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Elyen felt a strange disjarring of his Self as his eyes watched the humming silver blade cut down towards his friends. For they were his friends. He knew that now. Why should simulacra sacrifice themselves for love? And why, if they were simulacra, were they not better taken care of by Bane and his minions? And now, it's too late to die. Elyen felt something inside him crack, a jagged line zigzagging its way down the center of his being as the saber fell further downwards. He couldn't stop its momentum. Time seemed to slow down. Blood rushed through his head, deafening him with their primal pounding. And yet, for all the horror that was being realized before him, the elf felt that strange detachment buffering him, wrapping him up in muffled emotions. Blood spilled, splattered onto his upraised arm. Elyen watched with fascination as his hand came up and wrapped itself around his burning upper arm. He watched as 'Thaya's lips opened in an unheard scream, as Railen fell to the floor, crumpling under the pain of light burning through flesh, boiling blood. His cheeks felt wet. And then, time sped up again, and his ears echoed with screams and heaving sobs for air. Light, brilliant and piercing flashed across his vision, and he was blind. His knees gave way under him and he crumpled to the floor, unseeing. Pupils dilated, the bond that he had damaged surged back to life at the contact of 'Thaya's blood. Lightsaber fell from nerveless fingers, rolling away towards Galain, unheeded as its owner pushed himself with one hand towards the sobbing Amazon. "'Thaya, oh gods, I'm sorry... Love, what have I done..." Incomprehensible mutterings as he reached out blindly with one hand towards the huddled woman, pain searing through his skull. Gods, and what about Railen...
It happened so quickly Galain had time only to flinch and cover his eyes. Screams, cries and Elyen's labored breathing and horror-stricken words were all that remained in the aftermath when Galain looked again. Something hard and cold rolled toward him and he picked it up, realizing what it was in an instant. He stared toward his fallen companions and painfully hauled himself to his feet and stumbled over, his breath catching at the sight before him. "Elyen?" He asked in a whisper, not expecting an answer. The other elf's actions were enough though to tell Galain that Elyen was himself... or as near could be.
The blade came down fast, slashing across An'Thaya and Railen's entangled arms and catching the Amazon across the back. Blood mingled, running together in rivulets and splattering across them both, a sting like fire on her bicep as the mix hit her burned tattoo. She crumpled like a ragdoll, no longer aware of what was happening to Railen... not hearing Elyen’s cries....
Shadow hurried over to Railen's side, heedless of what the others were doing, she was worried about her best friend. "Railen? Bucko? You all right?" Of course he wasn't...but it sounded like something good to say at the moment, if she could only get him talking.... "Rossevirin...you're more trouble than you're worth...you know that?" The elf grinned as she started up the old teasing. "You either talk, or I'm going to throw you in the lake Llach."
It was all a blur, and if he would be asked to tell someone what had happened, he would never be able to remember. All he could see was that blasted weapon slashing down at them, the cry that escaped him dulling in comparison to the other, more feminine, scream. He didn't know how long he had been there, motionless. It felt like an eternity. The first thing he felt was the presence of the others around him. Shadow was there... and so was Galain, An'Thaya, and.... yes, and Elyen. Were they all alive? All of them? The elf opened his eyes and found another's staring down at him. "I know," he choked out in a whisper. "But what would life be without me to keep you on your toes, eh?" He started to reach a hand up to touch Shadow's face, then pulled back at the last moment. He would be all right... but the sooner they all made it out of this place, the better. And was Elyen all right, now? Railen could feel a familiar air about him, but it was never too wise to make assumptions...
What have I done... I can't see... I'm blind... oh gods! What have I done?... *heaving sobs* Gods... I've got blood all over me... Who was I?... So much blood... Pain... and I can't see... I can't see!... Hold... 'Thaya... Gods, where is... You're bleeding!... What have I done to you?... Oh gods forgive me... gods, please forgive me...
Galain was at an utter loss. Railen was at least speaking to Shadow, but Elyen and An'Thaya? The elf fell back as he witnessed the agony of these two lovers. This was not the sort of reunion any of them had hoped for. He felt as if he was intruding upon a incredibly personal moment between the Amazon who still seemed only slightly familiar to him and the elf who had always close to Galain's heart as a good friend. He wanted to say, "You are all right. You're both all right." But he had the sick feeling that things weren't all right and that while the outward injuries would heal, the inner ones wouldn't. The evil of the place was palpable and heavy here and he shuddered, desperate to get out of here.
Shadow gave a crooked smile and took Railen's hand. "Aye, that's true enough." With a sigh she pulled out a dagger, untucked her shirt and began cutting off the bottom before returning the dagger back to where it was. Mentally she began ticking things off in her head as she tore the other sleeve off of her shirt. An'Thaya was hurt... Elyen was hurt... Galain was hurt... Railen...herself...well, she could fix herself, right now the only thought that was going through her mind was to patch up what could be. They needed to get out of here, now that they had Elyen...and he was the only one that had a chance of leading them out...at least that was the thought that was running through her head. "Between you and Galain, you two will have me walking out of here in nothing but my vest."
Shadow began tending to Railen's wound as best as she could, silently passing a shadowy hand through before wrapping it up.
"I know," the elf began as she finished wrapping. "You take your pain plain...but it would be easier if it nothing was felt while I was doing that....and remind me when we get out of here, and you get all healed up, to cuff you for getting me into these messes." The copper elf looked at the other makeshift bandages in her lap before looking over at Elyen and An'Thaya...did she dare to help? Not without permission...but the bandages were here if they were needed. "Atto...how's your arm?" She'd taken a hold of Railen's hand again unknowingly.
"Arm's the same, just got more bruises. Nothing that can't be healed." Galain replied to Shadow. "Just don't ask me to fly us out of here." He was speaking in half-whispers, nearly beside himself with anxiety for the Amazon and other elf.
A pinpoint of light opened in the darkness, expanding into a softly glowing blue portal. From within stepped the hulking figure of the Prince of Inligh, his eyes shimmering slightly in sorrow as he gazed down on An'Thaya and Elyen. "This way," he said softly, indicating the portal, "This trial is finished."
His hands clasped his head at the temples, fingers curling and uncurling, pulling at his hair.The heels of his palms dug into his eyes in an attempt to blind him to what he had done to his friends. Oh, poor baby... Get up, you fool! Get up! Have you forgotten who you belong to? Scorn stabbed through his mind and Elyen bit back on a whimper as whips lashed across his soul. "Leave me alone... please, leave me alone." He whispered, not having enough strength to communicate with Bane otherwise. Do you think that you will ever escape me? My hands are not bound by physics. Already, you wear the mark of your power on your soul. Already, you belong to me. You may run, little elf, but you will never escape. Not from me. Not from you. Bane's voice sneered, mentally backhanding Elyen to the floor. Go, for now. Recoup. Plan. Wait in hiding. And when I call, you will serve again. Phantom laughter rang through his ears even as he curled up around himself and keened. And through it all, he could feel her pain resonating back to him, and knew enough to shield against her, not knowing how it would seem that he didn't want her around. So long spent in darkness, it was hard to remember how to live in the light.
Galain was quite relieved to see Chez. However, he was quite frustrated by the current state of his companions. "Chez, I don't think they're in any state to be walking out of here, help?" He was already leaning over Elyen and forcing the elf to his feet whether he liked it or not, tossing his friend's arm around his own shoulders and grabbing his waist tightly. There was no way he could carry or support An'Thaya too. Then he was heading toward the light, firming guiding Elyen's feet forward no matter what.
Railen chuckled painfully as he was given the lecture. Some things would never change, no matter what happened. He didn't want to look towards An'Thaya and Elyen.... didn't want to see anymore blood or pain. He knew that both were there. For the longest time he just stared at his hand clasping Shadow's in return. He wasn't necessarily thinking, much the opposite for now. He was just feeling. Railen watched silently as Chezlar appeared and seemed to show the way to... home? Were they actually going home? It all seemed too good to be true. Briefly the High Elf wondered if this was another one of that evil guy's sadistic jokes. But no, he could feel the light. He could actually feel the light. Slowly he sat up, then managed himself to his feet. He would be all right. Really. It might be one of the most horrid memories to look back at, but at least he would have that opportunity. They all would. He staggered slightly with the first few steps, gazing then at An'Thaya. Was she all right? She was alive, right? Of course... he could still feel that bit of her presensce inside of him through their link. Silently he tried his best to reach out to her through that link, no matter how slight it was, and figure out how drastic the psychological damage was. Sadly enough, he couldn't figure it out. He was a stranger to her mind and what he could get to without being cut off was vague to him. I guess it takes a while to learn the language of another's mind, he told himself. But she'll be all-right... she'll be all right... He was still holding Shadow's hand at this point, and he thought once or twice about releasing it, but that was all. He would take these opportunities to be close to her, no matter how futile his efforts were and no matter how brief those moments would last. He was satisfied for now just to feel her near.
Chezlar said nothing more, these people were his friends, but he was on assignment this time. Stepping past Railen and Shadow he stooped to lift the Amazon from the cold stone floor, careful of the open would across her back. She was most definitely alive, but she wasn't healing as fast as she normally did. The Changeling assumed it was the nature of the darkness that had struck her. Bearing the tiny redhead with him he stepped back through the portal, emerging into the heated air of the jungle of Whispin. A small cottage stood in a clearing just ahead, Galain and Elyen were not in sight, the Elen must have taken the Stripe haired elf into the Amazons home. Chezlar quickly followed, leaving the portal open behind him for the use of the last two companions.
It was strange, but Galain knew precisely where things were and what the layout of the cottage was. He didn't question it for now though, simply gently laying Elyen upon the bed before loosening the other elf's clothes and covering him. There was more than enough room for the Amazon and the high elf, despite his own injuries, busied himself with making hot water and finding clean cloths. He even found a little bit of covering for himself before he turned in time to see Chezlar enter, bearing An'Thaya. He aided the Changeling with his precious burden before he suddenly sat down and hard. This place was disturbingly familiar, making him feel nauseated, anxious and frustrated simultaneously. His head seemed to swim as he tried to shake it all off. "Should I be here?" He finally asked the Changeling, standing slowly.
Chezlar looked up at Galain, an odd light in his eyes as he regarded the elf. He seemed to mull something over for a moment, eyes shifting to An'Thaya and Elyen and back again. "Go on home Galain, there is nothing more you can to here," he paused and tilted his head, "The Fates are patient."
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