RP:Scouting the Exiles
Part of the The Ice Plague Cometh Arc
Frozen Hunting Grounds
Hildegarde had been given her orders by Satoshi, the Queen insistent that she not go ahead alone. But part of her wished to disregard those orders, to go on her way and leave her men behind for fear they'd wind up dead, just like Sabjorn had the last time. So, with a sigh she stepped out of her room in the tavern: equipped in boiled leather armour that was a stark white in this room. It was made for the purpose of blending into an environment like Frostmaw, perfect for spying. She adjusted her blade and reached behind her to make sure her halberd was safely fastened to her back. Drargon looked to her with a hint of worry, "Ye make sure ye go speak t' Onjar and Gunjar, lassie. Tormund, too. Ye cannae be goin' yersel'." The Silver nodded reluctantly, "I won't go alone," she said, uncertain if she was even telling the truth or not. The simple truth was she hadn't quite made up her mind.
Though the Silver has not made up her mind, Aela had made up hers. The paladin had seen Hilde leave her room dressed for stealth in Frostmaw's lands and armed for battle. It was not too much of a leap to figure out the dragon was going on some sort of mission. As quickly as is possible, she rushes to her room and pulls on her own padded clothing. No need for armor, just warm clothing that will afford some protection. Strapping her sword to her back, she rushes out of her room and down to the tavern just in time to hear Hilde's final comment. Stepping up beside the other woman, Aela lays a hand on her shoulder. "No, you won't.."
Hilde did not expect to see the woman nor feel her hand upon her shoulder. The knight turned to look at Aela, sole eye fixing upon her as she smiled faintly: she didn't feel like this was an occasion to smile at, but the sight of Aela made her break into a smile more often than not. "Aela," she started, "I am tasked to spy upon an exile camp. You truly need not join me," she said, fearful that she would lose the woman just like she had lost Sabjorn.
Aela turns a steely gaze upon the dragon, a brow raised at the woman's words. "Really? And you say that you're not going alone when the truth is evident in the rise of your voice?" Her stern look turns to a smile and a clap upon Hilde's shoulder. "I wasn't really asking your permission to join you... I was telling." After a moment the smile fades. "I'll not be dragging you home again and spending days in the dungeon for my efforts. This time, I'll be at your side."
Hildegarde's head sank a little at the stern look, becoming a little sheepish in her effort to explain: "N-No, no, I, ah, I didn't mean it like that. I just... I meant I do not wish to lose you like I lost Sabjorn. I cannot bear to lose you," she said quietly, before fixing her stormy gaze on the floor. "I am sorry."
Aela reaches up and touches the dragon's cheek, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Do not be so down on yourself, Hilde. You won't lose me, I have the Gods on my side. Who can defy the Divine?" Her tone is light and jovial trying to reassure the knight.
Hilde gave a 'hmph', "I could defy the Divine, if they dared to take you." That said, the knight looked to the woman and murmured gently, "I do not mean to blaspheme," it was her way of apologising for any offense caused. That said, she gestured to the door, "We had best be off." A look to Drargon was given, sending the giant over to her side and a bag deposited into her hand. "Thank you," she said, before offering him a little smile.
Aela actually laughs at the dragon's words, unoffended by others lack of faith. With a determined nod, she tightens the straps that hold her scabbard close to her frame and follows the knight once the bag has been delivered. "Okay, let's do this.."
Hildegarde seemed a little relieved that the woman was not offended, so she wandered towards the door and pushed it open. Holding it open with her arm, she gestured for the woman to proceed out the door. "I suppose we could always have that dinner after this," she remarked, closing the door behind her and raising her white hood. It wouldn't be long before the knight began to properly blend into the white environment of Frostmaw's landscape. She wandered along at a casual pace, walking through the village and making remarks to any who showed interest: "A spot of hunting to pass the time!" before saying more quietly to Aela, "I do not trust the fact the Queen was ambushed. Either the exiles have somehow come to know her so well or someone has given information away. Better to mislead and beguile for now."
Aela follows Hilde quietly, her own hood drawn close about her features. She offers no words to those that are passed, leaving Hilde to give her answers and greetings. In response to the knight's words, the guard offers a light smile and a nod. "Understood.. I'm curious though. How do you know it's exiles? Anything that has that kind of power against the queen would need something awfully powerful. I was thinking of some sort of mage or something. Perhaps Diirhoen (sp?) or Lord Rheven?"
Hildegarde sighed softly, not surprised that people didn't exactly believe her. Given that it was common knowledge around Frostmaw that she didn't exactly get along with the exiles, people felt that the knight was just holding a grudge and was looking for any excuse to get her revenge. "Firstly, why would Lord Rheven attack Frostmaw? He is of the Mage's Guild, just like Satoshi, and there is much magic to be found deep in the earth of Frostmaw. So, he is less likely to attack an ally when he can already use his current connection - as an ally - to procure whatever he wishes. As for Diirhoen, he has not been sighted in a long time. I know little of him, to be sure, but he has not been sighted and I am sure if it was him: he would have left some mark beyond stealing ice. Death... More corruption than there currently is, something that would say death was here." The knight frowned, "I feel it in my gut, Aela. In my bones. Those exiles are the only ones who have recently attacked Frostmaw and have consistently planned to attack Frostmaw. Satoshi thinks it's the Time Lord, but I think it's the exiles. I... I just know it is," she said the last part quietly, voice wavering for a moment. It saddened her that none believed her, but she could understand why.
Aela sets a gently hand upon Hilde's arm, stopping the dragon for a moment and looking into her eyes. "If you feel so strongly, then you are probably right. I do not question your judgment, though it appears that others do. I was simply curious." She lets the knight go and steps beside her as they walk. "I fought alongside the Lady Valiana in the time of the Time Lord. This does not have the same feel..."
Hilde came to a stop when Aela placed a gentle hand upon her arm. She looked to Aela and sighed with frustration, "If my own Queen does not trust my feelings on this, how can she trust her life in my hands?" The knight was obviously a bit frustrated. She looked to Aela, "I do not ask to be right, I only ask to be listened to. I feel as though I am right; I feel like if we ambush the giants like they ambushed Satoshi, we can end this now." That said, she shrugged her shoulder, "But I cannot and will not bring down a war without a just cause."
Aela settles a friendly arm about the knight's shoulder as they walk. "Well, then let us bring back the proof that we need to do this." She then lets that arm slip away and walks in silence for awhile. The sound of the pair's boots crunching in the snow is the only sound as they each settle in with their own thoughts and move out of the village.
Hildegarde waited until they were at the edge of the village before dropping to a knee, "Give me your foot," she asked the woman, gesturing to her knee for the woman to place her foot.
Aela offers a confused look, but complies by setting her foot up on the dragon's knee.
Hildegarde opens the bag handed to her by Drargon and removes what looks like a tennis raquet with straps. She holds it up for Aela to see, "Less crunching noises," she smiled, "and it'll be easier to move on the snow. Less likely to sink into it." She slipped the strap over Aela's foot and tightened it as appropriate, giving it a little shake to make sure it was tight enough. That done, she did the same with Aela's other foot. "It might feel a bit funny walking with them on, but... it's better than being stuck."
Aela lets the knight place the snowshoes on her feet, trusting that the dragon knows what she's doing. Once Hilde is also properly outfitted, Aela frowns down at the footwear. "Hardly a fashion statement, are they? There was a time when I actually cared about such things."
Hilde smirked at the remark, "You look nice no matter what!" she nodded in a reassuring manner, before gesturing westward. "We have to go into the hunting grounds. It's likely that's where they'll be."
Aela blushes slightly at the compliment, lifting a finger to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before pulling her hood tight about her features. "I'll follow you. Someone has to watch your back." The joke hangs in the air between them as she waits for Hilde to lead on.
Hildegarde laughed gently, "True, what with my headstrong combat mannerisms!" The knight smiled and went onward, leading the way to the exile's encampment. While walking, she began to fall into a crouch in order to enhance her sneaky approach.
Aela creeps along behind the dragon all ninja-like, trying to hold her sword so it won't rattle in its scabbard. As they crest the hill outside of the encampment, she settles into the snow next to the knight and pokes her eyes over to peer down.
Hildegarde peered down over the snow bank, looking over the encampment. She is silent as she assesses the situation, eventually pulling her head back and staring at the way they came with an expression of shock.
Aela turns to her back, slipping low enough down the bank so that she is not visible. Turning her eyes to Hilde, she whispers quietly. "What is it? I could barely see anything."
"Their numbers," she replied almost numbly. "They have grown rapidly. They have more exiles than I have ever seen, but who could have convinced all those different little tribes to come together in some kind of common cause? They could barely banner under their own jarls, let alone someone else."
Aela turns to face the knight, her mind quickly moving through the different possibilities. "If they have never banded together before, there is only one explanation... Someone has united them. There has to be a central leader.." Cerulean eyes seek out the knight's gaze, hoping that the other woman can come up with a better explanation.
Hilde nodded in agreement, "Frost Giants worship Aramoth, the god of war. They know war better than most and this implies they are gathering together in anticipation of a war..." she sighed, "what more evidence do we need, Aela?" That said, it didn't mean there wasn't an outside influence banding the giants together. A harsh breeze rolled along, whisking up the snow and sending the harsh cold onto their bared faced, but along the wind was a cheeky laugh, sending chills down the spine of Hilde. "I do not like the look of this."
Aela shivers as the wind chills her cheek to the bone. As the wind chills her skin, the laugh chills her insides as her eyes grow wide and she stares into Hilde's face. "I sense a great evil..." It is all she can say as the cold wind steals her breath from her chest.
Hilde had no innate sense of evil, so she was reliant on Aela's gift for that. "We should take our leave. As much as I would wish to learn more, their numbers alone tell me that we should not linger." That said, she glanced around carefully, listening to a chorus of laughter along the wind. "Let's go," she said more quietly, trying her best to keep the sickly feeling in her gut at bay.
Aela is frozen for several moments as she battles the sense of evil that washes over her. Finally, she pushes herself away from the snowbank and follows closely behind the dragon.
Hildegarde does a final glance around before pushing off the snowbank gently and retreating from the scene. The knight walked in silence, refusing to even look back. As they approached the western gate, she came to a halt and turned to face the way they had came. The knight stared into the great whiteness of Frostmaw, brow furrowed slightly as she continued to stare.
Aela does not question the knight's pace nor the silence in her wake. She still cannot explain the feeling that had come over her or the large gathering of exiles. It appears as if Hilde's feelings were right, but now the question of why has become paramount.
Hildegarde looked to Aela for a moment, before gesturing eastward, "Let's return to the tavern. Perhaps we can have that dinner you mentioned before?" She would save her remark for there.
Aela, though strong and independent, has moments of insecurity from time to time. The encounter with the exiles has bared one of these moments and she reaches out to take Hilde's hand for comfort. "Dinner sounds good..." is all her shaky voice can muster.