Chapter 3: Reuniting in Hog....

[Muargath]

"Thank all the gods, for you Alia.  Thank you for helping!"  The relief she felt was near overwhelming.

She looked to the golden-haired elf who now stood by her, "I am so glad you are all here to help Gashnum..."  Muargath took Viresse's hand and gave it a quick squeeze before moving back to the bed.  "We should make him more comfortable."  She pushed the blanket aside and began to untie one of his leather boots.

~~~


Between the three of them, they were able to remove Gashnum's outer clothing and settle him into the bed with some extra blankets brought by the innkeeper.  Muargath removed the medicines to the far side of the room, incase he should awake and accidently ingest them.  Clean water was brought up and a full glass set on the table by his bed.  He seemed much better now, not quite so flush and though sometime during the night, his fever broke completely, he continued to sleep as Alia predicted he would.  

Shortly after his upturn in health, Muargath persuaded Alia to go and get some rest.  Alone with her recovering friend, Muargath sat in a chair pulled next to the cot, not being able to sleep, herself.  

This is how the dawn found her...

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Gashnum Invraldi]

The early morning sunlight of the new dawn found Gashnum in near-perfect health. His terrible fever had finaly broken, and he had stopped sweating during the night, several hours before. Now he was sleeping deeply, his breaths, regular now, were long, deep, and strong.

---------------

     Gashnum awoke with a sharp intake of breath, as many people do when they have slept for a long period of time and wake suddenly. He had no active memory of the last eighteen, or so, hours. His outer layer of clothing, including his boots he realized,  was removed, and he didn't remember taking them off. He was plagued by the unkown, where was his horse, his spear, his dog? More questions flooded into his mind, he sat up rubbing inefectivly at the crust that had infested his eyes during his ,fever induced, sleep. Gashnum looked foggily around the room, the room he had never seen before. He posed a question to the occupants therein, being that he could not see well, and was very confused.

"Where am I, have I been robbed?" Gashnum slowly began to take in the details of the small, cozy, chamber. The pitcher of crystal clear water on the table next to him, his clothes folded neatly over an oaken chest nearby, his precious spear propped against the wall, and a feminine figure, nearly asleep, in a chair nearby. The woman looked vaguely familiar. He asked his question again, leaving out his concern about robbery.

"Where am I?" His voice carried much concern and confusion, for he truely was both.

The warrior who acts out of honour cannot fail. His duty is hounour itself. Even his death - if it is honourable - is a reward and can be no failure, for it has come through duty. Seek honour as you act, therefore, and you will know no fear.
-From the 183rd Ritual of Devotion

[Muargath]

Running.  Her legs ached, her lungs ached.  She could hardly catch her breath.  She spent, it seemed, the entire night, or longer perhaps, running down this unfamiliar trail through a never-changing forest landscape... always too dark to see far enough, or to see clearly enough.  And no matter which path she took, she kept returning to the same, forked divergence!  Exhaustion consumed her, frustration overwhelmed her.  To the left or to the right, it didn't matter.  It always ended up the same.  She knew she had to catch up to them, if only she could find them!   "Where am I, have I been robbed?"  The muffled voice filtered through the black tree line, echoed in the distance.  A long pause later, and the voice was much closer, sounding as confused as she felt.   "Where am I?"  

Muargath opened her eyes to see Gashnum sitting up in his bed, looking a little disoriented.  Her dream faded, but the unease remained.  She pulled herself up, somewhat stiffly, and cleared her throat quietly.  "All is right, my friend.  You are safe."  She stretched and yawned wide.  "Mmm.  How are you feeling?  Can I get you anything?  Water?  Are you hungry?"  

Muargath stood up a little shakily due to her lack of sleep, but she'd gone longer without good rest so she soon gained her bearings.  Leaning forward, she ran her hand along Gashnum's brow and cheek, just to be sure the fever had truly gone.  "Alia's a miracle worker, if ever I saw one.  Here, let me get you a towel for your face."   She went over to the wash basin, poured some water in it and brought a fresh towel, along with the basin, back to the table by the cot.  Wringing out the towel, she handed it to him.  

She walked over to the window and pulled aside the curtain, looking out into the daylight.  The sunshine seemed so foreign to her all of a sudden...   "Sinen is here.  He arrived last night.  He took Duster with him when he turned in.  Poor dog didn't want to go, but you can't keep him locked inside all night.  He needed fresh air and exercise and Sinen offered to take him out for a walk.  I would've, but I..."  She let the curtain drop and the room dimmed dramatically.  "I was needed here."  She turned and smiled at Gashnum.

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Elende]

The morning sun invaded Elende's room and burned his eyes. He quickly jumped off the bed. He also felt guilty that he allowed himself to fall asleep so deeply.
 However, he was glad because he felt his strength return to him. Luckily enough his parents found out in an early age that Elende was sensetive to poisons of every kind. That's why he learned some basic herbalism from an early age....just in case.

  The last night was quite eventful, Gashnum's sickness, the arrival of Sinen and Alia, Alia healing Gashnum and Muargath's worries and desperate attempts to help her friend.

 WIth all these going on Sinen didn't pay much attention at the newcomer. Elende let the subject slip as Gashnum's condition was a more serius problem.  
 
  Elende quickly got ready and made his way for the lounge. As he was walking down the stairs he saw Sinen entering the inn. He was not alone, it seemed that Gashnum's dog was with him.   He must have taken the dog...Duster I think...for a walk.....

 Sinen closed the door behind him and as he turned around he was clearly surpirsed to see Elende standing only a few paces away.

  " Gashnum is recovering well I hear.....so maybe it is time for me to answer some of the questions you may have. The others...I assume...have filled you in on what has happened. "
 
 
 

[Muargath]

Her stomach grumbled and all of a sudden she realized she was ravenous.  

"I'll leave you to wash up and get dressed then."  Muargath smiled at Gashnum as she moved toward the door.  "If you want, I can check on you later.  But if you are feeling up to it, why don't you come down and join me for breakfast?"

She stepped out into the hallway and quietly closed the door behind her.  After a short pause, she ran her fingers through her hair and went downstairs.  Sinen and Elende were talking by the inn's entrance.  Muargath left them to their conversation and approached the barkeep instead.

"Is it too early to order some food?  No?  Great.  I'll be sitting over by the fireplace."  She indicated the empty table by the unlit hearth.  "Whatever you are serving will be fine... but some toast would be nice, too.  And some hot tea would be much appreciated, too!"  She walked over and sat down, yawning the whole way.  She felt so tired and knew she needed a bath, yet food took precedance.    

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Viresse]

She sat in the far corner of the tavern, trying to rest while not wanting to sleep. With the Arrival of Sinen, she felt she could not let her guard down- even if he catered to the ill-man's dog. She crossed her arms over her chest and watched they play of things, thinking of the situation at hand.

Still no Gararion... she thought and took a sip of water, setting the glass back down on the table. I truly wonder about Sinen now- I can't let my guard down.
She thought of Muargath and Gashnum, who seemed to be doing better as movements were heard upstairs, in a more comforting fashion. All though late yesterday afternoon, the pace upstairs seemed rushed and precise, and now the rhythm of movement seemed almost calm. Things had to be getting better.
And They seemed to be trustworthy. The Care Muargath exerted for her friend revealed weakenss- something that a person with a plan would not have revealed. And Gashnum was obviously with weakness- but that did not make him trustworthy. But Muargath's fondness for him seemed to speak for his character...
She watched Elende with scrutinizing eyes.
She still did noty know what to make of the ecu'moh. Is he to be trusted? Even without weapons he may very well be a force to be recokned with, and the surpise he incurred upon her a few days ago was trust-inspiring. It will be a great while before she can trust Elende...
But the time may never come for Sinen...
She arose and departed for upstairs, to check on Elende's weapons- she had stowed them in Gashnum's room for the evening. She passed by the bar as she did so, watching those tehre to see if they were to say anything to her.

*pokey de Viresse at viresse@santharia.com* - Adventures of Caelereth Administrator
The Santharian Dream - Home sweet Home...

[Sinen Darkchild]

Sinen looks at the one called Elende...
"I do not have any questions and I knew what happened before I got here...There are many powers in the world, and at least one is a close personal friend of mine...If I am correct in my knowledge your name is Elende...correct..."

 Fools rush into battle blindly, but who is really the fool? The fool or the fool who follows him.

[Elende]

Elende wondered at Sinen's words. He clearly implied that somehow he knew of him before he came to Hog. And what were these powers he mentioned?

" That is correct I am Elende. From what you said you seem to know enough about me.... Your friends, as you may know already, saved my life. As a sign of gratitude I offer to help you in your quest. What you seek in of no interest to me...I am seeking something of greater personal value....my destiny. The gods willed it for our paths to cross it seems."

[Sinen Darkchild]

"I think you will find that it may seem to be gods but another force is yet at work upon our world...I care not what your motives are as long as you don't get in my way..."

 Fools rush into battle blindly, but who is really the fool? The fool or the fool who follows him.

[Muargath]

Duster ran over from Sinen's side and sat next to Muargath's feet, placing his muzzle on her knee.  She smiled and scratched him behind his ears.  

The innkeeper brought her a big mug of steaming tea and she thanked him profusely.  "Do you have any scraps for the dog?  Or maybe a small cut of beef or mutton?"

"I think we have something..."

She smiled up at him through her weariness.  "Thank you, again.  Just put it on my tab."  As he walked off, Muargath leaned back in her chair, cradling the mug in both hands, drawing warmth from it.  The tea smelled wonderful, but was too hot to drink just yet.  I hope Gashnum decides to join me...  

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Viresse]

She made her way up the stairs and down the hall, her spirits rising a bit. Hopefully Gashnum was well enough to move on today...

She knocked on the door to his room and awaited an answer- she didn't want to see something... umproper...

*pokey de Viresse at viresse@santharia.com* - Adventures of Caelereth Administrator
The Santharian Dream - Home sweet Home...

[Elende]

  Elende took a few seconds contemplating Sinen's last words. He almost became lost to his thoughts when he heard a dog barking.... probably Duster , he thought. He turned he head and spotted Duster waiting,  by Muargath's side, uneasy. It seemed that the dog sensed that breakfast was not be served shortly.

 Sinen waited patienlty for Elende's reply....

" I wish not ti interfere with your business...but from from what I have learned your quest is a noble one...and of great importance. I  to offer my services to you...freely. If you wish it, I would like to partake in this quest. If not...."

 

[Gashnum Invraldi]

Gashnum had been bumbling about his room for the last ten minutes. Putting on his clothes, and having particular trouble with his boots. But he did finaly manage to lace them properly, just as he heard a sharp raping on the door.

"Unnggh" Gashnum groaned as the sharp noised amplified his leftover headache from the previous night. He put a hand against his head in a vain attempt to block the pain, he rose from his sitting position on the bed to answer the door.

"This will be the inkeeper, come to collect the rent...." Gashnum said to himself distraughtly, he prepared a confused, tired look for the innkeeper, he unlatched the door and opened it quickly.

"I'm sure my frie.... Oh Viresse...." gashnum fumbled for words for a moment, gathered himself and continued.

"I.. I want to thank you for putting me up here, I don't know what came over me...." he trailed off and lowered his gaze to the floor.

The warrior who acts out of honour cannot fail. His duty is hounour itself. Even his death - if it is honourable - is a reward and can be no failure, for it has come through duty. Seek honour as you act, therefore, and you will know no fear.
-From the 183rd Ritual of Devotion

[Sinen Darkchild]

"Well, you are welcome to accompany us as long as you like Elende...You will find that as long as you trust in my descisions I will trust in any advice you offer...Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to check on my dear friend Alia...She had quite a tough night after helping heal Gashnum..."

Sinen stands and heads off upstairs...

 Fools rush into battle blindly, but who is really the fool? The fool or the fool who follows him.

[Viresse]

She heard a groan and furrowed her brows. While a groan is usually a sound of pain, hearing anything from the Man is better than nothing. Slow steps reached the door, and he began to murmur as he opened the door.
Gashnum was surprised to find Vir there, and she tried to smile politely as he took in the surprise.

He thanked her for putting him up in the Room, and she bowed her head as she tried to deflect the gratitude.
" Your friend Muargath was the one that nursed you, for as much as she could handle. You had her quite scared... perhaps you should thank her." She looked up and continued. "Sinen is here- he is the one that leads this- I don't wish to call it a group as so few of us know each other, but he is the- I dareasy, Leader. If you feel well, you can meet him."

"As for me, I had stashed Elende's weapons here. I came to retrieve them. I can fetch them- or if you wish privacy, you can retrieve them from the closet." She awaited an answer, but was patient.

*pokey de Viresse at viresse@santharia.com* - Adventures of Caelereth Administrator
The Santharian Dream - Home sweet Home...

Advanced search

[Members]

Members Total Members: 2850 Latest: thediscountcodes Stats Total Posts: 214570 Total Topics: 8053 Online Today: 31 Online Ever: 216 (November 30, 2006, 09:08:03 AM) Users Online Users: 0 Guests: 25 Total: 25

[Artimidor]

	Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2005, Simple Machines TinyPortal v0.9.8 © Bloc
Theme based on Cerberus with Risen adjustments by Bloc and Krelia Modified By Artimidor for The Santharian Dream