More Than expected: (Closed Thread)

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

The colder water of the river had been an even sharper shock to Celaena's system, but she was grateful for it as Brandon hosted her onto her back and she'd had to hold on. Her arms still felt weaker than normal but she was somehow able to wrap them around his neck and lock them in place, her head resting against the back of his shoulders to keep hear head above the water as he'd swam with her to one of the small boats and hoisted her up before telling her to wait as he swam to the other boats.

She'd propped herself up on the side of the boat and watched as he'd poured something over one of the boats, not realizing yet what he was doing until he swam back to her and suddenly produced a bow and arrow, tearing some cloth and wrapping it around the arrowhead. When he began to soak the cloth in lighter fluid and hastily tossed a flint and steel at her with a pointed look there was no longer any doubt what exactly he had planned.

Immediately she began to strike the flint to the steel as best as she was able despite her still shaky hands. It took a couple of tries, and she swore softly in frustration, but eventually she was able to get the cloth to light.

 

[The_gladiator]

The half-elf watched her fumble at the task he had silently directed her to. The shot growing more and more difficult. Finally, there was a woosh as the cloth caught fire. Brandon stood smoothly, feet braced on either side of her, leaning shamelessly against her to brace. He had turned the bow horizontal almost as if it were a crossbow, he hadn’t the room to shoot it traditionally. He swore softly in elven as he lined up the shot.

Finally, the shot was away, and he removed his hips from her face, sitting back down in the boat, dropping the bow in her lap even as he reached for the paddle. As he began to paddle there was no immediate effect, no sign that he’d had any success until there was the crack of splintering wood and the crackle of flames as the oil caught fire. Brandon hadn’t even looked back at his handywork. The message that gave was very clear, it didn’t matter, for he wouldn’t have gotten a second shot. It was a desperation ploy, meant to buy them time, nothing more.

“If they didn’t know we were on the river before, they will now,” he said in a low voice, breaking his own rule about not stating the obvious. He did not tell her she had done well, but before he had said that, in that moment he had dropped the bow in her lap he had given her a tight closed lipped smile and a brief nod. She hadn’t failed him and that was important. He hadn’t told her why he’d given her the bow; he was certain she could figure it out. At the very least, not lose it, at best, defend them.

The air was cold against his wet skin, but he made no complaint and silently hoped she wouldn’t either. He would try to help take care of that later, but one problem at a time, and there were problems ahead, even as he knew their pursuers would soon be behind them.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena had given a little grunt of surprise as Brandon's crotch had suddenly been pressed against her face as he'd braced himself, but she otherwise didn't voice a protest, quickly realizing the necessity of it in that moment. It had taken her longer than she would have liked to get the clothe to light, and she knew the shot would be difficult for him. Just as when he'd been carrying her to safety before, there was no time for personal boundaries in this moment, not when their pursuers were still likely not far behind.

As soon as he'd released he arrow, he was moving to retrieve the paddle, dropping her the bow with a slight nod and a faint smile of approval on his usually stoic features before he sat and began to move them down the stream. She breathed a sigh when she finally heard the crackle of a fire, turning and watching the boat as the oil lit and the flames engulfed it. She gave a nod of agreement at his comment that the flames would signal their location though.

"Perhaps they are still searching down the wrong canal within the city though. Maybe the flames will even spread over the dock to the other boats before they notice the light of the flames," she murmured hopefully through gritted teeth, trying to keep them from chattering.

The cold waters may have helped to shock the drug from her system, but now as she sat in the boat in her soaked clothes with the night air brushing against her, her body still recovering from the drug and in shock after suck an ordeal, she felt as if she was freezing down to her very bones. She kept her grip tight on the bow despite this though, her gaze looking back and around them for any signs of pursuers.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Unfortunately, our pursuers know me too well.” He said even as he saw lights breaking away from the crackling light of the flaming boat. Torches in the hands of pursuers. Some were clearly on the banks, but others were moving too quickly for that, clearly on the currents.

Brandon probably owed her more explanation than that, but he kept his jaw clenched tight. He promised himself he would tell her more later, when they had the luxury of time. For now, she would have to trust him, or rather, continue trusting him. Unfortunately, he was right this was the third water-based escape he had attempted. “Those that become predictable become dead,” he finally added, “Unfortunately, we’re headed towards dead.” He bit his tongue then. He didn’t dare tell her about the troll crags. He had been lucky the first time he went through here with that priestess he had rescued in the beginning. His hope was that the despurdens weren’t dumb enough to follow him through the crags and the waterfall, again.

The air was split by the hiss of arrows as the nearest boat drew into range and began to fire at them. “Just what we need,” he grunted sardonically. He didn’t tell her to keep her head down, figuring she was smart enough to figure that one out on her own. He kept his head low even as he dipped the kayak like paddle in the water in alternating strokes trying to speed them down the current. “We’ll hit the rapids in moments,” he warned her through his own gritted teeth.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena's gaze had been turned outward, tracking the movement of the torches as they moved along the bank and apparently after her and Brandon upon the currents as well by the looks of things, but as Brandon spoke again her eyes darted to him in surprise. Just how well did he know their pursuers? And what was this about them headed towards dead?!

She opened her mouth to speak, but it was then that the sound of arrows was heard coming towards them and she quickly ducked low within the boat, her gaze shooting back in the direction of the sound towards their attackers. She swore softly in elven as she forced herself up to her knees, mimicking his stance from before so she would have enough room and firing an arrow in the direction of the archer on the boat closest to them before dropping back down, her eyes narrowing upon Brandon even as the satisfying cry of the man rang out, signaling that her shot had made its mark.

"Damn it Brandon, I thought I'd told you before to speak plainly!" she hissed beneath her breath, beginning to feel more like herself again now that the poison was starting to wear off.

She ducked low again and gripped the bow and the side of the boat tightly, bracing for the rapids that he'd spoke of.

"Is there anything else besides the rapids that I should prepare for?!"

 

[The_gladiator]

Brandon fought to conceal a smile at her sarcastic comment under her breath, “Nothing major, possibly a few water trolls, if the hill giants didn’t eat them, and there’s the little issue of the waterfall,” he deadpanned in response. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Even as he spoke, he used the paddle to keep them off a rock as the water picked up speed as the banks narrowed, rising up into walls of rock on either side of them. He swore as an arrow thunked into the wood just beside his arm. “I don’t want to run into scrags, done that too many times of late, but we’d be sitting ducks out here for giants throwing rocks. Do you feel lucky?” he asked her, a taste of dark humor escaping his stoicism.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena gave a short, sardonic laugh at that.

She'd been double crossed by the band of thieves she'd hoped to join, drugged, almost kidnapped and raped, been forced to flee through freezing waters with a well known murderous assassin that apparently had history with her would be kidnappers, and was now speeding towards even more dangers with that very same assassin while the band of thieves still pursued them and apparently wished to sell her into slavery should they catch her. Not to mention all the things that had happened to her prior that Brandon had no idea about, how she'd chosen to flee from her prestigious family and the elven lands in order to escape an arranged marriage, a marriage that would have been a form of slavery in and of itself.

"After all that has happened already, how could I not feel lucky?" she replied sarcastically.

 

[The_gladiator]

“That’s exactly what I thought too,” he said with a slight chuckle, “You’re still alive, right?” Brandon was Nothing if not pragmatic.

The boat began to pick up speed and suddenly there was a loud splash beside them and a wave of water washed over the side of the boat. “Definitely giants.” Brandon said unnecessarily, “The only hope is that they ate all the trolls, right?” He continued to navigate them through the increasing amount of rocks splitting the river’s surface like so many teeth. “Grab the other paddle, keep us off the rocks, and it will also be as good a weapon as any if there are trolls still in these waters. It was common knowledge that blunt weapons were the way to go if confronted by the rubbery trolls. “Also, put the pack on,” Brandon ordered as he steered them to the right of a massive bolder. That last order was also self-explanatory, if they lost the boat, they might not lose the supplies, then.

There was a second splash behind them, then a sharp crack. Brandon allowed himself a grim smile as he heard screams after the crack. The giants had hit something, fortunately, it seemed to be one of the boats of their pursuers.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena had almost wondered before if Brandon had been joking when he'd listed off all of the giants, and trolls, and scraggs, and water dangers that would soon be upon them, but she quickly discovered that he definitely had not been when she heard and felt the splash beside their boat and he instructed her to grab the other paddle to help defend themselves, and then another splash and a crack was heard behind them.

Swearing softly, she quickly donned the pack of supplies and grabbed the other paddle. No sooner had she done so when the current swept them towards a large cluster of rocks and a large rubbery troll came shooting out from behind, reaching for their boat with one of its burly arms. With a swift upper thrust, she struck the fowl creature as hard as she could on the underside of it's chin, sending its head jerking backwards and giving their boat enough time to be carried out of its reach by the fast current.

 

[The_gladiator]

Brandon was actually impressed. He couldn’t watch everything she did, but she followed orders, taking action quickly. He heard the howl of the troll and gave it a second whack for good measure as they swept past.

Blunt weapons were the way to go as a cut off arm could be regrown. Brandon had even seen a severed arm grow a new troll. “Broken troll teeth can’t grow new trolls, can they?” he asked her conversationally as they floated past, “I’d sure hate to have added to the local population.”

Their pursuers seemed to not be fairing quite so well as there were more screams. A second troll came out of the water to Brandon’s left and he tried to shove it back, but ended up grappling with it, having to leave off his paddling as it struggled, it trying to throw him in the water, where it would have the advantage.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

“Broken troll teeth can’t grow new trolls, can they?” he asked her conversationally as they floated past, “I’d sure hate to have added to the local population.”

As on edge as she currently was from having just fought off the troll, Celaena couldn't help but give a little smile at Brandon's comment. Turning towards him she'd opened her mouth as if to make a little joking quip back, but then gave a jump of surprise as the second troll suddenly burst forth from within the water. Brandon of course tried to push the creature back, but she could see that he was struggling and that the troll was trying to pull him over and into the water with it.

She quickly sprung in to help him, swinging her own paddle once more and bringing it down right on the top of the trolls bald head.

 

[The_gladiator]

It made a sickening whack when she hit the troll. Brandon watched its head pulp, the top of the head flattening. Setting his paddle down in the boat, locking a leg over it, not wanting to lose it, they’d need it soon enough, he worked on prying its fingers off of his arm one by one. Brandon could smell his own blood and swore as he finally watched the troll get swept away as the boat sideswiped a rock. It rid them of the troll but sent the boat into a spin.

Brandon caught Celaena against his chest as she was thrown off balance. He held her still until she could get her balance again. He then grabbed for his paddle. “Keep the trolls off us, I need to get us going the right way again.” He said as he furiously began to paddle trying to straighten their course. However, as the next rock struck the water near them, he was actually somewhat glad their course was somewhat erratic at the moment.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena could smell the scent of Brandon's blood as well as the boat began to spin and he caught her up within his arms against his chest, but there was no time to question him about it or check his wound at the moment. As soon as she was steady enough he released her again, grabbing his paddle as she did the same with the one he had entrusted to her.

“Keep the trolls off us, I need to get us going the right way again.”

"Right!" she quickly replied, gripping her paddle tightly and readying herself to defend their raft from any more of the creatures as he worked to steady their course, crouching down a little lower to keep herself from tipping over as the water from the splash hit them and rocked the boat.

 

[The_gladiator]

“I have only done this one other time, we have very little time between when the troll crags end and the waterfall will be come more than just a potential inconvenience,” He spoke to her more than he previously had before. But he realized that his words were helping her out, and she followed all of his instructions.

Brandon grunted as an arrow pierced his back, just inside his shoulder blade. He snarled with pain but could only spend the effort to snap off the shaft, the barbed point would have to be dug out later. He ignored it for now. The lucky shot had hit him in a crease in the leather armor he wore.

They were fortunate that no more trolls appeared however the river began to pick up speed as the cliffs descended into river banks again. It was like the river was going downhill, speeding them inexorably towards the waterfall, that Brandon could just now hear. He tried to remind himself how he had done this before, it had been so long ago. “Hold on, but do exactly as I say, when I say it,” he urged her, having to speak louder to be heard over the growl of the water.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena had given a startled gasp as the arrow had suddenly hissed through the air seemingly from nowhere and struck Brandon on his back. She watched with wide, surprised eyes as he simply broke off the shaft and continued on with his paddling attempts to get their course back on track. She was amazed by his relentlessness and was beginning to see how he had built up the reputation that he had.

She wanted to retrieve the bow and arrow again and fire back at whichever bastard had made the lucky shot, but already she could feel the current gaining speed and hear the waters of the falls growing louder in the distance. He'd said that he'd done this before, whatever it was that he had planned, but that wasn't very reassuring considering it had only been once. She wanted to ask him how exactly it was that he planned for them to survive this, but knew that there was no time, so in a rare moment of submission she simply held on tight to the side of the boat and gave him a nod.

"Ready."

 

[The_gladiator]

He had a reputation of being single minded, of always completing a job. He was determined that they would not die that day. As they approached the edge of the falls, he abruptly turned the boat sidelong so it was being swept sideways. “Can you dive?” he asked over the water. “If you can, dive, if not grab ahold of me and protect your face.”

He waited a heartbeat to wait for her answer and then at the precise second ordered “Jump.” And Flung himself from the boat. The bow over his shoulders, quiver on his belt, the pack already on her back.

He did this fearlessly, he knew if he misjudged the dive, he would hit the rocks and die instantly, but he was aiming for the pool.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

“If you can, dive, if not grab ahold of me and protect your face.”

"I can!" Celaena shouted back over the roar of the quickly approaching falls as the small boat quickly flowed sideways towards it.

Sweet Goddess, what had she gotten herself into with this one. She had not time to dwell on it however, for in the next moment he was commanding her again.

"Jump"

As he flung himself from the boat so did she, knowing just as Brandon did that there would be rocks bellow and therefor concentrating all of her efforts on pushing her legs against the raft as hard as she was able and propelling herself as far away from the side of the falls as she could, aiming for the pool below and slicing through the water in a nice clean line. She was a good swimmer, but was not used to doing so fully clothed. The pack as well was cumbersome and she found herself struggling to right herself within the water and get back to the surface.

 

[The_gladiator]

He arced through the air cleanly, cutting into the still pool below with hardly a ripple. He was pleased to see that Celaena had made it off the boat as well. He hoped their boat had gotten caught on the rocks at the top of the cliff, to foul up their pursuers, or if it went over the falls that it would survive, but he wouldn’t hold his breath hoping for either outcome. Turning the boat sidelong like that at the last second gave them a wider platform to jump from. It seemingly had worked.

A strong arm wound around Celaena’s chest, just below her breasts as the half-elf ushered her to the surface. They were not safe yet and silently, for shouting over the falls was useless he swam them over to some rocks and pulled himself out of the water, before he then helped to heave her and the pack out. He let them lay there for just a moment, while they caught their breath. Then he was up again.

He led her up a narrow path, but not further down river, but back up towards the falls. He nodded grimly to himself when he saw what he wanted and stepped out onto a rock near the falls. He gestured for her to follow, hoping she would step right where he did. He made his way to a small ledge that ran behind the falls. They had to walk sideways to make it through, but when they were perhaps in the center of the river with the silvery waterfall falling in front of them there came the passage Brandon had expected. He had to feel for it with his hand as he did not have room to turn around.

Finally, they were both in the new tunnel, and he led her in under the cliff, finally coming to a small chamber. It did not look exactly natural. “Dwarves, perhaps,” he murmured to her pointing to a cleverly disguised air shaft that would bring in fresh air and let out smoke should they light a fire. The ground was rock, but it looked like once upon a time it was swept. However, the real find was what appeared to be some sort of sleeping hammock hanging in one corner with a few old blankets tossed over it. “Home sweet home,” he joked, “With luck my former allies…” He cleared his throat, “Our pursuers don’t know about this place. I have wounds that need tended, you need to sleep off the rest of that poison. My only regret is I can’t watch the boats full of those thugs try to go over the falls like we did.”

Moving to her, he helped her take off the pack and began to dig through it. The oilcloth had kept some of its contents dry. He began laying out some sort of salve that he would have to put in the wound in his arm. He laid out a knife, and a stoppered bottle, a healing potion based on the marks scratched into its stopper. If he hadn’t been swindled by the dealer selling him the potion, he should be at least better by morning. Without fanfare he began to strip off his armor and shirt, turning his back to her. “You’ll need to get the arrow out.” The point was embedded over the bone of the scapula, fortunately so it did not go deep, though since it was barbed it would be painful to remove. He had been struck just beside a very intricate tattoo. The tattoo seemed to disguise an old scar there, incorporating it into the design. The heart was surrounded with leaves and vines and scrollwork letters. Inside the heart were two names, elven names, or written in elven script at the least.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena had been grateful for Brandon's guiding arm helping her to the surface, and then for the brief moment to catch her breath at the waterside as well. Like him though she knew however that they had to keep moving. She wasn't certain if their pursuers would be brave enough to follow them to the bottom of the falls, but if they were they certainly couldn't remain where they could be easily followed.

That was why she was so surprised when he began to lead her along a trail back towards the falls and not away from them. She lifted an eyebrow in question, but as the path narrowed and became harder to follow, yet he still ventured on with sure steady steps, obviously having been this way before, she trusted that he must have some sort of plan.

As they made their way across the rocks and behind the falls she was careful to step where he did, following his movement exactly. When he lead her into the path within the cliff side and then into the small chamber within, she could not help but look around her with surprise.

“Home sweet home,” he joked, “With luck my former allies…” He cleared his throat, “Our pursuers don’t know about this place. I have wounds that need tended, you need to sleep off the rest of that poison. My only regret is I can’t watch the boats full of those thugs try to go over the falls like we did.”

Giving a nod of agreement, she let him help her remove the pack from her shoulders and watched with interest as he began to remove some of the contents, though his comment about their pursuers had not gone unnoticed. Once more she wondered just exactly how well Brandon knew her would be kidnappers. Her thoughts were put on pause however as he began to remove his armor and shirt.

“You’ll need to get the arrow out.”

She could not help but wince slightly at the sight of the arrow sticking out of his back. Thankfully it didn't look very deep, but she was still amazed by all that he had managed to do physically with the arrow still stuck within him. She could not help but notice the intricate tattoo right beside the wound, her eyes taking in the names upon it and the scar tissue that it covered as well. She took it in for a moment before shifting her gaze back to the wound.

"I've never done something like this before," she admitted as she reached down and retrieved the knife, "You might want to talk me through it."

She gave him a bit of a wary glance.

"Maybe while you do you could also explain just how well you know our friends back there."

 

[The_gladiator]

“You will need to cut the barbs out,” he said casually, as if he were discussing cutting up a steak for dinner. “I am no doctor, I kill people, not heal them, I am sure you will figure it out.” He harrumphed at her logical question. “Well. Quite well.” He expanded upon the single word.

Taking a deep breath, he gave her a bit more, “Well, it depends a tad on who is pursuing us as to exactly how well I know them. I ran off the Despurden lieutenant who presumably was running the show in the beginning. The weasel that darted you. Unfortunately, he is probably the one who went for reinforcements.” He wasn’t sure if he had used his distinctive dagger during this job, did they know it was him, had Malic seen him?

He winced as she touched the arrow. “You might be able to yank it out. I couldn’t from that angle.” He commented.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Well. Quite well."

Celaena had arched her brow and waited. Clearly not satisfied by his short reply.

“Well, it depends a tad on who is pursuing us as to exactly how well I know them. I ran off the Despurden lieutenant who presumably was running the show in the beginning. The weasel that darted you. Unfortunately, he is probably the one who went for reinforcements.”

"Better," she commented under her breath.

She began to examine the wound more closely, using the knife to gently prod the wound and try to cut out the barbs and noticing him wince.

“You might be able to yank it out. I couldn’t from that angle.”

She nodded in agreement. That might be quicker and less painful for him overall.

"I should be able to, it doesn't seem too deep," she observed.

"Brace yourself," she warned as she wrapped her hand around the shaft of the arrow and got a firm hold, her other hand bracing itself upon his back near the wound, over his tattoo.

After giving him a moment to do so she counted, "One, two ..."

With a swift, hard pull straight back, she yanked the arrow free of his shoulder.

 

[The_gladiator]

He was highly aware of her touch as she lay her gentle hand on his back. So, near that tattoo and the old scar. Though he did not have long to be self-conscious as she counted down, prior to what he knew would come.

When she yanked the arrow free, Brandon swore in at least 6 languages, including Common, high elven, wood elf, drow, orcish, dwarven, and a couple others that may have been ogre, giant or possibly even goblin. But it was over. He handed her a bandage and the salve. He didn’t ask her to apply them, that seemed an obvious request and he was busy gritting his teeth against the pain. “I suppose I should thank you for that, but… you’ll forgive me if I don’t.” he muttered. “At least you don’t seem to enjoy hurting me, can’t say that there weren’t some that did.”

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena had admittedly not understood all of the languages that had come out of Brandon's mouth after she'd yanked free the arrow, but that the ones that she did made her eyes widen slightly with surprise and had given her a good enough idea of what had been said in the others. She winced slightly and gave an apologetic look as she discarded the arrow and took the salve and bandage from him.

“I suppose I should thank you for that, but… you’ll forgive me if I don’t.” he muttered. “At least you don’t seem to enjoy hurting me, can’t say that there weren’t some that did.”

She smiled slightly at that, opening the salve and beginning to gently apply it to the wound with her fingertips.

"And who would that be, the Despurdens or a jilted ex-lover?" she teased as she worked, hoping to take his mind off the pain.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive,” he retorted to her teasing. He winced again at the pain of the burning salve. But her fingertips were gentle. “If Shyra Lath finds out I was involved in this, pursuit will not soon end. Hell, hath no wrath and all that.” He commented dryly. “I have a talent for fucking up her plans.”

He offered her his arm next, where the gash from the troll was. It was certainly a defensive wound, where he had probably blocked the claws from getting to his face. He handed her a flask of dwarven gut buster. “That’ll clean rust off a sword blade, use it to clean the troll filth out of the wound first.” He encouraged, “Then we can put the salve on it.”

After giving her instructions he seemed to return to the earlier topic, “Shyra was there in that bar when the despurdens tried to hire you. She was watching from a distance. Was so tempting to just kill her right then. But would have drawn too much attention, that whole place was full of their flunkies.”

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Celaena looked up with surprise at Brandon as he mentioned Shyra. So not only had be apparently once been a member of the Despurdens, but he'd had one of them as a lover to boot. She could not help but wonder what had made him decide to leave. Had it been due to something between him and woman or something else?

She took the flask from him as he handed it to her, grasping it with one hand while the other supported his wounded arm and kept it steady. She popped the top of the flask open with her thumb.

“Shyra was there in that bar when the despurdens tried to hire you. She was watching from a distance. Was so tempting to just kill her right then. But would have drawn too much attention, that whole place was full of their flunkies.”

Once more she looked at him with surprise, her eyes meeting his for a moment before lowering them again and focusing her gaze back on the task at hand as she began to pour the gut buster over the wound.

"You feel you could so easily kill a former lover?.. What happened between the two of you?"