Rogues on the Plain (Open)

[Kristen]

Lakieth smiled at the thought of the man's brain. He knew he wouldn't undertsnad and maybe humans never will. He could see the confusion and curiousness in the man's expression.

Soldiers started getting closer. Lakieth starting swaying his tail to prevent any of them from getting closer. If they did, some of them would pay...

Lakieth didn't answer the man's question and continued. "That's not the right question. Ask yourself why you are here." He didn't look into his eyes a moment longer. The soldiers didn't back away and he flung his tail, not harming their lives, but their fragile skin the stretched across their bodies. He began to turn around, preparing for flight...

[Lord Commander De Montford]

"Serving and protecting my nation, my king, and my loyal brothers and sisters of my own kind... just like you."

He didn't take his eyes off the dragon, but instead held the shield limply in his left hand as his cloak fluttered slightly in the wind. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the bodies of the fallen all around the battlefield. So many had falled. So many had died. And for what reason? Sometimes Arthur doubted the price of war. Was peace worth so much blood?

"I love what I am, dragon. I am willing to fight for the Men. I am willing to bleed for them... I am willing to die for them..."

[Kristen]

"Such loyalty shouldn't be shown like that." Lakieth looked up to the skies, knowing that no one would attack him now. He thuoght about the decisions he had to make to protect and serve his followers. After a pause his mouth opened again and words sputtered out, yet his voice was soft. "It's Lakieth, not dragon. I do hope that you will look at these people's lives," He nodded to the falen men on the field, "wil be looked at the same way as you do yours." He tilted his head and gave a nod, showing the man that he should think about his position.

"No one holds power over anyone else. It's just the way we use it..." He trailed off, thinking of all the other creatures and people who had chosen to do what this man before him was doing.

[Lord Commander De Montford]

Arthur was standing more relaxed now, relishing the battle of wit and truth more than the battle of sword and strength and flame he had just been a part of. It meant there would be casualties. None lost.

"Loyalty is shown in the eye of the beholder, Lakieth. However a man chooses to place and show his loyalty, it his right to do so. And his responsibilty to walk the path they have chosen."

He thought about what he had said about power and death, scratching his slightly stubbled chin which had grown during this campaign (He had had little time ot shave) before answering, "Each man's life is as precious as the man beside him, and the man beside him. My life is just as important as the potter's, or the blacksmiths, or the common peasant. Power only gives people the chance to look up, and see someone looking back down at them. Someone who will lead them and do what they can for them."

He looked around at the men around him, the soldiers and warriors who were listening the two of them conversing. Their weapons were lowered and all their eyes were fixed on him, listening, and thinking deeply on his words. And then they would all look at the dragon, and do the same. "I do not hold power... only authority. I can not live these men's lives for them. No-one can but themselves. No-one should..."

[Kristen]

Lakieth nodded. "I hope you think about what you said. It means great importance." Lakieth turned his body around and unfolded his wings. Turning his head around to glance at the man once more he spoke, "Maybe you have a head on your shoulder that might stay there for a while." He smiled and opened his wings completely. the soldiers backed up to give him room. Their faces told him they had no idea how to act.

The sun passed through his slightly transparent wings and dove onto his metallic scales. They glittered, making it look like they wiggled in their place. Lakieth nodded to all the man and lept of into the air. His giant butterfly wings opened all the way down to the tail. They stroked the air and pushed him over the heads of the men. Few ducked but some knew he wouldn't harm them.

[Lord Commander De Montford]

Arthur watched the dragon fly away for a while and saw him dissappear into the clouds and beyond sight. He kept looking at the dim sky where he had left, "And its Arthur, Lakieth..." he whispered to himself. "...not human."

He sighed and turned back to the men. "Gather our dead and that of our enemies. They all deserve to be buried here properly today." The men nodded and went about searching the men. It was pretty much customary for that to happen in the wake of a battle.

He picked up his sword and broken longsword. He'd get them fixed later... for now, there was work to be done...

[Kristen]

[[ ;)I knew you would say something clever at the end =D Lakieth exits thread]]

[Lord Commander De Montford]

ooc: Haha, of course