Gathered all arround the falls flew fairys of all sizes, elfs of low and very high classes, all the magical beings of the woods and tree's. Fiarys sent prisms of colors through their brightly colored wings, elfs stood talking and laughing, but one very important wood land creature had yet to arrive, the nymphs, possibly the most beautiful of all the woodland creatures, or of all the creatures in the forests of Arda. The clearing was beautiful decorated by glowing lamps, the falls were bewitched to sparkle just a little more, golden leaves and vines curled arround the trunks of tree's making them seem more regal.

Sitting in mid air near the top of the fall sat a man with skin as dark as the night sky, the prince of night, he ruled over the sky when it turned into its night form. His eyes blue like a star in the middle of the black night, many respected the strong man. Sitting beside him was the prince of day, an elf with a bronze look to him, his blonde hair and gold eyes only added to the effect. The two sat in mid air, using a spell they knew, talking to each other and enjoying the festival of fall welcoming the new change.

"I regret my stars are not here yet." Said the night prince.
"Your stars? You mean the nymphs, yes I am dismayed that I have yet to meet them, though if legend has it it will be a most honerable experiance, for they cant stay still for very long." The day prince said smililng.
"Well yes, I suppose I should call them my shooting stars, I hope they will honor us with a preformance tonight, and a word to the wise, do not ever accept anything they offer you to drink, turn it down with grace and ease." He said not a moment too soon, the leaves in the tree's began to rustle, and out stepped woman of a most delecate beauty. Their hair fell down their shoulders in curls that had sparkles of sunlight. Normally they would be wearing leaves as clothes, but today for the occasion they wore the corsets and the large skirts. The leader of the pack had brown hair like the bark of the Ashtree, and green eyes like the leaves. She wore a garlend of the leaves of her tree like all the others, her dress green and brown, earthy looking with several shear peices of flowing fabric ontop of one another until it formed a thick enough fabric you could not see through it.

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

Ashley smiled as she entered the clearing, she loved this time of year, when they made their presance known the other nymphs scattered in all directions, their voices filling the clearing with a laughter like bells and voices like velvet. The prince she kenw very well and the prince of night walked down the air as if it were steps his feet were stepping on. He smiled as he bowed and took her hand kissing it.

"I see the night finally has it stars." He said smiling.
Ashley smiled back. "Thank you for the great compliment." She said taking his hand as he began to again walk up the invisable stair case. Ashley waved her leaf-gloved hand and the branches of a near by three grew to meet her like moving stairs.
"And I must say you are one of the brightest." He said guiding her slowing into the air.
Ashley chuckled. "Thank you again. I havent seen you in what feels like ages. I must know how things are going and what your stance is on the war in the realm." She said.
When they arrived at where he had previously been sitting in the air she stopped, her hands wove an intracate spell in the air, soon a wooden swing with golden ivy vines and brown bark for the seat came down beside the two men to meet her accomidations, she took a seat and held onto the vines.
The prince of night smiled. "Before we begin that I must first intoduce you to a close friend of mine, the prince of day."
Ashley turned her body toward the new man she had noticed before, he did indeed seem like a bright sun. "Its very nice to meet you, I would curtsie but I wont chance it." She said looking down.
The light prince chuckled. "Its fine. The prince has talked about his stars, now I see what he means."
Ashley smiled, her smile that made all nymphs look a good five years younger even though she was only seventeen. "We love dance, music, and wood, its our life and our home. Would you like to try our nector?" She said putting her hand in mid air as if a goblet should be placed in it, but before anything could he turned it down.
"I wont tonight, maybe some other time." He said smiling.
"Another time then." She aid putting her hand down and letting micheif creep into her green eyes.
"But I do wonder if you would honor us with a dance that you and the other nymphs preform?" He said hopefully.
"We cannot preform to our fullest in our current atire." She said laughing.
"But you must try." Said hte night prince.
Afther a wile of debating, arguing, laughing, and voices being raised, lowered and what not. Ashley had no choice but to give in. She made the others come together on the ground, they decided on one of their most beautiful but less strenuous of dances. The fairys and elves cleared a way for them to dance, Ashley took her place in the middle of the big group.

They all put their head back and put one hand into the air, leaves from each of their trees began to fall from the sky like snow. The music now began as they started their dance. Their dance looked like a intracatly coreographed ballet of some kind, with jumps, spins, but some other modern moves.

Lost, in a dream
I dont know wich way to go
Here comes the rain again
Falling on my head like a memory
Falling on my head like a new emotion
I want to walk in the open wind
I want to talk like lovers do
Is it raining with you
At the last line all the nymphs put the full force of their leaf like eyes on their audiance. They all sang together yet it sounded like on voice.
So baby talk to me
Like lovers do
Walk with me
Like lovers do
Talk to me
Like lovers do
Here comes the rain again
Raining in my head like a tragedy
Tearing me apart like a new emotion
Oooooh
I want to breathe in the open wind
I want to kiss like lovers do
Is it raining with you
So baby talk to me
Like lovers do
Walk with me
Like lovers do
Talk to me
Like lovers do

The last three standing were Ashley, her willlow sister, and her maple sister. The all stood leaning on each other, the others smiled nodded when they were done, fairys buzzed about excitedly and several clapped. Ashley winked at one of her sisters and drinks materialized in her sisters hand, a green drink with fire on the rim to drink one would have to blow out the fire then down it in one gulp, what the drinkers didnt know was that it was the dangerous drink of the nymphs, absanth, a drink that caused hilusionations, the dirnk would give the nymphs bright green wings, make them giltter and make every color brighter and add on a few dozen unreal fairys here and there. Ashley stopped before going back up to her swing with the night and day prince when she heard an unfamiliar voice behind her.

Arthur had known of this festival since he was a boy. Hos father had told him of it once long ago and Arthur had wanted to see it since then. His dragon inside him wated to see it for the entertainment, the human though wanted to see it out of curisoity. He smiled as he awaited for the things his father said would happen. He was not in sight of the others of the festival but he was in a spot where he could see it but remain unseen. He knew two of the people here anyway, the so called prince of the day was an old aquantince and the so called king of the night, well Arthur had once saved the life of his stars as he called them.

Arthur smiled as he watched the goings on of the festival, then the nymphs came and what Arthru had awaited was finally here. He knew nymphs to be tricksome creatures, but that was there way, they were beautiful indeed though. Once so much that it caught his eye, she seemed to lead the dance and Arthru smiled as he was enchanted by the dance. He listened to the song of it and he hummed along with it, the dragoin inside of him bobbed alogn with the music awaiting to get out and dance along with the nymphs.

The dance soon ended and Arthur clapped silently as it did. Arthur approached the festival de-transformign to his human state and said to lead nymph as she apporached the two princes," Beautifully done, my father was right, it would get my blood boiling, I have now seen what few get to see, if you went out into the world you could be a great performer".

The Prince of Night; it was one of his grander titles but one he did not relish much. He had never considered himself a prince nor even of any noble line. He merely existed for a specific purpose and that was to oversee the stars in the night sky. The elven people had been the first to dub him 'Prince' and very quickly the other mystical creatures and fey folk of the forest had caught on as well.
But there was one race amongst those who dwelled in the woodland who he would permit them calling him what they will. The Nymphs. Elemental grace and beauty personified. He had first witnessed their enchanting dance over five hundred years ago when he had still walked the world as a mortal. He had stumbled upon the performance while in search of the elf city and had found himself intoxicated by the promise of pleasures beyond anything he could have ever imagined. And he had not been disappointed.

The dance he had witnessed; the song he had heard; the sweet, nectar absanth he had tasted; all these combined had taken his senses to a new plane of existence. But the sensation had been all too finite. Over before he had known it, the dark wanderer had been dismissed from the secluded grove. For over a century Vaul had returned to the same place at the same time but never again did he find the grove, nor the nymphs that had captivated his mind.

But then everything had changed. He had ascended beyond his mortal being and had become the Guardian of Stars with knowledge of everything under his domain. As time past and he adjusted to his new position he had taken to visiting the various creatures and races under his protection. It was then... over three hundred years since he had first witnessed it; the cursed guardian had been invited to watch the woodland dance once more.

It was everything he had remembered and so much more. Now he was one of the immortal Maiar he could appreciate it in so many more ways than he could have as a mortal. As time passed and he had visited the fey beings more and more, he had developed friendships with individuals among the nymph performers. But there was one who had captivated his interest more than the others; a beautiful wood maiden known as Ashley. Vaul had taken to coming to the dance purely to watch her grace and elegance.



The dance had been as divine as ever with every nymph working as a seamless, fluid part of their grand performance. It was one of the few events that never failed to lift the spirits of the usually solemn guardian.

Descending from his spell-cast dais, Vaul slowly began to walk over to congratulate Ashley on another marvellous show, graciously declining a cup of the mind-altering Absanth as he walked. But he was not to be the first to offer his praise. A demi-dragon had engaged her in conversation already and, despite himself, Vaul could not help but feel a pinch of envy rise through his body as he approached the pair.

"You are correct dragon. If she were to take her dance to the masses, she would be famous. But surely such exquisite beauty should not be forced to endure the taint of the ugly world outside?" Vaul's voice was deep and smooth and reverberated with an almost palpable power. "Ecstasy of the eyes and ears as always my dear." Vaul said with a playful smirk towards the nymph.

Nymphs, one of the most seductive, beautiful and some how innocent creatures of all the woodlands. But also a commonly known fact was their reputation for taking a mans heart and breaking it like a dead twig under their elegent fingers. But their teasing, their playing, their dance, was almost a physical pain to refuse.
Ashley however was not like the others, yes she was beautiful and elegent. But she was not one that took joy in breaking hearts if only for one night of pleasure.

----

"Beautifully done, my father was right, it would get my blood boiling, I have now seen what few get to see, if you went out into the world you could be a great performer". Ashley turned to see the man who had paid her the compliment. Before she had time to reply she saw the prince of night take a step beside her and let out his deep velvet like voice.
"You are correct dragon. If she were to take her dance to the masses, she would be famous. But surely such exquisite beauty should not be forced to endure the taint of the ugly world outside? Ecstasy of the eyes and ears as always my dear." The night prince threw her a playful smirk.

The night prince was one of the men all the nymphs loved, his eyes like the night sky, and his silver hair that you could run your fingers through. Any nymph would gladly give herslef to him, but most nymphs gave their love away freely.
Ashley was different, to have her love, her lips, her hair in your fingers, was another matter from all the other nymphs entierly, it was a privalge. To have her was a rare thing. But she gave her smile to everyone. But to the prince of night, she gave her best smile.

Ashley chuckled and lifted a leaf gloved hand. "The world on the outside I'm sure is something entierly different from the world of wood. I dont know if it would help or hurt me." A green drink appeared in her hand. "Would you like a drink?" She said, she turned a glance to the night prince and winked. He knew the effects that the nectar of the leaves. Ashley turned her attention to the night prince, she gave him a little curtsie. "Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sadly we could not preform to our best, our dress is not appropriate for some of our best songs and dances." She said refering to the deep green corset and the large skirt of leaves, twigs and vines circled her arms, shoulders and waist. The drink still rested in her hand as she waited for the man to accept or decline.

"Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sadly we could not perform to our best, our dress is not appropriate for some of our best songs and dances."

Again the dark prince smiled. As an immortal, he was not affected by the ethereal spell of lust that the nymphs seemed to radiate but he was attracted to them none the less; and this Ashley had taken a special sort of hold on him above the others.

"You will have to show me your best dance one day... attire permitting of course." The words rolled off his tongue like the softest silk over the purest skin. It was a gift that he had been born with and that had helped him many times before. He had the same grace of tongue that the nymphs had in movement. He could inspire masses of warriors in battle; calm populaces with a few words and seduce most women with relative ease. It was never his intention as he often preferred to live his life alone but it could not be helped sometimes; and his impact had only been intensified since his ascension. Of course it was near impossible to seduce a nymph unless she was willing, even for a god or guardian, but Vaul only considered it more of a challenge.

The Star Guardian watched as Ashley winked at him then turned her back on him slightly to face the other guest. It was only then that he noticed the intoxicating liquid that she was offering to the unsuspecting visitor of today's performance.

Reaching out and over Ashley's shoulder, Vaul snatched the drink from her hand, his cheek very gently brushing hers as he leant over. "Now now my dear, play nice or don't play at all." Vaul whispered, very lightly into her ear, his lips almost touching it.

Taking the drink from her, Vaul tossed it over his shoulder and didn't bother to watch as it, cup and all, melted into the ground as if it never existed.

Arthur only smiled when the night prince came down. He recognized the Guardian of The Stars, for that was what the man was a demi god. Arthur had respect for the man but he also had a dragons eny as well. Dragons didn't tolerate power above their own to well and that was a mistkae they made logn ago he would not make the same. He bowed to the man and said," A pleasure as always my lord, and I am a half-dragon not a full one".

He turned back to the nymph and smiled at her as teh drink was taekn from her had and he said," Yes your best dane would be good to see, I have seen many but non far greater than nymphs or those of the dragons, perhaps one day we shall dance together, dragon and nymph". He bowed to her and said, "Arthur Paendrag Tanreall at your service, but as your kind call me I am Dar'Vaeg".

He then turned to the guardian and said," If you will permit me my lord, I would like to join in the festivities if that is at all possible".

"You will have to show me your best dance one day... attire permitting of course." His voice was like the darkest of velvet. But both of the creatures, a demi god and a nymph were hard to seduce, a challenge, and when put together, simply a battle of the wills until one gives into the fire.
"Maybe." She said her eyes twinkling. Her eyes green like the leaves of the tree she so faithfully gaurded. Her skin glittered with the little speckled rays of sunlight she had so carefully enchanted on her skin for the occasion.
"Now now my dear, play nice or don't play at all." She could feel his skin against her cheek and she turned her head in his direction slightly. His voice in her ear nearly made a shiver go down her delecate back.
She watched as her drink melted into air. She couldnt help but roll her eyes at his words.
," Yes your best dane would be good to see, I have seen many but non far greater than nymphs or those of the dragons, perhaps one day we shall dance together, dragon and nymph". He bowed, she had never seen a dragon dance, only made a few respected friends of dragons, to see one would intrest her very much. "Arthur Paendrag Tanreall at your service, but as your kind call me I am Dar'Vaeg". She smiled gently at him and nodded. "I am Ashley, Nymph of the Ashtree." She said. But my very respected freinds call me Ash. She added silently to the stranger.
He then turned to the guardian and said," If you will permit me my lord, I would like to join in the festivities if that is at all possible".
Ashley wondered if the prince would let a half dragon enjoy the festivites even though the vast majoity their were of the woodland kind.

As Ashley looked arround to see what her other nymph sisters were doing she noticed that a few had already abandoned the corsets and large skirts, going back to their leaf made skirts and tops. She couldnt help but laugh. By the end of the night few few of the nymphs would be able to still stand the bone crushing corsets.
Then she saw what she feared, a gang of the dark alignment had found thier way to the festival, a placed they longed to be but couldnt.
"Oh no." She gasped.
They all smiled, people screamed, fairys scattered. Nymphs climbed up tree's desperatly, but some were already being restircted by arms or by a magical net.

That was all Ashley saw before her body fell backward and her vison went black....

Arthur waited on the prince of nights reply but then he heard screams emit from people in the crowd and Arthur turned to see what was going on. Darklings and shadwospawn started pouring into the festival site. Capturing and beatign those who got in their way. Arthru jsut smiled and turned to Ashley fall unconscious and he spoke to the guardian," It will be an honor to fight by your side, so lets show these shadow creatures not to mess wit us".

Arthur threw off his clothes quickly thsu reveling the shining but deadly looking armor underneath. He put the horned helmet on his head and his blue eyes turned blood red . Arthur took the giant broadsheild off his back and then drew the sword with the words Excalibur eteched in gold on it and said," Let us dance with death darklings because Excalibur is here". HE then charged into the midst of the darklings and began to fight them as he had never fought before.

Vaul listened to the discourse between the nymph and dragon kin with minor interest at best. It was not ignorance or spite, but merely the presence of the nymph seemed to render all other matters as trivial and unimportant. It was only when Vaul realised that he was being addressed personally that he began to take interest in where the conversation had led.
"If you will permit me my lord, I would like to join in the festivities if that is at all possible". The dragon kin had addressed in a polite manner and his request seemed genuine but it was often hard to trust those of dragon kind. They were not noted for their calm temperament and jovial personas.
"Though I preside over the night and these festivities as a whole, it is not in my hands I'm afraid. The choice I leave to that of our esteemed performers, for it is their only by their good will that we may partake in such delights of the senses." Vaul turned to Ashley, expecting to be greeted by her usual warming smile. "For my part I would say yes though dragon kin, you may enjoy with the rest of us but try to..." But the final words never came. In an instant the serene world of joy and laughter had been corrupted into a writhing domain of terror and fear.
Vaul briefly heard the horrified gasp from the young nymph and reacted quickly enough to catch her as she slipped into the black unconsciousness that had taken hold. But he did not remain with her for long.
All other thoughts and sounds became mere echoes and wind upon the vast plains of Vaul's mind. But in their place had grown a familiar emotion; Fury. White hot rage fuelled by the screams and cries of terrified woodland folk.
Rising to his full height; the Twilight Cloak ablaze with exploding galaxies; Vaul drew the fabled Oblivion Sword from its sheath. Tyr Tala; one of only a handful of swords that made up the most powerful blades upon the face of Arda. It was rumoured that the only weapon to surpass its power was that of the grand Sword of Life wielded by Lothlómendil herself.
The dark guardian strode forward into the oncoming wave of shadow kin; his deep eyes never blinking; his face frozen in a mask of rage and hate. With one great sweep of the Oblivion Blade, the first blood of the upcoming slaughter glistened as it gushed forth in a torrent of life draining gore.
These creatures had dared enter this sacred grove; had dared desecrate such beauty and purity. Well they would not live to rue the day they entered this hollow.
They had angered the Cursed One... the dark Prince of the Night... and all would now pay for their mistake.

Darius stood on the edge of the festivities, but not with the rest of the shadow invaders. He stood about fifty feet to the right of the shadow, his lupine companion next to him, growling quietly. A smirk played on Darius's mouth. It was time to strike.

"Kaldesh," Darius whispered. He held out his hand and immediately thousands of insects shot from his palm. They swarmed everywhere, stinging anybody and everybody that they could. Darius watched with satisfaction as screams were uttered, and people ran all over the place to escape the painful stings of the bugs.

Darius tapped Lavon's head, and the lupine followed him as he snuck around the edge of former festivities. He saw an unconcious nymph on the ground. He bent down and grabbed her under her arms and dragged her away from the excitement. He put her down, and grabbed her around her waist. He lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder. The shapeshifter walked away from the former festival scene, Lavon trailing behind him.

After a few minutes of walking, Darius reached a cave. He ducked into it and put the nymph on the ground. He told Lavon to guard the girl for a few moments. Darius left the cave, only to return a few minutes later with a handful of stringy bark. He tied the girl's hands behinder her, and bound her feet together. He then bound her feet and hands together behind her back. The shapeshifter then sat down with his back to the back wall of the cave, so that he could see both the entrance and the unconcious nympth.

((OOC: Not really sure how to "zap" you Ashley... you'll have to explain that to me over pm... And I hope this post didn't look like godmodding, but she told me to kidnap her and if i waited for her to respond, a bunch o fone linders would have ensued.))

When Ashley first woke up, her green eyes were foggy. Her mind was blurred, her mucles ached. She tried to move her arms and her legs and found that she couldnt. After a few moments of trying franticly to move, unaware that someone was indeed in the cave with her, she gave up and let her delecate body fall to the ground. Her brown hair spilled over the cave floor like a dark brown liquid.

Where am I? She thought groggily to herself. Ashley looked arround to find some clue as to where she was. The ceilings were low, made of rock, the floor also made of hard rock. Ashley sighed frustrated. It was at that moment that she realized what was happing, she was in a cave, with her hands bound and her feet bound together, for the first time she looked at the person watching the entrace like a guard. Ashley took a sharp inhale of breath sure to have givin herslef away to the man who probably stole her.

Because she figured she was already found out she opened her mouth to speak. "Well? What do you think your doing?" She said trying to let authority command her voice, but all that got through was shakey fear. Her bright green eyes locked with those of her captor, showing fear, but a flicker of determination.

((OCC: Sorry that wasnt very long, my muse is kinda dead, it will be back alive later today though I belive so we shall keep on posting! and I will explain more in the pm.))

(Salright happens to me alot)

Arthur fought off the darklings that tried to take those who still resided in the area. Inscets soon came out of nowhere and the started to come at him but the flicked harmlessly off his armor. He continued to fight and noticed a man steal away the lead nymph Ashely and he roared in anger. He burst out of the darklings surrounding them. He turned to the guardian and said," They have taken the nymph girl, I have feeling this one is more powerful than these others, you go I'll hold them off, you'r more power full than I".

He then yeleld out to those few remaning good creatures and said," Brothers, comrades, do not flee these creatures, can you not see they can be killed, harken and let us determine to die here to day and we shall conquer". He stuck his sword in the air and charged forward again ith some of the elves who had stayed joining him raining their arrows and fighting with their swords. Arthur only hoped that the Guaridan would do as he aksed and go after the girl.

Darius's gaze shifted from the entrance to the cave down to the Nymph. Was that a hint of rebellious authority in her voice? Did she not know that she was the one hog-tied, and he was the one in control? He raised one eyebrow slightly at her. He reguarded her for a few moments before responding.

"I wouldn't use that tone of voice if I were you, young lady," he said. "I would end your life with a flick of my wrist. He whipped out his blade and swung it within a few inches of her neck. He returned his blade to its sheath and continued. "But that would ruin the fun far too soon." Darius gave the girl a chilling smile before continuing. "Now... what to do with you..." the Shapeshifter's voice trailed off.

Darius walked over to the girl and knelt down next to her. He grabbed her face lightly, his thumb on one side of her jaw, and his other four fingers on the other side. He squeezed lightly before releasing her. He gave her a light tap to the side of her face.

"Before I do anything, I'm going to give you one chance to explain to me why I shouldn't kill you right now," Darius smiled. "See? I'm a nice guy. I don't know why people are trying to throw me in jail all the time. It's like I'm evil or something." Darius smiled and waited for her to respond. He wasn't expecting her to grovel in any way. He was actually hoping that she would put up a defiant front. It would give him all the more reason to inflict some pain, both mental and physical. The thought of what lay ahead was enough to make his mouth water.

Lavon stood guard just inside the entrance to the cave. Darius had indeed picked a good place for his hideaway. The entrance was about three feet long. It was a perfect place to defend himself. It would only allow one person in at a time, and Lavon could guard it without being seen from the outside. The lupine lay inside the entrance and off to the side. He was about two feet to the side of the opening in the earth. The lupine dared anybody to try to get into the cave.

Ashley watched as an eye brow of the man that had kidnapped her rose gently as he srutinized her, probably deciding how to kill me. She thought angrily. She may be the one hog tied, but she could not let him win! That was by all means not an option, so she stayed with her elegent face turned upward as far as was possible in her current possition.

"I wouldn't use that tone of voice if I were you, young lady," he said. "I would end your life with a flick of my wrist. Ashley forgot to breathe when she saw the blade of the knife."But that would ruin the fun far too soon." The smile he gave her, it sent a chill down her spine and crawled under her skin. "Now... what to do with you..."

Ashley's face was forced up, her green eyes met his for a moment, fire and determination in them. But a flicker of fear and doubt. Her skin on hers made her sick, diminishing her strength slightly.

"Before I do anything, I'm going to give you one chance to explain to me why I shouldn't kill you right now, See? I'm a nice guy. I don't know why people are trying to throw me in jail all the time. It's like I'm evil or something." He gave a look that showed he knew exactly why people would want him behind steel, cold, bars.

Ashley was in a possition that was making her legs and back begin to ache, she winced at the pain and tried to shift in order to hold out longer, being hog tied was not the best situation in the world. Her dress was torn, and because it was made of leaves far shorter than it had been and her gloves and her sleeves were begining to deminish compeltely.

Ashley could not grovel, could not beg, could not loose. "Why should I give you of all people a list of reasons, that is possibly the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. No matter what I say you will do what you will, so arguing or begging is not the best of answers I could give you." She said her voice weak but filled with determination.

Darius looked at the girl, amused at her speech, which she no doubt considered an act of bravado. In actuality, it was an act of stupidity. Darius was not your typical evil-doer. In fact, he didn't consider himself evil at all. He considered the topic of good and evil as objective as whether chocolate chip cookies were better than sugar cookies. Everybody knows that each cookie has its advantages and disadvantages, and therefore, neither can be truely named supreme.

"On the contrary, my dear. I would have taken your reason to heart." Darius said. "But now..." His voice trailed off.

The Shapeshifter turned around and bowed his head for a second. Then he turned back around slowly. He faced the nymph, held out his hand, palm towards her, and said Duem le Thisem, invoking the inflict minor wounds spell.

((Yay for crap posts!))

((oh yea!!))

Ashley flinched as the spell hit her body straight on, she didnt scream, she would not give him the satisfaction, she arched her back slightly at what felt like a cut from a knife in her side.
Ashley let out a breath as the spell wore off, her skin began to glisten with sweat, her green eyes held a sort of fire that most nymphs lacked. She tossed her brown hair out of her face as much as she could in her position. What came out of her mouth next she felt she would soon regret.

"The only thing that could possibly hurt me would be your touch. And besides, I think the only reason you hurt people is because your weak." As soon as the words fell off her tounge she was beating herself up menatlly, this was sure to make him mad but she just couldnt help it, thats what she thought so thats what she said.

Arthur had soon fought of the remaining darklings and saw that they now were in full retreat obviously suprised at the armed resistance. Arthur smiled and yelled out to them saying," Thats right flee, flee cowards and never again darkne this place with your precense, for if you do I shall be here to meet you". HE then turned his thoughts to the nymph girl and hopd that the Guardian had reached her in time. He transformed into one of his dragonic states. Suddenly his gruesome visage becmae even more menacing under the armor as he looekd now like some sort of Demon spwaned out of Chaos.

That was the effect of his dragon form under his armor but it did not matter. He sniffed the air and foudn the scent of the nymph and ran off toward the scent hoping to reach there so he could help the guardian in his battle. He soon was hot on the trail and foudn the scent of the other perso nwho had taken her and he smiled and thought," Shapeshifter this should indeed be fun". He soon found a cave where obvisouly the scent emnated from. He coudl see a Lupine at the head of the cave and could smeel two peopel inside of it. He approached the cave and the lupine growled and Arthur roared at the creature. It retreated into the cave obviosuly scarred. His vast form then entered the cave and he saw the nymph lying tied up and the Shapeshifter over her. He then smield and said," Well since I got here before the guardian it seems I will have to deal with you, and you have just awaken the wrath of a dragon by taking this nymph". He drew his blade up and said," Now prepare to be vanquished".

((Dude... first of all, since when has "shapeshifter" been classified as a smell? Second of all, that Lupine is MY npc. Not yours. You can't control what it does... And thirdly, the cave entrance is barely wide enough for a person to fit through, let alone a huge demon thing. Your head MAY have been able to fit inside. Maybe. Oh, and fourth, the Lupine was not in sight to anybody outside the cave. He was inside the cave and to the side. I'll let it slide, but dont do it again.))

Darius smiled and began to laugh at the girl's defiant statement. She sure was a brave one. Foolish, but brave. His laugh died down to a chuckle. He waited a few moments before speaking.

"Oh, come now. I'm not that bad am I? I'm sure that my touch wouldn't hurt that bad," Darius smiled. He walked slowly over to the girl and grabbed her neck lightly. "There. See? No pain."

He was completely ignoring her comment about him being weak. It didn't bother him, for he knew she was simply putting up a false sense of bravado. His knowledge of the phsyche was fairly vast, and he could read expressions well. It was one of the things that he prided himself on, and one of the reasons that he was so good at playing with peoples' minds.

Darius stood up, held his palm out to her again, and whispered, "Taliem Oren Porsen." Thousands of insects swarmed from his hand and launched themselves towards the Nymph, stingers and teeth tearing and biting at her.

Just as he was about to have some more fun, when a large dragon entered the cave.

"I'll be with you in a minute," Darius said. "Let me just finish up here."

Then the dragon spoke. Funny thing was, it spoke Common. Darius turned to the dragon. "I'm guessing that you aren't really a dragon," the Shapeshifter said. "Pray, tell me, how do you wield a blade with those claws? Surely it must be difficult?" Darius smiled. "Oh! And I can play that form shifting game as well."

Darius's body morphed and fused with itself, forming a large dragon man, about three inches taller than the demon thing that had just walked in. He had the scales of a dragon, the head of a lizard, and clawed feet. His hands had claws as well, but the claws on his hands were retractable. Darius drew his blade.

"If you wish to dance, let us dance," Darius said with a placid smile.

Ashley watched as Aurthur came into the cave, her eyes were pleading for him to help her in some way, this man was obvoiulsy sick with lust to kill and he had her within his grasp.
As the two argued outside the entrance she began to think of a way, anyway to escape, but there seemed to be none, she was hog tied and her powers were weakend she couldnt possibly control light to let her escape, also there was his big familiar that seemed to guard his masters every move, and the fate of her dying at claw would probably be worse than anything he could ever do to her, and it wasnt his spells she feared most, but his mind, his touch or his words. The physical pain she could indure, she was also mentally very tough but still, it would be more of a challenge.
So there she lay, hog tied, her hair in a tangled mess, blood seeping through her dress on one side and her skin brown and green with leaves and mud.

((sorry for the short post))