"Do you expect to just rush out there with your troops and end the battle?!" Trinton half yelled at the barbarian tribe's leader stationed inside the barracks. He was sitting on a barrel, his sword out, rubbing dried blood off of the blade, revealing the shiny metal underneath, fore he had just came back from an excursion in the surrounding forest.

The leader retaliated to his remark. "Do not tell me how to handle my men, elf! What do you know about leading men?!" He yelled as he raised his axe in the air, his furs raising slightly off of his muscled arms. He spat on the ground.

Trinton smirked, looking away from the blade and up at the leader. "Battle takes strategy. You can't use pure force and expect to take an enemy. You need to sneak around, and attack them from behind or the side!" he said, looking back down at the almost now spotless blade.

"Assassin," the leader said, lowering his arms, and taking a step closer to the elf. "Do not try to push on me your cowardly killing tactics, elf. We prefer to be MEN, and kill our enemies up close and infront of us so they can see our eyes before they die by our hands!"

Trinton stood up, and started walking forward, dropping the rag on the floor, the sword fully polished now. He caused the barbarian to take a few steps backwards, fear quite noticible in his eyes, but Trinton veered off to the left and walked towards the door, sheathing his sword. He peered over his shoulder, not bothering to fully look at the barbarian. "We shall see who lasts longer in battle then." He turned back and opened the door, and closed it behind him, before stopping in the hallway before him, letting out a long sigh, as he trampled down the front steps into the opened hall before him, before walking out into the night, into the dark colored courtyard.

It was odd. Walking these forgotten paths in the dark. It actually caused a shiver to run down her spine a bit. Deep hazell eyes scanned the area before her. Hand tightening on the bow that was slung over her shoulder. What was this place. "So quiet." she whispered. Her form was barely noticable in the dark forest as she walked on. She usually wasn't this creeped out. But really, with what was happening in this world. The elf did have a right of being a tad bit creeped out.

A sigh escaped her pressed lips, eyes seemed to narrow as she leaned against a tree. "I do not wish to go any farther till day light." she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. This was one of the cons about not travelling with someone. What was this place anyway... Falling down to the ground, Suri sat there, her head leaned against the trunk of a tree as she gazed up towards the sky. Her long, light blonde almost white hair cascaded down her shouldlers, some falling into her face.
Letting her head fall, Suri gazed up ahead. "What is that..." she whispered, pushing herself up off the ground. The girl made her way up the trail. Was she just going against what she said a few moments ago. Didn't she say that wouldn't go any farther. But a castle was out here. Basically in the middle of no where, well to her anyway.

"Hello." Suri called softly, a bit to softly for that of faint ears to here. It would be horrible if someone caught her, but that was something she had grown use to. Always getting in trouble. "A castle, at least it is better then the forest." Taking farther steps into the courtyard, Suri looked around for any sign of life. It was an interesting place, she would give who ever lived, if anyone did, that. Maybe she should call out a bit louder, but that would probably just make matters worse. Tightening her grip on the long bow, she tensed slightly. Her other hand ready to grab the hidden stash of arrows just in cas.

Soft thuds echoed through the courtyard and Trinton followed the steps out the door and down in a clockwise halfcircle until he stepped onto the flat stone of the courtyard. He looked outwards, and stretched his arms, yawning. The cool night felt good on his flustered skin as he stepped forward into the middle of the courtyard that was filled with a mixture of dirt and grass. It padded his footsteps even more so that there was no sound coming from him besides the rustling of his sword on his belt that was barely audible.

The elf sat down in the grass, laying back upon his elbows, stretched out on the lawn. He gazed up through the clouds towards the stars that filled the night's sky, trying to calm his nerves.

How could a stupid barbarian think he could win his battles with scheer force? Especially when it came to castle defense?

Soft noises that the elf hadn't heard had reached his ears. Trinton pushed himself up onto one hand, and wrested his other hand on the hilt of his shortsword on his left side as he stared through the port cullis, he saw a shadowed figure quite a ways off from the entrance. He sat up, pulling the sword out of its hilt, and wrested it on his legs. "Show yourself!" he called. "I will not hesistate to attack!"

Suri gritted her teeth, maybe they would be nice and let her stay for just a bit. Taking a deep breath she stepped out of the shadows and towards the area. The cool night air caused her already slightly rosy cheeks to flush even more. Brushing a few whisps of hair out of her face, Suri paused. It was quiet and creepy. Why was she so easily scared when it came to certain things, but fighting was no big at all.

Suri's breath caught in her throat. Eyes going wide slightly as she stood there, hand tightening on the bow. This wasn't good.

A voice had called out, she felt the urge to shoot back a remark. But who knew what was hidden in this place. Stepping farther out of the shadows, Suri bowed her head in shame. She had been caught so easily. Lifting her head once more, "Attack me and I'll attack back." she stated cooly. She was dead, good as dead. When would she ever learn just to keep her mouth shut.

Shifting her stance slightly, she stood ready with her bow now off of her shoulder and ready just in case the voice actually followed her threat. "I mean no harm if that is what you are wondering." she called, her uneasiness probably easily to see even in the dark.

The coo of the sound of the voice hit his ears like a high pitched whistle. Trinton hadn't expected to hear a female's voice, rather than a meaty voice ready to counter to his appeal. His ears twitched, as he automatically grasped the handle of his sword tighter. Women were a different sort, and it was harder to figure out their attacks than it was a mans.

"You enter our fort with a sour tongue," Trinton said cooly, not moving from his spot. "Do you wish to be attacked? State who you are and why you are here, and I will ponder whether to spare your life or not." He said it with authority, as he wasn't taking any more crap from anyone, especially not a stranger within the walls.

A soft breeze flowed through the courtyard, bringing the hairs prickling on the elf's skin. The area where the fort was located certainly wasn't the warmest, and the slightest breeze cooled the air by at least 10 degrees. It was easy to make the elf uneasy, and the breeze defiantely caught his attention, but the positive to this was that he was more keen to his senses, and he saw that the girl walking towards him was infact not human, she was a fellow elf, or at least what seemed to be.

Her breathing seemed to slow down, body still as she listened for a reply. Her arms seemed to relax, the bow and arrow dropping slightly towards her side. Ya, she could be considered a fool for doing this. Lowering your guard when someone had threaten to attack you. A smirk spread across her still face, eyes shifting around as she tried to figure out where this man was.

Suri giggled at that. "I'm usually not so sour." she muttered, tightening her grip just slightly when he threaten to attack once more. "And this is a fort?" Her stance shifted slightly when the voice spoke with more authority. Why was he demanding who she was? Hah. She was barely even a threat. Maybe. Sighing, Suri slung the bow over her shoulder and placed her hands on her hips. "If you must know... I'm Suri and I am a wander. That is all you need to know." she stated. "And do you really want to make me sleep out in the forest all alone. I'm just a helpless girl." A soft snicker was muffled by her hand when she spoke that.

Her patience where running thin. How dare he make her stand out her. She just really wanted to rest before being on her way once more. Arms wrapped around her waist, foot scuffing at the floor before she lifted her head. "May I ask who you are?"

Trinton stood up, the moonlight reflecting off of his ice blue hair. The answer that she gave wasn't sufficing his question, but he figured he wasn't going to get anymore than that, as he realized that she was elven, and elven tended to keep their secrets. His hand still on the handle of his sword, he took a few steps closer, but stopped still in the dead grass, listening to the crunching underneath his feet.

"I am Trinton, assassin, and about the only worthy person within these walls," he said, lowering his voice at the last part of his speech. His patience was growing suprisingly thin, and she definately wasn't helping. "Come within these walls, and call this place your home for as long as you like," he stated, pushing his voice out throughout the grounds, making sure anyone who was still awake would still hear him, "as long as you don't make a nuisance of yourself."

He waited for her reply silently, unmoving like a tree in the dead still of winter, almost statuelike, the scar on his shoulder making trouble upon him, a tiny itch that he tried to ignore, but it was like a buzz within your ear that he knew, how much scratching, that it wouldn't sooth the feeling. He stared out at the entrance of the castle towards the femine figure, almost like he was trying to enter her mind, or read her thoughts, none of which would have ever came even if he wanted them to.

Suri watched as a man came into the moonlight. She took as step back to look at him and forced herself to stand still. After seeing this man come out of the shadows, she would of been screwed beyound belief. For some reason, she was starting to regret being a hot head and shooting out replies like no other. Relaxing even more, a small smile grew. Maybe her answer wasn't the best, but hey. She didn't know if this man was going to do anything.

Taking a closer look at him, she noticed that he was elven. Well at least some elf. "Nice to meet you." she whispered, her head bowed slightly in greeting. She focused even more as he talked about her staying here. This fort could be her new home? Her mind to fix on the first part to even notice what he was saying on the second half. "Thank you, and I'll try not to be a nuisance, but that will be hard." Suri said, shifting her weight from on foot to the other. Arms tightening as a breeze brushed against her skin. Causing a soft shiver to run up her spine.

When Suri felt his gaze on her, she began to shift even more. Her nerves finally standing on end. "Um..." she muttered, turning her gaze to somewhere else. Trying not to glare at Trinton, who just happened to welcome her into this fort.

The unnerving feeling that hung about her put Trinton on edge. His grip on his sword tightened. What reason had she to be unneasy, except the fact that he was standing infront of her, fully equipped with his weapons, and in a place she had never been. He sighed.

"Follow me," he said, turning left and up towards the stairs he had walked down. "While we walk, tell me something. Why are you here? Why are you not back in the forests with our kind?" He used 'our kind' with delicacy, unknowing what type of elf she was, or even if she was full elf, or yet another species altogether.

His first step attached with the first step up the staircase, leaving the grass and stone behind. trinton advanced without looking behind him to see if she was near, but the soft thuds of her footsteps told him how close she was. Even though she was elven and light footed, he could still hear it, with enhanced ears due to his.... disease. And just the thought of it made him cringe, but it reminded him. He turned and looked at the moon, and cursed at himself. There wouldn't be many more nights before the full moon had taken over the sky.

Suri blinked and finally turned to face him. Her arms relaxing slightly as she stood there. Her head tilted slightly to the side. Nerves slowed down as she got use to his presence. Senses still on high, even though she never showed it.

She nodded her head, jogging a bit when he had gotten a few steps ahead. The question had slightly caught her off guard, but she began to mual it over. "Um... Okay." she mused, lengthing her strides slightly to keep up with him as he walked up the stars. "My kind? You mean the high elves? I dunno really. I never liked being with the others. I always wanted to see the world and when no one wanted to come with me. I set out on my own." Her eyes tracing over his form as she followed.

As she walked on, Suri could of sworn she saw him cringe, but easily shrugged it off. Her finger twirling a piece of hair around her finger. Feet lightly dancing on the stairs as she walked after him.

"I see.." Trinton said slowly, obviously in thought as he made his way into the doorway and opened the door for the girl. He stopped to let her though, and closed the door behind him.

He walked straight and followed the main hall all the way down. Columns stood on either side, and tarnished banisters hung on the stone walls. Their footsteps echoed in the hall off of the stone floors. They were the only people in sight, and it was kind of creepy in the huge fortress, as nothing was kept up.

The elf made it to the door on the left in the far end of the hall, and opened the door and walked through without looking back to Suri. A smaller hall, maybe five feet wide was on the other side, and he walked down it about twenty or thirty feet before they ascended into a stairway. He followed it upwards as it spiraled and finally formed into another hallway some 50 steps higher. Trinton walked down and passed a few doorways, before finally turning into a door, and opened it, walking into a fully furnished room.

The bed was a four poster bed with silk sheets, a fireplace with a bear rug infront of it, and fully furnished high end sophisticated chairs, desks, polished silver-backed glass, and etc. It was a high-ceilinged room, fit for royalty. Trinton turned back to Suri. "This room is yours. So long as you stay here, you are allowed to stay in this room."

Suri looked up from the floor when the elf spoke. Eyes sparked with curosity and wonder. What secrets did this man hold? "What about you?" she asked, careful to prhase her words just right. As he opened the door, she bowed her head. Muttering thanks underneath her breath as she sweeped past. Bowing her head once more.

She quickened her stride. Her heartbeat raced, almost in time with the soft echo of their footsteps. Ideas that something bad was going to happen slowly creeped into her mind. Suri walked a bit closer to Trinton as she tried to ignore the fact that they seemed to be the only living beings in this place. Her pace never wavered as she followed him. The countless hallways and stairways a bit boring after a while. Especially when your only company was a silent elf. As they went up a staircase that spiraled and a few doorways down. She sighed. Unaware that Trinton had stopped infront of her. She stopped, almost collided into the back of Trinton. Her cheeks flamed with embarresment. How foolish of her... Couldn't she focus long enough to notice him stop? She peered around his back and stared at the door. The room inside cause a soft gasp to come from her.

Her eyes grew wide at its sight. What a lovely room. Everything seemed fit for someone other then her. Trinton's voice was a muffled buzz in her ear as she stared into the room. Finally she snapped out of her thoughts and turned towards him. "Thank you." Her voice echoed with excitment. "Thank you. The room is beautiful." She scanned over the room. Everything seemed perfect. The bed, chairs and everything else, but mostly the bed. Its soft, silk sheets a welcomed sight to the elven traveller. It just looked so comfy. Excitment ran through her veins. Being a traveller, as she was, had many cons, but yet, it now had some pros. And she actually got to stay here in this room.

Trinton looked at the girl and welcomed her. "As for why I am here, let's just say I fit here better than I would back with the elves. They don't frown upon me." He turned to let the girl better into the room to look around.

"As you are staying here, you are expected to keep up with what is going on around here. Chores, if things need done, do them. If you are asked to help, help. If you are asked to fight, then fight." The elf turned to walk out of the room. "Oh, and you may find some of the residents aren't so.... giving as me. If you have trouble, do try to take care of it without violence, or you will have to answer to me." He looked back at her. "And so will the other party." His eyes stared into her as if searching inside her for her soul. "We need all the fighters we can keep," he said before closing the door on her.

Trinton walked back down the hallway and down the spiraling staircase into the great hall, before taking a seat at one of the chairs on the table that was situated into the middle of the room for conversation and for meals, however due to the time, it was quite small compared to relative size that it was during the day.

He placed his head in his hands and sighed. He was getting tired, and his patience was growing thin with the people in the walls of the fortress. Why couldn't everyone be as relying as he was to himself? He leaned back in the chair and looked up at the high ceiling. The torn and sunfaded banisters hung off of the columns like they were able to fall to pieces at any moment. This stupid place, he thought to himself. It's falling to pieces, and yet no one is willing to bring it back up and running. The thought lingered in his head as he looked down at the table and followed the intricate knots and weaves of the wood.

Suri rolled her eyes as the elf walked away. "He makes it sound like I'm a bad person or something," she muttered, plopping down on the edge of the bed. Arms crossed over her chest as she glared at the door. "I'm not a child, thank you very much."

Her thoughts began to wander. What did he mean they didn't frown upon him here? Leaning back on her hands, she shifted her gaze towards the ceiling and sighed. "It's pretty boring..." she sighed, lips puckered in a pout. Such an old elf he was. Such odd answers to all her questions. Slipping her bow off her shoulder, she laid it flat on the bed. Gazing at if for a few short seconds, before standing up. "Might as well explore," Suri whispered to herself, making sure that the hidden quiver of arrows was still attached to her leg. "By all means, I'm not allowed to protect myself." Rolling her eyes once more, she opened the door. Making sure that no one was outside it. Taking one more look at her room, the girl shut the door softly behind. Not really interest in meeting any other guests like Trinton.

Walking down the hall, her fingertips brushed against its sides. Barely even paying attention as she made it down a spiraling staircase. Was this the same one from before. Eyes gazed up and down the walls, slowly familizing herself with her new home. Personally this place gave her the creeps. Trinton said something about the people not being as kind as he was. She really didn't care thought, but what did have her distracted. Was the way he stared into her eyes, almost like he was trying to see something, but couldn't find it.

"Fighters, huh?" Suri spoke a bit to loudly, her voice echoing in the empty halls. Stopping at the bottom of the stair case, she frowned. Was this place always so empty?