RP:Love Prevails

Summary: Talyara and Lanara prepare to perform a ritual to summon their father, Thronnel, before he fully materializes and regains his full strength. Their plan goes awry when Lana confesses to her sister that she's dating the infamous witch killer, Eirik. The two sister's get into a cat fight, Thronnel materializes, and their plan is foiled. Eventually, a battle ensues, and all is not lost. The siblings make up and Talyara sacrifices her empathic abilities to save Lanara's life, and in turn, Lana's magic returns.

Lanara finds herself deep in Sage Forest, camouflaged by the thick covering of the tall trees, and frantically looking for her little sister, Talyara. Last night’s dream had woken her, shaking from head to toe, in a sheen of sweat, with tears spilling down her cheeks. Thronnel was returning to the realm. The magical blast that had taken her own life, and temporarily banished him from the lands, was no longer in effect. And so, the elf had packed the bare necessities into her backpack, explained everything to Eirik, and had allowed the male to escort her to the outskirts of this location. The brown dove would’ve made it to Taly by now, and Lana sits campfire style, before an oak tree, closing her eyes and recalling the nightmare. Had Taly dreamt the same thing? If their father was materializing, they would have to ship him back to hell, and seeing as Lana was without her powers, she couldn’t do this alone. The woman wears a hunter green turtleneck, brown leggings, and tan knee-high leather boots. Her long hair has been combed back into a sleek ponytail, and she is without any of her usual animal companions. She was here on business, nothing more. It was long overdue. Thronnel had to be kicked from the earthly realm, once and for all. Lana had spent months pouring over how to regain her magical abilities, how to rid the world of her sadistic father, and how to prepare a ritual that would encompass both of those things. And so, she sits, with her grimoire in her lap, turned to a page that would aide them in conjuring the spirit of their mother, to ask her for advice. The sisters were running out of time. Lana bites her lip, opens her eyes, and worriedly looks to her left and right, hoping Taly would make it here safely, and in time. However, her worries cease as the marking on her inner left wrist begins to throb, slightly itching beneath the fabric of her shirt. Taly was close.

Talyara :: There was no doubt that the sisters were connected by not only the rune tattoo on their wrists or the blood that flowed through their veins. No, Lanara and Talyara were connected on a spiritual level as well for the younger of the sisters had woken up in a cold sweat from the same nightmare. In fact, Talyara was just penning a letter to Lanara herself when the brown dove appeared. The empath made haste, scrambling up to her bedroom loft and shoving a few random items into one of her charmed bags. Taly slipped on a purple sweater, a pair of black leggings, and some worn leather boots that came up to her ankles. The little witch didn’t bother to tame her unruly curls, instead slinging her bag over her shoulder and jogging off towards where her sister said she would be. As she approached, Taly felt her tattoo begin to tingle and it only served to quicken her pace to a sprint. Soon enough she comes upon the clearing with the big oak tree and Lanara seated at the base. Talyara wastes no time, dropping to her knees as she panted for breath and began to pull items from her bag. “I…brought…Mother’s…Book of…Shadows…” Taly says breathlessly, tugging an old, worn book out of her bag. “And…her old…necklace…” She then pulls put a pewter necklace, forged into a pentacle surrounded by roses. “They were…the only things…I could take…when I escaped…from…Kelvar…thought…they might…help…tonight…” Talyara finishes breathlessly, bowing her head to try and calm her breathing and cool her flushed cheeks.

Lanara perks up as her sister comes into view, and she readjusts so that she’s in a kneeling position, peering at each item in turn. “Excellent, Taly. I brought my grimoire, as well.” The elf’s words trail off as she gently touches the center stone in the middle of the pewter necklace. The ruby rose felt cold beneath her touch, though her eyes leak warmth, as a single tear trickles down her pale cheek. “That necklace… I remember. It was passed down, what was it… Six or seven generations of our bloodline? This should help us to make contact with mother.” Her voice sounds grainy, and she takes a moment to collect herself, before peering up at her sister, a small smile on her lips. Taly looked as though she had came straightaway, in a hurry, as her hair was untamed, and she was practically panting from her trek through the large forest. Lana pulls her sister into a brief hug, and when she leans back she gazes into those mesmerizing emerald hues. “Thank you for coming, Taly. I know how easy it would be to just ignore what has been happening to us, but we have to end this for good. Thronnel must die. If he fully materializes… We both will fall victim to his madness, and he has these plans… You saw the destruction, I assume… Have you been having nightmares, too?” She waits for a response, before nodding and carrying on. “He had you possessed by that drow patron. He has sexual relations with me, his own daughter. He only seeks our power. I wouldn’t put it past him if he was the one that had planned the Drow attack on Kelvar. I mean… It’s weird how all of the sudden the Drow wished to dwell above ground.” Shaking her head, Lana releases her sister from the embrace, and rubs her temples, as though something else were on her mind. “So… Before we start this ritual, there is something else I have to tell you. I… Um… I’m seeing someone. But I really don’t think you’ll approve… But before you jump to conclusions, please know that he’s a changed man. And… I love him. I never thought that after Krystan I would find love again, but I’m so irrevocably and undeniably smitten with this man… His name is, uh…” Lana hesitates, knowing that the second his name is uttered her little sister would fly off the handle. The name carried a lot of weight, in the past and in the present, and unless she had been living under a rock the past year, she would be able to place the name and face with ease. “Eirik Vergesen.” The witch killer. The berserker. The lycan. The man that had slaughtered fourteen witches, with ease, in the past year. The man who was somewhat responsible for the death of Valrae, and so many others. The man that was under the control of King Macon and Queen Josleen of Larket. The man who had severe anger issues. All of this is unsaid, of course, as Lana awaits her sibling’s reaction.

Talyara nods her head and reaches once more into her bag to pull out her own Book of Shadows. Although the trio of tomes held almost identical entries, each was imbued with the energy and powers of the witch who wrote in it. If anything, Taly thought that together, they would amplify the magical bond even more. Her green eyes look up to see Lanara gingerly touch the pentacle necklace and she feels her heart give a lurch in her chest; oh how she missed her mother! When her breathing had returned to normal, the empath sits back on her knees to look upon her sister with a more sober expression as she folds her hands in her lap. “You don’t need to thank me, Lanara,” she says quietly, the corner of her mouth twitching. “Yes, I’ve been having nightmares,” she says with a sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly at the confession. “We need to get rid of him. Not just banish him; we need to make sure he never comes back. And I’m done running from him,” the little witch declares with a bit of bite in her tone. “I know he was the behind the drow attack on Kevlar! He told me as much when he was possessing me!” Talyara already feels anger prickling along her body and she flexes her fingers to try and expel some of that unwanted energy—one must always enter the circle with perfect love and perfect trust after all! However, Lanara soon captures her attention once more, claiming she needs to admit something. As she begins her little speech, Taly’s eyebrow arches and she waits on bated breath. Lana is right of course, the empath most certainly doesn’t approve of this man. “-Eirik-?!” Talyara asks incredulously, her eyes widening disbelievingly. “Lanara you -cannot- be serious!” The anger inside Talyara flares again and her cheeks flush with emotion as she balls her hands into fists. “Are you insane, Lanara?! Of all the men in this land you choose a known witch killer?!” Talyara reaches out and grasps her sister’s shoulders, giving her a firm shake. “Are you insane?!” Her voice raises an octave and cracks. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” She screeches giving Lanara another firm shake as if determined to knock some sense into her.

Lanara tries to play it cool, so she looks off to the side, and toys with their mother’s pentacle, sighing. “Oh. You’ve heard of him? Yes… I’m in a committed relationship with the one, the only, Eirik Vergesen. The infamous witch killer… But he’s an –ex- witch killer now, thanks to a curse that Valrae placed upon him when she was imprisoned. He’s a bit of an empath now to witches. And don’t even try to say that he’s ‘using’ me, or toying with my emotions, because I’m silenced. He can’t feel my feelings. So… I don’t really apprec-“ The elder sister isn’t able to complete her sentence, before she finds that she’s being violently shaken from side to side, as though Taly were trying to knock some sense into her love struck brain “Taly! Stop it! He loves me. I love him. Isn’t that enough?! You are the one always telling me to see the bright side of things, and to try and trust others! After all I’ve been through… I… He… We both have issues, we both have really horrible pasts, but we both are so crazy in love with each other. You should be thanking him… He’s making me a better woman. And after this we’re thinking about moving to Vent-“ Once more, her younger sister has taken a hold of her and is digging her nails into her arms, this jerk much more violent than the last. Lana has had enough of this by now, and she extends her arms and lifts her sister into the air, before the two of them land in a pile of leaves. “I said stop it! You should be happy for me! You went and dated Emrith! His bird tried to eat me! He drinks blood! And he broke your heart –three- times!” Anger spills over both sisters, as they aim to shake sense into each other, neither relenting on the other until they collide and find themselves tumbling down the small hill. The sisters log roll through the woods, until they both smack against a tall oak tree. Lana groans, and releases Taly immediately, only to clutch at her ribs and rub her thigh. “I hope I didn’t tear the stitches again...” Chocolate hues narrow on her sister, and she catches herself mid-sentence. The last thing she wanted was to tell Taly how she became injured, or who it was that provide the healing. She wouldn’t understand the soft side of her lycan. So, setting her jaw into a clench, she extends a hand to help Taly from the forest floor. “Taly. We can’t perform the ritual angry at each other. So… You have to trust me. My feelings for Eirik are very real, and he loves me… He is so sweet to me, and he isn’t any of those horrible things you’ve heard about him... He’s changed.”

Talyara’s eyes darken with internal rage as Lanara continues to make excuses for this scum of a man. “Every single man I have loved you have criticized! You have put me down! Try to force my hand to choose between you and Emrith!” The empath’s nostrils flare as she huffs out a breath. “How -dare- you—“ Her grip does not slacken on Lanara until the two collide and end up rolling down the hill, Talyara landing flat on her back and smashing her head on the hard ground; that would leave a nice lump. With a groan, she sits up and tentatively touches the tender spot at the back of her head. She hears her sister mutter something about stitches but right now she is too angry with Lanara to inquire about it. Lest it be from some kind of sexual encounter with her witch killer. It would really put Talyara over the edge! Her eyes linger on Lanara’s offered hand, but she ignores it, pushing herself to a stand on her own. “Of course he is sweet to you,” she snaps. “I’m sure you’ve gone and told him you are a witch, that your sister is one. You do not know what his motives are! You are too blinded by love to see sense!"

Lanara glares at her sister, noting that the two were beyond furious at this moment, and that casting any type of spell would backfire. Fine. If Taly wanted to duke it out, she was more than up for the challenge. “We aren’t here to talk about who is right or wrong for me, Taly. We are here to kill our father! We are here to rid this world of that demonic bastard that tried to MURDER you and had SEX with me! Taly… I need you. The men you chose were jerks that didn’t deserve you. The only good one you had was Linn! The rest weren’t worthy of you… And yes. This man has the blood of our kin under his belt. But… He’s more than his past. I really thought that you would understand. You of all people.” Lana turns away, brushing the leaves and debris from her clothing, and tossing a twig from her long locks. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe she should just face Thronnel on her own. With a final glare at her little sister, she huffs, and wanders back the way they had rolled. This was not going as she had planned. But she couldn’t enter the circle keeping a secret!

Talyara’s lips curls in a near snarl as Lanara dares to bring up her past lovers. “Yeah Linn was great because we loved each other as friends. But there’s also that matter of him leaving, of him not fighting for me.” Talyara kicks at the ground in frustration as she watches her sister begin to ascent back up the hill towards the place where they met. Talyara is not prone to anger; it is not an emotion she ever gives much energy to. So perhaps because of that reason, she suddenly seems completely consumed by it. She watches Lanara walk away and every bitter thought she ever had, starting from when they were little and Lana was always seen as the favorite in Taly’s eyes, to her overwhelming beauty, to her bountiful skills. With a frustrated yell, the empath charges at her older sister, flinging herself onto her back and forcing them to tumble to the ground once more.

Lanara is almost completely up the hill, though she turns around as she hears the approaching footfalls, at the precise moment that Taly has launched herself into the air. The elf has nowhere to go, and not enough time to react, so she ends up kicked in the stomach, and falls flat on her legendary derriere. The fall isn’t completely one sided though, as Lana had taken a fistful of those unruly curls and drug her sister to the ground during her descent. The two roll around for what seems like an hour, each trying to get the upper hand. Being the older sister, Lana always was somewhat bitter towards Taly, for being able to befriend nearly everyone, to winning over dozens of men’s hearts, to her skills in magic. Her sister was like a freaking elusive liger, and she had enough of her patronization. “I will date who I want… When I want… With or without your approval! You are so ungrateful, Taly! After –all- I have done for you! I gave you my empathy. I killed myself, literally! I was dead for months! I made a pact and returned to save your ass, yet again! And you –dare- to tell me who I should love?! You are horrible!” Lana growls, clawing and nipping at her sisters flesh, until she finally straddles the younger sibling. Holding her hand back, she brings it down with a forceful slap across the face of Taly, just below her left eye. “You always had the easy way of things. You are a spoiled little brat!” As that satisfying crack echoes, only now does Lana realize what she’s done. “I… I’m sorry, Taly…”

Talyara screeches as Lanara’s fingers tangle in her hair and drag her to the ground upon her tackle, her nails digging into her scalp. She continues to tussle with her older sister, rolling and grappling, trying to get the upper hand until she finds herself unfortunately pinned and breathless below her older sister. She snarls again, a growl vibrating in her throat. “I didn’t ask you to! I didn’t ask for your empathy!” Cue a buck of Taly’s hips in an attempt to throw Lana off. “I didn’t ask you to blow yourself up!” Another twist of her body. “You left me!” She howls at her sister, feeling tears brim her eyes despite her desire to keep them at bay. “You left me like every one—“ The younger witch is silenced by the hard crack of her sister’s hand against her cheek. Lanara’s nail had grazed her, cutting open the flesh and causing her to bleed as her skin immediately began to swell. Talyara looks up at Lanara disbelievingly. Despite her apology, the empath opts to take advantage of her shock, rolling over so that she is now straddling her older sister, pinning her arms above her head. “Do you know why I was tortured by the drow, Lanara?” She asks in a hissing, dangerously low voice. Taly doesn’t wait for any answer, though. “Do you?!” She screams. “Everyday he would take me into the square, tie me up, and ask me where you were! Every time I refused he would lash me! Over and over and over and over again!” Tears are now spilling down Taly’s cheeks despite her swollen eye. “He tortured me every day because I was protecting you! He whipped me, he kept me locked up with no food and water, he forced me to…” Talyara couldn’t bring herself to say he had forced her into bed with him. It was a part of her past she couldn’t speak on. “And then when you died! I refused to eat because all I wanted was to be with you and Mother!” All the time that Taly talks, her nails dig into the flesh on Lanara’s wrists.

Lanara feels as though the fight has gone out of her, though as her sister bucks like a mule beneath her, and wildly behaves, she has visions of the exorcism. Taly looked possessed! And of course her younger sister takes this opportune moment to take advantage and now Lana finds herself flat on her back, the wind knocked out of her, as she struggles to breathe. That earlier tree smack to the ribs had clearly cracked something, and the elf tries to crawl away from her sibling, only to have her arms pinned above her head and the green eyed vixen straddling her waist. As those sharp nails viciously tear at her wrist, she screams out, tears making their way down her face, as she helplessly kicks at the earth. “Get. Off. Of Me. Ow! Taly, you are hurting me! I came here for help. To save us both and I had to tell you about Eirik. I had to, or we couldn’t have entered in perfect trust and perfect love…” Lana begins to cough, and the tears continue to fall as her ribcage is on fire. This was not how she imagined it. The two women were supposed to conjure their mother’s memory, and the three would defeat Thronnel. But no, instead her little sister decided to beat her up, rather than stand beside her and offer assistance. “Taly. I’m done. Get off of me. I’m sorry that the drow did unimaginable things to you. I really am… But this isn’t a contest of who did more for the other! Because if it was, I would win! You may have been forced to starve, and have taken some lashings, and you may have even been a bed slave… But you didn’t sleep with your own father. You didn’t have a miscarriage. You weren’t sent off to a freaking academy at three years old because you were too gifted with your magic. You grew up with a freaking step-dad! I didn’t have that luxury! I didn’t have Mother all the time! I was at a school where professors were trying to score dates with a CHILD! You always had it good, Taly. All of my suffering was done to protect you… And you are just so selfish! Get off of me!” With a final surge of strength, Lana lifts her leg and knees her sister forcefully in the rear, and she uses that momentum to break free, though as she wrenches her arms away, her wrist twists, painfully. The elf doesn’t retaliate, nor does she stick around and try to make amends, she weakly crawls a few feet away and shakily stands. “Siggy… SIGGY!” Between sobbing, and wincing in pain, she places her fingers in her mouth and whistles a call that she knows the white wolf will hear. Why she had called the aloof beast to her side, and not Puddles, or Eirik? Unable to think straight, she speed walks through the woods, clutching her ribs, and limping along the way. Where had she left her backpack? Where is Sigrid? Spinning around, she becomes lost, and somewhat disoriented, though a flash of silver to her right has her heading in that direction. Just like that, Lana had walked into the lion’s den, as Thronnel, in the flesh, leaps out from behind the tree and pulls his daughter into his arms. “N-No…” Frozen in fear, the elf is unable to fight him off, or even cry out for help. The sadistic man smiles as he graces his daughter’s lips with a sloppy kiss, and picks her up, as though she were his bride. “Let’s go, my love. We’ll finish off your sister and then it will just be the two of us. As promised.” Thronnel stalks through the leaves, muttering a spell beneath his breath to further ‘silence’ his daughter, should she have the strength to react. Lana’s head falls to the side, the ex-witch being forced into a deep sleep, as she’s carried through the forest.

Lanara :: Thronnel knows he will be followed by Talyara, and that any attempt to exit the forest with the unconscious brunette in his arms would be foolish. That blasted daughter of his just wouldn’t give up! How much more did he have to put her through? “I tried killing her, numerous times, yet she still persists! The destruction of Kelvar. The cursed ring. The possession. I will end her life, here, tonight!” His green eyes scan the area, and he enters a small clearing, with a vacant, two-story house. Perfect! He wouldn’t risk losing Lana again, and he looks down at the elf, a flash of concern etched on his features. “So… Beautiful. Just like Kuruni. But so youthful and full of life! Your mother never had a body like yours… I’m so glad that we are able to give our love a second shot. And you are no longer a threat, my love, as long as you don’t possess any magic. Your eldest sister is dead, which is how I was able to return. I snuffed out her life, and in turn, my own had returned. Once I slaughter Taly, it will just be you and I… We will have beautiful, magical, children. Lana… You may wake up now, my sweet.” Of course he earned no response, as the woman is under a sleep spell. Thronnel mutters an incantation and just like that, the spell is broken, and the elf’s eyes flutter open. As she opens her mouth and screams at the top of her lungs, he steps over the threshold of the home, and slams the door behind him, muffling her terrified screams. “Shh… You don’t want to do that, Lana. I –will- make certain you shut up for good! You will be a dutiful wife! Otherwise I will slice out your tongue, understood?” He watches as she nods, pleased with her wide-eyed reaction. “Good. Now. I will put you down, but you must promise to obey. Can you do that?” Without waiting for an answer, he flips the lock on the door, and peers out the window. Was that a wolf barking? Thinking fast, he dashes up to the second floor and kicks open a bedroom door, proceeding to the bed, which he lays his daughter upon, tenderly. “I’m sorry, but I have to do this…” Procuring a rope from his robe, he ties both of her wrists to the headboard of the bed, and lies atop her, his fiery red hair forming a curtain over their joined faces, as he forces her into a deep kiss. After a moment, he leans back, his eyes laden with desire. “Don’t cry, Lana. It’s not becoming… Oh… We aren’t alone, are we?” Snarling, he peers outside, his eyes narrowing on a flur of white, running through the woods. “Your little pet has found us, it seems. Oh well. She can’t break down a door.” His words drift off, as his attention returns to Lanara.

Talyara :: Of all the physical pain that Lanara had inflicted upon Talyara this evening, nothing could compare to the deep wound her words caused in the empath’s heart. The younger witch is so stunned by the cruel sentiments that her grip slackens on Lanara’s wrists and she doesn’t fight her when she manages to get out from Taly’s pin. The witch sits there in stunned silence for what seems like several hours. How could Lanara even -think- that she was trying to make this into a competition?! Taly had simply been trying to show Lanara that she was not the only one seeking to protect the other! Each had suffered greatly for vastly different reasons but that did not mean that either’s pain was invalid. Several more tears slide down Talyara’s cheeks and she presses her hand to her chest where her heart physically aches. Did Lanara really think that she was selfish? She felt that familiar surge of anger run through her and it brings her to her feet as she turns to look at Lanara’s retreating back, ready to yell. “I’m sorry I was born and ruined your li—“ she stops mid-yell and frowns when she doesn’t see her sister anywhere. Lana was never that great at agilities so there was no way she could have climbed that hill and disappeared into the woods so quickly. Talyara takes a tentative step forward and sways on the spot, wincing as the ground begins to spin and dizziness overcomes her. The empath takes a steadying breath before slowly beginning her ascent once more. “Lanara, where are you?” Talyara calls out as she gets closer to the crest. “Lanara this isn’t funny,” she adds once she gets there and looks around seeing no sign of the brunette. In a moment of unconscious clarity, Talyara stoops to shove the three Grimoires and Kuruni’s pewter pentacle necklace back into her bag before slinging it over her shoulder once more. When she does, the sleeve of her sweater pulls up and her green irises land on the rune tattoo inked on her wrist. Suddenly, Talyara realizes that the familiar humming that meant Lanara was near was growing fainter. Lana wouldn’t just leave her Book of Shadows, an extremely magical book, in the middle of a clearing. “Lanara!” She yells sharply, although there is a twinge of panic in her tone. Suddenly, the white fur of a wolf catches her eyes as it darts in and out of the trees up ahead. The witch didn’t know why, but her instinct was telling her to follow it. So despite her pain, despite her dizziness, Talyara sets off at a jog to follow the beast and see if it leads her to her sister.

Eirik isn’t in the mood for games from Sigrid. That damned white wolf has been nipping at his heels, trying to drag him away. Ever since she had communed with Lanara, she had stopped doing so with Eirik. Perhaps, there is a reason for this? “Sigrid!” He calls after his wolf who is far too irritated to sit still. Even Bjorn is acting out! “What has happened to my dogs?” Suddenly there is a bark, one which he recognizes. What? His feet pick up pace, both direwolves before him sniffing out some trail that he couldn’t even fathom. After moving his own nose picks up the scent, which is something familiar. His silver eyes turn confused. How far away is he from Lana? That nose sniffs once more. The other must be Taly. The Berserker moves to a sprint, panicking suddenly. The wolves had been trying to tell him something. But before long, Taly is confronted just after that white wolf streaks through the trees, by this maddened ex-witch killer. From beneath the shadowy sheen of a brown hood, silver eyes seemingly transfix themselves upon her. This man stands clad in armor and ready for games of war. Armored sleeves work their way up both arms and weave into fur covered leather and steel plate pauldrons. A silver stitched, black leather jerkin adorns his torso and gives way to matching woolen pants - tied via a plethora of leather straps and strands. Scuffed steel greaves start just beneath his knees and guard the tops of his booted feet. A rune inscribed long sword hangs within a leather baldric from his left side. This man looks like a blackhearted raider who’s come to lay siege upon Kelay. But even this sight is confused by a well calloused hand that reaches to pull that hood down, granting her sight of his scarred features; long and straight light brown, beaded and decorated hair is also revealed. “Where’s Lana?!” His voice is loud and boisterous, filled with grit and grain. Beyond his demanding air of authority, concern riddles his tone. Despite the sound of a shield strapped to his back clanking against armor, he gives no further word. Obviously he assumes this is Talyara, her sister. But his elf, however, is not here. Sigrid and Bjorn continue to sniff out the trail - lost for only precious moments.

Lanara :: Thronnel hungrily eyes Lana, merely watching as she inhales and exhales, and his eyes half-close in pleasure. His daughter appears to be in significant pain from breaking her ribs less than an hour before, and her left wrist lies limp against her bindings, as though severely sprained. Never before had he been so incredibly turned on. Normally, he preferred his women in excellent health, but there was something so sweet about seeing Lana vulnerable. The outside barking doubles, as Bjorn joins the search with Sigrid, and Thronnel is visibly growing infuriated. In a fluid motion, he slaps Lanara hard across the mouth, as though the barking of the dogs was somehow her fault. “Shut them up! Do you hear me?! If you don’t end this, I will! I will kill your pets, and then your stupid sister! And anyone else that dares to come between us!” Lana gazes up at him, half-conscious, before she licks her lips, blood pouring from her mouth. That slap was forceful, and she had bitten her tongue. Still, sarcasm drips from her lips, even in the wake of her death. “Father. You are going to pay –severely- for this… Don’t you know? Those aren’t dogs… They are direwolves. And following them is my boyfriend, the notorious witch killer. And following him…” Lana pauses, unsure if her little sister would even come to her aide, after their little battle in the woods. “Following him is the baddest witch this neck of the woods!” She inhales and spits her blood in his face, only to earn herself another forceful smack across her pretty face. Thronnel seems satisfied by the yelp that follows, and he grins wickedly, an idea striking at that exact moment. “Oh Lana. I have such fun in store for you…” Suddenly a dagger appears in his hand, and he watches in glee as her eyes wildly follow the blade, as he leans forward to untie his battered daughter. As quickly as he leans over her, he retreats, as though he feared she was going to knee him in his jewels. “You wanted to go outside, hm? You want to be free? You don’t want the life I’ve planned for us? Well. We’ll see who comes crawling back to me once their precious sister, boyfriend, and dogs are dead… You will –never- dance again, Lanara. You won’t even walk again when I’m through with you…” Snarling, he lifts the petite elf with ease, and though she tries to fight him, she hardly has any strength left. The struggle continues for a few seconds, before Thronnel places a passionate kiss to Lana’s lush lips, and throws the elf through the second story window. The woman lands on the ground with a sickening thud, blood pouring from her mouth, and her breathing is shallow, as her chest barely rises and falls.

Talyara digs her heels into the ground and comes to a halt when a well-armored man seemingly materializes in front of her. Even before he gets his hood down, Talyara knows who it is. “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me, Witch Killer?” She hisses through gritted teeth, her lips turned down in a scowl. “She was here a moment ago and now she’s gone, yet here you are. What are you stalking her or something?” She asks with a scoff. Talyara didn’t have time for such games! Without so much as a goodbye, Taly turns on her heel and continues her jog deeper into the woods, noting that the tingling in her rune tattoo was beginning to buzz again. She was getting closer. Her pace quickens as a feeling of foreboding overcomes her and soon her stride becomes that of a sprint. She leaves Erik in the proverbial dust as she finally makes it to the edge of the clearing. Only then does she slow down, eyes widening just in time to see Lanara come crashing to the ground. “Lanara!” She screams in anguish, running to her sister, falling to her knees, and cupping her pretty face in her hand, her thumb swiping at the blood trickling down her chin. “Lana,” she says in a whisper. “Lana please wake up. Please.” Talyara shakes her again, but this time it is only slight, very gentle. "I’m so sorry for everything I said and did. I didn’t mean it.” A fresh round of tears fall from her eyes and she sniffles. “Please just wake up and I’ll go away and you won’t have to worry about me again…"

Eirik :: If it had been any other day, Eirik would not have been prepared to meet Talyara. However something else has hardened his minds resolve. He knows that she is a witch. He also knows that his infamy precedes him. This Lycan is known for his past barberism against her class, killing two and responsible for another's death since being here in these lands. Torturing countless others. He wishes that he could take them back. But today is not that day. It’s not the time or place to focus on such things. Instead, he is gazing upon the form of Talyara, what happened to her? Had Thronnel gotten a hold of Lanara despite her ritual with her sister? He’s irritated and its etched into taut stretched muscles around his clenching jaw line. Obviously the Berserker assumes the worst. Though she responds with such disgust. He knew what to expect from her. Another angry witch, claiming he was out with the worst of intentions. He doesn’t even bother to muster a response. Her snoot ass attitude could be dealt with later. However, she leaves, continuing on and making the clearing before he does. Sigrid and Bjorn have fallen silent huddled around Lana. Eirik jerks his attention to something else. Enough with these games. “Someone else is here.” He could smell him. Who is this? Is this Thronnel? Without further word, both sword and shield are yanked free of their bonds and ceremoniously clank together. “Come out coward!” His neck bulges and stomach flexes as he belched forth his taunt. This is his only warning to Talyara, the lycan is preparing for a fight. Eirik seriously contemplates using that bottle of troll fat and herbs tied to his waist to burn that house down around Thronnel. A Rosfjorian and their fire tactics.

Lanara :: Thronnel watches the family reunion from the window, his gaze narrowing as his youngest daughter cradles the head of the slowly fading elf in her hands. Two down. One to go. If Lana made the next half hour, he’d be surprised. Honestly, anger had gotten the best of him. He hadn’t meant to kill her, but she didn’t understand the love they were meant to share. The life he could give her, the children, hell, he’d even buy her a puppy! But no, the little witch had to deny his cravings. She had to defy him. And so, in an effort to make her submit he had broken nearly every bone in her lithe body. Pity. Sighing, he shakes his head. This was not how things were supposed to go. “I’ll just make sure she’s resurrected again, that’s all. I’ll kill Talyara. And those blasted barking mutts! Then I will take Lana with me and wait for her to perish. After her resurrection… Yes…. She will want me! I will merely erase her mind, for good this time. She’ll never remember any of this… Just me. Her hero!!!” Excited about his newly planned scheme, he turns from the window and slips his dagger beneath his robes. “Now. Onto the next daughter.” As the elf makes his way down the stairs, he practically jigs on each step, so delighted to be alive, with magic, and on his way to slaughter the bane of his existence. Talyara would pay. She’d pay for holding the final piece of his power. And for taking his precious Lanara. However, as he unlocks the door and swings it wide, as if to say ‘daddy’s home’ he comes face to face with the berserker. Oh, wasn’t this swell?! Thronnel shifts his green gaze from Eirik, to the wolves huddled around his dying daughter, to Talyara, and he sizes each of them up, in turn. That calculating gaze locks on Taly, as his hand extends and Lanara begins to levitate off the ground. The white wolf growls and stalks towards him, as the grey wolf helplessly tries to latch onto Lana’s shirt, in an effort to tug her back to the ground. The beasts are ignored, and with a flick of his wrist, Lanara’s already broken body is hurled through the air, the wind propelling her violently in a helicopter fashion. Without further ado, he smiles at Taly, as Lana’s body heads straight towards her, and as fast as lightning strikes, he hopes the two would collide. Assuming the youngest daughter would be numbed from the strike of the eldest, or at least too emotional to issue a response, he takes another step from the house and eyes Eirik. “Hmph. Not what I expected. A witch killer? Surely my beautiful daughter could have picked better than you?! What have you come to do? Kill me? Well. Let’s get on with it, shall we?” Thronnel wipes any debris from his robes, and stands in the grass; a mere fifty feet from the man that wished to do battle in defense of his beloved. “You do know it won’t bring her back to life, right? Are you sure you wish to stake your life for Lana? I will kill you. There will be no going back. This is your final chance to leave. I won’t give you another. Is she worth it?”

Talyara doesn’t really pay attention to Eirik, or his presence or his words. His warning is lost on the witch whose sole focus is on the crumpled body of her sister. The empath shakes her sleeve back and notices the rune tattoo on her wrist begin to fade and Taly gives another strangled cry. “Lana! Don’t leave me again!” She sobs desperately, bringing her face into her sister’s rest as her body shakes with emotion. Talyara doesn’t even notice Thronnel’s appearance in the clearing, until she is forced to lift her head when Lanara’s body starts to levitate. Frightened, the witch scurries backwards before pushing herself to a stand. Her green eyes, which she inherited from the disgraced man before her, flicker to him before widening in horror as Lanara’s limp body comes propelling at her. With a scream, Talyara silemtaneously attempts to catch her sister, but also protect herself from further injury. While she does catch Lanara and the two fall to the ground hard, she does sustain a kick to her temple—that makes two head injuries in the span of an hour. The empath doesn’t waste time though and after lowering Lanara as gently as she can on the grass she is on her feet and running towards Thronnel. Her hand extends out to him as she feels her powers rushing through her. “I bind you Thronnel from doing harm. Harm against yourself and harm against other people. I bind you Thronnel from doing harm. Harm against yourself and harm against other people. I bind you Thronnel…” Talyara continues her binding charm, eyes locked on the elf. He would of course recognize it for what it was and he might be surprised to feel how strong Talyara’s magical abilities had gotten.

Eirik is starting to find himself in a swell of emotion - nay. It’s not emotion. It’s hate, and disgust. Fueled by his own, and those he can feel coming from Taly about this man. At least before that binding spell goes into action. To hell with your speeches! With what you think will happen. Eirik already knows the outcome. He had been cursed, more than once. The tribal shamans of the Rognvald have stripped him of death in combat. The highest honor one could achieve in their society. Thronnel is completely wrong. The lycan is the predator here, and this Mage would soon find out the hard way. “Your days are at an end.” It’s the only thing he musters to the man; his eyes glaze over as he dons the mask of hatred. The berserker comes full force. Totally lost in the rage from the depths of his mind. Eiriks speed is undeniable, as an old Lycan it’s beyond contestation. Unless this man is an elder vampire - he stands no chance against it. That rune riddled wooden shield is taken low, and then swung full force backed by his maddened charge to flat out smash into Thronnels mid section and toss the braggart back on his ass. If one even blinked, they would have missed it. Whether he’s mid air or not, that runic blade swipes at Thronnels chest - seeking to score first blood. However, Eirik is too lost to realize that Talyara has backed his attack, the binding spell she sought to cast helping him in unknown ways. She would be thanked for it later.

Lanara :: Thronnel finds it hilarious when Taly attempts to ‘catch’ Lana in her arms, only for the unconscious sibling to kick her in the head. The elf actually applauds himself, as if he couldn’t have imagined a better outcome. However, as Taly advances on him, her palm outstretched and shouting a binding spell, the smirk is wiped off of his face. She dared to bind his magic? This was unexpected. Thronnel didn’t approve of unpredictable, and as he raises his hand to counteract his youngest daughter’s spell, the lycan advances and with his berserker rage, that rune shield is brought into his torso and he finds himself pushed backwards. His hand lowers, his counter spell is unspoken, and the elf falls upon the grass, peering up at Eirik with pure hatred in his emerald gaze. “I guess she was worth it, then?” As the blade is swiped at his chest, he doesn’t even bother to shield himself, for it wouldn’t matter. He was outnumbered. His magic was bound. His beloved Lanara had just taken her last breath. And it was one elf, against a berserker, a witch, and two direwolves. Maybe it was time to just relax? To let karma wash over him and bring him to peace? Blood begins to ooze from his wounds, the slice of the blade fatal, and he half closes his eyes. Maybe he would dream of Kuruni. He takes a few deep breaths, as the blood begins to spurt from his chest, and eventually his breathing ceases. The two wolves begin to howl, their noses pointing up at the sky, as they each hold a paw upon the dying form of Lanara. She was taking her last breath. If something wasn’t done fast, both father and daughter would die in the forest, together.

Talyara continues to advance on Thronnel, continuing her binding spell to ensure that he cannot use his magic to harm anyone else in this clearing or harm himself—he didn’t deserve to go quick and painlessly. The witch finds herself standing before her dying father and instead of compassion Taly only feels hatred, anger, fear, loathing. She channels all of that before raising her foot and slamming it into Thronnel’s face, easily breaking his nose against other damage. She didn’t care that he was already dead, it felt good to get out that frustration. Looking down at her tattoo, the ink was nearly faded and the empath somehow stumbles over to her sister’s side once more. Everything was swirling around her, she was losing consciousness. The last thing she remembered before passing out next to her sister was offering not just her powers, but her life, so that Lanara could live once more. She had found love, she had found happiness. She deserved that. After her silent offerings, everything went black.

Eirik :: The berserker has given in to his barberism - his fiery rage which fuels every motion his feet perpetrate. When Taly is finished, he further acts. The lycan grits his teeth hard and goes after the elf; even still as his breath has given out. The Northman drops his weapons. Rope is suddenly snatched from the warriors frame and he drags his captive to a tree - binding him to it without remorse. Intense silver eyes stare into the depths of this man whilst he pulls free smelling salts to wake him. His heart still beat. The Lycan looks into the very core of Thronnels bound and panicked existence. This filthy excuse for a father. For but moments he sits nose to nose without flinching. Finally his voice whispers into Thronnels ears. The moment is over and he pulls free a rather dull hooked knife from his beltline. It digs into Thronnels stomach, tearing through his flesh. The poor bastard wakes suddenly screaming in agony while he draws it across his abdomen, but Eirik is unyielding. Relentless in his pursuit to end this all in the most painful of ways. Further adding to what Taly had sought. The weapon drops and calloused hands plunge into the depths of bile to pull free every ounce of intestines, spilling them forth with a grunt of effort. He stays, watching this man’s suffering. Guilty of a smile that stretches over his grim and scarred visage. He had met the beast this day and until his wails of agony stop, Eirik does not move. And it’s over too soon. There wasn’t enough life left in the man. But he is sure this will be the last image he ever has. Then the gods can damn him, just like Eirik had done to him in life. The berserker turns to see two collapsed figures. “Lana,” his form moves to huddle over her, tears welling in his eyes. The emotion he feels rips that rage from him in moments. “I,” he doesn’t know what to do without her. His eyes flick to Taly, who rests like her. “I’m here,” His bloodied form scoops her up into his arms. Their wolves howl, and he is lost again. “It’s okay,” His eyes close. And hand moves to swipe hair from her face. “I’m here.” He says it once more thinking that he was losing the last bit of good in his life.

Lanara inhales sharply, the brisk air hitting her lungs so hard that she begins to cough. Pain surges through her entire body, and she is too weak to clutch at her broken ribs, so muffled yelps ensue. Tears steadily flow over her cheeks, as though she just had the most beautiful dream, and the salty droplets are licked away by the two wolves. Sigrid has claimed Lana’s left cheek, and Bjorn the right, and both of their tails are wagging happily, as though they were excited that the elf would live another day. “It’s okay, guys… I’m alive…” Her voice is cracked, forced, and weak, but she breathes, and she’s conscious. She would live. Lana’s big brown eyes finally open, and lock onto the silver hues of Eirik. She had so much to say to him, so much to explain, but for now she merely gazes into his eyes, unable to find the strength to speak. To her left lies Talyara, and weakly her fingertips touch the rune tattoo on her sibling’s wrist, and that’s when her magic returns. Like a speeding bullet, a shockwave ripples from Taly’s wrist, through Lana’s pointer finger, and into her soul. The woman’s entire body begins to violently tremble, as though she were having an epileptic seizure, and the direwolves quickly give her space, retreating to stand behind Eirik. As that electric sensation pours through every muscle in her body, Lana helplessly claws at the warrior’s lap, and she screams, both in pleasure and pain. It was back! Her magic had returned, by the grace of the Goddess, and the empathic sacrifice of her sister! Fresh tears bubble in her eyes, as she sobs openly, staring up at the darkening sky, just relishing the feeling of having the magic in her veins once more. She felt whole again. Despite the pain her body was in, her mind and her heart felt free.

Talyara wakes moments after Lanara does. Her waking was much more quiet and peaceful, and no one may notice at first for the witch keeps her eyes closed, wanting to relish in the dream, keep the vision of her mother fresh in her mind. In fact, Talyara’s green eyes don’t reappear until she feels the cool fingertips of her sister upon her wrist. Only then do they flutter open. But then she is frozen; unlike Lanara who shakes violently, Talyara is stuck with her back arched and mouth slightly opens as a rushing sensation moves through her body and into Lanara’s. At last it is over and Taly collapses back on the ground, groaning in pain for a moment before tenting her elbow so she can sit up. All at once she realizes how -quiet- everything is. She cannot feel or sense anyone’s emotions but her own! Did the goddess only take her empathic abilities as a sacrifice? Looking to Lana she once more throws herself at her sister. Only this time there is no anger only perfect love and perfect trust. Taly embraces her sister, crying right along with her.

Eirik ’s heart nearly leaps into his chest! “Lana?!” His voice is still a whisper until those convulsions kick in. He has absolutely no clue what’s happening and is silenced by it. It’s true that all his six hundred plus years, he had been wrong. No matter what happened to Taly and Lana before the fight, he moves himself and the dogs away to let these two have their joyous reunion. The Northman instead, pulls free the cloak he had been using and finds two downed logs and lashes them together - forming the letter v. His cloak is then wrapped around it and tied off as well, forming a bed that she may rest on while he drags her safely. Well as safely as he can. Those two wolves would become mush dogs. “We need to get you two out of here and to a healer.” Eirik pipes up after they’ve had their moment and waves to the transport device his field training had given him under Sabrina’s guidance. It’s true by his own emotion and tone of voice, he has nothing but their best interests at heart. Nothing lurks beneath the surface, and he waits for their approval.

Lanara groans as her sister hurls herself into her arms, the pain sending a wave of nausea through her form, but it subsides, as she weakly returns the hug. “Taly! I’m so sorry that I said those things to you and that I slapped you! Thank you for making this sacrifice… My magic is back! I… I love you, sister.” Lana gives her sister a sloppy kiss on the forehead, before she lifts her gaze to Eirik. “Taly… That is Eirik. I-I don’t know what happened but… I’m guessing you both worked together to save my life?” The accusation hangs in the air, and for a moment she doesn’t say anything, as her eyes come to rest upon their disemboweled father, tied up against a tree. Eirik killed their father. A faint smile appears on her lips as she looks to her sibling, before motioning to the makeshift sled. “We better get to a healer. I don’t know if there’s one in Sage or Kelay… Cenril may be too far. I guess whichever one is closest. I need a bone fusion potion. I think something is broken in my back, as well as my ribs and my wrist. We have the ball on Friday and we can’t miss it!” Lana gives her sisters hand a squeeze, as she once more returns her attention to her lycan, her free hand outstretched. “You. Come here. Give me a kiss… And get us to a healer?”

Talyara continues to clutch at her sister, unaware that Eirik has moved off to create a makeshift gurney for them to use to be transported. She wouldn’t accept of course. Not because she didn’t trust his intentions, but rather the witch had been on her own for so long that she needed to process this by herself. Plus she was sure that the pair would want to spend some time alone. “I’m sorry too, Lana,” she says, giving her sister a more gentle squeeze before unfolding herself from her elder sister. As Lana introduces her to the lycan she cannot help but grin and roll her eyes. “Yeah, we’ve met.” At her accusation, however, Taly’s green eyes flutter towards Eirik, to the corpse of her father, and then back to Lana. “Something like that.” With a wince and an audible yelp, Taly stands once more, extending her hands out on either side of her to regain her balance. “You would speak of going to a ball,” she says teasingly. “You two go,” Taly pauses for a second. “Uh, to the ball and to the healer. I’ll be fine.” Goddess she was in a lot of pain.

Eirik offers a smile to his scarred features, dumbstruck that her mind would be upon the yule ball after these events. Her other words he can’t disagree with. “As you wish.” The northman makes his way to her, and delivers the kiss she seeks. Though he doesn’t press it for long. She needed a healer, and that’s obvious. However, Eirik isn’t one to relent as Taly just witnessed. He nods to her words about working together. Truthfully without her binding spell, this wouldn’t have gone so well. He is thankful for that, which is why the northman responds to her words oddly. “Don’t be silly,” He ushers them both to the gurney. Bringing Lana there himself. They came in together, they could leave the same. Taly is more than welcome to join them, despite their earlier interactions. It might be a good way for her to learn of this new Eirik. Finally, he is pulling his makeshift transport, towards a healer in Kelay-Sage. One he often stopped by for supplies. After all the Lycan is a student of herbology.

Lanara returns his brief kiss, and looks alarmed as her pained sister declines assistance with heading to a healer. “Taly! Are you sure? I-I understand… You need a breather. I get it. When I first lost my empathy, it was so quiet. So eerily silent. You just want to be alone and breathe it all in… Well, I thank you, Sister. And I’m really glad that we banished Thronnel for good. I guess we all are a pretty good team.” Flashing a smile to them both, Lana chomps down on the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out in pain as she’s gently placed onto the makeshift gurney. She looks gratefully at the two ‘sled’ dire wolves, and blows her sibling a kiss, before they head to the healer. Despite the mental anguish and the physical injuries, it overall, had been a nice evening. The world was rid of her power-hungry father, she had worked through some hidden issues with her sibling, her magic had returned, and above all, love had prevailed.