Valadel

Chapter XXXV

Valyn had torn up the room he and his sister were assigned to stay in, fascinated with everything he could touch and feel. Gabrielen was assigned to stay there too, and as to why, no one knew. Clothes, contents of the drawers and anything else he could find were all over the floor, bed and any other space not yet covered by articles of whatever. He held a book in his hand, studying it. It was not like the books of Valadel, those ones were torn and decayed. These books were fresh and the pages were crisp.

"What are these markings?" He asked Gabrielen, pointing to unfamiliar symbols on the pages.

"Those are words." Said Gabrielen, holding in his laughter. He knew the elves would not be familiar with any of the new world items. It was endearing to see them learn.

Facing the window and silently resting in an armchair was Aryanne. Her eyes were fixed on nothing and her face was a blank canvas, much to Valyn's annoyance. She hadn't said a word since the castle and hardly answered to anything asked of her. Valyn was bothered by her selfish actions. Did she not know he lost an uncle too? What happened to all of her fantasies and wonders about this place, the place the men called Jorden? She had never once acted like this, even when she would disappear for hours on end when they were younger, despite Tyren not telling her to.

"Aryanne, what do you think of all this? Sure, we're still in a castle, but at least it's one without cursed ones." Valyn asked.

Aryanne didn't move or even acknowledge her brother. She stared aimlessly out the decorated window.

Valyn frowned. "Aryanne...I asked you a question."

She shifted a little bit in her chair but kept her gazed focused on nothing. "It's all fine and good." She said monotonically.

Valyn frustratedly furrowed his brow. "Allmother smite me, what is wrong with you! Why are you acting so selfish?"

Again, Aryanne didn't respond. "Aryanne, answer me!" Valyn cried.

Aryanne glared at him from where she sat. "Why! Why do I have to answer you!"

Valyn threw up his hands. "Why not!? We are both in this situation, we both lost our uncle, we BOTH are the last of our kind! Could you talk to me and stop acting like a pouty little bitch?!"

Aryanne rose from her chair and quickly walked to Valyn. She planted a slap on his face, creating an unpleasant sound, one that made Gabrielen wince. Valyn quickly responded by pushing her away from him and freezing her feet to the ground. Aryanne wriggled around, trying to break her feet free. She hated when he did that. She answered by shooting a blinding light at him, causing his vision to become white.

"Ah!" Valyn yelled.

Gabrielen kept his distance. It was one thing when siblings fought. It was another when these siblings had supernatural powers that could kill you. But he felt it in his best judgement to step in.

"Hey, stop it, the both of you!" He said, coming between the emotionally fueled twin elves. Valyn held his palm flat against his eyes and Aryanne stood frozen in place, literally.

"Aryanne...your brothers right. I understand you're hurting, but so is he. I couldn't imagine being in either of your positions, but fighting won't help it. Aryanne, if you want to talk, we're both here for you. But, Valyn," he said, arguing the other side, "if she's not ready to talk...she's not ready. Give her space."

"She's had plenty of space! If she'd stop act-"

"Valyn, dammit, I'm trying to help you, okay? Just...agree, please?" Said Gabrielen.

The young elvor snorted. "Fine..."

"Thank you. Now please...let's just go back to admiring books and figure out a way to get Aryanne chiseled out of the ice."