Attempting Reprieve

[Ariana]

"None of us could have known what we were going to be up against. Sauri's warning was only a fraction of what we actually dealt with.."

She knew she could not stop the feelings that he was feeling but perhaps the words could remind him that everyone who fought had no idea what they were up against. Ariana tilted her head a little and then scooted closer to him, nudging the fox out of the way from between them.

"You did a good job though keeping them at bay, even if it was for a short time. I was able to see you from my position on top of the Estate."

[Ceverus]

"I was next to Sauri when she fought the Elder Council. I defeated three of their strongest members without breaking much of a sweat...even so, I can't help but feel like I didn't have the strength to keep them all away...I feel like I let those who fell down and those who were wounded wouldn't have been such and we'd still have an estate to call our own..." he says, tears falling freely now. He welcomed when she moved closer to him, feeling at ease with someone to confide in.

[Ariana]

"Oh Ceverus..you can not think that it weighs all on your shoulders. At those numbers I would not even have expected the strongest being in any realm to defeat them all by themselves. There were so many of them. You can not blame yourself for what has happened.."

A few tears slipped down her cheek. She felt a good portion of his pain and knew that she had pushed herself to her limits to make sure the members had survived. Not even Sauri knew what they were up against.

[Ceverus]

"I can't help it. I've defeated legions of demons, laid waste to entire continents with a simple look, ended races from existing for defying my existence...I don't know why I was unable to do as much this time...not even Jinko's horde had an easy time with what hadn't already been defeated..." he says, shaking his head slightly, not seeming to notice when the lizard upon his shoulder nudges its muzzle against his cheek. He knew he couldn't have done it alone, but that didn't change the fact that he used all of his energy and then some in the battle only to learn that there were still deaths in the coven. His head lowers to stare at the ground, his tears dripping onto the rocks below him in a steady flow.

[Ariana]

The fox walked over to Cev's other side and nuzzled against his leg. Mandre had stayed to his position nearby. Someone needed to keep an eye on them since they were in such a vulnerable position. Ariana listened to him, taking in all that he had to say. Still knowing that they had come a long way in the past few weeks.

"These beings were different. They were made to target our weaknesses and push us to the limits. Although you were not able to destroy all of them in the blink of an eye you did a wonderful job keeping them from reaching the Estate as long as you could. I know that I would not have been able to do that. I would have been devoured by the masses after a few minutes."

[Ceverus]

Ceverus takes a deep breath in, letting it out slowly glancing towards the fox and petting the animal on the head. "I am glad I was able to thin their ranks as much as I did, had I not the wave would have overwhelmed the estate in much less time than three days. But escorting the souls of the people I called friend and family to the shadow realm was more tormenting, more painful than anything I have ever had to do. They were confused...and saddened by what happened...to tell them they were no longer alive killed me inside." he says, fresh wave of tears forming in his eyes.

[Ariana]

"Many here, like myself, only deal with the physical remains. However I am sure most of the members here believe in the spirits and can sympathize with you. It is a burden not many would be able to take on nor have the mental stamina to do so. That being said no one knows how hard it is to have to tell the spirit that they are no longer alive..For that I am sorry that it is something that you have taken on alone.."

She lowered her head a little and closed her eyes. Nothing would ever bring them back. If it had, she knew that they would not be the same person but something and someone different. It would not be fair to their spirits to be broken in such a way.

[Ceverus]

"I don't mind it when it's people I've never known or will never know. But when it's family it's another story. I don't ask for anyone to understand, just that they know how difficult it is." he says before falling silent. He sighs softly before looking at her, hesitantly he moves a hand around her shoulders, giving her the option of a shoulder to cry on should she need it.

[Ariana]

She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. Ceverus knew how she felt about family dying or being used for torture. He was the only one here that knew what she had escaped from.

"I think the people that take the time to get to know the man within the shadows might know more than just how he feeds.."

A smile tugged at her lips before she took a breath to calm herself.

[Ceverus]

Ceverus let's out a soft sigh as his tears subside, "This is true, however none but yourself and a select few others have tried...I think I intimidate them..." he says with a light laugh, a joke made to lighten the mood. He relaxes as the sit, leaning against Ariana slightly as he listens to the falls nearby, petting the fox's head softly still while the lizard on his shoulder takes to his shirt for warmth. He was truly at peace for the first time in many moons.

[Ariana]

She smiled but perhaps it was something else rather than intimidation, something that she had seen in several of the members here and something she did not agree with.

"I think many are too high up on their pedestals to care about taking the time to get to know someone. Rather it should be the other way around.."

Ariana gave a shrug of her shoulders. She may have been hostel to everyone she met when she first arrived but she did take the time to get to know them when given the chance. Otherwise, she let them go their way and she stayed right where she was.

[Ceverus]

"Too true. There are some who first react to me with fear, however a lot of others might underestimate me and take me for a weakling, even after the battle few have approached me. Granted I approached you in a rather intrusive manner, however you did not turn me away." he says with a shrug of his own. "Thank you for that" he adds, shifting slightly to look at her.

He was glad to have found someone who trusted him and one he could trust in return. It had been ages since he could say that about anyone.

[Ariana]

"Well you had caught me at a moment when I had no energy to really force you away. Plus it seemed that I had almost invaded your space by sleeping beneath the tree, the gateway to your world."

She flashed a smile and then closed her eyes as the sweet aroma of food made its way to her nose.

"Mmmm..Next time you will not be so lucky when you catch me unaware."