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[Elyna]

84th Vhalar

It was a bright clear day. If Elyna hadn’t known any better she would have sworn it was Saun again. The suns shone down though they gave less warmth. The ground the past beside the wagon was lush and green. Farmers were making a desperate attempt to salvage crops damaged by heavy rainfall earlier in the season. Wrapped up in her own cloak, the fur left behind, the young woman felt at peace with the world; happy. A smile played behind her eyes because she was excited to return to the city. It had been more than twenty arcs since she and Malcolm had retreated to the house on the hill. Whilst the Mortalborn man had freedom to return to return to Andaris, Elyna’s own movements were restricted to using the wagon. It was too far for her to walk and she certainly couldn’t ride.

Propped up with a pillow she had a pain in her lower back that wouldn’t budge. Her stomach felt tense, as though dinner the night before hadn’t agreed with her. However, she’d grown used to the waves and changing ailments of pregnancy and wouldn’t let them dim her excitement. Pathetic really, to have such simple pleasures. The young woman wasn’t sure why Malcolm had decided he would take the wagon back to the city, but she had been eager to join him.

He’d helped her climb up the steps and if her hands had lingered in his then she refused to notice. As she sat, she fidgeted. Twisting fingers around each other in an effort to keep them occupied. She watched the world slipping past. Trees turning to golden brown, yellow and red. Plum and apple trees ripe with fruit and blackberries scattered in brambles. Content to live in a rural setting, it was good to contrast that with the noise and bustle of the city. Something she hadn’t realised that she could miss.

At first the sounds of the busy market place were an assault on the senses and she froze. A child faced with a sweet shop, not knowing which way to turn first. Helped back down from the cart she lent heavily on the tall man. Her fingers grazing down his chest as she settled her feet on the cobblestones. Children ran past behind her and she took the opportunity to stay close and inhale the scent of him. With the threat of being swept of her feet subsided, Elyna took a respectful step back and let her hands drop to her sides.

“I’d like to get some wool for another blanket,” she explained. She didn’t know how many blankets a baby would need, but surely another one couldn’t hurt?

She turned to scan the marketplace and the varied stalls. Spice vendors, a butcher and baker separated by a woman selling wooden bowls and kitchen wear. The scent of sweets made her nose twitch with interest and she looked back at Malcolm with a smile, “I won’t be long. I can meet you whenever your business is concluded.”

In truth she knew very little about his decision to come to the city or what he intended to collect. With a half-smile still pulling at her features the woman straightened suddenly. She stilled, before collecting up her skirts and dashing forward, ducking through the crowd with as much grace and speed as she could muster she trailed after the a familiar frame and shocking red hair.

“Vakh??” She hadn’t seen the man since Ymiden. She called out to him, hopeful. He was still alive? Her heart leapt. She knew too many Skyriders or Knights that had been killed or injured in the battle. It had seemed too much to hope that the Smith would have survived as well.

[Vakhanor]

Submerged within a horde of faces all trying to get to the same district, Vakhanor found himself frustrated by the slow pace of the crowd that slowly and methodically moved its way along the cobblestone streets. War had been a tough time on all of them and Vakhanor had spent most of his time hiding in the shadows, paying no mind to anyone but himself and making weapons. There was no point wasting his life in somebody else war, he thought it a likely ticket to a quick death.

"Vakh??"

He stopped and turned when he thought he heard Elyna's voice behind him "Elyna?" the smith called back, looking past the faces of the crowd until he could see her. It wasn't his imagination was it? Vakhanor hadn't seen the woman since she'd gone off with Lazuli. And there she was with her long brown hair, dense chocolate coloured eyes and a belly fatter than a bloated lizard.

"Hi," he mustered with the brief gift of smile as his eyes turned back to watch the people around him, the jewel vendor unfortunately was on the same route. The truth was, he couldn't look at her. As time slowly ticked forward so did his conscience for what had happened those few seasons ago, despite Elyna’s ease with the situation. Forgiveness did not come easy to the red head and despite knowing that his actions could not be taken back, he bound himself to repentance and yet another chain of guilt clung to the already thick armour of his jading resolve.

What should he have said to her? That she was fatter than he remembered, or she looked well? Both were true statements but he almost deemed them unnecessary, there wasn’t much point telling her how she looked. In his experience she’d never given a damn regardless and with what they’d been through.

[Elyna]

The sense of relief was almost overwhelming. As the tall man turned, she was pleased to see her suspicion confirmed. Vakhanor was alive. He had survived civil war and destruction in low town. The woman was somewhat overwhelmed with emotion. Another person she cared about had lived. Another friend returned safe to her, it was how she felt anyway. She wondered if some of her joy at seeing Vakhanor was encouraged by her inability to express the happiness towards Malcolm, but either way she was prepared to throw herself into a hug and greet the man with the warm demonstration.

His response chilled her however and though she’d reached up with one arm to hug him, it landed on his bicep and she held his arm gently instead. Staring up into bright blue eyes she watched him scan the crowd. With all the interest of someone that she’d maybe met in passing. It wasn’t the case. They’d been bound together in blood and water and fire. She’d dreamt that there had been chains wrapped around both of them, unbreakable, unyielding, “Hi,” she replied with a frown before she released him and her hand dropped limp to the side.

“I’m so glad you’re alive,” she spoke quickly, as though afraid he was about to dash off through the crowd and their friendship would be severed forever. “I didn’t know what happened to you forge and I…I’m sorry I haven’t be able to get to the city much,” she indicated the swell of her stomach and found that she was blinking back tears. Was he angry with her? Had she missed something in her absence? Maybe there was more she could have done when she’d returned to Andaris from Krome. She should have sought him out and made sure he was well and not alone with his pain. Then it had been too difficult to travel when she could no longer ride.

“I’ve used the knife you gave me, it saved my life.”

[Vakhanor]

Action over word, nervous over soft he listened to the changes in his friend's voice, after all this time what was it that made her nervous? Diverting his attention from his purpose in the market, his intense, cool, sky tinted eyes returned to her with a look of familiar adoration and he smiled "Am glad your alive too," he muttered, turning to give the woman a somewhat awkward embrace "Why sorry?"

Each night he'd spent picking himself up at bars, dodging freely between the awesome and amazing of the comfort of a love once lost returned to him. Every problem had become nothing more than a page of story that kept on turning with a different twist . Soldiers fought wars and it was the few like him who sheltered the children that cried tears for the ones they lost, evicted and alone with nothing left but the generosity of strangers.

"The forge is busted, house needs to be repaired a bit. Got lucky," he replied, jaded as he spoke of the man he once adored as a father "My mentor, Oberyk is dead." Vakh had killed him. It had only been a matter of time, friends were dropping like flies and as every day went on the man had grown more and more hardened to the ways of his new life. Torture was becoming easier, the guilt lessened and his anger shifted into a cold hatred. Ayissi quickly became the object off his distraction, but he had not forgotten the friend that stood before him.

In dreams the strong and kind temptress had came to him and here she was again, more frightened than he had usually found her in his presence. Had he done something wrong? Locking his gaze the smith mirrored her frown and lifted his hand onto her arm just as she had done to him "Welcome home Elyna."

[Elyna]

“I should have visited, I should have made sure you were alright,” she admitted. Her own arms went around his back as he embraced her. Face pressed against the curve of his shoulder the woman let out a slow sigh before the hold was broken and she stepped back. So much had happened since the last time she’d seen him. Yet she felt no desire to share that news or dwell on the things that frightened her. Vakhanor was separate from Marcus and Krome and the rebellion. Her friendship with him was an entirely different sphere and within a few short moments she found herself clinging to the idea, like a life line.

“I’m sorry to hear about Oberyk,” Elyna admitted. Everyone had lost somebody. Vakh always seemed to lose more than most. His blue eyes were bright and intense and she smiled at him, hoping to coax the man into a warmer response. Welcome home? Back to Andaris? Or had he heard about Veljorn? Her eyes widened a little and the smile on her lips stiffened.

Separate, he was a separate sphere. The woman rested her hand over his as it lay on her arm. “Maybe after the baby is born, we can get a drink or something? It would be good to see you and to catch up?” To find out how he was spending his time without his younger brother. Vakhanor was a creature of fire and she worried about him. Guilty over the path she’d set him on. Anxious to help him as she had promised. Elyna wondered how his burns had healed and if he still had any pain. If the forge was gone, then what was he going to do for money? Could he still make weapons? There was a cry for fresh bread behind her and she winces. The market seller holding nothing back as he tried to sell his wares.

“If I hadn’t seen you today, I wonder…would you have come to visit?” She looked up at him. Trying to without the note of accusation in her tone.

[Vakhanor]

New life seldom let alone that which bore it, the child that was clearly soon to be born into the world would give less time to Elyna than Vakhanor guessed she had anticipated. The smith remembered Elyna had said that Malcolm would be back in Vhalar to support her. At least it meant her life looking after the child would be less difficult for her than raising Bjorn had been. As a man who had already raised at least a couple of young nobles, another shouldn't be a problem for the Malcolm.

"Yeah I would eventually," he replied, averting the direction of his gaze toward the bread maker who sought to sell his wares. The market was a busy place these days, everybody was scrapping around and rebuilding after the war. Passing eyes sneered at the pair standing in the middle of the road, all too busy wrapped up in their own lives, just as they were. "Figured you had your reasons, didn't want to bother you," Vakh explained, returning his attention back to her. There had been one occasion he had at least considered it after the dream, otherwise he had been preoccupied. Ever since he'd met Elyna he'd known the woman to be stubborn, as a Skyrider the Burhan had a sense of unbridled pride that mirrored his own and being that dick head depending on his mate all the time wasn't his style.

Loneliness had become an ally and sometimes preferred it that way, people often got in the way or scorned his method of working. In the past Oberyk had left the half-blood to his own devices unless the smith wanted to know something on the condition that Vakh remained completely honest with him. Distance had appeared to have waned on Elyna for reasons that raised suspicion, however there was a time and a place for everything and that was too private a conversation to have in a market.

“I won’t drink with you Elyna, liquor clouds your judgement. Your child will need you when your husband is away for work earning money, rest is a luxury when you have a baby to look after.”

[Elyna]

Further relief spread through her veins as he admitted that at some point he would have visited. Vakhanor had blasted into her life like a falling comet of fire. Branded her heart irrevocably with what they had suffered together. She was tied to the man with chains of blood and loss. Bound by guilt and anguish. She smoothed a hand over the curve of her stomach, it seemed so unfair and so cruel that she would be expecting new life, after robbing Vakhanor of such a precious gift in Bjorn.

“I’ve been busy,” she admitted, “just settling into work few a few trials before the baby arrives.” It had been madness. She found herself wondering if Malcolm hadn’t returned so early, would she have visited Vakh? Strange to consider Malcolm was any kind of barrier to their friendship, and yet…he was displeased by the kiss and she didn’t blame him.

The woman bowed her head, “if not a drink of liquor maybe tea, or cocoa?” she suggested, hopeful and forced herself to look up at the man again. “I’d like to see you, maybe you could come down to the house? I know it’s a trek away but…” she lifted her shoulders in a shrug, “like I said, it would be good to see you.” Elyna always felt as though she was drowning near Vakhanor, pulling into the whirling spin of his darkness. She wasn’t going to let him go though, not without a fight. The Skyrider wasn’t prepared to let him slip into despair. A cart rumbled past on the street and she stepped up and out of the way. Hand curled around his arm as she attempted to steady herself.

There was a twinge low down in her belly that made her pause. A throb of pain that caused her to adjust the way she was standing.

[Vakhanor]

Unlike many among the men and women Vakhanor had gotten to know, Elyna hemmed herself into his scars. Piece by piece she coaxed him onto the path of his own destruction as she became the subject that tested what little morality the half human, elemental had left. Born in Andaris and raised among the Aukari, there had been little welcome for him by his friends upon his return. There was no way for him to tell whether his friendship with her was turning him into a better man or a worse one and for a moment he looked at her. He looked at her as she looked at him and wondered if all of this was really worth it?

If being friends with the woman was to lie about who he was, the smith had made it no secret he was an angry man. Secrets dwelled behind the intensity of his cool, hardened gaze as he saw in her the life that he had once wish he had. Envy was the thing that made him despise her and patience was the reason he adored her. Vakhanor knew Elyna understood some of his pain and it seemed to make her feel closer to him. Looking at her now, he knew they were further apart than they could ever be. Elyna, the noble woman with child, husband, a home, a job… a family and in the end Vakhanor had very little of anything.

Solemn in his response, the half-blood’s muscles stiffened beneath the skyrider's touch as she adjusted her position around his arm. Much like his mother during her pregnancy, the woman was going through physical duress and although she had asked him a question he chose not to answer “You look like shit,” he said, lifting his head to follow the fast moving wagon passing through the streets. Looking Elyna in the eye was becoming difficult; envy hand fed his malice and lead him on a one route track to disappointment. In these few moments of talking it had become apparent to Vakhanor that the woman was struggling, for some reason he expected more from a soldier.

Gently he tugged the skyrider toward him, adamant to get her out of the way and block the incoming crowd from being a nuisance. Nobody was going to argue with a six foot Aukari if they could help it, and thanks to appearances most citizens often tried their best to avoid contact with the red head, “Don’t want the kid getting hurt.”

[Elyna]

Vakh took his time to respond and then his words left her speechless. He was as unpredictable as the fire he tamed in his work. Maybe that was it, the Aukari half of him always threatening to claim control of his words and actions. Her brow narrowed in frustration though and then annoyance. Offended by his words the woman turned to leave in silent reproach. Only he curved a hand around her and pulled her away from another speeding cart. Standing closer than was strictly acceptable the woman remained mute, glaring at his neck. He smelt of…what? Breakfast perhaps, something tangy and bitter that could have been stale ale or something from a forge, or maybe a cheaper perfume? Her brows narrowed in a deeper frown and she looked up at him.

At the earliest opportunity the woman took a step back and put a more reasonable distance between them, “thank you,” she responded his kind action. The action didn’t match his earlier words and she was confused.

“Vakh, if you don’t want to get a drink, or visit me or just talk to me then that’s fine,” she looked up, eyes turning dark with irritation. Did she truly deserve to feel aggrieved by him though? Probably not. This was just who Vakhanor was and part of the reason she valued his friendship. He was unpredictable and kept her on her toes. If she hadn’t been so tired and felt so heavy, then she might have slapped him across the shoulder for being so rude. How dare he say something like that to her. It was bad enough that she felt like a beached whale, without anyone deciding to point it out.

“I have to say, you don’t look much better. Where’ve you been sleeping? In a stable, or a brothel?” It was hard to hide her upset and the woman lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I'd better to be going, if I'm honest...perhaps another day Vakh?" She pressed a kiss to his cheek before she turned and made a careful way back through the crowd.

[Whisper]

Elyna

Peer Review

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Awarded Knowledge

Alcohol: Clouds Judgement
Motherhood: Rest is a Luxury
Surroundings: Urban vs Rural

Extras

Loot & Losses	[/color]xxxxxx	Injuries
None	[/color]xxxxxx	None

Fame	[/color]xxxxxx	Devotion
None	[/color]xxxxxx	None

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Vakhanor

Peer Review

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Awarded Knowledge

Elyna: Pregnant
Halfblooded: Warring Mentalities

Extras

Loot & Losses	[/color]xxxxxx	Injuries
None	[/color]xxxxxx	None

Fame	[/color]xxxxxx	Devotion
None	[/color]xxxxxx	None

Comments

Not much to give in this thread, unfortunately, but if you think you should get a specific piece of knowledge, please tell me what it is and where it should have been awarded from.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading this, sometimes social threads are the best for development.

As you can see, I have provided feedback and reasoning behind my review. If you have any questions, comments or criticism about your review, feel free to send me a PM and we can discuss it.
Thank ye.

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