RP:A Taverns Interruption

Part of the Souls Out of Time Arc

Synopsis: Eirik suddenly appears in Chartsend causing a scene of slight panic within the tavern. Raphaline is not there but is notified of the Northman and comes running. At last Eirik is safe. A question is half posed, but exhaustion wins out.

The Slippery Eel

If you want to meet local people this is the place to be. Everyone from the lowest field hand to the e Tenebris themselves frequent the inn. Smoked eels hang from the ceiling, their preparation a closely guarded local secret, something to do with the dark, warm places they are cured. You are most likely to find friendly wenches serving drinks, keen to earn the extra gold. There's a jovial air to the inn apart from the darkest corner where a group of men, who look like smugglers, talk quietly, heads together. Two off-duty guardsmen occasionally glance at them from their seats at the bar. A door lies at the back of the inn. This leads to a large square with buildings running off it and a sandy track winding South. A battered board gives some messages posted about the local area.

Steps. Each and everyone a struggle in of itself. He strained, breathing heavily, chest rising and falling in sheer defiance of his over exhausted state. Eirik was bloody. Covered in this filth that stank of battle. It couldn't be his own, right? A raw soreness beat at his chest, stung his arms and legs, tore at his mind. Left hand rises to push the tavern door open, and with the remaining strength of the berserker it swings open. If any were inside they would be confronted by the horrid state of Eirik. Clothing torn and shredded, armor wrapped in the other arm. Oh gods that other arm. It was covered in some horrible mark, dimly glowing with chaotic magic. After his few steps into the tavern, the lycan simply cannot go any further and he falls face first into the floor creating a scene like no other. He fell like a fresh cut tree, and was nearly out on impact. Where was she, he thought as silver eyes examined the floor. "I have to find Raphaline," he managed to whisper.

Raphaline was not here at the tavern, in fact she has been at the healer’s area in the garrison. After having gotten to Chartsend in one piece somehow, she had taken the child to the only place she knew had trained healers. The people there were rather surprised to see the bard given her last visit had been years ago. So when Eirik had come into the tavern, someone from the tavern had taken off to the garrison calling for her. When the messenger had gotten out barely a description, she knew exactly who it was. Fleet of foot, she took off for the tavern, darting between the market stalls until she comes sweeping in. Without asking, her emerald eyes fall upon the northman, of whom she drops to her knees. Once on her knees, she moves to scoop up his head into her lap as she runs her hands over top of him, searching for all signs of wounds. When she gets to the arm with the horrible marks, she can instantly feel the sting of chaos magic swirling in it. Of those who are in the tavern, they try to help out by finding her clean cloth, hot water and possibly a bottle of alcohol. The bar keep shoos out anyone who isn’t helping, trying to give her some privacy with Eirik. “What happened?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper and full of worry.

Eiriks body lay riddled in fresh cuts and bruises, none of them life threatening. He couldn't have obtained them all in that hellish place could he? Silver eyes hazily move to those emerald orbs of hers, weakly smiling at the sudden assault of her presence. The Northman wasn't dying, just beyond tired, evidenced in his attempt at a smile despite what had just happened. "A child." His mind too tired to complete the sentence. Did he mean the girl they had saved? No. That wasn't it. "There leader is a child." He huffs again in long drawn out breaths. "But something lurks within her. I couldn't fight her. I couldn't stop her." Hands raise so that he may inspect them. He felt stupid, weak beyond belief. "I could do nothing. And they are still there." Eyes move back to Raphaline, his only solace in the moment. "Where's the girl?" He finally mutters. Of course, he would switch the topic. He had risked his life for her so why wouldn't he? Or perhaps he changed it so he didn't have to speak of his own failings.

Raphaline furrows her brow, completely confused by this new piece of information. “A child?” It seemed whatever sinister thing had been going on, is even darker than she had originally assumed. Gently, she runs her thumb over the curve of his cheek, trying to provide him with some sort of solace in that moment. Since the tavern is rather quiet, the bard begins to hum. As her finger draws over the his skin, or brushes its way through his hair, he might be able to feel a small, warm flicker of magic trying to give him enough strength that they might be able to move upstairs. “She is safe in the healer’s room at the Chartsend Garrison. As for what else you saw, we will discuss that further, but you need to be attended to first. Now,” she says as she moves to offer him support, “do you think you can get up?”

Eirik nods, confirming the earlier child statement. Suddenly his body is washed in the spell of her voice. The ache slipping away, exhaustion leaving his muscles; breathe slowed. Whatever she is doing, is now visibly evidenced upon his features. Finally, Eirik smiles at Raphaline. "I can," if that was truth or not was yet to be seen. With the aid of Raphalines voice, he summons the strength to stand, using whatever help he can gather. Before long, the lycan is at a full stand, eyes shifting to the patrons within. Jaw clenches, now understanding that he had caused a scene. "Thank you," he whispers knowing full well that she was his strength at the moment. Without any further words Eirik would move up stairs, presumably with her aid the whole way. Whatever room they had wandered into, the northman would find his way to something soft to lay on. He was far too tired to talk. Perhaps later.

Raphaline slips under his right arm and uses her body to brace him as he finally rises. Turning her gaze up to him, she offers a gentle smile as she answers, “You are welcome.” With a steadiness to her step, she helps him ease his way up the stairs to her room above the tavern. It is a simple room, with a comfortable enough bed that she leads him towards. Once he is on the bed she will release her hold on him and allow his body to sink in. As for her, she takes a seat on the bed besides him, still keeping a hand upon that cursed arm. While her gaze may be looking up at him, her true thoughts are lingering on understanding what kind of magic is now intertwined into his arm. To keep him distracted though she asks, “Are you feeling a bit better after that healing spell? It only helps the body to relax after a lot of stress.” Her hand halts it touch of the cursed arm and instead reaches up to touch the curve of his cheek once more as her lips purse closed for a second. After a moment of silence she speaks up, “I was so worried about you.”

That bed felt great.. Not like the windswept plains of Venturil. No grass whipping his face while he slept. No threat of dark magic loomed over head. That child in a red frilly dress nowhere to be found. He could finally relax. Tired eyes shift to Raphaline, "Yes. And at the same time no." It was defeating to his pride to reveal such a thing. Eirik couldn't stop what he had discovered. Powerless. She might find that mark upon his arm seething, nearly cursing her own touch. Voices. So many voices spoke into his minds eye. If his tired state was to mention anything, it should be that his thoughts slow. Muddled by something. Something beyond that spell she weaved. A hand moves to Raphalines, to rest for a moment. "I didn't know if I would find you." He admitted to his own form of worrying. Being out there and seeing those displays of dark magic rituals, Eirik had feared the worst.

Raphaline tries to offer him a rather reassured smile, but she knows somewhere in the corner of it, that it might falter a bit. She stills her hand, and turns it so her fingers might be able to find some comfort in wrapping themselves around his own calloused digits. “I might be a wanderer, but I am also a lot stronger than I might let on to sometimes.” What he had seen of her magic was only a taste of the strength that she had been developing for so many years. What she also wasn’t telling him was that under the sleeves of her coat and tunic, both arms were bandaged from where the skin had split and begun to bleed after all that magic. “But, that is now gone and done and we have found each other again.”

Eirik had no doubts about her statement. His thoughts only an expression of how he cared for her. It was probably a good thing that he had no clue about the bandages. That would be even more cause for concern. More for the man to worry about. Sleep pulls at the mans eyelids, though he fights on for a few moments longer. Rows of ivory now visible beneath the sheen of a grin. "We have." Though his tired state would not give clues to the thoughts he was having. It was over. For now anyway. "What am I to," his words trail off as sleep had finally overcome his stamina. Perhaps he meant, what am I to you?

Raphaline knows what he is asking her, but as she watches him fall asleep, she cannot help the soft, but sad smile on her lips. Once she knows he has fallen completely asleep, she leans over and gently places a breath of a kiss on his cheek as she answers, “Many things. Many, many confusing things. What those things are and what they mean for the future, I don’t know yet.” She draws back, her hand tracing his features before she pulls herself free of him. Rather than take off like she normally would, she swings her legs up onto the bed and moves to curl up against the left side of his body. No matter the dirt or grime on them both, she rests her head on his shoulder as she allows her own eyes to close. Being so close, she allows her senses to take in the details of him once more. The leather of his armor caresses her nose, the strength of his muscles beneath his skin and most of all the warmth that seems to radiate. Right now, she just lets it all sing her to sleep.