Leo steered the big dragon down under Crim and caught her in his arms. "Hey. How was the flight?" he asked, laughing.

Crim was barely conscious but before fainting completely she gave him a slight smile. She had lost alot of blood now and her arms was still dripping. Seralth hovered over her and Leo and whimpered and whined, not liking the site of Crim at all.

Crim was beginning to get pale and lose her rosy color in her cheeks. She was still breathing normally and her heart was still keeping its pace.

Leo flew back to camp and set her down on the ground. "Alexander! Rosaline! Help me!" Leo yelled desperately.

Rosline, hearing the distress call, stood up quickly. Her hands were still tied behind her back so she went over the her sword on Leo's horse and cut the rope. Bolting over she saw the dragons and froze for a moment. "That is a big dragon..." she uttered. Seeing Crim, she shook off her fear and ran over. "Do you have cloth? I can clean and wrap the wound. We need to cauterize it quickly, otherwise she's going to keep bleeding and we may lose her." Rosline thought of a few jokes, but knew this wasn't the time. If Crim died, Rosline was next.

"Do what you must but save her!" he shouted.

Rosline nodded and motioned for him to follow her. "Bring her back to the camp and set her by the fire. Put your sword in the flames to heat while I fetch water and cloth." she began to panic and rush. She ran to the stream and got water. "Please don't hate me for doing this." she said cleaning the wound with a scrap of Crim's clothes.

Rosline looked at Leo. "If she comes to, you may have to hold her. It's going to hurt, very much."

Elora sighed as she watched to massive dragon fly off back toward their camp. "That was unproductive." she placed her hands on her hips and shook her head disappointed. Elora changed back to her normal form and walked toward Astal. This would be her first time back in her birthplace in years. She was partly excited, but feared what would happen if she returned.

Deamiel had wanted to bring her back to see what would happen. He was curious. His curiosity sometimes frustrated her, but kept her sane at times. So she walked toward the city then flew as fast as she could to the city gates. Once she reached the gates, she stayed human form and met Deamiel outside. "Sorry I'm late. Ready to influence leaders? I love peace meetings." she smiled and followed him inside the city.

4 months after leaving Favorstead, Leo, his companions and their prisoners had reached Ritland. They had encountered a few bandit camps and some bands of deserters but the vampire was their biggest challenge. After meeting the Sage at one of the Five Houses, the House of Cerwyn, the group made their way to the other houses, Floryn, Morwyn, Terys, and Seryn and rallied the Ritter Elves to Leo's newly founded banner of a black wolf, facing a silver dragon on a golden field, before looping back the way they came and retaking the city of Ritahloras from the bandits and other unsightly things that had taken root in the once great city. Even now, 6 weeks after his wedding and coronation, Leo could still remember the sense of happiness and pride he felt in his new station. He recalled his speech to his people with the greatest amount of admiralty. He stood on the high balcony that extended from the throne room, wearing gilded golden armor with a wolf embossed on the front, a glistening crown set with rubies and onyx's, and a flowing red cloak lined with fur, his new bride at his side in her beautiful dress, Alexander, the Sage, Nikolai, and Rosaline standing behind them. "I am Leollys Blackwolf, Lord Paramount of the Golden City of Ritahloras. I am the Warden of The Great Wood. I am the Ritter King! I have claimed this ancient mantle, as is my right by birth! I have come to take back the lands of our ancestors! I will retake Ritland and restore your great bloodlines! Fight with me! Fight to reclaim ours that was lost! People of Ritland, FIGHT!" he remembered the deafening roar that his speech received as he raised his sword high above his head, the runes glowing bright red. 3 weeks after his coronation, he and his army of 3000 marched to the Imperial Garrisons and cleared them out. Now, 3 weeks after that, his army prepares to march again, this time, to the Goldenblade camp at Orilion, where they had recieved word that the main Goldenblade army was mustering, preparing for a siege on Astal.

Crim walked over to Leo, still in one of the silk dresses she got as a wedding gift, and stood next to him. "So Astal, huh? It's going to be a very bloody battle. We're going to lose a lot of men." She said looking at him. She didn't like war, not a bit. It was scary to think about what could happen on the battlefield.

A slight gust blew part of her hair in her face as she waited for his response. If he was going to go, she was going too. "Are you sure going for the city is a good idea? There are women and children there, and I don't think I can kill them." Crim let her gaze fall to the ground. She hoped he understood, or at least didn't think less of her because of it.

Alexander put a hand on Crim's shoulder. "We gave them a fair enough warning. Anyone that remains is a soldier unless proven otherwise." Alexander said with a smirk. He had a new scar, a line across the bridge of his nose. He looked back at Roz and smirked. "Ready to get revenge, lass?"

Leo glanced around his bedroom. It was spacious, with enough room for a bed that could fit four comfortably, two armoires full of clothes for both he and Crim, a desk that sat against a huge window that overlooked the courtyard and the forest beyond, a tub, and a balcony off to the side that also overlooked the forest. He sighed and sat in one of the chairs, next to the bed. "My obligations to the Goldenblades remain. Our people have not just soldiers, but other valuable resources to aid the cause. I have to go."

Rosline looked back at him and nodded with a smile. "Oh, I can't wait. I'm going to stop those savages into the ground." she said and smiled kindly. No one would think she was as dangerous as she was just by looking at her. A short small girl? Everyone thought she was weak, but they were all wrong.

Roz took a step forward and bowed to Crim. "Milady, I'm sure it will be alright. All civilians should be out of the city. The only women left are killers and hurt people. I promise you there will be no child and if there are, all soldiers have orders to escort them to a safe place while the siege is taking place. I assure you, no innocents will be killed during this siege." she tried to assure Crim, but knew at least one or two innocents were going to get in the fray and get hurt. It always happened in war. She just hoped that Crim wasn't around when it happened.

Crim walked over to the bed and sat quietly. "I trust both of you completely, I do. I'm not one for war, I'm sure you all know that by now. But if you all feel as if storming the city is the right course of action, then I will follow all of you to the end." she looked around the room at everyone, then whistled and watched as her dragon landed on the balcony, taking up the whole space. "She's big enough to ride. And the other one can carry a group of archers. They need to have a steady hand though. I can take Seralth and the archers over the city while you guys charge on the ground. They won't expect dragons, not more than one at least." Crim offered.

Crim stood and walked over to her dragon and pet her head. "And this one just made four more. They'll hatch in a few days." she said smiling as Seralth cooed. "If we make it there within the month we'll have six fire-breathing, flying beasts on our team." she turned back aroun to Leo and the rest of them. "Astal is at least a few weeks ride away. I can train them quickly, but I may need more time when we get there."

Leo nodded and stood. He walked over to the mirror that was next to the tub. He had trimmed his hair to neck length and wore it in a ponytail most days. He had completely shaved his beard. He had changed much since he left Favorstead. Instead of threadbare tunics, he now wore fine robes of silk and leather, cinched closed with fancy belts, embedded with jewels and golden thread. It all seemed so new, even now, after almost two months of being a king. He sighed and walked back over to Crim. "It'll all be over soon love."

Crim nodded in response. "I'm sure it will. We should find our best archers and rally them. They need to start training. Firing arrows while standing on a moving dragon, it's not as easy as it seems and it doesn't seem easy. We'll need a blacksmith to make anchors for them, but ones that do not hurt that dragon." she explained. "I can teach them what I can with the time we do have, but they need to start training now."

"We begin marching for Vedrus in a week. I hope its enough." Leo sat on the bed and rubbed his temples with his middle finger and thumb.

"I will see what I can do." Crim said as she walked over and placed her hand on Leo's shoulder. "I'll go and find them. Do you request any or suggest any in particular?" she asked quietly.

"Cordyn, of House Teryn, Baemyn of House Morwyn, and Vayn of house Cerwyn. Their lords spoke highly of their abilities with a bow." Leo said, covering her hand with his. "Shall i come with you? I get restless just sitting around."

"You're always welcome to accompany me, my love." Crim smiled and nodded to him. She would need him to talk to the archers for her then. They wouldn't listen to a woman. "I was hoping you would come with, I don't think men of they stature would listen to a lady." Crim smiled a bit more but felt a bit dissapointed. Even if she was one of the best archers in the kingdom they wouldn't listen to her without the King's orders.

Leo smiled and stood, grabbing Ritterstihl from next to his side of the bed, where it was always propped. He belted on his sword and held the door for Crim.