Countryside View

[Arianna Chastlien]

Moving on...

Since a child recovering from the first of the fires, I had not felt the same fear that pulsed through my body as I did now. I mounted Elusive and headed towards the eastern horizon, with the sun just rising over the meadows. Emptiness, dread and fear coursed and pulsed through me as did the blood that kept my body living. Rhydin was a day and a half’s ride to the east, but to me it’d be centuries until I reached there. My emotions were a roller coaster, I was happy to be able to finally leave Eluna’s and explore the world around us, yet I was terrified of being sent out alone, terrified that Drayden and Christian might not come for me...

Instead, I tried to busy my thoughts with positives of the future...of the business I had yet to talk to Drayden and Christian about, about how happy we were going to be here...Time seemed to go by just that bit quicker when I thought of things like this, and our wedding...that brought a smile to my face, and then I remembered that there was no one but me and Elusive now...Christian and Drayden were back in Eluna's...Soon though...I just had to be strong...

I often stopped to water Elusive and check the map that Christian had packed. I stopped to eat only what I would need to keep my body going, a light laugh brought to my lips when I found the extras that Drayden had packed for me. Shaking my head, I blessed the man that I was lucky enough to have found that cared for me....I never ate more than that which I would need to keep myself going, incase my worse fears were to happen. I had slept little to none the entire trip.

It was early afternoon of the second day when I heard the murmur of city life outside the gates of Rhydin, when I saw the hustle and bustle of the busy town. My jaw dropped at the enormous expanse of land that was to be called my home town. Slowly, ever so slowly I would ride through the gates and town, taking note of everyone and anyone...anything I saw and everything. I was truly in awe with the city. Eluna’s was not a millionth of the size that this town was...it would take some getting used to.

Elusive reared and I was nearly thrown off as a shouting courier was handing out flyers to most that entered through the gates. Quickly I quieted Elusive and took the flyer from the boy, nodding politely and continuing to follow the map, through the city to the countryside. It would be the next day before I unrolled the flyer and actually would take a look for myself. It took about an hour for me to find the farmhouse that we’d agreed upon to be our marker of meeting and I quickly found a good sized tree that would house me for the next few days until Drayden would arrive. I looked around my new surroundings, there was a small pond a few feet from the tree, making sure that everything was on the outskirts of the farm property, I nodded, sure of myself that this would be quite alright and no trouble would come to me for staying here. The soft glow of the countryside...the hum of life around me, the soft chirrups of the birds in the tree above me, soon had me quite tired. The fatigue I'd been fighting was finally settling in. I breathed in for the first real time, and tried to relax my nerves and the calmness that filled me, scared me. Elusive lowered himself to the ground beside me, the journey had taken it’s toll on my friend, and he layed his head down to sleep, and I too was not far to follow as I leaned against him...

((Cross posted in Dare to Dream))

[Arianna Chastlien]

Exploration...

Time seemed to pass much to slowly, and so after a good night’s rest, I woke the next morning and began my exploration of the town. There were so many shops and Inn’s...so many areas to explore and not enough time in one day! I was in awe of it all...There were a couple of places that had caught my eye the night I had arrived, though as fatigued as I were, I’m surprised that I would remember later where they were...One sign had read, “Imp’s Little Shop of Horrors,” and the little picture of the creature outside, slightly had me disturbed, in this I would make a note to visit at a later date when Drayden would accompany me inside...the other that had caught my eye was an abandoned building that was slightly bigger than the other little shop I had spied beforehand...The “For Sale” sign really called to me and I sighed.

The plans that I had managed to compile in my mind as to a means of money and work for Drayden, Christian and I would take money to begin. I could only hope that the secret's Christan had held as to a way to provide for us here would be all that we had needed. Perhaps I could find work and be able to save enough money to purchase the building...So many dreams and aspirations...I sighed once more and turned and headed over towards the Arena for another night out. I paused for a few moments and glanced towards the sunset and wished that Drayden was here to hold me...I missed the feel of strength and sureness in his arms when he held me. I missed the subtle smell of cologne on him. I looked upwards and saw the faint twinkling of the first of the night’s stars and wished that he would know how much I loved and missed him.

@–<--

I had not slept the night before and it was now the fourth day and I was deathly worried that tragedy had yet again struck Eluna’s. I paced for what had seemed like hours in and by the tree, Elusive had grown restless and so after a light and late dinner, I mounted my companion and left a note tied to the tree in hopes that business had only held up Drayden and he would be along tonight...I headed towards the Arena once again, to listen to the stir of life and chatter...to keep my mind off of the worse. Tonight though, I’d made up my mind, tonight I would actually take part in the fights...yet how to do such without having the courage to speak yet...I was not yet sure.

Tying Elusive to the banister outside the Inn, I walked through the Inn, nodding to those that would acknowledge me and headed into the Arena to try and pass the time...

((Cross posted in Dare to Dream))