Taking Arahael, Protecting Arahael

When Lae woke up, it was early. The sun wasn't even up yet, something she was grateful for. That way, she was able to get dressed without the fear of a soldier accidentally walking in on her. Going up to her room, she undresses before changing into the dress she had chosen last night, a light green piece with short sleeves. Glancing out the window, she saw that it was indeed raining, and hard. As a streak of lightning flashed across the sky, thunder following moments later, she jumped at the booming noise, her heart beating rapidly. Forcing herself to calm down, she finishes dressing herself before leaving her room, wanting to get a chance to take a bath before anyone else woke up.
 
Octavian would most likely sleep well into the afternoon. Cirion likes to sleep in but the thunder had woken him up and once he was up he couldn't go back to sleep. He got up about to walk out as he was a decided that doing that wouldn't be the best course of action. He grabbed a spare blanket and wrapped it around himself making his way down to the kitchen to grab something to drink. He was thinking about taking a bath afterwards both Octavian and himself haven't bathed sense before the attack. Cirion shivered at the thought now he truly felt disgusting, once in the kitchen he pumped himself a bucket of water and grabbed a cup to scoop up what he wanted. After he drank the water he got up and made his way to the baths, wrapping his blanket tighter to his body to keep the chill of the castle away. Seeing as he was only in his boxers he was getting quite cold and the thought of a nice warm bath sounded better and better.

He pushed the door to the baths open with his foot and proceeded to start a bath for himself. Practically glowing with joy that he could relax, he noted that things were starting to move back to normalcy not only for themselves but for the people who lived here. The castle had been cleaned and was now only awaiting new furniture and the soldiers seem to be helping out as much as possible in town. Now he knew that wouldn't guarantee trust but it was something, it showed that they were here to help now and not to hurt. Cirion stepped into the warm water and sunk into bliss, no longer aware with what was going on around him not that there was anything going on at the moment.
 
Heading down the stairs towards the baths, Lae tried to ignore the empty feeling the castle now had. Before the battle, Daechir would already be up, as well as Dimaethor, and the two would probably have been sparring in the courtyard, Daechir trying to teach his oldest how to fight with swords. Or, like some mornings, the two would be arguing terribly, their shouts reaching all corners of the castle. While she knew that Daechir had never raised a hand to his son, he had no objections to raised voices and harsh words. Dimaethor was a huge hot-head, and he and his father often disagreed on things.

Reaching the door to the baths, Lae opened the door, seeing Cirion in the water. Yelping, she quickly backed away, slamming the door.
 
After soaking for awhile Cirion stretched and looked around for soap, after looking around the large room he spotted some. It was on the other side of the room sighing he quickly jumped out of the tub and ran shivering to the small table it was sitting on, grabbing it he ran back to the tub almost slipping on the now slick stone floor. Shivering he nearly canon-balled back into the tub creating a small splash, once settled back into the tub only getting out once more to fill it back up from the loss of water. He was still shivering as he started to was his Mohawk styled white hair that was now flat, "It sure does get cold fast in this castle." he spoke to no one but himself. He thought after his bath he should wake Octavian so he doesn't sleep well into the day, with a sigh he was left to his own thoughts on many things.
 
Leaning against the wall next to the door to the baths, Lae closed her eyes, trying to rid her mind of him in the bath. Hearing him moving around inside the room and talking to himself, she bit her lip, hoping he would get out soon. If anyone walked in on her, she wouldn't know what she would do. Shivering in the cold of the castle, she crossed her arms over her chest, moving to a window a ways down the hallway. The window overlooked the city, where next to nothing was moving. It was too cold and wet today for it, and elves didn't tend to work well when it was cold, so most everyone was staying indoors. She wondered how the makeshift hospital was faring, if they had moved somewhere indoors. She hoped so.

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Faerveren woke up when her children did, taking them down to the kitchen afterwards. Again, she sat them on the counter, giving them each some fruit for breakfast. Taking some for herself, she held Beldir as an especially large boom of thunder rang out, scaring him. Comforting him until he calmed down, she set him back down, sighing heavily.
 
After an hour Cirion had finished his bath, wishing he could stay in longer but the water had gone cold and it would best if he go dressed. It wouldn't be good for him to catch a cold or something nasty like pneumonia. He walked out into the gloomy looking hall with his blanket wrapped around his waist, he looked to down to the left and then the right. Noticing no one nearby he started his way back to the room where he would dress for the day and wake Octavian up. He whistled a little tune that he and Octavian came up many years ago when they were actively out on the field fighting. Cirion was always sent behind lines into enemy camps, thinking on his memories his hand came up to trace the only scare on his chest. It wasn't a large scare but it was still painful.

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Octavian had been dozing for the past hour determined to go back to sleep. Seeing as it was a cold and rainy day he felt no need to get up, plus rainy days always made him sleepy. Eventually Cirion had came to dress and,most likely, to wake him up, "You should probably go and clean yourself up sir. There are baths on the floor above us and I am sure it will wake you up." Cirion said nudging him with his foot receiving a growl of irritation Cirion only chuckled at him. Octavian finally got up and stomped up to the baths glaring at anyone who looked at him.
 
Hearing a door open down the hall, Lae looked down it to see Cirion going down it in the other direction, leaving the baths. Sighing heavily, she steps into the baths, and begins preparing the bath. Once it was full enough for her, she began taking off her clothes, leaving them in a neat pile atop a table in the room. Stepping into the bath, she quickly gains a look of peace, the warmth enveloping her and releasing a lot of the tension in her muscles. Wasting no time in washing herself, Lae was glad to finally have all the dirt from the past few days washing off of her.
 
Octavian knocked on the door to the baths, yawning he sleepily asked "Is anyone in here?". He peeked his head in a little seeing Lae he quickly turned and walked down the hall maybe there were other baths.

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Once Cirion had fixed his hair he smiled at himself in the broken mirror. He decided to go down the kitchen to cook up some eggs for Octavian and him and Lae if she decided that she was hungry. He had had a bounce to his step, amazing what a bath will do to a man, Cirion walked into the kitchen and spotted Faerveren "Good morning ma'am." he smiled kindly at her and the boys. "Are you and your boys hungry? I was planning on making some eggs and toast if you would like some?" he said grabbing a couple of eggs and a pain placing it on the wood stove. He then light a fire and sliced a small bit of butter and waited for the pan to heat.
 
Yelping as she saw the door opening, Octavian looking around it, Lae crossed her arms over her chest, covering herself, the blush clear on her face. When he walked away, shutting the door behind him quickly, she was able to calm down, and finish her bath, washing her hair. She didn't dally in the baths, still red from when Octavian walked in on her. Draining the bath, she gets dressed, before going back to her room. Brushing out her hair there, she drifts down the stairs, towards the kitchen, feeling hungry.

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At Cirion's question, Gurdir announced, "I'm hungry, I'm hungry!" smiling broadly.

"Hush, Gurdir," Faerveren told him, though the hints of a smile were upon her face. "Yes, that would be nice," Faerveren said, standing up to look at the demon.
 
Cirion smiled at her and then ruffled Gurdir's hair "Alright three eggs coming right up." he said cheerfully cracking each egg and cooking them one by one and placing them on a plate when they were finished. There were definitely much more then three on the plate but he figured that they would be quite hungry, judging by how the cupboards were when the had arrived. "Here you go" he said placing the plate on the small table "If you want more or something else don't hesitate to ask, I will be happy to make anything." bringing his own plate to the table he sat down, leaving two eggs on the counter for Octavian and Lae. Cirion waited for the three to join the table before eating, it was only polite.

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After searching the entire floor and not finding a single bath Octavian's only option was to sit and wait, and that was exactly what he did. He sat against the wall looking through the rain streaked window, yawning he closed his eyes telling himself he was only resting them.
 
Faerveren pulled Gurdir off of the counter as Cirion ruffled his hair, mistrust inherent in her eyes. Seating him at the table, Beldir in the chair next to him, she set the table properly. All of her family had proper table manners, and she wouldn't let her children fall out of practice, even if the city had fallen to the demons. Sitting down as well, she waited for her children to begin eating before doing the same herself.

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Lae came down to the kitchen a few minutes later, smiling when she saw Faerveren and her sons eating and smiling. Well, at least Gurdir and Beldir were smiling. "Good morning, my lady," she says, greeting them. Even though she had no reason to remain in their employment, she felt it was right.

"Please, Lae, sit down and eat with us. I know it's been a crazy couple days, so a little normality would be good, wouldn't it?"
 
It wasn't long until Octavian joined them as well, his hair still slightly damp giving him more of a wet dog look then one of a great general. He grabbed the plate and immediately took a seat next to Cirion. "Now sir only one of those is yours, the other is Lae's" Cirion said while glaring slightly at Octavian. Of course he completely disregarded the statement and ate them anyways, only to receive a slight growl and a stern glare from Cirion, who went to prepare another egg. Octavian looked and the four people sitting at the table with what seemed like disinterest before turning to watch Cirion cook, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


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Cirion prepared more then one egg for Lae and delivering it to her all while glaring at Octavian. He sat back down and smiled at the group "How did everybody sleep? I imagine uncomfortably, but no worries I have received a letter from the town over who said they would be sending craftsmen and doctors to aid us.". He thought this was magnificent, now they would have doctors to care of all the wounded and craftsmen to make new furniture and no longer will they be sleeping on the floor, or he hoped so.
 
Lae didn't entirely care that Octavian took all the eggs, she wasn't that hungry anyways. Silent as Cirion asked how everyone had slept, Beldir and Gurdir said simultaneously, "I slept with Mama!" Faerveren smiled, using a handkerchief to wipe away stray food on their face. Lae was silently glad that doctors would be arriving, and, slightly less so, that she would be able to sleep on a bed soon. Hardly touching her food, she sighs, folding her arms over her chest lightly, not in the mood for talking.

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Rathor rode his horse along the road, pushing her at a strong gallop until he came within sight of Arahael. He was a craftsman, the best in his hometown Arathanar, and the ruling lord there had contracted him to help rebuild the castle of Arahael. Arathanar, also known as the King's Hands, was rather small, not a large stronghold like the King's Mind Arahael. The different cities of the Elven country were each connected to the King in some way, their name translating into the major thing that the city provides. Arahael provided strategists, while Arathanar provided men who worked with their hands. Arachan, the King's Feet, was full of sailors and travelers.

Approaching the gate of the city, he was let in. After tying his horse up at the stable, he gathered all of his needed things, and began walking towards the castle. Several people stared after him, his appearance no doubt frightening them. He probably would have looked like a wild elf, one of the tribesmen who lived in the wilderness. He could understand why, his long, almost-bloodred colored hair, ear piercings, and the tattoo on his left arm, but still...

In the courtyard of the castle now, he took only a moment to look at the garden, before stepping up the stairs to the front doors of the castle. Opening the door without invitation, he called out, "Hello? Arathanar's craftsman is here."
 
A rather terrified looking servant opened the door and led the Elven craftsman through the empty castle leaving him at the door of the kitchen where the sounds of two men talking could be heard. The servant disappeared in a hurry just as Octavian's voice could be heard getting closer to the door. Octavian opened the door to find what appeared to be a wild elf standing in front of him immediately he became tense, his whole demeanor changing an a fraction of a second. "Who are you? Why are you trespassing in my territory?" he spoke low in a threatening tone, his right hand was wrapped around the hilt of his sword prepared to strike at a moments notice. "Cirion!!" he yelled over his shoulder, and in a matter of seconds Cirion was right by his side but looked like he was trying to remember something.

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"Oh! Sir this is the craftsman that the town of Arathanar has sent to us." Cirion said happily patting Octavian on the chest. "I hope your journey over here was uneventful and safe?" he gentely placed his hand on Rathor's back as he walked showing him the castle and telling him what he would like to have done. "I do trust that you won't have a problem with my request? Awh and please avoid Octavian....he isn't um very found of guests you see. But if you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to find me." Cirion smiled at him and walked off, most likely to find Octavian.
 
As the servant began leading him through the castle, Rathor examined the parts of the castle he could see, estimating how much work it would take to rebuild all the needed furniture. Watching the servant run off, he looked back when he heard the door open. "I assume that you're..." he trails off as he sees his demeanor changing, questioning coming to his face. At his question, he said, "Rathor. I'm the craftsman." Another demon came behind him, explaining who he was. Shrugging off his hand as he placed it on his shoulder, he said, "Just show me the rooms that need the most work done. I will also need any and all resources available." Watching him leave this time, after the other demon, he glances into the kitchen, greeting Faerveren with, "Hello, my lady. We at Arathanar heard what happened to your husband and son, and I give you all of my condolences." Leaving them, he claims a nearby room on the ground floor, making it his workroom.
 
It has been a week sense Rother had shown up and the castle already look like it had before. The rooms all had furniture and there were even statues and paintings hanging in the hallways. But they weren't paintings of Daechir or his son, instead they were of Octavian and his military achievements. Octavian was in the study reading a book that he himself purchased he had the window open letting the cold night air to travel in. He put the book aside and walked to the window, he leaned against the sill watching the townspeople as they went about their lives. They had finally seemed to accept him as their new ruler, if still a bit paranoid . Octavian caught sight of Faerveren and the twins making their way through the streets, he simply smiled as he watched them. He had come to enjoy their presents around the castle even if they don't enjoy his. The people have also taken a liking to Cirion but then again who wouldn't he was as kind as can be. Octavian moved away from the sill and closed the window exiting the study leaving his book on the couch.
 
Faerveren had been taking the twins out that morning, wanting to leave the castle again. She had bundled them up in warm jackets and scarves and taken them out. Their breath condensing in front of them, she took them down to the main square of town, where most of the shops were. Letting them gaze into the windows happily, she watched them carefully, not wanting to lose another of her children. It had gotten cold in the past week, and frost had begun appearing upon the ground. Over the past few days, low clouds had moved in, and snow was due any day now. Beldir and Gurdir would be ecstatic when that happened, they loved snow, but Faerveren disliked the cold very much, and would have a hard time convincing her children to stay indoors.

Taking the two into one of the nicer toy shops in the city, she let them pick out a toy each, knowing that a lot of them had been lost during the battle and the events that happened afterwards. Paying the shop owner, she began leading them home, Beldir holding a small wooden train and Gurdir cradling a toy soldier. Though he didn't know it, the man who had painted it had given him features uncannily like Daechir's, and it made Faerveren have to hold back laughs to think about the look on Octavian's face when he saw it.

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Lae sat in her room, now completely furnished again. It felt good to be back in her bedroom once more, amid things that weren't hers, yet were. It was a strange thought, that none of this was the things that she had lived with for quite some time, and was instead much newer, yet she could hardly tell the difference. Looking down, she reread the letter from the capitol that she had kept hidden from the demons, its words sending fear and anger through her. 'The King's Mind must stand strong and alone, as it always has,' is all it said.

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Rather lay in his workroom, underneath a table, one of the final pieces of furniture needed. As of now, he was putting the final finishing touches upon it, wanting everything to be perfect. Lifting up a corner, he examined one of the table's legs, finding the nearly minuscule catch near the bottom of it. Pulling it, he opened the bottom of the leg, revealing it to be hollow. Placing a folded piece of paper into it, hoping someone would find it before something worse than the fall of Arahael happened, he shut the bottom. Pushing himself out from under the table, he did another once over on it before deciding it was as good as it would get.
 
Cirion had been out helping the people in town with anything they needed, he wanted to show them that he was here to help and assist. With a smile he was helping an old woman with her shopping. He was no longer in his uniform but instead in a suit and vest, the jacket was hanging up at the front of the story. He was listening to the old woman's stories of once upon a time which he was quite interested in and would ask questions every now and then. Cirion seemed to be getting along with the people as they no longer see him as a threat, Octavian would think that to be a disastrous thing but he thought it was good. Just because Octavian wanted to be seen as the big bad wolf didn't mean he had to be seen the same.


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Octavian walked through the castle checking on the residences, when he came upon Rathor he merely made a low growl and a face at the man not stopping but continuing on his way. He stepped out into the court yard to meet Faerveren and upon seeing her he bowed and welcomed her home. "What have you three been up to all day hm?" he said in a playful tone his demeanor completely relaxed. Sometimes he wondered why he was being so friendly and relaxed with her and when he couldn't come up with an answer he simply waved the thought away. "Its going to be getting cold soon I hope you have extra blankets and firewood to keep you warm. If you don't then I shall give you mine until I can place an order for more." he said matter of factly as he led the three into the castle taking Faerveren's coat and hang it up.
 
"Mama bought us toys!" Beldir told Octavian happily, showing him the toy train. While no one in the elven territories used trains, some of the eastern peoples did, and traders who came through would tell everyone about them. Gurdir did the same, holding up his toy soldier, who was dressed in the greens and golds of the Capitol's army. The person who had crafted the toy was very skilled at it, with a keen eye to detail. Faerveren had noticed that the badges on the uniform were the exact same that Daechir had worn when he served as one of the king's guards. One for the Three Hour War, one for the Southern Conflict, and many others, even one for personally saving the king's life. Nudging her sons into the castle, where it was warmer, she felt Octavian taking her coat. Flinching, she knelt down helping Gurdir out of his coat.

After taking off both of her children's jackets, they ran off, probably to their newly-furnished rooms to play with their toys. "They don't need any more blankets," Faerveren told Octavian, watching them climb up the main stairway. Straightening, she sighs, shivering in the cold of the castle.

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Turning to see Octavian standing in the doorway, making a growling sound no less, and leaving him, Rathor poked his head out the door. Calling after the demon, he shouted, "There a problem, demon? I don't like you either. But a real demon would pick a fight rather than just make faces." But either the demon didn't hear him or chose to ignore him. Grumbling, he returned to the table, making sure it wouldn't splinter easily or break because of an odd weight.
 
Octavian was not present for dinner even though he was the one who insisted on holding dinner together. Instead he was in the study like usual look down at the town below, it was almost peaceful like this. There was no one to be angry or hate him for his race or action, sometimes he wondered what it would be like to well be liked by another. Besides Cirion, Octavian knew Cirion enjoyed his presents and company but he wondered what it would be like to feel loved and not constantly hated. With a sigh he stayed at the window until all had gone dark, he shut the window and glumly made his way to his bedroom. He was upset but what was there to be upset about? He was ruler of this land and yes he was hated, but there might be a chance he could change that. Cirion sure had the town on his side for the most part, people like him. Octavian spoke aloud "But how to get Faerveren to like me?" he stopped in his tracks "No" was all he said to himself as his frown deepened. He moved along the dark corridors to his room.

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Cirion was sitting in his normal spot at the table becoming increasingly fidgety as time went on without Octavian. Where could he be? he wondered to himself feeling very uncomfortable to be around five that were currently siting with him. Its not that he didn't trust them its that they don't trust him. He ate in silence leaving when he was finished and went back to his room.
 
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