Seeking RP Writing Partner

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Gathering twigs for the small fire Ganelon though about her question, his face a mask of serious concentration. He never really thought about this at all. He just took his namequest for granted, just as all hardships conected with it. The perspective of years to be spent away from home did not scare him. In reality, he only shared the Swordbearer blood and name. There were few ties of emotion between him and his family. He loved his mother, of course, but only respected his father, who was strict and demanding. The people he cared about most were his sister to be wed to some distant Swordbearer cousin to keep the blood thick and his teachers whom he learned to respect and love, depsite the torments and humiliations he suffered from them.

"No, not really," Ganelon answered truthfully. "Actually I shouldn't be thinking about anything else besides my quest. They won't miss me for sure so why should I care either way. The Swordbearers have a heavy duty to perform. It's a sad reality, I'm sorry, I don't want to talk about this. Ask me some other time, okay? I'll tell you everything when the time comes. And I'm sure you've heard your deal of stories about us... I'll make a shelter for the night."

 

[Guest]

Truth be told, she had heard some stories, but had never paid much attention. After all, what did it have to do with her? More than she had expected. She thought wryly and watched him work quietly.

Carefully she scanned the surrounding area, making sure that they would be safe for the night. So far, so good. She suddenly yawned and stood, stretching her body. "Well, I suppose we should get some rest. Tomorrow is another day and there will no doubt be lots of walking ahead."

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

As Ash proceeded to lie down under the makeshift roof he made from branches and patches of grass, Ganelon sat at the fire and stoked it generously. Sitting down he looked into flames, recalling his hard training that was to prepare him for his namequest and later his life as the owner of The Longsword. Hearing Ash sigh, he turned to her and saw her look at him, already lying on the ground, wrapped a blanket he put there.

"I'll take the watch... just in case. You sleep tight."

 

[Guest]

(well, damn. I did reply to this post and it never showed it looks like. So here I go again I guess! Sorry 'bout that!)

This was indeed a nice perk. Perhaps tonight she could get more rest than usual and that suited her well enough. Closing her eyes, it took only but a few minutes before she was gone. Lost in a haze of sleep and exhaustion.

However, once again, sleep wasn't going to be as restless as she would have wanted it to be. Within the hour, she became restless. Images began to fill her mind. Even in sleep, she murmured softly under her breath. Her face pitched in a serious frown and her body shifted resltessly. A man visisted her again in her dreams. She was trapped, with nowhere to go and at his mercy. His eyes bore into hers, menacing and evil. He smiled and laughed wickedly as she struggled against her bonds.

"No..." she murmured.

In her dreams, she fought, straining to get away, but it only made him happier. Before long he was on her, his body hard and strong, gripping her painfully as he flashed he showed her the glowing piece of steel that held his brad...his emblem. "You will be mine." he promised.

Pain shot through her as he pressed the hot emblem to her flesh and burned his mark into her flesh. Crying out, she jerked up in her sleep, gasping for breaths and confused for a moment. Her eyes locked with Ganelon and she it dawned on her. She was safe, in no danger. Flushing with embarrassement, she mumbled that it was just a bad dream and dropped back down on the pallet to stare up at the stars.

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Leaning on the hilt of his sword and staring into the flames, Ganelon held the vigil. Though his eyes were focused on the dance of the fire, his ears were carefully checking for any unnatural sounds or the sudden stop in natural sounds of the forest. But apart from the crackle of burning wood and Ash's regular breath, he heard nothing unusual. He did notice that change in her breathing and watched her toss and turn in her sleep, tormented by some nightmare. He smiled casually, those were the unwanted part of our nature, he had some of his own.

Those dreams of his were always the same, him facing a dangerous man who commanded elements and had mosters at his beck and call. And the challenge would always end in the same way: with Ganelon set aflame by that man and dying in terrible pain as fire ate away at his flesh.

Ash cried in her sleep and half sat up, her eyes wild and confused, as if she didn't know where she were. Ganelon smiled at her although she couldn't see it and he waved his hand at her reassuringly. She mumbled something about at bad dream and lay down again.

"I get some of those too sometimes," he said, staring into the flames again. "Try and get some more sleep, morning is still a few hours away. Tonight and from now on you have nothing to worry," Ganelon smiled, turning to Ash again. "Any trouble coming your way will have to go through me first and it'll make such a racket when I'm beating it silly, you'll be ready in case I'm not up to it. You won't be surprised."

He turned to the fire again and watched the flames dance on the wood... and inside his head.

 

[Guest]

She smiled slightly, but said nothing. Turning back on her side, she closed her eyes, but the imagines of the nightmare were too fresh to sleep. Rest was still welcome, even if it wasn't through sleep. So she lay there quietly, focusing on her breathing. She listened to the fire crackling, the sounds of the forest around them, but nothing alarmed her.

Finally her body relaxed, her mind went blank and she was back to sleep. This time a dreamless sleep that she welcomed...

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

As Ash fell asleep again, Ganelon said a prayer of protection, setting wards around their small camp to warn him when something approached. Having done so he slid off the log he was sitting on and lay on the ground, laying his head on his elbow and gripping the hilt of his sword. Soon he fell asleep, trusting that his senses will awaken him as soon as something is wrong. He slept till morning, and the rays of the sun shining on his face through the canopy of leaves woke him up to a beautiful morning. He sat up and yawned furiously, stretching his arms and back. Looking at where Ash slept he found her already up and eating breakfast. He waved at her cheerfully.

"Good morning! Did you sleep well? No new nightmares?" Ganelon inquired.

 

[Guest]

Ash rolled her shoulders and slanted him a still sleepy look. She wish she could welcome mornings so cheerfully. Still, she managed a half smile before replying, "I slept fine, considering we slept in the woods." She motioned a hand to the food, "There is plenty left if you want some, I wasn't sure if you ate in the mornings or not. It's usually my main meal since I never know when I'll be stopped. When I'm alone, I just forge ahead, not really caring."

In the morning light, she seemed a little different. Her features a little softer. She was pale, but despite lack of color, the skin of her exposed arms and face looked smooth and soft. Her hair was as black as a raven's wing and even after having slept in a braid, now loose it lay as straight as a stick, like a thick curtain of black silk. He hadn't had a chance to study her face much yet. Having felt his gaze on her, she refused to return it. She probably looked like death warmed over, she told herself and busied herself eating until she set aside a makeshift dish.

Running her fingers through her hair, she pushed it back and began braiding it again. It just wasn't practical to leave it loose. "So..." she spoke again, "Ready for another day?"

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Standing up, Ganelon moved his arms back and forth, warming the muscles. he stomped his hurting leg a few times and decided he could walk for a few hours before calling for a break to rest it. He tried not to stare but this was his first chance to take a look at Ash in full daylight and he found her features striking to say the least. Her hair, so black it had a blueish tinge looked marvellous and made her look a bit unearthly, contrasting with her pale skin. In more presentable clothes she would be the best lady of any court, he decided. But then she would lose her romantic charm of a vagabond, he added to himself.

"Oh, no... my stomach's asleep till lunchtime," Ganelon responded. "This is one thing that I welcome about my namequest -- I can eat whenever I wish to. In the manor I had to observe the meal hours that were suited for everyone save me... Now, it's up to me." He smiled and checked the weave of his own very long braid, it was still tight but some hair already got loose. He'll have to redo it in a day or two... hopefully with Ash's help. Whenever he did his braid himself it was always loose and a mess.

He covered the campfire cinders with sand and waited for Ash to get ready herself.

"So, where do we go from here... boss?" He smiled and joked.

 

[Guest]

She smiled at him and stood, laughing softly, "Well now, that's a question. Unfortunately I don't have the answer. I usually go where the wind takes me...you know, instincts and all. I never have a distination in mind."

She paused a moment and looked him in the eyes, "Are you sure you want to follow?"

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

"Oh, sure. Going anywhere is better than standing still. After all, I have no fixed idea about my purpose of destination so I might as well go literally anywhere. Or as long as you can stand me and my flapping tongue." Ganelon grinned. "Let's continue in the direction we were moving in yesterday?"

 

[Guest]

She grinned and nodded in agreement. Having picked up their things, the struck off throught the woods. Kethry soon found them a trail. Although a little worn, it was a lot more comfortable than making their own. She lead the way in silence, listening and responding to him when asked questions. She wasn't quite used to having a companion yet. It was an odd feeling and when he sometimes moved to walk beside her, she found herself almost startled.

After a few hours, she noticed his walk change. He was again favoring one leg over another. She suggested they stop when she spotted a small stream over water. Turning slightly, she motioned to the water and slowly. "Why don't we break here for a little bit. I could use a drink."

He didn't seem to have any objections. Moving to the stream, she knealed down and scooped up a little water in her cupped hands and drank. Sitting back down on a patch of grass, she looked at him. "Would you like me to take a look at your leg? I could heal it for you and make travel a lot easier."

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

They moved through the woods talking about unimportant things, making their road more pleasant and time pass faster. After a few hours though, just as Ganelon had predicted, his leg started to hurt, he had to slow down. He welcomed Ash's offer to stop for a while and he produced some beef jerky form his sack and chased it with a few handfuls of clear, cold water from the stream. He massaged his slightly swollen knee, wincing when he touched a tender place. This would heal if he could stop for a few days and spend his time on respite and maybe some fun with girls. On the road however there was no hope of a longer stay so he had to make do. In worst cases he could pray for the pain to lessen but he didn't want to rely on this too much. At some point his ancestors might deny him their favour if he spent it on such trivial matters as a hurting knee.

"Would you like me to take a look at your leg? I could heal it for you and make travel a lot easier," Ash asked and Ganelon considered her offer.

It was tempting, getting rid of the pain would indeed make them both travel faster and possible fights easier, as his fighting style relied heavily of swift foot-work.

"I guess... but I'd hate for you to waste your abilities on such trivial matters. Besides..."A devilish light flickered in his eyes. "I don't think it's okay for me to take my pants off in your company just yet... I mean, we've only just met and I think first we need to get to know each other better." He grinned and laughed softly at his own joke.

Ganelon was no lech but he inherited his grandfather's sense of humour and love for beautiful women... which earned him a lot of slaps.

 

[Guest]

She blushed at the thought, even though they had already bathed in each other's presence. A small smile played on her lips at his humor. "You wouldn't have to remove them...I can work over the pants if you would like." She moved a little closer to him and placed a hand on his lower leg. "It would only take me a short moment and you'll feel better."

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Ganelon shivered involutnarily as Ash delicately put her hands on his knee. Her face was a mask of concentration and suddenly he felt icicles piercing his leg and then there was no pain anymore, no swell. He tried to smile as he gathered his wits, this was the second time anyone ever directly used magic on him and he didn't like this feeling. He was grateful though that Ash healed him twice so selflessly but he wasn't going to rely on her powers too much -- he was supposed to work for his name himself.

"Thank you, Ash. I feel much better now. I won't be slowing you down anymore." He smiled the thanks and got up carefully but the leg was fine. He offered his hand and helped Ash get up as well. "I guess we're ready to move on. I sure hope either something interesting happens or we can find another town... I ache for a bed to sleep in... That must make me sound like a spoiled prince... I'm sorry."

 

[Guest]

Ash smiled, "Don't be sorry, I would love a bed myself. Sleeping under the stars is a novel idea until you do it one too many times." Besides, she hated to admit it, but using her powers to heal always left her a bit drained. She wasn't going to let him know that though...it made her feel good to be able to help him when he had saved her life.

Together they began moving again. She hoped that they would reach another town soon enough. It seemed that this area most places were within a day or two of one another, which was a welcome change from weeks of travel with no signs of life.

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Walking the path they had found earlier Ash and Ganelon soon discovered that it connected to a road leading directly North with forest on both sides. A little to the left a human body lay in the dust, a pool of bloody mud surrounding it. Ganelon immediately scanned the surroundings for danger, sensed none.

"Wait here, Ash. I'll check it out..." he whispered and left the bushes they hid in.

He carefully approached the corpse and noticed it was a richly dressed woman, stabbed in the front and back many times, there were even some cuts to her face. The blood surrounding her was still fresh and perhaps even warm. The killing was committed very recently. Hearing a breath and soft steps behind him he half-turned.

"I thought I asked you to stay in..." he started but it wasn't Ash who was approaching him but a tall, strong man with an ugly-looking two-handed claymore sword in his hands. How this giant could move so silently in the forest and not stir a single twig hauling his piece of iron? Ganelon had no time to ponder this, with the man's sword already making an arc and his still in the scabbard.

 

[Guest]

Ash had lingered behind just far enough not to disturb Ganelon and yet close enough to notice the large ugly man advancing. She hadn't warned him, no, but only to be able to approach the man without him noticing. Still now she moved through the bushes silently and watched the man raise his sword.

She watched, impressed as Ganelon moved in just the knick of time to save his own hide, realizing that she had actually been holding her breath. Letting it out she leaped out behind the man and blasted him with a stillness spell. He froze in mid-swing with a grunt.

Heaving a breath, she caught her own weapon, giving them time to situated a striking pattern to save their lives. The spell would wear off soon. They could run or stay and fight. She looked to Ganelon too see his responce...

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Ganelon barely dodged the beheading blow by bending backwards almost impossibly for a human being... Some of his trainings were like that: to take his body beyond the limits of human endurance and possibilities. Getting up he saw the attacker take another swing at him... and freeze. He simply stood there, defying the laws of movement and gravity, suspended in mid-action. Ganelon jumped backwards and took his sword into his right hand, assuming the fifth stance: the point of the sword directed at the opponent's jugular. He didn't strike though, it would be dishonourable to slay an opponent who couldn't defend himself.

Ash jumped from the woods and took her place strategically next to Ganelon and a little behind him, waiting for his cue.

"Let's try and take him alive. Maybe he knows what happened here. It's the first time I ever saw someone cut up like that... Watch out!" Ganelon lunged to block the incoming blade of the man's two-handed sword. The blades connected and clashed, sparks flew and Ganelon's arms went numb from the power the man commanded. His sword almost fell from his hands.

 

[Guest]

Ash had always loved the saying, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall' as she was usually the smaller one in attacks. This brute had force, but not much grace. When he swung at Ganelon, she took the opportunity to duck down low and get a small running start, slamming her body into their attackers legs.

She heard him grunt and stumbled, loosing his balance. Quickling rolling her body away, she stood up, reading for another attack. With a hard thud, the man hit the ground on his arse, looking a little bewildered...

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Taking advantage of Ash's clever maneuver Ganelon took a few paces forward and placed the point of his sword to the man's throat. His arms and shoulders still hurt from that terrible blow.

"You drop that piece of iron, friend, and no harm will come to you from me. We only want to ask you some questions. The easy way or the hard way." Ganelon added menacingly and pressed his sword a bit stronger to the villain's throat.

Ganelon cast a sideways glance at Ash and nodded to her. "Great move there. Want to ask him questions..." he pressed on his sword even harder, a trickle of blood dripped from the man's neck. "...or shall I do it?"

 

[Guest]

Although exhausted, Ash smiled and pulled herself together. It wasn't easy fighting and using her power. Still, she was happy that Ganelon had complimented her. She was no warrior and had no training to really go by, but she did the best she could. "You go ahead and ask away. I wouldn't know where to begin." She said and concentrated on looking normal when inside she felt like pudding.

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

"Right... Okay, friend. As I said, I can be nice to you... or I can be not nice to you. It's your call... Oh, and I won't be repeating my questions so answer right away unless you wish to start parting with some parts of your body." Ganelon's voice was ice-cold, menacing and gloomy. "First question: did you understand what I said?"

The man nodded vigorously.

"Great," Ganelon whispered. "Was it you who did this woman in?"

The man shook his head, dirty hair flew around.

"Hmmm, did you see who killed her?"

Again, a nod.

"Who was that?"

"Two men and a woman. One of the men limped and the woman lacked her left eye, had an eye-patch. Commoners I guess."

"Why did they kill her?"

"Must have been robbers or thieves, like myself here. There was little talk, they took her sacks and cut her up... for fun it seemed."

"Which way did they go?"

"North."

"Any towns that way?"

"Only Camille Village."

Behind them Ash was checking the corpse more thoroughly and suddenly she gasped, drawing Ganelon's attention.

"Don't move a muscle, or my sword might slip. You may yet save your head, so don't blow your chance," he told the man and turned to Ash. "You find something?"

 

[Guest]

She looked paler, which was almost scary considering her already fair skin. Having examined the woman and turned her about to inspect the body fully, she had noticed several tears in hers clothing. Carefully she had pushed the material aside to see if more wounds lay hidden and come across a scar. Not just any scar, but a brand identical to her own seared into the woman's skin, forever marking her.

Ash shivered, suddenly feeling ill. When Ganelon approached her, she pointed to the symbol, but made no moves to explain just yet. "We need to move and now." She whispered, her voice holding a sharp, frantic edge to it. "Leave him, he won't harm us further I don't think. Lets go, OK? Lets just go!"

 

[Poganin]

Ganelon Swordbearer

Ganelon was no magic specialist, neither had he any knowledge of the occult (nor any actual interest in it), but seeing the strange symbol on the dead woman's body he couldn't hide his curiosity. All the more, since Ash displayed strange behaviour upon finding it. Her demeanor suddenly changed, her voice bordering on panic and the imploring look in her eyes made Ganelon wonder but he gave in to Ash's pleads.

"You! Disappear and gods forbid we cross our paths again for you will die should we chance upon each other," he commanded the villain and turned to Ash. "Where are we going? Do we follow the three who killed her?"

He decided not to pry about that mark on the woman's body. Ash would probably explain it to him in due time. For now he decided to follow her lead, no questions asked.