curtain for him and let him inside, allowing Kaenne to follow suit. She stayed more on the outside, for the area was small and it seemed too intimate for her to be a part of this display of family affection. Especially because within the next moment, Simon appeared in his usual window of time to say hello to his mother. He stepped out after a moment, giving her and Andrew some privacy, before turning to Sarani, the warm look he'd worn before now transformed into a business-like expression that made Sarani stand a little taller. "Nothing you need to worry about. Your mother is doing well. I've done what I can physically, but I would still like for her to remain with me a little longer, just so she can regain her strength and work on healing emotionally," she felt like she'd been repeating the same words over and over again, but it was the truth. She really needed to get more herbs, try some different concoctions that would speed up Erieda's recovery. St. John's Wort, Passionflower, Ginseng... She blinked a couple times to get herself back in focus, remembering that Simon was standing in front of her and he was someone she did not want to mess up in front of. "Sorry, usually I'm not so spacey."

Aedion tried not to jump at the sound of Aphylla's voice to his right. He turned at looked at the smaller fae with a sardonic smirk forming on his lips. "Oh it did. This tree," he said, brushing his palm over the bark, "took your attention away from me. The worst crime on the planet," he smiled at Aphylla, taking a step closer to her. Oh, he knew he was a flirt. But he couldn't help it, it was just who he loved to be. He knew he was good looking, so why not use it to his advantage?

He remembered his first day in the camp, watching her tend to some plants while he tried not to be fascinated. Water combat was one thing, but it took a very gentle touch to be able to nurse a plant to blossom. Since then he had of course made his reputation known with sex and romance, more sex than romance really, but he and Aphylla had never gotten that far. For whatever reason, he wasn't that upset about it. It was refreshing to just flirt and not have to worry about what a sexual relationship would do to the dynamic. Not that he ever really wondered about that anyway, but still.

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Before Erieda could protest, Andrew scooped her up, and carried her back to the bed that she'd felt trapped in for the last three days. She hated to admit it but she was grateful for the rest.
"Erieda, why are you asking me for forgiveness? You have not failed me." Andrew said and Erieda clicked her teeth. "Andrew," She began. "Since my birth, protecting the realm, was all I knew to do, you may not know all of this but, I wasn't always Queen, I had but one mission, protect the Parkwood Converge, where all the ley lines met, connecting the realms...That was it. All I had to do..."She said and her gaze drifting to the image of Thomas behind his son. She knew he wasn't there and the more she thought that the more his image faded but she wouldn't let it. She couldn't let him go. "But I had a young brother, he was all I had, I thought, I had to protect him too...so I brought him with me, making him a...side mission if you will." She said, looking back at him. "I failed in protect both my brother, and the Converge....and I lost them both." She said, and touched his face, tears touching her eyes. "I failed you, your father, your aunts and uncle, your--" She stopped before she could finished, she knew he knew the words she was about to speak. sister...

"I made the mistake of falling in love...You're father warned me of him, but I was too much a fool to listen...and he paid the price." She said, and turned away, swallowing her tears.

"Once I heal..." She said, and didn't finish. She was going to kill her husband, for her children's sake...in her brother's memory. She would kill him.

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It was another bad day.
Sunday sat in her bed in a separate quarters from the one she shared with Alec, curled up, her arms wrapped around her legs, as the pain in her heart bled through her tears. She was supposed to attend Brooklyn's party but this was how she spent most of her days, crying and crying, not doing nothing at all, just laying there, staring into space, wondering if she should just pitch herself from the highest tower.

Alec would only stop her. He meant well but that was just it. He never seemed to know what call to make, but that he had to make one. Placing her sick demented mother as ruler of the realm was a foolish choice, she knew that from the start, but the problem didn't being until Alec had them return to the kingdom with which her mother ruled from. They'd gotten away from it all, her father, her mother, the burning ash of his mother's lifetree, to which he'd done nothing to stop. She could still remember the smell of Symone's skin, and could hear Erieda's cries for mercy for her daughter, while her own mother watched on with sick pleasure.

Erieda was a real mother, one that Sunday never got, one that would do anything for their child and wept when they were hurt. Victoria only laughed.

Alec foolishly thought she was more stable...

"However, in my defense, your mother seemed like the most stable choice. Alex was no more morally sound and much less mentally stable. Erieda, Simon and pretty much everyone else were opposed to the realm's creation and, be completely honest, do you not think that any of them would execute Victoria if given the chance?"

He'd said and Sunday could have struck him for the statement. Their grandmother was stable before she had her daughter and brother burned alive before her. Giving it to her should have been an obvious choice, Erieda before this probably would have given her mother mercy before then, at Sunday's behest but now. Sunday would watch as she burned.

That was the only thing that kept her going lately. Erieda escaped. She was free and surely she would heal and return.

Maybe she would kill Sunday. It would be an act of mercy. Sunday didn't feel like living, not any more. She had one good parent, she knew she did and sure shunned him for Alec. He didn't want her with him, of course he wouldn't, Alec was her cousin by blood. It wasn't anyone's choice save for her mother's, who practically raped her father, masquerading as his wife after she killed her.

Sunday reached up and gripped her scalp, pulling hard at the black as pitch locks.

Alec genuinely thought she was the best choice for a realm!

Guilt and grief gripped her stomach and she fell onto her side, holding herself as if her stomach would just burst and her arms were the only thing keeping the insides in.

This went on for a while before finally it ebbed and she could breathe again. Thoughts of her father and her own betrayal always brought out this pain. The look of sheer disappointment on his face when she told him she wasn't going with him. She'd set him free from his cell, she couldn't let him die like Alec let his parents.

There was a sudden knock at her door.

"What?"

"Your Grace, Your husband wishes to speak with you in your quarters."
Sunday sat up and looked at the door. The room shook with her annoyance but she stopped. Alec wasn't the enemy, he was fool, but he was her fool and admittedly...she was a little afraid of him. He wouldn't ever hurt her but at the same time he could control the one thing good thing about her feared; Iron.

She pulled herself to her feet, her dress, white, laced and falling in ribbons around her legs, swished softly as she walked. She liked to look more Fae like, with Erieda free, she knew it would only piss her mother off, not only that it made her feel closer to the family that she'd abandoned by mistake.


She opened the door, not bothering to look happier then she was. She wasn't happy anymore. She had hope, but she wasn't happy. Hopefully Erieda would remember her visits and maybe she'd come and save her instead of killing her, either way, she'd find peace.

"You called, Beloved?" She said, and her words were true. he was just that, her beloved, her fool.

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"There's a lot on everyone's mind at the moment," Simon replied, to which Sarani nodded, glancing into her tent at Erieda and Andrew. There wasn't any room to be apprehensive about the future. With Erieda's escape came an official declaration of war, which meant that she would no doubt be seeing a lot of her friends in there very soon. The prospect of the bloodshed in their future made her shiver, but she knew that if they wanted to be free, then the fae would need to fight, and she was there to make sure that they didn't lose their lives doing it. "I wish there was a way to fix this without danger hanging over us at every turn," she sighed. She knew that it was hopeless, but death had always been her weakness. She was terrified of losing the people she loved, and she had grown to love everyone in this camp.

Simon sighed, "Thank you, by the way, for healing Erieda... I don't think I got the chance to say it before," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I owe you one," he continued, before pausing.

Sarani smiled slightly. She liked this side of her leader much better. Professionalism was all fine and square, but when Simon was more comfortable around her, more easygoing, it made her more comfortable, too. It was why he was good at his job, he could enforce his cause and still be a friend to everyone there. "Don't worry about it. I want to see her well just as much as you. All of us do," she admitted, her voice calm and clear. "Hey, I'll let ye' go now, but if you've got a spare moment, could you check in with Kaenne? He should be in his tent... I fear his pains are getting worse," Simon said, causing Sarani to frown. Kaenne would never admit to being in pain, a trait that made him both endearing and frustrating, but even he should know that they couldn't afford a single weakness right now. She nodded and went back into her tent, grabbing what was left of her herbs and heading over to Kaenne's tent.

"Someone need a little magic?" She grinned, pulling back the entrance.

Aedion laughed at Aphylla. "Bad tree," he said, as she skipped towards him. She ruffled his hair and he frowned, pushing her hand away. "Thank, mom..." he said. Aphylla was a natural tree hugger, and so it didn't surprise him with what she said next. "Okay, you know, I have to practice on something! Better tree than your gorgeous face, am I right?" He laughed. Looking over to his sister's tent, he noticed her talking to Simon now. She looked worried, but he could only guess at half the things on her plate. As a warrior, he was tasked with winning the battles and saving the fae from immediate danger, but her job was much more...frustrating. At least he was comfortable with the fact that his family fighting beside him knew what they were getting into during battle, but Sarani never knew whether she was going to save a life or not. It made him incredibly happy just to be standing off to the side with Aphylla, blowing off his responsibilities. He noticed how the sun caught her pale blonde hair, and his heart warmed at having a friend closely.

"Not sure about the herbs, sorry. We haven't really spoken today, since she's been so busy with Her Majesty. And, all she said last night was that there was some improvement, but that she has a long road ahead of her," he sighed. All of this talk of death and seriousness was enough for one day. He'd talk to Sarani later and find out what was going on, but for now he wasn't to keen on thinking about it.

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▌As Sarani took her leave, Simon spared one last smile and murmured a quiet 'thank you', before shifting his gaze elsewhere.

The past few months had been so busy that, with a bit more free time on his hands, Simon didn't quite know where to place himself. If he wasn't working, he was training, and if he wasn't training, he was plotting. He always managed to find a way to keep his mind and/or body occupied, but today was... different. For at least another hour or so, Simon had nowhere to be, and no one to see.

There was nothing he hated more than being left alone with his own thoughts, and the crushing loneliness that came from lacking the company of another. It was in moments like this that he felt a weight bearing down on his chest, like a dull ache, and his breaths became more and more shallow, until a familiar voice broke his line of thought and dragged him back to reality. He felt a hand upon his shoulder, and turned to see that Kellin was standing beside him. He gave his son a tight smile, which did not reach his eyes.

Things had been difficult between them lately. Kellin may have pledged his loyalty to the fae rebellion, but many lives had been taken at the hands of his son, and such things were hard to ignore. "You don't have to look so happy to see me, Dad," Kellin muttered, and was not surprised when his father completely avoided the comments.

"I assume you're here to report your findings," Simon replied, clasping his hands together behind his back. "Is it as we thought?" he asked, and after a brief hesitation on Kellin's part, Simon continued. "Go. Prepare the men for an attack." Kellin nodded, but before he could make a single move to carry out his father's wishes, both men diverted their attentions to the sound of raised voices and hurried movements coming from the edge of the forest. Panic and alarm quickly spread through the camp as a small group of fae women appeared at the edge of the forest.

Simon began walking towards the group, followed by a few members of the rebellion, his eyes scanning each individual fae. By their shackles and collars, Simon could only assume that they were slaves. Former slaves. But there were still many questions at the forefront of his mind. How did they escape? How did they know where to find him? Were they part of a trap?

Approaching cautiously, Simon's eyes were immediately drawn to the nearest girl. She was small and looked rather timid, but there was hope in her eyes and a smile upon her lips. "You're... the leader?" she asked. Simon didn't quite know how to answer that. A few days ago, he would've agreed, but he was no longer the rebellion's leader. "You could say that," he replied, quickly bypassing the question by shifting his gaze to the rest of the group. Most of them were either injured or exhausted, and the ones that weren't were supporting the less able. With a quick gesture, Simon had some of his soldiers assist the others, while Simon instead kept his attention on the silver-haired girl at the front.

"Where did you come from?" he asked, causing the girl to glance over her shoulder. He looked up at the forest for a moment. "The army encampment... We were given to the soldiers to keep them company," she answered, and Simon's skin crawled at the thought. "We heard them talking and laughing about how they were going to march on this camp.. But, last night, they were attacked." Without words, Simon prompted her to continue, and she seemed to understand what he would've asked. "The dragon boy..." she whispered, and his heart jumped into his throat. The dragons were near enough extinct in this world, only a few remained, and one of them was his cousin. We have allies, he thought.

"This dragon... did he give you his name?" Simon asked, to which the girl responded by shaking her head. "But he took the camp? The village?" he continued, stepping closer. He seemed oblivious to how uncomfortable the girl was becoming. "We fled during the attack... I... I don't know, sir," she murmured, and the older male released a soft exhale of breath. "Thank you for the information. The people here will take care of you now." Stepping forward, he placed a hand atop her head, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Welcome to the rebellion."

After placing the young girl in the care of a more mature female, Simon lifted his hand and - pressing his fingers to his mouth - released a loud whistle, hoping to catch the attention of the warriors around him. Once enough of them were gathered, Simon explained the situation to them: the village and army encampment had been attacked and possibly claimed in the name of the rebellion, and they were to travel to investigate. "Fifteen men in total, including myself," Simon stated. "Nine warriors, led by Aedion, will continue on to the village while the rest, led by me, will search through the army encampment. If the area is safe, my group shall return to collect the members of the rebellion while Aedion's group secures the village and checks its resources." Simon took a moment to let the information sink in. "Is anyone opposed to this plan? If so, speak up now. If not, gather your equipment and men, because we're leaving in ten minutes."

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{ #660433 }

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Sarani sprinted to Kaenne's side when she opened the tent and saw him sprawled on the floor. She cursed him silently for waiting till it got this bad. Spreading her hands over his writhing body, she summoned her element. The wind came to her call, ruffling her hair kindly and soaring around Kaenne as it cooled his blood and dulled his pain. She didn't know much about his history before he came to the rebellion, all she knew was that it had somehow led to chronic pain.

He turned his head away from her as his breathing slowly returned to a labored normalcy. She sighed and calmed her aeriokinetic powers, bringing her empathic magic up from her body and fusing that into him. She took a fraction of his pain into herself and quivered slightly. If an eighth of his wounds felt this awful, she couldn't even imagine what the full force of it felt for him. Warmth radiated from her hands and flowed from her towards Kaenne, taking the last of his pain.

Sitting back, Sarani wiped some sweat from her forehead and smoother her hairs behind her ears. "You should have come to me sooner. I don't care if you're too proud, this is your life in jeopardy," she said, noticing that it was a little harsh. Softening her voice, she looked at him calmly. "The rebellion would be hopeless without you, Kaenne, you have to know that. We need you at full strength in order for us to get back our freedom, and it would really help if you would ask for me when you need me."

At that moment, she heard rapid footsteps and Simon's voice outside the tent. She stood, poking her head out and watching as he welcomed a group of refugees and started to announce a new expedition. Aphylla spoke up, and she agreed with the nature fae. "She's right, Simon. It'd be better if I stayed here, and Aphylla would benefit you better. She can gather more herbs, we're almost out, and she knows enough to heal if it comes to that."

Aedion nodded. "You're right, I just hope she recovers sooner rather than later," he says to her. Just then, a group of ragtag fae stumble into camp and approach Simon. He walks towards his leader, summoning water quietly just in case these people meant harm. The girl in front, looking much too young for the responsibility that appeared to rest on her shoulders, said that they came from a village recently seized by a "dragon boy". The description wasn't much to go on, but Simon looked inspired with a cause that this location brought him.

"Fifteen men in total, including myself," Simon stated. "Nine warriors, led by Aedion, will continue on to the village while the rest, led by me, will search through the army encampment. If the area is safe, my group shall return to collect the members of the rebellion while Aedion's group secures the village and checks its resources," he finishes. Aedion straightened his shoulders and looked at the warriors around him. He may have been new to the cause, but his reputation among the fae was strong, and many referred to him for command if Simon wasn't giving orders. He didn't take this reputation lightly, and such he nodded at Simon with reverence after he finished speaking of the plan.

He wasn't surprised when Aphylla volunteered herself, it was just like his friend to want to help as much as she could. And she was right, his sister had to remain at the camp with Erieda and anyone else who might need their help. If anyone was injured in the field, Aphylla could help them enough until they got back and Sarani could heal them later.

"Who will be with me?" Aedion asked Simon, knowing that he would be searching a potentially hostile environment and would need people equipped for the task.

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▌ "Simon, I'm coming with you," a familiar voice spoke, causing Simon to turn his head. He spotted Aphylla approaching, and as he began his reply, a raised hand silenced his objections. Some might think it was disrespectful for someone to do such things to their leader, but Simon had always maintained somewhat informal relationships with members of the rebellion. It was not unusual.

After Aphylla explained her reason for wanting to participate, he gave a slight nod, as if to agree with her. It was true. Despite not being much of a fighter, Aphylla was useful to the rebellion and could help them decide whether the village was worth keeping. It would be foolish of him to deny her help simply because he wished her to stay out of harm's way; precautions would be taken.

Simon looked up as Sarani called to him from Kaenne's tent, and again nodded. "Very well, Aphylla, you'll come with us. But you will stay hidden in the forests until the village is cleared and secured," he said, after a moment of silence, before looking up at Aedion as another question was sent his way.

He chewed on his own lip for a moment, before releasing a sigh. "You'll take Kellin, who will be a useful asset in battle if it comes to that. From there, you can take any soldiers you'd like. Aphylla will be travelling with you, but - as I have said - she will stay back until the village is cleared, by which point you should call for her and begin assessments on the village's worth." He shifted his gaze around the camp for a moment, before turning back to Aedion. "I'll be taking Andrew with me. He was a Dragon Prince, and should be able to identify the boy who took out the Remei soldiers," he continued, hopefully loud enough for his cousin to hear. "This child would be a useful ally, we need to recruit him, and having his former prince there might help to convince him."

Lifting his arm, he gestured for the soldiers around him to begin their preparations, meanwhile he turned and began walking towards Andrew. "You'll join us, won't you?" he asked, slipping his hands into his pockets. He could talk comfortably with his cousin, due to their familial bond - despite not being very close before the war. "There's another hug in it for you."

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"Sashi..." The Heather Pixie hissed as she carried a -somewho-even smaller girl on her back. The pain of the action made her sweat, but she didn't care, the girl she was carrying was much more important. "I'm awake, Sive." said the girl on her back, her voice weak, and muffled by her back. "Did you see what saved us?" Sive asked her, trying to keep her conscious. "

"It was...was a dragon," She said, swallowing to speak. "Yea, Ma told us about them, remember, Sashi?" Sive said, looking back at her, even though she continued to walk.
"Yes, and I cried she said they didn't leave in our realm anymore..." Sashi said but her voice trailed off. Sive shifted in on her back and Sashi moaned in pain. "Sorry, but you've got to stay awake." She said, she didn't want to hurt her sister, anymore then she already was, but the pain kept her awake, and the bandages kept her from bleeding out but even still. She had to find that camp.

"I'm trying, Sive, but..."

"Sashi!"

"Huh?"

"Do you remember what the Dragon said."

"I can't speak Dragon, Sive, you know that." Sashi said, the girl was human, the only one left in the world it seemed, and Sive sometimes forgot, she was very pixie like in size and demeanor.

Sashi was sweet, where Sive was sour. Their mother, used to say that Sashi should have been the pixie and Sive the human. She said it with love though. Sive never resented her sister, and as far as she could tell Sashi never resented her either. Sashi was a changeling, taken by Sive's mother. She was always glad to have Sashi, although sometimes she wished atleast looked human, or had a human form. Pixies didn't have a second form like some other Fae. They could change size, but not form. Sashi was always the prettier sister, but Sive was the strongest, she could live with that. Sashi had a pretty heart shaped face, warm olive skin, long curly black hair, black as pitch, and amber eyes, while Sive, had a broad face, messy thick red hair, a low brow and large yellow green eyes.

"I told you what he said." Sive told her and Sashi shrugged. "We're going to see him." She told her as she marched on. "Who?"

"The love of your life."

"Don't tease me, Sive, that's not funny."

"I'm not laughing."

"What are you saying, Sive?"

"We're going to see Prince Simon."

Sashi stiffened and Sive couldn't help but grin. Sashi was very pixie like, and the moment she heard of the Warrior Prince, who liberated the Fae, and was fighting against the demons, she fell hard, like she had with King Arthur, Tam-lin or Robin Hood.

Honestly, neither of them thought he was real, especially after they were taken by the demons but when the dragon swooped down and told them where to go, and who ask for, Sive herself almost fainted. When she found Sashi, to tell her, her sister was in a horrible state.

"He's not real."

"I can't lie to you, Sashi." She said, and she looked ahead noticing a group of soldiers , definitely Fae.

"Sashi, We made it, We're here." She said but Sashi didn't say anything. "Sash... Sashi?" Sive shifted her on her back again, waking her. "Mm..."

"Sash, just stay awake a little longer." She said and Sive marched harder, faster, she found what looked like an attack party and approached them. There was a man, tall, long black hair, and warm skin who looked to be heading the group. He was Dryad, she could smell it, which meant, it was likely he could heal her sister. She stood in front of them, intently, causing the group to stop "You look important, I'm looking for Prince Simon's camp, My sister, she's hurt, and she's..." Sive swallowed, casting a glance at Sashi, who'd gone limp on her back. The demons thought she was a delicacy and took turns with her, for one very simple fact. " She's human....?" She felt eyes on her sister, then. She shifted. "Sashi?" She called and Sashi gave a meek "hm?" before checking out again.

"She won't stay awake, the demons' they were...playing with her, I don't know what they were doing, but...You gotta help her." She said, and looked at the man, in a bit of a panic. "You're a dryad, right? There's a big dragon, back there, he freed us, I can tell you exactly where he is, if you heal her?" She offered, shifting so that Sashi could remain at least a bit conscious. "Please...?"

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▌ "I will spare you the hug for now," Andrew replied, causing a broad smile to spread across Simon's lips. "Let me just grab my sword," he added. Simon nodded, shifting his gaze towards the other soldiers of the camp as Andrew returned to his tent. A decent amount of them were preparing to leave the camp with him, as instructed, while the rest began positioning themselves in various places around the edges of the clearing, just in case they were attacked in the absence of their main fighting forces. He seemed to be watching for a good while, before Andrew finally reappeared at his side. He placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder, but only for a moment before he shouted out for all the soldiers to gather around him once more.

When they arrived, he took a moment to look them all over, checking that they were all adequately armed and had weapons to fight if necessary. Gesturing to the four soldiers on the left of himself, Simon spoke. "You will be accompanying myself and Andrew to the army encampment," he informed them, before turning to the rest of the force (which included both Aphylla and his son). "The rest of you will be following Aedion to the village directly beside it." After giving them a moment to process the information, he gestured for the men to begin moving, as he did so too. He took the lead, of course, but slowed his pace a little as he lifted a hand, and with the flick of his risk, summoned the armour of the Old Fae King, his grandfather, which appeared as if from nowhere and fitted itself around him as if he had been born to wear it. Once it was on him, he picked up his pace to a jog, wishing to reach the encampment quickly.

It would be a decently long walk, he realised, but if they could keep their pace up a bit, they might reach it before the Remei heard and tried to reclaim it themselves. It would be fortunate if they could avoid a fight; he didn't want to lose what little fighting force he had managed to rescue in the first place. And, unluckily for them, most of their walk would be through dark, dense woodland, which were known for being particularly unsafe, what with all the creatures of the many realms being dragged into one location during the merge. By night, this place would be too deadly for them to handle. He thought briefly about how the fae women managed to survive travelling from the camp at night, and realised why it might've taken them so long.

After a long while, Simon spotted a figure ahead which, as he came closer, appeared to be a fae woman with another female resting on her back. The two had perhaps lagged behind the main group of fae when they escaped from the camp; the red-haired woman looked exhausted. It only took a moment for them to reach his group of soldiers. "You look important, I'm looking for Prince Simon's camp. My sister, she's hurt, and she's..." she spoke, and after a moment of hesitation, added, "She's human..." There was surprise throughout the group, and Simon stood stunned for what felt like the longest time, as the girl attempted to communicate with her near enough unconscious companion. "She won't stay awake, the demons they were... playing with her, I don't know what they were doing, but... you gotta help her," the girl continued. "You're a dryad, right? There's a big dragon, back there, he freed us, I can tell you exactly where he is, if you heal her? Please..?"

Simon stepped forward, maintaining eye contact with the girl for a moment, before reaching for her sister. "We will help your sister, but I need you to set her down first," he said as he attempted to hoist the human girl off her sister's back. After lying her down on the ground, he looked back at the group, and felt an almost overwhelming sense of relief that he had brought someone with healing abilities. He didn't know where he'd be if he hadn't, since he hadn't been trained in healing since he was a child. He could remember little of his mother's teachings. "Aphylla," he called, "please tell me you know enough to be able to help her."

Sive watched the man impatiently as he decided what to do. "We will help your sister, but I need you to set her down first," He told her and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He reached around and gently took Sashi from her back. She sighed, her own wounds aching her now. Sashi stitched it well, but Sive overworked it, and she was sure she was bleeding now too. Her focus was on Sashi, Sive would live, she wasn't so sure about her sister.
He set Sashi gently in the grass, her expression was soft, too soft. She looked almost peaceful, laying there, her bandaged around her waist, and a few on her arms, were stained scarlet. "Sashi, Wake up!" She barked at her sister, sharply, and Sashi's eyes fluttered open for a moment, but they fell on the man that knelled over her for a brief moment. "Aphylla," he called, "please tell me you know enough to be able to help her."
Sive swallowed watching her sister, until finally what the man said struck her.
"Are you serious?" She asked him. "What dryad can't heal?" She said and the pixie shook her head. "You mean to tell me, you can't heal here, you're bloody dryad, and you can't heal her, that's like....elementary...You're useless, Where can I find the prince?" She said, folding her arms.

"Sive..." Sashi spoke, her voice just over a whisper. Sive clamored to her side, and leaned down. "Yes, Sash?"

"Be nice...please..." She said and that was it before Sashi slipped back unconscious. Sive tuned to the man, fear in her eyes before leaning down, feeling Sashi's breath on her face, she moved to her chest, her heart beat was slow, but still there.

"She won't stay awake, The stabs aren't that bad, but..."Sive gestured to the unconscious girl, "This keeps happening....You gotta do something, You've powerful magic, I'm only a pixie, but I was told Dryads, they are powerful, could do all sorts of stuff, can't you?"

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▌"He's this way, just up ahead," Sive informed Simon, before trotting on ahead to show them the way. He couldn't help but smile at her for it, but quickly diverted his attention to the human girl, Sashi, was standing much closer to him. He didn't mind much; she probably didn't feel as safe around the soldiers, and Simon had already vowed to protect her so it only made sense for her to hover around him a little more. While he looked down at her, however, she seemed a little more concerned with her sister's wellbeing, and as Simon's eyes found the red-haired girl, he took note of a small amount of blood on her back. He sucked his teeth quietly, and thought for a moment about insisting that she should receive medical attention, but figured he would wait until after the village was secured. The girl seemed intent on marching forward, anyhow. "It won't be long now, about a few hours walk, and you'll smell the smoke," Sive continued, and Simon nodded with a smile, despite having mixed feelings about having to walk for another few hours.

As the group walked on, Simon could occasionally feel eyes on him, and every now and then, his gentle gaze would make contact with Sashi. Almost without noticing, he slowed his pace down ever so slightly - only for a moment - in order to walk directly by her side, though the three still remained at the forefront of the group.

Just as Sive had promised, the faint smell of smoke became apparent to Simon, causing his nose to crinkle slightly. He stopped suddenly, holding up a hand, before turning to the rest of the soldiers. "Aedion, take your assigned soldiers and scout for the village, it should be close by," he ordered, before gesturing to his own four soldiers and Andrew, and continuing on. While he would understand if Sive still attempted to show him the way, Simon didn't need a whole lot of direction by that point; the smoke and heat were leading him towards the camp well enough on their own.

A short while later, they found the remains of what should have been the army encampment, but instead found only ruin. And in the centre of it all lay a large, black dragon. Out of surprise, Simon hesitated only for a moment, before he started forward, taking note of the spears that had been caught between his scales. He had no fear in approaching the dragon, despite his species he was still a weaker being, and would be far too injured to attack even if the intent was there. While his men surrounding the dragon and mimicked their prince, Simon assisted in the effort by wrapping both hands around one of the spears, grunting with the effort it took to remove it. Once the last spear was removed, all of the soldiers stood back, allowing the dragon some room.

"Are you well enough to shift, boy?" Simon asked, having moved around to face the dragon directly, hoping by this point that Andrew will have taken a place by his side. "Or at least talk? I'd like to know your name."

The large beast rose it's massive head as a group of men approached. It immediately recognized the fae at the head of the group and set his head down, in a bit of a huff. He didn't know him, it seemed, the beast thought it funny. Oddly, he noticed two little creatures, one was fae, without a doubt, but the other little one, she was human. She could barely take her eyes off of him, and when she did they went back to the young Prince.

The beast looked at her for a moment before turning his gaze, he then noticed the Dragon Prince, The creature didn't move as his soldiers surrounded him. The Fae at the head, seized the spears between his scales and pulled. The beast growled startling the poor girl, he didn't mean to but that hurt. Soon enough the men all freed the spears, and the beast fought hard not to growl a second time.
They all then gave the beast wide berth, except the Fae Prince.

"Are you well enough to shift, boy?" The Fae Prince asked and it was then that the beast took notice of another dragon at his side "Or at least talk? I'd like to know your name." He asked and the beast rose, he towered over the group, he shook his giant head, before finally in a plume of swirling smoke, it disappeared and it's place, stood a young man, sharp eyes, olive skin and long dark hair, still dressed in his armor and at his side his weapons. He looked up at the Fae Prince.

"It is I, Mycah Youngfire, of the Youngfire Clan, First of my name and Ward of the Great Dryad Dragon Thomas of the Vincent Clan, " He said, with much less enthusiasm then he had once a lifetime ago. "You're Uncle." He told Simon. He looked to the Dragon Prince, and freed his Kukri, and presented it to him. "Forgive my failure, Prince Andrew, I should have been there with your father that day, I will avenge him, this I vow upon my blade." He said, and with his head lowered, he rose his blade in both hands. "I pledge you my blade, my life, until your enemies fall, Dragon King." He told him, and he felt something, and turned sharply.

"Forgive the breech in protocol, You're Grace, but we've company." He said and rose from his kneeling position and turned toward the village. He gripped the hilt of his blade, and it was at the moment the small red haired girl did the same. "Demons." She said and the Mycah looked at her with a curious gaze. "Aye, Can you fight, Little one."

"Watch me!" She said and the speed with which the pixie ran was hard to follow. He didn't know where the blades came from but she flung them with expert precision, each hitting their respective targets.

"Sashi, Hide!" She called back, and Mycah turned to the human girl, who looked from him, and then to Simon as if she were waiting for him to speak. Mycah himself, prepared to shift but would what for orders, unlike the Pixie, who wasted no time.

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[center][font=Cambria]Aphylla, much to her word, kept a far distance from the group, she could still her them and had fireflies follow them and lead her as if they were breadcrumbs. Whilst the forest was dangerous at night, Aphylla knew it pretty well and was fairly certain none of the creatures in it would harm her. She simply followed along, picking many herbs, fungi and even a couple of flowers, all of which would prove beneficial for Sarani. She released a sigh as it began to feel like she'd been walking forever but then the fireflies all sped away, dimming their lights as if to hide from something. Aphylla quickly closed the space between her back and a nearby tree, removing her glamour she blended in with the bark of the tree, it was then she heard Simon calling for her to help but as she tried her best to hide, a group of Demons walked past her, armed to the teeth and stinking of sulphur. Aphylla could feel herself trembling, causing her to clench closer against the tree.

They seemed to be trailing Simon and the others, scouting what they were doing, as they crept on, Aphylla climbed the tree, up into the canopy above it and started to follow the demons, the branches acting as walkways for her. She managed to keep a low profile in the trees above the demons until they came to the edge of the village and turned to walk away, she knew they were going back to inform somebody of the fae so she grabbed a pouch of salt from her bag and sprinkled it in a circular motion, entrapping the demons in a circle of salt so small they wouldn't even be able to see why they wouldn't move. Aphylla then dropped down from the canopy of leaves and teased the demons by blowing a kiss at them, before manipulating the roots of the surrounding trees to form a cage around the demons. With the demons encased in 2 layers of imprisonment she ran off in the direction of the village, she'd have to warn Aedion and the others.

Running into the village, she called for him and the rest of the men, "Guys!" She whisper shouted. "We've been followed, there's demons just on the outskirts of the village." She spotted a steel sword lying on the ground next to her and she promptly picked it up, whilst she was no fighter, she could at least look as of she was ready to fight back.

The slight delay with the pixie and the human was short lived. They had obviously been looking for Simon and now that they had found them, they felt as though they were in his debt. Andrew thought it was interesting how formal they were once they figured out he was the long lost prince. Sive even decided to fight by his side. The human has also vowed her life to him. It made sense though. Simon had saved Sashi’s life. But to walk into battle with them was not a smart idea. She was more fragile than the others. The siblings fought about the idea for a moment and it was clear that Sashi had won that battle.

The group trudged on with two new editions. It was not long before Andrew could smell smoke. Sive continued to lead them, but their was no need. The smoke was now visible and had a strong scent. "Aedion, take your assigned soldiers and scout for the village, it should be close by," Andrew followed his cousin into the encampment. He took in his surroundings, astonished by the how destroyed this once safe haven was. Andrew finally took notice of the giant dragon in the middle of the village. He recognized him immediately. Each dragon has their own distinct shape and this was Mycah.

The dragon shifted into his human form and Andrew took a step up from behind Simon. "Forgive my failure, Prince Andrew, I should have been there with your father that day, I will avenge him, this I vow upon my blade." Andrew dropped his head a little at the thought of his deceased father. He was going to tell him that everything was fine and there was no need for formalities. Like his cousin, he did not enjoy it. But Mycah dropped to his knee and raised his weapon. "I pledge you my blade, my life, until your enemies fall, Dragon King." King? That was new. Andrew was going to say something but he got a strange feeling.

"Forgive the breech in protocol, You're Grace, but we've company." Andrew grabbed the hilt of his sword, ready to fight whoever was about to attack. "Demons." That was going to be fun. Everyone started fighting and Andrew pulled his sword from his belt. He swung left and right, trying to keep the demons from getting a hand on him. They managed to get rid of the enemies that were an immediate threat.

"Catch your breath now because we're leaving to check the village shortly." Andrew nodded and returned the sword to his hip.