Maradomin:

"I heard that." Maradomin said, "But what exactly makes me a traitor? The farmlands are a neutral ground, belonging to both countries, the only reason I didn't tell you was because you wouldn't have approved of it, neither Ari who ran in there to play a hero."

Ian glared at him but didn't answer.

"I am sorry Lieutenant Colonel Althorn, for any disadvantage originating from my words." Maradomin said with a bow.

Althorn smiled diplomatically.

Reva

She smiled, "I'd love to! When do we leave?"

They all looked at her, "What?" she asked, "Ciru's right."

Ciru laughed and asked her, "Why don't you get your armor on?" She stared at him, confused. "Don't you wear armor when you fight?" Reva shook her head at him, armor was too heavy she told Ciru. But she didn't tell them she had never worn armor when dealing with the assassins.

"Come with me, Reva." Ciru grabbed her forearm, and led her a place where all kinds of weapons and armor was stored. He threw his arms out, "Take your pick."

"But I don't use armor!"

He stared at her, "What? You don't use armor?"

"Oh, so your hearing is functioning correctly. For a moment there, I thought you had gone deaf and dumb." Reva shook her head, hadn't he heard a word she had said earlier? "My clothing is magical if you don't already know. It protects me like armor, besides, putting me into battle with armor I've never practiced with is a little dangerous. Don't you think?"

*ha ha, your right, MJ. She needed to lose! ^_^*

Gautier, I don't think I've ever lost to someone that's less experienced than me! she told him, laughing. I think I needed it, though. Gives me something to work on.

Of course, but don't push yourself too hard, my dear. I won't be able to go flying with you if you do.

Ari leaned down, patting his neck. Don't worry, Gautier. I won't.

Gautier cocked his head, listening to a dragon talk in his head. Ari, we're needed back at the castle.

Ari slumped in the saddle. But we just got out here, she whined, completely unlike her personality.

I know, and I feel the same way, but it's about Maradomin, Gautier explained, turning around.

Ari sat up straight, stiffening. What is it? She ventured warily.

Gautier suddenly sped up, full of rage. He started the fire. He's a traitor!

Ari's body shook with anger. Faster, Gautier! I can't wait to get that stupid bastard's neck in between my hands!

Gautier entered the courtyard and Ari jumped down off his back, making the last few feet on her own. She stormed down the corridor and saw Maradomin, Ian and Thorn in the middle of it as Ciru and Reva left. The three men noticed Ari, seeing the rage burning deep and bright in her eyes. Maradomin backed away as she approached him, grabbing his neck and slamming him hard against the wall. "What the hell?!" she roared. "I thought you were on our side, you fucking bastard!"

Before she could rip her sword from her sheath--not that she'd actually use it on him, just to shake him up a bit--Ian grabbed her about the waist and yanked her away from Maradomin's reach. However, before she was too far away to reach him, she punched him in the face.

Ian tried not to laugh as blood streamed from the sergeant's nose. But his humor was washed away when Ari thrashed, kicking and swinging in a full-blown rage. She caught Ian a couple of times, and it hurt. His shins and shoulder throbbed where she had involuntarily kicked and punched him. Not to mention, his ears were ringing with the volume and intensity of her swearing.

Shyen, get Gautier. Meet us in the dragon keep, he groaned to her, struggling with his hold on Ari.

What's going on?

Ari's gone balistic. I can barely restrain her!

Got'cha.

He somehow managed to get her to the other end of the hallway and down the first flight of stairs. He had to set her down, then, pinning her to the wall with his mind alone.

"Ari, I understand you're rage, but please calm down," he begged of her as she struggled against his magic. "It's not the right place or time. Please, just calm down."

*I'm going to be away until New Year's and I'm not sure if I'll have internet access, so could someone keep my characters alive?*

Maradomin:

He was shocked, but not suprised. He wiped his bleedíng nose and looked at Ari.
"It wasn't my fault that your sense of heroism enabled at the very second the fire started!" He continued "And if I recolect correctly, I was the one who pulled you out of that fire."

Thorn just stood there calmly watching all the hubbub.

Maradomin rose from his knees; his hood fell off. Maradomin gasped. His black semi-curly hair fell on his fore head.
Maradomin hadn't taken the hood off in twenty years. His pointy ears came from under his hair. People stared at him.

"What?" Maradomin snapped.

Maradomins right cheeck had a burning wound on it, and a scar went just under his left eye. His eyes were black, except the irises, wich were red and orange, like fire.

His brown skin was pale from beeing all the time under the hood. And á tribal tatoo of the shadow clan played on his face, going from his right cheeck, through his neck to his burned left cheeck and under his eyes.

"What happened to your, face?" Ian asked.

"Dark knights." Maradomin said.

"Your eyes..."

Maradomin turned around, so that no one could see his eyes. He was happy that his hair consealed his horns.

"What about his eyes." Reva asked.

"They're black."
Reva looked at Maradomin, "Black?"

Maradomin turned around, "Yes black! This is what happens when you master shadow magic and wield the "sword"," He turned around,
"I am a shadow mage, I am not human nor elf. I am a cross breed, even worse I am a cross breed that migles with the strongest shadow, and now," He laughed "I am no longer even a cross breed."

He pulled his hood back up.

Reva pulled it back down. She had seen something in his hair. Reva felt around, and pulled her hand back quickly. They all saw her hand was bleeding.

"You have horns," was all Reva said.

"Yeah." Maradomin pulled his hood back up. Reva pulled it down again.

She stared into his eyes. "Your eyes are mostly black."

Maradomin pulled his hood up quickly, but found that Reva had a strong grip on it. "Your point?"

Reva wiped her hand that was still bleeding on her skirt, the blood disappeared as quickly as it was on the skirt. "You fell in. You must have."

Maradomin just stared, not responding or looking at Reva.

"Can anyone please tell us what's going on?" Ian's head volleyed between the two black-eyed people.

"There is a pond, somewhere in a forest far from here. I was only seven when I came across it. It sang softly, but I thought someone was in there. I came forward. I placed my foot in the water, but I stood on it instead."

Vanis scoffed, "You sure that it wasn't ice?"

"No, it was liquid water. But, anyway, I walked to the center of the pond. It pulled me under. Wherever you see my scars or tattoos, that's where it burned me. My pupils burst, filling my whole eye. It was the most excruciating thing that's ever happened to me. Everything changed then. I couldn't control myself or my magic. I came so close to killing it's scary. But after a while I could control myself, but then I started killing on purpose."

Everyone just stared.

"The Dark Knights had heard of me, and thought I was a nuisance. They sent assassins who they thought could kill me. I soon found out that I could kill easily if I focused. I did horrible things to them; I was a monster. Then I found Longwei and Yonguri, they helped me control myself. I followed because there wasn't anything I wouldn't do to change myself to be good. They appeared out of nowhere one day, and have stayed with me since."

They were still speechless.

Reva turned to Maradomin, "Did you fall into the pond, or what?"

Maradomin:

He looked at the girl, he sighed, "Yes, but all the other marks... and the horns aren't from the pond though."

"But you do have pupils." Vanis said.

"Those are from the sword,"

Reva looked at him, puzzled "You've been talking about a sword. What is it?"

Maradomin pulled his pitch black sword, "Thís is one of the legendarý weapons of power, our prince has one of them, I have one of them and the three rest of them are lost."

Reva looked at the sword.

Hello puppet. The swords voice rang.

Reva took a step back, "It can speak?"

"Oh it can do alot more than only speak." Maradomin smiled.

Ari had stopped squirming and kicking once the sword started talking. "What the hell...fucking devil sword!" she breathed, hair played wildly across her face. "Ian, get me down!"

He turned to her. "I'm sorry, Ari, but you need to calm down." He turned to Ciru. "Ciru, I think you were wrong in suggesting that Ari could handle Maradomin. She's obviously unable control herself around him; not able to keep her military bearing. I think she should go with you. I can stay here and handle him."

Ari sighed, letting her head fall. "No, Ian. I got it. I'll be alright here, watching Maradomin. I'm sorry; you're right. I lost my military bearing, which is totally disregarding my training. I'll be fine here. I swear." She looked up at Ian, then Maradomin, who gave her a smile. She couldn't tell if it was a you-just-screwed-yourself smile or just a really creepy one that he didn't mean to give. Either way, it chilled her to the bone, but she took it as a challenge that she was prepard to face head-on.

Trusting that she wouldn't do anything funny, Ian let down Ari gently. He pulled his magic away once she was safely on the ground. She gratefully rolled her shoulders and stood up straight, intending to keep what was the last of her hurt pride.

*M'kay, you guys, did this Storybook suddenly get boring again, or what? Post, people, post!!*

Ian watched her for a moment, finally touching her shoulder comfortingly. He then faced Ciru once more.

"Ready? Let's go." He walked off beside the Lieutenant Colonel, conversing of battle strategies and plans for the onslaught.

Thorn sighed, watching his son go. If only he could be there, beside him. Thorn missed it; dragon riding had been his life, his passion. And now it was out of his grasp.

Ciru

He nodded to Ian, then signalled Otraol from the ground. The rest of the soldiers followed suit, their dragons descending to the courtyard. They rose up, Ciru checking around himself to see who was accompanying him - only Ian and Reva, apparently. He scowled a little to himself at the sight of Reva without armour. Silly girl. Unarmoured might be the best way to fight off an assassin, but she won't last long that way in the kind of environment Cliares described.

Otraol's reply came back as sharp as ever, Maybe she'll do better than you. If there's enough room, she'll run rings around the Dark Knights. Besides, I might criticise you for fighting these last few years with only one eye.

Ciru cut off their conversation immediately, the dragon's words putting him in an even fouler mood. Otraol angled towards Shyen and Ian as they began their journey back to Athanasia, bringing Ciru close enough to talk.

"Sir, from what Cliares told me, once we get there, we will be forced to fight on foot. I imagine it will be something like the attack on the palace, except we'll have the added advantage that we'll have greater numbers. On the other hand, we'll be fighting on their territory, in narrow spaces, with apparently no access to our dragons. What would you suggest in terms of tactics? I was considering a shield wall formation, but that might pack our soldiers too closely. Perhaps spacing them out in teams of four or five?"

Ian thought about what Ciru had said. So, no dragons? That sounded...odd. But still manageable, if addressed intelligently.

"Packing soldiers would do us no good; that leaves no room to fight. But have teams smaller than five might be suicidal, in the event of an ambush," he said mostly to himself but loud enough for Reva and Ciru. "We can form them up in teams, two archers, five foot soldiers, and one specialist, like a medic or mage. That should be enough people to ensure protection but a small enough force for them to get through."

Shyen crooned. I don't know, Ian. Something doesn't feel right. I'm scared.

Ian pat his dragon on the neck. He could understand why she was afraid; last battle, she'd nearly lost both wings to other, larger dragons. It'll be okay. If you get too frightened, you can always head back. I'll ride back with Ciru, okay?

She dipped her head in a nod, whining softly. But please be careful.

Ari looked towards Ian as he left. When he was out of her sight, she turned to glare at Maradomin. "You're lucky I'm not allowed to kill you," she hissed. "Something just isn't right about you, and I will find out what it is. Even if it kills me." She stormed out of the hall, exited the castle, and mounted Gautier, who pushed off the ground forcefully and into the sky, staying in the castle's perimeter.

Maradomin:

Damn! Ari is watching the palace. Now how can I follow ciru?


Garen

What?

Where are you right now?

In the court yard. Why?

I need to go after Ciru.

What are you planning?

They're going to kill Hanik, do you expect me to let this oportunity slip?

No answer.

Sigh. He thought of something.

"Sword, I need your help."

What now?

"I have a need to hide in the shadows."

Your wish is granted.

Maradomin looked at his hands. They blended perfectly with the shadows in the palace.

"Perfect."

Garen. Be ready to leave.