Andoran Meadow(#2418RJ$)

Surrounded nearly on all sides by a lush green woodland, not quite deep enough into the autumn for the leaves to begin changing colours, is a meadow of tall grass topped with petals of a myriad of hues. Though on a perpetual bent due to the ease the early fall wind can skate across the meadow, the grass would appear to be slightly shorter than a foot in height. The soft hiss of the meadow grass movement, bending to the whim of the wind, almost seems musical, particularly combined with a sweet conversational song of some nearby birds. The song is accompanied visually by the dance of some brightly coloured butterflies that share the meadow with you. There seems to be a slight pitch to the ground, not sharp enough to make it difficult to traverse, but noticeable. The barely maintained wagon trail, two parallel dirt ruts emerging from the woodland, curving up the slant and then disappearing into the opposite patch of trees, seems to be the only sign of any semblence of civilization. Though the afternoon sun shines, the evidence of the morning rain lingers, with the meadow grass being slightly wet, and the scent of refreshed blossoms permeating the air.

Pulling up to the spot is an unmarked, though expensive-looking, open carriage followed by a wagon for the equipment and materials and staff necessary for the picnic. The lady-in-waiting assigned to Elyse for this event gasps and murmurs a comment about how beautiful the area is. She doesn't rise from her position in the carriage beside Elyse, however, and still holds the parasol over the Princess in an attentitive manner.

Timuri is in the carriage as well, looking around his surroundings speculatively. He nods to the officer in command of the Kandori Honor Guard contingent that was brought along, and the man dispatches a few others to conduct some necessary scouting. He remains seated for now, his expression clouded with contemplation. He often looks at Theowyn and Elyse thoughtfully.

Reynard rides among the small group of Queen's Guards and Kandori Guards. His gaze takes in the groups surroundings easily. Shouldn't be too hard to spot an approaching threat.

Having enjoyed the ride to their location, Theowyn's eyes wander in their curious fashion to the scene outside. Smiling briefly, first to Timuri, and then to the Princess that sits beside him, Theowyn begins to shift from his seat and duck as he stands within the carriage. "Shall we, Princess?" he asks, stepping from the carriage and then offering his hand to Elyse.

Currently bringing up the rear, his topknot swaying darkly behind him, much like the tail of the horse he rides, Turail is as alert as any other man in the party. Instead of dismounting immediately, the half shienaran investigates the perimeter of the open area as a matter of principal. Once satisfied, he swings down off his mount, and finds a place to tether the horse with enough lead to feed easily. He turns and looks over the rest of the party, stroking his chin.

Elyse smiles warmly, but there is a hint of nervousness. What she had to do to talk her 'uncle' into coming along for this was exhausting. And she's still not sure it was a good idea. She holds out her hand for Theowyn to take, in the direction of the Prince's voice. Once its grasped, she cautiously stands, ready to make her way out.

Theowyn finds Elyse's hand as she reaches for him, wrapping his fingers around hers perhaps more securely then one would a woman that is not blind. With a light urging, he guides her forward while the other arm moves to her waist to help her from the carriage. "It is beautiful here," he comments lightly, turning to face their surroundings once satisfied Elyse is safely on the ground. Leading her two steps away, he turns over his shoulder to Elyse's uncle.

Timuri rises as well, offering his arm to the lady in waiting, politely, and waiting for the path to clear for him to descend and then help the lady down as well. He is patient, and quietly thougtful, for now.

Cleared.

Reynard dismounts with the rest of the Guards, who tether their horses near Turail's, but not close enough to where they're competing too much for food. He rests his hand on his sword-hilt and continues to glance around.

Turail manages a stone braced smile as those in the carriage finish debarking, and turns to Reynard mentioning quietly, "It /seems/ quiet, and safe enough here. Let us hope it remains this way."

Reynard nods slowly to Turail with a small grin, "It's what I'm hoping for, Sir."

Elyse smiles, inhaling deeply, "Oh, the aroma is luxurious, indeed." She remains on Theowyn's arm, tilting her her head a little behind her to Turail and her lady-in-waiting as they disembark, "Do you not mark it so, Uncle?" She smiles, trying to still the butterflies in her stomach.

Timuri nods once, and once seeing the lady on the ground safely beside him, looks around more closely, "It is not home on the mountain slopes near Chachin. But it is lovely indeed." He looks once more to Elyse and gives a soft sigh. She deserves happiness, his eyes move to Theowyn, is the First Prince the one to give it? His thoughts go unasked, but they seem there on his countenance.

Theowyn would seem oblivious to the point of this retreat, or the tensions and nervousness that might be felt. Taking Elyse into a tighter escort, a light smile crosses his features. "Turail, thank-you for coming. Reynard." To each he provides a nod, having been trapped away in the carriage already when they had taken for the ride. "We will enjoy the day, yes?" If it were not for the dangers that were sparked by Elyse's last trip outside the city, the security would likely not have been as much of an issue. "Mountain slopes near Cachin? I look forward to the visit, Lord Timuri." Turning back, he begins to guide the group forward. "So what was this my Princess had planned?" he asks, amused smile playing at his features.

"It is my pleasure." Turail rasps in response to the Prince's remark and nod, and then falls in behind Theowyn as he moves on. He folds his hands behind his back in typical Turail fashion as he walks.

Reynard returns Theowyn's nod and smiles a bit, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. He seems preoccupied with something. This observation is further suggested by the dark circles under those eyes.

Elyse smiles warmly and nods, "Well, Uncle, you've had the luxury I haven't at spending any time there." She follows Theowyn's lead further and asks, "Where shall we have the servants set up, My Prince?" Her golden hair being lifted and dancing on the breeze a little.

Timuri escorts the lady-in-waiting further on to stand near Theowyn and Elyse. He nods a bit to Elyse and her comment, and inhales deeply. Relaxing a bit more, it would seem, "Perhaps where there is less of an incline?" He suggests, looking back at the wagon with the servants and supplies for such an outing. He smiles and seems relieved all the more when the Kandori report the area is clear. Then dismisses them to their standard posts.

"Perhaps the servants would pick the best location for their work?" Theowyn suggests next, though he does lead forward and point in the general direction ahead and a hint to the side. "Less of an incline would be preferred." The way he looks to Elyse shows that caring, his eyes lightly taking to her features before he squeezes her arm in reassurance. "This was an excellent idea. Don't you think, Lord Timuri?"

Turail frowns slightly to himself, following the group in silence now. He would have preferred to be here in Lady Carinae Belmond's presence, but unfortunately.. the Lady has not been available to him for some time, nor seen publicly. Perhaps, given his apparent place in the universe, it is better this way.. better for her, that is. Those close to him inevitably suffer.

Reynard is in somewhat the same boat as Turail this trip. He wouldn't mind being here with Moren. Hah! He'd have to bind and gag her to get her around so many nobles at once.

Elyse smiles, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, and gives Theowyn's hand a tender squeeze back, smiling in the direction of his voice, and staying close to his side.

Timuri looks speculatively towards the Prince and manages, with a nod, "I must confess, Your Highness, that most of what Her Highness suggests is an excellent idea." He gives his 'niece' a fond smile and then adds, "The air will do us all some good, I suggest, though the environment of your palace, Your Highness, is not terribly discomforting, to be sure." He continues to follow along.

"Elyse has not short on the wisdom gained from her family," Theowyn inclines his head in agreement, cool and rather unaffected by the pressures of the moment. At least on the outside. Timuri's support is do or end when it comes to the courting of the Kandori Princess. He doesn't comment on the palace.

Suddenly the ground collapses out from under everyone, pitching them downward with the falling earth, and each towards the center gravity point as the domino effect of the collapsing meadow rolls outward from this focal center where the party once stood. The activity pitches more dirt and stone forward, following behind the falling party of people and descending into an uncertain darkness below. Once the dust clears, the loose earth, rock, and washes over the opening, covering almost like recently turned earth over a grave.

It would make very little sense to Theowyn. The sudden drop in the flooring, the noise, the dust spewing in his face as the ground leaves his feet. The rolling of dirt, the splatter of soil. Instincts take over, and with Elyse in his hold, taking her within that embrace is not easy. But easier, especialy when he tilts and takes the fall with his back to the ground while Elyse is sweeped over him. Dirt splattering on his face blinds him, not that sight would be much aid the the stormcloud with the collapse. The oof is well felt, as something is hit, Theowyn hopefully managing to keep Elyse over him.

Reynard lets out a curse as the ground gives way underneath him. He instictively seizes the Source, but the impact of hitting a ledge below causes him to immediately lose his hold on it.

Swept downward, dust filling his nostrils and blocking his sight, Turail scrables vainly at the river of debris sweeping downward, trying to get on top of something, instinctively holding his breath so as not to breath in volumes of dirt. /Lady Belmond, how luckily escaped you are/ comes the fleeting thought as he comes to a halt partially covered in dirt and laying atop a large mound that beat him to the bottom.

Timuri lets out a cry of startlement which accompanies the lady-in-waiting's scream as he begins to drop into the darkness, the cloud of dust rolling over him. Tensing suddenly as some large stone crashes into his side where he was still escorting the lady, he feels her loosen from him and disappear. Her scream still audible at first, before the roar of the moving ground drowns it out.

The initial scream of the Princess as she is pitched forward is drowned out by the roar of the ground as it collapses. The Kandori guardsman nearest her reaches out for Elyse, but his footing is soon upset as well, and he just as are all the other Kandori guardsmen are toppled over and fall into the chasm behind Elyse. Gripped so tightly by the Prince, she grips back equally tightly, trying to bury her face against him, instinctively as they fall. That grasp does not last long as a large rock is thrust against her lithe, slender build and sweeps her away from Theowyn with a frightened scream.

Subterranean Chasm

Darkness.

Soft, wet earth has been carved out over time, likely by water, to expose this small subterranean chasm. It is taller than it is wide. The exact height is difficult to judge in the darkness, but the width between the walls seems to be merely ten paces. The real danger is the precarious nature of the underground structure, still crumbling from the upsetting activity of the sink hole, moist earth mingled with harder clumps of stone fall every now and then from the feeble ceiling of the now lodged harder rock above. Ledges of similar harder stone have been left along the walls of this chasm as most of the softer earth was presumably recently washed away. For the perceptive, there is the distinct fresh scent of running spring water, somewhere below, and the whisking, echo of a noise that softly accompanies it. The depth of this chasm seems extensive indeed--by the mere echo.

With a harsh sound of the wind escaping her, Elyse rolls with the tumbling earth and rock down into the hollowed out subterrain to fall a few feet in open air, and then land hard against one of the large stone ledges jutting out from the chasm wall. A moment later and she lets out another gasp as a body falls on top of her. But until she hears no more roar, and senses no more movement, the blind princess merely braces for any additional impact, clutching at the ledge beneath her for dear life and thankfully, shielded by most of the falling debris by the stout, limp form covering her.

As Timuri falls, he clutches at everything and everything for a hold. Most of it merely falls with him and offers no support, but he manages to take hold of a jutting ledge, and clings to it a long moment as further dust and debris wash past him and below. He hangs there, waiting, hoping, for the silence and stillness so as to right himself.

Damn the weight of the First Prince, as a hard blow and a slip removes the Princess from his grasp, and sends him further down then just the top ledge. He rolls through, barely able to cover up his head as he crashes into the middle ledge with a hard thud. Thoewyn's eyes are closed, his arms still secured around his head as he waits for silence.

Reynard tries various handholds as he falls, but nothing seems strong enough to hold his weight until his back hits one of the larger ledges. He lets out a loud grunt as he lands and gasps for the breath that was knocked out of him.

Eyes scrunched shut against dust and dirt, Turail nonetheless hears a grunt, and feels the impact as another body comes to a sudden halt on the same ledge his downward spin left him perched on, amidst small heaps of rubble. One of his legs hurts terribly. He groans slightly, slowly moving his hands away from shielding his face, pushing up little piles of dirt and slowly sitting up. The stone that had bruised his shin rolls off, and bounces off the ledge, falling for a space. Turail stills himself a moment and tries to figure out in the darkness if where he's sitting is very wide.

As the world around slowly settles, Theowyn attempts to move. The initial shock of the fall likely dulled the pain, though the coming to realization is slowly beginning to make certain hurts more obvious then others. When he tries to open his eyes, the pain furthers, as the dust thrusted within moves and pushes against him. For whatever reason, closing his eyes tight makes it feel better, though he can't much do anything like that. The legs slowly shift, his one arm seems to move well. "Elyse..." he begins to whisper, still attempting to capture his breath.

From the top ledge, Elyse blinks a few times, breathing heavy from both fear and adrenaline, she suddenly gives a short squeal as the dirt and dust around her eyes enter them, stinging a bit. The rubble seems to stop rolling, though the cloud of dust (what can be made of it in the dim chasm) continues to billow with a slow air current. A few pebbles and small rocks still skitter as Elyse shifts under the weight of the body ontop of her . . . she doesn't speak, yet. The shock of the situation making her brain take a back seat. But her breathing can be heard.

Timuri, grunts at the last of the debris rolling past his shoulders, and he still clutches the ledge, his bottom half dangling precariously below. The strain is heard in another grunt as his grip starts to slip, and he works to try and keep it.

Reynard shifts a bit as he finally regains his breath. Legs seem okay. So do the arms except for a bit of pain in his shoulder. Hopefully that's nothing too serious. He mangages to sit up and look around, seeing nothing but darkness of course. Hearing movement nearby, he speaks softly, "Everyone okay?"

"Reynard?" The rasping voice comes out of the darkness near the guardsman, after a cough or two. More motion is heard as Turail feels for the wall, and any edge carefully.

The ringing in Theowyn's ears finally lessons. Though he might hear words beneath, the movement of dirt and that catches his attention, being more immidiately near him. "Hello?" he asks, half blinded still, though now sitting up. That's about when his body bursts into a throbbing pain. He seems grateful that everything still works. On hands and knees, he slowly moves toward the edge and the sound of struggling. Every few movements forward, he tries to wipe the dust from his eyes.

Reynard looks in the direction of the first voice, "Captain Turail?" then up to the second, "Your Highness? Where's the Advisor and Princess?" There's quite a bit of concern in his voice when he asks that last question.

Timuri grunts again, his reply to Theowyn's voice as it approaches is simple and one issued in a single expulsion of air, "Slipping," and with that his grasp slips another inch or two, lowering himself further to the unknown depths of the chasm. Pebbles crumble, offering further testimony to where he is.

Elyse coughs then, it echos a few small rocks fall from the unsteady ledge where she is above. She manages a shakey cry, "Hello . . . Theowyn? Uncle Timuri? Anyone?" some louder crumbling can be heard, followed by a startled squeal of the Princess. Then silence. It would seem the chasm doesn't take to loud noises very well.

"Aye.." The Captain's rasping voice has a catch and another cough in the middle, "Are you hurt?" More shifting as Turail pushes a little dirt off himself and slowly pulls his legs out of the rubble. His tone is very quiet, as if he too senses the instability of their location.

Reynard is quiet for a moment before responding, "My shoulder's a little sore, but I don't think it's anything too serious." There's some shifting as Reynard uncovers himself, followed a little while later by the sound of rocks and clumps of dirt hitting water.

That single word sends him into motion, Theowyn pushes against the dirt until his hands find the ledge just beside Timuri. Though his sight is still muddled, he does blink hard a few times to clear his vision. "Timuri..." he reaches out to grab at Timuri's forearm with a single hand, the other arm stretching downward.

Timuri is grasped and in turn he tries to clutch Theowyn's arm with one hand, while still holding on with his other. He doesn't want to risk taking Theowyn with him, so he won't allow his full weight to be on the Prince. He grunts again, moving his legs to try and find some manner of wall to try and climb against, now that he has that added support. The clawing boots against the wall send a few more clumps of dirt and rock down below, where at length, the sound of it hitting water can be heard.

Elyse can be heard breathing once more, after that small avalanche of damp earth, rocks and debris is shaken off of the few places where she is exposed under the body of the figure. She is reluctant to call out again, though. So just waits, her mind spinning for answers and solutions. A muffled cry from above her causes her to tilt her ear in that direction . . . cautiously she tries, "Hello??" some additional muffled words from the surface, those who were not caught within it trying to piece together want happened and begin rescue efforts. "We're here!" Elyse starts excitedly, which causes more debris to fall upon her and the body. She doesn't squeal this time, just closes her eyes and braces for it.

Turail shakes his sleeve off and uses it to wipe the clinging tickling bits of dirt from his face, smearing it most likely, but in the dark, who can tell? "I'm a bit bruised... but..aah-ow" He can be heard wincing verbally as he moves that leg a bit more. "I.. don't think anything is broken." A pause, then, "Did you hear that? It sounds like.. there may be several above us.."

"Hold on," Theowyn manages to grunt in predictable form, as his free arm pushes against the dirt. He tries to dig his toes into the ground, then his knees. In his attempts to lift Timuri, he pushes up with his free arm, and out. When it slips the first time the danger of plunging forward is certainly there, but he regains the balance and begins to pull.

Reynard sighs again, trying to peer through the darkness unsuccessfully. He makes a grab for the Source, but his head is still a little too muddled from the fall to let the attempt be successful. "Do you think they'll be able to help us out of here?"

"We'll get out of here." Turail's rasping voice is grim, but determined. "Do you have a flint, Reynard?" Turail feels out to the edge of the ledge, and then tilts his head listening as some debris from above hits the water below, and echoes.

Reynard makes a search of his person and shakes his head, though Turail can't really see it, "No, I must have lost it in the fall."

Timuri grits his teeth in answer to Theowyn's 'Hold on' and gives another heave upwards to try and assist in Theowyn's pulling, rather than have the Prince pull dead weight. When he gets a good hold on the wall with his boots, and pushes with his legs the results are even more favourable. Finally, he crawls forward on the ledge, now more fully there and supported by it, thanks to Theowyn. He breathes deeply a few times, laying there on his belly, before finally managing, in a breath, "The Princess . . . " not lifting his form, or his face to look, merely a hopeful sentiment as he recovers from being retrieved from certain death.

Elyse shakes her head a bit, sending more loose earth and pebbles below, hopefully not hitting anyone. She begins to breath heavily once more, and seems content to do just that. Even if she could move out from under the weight of the limp form, she certainly wouldn't want to try and explore blindly. Of course, she doesn't understand that no one else can see much either.

A short wheezing chuckle in the darkness on the lowest ledge as Turail remarks wryly, "Seems mine is gone too.. but for some reason... the heron decided to stay." That's probably justification for Turail's flash of hnumor under duress. He would have been quite put out losing his sword. "I think.. Theowyn may be above us.. it sounds like his voice.. I heard it a minute ago." Turail crawls up to his knees, feeling along the wall away from Reynard, trying to figure out how far the ledge continues.

With Timuri safe, Theowyn attempts to scramble up. It hurts. The pain isn't easy to deal with, but its now almost ignored. "Turail! Reynard!" he screams now, able to catch his breath. "Elyse?" that quieter, having heard her already. Theowyn rubs at his eyes, being able to see more.

"Down here.." comes the slightly raised rasp after a moment from much lower, and the trembling caused by that shout subsides. Then a hesitation and Turail's voice comes up again, as soft as it can be and still carry up, "I don;t think things are too stable.. perhaps shouting is not a good idea my Prince. Reynard is with me.. where is the Princess?"

At Theowyn's shouting, larger debris vibrates in the blocked ceiling, causing alot of it to begin to fall. Dirt and large rocks rumbling in protest as they are shifted out of their locked state to descend below on the the hapless survivors. Way to go Theo. ;)

Timuri covers his head with his arms as he stays where is his laying and the debris comes down upon him. He gets hit in the back with a number of large rocks, causing him to grunt and oof. Not that it'd be heard in the thundering avalanche.

Elyse, for her part, screams when she hears the roar of the further cave-in from the ceiling right above her. She tries to cover her head as much as possible, luckily the limp body over her captures most of the injuries. The scream is soon drowned out by the deafening roar.

Reynard puts his arms over his head as more debris rains down. He hasn't quite grasped the concept of that Air shield Dain used once. "Can we not do that again please?"

Turail's feeling along the wall had placed him under a slight overhang, and so he is for the most part spared being pelted again. He listens for a minute before saying anything else.

Theowyn lurches forward toward the wall of the cavern as more debris falls. Needless to say, that rock bouncing off his head isn't doing him much good. He steadies himself until there is silence once more. A few short curses are well worthy of this situation, though they're said quietly. Stilling clearing his eyes from the dirt inside, he tries to squint and look up. A dramatic 'Oh' would be the best way to describe his features. "Elyse..." he tries again.

Timuri grunts, curling up a bit to situate himself a little more firmly on the ledge beside Theowyn, and manages in a mutter, "Of all people with which to be caught in a cave-in . . . Southlanders." he gives a shake of his head, and blinks a few times to get a fix on his surroundings, now that the debris has stopped falling . . . well, the big stuff anyway.

To those not blinded with dirt or blinded from birth, the dust cloud that has kicked up from this avalanche seems brighter. Though it is a large cloud and not very clear to see through, the brighter quality indicates that some portion of that cave in, thanks to Theo, has opened up a hole above, allowing some sunlight in. A voice, not so muffled as before, calls down, but softly, and the accent is strictly Borderlander, "Is anyone alive?" The echo might distort it, but this Kandori has spent enough times in the Kandori mines to know who to cast his voice in such a precarious setting.

Elyse stirrs a little from the new debris over her, and closest to the voice manages, a shakey, "Y-yes . . . " A pause and then her reason begins to settle in, "I can't move. There is someone on top of me," her voice soft, though some pebbles do stirr, "Can you reach me?" She asks the voice above her.

Reynard makes another attempt at seizing the Source and is successful this time. He glances around and frowns. Still can't see very bloody well. "Any ideas on how to get out of here?" he asks softly.

Theowyn blinks a few times, as he tries to gain some focus on where they are. Even when his eyes begin to clear of the dirt, the darkness doesn't help. "Just stay where you are...." Theowyn's voice is in that whispered tone, though as he tries to look up, he goes on. "We need plenty of rope. There's at least five of us down here."

Covered in clinging dirt which still dusts his black hair with brown and his red uniform with a film of soil, Turail turns his head upwards, trying to listen to the conversation he can catch snatches of up there. A deep breath and when he exhales, he has slipped into the void, sharpening his senses substantially. The voices seem much sharper now. "There are still some on the surface Reynard.. provided the cavern does not cave in further.. I assume we'll be recieving help from up there." His voice still raspy, but oddly emotionless now as he continues to try to listen further.

"Theowyn," Elyse breathes relief, having been worried that that last cave-in took him with it. She doesn't move, following instuctions. She is good at that . . . sometimes. The man above her disappears and from a distance that would not disturb the earth, shouting of orders and can be heard. The rescue is underway. Which is good, probably, considering that where rushing water was not heard before, it is faintly heard now--moreso by those on the lowest ledge. Perhaps the last cave-in caused a damn of somesort, and the water now rises.

Timuri takes a few deep breaths and knowing that rescue is on its way looks now to Theowyn. Swallowing his doubt for the man's worthiness, and his pride, he murmurs, "Thank you, Your Highness. You saved my life.""It could have been any one of us," Theowyn shakes off the thanks, but then nods in return. "Of course, Lord Timuri." Taking a few more steps forward, this feet find a place near the ledge as he focuses on Elyse. "Light..."

To those at an angle to see it, Elyse is 'sheltered' beneath the body of a Kandori Guardsman. He is limp, but whether he is dead or merely unconscious is not certain. It doesn't look good for his survival, though if he is just unconcious, judging by the injuries he has taken from the various cave-ins, and ironically, protecting Elyse in the process.

Timuri murmurs something under his breath and then looks at Theowyn, how concerned he is for Elyse. He is speculative a long moment, then He mutters to Theowyn, "... her...you... love her,... you?"

You sense Timuri murmurs something under his breath and then looks at Theowyn, how concerned he is for Elyse. He is speculative a long moment, then "You love her...you truly love her, don't you?"

Theowyn's eyes burn with concern, his breathing increasing as he tries to see a path around, a path that isn't there. Timuri's question doesn't even seem to phase him, his mind racing for ways of saving Elyse. The reply to Timuri comes without a momen's hesitation. "With no doubt and no reserve."

Reynard shifts around and idly tosses a rock off the ledge. Something to keep him occupied while everyone awaits rescue from above. A few moments later the rock hits the water below. *plunk*

Timuri nods once, looking up as he sees a shadow over the hole, the men above trying to secure the rocks there before lowering someone to assist, He mutters to Theowyn, "... you... can meet all... Despite her... and... for... is not... enough."

You sense Timuri nods once, looking up as he sees a shadow over the hole, the men above trying to secure the rocks there before lowering someone to assist, "Do you think you can meet all her needs, Prince Theowyn? Despite her strength and resolve for independence she has many. Love is not always enough."

Theowyn's blinks a few more times to clear his eyes, looking upwards at those men working away for the rescue. He mutters to Timuri, "... needs... and... flourish.... her, there... nothing... I would..."

Timuri senses "Theowyn's blinks a few more times to clear his eyes, looking upwards at those men working away for the rescue. "Her needs will be met, her strength will show, and her heart with flourish. I love her, there is nothing that I would hold back from within myself to insure she is happy.""

Turail is still skirting the ledge, scouting any possible way off it as the preparations for rescue go on quite a distance above. The fact that the sound of the water seems to be changing is not lost on him, and he'd like to get on TOP of the overhang which was protecting him earlier from the fall of further debris if possible.

Timuri follows Theowyn's gaze, nodding once, He mutters to Theowyn, "... potential... with... wife... First Prince... that?" His voice is smooth and amazingly calm. He continues to watch the progress of the rescuers above him. Apparently unaware of the rising water, though the rush might be heard by those of keen senses on the middle ledge by now.

You sense Timuri follows Theowyn's gaze, nodding once, "And this potential war with Murandy, Your Highness? How would a wife of the First Prince fair in that?" His voice is smooth and amazingly calm. He continues to watch the progress of the rescuers above him. Apparently unaware of the rising water, though the rush might be heard by those of keen senses on the middle ledge by now.

Theowyn limps to the side, moving along that edge as he focuses downward to gather a look at the others. He mutters to Timuri, "I do... answer... married,... will be... with Murandy... best... preventing... If in war,... my... the..."

Timuri senses "Theowyn limps to the side, moving along that edge as he focuses downward to gather a look at the others. "I do not know how to answer that. When married, she will be my wife. The potential war with Murandy will be treated in the best intersts of preventing war. If in war, I will take my position ahead of the Queen's army.""

The sound of boots rasping against the wall is heard as Turail has finally found a spot he thinks likely for getting off the ledge and onto the overhang above it. Ish that shin sure hurts. He manages to haul himself up by his very fingernails and calls down softly, "Reynard.. come this way.. there's another ledge. I think the water may be rising.. we should climb up as far as we can."

The rescuers get the rocks secured, as best they can and begin lowering one of the more lithely built men down with a makeshift harness using rope. He reaches the Princess first and can be heard asking if she is alright. She nods in answer, explaining that she can't move with the man covering her. The rescuer begins to remove the rocks and other debris from the limp form over her and then tries to see if he is alive. With a reluctant sigh, an a prayer for the dead, the rescuer ties one of the ropes he was lowered down with around the figure. Then pulls on the rope. The horses above begin to haul the dead man's form up. He will be given a proper Borderland burial. Next is Elyse. The rescuer reaches for her gently. Her movements are stiff, sore from being beneath the dead man in the same position for so long. But with the rescuer's help manages to get into his grasp. He ties a rope around both of them together, and tugs on the rope. The pair ascend into through the hole in the ceiling, and after a bit of struggle, to safety.

Reynard tosses another rock into the water below. It is definately rising. At Turail's call, he gets to his feet and moves carefully in the direction of the Captain's voice. "The water is rising. It doesn't take as long for the rocks to reach the water as it did when we first fell."

Timuri nods once, and makes a reluctant admission, "Your Highness, you are brave, and a man of duty and integrity, to say the least." He says no more on the matter, and does not interview him either, futher. He gives a sigh of relief as he watches the Princess be carried to safety by what the dustcloud can permit him to see. And then looks down, "Is that water rising?" he asks softly so as not to disturb the loose stones.

"A little further Reynard." Turail's voice directs softly, giving the gardsman something to follow. "It's a bit of a reach, but I can haul you up.. there might even be another one up here that we can reach. Not sure."

Theowyn shows relief when Elyse is pulled out into safety. There is no direct answer to Timuri, however, at least not to the first statement. The next receives a nod. "It may not be long now," he agrees, looking down to see if he can be of any aid to the others, and looking up to see when the next will be lowered.

Reynard continues to follow Turail's voice until he's just under him. He reaches upwards, searching for Turail's hands so he can be helped up, "Captain? I'm ready when you are."

The same figure is lowered down again, lowering now past the top ledge and to the middle. He has two extra ropes, "Your Highness, Lord Timuri, either of you injured?"

Turail hooks his hand around a rock that is firmly embedded in the cavern wall and pulls on it a bit first to make sure it wont give way then stretches down over the edge, laying on his stomach, hands reaching down into the darkness, "Ready.. my hand should be right under my voice.. there are some clefts in the wall there you should be able to get a boot in that might help." Strange how Turail's voice is slightly less raspy sounding when everything echoes.

"Relatively," is Theowyn's short reply to the question. "Well enough," he encourages, attempting to catch site of those he heard bellow.

Reynard grasps Turail's hand and starts to pull himself up, his feet searching out the footholds he was told about. It takes some doing, but he eventually makes it up to the overhang with Turail. Tentatively, he weaves a small flow of Earth and Water down towards the water, searching for the reason the water's rising.

Timuri turns his attention from where he had been looking below to the rescuer and shakes his head in answer, then gestures for the Prince to go first. The rescuer offers Theowyn the rope to tie around himself.

Turail climbs off his stomach, already feeling out the wall in the new higher perch, looking for something else that can be reached from where they are. He doesn't like the sound of that at all. The air feels slightly more turbulent in the cavern now, indicating some sort of motion going on below. This would be a heck of a lot easier if there were more light.

"Timuri is next," Theowyn insists, looking down. "Turail, how goes the climb?"

With a grunt of protest, Timuri takes the offered rope and ties it around himself and then jerks on it. And is soon lifted above. The rescuer now hands Theowyn the second rope, though looks below at the climbers.

"Can you see much from up there?" Turail's rasping voice carries upwards on the slightly damp air. "We're a little higher.. but not much. Not sure how much further above it we can get."

After finding the blockage of the underground stream, Reynard sends another weave of Earth to try and weaken the blockage enough to where the water forces its way through.

*woosh* Good thing Elyse wasn't around to hear that.

After some more insistance with Timuri, Theowyn to heads up side to safety.

The rescuer goes up with Theowyn, then, leaving Turail and Reynard alone for a period of time, before another shadow blocks the little bit of light that comes, and the same figure cna be seen descending with two more ropes down to where Reynard and Turail are perched. He hands the Captain the rope first and asks in a sober tone, "Any other survivors?"