Nothing and Everything

[Arlenwa Nenharma]

The red sheen of a black stallion appeared between the trees, sweat coating it and making it slick. His rider was a tall man. Well built and clothed in black save a grey shirt beneath his leather jerkin.

Without a word he reined the friesian to a stop, his blue-grey eyes scanning the trees. There was someone else nearby.. and they either hadn't heard him or merely didn't want to bother with him. Grunting, Cedric heeled his mount to a walk, and they went on for another mile until they came to a river. Cedric dismounted, washing his face with the still cold water. Spring was only just here, winter's chill still present in the water. The man grinned, resting on his heels.

Naneth hadn't bothered him for a while and this pleased Cedric. He could concentrate better now.. and complete tasks given to him by Rhiannon. Not to say the queen was pleased, but she was getting there.. back to the level of respect she once had for Cedric.

A twig snapped and instinctively Cedric's hand went to the hilt of his sword. He turned slowly, finding Nasic, his horse, rolling in the grass at the edge of the treeline. "Nasic! That saddle! It's new!" He stalked over to the stallion and poked his side. The big horse snorted at him and rolled a bit more before standing and shaking off. "Hm, no scratches. Just be more careful." The horse tossed his head and drank from the river. "I think we'll stay here for the night and make for the city at noon tomorrow. Then we'll get there at nightfall and-" Nasic whinnied loudly. "Sorry! I assumed you would like to know." The horse ignored him, chewing and swallowing the short emerald blades dotting the shoreline.

[aurelianrider]

Kelvhan and Ellarian... You can't separate them.

A young woman, really still just a girl, filted through the trees. She danced around them laughing. "You can't catch me Rashk!" She swung around a tree following the sound of water. Her brown hair swung loose around her back, her eyes sparkling in the dappled light. Behind her large hooves pounded the ground.

A spotted stallion trotted through the trees chasing the sound of the girl. He flung his mane about, snorting. He nickered loudly the sound echoing through the trees.

Ellarian laughed again, catching sight of the stallion behind her. She sped up, now running towards the water. She broke free of the trees and skidded to a stop, they weren't alone. She smiled and waved at the man, her attention wrenched by Rashk.

"Rashk stop!"

The stallion was approaching her fast. He threw his hide legs under himself and slid to a stop, but not before his shoulder bumped into Ella.

She squealed and tumbled backwards, landing hard on the ground. Before she could even get up Rashk's nose was in her face. She giggled and pushed the big muzzle away.

"Come on quit it. We're not alone."

They both looked towards the man and black horse not half a dozen feet away. Ella pulled herself off the ground using Rashk and ghosted over to the man. Her footsteps were light and swift and quickly followed by Rashk. She stood by the black horse, offering her hand to him and gently stroking his neck.

"Hi. I'm Ella. You have a really pretty horse. A friesian right?"

She looked at the man, and Rashk snorted loudly. Clearly he dissaproved. She wouldn't be alone for much longer. Kelv was only out hunting dinner down. She didn't like being away from him but she had been distracted by Rashk's playing and now by this pair. The spring had allowed her to change out of the hated long sleeved clothes and back into her beloved sleevless vests, that according to her brother showed too much skin. Her feet were bare, as normal and her light green skirt swung around her knees.

A wolf stalked the forests, ordered by Kelvhan to watch over Ella. His fire red and white coat stood out in the forest, but he knew how to hide. His blue eyes watched everything carefuly as his ears caught the sounds. He kept far enough back so that neither Rashk or Ella would notice. When they stopped he edged closer, staying in the cover of the trees. He couldn't help a low growl that slipped out at the man, but he quickly silenced it.

[Arlenwa Nenharma]

"Rashk stop!" Cedric whipped around, brows shot up, and eyes wide in bewilderment. So much happened at once. There was a girl.. a horse that had almost run into her and now it looked as though they were playing... rolling in the dirt. "Come on quit it. We're not alone." Nasic turned his noble head to look at Cedric who merely shrugged.

Then she actually pet Nasic. The black stallion grunted, shifting uneasily. "Hi. I'm Ella. You have a really pretty horse. A friesian right?"

"Er.. Cedric... Yes." He was still stunned that this girl had been running around the forests alone with only a horse to protect her. "Excuse me, but what are you doing wandering the forest without protection?" He eyed her warily, suspicious. What if she was an Anorian spy? Or worse, a Battonian, come to check on him to make sure he still wasn't crazy. No.. they would never send such a young person. He rubbed his neck with his hand, glancing over at the forest waiting for some crazy woodsmen to fly out and try to kill him. Great... Just great. If there was trouble he would have to kill them. Even the animal. A low rumbled met his ears but he didn't turn to look. He assumed it was another of this girl's, Ella she had said, pets.

[aurelianrider]

Rashk flatened his ears at the black stallion, just a simple warning to be carefull around her. He snorted, watching the other stallion carefully. He was slightly bigger than the black, and highly possive over Ella.

Ella looked at the man, confused by his question. "I have protection." She looked at Rashk's saddle and the sword hanging there. "But I guess that's not what your talking about." She sighed, looking towards the woods. "I'm not without protection Cumar's hiding in the woods right over there." She tilted his way and a growl answered her. She went on as if the growl didn't bother her. She continued to stroke Nasic, completely comfortable around the two strangers.

"So Cedric..." She paused after his name letting it sink into the silence. "What are you doing out here? Don't see many humans wondering around the forests."

Rashk nickered then and the growl from the forest got louder. Ella put a hand over her mouth, clapping it shut. She wasn't suppose to give anything away about her heritage and for the most part she tried but occasionaly she slipped. Kelvhan wouldn't be happy with her. She watched him waiting for his reaction, anyone could see that she wasn't an elf but if one looked too closely they would find subtle hints.

Kelvhan stalked through the forest, hunting. Unfortunatly he wasn't having much luck. Anything that was worth hunting he couldn't get close enough too. It would be much easier with Cumar's help but he hadn't wanted to leave Ella alone.

He could hardly concentrate on hunting, knowing that his little sister was off wondering the woods and probably not paying attention to anything. He just hoped she didn't run into anyone or thing. Sighing he gave up and started back to his horse. He had told Ella to stay there but he knew she hadn't. She never listened to him. When he found Lithea, the black mare nickered to him. There on his saddle was Cricket, curled up and sleeping. "Oh so now I have to walk. Oh well let's go find Ella before she gets into trouble."

He didn't grab Lithea's reins, but instead simply let the horse walk beside him. Cricket had sat up, balancing easily.

[Arlenwa Nenharma]

"I have protection." Cedric followed her gaze and shrugged. Hopefully she knew how to use it then. "But I guess that's not what your talking about." Again, he looked where she did. "I'm not without protection Cumar's hiding in the woods right over there." "Cumar?" He asked, scanning the treeline where the growl had come from.

"So Cedric..." The man winced as she paused, dreading what she might say or ask. "What are you doing out here? Don't see many humans wondering around the forests." Great. Just the question he wanted to hear.. He sighed, scratching at the back of his neck and ruffling his dark hair. "Traveling. Can't stick to one place for too long." Traveling? Where to? He imagined her saying, and tried to come up with a satisfactory answer in case it was needed. Wait.. 'Don't see many humans'? Wasn't she human?! His grey eyes studied her face more carefully, pulling in every detail you wouldn't find on a full blooded human. So what was she? Witch? Spirit? A very large fairy creature? Some sort of half-blood? Half-blood. That had to be it.

"You're not human?" He eyed her, hiding a smirk. "Interesting." Nasic snorted, stepping away from the stranger and he plowed into the river water. Cedric grimaced at the sound of splashing water. All his papers and documents. Ruined. Cedric whistled shaprly, the stallion snorting again and trotting up the bank. The horse was soaked. Not an inch of him was dry. The friesian shook himself off, and went back to the grass, chewing and huffing noisily.

"Just what are you then?" He bit his lip, brows raising slightly, arms crossed.

[aurelianrider]

Ella shifted, Rashk taking quickly taking Nasic's place. They could be off in a second, racing through the woods if he threatened them. She had let it slip before and found that most people don't take kindly to it. She looked away from his gaze, but it didn't help. He was smart enough to catch her mistake. "Uh no I'm not, but you know that by now. Guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you."

She tangled one hand in Rashk's mane, glancing from the man to the forest and back. "I'm half-human, half-elf." She knew she was in trouble now. Her body tensed, waiting for Cedric's reaction. Then she wasn't alone standing in front of her was Cumar. His tail straight, lips pulled back to show his glistening teeth. His red fur stood on end, blue eyes narowed at Cedric. A low threatening growl came from deep in his throat. He could get away with looking like a dog most of the time, but now there was no mistaking him for what he was, a wolf. Ella's eyes never left Cedric, never glanced down at Cumar.

Kelvhan couldn't hear the growling but Lithea and Cricket's sharp animal ears easily picked it up through the forest. The mare nickered and picked up her pace to a trot. Kelv had to run to keep up, but didn't protest. He knew something was wrong and only wanted to get to Ella faster.

[Arlenwa Nenharma]

"Uh no I'm not, but you know that by now. Guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you." Cedric shrugged, biting his bottom lip. "I'm half-human, half-elf." He containted his surprise easily, letting his body relax and a grin take over his mouth. He laughed quietly, ignoring the growling wolf. "Is that all? I was worried for a moment. I thought you were a witch or something of the sort." In all truth, Cedric wasn't really afraid of the furious creature standing in front of her. He had killed far too many and he knew their ways.

Nasic snorted, ears flicking back at the sound of something getting closer in the forest. He whinnied loudly, instantly catching Cedric's attention. "You lie!" He shouted, mounting Nasic quickly, not yet reaching for his sword. "You're a Battonian spy aren't you? Come to ambush a knight of Anorith!" It was always good to twist the truth in certain situations. He had no idea if this female was loyal to Anorith or Battonia since they were in the freelands, but it was safe for Cedric to assume the position as an Anorian knight. She wouldn't be able to tell the difference. No one really could since most knights traveled making sure the people were safe. "If you kill me you have no idea how many others will be after you. How many are in your party?" Though he was lying about who he was, Cedric did believe that there were people after him and she had been the bait to keep him there so they could kill him.

[aurelianrider]

Ella rolled her eyes at him. "Well I'm definatly not a witch or somthing." She relaxed untill of course he swung up onto his horse and started shouting at her.

She stood stunned, Cumar still growling while Rashk simply nickered to the coming sounds of hooves. "I'm not here to kill you. Untill today I didn't even know you existed." She recognized Rashk's nicker. She would have to try and clam Cedric before her brother got there. "If your scared of whos coming you don't need to be. It's just my brother. He won't harm you." She raised her hands.

Kelv could no longer stand simply walking. He swung into the saddle pushing the now grumpy Cricket into his lap. He nudged Lithea into a canter, easily breaking through the trees. He came to the clearing in seconds, pulling the mare to a hault.

Lithea faced off with Nasic, matching his apperance exactly. "What bussiness do you have with my sister and why are you yelling at her?" His voice was low dangerous.

Circket jumped down from the saddle and raced to Ella, who quickly picked him up, cuddling him to her chest. "Kelv stop you just startled him is all. His name is Cedric. We were just talking."

[Arlenwa Nenharma]

"I'm not here to kill you. Untill today I didn't even know you existed." Cedric wasn't satisfied with her answer. Anyone could make that up.. in fact, many assassains had before. "If your scared of whos coming you don't need to be. It's just my brother. He won't harm you." He eyed her warily, watching as she raised her hands. It seemed to relax him, but he would still be careful. Lying wasn't as difficult as it seemed.

"What bussiness do you have with my sister and why are you yelling at her?" Cedric's gaze burned with fury, muscles tense. His sword at his waist grew increasingly heavier as he continued to think about it. He could finish them both easily. Probably the man first. Then E- No, he couldn't think of her name. It would be difficult living with killing her if he thought of her name.

"What business do you have leaving your sister unprotected?" His grey eyes narrowed, Nasic standing firmly beneath him, unmoving. "She is the one who came upon me. Then Nasic heard you in the brush and I assumed it was an ambush." Cedric began to calm himself, easing in the saddle, Nasic however didn't let himself relax.

[aurelianrider]

"I didn't leave her unprotected. I left her with the horses and Cumar and told her to stay where I could get there quickly. Unfortunatly she doesn't always listen and like to wander off. But she's not incapable of defending herself." He narrowed his eyes at the man, waiting to relax untill after he did.

Lithea shifted under him, watching Nasic. They were the same breed but she was watching him for signs that he would relax.

"I'm not here for you. Only to protect Ella. I'm sorry we startled you." He shot Cumar a glance and the wolf relaxed sitting.

Ella smiled and stepped forward in between the two men, her arms still wrapped around Cricket. "See I told you my brother wasn't going to hurt you. Cedric this is my brother Kelvhan. Kelv, Cedric." She motioned to them in turn, effectivly introducing them. The cat in her arms ignored them all, not caring unless it came to blows.

"Sorry I ran off Kelv but Rashk wanted to play. But you shouldn't just go jumping down other peoples throats."