From th' horizon two-beats a smoke-wash'd czar, royal blood clearly present within 'is veins. Stretching out 'is graceful pillars as 'e two beats 'ward a large grey rock in th' centre o' th' beautiful terrain, 'e tosses 'is forelock from 'is deep auburn optics, leaving it winding its way down 'is finely featured crainia. Throwing 'is crown 'e quickens 'is paces, now three-beating slowly 'ward th' lookout on which all ancient kings o' th' past 'ad stood 'pon. Reaching th' rock 'e slides to a halt, silvery banners tumbling decoratively down 'is arched curvature. Pawing th' emerald geo for a moment with 'is charcoal daggers, 'e ascends th' outcrop, daggers picking their way gracefully o'er th' rough terrain. Reaching th' top, 'e smiles as 'e gazes 'pon th' breathtaking sight afore 'im. Th' aureate solar is at th' point where its buillon glow fades to a delicate golden sheen, leaving all objects in a dark silhouette. Staring 'bove 'im, 'e catches a first glimpses o' th' night star, shimmering 'bove all for eons afore, and an eternity to come.

Taking a deep breath into 'is lungs, Autumn rears into th' oxi, pow'rful daggers lashing th' terrain, vocals letting loose a scream for all who follow th' pathway to Heaven. Landing back 'pon th' topography with a dull thud 'e 'is somewhat startled as a chestnut figurine materialises afore 'im. Stepping backward abruptly 'e smiles as 'e recognises th' russet form as th' Sacred God, Blaze. Dipping 'is crown to th' God in reverence 'e approaches th' czar slowly, whickering a soft greeting as th' God smiles back at 'im.

Blaze nickers a greeting and tosses 'is crown as th' moon-drenched King approaches. 'is gaze meeting Autumn's, a brief smile blesses 'is features afore 'e parts 'is librims to greet th' King.

'Lo Autumn. 'Tis a long time since our last meeting, 'e says quietly, finding that 'e 'as no need for loud vocals.

Aye, and we converse now in days darker than that time, 'e says softly, smooth melodicals flowing from 'is chords with a hint o' comedy within then. Dipping 'is crown once again to th' noble czar 'e returns 'is attentions to th' terra boundary, where a few lune-wash'd equines are entering th' terrain. Dipping 'is crown in acknowlegment o' a greeting given to 'im by a Sacred 'e sifts through th' somewhat sparse population o' th' Blessed lands, searching for 'is sib.

Silhouetted against th' pale golden sun, Dancer two-beats slowly into th' terrain. She looks 'round 'er with 'er enchanting azul oculi, surveying th' equines that pass 'er by. Many stop and greet 'er as 'he passes, and 'he 'is forced to answer then politely, wishing within 'er mind that, like 'er sib, 'he could disappear from mortal view and stride among th' equines unnoticed. Aware o' a prescence 'hind 'er, 'he spins 'round quickly, to find a brood o' czars following 'er, shoving in order to get to th' front o' th' group. They assume passive expressions as 'he stares at them, and shuffle off, murmuring within their group as they melt into th' crowd. Rolling 'er orbs as 'he continues to make 'er way 'ward th' silvery figurine 'he now recognises as 'er sib, 'er thoughts turn to 'er own suitor, Hacer, and 'er dear bantle Elessar. 'he 'as left Elessar in Hacer's care for an hour or so, and after hearing 'er sibs calling 'he 'as traversed 'ere, hoping to meet th' duo at this terra. 'er pale curvature beginning to ache from trying to see o'er th' cran's o' many equines taller than 'er in an attempt to seek out 'er dear ones, she realises that 'he will 'ave a much better view from where 'er sib 'is standing.

Ascending th' steel-hued rock 'he nudges 'er sibs dappled pelt with 'er ashen streaked mug, lipping 'is tresses affectionately as 'he whickers a soft greeting and bows 'er beautiful tiara to Blaze in respect.

'Lo Autumn, M'Lord Blaze. I hope ye are well? 'he says contentedly, 'er question directed more to th' Sacred God than 'er sib. Awaiting 'is reply 'he looks past 'is immortal, sorrel frame, to survey th' now several hundred pale-pelted equines shifting o'er th' terrain, to where hopefully, in a few moments time, 'er love and bantle will be standing.

Silvery, lacy dappled pelt shimmers under the moonlight as the warrioress three beats over the emerald terrain, 'er snowy silken tresses flowing in 'er swift wake to catch the beams. 'Er visage was set in a look of military seriousness, 'er mind on the fate of 'er kind as 'he makes 'er way lithely through the mass of Blessed equines. 'He sighs as 'he catches sight of bantles with their young dams, and elder equines conversing in their own little groups. If war was to break out, these would be the ones to die first. The Shadows were ruthless opponents, and won't show mercy to the innocent young, nor the harmless old. The warrioress Icinnia slows to a smooth two beat as 'he approaches the King, and 'he feels 'erself swoon a little despite 'erself. 'He still hadn't been able to get 'im out of 'er system, even with 'er best efforts to talk sense into 'erself. Putting these feelings aside for a moment, 'he slows to a halt and stands a short distance behind Autumn and clears 'er throat roughly to draw attention to 'er presence, but 'he did nothing more.

((Sorry, I know it's crap, I'm just trying to reply to some posts))

Ruby chestnut Striker an' moonlit silver Nico stride strongly to meet the group, escortin' their sisters, palomino Honey an' dappled Amelias. The loyal stags dip their dials low to the King and God of the Sacreds, Striker smilin' slightly, Honey an' Amelias bowin' in turn.
Greetings King Autumn and God Blaze
Nico's voice was deep but light as 'e spoke to 'is Sacred sovereign and god.

Sontaris arrived then, 'is facade stormy an' bowed to the twosome before movin' off to greet the approchin' Jillarist.

A small shadow slipped among them, timmedly watchin' the sovereign and god with 'is large purple blue orbs. 'e watched from 'hind the other bodics, 'is shiny blue-black form would stand out among the many lighter pelts if seen, with 'im marked like a demon.

[.x.] "As well as any czar can be in these times, thank ye Dancer," says the immortal contentedly, smiling gratefully at Dancer. Dipping his sorrel hued crown to acknowledge a greeting given to him by a Blessed, Blaze's gaze turns to below him, to lay orbs onto the silvery warrioress Iccinia. A soft smile graces his features as he notes the way the fae regards her King. Turning a somewhat amused glance over to Autumn, the divine being is suprised to see the King watching the belle with the same expresson upon his visage as the vix has upon hers. Supressing a grin, the immortal keeps silent as he senses the passion between the two, but experiences a stab of worry in case Autumns new infatuation distracts him from his duties. He cannot condemn the King for finally finding a belle, he had been alone and without love for so long now, missing out on the usual chances a normal czar would have to mix with femmes, but Blaze cannot help but worry about Autumn making rash or thoughtless decisions just because he is too busy with the warrioress to worry about the war.

But as he watches the two for a while longer, it becomes apparent that the two are not keen to admit their feelings to each other. Noting Autumn’s darting gazes toward the fae through his forelock, Blaze decides to end their games and taps his hind flint loudly upon the terrain, creating a loud noise which deters the King from Icinnia. Giving Autumn an amused look, making it clear he has noticed his infatuation with the dappled vix, Blaze throws his crown in a gesture to the hundreds of lune-drenched equines milling about, reminding Autumn that he has brought this alliance together in this one place, and now he must address them with whatever he wishes.

“’Lo Striker, Nico. I hope ye are well? says the dappled czar, dipping his smoky crown to the two. Turning his cerebrum in the direction of Blaze, and parting his librims to converse with the sorrel deity, he is stopped in his tracks as, out of the corner of his pool, he spies Icinnia. Halting suddenly in his actions, librims still parted, Autumn looks upon the radiant form of the belle, unable to tear his gaze away from her. Realising that his maw is still open, the King shuts his maw quickly, aware of how gormless he must have looked to Ice. Feeling a sudden wave of anxiety as he tries frantically to think of something to say to her. Finally, he manages to part his librims again, and stammer out a few nervous vocals.

” ‘L… ‘Lo Ice ” says the sovereign, giving the belle a brief smile as she meets his gaze. Gazing into her enchanting azure gaze, the King tries to convey his feelings for her through his orbs, concern beating his resolve to tell her of his feelings the next time they met. Unsure of what to say now, he is somewhat relieved when Blaze grabs his attention, but then completely embarrassed as he sees the way that Blaze is looking at him. Suddenly realising that Blaze knows of his infatuation, a cold pit of embarrassment forms at the bottom of his stomach. Feeling his crown grow hotter, the King turns his cerebrum away from the Sacreds, desperately hoping that none of them had noticed him and Ice either. [.x.]

Seeing the King turn to face 'er with 'is maw frozen open was almost enough to make the 'ess laugh, but 'he simply bit 'er silvery bottom lip and nodded to 'im with no less respect than any other loyal subject. In 'er absence from 'is service 'he had convinced 'erself that 'he would be 'is warrioress, a loyal soldier, and nothing more.

Not 'is lover. Not 'is mate. Never 'is queen.

'He keeps 'er head down for a moment to wipe any trace of emotion from 'er visage as 'he had been trained to do, then pulls 'erself up again to stand like a fighter before 'er King. Cold pools now looked into 'is ones, finding 'is feelings for 'er written within. 'He refused to let that fact shatter 'er promise to 'erself, 'he needed to keep 'er King focused on this war, or the equines that followed and respected and relied on 'im so much would all suffer in the end.

'He as a trained warrioress should have known better then to let 'erself fall for 'er commander. Doing what 'he was about to do would hurt them both, break hearts and destroy dreams of the future they might have had were the conditions more appropriate. Many times Ice had dreamt of spending 'er days at Autumns side, as 'is mate and love, raising 'is bantles to be as noble and just as 'e. Even though 'he knew deep down that 'he felt stronger affection for 'im now than ever before, when 'he stands before 'im now to break 'is innocent heart, 'he too knew that it was what had to be done. 'He wouldn't let 'erself be a distraction to 'im, they could not act upon their obvious feelings and they could never be eachother's love - and 'he would let 'im know this the only way 'he knew how. Bluntly.

King Forver Autumn, stop looking at me like that - any feelings that I had for you past loyalty and reverence are gone, ye had better rid yourself of any feelings ye have for me for I am simply not interested. Now, how may I be of service? 'He enquires shortly, 'er wintery gaze meeting 'is firmly, demanding that 'e stop feeling the way 'e did. 'He was once a cold and calculating strategist and warrioress, and passionate about serving 'er alignment. 'He wanted that role back again, only then would 'he feel complete and honourable. But even though 'he was as hard as ice, looking Autumn dead in the eye and lying to 'im about how 'he felt was the most painful thing 'he had ever done. As stinging tears pressed behind 'er pools 'he snorts in determined annoyance and presses them right back, knowing that 'he had sacrificed 'er fragile heart for the greater good of the Lights, and in that knowledge, 'he was proud and even relieved with 'er actions. 'He had done the right thing.

[.x.] Concern sparks within the brujos deep amber pools as he notices that the silvery orbs of the belle, which are normally so vibrant and full of life, are now blank and emotionless. Cerebrum tips to one side thoughtfully, audits prick forward as he wonders what on Earth can be wrong with her. As she speaks, a hard, painful lump forms in his throat, a cold pit of shock forms within his stomach, and he fights to keep his emotions from spilling onto his visage. Nape is turned away from the warrioress for a moment while his nares flare sharply in an effort to squeeze the air particles past the painful blockage in his throat. He bites his lip harshly to control the emotions that are now roaring through him like a hurricane. Turning his gaze back to Ice, he feels a stab of pain run through his chest as he gazes upon her radiant frame, one he would never feel the silken touch of. She... she didn’t love him as he loved her. Didn't return his affections as he heavily bestowed them. There is only one reason for her plain and brutal outburst; she does not see past the mask he places upon himself to hide his emotions from the world. Does not seek to surpass the thick walls he has surrounded his heart in. Does not see the real brujo inside him, a brave warrior whom destiny has called before the time was right, who harbours a deep longing for affections, whom seeks naught from her but her love.

Amber orbs shimmer silver in the twilight darkness, and then drain of all emotion as the King accepts what he must do to ensure the survival of his alliance. He must give up everything he loves, everything he cherishes, everything he holds dear. Hazel painted gaze is turned to the geo for a moment as his composure is regained in a matter of seconds. Stormy pools fall blank and emotionless upon the warrioress in casual manner as his silvery librims part to answer the warrioress request for orders in calm and toneless manner, determined not to comment on her blunt words afore those of her request for orders.

"Ye can go guard the borders if ye wish. Otherwise, ye may conduct yerself in any manner that ye see fit," he says tunelessly, lyricals laced with a hint of authority as he promptly dismisses the bruja with a quick flick of his crown. Turning his rump to the vix in a clear gesture that their conversation is over, Autumn engages in a casual conversation with Dancer about the most boring thing he can think of - how many different species of bird reside within the many trees at Silverstream Moutains. [.x.]

Ouch. There it was. The pain. Never before in her life had Icinnia suffered a blow such as that. In all her years of battles and war, never had she been hurt this much. Yet she had just let herself say what she had said, knowing it would hurt them both so much. She felt as if a shard of ice had just stabbed her right through her fragile heart, freezing it and shattering it to pieces. Autumns look of pure dejection and heartbreak was more than she could handle, so as she was dismissed, she could not even hold her tiara up anymore. As soon as she was out of Autumns sight, her proud carriage began to droop, even her pelt and banners seemed to lose their lustre. She felt like crying, relieving herself of the tight feeling of guilt, heartache and pain her bodice held by letting crystalline drops spill from her pools onto the warm accepting geo, but she could not. Not here.

Her King had told her to guard the borders, so with one last look at Autumn, the love she would want for the rest of her life but that she could now never have, she begins her trek to the outpost, a high rocky rise on the outskirts of the clearing. She thinks as she jogs swiftly, her thoughts always coming back to the pain in Autumns pools. Each time she rembered it, the pain within her equaled his, building up, until finally she could not supress her emotion anymore. Far from the sight of any equines, Icinnia, noble, cold warrioress breaks under the hurt.

Tears and moans of agony burst forth from her, and she lets herself trip and land heavily on the emerald carpeted terrain where she lay 'pon her side and sobs like a frightened flicka, pawing desperately at the geo with her free limb, destroying what of the grass she could in her pain. Why did she have to do the right thing? Why could she not have been selfish just this once and told him instead that she adored and loved him? Why did she have to suffer, as she always had, for her alignment? All these things raced through her mind, before she quickly came to a conclusion that she had never reached before, and through softening sobs she voices it into the velvet blades at her maw.

It's not fair... She sighs, before her sobs intensify once more, saline droplets running from her silvery pools to meet the cool soil.

[.x.] Tears press painfully behind Autumn's stormy pools as the radiant visage of Icinnia is turned away from him. A part of him wants to rush after her, to comfort her, to tell her he didn't mean any of it. That he has always loved her, and always will, for as long as the infinite heavens watch over this world. But as strong as his yearning to dash after the 'essa is, so is the strong voice at the back of his mind, telling him not to be so selfish and just let her go. So, with excellent mental control, Autumn somehow manages to keep himself perfectly still, for fear that one slight movement will cause his limbs to betray the iron will of his mind and pursue the receding silver form of the vix.

The dappled sovereign lowers his nape, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood in an effort to prevent himelf sucummbing to the colossal desire to allow his built-up anger and hurt to fall in the form of crystalline tears to the soft mossy terrain below his flints. He feels another stab to his heart as the dappled form of Icinnia disappears from his view. Never before has he felt pain like this. It feels to him like a stake has been plunged straight into his chest and has dragged his still-beating heart out from his frame, only to be trampled on the moment it hits the geo. Autumn thought he had suffered the worst pain any equine could go through - having to watch his own fathers murder while himself being powerless to act. But this is a different kind of pain. It feels like suddenly, there is nothing left to live for.

Swallowing hard, the King Forever Autumn buries his emotions deep within his mind, and stares determinedly out across the rolling plains of the land, the tears shimming within his pools the only clue to the emotions that are ravaging his heart.

-------------------------------------------

Dancer's deep hazel orbs darken in concern as she senses how distraught her sib is. Although she has not heard the conversation between the warrioress and her King, she can guess what Autumn has had to do is one of the hardest desicions of his life. Pushing Blaze aside gently, she lips Autumns tassels comfortingly, knowing there is nothing she can do to help him, except offer him solance and a shoulder to cry on. The Princess looks towards the hills, and sees the figure of Icinnia brushing roughly through a group of equines and hurrying toward the hills. Sorrowful orbs are directed to the geo sadly; she knows what terrible pain the warrioress must be feeling. Touching Autumn gently with her ashen-streaked maw she quickly excuses herself and sprints after the vixen, banners of purest alabaster streaming 'hind her as her long gait quickly carries her to the winding path up the hill. Determinedly, Dancer sets off up the rocky mount, agile pillars carrying her with ease. As she reaches a smoother part of the terrain, a point where her four pillars can stand at an equal height, her flints move forward with caution as she hears anguished sobbing from around the corner of the outpost. Harks flickering vigilantly, the Princess embarks with caution around the ninety-degree cleft in the rock, careful not to startle to warrioress as she sees her weeping morosley upon the geo.

A sigh of regret escapes her kissers as she nears the belle and extends her maw to offer some comfort, however small it may be.

"Oh Icinnia, whatever is wrong? It is surely a thing of great importance to ye, however trivial it may see to others, for ye to be this upset. Come now, it is not comely for a warrioress of yer beauty to be this distraught. Calm yerself, and then tell me what is wrong with ye. Ye need not hurry yerself, I have naught to do that of is of such great importance that I should ignore a femme as upset as ye today, so if ye need minutes, or even hours to think, I shall wait for ye." Dancer says in her smooth, sweet tones, laced with a hint of sorrow and comfort as she speaks to the fae in an attempt to calm her. She did not speak of what she suspects is wrong with her, for she knows Ice may not want to talk to her and may make up some excuse for her tears, although the Princess is fairly sure of the source of her troubles.

Folding her long pillars gracefully under her, the alabaster vix sighs softly, and turns her gaze restpectfully away from the dappled belle, awaiting any response she may, or may not, make. [.x.]

Keen hearing of the belle caught the sound of approaching hoof beats long before there was ever a voice to match it. Though she heard the kind words, and wished that they would end, she could not seem to stop her tears from falling. For what seemed like a long and miserable time, Icinnia continued to weep with intermissions of jagged breath, until finally she felt she could cry no more. Slowly the wetness about her pale pools dries, as she lays with her tiara on top of her folded fores, the bitter wind that reaches the high outpost carrying the tears away on the breeze. Under one such breeze she shivers, then reluctantly stands, finding her usually sturdy pillars shaking underneath her lithe frame, much to her suprise. The warrioress now sighs with her cran low, aware that the Princess's gaze was fixed upon her. That fact made her uncharacteristically nervous - probably because in some femme to femme unspoken communication, Dancer knew the source of her sadness.

Finally Ice worked up the comfort to look into the visage of the other 'ess, pleading Dancer with her sad azure orbs to question her. She was ready to talk, but she knew not how to start such a conversation. She was well out of her comfort zone in this situation of hearts and emotion - she knew of only hate, battle and war.

[.x.] Dancer watches the feminine wth sorrow in her pools as the listens to the heartbreaking sobs of the warrioress. A part of her wants to get up and walk off, for her sobs are making Dancer feel rather emotional aswell. Laying her silvery crown on top of her fore pillars, waiting for Ice to calm herself, the belle's audits flicker in anticipation as she realises that the sobs are no longer coming from the vixen's vocals. Raising her cerebrum from her pillars, the Princess looks at the femme expectantly, and as Ice rises to her flints, she does too, standing smoothly upon the flat terrain, waiting for Ice to speak.

As the warrioress looks at her, it becomes clear to Dancer that the belle is nervous, and that she does not want to be the one to instigate the coversation. Well, Dancer thinks, neither would I if I was speaking to my love's sister. . Not really knowing what she is going to say, the alabaster belle parts her kissers to speak, knowing that the words will come to her.

"It's Autumn, isn't it? she says sympathetically, a smile creeping across her librims as thinks of the two together.

"It's not you, Autumn's always been pretty rubbish at all this emotional stuff - the daft brujo he is. But even I can see he loves you, and I can also see that you love him." she says, a grin now showing upon her librims as she speaks. As she finishes her lyricals, there is a questioning one to her voice, as if to ask Ice what the problem is, in other words, why she has not spoken to Autumn about her infatuation yet. [.x.]

OOC: I figure we may as well finish this thread up Freedom, it's old. I'll have Ice get over herself, and come back down to Autumn and she can apologize and then they can leave together for their "mission" thread thing that's in Silverstream - I hate characters being in more than one place, it doesn't make sense...

The distraught femme feels emotionally exposed, embarrassed, hurt and confused all at once. At a loss for words she looks at the kind princess with sad orbs, nodding in recognition at all of her words. She is so right, so damn right. Ice takes a moment to smile in gratitude towards the 'ess, before she begins to scold herself for her actions, behaving as if she were a love-lorn filly.

Ice shakes her cran gently as if to rattle her senses back into place before she stands on limbs only halfway eager to support her weight. She wobbles a bit as she walks past the alabaster frame of Dancer and touches the femmes platform tentatively with her muzzle.

Thankyou my Princess, I know what to do now... She says stiffly but kindly, her gaze showing that she was very grateful for her comforting efforts, though she would never be able to express it. Sure that she has given adequate thanks, she begins to head back down the way she had came up here when she suddenly halts, just before the start of the steep descending trail. She turns with a half grin to Dancer.

Walk back with me? She asks politely. After Dancer had rushed up here to offer her support and comfort, it would be rude and unfair of Ice to leave her to make her way back down alone. After this mess, Ice was beginning to think of Dancer as a potential friend, and who would shy away from that?

OOC: Yeah, okies :lol: This postie is gonna be short...

BIC: [.x.] Watching Ice in silence, Dancer gives Ice a kind smile as she notices the embarassment in the femmes pools. Taking a few steps to the side as the belle walks past her, the Princess allows her to walk on, catching her vocals with a smile and a kind glance, dipping her tiara slightly as Ice shows her gratitude. Parting her kissers to speak, Dancer catches sight of Autumn a way away, and grins as the feminine walks, if a little unstably, in his direction.

"Don't worry about it. You needn't bother with the 'my princess' thing, though. Dancer works just fine" she says in a friendly tone of voice, showing the warrioress that she is more than happy to engage in conversation with her. Smiling again as Ice halts and asks her to walk back with her, the Princess nods and jogs slightly to catch Ice up. Walking by her side, Dancer looks to Ice, wondering if there was anything else she wanted to say.[.x.]