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Post by Miriel on Jan 7, 2010 19:21:36 GMT -5
Her old armor was quite worn out. She had used it so much that it had become too supple, too soft to protect her anymore. So, as Miriel slipped on the new armor over a black tunic, she smiled to herself. Many things were new. The armor was one. Her sword was the second. And her new title of Rider was the third.
She liked the feeling.
Smiling grimly, the tiny elf buckled her sword, Slytha, over her back. It was too big for her, to be honest. A regular elf's sword was really no weapon for a girl such as herself, but Miriel was very strong, and did not mind having to sheathe the weapon across her back.
Back to the matter of her height. Miriel was incredibly small, even for an elf. About four feet tall, all the other elves in Ellesmera towered over her, and dragons even more so. Her proportions were perfect for a girl of her size, though. The Rider compensated for her height with her strength, courage, skill with a blade, and by glaring fiercely at anyone who mentioned her stature.
It worked.
As the Rider fastened the clasp on the metal chain that held her blue pendant, she smiled softly, and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
You are a pretty elf. Her dragon's voice reached her mind-he was right behind her-, and Miriel laughed softly. Sending back an impression of her image amid swirls of pink and purple, Voronwer spread his black wings and said, Where to today?
*******************
They landed in a small garden that was grown over with wildflowers. That had been the intention, and Miriel liked it. "I wonder if anyone's here." She said softly, reaching out with her mind gently, not wanting to startle anyone.
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Post by Aren Dröttningu on Jan 7, 2010 20:05:41 GMT -5
Amid the wildflowers was Aren Dröttningu. He lay on his back, his hands behind his head, and his eyes wandering about the sky. Jamr lay beside him, warmth rolling off his scales, and Aren couldn't be happier. A picture of perfection, Aren had a sleek jawline, blue almond-shaped eyes, and slim lips. His hair was tied back with a strip of leather and his tunic held snug against his body. His boots were on the ground beside Jamr's claws, and his socks were rolled up somewhere in the field.
A soft wind ruffled hair and the sun beat down lightly on the heart-friends. Aren's heart swelled with love for nature and Jamr and life in general. Suddenly, a gentle touch filled his mind. Aren sat up immediately, blinking his eyes, clearing his vision, then searched the horizons for anything or anyone. All he saw was a dragon of a black hue. He began to lay back down when he snapped to attention. A dragon?
Jamr, see that? Meat. Aren grinned, then got up fully and started running towards the black dragon. Where there was a dragon, there was a rider.
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Post by Jamr Blödhorúm on Jan 7, 2010 20:13:45 GMT -5
Jamr's eyes were closed when he heard Aren speak to him. His scales were gleaming lightly from the overhead sun, and he basked in the warmth. It made him feel alive. He lazily opened one eye, looking around for a minute before he saw the other dragon. Lifting his head up, he growled slightly, and then followed Aren, annoyed that the elf had gone ahead of him. He sniffed at the grass for a moment, but kept running after his Rider.
His thoughts were full of worry as he thought about who the dragon might be, especially the Rider. He didn't want anything bad to happen, especially not to Aren. He suppressed his anxiety, tight on Aren's heels.
When he caught up with Aren, he nudged him lightly on his back.
Careful, he said softly. We don't know them He looked at the other dragon warily.
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Post by Aren Dröttningu on Jan 7, 2010 20:21:48 GMT -5
Aren shrugged Jamr off and ran faster.
If they're dangerous, you can just eat them. After a moment, he arrived at the feet of the dragon. He looked up into the dragon's eyes, then smiled. "Hey. I'm Aren." A frog jumped onto his bare foot, getting it all slimy. "Hey! Get off!" He kicked his foot out, making the frog go flying, then watched as it landed on the forehead of a very short elf standing next to the dragon. "Oops..."
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Post by Miriel on Jan 7, 2010 20:29:03 GMT -5
Miriel stiffened as her mind touched two others. "We have company, love."
Voronwer snorted. There is a dragon. He turned his black head to stare full-on at the blue one coming towards them, then snorted in disgust. A hatchling. Quick, Miriel, hide Slytha. It was rare, but on occasion Miriel's dragon made up odd practical jokes. They usually worked, but Miriel was always left wondering how a dragon that was usually mild and kind hearted could think of such things. However, she obeyed, and tossed Slytha into a bush that was just tall enough to hide the black blade and hilt. Let's see how long we can keep this up. Don't state that you're a Rider, but don't say that you are an apprentice either. Just...avoid it. It will be fun.
Miriel stared at her dragon for a little bit, then slightly weakened her mental barriers so that it wouldn't look like she was as advanced as she was. Then the tiny elf sat down against Voronwer's side, humming softly to herself and not looking at the other dragon and Rider at all. Her dragon lay down his head and closed his eyes. However, he was far from asleep.
As the frog came flying towards her forehead, Miriel's eyes snapped open, and she reached up and grabbed the poor thing before the collision. Staring cooly at the boy, Miriel smiled softly. "Aren. That is a nice name. Perhaps you should take more care for the poor frogs around here." She opened her hand, and the frog leaped off, jumping towards a flower patch. Then she stood, looking up at Aren. No expression crossed her face when she spoke.
"My name is Miriel. This is my dragon-Voronwer." The black dragon snorted and turned his head so he was staring right at Jamr.
Small. He thought softly, out loud to everyone. Miriel shot him a feeling of surprise at his comment, and he responded with a picture-feeling of the unease that must have been running through the other dragon and Rider's veins right then.
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Post by Jamr Blödhorúm on Jan 7, 2010 23:21:29 GMT -5
Jamr sighed when he and Aren approached the dragon and Rider. He winced accordingly when Aren embarrassed himself with the frog.
You're nervous, he told him, calm down. With that, his thoughts shifted to the elf named Miriel and her dragon Voronwer. Jamr tensed slightly when the other dragon called him small. Shaking it off, Jamr gave a dragon small.
Yes. Strength does not come in size, however. It is nice to meet you, Miriel and Voronwer, he spoke to them politely, bowing his head slightly. I am Jamr, and this is Aren. We were curious to see you here.
Jamr looked over at Aren with an encouraging smile, hoping for him to take over the talking. He was less confident than his Rider, and preferred Aren to do the talking in these type of situations. Especially when another dragon was around, and he wasn't going to deceive himself; Voronwer did make him wary and uneasy. His Rider, not as much, but Jamr kept a close eye on her, not fooled by her size. Like he said, size did not determine strength.
Jamr stood up straight, looking a bit more confident than he had previously. His eyes glimmered as he fully observed the pair in front of him and Aren. They seemed older than they looked, and he silently warned Aren of this, hoping everything would turn out alright.
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Post by Miriel on Jan 9, 2010 15:04:43 GMT -5
Voronwer snorted, and an ironic smile touched Miriel's lips. "No one knows that better than..." Her voice trailed off as she looked up at Aren, really looked at him for the first time. For a second she lost herself, but her folly went unnoticed because Voronwer finished her sentence for her.
....my Rider and I. Many times has it been said that we cannot do things, both because of our youth and our size. I am a small dragon, and Miriel a small Rider. We suit each other perfectly. The black dragon turned his head to his Rider, and whispered over a private channel, Watch yourself, Miriel. He is quite attractive, and I have a feeling that something might go wrong if you lose yourself to him.
Miriel was still staring at Aren when Voronwer spoke. Nothing can go wrong, Voronwer. I can tell-we are the same age, give or take a year. Besides. I won't 'lose myself to him', as you said. That's utterly ridiculous. The tiny elf tore her gaze away from the apprentice, and looked towards the bush where she had hidden Slytha. It felt unnatural, sitting there in battle dress without her sword. However, the comforting warmth of the little blue pendant replaced the weight of the sword across her back. Unconsciously, she touched the stone, not even aware that it was happening. Miriel let her hand slip down, then tightened it into a fist.
"You have no sword." She observed quietly. "You are an apprentice." Perhaps it was quite obvious, but it made her feel a little better about the fact that she had to look up to him. She was a Rider, and he an apprentice. He didn't know that, but they were practically the same age. That, too, made Miriel a little happier. Voronwer had hatched for her at a very, very young age, and so she left apprenticeship young. Voronwer snorted, then looked at Aren.
I don't see what you see in him. He said over a private channel.
Miriel glared at him fiercely. I see NOTHING in him! I simply thought that he was slightly attractive. Not that I see something in him.
You sent me a feeling-
I DID NOT! Miriel's mental shout made Voronwer wince, taking a tiny step back. However, he made a sort of excuse for it, however, by stepping even further away to walk around to his Rider's left, pushing close to her, comforting her.
I'm sorry, little one. Miriel nodded her acceptance of his apology, and turned her attention to the dragon in front of her.
"Let me." She stepped away from Voronwer, who sat down, and walked closer to Jamr, holding out her hand. After a pause, she walked around the blue dragon, looking first at him, and then at her Voronwer. Some things she spent more time on then others, such as Jamr's claws, his tails, his neck and head, staring up at the giant blue dragon head intently. "He is a fine dragon." The short elf said softly, returning to Voronwer's side. She sat down, with her back against Voronwer's scales. Something in the grass caught her attention, something that Aren couldn't see, and she smiled wanly at it, not looking up at Aren. A tiny chuckle of amusement came from Voronwer, who was staring at Jamr.
She means well. Just a little gruff sometimes. She likes you. She's usually jealous of other dragons, so I'd say that was a compliment.
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Post by Aren Dröttningu on Jan 10, 2010 15:51:34 GMT -5
Aren nodded, giving Miriel a strange smile. "Aye, I'm and apprentice. But that does not mean that I am of less skill than you. It just means I don't want to be ready yet..."
Slightly bothered by how everyone reacted to his still being an apprentice, Aren lowered his eyes. As Miriel was checking Jamr out, his anger began to dampen.
I cannot be angry when she is so cute. Aren gave Jamr a quick smile, then sent him comfort.
I think you are mighty, even if others do not.
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Post by Jamr Blödhorúm on Jan 10, 2010 16:05:27 GMT -5
Jamr sniffed lightly as Miriel began studying him over. He felt overly awkward as she did so.
What is she accomplishing by this? he asked Aren. Don't put so much stock in other's words. You know your own worth without their opinion. Just grin and bear it he soothed his Rider, looking back at him. He sniffed once again when Miriel was finished.
Thankyou he told her, nodding his head slightly. He included Voronwer in the nod.
You think she would be a good mate for you? he asked Aren, teasing him over the private channel between he and his Rider. He was amused that Aren thought Miriel was 'too cute for him to be angry with'. Swishing his tail, he thought over this, still quite amused.
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Post by Miriel on Jan 10, 2010 16:22:44 GMT -5
Miriel looked up at Aren, then thought to Voronwer, I'm sorry, love, but I can't keep this up any more. The short elf stood, then walked up to Aren. "Look. There's something I have to tell you." She sighed, and then looked at the ground. "Voronwer and I..." Miriel couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, but Voronwer nudged her with his mind.
Go on, little one. He won't be mad with you.
But, what if he is?
He won't be.
Miriel pressed her lips together, then, not knowing how to say it, went over to the rhododendron bush. "I wanted to meet you as an equal, Aren. So often am I rejected for who I am based solely on my height." The Rider ran her hand over the top of the bush. It stopped in the very center, hovering over the sword that Aren could not see. "So often am I ridiculed for what I have accomplished. So often am I called a liar. So often do elves forget that you cannot lie in the Ancient Language..." Her small hand tightened over Slytha's hilt, although she did not pull it out yet.
Voronwer carried on. Miriel is not as tall as you, Aren, and I myself am smaller than Jamr. Some don't believe us because we are smaller than others.
"Some don't think we deserve it."
Some don't know what to think of us when we tell them.
"So we meet other Riders as equals so they trust us..."
..before we really tell them...
"...that we are full Rider and dragon." Miriel's hand drew Slytha out of the bush, and the black blade glistened in the sunlight. She sheathed it across her back-the sheath had been hidden by her black cloak and long white hair-then turned to face Aren.
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Post by Aren Dröttningu on Jan 10, 2010 19:12:12 GMT -5
Aren mentally shoved Jamr playfully.
Well...yeah. She's...interesting. And I like interesting...
Aren's facial expression stayed blank as Miriel and Voronwer revealed their true identity. Suddenly, he broke out into a full-on smile.
"I knew there was something more...something you guys were hiding. You seemed...mysterious." He leaned back, looking up at the sky as a flock of birds squawked by.
"I...I don't think you any different because of that. You guys are just Miriel and Voronwer to me." He smiled slightly, shifting on his feet. "So. Moving past this...weird moment...What are you guys doing here on such a lovely day?"
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Post by Jamr Blödhorúm on Jan 10, 2010 19:25:27 GMT -5
Jamr laughed at Aren, and then turned his full attention on Miriel and Voronwer. They were seriously giving him a headache, all that talking back and forth. How were they able to do that? It was...unnatural, yet it seemed so natural. He felt an urge to try it with Aren, but-
Jamr held back a thought of surprise when Miriel revealed her sword. A Rider he nodded his head thoughtfully, Yes, that makes sense. He was brimming with excitement, which increased as it reflected off of Aren.
A Rider, Aren. he said privately, I wish I could see more of our kind. When do you think we will journey to Vroengard? Oh, and forget what I said about being mates. She's way out of your league. He chuckled lightly, but then returned to being serious.
It's nice to properly meet you he told the other pair, being extra respectful. He didn't want to be seen as some inexperienced hatchling.
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Post by Miriel on Jan 10, 2010 19:33:47 GMT -5
Miriel smiled uncertainly as Jamr replied to her formally. "Please don't. I'm only eighteen. Voronwer hatched for me at ten, so I finished my apprenticeship a lot earlier than others. I just got my title a few months ago. Save that for the elders. I'm just Miriel." Voronwer snorted his agreement, then looked at Aren carefully.
You like him, Miriel. He said over a private channel. Don't deny it. You think he's cute.
I don't!
You do. Voronwer was insistent, and Miriel gave in.
So maybe I think he's attractive, and kind. But does that mean anything? No.
You know it does. He's probably thinking the same thing about you.
Why don't you ask Jamr, and then keep it private? I won't be the one to ask him, because I'm a Rider and he's an apprentice, and if he doesn't like me then I've just completely embarrassed myself in front of him.
Perhaps I will ask Jamr. Voronwer turned his attention to the blue dragon, then said quietly over a private line, Can I trust you to keep a secret?
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Post by Aren Dröttningu on Jan 10, 2010 22:02:11 GMT -5
Soon, Jamr. Vroengard is within reach. And she is so out of my league. That's why she will be my, uh, mate...
Aren looked awkwardly at Miriel and Voronwer. It seemed that they were having a conversation, but he was obviously not invited to join in, even if he could here them. He smiled at his thoughts, then scuffed his toes on the bare ground.
"So, uh, where are you from?" He looked at Miriel intently, smiling slightly at how nice she looked...
Jamr, I've just met her and I'm falling for her...
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Post by Jamr Blödhorúm on Jan 10, 2010 22:14:00 GMT -5
It depends. Will keeping this secret harm my rider? Jamr asked, and then listened to Aren.
You are always overly hopeful, he told his Rider, one day you are going to get very hurt because of this hope.
He reflected on it a moment, studying Miriel. She seemed decent, and goodenough for Aren. But he wasn't quite sure yet. He'd have to get to know her more, and seewhat she was truly like, before she would gain his approval. Besides, she might not even return Aren's affections. Jamr deemed it a bit foolish to fall in love with someone you just met. But, elves weren't dragons, so he didn't expect to understand all of this.
Jamr watch Voronwer curiously, wondering what the secret was. He didn't want to know something that was going to burden him. He'd rather remain clueless. Arching his neck up, he looked around, observing the scenery while he waited for the other dragon's reply.
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