FLASHBACK!

Sallia had been in the springs healing...this is from the last forum. =) It was the final eve of the battle, a waning crescent faintly illuminating all the earth around her in muted shades of emerald and sapphire. Her eyes fluttered open for the first time since she had been injured, a hand gingerly tracing where a scar should be over her throat; she was lucky. If anything, that was too close for comfort. Her memories of what had happened were hazy if anything, but there were two people she remembered more clearly than anything, and they were Legolas and Nazaroth.
Pulling herself up out of the spring, the crystalline sound of dripping water awoke the elder Xarik'n, purple eyes morphing from violet, to azure, and then to jade green. "S...!!" he tried to say, but the woman just shook her head, one finger placed to her lips. Xarik'n's shoulders fell, but he understood.
"I need my clothes, something less drenched and thin than these." Her voice was low and stoic, greyed turquoise eyes reflecting the image of the moon above. Xarik'n only nodded, tossing her the temple robes that she hadn't adorned since her childhood. Moving behind a tree, she quickly changed into the natural, slightly nubby fabric, wringing out her long, dark hair into the earth.
"Sallia...." Xarik'n began, but he again was silenced.
"I've been dreaming, Xarik'n," Sallia began, moving out from behind the oak. "Nazaroth is still alive."
"Of course he is, we're at war..." Xarik'n answered, though a bit confused.
"Not him; the Nazaroth that used to be my friend..." She picked up the last couple tidbits of her belongings, lithely starting into the forests as Xarik'n trailed behind.
"Where are we going???"
"We're going to meet him."
**********

He was waiting; the cover of silence and darkness suited him well. A few mosaic shards of moonlight pierced through the thick canopy of the deciduous forest, moving across his skin as water would. His eyes were indigo, which contrasted sharply with his brilliantly golden hair, and while his stature was something to be either admired or feared, he was as calm as the air around him. The thick scent of soil and rain was everywhere; the musky scent of rotting leaves and the sweet scent of yarrow and herbs also made sure he recognized them in this environment. **Smells like her, like childhood...** he thought with a small grin. He continued to wait, standing in the center of the clearing in which large, grey stones were erected to form a sort of table, fireplace and chairs. This had been a favorite party/hangout and ritual spot of theirs back in the day.
The rustling of leaves and the sudden yelp of Xarik'n alerted him to her presence. As Sallia stepped forward out of the shadows, she smiled slightly, moonlight making her pale skin silver against the ebony of her hair. Xarik'n mumbled quietly behind her, rubbing his head; for a demon of sorts, he should have seen that.
"I've been waiting, little one..." Nazaroth greeted affectionately, stepping forward from the shadows. "It's been a long time since we've spoken."
Sallia nodded, visibly calm and relaxed, unafraid. While Xarik'n understood, he still grasped onto the memory of Nazaroth's crimes against her. It was hard to swallow. "I know. I heard you while I was sleeping... The old telepathy hasn't worn out, has it?" Her salmon-colored lips turned upwards in a small grin, and Nazaroth responded with a chuckle. "I figured you would be here... This place has so many memories, doesn't it?"
"Mmhmm..." Nazaroth smiled warmly, graceful fingers running over the worn surface of the stones. "This place is as old as time itself. We once were young elflings playing teaparty and feasts, and honoring the Old Ones here..."
"I haven't forgotten." She sat down on the edge of the table, swinging her legs as she thought. "Nazaroth, I'm going to have to leave soon."
"As am I. I don't know how long I'm going to be able to keep control.... Seeing you both helps and weakens me. I apologize for all the harm I've caused you..." he began, moving closer to her with a sense of desperation. "I myself could never harm you like he did."
Sallia laughed, tilting her head. "And you think I didn't know???"
"Huh???" Nazaroth stepped backwards, surprised, but then relaxed, crossing his arms. "I should have known as much."
"I told you," Sallia giggled softly, "The old telepathy hasn't worn out."
"It hasn't... So, where exactly are you going??" Nazaroth moved to sit behind her, their backs facing while he looked up at the stars and she examined the table.
"I wish I knew.... The old Deva Goddess in the Tree, she's sending me away from here. I'm going to bring trouble. I have a quest to complete."
"Which is...?" Nazaroth looked now into the branches of the trees ahead, noticing a small animal scampering into it's hollow.
".....Dunno." Sallia responded, jumping up to her feet. "I just know I have to leave, and finish this so I may inherit this place from Her."
"Makes sense. She was never clear about those things." Nazaroth glanced behind him, watching Sallia as she stretched. "It would be best if you left tonight, anyhow."
"I know. I've dreamt it." was all she responded. A few moments later, she turned around to face him. "Nazaroth?"
"Mmhm?"
"Lend me your sword."
Nazaroth pulled the blade from its sheath, a beautiful weapon that looked like it could have been crafted of mithril, engraved in the elven style. "Here. Don't take it."
Sallia laughed a bit, but 7 seconds later, a good three feet of hair was missing from her head, which she laid out upon the table. Handing him back the sword, she managed a tiny smile while he looked at her in shock.
"....You know, I've been waiting for you to do that, but I never thought...--Hey, wha??" In the small amount of time between her returning his sword and his beginning to speak, she had leapt up upon the table, and begun braiding 13 strands of her hair in with his.
"This is to show that you and I, we are kindred, we are friends regardless of what may happen. I want you to give Legolas 13 strands as well... Tell him to do the same, as it symbolizes my love for him."
"So you really do love him, don't you?" he whispered quietly.
"I do. That's one reason why I have to leave now. If I'm around, you'll use me to Legolas' disadvantage, well, he will."
"Yeah..." Nazaroth moved to his feet as she finished, sealing it with a bead from her necklace. Handing him one that was green in color, she closed his hand around it and the hair before stepping back.
"I must go now. You're slipping..." Sadness permeated all of their moods, Xarik'n just waiting silently in the backround. "Nazaroth, our friendship will never die, even if one of us does."
"That's where you're wrong..." Nazaroth smiled sadly, shaking his head. "Because unless I may seperate myself from this monster, I fear this is my last moments as I truly am. You understand... Don't you dare cry. I picked on you and played those pranks on you for a reason, and don't forget Elandere." He cut off some of his hair as well, handing it and three beads to her. "And your brother. Be strong, little one. You have many miles ahead of you. I'm glad I got to see you before this end... I've been dreaming that I will die tomorrow."
"I have seen it as well..." Sallia murmured, stepping backwards into the shadows. "Farewell, my dearest of friends... If I shall miss anyone as sorely as Legolas, it shall be you."
"And you, I... Now go, you have little time to waste. Farewell, little one..."
Xarik'n followed after as Sallia began running, knowing the paths of the forests as well as the language she spoke; he, on the otherhand, did not fare so well. After running into 8 trees in 4 seconds, he resorted to teleporting to the entrance and waiting. After all, it was much less painful.
~~~~~
They each left that night, Nazaroth failing to resist his shadow side much longer, and thus fading deeper into the night, and Sallia and Xarik'n disappearing on the roads that led to the north. Sallia discarded all of her familiar belongings aside from her wedding ring and necklace, donning darker traveling clothes although she kept the temple robes in her pack. In the morning, it would be noticed that someone who would have died that day was missing his armor and weapons, and they had been stolen in the night. The spring was missing one formerly wounded woman, the oak beside it missing the once dark, dangerous and mysterious priest-figure that the soldiers and attendants had become used to seeing.
Currently, Sallia has been making her way across the continent, fighting those that seek to harm her and healing those who require it through the cities and countryside alike. Four beaded braids hang freely from her hair, two behind each ear that fade from dark to light, with the exception of one that turns to black. The three blond ones are from Elandere, Nazaroth and Legolas; the dark one, her brother. Xarik'n was traveling along with her for the first week, but decided to return to the others and teleport back to her whenever she needed him most, or in the event that she didn't meet up with others to accompany her. Xar tries to be as nonchalant as possible about his disappearance, as does Shanra, her brother; they claim they were hunting..... Despite the missing of any hides or animals at all, and the fact that Xarik'n seems to live off of sweets more than anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FLASHBACK ENDS! ^_^
Present:

Sallia bolted quickly through the forests, holding Shanra's sword in her hands. Her previous one had already broken, and Shanra had left after that battle at dawn anyhow. With a quick scream, the metallic clang of fighting echoed through the forests, the man she faced grunting as each tried to deal the other the blow that would end the match. To her disadvantage, he was strong; it didn't take him much effort as she began to tire to knock her to the ground. To his disadvantage, he was human while she was an elf; she had speed. As he charged to knock her unconscious, she brought the blade up in an arc, slicing into his stomach; blood sprayed across her clothes and face. Rolling out from beneath him before he fell and crushed her, Sallia panted a bit, rising to her feet. "Hey, are you ok???" A little boy peered out from the bushes, nodding a little bit, scuffed and generally a mess. She smiled genuinely, holding out her hand. "C'mon. Do you live in the village up ahead? I'll take you home, no bad men will try and hurt you anymore."