[Solo] The Nosdyn Chronology Chapter 9.

[Nosdyn]

He sat there for a long moment. Thinking about what he'd just done, the single most unselfish thing he had ever done in his life since the time he met Nosdyn on the field of battle and stepped off Ettermire's forces as being a general. Father, mother...be at peace I will make this right...somehow I will make this right. I swear to you both. He held his companion's hand. Ironic, before that point no dark elf woman would even ever look his way...the only woman who had ever given a damn about him...had been a child of N'Jal. He chuckled at the irony of it all a moment. He looked at her for a long moment, there was a beauty there, that somehow became more obvious to him. The dark elf women didn't have that same surreal beauty. "You are the only one woman who has ever even looked at me the way you do." The boy told her the truth.

"It must have been very hard for you." Aelldra responded.

He nodded. "Since I walked away from Ettermire's army...I've been running. I been running for a long time. Perhaps into your arms." He smiled softly. "But even now, as crazy as this all seems it makes sense to me. I see now why Nosdyn would have chosen N'Jal. You and your people won't ever judge any of us...I see now why he stayed. When Ettermire, no when me and Xyllea herself abandoned him. He had nowhere else to go."

Aelldra nodded calmly. "We will figure all these things out together me and you."

***

Meanwhile...

Nosdyn knelt before N'Jal by that point there were at least one hundred of N'Jal's children with them. Things were moving rapidly at that point, as they were meant to be. He telepathically communed with the master. What is your will my master?

Lancaster's son has become one of my children. It was his own choice...his own path he must walk. N'Jal said to Nosdyn.

Nosdyn was a little surprised by that but he nodded, everything would transpire as it was meant to.

You've trained my children, your Son and Llukai very well at this point. Someday...we must confront the cult in Ettermire. N'Jal said to him.

I will do what you ask...we will be prepared for this thing you ask of me. Nosdyn responded.

[Nosdyn]

N'Jal watched her champion quietly, he'd grown considerably older by that time..wiser. She knew, he would have been an elder of his people by that time. Something troubled her champion...but she guessed what it was. He could feel death's shadow on his back. She wrapped her hand around his hand. "What bothers you so my champion?"

"I'm...old." Nosdyn said finally. He didn't want to trouble her with that matter...his people aged differently but he'd been alive for a very long time. He'd fought the demons in his heart for a long time. He accepted the truth of what was going to happen someday. "Father once told me...it is my people's destiny to die in battle."

"You wish to honour your father?" She asked of him.

"One last time my master." He nodded to her. "To honour all he has taught me, all you and your children have taught me. I'm just an old demon at this point...haunted by too many battles." He was being truthful to her, honest and that pain haunted him at that point that knowledge that death was watching his every movement by that time of his life.

She was not sure how she had not seen it up until that point. Somehow, she'd grown complacent of the fact that he'd always been there since that first night he joined her side...so many years ago. It was all catching up to them at that point, looming like a specter. "Eventually, all things wither and die." N'Jal said at that point.

It reminded him of something an old friend...long gone, once told him. "He said the same thing to me once. The old priest from the temple outside of Ettermire." Nosdyn said, remembering the wise old undead priest he'd once called a friend. "I once told Llukai's father I was not afraid to die. I meant that, I always have." He said.

N'Jal was deeply concerned for her champion's well being. She knew what she was prepared to do to keep him alive, to keep him by her side. But she didn't want him to ever hate her for it...

At that point Nosdyn did and said something. He placed his hand on the side of N'Jal's face. "Do not be so troubled by my burdens my master. Walking by your side was the greatest choice I have ever made for myself. I have no regrets...come what may I would die to honour you and your teachings."