6. Adenah Thorgint: Nightmare.

The stench of flames and sulfur was heavy in the air surrounding her and the heat made her robes stick to her frame like a second skin due to the sweat running down her skin. Every breath tasted like ashes on her tongue, leaving her throat parched while in a constant humming sound she could hear the noises of clashing weapons and spells being flung across to the opponents. Harmony of war within the chaos of a battle, it all belonged together and Adenah knew this. It was all she had ever known, in a twisted way it felt right.

Or it used to feel right, this time the scene had something strange that she could not place a finger on. Her body didn't feel as drained from the repetative firing of her spells as she remembered. It startled her for a moment to realise that she was stood on the fields of battle in Hellfire as her older self. Not the youngster that grew up here, but the more experienced and trained magan she had become over the years.
Yet she couldn't remember why she was here again, this battle was one she fought so many years ago, this battle was ...

Adenah spun on her heels, her eyes darting across the masses of men and women that were fighting visciously against the raging warband of the tainted orcs. Panic made her heart freeze when more and more details swum into sight, more things she recognised. Was this a cruel twist of fate to make her witness the death of her mother once more?
Tears already started to form in the corners of the woman's eyes, the memory had always remained very vivid, but living it again was something far too painfull to witstand.

As she had done before her gaze sought out the raging mass of warriors and soldiers, searching for a particular familiar figure that always could be found on the frontlines. Her father, indeed was swinging and cutting away at the incoming orcs. With a twisted sense of relief Adenah returned to observing the others, trying to make sense of the strange scene.

She couldn't ponder longer about the situation however, all too familiar to her she saw the orc with his weapons raised storming towards her. Caught off guard she parted her lips in a sudden scream yet with a newly gained sense of awareness Adenah moved her hands, prepared to fight back this time as if something was guiding her, something that has given her more experience then the knowledge she possesed back then. A flicker of hope rose within her chest, perhaps this was the one chance to undo the tragedy of the loss of her mother?
Only for a brief second it occured to her that within her hands she did not hold her sword, there was no melee weapon for her to wield. Another grave difference to the actual events. This time around she was not a battle-mage.

“Adenah .... Move .. NO!”

Her heart froze, the fire within her palms vapourized near immediatly when hearing the words that echo'd within her mind ever since, the final words that had come from the lips of her mother before being struck to protect her child. As if it was played in slow-motion she watched again how the axe swung downwards towards the body of the eldery woman untill suddenly.

“Aleyn ...!” A belowing roar from her father while simultaniously the shocked scream of Jarren pierced her ears... “Ade ...!”

Before she could react to the confusing changes Adenah's eyes widened once more, her body trembling and falling down to drop onto her knees. Before her her mother had already fallen and the second axe being aimed at her lifeless body to ensue the certainty of death burried itself into the leaping body of Jarren who had thrown himself forward in an attempt to save the woman who looked much like Adenah herself. Faralan, her father had long abandoned the frontline to come to aid to his beloved family, his back turned towards the line of foes approaching upon them to avenge the death of the two fallen. The large blade held within his hand struck the orc with accurate precision, it's hulking body falling down onto the heep of corpses infront of Adenah. But before she could even regain her senses, cast aside the utter devastation that had taken controll of her it only became worse. The reckless defense of Faralan would not come without a price to pay, with his back turned he didn't see the assault rushing into his direction. He aswell fell forward, struck by a brutal strike that decapitated his head straight from his torso. His helmet falling off while his body slumped down lifelessly to join the others.

The agony and sorrow bursted forth from Ade's heart in a violent explosion of emotions, howling and screaming while the tears fell down her smudged face. Staring at those she loved before her. But before she could pull herself up, fight back and save her own life it was over. Within a flash all orcs and others had gone. All that remained were her Mother, her Father and her love.
Only a few paces away she noticed other shadows on the ground, more that had fallen. As if in trance she approached, her steps heavy and filled with sadness.

It didn't take long to reach the first one, an eldery frame, clad in red-attire. White hair tousled around his head, coated in blood while his visage was twisted in a grimace of death. She screamed again, her breathing growing frantic when with sudden panic she picked up the pace of her footsteps, following the trail further away from her Uncle's corpse. Each new face, each corpse she reached ...
Orthur, Nygarth, Melan, Sky, Timna, Erahn, Dante, ... her brother? The child of Pa' with Sky?
Everyone had lost their life on the same battle she had once fought, the same battle that has caused her the grief of losing Aleyn, her mother. Those she had found within Stromgarde, the family she always had wanted, a home ...

It was too much for her, no longer able to carry her own feet she fell back down to her knees, back where she started infront of the three corpses of those closest to her. Reaching out her hands she tried to pull them into a final embrace, not caring for the blood before throwing her head backwards to let out a lasting howl of despair.

Before she realised she jolted up in bed, the room picthblack aside from a single candle upon her desk. Tears running down her face and a soft sob escaping her throat. With a devastated sigh she leans forward to hide her face within her hands, attempting to calm herself and her emotions of the images that she had seen. It had felt so real to her ...
A stirring behind her makes her turn to look over her shoulder, he woke up and reached a hand out to her, running a palm across her back soothingly. She could barely see his face but the touch felt warm, made her heart beat less frantically. With a deep sigh Adenah slowly leans backwards again, letting her head fall down onto Jarren's chest with a finger moving to silence the words about to spill from his lips. Hushing softly while simply trying to shut out the dream and find solace within his embrace. Unsuccesfully however, the stinging pain within her chest lingering with the fear of losing everything she holds dear.

Wow. That's a real great piece.

Moving.

*Thumbs Up*

Deepest fear is a nasty thing All thanks to Jarren-boy coming with his Nightmare stories!