*Dorian Whitehall*
The evening was cold and dark from the mist that hung low over the castle, Dorian made his way across the courtyard, up the high steps and along the corridor towards the archives, he had been sword training earlier and Tartan had mentioned something about going on a hunt in a few days with Sir Wilfred, but Dorian's mind was preoccupied, he thought only of what awaited him in the archives, so much so he didn't change after the training, his sword was still at his hip as he pushed open the doors of the archives and was hit with the waft of the burning candle's essence.
"You seem in hurry young King, didn't even change after sword fighting" Rosseus said leaning back in his chair. "Down the back and on the right, Merilyn told me what you were looking for." He smiled his yellow teeth standing out, he was an old man that came off as a bit unusual, but he was kind to Dorian. "Give me a shout if need anything, I'm not overly busy here." Dorian nodded and started for the back "Though maybe you could allow me to have some ale in here, those guards don't let me bring it in" Rosseus said as much to himself as to Dorian.
Dorian breathed in the scent of books, he didn't often read mainly preferring to feast or drink and even swordplay. But this time was different, Dorian was in search of what could possibly tell him the meaning of his vision's, he moved on the down the long isle until he reached the old pile of books down the back. He sat down at the table and picked up a book wiping the dust off of it. "The History of Gulsanteer" well that's the wrong book Dorian thought, tossing it aside, he picked another up "The Tales of Destruction in the Five Great Realms of the West by Piccet Castaway" he smirked "that's more like it" he then flicked to the first page "In the year-" he stopped abruptly he had remembered how much he hated reading, good thing I'm doing this for my own benefit he said to himself.
For the next several hours Dorian flicked tirelessly from page to page in search of the answers he needed, his eyes didn't leave the paper for more than a second, he was fully immersed in reading and finding any minute detail on what he may be looking for. But alas nothing, he had no answer, whether it was Lorcan I destruction of the city 'Norrtyne' or the great Riage civil war nothing could give him the answers.
He sighed and looked up at the ceiling slamming his fist on the table, "Damnit" he was annoyed to say the least he wanted to know what possibly could those dreams have been about. Rosseus made his way towards the young King, swigging on his bottle of ale he had found somewhere, clearly drunk, "no look" Rosseus questioned wobbling slightly, "Ya no look" Dorian replied, Rosseus stared at the book blinking rapidly for a second before "Thud!" He hit the ground spilling his drink all over the place, sighing Dorian cursed under his breath "stupid old drunk".
Dorian began to drag the old fool along the floor, he was heavier than he looked and reeked of alcohol. He held his breath, Rosseus definitely shat himself he thought. Dorian shimmered Rosseus onto the seat of the his desk. Before turning his attention to the cool air leaking in through the crack in the door.
It was night, he pushed the door open and stepped out, he looked up into the night sky, the mist was gone and the night was clear and sparkling with bright stars, it had been a long time since Dorian was outdoors at this hour and so he walked briskly across the courtyard, hoping not to wake anyone, he made his way up the castle wall to over look the town outside it, light shone from home few and far between, he wanted to leave, experience the world live his best life, find new cultures, drink new wines and good food. He wanted to grow wings and fly high, sore to the end of the world. He wanted it all but could have nothing.
As he turned away from the town and began walking back down the wall, through the courtyard, this time going up different steps over a corridor down a passage and up a tower before reaching his chamber's. The secret passage never failed he thought. As much as he loved all the places he hid when he was a child and old passages long forgotten that he and his brother found together, he realised why he wished so wholeheartedly to run away. It was because this castle was full of all the memories of his good times with his brother, the stern talkings to by his father and loving embrace's of his mother, he wanted to forget them because he couldn't bring them back, couldn't have them by his side and help him now. He was scared and alone thinking he was a victim when he was the man that brought about his very own inevitability and he knew, he knew it all, but refused to accept it, "Why should I"? Those words cut deep and far, he understood it all now it was those bastarding "Riage!" and their King Lorcan VIII. His sword cut down through a table in his room. He spun around sharp to find a person standing at his door, it was a person lean and slim standing at seven feet tall, seemingly wearing Merilyn's clothes "Who are you?". The person smiled "I can be anyone you want a friend or foe". "What do you mean?", his grip on his blade tightened, the moonlight shone through a window, the person shimmied slightly allowing for a better angle of their face, the red skin illuminated, Dorian took a step back, it was clear now who that was, a shape shifter some call them Basilisks from Rhakr the red men "Your a Rhakri". "Indeed I am boy, don't hold the sword if your too afraid to use it" Dorian's gaze flicked to his own sword held firmly by his grip "I'll cut you half!" The Rhakri smirked a shiver ran down Dorian's spine, "You'd piss yourself before you'd even reach me" Dorian took a step back, The Rhakri took a few steps forward and reached for Dorian, instinctively Dorian swung his blade up attempting to slice their hand off. The Rhakri was startled and took a step back, Dorian began to back up gripping his sword in two hands and pointing it towards the Rhakri.
"Frightened are we?" The Rhakri tilted their head sideways as they asked curiously. The Rhakri reached behind their back and pulled a curved blade down to their side "I'll split you from balls to brains and pull you limb from limb to see what Arvorians are made of" they licked the underside of their blade, which drew blood from their tongue "or should I call you a king" they smiled their teeth red from blood. They lunged at Dorian with surprising speed slicing through the air for his head, he parried the attack but was knocked to the ground from the weight of his opponent, he struggled to his feet just in time to dodge the attack aimed for his neck but it still ripped through his tunic, causing blood to rush from his torso, he fell onto one knee clutching his wound, looking up at the Rhakri, through gritted teeth "are you going to finish me off", they smirked "you'll have to wait and see". Dorian gripped his blade tightly, he was struggling to breathe but somehow found the strength to lift his sword, as the Rhakri lifted the blade above their head to carve through Dorian, Dorian thrusting his sword forward managed to pierce the man's gut, he drew back just in time to block their attack, so he sliced their wrist causing the Rhakri to grasp at the open wound, seizing his opportunity Dorian lunged forward grasping the longsword he thrusted up through the Rhakri's neck, and then pushing forward knocking down the Rhakri with his weight, the Rhakri grasped at the hilt of the blade and coughed up blood as they spoke "Seems you've bested me, but I must tell you one thing".The Rhakri began to stop resisting the inevitable "this wasn't real" his voice was hoarse "your visions are false created by me and as for your precious Merilyn, well she's in a quieter place now." They smirked through their blood soaked teeth. Their eye's lolled back in it's head and they died. Dorian was contemplating what had just happened but it had been too much, so he suddenly started to feel the pain from his wounds take over and begin to shut his eyes as someone entered his chambers.