Jaden looked at Eleshna with as a slight smile krept across his face. "In my other life I had reached the young age of three hundred. Since I have been here..." Jaden's expresion turned a little more grim. "I have been doing to much fighting to even keep track... I really don't know."

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"Then... by the calculations... seeing I am ... aye" she suddenly realized she too had lost track and she laughed slightly, her laugh making her sound merrier and more relaxed than she had been in a long time. "I have quite forgotten how long it has been..."

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

A smile came to Jaden's face. It had been a long time since he had even herd somone laugh.

"yeah, time tends to do that. I hear the memory is the first to go." he joked.

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Eleshna gave a short laugh then chuckled softly and smiled, though her thoughts threatened to return to past memories.

She let out a quiet sigh and turned her head to look through the mist, a soft smile still one her face.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"It's sad you know... I see happines so little in this life that a smile seems like the hight of emotions. I wish only for peace, and happiness but hatred and greed seem to steal them from my grasp." Jaden said softly, seeing Eleshna's smile, before laying down to get some rest.

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Eleshna returned her gaze to him, her smile still there slightly, but a compassionate look glimmered in her eyes. "I hope you do find the happiness and peace you deserve, for no matter how often you deny it, you do truly deserve it..."

She stood then bent down and kissed his forhead in the fashion of the elves when bidding farewell or wishing blessings upon one.

Walking off a distance, Eleshna sat against a tree, facing away from the others and gazing through the mist.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

That night Jaden was able to get a good nights sleep, dispite the dreams that seemed to plague him mercilesly.

When he woke he could see the sun rising in the east. Surprised to find himself in the same position after all his dreams he sat up and looked around, gazing into the sunrise.

The morning was calm, so calm... The birds sang softly, the air clear and clean. For a moment Jaden wished he could just stay there, never moving from that spot again. Letting the moment live on.

But in realization of the task ahead of them he knew that was not an option.

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Eleshna was still sitting against the same tree, her arms folded and resting on her drawn up knees.

She hummed softly, smiling at the bright and cheery morning, wishing to forget all pains and troubles, and their task ahead.

Turning her head, Eleshna noticed Jaden had awoken and she kept her gaze on him a while before finally speaking. "You neither turned nor awoke in your sleep... I am guessing your night was restful?"

She got to her feet and brushed the forest dirt from her cloak before gazing in the direction where they were to once more head. Eleshna let out a sigh, her heart again feeling heavy about the task ahead.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

Jaden halfway looked at Eleshna's face.

"I guess so." he said softly, sounding slightly depressed now. "We should hurry."

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Eleshna nodded, her expression serious once more. She leapt upon her mare lightly and waited for Jaden and Knox to be ready to move on.

Her gaze rested on Jaden for a while, slightly worried and confused expression in her eyes. Eleshna turned and faced forward as they again rode forward.

"If we make good time we'll reach the valley tonight..." she commented quietly, as though she were lost in thought.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"Then we should hurry." Jaden replied.

Just then the sounds of horses came roaring from behind them as Jaden looked back to see Ketra with a group of 20 riders.

Jaden was amazed... He recognized nearly everyone of them. They were the Sion, those who did not turn to hate, greed, and evil. Those he long thought to be dead.

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Eleshna turned her horse sharply around and looked at the group arriving. She recognized Ketra, but not the others.

"Who are they?" she questioned Jaden, looking over at him and seeing recognition expressed in his face.

Surely they would come to use, if Veron made use of his Shadows, several swords would be needed. She shuddered at the thought of having to fight Veron's Shadows, but hope was still there in numbers.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"They are those in the Sion who left before the group changed into an agent of evil." Jaden explained with a evident sound of surprise in his voice.

"I have brougt all the men I could round up. My father regrets he could not make it and sends his apologiez." Ketra said as he road up to the two of them.

"The old bag couldn't ride a horse if his life depended onit." Jaden said softly, not sure if anyone herd him.

The situation would have to be explained to Ketra and the men, but that could be done as they rode.

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Eleshna chuckled quietly at Jaden's mumblings concerning his old friend.

She turned and rode on once more, beginning to explain to Ketra what had happened, though she did so hesitantly.

"My only concern... is if Veron is well enough to use his Shadows... they are a force I myself cannot handle unless they are my own... " she added after she had finished explaining things.

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~

"You make sure we get him so he can't take back control of her." Jaden added.

Ketra nodding in respons.

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Eleshna felt overwhelmed by the effort to save her from Veron's grasp.

She rode closer to Jaden and spoke in a quiet voice, "Why.... why go through all this for me? I am not worth risking the lives of those behind us, and risking yours as well..."

Eleshna was sincere in this, and truly believed what she spoke as she looked at Jaden. "I am rather overwhelmed by your effort, and I feel very unworthy of such..."

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I am a pro-cycling fan! Congrats to the Young rider of the Tour de France!
~Cyclist in Training~