[An RP transcript co-written with Malekith Helerodis]
Lyrena Auberan finally made her way to the palace after the recent news of an attempt on the King's life just this morning. The brooding Malekith might hear a few loud, muffled exchanges coming from the hallways - from palace Guardians urging Lyrena to come another time, and leave the King to recover his thoughts and wounded flesh. The Blood elf did not relent, however. She made her into the council room, the fur shawl adorning her shoulder as of late replacing with her bulky pauldrons. The Dame Commander peered inside the quiet chamber, instinctively looking towards the throne, which looked to be missing… Her eyebrows perked. Before she could take another step, however, she noticed King Malekith brooding on one of the council table chairs. Lyrena approached further, bowing her head. "King Malekith.", Lyrena called out to her liege. He could tell she looked a bit bewildered, confused, though otherwise seemed collected and focused. Her eyes latched to the King's forms, searching for injuries and wounds. "You look to be in good health.", she commented after a while. "The assassin who breached the palace… What happened?"
Malekith Helerodis sat in silence at his chair, a deep thoughtful expression blanketing his face, so deep in his own mind he had not even realized the Dame Commander had come into the Throne Room until she had already addressed him. Even then he seemed to look up at her in a passive glance, like someone looking at another addressing someone else. The throne room was mostly fine, the throne itself had been taken away due to being damaged and awaited a replacement. He himself was covered in bruises and many cuts littered his body, though none of his wounds looked to be in vital locations. He seemed to come out of his daze and nodded to the Blood Elf. "Dame Commander Auberan." he swallowed and shook his head. " If it were not obvious, I was attacked. Seems my brother was… impatient to see the end of me. I dispatched him, for good this time." his expression grew dark, very dark. He looked like he would be sick to his stomach at that very moment, eyes glazing over and he raised his hand up to brace his head and close his eyes.
Lyrena Auberan grumbled to herself as Malekith unveiled the identity of his attacker. Lyrena's own eyes closed for a moment, as she exhaled. "I feared it would be him. One of the reports I heard… There was talk that green magic had been spotted in the chamber.", the Blood elf said. "I should never have relented, that night in the woods. I should have made sure he was dead. Perhaps, this would not have happened…", she huffed, finding it hard to ignore her part in the blame for this. "You were right that he would return. And I was wrong to think he would not be more careful next time. I should have supplied more palace Guardians to you. Instead, I focused my attention on that craven snake…" She grumbled again. Seeing the King briefly become nauseous, made Lyrena step closer to Malekith, out of concern, but stayed her hand for now as it seemed the King had it under control. "You prevailed again, though. And he will never trouble you again.", Lyrena herself reaffirmed. "Is there anything I can do for you now, King Malekith?"
Malekith Helerodis eye'd twitched when she mentioned ending him in their previous fight. His silence lingered for sometime as he himself thought on what she said, would this have been all evaded if she just ended him there? He sighed deeply and shook his head. "Maybe." he replied simply. "No.. probably not. I think he would have come back, as he had before." his words were heavy, as though everyone he spoke came at a price to him. " Do not blame yourself, I was partially to blame for the Guards not being here in the first place. I can sometimes get out of hand when my passions are high, the cold is my friend, and usually mine alone." he looked up at her. "But he knew this of course, and he was ready." he thought again on her words and when she drew near he turned to look at her, he had genuine sadness in his eyes but he would show it, not so easily. His attention fell on her shapely figure a moment and then to her yellow eyes and he smiled lightly. " Tyrasius is back under your command. Do with him what you will. I will be fine… these wounds are not fatal, and I did manage to dispatch him quickly." he gave her another reassured look and stood up from the chair, albeit slowly, standing very close to her, his blue eyes searching her face.
Lyrena Auberan listened to her liege without interrupting him, noticing how labored his words were. Besides that, the Blood elf sensed something else troubling the King, something besides the recent shock from a deathly battle. Perhaps something besides even having to put down his own brother. "The cold, I was told it started before your brother showed his face?", Lyrena inquired with a tilted head. She quickly got the impression that she likely should not prod the King about details of the battle anymore for now, though, and asked no more follow up questions about the fight in particular, for the time being. Her brows perked a bit as she heard Tyrasius was once more hers to command. "Very well.", she nodded. "His strength and loyalty will serve the city's streets well." As King Malekith began to stand up, Lyrena stepped back, giving the monarch ample space to move. Her right arm instinctively jutted forward, as if to help the taller elven man, but in the end she let him stand on his own. "Queen Etain, does she know of this yet? I could seek her out, if you will it.", she said. The words seemed genuine. Perhaps Lyrena had not heard the rumors that Etain had stormed out of the palace without a ring on her finger anymore.
Malekith Helerodis "yes" he replied quickly. "My twin brother and I shared a bond from birth. I knew he was close before I even see him, I was… afraid he would kill them to get them out of his way so that he would come after me. So I made things very… uncomfortable for them. Once they were gone I sealed off the room." he paused. "I know what you're thining. Thats why they are here. But I will remind you I have served personally beside the High King, fought many battles. I am capable of defending myself and these men are here to protect the city, not its King. When I am gone the city will still stand, and another King will assume the throne…." he swallowed. Nodding his head at the mention of Tyrasius and he tilted his head as she stepped back from him and mentioned Etain. "Etain already knows. And I have called off the wedding. Things were just not working out between us." he frowned lightly but then forced a smile forward. She will return to the Hollow and assume its Queen again."
Lyrena Auberan thought some on the description of the battle's beginnings. She looked around the room again, scanning for damage, places of scuffle, and such. "It was noble of you.", the Dame Commander said in regards to the King's intentions to protect the guards. "I have not been here long, but… It is my understanding that the Guardians pledge themselves not only to the city, but its people. Slabs of stone do not need protecting. They will be here after us, either way.", the Blood elf concurred with Malekith's words. Her golden eyes looked into his own. "You are part of the people, King Malekith. We are all in this together.", she tried to say, encouragingly. Upon hearing of the breakup, though, her eyes widened. There was disbelief, confusion on her face, until Lyrena collected herself anew. She was wordless for another few seconds, then spoke. "I am sorry.", the Blood elf said. Her tone was more somber now. She finally understood the subtle signs of pain the King had been trying to subdue. "It happened… Today?",she asked. "Did it have anything to do with the fight? Your brother?"
Malekith Helerodis nodded his head and the corners of his mouth turned upwards slightly when he heard her say it, shaking his head. "Of course, Lyrena. But one life for many…" he left it at that. He raised a hand and gently touched the side of hers where the metal of the armor ended. "I appreciate your concern. But as you can see, I am fine…" when she offered her condolences he simply nodded his head. "Thank you." he sighed heavily and shook his head. " I- …" he paused to think about his next words and then shook his head. " I.. need time." he looked away from her for the first time, eyes moving towards the throne or where it had once sat next to the other. " What, if any, news do you bring from the city?" he waited on her response but before she could reply his eye's widened some. "Oh. My apologies, I must cut this meeting short." he stepped around her, his hand tracing away from her arm slowly as he had and he took a few steps away, turning back to face her. " Join me again tonight. We can discuss this further. More private." his eyes move to the guards and then back to her before he started off towards the hallway.
Lyrena Auberan peered down at the King's hand as it brushed against her own. Lyrena certainly didn't shy away from the touch. She looked upon the taller elf again, noticing his struggles in speaking on the topic pertaining to Etain. "It is alright.", she assured Malekith as he said he would rather not speak on the matter right now. Being asked on news of the city, she began to speak. "There have been reports of more petty -- " And indeed, the Dame Commander was interrupted as Malekith suddenly called for an end to the conversation. Her long eyebrows perked, and the Blood elf looked around. Had someone else entered the chamber? Either way, she did not argue with the monarch. "Very well, King Malekith", she said, accepting her dismissal with a respectful bow of her head. She noticed as his hand brushed along her arm for a longer period - before her eyes noted the other Guardians the King was gesturing to. "Very well.", she sternly said again. "Summon me as soon as you have need of me, King Malekith.", the Blood elf said while the King was still in hearing range. She watched him leave, and stayed for a few minutes longer, surveying the recent site of battle, before eventually exiting the palace herself as well, returning to the barracks.