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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 0:40:34 GMT -5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was one of those days for Tristan, he had rode out with 20 other Shienarians, fully armed and armored. That had been cut to ten when the trail they were following split. Then it was ust him when he went scouting and they weren't there when he returned. So now he was left to return to Fal Dara on his own. To top it all of the imbecile horse he was riding had thrown a shoe. So now he was walking. The only saving grace was that he new of a place he could spend the night, it was a spring and a clump of trees, but it cut the wind and provided water, so that was where he was headed. And he was looking forward to it until he saw the plume of smoke issuing from it.
"Bloody light cursed fool I am today." He muttered to himself, the horse quirking it's head to look at him. He tied the impossible animal to some treeling and skulked into the wood. Creeping up the where the fire was built, he saw a horse and a woman. He shook his head and stood, walking though the wood towards the camp.
"Greetings m'Lady, you are in danger here."
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 1:00:42 GMT -5
She was off collecting reports from the Eyes and Ears of the Blue's network in Fal Dara. It was hard to get word as far off as from this place. She also had need to collect some things on the way. She was sent out by the Head Selector of the Blue's to do the task. She didn't mind really she loved being out in the world. Second to riding her horse.
She didn't want to ride on, in the night, though she was very close to where she needed to be. This was a fool place to be alone in the world. She found a spot behind a tree near a spring. A great place for water and shelter if any. She had been out in the world far to long to care if it were an Inn she slept in. She warded the area and started a fire for her tea. She kept her horse close by and saddled incase she had urgent need to leave, though she highly doubted that it would come to that. Aes Sedai didnt travel if they were incapable. Unless the Mother, the light illumni her soul, sent one out.
She just sat down to warm her self by the fire and felt a tug at her ward. She grasped saidar and immediatly rounded on the intruder. A man walked into view, "Greetings m'Lady, you are in danger here."
She wrapped him up in flows of Air and stared thoughtfully at the man. "We shall see who is in danger and who is not." She waited a moment and continued, What are you doing here? Why have you come? You look like your Shienarian?"
She didnt wait to hear answers before she sat down. She looked up at him over the pot she was boiling for her tea.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 1:08:08 GMT -5
Feelig himself immobilized the first thing he thought was, sarcastically, that this was a perfect cap to perfect day. He had just snuck up on an Aes Sedai.
"Your pardon Aes Sedai. No, I am not Shienarian. I am Malkieri. I am here because I was riding patrol and became seperated from my unit and my horse is lame. So I am walking to Fal Dara, and this is the best place to camp between where I was and there."
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 1:19:14 GMT -5
"Your pardon Aes Sedai. No, I am not Shienarian. I am Malkieri. I am here because I was riding patrol and became seperated from my unit and my horse is lame. So I am walking to Fal Dara, and this is the best place to camp between where I was and there."
She tilted her head and looked at him. Malkier? Odd, she didnt think any of them were left. His answers seemed enough though.
She put a ward up around her person just incase. She didnt feel comfortable leaving him strung up that way. He did seem awefully honest. Though Men lied, They always lied. She let the weave of Air drop off the man and looked back at the fire. This could be intresting if true.. He knew she was Aes Sedai, that was good. And his politness was well too. He would be easy to talk to at least. She grew tired of fighting for her respect from outlanders. Malkier was a respectable place when it was around.
"Please sit, tell me more of yourself. I am Moiraine Sedai, and I am also on my way to Fal Dara." she said. He looked oddly frustrated at being in his current situation but he sat anyway.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 14:09:15 GMT -5
Sitting down and keeping his eyes from hers. "I am Malkieri by my parents. I was born in Shienar several years after the shadow took Malkier. My parents were evacuated when they came, even they were only children then. I am Tristan Llyeneth, of the House of Llyeneth in Malkier."
As if that said enough of him he fell silent.
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 14:17:46 GMT -5
She listened as he told of his heritage. Malkier indeed, at least his story made sense. Tristan Llyeneth.
"Malkier indeed. It is nice to meet you Tristan Llyeneth. I would be happy for your company this night. No harm in that I suppose." She knew there would be none. In fact, she thought she might have to change her plans some.
Pouring two cups of tea, she handed one to him, and sipped on hers. She peered at him over the rim of the cup and listened as he spoke. He seemed not to like to be in her prensence. She would change that, make him comfortable.....
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 14:32:49 GMT -5
"Thank you Aes Sedai, the honor is mine Aes Sedai."
He sat there as she poured tea, wanting to fidget at his nervousness, but sitting still instead. Taking the cup "Thank you Aes Sedai." Waiting for her to sit again and sip from ehr tea, he then took a sip of his.
"Aes Sedai, I have some rabbit on my horse. If you would like that for supper?" Noting that she already had potatoes in the fire, he thought that would make a good meal.
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 14:54:15 GMT -5
They spent the night talking. She asked the questions, he answered them. She found out how long he had been riding with the Shienarians. A boy, put to the blight to avenge, what, what was already gone and dead.
They left the fire going and laid in their seperate bed rolls. She was propped up on an elbow when she wove a ward around the small camp. She looked at him thoughtfully, with her normal gaze. That of an Aes Sedai. She finally dropped off into sleep, thinking her last thought, He needs a new purpose in life, the blight would be to cursed a place to take the last of the malkier
The next morning they rose and packed up the camp. Much leaving it as it was when she entered it. She watched as he put fresh logs near the fire pit. She considered that a thoughtful move.
She mounted her horse and pulled up her staff next to her. She let Tristan lead. Though he was walking his horse, she kept to a slow trot besides him. The talked endlessly. Well rather she did and he answered. She found it hard to talk when she couldnt say much of what she was doing out here.
Fal Dara was a days walk from the camp. Nearly half way into thier path, they encountered trollocs. Tristan was quick to fight. He was one with his sword. He carried it well and fought well. She embraced the source and started weaving fire, tossing fireballs at trollocs as she could.
Fire was her weakness and she was tired after the attack. She stopped her horse when it was done and slid off the horse to see if Tristan was ok. She would offer a healing to him and then rest. She had a weary look on her face, but did her best to control how she was feeling.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 15:25:02 GMT -5
Tristan spent the day walking his horse and thinking about Moraine Sedai. They had spent a long time conversing the night before, as a matter of fact he ws lost in those thoughts when he smelled something odd and stopped. Lookinf left and right, his sword flowed out of it's scabbard, hefted his shield and he looked to Moraine. "Ride and ride fast there are Trollocs here." Just as he said the word two of the spawn loomed from the ditches on either side of the road, blocking the path to Fal Dara. It was then he heard the ones behind him. Looking over his shoulder he counted three more they had passed by. "By the creator, I am a bigger fool today than yesterday." As he chardeg to the three in the rear, hering the woosh of fire as Moraine set one of the othes alight. It howled and flailed and ran around as the stink of it's burning fur and flesh filled the air. The other of the pair atopped and looked at it's partner. Then turned and in a a snarl yelled "Aes Sedai!!" and charged at her. The trio in the rear, paused and looked at each other as the cry came out. Tristan used that moment to close the gap and strike, trusting Moraine could deal with a single trolloc. He feinted at the beaknosed trolloc on the right and stuck at the goatfaced one on the left, taking it's knee apart with his sword and felling it to the ground. He then backed off and looked to the other two, manevering himself away from the screaming wounded beast on the ground. The Beaknose and ratfaced one, came together and then came at Tristan as one, he heard the woosh hiss of another firball from behind him, closely followed by a howl of pain and anguish. As the trollocs in front of him closed he ducked and rolled, stabbing upward into the beaknosed ones chest. The thing spurted blood across Tristan and stumbled, falling towards him and forcing him to roll out into an exposed postion for the ratfaced one. As he brought sword and shield up to block the blow screaming towards him, he felt the blow strke his shield as a blast of heat and light passed over him, forsing him to shut his eyes. He waited for another blow,but it never came and he peeked with one eye and saw nothing but sky and then Moraine came into view astride her horse.
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 15:40:49 GMT -5
She walked over to his laiden body on the ground. Fool man thought he could tell her to leave, look who was standing now! She picked up her pace and feel to her knees at his head.
She grabbed his pretty little head in her small hands gently. She took flows of Air, Water, and Spirit and delved for the wounds in his body. He was hurt from the last that she had singed. She looked down at him when she was done. His eyes shot open, but that was all, not much other sign he felt what she had done.
"Cursed Man! Fighting alone your battles? Where shall avenging take you? To death and to early for your young mind. You would do better assisting others, those of us who fight a bigger evil." She hissed and shook her head. He would be better off fighting for what was alive still not dead and gone.
She sat him up and sat back on her bottom. lowering her head in exhaust. She felt a numbing tiredness over her.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 15:54:29 GMT -5
Looking up at her asd she layed her hands on him He heard her words and they bit home. Sitting up and holding her eyes fast with is.
"I do what is expected of me Aes Sedai, the bligth took my home from me, took my birthright. I am a noble without a house or a land to call my own. I do what I must to bring vengance to those who took away my patrimony. Too few know of Malkier, fewer yet remember and of those only a handful care. I was raised to care, my fight is against the shadow and I am fighting it the best I know how. If you have a better way then have out with it. There are Trollocs to kill."
He then supported her as she sagged.
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 16:02:52 GMT -5
She felt his hands support her as she heard his words hit home. Yes, he took the bait. She was to tired to answer him detailed. She answered with a quiet and quick statement, "The Dragon has been reborn, Malkier" "Please hand me my pack off my horse, I have need of rest." She waited as he went to grab her pack, and handed it to her. She put it down on the ground and laid back on it.
She closed her eyes and listened for what he might say. Or for other things that might come.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 16:13:08 GMT -5
Staring for a moment after that, he handed her pack over. and went about the process of killing the wounded trollocs, dragging them into a pile and burning them. All the while he thought about what she had said. Finally returning to sit by her when he was done. Keeping an eye down the road for the petrol that would be sent out to investigate the smokes.
"Aes Sedai? What is it you would have me do? I cannot give up my fight with shadow. I am sworn to it, with an oath I would not and cannot break. the Dragon Reborn does not freeme from that no matter what the prophecies say. If you have a direction that will defeat the shadow than I am your servant and you shall have none better."
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Post by Moiraine on Apr 17, 2004 16:20:22 GMT -5
She listened to his concerns. She smiled at his last words. "If you have a direction that will defeat the shadow than I am your servant and you shall have none better." he said finishing.
She opened her eyes and stared at the man. She had no time to rest any longer. "Yes, yes. I am sorry if I have offended you, Tristan. But, I do have a better direction for you. There are those of us that work hard at defeating the Dark One Himself. My journey brings me here to do just that. Your death would better suit us all in aiding. Think, Tristan, a death of how many trollocs, fades, stuff in the blight? What could add as many as the One himself? What could be a better revenge for you. Better to be rid of the whole blight in one fell swoop than to go at it endlessly one at a time, and find yourself wrapped in the Creators hands before your job is done." She watched as he considered. There was no better time than now, she thought.
"I need protection and help, Tristan Llyeneth. " she said. That was hard to admit, but she knew she had him. He deserved a little of herself.
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Post by Tristan on Apr 17, 2004 16:31:00 GMT -5
He looked and then looked to the sky and then back to her.
"To defeat the Dark One himself woulld take either an army like one that has not been seen except in story. That or Lew therin himself..." With that he stopped and s realization came across him. "The Dragon has been reborn." And a slight smile crept across his mouth.
"I am your man Moraine."
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