Where Did You Learn To Do That? @riiese (Ingvar)

❛Where did you learn to do that?❜ – @riiese (Ingvar)

“I learned from my f—” She pauses a moment, her hand lowering just slightly. She can see his face so clear in her mind. She tries not to remember his face from the last time she saw him, barely a husk of himself, more undead than living. She tries pushing it aside and remembering his stoic pride in her, the last words he gave her in Tir Asleen before her life changed forever. She tries to remember him as her father, even if she can’t say the word out loud. “My Commander. His name was Ballantine. He taught me everything I know with a blade, just about.”

Jade blinks. She’s not sure what she expected, but certainly not that. Her mouth falls open to interrupt, but nothing comes out. How could Kit even come to that conclusion? Since their quest to save Airk, Jade has done nothing but show faith in her princess. She let her jump off a waterfall for crying out loud! Against every fiber of her being, every atom that told her to stop Kit, she watched her jump. What would make her think she didn’t believe in her now?

“Kit, I came here for you. I came to see you, be with you. I missed you! And I believe in you more than anyone. I thought I’d proved that,” Jade insists, coming closer. “I could have just returned to Tir Asleen and waited for you, but I didn’t. How was I supposed to know they were going to want to imprison me and my envoy?”

ㅤㅤㅤit didn't take long for that to be brought up. this impending doom that lingers over their heads, it's suffocating. each new day adds more and more weight onto the young royal's shoulders. she's doing her best, but some days - she can't help but feel like she's not trusted to do the things everyone has asked of her.

ㅤㅤㅤbefore she can stop herself, kit is on her feet and the last boot is thrown to the floor.ㅤ“ㅤi had it handled, jade. do you not trust me with this or something?ㅤ”ㅤhands fly in the air in frustration.ㅤ“ㅤthe only reason i'm here is because you convinced me. i could've -ㅤ”ㅤcould've what? stayed home? wallowed after an absent lover? even kit knows that would have driven her to madness.ㅤ“ㅤyou were gone, okay? i had this handled, and y-you - you just... i need you to believe in me, not undermine me.ㅤ”

Jade can't help the small smile that spreads across her face. When they started this journey, several of them didn't want to be around each other. If Kit and Jade had had it their way, it would have just been the two of them. They were all strangers who were forced to be together and that could be lonely. Even Kit and Jade's relationship conflicts made them isolated from each other. But now? They were a family. And Jade agreed, there were no other people she wanted to be bound to.

"I'm glad it's you guys, too," Jade admits. And it's a nice thought to share in the midst of this dark conversation. Elora speaks encouragement into their future, a future they know is rife with trouble. But Jade remembers the young woman's breakdown on waterfall's edge. And maybe she's different than that girl now, but it doesn't mean that there isn't a chance that Elora is also worried and uncertain. Otherwise, they wouldn't be having this talk.

"We're going to get through this," she reaffirms, promising that she's with her friend on this new mission they're accepting. She squeezes Elora's hand. "We beat the Crone. We can only get stronger from here, so we can defeat the Wyrm, too. And there'll be more of us. Once we warn Queen Sorsha and Scorpia and the other kingdoms." That's the only way they'll win. Jade knows it. They all have to unite. Easier said than done.

The knight pauses, contemplating Elora's concerns about returning to Tir Asleen. She hasn't really thought about it much. Her mind has been busy with the Immemorial City and the Crone and the Wyrm and now Airk. But they do have to go home and Jade, like Elora, is not who she was when she left. She blinks as she considers everything that's happened. "It's strange... I think you and I sort of went through the same thing. We left home and found out we're not who we thought we were." She pauses again. "I see the change in Kit and Boorman and Willow. I even saw it in Graydon." She swallows her grief. "But me and you? We have entirely new histories. New knowledge that changes every story, every experience we created. And I haven't even..." She trails off. She's going to have to face what everything she learned in the Wildwood means and that scares her.

The silence between them lingered for a moment, half welcomed and half cursed. For in the silence, Elora could so clearly hear her own thoughts growing louder and louder. She bit a lip to not voice even more of them. Yes, sharing her doubts with Jade helped to ease the burden, but it also forced her to admit these doubts out loud. And she was not sure if she was ready for any more of that.

"There is no one in this world I would rather be bonded for life with than this group of people", and with that Elora finally turned to Jade completely reaching out a hand for her to hold. The smile on her face was small but genuine, nothing compared to what she had faked in the last few days. For there it was, the bit of hope she had been searching for. "You, me. Kit and Willow. Boorman and even Airk. We have survived this, imagine what greatness we can reach together. We will need each other, you are right about that. But we will also reach for each other, and help each other. As we have done before." Elora tried so hard to believe. To believe that they were capable of defeating the wyrm, of saving this world - or at least of saving her friends. And she knew in that moment, looking at Jade and the sleeping forms of the others, she would not lose any more of those dear to her. One of them was already missing.

Graydon's name was a fresh wound in her heart, the thought of him stepping through the gate was always present in the back of her mind, ready to hit her with more grief, more despair. She was neither ready nor willing to accept more loss. "This may be far from over, but we will protect the others. We will get through this together.", he reassurance was more to herself than to Jade. Maybe, with time, Elora would be able to accept the vision of her own fate, her own death, but never that of her friends.

"I have yet to think about our return to Tir Asleen", she admitted. Smile once more fading and voice growing solemn again. The short moment of hope was crushed by the mention of that place. "When I was a child I always knew that Queen Sorsha was right in what she was doing, and even now I still hope that once we return they will be ready for whatever we have to face but...", Elora shook her head ever so slightly, "But I am no longer the person I was when we left. None of us truly are, but I had to give up a name, a place. I have... gained so much more, please do not get me wrong. Still, it feels impossible to return to the home of Brunhilde now that I am no longer her." She was not ready to be heralded as a chosen one. Nor was she ready to face Graydon's family. Or even think about the how of them finding their way back. "But there is no other place to go, is there? And Kit and Airk deserve to get home."

❛ i cannot lose another loved one to the darkness. ❜ – @burygods (Mele)

Jade nods, eyes wandering past her to the family they’re discussing. A middle aged man and woman talking in low tones. They seem concerned about the Bone Reavers all around and Jade can’t blame them, based on the dangerous reputation they’ve built. Then there’s the particularly large man tending to their horses. Jade’s attentive eyes quickly pick up that he continuously looks over to the woman in front of her. Lovers perhaps? And then there’s the young woman who’s been sticking close to Airk since they arrived. Riley, Jade thinks she remembers her name is. She’d been hired as a royal seamstress in Tir Asleen just before Jade left for the Wildwood. Clearly, she’s not what she appeared to be.

“I’ll ask my sister. See if she has a place for you all… You’ll be safe here. As safe as one can be these days.” Jade’s gaze moves back to the woman in front of her and she smiles gently. The young knight is all about helping people, giving what she can of herself to assist. The world is slowly becoming a darker place. The Wyrm is coming. That’s why Jade is here. But this is her sister’s home, her domain, not Jade’s. As much as she would love to promise they can stay here, she knows she has no right to. Especially while in the midst of trying to negotiate a tense alliance between her sister and her queen.

#battle gfs

Is it just me or can we no longer copy and paste into ask boxes?