RP:What If?

Part of the Thy Kingdom Come Arc

Summary:Ayras and Laezila happen upon each other in the woods just outside Frostmaw and discuss the growing tensions in Frostmaw, and then make plans should things go sour.

Frozen Trees

Within the small wooded area, you can only see the trees that surround you. Ice hangs from their branches as snow continues to drift down from the sky. As well the trees give you very little protection from the elements here. You can get a glimpse of a path to the north, south, and west of here.

Ayras stood within the wooded area just beyond Frostmaw's western border, a pair of ruts in the snow from where he had been pacing back and forth. He was muttering to himself, his hands gesticulating as if having an argument with someone. Every now and again that metal hand of his lashed out, his fist slamming against a thick, wooden trunk before he continued on his back-and-forth path. In the end, the elf came to a halt and arched back, his arms thrown wide and a great roar of frustration tearing from his throat. "Gods damned giants," he said to himself in a much, much quieter voice.

Laezila had thought she had been through the worst, and perhaps she had, that life had to offer her. She had thought she had passed through the trials of mistrust and animosity that were consequences of her actions during the war between the drow and the elves, and that the worst she had to fear left was the revenge of dark elf assassins and Gevurah's wrath. Perhaps even the bloodlust of vampirism, yet she was becoming accustomed to it. The meeting just the last night in chance with a high elven male, who mocked her scars and venomously spit upon her race reminded her that the ex-matron would never be welcome. Coupling that incident with the growing dissension among the Frost Giants and the increasing number of people flocking to xenophobic ideals, it was no surprise that Laezila was among the first to be looked upon with suspicion and contempt. So the young vampire risked the wrath of her people in order to exit the safety of the city walls and move among the frozen trees in this particular wooded area, with a diminutive and paling ebony form wrapped with artic furs that did well to mostly blend her form into the setting. The scarred countenance of the once-powerful woman did not relinquish tears this time, but her steely stare off into the night was disrupted by a gasp at the sudden surprise of the roar of frustration dotted by the slam of a fist against wooden trunks, which caused her to peer over a slender shoulder and through equally glimmering white locks behind her, toward the appearance of the redhead. She didn't speak -not yet, but rather watched, still.

Ayras came to a stop before a single tree, his body facing the trunk and his metal hand palm-first against the bark. He said not a word, though from the grooves that his fingers were digging into the tree, it was clear that his mind was not inactive. Again he lashed out at the thing. Twice his fist slammed into the tree before he drew his jasper sword and began hacking at the thick trunk as though it were the manifestation of his enemies. He hated the political intrigue of the current situation in Frostmaw. He wanted an enemy he could fight, not a city full of people he was sworn to protect tearing itself apart. "Gods be damned, Hildegarde, why did you go and get yourself killed?"

Laezila 's scarred features, of three parallel lines discolored across her face from the corner of her forehead to the opposite jawline across her nose like some claw swipe, contort slightly into a frown as she vaguely and faintly heard the words that escaped the knight. That is, somewhat, considering the overarching ambient noise of the strikes against the tree. Slowly, the small female turned in order to face the redhead, and her harshly accented -melodic like an elf tinged with the drow bite- voice lashed forth, "What are you doing?"

Ayras spun at the sound of an unexpected voice, recognition of its owner lost in the clamor of his sword striking against the tree. Lightning crackled along the red blade as the elf's head swiveled this way and that, at first unseeing of the drow across the way. With her winter gear and her lack of body heat, it took Ayras a moment to finally locate the diminutive woman, but once seen the vampire relaxed. Electricity dissipated and the bladed weapon was returned to its home before a sigh passed through Ayras' lips and a hand ran through his ruby hair. "Being frustrated," he answered before he gave Laezila a curious look, his silver gaze shifting about the area. "I'm surprised to see you outside the city. I figured Linn would have talked with Talyara by now, and in turn she would have talked to you and convinced you to stay with her."

Laezila shook her head, "I don't know Linn very well, and it has been a while since I have seen or heard word from Talyara..." The last was sort of trailed off, as the woman lowered her gaze to the weapon of the silver-eyed man, though it was not with any sort of fear to run through her petite and diminutive frame. Instead, it was more so curiosity, "I do not leave the city because Gevurah D'Artes has a thirty-five thousand gold bounty on my head. I do not leave the city because I am afraid. But I do not like the stares, the suspicion. I do not like how... vulnerable I feel there now." Her gaze lifted, "I do not want to be a prisoner again."

Ayras leaned against the tree he had just previously been abusing, his arms crossing over his bare chest as he looked away towards the city. "The rate this city is going, we're all going to wind up prisoners." The vampire wore a frown as he once again fell into thought for a few moments. "It's amazing how quickly they want to go back to their old ways. Men in the barracks who once claimed friendship with me now turn against me, wanting me to leave the city and never return. The allies for those that aren't giants are dwindling. If worse comes to worse, Laezila, you keep by me, do you understand?" Silver eyes settled onto those exotic blue eyes of the drowns. "Should the old clans win out, you come with me to where ever we're ousted to."

Laezila 's face fell at the idea of being ousted, though it wasn't a surprise and had already been considered especially due to that it could very well become a reality. "I thought I had earned a place there, but I think it was just Hilde that was able to keep everyone from tearing me apart." An instinctive step took closer toward the male for his words, as those intense, exotic blues of the drow met silver with the trepidation of the situation that could come to pass, "I don't know, Ayras, I think that it'll only be a matter of time before Gevurah's bounty catches up to me. I'd just... weigh you down."

Ayras snorted at the drow's last words. "You need a mentor as a vampire, anyways," he replied with a shake of his head. "If I thought you were going to be a detriment, I wouldn't offer to have you with me." Of course, he also wasn't warning her of how he changed when he left Frostmaw, how the lack of killing in the frozen north was sated in the lowlands. He had to wonder, if just to himself, just how the woman would react if she ever saw that side of him. He remembered a time when he went hunting with the former Matriarch of Frostmaw, but those days were long ago. His murder sprees were far less accepted, now. "I still insist that you come with me, should it come to that."

Laezila smirked wryly, briefly, in her amusement at the man's assessment to being her mentor; he was the only vampire she had access to, let alone one that had been alive for some time. She hadn't seen the more bloodthirsty side of him, but then again, he had not witnessed her when she sat at the head of the drow House of outcasts and freaks. It was a greatly feared house, as they aspired to be. Yet now, here in Frostmaw, she was alone, scared, young and uncertain. Nothing betraying of her calculating nature or the prowess she actually possessed. "I suppose it'd be the safest, right?"

Ayras nodded before he stepped forward and placed his hand on the woman's shoulder. "It's best if any of those loyal to Hildegarde stay together, to be honest, but yes, it's safest if the two of us stick together. Especially when it comes time for you to actually hunt. You won't last long if you wind up having to kill all your meals first." He gave a bit of a smirk, but it was obvious it wasn't his usual grin. Another shake of his head preceded him saying, "At any rate, I should get back to the barracks. You keep yourself safe, Laezila. Speak to Drargon if you need a place to lay low. He's always been a staunch supporter of the Steward." And so with that the elf ventured back to the city, and back to the giants that were wanting less and less to do with him.