Frustration and Fruitless Efforts, Tag: Serenity

[Nikolai Eustine]

The wind whistled through the long grass, causing them briefly to dance and sway beneath the empty blue sky. Nik's mouth twitched at the feel of the bending blades tickling his cheek, his eyes blinking open sleepily and his arms moving over his head in a catlike stretch. It had been nearly a month since he'd last traveled the Wrothgarian mountains, but there were still no signs of his missing cousin, Sabina...and then there was Serenity.

The blonde sat up, shaking away the last bit of afternoon haze that urged him to lie back down. They'd rested long enough. It was time to start moving again. Moving to his knees and retrieving the cloak he'd been using for his little nap, Nik folded it carefully back into his pack before looking around for his elfin travel-mate.

"Serenity..?" he called out, tentively, unsure of whether she too had been asleep or if she was lurking in the shadows, waiting to jump out and surprise him. She was...odd. But her presence was comforting, and for that he wished nothing but for her to stay.

(You can have her doing whatever, Emmy. ^_~ I just gave you a few options.)

[Serenity]

Serenity twitched for a second and brushed a hair out of her face. Sleep. She liked sleep. Suddenly she heard nik call 'Serenity...' He said from about 4 feet below her. "What?" She asked. Shifting to a sitting up position on her tree branch, she let her feet dangle and nudged the back of Niks head with her boot to get him to turn around. Sighing she hopped down behind him and smiled. "have a nice nap? Mine was fine. Trees are very comfortable suprisingly!" She said while readjusting her clothes and things so she could travle comfortably again. "So...I guess we're off again? Same direction as befor? I honestly have no clue in the slightest where were headed. Or...where we are...or...well...anything. So After you?" She asked smiling again at the Nik.

She was happy to be following him, as long as it was HIM she was following. This was so far one of the longest relationships she'd ever had with a man and she was happy to keep it going just the way it was. If...you could even call it a relationship at this point. They were really more like Travle buddies. But one could have a crush on a travle buddy and thats what Serenity had. She was just happy he hadn't shooed her away yet.

[Nikolai Eustine]

Nik, slightly startled by the nudge, spun around to gaze up at the elf in silence, his mouth dropping open in boyish confusion. When did she get up there...? He hadn't been paying enough attention when they paused in their trek to set up camp. Hell, he hadn't been paying any attention...it had been one of those awkward moments that he tried desperately to avoid by simply ignoring everything around him to the best of his ability.

"Trees, comfortable? I can't say that I've ever slept in one...knowing my luck, I'd probably fall out." With a mildly amused smile, the Nord waited patiently as Serenity jumped down from her perch and got herself situated before replying, "We're about two days walk from Deharisa, if we keep up our current pace. We should be there by mid-afternoon." Slinging his pack over his shoulder and tilting his head westward, he let out a sigh. He could only pray that Sabina had come this far without struggle...and without any harm unto herself. Though irritating, he loved his cousin dearly...he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her.

Or Lue, for that matter. She was the other ever-persistant thorn in his side...never sending him word of her location, her state of being...what a horrible wench. To be completely truthful, he was almost used to her ignoring him whenever she felt the need to disappear. It was as if...as if he didn't need her anymore. He couldn't understand why.

"We'd best start moving. No telling what sort of creatures will be roaming about these parts." Starting down the path once again, the blonde let out another sigh. Two more days...

[Serenity]

Serenity blinked and smiled. "Two days! Nice." She looked back behind them for a moment at the way they had just come. They'd travled alot farther then she'd ever excpected to, and she'd sort of become attached to Nik. She started off after him following slightly behind. She let out a sigh when she realized the implications of the whole two days thing. She suddenly had NO IDEA what was going to happen. She knew they'd eventually get to Deharisa but...what then? She'd only headed in this direction because thats where Nik was going. And he'd let her tag along. But once they got there...what then? would he still keep her around. Serenity frowned, which was an unusuall occurance for her. "Hey Nik?" She started to ask what he had planned for once they reached the city, but then thought better. It would probably be best not to say anything at all. She'd figure it out once she got there. "On second thought...Nevermind." She said walking a little faster so that she was almost even with him. She hoped that he wouldn't push her away, she actually...possibly...kinda sort of...LIKED Nik. But only a little. And it wasn't something he ever needed to know about. If he wanted them to go thier seperate ways...then, well so be it.

[Nikolai Eustine]

"Hn?" Nik glanced to the side, catching Serenity out of the corner of his eye and watching for any signs that she was going to continue the thought. When nothing apparant presented itself, the blonde simply shrugged it off as another of her odd moments and kept walking.

It was after about half an hour had passed that they came to a stream, wide and deep enough for the average person to wade in and swim during the sweltering summer months. Immediately, Nik's interested peaked; a dip in the crystal clear water sounded more than inviting. Dropping his things on the side of the road, shedding his shirt in one fluid motion over his head, the Nord was already trotting towards the bank when he realized he'd merely left Serenity standing there. "Oh...I'm going to cool off a minute. Fill your canteen while you can." he suggested, glancing at her over one shoulder before gliding into the water.

It felt quite heavenly. Just the right amount of chill to send a tremor of relief down his spine. As he reached the deeper areas, Nik let his knees go out beneath him and disappeared beneath the glassy surface of the stream before re-emerging a minute later with a contented sigh. His long blonde hair clung to his back and shoulders, and his bare chest and stomach shone with beads of moisture...and all the while, he barely remembered that a certain elf was probably gawking from the shore...

[Serenity]

Serenitys jaw dropped. "Ok...I'll just...be over here then." She said wandering closer to the foresty are so she could sit with her back to a tree and just...watch. She set down her arrows and began to strech, which was probably her first mistake. Serenity was drifting off to fantasy land when suddenly she was yanked backwards into the forest. A large hand clamped over her mouth befor she was able to even mutter a 'What the hell?' Serenity Blinked and bit at the hand clamped over her mouth. Shit...I think I need a weapon. Why'd I put them down?' was the only thought running through her head when she was suddenly and violently thrown to the ground. Serenity held back a gasp as she hit the ground hard she though for a moment she heard her wrist pop. With a wince she looked up at the man who had grabbed her. "Who the fuck are you?" She asked now quite angry.

The man smiled. "My darling you don't know? I'm the green dragon. Havn't you heard of me?" Ramiel said introducing himself by the name that had spread around the countryside. Suddenly serenity's eyes wided. Instantly she understood the amount of shit she was in. "You...you're? Shit. She said not wanting to wait around to see if he was telling the truth. Serenity turned on the back of her knee and took off at a sprint. Or at least attempted to. Ramiel inexplicably grabbed her ankel and twisted, dragging her back torwards him. "Oh no you don't.

Serenity grimaced as pain shot up through her leg and she thought she heard somthing snap. Desperatly she threw a kick at his face landing the blow befor he could catch her foot. Hissing in pain her dropped her foot and serenity attempted to take off again. This time he grabbed a hold of her hair. "Now you've just pissed me off." he said throwing her to the ground and kicking her in the ribs to make sure she stayed put. Serenity flipped on to her back and he kicked her again. Serenity hissed in pain and suddenly let out a scream. If Nik could hear then maybe...maybe she had a chance. Ramiel frowned and pulled out his sword. "That was stupid..."He said with a slight grin. Just as suddenly he pressed his sword into her shoulder and put all of his weight on it...just to make it hurt more. Serenity shriked again and gritted her teeth against the pain. "You know serenity...just because you piss me off...I may just let you BLEED to death."

[Nikolai Eustine]

The quiet, serene bliss of that single moment shattered in an instant. The second Serenity's screams reached his ears, Nik's head whipped about to face the direction they'd come from, his heart jumping into his throat before plummeting into the deepest reaches of his stomach. It was only a breath's length more before he was sloshing towards the bank of the stream, shouting back, "Serenity, are you all right!? Serenity!"

Upon reaching the grassy embankment, Nik sprinted to where he'd dropped his things and snatched up his dirks, his hair and clothing still dripping upon the ground. It didn't take long before he crashed his way through the brush, finding himself standing before the scene of Ramiel's blade piercing Serenity's shoulder. Rage began to boil within his blood, his skin tingled...it felt as if his temples were about to explode. Letting loose an unintelligeble scream of fury, the Nord swung one of the blade at the other man's throat, daring him to stay where he stood. He'd KILL this bastard...absolutely SLAUGHTER him and leave his carcass for the buzzards!

[Serenity]

Ramiels head jerked up as he looked at Nik a split second befor his Blade was swung. "Shit! He said quickly ducking and painfully yanking his sword from Serenitys shoulder in the same instance. The Nordic man look quite angry and he wasn't someone ramiel was prepaired to mess with. Ramiel quickly turned on his heel and sprinted off into the woods wondering why the hell anyone would ever defend an assasin. Shaking his head as her ran ramiel swore that he hadn't seen the last of Serenity. This was a challenge now. And he wouldn't stop until he won.

Serenity grunted in pain as the sword was yanked from her shoulder. She thought it had just made the wound worse if that was possible in any way. She tired to take a deep breath and her lungs felt like they were on fire. Stupid ribcage hadn't done its job. Serenity coughed painfully. "Nik? What the hell took you so long..." She said trying to drag herself to where he stood, leaving a bloody trail of leaves behind her. She was stating to feel a little woozy and tired...that couldn't be good. She stopped her attempts to get to Nik and put her head down on the grass. "I think...I think I'll just...sleep...here for a second. Oww..." She said letting her eyes close momentairily. Nik was here now. Nik would keep her safe. It would all be ok.

[Nikolai Eustine]

"Serenity, wait! Don't close your eyes, okay? Look up at me, Serenity!" Nik demanded, panicked. Immediately he was on his knees at Serenity's side, cradling her in his arms and patting her cheek gently to get her attention. He needed something to make a tourniquet with, and he needed it soon. She'd bleed to death at this rate.

Lifting the elf as carefully as he could, the blonde gave a final glance around to make sure Ramiel wasn't hiding in the shadows, ready to finish what he'd started, then hurried towards where he'd left his things on the stream bank. He laid Serenity out on the grass, pressing a hand to her forehead before digging agitatedly through his pack for a spare cloth or scarf that he could use to bind the wound. "That no good bastard...if I ever see him again, I swear...I'll..." Biting his lip, Nik forced back the swears. They wouldn't do anything to help Serenity...it'd be useless to expend his energy on them.

Finally finding suitable wrappings, Nik went about applying the makeshift tourniquet to Serenity's arm, pulling her back to lay against his chest once he was finished. "Serenity...talk to me, okay? Are you all right?"

[Serenity]

Serenity moaned and laid her head back onto his chest. "Do I freakin look allright you you? I hurt everywhere. She said softly. It hurt to breath. It hurt to move. She didn't want to move anymore all she wanted to do was sleep, she was so tired. But Nik wouldn't let her sleep and her brain was to foggy to understand why. "Nik, I'm so tired Nik. Please I just wanna sleep. Just for a little bit. Serenity sighed and looked up at Nik. He looked diffrent then normal. He looked like an angel, her angel, and he had saved her life. Serenity took as deep a breath as she could and forced her eyes back open. "Thanks Nik. For...everything" Her eyelids started to drop again and she took a deep breath the pain forcing her awake again. "God damned basterd came outta no where...I should'a seen 'im." Serenity said her words starting to slur more and more. She was so tired, but at least it seemed like her shoulder would stop bleeding now. All she wanted to do was sleep, but if Nik wanted her to stay awake then she would try. At least for a while longer.

[Nikolai Eustine]

Stroking the elf's face with a tenderness that shocked even himself, Nik shushed her quietly. "Neither of us were being careful...I shouldn't have left you alone like that. It...it's my fault." he began, shifting Serenity to his other shoulder so he could grab ahold of his and her belongings and shrug them up his arm.

They needed to get out of there fast...if the last travelers they'd met were right, then there should be an inn a mile to the north. It was out of the way, but...Serenity was injured, and she needed a place to recover. Deharisa was no place for a wounded ANYONE, let alone an elf full of sword holes. He just hoped that she healed quickly...Ramiel could return at any time, and Nik much preferred that they were amongst his contacts in Deharisa rather than stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Hoisting both himself and Serenity to their feet, the blonde man wasted no time picking the girl up and cradling her against him, starting out towards the supposed inn. He could make it...honestly, Serenity wasn't all that heavy, and a mile was nothing. If he could keep a steady pace, they'd reach safety by nightfall.

[Serenity]

Serenity groaned as he picked her up. Every time she moved it hurt. "Ow.." She said her voice barely above a whisper. Serenity moaned agin and shifted herself so that her head was on Nik's shoulder. She was much more comfortable there. She was much more comfortable in Niks arms then anywhere else she'd ever been. She didn't know why but, he made her feel safe.

Her brain was becoming foggier and foggier by the second. "Nik...Nik...thank you." She said again. She couldn't think of anything else to say. She had him to thank for everything at this point. How the hell that had ever happened was beyond her but, thats the way it was. Frankly if she had to owe her life to someone she was glad it was him. She was just trying to stay awake, but it was so hard. "Nik...I'm so tired. I just wanna sleep. Just for a little bit. Ok?"She stated not really looking for an answer. She knew she was going to pass out long befor he could ever respond. Looking up at Nik once more she slowly sighed and let her world fade to black.

[Nikolai Eustine]

"Shh...just for a little bit." Nik affirmed soothingly, despite the twisting in his stomach. He didn't want to see her eyes closed...not when she was drenched in her own blood. It was an unsettling sight, at best. But, she needed to regain her strength, and rest was the only way she was going to achieve that.

He could only hope that, once they'd gotten to the inn, she'd wake back up again...



~*~ an hour or two later ~*~


Nik shifted the elf in his aching arms, exhausted. Their travel towards the inn had been predominantly uphill, an experience that had left him feeling heavy and drained. But he perservered, if only for the bloodied girl he carried.

As he caught sight of the well-lit, cheerful looking building, Nik couldn't help but sigh in relief. They were finally there; he could rest. Moving to the door and pushing it open with a protesting leg, the Nordic man ignored the looks of the other travelers as he approached the innkeeper. "I need a room..." he began, leaning against the wall for support. "At least a week's worth in time." The innkeeper, pale at the sight of Serenity's battered body, quickly nodded and reached for a key. "The s-second door, last hallway." he stammered out. Nik simply gave him a curt nod and spun around, making his way to the room on the other side of the inn. Once there, he balanced Serenity against him and clumsily unlocked the door, nudging it open again with his foot and stepping inside.

The room was quaint, better than he had expected. Immediately, he made his way to the bed and laid Serenity down, plopping onto the comforter beside her and resting his head in his hands with a sigh. "What a day..."

[Serenity]

Serenity moaned slightly. They had stopped moving. And she was on a bed. Her limbs suddenly felt heavier then ever, but she began to wake from her passed out state nonetheless. She opened her eyes a crack. It was darker then it had been befor. Where am I? She wondered for a split second, the days events still causing her brain to react a bit slow. Nik... She tought rather suddenly plunging herself into an unforseen panic. Where was Nik? He wasn't in her immediate line of vision. "Nik?!" She said in a frantic voice, snapping herself fully awake. Unfortunatly that also brought back her sense of pain. Hissing from the pain of moving she pushed herself upright to look for him and realized that he was next to her. Breathing a sigh of relief she began to settle herself down when suddenly she panicked again when she realized that she had NO idea where they were. "Nik?! Nik where are we? How'd we get here? Is he gone? Nik is he gone? Tell me he's gone!" She finished, her mind clearing and suddenly remembering the days events. Ramiel, he'd come out of no where. "He's gone right?" She said tears springing to her eyes as she tried to pull herself closer to Nik.

The closer Nik was to her the better. Nik had saved her and Nik would keep her safe. The only problem with moving was that she actually had to MOVE. She yelped in pain suddenly when she moved her arm and shoulder in order to help move herself. Biting her lip she realized that was a bad idea. Moving at all was a bad idea. Hell it hurt just to breath but she couldn't logically stop doing that. Reaching out torwards Nik she grasped the front of his shirt and said. "Please. Promise me he's gone."

[Nikolai Eustine]

His back went rigid at the sound of Serenity's voice, his head whipping up and body turning around to face her. To his surprise, the elfin girl managed to get ahold of the loose material of his shirt when he leaned in to comfort her, having already wiggled her way down the bedsheets.

"Serenity..." he began, not sure if he should hold her or not. However, the tears were more than enough motivation, and it took only a moment for the Nordic man to gather the sobbing heap that was Serenity into his arms and against his chest. "Serenity...I promise you he's gone. Everything will be just fine now...we're far, far away from him." he murmured soothingly, stroking a hand through her hair while the other massaged gently at her back.

[Serenity]

Serenity sniffed and slowly allowed herself to make her tears come to a stop. She bit her lip and curled up in Niks arms. "Ok. Good. Thank you" She said looking up at him. She calmed herself down considerably when he told her that Ramiel was gone. As long as Nik had said he was gone then she would be ok. The motion of Nik rubbing her back soothed her more then words could ever express and she bagan to grow tired again almost instantly. Taking a deep breath and hardening herself against the pain she reached to drape her uninjured shoulder around the back of his neck. That would be more comfortable for the both of them. Leaning into him she offhandedly noticed that she was covered in blood, and that in the process of helping her, Nik had gotten a consderable amount on him self. "Nik. I got blood on you...I'm sorry." She said groggily, her eyelids startng to droop and her adrenalin levels starting to drop rapidly.

[Nikolai Eustine]

Nik glanced down at the blotches of red smeared down the one side of his shirt with indifference, shifting to accomodate Serenity's movements. Don't worry about it. It's not the first time I've had blood on my shirt." he chided gently, smiling. "I can change later."

Moving them both back so that they were lying on the bed, his head propped upon the pillows while Serenity's rested against his chest, the blonde took a deep breath and sighed. He could only hope that he'd actually chased Ramiel off...as much as he hated to admit it, he was only one man. He couldn't always be watching Serenity...hell, he didn't even know how much longer she'd be staying with him. Their entire relationship was based entirely on convenience and spontaneity, and the elf could go just as suddenly as she'd come. His arms tightened around her waist at the thought.

Nik didn't want Serenity to leave...he could barely stand the thought. And yet he knew that day was inevitable. The minute she found out about his illness, he knew she'd leave him...abandon him. Just like everyone else.

[Serenity]

((I find it sorta funny that both of them are so worried about the other leaving yet...neither of them is ever going to say anything to the other about it. ok so she will but she's bleeding...so...meh. She's allowed.))

Serenity grumbled slightly as Nik shifted their position and tensed for a moment until the movement finished. Serenity relaxed and looked up at him. "As long as you say so..." She said drifting off torwards the end of the statment. Serenity sniffed a snuggled as close to Nik as she could get. He was warmth, and he was safety and she never wanted to him to leave her. Serenity took a deep breath and tightened her arm around him. She was starting to drift off faster then you could blink. "Please don't leave me..." She said befor she even knew what was coming out of her mouth. She had no Idea where the feeling that he would leave had come from, or why it had suddenly been so strong but she felt like she had to say something. She felt like she couldn't be without him. Ever. And that was a feeling that confused her greatly.

[Nikolai Eustine]

(*laughs* I know! One of these days, they're going to have a nice, long chat about...stuff. ^_~ And we'll all sit back and giggle.)

Nik gazed down at Serenity wordlessly, unable to manage a coherent response. He was suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to kiss her...very much like the night when she'd been drunk off her ass. His face burned with the thought...yet he knew that, in doing so, he would only open an entirely unnecessary and painful door for them both. He wasn't...normal. And he wouldn't subject Serenity to that sort of life. He wouldn't make her see him as he really was...a monster.

Feeling his heartstrings tug painfully beneath his skin, the blonde bit back a sigh and instead let his head flop back against the pillow. "Don't worry Serenity...I'm not going anywhere. Just sleep, all right?" he instructed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll still be right here when you wake up."

[Serenity]

(This is ODDLY like the thread where she was drunk. Hmmm. See...Now she wants a kiss. Just cus you said it chelly...but...methinks it should wait...maybe.)

Serenity closed her eyes. "ok. As long as you promise." She said curling up to him and slowly letting out a breath. "You sleep to ok..." She said struggling at this point to stay awake. Her eyes fluttered for a moment and she looked up at him. He had promised he would stay and he would, she didn't know why she was so worried about it. With a blink she moved her hand quickly up to grip the back of his shirt right at the neck. As long as she knew he was there she would be ok. Everything would be ok. Shutting her eyes again she sighed and relaxed herself enough to sleep. "I can't thank you enough. I don't know what I would have done without you." She said letting out a slow breath. Letting the pain fade to the back of her mind she let herself drift off until she finally fell asleep.

((Meh...you can post whoosh-ness if you'd like...))