Darkest Light

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The night was not friendly to Kana. Dark Elves didn't sleep until after the wee hours - about 4-5am - of the night and didn't wake until after the high-noon sun had disappeared. They weren't meant to sleep the darkness away, weren't meant to be awake at all hours of the day and they most-certainly weren't greatly adaptable to living their lives confined. The Prince had been subject to all three things and more.

It had started to take it's toll on his mind and his spirit.

Kana woke in a cold sweat, heart racing, his hair matted to his skull as his dilated gold eyes looked around in a wild way. He didn't move, as if afraid of doing so and it was only as he looked around and started to recognize where he was that the Dark Elf relaxed, taking a shuddering breath and releasing it slowly as he sat up and brushed his white hair back from his forehead, hand shaking. He stopped the trembling with stubborn will alone and focused on slowing his pounding heart, pushing the nightmare away as he focused on everything around him.

The male stood, noting that the horses were grazing peacefully - indicating that there was no danger around right now - and he then looked around for Elidi. Had she gotten any sleep - would she still be asleep if she'd drifted off? - or had she stayed up?

Why did he actually..want to know?
 
The Light Elf spent her time tending the fire and keeping close to it as Kana slept. She got up once, but only to change into the outfit that was waiting for her. It was mostly black and less revealing than the clothes she wore now, but she was glad for it since they were much more casual and let her blend in better. Her mind wandered several places: back to her home, how her family was handling her kidnapping, what the townspeople thought of it if they even knew. Then it wandered to the slavers and the whole exploiting of mythical creatures and how she was almost sold to a person that only God knew what he/she was going to do with her.

And of course Princess Elidi's mind finally reeled around to her and Prince Ekanath's current situation. She had to trust him, at least enough to let him take her home, right? She sighed and closed her eyes and she turned and laid on her back, hands crossing underneath head to give it comfort. It was actually a bit curious that her father had sent a Dark Elf to retrieve her. She would have thought that the old timer would send one of their best and most trusted guards, but instead... he sent Ekanath. Maybe he was really quite talented in his work.

Elidi was unaware how much time had passed when Ekanath awoke. If he were to enter the cave again, he might think she was sleeping, but really her eyes were just closed.
 
Kana entered the cave on silent feet and where the darkness from the night before had seemed to suit him, the light from the rising sun did not. It was too harsh, to unforgiving against his darkened skin, bleaching whatever dark strands had been in his hair lighter and the coldness in his gaze, something natural to him, seemed to wilt in a bad away, though, he tried to hide it. His gaze found Elidi and the Prince hesitated at seeing her eyes closed.

Maybe he should let her sleep.

He dismissed the thought even as it finished, but not for the reason some might assume. No, what came to Kana's mind was his own situation, the way being so off balance against his very nature affected him and he found himself not wanting that kind of thing to harm anyone else...even if the only person he could help now was an enemy Princess. Kana sighed quietly and crouched, reaching out slowly to touch the female's shoulder.

His fingers were cool upon contact with her warmer skin and surprisingly gentle as he shook Elidi.

"It's time to wake, Princess. You don't want to sleep the day away."
 
Elidi was lost in resting her eyes, her mind finally seeming to find a way to calm itself and give the princess a way to sleep. But when she heard the subtle noises of clothes and limbs shifting, it broke her thought. When Ekanath touched her shoulder and shook to wake her, her eyes instantly opened and she shifted her head slightly to look at him.

Elidi blinked and rolled her eyes back to try and wake herself up as she stood, wiping the dust away from her clothes as best as she could.

"We're leaving?" she asked as she picked at some of the left over fruit and offering some to Kana.
 
"Yes." he answered simply before taking the fruit offered to him and standing. "I'll meet you outside."

He left quickly then and called the horses, both of which came to him willingly. He fed them them the fruit, not hungry but not wanting to explain why he wasn't eating either and then started to saddle and bridal both animals. The black stallion was a bit more obnoxious about cooperating, but Kana was patient and persistent and with some combination of cursing and coaxing he got the horse to accept his bit.

Shaking his head, the Dark Elf slapped the equine's neck with a glare. "Hellion. I should have let them kill you."

The stallion only snorted back, champing and Kana moved on to the white mare, a touch of a smile coming to his face as he ran his hand over her face and down her neck. She was splendid creature, fine grace and speed, intelligent. His own mount was fire and power, an army horse, but the mare was a hunter, meant for great leaps and quick moves. A horse fit for a Princess and rightly so seeing as how Elidi was not a delicate flower herself.

At the thought of the female in question, Kana glanced over to the cave to see her emerging - or had she been watching him? - and he stepped away from her mount and back toward his own. The stallion - Darkstep was his name - evaded him at first, sidestepping, but a sharp word in the Dark Elf tongue had the fiery creature stilling, standing as quiet as you pleased. Kana growled under his breath, a few more choice swear words as he swung up onto the horse, making sure he had a good grip on the reigns before taking his attention away from the stallion, gold eyes finding Elidi's fire-filled ones.

"We'll have to travel fast if we want to reach the river today. We might be followed, too."
 
Elidi collected what little things she had before walking towards the exit. She smiled a little bit as she was greeted with the sight of Kana trying to coax the black stallion into submission. She watched a little bit more but didn't want to seem weird so she started walking, thanking Ekanath for getting the horses as she stroked her horse's long face. Elidi was in awe at how beautiful both her and Kana's horses were, but she knew they had a long ways to go so she quickly hopped onto her white horse.

"Let's go," she said with a nod, having her horse turn towards the prince and wait for him to move.
 
Seeing that she was ready, Kana turned Darkstep and sent the horse into a fast walk. He led the way, weaving through the trees like there was a hidden path only he could see, taking them back toward the trail and HOW he knew where it was...well, that was anyone's guess. It took a good hour before they found the road, but once they did, the Dark Elf spurred them into a run, something both horses were more than willing to do.

The pounding of hooves resounded in the Prince's ears, but even so he noted the cawing of birds somewhere behind them, an unnatural disturbance. He glanced over his shoulder, white hair flying wild around him in the wind and his eyes followed the black shape of the birds flying into the sky about three miles back through the leaves of he overhanging trees. Yes, someone was on the road besides them.

The only question was whether they were friendly or not. Kana slowed his stallion, doing it gradually so that Elidi wasn't surprised by his action and he kept them at a fast walk as he looked back again, gold eyes calculating. "We're being followed." he informed his companion, not sure if she'd know that already or not and the Dark Elf didn't wait for a response before he looked away and up. A sound exited his mouth then, something shrill, bird-like and it was answered a moment later by the same kind of noise. Kana raised his arm then and the falcon that came through the trees alighted on his bracer-protected arm like it would a tree branch.

Kana stopped his horse then and his gold eyes met the falcon's yellow, both looking intently, fiercely at the other before the bird gave another screech and launched itself away and back up into the sky, heading back the way they'd come, following the road.

The Prince watched it for a moment before urging his horse back into a fast walk, letting the animals have a breather in case they needed to run again.
 
Elidi wasn't sure if her horse had a name so she decided to call her Glaweth for 'radiance'. Once Ekanath began their journey, Elidi followed through, keeping behind him since it was easier and the invisible path was kind of narrow. Once they got to an actual road that both the prince and princess could see, Elidi smiled as the horses began to ran. She always loved riding horses, something about both grace and power. And not to mention freedom.

Though the Light Elf might come across as sort of helpless, she was almost always aware of her surroundings. Spend time alone in the forests gave her the ability to tell hidden messages in animal or nature's actions, so it wasn't unexpected that she heard the birds' caws as well. She felt weary, but she continued following Ekanath, slowing down when he slowed.

So they were being followed. She looked behind her, golden eyes hardening as she scoped out the place. The followers were definitely hidden well; no pieces of clothing betrayed their hideouts. While the Dark Elf and his falcon spoke to one another, Elidi found it fascinating like she did most things, but kept her eyes all around them so she could possibly spot something. When Kana moved, she moved along with him, petting the side of Glaweth's face soothingly.
 
They traveled in silence for another hour and neither saw any sign that they were in danger, though, the Kana could tell something was wrong about the forest, something ominous and he was sure that Elidi would feel it, too. When the falcon came back, the male elf already knew the news the wild bird would bring and as he watched the falcon fly away again, he spoke to the Princess, something dark and lethal in the undertone of his voice.

"She says there are five men following us and they appear to be tracking. We're their target."

Kana looked at Elidi then, meeting her gaze squarely and the smallest hint of a smile, something dangerous and yet confident too, flickered across his face. "I suggest we make the hunt as difficult for them as possible, yes?"

He didn't really wait for a reply before kicking Darkstep into a gallop. They'd make the river in another two hours at this speed and from there....well, they'd decide what to do with their pursuers, wouldn't they?
 
Elidi definitely felt the same strange feeling. Even the horses could feel it, or at least Glaweth. Horses were often gateways to tell if there were bad vibes around. When Ekanath said that there were five men pursuing them, the princess couldn't help a sigh before meeting the prince's eyes. She also caught that hint of mischievous smile and it was contagious to the bright woman, her own small smile contorting her features. She nodded firmly in agreement before meeting Kana's speed, wanting to yell in excitement but deciding not to. A wide grin would suffice for that.

They were fine in the next couple of hours and as they neared the river, Elidi slowed when the motion was given by Ekanath. She tried thinking of her own plan during the ride and she wondered just what the prince was thinking.
 
Darkstep reared as he came to the river and Kana brought the horse back under control quickly, muttering softly in his native tongue as he rubbed the stallion's lathered coat. He could feel each deep inhale and exhale the horse gave against his legs and knew that they couldn't push the animals much further without risking losing them for good to lameness or strain. His gold eyes swept across the river, and Kana did something, a habit he wasn't even aware of; he bit his lip, worrying one side of it between his teeth as he thought about the best way to cross.

The last time he'd gone across the bridge, but he'd entered the city Elidi was being kept in by a different way. Unfortunately, that way was no longer safe as he'd had some...well, trouble along the way. They were taking a slightly different route back to Sanesia and that meant new challenges he wasn't expecting....but not necessarily ones the two of them couldn't overcome together. This river was the first obstacle and the male elf glanced at Glaweth. No, the white mare was just as worn out as Darkstep was.

Damn.

"The horses can't swim it." Kana intoned calmly even if he felt anything but tranquil and the Prince dismounted, moving to the bank and crouching down. He reached out, hesitated a moment as if battling with something inwardly, unsure, and then touched the water. His eyes opened after a moment, glowing a steady silver and the water under his fingertips started to ice over. The process was slow, a literal struggle as the sheet spread out against the fast current, thickening and Kana grit his teeth as pain ignited in his head.

He ignored it, standing and he looked at Elidi, silver eyes slightly glazed, seeming not to really see her. "We need to hurry."

So saying, he stepped out on to the ice and it creaked but didn't move. Water rushed over the top, making the crossing incredibly slippery, but they had to cross and this was the only way Kana knew how to accomplish that task.
 
Elidi dismounted off her own horse, petting the white mare to soothe her since it was obvious she was on the brink of complete exhaustion. Then she moved to Ekanath's side by the river, standing as he crouched, watching as he turned the surface of the water into sheer ice. Impressive. But when Kana looked back to Elidi, she could tell that the process had probably keeled him a bit over, his eyes a hazy silver and a tad blank.

She watched as he took the first step, a bit impatient as he tested it. "Just run across," she said as she looked around, not sure if the pursuers were close or not. If he wouldn't, she surely would.
 
"Right, and risk it breaking? This isn't a pond, Princess."

Kana snapped the words back, an angry snarl in his voice - born of pain, frustration and fear - but he moved faster than he had previously and the ice formed faster in front of him in turn. The Dark Elf's breathing grew harsher as Darkstep followed after him, the horse's weight threatening to break through the ice, to break through his power more like and when Elidi and Glaweth followed afterward, Kana's nose started to bleed, leaving a dripping trail across the frozen surface until the water washed it away.

The ice broke away behind them, melting rapidly, being carried off by the river and when they reached the opposite shore it broke away completely. Kana felt the release keenly and his eyes swam a pale gold as he struggled not to collapse. Blood ran down his chin and neck, wetting his clothes and the skin beneath. He coughed then and spit, blood there too. The male elf breathed carefully after that, leaning his forehead against his stallion's neck, white hair mixing with a black mane, his skull pounding like dwarves had taken up residence.

Darkstep turned his head, concerned for his master as he nuzzled at the male's arm and shoulder, lipping at his black tunic.
 
Such an angry man. Though, Elidi had a feeling why, however; she still hadn't expected the angry snarl. She bit her lip to keep an amused smile off her face. Then she followed Darkstep as soon as she was able to, Glaweth following afterwords as well. The surface was, indeed, very slippery, but for Elidi's light and agile it feet it was a bit easier for her to maneuver.

Once they were at the opposite river shore, Elidi tended to Glaweth before turning to Ekanath. But the view before her made her concerned; she caught a glimpse of the blood running down his chin and neck, into his clothes, blood coming from his mouth as he coughed. She quickly got to the prince's side and put a gentle hand on his shoulder as he leaned against his horse.

She knew using magic was tough on the body if you used too much at one single time, but that was only in fairly large quantities. And to have this badly of a consequence... was there something else wrong with Ekanath? Her golden eyes looked at him with concern as she tried to see his face.

"Prince," she murmured softly but firmly as she got a cloth from a small bag on Darkstep's saddle. She waited for him to turn so she could wipe his neck and face, hoping that he'd comply instead of trying to be a tough guy.
 
Her initial touch had made him tense, almost flinch away, but he controlled that latter reaction and didn't move. He was too tired to, in too much pain to care and in an odd sort of way, the concern was nice. When was the last time someone had worried about him? The thought was a fragmented one among all the other things that swirled through his head and he tightened his grip on Darkstep, biting back another cough, tasting the unmistakable copper from blood flood his mouth.

Kana swallowed it back down, working not to gag before he turned at Elidi's soft command. His gold eyes were pale, almost looking feverish when they met her own warm ones and the male elf didn't protest her actions, merely watching the female with genuine confusion. "You don't...have to do this." he said quietly, unsure and not really liking it.

Why was she doing this? And why was he letting her?

She was an enemy. Shouldn't she be....well, aloof? Anxious to get home and unconcerned with anything else? Or was he just perceiving her to be that way because that's what he'd expected? Did it matter?

By the stars, his head was spinning...
 
The princess was glad that the other royalty hadn't flinched, moved, or even shoved her away. She grimaced when he fought another cough, looking into his golden eyes as he turned. They were very pale, and his skin seemed to be as well. To put it simply, he looked terrible. Feverish. She wiped the blood gently away from his skin, moving from where it started and down to where it ended. She didn't speak when he told her she didn't have to. And while she did know that, she kind of did. It was the least she could do for him.

She frowned as she thought over what to do, glancing behind her to make sure they were alone and to check on the horses. "Can you get on Darkstep?" she asked, petting the concerned horse. "And lean against his neck to at least partially lay down?" If he or she could get him hoisted up there, she could lead them away until they were at least hidden and then she could start tending to the dark prince.
 
Kana nodded to her question, but didn't dare speak lest he start coughing again and be unable to stop this time. The male turned back to Darkstep then and he tapped the horse behind the leg. The stallion understood the command instantly and without protest he settled on his knees before laying down completely. He was a warhorse, trained to carry healthy and wounded riders alike and had been trained since he was broken to saddle in things like this. The Prince smiled just a little, sliding on to the horse's back and he held on tightly, murmuring praise to the stallion as the animal lurched back to its feet.

The white-haired male swayed a little before blinking, trying to work past the pain in his head, the nausea that roiled around in his stomach and the coughs that wanted to wrack his frame. He was supposed to be guarding a Princess, not relying on one and while it didn't really hurt his pride all that much to be in need of help, he didn't like the idea that if something happened, Elidi would be on her own to deal with it.

Or was it that he didn't like the idea of his family paying the price if Elidi didn't return home?

Maybe both?

Kana didn't know at this point and didn't have the energy to figure it out as they started moving again, a bit more confident that they're pursuers would be that much further behind them by the day's end thanks to the river.
 
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Once Elidi was sure that Ekanath was secure on Darkstep, she moved to the other waiting horse. Instead of hopping onto her again, the princess grabbed the leading rope on Glaweth's halter and lead her to the side of the stallion, grabbing his leading rope as well. Then she led them far from the river's edge until she was sure they could not be seen.

She tied the horses to separate trees before finally tending to Ekanath, having him get off the horse if he had not fallen asleep. She made him lay down on some soft grass so that he'd be more comfortable, the blood on the top of his shirt already dry.

"Can you tell me why your body reacts this way?" she asked as she prepared to heal his body, her thighs resting upon her calves as she sat at his side. She could find the source of Ekanath's illness, however; it was much quicker to just ask him.
 
Kana hadn't gone to sleep and he didn't protest when Elidi made him lay down, partly because of the way his head spun while upright and partly because it was almost ingrained into him now to obey Light Elves when they told him to do something even if he hated every moment of obedience. And when he was this out of it...well, he didn't really have the urge or the strength to fight that learned compliance.

The Dark Elf had closed his eyes, the shade helpful but not enough to truly diminish the brightness of the sun, but he opened them at Elidi's question, looking at her with confusion at first and then understanding. It was followed by a flash of bitter humor that shone clearly in his pale eyes before he turned his face away from the direct light, white hair damp against his fevered skin and a small trickle of blood at the corners of his mouth, more in his mouth staining his tongue a bright red.

"Toxins, Princess, given to me every day for nearly fifty years now. I'm not allowed to use my power and they keep me from doing so."

There was anger in the words, bitterness and Kana looked at Elidi then, raising his wrist where a thin circlet of metal rested, showing no clasp or break that one could see, but much too tight for him to slip off his hand. "This does the same thing. I can bypass it a little because the toxins are fading out of my body, but I always pay for it."

He didn't know if she knew about this or not, if even her father knew about it - well, the King would know about the power-hindrance in the form of the metal bracelet, but perhaps he didn't know about the toxins - and at this point Kana wasn't sure if he cared or not. He just wanted his head to stop hurting and the nausea to leave.
 
The princess immediately but gently wiped away the blood that trickled from the corner of the prince's lips. She got a different cloth from out of her own pocket and set it down next to her for future use. Her eyes widened at Ekanath's answer. Toxins? Toxins forced into him for fifty years, haltering his powers... she had no idea that this was happening. The warmer golden orbs looked to the metal encircled wrist, Ekanath saying that it also halts him from using his powers. This was all new and rather upsetting information.

"So this reaction is just the toxins being forced out of your body?" Elidi asked as she looked back to the ill form. If that was true, then they'd only have to worry about the bracelet, right? Since there was no one around to give toxins to Ekanath.

She just couldn't believe it. She knew her father had given the Dark Elves the metal bracelets, but she never heard of the Light King forcing them to take toxins. And the consequence of using their powers was this? It left her shocked and angry.

Elidi stood from her spot, grabbing the white cloth that she grabbed earlier and leaving the blood tainted one next to the prince. "There's a stream that flows into the river that's just a little ways down. I'll be back," she said before turning around and heading for the stream. She'd drench the cloth with the water, and the coolness of it would hopefully help the prince feel better.

Maybe her father didn't know of the forced toxins. She knew how soldiers, guards, and even just simple citizens acted towards the Dark Elves. The soldiers that supervised them could easily be secretly giving the toxins to the other elves. But for fifty years? For that long? It just felt strange...

She was soon at the stream and knelt down to wet the cloth, making sure not to get any sand or other stream additions besides water.
 
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