Aeron & Lillith - The Aftermath 1

[Samaena]

lillith_luminatti: She stood before what remained of the Lumination, mercury pools staring off into.. well.. nothing now. Slipping away into Aerons Dreaming had saved them both. But it had not saved the carnage that had continued. But that was all that was important right? Her head would lower, platinum tresses washing against her shoulders clad in silk, a booted toe working absentmindedly through a bit of rubble. Her hands were clasped behind her back, hands that she had once thought to be so strong, yet they hadn't been able to stop this. The Lumination was gone. She'd been able to do nothing but shield she and her Sprite from the Dead that had invaded their land. A sigh would part rosebud tiers, closing her eyes as she tossed her head back. Hands falling to her sides, clenching into fists. And then.. she would scream. " FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" That single shout would careen through what remained of what belonged to her. That angered cry would be all she could do really. And she was alone.. so why not? A slow roll of tensed shoulders as she again let the rage of this.. this -invasion- consume her. But even through it all, she knew deep down it could all be rebuilt. Everything. The Lumination would once again stand, for she was Lillith Luminatti. And Lillith never lost. Not anymore.

lance_m_lockheart* Towards the last of his wandering days Lance had grown so home sick that he ended the journey with his friends. His path was home, his friends would be remembered but his family meant so much more. And so it came to pass that once more Lance Lockheart was to return home, return to the family at least the one woman that treated him as so. He could still remember the smell of her hair, the angelic ring of her laugh. And the glimmer in her eyes that brought many a men to their knees at times. Best of all he remembered the first of his days in meeting the ladies Luminatti, the grace most of them held without much effort. They were in a sense angels on earth, even though some had...not so proper ways. Then there was Lance, the one man that probably knew more about helping then he did about the women. He grew to care for each one, he grew before their eyes. But he spent many times away from them, returning unannouce just like this time. He was no longer a boy now, his trials and tribulations had shaped him to be a sturdy man. This man had come to be known for his Paladinic actions in the crusades. A man of holy powers it would seem, like many before him in service of the Cardinals. Yet he was no longer needed after a quick few months of service, so those he knew and himself went on to explore the land. Till home once again beckoned Lance, he knew not why....he simply knew he could not ignore it. The ring out of a voice in such a cursed manner...it could only be one female. Lance was slow to rise over the horizon where his shape could be seen. The cry of an eagle over head would surely grab anyone within the areas attention. I would swoop down low and land upon his shoulder. And there he stood, the building....was in shambles, the building he helped build so long ago. He adjusted the sword strung across his back and took a breath. Lillith was standing...seeming well considering the strength of her voice. Instead of taking this sight in he continued on walking down the hill, his cloth off white garbs flowing in the wind. His armor shinning slightly even though it was a tad bit scuffed and tarnished. By the time his face was able to be made up he was merely 30 yards from Lillith's back...he said nothing...he figured she'd know..

Aeron_Luminatti: For all her worth she had done all that she could. She had taken Lillith away from the fire, the ruins before them they knew as home. It as a tragedy. Even her wood was gone. There had been so many lost and that worth, that tiny shred of worth was worthless to them. She had been unable to save them and she had listened to them screaming for her, even caught sight of a few reaching from the tress they lived within. She couldnt turn to look toward those charcoal stumps now. She could not shed her tears. Struck mute with the grief, she sorrow and lack of anything she had once turned to, to find strength, a strength she had lost while she watched it all burn. There was only Lillith left, but as the illusion of the Dreaming faded away and her sisters cry filled the air…there was no comforting echo, no startled wildlife to scurry within the brush…it was gone. All gone and she cringed as that curse seemed to ring on in her own mind. Over and over. Small hands clenched till they formed fists and she turned away to face the ruin of their home. Merely hanging her head with the weight of her own grief.

Darkness_Embrace_Thee* Melancholic empathy. Wandering echoes, shadows glimmering in pale darkness. Tourniquet...a protection, single minded purpose. Two blades, opposing values of morality. Sanity, insane fever. Each drawn, dripping the blood of the thousand candles, wax burning, biding its time. A step, cascading waterfalls of dark strands upon a visage lost into the night of day. A second step, a growl, a movement, a motion of insane sanity. Around him, hewn, sawn off devastation. Singly driven. A thought, within the confines, a boundary? Nothingness....but a purpose ensued. A step...sleep, where was home? Frown…etching statuesque porcelain features. Moving, forgotten...slain. The blood poured, the waterfall turned to red... and it dripped, a slow movement, the dance of death...the Angel of Darkness, stalking. The woman, the bonds of servitude caressing, taunting. A teasing gait, smile, frown...A scream, howling echoes within. The voices sang, harmonies of death...the Angel walked the Earth...the Devil embodied the soul.

lillith_luminatti: Indeed she knew. Much as he had grown, so had she. She had come fully into her Power, fully into who and what she was, and she had come finally to accept just herself. Though she was still essentially the woman he remembered, she was.. how could one say.. calmer now? If that was even possible really. She had sensed him there upon the hill, watching her. But she had allowed him to come to her when he was ready. She would smile, a calm slowly washing over her as he neared, turning to face him as he made his way towards her. Watching him walk, taking him in. A warmth moving over him perhaps he would feel as she 'touched' him, her head tilting to the side slightly. She would be adorned in everything he might remember her in. Well-fitting jeans, simple silk blouse of white. Twin Brownings in their shoulder holsters. Cowboy boots upon her feet complete with a single silver spur. And her smile. That true smile not many saw from the lips of this woman. That smile that managed to actually reach her silver eyes. One of true love, a smile she gave only her family. Aerons grief washed over her, filled her, but she herself would not show it. We will bring it all back my Sprite. Everything. This is our Home, and it will be again. I promise. A comforting touch offered to her sister, though briefly. Her eyes were for Lance right now, as were the soft words flowing from her, words that slipped through his senses like a feathers touch. " Welcome home darlin'. You've been missed. Sorry about the state of the place. I haven't had time to sweep I'm afraid."

lance_m_lockheart* His eyes would barely move as all happened around him, his body almost rippled the that familiar feeling of warmth over his body. Yet even after she spoke he said nothing, he simply made his way closer to Lillith. The Eagle upon his shoulder flew to one of the larger piles of rubble and perched upon it. As he came into less than an arms length from Lillith his emotionless face cracked a coy smile. "You never were a very good liar to me." The once boyish voice was much more deep, it had almost a Dwarfish tone to it. Obviously he spent too much time drinking and talking with Ellgath the dwarf. "Don't worry, I help put this place together once.... I can do it again." He gave Lillith a soft wink then turned to Aeron. "Fret not dear, I'm here and I'm not about to let anything happen to my...family. Rebuilding is the very heart of a human." Looking back to Lillith his right hand reached around to his back and he came back around with a fist. "Happy mother's day...." was all he said as he held the fist out to her with the same coy smile. She'd have to open it and see for herself.


Darkness_Embrace_Thee* There were the words, grasping, swords floundered before him. Upon the edges of this place, another step, a run. Sprinting, he would escape. " I feel your presence. Show me where to sleep, where is a place to sleep?" the words spat, hoarse yelling over and over...an echo of the minds numb insanity. " Kill me " followed, over and over… Around him, guarded darkness. Hell...the Angel walked in Hell. Spinning, the Rage, Perfect..he was Perfect. Guardian, Legend, the Knight of Justice....no. Perfect was a great man...you are a shell of a forgotten life. Like this place....a husk, the shed and forgotten skin of a snake…<br>

[Samaena]

Aeron_Luminatti: Bring it all back? Just how was Lillith going to fix this one? Frustration, rage, disappointment…it was such a heavy burden to bear. They had screamed for help and there had been none to hear them. How could Lillith have known? So they could replant the wood, they could rebuild the Lumination…what about the lives. What about the screams she still heard even now? Where the fuck did Lillith think she was going to find more Dryads? Had she any clue they had been there in the first instance? She said nothing, not even within that link but she knew Lillith would have felt it. Lance's approach had been for the most part disregarded. No doubt he'd think he could make it all right, as it had been before. She remembered him from before…only in passing as she had flit from her room, down the stairs and out the back door. The way Lillith had greeted him too went in his favour but al she could offer was a dark look, before she composed herself enough to toss back her head. Platinum mane settling back to frame her face. An impish face that held only anger, the scent of burnt peaches seemed to swell around her and she merely turned away from them both, to catch sight of another that had come to join the party at the ruins of their home. His voice had reached her and all she could do was giggle. The giggle of total despair, the voice of a child perhaps on the verge of tears…Why would anyone want to shout such a thing? He should have been here earlier, the fire would have taken care of everything. It wasn't to last though. A trembling hand came to cover her mouth to cease the giggling…but her voice was strained and pained, an angry admission past the ump in her throat "You cant bring them back! Are you stupid?" they were dead.

lillith_luminatti: She wasn't surprised in the least his offer to help rebuild. The Lumination was as much a part of him as it was all of the sisters. He had built the main building with his own hands really. Ah.. he had been so young then. And indeed, he had grown into such a man. It reminded her really.. just how fucking old she was. Oh yippee skippee. Damn she needed a whiskey suddenly.. how long had it been since she'd had a drink? Awhile she thought. What was it with Lance's presence that made her nervous? Maybe because of their strained past. She wanted so badly for him to know he could always come home. She thought maybe he'd finally figured it out. His smile warmed her more then she could ever express, remembering back when he was so angry all the time. He had been just like she used to be really. Not to say Lillith was no longer angry. She had much to be pissed about, and being pissed at least once a day kept her going really. She would glance to Aeron as Lance spoke to her, and she would feel something. Something deep tugging at her. A want, a need, a desire.. she wanted to go back with Aeron, go away, away where they were alone in the Dreaming. safe, secure.. a scowl would work over her delicate brow. Watching her sister with true concern, sighing. Lillith knew where Aerons grief stemmed from, and her sister was more then correct. The Deaths that had occurred here could never be replaced. " I don't know what to do Aeron. For once.. I can't fix this.." She would sigh, looking to Lances outstretched hand, chuckling softly. " You remembered. Thank you for that. Forgive my sister, but she grieves. She really has lost more in this then either of us can fathom darlin'. Some things can be rebuilt, but some things can never come back. What have you got there? "Her hand reached out, slender yet very strong fingers working to slowly open his clenched hand..

Darkness_Embrace_Thee* Pulsing, blades shimmered, forgotten. Life, pushing him onwards, sprinting steps, silence. Voices gone, head tilted...cocked. Body spun, movements a dark red blur, boots allowing speed with balance. Suddenly, cutting, searing darkness. He stopped. Standing, gazing. An echo. Orbs of green darkness pierced, gaze lashing out....Aeron, locked. A nod of his head, she was the presence? A sigh slipped past...and he stopped yelling. Entranced, debated...sound. " Where is my room I need to sleep. Guide me to my room.." though...what she had said flitted through his mind, conscious awakenings. A short reply, a few simple words as the blood fell around him. Dripping, splashing, rivers overflowing the banks. Candles burned...flames flickered, died. " They are always with you. The voices in your head.. " sound faltered...head bowed, earthward bound descendance.

lance_m_lockheart* His hand slowly let go as a dim red glow sat in his hand, it's center was a dark crimson with no glow to it, but the outer part shaped like a tear drop was almost sparkling. "They call it the eye to the heart.... On one of the adventures I was in this was by far the most brilliant treasures I found. It reminded me of home...." It was attached to a leather thing string, obviously Lance had made this on his way home. He knew all to well what day it was, he'd been keeping track of almost every day he was away. You can take the home from the warrior...but not the warrior from his home. "I'm home Lillith simple as that. And I intend to fix this, because I should have been here to prevent it." His hands came together and lifted the gem up then let it dangle upon the strand of leather. Reaching out the gem was slowly lowered and the strap was hooked around her neck and then he let go and smiled. "Perfect...."

Aeron_Luminatti: "Why say you can fix it when you cant!?" she spat at Lillith. It wasn't her fault, she knew that much. She hurt, just as Lillith did. She wanted to cry and let loose her grief for al the world to hear, yet all she managed as she watched Lillith take the gift from Lance, a muffled sob. Just typical, she hadn't had the foresight to find Lillith a gift and she hated that. She hated the fact that he'd brought something and made her look bad, forgetful and uncaring. Jealous to the core, the little Sprite could only sneer and look away. The stranger here was looked to, she wasn't sure what to make of it all, but he had spoken to her hadn't he? Crystal blue eyes, fluid with the warmth of her tears, tears she couldn't cry looked him over and she actually reached out to gesture toward the ruins of the Lumination. "Its…broken" she choked. "Its all burnt and gone" a vocal admission of their loss. The sight had been enough but to hear herself, her own voice admit that it was gone was more than enough. "There are no rooms, there are no beds. I'm sorry" The rest of what he said, the voices in her mind…was passed off. She merely paused and took a moment to breathe. It was only Lance and what he said that had her snap back round to face him. She laughed, a bitter laugh full of anything but friendly tones "What makes you think you could have stopped this? What makes you so big and powerful?" he had NO idea what they had seen happen here. "If Lillith and I couldn't save our home, what makes you think you could have?" oh this would be a good one to hear. Bitter? Angry? Aeron was not herself at all. Lillith had apologised for her once.

Darkness_Embrace_Thee* A movement, another two steps closer towards Aeron, blood fell in pools around him. Dripping, slithering blood, clinging. Echoing silences discerned his insanity…though he watched her. Swords were held, protective though not offensive, duly noted. Halting words, echoing hoarse words...”I must sleep...must, sleep. You are, female. Understanding, my room. It is here I know, it is here....must sleep.”<br>
lillith_luminatti: The fact that she had allowed him close enough to her to place the necklace about her neck was testament in itself her love and trust for him. Lillith never had and still did not allow just anyone to touch her. The gem reflected in the mirrored pools of her almondesque eyes, glowing red within silver hues beautifully. Gazing down upon it as it rested between the line of her breasts, sitting just above the tattoo that was there, one none had ever seen. A cherry blossom settled above a stem done in a tribal manner. This ink held several different meanings, but above all it was for a sister lost. For her Cleo no longer existed. " It's beautiful. I'll treasure it always. Thank you darlin'. Yet her smile would fade as Aerons sadness engulfed her. She didn't know if her sister would ever really be able to come to terms with this, shaking her head a bit as Aeron ripped into Lance. Not meaning to of course, but Aeron was like that. She was Sprite. Capable of tearing into any that was available at the moment. Attempting to settle a gentle touch to Aerons arm, looking at her. " Aeron.. please. It's not his fault, as much as it isn't ours. I understand why you mourn but he does not. Don't tear him a new asshole, he doesn't deserve it." The presence of another, though felt long ago indeed, was ignored.. for the moment. Ever watchful she was even as she moved to gather Lance in her arms, slipping a soft, lingering kiss against his ear as she murmured. " Don't let her words hurt. She has a right to grieve. She has lost much. I'm glad you're here really. I've missed you so much.."

[Samaena]

lance_m_lockheart* As his large arms wrapped around Lillith he easily lifted her from the ground and spoke a tongue that to others would seem backwards. Yet to Lillith it came through crystal clear and soft as silk . "But I do speak the truth. I won't let it happen again. She will come to in time.... many doubt me at first....after all they do still think I'm human." He gave her a soft kiss upon her cheek then set her down and slowly let go. Looking to Aeron he gave a smirk. "So you mourn the passing of those before. And Mourn even more on a personal level. Anger, Sadness, Loathe, pure spite... I think that could sum it up." Looking to the building he tilts his head slightly then looks to Lillith. "It was due for some renovations...." Looking back to Aeron he let the smile fade. "M'dear, if you so doubt a person in such a state it is completely understand able. You think I could have done nothing to prevent this. What makes you think so? Better yet ask yourself if I am looking at what is left of a home I helped build...and seeing nothing but destruction...why would I believe I could protect it? Maybe because I can, and once rebuilt....I will." With that he let his words trail off, he knew of the bloody man that was here, yet if he could speak and move, he was anything but in dire needs.

Aeron_Luminatti: There was the obvious. Of course it wasn't his fault. It wasn't their fault either but she refused to say another word back to her sister. So she was missing a Mothers Day gift, and there was nothing with left with which to do something. Lance was merely sneered at. Much as a child would have done, total and utter disgust. The Sprite in her was strong, they had only just returned from the dreaming, back to a reality that brought nothing but agony, excruciating pain…the way her heart felt in her chest was all but a memory of something that had felt joy. She turned from Lillith and Lance ten to again see to the stranger that looked and sounded so desperate for a bed, for sleep. Sleep which didn't seem to be a bad idea. It dulled the sense but, it also brought terrors of the mind to torment and torture with the cries she could still hear. Her lack of fear had her reach out toward the stranger, a hand of friendship, reassurance…something so simple. Those she had lost would no longer know of such a trusting act given so freely. She couldn't even comfort them as the flames seared their very lives away from them. "Come, lets go see if we cam make you a new one?" the mind of a child working in mysterious ways.

Darkness_Embrace_Thee* A movement..he had listened to the words, though they played through his mind like a tuneless harp. The hand offered, the words, heard...sinking...this female, though, child? Words confusing..though reassuring. Both blades were thrown then, spinning, twisting into the air. His right hand moved forward, blood sliding back away from it. His hand then, touching to hers was clean, though his body, from the wrist upwards dripped, searing blood, burning. As he moved, the swords slid into their respective sheathes upon his back, crossing behind him. His clothing, black, disparate darkness. The softness, the motions, rippling around him. It was as if he had never known the insanity...the darkness. Focused eyes looked towards this girl, demeanour changing, almost akin to the changing of a mask upon his entire body. His words slid forward, hoarse yet tinged with grace, a cultured confidence "A bed indeed. Through sleep I must needs find my brother, the darkness separates us...Alaron, Gold Valar..." he stopped, suddenly. Shifting, fingertips caressing downwards upon his thigh, while his other hand rested delicately placed within the confines of her friendship, her offer. There he stood, knowing full well who he was....and he watched her...a whisper now, flowing within the wind. "I am Perfect, Perfect Valar, Perfect Rage, Defender of...what was once Eden, Protecter, Guardian...the Death that stalks Hell." his head inclined, an inclination of a profound respect for this one and her offer towards him. His black hair, spiked up and falling, the points resting delicately on his skin a contrast to the almost beautiful man before her...he had once been thus, Perfect...though now a shadow of he who was simply once known, as Death.

Aeron_Luminatti: Contact made. The warm and gentleness of a nothing more than a hand. The reassurances that could come from such a touch. There was something about this man, there was much held beneath a surface, a façade he only wished others to see, the mind of the Sprite wandered willy nilly away. Onto other things. "I'm Aeron" simple enough. It was her name…but he had many and this she pondered may have been the cause for such a mass of confusion. "I'll call you Guardian" only glancing back to Lillith and Lance before she sought to move way from the ruins of her home. She even managed a smile as that nod was noted. It wasn't often anyone offered her that much. "Forgive my heart" she whispered "It knows not how to feel…but I will help you find sleep. We can make you a bed somewhere if this is what you need" At least she had something to do, something and someone else other than her losses to focus on. - Perhaps at her cabin if it still stood. She hadn't thought as far as going back to check on Meren or Noa….she hadn't dared to in case she found the same as what lay here. Those losses would not be acceptable. Not at all.

Darkness_Embrace_Thee* His head nodded one more time, it perhaps would seem an interesting sight how he moved. Each movement was so feline, predatory yet silent, innocent. Her touch upon his hand allowed the blood to recede, he was thankful for this, and sleep...could it be...he would find sleep here? A faint smile touched his lips while he watched her. His eyes held within them a secret longing for sleep...for this sanity all the time, yet he was a broken man...even still. She had given him though the hope he needed to perhaps find the tranquillity of a mind with so little confusion. "Guardian.." the name played out from his lips and again, his head nodded. Nodding was simply something he seemed to do. It was odd he noted, that although there was so much blood, although it dripped from his form, he could not smell it. As he moved slowly with her, all he could smell were...peaches. In this desolate...abomination, why would he be smelling peaches? His mind sought to ponder while he murmured out to her. "Remember the name if nothing else...Alaron Valar...Gold. The Ice Castle of Shilar...and if you ever see him, tell him, I'm alive" this was perhaps a last resort...if all else failed, perhaps this child-like presence would remember...would one day see his brother and tell him...that would be enough...forever would it be enough.

Aeron_Luminatti: Nodding a little as she led him away. Her own want to get away from this oppressive place now was a necessity. Aeron could not stay in one pace for too long. It was just her, it was what she did. She couldn't be trapped, or housed for too long. However, she did not turn toward the lake, toward the place where her own cabin lay shrouded safe within the protection of the Emerald that had cost her dearly. "Alaron Valar Gold" she repeated after him with a whisper "The Ice Castle of Shilar" she wondered about such a place. Was it really made of ice? Was it like the stuff found in fairy tales? The fabric of dreams? Maybe one day she'd actually find out. "I'll remember" she offered. Her voice so soft, still tainted with the grief she could not shift. "I'll tell him if I see him. If I know what he looks like. If he and I find each other on our travels. I will tell him with her last few words she offered the smallest squeeze to his hand. Just to enhance her statement if anything. She was genuine, he'd done and said nothing to harm her and so…things were on an even keel. She offered what she could because. She could. "Where would you like to sleep? I know a really quiet glade close by and the moss is quite soft" she suggested. Many nights she had spent there when the will to go within the walls of the Lumination had been…too much.

Darkness_Embrace_Thee* Her gesture was noted, she would do what she could if the chance arose. That was enough...Body shifted ever so slightly while he murmured "Please...let us go there quickly, how much time we have I do not know." He gazed around them for but a moment, noting the destruction...noting the darkness…The single hope in his mind was that it was not him. He had not in his infinite insanity done this. Many things he could not recall...many darkened nights, screams...the slaughter. Sometimes he was glad he could not recall them, others....it plagued him. Twice he let his fingertips trail over her hand, the squeeze she gave his hand was rewarded with an ever so slight smile, Aeron, she had said her name was...he would remember that. This place....he remembered words spoken recently, rebuilding...maybe he would visit this place in the future, in...another time...when he could view it as it deserves to be viewed. He decided, after careful thought not to ask yet what had happened here. He simply moved, followed...he had for once said nothing more than what was needed...content to watch, to wait...content in his thoughts.

[Samaena]

Aeron_Luminatti: It was perhaps surprising just how much distance they had placed between themselves and the rubble that once was a beautiful tavern and home. The Cherry tree by her bedroom window was nothing but ash, the Cherry Orchard…she had spent so much time coaxing it to grow, to flourish and be again what it had been once to Cleo. The wood closed in around them, at least the fire hadn't spread thus far…the glad wasn't far in but it was shrouded well enough, the small body of fresh water, the toadstools shining even in the dark…the small voices she could still hear, the many questions, the sorrow…even here she felt it among them "Here. You can rest here. Its safe. I wont leave you" if that was any more of a reassurance for him she didn't know. Merely letting go of his hand to peel back the low hanging bough of a willow to reveal the moss she spoke of. Far more comfortable than any mattress. "I cant go back yet" there was nothing but sadness in her tone, and it was written deeply into the features of her face. She needed to explain. She needed to be here as much as she needed the sleep. She'd hold the bough back till he either took up her offer or declined and moved on. She could do nothing more.