Aeraesar When All is Said and Done

[Erën]

In the Aftermath...​

---

Walking through the wreckage in the streets, he feigned a strength he did not have. He feigned the uprightness in his back as though it always was. He feigned the strength in his countenance. He denied the burning in his body, the weakness in his lungs...

He needed to be strong.

He cast a look one way, watching those wounded limp their way along with their arm slung over an able shoulder. He gazed upon the fires that burned in the midst of great destruction. He watched as spears were driven deep into fallen monsters, purely out of spite.

His eyes lifted up to watch the pillars of smoke rise high above...

And there through the clouds, that rolling black...

Rays of light, unseen upon this city for far too many years, peeked through...

---

The Black Talon

With his sword belt and cloak draped over the backrest, Erën nearly fell into his seat just there alongside Vailë. She sat with her leg propped up on the chair next to her, set beside a large round table.

There were other groups present too. Some Aerai, some Orcs, some Humans, all of them relatively quiet and quite clearly exhausted. Az'Marith, the barkeep, set his barmaids about to tend the weary patrons.

It was on the house tonight, they said.

Erën, when the food arrived, could only look on with a somewhat distant stare placed upon it.

He was getting too old for this sort of thing.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen sat in the Black Talon, sharing in the selfsame exhaustion that everyone felt. The price of victory had been steep. But, thanks to many a valiant effort, not so steep as to resemble defeat.

And that at least was a cause for rejoicing.

She had much to think about, as well. Though her home of Vel Anir called to her, and her duties as Lady of Vel Numera had their voice as well, the war here in Aeraesar, Erën's home, was one of unblemished nobility. Its purpose rebuked any doubt, for the wanton malevolence of their foe threatened Arethil as a whole. And if the Aerai people lost here, then Alliria, Elbion, and yes, even Vel Anir would be next. It could not come to that. But for the time being, it would have to be Kristen's hope that Erën and his people held out until such time as she could return; this was a far greater effort than merely the defense of Sharyrdaes, she feared.

These thoughts did permeate her mind. But there was another, troubling her even as her plate was set on the table before her, and keeping her for a spell from eating.

"I cannot believe I let that thing get away."

The Watcher. That monster which skittered about the periphery of the battle, leering at her from this corner and that. She had almost been in a position to slay it, if not for the intervention of other troops of the Dark Army.

Erën