Topic: Before the Trials of Shadow

Cieara DeAuster

Date: 2006-06-28 15:00 EST
But delay the mournful words Of complicated overcast Please take the message That you taught me how to live at last But I said my confidence It gets stronger when you're next to me But we wave respect goodbye In quest for what we long to be, but I might crumble, I might take a fall again

Blue October- Everlasting Friend

She stood high upon the walls of her home, gazing out over the hills and valley that laid a distance beyond. The looming keep was built into the side of a cliff face making it a highly defendable position and allowed for a grand view of any that might seek to march upon it. The sky dark with the rolling of heavy clouds, a summer storm building in strength and intensity, and bringing the scent of electric and dampness to the dark air.

Auburn curls danced under the fingers of the wind, teasing and tangling the silken locks without prejudice. But she didn't really seem to notice, for her gaze was drawn inward. Deep thoughts bring a marring of a smooth brow. Thinking over the many considerations brought up recently. From the past to now, and everything.

She was a product of her upbringing. A daughter of Chaos Undivided, a sister, a Shadow Mage apprentice, a warrior, a member of the Blood House Onyx and all came to her by her rite of birth. The blood in her veins was much a part of who she was. Part Demon, part Elf and raised in what her grandfather called an undisciplined and chaotic manner.

Her parents had taught her how to control her unconventional and often duel natures, but hadn't expected her to bind it up to the point it would become lost. She often suspected it was how her mother had been raised and had not wanted to create the same dangers in her own children. To the outside world, Fiona wasn't a motherly sort. She allowed few to see beyond that mask she wore, but her children knew the truth, for they had grown up surrounded by love.

Fear was only something she was recently coming to recognize but didn't fully understand it. While her grandfather didn't approve of how she or Daniel had been given lessons in managing their natures, he couldn't complain about how sheltered both had been. Unlike many others, they had not been allowed to wander off away from their home. Lucky for them, Gharnholme and the lands it encompassed was large and spread out over a vast area. It was a grand playground. It was safe, loving, peaceful, and familiar, without the shadow of fear that was said to rob some of their innocence.

Cieara had been 16 the first time she had been allowed to accompany her father to the realm of RhyDin. Daniel had already been there but always in the company of one of their parents. They had both fought in battles, facing some that were wiser in the ways of war, but they had taken knowledge from victory and defeat. She often saw that time as a turning point. Freedom to explore beyond the world they knew into something all together different.

She now faced another turning point. The Trials. A rite of passage where she would either embrace her shadow gifts or end up destroyed by them. That is if the Shadows deemed her unworthy to wield them. Her mother had told her each one was different. Each journey was as unique as the one passing through that dark veil. So all she could do is train for all events and hope she would survive it.

Oddly, while her family felt concern, many unvoiced, she found it an appealing challenge. She had sought her father out upon learning he was very worried and after a talk he was willing to let her try. She suspected he had been more troubled about her taking the mantle of the Order then surviving the harrowing tasks. She had been honest with him about that. Her grandfather didn't think she was suited for that life, but since she was related and had the aptitude, he would allow her to expand her gifts and the only way to do that, was to walk into the Ritual Trials. She could grow no further without it.

She was undisciplined, uncontrolled, emotional, and unpredictable to be a suitable candidate and those were just a few of the reasons given. True, she had felt a bit insulted, but then she realized, she didn't wish to be any of those things her grandfather required and while the older male would like to ignore it, Cieara did have a lot of her father in her along with the color of her hair. She carried much of her mother as well, but suspected Fiona would have been very different had Lyllianne raised her instead.

She had spoken at length with her mother about her decision and with Sorcha and her Grandmother as well. Learning all she could from all three. They had helped her train for what was to come. Methods very unconventional but more then effective as her speed had increased over the past few months. She could read body language, along with emotion and use that to her advantage. Cieara's skills grew with each lesson and then her teachers decided she was ready.

Now, she had only had two left to talk to about her choice. One she felt confident would support it, the other, was already avoiding her. Daniel wasn't happy. She felt that through the link they had shared since before she had been born. What was even more baffling, she wasn't sure why. He was blocking that from her and seemed to have become quite adept at avoiding her. Several times she had tried to catch him, but with each attempt she made he had ducked from sight. Cieara didn't know if it was sibling jealousy or a genuine fear she wouldn't survive. Considering she was four years younger, it was possible his pride wasn't handling this well either.

She suspected it was the idea she could die that drove him now beyond anything else. There wasn't any way to bring her back if that happened. Those that failed during the Trials, never returned. Their bodies lost within the maze. After that last battle and she had gotten hurt badly enough that the connection had been snapped off, she had heard he went a bit wild.

There was also a promise she had forced from him. A promise she now realized she had no right to demand. He too should have the right to pick what path he wanted to walk and not let anyone, or anything, not even a promise to her stop him. Now, if she could only catch up with him, she might get a moment to tell him that very thing.

"Daniel, we need to talk." The thought sent free to travel along that unseen thread to find her brother.

Daniel DeAuster

Date: 2006-06-28 15:54 EST
Daniel wasn't avoiding his sister, any more than he was avoiding everyone else, except for Kaelyn. And he suspected that even she was wondering what was going on. No, Daniel wasn't just avoiding...

He was hiding.

His birthday was fast approaching, and he would be reaching the age of majority. Having already spoken to his mother and father on the subject, he wasn't looking forward to it. Oh, the party that was being planned at Gharnholme wasn't a problem, since it would be family and close friends only. A small, intimate affair where they would give thier presents, and Cie would undoubtedly tease him about the new girl he would be adding to his chain.

It wasn't the upcoming Bloodmoon ceremony either. Falling on the night three day's after his birthday, it would be the first that he and his sister would be allowed to attend. He had heard many things about the ceremonies, held under the light of the full moon at the Bone Altar, and there was no denying the energies that were released during that time. Last time out, he and Kaelyn hadn't emerged from thier chambers for nearly a day.

No, it was the 'introduction ball' being held in Cisroe that was making him cringe. With his reaching the 'proper age of majority', the nobility of the newly-formed realm would want to meet the Prince Regent. And so, preparations were being made, the ball to be held in the middle of the following month. Given the last ball he had been to, Daniel fully expected it to be one long, tedious affair.

And so, he had taken to wandering, loosing himself for hours at the time in the foothills and forests surrounding the keep and burgeoning town surrounding it. It was a time of reflection, and one he needed, as he could sense changes in the air. A...tug, if you will, but to where he didn't know...

Daniel, we need to talk The soft mental contact brushed away the thoughts, and he heaved himself to his feet. An ancient fir tree nearby provided a perfect patch of shadows, and he ducked through the Nether, reappearing from the shadow of a red oak several paces behind Cieara. "I'm right here Cie."