Atainia

Atainia stood motionless atop the first floor of the Jade Tiger inn,
watching the sun rise slowly over the Ocean of Tears. Her large brown
eyes darted over the usual view she saw nearly every day of her
twenty-five years, but yet, it still held a sense of wonderment every
time she witnessed the spectacle.
A sense of calm washed over the warrior. She closed her eyes inhaling
the salty air, letting the warm breeze blow her long hair and tickle
her face as she listened to the forceful waves crash against the rocks,
blended with the seagulls continues squawks.

But her peaceful thoughts were interrupted, hearing the familiar
commotion below her. She opened her eyes annoyingly seeing a diminutive
number of people litter the streets, some just waking up for early
morning prayer in the temple of Marr, while others just returning home
after a wild night at some inn.
Merchants were beginning to open their shops sleepily waiting for the
first customers to drop in, as the city of Freeport prepared itself for
a new day.

She glanced back hearing a loud grumble, and quickly closed the window
blocking out the noise. Then turning walked back to the bed sitting on
the edge lightly.
Rovelk stirred slightly but quickly drifted back to sleep. A streak of
light made its way through the tattered frame beaming lightly across
his handsome face, as his chest rose and fell at a steady pace.

"My love" she mouthed, her fingers stroking the features his face
softly. She leaned down kissing his cheek gently as not to wake him but
then grinned and thought, considering last nights events he won't be up
any time soon "Wizard's weren't made for drinking" she laughed, though
the night was hazy even for the sturdy warrior.

Atainia rose, slipping his robe off her shoulders and letting it drop.
She laid it across the bed smoothly gliding her fingers over the soft
carmine silk before adorning her simple leather undergarments. She then
picked up the various pieces of crafted armour, and strapped each one
on skilfully, trying to minimise the clanking.

With her sword in one hand, and the helmet in the other, she took one
last glance at Rovelk before opening the door quietly making her way
downstairs. The innkeeper sat at the bar wiping a glass wearily,
looking as if he'd been up all night. He glanced up at her flashing a
toothless grin as she crossed the room quickly, exiting the inn.

Atainia stopped by the market, and bought some rations and a few flasks
of water before heading strait for the guildhall.
She was hit by sudden warmth as she entered the fighter's guild. Fires
were blazing everywhere and the smell of steel blended with sweat
consumed her, making her feel slightly dizzy.
Cain Darkmoor was seated polishing his large sword. He stopped his work
suddenly seeing her come in, and called loudly "Ah young Atainia!
Finally made an appearance I see! I pray you are in good health?"
"Aye my lord, I am well" she replied hastily "just a
little&;#8230;busy"
The barbarian stood up quickly coming towards her, his large build
towering over the comparatively small human as he looked down giving
her his usual big smile said, "Well! You have some catching up to do
with you're training, we better get started!"

She spent a couple hours of intense training with Cain, focussing
mainly on her dodging and parrying, and learning to use her slender
figure to her advantage against her larger foes. She then left the
guild hall hearing Cain Darkmoor's voice trailing "bring pride upon our
name Atainia!"
It was still early, so she decided to head to the west gate, then
quickly made her way across the common lands to put her newly acquired
skills to the test.

The woods were dark and eerie when Atainia reached the outskirts
Nektulos Forest. Shadows danced at every corner, as the sun's light
fought its way through the thick leaves of the trees.
She felt uneasy being so close to Neriak, home of the evil dark elves,
but she dismissed her fears as cowardice, and ventured on headstrong
deeper into the forest, in pursuit of better sport.
And so, Atainia became the huntress. Her eyes glared, and chest heaved
giving into the thrill of the hunt, tracking down the many beasts of
Nektulos, and hacking them down mercilessly without regard.
She hunted for hours, careful to keep a considerable distance from the
dark elf town, finding mainly Darkbone skeletons and shadow wolves. But
she also made a quick disposal of a band of camping Orcs, giving her
renewed confidence with every slash of her sword.

Midmorning came and the heat grew oppressive. Sweat tickled down her
brow as she felt the blazing heat directly above her, still managing to
make its way down through the thickness of the trees.
Exhausted and starving, she walked on a little further before stumbling
upon a lake, its waters still and inviting. Atainia knelt down and took
off her helmet, sipping the water slowly swirling it about her mouth
savouring its sweet taste before gulping it down instantly feeling
refreshed. Then throwing down her backpack, she slumped down against a
nearby tree, resting heavily on its enormous trunk. Her brown hair
swept gracefully with the rhythm of the warm air, as the sun shone on
her face.

She closed her eyes sighing out heavily trying to catch her breath,
until her stomach suddenly emitted a loud rumble. Atainia reached down
in her backpack taking out the rations, and started to eat them
hungrily, trying to imagine they were Mrs.Morgan's delicious meat pies,
just to keep her mind off the dreadful taste. But it did the trick, her
stomach calmed down, and she felt much better. The warrior glanced down
at her sword, which now rested peaceful and unmoving, as the sunlight
reflected off the colourful jewels of the hilt brilliantly. However,
the blade lay soiled and matt, still stained with blood and guts from
the last fight, a reminder of its deadly purpose. But so was her armour
and face, she noticed, peering into the reflective steel of the
helmet.

Atainia lifted herself up sluggishly and strutted back to the lake,
lowering her sword into the still water. She ran her fingers over the
blade delicately washing off the blood and gore, watching in
fascination as the red liquid ran smoothly into the lake then
disappeared, before laying it down to the side. She then looked all
around, not seeing any sign of anything started to strap off her armour
quickly, before removing the rest of her clothing.

Naked, she stepped into the lake, lowering herself gradually till she
was neck deep. It was pleasant but chilly, and her body shivered as the
coolness of the water wrapped around her skin. She washed herself
cautiously keeping the sword in reach, while her eyes darted about
still on alert. But slowly, the warrior started to relax, tipping her
head far back soaking her hair, then swimming out further, giving over
to the sensation.

It was late afternoon when Atainia finally emerged out of the lake.
Feeling clean and refreshed she started walking back to the tree while
wringing the water out from her hair. But suddenly froze midway. Her
heartbeat quickened as her eyes rose slowly. There stood the tree she
had rested on unchanged, with her backpack still lying open. But right
beside it, was an exact duplicate poised still and silent. Its branches
spread out unmoving despite the warm breeze, was the only thing that
distinguished it from the first.

Atainia glanced around franticly with the feeling of being watched.
Naked and vulnerable, She forced her legs to move and quickly slipped
on her leather attire "what magic is this?" she demanded as fear
engulfed the warrior, her breath coming out in short gasps.
She started to reach for her sword, but something caught her eye. The
tree was moving. Turning back slowly, her jaw dropped as the tree spun
round, swelling and shrinking consecutively until it finally formed a
figure before her.

"Teir'dal" she gasped. Not wasting another second lunged out for her
sword. But froze. This time not by shock or fear, something held the
warrior. Atainia looked down finding roots wrapped tightly around her
feet and rising up her legs, she struggled to get free, but they tugged
her down harder each time she tried to pull away.

The dark elf emitted a loud cackle "pitiful human" he sneered "but
master Nulaak will be most pleased". Atainia raised her gaze abruptly.
Her body shuddered while she stared into his ruby eyes as they glowed
from beneath his dark hood. Gulping, she forced herself to regain some
of her composure, wondering what a dark elf was doing so far from the
city, had her calculations been wrong? But she didn't have time to
finish the thought when the she felt the Teir'dal's eyes peer up and
down her body, a grim smirk fixated on his lips. Her hands rose across
her half-exposed chest reflexively, making him laugh louder "I have no
interest in a lesser being!" he spat disgustingly "but you will make a
fine slave"

Thoughts swam through her mind, as her eyes darted around helplessly
looking for a way out. The Dark elf circled around her slowly, his
black robe ruffling on the dirt behind him. An apprentice she
perceived, but non-the less a practised Enchanter, why had he merely
watched her? and for how long? she pondered. How she detested their
illusions and deceptive ways, If only she could get close enough to
hack off his head! But her feet were still adhered firmly to the
ground. The warrior then parted her lips slowly and started muttering
prayers to her god Rallos-Zek, her voice rising steadily as she called
upon the warlord.

The dark elf halted and turned to her angrily "silence fool!" he
snapped, then raising his hand pointing a finger towards her murmured
"tri'leph akai zelrisia". Atainia's last thought was "damn enchanters"
before her mind went totally blank.

Dominated, she stared unblinking while the mage only laughed harder. He
muttered a quick spell and the roots around her legs crept back to the
soil setting her legs free, but she didn't move. Having no will under
his control she followed obediently as he called her forth "come to me
human slave, you cannot resist!" he taunted as he started to lead her
from the lake.

But something gleamed distracting her, and the warrior's eyes flickered
towards the bright gems of the sword hilt, which still lay near the
lake forgotten. Free from the spell, Atainia darted for her sword
hearing the Dark elf starting to cast another spell in his foul tongue.
She griped it tightly, turning around swiftly to face the mage, but was
struck instantly and shoved heavily to the ground with a great force,
and the sword flew out of her grasp. She gasped, staring blankly into
the ruby eyes, but glaring down at her now wasn't the slender elf, but
a grey haired beast. It had the look of a huge wolf, yet still somehow
resembled the Teir'dal mage. The werewolf grinned, revealing its sharp
teeth to her, the games over she thought, he's going to kill me.
Instinctively, the warrior jerked her head back just in time to keep
her head from being ripped off her shoulders. She reached down hastily
for the dagger concealed in her boot and thrust it with all her might
into the beast's chest. It let out a loud shriek and Atainia fought to
let herself free from its tight grasp, going strait for her sword. But
before she could reach it, the wolf's claws were digging into her legs
sharply pulling her back. Unarmed and defenceless, she kicked and
punched desperately trying to break free, but it did not faze, mauling
her back down instantly as it continued to bite and tear at her skin
violently. Atainia cried out from the agonising pain, her own blood
drooling onto her lips as she fought defensively to keep it from
landing the critical blow. The warrior rolled her head heavily to the
side closing her eyes tightly hearing the mutters of a spell "no" she
groaned in despair, she would die with honour from a mans blade or
beasts claws a hundred times over rather than by a mages unnatural
spell.

Atainia raised her head, looking into its glowing eyes defiantly. But
the beast jerked his head up abruptly, and the warrior gasped seeing a
flash of light launch itself into the beast with incredible speed. The
creature was flung off of her violently, twisting and turning on the
ground letting out a horrific howl before it fell limp. Atainia watched
in shock as the wolf thing shrivelled slowly back into the form of the
elf. The light still wrapped about its body, burning and consuming, as
it lay still and silent.

"Atainia!" came a yell. She turned her head hearing footsteps running
towards her, and smiled seeing the vivid colour of the carmine
robe.

Rovelk slumped down beside her. His hands hovered hesitantly just above
her body longing to hold her, but at the same time not wanting to hurt
her. Then finally, lifted her head up placing it gently in his lap
gasped "oh my love, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" his hands stroking her
bloodied hair from her face.
Atainia smiled faintly "the wounds are not serious" she
whispered.
"We must find you a cleric, soon" he said kissing her forehead.

The warrior moaned loudly; lying still unable to move as a surge of
pain rushed through her limbs. She tried to reach for her bleeding arm
weakly but moaned louder letting it fall back down with a thump "my
calculations must have been wrong" she croaked "I did not mean to get
so close to the Teir'dal city"
He looked into her eyes confused, then looking about declared "it is
more than a days journey to Neriak"
She scrunched her face puzzled "what would a dark elf be doing so far
from his home?" she asked slowly, but suddenly went pale knowing the
answer before Rovelk whispered "you were followed"

They stared in each other's eyes a long while before Rovelk broke the
silence "come my love, let us return to the city" he said taking out a
small pouch.
The warrior closed her eyes feeling the soft dust cover her body,
wriggling her nose, still feeling uneasy about anything magical, even
though she had been through this spell countless times.
She closed her eyes tightly hearing him chanting, snuggling closer to
him, her mind still rushing with questions as she felt her body being
sucked away, and teleported back to Freeport.