Dragon Riders

Ari thought this was the end. Her against a full grown female Al'aran? There was no way! She would have signed her death certificate right then and there. Just as the Al'aran was ready to lunge, Ari crouched down, ready to meet it bravely (but stupidly) head on. It charged once again; when it leaped, a white dragon visciously grabbed it in it's claws and ripped it in two, blood falling out of the sky. Ari looked away, ready to puke. Another dragon swooped in low, close to the first one, its pumping wings sending dust flying everywhere.

Gautier, was that you?!

Yes. I got Ian out of the castle. I dropped him somewhere nearby. Arrgh! I can't talk right now dear--I'm sort of in the middle of something!

You dropped him?! Why the hell would you drop him?! Ari looked frantically around, and saw a figure under a nearby tree.

"Ian?!"

Ian looked up when a voice reached his ears. Ari's voice. She was safe!

He saw her running - well, trying to run - toward him, eyes wide in fear and possible pain. He didn't know when he moved or how fast he was going; he just met her halfway.

"Ari! Thank God!" he exclaimed as he drew her into his arms, holding her against him. "Thank God you're safe!"

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

Thorn panted, backing away from Masset. His strength was almost gone. He wouldn't last too much longer at this rate. And neither would Gorton or Shyen. Poor Shyen had the worst of it; she was pinned down by two dragons, both twice her size.

He heard her wails for help and Gorton's groans. He heard the cries of men as they fell, being slain. He heard dragons as they crashed and collapsed, broken.

Azrayel, where the hell are you? Thorn thought as he backed closer to Shyen. Fine. I'll deal with it on my own...

Even before he said it, Ray's voice echoed above the commotion. And about damn time. "Saviours! Fall back!"

Thorn raised his gaze to Gorton. Gorton, help me free Shyen, then you go find Ian and Ari!

The giant dragon snorted. Got it.

Ari ran into Ian's strong arms, panting. God, it felt good to be in his arms instead of that horrid chair....Ari shuddered and started to sob. She held onto him tighter, burying her face in his chest.

"Ari? Are you okay?" Ian asked frantically, looking down at her, brushing the hair from her face.

Ari nodded, sniffling. "I...I'm just so glad..." She looked up into his face, and her heart skipped a beat. There was a kind of calm look in his eyes as he bent down closer to her, wrapping his arms tightly but gently around her waist.

She rose up to meet him, wrapping her own arms around his neck. She sighed just before their lips met. His lips were so gentle, so soft... They parted slowly. Suddenly, Ari was filled with so much emotion that she rose back up to meet him faster, crushing her lips against his. He was still gentle with her, but met her with the same passion that she gave him. Ari tightened her arms around his neck, still giving him enough room so that she wouldn't choke him.

What the hell am I doing? ran through his head incessantly, but it didn't stop him. His lips continued to move with hers, his breath lost with hers. He kept one arm around her waist, holding her close, as he let his other hand slide up to the small of her back.

You...love...Ariadne. How cute. Nerad taunted him again. Ian finally smiled as he slowly pulled away from the girl in his arms, gradually breaking the kiss. You love her, don't you?

"I love you," he whispered, breathing heavily. "So much."

Tears still spilled from her eyes; it hurt to see them. It reminded him of his failure, of his tardiness, of her screams. He embraced her, trying to fight back his own wavering emotions. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you."

Ciru

He saw Ari and Ian kissing on the other side of the courtyard. Al'aran were still pouring in towards the dragons, and the battle had evened out. While the Saviours were still outnumbered by the Dark Knights, there were enough Al'aran that the Knights' dragons were unable to gang up on their opponents.

Blocking another strike from Cliares, grabbing her by the shirt before she could pull back again and shaking her until she became visible again, forcing her to drop her sword in the process.

He turned to Ian and Ari, "If you two don't mind, we should leave now!" They looked over at him, and he pointed to the Al'aran fighting the dragons, "Our side can't win here, we should pull back to the desert!"

He heard a ragged gasp from Otraol, At least someone's talking sense now...We found the generals?

Yes. Can you get out of there, Otraol?

There was a long silence, then I think so - Demeru and Rinda have been giving me a beating, but I can probably get out now.

Masset

He took another step towards Thorn. He was hurting, letting himself get thrown around by Thorn's telekinesis had hurt him as much as it had helped him. Still, he was in a better condition than his enemy.

He smiled, blood turning his teeth into a horrible mixture of red and white, "You're not going anywhere, Thorn. Nor is your son's dragon." He nodded past him to Shyen, then lifted his sword again, starting to close the distance between them.

Vanis

He considered the offer for a long moment, Azrayel's blood...not Azrayel dead. Well, that could easily be misinterpreted. Hanik, on the other hand...he could have been of more use to me, but then, it could be useful controlling his army.

He lifted his head, "Your terms, Azrayel's blood and Hanik's death, are acceptable to me. The latter is temporarily inconvenient, but I'll accept that for now. Just tell him," he pointed to Gregorius, "Not to try to kill me again."

Maradomin:

Of course. He nodded to Gregorius who lowered his weapon.

They started to follow Vanis inside the castle.

Ian heard Ciru over everything, and his mind clicked back into gear. Get Shyen. Get Althorn. Keep Ari safe. And get out. It had to be done, and would be done.

Shyen's squeals pierced his ears, and he looked around. Where was she? How was she? How could he get to her? And how soon, through all the chaos?

Ari gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Ian returned the gesture, and looked back into her eyes once more. "I'll be right back. I promise."

She nodded.

And he took off.

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

Shyen groaned, thrashing beneath the pressure on her wings and body. They weighed so much! And it hurt. Their claws were raking into her hide, drawing blood, and making her screech in pain and distress.

Ian! Ian, help me!

I'm coming. Hang on!

She could see him on the other side of the courtyard, leaving Ari and picking up a discarded sword. He was coming fast and strong; had his will been renewed by his reunion with the girl? Or was he feuled by something else, something stronger?

Don't think you're safe, whelp. He'll be no help to you once Masset gets through with him.

She snapped. Don't underestimate my Rider, you overgrown asses! She started thrashing again.

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

Thorn stumbled, knocked off balance by the attack. His sword went flying. He fell onto his back, blood oozing from the various cuts on his body. Masset kept coming, closer and closer...

"Father!" a voice rang out as Masset towered over Thorn, sword raised. It was Ian! Thank God -

Thorn cried out when the blade pierced his side, penetrating deep. He felt blood rise and pool from the wound.

"Get off him!"

Time halted. The blade was quickly withdrawn, and violent clashing echoed about the small arena. Ian grunts could be heard as he pushed against Masset with all his strength, all his speed, all his willpower.

Masset

He laughed as he withdrew his sword from Thorn, turning to face Ianeil.

The attack came faster than he'd expected, forcing Masset immediately onto the back foot. He found himself completely unable to counterattack, simply being driven back step by step in the face of Ian's ferocity.

A wave of magic collided with him, sending him flying. This time, it was more powerful than anything Thorn had thrown at him. He collided with one of the palace's side doors, the hardened wood simply shattering beneath him. He felt one of his ribs crack as he slammed into the stairs.

He staggered upright, gasping for breath, pain shooting through his body. He held his magic back this time, simply forcing himself back out the doorway, the energy he'd stored ready for whenever Ian gave him an opening.

The general had already closed most of the distance between them, his eyes shining with fury.

Vanis

They continued their way through the palace's corridors, unchallenged by Dark Knights running to the battle. Vanis' rank and reputation was enough to keep them out of his way.

Or at least, most of them. He found his way blocked, all of a sudden, by Nerad and Kaniy. Nerad smiled at him, "Colonel. You do realise that the men and women you are leading at the moment are, one and all, traitors to Athanasia?"

Vanis nodded, "Of course, Nerad. They are my prisoners. After all, who would really try to contend with me?"

Kaniy took a step forward, hands on his knives, "You didn't quite think this through, Vanis. They're still carrying their weapons."

Ari held onto Ians hand as long as she could until they were so far apart that she couldn't reach him anymore. She saw as he rammed into Masset, pulling him off his father. She looked over at Shyen, watching her struggle desperately against two other dragons, helpless and hopeless.

Gautier! We need to help Shyen! Ari cried as she ran towards them at full speed.

Okay, let me just get this big bafoon to leave me alone and I'll be there in a second!

Alright! I'll distract them until you get here!

Wait, Ari. No!

"Get offa her, you fucking bastards!" Ari cried as she lept on the back of one of them. He grunted in annoyance, shaking his whole body in attempt to make her fall off.

Ari fell on her back, the wind knocked out of her. She quickly got her breath back, her sight finally stopped spinning. She stood, her back soaked. Looking down, she almost puked. She stood in a large pool of blood; dragons blood; Shyen's blood.

Gautier, where the hell are you?!

I'm trying; I'm not able to loose this one, it's not working!

Fine, I'll do it myself!

God damn it, Ari, no!

Ari backed up so she could get a little bit of a running start. Tears sprang to her eyes at the sight of Shyen practically being mauled, anger fueling her adrenaline.

She ran, leaping into the air at the dragons. "LET HER GO, DAMN YOU!" She cried. Her forehead suddenly felt like it was going to split as a bright red light shone from it, in the shape of a dragon. As her hands touched the dragon nearest to her, fire spit out from them, burning the dragon. It roared in pain as it detatched itself from Shyen, throwing Ari backwards and soaring into the sky, desperate to find something to cool its burns.

Maradomin:

Nerad and Kaniy were standing on their way. Maradomin grpped Vanis by the shoulder and pulled him back.

Fel stepped foward "My arrows may not pierce you dragon, but they di pierce these people."

Fel faster than Nerad or Kaniy could react shot at them, soon both of them found an arrow sticking out of their bodies. They were choked.

Fel smiled "does it hurt?"

**Hold on, Vanis hasn't actually taken them prisoner, he's still on Maradomin's side at the moment. He was trying to get around Nerad and Kaniy. Sorry if I misunderstood, it just looked like you thought Vanis had turned on Maradomin's people.**

Nerad

He glanced down at the arrow sticking out of his chest. The archer smiled at him sweetly, "Does it hurt?"

Nerad shook up, meeting her smile with one of his own, "It probably should, but..." His body lost all substance, and the arrow simply clattered to the floor. He stepped forward, gripping her by the throat as he took on his physical form again. He was still bleeding from his right shoulder, but it was nothing too bothersome now that the arrow was out, it hadn't hit any key arteries. He lifted her off the floor, his eyes bright as his grip on her throat tightened, his sword poised against her stomach, the derision clear in his voice, "Does it hurt, half breed?"

Kaniy was in worse shape, leaving the arrow sticking right through his shoulder where it was. He'd need a proper healer to get it out - anything that was touching him would teleport with him, so he couldn't get rid of the arrow that way. Nonetheless, he drew his knives and gave the other soldiers a level glare, "Don't bother trying anything. Attack Nerad and he'll end your friend's life quickly. You've managed to piss us off now, colonel."

He saw Maradomin begin gathering his shadows around him and jumped forward, reappearing directly in front of him, one knife flashing out while he held the other in a guard position. The shadow clan leader twisted out of it's way and counter-attacked, but Kaniy's second knife managed to deflect the blade. He heard one of Maradomin's lieutenants striking for him and disappeared again, renewing his attack on their leader.

Maradomin:

Laviant had just missed the enemy and almost hit maradomin.

Maradomin was getting annoyed. "Gregorius, Velna. Could you please have some fun?"

Gregorius smiled and so did Velna "With pleasure." Gregorius said.

Velna gathere her magic, presice magic magic that cut's things... Sharp magic. And released. It hit Nerad. He dropped Fel. He cursed under his breath.

His hand had a cut on it. HE made himself formless and went for Velna, when he materialized Gregorius came at him.

Maradomin was fighting with Kaniy, he had some edge because of Kaniys shoulder. Fel was on the ground breathing heavily and Vanis just watched.

Maradomin's friends were strong.. not stronger than Nerad or Kaniy but there were more of them.

Nerad

He'd dropped Fel, and in doing so had cut her across the stomach. It wasn't a killing blow, but it was still worse than what she'd done to him, and considering how long he'd been choking her for, she wouldn't be much use for a while, or so he judged. And as Hanik's chief torturer, his judgement on that matter was virtually ironclad.

But now he found himself fighting for his life, deflecting Gregorius' surprisingly fast blows with his great axe. He dissolved again, stepping through the big man to strike at Velna again. One on one, he'd have defeated either of them by now, but he couldn't risk his usual attacks, given that they were covering each other.

Vanis

The dragon sighed, shaking his head, then drew himself upright, towering over any of the others even in his human form. "Enough." he muttered, his voice edged with exasperation, as though he was dealing with mere children. He reached out to apparently empty space, his gauntleted hand closing on Kaniy's wounded shoulder when he appeared there a moment later, crushing the arrow into it. The lieutenant let out a shout of pain, then Vanis swung around and slammed Kaniy into the wall before he could teleport, knocking him unconscious. The dark knight slumped to the ground.

Nerad looked up from his fight with Greogrius and Velna, seeing the man who was like a brother to him being swung into a stone wall. With a shout, he dived forward, grabbing Kaniy and going through the wall.

Vanis turned back to the others, seeing that except for Maradomin, they were all looking as though they'd been the sole focus of an attack. Fel was still down. Vanis didn't spare any of them a second glance, "They way is clear. We had best start moving immediately, if we hope to get to the king before he can prepare to meet us." He fixed his gaze on Maradomin, "Leave your healer to deal with your archer, then have them catch up. We can't afford to waste any more time here with such trifles." He set off down the corridor, as if the matter needed no more discussion.

Maradomin:

He sighed. Turned to Fel "Are you going to be okay?" Fel nodded.

"Laviant, Gregorius were going."

The two men were no longer smiling.

They set of after Vanis.

*Hey guys I've been slammed with a ton of homework lately. I'll try to post sometime today, k?*