RP:Rohk Rescue

Middle of Town The cobbled street opens to a large plaza edged by tightly packed residences and gardens on the north and a barricade of carts and vendors to the south. In the center of the square stands a towering statue of a frost giant grasping tightly to an oversized warhammer above his head. He appears to be in mid-attack, ready to crush patrons walking below him. The broad road continues west past the statue. A merchant south of the square urges you to purchase from her wide variety of clothing stock.

Sabrina was wandering between citizens, wrapped in what seemed to be layers upon layers…upon layers of furs. She still looked cold. It was by happy coincidence she did not appear to be too concerned with this many people around her, likely due to the multiple barriers protecting their skin from hers. Who she was looking for would not be found here, but maybe a passerby would have laid eyes on the missing hell hound in recent days.

Eliason moves through the center of town, his body covered in fur-lined platemail and a large, heavy cloak pulled tightly about him. The man's helmet is clutched in his gloved hand, leaving his face open to the frigid air. He has climatized to the weather here, but will never be comfortable with it. His eyes are always moving about, taking in the area, looking for threats, for unrecognized faces... anything that could raise the alarm that something is amiss. It is with this wariness in his eyes that he spies the sight of Sabrina. She is nearly unrecognizable wrapped as she is in the layers, but there is no mistaking that face, the face that had been haunting his dreams each night since their last meeting. He realizes that his feet had turned toward her of their own volition and as he draws near, he is careful in his approach, knowing that she will likely not recognize him. He turns his eyes from her long enough to search for signs of Rohk, but finds that he cannot avert his gaze for long. Drawing close to her side, the paladin lowers his voice and calls to her softly. "Sabrina..."

Sabrina was caught of guard when she heard her name calling gently from the crowd. She would search fervently for the source of the voice that brought it to her ears. Eliason progressed toward her and a small wave of panic brought gloved hands to pull her furs tightly around her. It wasn’t until his approach would meet its final steps that she would recognize his gaze from that off her dreams. She didn’t know what to say, surely didn’t know anything about this mysterious stranger. She looked way up at him; eyes slightly widened and lips delicately parted like she could offer a kind greeting, but words would fail her. She felt suddenly uncomfortable in the delicate situation that was about to unfold. How do you tell a handsome stranger you remember him from a dream, but cannot for goddam death of you remember his name?

Eliason does not approach too close for fear of scaring Sabrina. He cannot mistake the flash of recognition in her eyes, but her inability to articulate his name nor any sort of greeting leaves him feeling somehow hollow inside. He reminds himself for what seems to be the hundredth time that they are only dreams, nothing more... the remnants of lost consciousness that he had shared with her. His mind works through the reality of their friendship, trying to separate the reality from the dream. He realizes after a moment that he has approached her and must seem daft to be standing here without speaking. "Sabrina, I didn't expect to see you here? Is Rohk about?" He tears his gaze from the elfess for a moment, scanning the area for signs of the hellhound once more. He has decided that he will try speaking to her familiarly, perhaps it will ease her mind to know that he is known to her somehow.

Sabrina would appear distraught. The images of waking up to this man invaded the forefront of her mind but were soon overpowered at her reason for being in here in the first place. Despite the kind familiar tones and gestures of this fellow social meetings were not her reason for travelling through the blistering colds of Frostmaw. She surely wasn’t built for it, and by evidence of her trembling form beneath blankets of extravagant furs she was growing colder rather than warmer. There was something eating at her with Rohk’s absence. When he did venture off he usually came back. She couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong and with her days growing progressively colder in Venturil she figured the beast had happened across some trouble in the freezing tundra. She would seem hungry to slay a prize when she finally finds her voice “Where does one find game, in Frostmaw?” though her need to kill something was sorely overshadowed by the notion Rohk had likely come here for a trophy and failed. She adds quickly as to avoid confusion “Rohk is missing, I think he is hurt.” Hurt? If something was big and bad enough to hurt Rohk, what could this frail woman do to remedy it? In any case, this gentleman proved to know both her and the hound so for the time being she would need him more than he could ever guess.

Eliason watches the play of emotions across Sabrina's face as she thinks things through. Her words cause him to knit his brow together in concern. He is aware of the consequences of either Sabrina or Rohk getting hurt, of what that would do to the other. He pauses to think a moment. Where would one go that something strong enough to take out a hellhound would be. Turning to Sabrina, he shakes his head. "There is a hunting ground to the west, but I don't think that Rohk would be in any danger there. If he ran into the enemy forces outside the walls, though..." He doesn't complete the thought, knowing that Sabrina will be able to put two and two together. He looks at her face and notes the lack of color on her features. "We need to get you indoors, to some warmth. I will send people to look for Rohk... I will go myself when I've seen to your safety."

Sabrina would not have given her search up so easily if she wasn’t painfully aware that her falling vitals were a result of the other and not herself. Rohk was slipping. Unfamiliar to anything in these lands she leaned on Eliason solely to honor his word. The Hell Hound’s survival may very well barrel down to Sabrina keeping warm, rested, and unscathed. She wondered if Rohk would travel outside these walls; a free spirit was he- but by far not stupid in any manner. She also wondered if his pride an ego had something to do with his ventures but soon washed her mind of any ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes.’ It would have taken a small battalion to bring down the Hound, but this was war…and they may not have even been human. Rohk was, after all, a prize fit for a warmongering enemy. Sabrina takes Eli’s guidance, unsure if these steps in the direction of this stranger were the right ones when it was clear Rohk was somewhere in the other direction.

Eliason leads Sabrina to the tavern, knowing full well that she will not enjoy being in the noisy place, but knowing also that it is the warmest place in town. It will have to do until he can make arrangements for a safe place for her. On the way to the tavern, they pass a small group of human soldiers. Waving them over, Eli explains the situation to them briefly. He, of course, does not go into detail about Sabrina and Rohk's connection, only that Rohk is to be found and that he is friend, not to be engaged in any way. With a salute, the soldiers turn and run off to spread the word. If the hellhound is anywhere about, the troops of Frostmaw will find him.

Sabrina passes by Eliason who held the door open in a manner a gentleman would. She offers a feminine smile, though it may have been hidden from his view. She would wait for him to designate a table and expressed a considerable amount of discomfort as the Tavern was boisterous with testosterone induced recruits on their downtime. It was all very manly in here.

Eliason places a hand at the small of her back to lead her over to the quietest table he can find near the fire. The touch is done without thought and may not even be felt through the layers of furs, but as he leads her, he becomes aware of it, images of last nights dream suddenly flaring to life in his mind. Quickly, he drops his hand and pulls out a chair for the lady. Sitting across from her, he meets her eyes with his own and tilts his head slightly. "How is it that you and Rohk became separated?"

Sabrina didn’t feel his touch, and so it was done without a mood changing event. She was, however, reluctant to admit she wasn’t fully aware as to why or how it happened that Rohk had taken off. “I defended him in battle… by sacrificing my safety for his well being. He doesn’t need my help and I want to make that clear. Honestly though, it is almost as if I had offended him deeper than that but he hasn’t mentioned anything to me.” She had already forgotten what she did to the Hound when bonding to Eliason by sheer accident days ago, as accidents do happen when a healing goes awry. She feels the warmth of the fire not far away and loosens her death-like grip on the furs encasing her form. In a few moments she would even go as far as to remove the ridiculous pile, shedding the multiple layers until she sat in reasonable form. The whitest and fluffiest of the furs remained, lining the inside of the faithful old duster that she had grown so comfortable with in the last few years. Her eyes would meet his in the candle lit darkness of the Tavern and she would cease talking, remembering those haunting oceans in a manner that made her shift uncomfortably in her chair. She clears her throat and seeks visual refuge to the dirty table top.

Eliason visibly relaxes as Sabrina begins talking. The fact that she is speaking so clearly to him and not in her enigmatic way proves that even if it subconscious, there is some memory of him in her mind. Her words, however, bring a sadness to his gaze. It is good that her eyes cast downward or she would see the feelings of loss that flash briefly across his features. His eyes find their way to the fire for a few moments as he struggles to compose himself. Finally, he turns back to her and shrugs. "I may be able to help you understand... If you want. At least until you wake tomorrow and forget..." Pulling his cloak to the side, he slips a large hand into an interior pocket and pulls forth a small book. He sets it on the table and slides it to the middle. "This is my own personal journal. Our last meeting is written on the last three pages in detail. You can read it if you would like..."

Sabrina’s spirits perk. The last three pages… it implied their meeting was recent and so she served no reluctance in finding out what it said. She reaches for the book eagerly. She opens the book, sifting through the pages to find the last three which were adorned with imprecise penmanship. She cringed. Eliason was, after all, a soldier first. Her eyes squint smartly, an unnecessary action as her Elven nature made her eyesight insanely accurate. She read in silence for a few moments before minty hues dare to look at the Paladin in reaction to what was there. She inhaled lightly, adjusting in her chair to turn slightly, and cross her legs to her right. She sat hunched over, taking in another breathe and slowly releasing it as thin digits reach for the corner of the first page and flip over to the second. She looks at him again a little more concerned but she keeps reading. It was like watching a train wreck unfold as her eyes tore across the pages. This last bit explained why she was dreaming about him night after night… well literally two nights since she had gone without much sleep due to it. She flips to the final page and stares at the last sentence longer than the rest. She closes the journal and places it on the table. She was oddly silent for all she had just learned. She clears her throat and opens her mouth to speak, but so often was the case in this Human’s presence she found herself at a loss for words. She felt like she should write something down, but was hesitant as it was an odd practice to begin with. She removed the duster and draped it over the back of her chair; it was getting hot in here. She opens her mouth again, gesturing a switching motion with her fingers between the male and herself indicating an exchange of unmentioned bodily fluids. “Did we….?” She sets her hands down awkwardly on the table. “ What I mean to say is… have I..you… hm.” She pushes back into her chair.

Eliason watches in silence as she reads. He does not avert his gaze when she lifts her eyes to meet his, but merely nods that she should continue. Should she look toward his hands, she would see how he clutches them until his knuckles turn white. It is apparent should she choose to see it just how nervous he as the elfess reads his words. Indeed, they are not merely a retelling of the facts, but a glimpse of his own feelings in regard to everything that had happened. But her understanding of what has gone on between her and Rohk is more important than his own feelings. Each page that she turns brings her closer to the revelation that he has thought of little else since their last meeting. Her attempt at clarifying what had happened between them causes him to lower his eyes and shake his head. "What is in the journal is all that happened. I kissed you at your request. I do not regret it, nor would I ever take it back. But I suspect that Rohk was not happy with it... There was nothing else..." He sighs and reaches out to pluck the book from her hand before she can read more from before their last meeting. He opens the book and unceremoniously rips the telling of their meeting out and sets the three pages before her. "You will forget in the morning... You can keep these if you want so that you won't forget. Or you can cast them in the flames..." He gestures toward the fire pit. "... It is your choice." Though he shrugs as if it doesn't matter, his eyes watch her motions carefully as if he could divine some meaning from how she responds.

Sabrina was relieved he had failed to answer her indecipherable question. She would do one better than take the pages from him, she took them and laid them flat on the table before her. Reaching pale cols digits into her stark black trusses she claims a small golden quill just there. The elegant thing was brought forth and balanced in her right hand delicately. She presses the tip into the inside crease of her left wrist, it is dug beneath the surface of her skin causing a tiny pearl of iridescent ink to collect before running off the side of the triquetral bone. A mass of ink pushed its way beneath the epidermal layer of her pale and flawless forearm and began ranting a quotation of important remarks of the book. The writings would have been a blur, and in Elvish no less as her memories always converted the common to a more natural tone. In finality there was a pause when she looked upon him with eyes that reflected the magic being used to remember all that had just taken place. “Your name?” Upon him releasing his name and title she would add it directly following the gold-riddled quote and just beneath that a poorly rendered crest she found on Eliason’s person- thereby associating his name and his story to where he hailed from. By the time she had finished the words would fade into her flesh and the quill relinquished to the confines of raven lengths and pointed ear. She pushed the pages back to him, regretting that he felt the need to tear the pages from the pristine journal to begin with. If and when it was required she could recall that memory at any time; not the same as a normal person would remember something, more like looking it up in a historical recording.

Eliason watches with interest as she takes the quill and works her magic. He has seen her do so before, but never to this length or so that he can actually see what is happening. When she asks for his name, he provides it without question, automatically referring to himself as Commander of the Joint Forces of Chartsend. This, of course, is no longer the case, but his nervousness with this situation, with being around her once more has him more than a little flustered. Reaching out he takes the pages from her and flods them neatly and tucks them back into his journal. He then tucks the book back into his cloak and leans back in his chair. Her actions had given him little insight into what she was thinking, leaving him at a loss for what to say or do now. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he raises his eyes to meet hers. "So... I, uh....I hope that helped you understand...."

Sabrina indeed had a very clear understanding of what happened to Rohk, and she couldn’t be more guilty until she resides in the fact that the gentleman across from her was a big bundle of nervous. She uncrossed her legs and rose to move to the chair next to him. Socially she was inept to deal with such reactions of strangers, but it was coming to her sudden awareness that Eliason was no stranger. She reached for him, an action within itself was completely out of character as she generally preferred no one touch her at all. She took a short moment to make sure she was calm before taking his white-knuckled hand in her own soft and delicate ones. His hand was huge in comparison, but it wasn’t something the Elfess seemed to notice. She bled a strange and blanketing calm into him, the warmth of her touch spreading up his arm in an infection that would soften him internally. “At ease Commander.” It was the same words she said to him in the dream she kept reliving in her mind. She hadn’t even known what she said to him until the words left her lips like the delicate dream in which they came. She felt at home… oddly enough the world around them seemed to bask in a faint sunlight- a delusion of the euphoric effect of all she was giving him. A soldier walks by and kicks her chair, pulling her grip from Eliason, and in turn yanking her back to reality. He puts his hand upon her bare shoulder, replying “Pardon me, M-“ Her panic drowns him instantly and the full grown man draws his hand from her flesh. A long stream of dark piss formed a river down his trousers as he stood there looking at her speechless and terrified. She stands up quickly, knocking her chair backward just behind her while the soldier comes to his senses though unaware of what he had just done ”Don’t touch me!” The male looks at his pants, and then around to those immediately next to him. He draws a single finger out in her direction and screams “Witch!” One by one the patrons turn to look in her direction. She looked like she would cry at any moment.

Eliason 's eyes open wide as Sabrina comes to sit by him and take his hand. She had never seemed like she wanted to be touched and for her to do so now... well, it was like a dream come true, quite literally. Once her hand is on his, he can feel his muscles unknit slowly and a calm eases out from her touch, slowly warming him throughout his entire body. A deep, relaxing breath exits his body as his fingers close on hers and his eyes meet hers. For a moment the veil between reality and his dreams grows very thin and he can see her as she was in his dream. Whether she can feel what he is feeling through his touch, he does not know, but through his gaze, he shows her how much her touch is doing to calm him. Her words elicit a broad smile and he finds himself leaning forward as if he is going to embrace her. The motion is interrupted, however, by the soldier as he kicks her chair, causing that blessed touch to leave his own hand. He lifts a hand, ready to stop the man from laying his hand on the elfess, but is too late. The next moment passes too quickly for the paladin to react, but the man's accusing finger pointed in Sabrina's face spurs him into action. Standing, the big man steps between Sabrina and the soldier and glares down at the man. "You get so drunk you would mess yourself in the middle of the tavern and try to blame it on an innocent?!" Eli knows that there is no truth to what he's saying, but he needs to get the attention off of Sabrina and back onto the fool of a man before him. "And you would cry witch in Frostmaw where the Queen has greater magic than any in the land?! Perhaps I should drag you to the throne room now and see what the Queen has to say about her drunken soldier..." The soldier is obviously in a no-win situation here. He has several options, but none will lead to him saving face. Instead of forcing a confrontation, he looks at Sabrina accusingly for a moment before snorting and retreating quickly out the door of the tavern. Eli quickly exhales the breath of anticipation that he had been holding and turns quickly back to the elfess. "I'm sorry... Are you alright?"

Sabrina blinks at Eliason. No one in any memory she had collected had ever..ever.. defended her before. She falls completely to tears, standing there in a ridiculous fit. She wanted her coat. She wanted Rohk. She wanted Eliason to take her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be ok. Wait… she wanted nothing of the sort! She dries her tears stiffly. And in the quiet moment between silent disaster and everyone returning to their business there was energy within her. She dips her head down and to the side as if listening for something. Rohk. “They found him!” She looks up at Eliason in anticipation while she grabs the fur lined duster and leaves the pile of pelts where they lay in a rush to get out the door- but not after reaching for Eliason’s hand and yanking the virtual giant behind her. He would likely have little time to put up a fight as she guided toward the blistering door but would probably come to his senses enough to know it was much too cold for her… in that outfit; near scantily clad in the distractingly short shorts, thin leathers, and a duster draped in the crook of her elbow.

Eliason stands lamely before the elfess, his eyes meeting hers and trying to gauge her reaction to what had just happened. As she falls apart, he takes a step forward, his hand rising as if to pull her into an embrace, but just as he's about to touch her, she stiffens and starts drying her tears. He opens his mouth to speak, to tell her that it's alright, but it is then that her head turns and her attention is completely robbed from him. He must really work on his reaction times because he is barely aware of what's happening as she draws him toward the door, but he has sense enough to plant his feet and clasp her hand tightly before she opens the door. "Just a minute..." He can tell that she is impatient to be moving, but he can't let her die in the cold. He unsnaps the cloak from his neck and pulls it from his shoulders. Lowering it, he wraps the mammoth-fur-lined cloak about her shoulders and clasps it in place. It is the warmest fur in Frostmaw and still carries his body heat within. His own armor will provide enough protection from the cold to keep him alive even if he is uncomfortable with cold. "Okay, let's go..."

Sabrina is slightly cautious when he wraps the garment around her. Her eyes close, it smells like him. After a few secure tugs as he secures it around her slight form she would reach out to touch him, her gaze drawing him in to her. Thin fingers grasp lightly on his wrists. She didn’t have to say thank you, her appreciative touch would have warmed his soul. They would travel, Eli in the lead, as she describes a daunting cliff where she could sense a number of people hoisting a fallen behemoth to safety. She couldn’t stress enough how his injuries painted picture of a vicious attack transpiring under an enemy flag she had never seen before. They trapped poor Rohk, then released him for game… She would not touch Eli for the remainder of the trip as the hate would well up inside her when she thought of the images playing in her head.

Sabrina nods eagerly, biting her lip as she looks over the edge and grows dizzy. Heights, not just normal every day Scenic View Heights, but Frozen, Deadly, Heights. Lovely. It isn’t that she didn’t know of the drop off before arrival, she just didn’t fall privy to the way it looked- looking down, rather than up. She reaches for Eli’s arm instinctively, using the furry edge of the cloak as a barrier between they two. She spots an amber glow that contrasted against the icy blue about three quarters up the rise. She points rather childishly. “I see him, its him! Look!” Eliason was probably already looking but her excitement was delightfully charming.

They both watched tentatively as the rescue of the Hell Hound known as Rohk unfolded.