"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
As usual Arthas has grown bored of the Chambers, everyone was so busy taking care of there own business that they had little time to chat. Being a diplomat was even more lonely than being in the army; he gave a snort and decided to visit his friend Dacia. It had been some time since he had seen his dear friend, they grew close and than Dacia decided to leave the Chambers. It was hard for Arthas to accept the fact, and probably harder for Dacia to actually leave her home. He hoped it would be a nice surprise to visit her, like they planned.
He had never been to the herd lands that belonged to the Chambers, but the one Dacia resided was rather far away. It took about half a day to make it to the lands, the sun was high in the sky, but a soft breeze provided relief from the heat. Dacia invited him, and said her brother owned the lands so he hoped his presence would cause no troubles. He could pick up the scent of a few mares and he figured he had finally pondered into the herd lands she resided in, he let out a soft whinny and hoped that she would be near by. His ears flicked around impatiently, it had been some time since he has seen her and he hoped to find her and no one else.
{Girls who run with wolves are not meant for boys to love}
She’d done exactly what she told Arthas she was going to do. She’d left the Chamber and never looked back. What did it matter? Killdare wouldn’t come looking for her. He’d been silent as a stone the day she left and that was all the proof of abandonment she needed. He may not have outwardly made a choice, but he’d done so by not even attempting to come after her. She thinks much less of him now than she ever did. And Lupei - well he was doing whatever it was that he thought necessary to try and defend her honor. But what honor did she have? She’d spread her legs and tried her best to smile through it all so she deserved exactly what she’d gotten.
The whore of the Chamber. What a title to bear.
The boys were more or less gone now. Silent, stoic Hellbane had disappeared one day and she didn’t ask questions. In her own quiet way she hoped he had travelled far from here and prayed every night that he would never come back. He looked too much like his father. And Mortal? It was as if he’d never been her child at all anyways. She could crumble from the loneliness of it all. Break apart into a million pieces and be ground away by the ocean until she was nothing but millions of grains of sand, spread out and trod on and wholly forgotten. The last known daughter of her mother’s line …
But a call interrupts her wordless thoughts and it’s a heavy baritone that keeps her from plunging over the edge. Arthas. A stallion that actually had kept his word. It’s hard to keep the joyful tears from streaming across her cheeks as she tops a small dune and trots to where he waits, a broken smile faltering over her lips while she does her best to maintain herself. “You came…” She breathes, forehead bumping softly against that mottled grey shoulder of his. Dacia lingers there, if only for a moment, before stepping back to look him over. With an unusually playful wink she changes her coat, mirroring his dappled color exactly. “I actually kind of missed you.”
He slowly walked further into the lands, cautiously unsure if Dacia mentioned Arthas to Lupei. Although they were both members of the Chambers so hopefully he would not find Arthas a threat should the cross paths. He gazed around the new home of Dacia, it was sooty cold and dusty just like the Chambers. It was not much a change in scenery aside from the bare mountains covered in soot, no greenery, every step leaving a dirt hoof print behind.
He came to a halt and his ears pricked straight up, head turning to the right as he heard someone approaching. His heart beat grew faster, in fear of running into the lead stallion, also to see Dacia. It has been some time since the two had seen each other, what if she did not want to see him like they planned. To his relief it was Dacia trotting over to him, tears fell from her eyes and a broken smile was forced as a greeting. His heart broke slightly for the mare who was obviously upset in her new home. you came she mumbled, hes stepped forward extending his neck nudging her cheek touching the tears she shed. I promised you I would he whispered tucking his neck back in.
She pressed her head against him, staying there for a moment. He took in a deep breath relaxing his eyes in the moment that she pressed against him. His body was warm again, he felt different around Dacia, she made him feel different. His eyes opened as she stepped back, giving a wink before her pelt changed before them to match that of Arthas. He could not help but smile at her chanigng pelt, she looked good in every color he has seen so far. He moved his hind quarters to press his body against hers I missed you as well he turned his head inward to nuzzled the base of her neck, down to her shoulder blade. Come with me, we will go to a new kingdom were we can see each other every day. he stepped back to view her expression. He hated being away from her, perhaps she would feel better leaving the Chambers all together, he wanted to be with her and hoped she did too.
{Girls who run with wolves are not meant for boys to love}
Without hesitation he steps into the shoes Killdare had never been big enough to fill. It surprises her all at once, washes over her like an immense wave and leaves her gasping for breath when he pulls away from her cheek. “Of course you did…” She whispers when he mentions his promise. Is it so crazy for her to believe in something again? Is it crazier that she finds that hope in Arthas? Perhaps not … they were brought together by circumstance, but who was she to deny what felt right? And - when he presses his body into the shape of her own - she certainly cannot deny that it feels so very right. Emboldened by his intimate gesture, her own lips trace the arc of his hip, spine tingling as his nose draws tracks across her grey skin.
“Go with you?” She questions, dazed by not only her need, but his nearness too. He wanted her, that much was obvious, and she was more than willing to give it; but leaving? With him in permanence? She’d been a kingdom horse once, it hadn’t ended as well as she’d imagined it would. “Where would we go?” She ponders as he pulls away, not entirely opposed to the idea as she should be. The color-changer should be wary by now, uncertain, but here she was throwing caution to the wind all for … who?
Her bright eyes dart up to his and she understands the answer to her own question is already reflected in his gaze.
“It doesn’t matter.” She decides, shaking her head with a brazen smile. “I don’t care where we go - as long I’m with you.” The dappled mare declares, easing forward again to rub her cheek against his coiled neck. Screw the rest of them. Dacia had found what she’d been looking for.
The mare questioned him when he said they should leave together, it was in that moment he thought that perhaps his feelings were to strong. She seemed nervous about it all, but he couldn't stand being separated, she was the only equine who made him feel different. Was it love? He didn't know for sure, but he did not want to be away from her any longer. The chambers took him in, but he never felt right in the kingdom, and he certainly missed greenery and plants. He was sure leaving the Chambers would be the right move, he just needed Dacia to come with him.
She questioned again, asking where it was they would go, he grew more worried that she would deny his request. She lifted her head finding his gaze, and agreed to go with him, a huge relief it was to hear that. It was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders, perhaps she cared for him just as much. He didn't care, all he waned was to be with her in the end. She stepped in rubbing her cheek against his neck, he felt at peace when he was around her. He turned his head in to nuzzle the top of her neck, although the Chambers was a dirty sooty place, she always smelled like a fresh bloomed flower. He stayed there for a moment, taking in her scent before moving to look at her Dacia, when I travel from the chambers to the field I have grown interested in the Gates kingdom, I think we should go there, ask them to take us. He hoped she would agree with his choice. He didn't care what kingdom they went to, so long as he had Dacia by his side, so long as she was happy in there new home.
