Tahlavain smirked at Darrell, "yes, but you have not practiced the skill for nearly one thousand years..."

At Sen's statement, Tahlavain's jaw clenched. She had had enough for the day, and would have been well pleased if they could make it at least the rest of the day without an encounter.

As they drew closer to where Sen had mentioned the Maiean were, Tahlavain pulled Flarenath to a halt and closed her eyes. Suddenly she opened them, her blue eyes nearly ablaze. "They caught wind of us... way before hand... they have already sent word to the larger encampment behind us..."

"I have an idea... " she said as she dismounted and walked foreward into the forest, a small distance from the road, disappearing from the view of the others.

She returned shortly with a satisfied smile, then remounted Flarenath, not saying a word, but urging the horse on at a steady canter.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

*Sen followed on, wondering what Tahlavain had done...*

_________________
"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Deawen rode silently Bredol was tireing and she knew it "Sen my lord!" Deawen called through the wind she rode next to him "my lord do you think both of our power combined do you think we could get all of us to safty?"

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

*Sen looked over.*
With ease, my lady. Yet we should see how this plays out; to see why the Maiean have come, and who they really are...

_________________
"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Overhearing Deawen, Tahlavain turned her head and looked at her, "you nearly died once already this day, using your powers. I do not think it would be wise to to so again... besides... we may rest tonight, there will be no trouble from the Maiean for a while now..."

Glancing towards the fading light of day, Tahlavain dismounted. "If you need me, I shall be on watch within the boughs of this tree... take rest, Deawen, there shall be no trouble tonight," she murmured as she quickly climbed a tree and sat in a high branch, pretty much out of sight from the others.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen looked at him suddenly with fear in her eyes "but!" Deawen started but she cut off she had no right to question Sen's motives

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Tahlavain watched silently, and every now and then closed her eyes. She let out a quiet sigh and stretched one leg out along the branch, and braught the other close to her. Resting her elbow on her knee, Tahlavain dropped her forehead into her palm, whispering something to herself.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

*After bidding Deawen goodnight, Sen walked over to the tree where Tahlavain was in.*
My lady, may I ask what you did back there? You did not tell, yet it will keep the Maiean of our backs for a while, as you say.

_________________
"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Tahlavain seemed startled at first at being spoken to, but looked down from where she sat "I sent them on a wild goose chase as you would call it... " She replied shortly.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen was silent the rest of the night snow was starting to fall and collect Deawen wrapped her self in a cloak and stayed as far away from everyone without dissapering

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

(snow? O_O oooh)

Tahlavain again became silent, shivering from the cold, but not seeming to notice it, and not bothering to wrap her cloak about herself.

Suddenly, Tahlavain stood on the branch and strode the length of it with the silence of a cat, then after hesitating, jumped to the next tree. She did this a few times until she was a good distance from the others and climbed down from the tree she was now at.

Unsheathing her sword, she ran a distance before coming to a clearing marked by a strip of black cloth. Glancing around nervously, thoughts ran through her mind, I know this is not what the others would want, and it will probably be spoken of as yet another bad decision, but I must find out the truth about all this...

Her thoughts were interupted by a tall figure, cloaked, as were the Maiean, but with an aura of power that could strike fear. "So the she-elf brings the prize, and not the companions? Good, that is agreeable so far... now what is it you wish to know?" The dark figure spoke in a low voice, obviously that of a man.

"I wish to know why the 'prize' as you call it, is so important to you, and I also wish to know who you are..." Tahlavain replied, taking a slight step back and gripping Corasar's hilt tightly.

"Very well... the sword, as you should know, holds powers, and if weilded by someone who knows what they are doing," he said with a slight sneer, "can achieve my goal perfectly..."

"And as to who I am..." he let out a low laugh. "That is something you do not need to know... yet... but who says you will ever know?"

"I do... " Tahlavain's eyes narrowed.

"Very well then... the challenge is still on? If you win, I tell you with my dying breath... which won't happen... and if I win, the sword will be no longer bound to you..." he snarled darkly. She nodded and set herself in battle stance. "Agreed..."

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen fell instantly asleep she heard voices around her she did not stir but in her mind eyes she was watching all that happened...

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Darrell slept lightly, dozing his way through the night. During one of his awake periods he noticed that Tahlavain was no longer with them. It took a while for this information to filter into his sleep ridden brain but when it did he sat up sharply. Where's she gone this time he thought She may be a better archer than me but she is given to doing far more foolish things than I am " Sen my lord, do you where Tahlavain has gone, I fear she has done something rash again" Darrell's hand did what it always did when he felt uneasy about something, it drifted to his sword hilt. "If she has got her self into trouble we may need to go and help her"

Deawen's gift learned something new everyday new tricks to spy with to fight with to heal and countless other things. Deawen's mind eye watched Deawen was still asleep so she was still getting her rest but she could go into a deeper sleep without something sneaking up on her.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

(^^ *innocent smile* I have a habit of getting my character's into sticky situations...)

The cloaked man drew a dark and heavy blade, covered with various runes, in a langauge which even Tahlavain did not know.

Tahlavain stood still as he rushed her, then she jumped off to the side while swinging her sword around to his back, but he turned around immediately and blocked it skillfully.

At the moment their blades touched, there was a slight flash, as though the two metals held contrasted sorts of power. The parley went on for quite some time, filling the silent woods with the sound of metal against metal.

Tahlavain didn't weaken, and neither did the dark one. His blows grew heavier, as did hers, but at a more rapid rate. It came to the point were she was constantly thrown back by the force, but she would return quickly with a skillful play of her sword. Each received their equal share of cuts and scrapes, though none severe.

With another skilled angle of Corasar's blade, Tahlavain managed a deep slice into the man's shoulder and he stumbled back in shock. She quickly followed it by striking inward towards his gut, and when the blow was blocked, she gave her sword a slight twist, driving the tip of the blade inward, slicing his hand and disarming him.

Turning sideways, she high kicked his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. She held the tip of Corasar at his throat. "Speak now or die." "I am a dark shadow, the rumored shadow, and none can stop me, not even you, for you do not know your own power," he sneered, then added, "And as for the rest of the truth... it dies with me... but not today." He grabbed the blade with his hand and held it back, regardless of the cutting of his flesh, then threw a knife in her direction while rolling to his feet.

Raising Corasar, she deflected the dagger and ran towards the man but he was now on the run, quickly making his way through the forest. Tahlavain gave chase, but not for long, as she realized he had aquired a horse. She listened to the gallop of hooves fade into the distance.

She cried out in frustration, "Rhaich!" Tahlavain made her way back to camp, and her angered face was indeed a sight, blue yes blazing amid scratches and cuts, though small they be. She sat down, or more so slumped, beneath a tree and took a piece of cloth and began wiping her drawn blade, which strangely carried the cloaked man's blood, though no other blood seemed to remain at other times.

_________________


I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Deawen watched but did not move from her sleep instead she used her voice ""my lord Sen something stirrs with Tahlavain...'" Deawen whispered telepathicly. Deawen woke from her sleep buried under snow. she fought the snow she hated snow to no end!

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home