Dragon Riders

**Sorry I haven't posted. A lot's been happening lately... And I probably won't post much... I have a slight writer's block thanks to some of these events.**

Ian stayed on Masset, hitting the man with strong blasts between every few swings with his sword. He would keep the man back, away from Thorn, away from Shyen and Ari. He would kill him if he had to.

Shyen, are you free?

Almost! Ari's helping me. Something just happened; I don't know what!

Panic began to build. Is she hurt?!

No! She just used magic!

That made Ian falter. Magic? But...her ability was reading fear! How was magic possible?

In the brief moment, Masset nearly caught Ian off guard, using his own power to make the young general stumble. Ian had to bite his lip as his shoulder was jarred, and attacked Masset again, just as powerfully.

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

Shyen roared, gaining ground as some of the weight was released. She thrashed, rising against the other dragon as Ari stared at her hands, completely lost in shock. Thorn was on his side, a hand to his ribs; blood was soaking his fingers, and he appeared to have difficulty breathing...

Gorton! Gautier! Get over here! Now!

She could see Gautier in the distance, fighting with a black dragon. Gorton was circling overhead.

What do you need? Gorton answered, focusing on the struggle.

Thorn's hurt! He was stabbed, and he hasn't gotten up!

Masset

He grinned as their swords clashed again, seeing that his attack had weakened the general. They were almost equal now, it would come down to a test of endurance. Ian kept hammering away at him though, as if despite Masset's attack, he was still at his peak. The sergeant was forced back a few more steps, then jumped back and released another wave at him.

Masset fell back, pausing at one of the doors to the palace, "I mightn't have killed you, general, but have you really won here? Your father and your friends came to save you, but," He smiled, "At what cost?"

He disappeared into the castle.

Vanis

He glanced over his shoulder to find Maradomin, Gregorius and Laviant followed him. "Ah, sergeant. Good to see that you have at least two lackeys capable enough to stay alive." He looked forward again, "You'll need them if you want any hope of killing Hanik. He might be out of his mind, but he is still a superb fighter."

He could feel the furious glares from Laviant and Gregorius. I'll have to keep an eye on them. There'll come a time when they'll have to die, whether Maradomin likes it or not. He allowed himself a smile, knowing that they'd never see it, Well, if they think they can best a dragon in terms of patience...

Ian felt his heart skip a beat. Father. Thorn had been stabbed, badly...

As Shyen broke into flight on the other side of the courtyard, Ian turned. Gorton was diving in, ready to take Thorn into his claws and fly out... And Thorn was still down, on his unharmed side, a hand to the wound. Blood was everywhere.

"Father!" Ian bolted, heading straight for the weakening elf. He went to his knees, sliding to his side just as Gorton landed. "Dad?"

Thorn coughed, glancing at his son's face. Ian's heart stopped; blood was coming out of his mouth, making it hard to breathe. That sign alone was a certainty: Thorn's lung had been pierced by the blade.

"Shit! Gorton, get us out of here!" Ian rolled his father onto his back, putting his hand firmly against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "Shyen, get Ari, if you can! Get us out of here!"

The dragons snorted, and moved.

Damn! Nothing is working right! None of this should have happened! This should be me, not you, Father! Please...hang on! Don't die on me. Please.

Ciru

Otraol swooped down to the courtyard, the shadows of Demeru and Rinda still a while away but closing fast. He grasped Cliares in one of his claws, allowing Ciru to run back to Ianeil. The girl kept trying to become invisible and slip out of the dragon's grasp, but to no avail.

As soon as Ciru reached Ian and his father, the human grasped Thorn under the arms and started lifting him. He shot a look at Ian, "You can't move him by yourself, sir. We need to get him on Gorton's back. Letting him be carried out of here in any other way could well kill him." He looked around, Damn it! Where is Maradomin's healer?

The black dragon's head swung left and right as he searched for Maradomin's party, I don't see them anywhere, Ciru.

Get in touch with his dragon, then - we need that healer!

Maradomin:

As they walked he whispered to his two friends behind him "Don't take any notice of him. Calm down."

The two semmed to relax a bit.

Maradomin turned to vanis "I hope we will get soon to where the battle is... i'm getting eager." Maradomin smiled "And so is my sword."

I can smell the blood. There is a fight. Blood.


Maradomin gave a small laugh.

Vanis

They reached the doors to the throne room. He knew what lay beyond, the devastation that had been wrought there by Ianeil before turning rogue, as well as that by the dragons, and Thorn and Masset, in the earlier fight. Still despite everything, the throne would still stand, and Hanik would be defending it with his royal guard.

Vanis snorted, Royal guard? They're barely trained fools compared to some of us. But then, the king was too paranoid to surround himself with those who could threaten him. Still, chances are Nerad and Kaniy will be there again, and they'll be healed by now, and we don't have the archer. So once the 'guard' are out of the way, it'll be almost equal again.

He turned to the others, "Hanik and his inner circle are behind these doors. Most of them are relatively poor fighters, although there are some good fighters, in particular the two we just faced. They'll be ready for us now. Expect the two of them at their best, even though they won't have fully recovered after healing, they'll be in better form now." He drew his sword, holding it one-handed despite its size. A close look would have revealed that he was slightly taller, his armour looking a little more natural, more like a metal exoskeleton than a suit of armour.

He stepped towards the door, "Leave Hanik for me, sergeant." He closed his free hand into a fist and drove it into the double doors. The sound of wood splintering reached them as the bar shattered on the other size and the doors themselves buckled a little. A second, lighter touch from Vanis saw the doors opening. He nodded to them, "Gentlemen. After you."

Ari stood leaning against the wall, dizzy. Using fire magic took up a lot more energy than she thought. Shyen landed right in front of her, nudging her with her snout. Ari pushed herself slowly off the wall, trying to hold herself steady at the same time. Shyen gently placed her muzzle on Ari's back to reassure her, opening her nearest wing and exposing her back.

Ari was sure that if they could communicate, Shyen would be telling Ari to get on her back. Ari did as she was told. "Take me to Ian," Ari said, trying to keep her eyes steady.

Thorn groaned as Ciru and Ian lifted him, getting him onto Gorton's back as easily as possible. Any movement hurt; it felt like his side was on fire. Everything was going black...fading...

"Ian..." he tried, but the attempt brought a fit of coughing.

"Take it easy," Ian's voice was constricted, like he was battling emotions. "You'll be okay. You'll be okay."

Thorn collapsed as orders began to float.

*********

Ian watched as his father closed his eyes. This was not good; they had to get going, now.

He looked at Ciru. "Thank you, Ciru."

The man nodded. Above them, a red mass circled, crooned, and dove to land beside them. Shyen was injured badly, but she would make it. Ian knew her too well. He looked at the woman on his dragon's back; Ari was exhausted, and her burns were inflamed.

Masset's face appeared in his mind. "I mightn't have killed you, general, but have you really won here? Your father and your friends came to save you, but," he smiled, "at what cost?"

How true that was. Trying to save him, his father might have been killed...his dragon was injured...Everyone he cared about was injured in some way or another, and Ian was safe.

"Let's go home," he choked, voice breaking.

"Let's go home," Ian said.

Ari nodded, tears in her eyes. She was definitely ready to get away from the fighting and destruction. Just then, Gautier landed beside her, concern in his eyes.

Are you okay, dear? Gautier asked, concern deep in his voice.

Yes. I'm okay. Let's go home, Gautier. I'm ready to go home.

This time it was Gautier's turn to nod as everyone took off into the sky, looking forward to some professional medical attention and a good long nights sleep.

*Sorry that's all I got. I know it's short.*

**It's okay. lol **

Ian rode with his father, not leaving his side. He and Ciru exchanged glances every now and then, and Ian even looked at Ari a few times, but nothing could take his attention completely. His father needed him; that was all.

The ride was long and drawn out, seeming to last forever. Finally, Kettia came into view again, looking dull in the morning. Clouds rolled in, dark and thunderous. It would storm soon...

Ian didn't know how they got to the medical hall so fast; all he knew was that he was beside his father the whole way, not leaving him once. He would stay with Thorn until someone stopped him, and that would take a lot.

A nurse stood in the way, blocking Ian's path as Thorn was swept into the main room, out of sight. "I'm sorry, but you cannot go in. Not yet."

"Please, I just want to be with him."

"I'm sorry, Ian. I can't let you."

"He needs me!"

"He needs medical attention, as do you. Now, sit here, and I'll be right back."

Again. People caring for him. Again. "Your father and your friends came to save you, but," he smiled, "at what cost?"

Ian exhaled sharply, shaking his head. The nurse returned with some linen and medicine, reaching out to him...

He whirled, storming out. "Don't touch me! Just leave me alone!"

He took off running as rain began to fall.

Ari let one of the doctors look at her until she heard someone shouting.

"Don't touch me! Just leave me alone!"

Ari saw Ian run out of the medical wing and run down a hallway. She started to go after him when the doctor pushed her down. "You're not leaving just yet. I'm still checking up on you. Sit down."

"But I need to go."

"No. You're staying here."

Ari looked defiantly into his eyes and saw that it was going to take some actual force to persuade him. She stood, grabbing the front of his shirt in one fist and lifted him off the ground. "I'm leaving," she told him through clenched teeth. Ari then dropped him and ran from the medical wing herself.

Ari had been searching for Ian for over an hour now with no trace of him.

Gautier. Ask Shyen where Ian is.

Pause.

He's on the roof, dear. I'm sorry, but I can't help you get on there very quickly; go into one of the towers. There's a door gaining access to the roof.

Thank you, Gautier.

Air did as she was told, and eventually found Ian.

"I-Ian?" Ari murmured, placing a quivering hand on his trembling shoulder. She sat down next to him, holding his hand and uselessly wiping the tears from his cheeks. They just kept coming, mixing in with the rain water on his face. Ari cried too, and they held each other in the rain on the rooftop.

Ian couldn't look at her; seeing her would only make it worse. Seeing her wounds would only tear him apart more. Seeing her tears would keep him from regaining control.

But her presence put him at ease. Feeling her fingers, gentle, on his face and hand were reassuring and comforting. It took every ounce of conscious effort to ignore them, which he finally did.

Ian, she loves you. No matter what! Shyen snapped again.

She had been scolding him ever since he left the infirmary, about his guilt, about his father, about Masset and the Dark Knights, about everything. And it was the same words over and over again. It's not your fault, and They will never stop loving you, Ian. Get over it, and other similar phrases. Even though she repeated it and he knew he could trust her words, he didn't. He couldn't.

He inhaled deeply, tears still falling. "A-Ari?"

"Yes?"

"Do you forgive me?"

She paused, her hand halting. "Forgive you? For what?"

"For failing you. For not getting there on time. For not protecting you and keeping you safe. Can you ever forgive me for that?"

Maradomin:


They walked throught the chattered door, they saw some people fighting. Hanik was one of thhem. It seemed as though Hanik was fighting with The prince.

Maradomin nodded to Georgius, who now flanked the enemy, ta´king them by suprise and cutting them in half.

Maradomin also set Laviant to go and fight. His nebwhe soon also was slashing the enemy, Vanis was standing behind as Mardomin silently, took the prince away from the fight as Hanik watched where the comotion had started.

Vanis soon jumped on Hanik who obviously had been taken byu suprise.

Maradomin forced the prince to sit down on the ground withn a circle that maradomin had carved on the ground.


"Maradomin? What are you doing?"

Maradomin gave Azrayel a serious look "Sit." He said

"I don't have time for this. I'm going."

"Bind"

Shadows came from the corners and forced the prince to sit.

He looked very angry.

"What do you want?"

Maradomin remained silent. He came to Azrayel and he chose a wound, that was still bleding.

He stung his sword in the wound, Azrayel screamed of pain. There came a slight sucking sound.

Soon the sword stopped, and Azrayel stopped screaming, but instead he fainted.

Maradomin didn't have to chant too long, thanks to the magical circle and the chant that he had done back in Azrayels palace.

"Are you ready?" Maradomin asked his sword

Show me your target... and he is dead, Master


Maradomin pointed his sword at Hanik.

Then he started walking.

"Vanis!"

Vanis looked at him, A strange black light came flowing out of Maradomin.

"What?"

"Moove!" Maradomin commanded

Maradomin didn't wait for an answer but Shot at Hanik, who just and only just was able to stop his attack.

Maradomin had the upper hand. He had the sword. He had the shaddows, He also had the speed.

He was sure of this.

Vanis

He leapt back just in time to avoid the shadows rushing past him, only to see Hanik raise a hand and halt the attack, apparently with some effort.

Maradomin was on him in an instant, barely visible within a cloud of shadows, sword blurring out of it in a series of attacks. Hanik's blade, however, was just as fast. He let out a laugh and gestured at Maradomin, sending him flying backwards.

The clan leader looked suprised that this level of magic could have come from Hanik. He'd underestimated the king.

Vanis shot a glare at him, "Damnit, Maradomin! I said leave him to me!"

He stepped between the two of them, his body about a quarter of the way between dragon and human form. He towered above the others in the room, able to now wield his two handed sword more easily. Magic shot out from Hanik again, and Vanis only barely resisted it, skidding back a few steps before shaking the after-effects off and stepping forward to engage the king.

**I think this should be decided by everyone - should Hanik die?**