#Aelrindel Bloodblade

[aelryndel]

[At the Westbrook Garrison]

Around mid-morning the next day, Ael, having recently returned from the Garrison’s smithy, walked out the front gates of the keep and made his way around the Garrison to where the training area was. He was fully armored, now proudly wearing the circlet of the Sarceline instead of his usual skull bucket. The elf carried, what appeared to be a spear-like weapon in his main hand and his large heater shield in the other. On his hip, the standard issue broadsword rested in its leather scabbard. Smelling of the forge, burnt coal and molten metal, his armor and face seemed oddly clean. He approached a target dummy, and squared off with it. His heater shield was raised in the typical stance consistent with being a part of the shield wall, and the odd spear was raised in his other hand, horizontal and parallel to his face, the shaft resting on the top of his shield. There was a moment of quiet focus, a pause as if the Elven soldier was waiting for something. A brown leaf flitted by on a small breeze, passing in front of Ael between the dummy and himself. At the very moment the unsuspecting leaf passed between, there was an explosion of steel, dirt, and a blur of motion, which sent dust and bits of dirt up in a cloud around the Elf and the dummy. With a blinding flash of sunlight on metal and loud thunk, the moment was over. As the dust settled, it revealed the onyx-haired Aelryndel standing there with his shield still poised in a defensive posture, and his left arm extended still gripping the shaft of the spear-like weapon. The bladed tip, which looked more like a dagger or short sword blade, had pierced the brown leaf through the center and pinned to the torso of the dummy, right where the heart would be on a person.  Ael stayed in the position for a moment breathing regularly, before he withdrew the tip of the weapon and in a single fluid motion returned to the starting position.

Ael stood squared off with the dummy again, but then relaxed and stood up straight. He lowered his shield and raised the weapon up examining it in his hand. Setting the butt end of the shaft down in the dirt, the Elven man moved his hand to grip the middle of the smooth, polished metal, weapon. Raising it up he spun it in his hand, slowly at first, then increasing the speed till the weapon rotated in fan-like motion in front of him. The haft and the blade sung as both cut through the air in the rapid motion. This sound continued for a moment before it stopped abruptly. With a tightening grip of his plated hand, the weapon was motionless and horizontal in Ael’s outstretched hand. He examined the weapon again, his trained eyes scrutinizing something about the weapon. He sighed, and turned away, spinning the weapon idly by his side as he walked further away from the dummy. Then, as the weapon’s butt was passing by his foot in its downward spin, the Elf moved his foot and kicked the haft of the spear with the heel of his plated boot, sending the blade spinning in the opposite direction. However, the elf stopped the twirling weapon when it was horizontal once more by his head. Turning as he did, the soldier, threw the weapon in an expert fashion at the dummy. The spear-like weapon dug deep into the target’s torso once more.  Standing there, where he threw from, he studied the weapon. His glowing eyes, once again, scrutinized how the weapon was buried in the dummy.

After another moment of study, Aelryndel, approached the impaled target dummy and with a jerk, yanked the spear free from its perch in the wooden man’s torso. Again, he walked away from the target spinning the weapon idly in his hand. Then the weapon stopped, falling perfectly still, vertically, by his side. A soft whispering could be heard from the Elf, something like a prayer; and as he spoke, golden energy began to gather around the hand gripping the spear. A second later, the energy flowed from his hand to the weapon, moving up and down its length. The weapon began to glow with brilliant energy. Ael turned to face the dummy, assumed his defensive stance, and leveled the glowing weapon by his face once more. This time though, there was no hesitation. As soon as he had the target lined up, he shot his hand out, stretching the weapon out towards the wooden man. Without a sound from the Elf’s mouth, a bolt of divine magic erupted from the bladed tip of the spear and struck the target dummy square in the chest. As Ael stood up straight once more and brought his weapons back to his side, the magic ceased, and a pleased expression began to break across his face. He stood there for a few moments looking down at the weapon with a pleased smile.

[aelryndel]

Waking from a disturbed and fitful sleep, Aelryndel, still wearing the sling for his injured right arm, tried his best to maintain his usual morning routine, but finding it nearly impossible to work out or run with only one arm in full operation, he gave up. The injured Elven soldier, wearing a simple linen shirt, leather trousers and leather boots, made his way to the cooking fires to make a fresh pot of coffee. As his breakfast brewed on the fire, he looked around, noting the activity still going on after last night’s mission. He was still frustrated with himself for being too injured to aid his comrades in the previous night’s mission. After a moderate bout of self-loathing, Ael grabbed the brewed pot of coffee and made his way back to the barracks, and his bunk. He sat down in his folding chair at his traveling desk set up near his bunk and retrieved an ornate but new looking leather-bound tome from the two tomes in the desk. Opening the spell book, he began to read from the pages in the front. If he couldn’t physically work out, he’d at least get a mental work out in before he tried to have the Regiment’s medics clear him for duty again.  

[aelryndel]

It might have been a little improper and unorthodox, but Ael wasn’t waiting around for either of them to join their children in death at the hands of the Legion. On paper, Lynn and Ael were married, but in their hearts they were joined long before that. A proper ceremony could be held when the world was safe. For now, the newly weds spent their honeymoon doing what they do best, fighting the Legion!

[aelryndel]

The pain that Ael felt at the loss of his family was unbearable, and he ached from it at times, but he was never able to handle his emotions so he channeled them into fury, and rage instead. This made the loss of his child, and Lynn’s children bearable, at least as long as there were demons to kill.

[alittlenoble]

“I’m sorry, you got hurt? Let me help -tend- to your wound.” The cleric said with a face that looked that of a what mixed like she was torn from ether grabbing a weapon and finishing the job or healing.  A smile spreading over her face as she lifted both hands looking down at the stranger as she held up both hands. “Let us see if Belore is on your side today."

[alittlenoble]

A new friend?

Upon coming back to her house, she would open the door as she called out for Ael, her eyes glancing around the area with a frown at first. Though as they rounded the corner seeing him relaxing with a cigar she would chuckle a little. “ Love I want you to meet your new friend.  She would say this out loud to call out to the Elf’s attention she wasn’t alone.  When her lover would turn around he would see the sight of a little elven boy, “ Meet Andorias, he’s going to be your little shadow for the week.” She would say as the little boy would just take a look up at Ael blinking for a few moments. With Lynnesta’s encouragement the little boy walked over offering his hand to the male Sin’dorei.  “ Hi.. you know those will kill you?” Andorias would say as he looked up at Ael now. Lynn listened to this before a smile would start to crack across her lips before she started to bust out laughing, “ Have fun love. “ She would call out before turning to get out of her armor.  The little boy would then just stare up at Ael.

[alittlenoble]

It was early in morning, the Quel’dorei had been able to actually sleep a full night. She rolled over to half kneel beside her sleeping partner. Lynnesta would smile as she knew the coms would be quiet for a few hours.  Leaning in to kiss her lover’s ear as she gently whispered into it. Her hands trailing up his bare back as she gently blew a breath across the tip of his ear. While her hands would knead at his back. “ Love.. “ she whispered onto the skin. Watching the Sin’dorei react as his green eyes would open. Half leaning over his form as she would press a kiss against the ear again. Whispering once more. “ Good morning..”