Her protector... His salvation (Closed)

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

As the days passed, he became stronger, soon he could walk around the temple, he learned the native language quickly. He also gathered that they saw him as an "evil one", people that comes every harvesting season to take what they want from the people. He still had no idea what a Ranger was, but he made sure to gather all the information the priests could write down from his mutterings. It seemed like he was raised to protect the forest, so why would he be in the river? Why did he have all the wounds? There was so many answers that he didn't know which one to think about. It was a sunny day when he finally ventured out of the temple, he sat down on one of the stairs and looked at Julana.

"Tell me more of the strangers, these evil ones."

 

[Asa]

They have traveled here for all of my life and long before. They dress as you do... A cruel leader wearing heavy hides and horns over his clothing... They are from colder lands it would seem by their clothing... that take what they want of our people and our harvest.

She shuddered a little thinking about them knowing it was not too far away before there would be signs of their impending arrival.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

"Horns...furs...it sounds familiar to me, yet I do not know why. I do not even understand why it sounds familiar. This is so irritating, not knowing who I am or what I did."

He looked out over the village,

"I just feel that taking from you is wrong, you are hard working and honest people, you do not deserve treatment like that."

 

[Asa]

She watched him. He looked so much like them but seemed so different it was puzzling.

I do not know what to tell you beyond that. I do not understand why you look like them but the way the river moves you were in their path they will be coming back this way at harvest time.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He gave a grim little smile,

"Then when they come we will find out who they are and even perhaps find out who I am."

A sound caught his attention, he got up and walked towards it, he came across a clearing where men and youths were busy training with wooden swords, a smile crossed his lips as he watched them.

 

[Asa]

She watched him walk away to the training grounds and let her eyes fall back over the village and her mind back onto the troubles to come.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

One of the villagers noticed him standing there and soon everybody stopped and looked at him, a burly youth stepped forward.

"Why don't you step up stranger? Let's see if you can swing a blade, I'm sure that we will not hurt you too much as it is only wood."

He noticed it as a taunt, but smiled as he stepped into the clearing, a wooden sword was tossed his way and it felt like an old friend to him. The trainees mumbled under each other and the youth that had called him out stepped forward. The attack came suddenly, but he just ducked out of the way and slapped the flat of the blade against the youth's stomach. He crouched, ready for the next attack, this time he met the attack head-on, wooden swords clashing against each other and in a flurry of moves the youth's sword flew out of his hand and Fen'r's wooden tip rested on the youth's throat. Another stormed closer, but with cat like reflexes Fen'r turned and evaded the attack, giving the new youth a sharp slap against the neck with the flat of his blade. During all of this no emotion came to his face, he did not smile, curse, boast or tease, all his movements were light, precise and to the point, no wasted movement was evident. He met several attacks and deflected them all, his sword like a wooden wall around him on defense and his retaliations was harmless, yet the fact that with a real sword and if he used the edge of that sword was clear. He would have left corpses behind, as he retaliated attack after attack from the trainees a priest stepped up behind Julana,

"Mistress, you might want to watch this,"

the priest stepped inside and led Julana to a window overlooking the training area.

 

[Asa]

Her eyes narrowed watching him. Her instinct was to go protect the trainees but the priests held her to her place for now.

Just watch him... He fights like the evil ones too... yes but can you see the difference?

She watched him closely trying to see what they saw. Looking to the instructor to gauge his reaction as well

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He kept retaliating their attacks, the more frustrated they became, the easier it became for him to disarm them. Yet he held back, there was no need to harm these people, they were not real warriors, they were farmers, fishermen...good, honest people. One man though proved himself worthy of a blade and that man was testing Fen'r at that moment. Fen'r didn't step into the carefully laid traps, he kept his cool, not giving in to the taunts and jibes, finally he found the opening he needed and disarmed the man as well. He stepped back and saluted the older man, showing his respect.

 

[Asa]

She moved from the window feeling certain after that display that he very well could be one of the evil ones but why would he not remember what had happened. Had they turned on themselves or what he some sort of trick or trap?

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

"You have not noticed it? He uses agility, like a cat and he respects those he fight, not one single time did he mock or use any force not needed. He was much more precise than the evil ones..."

the priest looked down at the training area as Fen'r explained to their sword trainer how he disarmed him, the villagers gathering around to listen and watch.

 

[Asa]

She stared she wanted to see what they all saw but what her mind went back to was seeing her father fight the evil ones and their swordsmen. She turned walking back to her chambers looking to them.

For All of our sake I hope you are right.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He was swamped with questions and he took his time to explain, teach and show, after a few hours he was forced to call exhaustion and made his way back to the room inside the temple. He fell onto the skins and stretched out, it felt good to be this tired from actually doing something.

 

[Asa]

You even fight like them but the priests see something else in your fighting as well.

She spoke as she walked in.

I have to know you are not one of them... HOW do we determine that without your memories.

She was agitated and her hands unknown to her were glowing softly.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He looked at her and noticed the glow from her hands, he sat up and looked more directly at her hands.

"You are so focused on me, seems like I should be the one worried about you. Glowing hands is something that is not normal."

He swung his legs off of his bed and stood up.

"How do you think you should find out if I am one of your evil ones or not?"

 

[Asa]

She looked to her hands and quickly the energy vanished from them.

It is nothing...

Taking a step back as he jumped up like that...

I do not know maybe this is some ploy to win us over so we are not prepared... An act...

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

"If I do not want you to be prepared, I would not help your people with what training I can remember would I?"

He stepped closer, leaning towards her,

"I know magic when I see it, you can wield it, your hands shows that."

 

[Asa]

Perhaps not... She stood her ground till he mentioned magic again and took a step back eyes narrowing.

What if I can?

Her powers had been a well guarded secret till now. None outside of her village knew...

The priests heard what was going on and now were a little concerned

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He smiled and straightened up,

"An advantage to you when your opponent does not know what you can do, that will definitely give your people the help they need. They are good, but need a bit more and my recollection of my skills are limited for now, so I can only teach them so much."

He turned from her and looked outside.

"I wish to visit the forest when you can manage it and spare me the time."

 

[Asa]

The priests look wary as it seems he wants her to go with him.

One of the brethren can go with him my queen.

Spoke the elder quickly to sooth the others concern.

She nodded one of you can go with us as well as a guard.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He kept looking at the trees, his voice was soft, almost a whisper,

"You can chain me down, gag me and have the whole village guard me. I just need to get into the forest, to feel the wind against my face."

 

[Asa]

Nodding to the priests as they walked with him to the tree line. She walked with them for a time. Still unsure of this whole situation. She had to question everything to keep her people safe

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

He gave her a ghost of a smile, the smile that used to transform him from a brooding young man to a friendly person, loved by all.

"Thank you,"

it was two simple words, but they carried all his gratitude, as the priests walked him to the tree line and he took a deep breath, memories of hunts, camping and fighting wild fires came rushing back to him.

"I used to live in the forest, it seems like I always looked out for the animals, the trees, lived off the land and learned to use it to hide myself."

He stepped forward and suddenly he seemed to melt into the shadows and undergrowth. The priests stepped backward, alarmed at this, he appeared next to them.

"Did your evil ones do that?"

The eldest of the priests shook his head,

"No they marched through the forest, they had no need to hide themselves"

Fen'r grinned,

"Give me your smartest young men and girls and I will give these soldiers a reason to fear the forest."

He sobered and sighed,

"But then again, you do not trust me."

He reached out and ran his fingers over the leaves of a nearby bush, like a lover would touch the skin of his mistress.

"I can remember...I was a Ranger, one who was trained to look after the animals of the forest, to stand up to those who needlessly kill and torture animals. Who destroyed the forest for their own ends and did not think of the damage they did. But you want to believe I am evil. Let's return, as invigorating as this was, I need to rest."

 

[Asa]

You think you can do anything to stop them?

She watched him eyes narrowing...

I leave the decision in the priests hands I have to prepare for their coming attacks.

As she walked away one of the priests looked to him. Their leader expects and has for many harvests now that she would be his to claim Her father always found a way around his demands but now... there is nothing to stop him...

 

[DeathsKnight]

Fen'r A'gard

"Then priest he has something to contend with. Me."

Without further word he strode back to the village, his eyes searching for the perfect wood to use as arrows, what to carve a bow from. He flexed his hand, the priests have done a good job, soon he will be ready to hunt...and kill.