Moving Forward

After the heavy rain had finally stopped leaving them soaked, shivering, and frozen to the bone. Iris looked up at the sky trying to ascertain her suspicions but to her disappointment, the skies looked very much just like before, not very much had changed. With a heavy sigh, she glanced at Corvin, who hadn't slowed his steps, curled on himself, making an effort to keep himself warm.

" We should stop, and rest" Iris meekly suggested, despite already knowing the answer to her request. Hopeful that Corvin would give them a moment, to catch their breath, and rest their aching feet.

" We have to keep moving " Corvin shook his head to rid himself of the water in his hair.

" If we stop, we will freeze," he added glancing behind him at the people, who trudged with heavy steps on the wet ground.

Now that the rain had finally stopped, Ironstone was getting closer, and closer with each step they took. What, not long ago was nothing more than just flickering lights in the distance. Was now a looming mountain, with seeable balconies, windows, and the rugged walls that surrounded it. Corvin was right, with not much to go, there was no point in stopping. With that in mind, Iris shoved the pain that shot through her body and buried it under a mountain of will, and stubbornness.

" So, do they?" Corvin broke the silence " Do they have what they need?" Corvin frowned when she looked at him, a little lost, failing to understand his question.

" Do they have a cock? You never answered, and I kinda want to know?" Corvin chuckled ruffling his hair, a little timid, trying to shake off the remainder of the water.

"Oh" It was her turn to frown " I don't know. Ian hasn't been a Hollow Guardian for very long. It never crossed my mind to ask, that question" Iris amusedly replied " I had more pressing matters at hand" she finished her thoughts with a smirk.

Corvin rolled his eyes at her retort " Well, he is your husband. if it were me, that would be the first thing, I would ask. Do you have one?" Corvin seemed very invested in the matter and had given it some serious thought.

Iris giggled " Yes, I see that happening. If it is so important to you, I will ask, and I will let you know as soon as I find out" Iris replied with mirthfulness, while Corvin's eyebrows knotted, and scoffed.

" Not for me" Corvin pointed at himself, riled up" For you. He is your husband," he said pointing at her this time, a little miffed that she had turned the tables on him.

" It doesn't matter." Iris sighed "It's all gone. We cannot be, the rules are clear on that. Once, one becomes a servant of the darkness, it is so, for hereafter. He cannot leave, and I cannot enter and remain." Iris woefully sighed " I believe that the only thing that we have left, is the bond that we share. We are tethered to each other bodies and souls. No matter what we do we will get drawn towards each other, in this life, and the next. So, all I have to do is, die." Iris grinned at the thought that even though she won't be able to share a life with Ian in the living realm, they would be able to share an eternity in the afterlife.

" I see" Corvins absently replied, rubbing his chin " Do you want some help with that?" his question caught Iris by surprise.

" No. I have a few more things to do before I let you chop off my head. I would like to try and help rebuild the Southlands and the northern territories. I believe, if we work together we will prevail." Iris let out a heavy sigh and looked ahead of herself.

" King Amon is difficult" Corvin mused " Last we received help from him, the cavalry ran back home, or so I heard, almost immediately. And they were renowned for their prowess, and maistry in battle. I wonder what happened there" Corvin continued his musings with a deep frown.

" The witch" Iris took a beat to gather her thoughts " One of my kind, she is dead now. It all began with her. King Amon was under her control, and the knight's that he sent to the north." Iris glanced at Corvin who seemed a little at odds with himself over her words.

" Ellora, is, well, was, my home and I was, once, long ago its Guardian." Iris took a deep breath " I controlled the source, to some degree, and when I left it unattended, it turned into something that I still don't quite understand." Iris fell deep in thought trying to wrap her head around the affair " I will advocate with the king in your favour, and together, I believe we can all return to living our lives as before. " Iris finished her thoughts with utter conviction.

" You seem quite confident" Corvin chuckled.

" Yes. I can be very persuasive when I want and need to be. He doesn't know that the witch is dead, so I will use that to sway him. " Iris shrugged.

" Sounds like a good plan. We need all the help that we can get. I'm sure Karrisse will jump on that in a heartbeat." Corvin's spirit seemed to have brightened up a little after hearing her plan.

" What if he finds out that you are lying to him?" Corvin pertinently asked, and Iris chuckled.

" Well, there is always me. People don't know much about me. Other than the tales passed down from generation to generation. So, if it comes to that, I can always use that to my benefit, and yours. And then you can come and chop my head off." Iris giggled and patted Corvin on the back.

Corvin nervously chuckled " I wasn't being serious when I said that, you know." he meekly said and smiled with a tinge of regret in his countenance.

" I know, but since you offered. Why not?" Iris shrugged and smirked

Corvin scoffed " You're heckling me. I will remember, that" Corvin crinkled his nose, and pointed his finger at her, playfully scowling.

" You're not so bad after all" Corvin chuckled " Once you behave like a normal person" he gestured with his hand " Not prissy, you know what I mean" He chuckled, and sighed when the gate of Ironstone finally appeared in their view.

" Home," Corvin said with a heavy sigh and looked at her.

" You keep calling it home. Why is that?" Iris curiously asked, intently looking at him.

" I grew up in Ironstone after my parents passed under the care of long-departed Ellias and Danya Vamadar. Dakran, and Haren's parents, like many others. When I was old enough, Dreissen was given to me to rule while Haren was given the Inari territories, but they didn't like the idea of having someone rule over them, so they chased him away, each time he tried to settle. He made a habit of fucking the tribe's women, and that didn't sit well with the men." Corvin chuckled " So, yes it is my home, and to many others like me" Corvin looked over his shoulder to make sure that everyone was still following.