Palin Elfling, Part II. Vengance

Although Shard Elfling was only very young when her life changed she would remember it like it was only moments ago. She often though back to that night when there was no Shard Elfling, only a young Elfling called Aeriel.

It’s been a strange couple of days, thought Aeriel as she climbed into bed. First, Kalis had left the village and, though he did not know it, broke her heart. Aeriel had never told Kalis but she had secretly harboured a crush on him for the longest of times, even though he was so much older than her. Secondly Palin Elfling had disappeared. Palin was a nice enough boy, but he was nothing like Kalis as far as she was concerned. In her young mind she decided that he had obviously gone after Kalis and would turn up eventually. She could not understand, then, the panic that had struck the village this morning. Someone had said that Palin had been found out in the forest. Well that was a good thing wasn’t it? So why all the panic? For the rest of the day all she saw was villagers running around. Any time she asked what was happening no one would answer. Finally night fell and Aeriel went to bed, falling into a peaceful sleep. Little did she know but it would be the last truly peaceful sleep she would ever have.

Suddenly Aeriel woke. What had woken her, why did she feel so frightened? Then she heard it, heard the shouts and the screams of people in pain. What was happening, she thought, who was doing this? Then she looked over and saw her brother’s empty bed. Fear overtook her and in a blind panic she rushed from the house. Where was Aerin, what had happened? Running outside she was greeted by a sight that may have come from her worst nightmares. Bodies lay everywhere, the screams and moans were so sickening and all that blood. Just as Aeriel felt as though she was about to pass out she saw a sight that chilled her to the heart. There was Aerin, running towards her, shouting something but she could not hear what. What was he shouting, what was happening? Who was that figure raising behind him? Oh my god, he looks so familiar, so different.

“NOOOO!” The scream exploded from her as Palin’s hand slashed downwards into Aerin’s neck and he crumpled to the floor, lifeless. Palin just vanished into the darkness. Rushing to Aerin, Aeriel grabbed hold of his lifeless body, cradling him to her, tears rolling down her face. Suddenly there was a blinding flash of white hot pain in her back and then nothing…

Blinding pain in my eyes, she though. No, wait, that’s the sun. What happened, where am I? All these thoughts swirled in Aeriel’s mind as she awoke. Oh, what a nightmare I had last night, she thought. Then another thought followed; Hang on, this isn’t my room, where am I, why can’t I move? Aeriel’s screams brought Angel Elfling running into the room.

“Where am I?” she cried, “What happened?” Then realisation came, and with it Aeriel broke down. “Oh my god, it was real? Aerin’s dead?” she cried.

“Aeriel, Aeriel, it’s ok,” replied Angel “Aerin’s alive. He’s here. You’re in the hospital.” Slowly Angel calmed Aeriel, slowly explaining what had happened and how she had come to be there. “And when Kalis had chased him off,” he concluded “He grabbed both Bris and I and physically dragged us over to you two, forcing us to look after you. Like we wouldn’t have anyway? The Thug!”

“So I’m ok then, Aerin’s ok?” Aeriel asked, hope lighting up her face. Angel turned his face away, unable to answer. Too late though, Aeriel had seen what was in his eyes.

“What?” She screamed “What’s wrong. Tell me.”

“No” Said a calm voice behind her “You are not okay young Elfling, and neither is your brother.” Aeriel turned to see the cool, calm face of Bris Elfling gazing back at her with a steady, unwavering gaze. Angel took one look at her and gratefully fled the room. “You, both of you,” Continued Bris “Are extremely lucky to be alive. Palin came within the smallest of margins of killing your brother and only through a lot of very hard work by both Angel and I does he live. However I must tell you something and it is not pleasant. He will never walk again. Palin’s attack injured his spine to the extent that he will never again be able to use his legs.”

Aeriel started breathlessly at Bris. This can’t be true, she thought, I must be dreaming, oh why can’t I wake up, why won’t this end.

“And you, well we hope that one day you may be able to walk again but we just don’t know. The damage to your back and spine was extensive. We have healed your physical injuries but there is something else.”

“What, what else, what is it?” Aeriel cried. Never be able to walk again? It was bad enough when it was just her brother. Now both of them? This was unbearable.

“It would appear that when Palin struck you a small shard of one of his claws somehow broke off and fused itself to you spine. It’s this which is stopping you from walking.”

“Then take it out.” Shouted Aeriel “Get it out of me now!”

“We can’t, not without killing you. I’m afraid it’s stuck there permanently. The only way you will ever walk again is if you learn how to control you body again. And control it completely.” With that Bris turned and walked out of the room.

For days Aeriel lay there, sunk in the deepest despair. Her thought’s chasing around and around, turning in on themselves, feeding her despair. Finally, slowly her thoughts changed to those of anger and hatred and thoughts of revenge began to surface until, in a blinding flash one though came to her. I WILL HAVE VENGANCE. As if this thought had thrown a switch inside her Aeriel slowly, painfully began to move her legs, dragging herself from the bed. She landed with a thud on the floor, her useless legs crumpling beneath her, the sound bringing Angel running into the room.

“What are you doing” He screamed, grabbing hold of her “How did you get out of bed. I’ve got to get you back to bed, quickly before Bris sees you.”

“Get off me, Leave me alone” Aeriel shouted pushing him away.

“But, but, but you can’t get up, you’re not well, you have to stay here. I have to…”

“Leave her alone Angel.” Interrupted Bris from the doorway. “She needs to do this by herself.” Angel rose and backed away as Bris continued coldly “Listen to me young Elfling. I know you’re angry and I know why, far better than you could ever imagine. Angel and I have spent days trying to save not only you but all the other poor souls that Palin hurt. And some of those were hurt far worse than you. So if you want revenge or whatever you want to call it then I won’t stop you. But neither will I help you, that’s not my way. So whatever you feel the need to do, go ahead but you will do it alone.” At this Bris turned and dragged Angel from the room.

Outside the room Bris turned to Kalis Elfling, standing quietly in the corner, anguish clearly evident on her face. “Oh Kalis, why does it have to be like this?” she cried ”What right do we have to do this to her, to use her like this.”

“We have no choice. Palin will never listen to you or me now. We need someone else to get to him.”

“I know, but it’s so hard. I hate lying to her”

“I know,” replied Kalis, “But if she knew that she could walk then how much chance do you think we would have of convincing her to train herself before she went after Palin. This is the only way, believe me.” With that Kalis turned and left the room.

Meanwhile, in her room, Aeriel was lying on the floor, consumed with anger. They won’t help me? She thought. Fine then, I’ll do it myself, I don’t need them. I’m going to find Palin and when I do I’ll kill him. Slowly, with every fibre of her being, Aeriel forced her unwilling legs to respond, dragging herself to her feet and staggering out of the hospital, out of the village and into isolation and solitude.

Months passed and slowly life began to return to normal in the village. No one gave much thought to the disappearance of Aeriel, mainly due to a rumour planted by Bris. Aeriel had been too badly injured to be healed in the village and had to be taken away for further treatment. Life for Aeriel, however was not normal, not anymore. She had found herself wandering in the forest with only one burning desire, vengeance. She had no idea, though, how she would accomplish this, how would she be strong enough. Bris’ words burned in her mind. ‘You must learn control but I won’t help you, you will do it alone’ she had said. So be it thought Aeriel, thinking of the cold, distant look on Bris’s face. But now she began to wonder how was she going to do this alone? She needed help, but who, who could help? Finally her wanderings led her to an ancient Elfling living deep in the forest. Starving, weak and delirious with exhaustion she staggered into his camp, collapsing unconscious at his feet. Hours later she awoke finding herself in a small room with the old Elfling standing over her. Fearfully she sat up, backing away from him.

“Have no fear, young child” said the Elfling calmly. “You sought me out, so here I am.”

“I sought you out? What do you mean? How could you know what I’m looking for?”

“I know. I know all about you Aeriel. I know what you went through and I know what you want. I can help you”

“Help me, how?” asked Aeriel, now thoroughly confused.

“You need to learn how to control you body again, control it completely. I can teach you that. If you will let me.”

“Well it seems that I have no choice.” Replied Aeriel in resignation. So Aeriel’s training began. Weeks turned into months and slowly Aeriel learnt the total control that she needed. The abilities to defend herself with nothing but her bare hands and even to summon her internal energies to heal her wounds were hers and soon, soon she would be ready. One day, near the end of her training the old Elfling pushed her harder than ever before.

“Faster. Harder.” He would say as she worked herself to the brink exhaustion “You must be ready for anything, at any time. Your body is weak” he repeated for what seemed like the thousandth time “Master it, make it obey you.” Finally the day was done and Aeriel collapsed into her bed and fell into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

Hours later she awoke. What had woken her? For a moment the old nightmares returned. Had Palin come back to finish what he started? No, she realised, that was not it. It was voices that had awoken her, voices she recognised, speaking quietly just outside the hut. Silently Aeriel crept from her bed to the window. Peering out of a gap in the shutters she could just make out the silhouette of two people. The old Efling and, of all people, Bris Elfling! Aeriel choked back a gasp of shock as Bris said quietly “So, is she ready? Can she do it?”

“I feel no pride in this burden you have placed on me my daughter but yes, she is ready. She will do what you want.” Aeriel saw a small smile of satisfaction cross Bris’ face and flames burst in her mind, blotting out the old man’s next words.

“I warn you though Bris, there is a great deal of anger there, a great deal of hatred. If she ever learns that you lied to her, even for the right reasons, she will turn on you too.”

“Then I will have to make sure she never does.“ replied Bris sadly, turning and disappearing into the darkness.

Slowly Aeriel crept back to her bed, anger and a burning rage consuming her thoughts. What had they done to her? Her brother? It was all Bris Elfling’s doing. She was responsible. Then a staggering thought crashed over her. Had Bris turned Palin against her, had she used him too, just like she was using her? She had to find out. An icy resolve settled over Aeriel Elfling. She would track down them all, Bris, Kalis and anyone else who was involved and make them pay for what they had done. Quietly she gathered her meagre possessions and crept out of the hut, stepping out of the door just as the old Elfling returned.

“Aeriel, what...” he began as he saw her.

“Don’t speak to me” she snarled cutting him off with a wave of her hand “And don’t use that name. Aeriel Elfling is dead, you and your guttersnipe daughter killed her. Yes, I heard you and now I’m going to find her and return the favour.” With that she turned and disappeared into the darkness.

With a sigh the old Elfling turned as two figures appeared from the woods. “I hope you know what you’re doing, I really do.”

“We do,” replied Kalis, looking at Bris. “We have no choice, she’s his only chance.”

Days later a strange young Elfling appeared in the village. Dressed all in dark, tight fitting clothing with a veil across her face the stranger approached a young Elfling sitting on a bench, a pair of crutches lying next to him. “You,” the stranger said in a cold voice “I’m looking for someone, where can I find Bris Elfling?”

“She’s not here “replied Aerin Elfling sadly, ”I haven’t seen her in months.”

“Then where is she?”

“I don’t know, none of us do, though the last thing I heard is that she may have gone somewhere with a friend of hers.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere called Paragon City.”

“I thank you” said the stranger, turning away.

“Wait.” called Aerin, “Do I know you, what’s your name”

The stranger paused, turning “My name, my name is Shard Elfling and no, you do not know me.”

With that Shard walked out of the village of her birth, her sights set firmly on Paragon City and vengeance. Vengance against Bris and Kalis Elfling.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Part 1 can be read here

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Kalis Elfling - Inv/Axe Tanker. [i]Kevin is watching... Always[/i]
Proud member of [url="http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/"]Honourable United[/url]
@Tellis - I reserve the right to be ridiculous![/center]

You can read Part III here.

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[center][IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2585/resistancesig3.png[/IMG]
Kalis Elfling - Inv/Axe Tanker. [i]Kevin is watching... Always[/i]
Proud member of [url="http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/"]Honourable United[/url]
@Tellis - I reserve the right to be ridiculous![/center]