Umbra rode through the forest on the dapple grey horse, she felt funny after that battle with the Archangel Zenith. She felt tired after that battle, even though he had healed her. She decided to take a break and go to the lake, the one place she knew she could relax. It had been quite a long time since she had been here and for some reason she felt like she needed a break. She had discarded her usual outfit and just wore normal traveler clothes, for a moment she might actually look human, but her eyes had always given her away. She finally found the exit from the surrounding woods and rested her eyes on the sparkiling lake. She stopped the horse and got off, leading it to a tree where she tied its bridle to the branch. She sat down by the lake and leaned against the tree and rested. She moved her arm around and found it to be in perfect condition. She wondered why he had helped her instead of leaving her to take care of herself. Most people did that. That was a strange battle. But he changed my view on Angels that is for certian. she thought as she sat down and rested her head on the tree and closed her eyes replaying the battle in her mind.

She sighed and heard her horse snort, She opened one eye and looked at it as it eyed a squirrl with interest. She gave a chuckle and thought about her life as it was, looking back on all the things that have happened, the friends she had made. She got up for a moment and walked over to the lake side, she looked at herself in the water, her hair had become longer, she needed to cut it, her eyes still seemed the same harded ones but she saw more life in them. Other than that she was the same. She walked back to her resting point and closed her eyes and thought about it and soon drifted off into a dreamless sleep as the sun shined on its heat warming her face. She was so taken over by exaustion that she did not hear someone was comming.

Zard walked through the forest that surrounded the lake. He was unsure about taking this "road trip" but he felt that he should go exploring, who knows what you might find. He continued down the path and noticed hoof marks from a horse. "So someone is here as well? Interesting." he said to himself as birds and squirrels darted the path. He continued to walk down the path and he heard a horse snort. So the horse was still there, meaning he was not the only person to come for a visit. He continued walking down the path, a small breeze flowed through the trees as the sun peaked through the leaves of the canopy. The young elf streached as he continued thinking about the next thing he should do.

He watched the shadows of the birds playing in the branches over head dart across the ground. He heard many calls, some of which he knew, others he did not. He watched for the person who was here as well wondering what reason they had for journying here. He finally emerged from the shadows of the forest to find a daple grey horse tied to a branch of a tree. Nearby was a black haired young woman who seemed to be dozing at the moment. He held back a laugh as he agreed that this place was a good spot to doze and take an afternoon nap. Especially if one wanted to get away from the world.

He moved as quietly as he could, holding his cloak as to not disturb the sleeping woman and he sat on a log over looking the waters of the lake. He wondered who the girl was and glanced back over to her, for some reason she seemed at peace as she slept and he smiled thinking about where he should go after this. "Probably to Lomedor and take a boat trip...Or perhaps I will just stay here and watch the sun go down while this young woman sleeps. After all it would be dangerous to leave a woman unprotected. She does look like she can easily defend herself but, one cannot defend very well if one is asleep." he said to himself in a low tone.

Matt woke up suddenly and his hand flew to his head, last thing he remembered Shagon was in control of his mind again and tormenting everyone he could find, but now there was nothing there. Even when Matt prodded the back of his mind he couldn't feel Shagon.
"Wow, guess I've finally managed to get rid of him," he laughed slightly getting up "he's gone, gone and done."
He whooped and punched the air still laughing.
"Best fun he ever had? Ha, look what it's done to him."

Matt's hand suddenly flew to the back of his neck as a sharp pain spasm went through it, he rubbed it but it didn't come back again.
"Wow, guess I have my fair share of injuries too," he muttered "well as long as he's out of my life."
He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked about trying to work out where he was, he could only remember trying to keep Shagon from taking over his mind again and everything after that was a blank, so better than stand about doing nothing he decided to find out where he actually was.

He trotted along looking about curiously, from what he could see he was in some kind of lake area; there was a definite smell of water nearby mixed with a bit of fish. Matt was enjoying his freedom too much and didn't notice his trouser snag on a thorn and tear slightly; he looked down and groaned bending down to prize it off.
"Oh man," he sighed "and I can't sow."
The damage wasn't immediately obvious but the tear was already fraying, he'd have to fix it the moment he found a village or something like that.

"Wow, I'm half wishing I was Shagon," he muttered "at least then I'd have wings,"
He looked up, he thought he'd heard a few hoofs trundling along the ground, a pretty long way off but clearly hoofs. He stood up looking in the direction of the noise and scratched his head.
"Must be other people here," he concluded "maybe I can actually get somewhere now."
He followed the sound of the hoofs, bending down to get under low branches, and kept his gaze ahead. He vision was still a small bit blurry seeing as he hadn't fully recovered from Shagon's little parade over his mind.

Eventually he saw the figure of a horse ahead; he moved closer and found it to be tied to a tree.
"Hello boy," he said lightly smiling.
He looked about and saw that he'd come to the bank, he immediatly walked over to the lake and bent down picking up some water in cupped hands and splashing it over his face, he made sure to rub plenty round the back of his neck. He stood up again dusting off his hands in an attempt to get them dry and failing to notice the other two people.

Umbra stirred a little, she had only gotten a few minuets sleep but still felt her strength regained. She turned and yawned streaching as she got up. She saw her horse still there, but someone else was there as well. She turned and saw the back of an Elf looking out at the lake waters. She rubbed her eyes not sure how long she was asleep. She yawned and streached as she sat up. "Lakes beautifull today." she said dryly. She swallowed and rubbed her eyes. She was not sure how long she was asleep but she knew she had slept deeply. She got up and stood near the tree. She saw someone else as well nearby. She had hoped to stay here alone but she did not mind company. She wondered what they were doing out here but it was probably the same reason that she was. She turned to the newcommer. "Wonder what he is doing here? And why your here as well?" she asked the elf. She watched both of them waiting for his answer. "Hello boy," the man said. He walked up to the lake and washed his face. She noticed that he seemed unknowing of the elf and herself. "Hey...So what brings you to Lake Aelian today?" she asked him.

Zard perked up at the sound of the woman getting up. She seemed groggy and tired, whatever she had been doing made her exausted. She got up and streached looking at him. He nodded a greeting, "Lakes beautifull today." He smiled at her and nodded, his hazel eyes glistening in the sun. "Aye ma'am. That it is. That it is" he replied to her statement. He noticed a man coming towards them and acknowledged her horse. "Wonder what he is doing here? And why your here as well?" He shrugged. "I know nothing of him miss. But as for why I am here it is to relax and take time away from the dangerous world to find a little balance and peace in the world." He replied.

He got up and walked over to the newcommer who was wiping his hands, apparenly he was getting a drink or had washed his face for it was damp. "Greetings friend, I am Zard. To what honor do I owe meeting you here?" he asked giving a wave. He turned to the woman who had recently awakened. She seemed to cling to the tree, but why should she not? She had slept peacefully and found herself surrounded by strangers; what woman would not get upset and suspicious. He waited patiently for the mans answer as he looked at his reflection in the lake waters. They easily portrayed his face, the stern look he carried which was both intemidating and kind at the same time.

Matt picked up another dose of water and splashed it over his face and rubbing it backwards through his hair so it stood up briefly before falling down again, he was relieved to be able to feel it again at last having been imprisoned in Shagon's mind for goodness knows how long. He rubbed the back of his neck again making sure he missed the sensitive spots. He got to his feet flapping his hands about to get the water off.

"Greetings friend, I am Zard. To what honor do I owe meeting you here?"

Matt jumped and looked about having not noticed the man, he presumed he'd been a little preoccupied having only just found out he was free.
"Er, honor? Well...err..." He glanced over the man's shoulder and noticed another figure, this one female, near a tree. He looked back up at the elf "err, sorry am I interrupting something?" He asked.
He took in the elf's features, noting his expression which was kind of contradicting itself, looking about for something to say he resolved to shove his hand in his pockets and attempted to wipe them dry without him noticing.
"What? Oh yeah I'm Matt," he said having just realized he hadn't introduced himself.

Umbra finally woke up and was able to examine her surroundings more carefully. The sun had yet to set, it was still high in the afternoon so she probably only slept for no more than half an hour. "I know nothing of him miss. But as for why I am here it is to relax and take time away from the dangerous world to find a little balance and peace in the world." the elf said. She cocked her head, A world at war and he wants to have "Balance" and "peace?" not gonna happen elf-boy." she thought but kept her comments to herself.

The elf got up and greeted the man warmly, "Greetings friend, I am Zard. To what honor do I owe meeting you here?" she looked away from the two, Well...He sure has a way with introducing himself. she thought as the man seemed surprised that he was not alone. "Er, honor? Well...err...err, sorry am I interrupting something?" he asked looking at her. She shook her head. "Not in the least. Names Umbra for those who care." was her only reply. "What? Oh yeah I'm Matt," the man said. She looked away. .So much for quiet and solitude she thought.