Crystan: Dawn of War

She returned the smirk, letting the axe slide down to her side.

“I hope this isn’t pity. I’ve done hard work before, I’m not afraid of it.” She hopped up quickly, her footwork bringing her behind him, her padded hand next to the tree. Her body was tired and aching but she knew if she slept now, she wouldn’t make it tonight with the horse-snatching.

“You’ve—“ she paused, her had gently lifting her feet off the ground as she held onto the closest limb to the ground, "taught me how to use an axe, but, do you know how climb a tree?” she stuck out her tongue as she let her feet touch the ground, “It will be a while before I can show you how to make that ale, but maybe I can return your kindness elsewhere. No matter how mediocre it looks.”

 

Somehow, they worked out an agreement. Arven Dol's quite pleased about this, as long as no violence involved. And the first time, he heard the Mahri girl spoke, "So she's not mute, she could talk after all.".

 

Aida stared at Chaos. First he decided he wasn't going to answer, then he decided to tell him the truth about how displease he was, and then the best idea combination.
"I am not going because those men are grubby and I don't want anything to do with grubby men or loathsome disgusting beast known as horses," Aida said, "I'm going to smell and then I will never be able to get that smell out of my hair...and I don't want to be picked up by anyone."
Aida looked into Chaos's eyes with complete and total animosity.
"Also I would have taken care of those guys if you only let me the chance," Aida said, "They'd run scared."

 

I smirked, licked my lips, and ran at the tree, throwing myself into the air, and slaming, much harder than anticipated into the tree brance, My arms grabbing the branch, and my legs kicking helplessly as I muscled my way onto the branch, sat down, took a deep breath and weezed out. "See no problem." and smirked. "Though I'm sure you're way leads to less broken bones." I joked, and motioned for her to sit next to me, recovering the breath that was knocked from me in my foolish climbing manuver. "To tired to be taught anything today." i claimed.

 

"Are you really that spoiled and naive?" says Chaos after he gives a sigh. He turns his back to Aida.

........What the hell. Has this guy never learned to look for more than one solution to a problem. Lets see whether or not he really does hate being around others.......

Chaos turns his head, and his eyes look down at the spoiled priest. "Very well then, we won't force you to continue. Besides, I doudt you will be that useful to me once we get to the city. So you can just stay here, or go home. Maybe we'll get the oppurtinity to meet again." says Chaos with a grin. He waves and then returns to the rest of the group.

 

She hopped up in a quick bound, her arms wrapping around the branch above her. She swung up with little effort, and quickly laced onto the next branch. Within seconds she was perched in front of him a tired smile on her face.

“It’s good to learn something new everyday.” She said as she nudged him over, tasking half of the branch, grabbing his arm to help with balance. Her arms were still rather upset with her, but she ignored them, setting her head on his shoulder. Her eyelids threatened to shut with sleepiness.

“For example, I learned you can dance. That, I didn’t know.”

 

Aida glared at Chaos about his first comment.
"I'm not spoiled...I have never been spoiled once in my life," Aida said.
Bell wouldn't let me be spoiled, but he did let me complain, Aida thought to myself.
"And I'm not naive," Aida said, "I have knowledge and power far beyond what other Aelins have."
Bell just told me to mask it, his inner voice said, Because of the seven prodigies I have to lie, make up stories, and be something that I am not.

"Fine go," Aida said.
Aida watched as they become smaller and smaller dots. The group was leaving him behind. Aida groaned.
Bell told me to continue with this
They were getting smaller and smaller. Aida let out a small cry like a selfish child and then groaned.
He got up, he didn't know where he was, or even how to get back home. He ran back towards the group and just glared at the back of Chaos's head.

 

I felt her warmth on my shoulder, as her head laid down. I tried to think of something witty and or charming to say or do, but failed to have anything come to mind. Then I though of something I had learned. I laid my head against hers, and said nothing. Some moments purhaps where better left to the silence, and the sounds of the crickets, and animals of the night. My eyes open looking out at the stars, and the moon. A moment I felt deserved better than my quick wit or fine since of humor could provide. Her fur still moist with sweat, but I really didn't care, it would be a long ride and I would smell worse by the end than I did now.

 

Kee smiled at Aida’s return to the group, though Aida and Chaos seemed somewhat competitive. In some way the pair prompted each other to continue on. She turned to the Drenning whom had tried his hardest to be kind with her. She tugged his sleave gently.

“Forgive me sir if I have offended you.” She said to him. Kee frowned she knew there had been several occasions in which he had tried to speak with her, Despair seemed to snap up all of her attention and the group tended to go unnoticed to her. She meant no harm. Kee simply feared what could happen if despair chose to play with the group. Perhaps it would have been better if she had never come.

 

Aida followed the group with complete and utter displeasure and disappointment. If he had told these men that he was the judge, they would have ran off. But no instead they had to follow the stupid guys. Aida kicked a rock and it hit Chaos's shoe.
Then something entered Aida's mind.
"Uh, oh," Aida said, "I didn't eat last night."
Suddenly Aida's mind went lightning fast. Was he going to die right then and there?
"I think I'm going to die," Aida said.
I know I'm going to die, Aida thought.
"World take me now,"
Aida put his hand on his forehead ready to die any second.
"Well I'm waiting cast me down a bolt of lightning,"

 

"I think I'm going to die," Kee heard Aida say dramatically from behind her. She dropped the Drenning’s sleave that she had been clinging to and turned to Aida putting a hand on his shoulder. His hands nursing his forehead Kee tried to pull them away to see his face. What was wrong had he been bitten by something? Had something hit him in the head.

“Don‘t fear Aida Kee will help you, tell me what‘s wrong?”

 

Aida stared at the girl talking to him.
"I have crossed many paths, but non so treacherous," Aida continued not exactly answering the girl, but more loss in his over acting, "I will surely fall at famine."
Aida looks at the girl, her question entered his brain.
"Oh, I haven't been hurt or anything...I just didn't eat last night," Aida said.
Aida looked at the sky and the fluffy clouds.
"Kill me now while I stand,"

 

"Oh, I haven't been hurt or anything...I just didn't eat last night," Aida said his head turned upwards towards the clouds. "Kill me now while I stand,"

Kee sighed and opened her pouch looking inside, “It‘s okay Aida you don‘t have to die, Kee has bread.” She pulled a chunk of bread from her pouch and put it towards him on her palm.

 

Aida stopped and looked at Kee. He then looked at her hand.
"I cannot accept your food," Aida said, "You must live and survive as well, just let me perish in peace."
Aida stared at the sky once again and then twirled around a little.
"Oh, sweet death,"

 

"I cannot accept your food," Aida said staring at Kee’s hand "You must live and survive as well, just let me perish in peace. Oh, sweet death," Aida said turning back to the sky.

Kee looked down at despair it wasn’t responding with Aida he was naturally this way. She shrugged. “You can accept Kee‘s food, watch.” Kee walked away from Aida and towards a tree she held up her hand Nature in her palm. After a little concentration the tree obliged to Kee’s wishes and a graceful branch bowed towards her fruit extended on its limb. She plucked off several wild plums and handed them to Aida. “The tree wants you to have them. Any time you are hungry Sir Aida the trees and Kee will be happy to share with you.”

 

Arven Dol turned back as he felt someone tugged his sleeve. His eyes surely didn't play any tricks but the quiet Mahri girl is now talking to him. Confused for a few seconds, the girl dropped his sleeve, as if waked up from a dream, he quickly caught up with her and said.
"Wait up, have you ever offended me? I don't think so, and if you did, I don't remember about it, so let it not bother you. And please don't address me with Sir, I'm still young you know," now his smile turn into a big grin "in exchange I will call you Kee. Is that ok?.

 

Aida stared at her.
She has pretty eyes, Aida thought, She doesn't seem to be falling for my manly act...maybe I should accept her...what about her though, well she did just talk to a tree.
Aida accepted a piece of fruit and looked at Kee.
"Thank you," Aida said.
Aida looked at her.
"If you don't want to walk any more I can carry you," Aida said.
Bad idea Aida, what about you, your precious body will buckle Aida thought, Good idea your precious body will seem studdly to her.

 

Kee grinned at Aida, “best to hold on to your energy carrying Kee would only make you tired and hungry again. How about instead we can be companions on the travel. Eat together and so on, Now I‘ll be right back.” Kee liked Aida, he was different and Kee liked that.

Kee left Aida with the handful of plums and turned back to the Drenning, she liked him he seemed to want to know her. She felt welcome for the first time in a very long time.

“I understand,” she said “Arven Dol not sir and I would like you to call me Kee,” she handed the Drenning a plum. “These are very sweet I hope you like them.”

She walked back over to Aida.

 

Aida looked at Kee again.
She has pretty hair too, Aida thought, Wait I remember Bell telling me something like one day you will start noticing girls are pretty.
"If I carry you I'm sure you are light as a feather," Aida said, "I wouldn't waste any energy, but being companions is nice too."
Why do I notice this girl? I don't want Bell to be right. Why does Bell have to be right about everything?
"What is your name? Cause I never really caught it and I wanted to know if I could call you by your name and...." Aida said.
My words are speeding faster then a horse

 

Kee tilted her head at Aida she really did think he was wonderful, not only did he have a sturdy self esteem he was quiet charming in an awkward way.

“I‘m Kee Rillin,” she flushed a little and looked at the ground. Somebody actually really, really liked her. This was the best feeling she’d ever had.

 

Arven Dol ate the plum the girl gave him, it's very delicious. "Haven't said thanks to her yet, better return the favor someday soon."

Watching Aida acting all nervously around Kee, Arven Dol can't help but let out a laughter. Right he's a man after all, and with this he did not look so bad either. Hope Kee can help him on the way.

 

"Aida, but you know that...I don't have a fancy last name likes yours," Aida paused, "Is Kee all right? Or do you want me to call you Rillin. Cause you know we barely know each other and a last name would you know seem a little more formal. A lot more formal since you know, we barely know each other. But then again I don't have last name for you to call me, so I would be the only formal one. Would that be rude if I was the only formal one......"
Aida was talking to fast for his mind to keep up again. He turned away slightly embarrassed at his behavior. But this girl, for the first time someone had gotten him flustered a little. He liked the way it made his heart float.
"Your name is nice by the way, did I say your name was nice," Aida paused to catch his breath, "If I didn't I think your name is nice."
I keep repeating everything I say, she is going to get confused here, heck I am confused.

 

Kee could feel her checks getting hotter, “Kee is good, yes call me Kee and even without a last name Aida is a very good name. Since you don‘t have a last name I think that Kee will be fine, don‘t you think.”

She sighed, her words managed to tumble hopelessly out of her mouth yet he didn’t seem to mind, she reached out and gave his hand a little squeeze, “Yes Kee will do nicely.”

 

Aida found himself feeling quite flushed. Kee just touched his hand. His hand was touched by a girl.
"I think your name is better then mine," Aida managed to say.
Aida like being close to a girl like this. He had forgotten about everything. Like being captured by enemies or horses.
He felt this high feeling he had never felt before.
This wonderful feeling.

 

Chaos looks back and sees the interaction between Kee and Aida.

........I'm impressed, he is capable of interaction. I wonder what Piesca is up to right now. I hope that she is safe. Though it looks like those two are stuck at the introductionary phase of courtship. I guess I'll give them a little help, since she actually seems nice.......

Chaos walks over to Kee, and says "I must apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I'm Chaos, and its nice to meet you miss Kee."

.......Kee does seem really nice and shy. Aida, if you hurt her, I will make you pay for it.......