Dragon Riders

Maradomin

When he got inside the palace he looked around himself. He ran down the corridor that took to the guests bed room. He slammed the door open, fearing the worst.
He saw Chynthia sleeping peacefully on the ground. He sighed of relieve.
He walked to the woman and shacked her awake.

"You must leave now." Maradomin said.
Chynthia looked at him puzzled "Why."
Maradomin looked at her "No reason. You just must go outside." Maradomin said hastily.

"Very well then." She said and started walking through the corridor to the palace entrance.

Maradomin ran to the other direction. To the infirmary.

Kaniy was slammed against the wall, causing it to crack under the force of his weight. "You shouldn't have done that," he growled, gasping, eyes filled with anger. Suddenly, he vanished, appearing behind Ian. Kaniy hit him in the back of the head, causing him to collapse, unconscious.

"Ian!" Ari cried, running towards him.

Kaniy vanished once again, this time appearing behind Ari. He took her arm which held the sword, twisting it behind her back. Ari fell to her knees and cried out, dropping the sword. They both vanished this time, reappearing next to Ian. Kaniy took his free hand, placing it on Ian's arm. He looked up and gave Cris an evil smile. The trio vanished without a trace.

Cris stared wide-eyed for a second, then ran out of the infirmary to go get help.

Thorn heard Gorton in his mind, calling to him, but he paid no attention. His eyes were glued to a figure that had suddenly appeared in the courtyard outside the ruined dome. Two others were present, one limp and one struggling violently.

Althorn! Listen to me, damn it! Gorton finally roared in his mind.

Thorn jumped. What? What is it?

Ian and Ari. They were captured! Kaniy teleported out, with them in tow.

Thorn froze. Ian and Ari? That wasn't good. Kaniy was taking them to Hanik, no doubt. Which meant...

"Shit! That's them, there!" he pointed as what he understood to be Kaniy restraining Ari while dragging Ian stood and left, entering the corridor. "This is not good!"

What will we do? I can send for backup and wait for them -

"No, there's no time to wait. Ian's in no condition to face Hanik again. Call for backup, but I'm going in. I'm going in now."

He pat the dragon's muzzle before it could protest, and he bolted for the palace.

Gorton sighed, touching Shyen's mind. Do not fret, little one. Althorn is going in, going after Ian and Ari now. Tell the other dragons to tell their riders. Now. We need support as soon as possible.

Kaniy

He twisted Ariadne's arm further up behind her back - even straight after a jump of this distance, she was able to struggle against him. Two Dark Knights, a man and a woman, rushed out of a passageway - two of Nerad's messengers. One grabbed Ariadne by the shoulders, ice spreading from where she gripped the general down to her arms to bind her hands together. The other picked Ian up from the ground next to Kaniy.

The lieutenant nodded to them, "Glimmer, Masset. These two are to be taken to Hanik - I need to go back for Nerad. Go quickly, because their friends will be after them soon, although you should have some time before they reach you."

He vanished again.

Ciru

He struggled to sit up on the bench, the grip of his sword slippery with blood. He looked around the courtyard, finding empty except for the bodies of a pair of guards over near the gate where Kaniy and Nerad had broken in. Maradomin had left him on his own, Damnit, I knew we couldn't trust him. That cursed shadow mage has probably just gone on his way and left the rest of us to the Dark Knights.

There was a scream from one of the stairways, and the body of a Desert warrior tumbled out of it, bloodied and broken by the fall. He was followed by Nerad, who first finished off the warrior, then looked around the yard. His eyes fixed on Ciru, and he smiled. He couldn't use his power, so he wouldn't get the satisfaction he could normally get from killing someone, but he could still finish what he started.

Ciru forced himself to his feet, grim faced, levelling his sword before him. Maybe he'd be able to hold Nerad off long enough for help to arrive, but he doubted it.

He could hear the roars of dragons over the city, looking for one moment and seeing, to his dismay, that it was five Dark Knights, not reinforcements from the Saviours, that had arrive. Nerad's smile widened, and then he attacked.

Maradomin:

AS he ran towards the infirmary, the prince came running towards him. The prince looked amazed.
"What are you doing here? Where is Ciru?" He asked
Maradomin looked at him "Outside. Why. What is it?" Maradomin was starting to think if joining these people was a mistake.

"Kaniy took my friends! Wait did you say outside?" The prince asked. Maradomin could see the fright going through his face.
"Yes but wh-" The prince ran away before he could finish his sentence.
"The Dark knights. I saw them outside." He shouted to Maradomin

Maradomins look was empty. He looked at the long corridor, in silence. He had sent Chyntia to the front line...

He turned, he ran. He ran faster , he caught up with Ray, he ran even faster.
He got to the palace Gates leading outside.

He opened the gates and his fears became true.

Ciru was sitting on the ground and Chyntia was there with him.
They were fighting with dark knights... And one of them was nerand.

Maradomin ran, at them but then something came and hit him.
One of the dark-knights had shot him with an arrow.

His leg was bleeding.

**I'll just make a few more Dark Knights - as Rubric said, they're outnumbered. Anyone can use them, they'll just be minor characters. Someone tell me if I got too carried away **

Name: Glimmer
Gender: Female
Race: Elf
Rank: Corporal
Appearance: http://anyasy.deviantart.com/art/Ice-Barrier-63094409
Power: Command of ice
Side: Dark Knights
Dragon: Krich

Name: Masset
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Rank: Sergeant
Appearance: http://el-grimlock.deviantart.com/art/S ... n-15641640
Power: Energy Manipulation
Side: Dark Knights
Dragon: Demeru

Name: Vanis
Gender: Male
Race: Dragon
Rank: Colonel
Appearance: Human, Dragon
Power: Shapeshifting
Side: Dark Knights

Name: Cliares
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Rank: Private
Appearance: http://magoichi.deviantart.com/art/Thief-Girl-37036180
Power: Invisibility (She can extend it to her dragon and to other people)
Side: Dark Knights
Dragon: Rinda

Ari cried out as the woman who held her spread ice from her shoulders, down her arms to her hands, freezing them until the cold was unbearable.

Still keeping ahold of Ari's frozen wrists, the woman Glimmer shoved the back of her head forward with the heel of her hand. "Move, bitch."

"Who the fucking hell are you calling 'bitch', bitch?!" Ari roared angrily, fighting harder than before.

The man who had Ian over one shoulder chuckled. "Well, she has a mouth on her, doesn't she, Glimmer?"

Glimmer gave an evil laugh. "Not for long she won't." Glimmer gripped the back of Ari's neck so hard, it was bound to leave bruises. "Now move." Even though Ari was forced to walk forward, she fought the whole way towards the destroyed throne room.

Ari could see shadowed figures all around, standing in a wide half-circle. Ari's and her captors steps echoed off the floor and walls, causing everyone to turn to look at them. Ari saw the enormous throne in the middle of the room. She saw that someone sat on it, cloaked in shadows.

"My Lord Hanik," Masset bellowed. "We've brought you the traitor Ian and--"

"I thought I had ordered him to be killed!" Hanik roared, standing. The moon shone dimly through the cracked ceiling, barely showing his facial features, which made him even more menacing.

Ari felt her head being forcefully pushed down, causing her to bow and kneel. She noticed out of the corner of her eye Glimmer did the same thing, keeping her head low and her hand on Ari's head, keeping the pressure.

Ian could hear a booming voice, and several mutters. Where was he? He winced when his head hurt, memories rushing back. Kaniy, in the infirmary... Kaniy, disappearing after being slammed into the wall... A sharp blow to the back of his skull...

Oh, hell. He knew where he was even before he forced his eyes open. He was at the capital. And the moonlit, devastated dome was proof of it.

"Oh, hell, no!" his hissed, thrashing suddenly. The sergeant holding him, Masset, dropped Ian in that moment, taken off guard by his burden's quick revival. Ian didn't get the chance to do any damage to anyone; two others appeared and pinned him down, grips so tight and with enough force to make him yelp. His shoulder burned again.

"So, you're still alive," Hanik sneered, approaching Ian slowly, carefully.

Ian glared back, gritting his teeth. Shit! This is not good!

Hanik continued. "Is it deja vu or mere chance that you followed your father's path, even though you're still alive? I consider it...unlucky."

"Go to hell, bastard," Ian snarled, crying out when one of his captors slammed their fist against his head before the other one kicked him in the stomach. Ari screamed as Ian cringed on the ground, her words shrill and sharp.

"Aw, look. The little whelp is in pain," Hanik's tone was taunting, humiliating even. "Does the boy want us to stop?"

Ian's growl turned into a gasp as his body shuddered. He was still feverish and weak; that wasn't good. The physical abuse would only break his body further, maybe even push him into a coma. At this rate, if he died, it would be slow and painful.

Shyen, help me...

Where are you?!

Athanasia. Hurry...

Hold on, Ian! I'm coming!

Hanik stood over Ian finally, a new sword in hand. From the nil space between them, Ian could see cuts and bruises on the king's arms, hands, and face. It made him look ragged, truly evil, like a demon...

"You escaped me once, boy, but that was a mistake. Never again will you cause trouble for my kingdom!" The sword was raised. Ari screamed even louder. The blade dropped...

And was sent flying. Only twenty feet away, Thorn stood, his own sword in hand, focusing more magic.

"Long time no see, Hanik."

*so is this an aerial battle.*

Azrayel/Crysilla-

Ray crouched on Yoru's back as the dragon released ice blasts. In no time the large manicure lawn was transformed into an ice rink. Several of the dark knights went skidding across the slippery surface. Taiou dove forward, grabbing Ciru in one claw and the girl in the other, carrying them to the other side of the lawn, before returning to aid his brother.

Yoru flipped into a wing over and one of the dark knight's dragon's shot through the space where he had been. Claws ripped through the air as the dragons fought, the twins worked in tandem, enhancing each others strength and covering the other's weakness. Yoru swooped low to the ground, and Ray jumped off his back, he rolled smoothly across the ice and came up blades drawn, parrying a blow to the neck.

Ari gasped a sigh of relief, forcing her head up against Glimmers' hand.

Hanik chuckled. "So, back from the dead, I see? Well, not for long..." he growled. Suddenly, soldiers of Haniks' swarmed around Thorn; he fought, making sure he was unscathed, though he was being pushed back out of the throneroom.

"Thorn!" Ari cried.

Hanik then turned to Ari, finally noticing she was there. "Now, who's this little wench, hm?" He kneeled in front of Ari, taking her face forcefully in his hand, forcing her to look up.

"General Ariadne, of the Saviours," Glimmer answered.

Haniks' evil eyes glittered with excitement. "Oh, really?"

Ari sucked at the saliva in her mouth. She spit in Hanik's face, catching him next to his right eye.

"Gah!" Hanik let go of Ari's face, wiping the spit from his own.

"Go to hell, you fucking bastard," she growled, anger in her eyes.

Hanik stood. "Even though I'd like to, it'd be a shame to kill you," he snarled, "since I can use you for information." He grabbed a fistful of Ari's hair, yanking her off her knees. Ari cried out from the pain, wishing desperately that her hands were free from their icy hold.

Ian groaned, staggering to his feet while everyone was occupied. In the chaos, most of the people were either trying to bring down Thorn or escorting Hanik to a private chamber, Ari in tow.

He grimaced as he stood, everything swaying, but he couldn't back down. The others needed him. Thorn needed him. Ari needed him.

Ari.

That single thought gave him strength.

**********

Thorn parried, swung, ducked, and stabbed. The soldiers fell, but more came. How long could this last? And Hanik was getting away...

He was not getting away. Ian was going after him, picking up a sword from a fallen soldier's corpse!

"Shit. Ian, no!" Thorn shouted as he used magic to lift all the remaining soldiers - about seven or eight - and hold them midair. Ian wasn't listening; he kept barrelling after Hanik and Glimmer, Masset on his own heels.

There was no time. Ian needed help, and he needed it now. Thorn refocused his telekinesis, using his magic to crush the soldiers' windpipes and chests. All of them were killed instantly, but at the cost of a lot of energy.

Thorn panted as he began to run, as well, heading straight for the group.

"My Lord, we need to hurry," Glimmer encouraged. "I don't know how many more men we can afford to lose." Hanik turned and saw Ian coming at him from head on, Thorn coming in from his right.

"These rouges are really starting to piss me off," he told Glimmer. "Ian! Thorn! Listen to me well!" Hanik bellowed. "If you value this Generals life,"-he yanked Ari foreward, in front of him, putting pressure on her neck with his sword-"I suggest you stand down now while you can."

Ari's vision was a blur. Because of the pain, she could barely see anything, tears pricking her eyes. She had guessed that Ian and Thorn had stopped attacking because they bean to move again. They walked backwards, Hanik keeping pressure on the sword.

"You'll never get away with this," Ari gasped, gritting her teeth.

Hanik yanked Ari's head back by her hair, causing her to cry out once more. "Oh, on the contrary, my dear," he hissed in her ear. "I think I already have."


*Don't worry; the good guys will get their moment! *

**Lol, I hear you.**

Ian was shaking in rage. He felt his heart beating faster, his breath more ragged than before. He stared at where Hanik and Glimmer were retreating to, evil smirks on their faces while Ari was crying.

Ari was crying.

"I'll kill that son of a bitch," Ian snarled before everything swayed. His heart skipped a beat, his breath catching, as he stumbled and fell into his father.

"Relax, Ian," Thorn coached. "You're still too weak."

"But - "

"Rest. I promise, we'll get Ari back."

Maradomin:

He lied on the ground as he saw everything happen. The dark knights had left and the saviours were not long behind.

Maradomin. Maradomin heard a voice in his head.
"Garen is that you?"

The big dragon landed on the ground next to him, soon followed by Laviants dragon and other of Maradomins followers.

"Master!" Laviant jumped off his dragon and ran to Maradominn.
Maradomin looked at him surprised "Where are the other clans?" Maradomin asked

"They will be here tomorrow." Laviant answered "But what happened to you?" Laviant asked

"Well as it seems I got shot in the leg." Then Maradomin remembered one thing "Leo, Val! Get Chynthia from that battle ground. Now!" Maradomin commanded
The two men looked at him puzzled "The woman, you imbeciles. Yhe woman." The two men nodded and ran to take the woman.

"Heal her someone." Maradomin said
"But master you need to be heale-" Maradomin looked coldly at Laviant
"Heal her now."

"We will stay here for tomorrow and wait for the clans to come." Maradoin commanded sternly

**********************************************************************************

*Hope you didn't fall off the wagon here *

Masset

He noticed Hanik looking over his shoulder, his smirk widening as another Dark Knight emerged from one of the side corridors. Colonel Vanis, clad as usual in his all-concealing armour, eyes gleaming unnaturally from within his helmet. Hanik waved him forward, "Colonel. Good of you to finally show up - Ianeil's out there, and his father's back from the dead."

Vanis nodded, Masset somehow knowing that he was smiling underneath the helmet. Then he strode forward, reaching up to his back to unsheathe his two handed sword, and left the others behind. After a nod from the king, Masset followed, drawing his own sword.

He saw Vanis blocking the doorway to the moonlit throne room. The colonel was laughing softly, the point of his sword resting against the ground, "Thorn. It's good to see you again, old friend."

Ciru

He watched as a number of Maradomin's shadow cultists landed in the courtyard, moving towards the fallen form of Chynthia after a short argument with their master. He struggled to sit up, his mind reaching out to Otraol's, Get your butt over here. I need to get to Athanasia.

The dragon was already emerging from the horizon, having been pursuing one of the fleeing Dark Knights, You're not in any shape for that, Ciru. I saw you before I left - you were bleeding from just about everywhere.

At least one of Maradomin's people can heal, and I am not going to let the others go to Athanasia without me, if they're going to assault the capital, they're going to need all the help they can get. The grunts among the Dark Knights are mostly conscripts or untrained and rash, but some of them would be able to give us pause.

Otraol swooped down on the courtyard, landing on the opposite side to the other dragons. Like Ciru, he didn't trust anything related to shadow. Ciru sat up and looked over at Maradomin, "We're coming with you."