Realm of Remorse

Death of Diplomacy

The sun was dropping, the glowing ball of light started to fall towards the tree line. The layer of smoke in the air almost blocked out the light, the last specks of light turned into glowing specks of ash in the wind.

Her back ached, the trunk of the tree threatened to fuse to her back. She'd been sat there for hours, biding her time. The ashfall had grown so bad she'd had to throw up her cloak hood, If ash sticks to my hair, it'll never come off. She thought, glancing at the specks of ash that threatened to cover every surface it could find.

It was like a blanket. A blanket of death and destruction.

Fenris was crouched in the branches above, she had to strain her head back to see. He was covered in the ash, if it wasn't for the light of the campfire, he would've blended into the tree.
"Remind me of the plan again would you?" She was tired of the silence, her blood was buzzing, she wasn't sure how much longer she could stay still.
Above, Fenris' hand reached out to catch a speck of ash, trapping it between his thumb and forefinger. "Plan A or B?"
"Plan B. That's the backup plan I assume?" She shifted position, but her neck was still craned to observe his actions.
"That's the preferred plan." He spared her a glance, before returning his attention to the ash. "They refuse to leave, we take them out. One. By. One." To punctuate his sentence, he crushed the speck in his palm, before sprinkling it below.
She lowered her head, as it dropped on her hood. She dusted it off before looking back up. "We? They're twice our size. I have a dagger, that's it." She muttered, pulling her dagger out from her sleeve. She examined it. The blade was sharp, like a thorn as it pricked her fingertip. Perfect for making Fenris shut up for once. She smiled at the blade and lowered it, hoping she wouldn't have to actually use it. Well, I can hope at least. I'm not sure if hope will stop me from using it on Fen. She tucked it away in her sleeve and got to her feet. One blade better be enough.
~ ~ ~
Fenris scoffed at her response, she was purposely acting stupid, she had to be. He wasn't certain what would happen if she was actually ridiculous enough to believe his joke. "Yes we, if I left you alone I'd never hear the end of it from your whining guard." He scoffed at her. Edeva tutted in annoyance. "Do you have to insult everyone?"
Fenris shrugged, "I didn't call him a dog this time did I?"
She rolled her eyes at him, he frowned at her. "Maybe I'll gut you after we finish with the orcs. That would be the best way to end a day from the shores of hell."
Fenris burst out laughing, lazily looking down at her. "We're in The Forge. This is hell."
Edeva bit her lip, for a moment he feared it would bleed but then she looked at her dagger, then back at him with a smirk. "Do you have a preferred hand or leg?"
He eyed her carefully, She's planning something, he could tell by the slight tilt of her head. Fenris cursed himself, irritated he had picked that detail up. Well, it's not my fault I pay attention to details. He scoffed at the thought before returning his focus to Edeva. She waved her dagger around, waiting for his reply. He blinked at her, choosing his words carefully. "Why do you ask?"
"So I know which limb to remove first." She smiled at him sweetly, as he slid off the branch. He dropped beside her, sending up a cloud of ash that made her cough. He strode past and crouched by the opposite side of the campfire. He didn't like that idea, in fact, he was almost disappointed he hadn't thought of it first.
He rested his hands on his knees, looking at her. "You're wicked aren't you?"
Edeva watched the firelight dance along her blade, Fenris studied her with intrigue. Does she miss it? He wondered to himself before he could ask the question, she replied. "Maybe I am. All I know is, someone like me can make your life a nightmare." She looked at him, smirking.
He was shaking his head, but she must have noticed the slight quirk of his lips, Fenris cursed under his breath, he couldn't deny it, the notion amused him. After a beat of silence, he replied. "What if I'm the nightmare?"
She shook her head. "You aren't. You just wish you were."
"Tell that to the people whose dreams I haunt. To the people who turn in their graves at the mention of me." His amused look had disappeared, he schooled his face into his typical smirk, I have to keep my mask up. He was wary of her as he looked into the fire. She was watching him and he hated himself for being so aware of it. He wanted her to go away, to stop subconsciously wearing him down. He muttered his next words, but he knew that she heard them. "I'm a nightmare to the broken people."
He raised his head to see her drop her dagger into her lap. She straightened up so she could stare at him. He forced himself not to flinch away from her gaze. "Broken?" He wasn't sure what he had meant. He frowned, realising she had picked up on it. He rubbed his eyes, Edeva was confused, her eyes were wide. He closed his eyes to silently curse the High-Mother. Why won't she just go away? He wanted to shout at her, but all he could do was speak quietly.
He looked back at her, a sombre smile on his face. "I've broken many people." He looked at her, expecting a comment. She shrugged, waiting for him to continue. Why isn't she scared? She should be scared...
"Hearts are like glass, easily broken. You of all people should know that." He stared at her blankly, waiting for the all too familiar flicker of fear to cross her face, but it didn't appear. His mood soured.
He had to swallow the urge to laugh, she must have something wrong with her. Everyone is afraid of me. That's how it should be. He flinched at the sound of her laughter, his eyes narrowed when she held her side.
"That's where you're going with that? You, of all people, you break people's hearts?" She paused for a second, laughing. "I thought you were going to say torture, as in you broke their souls, I've heard the stories."
Fenris couldn't help the hurt that appeared on his face. She was mocking him. He couldn't believe it, he'd tried to scare her away and instead she was mocking him.
"That's just it. They're stories. Interpretations of the truth." A flash of sadness flickered across her features as he stared at her. "Since you seem to know so much about how I torture people, how then, oh wise one," He paused to sneer at her, hoping the expression would at least shock her, "How do you fix something that's shattered into a million pieces?"
He hadn't realised how much it would hurt him to be laughed at. It had never happened. No one had ever laughed at him, they'd never even been close to almost friendly remarks. He realised how angry he was, with himself and with Edeva. He couldn't understand it. Why is it only her that's capable of hurting me? He swallowed back his panic. Edeva was his friend, but she was more dangerous to him than he'd realised. She could be the death of me.
~ ~ ~
Edeva regretted speaking the moment the words had left her mouth. She'd hurt him, she hadn't meant to. Guilt ebbed at her as she looked away from him.
Fenris was waiting for a snarky reply, but she couldn't bring herself to provide one. Have I offended him? His aggression seemed defensive to her, so she swallowed back her questions. She straightened her spine and looked at him with a level gaze. "It depends on what's broken."
His aggressive sneer seemed to disappear, as he almost shrank away. That's unlike him, She thought, slightly concerned by his behaviour.
"What if everything's broken?" He murmured, sounding unlike himself. He didn't sound amused or arrogant anymore, it was as though his mask has slipped again, showing a glimpse of the person beneath, hidden deep inside. She noted the moment of vulnerability, appreciating it. She knew there was a small chance he'd be like this again.
"Even something that broken can heal. The pieces pick themselves up, it's up to us to put them back together. Everything heals. Eventually." She spoke the words, remembering when she had first heard them, she felt a slight ache in her heart, it only lasted a moment.
She wasn't entirely certain she believed the words, but they helped. She hoped they would help him.
Fenris sat up straight once again. His mask's back up then, She thought with a sigh. "Why don't we test that theory on the continents' greatest enemy? It would provide results after all."
He was climbing to his feet, his serious demeanour had disappeared behind his wicked, bloodthirsty grin. "I want to see how long a smashed skull takes to heal."
She pushed herself away from the tree trunk, stretching for a moment. Edeva dusted the ash from her cloak, "It's dark." The sun had completely set, the sky was dark. The smoke blocked any view of the stars in the sky. "One piece of advice Edeva, the stronger they are, the harder they fall." She nodded.
"Then let's hope for their sakes that they see us coming." He disappeared into the trees, as though he melted into the shadows. He probably has. She shook her head to herself as she walked to the campfire. She kicked up mud and ash, letting it smother the flames and bathing her in darkness. "Let's hope they don't." She was starting to dread the idea of fighting, after what had happened last time.
She glanced at her dagger which lay beside the fire, she knew she would have to use it. They spilt blood. Now it's my turn. If it comes to it.