Concentration. (Open)

[Maërina Könungr]

Maërina sang to the birds as she walked down a path in a small garden. Her lips formed the words of the ancient language, and a dove landed on her arm. She smiled, petting it as she continued walking.

She looked up, where several dragons were flying. They were being taught by the Elders. She frowned, reminded that her session was only in a short time. Maërina pat the bird one last time, then threw her arm in the air. The dove flew off, and she watched with a hint of a smile.

She skipped through the garden, picking a pretty flower here and there. She wove them into her thick raven hair intricately, and then stopped to get a drink from a small fountain. She looked at her reflection for a moment, then hopped back up cheerfully, headed off to class. She always jumped at the opportunity to know more; she wanted to know as much as she could.

As she made her way through the hallways of the stronghold, a Rider or two raised an eyebrow at her. They knew she should be in class. Maërina acted as if nothing were out of the ordinary, walking at a normal pace as she rounded a corner.

[Aren Dröttningu]

Aren walked nonchalantly through the hallways of the stronghold, his hair loose and a smile tugging at his lips. He had been sent to the island of Vroengard to be taught in the art of sword fighting by one of the best teachers. He still had not a name of the teacher, nor a time for a class, so Aren was free to be and do whatever he so pleased. And thus, he was headed for the Garden of Doru Araeba.

A few glances and glares were shot Aren's way, but that smile just kept tugging. By the time he came to round the corner, Aren was full on smiling. But not for long. As he rounded the corner, he walked straight on into a woman (OOC: Are female elves called women?) and nearly fell to his butt's hurting. He quickly regained his composure, then looked worriedly at the women. "Are you alright?"

[Maërina Könungr]

Maërina sighed as she rounded the corner, and then jumped back three feet in less than a second when she felt the force run into her. She relaxed when she saw it was another young elf; her arms hung loosely at her side. She watched as the other elf regained his composure.

"Are you alright?"he asked worriedly. Maërina blinked a few times, befuddled by the question. Of course she was fine. She studied him for a moment before she decided to answer.

"Yes," she replied simply, her eyes hovering over him as she observed the strange elf. She hadn't seen him in Vroengard before.

Where are you? her dragon asked her, alarmed by her tardiness.

In the corridor. I'll be there in a moment, she answered, her face emotionless as she spoke mentally.

Hurry. Elder Arandur is....angry.

Maërina's lips pressed together as she continued to stare at the other elf.


(OOC: I believe so)

[Aren Dröttningu]

Aren gave her a slight smile, then stepped out of her way. "Sorry. I wasn't really paying attention..." He looked off in the distance for a moment, studying his thoughts, then returned his gaze to the woman. In turn, she was looking him over. He chuckled slightly, finding it funny, then cleared his throat. "I'm Aren, by the way."

Who are you talking too?
Aren nudged Jamr out of his mind but left him with a couple words.
I don't know. Some girl I ran into.
You really ran into-
Aren closed off his mind from Jamr, then scratched his neck.

[Maërina Könungr]

The small elven lady listened to him intently, and then smiled.

"Aren....an eagle ruler,"she said, referring to the meaning of his name," I like birds. Especially predators of the air. Kings of the sky until dragons come along and ruin it for them."

Her head tilted to the side slightly..

"Are you a newcomer?"she asked curiously,"why are you not in class?"

She wondered for a moment, continuing to study the elf. Her eyes smoldered golden as she did. Reaching back, Maërina undid her hair tie, letting her dark, raven-black hair to fall down her back.

"I am Maërina," she said, and then continued to walk down the hallway, the direction where she was originally going.

[Aren Dröttningu]

Aren began to walk backwards beside her. "Actually, my parents named me Aren because they love the sky. They wanted me to belong in it, just like the birds do." He smiled down at her, thinking of how becoming a Dragon Rider had fulfilled his parents dreams.

"I'm kind of a newcomer. I train in Ellesmera, but my Ebrithl sends me here, to Vroengard, sometimes to train under others. He wants me to have a variety of views. Jamr, my dragon, and I have been training for eight years now. How 'bout you? Are you an apprentice?"

As Maërina let down her hair, a wave of sweet-smelling scent overwhelmed his face. He blinked a couple times, let out a breath, then continued. "Maërina, huh? That's a pretty cool name...where are you from?"

[Maërina Könungr]

Maërina smiled halfway when Aren began to walk backwards beside her. "Actually, my parents named me Aren because they love the sky. They wanted me to belong in it, just like the birds do." He smiled down at her, thinking of how becoming a Dragon Rider had fulfilled his parents' dreams.

"That's lovely," Maërina whispered, almost wishing her parents would have done the same. She looked over at Aren appreciatively.

"I'm kind of a newcomer. I train in Ellesmera, but my Ebrithl sends me here, to Vroengard, sometimes to train under others. He wants me to have a variety of views. Jamr, my dragon, and I have been training for eight years now. How 'bout you? Are you an apprentice?"

"Ebrithl?" Maërina questioned, a bit confused. "Eight years!"she gasped,"why on earth aren't you a full Rider yet? You should be! Oh and, yes, I'm an apprentice," she answered, looking down with a blush as she undid her hair, coming upon her classroom.

"Maërina, huh? That's a pretty cool name...where are you from?"Aren asked.

"Dauth," Maërina answered simply, not wanting to ttalk of her homeland. She paused at the doorway to the Elder Arandur's class.

"I'm sure...I'm sure Elder Arandur would let you come in and watch. Could you perhaps...tell him that you were lost, and I was helping you?"Maërina asked with a grin.

[Aren Dröttningu]

"I call my teacher my Ebrithl. He says that Jamr and I are worthy of moving up to Dragon Rider, but I want to be fully ready and Jamr feels the same. I want to know everything there is to know before becoming a rider. I don't want to be unprepared for something." He stopped for a moment, amused by her smile.

"Aye, let me just call Jamr and I shall follow in right behind you. And thank you, Maërina." He gave her a grin.

Jamr, get up, you lazy snake. We have a lesson.

[Maërina Könungr]

"Why do you want to be so prepared? You'll never learn everything. Not your whole life. By the time you become a Rider, you'll be an Elder," Maërina smirked lightly. She scratched the back of her neck lightly, sighing.

"Very well," Maërina nodded," I'll be waiting for you, Eagle Ruler." She smiled lightly as she made her way into the classroom, and was confronted by Elder Arandur immediately. She tried to explain, wishing that Aren would hurry up so she had proof. Her dragon watched curiously while the Elder berated her for her tardiness. Maërina nodded, not too concerned by his lecture, which made him all the more frustrated.

[Arandur]

She was late again. Arandur sat, tapping his fingers against his leg. Maerina had been late too often for his liking, but she was a special little girl, and so he gave her some slack. But he couldn't show it. He had to be strong, to prove that he was in control. If she thought she could show up anytime she wanted, then she was wrong. M'tachi, the silver dragon bonded to Arandur, hovered in the air outside. The silver dragon's voice echoed around the channel he constructed to allow the four of them to speak freely.

You are late for classes! The baritone voice boomed out at the apprentice, and Arandur winced mentally. However, he sent out his own call as well.

Maerina, do come here. You are late. Arandur's voice was cool, and M'tachi sent a comforting thought his way. The elder rejected it, wanting to be at least a little bit angry with the apprentice.

When Maerina walked in, Arandur stood up. "Maerina, you are late again. This time probably sets the record for class time missed. I thought your last one couldn't be beaten, but apparently I was wrong. Do you have a reason for delaying both M'tachi and myself?" The raven haired elf listened as the young girl tried to explain that she had run into a boy and they had been talking, and that he was lost so she showed him the way. She showed no signs of stopping, so Arandur pressed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. His eyes were about as warm as they ever got, but a faint smile was on his lips.

"Maerina, please. Don't apologize. I don't care that much. Not to rub salt in the wound or anything, but the only one that is hurt by missed class time is you. Just...send your dragon to M'tachi, and we will wait for your friend to arrive, seeing as I assume you invited him here." Arandur paused for a moment, then turned away quickly, as if not wanting to think about what he had just said. As he moved, his cloak billowed out for a moment, revealing the ever-mysterious arm that seemed to serve some mysterious purpose that only the Elder knew about.

M'tachi noted Arandur's distress as the Elder hastily pulled the cloak back over his arm and fastened it with a pin from his tunic. Arandur, perhaps you should tell them about- The silver dragon's voice was cut off from the private line as Arandur interrupted with a glare.

No. Don't mention it. I don't want to think about it, don't want to hear about it, don't want to remember. Please leave it alone, M'tachi. They shouldn't know. Not yet. It would only cause harm to them, only scare them.

You do know that some other Elders know, correct?

Yes, but my apprentices don't need to, and especially not Maerina.

I only wanted to point out that you can't hide it forever.

I can and I will! Arandur's voice was fierce and harsh as he shouted mentally at his dragon over a private line. They don't have to know, and so they won't. It is as simple as that, M'tachi. They don't have to know.

You can't hide it forever, Arandur.

Yes, Thought Arandur to himself. I can and I will.

[Aren Dröttningu]

Aren gathered up his nerve, then poked his head around the doorway. Maerina was being confronted by the Elder and it seemed a bad time to waltz in. He went to slink back out of the room, then thought better.

Maybe I should save her from this brutal beating...


He contacted Jamr swiftly.

Jamr, get here immediately. I'm walking into a beating and I'm gonna need you to save me.

Aren slunk into the room silently, then stood by the doorway, waiting to be noticed.

[Maërina Könungr]

Maërina slunk back a little, feeling bad for disappointing Arandur. And M'tachi, of course. She saw Aren hesitating around the corner, and quickly motioned for him to come. But then again, she felt bad for lying about why she was late. She had gotten lost listening to the birds and walking in the garden.

Maërina sighed, looking down at the floor. When would she ever learn? She was so distracted all the time, and couldn't concentrate. She had to be the worst apprentice ever. Her shoulders were slumped lightly as she studied the floor. This wasn't good. Because of her, her dragon would never become an Elder. Maërina couldn't even become a full Rider.

She looked up, studying Arandur's back. He didn't seem too agitated, but then again, she could see that there was something bothering him. Something...hidden. She didn't question him, feeling she had already done enough.

[Arandur]

Arandur's eyes softened as he felt Maerina's distress with his mind. "Please don't. You're going to make me feel bad." He sighed heavily, and touched his left shoulder unconsciously. The Elder let his hand drop, though, as he continued. "Just...don't be late for tomorrow's lesson. You are young, and have yet to learn many things. There is no reason why I should be angry with you, I suppose. It is just that without lessons, you cannot grow stronger, and you have to grow stronger if you want to become a full Rider."

From his position with his back to the door, Arandur nodded sagely as he felt Aren's presence. "Your friend, I presume?" He spun around to face Aren, holding his cloak across his left arm with his right. "Well. Where is your dragon? Not here yet? When he arrives, do tell him to meet M'tachi outside." The Elder's tone was heavy as stone, but there was no accusation in it at all. M'tachi's words had shaken him up a bit, and although he wouldn't let that show he would not yell at them too much.

Arandur bowed slightly with the traditional elf greeting of lesser rank than oneself, then introduced himself. "My name is Elder Arandur Halden. I teach Maerina, and her dragon." M'tachi chimed in as well, although he could not be seen.

I am M'tachi. I am Arandur's dragon. You will recognize me easily once you see me..

"...for he is a silver dragon. They are not as common as some of the..."

...other colors of dragons, although..

"...no one really knows why. My word." Arandur looked from Aren to Maerina. "I am afraid we may be giving you a headache. I apologize, but when a dragon and Rider..."

...become extremely close...

"...they have the tendency..."

...to finish one another's sentences. We did it again, didn't we? A small snort of laughter came from the hidden M'tachi, and Arandur clapped his hands.

"Well, let's not waste any more time. Today," Arandur paused for a moment, looking down at where the clasp of his cloak was fastened to his tunic. He fixed it with his right hand, as it was becoming bent. Under his breath, he muttered, "I have to get a new pin for this." Then, suddenly, as if realizing that he had left his sentence unfinished, Arandur looked up. "Today we will be sparring. Since you have a friend, Maerina, you can go against him. I'd like to see how far you two have gotten before I do anything else."

[Maërina Könungr]

Maërina gave Aren a small smile before she spoke.

"I truly am sorry..."she said, her eyes downcast,"it's just, I was singing with the birds...and...well...I can't concentrate. I just..." she sighed, her voice trailing off. She was distressed. Her feelings always took hold, and she couldn't concentrate on anything else when that happen. She attempted to listen as Arandur and M'tachi introduced themselves to Aren, but her mind was reeling.

She felt her dragon trying to speak to her, but she blocked her out. She was too focused on her failure to listen to anyone. She knew she was being irrational and stupid, but she couldn't help it.

Of course, no emotion played across her face. She was always very careful with that. They would probably lock her up somewhere if she showed every emotion she had.

Her dragon was pounding on her mental barriers by now. But Maërina didn't even notice. She looked over at Aren, pretending to be concentrating on the lesson.

[Aren Dröttningu]

Aren brought his fingers up to his lips, then bowed.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Elder Arandur. I hope I, uh, can live up to your expectations of me. And my dragon, Jamr, should be here soon." Aren bowed once again, then scooted over to where Maërina stood. He shot her a sideways smile, then focused on Elder Arandur's words. He smiled when Arandur said they were going to spar.

"What do we use, Elder?"