Battle and Glory

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Wed May 09, 2007 11:19 am

By the time they passed over into Valmorgen, Icienne was soaked through and through. The rain had been steadily coming down since they left the slaughtered Orcs behind, and her robes were quite drenched. Her long hair stuck to the side of her face, and her pale flesh glistened.

Arkhann's words seeped into her mind, and Icienne felt her cheeks burning slightly. Her lips curled into a soft smirk, her eyes sparkling as she watched Arkhann look her over. Again, that double-edged sword of emotion cut her, leaving her feeling oddly exposed, yet wanting to reveal more for him. As their lips lightly brushed, the fire kindling within her exploded forth, and had she not been so weak, she would have planted her lips against his and experienced for the first time what it was like to be lost in the thralls of passion.

She turned her face away from him, staring forward once more, though still smirking. "I wonder, Arkhann, how many women of Valmorgen and beyond you have flattered with such magnificent words." Her hand trailed slowly down his arm, her fingertips toying with the backs of his hands. His grip around her waist was strong, yet gentle; secure, yet soft. "Is it often you find yourself cooing sweet words into the ear of a woman you hardly know?"

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Thu May 10, 2007 9:52 pm

He laughed and smiled to himself. Her comments could be taken two ways, icy or good-natured, and he decided on the latter. He watched her as she turned away from him, his eyes taking in the wild beauty of her wet hair hanging down and her robes clinging to her body, further accentuating her curves. She was an unknown goddess, but at the same time in his care, he allowed himself to draw her against him. He leaned in and smiled.

â€œI will not deny that I have not kept myself chaste, but my position does not create a positive environment for pleasures of the flesh.â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Fri May 11, 2007 11:02 pm

Icienne let her eyes take in all that they could, storing it into her subconscious for a time when it would be willed back to the front of her memory for any use. She did this with most everything and everyone new she saw or met, keeping her teachings close to her. No amount of knowledge is too much. See all, and know all.

The fire that burned within her was turning to a blazing inferno as Arkhann continued to speak to her, openly admitting now to his attempts of wooing her. She grinned despite herself, and laid her head back on his shoulder. The evening sky was grim, and the rain pelted her face. She closed her eyes and let the water flow over her, but it would not quench the flames that licked at her very core.

"It is something I know nothing of, for we are forbidden to learn of anything else besides our magic in our years of apprenticeship in the Tower. There are those in my profession that adamantly believe a wizard's first and only love is magic. And for some, that may be. It is frowned upon, finding pleasure in the company of another, for it is believed it takes away from the purity of knowledge, and one's capability to learn. Keen students are turned to daydreaming blunderers after only a moment's passion... that is what we are taught."

Icienne turned her head then, her lips below Arkhann's ear. "But I am on my Test, my final journey in completing my studies. There is nothing more Master Ichlaz can teach me. All that is left is the fusion of power reserved for every apprentice once completing their trials. The Master of the Tower can teach me nothing further.

"And besides," she added, turning her head so that it faced the sky again. "I am, and have always been, an apt pupil. I do not think my mind could be turned to mush so easily, no matter how... enraptured... a night in the company of another might make me."

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Sun May 13, 2007 2:32 am

As they rode on he listened to her talk. Yes he had heard stories of the Tower and itâ€™s strict prohibition on pleasure of any kind, carnal or otherwise. He kept her close and enjoyed that she was leaning on him. He smelled her hair, it was her own scent mixed with that of the rain and h smiled. Today had been a good day.

â€œHmmm, perhaps you should begin to take your own liberties then. If your master is no longer able to teach you, seek out knowledge your own ways. The Valmorgen Military Academy stresses independence and forward thinking. While I donâ€˜t know how practical that is in a school of magic itâ€˜s what has kept my men alive for long enough to hold of the Orc horde. Not to mention a little bit ofâ€¦ passion never hurt.â€

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Sun May 13, 2007 10:57 am

He was looking around from beneath his hood. Most of the soldiers were either training at their profession or watching the trio ride towards the main keep.
He felt uneasy. He didn`t like it when strangers stared at him.
Especially military types. He shivered. His whole body was dripping wet.
"Why did it have to be today that it rained..." He grumbled , unhappily.
"Are we nearly there?" He asked, wiping rain from his face
" i think i`m getting a chill" He said , sarcastically and laughed , brushing water from his horses hair...

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Sun May 13, 2007 11:55 pm

As they passed into the Keep, Icienne tilted her head so that her forehead rested against Arkhann's jaw. Her eyes were taking in everything before her, soaking it up like a sponge. A grin passed over her face as she listened to her riding companion gently encouraging her to expand her horizons and experience things for herself, things she had only dreamed of in the darkest shadows of night, locked away in the Tower, left to only her thoughts, when Ichlaz would be away resting or working on extremely dangerous and toilsome magics.

"Independence and forward thinking are not exactly encouraged in a teenage pupil being fed knowledge that, if used improperly, could kill everyone in sight, including themselves.

"Once a wizard has passed the Test, they can do what they wish. Most fall in line in the heirarchy of the Tower, climbing to the top of their respected positions, according to the mage under which they studied. I am in line to become Master of the Tower someday, should I so choose." Icienne's eyes glittered, and she paused, thinking briefly over the power that she could control when the time came.

At length, she continued. "Some travel forth into the world and find armies to aid, as I am sure you know. Some go back to their homes and become the local apothecaries, and a few banish their teachings altogether and try to lead normal lives, being mortally afraid and disgusted of what they have seen and done within the walls of the Tower. These are things of which I cannot speak."

They stopped at the gate, and Icienne fell silent. She watched the guard asking Arkhann for identification, and she thought it an extreme, but necessary, measure of security, especially considering the strangers that rode with him: a wild-eyed warrior and a deadly mage.

The gate swung open and they were admitted, and Icienne watched the units of soldiers moving with fluid presicion in time as one. She noticed the hooded figures in certain units, recognizing what they were at once. "Mages..." she whispered, a hungry grin spreading across her face, a hunger for knowledge. "Do they have laboratories here? Do they have books of spells open to study? I would very much like to see their lecturns."

A sigh fell over her, and she blinked sleepily. "I do not mean to rush you, Lord Commandant, but I am in desperate need of my drink soon. And I would not mind a bit of company, if your presence is not required elsewhere."

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Mon May 14, 2007 1:14 am

He chuckled to himself as Icienneâ€™s curiosity piqued with the sight of the mages. She seemed almost like a giddy child put before a room full of toys. Yes they did have a mage barracks, which was really more like a small fortress unto itself, set slightly apart form the rest of the military quarter, and he would be happy to show her at some point, but as she had said it was time for her to have her drink and perhaps rest. He stopped and turned to face Selik, as he called a squad over. â€œSelik, please allow Captain Gareth to escort you to the barracks, I will see you there to discuss military matters after I have finished accompanying Lady Icienne.â€

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Mon May 14, 2007 9:52 am

Selik nodded to the Captain.
"Names Selik." He offered out his hand.
The Captain shook it and replied , "Captain Gareth , at your service." Gareth smiled
"Please follow me , we can restock your weapons , get you some new armour and of course a bed , a beer and....company if you require it" The captain laughed as he said these last few words.
Selik laughed too , he could be doing with everything the man had mentioned , especially company. H placed a hand on the Captains shoulder and uttered " I think i`m going to like this place."

They entered a large door , with intricate carvings etched into the wood. Selik looked around admiring the carpentry.
"How old is this keep?" Selik asked , curiously.
"To be honest , i dont really know. It was here when i was born.
If i was to guess id say at least a good hundred years."Cpt.Gareth replied.
He walked past a room which emitted lots of heat and smelled the unmistakable aroma of cooking mutton. He opened the door gently to see a large sheep roasting in the ovens. A small, plump chef was overseeing the cooking.
Before the chef had noticed, Selik had quietly closed the door behind him. They continued down a long corridor. The ceiling was high. A few windows littered the tall walls , the light streaming in.
In minutes they had reached a hall. There were many men gathered , laughing and talking loudly.
And a old Barman , much like ol` Mac was polsihing glasses with utmost speed.
"Make yourself welcome , my friend. I`m sure Arkhann will be with you shortly" Gareth Bowed and turned on his heel and strutted out into another corridor on the other side of the hall.
Selik walked over to the Bar and asked for a large pint of strong mead. H left two gold coins on the table and walked over to the roaring fire.
He was still dripping wet....

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Mon May 14, 2007 10:49 am

Icienne tingled. New knowledge... The thought of acquiring knowledge of her own accord again, like she had done when she was a child, made her feel... alive. "I would very much like to have a look at the mages' books, with permission of course from the head of the order here. I can't imagine what sort of knowledge they have stored in their libraries, but I would very much like to find out."

Arkhann then told her that he would be taking her to his own personal quarters, and she grinned, again despite herself. "So, I have the priviledge of seeing where the war hero takes his rest and finds his comfort in the long stretches of night." She was actually looking forward to a bed and her drink, no matter whose bed it was. "All I require is a glass three-quarters full of water, and perhaps some dry robes, until my own are warm again. And, of course, the escort and company of the Lord Commandant of Valmorgen Keep."

They rode through the murder room, and Icienne took in every detail, from the ominous sound of the portcullis, to the holes in the wall, recognizing the room immediately for what it was. The Tower that she had called home for eight years also had one of these. The first floor had a very large murder room that stretched around the circumference of the Tower, and perches accessible by the second floor were spaced evenly throughout, giving the guard mages, or Overseers, the ability to look down over the entire room. Doors to the inner core of the Tower, the real entrances, were hidden with magic, so that anyone breeching the outer gate would be foolish enough to think for a fleeting moment they had fooled the wizards, but would find all too late that they were not in the inner workings of the Tower at all, but instead that they had stepped into their own doom. And it was not arrows nor hot oil that poured down upon anyone that dared to assail the Tower. It was fiery magic, magic that reduced any intruder to a puddle of nothing upon the floor.

At last, Arkhann reigned Daran to a halt in the courtyard of the Keep, and with his help, Icienne found herself standing on wobbly legs. Enough strength had seeped back into her bones so that she could walk again, but as she took Arkhann's arm and stepped forward, it was with unsteady movements. She appeared almost as if she was drunk, staggering a bit. She held tightly to Arkhann's arm, more than ready for her drink, and to feel that all important strength return to her body.

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Tue May 15, 2007 11:24 pm

Arkhann noticed Icienneâ€™s lack of strength and endeavored to support her more, leading her into the iron-barred doors of the main hall. They were greeted by the enormous room, with an arching ceiling supported by enormous stone pillars engraved with depictions of famous battles. They walked in between them and he glanced at some of the art. Years of work had gone into just the pillars and he was not about to let it fall into the hands of the Orcsâ€¦ but there were far more important reasons to protect Valmorgen. They turned an abrupt left and strode into a small corridor branching off from the hall.

He smiled at her as they walked, â€œI will have a servant bring your water as soon as possible, and I wuld be happy to accompany you. As you can see the original builders of this castle were quite opulent. I for one do not care particularly for the grandiloquence of much of this place but it is still home.â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Wed May 16, 2007 11:20 am

Icienne clutched at Arkhann's arm with what strength remained to her. She tried as best she could to retain some of that fluid grace and walk with little aid, but try as she might, she could not move as steadily as she would have liked. That is, not until Arkhann tightened his grip upon her and helped her with her movement. She clung even tighter to him, thankful that, as they entered the grand hall, it was empty.

Her icy eyes took in the details of the pillars, her eyes scanning over each battle so painstakingly engraved into the stone. As they passed one, she caught a glimpse of a man she swore she recognized, robes billowing about his form as he faced battalions of Valmorgen's finest. Her steps faltered, but Arkhann seemed not to notice, for he continued leading her on through the hall, taking her left and out into a corridor.

The steps seemed to go on and on forever to the mage, who was, by this time, quite tired and wondering if she could go another step. At last, they reached the landing, and Icienne sighed heavily, thankful that the stairs had been climbed. She waited for Arkhann to unlock the door, teetering where she stood, like a sapling in a gale, threatening to fall over.

The defining click of the lock echoed slightly in the hall as Arkhann turned the key, and thankfully, Icienne went inside the room. She went immediately to the bed and sat on the end of it, praising the comfort and rest she was about to receive. Her eyes took in the room only briefly, and once Arkhann had announced he would return and left the room, Icienne fell back onto the bed, her eyes sliding shut. A deep sigh escaped her, and she chilled slightly from the cold, damp robes sticking to her flesh, and then she drifted away.

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Thu May 17, 2007 12:33 am

Arkhann strode down the hallway stopping at the third door on his left. He opened it slowly and entered the large room. It was occupied by three men, who jumped to their feet when they noticed him enter. They wore brown tunics under lightweight breastplates. They saluted simply and stood at attention. These werenâ€™t actually paid military, in fact they werenâ€™t even soldiers of any kind, they were simply servants, but every man woman and child in Valmorgen was trained in the use of weapons and armor to some extent. He smiled and strode to the sink, Indoor plumbing, an inordinately expensive commodity, he grabbed a glass and filled, pausing a moment to wonder how they managed to get the water so high into the keep, perhaps magic? It didnâ€™t matter.

He nodded to the servants and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He walked back towards the room, making sure the glass didnâ€™t spill. He turned the door handle slowly and stepped inside, peering around, then noticing she was on his bed. He strode over and set the water down on a small nightstand next to the bed. â€œHereâ€™s- oh youâ€™re asleep.â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Thu May 17, 2007 12:57 am

Icienne stood alone in a dark, circular room, quietly waiting in the center, for what, she did not know. There was no furniture in this room, no adorments or decorations. It was black, and loathsome, and deathly quiet. A single window was carved in the stone near the top of the eastern wall, and the full moon gave its light, streaming in a pale ray down to encompass the mage as she stood there, like a condemned criminal awaiting final punishment.

The turn of a key in a lock somewhere echoed through the room, and on the wall directly in front of her, a door swung open. The silhouette of a tall man could be seen, robed, lingering in the doorway a moment before stepping through. His paces were deliberate, daunting, and as he moved clear of the door, it swung shut of its own accord, the lock clicking back into place. Icienne was trapped alone with this man.

She stood waiting, watching the figure intently as he made his way ever closer to her. It seemed to take him forever to reach her, so vast was the room, but finally the moonlight cascaded over him, and, as Icienne had guessed, she found herself staring at her master. He did not look pleased.

"This is a dream," Icienne said, looking Ichlaz in the eyes. She remained calm, but her blood felt as if it was turning to icy slush even as it ran through her veins.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Ichlaz replied, his voice sinister.

"Why have you brought me here?" Icienne asked, a hint of panic in her voice now.

"You know why," Ichlaz sneered, looking with contempt at his apprentice. "Him."

"Who?" She knew the answer to this even before the word left her lips.

In an instant, Ichlaz was on her, his hand around her throat, and the two of them rushed with blinding speed through the room. Ichlaz was pushing her forward, and there was a fire in his eyes Icienne had never seen. Her back rushed forward to meet the unforgiving stone, and she cried out, clawing at Ichlaz's hand as he lifted her above him. Her feet dangled and she coughed and sputtered, the air cut off from her hungry lungs. A terribly violent wind whipped around the two of them, rustling robes, billowing hair. Her eyes were wide, and she was afraid.

As Icienne lay on the bed, lost in her dream, she coughed, struggling to breathe.

"Do not play stupid with me, I know you far better than that!" Ichlaz bellowed, gripping Icienne's throat tighter, threatening to cave in her airway. "The eyes of this Tower are not utterly blind! I see more than you know, apprentice. Barely have you been acquainted for twenty-four hours, and already you are shivering at his touch! Did the teaching I enstilled in you mean nothing? Do you not wish to complete your Test?"

Icienne choked, struggling to draw breath. "What more can you teach me?" she croaked, gripping at his fingers, trying in vain to release herself from his grasp. "I am on my Test, my studies are complete!"

With malice in his eyes, Ichlaz dropped Icienne hard to the floor. She landed with a painful thud, gulping in air and rubbing her throat.

Icienne groaned as she lay upon Arkhann's bed, horrible red marks appearing on her neck. The imprint of a hand.

Ichlaz towered over her, looking down at her in disgust. "It is not just the completion of the Test that will assure you gain the instillation of power that is your right," Ichlaz sneered, looking down his nose at her as she lay in a crumpled heap at his feet. "It is the manner in which you complete this Test, the means by which you reach the end. If you defile your body before it is proper time, I will banish you as a Failure, and you will never know what it is to harness your full potential."

The intense wind that had ripped through the room at the display of Ichlaz's power died, leaving Icienne's hair sprawled behind her. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked up at the man she trusted for eight years, only to understand now she did not know him at all. He smirked at this show of emotion and bent down, his face mere inches from hers.

"The knowledge that you failed, it will eat away at you, every waking moment. It will torment you in the watches of night, until you can find no rest. It will sicken you by day, until you can find no nourishment. It will devour you, until it has consumed you entirely."

In an awkward display of compassion, Ichlaz laid his hand upon Icienne's shoulder. She cringed and looked away from him.

"You are my strongest and most apt apprentice I have yet to encounter," he cooed at her. "If I did not think this task appropriate for you, I would not have assigned it. You will not fail..."

Icienne closed her eyes as Ichlaz's voice echoed through the room. "You will not fail..." It began to fade, as if greater distance was being put between the apprentice and the master. "You will not fail..."

Icienne awoke with a start, her eyes wide, gasping for breath. She looked wildly around her, sitting up, not recognizing for a moment where she was. Her very foundation had been cracked.

Her eyes fell upon Arkhann, and she stared at him a moment, still breathing hard, as if she had just run a great distance. Her eyes were frantic; there was confusion and fear in them. As well as tears.

In a complete state of frightening vulnerability, Icienne did something she had not done since leaving her home. Hiding her face in her hands, she wept.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Thu May 17, 2007 9:56 am

Selik smiled out of the Corner of his mouth. He took a long drink of beer and placed his hands behind his head like a pillow. He stretched out.
" Well hello there. You seem nice. My name is Selik. I am your saviour." Selik laughed at his own joke and realised the Mans face remained stern.
"Bad joke? Well anyway..... Lord Commandant Arkhann has recruited me to help defend the Keep and the town. He has mentioned something about dealing with an Orc WarLord.
He seems to be your main target. Am i right?"
Finally selik stood up and offered out a hand,still not dry from the pouring rain.
" We ran into a war party a few miles before reching the keep. Only problem was that they didnt act like a warparty. They were armed asif they were assasins. Thye carried longbows and i`m positive they normally used brutal crossbows. That wasnt the most curious part though. They used POISONED arrows. A friend of ours was shot and she is being tended to in a room. I am sure Arkhann will be able to explain more whn he arrives." Selik took a long breath after his long explanation. He sat back down in his chair and light his pipe...

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Thu May 17, 2007 11:16 pm

Arkhann watched her Icienne toss in her sleep, unsure to wake her not. She seemed to be caught in some terrible nightmare and he was unable to help. He put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. Suddenly she awoke and he started, surprised. She sat up with a confused look on her face, her hair splawed over her face and her eyes wild, she stared at him blankly, no recognition in her eyes. He also saw fear and confusion in those same eyes and as the tears began to flow and her hands moved to her face he put his arms around her, pulling her closer. He looked around as he held her cold, sobbing form. â€œWhatâ€™s wrong what happened? Are you okay?â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Fri May 18, 2007 12:01 am

Icienne sobbed uncontrollably, fear grasping her and not letting her go. Like a noose, it tightened around her, and she felt utterly trapped by the hand that had fed her wisdom and knowledge for eight long, grueling years. She had admired Ichlaz like a father-figure, a confidante and a friend during her time in the Tower, living in silent awe of him, as she was certain all of his apprentices had done. But there was a piece to the puzzle that was the Master of the Tower missing, a piece Icienne didn't even know existed until this very night.

Arkhann wrapped his strong arms around Icienne's chilled body, and she let herself melt into his embrace, finding comfort there. Her hands moved from her face to rest upon his plated chest, and she buried her face in the nape of his neck until the tears subsided at last. She let the silence envelope her as she sat there, lost in his warm embrace. For a solitary moment, Icienne found a strained peace, but harsh visions of what had just happened assaulted her mind, and slowly, she pulled away from him.

Icienne did not look at Arkhann, not daring to meet his inquisitive gaze yet. Her eyes were puffy and the tip of her nose had reddened. Spindly digits moved wet tresses of her dark hair out of her face, and she reached over, silently taking the glass of water into her hands. She went through the familiar motions of making her drink, and it was not until she had drained the glass of its contents and felt strength flowing through her veins again that she would speak.

Her voice was now only a mockery of the icy calm it had once been.

"My Master came to me, in a vision set in the Tower. He has seen much, and he knows more than I can begin to imagine. He has been watching me... watching us, and what he has seen displeases him beyond measure. It seems I am not free yet to make desicions of my own accord. He feels an unrest growing within me that I thought remained hidden in the deepest wells of my being, an unrest I beg you not to inquire about. I fear speaking of it now will release thoughts and actions that will condemn me and destroy any chance I have of completing my Test, for even though the Warning still lies fresh in my mind, hearing your voice speak of such things as this... will shatter me."

Icienne trembled all over, like a small dog in an uncomfortable, unfamiliar setting. "As for this," she said, waving her hand over her neck, "the arm of my Master is long when the proper tactics are employed. I have been Warned. I dare not defy him."

A heavy silence fell over the room, and for many moments, Icienne did not know what to say. She still did not look Arkhann in the face, she did not meet those captivating eyes. She stared at her hands, now folded in her lap.

At length, she spoke again. "I would like some dry clothing, and a look at the libraries of the magi here. Perhaps settling into my studies will ease my current torment." Icienne wasn't certain if Arkhann understood what she meant, but she was in no position to elaborate any further. She was confused, and she felt more vulnerable now than she ever had, a feeling she disliked intensely.

Selik · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Selik** on Fri May 18, 2007 9:49 am

Selik shrugged and slowly eased up from his chair. At least he was dry now.
"Challenge accepted" He said simply and followed behind the general. He looked to down and patted his fine broadsword.
He walked with utmost anticipation. This woul be interesting.
Thoughts flooded his already overcrowded mind.
Who will win?
Will it be fair?
What weapons will he use?
What if he loses?
Will he be mad?
He shut his eyes concentrated on his mind , then let all the worries and queries fall out of his head, leaving him blank and ready for the sparr.
He entered the grounds and the sun beamed into his eyes.
"Bloody weather. Never stops changin`." He laughed.
He removed his new cloak , layed it on the floor in a heap and stepped into the ring.
The Valmorgen soldeirs surrounded himself and Sturmgeist.
He looked around at them , an eyebrow raised.
"What you all want?" he asked bitterly , noticing they were brandishing their weapons.
"Think i`m gonna run? Pfft! If anyone of you even touches me with your weapon , you`ll lose your arm. Understood? I want this to be a fair fight , and to ensure that i`ll take it easy on you , Sturmgeist my friend." He laughed and drew his Broadsword and his Small war axe. The orc blood was still painted on the blades, It had now turned to a dark crusty from of red.
He stared at the dark patches on his weapons.
He waved his sword in the air and braced himself for battle...

Zaine · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Zaine** on Fri May 18, 2007 11:15 am

He stared down at his arm, at the strange tattoo that wrapped around it. He ran his right hand through his dark brown hair; unrolling his sleeve to cover his arm again he looked up. He swore under his breath as it began to rain once again, â€œI thought the storm last night was enoughâ€

Azmodai2 · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Azmodai2** on Sat May 19, 2007 1:09 am

Arkhann looked confused for a moment but nodded he listened to her explain. This â€™Masterâ€™ is becoming almost a problemâ€¦ He stood and peered into his closet looking for clothes, looked at Icienne then pulled a small rope which rang a bell in the servantâ€™s quarters. The door pushed open and one of the servants stood there, â€œYes, sir, you rang?â€

PunkRockinHobbit · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **PunkRockinHobbit** on Sat May 19, 2007 1:43 am

Icienne allowed her eyes to stray from her folded hands to Arkhann as he got up and rifled through his closet. She wondered at this a moment, finding it almost absurd that Arkhann would think he would have something stored away among his clothes for her, and had she felt like it, she would have laughed. She let her mind stray from the actions of the man to the man himself, admiring again his broad, strong-looking shoulders, his muscular physique... quickly she turned her gaze from him, choosing instead to look out of the window, trying to find something, anything to focus on other than the superb specimen of man standing there, rifling through clothing, looking for something for her to wear.

She caught the movement from the corner of her eye of Arkhann moving to the bell-pull, summoning a servant from their quarters to assist him in finding something warm and dry for her to put on until her robes were dry again. Those icy orbs wandered over to him again, and she forced herself to wonder more about the man within. She wondered who he had been before becoming the Lord Commandant of Valmorgen Keep, after his family was slain. Had he already been in the service of the military, or was it a choice he made after he found himself alone in the world? Just like Icienne herself, there was a deep pool of mystery within Arkhann, a pool she would drain, shedding lights on the secrets and the past that made Arkhann who he was. After all, once they vanquished the Orcs threatening this beautiful Keep, they had a long journey north ahead of them. Much of the questions she had concerning who Arkhann was beneath the armor would be answered then, of this she was certain.

It was then the female servant arrived with the clothing meant for the mage, and Icienne looked from her to Arkhann. He was sharp; she knew he sensed the sudden rift she had placed between the two of them. Still, he did his best to give her that soft, charming smile, and in return, Icienne did her best to reciprocate. He needed her still, and she needed him, in ways she knew, and in ways she did not understand.

The door shut quietly, leaving Icienne alone with the servant. Icienne peered at her a moment, taking in her face, every detail, storing it into memory, as was her habit. She stood and stretched a bit, her green robes seeming now very heavy, still laden with water. She unstrapped the belt holding all of her precious spell components in their various pouches and spread it over the foot of the bed. Then she slipped out of the green robes and the servant rushed forth, taking them from her to be dried and returned to Arkhann's room once they were suitable for wearing again. The servant handed to Icienne the bundle of clothing, and the mage took it, unfolding the simple, yet elegant dress that had been chosen for her to wear. It was a golden shade, the same gold that trimmed the armor of some of the units of soldiers moving within the walls of the Keep. It had a wide, low-sweeping neckline, hanging off the shoulders, and long, billowing sleeves that nearly threatened to sweep the floor as they trailed back from the wrist. The hem swept around her feet as Icienne slipped into it, and she was given a pair of soft leather boots, warm and comfortable, until her own were dry again.

Icienne braided her long hair down to the very tips, and she wrapped the braid once around the circumference of her head before bundling the remainder of the braid in a bun at the crown. Once she was finished, she looked down at herself, feeling oddly naked despite the beautiful clothing she had been given to wear. It had been eight years since she had worn anything other than the green robes of Ichlaz, and she felt awkward.

"If ye don't mind me sayin' so, Madame, ye look radiant." The servant smiled at her kindly, and Icienne looked at her.

"I do not feel radiant," she replied lamely. "I feel... out of place."

"Beggin' yer pardon, Madame, but it's t' be 'spected, I s'pose. But come now, Lord Arkhann's waitin' on ye."

The servant opened the door to Arkhann's room, motioning for Icienne to exit first. She stepped out of the room and looked to Arkhann, who was waiting patiently for her. She smiled softly, feeling a bit at-ease again now that she was warm and dry.

"I am ready, Lord Commandant."

Battle and Glory

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