The Riders' Rebellion (Scarsmate and DH)

[Dark Huntress]

"Yes," Rhinnëa answered for Rivera. She also felt a bit more authoritative than the others, being fully elf where the others were only half or human. She cast an airy looked up at the blonde boy as he opened the door slowly and glanced around the large, comfortable room.

"I just wanted to make sure Ell was okay," he stated quietly, shrinking a bit under Rhinnëa's hard gaze.

The raven-haired girl answered by shoving him out onto the porch before turning and shrugging. Rhinnëa smiled faintly, then jumped as Gweir loudly asked her to make Zaq go away. Why? she mused silently as she moved towards the door.

"The dragons would prefer you vacate the premises immediately," she informed him as she shut the glass door behind her. He nodded and moved towards her, casting a subtle glance at Rivera.

"Secretive, dragons are, aren't they?" he queried.

"Yes, they are al-," she didn't finish for he'd leaned forward and kissed her. She pushed him away. "Bestow your attention upon a more attentive creature," she said icily before turning and entering the room where Eldàrwen was gaping at her, Nellas was looking back and forth between Rivera and her, and Rivera looked like a mix of anger and hurt. Rhinnëa colored as she realized they'd been able to see her.

That boy needs to make up his mind before I do it for him, she said to Rivera and sat down in front of her. I'm sorry you had to see that. She gave her friend an apologetic look then rubbed Rivera's arms.

[Scars Mate]

'Its not like he actually made a move towards me,' Rivera muttered, unable to meet Rhinnëa's gaze.

She wasn't angry with her of course- just her own naïve-ness that she could ever think Zaq liked her.

And yet she was still hurt, because once again she had been treated like trash, and had failed to plae her faith in the right person. She knew she could trust Rhinnëa, though; she entered nothing to do with Zaq, that much was apparent.

Would you like me to set him alight? Lyrea inquired, to all of the girls. Rivera smiled slightly, but shook her head.

I don't think that would make such a good impression on everyone, she murmured, igniting a rumbling laugh from Lyrea.

Eldárwen skittered up to Rivera, her eyes wide and apologetic.

'Im sorry for my brother's behaviour. He's always been a flirt, and he, erm, likes attention,' she said, her eyes flickering between Rivera and Rhinnëa.

[Dark Huntress]

"I noticed," Rhinnëa answered dryly. Well, maybe he's being human and secretively likes you, but is too shy to say. If he is you shoulder he human back and play hard to get. You're beautiful, even for an elf or hybrid, you have to have someone around here who likes you! Flirt and gauge his reaction. She patted Rivera's hand comfortingly and gave her a small smile before rising.

"I'm going to go explore Ellesmera as I've never been here," she turned to the younger girls. "Don't bring down the roof-the loves would never forgive you! Well, you're children so you could probably get away other murder. Don't get any ideas!"

She smiled as Rivera laughed then exited the room. She was halfway down the ornate, carved stairway when a deep voice sounded behind her. "Going for a walk?" it asked. She turned slowly and forced a smile at Eyulf.

"Yes," she replied and cringed as he came down a few steps so their heights were more even.

"Am I allowed to come."

"Yes." She was obviously irritated and added 'but I wish you wouldn't' in her mind.

"Cool," he said then started back up the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

He stopped and turned at the top. "I'm part wolf. I have a sixth sense. And it's telling me to leave you alone." He turned and disappeared a k into Zaq's room. She shrugged and continued on her path.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera looked out at the dusk, and turned towards her sister, who was unsuccessfully trying to hide a yawn.

'Bed time,' she said firmly, pushing both of the girls towards their bed.

'Aw, come on!' Nellas whined, trying to wriggle free of Rivera's grip.

'No. We've had a long day and you two need sleep.'

Eldárwen cast a sidelong glance at Nellas.

'I'm going to sleep,' she said shyly.

'Traitor!' Nellas cried sarcastically, but leapt onto the bed grinning.

Rivera flicked her wrist and both girls changed into shorts and loose tops, both black.

They nestled under the covers, curling up close together like birds in a nest.

'Do you want me to sing a lullaby?' Rivera asked, half serious.

'Yes,' whispered Nellas.

Slowly, Rivera sang, in the ancient language. It was a song that she had sung many times before, but usually when Nellas had nightmares.

The girls fell asleep just as the song finished, and Rivera realised there was someone at the door.

[Dark Huntress]

Zaq stood, staring at the door, then jumped mentally as Rivera opened it it. "I was just going to, uh, say good night." His easy manner was gone, replaced by Eyulf's shyer demeanor. "To Ell," he added quickly. Rivera nodded and he gave his sister, who was snuggled up with Nellas a look over Rivera's shoulder.

"I don't think it would help much," he remarked smilingly. "So, I was wondering, now that the little ones are in bed if you wan to talk or take a walk or something. I usually like to know more about who I'm travelling with before I, well, make rash decisions like flying into an elvish city on a dragon. A big, mean, cantankerous dragon." He saud the last part very seriously and stared past her as if he were reflecting on something.

*£*

Rhinnëa wandered far and wide, dodging into elegant structures and lingering in the libraries. She visited the Menoa tree and Rhünon's workshop [though the elf had passed away since she'd forged Brisingr] and the late hour finally caught up to her as she sat crosslegged in the gardens behind the palace reading. She was reading of magic and history and poetry, secrets of the universe and times long past and the beautiful works of her people.

She leaned back, looking up from a beautiful love poem about the sea, to gaze up at the twinking stars and golden moon. She sighed a little then harshly scolded herself as she wondered if she should've invited Eyulf. Well, she told herself. He may have good conversation.

And he may be trouble, she countered then rolled her eyes. Was she seriously arguing with herself about a human? Well, a cursed werewolf-human, but that wasn't important... She shook her head and returned to her reading.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera gave Zaq a strained smile. She was by going to fall for him, not if he was going to kiss Rhinnëa five minutes after.

'I'm actually quite tired myself. I was just about to go to sleep. Why don't you ask Rhinnëa, seeing as you're so interested in her?' Rivera simpered, and then shut the large door on him.

She whirled around, and with a flick of her wrist, all of the curtains were drawn, including the one she hadn't noticed that was by the door. She skipped over to the lamps to dim them, for some reason feeling the need to do it by hand. She felt proud of herself in some way, but also annoyed. She'd completely blown it, but if what Eldárwen had said (or rather thought) was true, then she was saving her heart from a lot of unneeded stress and pain.

Checking the girls were asleep, she walked into the large marble bathroom. She slipped out of her clothes, and jumped into the shower-like device, which cascaded warm water onto Rivera's pale skin. She washed her hair and body, and then carefully turned off the tap. He dried herself with a quick spell, and then put on a simple pair of leggings and tunic.

Making sure the girls weren't awake, Rivera curled under the covers (making sure to leave half of the huge bed for Rhinnëa), and tried to sleep, to no avail, so decided to wait up for Rhinnëa, hoping she wouldn't be too long.

[Dark Huntress]

Zaq looked at the door. Did he just get...rejected? That had never happened before, well, except Rhinnëa, but that was different. After staring a few more moments at the elegant, close door, he shrugged it off and started diwn the hall for his own bed. Before he could reach it, however, he heard a noise at the stairs. He peeked over the rail to see Rhinnëa bounding up the stairs three at a time, a few books held against her slender chest.

"So," he said, hoping Rivera could hear him. "You want to go for a walk?"

"No, thank-you," Rhinnëa answered, an icy smile on her full lips," I've just been walking. But feel free to fall fown th stairs and break your thick neck without me." She nodded curtly and slipped into her room.

Zaq whistled. Damn elves! he swore mentally before entering his own room and falling onto his own bed, earning an unappreciative grumble from Eyulf.

Rhinnëa shook her head. The nerve of that guy! She changed into a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt before slipping silently into the other side if the bed. Still awake? she asked Rivera, feeling ridicuously giddy about having a new friend, quite possibly her best ever, Gweir excepted, of course.

[Scars Mate]

Yeah. And I, uh, just rejected Zaq's affections. Which I probably shouldn't've done, but its too late now. Rivera said, her voice half-embarrassed and half-proud. She did earn an appreciative smile from Rhinnëa, which somehow made her forget the negative side of what had occurred.

Rhinnëa sat down on the bed, half under the covers, half over. Rivera, though, for some reason, kept glancing at the door, but she wasn't sure why. When she got a puzzled glance from Rhinnëa, however, the thing that had been bothering had came to the front of her mind.

'I'm so paranoid they're going to pull some sort of stunt. Like stabbing me in the dark or taking Nellas away or something.' Rivera said anxiously. 'Its silly, I know, what with the dragons and everything, but I- I can't quite explain it. I know they won't try anything. I do. But I can't help it-' she cut off abruptly, her brow furrowing in concern. She looked up at Rhinnëa again, trying to gauge her reaction.

She flexed her wrist, and then changed the conversation.

'D'you reckon what I did with Zaq was reasonable?' She asked, and briefly showed Rhinnëa what had happened. 'Sorry about dragging you into it, by the way. It was sort of unavoidable.'

[Dark Huntress]

"Oh, it's fine," Rhinnëa answered. "I know how reject a guy. And I do think you did the right thing, you showed him that he didn't have you hooked. Even if it isn't true," she teased Rivera smilingly. "And they won't do anything, you and I would wake up and catch them. Also, kidnapping a child is unheard of in the elves, even supremely offended ones, they might hurt Nellas by accident and the penalty is death." She shrugged and laid her head on the pillow, facing Rivera.

"Do you think you did the right thing? And if you do, do you think you'll be able to live with yourself?" She said the last part jokingly, but still watched Rivera carefully. "Because it doesn't matter if your aren't happy, whether or not it was the 'right thing to do'. In circumstances as these, 'the right thing' is what satisfies you. And don't argue, I've been teading for hours and am in a very debatable demeanor!"

[Scars Mate]

Rivera laughed, because she didn't take half of what Rhinnëa said in.

'I'm tired. We can have deep conversations tomorrow. But I THINK I did the right thing. Anyway. Night.' Rivera said, flopping down onto her pillow, and then promptly burst out laughing, Rhinnëa joining her.

'Shut up!' Mumbled Nellas from the other bed.

'Dont mind her,' whispered Rivera. 'She's not really awake, she's still half unconscious.' She couldn't help but giggle, unable to wipe the grin from her face.

'Night!' Rivera whispered, and nestled deep into the soft covers, and slowly dozed off.