dont you think she will resent you as she ages and you dont?
Vaya didnt like the way this conversation was going. Laniara seemed sweet and he had expected different advice from her before they had started talking. He was sure he had seen a glimmer of jealousy enter her eye when he had told her of his passions for another lady, and a half-blood at that. Her advice was curt and Vaya felt she was being rough on purpose. It reminded him of being scolded by his mother... a little bit of hateful resentment blossomed in his heart at that moment.
Though his friends had noted that it would take an act of a god to move Vayas fake smile from his face, this lady didnt even notice it falter while he spoke.
"So you think this is a bad idea, and advise against it?"
He felt like he was daring her to say something bad about his choice and she seemed to know it.
"I am just saying.. it will get complicated. People should be with their own kind, its just... for the best. It ends up hurting everyone involved."
I am a terrible, hurtful monster. This is probably a true thing, I know it, and yet I am sure I wont heed this advice.
Vaya made his excuses to leave, barely hearing the words of parting he shared with her before drifting off. He really should have talked about this with someone who knew him better.
The fact is, I probably dont deserve this thing...so I want it. Let go.
***************************
Two elves sat on one of the many countless hills between high hold and Silverymoon. While two elves on a hill might not seem such a sight, the trained eye would quickly make out that these were not local elves.
Both of them, even the wood elf, were polished perfect in appearance and carried with them a haughtiness only found in the most jaded and introverted of members of the upper classes. Their voices were cool and friendly even as the conversations topics became very heated, it was as if boredom were the height of fashion to hear either of them talk... and the peculiar accent only got worse the longer they spoke to one another.
They passed a small reed pipe between them, smoking the sap of local poppies as they spoke. Ama'asha, the wood elf, was the first to speak.
"Classes have started.. being fashionably late is for parties, not school."
Vaya, the sun elf, ran a hand through his hair and exhaled a puff of smoke before answering.
"Brother, I dont think I am going to attend academy for a while. Maybe next semester, or in a year or two ill feel different"
"But dont you want your inheritance?"
"is it going anywhere?"
The wood elfs green eyes leveled at his childhood friend.
"This is about that girl, isnt it?"
Vaya smiled a bit more than usual. His friend would no doubt recognize Vayas lack of discipline was indeed connected to his recent blossoming of romantic interest in recent days.
That smile was all the young wood elf needed to see to know that Vaya had indeed lingered away from class to be around a girl, but Ama's reaction was not what Vaya had expected. The copper elf looked like he had been slapped, his words heavy with disbelief.
"But she is a half-breed... and a commoner."
Vaya had always expected that he would say such a thing and that his brother would sit in dismay as he tossed insults at innocents. The mainland was changing them both, into the other. Vaya kept a leash on his tone, cool and pleasant.
"Oh, I see... your mother can /marry/ a commoner... and you begrudge me my passions? Im held to some higher standard?"
"Well... yes. Brother, you were going to marry a princess back home. You would have if it werent for that turn of bad luck"
I wonder if i should just tell him that I poisoned my fiance to make her sick that day? No, stay on topic.
"So? Because my wedding back home, twenty years ago, fell through.. I shouldnt-"
"A half breed. Vaya, brother... a half-person. Are you even thinking?"
Vaya rolled his eyes a bit.
"Brother... its not about that. Those girls back home were spoiled, terrible tyrants. Velya is... warm. Sweet."
"You tell me how warm and sweet she seems when she is old and gray."
Vaya let no sign of sadness play itself on his face, instead he took another toke from the reed pipe. An unpleasant look overtook Ama's face.
"So this is some cruel thing? I cant see you being so stupid to give yourself to something that wont live long enough to ever really know you... so you must be toying with her"
At least smiling while angry was easier than smiling while sad.
"Toying? A minute ago she was some peasant, beneath my attentions... and now you worry about what I might do to her? Choke on a bone, brother."
"Dont act mad, its not like I havent pegged your personality"
"Really brother, its not like that."
"So... what? You are going to take your little half-person home... to YOUR parents? Instead of graduating academy... how do you plan on ever being welcome home anyway"
"Theres so many things wrong with what you just said... I miss home, but it can wait." Vaya shrugged. "I know you are trying to get at me by reminding me she is a half-folk... but you should stop. It is a true thing you say, but phrased in an unpleasant way that I am done hearing. You injure our bond as brothers this way."
Ama'asha knew those words meant his friend Vaya would have no more of this angle. Vaya had always seemed to his friends to have no cares or concerns for much of anything, this made his friend unsure of how to handle him now. Despite it being an unlikely way to reach his friend, Ama'asha tried to target this soft spot Vaya had exposed.
"Brother. You have honest feelings? Consider this... you know you are flighty and inconsistent. We make jokes about how little effort you can put into something to get away with it.... what will you do when she isnt pretty anymore? Will you really stay with her? or are you more likely to drift off, looking at snails and forget you ever knew her?"
Vaya Kept quiet, once again a conversation was making him very uncomfortable. Ama'asha kept talking.
"if you really cared... you would let go now rather than later when it will just hurt the little thing more."
Vaya tossed the reed pipe into the river below. His brother was relentless with the barrage of guilt.
"Dont forget... when she is old it wont just be your feelings to worry about, think about how much she will resent you... as she withers and you still catch the eye of ladies."
Thats the second time ive heard that. Worse the second time
Their farewell was made in a pleasant tone as always, but both felt an awkward displacement of their roles. In a few short weeks, good friends had almost forgotten who they were.
***************************
Under a tree, outside the walls of mighty Silverymoon, Vaya sat brooding on the guilt served to him by his kinfolk. He couldnt get Velya off his mind, but those pleasant thoughts came with a whole set of unpleasant nagging questions and guilt. Guilt was a new sting to Vaya, and he couldnt help but think that somehow pain was closely tied to any form of honest feelings.
There is no pure thing. Even the king made a tragic mistake.
As if on cue, he took notice of a familiar red figure making her way down the road towards him. Velya had dropped off the rest of their friends at the gate of the city and was coming to find him.
Such a precious, pure, thing she is.
He kept his eye on her as she walked up and settled down close to him with a kiss. While they made small talk, Vaya wondered how he would bring up this subject. He wondered IF he should bring it up at all.
Saying it will certainly push her away, do the right thing for once and force the glaring truth on her so she walks away. Theres no way Ill do that, this is to exciting. I taint everything I touch, just a few days ago that girl admits her feelings for me... and today I brood. There is nothing pure left anywhere
Like he so often did, he let his mind drift and ended up staring at Velya in silence. The filtered sunlight poked through the tree and lit up her face, her face turning pink with embarrassment at his stare.
Such an adorable, pure, thing she is.
She settled closer, the look on her face showed she was bringing up a difficult subject. She asked questions about elves and their lifespans... she asked him about half elves. She wanted facts, and as Vaya predicted she revealed her reasons with a shift in topic.
"Ive been thinking.. about us"
How did she know?
"You are going to outlive me by many many years. Have you considered that one day I will be an old crone?"
Vaya was having a hard time with this conversation too. His composure was slipping, he struggled to keep a smooth and even tone.
"of corse I know. I guess you heard this from Karl, or anyone of the other people ive tried to ask for advice..."
"You asked Karl for advice about this?"
"Yes... I figured he would be honest. What a shipwreck of a conversation. Anyway, probably asked everyone but the person I should have"
"Who?"
"You, lady"
Velya sat closer to him, her own face showing concern and sadness openly, her voice was much the same.
"Tell me then"
"Well, thats it.. what you said just now. One day, without considerable magics, you will grow old and I wont... how will you not resent that, resent me?"
Vaya felt his eye grow uncontrollably wet. He wasnt even sure he wanted her to answer this question. Thinking about this beauty fading, and hating him was almost to much to bear.
My FACE! Dont cry... someone is watching you, thats ungraceful.
Velya was so surprised by this notion that she stammered, dumbfounded for a moment. Vaya would not have believed the words coming out of a girl back home, a complicated girl, a rich girl...but Velya was not these things and her manner of answering him told him all he needed to know before she got all the words out.
She really only worries about how I might feel. That it might be a waste for me to even consider her.
While she was still trying to explain and make sure he would not reject her for her short lifespan... he silenced her by pulling her close and squeezing her in a hug. They kissed for a long time, the sun having set before the quiet was broken by anything other than the campfire. Velya whispered to him.
"Do you want to lay with me?"
"You.. are ready for that?
Of corse she is ready for it... she is lying naked on the grass, isnt she?
The next morning she slept in late as he watched over her. He had offered up his most unpleasant thoughts to her, sure its logic would poison the innocent feelings she had expressed. Instead she had offered her heart and body to him. Vaya found himself unable to brood while watching her, so he resolved to watch her more. He stroked her hair carefully so as not to wake her.
Such a beautiful, pure, thing.
***************************
Thanks for reading.
J
Its always Darkest.
Its always Darkest.
Last edited by mr duncan on Thu May 08, 2008 11:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Discomfort was once again his companion. Why did that ignorant savage have to talk to Velya? He watched Hyacinthe go with the same glass smile he always wore.
Probably best of of good, yet clumsy, intentions. I shouldnt have suggested it as a way to clear the air. I have no need to justify my passions to a commoner.
They were seated on a sunny spot of grass outside High Hold. Vaya had placed himself facing away from the others, he was afraid his thoughts might show themselves on his face... so he faced only the river.
Despite the fact that he felt as if he was no longer in control of his face or reactions, he had done a masterful job of keeping his feelings hidden. His success in this was still a failure... in that his lady love kept talking on, smiling and happy, her pleased tone mixed with the her chosen subject matter were like needles digging into his ears.
"Your music could move the gods, Vaya. If they heard it...I think they would take you away and keep you for themselves..."
It was gods, death, and the afterlife that Vaya didnt want to think about. After a few days of joy his mind did as it usually does, and turned to dark but true things to brood over. Vaya did his best not to listen to the half-elf behind him as she offered him one hurtful compliment after another. He put his focus on a turtle in the river... but still he could hear her droning on happily about the most horrible of subjects.
She has no grasp of forever. To a roundear love is sworn "till death parts us"
She seemed very happy talking about the hall of the gods, almost prideful. An opening in the conversation made Vaya speak, always the politician, he took the opening before even realising he had done so... regretting each word.
"You call the peace of this place a lie, and sound like you regret all the unhalting violence... yet you would go to a heaven were you fight all day, every day?"
Her answer was just about what he expected.
"Well... if it was like here, of corse. I am very happy with things as they are now."
He remembered her telling him how happy he had made her.
Does she realize I wont be there?
After a long pause she asked him about the elven heaven. Vaya did his best to explain the level of joy and rapture of Arvandor but his voice just ended up trailing off. His sadness was compromising his ability to hide his feelings behind a kind yet uncaring tone.
She didnt notice, not even a bit. She kept talking... somehow making her way back to the subject of their deaths.
Vaya felt the discomfort even more. He was about to have a terrible and ungraceful display of emotion.
Not in public
Without a word Vaya slipped away from the conversation and followed the turtle as it drifted down the river. With each step the sweet voice uttering terrible things got more and more quiet... soon only the reeds and turtle were there to listen.
Knowing if he didnt deal with them now, the feelings would only get stronger, he plunged into his woe. He busied himself with grinding together every unhappy thought he had.
A half-person has the terrible weight of choice on them. An elf simply needs to respect his families gods to follow to the proper afterlife. A roundear can do the same. But she will have to chose which ancestors to follow... and she is a creature of the roundears world
The noble sun elf with perfect features allowed himself a frown.
This is what Laniara meant, "its best for people to love their own kind". Even if i spent my days with an inferior companion, a pretty elf i didnt love, id be with her forever in Arvandor.
A flawless face with perfect cheekbones was stained with the flaw of tears, the young gold elf made no move to wipe them up. He kept his eyes on the turtle as it silently chomped on the leafy greens of the river.
If i told her I would be tainting her decision. How did this happen to me?
He felt like a fox that had SEEN the trap, yet stepped anyway.
When I met her she spoke of reverence for Fenmarel, but now seems like she wants to offer her soul to this infant roundear god. A noble god, indeed, but not a way into Arvandor.... maybe its not my fault, perhaps its just a sad turn of fate.
Unmoving, the elf kept silent in his own world.
If I had just waited, this wouldnt have happened.
He swallowed. It was a terrible thing to tempt yourself with regret for something that had made you happy.
But... I should have been more patient. For the first time in my life, I have acted rashly. I would have seen her rush into a knighthood she didnt understand before accepting.
Vaya, born of two of Evermeets smoothest nobles, was more skilled with a lie than he was with a rapier. At a young age he had learned to lie to himself. If he did it long enough, he could believe it. Perhaps if he thought differently about things... he would be able to simply let go of these feelings. Reality was only a matter of perception, it was worth a try.
With a silent nod to the Turtle, Vaya began telling himself things he was sure he needed to hear.
She is a girl of seventeen years and you are a sophisticated elf. It really was a cruelty to flirt with her at all. Face the facts... you saw something pretty and special, so you took it without thinking.
The turtle kept chomping away at the green mess of plants just under the waters surface.
There is no such thing as purity in this world. That can and will only happen in Arvandor, a place youll never see her.
It really was beautifully serene, the golden sunlight on the rippling river.
She only followed Fenmarel because her island folk treated her poorly. She is not an outcast, she can push around the roundears quite easily and jumped at the chance to be a knight even though she has mentioned her island people speak poorly of knighthood.... No, her path isnt the way of Fenmarel. The name is only significant to her because its the only elf god her mother really knew anything about.
The turtle continued his silent consumption of the patch of greenery.
Her path will be with the roundears, and it will end in an afterlife with them. If you let go later, it will hurt her more. Best to do it now.
The turtle stretched its neck up above the water a bit, it seemed to look right at the elf before going back to his eating.
I shouldnt be angry with Hyacinthe, she is a good hearted girl who just wants whats best for both of us... even if what is best will hurt. Right?
He heard boots on the cobbled road behind him and caught the scent of the very subject of his thoughts, Velya. As soon as he noticed her, he whispered the words of a cantrip designed to straight all his clothes, and fix his hair.. it also erased the marks of his tears. Flawless once again.
Vaya now understood clearly what the saying "mixed emotions" meant. Vayas world was sound and he had never been so soothed and tormented by one single sound before, untill he heard his lovers voice at that moment.
"Vaya.. I am sorry if I offended you. I just kept talking and didnt realize what I was saying."
She is off the mark as usual. I suppose thats my fault, if I were a more open and honest creature...
She stepped closer to him he didnt turn towards her, instead kept his eyes on the turtle.
Or, if I were a more patient and levelheaded creature... I wouldnt be fated to hurt this girl.
She put a hand to his shoulder. He steeled himself for the conversation, he had hurt dozens of girls back home and it was only a matter of getting HER mad then making her stomp off. It was like a formula for a potion, or a math problem. She was still talking as he turned...
"... and I know you dont like to hear about me dying any more than I like to hear it about you, my love."
He saw her face with its open expression of love and sadness. She slipped her arms around him.
Such pure, sweet, thing.
"I adore you, lady" Vaya spoke, seeing her literally changing his mind in the time it took to open his mouth. He kept talking.
"It wasnt you, Im just being moody. Perhaps its the issues with the other elves? Anyway, I just came to follow the turtle here and collect some reeds."
Vaya shifted his eyes away from Velya, searching for the turtle that was now on its way downstream. She knew he was leaving something out.
"Dont lie to me, I love you.. I came out here because I know something is wrong."
"I am not lying to you... I am only guilty of attempting to sidestep a subject Id rather avoid."
"If it isnt what I was talking about.. what, why?"
How do I say this? Should I lie? No, tell the truth.. but not enough to make a decision for her.
"We elves.. you know we live a long time. We have a better grasp of what forever feels like. We dont view the afterlife as a separate thing from our lives. We expect to see our sons, daughters, parents... and wives, in Arvandor"
Her face grew serious and quiet. She rested her head against his as she listened to him. He kept talking quietly, barely above a whisper.
"It is more like a continuation of your life than an end, really... its the beginning of the infinite part of your existence. This is why an elf who walks away from their gods had also abandoned their people."
"Oh"
It was easy to sidestep the issue after that, in fact she did it for him and he took the opening. The conversation drifted and Vaya was feeling comfortable, Velyas voice and the small talk had soothed him. Yet somehow Velya returned to the original subject.
"Youve told me a lot of things, but I dont understand why you were so upset... I still feel like something is wrong."
If i have to be blunt, Ill at least do it with a question.
"If you wanted someone to come to a decision on their own, without your influence... but they kept asking you, what would you do?" Asked Vaya.
"Well I don- Oh." She ended her answer with a sigh but spoke again.
"Vaya, I dont even know the question or choices... how can I decide?"
"Right"
He put his hand to Velyas face. "Some things are best left unsaid lest you invoke ill luck"
She didnt seem to like this answer, but she accepted it. Time as always was on Vayas side, the precious girl was growing sleepy. She wanted to return to their campsite for rest.
They made camp and settled into together as usual. Vaya watching as she fell asleep.
Such a pure, sweet, thing.
******************************************
Ama'asha and Vaya sat once again on the hill near the poppies. Vaya pulled one of the older reeds from his flute and made the necessary cuts in the hollow shaft of grass to use it as a smoking pipe. Ama'asha rolled a bit of the poppy sap in his fingers while he spoke.
"Whats changed brother?"
"Nothing"
Ama handed his brother the ball of sap and the two began passing the pipe back and forth.
"I know its not nothing. Listen, just because I dont agree all the way dosnt mean-"
"It dosnt matter if you agree or not... half folk are descendants of Corellon, just like you and me"
"You're right... maybe not as much, but they deserve to go to Arvandor I suppose."
When Ama said Arvandor, he saw something in his friend. He changed his angle of attack.
"Oh, so thats it... but didnt you say she followed the lone wolf...?"
"Does she look like much of a loner?"
"No.. she thirsts for acceptance, a pack"
There was a long silence, the pipe passed hands several times before Ama'asha spoke again.
"So... you wont bond with her then?"
"Well, thats something you should be patient about, no? What made you think Id consider something like that so soon?"
"You mated with her in the span of a week of knowing her... you have been rushing about like a headless, unthinking, chicken... rush rush rush. The mainland has put you off balance, brother."
"I think I agree."
"Did you even mention this to her"
"I tried to explain it... but when I asked her why she was so happy lately, her reason was not "me". I think she was just unhappy when she came here... and clung to me because I always smile"
Ama'asha kept quiet, holding the smoke in his lungs while he listened to his childhood friend speak.
"I figure now that she has friends here... she will be happy without me. Why remind her that she will not be with me forever in the afterlife... if she will only bore with me and wander off in pursuit of her new goddess DURING this lifetime?"
"Yesterday she loved you, now she is going to wander off.... are you sure you dont mean YOU will wander off?"
"No, I adore the girl... but I dont have to put it to her the wrong way that if she choses the wrong faith... that our affair is only a breeze. It would just hurt her."
"It will hurt her more if you let her figure it out on her own, like you usually do when you are done with a girl...like you just proposed now. Yesterday you said she was sweet... now you are ready to break her heart?"
"No. I wont be doing that... why are there only two choices?"
"Alright brother... you tell me just ONE alternate"
"What if... I kept her happy her whole life, never said anything about this to her... and simply accepted this suffering in silence as my punishment for past evils, without her ever knowing?"
Ama was shocked, choked up for a moment... deprived of his typical grace, yet still he stammered out his words.
"Brother... thats... uh... thats... the.. damn. Thats the most noble thing ive EVER heard you say. Can you do something so... I dont think you can, or should. It would ruin you."
"Would it?
Ama had regained his composure.
"Vaya, I do not see your fey reasonings. What am I missing thats going on in your head?"
"When I started to care for her... my music became greater than it ever had.... because I was sad. Sad to think about her growing old... remember?"
"Yes, but..."
"So now... I suffer more. Wont that increase still the pace of my art? Shouldnt I toss up my feelings on an altar to Hanali and follow my passion till im wounded by it? Isnt sacrificing yourself or your feelings for passion, love, or art... noble?"
"Brother... you are a wonderful artist, you can make trees cry. Does that beauty really come from such... sadness, such sickness?"
"I think so"
____________________________________________
Thanks again to anyone reading.
J
Probably best of of good, yet clumsy, intentions. I shouldnt have suggested it as a way to clear the air. I have no need to justify my passions to a commoner.
They were seated on a sunny spot of grass outside High Hold. Vaya had placed himself facing away from the others, he was afraid his thoughts might show themselves on his face... so he faced only the river.
Despite the fact that he felt as if he was no longer in control of his face or reactions, he had done a masterful job of keeping his feelings hidden. His success in this was still a failure... in that his lady love kept talking on, smiling and happy, her pleased tone mixed with the her chosen subject matter were like needles digging into his ears.
"Your music could move the gods, Vaya. If they heard it...I think they would take you away and keep you for themselves..."
It was gods, death, and the afterlife that Vaya didnt want to think about. After a few days of joy his mind did as it usually does, and turned to dark but true things to brood over. Vaya did his best not to listen to the half-elf behind him as she offered him one hurtful compliment after another. He put his focus on a turtle in the river... but still he could hear her droning on happily about the most horrible of subjects.
She has no grasp of forever. To a roundear love is sworn "till death parts us"
She seemed very happy talking about the hall of the gods, almost prideful. An opening in the conversation made Vaya speak, always the politician, he took the opening before even realising he had done so... regretting each word.
"You call the peace of this place a lie, and sound like you regret all the unhalting violence... yet you would go to a heaven were you fight all day, every day?"
Her answer was just about what he expected.
"Well... if it was like here, of corse. I am very happy with things as they are now."
He remembered her telling him how happy he had made her.
Does she realize I wont be there?
After a long pause she asked him about the elven heaven. Vaya did his best to explain the level of joy and rapture of Arvandor but his voice just ended up trailing off. His sadness was compromising his ability to hide his feelings behind a kind yet uncaring tone.
She didnt notice, not even a bit. She kept talking... somehow making her way back to the subject of their deaths.
Vaya felt the discomfort even more. He was about to have a terrible and ungraceful display of emotion.
Not in public
Without a word Vaya slipped away from the conversation and followed the turtle as it drifted down the river. With each step the sweet voice uttering terrible things got more and more quiet... soon only the reeds and turtle were there to listen.
Knowing if he didnt deal with them now, the feelings would only get stronger, he plunged into his woe. He busied himself with grinding together every unhappy thought he had.
A half-person has the terrible weight of choice on them. An elf simply needs to respect his families gods to follow to the proper afterlife. A roundear can do the same. But she will have to chose which ancestors to follow... and she is a creature of the roundears world
The noble sun elf with perfect features allowed himself a frown.
This is what Laniara meant, "its best for people to love their own kind". Even if i spent my days with an inferior companion, a pretty elf i didnt love, id be with her forever in Arvandor.
A flawless face with perfect cheekbones was stained with the flaw of tears, the young gold elf made no move to wipe them up. He kept his eyes on the turtle as it silently chomped on the leafy greens of the river.
If i told her I would be tainting her decision. How did this happen to me?
He felt like a fox that had SEEN the trap, yet stepped anyway.
When I met her she spoke of reverence for Fenmarel, but now seems like she wants to offer her soul to this infant roundear god. A noble god, indeed, but not a way into Arvandor.... maybe its not my fault, perhaps its just a sad turn of fate.
Unmoving, the elf kept silent in his own world.
If I had just waited, this wouldnt have happened.
He swallowed. It was a terrible thing to tempt yourself with regret for something that had made you happy.
But... I should have been more patient. For the first time in my life, I have acted rashly. I would have seen her rush into a knighthood she didnt understand before accepting.
Vaya, born of two of Evermeets smoothest nobles, was more skilled with a lie than he was with a rapier. At a young age he had learned to lie to himself. If he did it long enough, he could believe it. Perhaps if he thought differently about things... he would be able to simply let go of these feelings. Reality was only a matter of perception, it was worth a try.
With a silent nod to the Turtle, Vaya began telling himself things he was sure he needed to hear.
She is a girl of seventeen years and you are a sophisticated elf. It really was a cruelty to flirt with her at all. Face the facts... you saw something pretty and special, so you took it without thinking.
The turtle kept chomping away at the green mess of plants just under the waters surface.
There is no such thing as purity in this world. That can and will only happen in Arvandor, a place youll never see her.
It really was beautifully serene, the golden sunlight on the rippling river.
She only followed Fenmarel because her island folk treated her poorly. She is not an outcast, she can push around the roundears quite easily and jumped at the chance to be a knight even though she has mentioned her island people speak poorly of knighthood.... No, her path isnt the way of Fenmarel. The name is only significant to her because its the only elf god her mother really knew anything about.
The turtle continued his silent consumption of the patch of greenery.
Her path will be with the roundears, and it will end in an afterlife with them. If you let go later, it will hurt her more. Best to do it now.
The turtle stretched its neck up above the water a bit, it seemed to look right at the elf before going back to his eating.
I shouldnt be angry with Hyacinthe, she is a good hearted girl who just wants whats best for both of us... even if what is best will hurt. Right?
He heard boots on the cobbled road behind him and caught the scent of the very subject of his thoughts, Velya. As soon as he noticed her, he whispered the words of a cantrip designed to straight all his clothes, and fix his hair.. it also erased the marks of his tears. Flawless once again.
Vaya now understood clearly what the saying "mixed emotions" meant. Vayas world was sound and he had never been so soothed and tormented by one single sound before, untill he heard his lovers voice at that moment.
"Vaya.. I am sorry if I offended you. I just kept talking and didnt realize what I was saying."
She is off the mark as usual. I suppose thats my fault, if I were a more open and honest creature...
She stepped closer to him he didnt turn towards her, instead kept his eyes on the turtle.
Or, if I were a more patient and levelheaded creature... I wouldnt be fated to hurt this girl.
She put a hand to his shoulder. He steeled himself for the conversation, he had hurt dozens of girls back home and it was only a matter of getting HER mad then making her stomp off. It was like a formula for a potion, or a math problem. She was still talking as he turned...
"... and I know you dont like to hear about me dying any more than I like to hear it about you, my love."
He saw her face with its open expression of love and sadness. She slipped her arms around him.
Such pure, sweet, thing.
"I adore you, lady" Vaya spoke, seeing her literally changing his mind in the time it took to open his mouth. He kept talking.
"It wasnt you, Im just being moody. Perhaps its the issues with the other elves? Anyway, I just came to follow the turtle here and collect some reeds."
Vaya shifted his eyes away from Velya, searching for the turtle that was now on its way downstream. She knew he was leaving something out.
"Dont lie to me, I love you.. I came out here because I know something is wrong."
"I am not lying to you... I am only guilty of attempting to sidestep a subject Id rather avoid."
"If it isnt what I was talking about.. what, why?"
How do I say this? Should I lie? No, tell the truth.. but not enough to make a decision for her.
"We elves.. you know we live a long time. We have a better grasp of what forever feels like. We dont view the afterlife as a separate thing from our lives. We expect to see our sons, daughters, parents... and wives, in Arvandor"
Her face grew serious and quiet. She rested her head against his as she listened to him. He kept talking quietly, barely above a whisper.
"It is more like a continuation of your life than an end, really... its the beginning of the infinite part of your existence. This is why an elf who walks away from their gods had also abandoned their people."
"Oh"
It was easy to sidestep the issue after that, in fact she did it for him and he took the opening. The conversation drifted and Vaya was feeling comfortable, Velyas voice and the small talk had soothed him. Yet somehow Velya returned to the original subject.
"Youve told me a lot of things, but I dont understand why you were so upset... I still feel like something is wrong."
If i have to be blunt, Ill at least do it with a question.
"If you wanted someone to come to a decision on their own, without your influence... but they kept asking you, what would you do?" Asked Vaya.
"Well I don- Oh." She ended her answer with a sigh but spoke again.
"Vaya, I dont even know the question or choices... how can I decide?"
"Right"
He put his hand to Velyas face. "Some things are best left unsaid lest you invoke ill luck"
She didnt seem to like this answer, but she accepted it. Time as always was on Vayas side, the precious girl was growing sleepy. She wanted to return to their campsite for rest.
They made camp and settled into together as usual. Vaya watching as she fell asleep.
Such a pure, sweet, thing.
******************************************
Ama'asha and Vaya sat once again on the hill near the poppies. Vaya pulled one of the older reeds from his flute and made the necessary cuts in the hollow shaft of grass to use it as a smoking pipe. Ama'asha rolled a bit of the poppy sap in his fingers while he spoke.
"Whats changed brother?"
"Nothing"
Ama handed his brother the ball of sap and the two began passing the pipe back and forth.
"I know its not nothing. Listen, just because I dont agree all the way dosnt mean-"
"It dosnt matter if you agree or not... half folk are descendants of Corellon, just like you and me"
"You're right... maybe not as much, but they deserve to go to Arvandor I suppose."
When Ama said Arvandor, he saw something in his friend. He changed his angle of attack.
"Oh, so thats it... but didnt you say she followed the lone wolf...?"
"Does she look like much of a loner?"
"No.. she thirsts for acceptance, a pack"
There was a long silence, the pipe passed hands several times before Ama'asha spoke again.
"So... you wont bond with her then?"
"Well, thats something you should be patient about, no? What made you think Id consider something like that so soon?"
"You mated with her in the span of a week of knowing her... you have been rushing about like a headless, unthinking, chicken... rush rush rush. The mainland has put you off balance, brother."
"I think I agree."
"Did you even mention this to her"
"I tried to explain it... but when I asked her why she was so happy lately, her reason was not "me". I think she was just unhappy when she came here... and clung to me because I always smile"
Ama'asha kept quiet, holding the smoke in his lungs while he listened to his childhood friend speak.
"I figure now that she has friends here... she will be happy without me. Why remind her that she will not be with me forever in the afterlife... if she will only bore with me and wander off in pursuit of her new goddess DURING this lifetime?"
"Yesterday she loved you, now she is going to wander off.... are you sure you dont mean YOU will wander off?"
"No, I adore the girl... but I dont have to put it to her the wrong way that if she choses the wrong faith... that our affair is only a breeze. It would just hurt her."
"It will hurt her more if you let her figure it out on her own, like you usually do when you are done with a girl...like you just proposed now. Yesterday you said she was sweet... now you are ready to break her heart?"
"No. I wont be doing that... why are there only two choices?"
"Alright brother... you tell me just ONE alternate"
"What if... I kept her happy her whole life, never said anything about this to her... and simply accepted this suffering in silence as my punishment for past evils, without her ever knowing?"
Ama was shocked, choked up for a moment... deprived of his typical grace, yet still he stammered out his words.
"Brother... thats... uh... thats... the.. damn. Thats the most noble thing ive EVER heard you say. Can you do something so... I dont think you can, or should. It would ruin you."
"Would it?
Ama had regained his composure.
"Vaya, I do not see your fey reasonings. What am I missing thats going on in your head?"
"When I started to care for her... my music became greater than it ever had.... because I was sad. Sad to think about her growing old... remember?"
"Yes, but..."
"So now... I suffer more. Wont that increase still the pace of my art? Shouldnt I toss up my feelings on an altar to Hanali and follow my passion till im wounded by it? Isnt sacrificing yourself or your feelings for passion, love, or art... noble?"
"Brother... you are a wonderful artist, you can make trees cry. Does that beauty really come from such... sadness, such sickness?"
"I think so"
____________________________________________
Thanks again to anyone reading.
J
Last edited by mr duncan on Fri May 09, 2008 12:02 am, edited 3 times in total.
Several others had told Vaya not to enter these crypts, especially alone. Slipping into the tomb Vaya glanced around to make sure the dead here were really dead for the time being.
The tombs almost nonexistent sounds were a draw to him. Terrible, sad, hollow sounds. With his boots barely kicking up the settled dust, he drifted to a pair of sarcophagi and looked down on them.
They were a married couple. Their ornate sarcophagi were carved with their likenesses in life. Those carvings had long since manifested their first cracks and chips. The young sun elf ran his fingers over the cracked marble face of the wife. He had asked for advice from so very many people.... and the thing he was learning, was that the people who were most free with their advice knew nothing of love or passion at all. In fact, most of the people with an opinion were single themselves.
Like asking pickpocket to watch over your gold
The beauty of the statues face was nearly enthralling. Vaya could stay here for years listening to the empty sounds of the wind forcing its way through the many cracks in the ancient building. The building, the tomb, reminded the young elf of himself.
It was beautifully constructed, carved with lavish detail. It was also rotten, empty, and a truly sad place.
Yes, it is just like me.
The noble elf pushed back the top of the sarcophagus to reveal the withered blacked corspe of the long-gone woman. While her face and arms were black and leathery, she still had coppery red hair. Vaya sat on the edge of the stone box she lay in and looked down at her.
By the markings on the sarcophagi, these two had been married young and stayed that way throughout their life.
"How did you do it? It must have been easier for you, with your mate being the same culture and faith as yourself"
The silent empty eye sockets stared up at him, said nothing.
"What would you do? Would you say the same things Diane said?
*****************************************
Diane had seen Vaya without Vellya, and had shown concern. When she had found him, he was at a low in his faith in bliss. Still, he had resisted speaking with her untill she had given her word that their conversation would never be repeated.
He came to respect her for trying to help him, but she was woefully shorthanded with help for his issues. While she was a noble creature, she was very ill equipped to offer the kind of help he needed.
A wise and insightful woman, she had realized the source of much of Vayas heartache as he spoke. She suggested, even pleaded, that he share his feelings with Vellya. That she should know what weight Vaya was carrying around. She didnt seem to appreciate Vayas willingness to suffer in silence. Her suggestion was to tell Vellya all his thoughts and feelings... to be open, to do the exact opposite of keeping quiet as he had planned. Vaya rarely raised his voice... but he practically screamed now.
"NO! You will NOT tell her... you have offered your word, a promise of your silence. You should know what kind of suffering I take on myself to make this being happy.... you will not ruin that. I expect you to keep your promise."
If Vellya knew how I felt, it would tear her up. She is too precious to know this.
"I wont betray you Vaya, but you should understand that just because you love her... you cant let her walk over you."
"You dont understand, I can bury this and go on."
"If you ignore these things, even the small ones will add up."
"Listen Lady... when she is past old and gray, when she has gone to her grave, and I still have not gotten my first wrinkle... I will be glad I made her happy her whole life rather than confronting her... then all these buried issues and sadness will no longer matter."
Diane hadnt quite known how to take this but she scrapped together an honest response anyway.
"I... I suppose... I did not look at it that way"
*****************************************
The withered eyeless face still stared up at him, offering silence as advice.
Yes, silence. You dont at all have the same advice do you? No... years in the grave have given you a wisdom. You have learned the value of keeping your quiet.
Mouth open slightly, lips pulled back, and empty eye sockets... the face remained unchanged. Staring.
If only I had the grace to keep my face as calm as her. To keep silent.
Still the rotten body didnt move. She seemed at peace, she had let go of everything and was at rest.
"and Hyacinthe? Her advice is just as reckless... and I almost bought it."
*****************************************
The wild elf lass had sang him a song, a sad song.
I love sad songs.
She had known his feelings, his fear of keeping Vellya with him untill she resented him. She knew his regrets about moving to fast.
Her song was a tale of love spurned in youth, and then thirsted for in old age. The song had made him cry.
Terrible, ugly, ungraceful
He had called her "sister" that night, when his mind was vulnerable. He now knew that her intent was not to help him but rather to see his grace be compromised. He had called her sister, and she slapped his hand... "cousin" was the word used for elves you didnt know enough to trust.
She had kissed him on the cheek and told him he would be fine.
If you were just a bit better liar, I probably would have believed you.
*****************************************
The silent husk of a woman remained still. Vaya spoke to her, and though she did not talk back, Vaya continued on with the conversation.
"So how did you do it? Were you happy?"
"When I am in her presence, it is a different world... but I felt her pull away from me a few days back in Quaervar."
"Of course I didnt ask her about it. If she wants to let go... ill try to let go too."
"Well no, it isnt always like that. I love her."
"Yes of course ill play you a song.... I told everyone I was leaving to practice my flute anyway, this way I am at least not a lying.
"Thank you for your help"
He played his flute for the dead ears. It wasnt his best piece of work but it would have earned a standing ovation in any theater in the realms... yet this audience was unmoved. Each body still lie in its stone container.
Vaya had heard enough of the magnificent sounds... and finally found an ear willing to listen without judging. As he stood, he briefly touched the decayed hand before shutting the lid on her.
The beautiful young elf drifted back to the exit door and looked back.
"Blessings and rest well"
_____________________________________________________
If you are patient enough to have read my story, thanks lots.
J
The tombs almost nonexistent sounds were a draw to him. Terrible, sad, hollow sounds. With his boots barely kicking up the settled dust, he drifted to a pair of sarcophagi and looked down on them.
They were a married couple. Their ornate sarcophagi were carved with their likenesses in life. Those carvings had long since manifested their first cracks and chips. The young sun elf ran his fingers over the cracked marble face of the wife. He had asked for advice from so very many people.... and the thing he was learning, was that the people who were most free with their advice knew nothing of love or passion at all. In fact, most of the people with an opinion were single themselves.
Like asking pickpocket to watch over your gold
The beauty of the statues face was nearly enthralling. Vaya could stay here for years listening to the empty sounds of the wind forcing its way through the many cracks in the ancient building. The building, the tomb, reminded the young elf of himself.
It was beautifully constructed, carved with lavish detail. It was also rotten, empty, and a truly sad place.
Yes, it is just like me.
The noble elf pushed back the top of the sarcophagus to reveal the withered blacked corspe of the long-gone woman. While her face and arms were black and leathery, she still had coppery red hair. Vaya sat on the edge of the stone box she lay in and looked down at her.
By the markings on the sarcophagi, these two had been married young and stayed that way throughout their life.
"How did you do it? It must have been easier for you, with your mate being the same culture and faith as yourself"
The silent empty eye sockets stared up at him, said nothing.
"What would you do? Would you say the same things Diane said?
*****************************************
Diane had seen Vaya without Vellya, and had shown concern. When she had found him, he was at a low in his faith in bliss. Still, he had resisted speaking with her untill she had given her word that their conversation would never be repeated.
He came to respect her for trying to help him, but she was woefully shorthanded with help for his issues. While she was a noble creature, she was very ill equipped to offer the kind of help he needed.
A wise and insightful woman, she had realized the source of much of Vayas heartache as he spoke. She suggested, even pleaded, that he share his feelings with Vellya. That she should know what weight Vaya was carrying around. She didnt seem to appreciate Vayas willingness to suffer in silence. Her suggestion was to tell Vellya all his thoughts and feelings... to be open, to do the exact opposite of keeping quiet as he had planned. Vaya rarely raised his voice... but he practically screamed now.
"NO! You will NOT tell her... you have offered your word, a promise of your silence. You should know what kind of suffering I take on myself to make this being happy.... you will not ruin that. I expect you to keep your promise."
If Vellya knew how I felt, it would tear her up. She is too precious to know this.
"I wont betray you Vaya, but you should understand that just because you love her... you cant let her walk over you."
"You dont understand, I can bury this and go on."
"If you ignore these things, even the small ones will add up."
"Listen Lady... when she is past old and gray, when she has gone to her grave, and I still have not gotten my first wrinkle... I will be glad I made her happy her whole life rather than confronting her... then all these buried issues and sadness will no longer matter."
Diane hadnt quite known how to take this but she scrapped together an honest response anyway.
"I... I suppose... I did not look at it that way"
*****************************************
The withered eyeless face still stared up at him, offering silence as advice.
Yes, silence. You dont at all have the same advice do you? No... years in the grave have given you a wisdom. You have learned the value of keeping your quiet.
Mouth open slightly, lips pulled back, and empty eye sockets... the face remained unchanged. Staring.
If only I had the grace to keep my face as calm as her. To keep silent.
Still the rotten body didnt move. She seemed at peace, she had let go of everything and was at rest.
"and Hyacinthe? Her advice is just as reckless... and I almost bought it."
*****************************************
The wild elf lass had sang him a song, a sad song.
I love sad songs.
She had known his feelings, his fear of keeping Vellya with him untill she resented him. She knew his regrets about moving to fast.
Her song was a tale of love spurned in youth, and then thirsted for in old age. The song had made him cry.
Terrible, ugly, ungraceful
He had called her "sister" that night, when his mind was vulnerable. He now knew that her intent was not to help him but rather to see his grace be compromised. He had called her sister, and she slapped his hand... "cousin" was the word used for elves you didnt know enough to trust.
She had kissed him on the cheek and told him he would be fine.
If you were just a bit better liar, I probably would have believed you.
*****************************************
The silent husk of a woman remained still. Vaya spoke to her, and though she did not talk back, Vaya continued on with the conversation.
"So how did you do it? Were you happy?"
"When I am in her presence, it is a different world... but I felt her pull away from me a few days back in Quaervar."
"Of course I didnt ask her about it. If she wants to let go... ill try to let go too."
"Well no, it isnt always like that. I love her."
"Yes of course ill play you a song.... I told everyone I was leaving to practice my flute anyway, this way I am at least not a lying.
"Thank you for your help"
He played his flute for the dead ears. It wasnt his best piece of work but it would have earned a standing ovation in any theater in the realms... yet this audience was unmoved. Each body still lie in its stone container.
Vaya had heard enough of the magnificent sounds... and finally found an ear willing to listen without judging. As he stood, he briefly touched the decayed hand before shutting the lid on her.
The beautiful young elf drifted back to the exit door and looked back.
"Blessings and rest well"
_____________________________________________________
If you are patient enough to have read my story, thanks lots.
J
Black silky robes barely made a rustle in the grass as Vaya walked northward. In the distance he could see the walls of High Hold. Normally he kept quiet and sneaky when he was up to no good.... but today his plans felt good.
He wasnt accustomed to doing nice things for others. Usually he preferred to be distant from other folk, and doing nice things made them closer to him.
It was an unusual situation, dealing with these feelings he was learning to call love. It caused strange motivations to swell up in him, motives he was only just now beginning to understand.
As he drifted down the narrow road of High Hold the object of his search revealed itself, his lover, Vellya. He paused by the edge of the wall to peek around at her. He loved to watch her when she was unaware, or sleeping.
As he stepped out into the light to allow her to see him, his thoughts took him back to two nights ago, when he reached his most recent decision.
**********************************************
Lying on their backs in the grass, the two lovers gazed up at the countless stars in the Faerunian heavens.
"We cant live in this tent forever. Soon it will be winter and we will need some place warmer to sleep." Vellya had said.
"Give it some time, I still have to go back and talk to the folk at Academy in the city. If they open their doors to me, we can move into one of the schools dorms."
"You are ready to go to school?"
"I guess so. Even if not, or they dont accept me, we can always find work and a home in the city ourselves... or even the countryside."
"That would be nice, but this land is dangerous. We need a home in a relatively safe place."
The two stared up at the stars for a while longer before Vaya spoke again.
"Who would have thought that /you/ would want a home, and /I/ would be the one happy with a tent?"
"I am not a savage. Back home we lived in a great ha-"
Vaya knew not to let his joke turn into something unpleasant, so he kissed her.
"You sure kiss pretty damned savage"
The two laid in the grass, wrapped in one anothers embrace for many long hours until the need for rest overtook them both.
**********************************************
"What if I told you that as of about six hours ago, that you were no longer homeless?" Vaya spoke, smiling wide and waiting for Vellya to answer.
"Really? You got accepted today?"
"I sure did. Would you like to come see our room?"
The girls face was so very clearly happy that it seemed to shine with a light of its own.
"YES!"
This is the reward for my silence. I am allowed close to something pure, something good.
The two of them walked hand-in-hand down the road to Silverymoon. Vellya was so happy that she couldnt stop laughing and giggling.
Such a pure, sweet, thing she is. If she is going to give herself to me, I should at least attempt to deserve her.
A strange lightness overtook him on the way. Watching her smile so much, and laugh, made him feel almost as if he were floating along the road rather than walking.
It is like opium, the sap of the blessed poppy.
The two made their way to the Academy in Silverymoon, and straight to their room. The room had the effect that Vaya both expected and desired. Vellya was amazed.
The simplest things seemed to please and amaze her. Stone was a material for only the wealthy in her homeland, and now she lived in room made of cut stone. Her village had all shared one hall with one fireplace... but their room now had a fireplace for their /private/ use.
Each of these tiny discoveries that pleased her so was like a gem to Vaya. He couldnt help but smile wider at her with each moment she carried on about the wonders of their new home. Vellyas joy had this almost magical ability to push away his darkest thoughts.
As the two were getting up to leave their room, to look at more of the school, Vellya turned to him and spoke.
"With you, and this wonderful place... I feel like a princess in a faerie tale. Thank you"
"Darling, my love, you know that my whole world... my universe is sound and song."
"I do"
"When you said, just now, that you felt like a princess in a faerie tale... that was the sweetest sound I have ever heard."
The two kissed in the doorway, for a very long time.
_______________________________________________________
What? did you expect ALL of my posts to be sad?
J
He wasnt accustomed to doing nice things for others. Usually he preferred to be distant from other folk, and doing nice things made them closer to him.
It was an unusual situation, dealing with these feelings he was learning to call love. It caused strange motivations to swell up in him, motives he was only just now beginning to understand.
As he drifted down the narrow road of High Hold the object of his search revealed itself, his lover, Vellya. He paused by the edge of the wall to peek around at her. He loved to watch her when she was unaware, or sleeping.
As he stepped out into the light to allow her to see him, his thoughts took him back to two nights ago, when he reached his most recent decision.
**********************************************
Lying on their backs in the grass, the two lovers gazed up at the countless stars in the Faerunian heavens.
"We cant live in this tent forever. Soon it will be winter and we will need some place warmer to sleep." Vellya had said.
"Give it some time, I still have to go back and talk to the folk at Academy in the city. If they open their doors to me, we can move into one of the schools dorms."
"You are ready to go to school?"
"I guess so. Even if not, or they dont accept me, we can always find work and a home in the city ourselves... or even the countryside."
"That would be nice, but this land is dangerous. We need a home in a relatively safe place."
The two stared up at the stars for a while longer before Vaya spoke again.
"Who would have thought that /you/ would want a home, and /I/ would be the one happy with a tent?"
"I am not a savage. Back home we lived in a great ha-"
Vaya knew not to let his joke turn into something unpleasant, so he kissed her.
"You sure kiss pretty damned savage"
The two laid in the grass, wrapped in one anothers embrace for many long hours until the need for rest overtook them both.
**********************************************
"What if I told you that as of about six hours ago, that you were no longer homeless?" Vaya spoke, smiling wide and waiting for Vellya to answer.
"Really? You got accepted today?"
"I sure did. Would you like to come see our room?"
The girls face was so very clearly happy that it seemed to shine with a light of its own.
"YES!"
This is the reward for my silence. I am allowed close to something pure, something good.
The two of them walked hand-in-hand down the road to Silverymoon. Vellya was so happy that she couldnt stop laughing and giggling.
Such a pure, sweet, thing she is. If she is going to give herself to me, I should at least attempt to deserve her.
A strange lightness overtook him on the way. Watching her smile so much, and laugh, made him feel almost as if he were floating along the road rather than walking.
It is like opium, the sap of the blessed poppy.
The two made their way to the Academy in Silverymoon, and straight to their room. The room had the effect that Vaya both expected and desired. Vellya was amazed.
The simplest things seemed to please and amaze her. Stone was a material for only the wealthy in her homeland, and now she lived in room made of cut stone. Her village had all shared one hall with one fireplace... but their room now had a fireplace for their /private/ use.
Each of these tiny discoveries that pleased her so was like a gem to Vaya. He couldnt help but smile wider at her with each moment she carried on about the wonders of their new home. Vellyas joy had this almost magical ability to push away his darkest thoughts.
As the two were getting up to leave their room, to look at more of the school, Vellya turned to him and spoke.
"With you, and this wonderful place... I feel like a princess in a faerie tale. Thank you"
"Darling, my love, you know that my whole world... my universe is sound and song."
"I do"
"When you said, just now, that you felt like a princess in a faerie tale... that was the sweetest sound I have ever heard."
The two kissed in the doorway, for a very long time.
_______________________________________________________
What? did you expect ALL of my posts to be sad?
J
"I was on my way to Silverymoon too!" exclaimed the girl.
A'lys was a cute moon elf, lost and looking for help. Vaya was busy listening to a frog, certainly not up to being bothered with questions about the distance to Silverymoon. He made small talk with her and mentioned his upcoming necromancy exam.
Always mention something atrocious to shoo them away. Necromancy, at least when mentioned casually, gets rid of most chatters and gossips.
"You know cousin, I wanted to see about enrolling there myself. Maybe I can walk with you?" The young girl asked. She had been staring at him while they spoke, forcing him to compensate by looking only at the river...
then she punctuated her statement by grabbing hold of his wrist.
Entirely to familiar....these mainland elves and cuddly moon-kin. First Tathar has to have his hands on my back like we are old war buddies... now a strange girl handles my glove. That bitch should know better.
Vaya artfully slipped his wrist away with a minimum of contact and checked his glove. He didnt lose his typical smile, but he hoped his overreaction would give her the hint. He looked at his wrist for a long long time.
***************************************************
Vayas bare hands reached out to the hands of the dead man on the table. The body had been there a while, a terrible stench that matched its hideous appearance assaulted his nose. Still the smile didnt fade from his lips as he leaned over the rotten monstrosity.
He clamped the pallid wrist into the iron manacles and cranked it tight.
***************************************************
The way was sunny and the road clear. Mostly the talk was about the school or the road. Vaya had decided he liked the girl, and had done his best to forget the disrespect of casual contact.
"So what gods do you pray to, brother?" Asked the girl.
Known me for a few hours and I am your brother? This conversation is going to go south when she tells me she worships some roundear god.
"Well, who do you pray to, lady? If you are going to ask, you should be willing to answer first yourself."
The girl replied "Fenmarel Mestarine"
Vaya drifted on, forgetting to offer his own answer to the question. It was a name he didnt expect for a few reasons. His own natural pessimism made him expect that she would be one of the dozens of foolish elves that had turned their back on their people and culture by worshiping other gods. When he heard the name he should have been pleased but he was only reminded of that Vellya had once worshiped the lone wolf too.
My darling, drifting further and further each day into the world of the roundears.
***************************************************
The embalming fluid stank worse than the body. The pretty young elf plunged the long needle in between the ribs of the body, forcing the fluid into wheezing lungs.
The sound spluttered and screeched a high-pitched whine. Green bile and red blood splattered over the steel table.
Such an amazing sound, I could listen to it all day... yet the sight, awful. I guess its just something you have to endure for the experience of those enchanting sounds.
The noble elfs calm, confident smile remained in place as he plunged the needle in again... this time deep into the oozing eye.
***************************************************
In the main hall of the college of magic she found him again. He had needed to run downstairs to fetch the right scroll to pass his necromancy examination.
"Oh there you are! are you done? I thought Id lost you." The girl said as she ran up.
"No, no... just forgot something. Im not done with my test."
"I see.. well, it costs money to get into school... more than my parents gave me. Do you know anywhere I can get some work?"
It seems like all I do is walk between the city and that swamphole village of Rivermoot.
With a barely detectable sigh, Vaya responded. "Yes, let me finish stretching out this rotten body, and ill be right with you cousin."
***************************************************
His necromancy instructor was much more sexy than he thought any necromancy teacher had rights to be.
Maybe it was just because he had just finished an hours work over a clammy rotten roundear.
The teacher told him he had done well, and to his surprise he was proud of his accomplishment. He hadnt cheated, simply studied his brothers notes and the books in the library. Getting praise for honest work was almost as nice as getting praise for his music.
I started with that because father said to finish the most boring classes first... but I think I rather liked it.
***************************************************
Hyacinthe was not to far from the flowers and standing stones where Vaya was used to finding her.
The girl he was with was making it more and more difficult to be polite. She was very flirtatious and some part of Vaya began to suspect that Vellya had put her up to it, as a test of his loyalty. He was glad to have found Hyacinthe to be a distracting third to the stranger.
No... thats corrupt, something I would think of. Vellya is to sweet for that. No... this girl is just a typical, loose, moon-kin that offers and expects confidences to early
Vaya knew he had been guilty recently of rushing and not thinking. He decided to attempt to forgive the girl
Besides we are a short walk from Rivermoot, she will see where my affections lay in no unclear terms. No need to be rude to her, yet.
While talking amongst the three of them... the girl touched his sleeve again. A simple enough gesture, a thanks for help offered verbally and reinforced with a pat to the elbow. His temper flared a bit but his face remained friendly as he spoke.
"Lady, I am glad for your thanks... but you will simply /have/ to stop handling me in such a casual way. I am high born."
The words stung the girl visibly, she looked down and her cheeks flushed red. She took a step back, embarassed. For a moment Vaya was back home in Evermeet making some rich politicians daughter cry. He thought she deserved to fumble and stew in front of strangers for handling him a second time.
That moment didnt last though. The girls reaction was to honest, too reminiscent of Vellya. He found himself apologizing instead of gloating at her discomfort.
Hyacinthe and he helped the girl with earning a bit of money for her classes after that awkward scene. Later, after he offered them his farewells, he drifted to the rivers edge to watch for frogs.
Why didnt I just say I was taken rather than snap at her about station?
He knew Hyacinthe was at this moment telling the moon elf that it was a pointless task to persue him, and while it was much easier to let her say it he doubted that was the reason he'd been mean rather than honest and polite.
I chose to remind her that I am not like her... even if I were single, I am not one of these flighty moon-kin quick to trust and even willing to occasionally mate without trust at all.
He had been cruel because that was the truest way to indulge his primary motive.
Vanity
He felt good. Vellya would probably think it a horrible thing... so would his brother. So would most, he was sure. He felt guilty, but part of him was glad that he had rejected the girls advances for some other reason than devotion to his lady love.
Vaya decided to allow himself to enjoy both his guilt and his guilty-pleasure for a while. Having still many more hours till Vellya was due to rise, and not wanting to follow the moon elf into Rivermoot, Vaya contented himself by spending the morning watching a butterfly conquer its cocoon.
_____________________________________________________________
Thanks for Reading.
J
A'lys was a cute moon elf, lost and looking for help. Vaya was busy listening to a frog, certainly not up to being bothered with questions about the distance to Silverymoon. He made small talk with her and mentioned his upcoming necromancy exam.
Always mention something atrocious to shoo them away. Necromancy, at least when mentioned casually, gets rid of most chatters and gossips.
"You know cousin, I wanted to see about enrolling there myself. Maybe I can walk with you?" The young girl asked. She had been staring at him while they spoke, forcing him to compensate by looking only at the river...
then she punctuated her statement by grabbing hold of his wrist.
Entirely to familiar....these mainland elves and cuddly moon-kin. First Tathar has to have his hands on my back like we are old war buddies... now a strange girl handles my glove. That bitch should know better.
Vaya artfully slipped his wrist away with a minimum of contact and checked his glove. He didnt lose his typical smile, but he hoped his overreaction would give her the hint. He looked at his wrist for a long long time.
***************************************************
Vayas bare hands reached out to the hands of the dead man on the table. The body had been there a while, a terrible stench that matched its hideous appearance assaulted his nose. Still the smile didnt fade from his lips as he leaned over the rotten monstrosity.
He clamped the pallid wrist into the iron manacles and cranked it tight.
***************************************************
The way was sunny and the road clear. Mostly the talk was about the school or the road. Vaya had decided he liked the girl, and had done his best to forget the disrespect of casual contact.
"So what gods do you pray to, brother?" Asked the girl.
Known me for a few hours and I am your brother? This conversation is going to go south when she tells me she worships some roundear god.
"Well, who do you pray to, lady? If you are going to ask, you should be willing to answer first yourself."
The girl replied "Fenmarel Mestarine"
Vaya drifted on, forgetting to offer his own answer to the question. It was a name he didnt expect for a few reasons. His own natural pessimism made him expect that she would be one of the dozens of foolish elves that had turned their back on their people and culture by worshiping other gods. When he heard the name he should have been pleased but he was only reminded of that Vellya had once worshiped the lone wolf too.
My darling, drifting further and further each day into the world of the roundears.
***************************************************
The embalming fluid stank worse than the body. The pretty young elf plunged the long needle in between the ribs of the body, forcing the fluid into wheezing lungs.
The sound spluttered and screeched a high-pitched whine. Green bile and red blood splattered over the steel table.
Such an amazing sound, I could listen to it all day... yet the sight, awful. I guess its just something you have to endure for the experience of those enchanting sounds.
The noble elfs calm, confident smile remained in place as he plunged the needle in again... this time deep into the oozing eye.
***************************************************
In the main hall of the college of magic she found him again. He had needed to run downstairs to fetch the right scroll to pass his necromancy examination.
"Oh there you are! are you done? I thought Id lost you." The girl said as she ran up.
"No, no... just forgot something. Im not done with my test."
"I see.. well, it costs money to get into school... more than my parents gave me. Do you know anywhere I can get some work?"
It seems like all I do is walk between the city and that swamphole village of Rivermoot.
With a barely detectable sigh, Vaya responded. "Yes, let me finish stretching out this rotten body, and ill be right with you cousin."
***************************************************
His necromancy instructor was much more sexy than he thought any necromancy teacher had rights to be.
Maybe it was just because he had just finished an hours work over a clammy rotten roundear.
The teacher told him he had done well, and to his surprise he was proud of his accomplishment. He hadnt cheated, simply studied his brothers notes and the books in the library. Getting praise for honest work was almost as nice as getting praise for his music.
I started with that because father said to finish the most boring classes first... but I think I rather liked it.
***************************************************
Hyacinthe was not to far from the flowers and standing stones where Vaya was used to finding her.
The girl he was with was making it more and more difficult to be polite. She was very flirtatious and some part of Vaya began to suspect that Vellya had put her up to it, as a test of his loyalty. He was glad to have found Hyacinthe to be a distracting third to the stranger.
No... thats corrupt, something I would think of. Vellya is to sweet for that. No... this girl is just a typical, loose, moon-kin that offers and expects confidences to early
Vaya knew he had been guilty recently of rushing and not thinking. He decided to attempt to forgive the girl
Besides we are a short walk from Rivermoot, she will see where my affections lay in no unclear terms. No need to be rude to her, yet.
While talking amongst the three of them... the girl touched his sleeve again. A simple enough gesture, a thanks for help offered verbally and reinforced with a pat to the elbow. His temper flared a bit but his face remained friendly as he spoke.
"Lady, I am glad for your thanks... but you will simply /have/ to stop handling me in such a casual way. I am high born."
The words stung the girl visibly, she looked down and her cheeks flushed red. She took a step back, embarassed. For a moment Vaya was back home in Evermeet making some rich politicians daughter cry. He thought she deserved to fumble and stew in front of strangers for handling him a second time.
That moment didnt last though. The girls reaction was to honest, too reminiscent of Vellya. He found himself apologizing instead of gloating at her discomfort.
Hyacinthe and he helped the girl with earning a bit of money for her classes after that awkward scene. Later, after he offered them his farewells, he drifted to the rivers edge to watch for frogs.
Why didnt I just say I was taken rather than snap at her about station?
He knew Hyacinthe was at this moment telling the moon elf that it was a pointless task to persue him, and while it was much easier to let her say it he doubted that was the reason he'd been mean rather than honest and polite.
I chose to remind her that I am not like her... even if I were single, I am not one of these flighty moon-kin quick to trust and even willing to occasionally mate without trust at all.
He had been cruel because that was the truest way to indulge his primary motive.
Vanity
He felt good. Vellya would probably think it a horrible thing... so would his brother. So would most, he was sure. He felt guilty, but part of him was glad that he had rejected the girls advances for some other reason than devotion to his lady love.
Vaya decided to allow himself to enjoy both his guilt and his guilty-pleasure for a while. Having still many more hours till Vellya was due to rise, and not wanting to follow the moon elf into Rivermoot, Vaya contented himself by spending the morning watching a butterfly conquer its cocoon.
_____________________________________________________________
Thanks for Reading.
J
When did I grow up?
They had been drinking. Three elves sat in the thick flowers amongst the standing stones. Vaya, Hyacinthe, and Shaebanaria had gathered here to offer songs and tears to their fallen kinsman, Tathar of Evermeet.
As the wine and grief overtook Hyacinthe, Vaya could see her about to burst into tears. He really wished his brother were here to comfort her, but it seemed that uncomfortable duty was to be his.
He was considering something that always made him hesitate.
I should sit closer to her, probably contact her. I guess its what she needs.
Still he hesitated, drinking more wine and letting her talk. Physical contact with others scared him. Vaya was always sure there was some secret or lie hidden in him that would reveal itself to whomever he touched. Still, he wanted to help this elf that he had only recently begun to call "sister".
When did I grow up?
*******************************************************
There was an army of orcs between them and Rivermoot. The commander at High Hold had actually asked THEM to be the frontrunners and warn the town. This means getting around, and then ahead of, the orc army.
Before today Vaya had never really considered dying so long before taking the risk... but now he looked down a burning road and knew he would go into the battle. He was without his usual companions, his lover or one of his brothers. As fate would have it, he was with Hyacinthe... an elf he was reluctantly beginning to accept.
One of the many new feelings Vaya was learning to deal with lately was regret. He had doubted her sincerity with him before, but had seen her open up to his brother recently. He now knew regret because he had harbored resentment against her and now he was likely to die with her.
Vaya had never uttered clumsy words before, but his attempt at an apology were fumbled at best. The wild elf seemed to understand both his words and the sentiments. With the few words they had time for, she attempted to put his shame to rest. A warband was forming to make its way down the road, the time for talking was over.
*******************************************************
Hyacinthe choked up, trying to finish her sentence. They were still drinking, each swallow of wine was a toast to their fallen friend. It was one of these toasts to the fallen moon elf that had stolen the words from her.
It seemed she had been trying hard not to cry, but now her lip quivered and wetness conquered her eyelashes as she tried to speak words of remembrance for Tathar.
Vaya was moving, settling closer to the wild elf girl. He put an arm around her, and gave her a squeeze.
Crying girls are so... very pretty.
Vaya had been doing his best to maintain detachment, but as he touched her she cried more, harder. When he felt her body convulse with sadness it became real to him. He had been right, he touched someone and a lie was made into truth. Vayas own sadness threatened to overwhelm him. It was only the girls near-hysterical and sudden urge to get up and charge off into battle that kept him focused.
With some effort the other two, slightly less drunk, elves managed to calm her and return her to the grass. The effort was not so much in getting her to fall, but to do so without hurting her.
Hyacinthe curled on her side and cried. Vaya found himself holding her hand, and drying her tears. He had made dozens of girls cry, and had loved looking at them all. While he found these tears as striking as the others, he realised he didnt like seeing his brothers love crying so.
He couldnt help but think about Vellya in this same situation, crying over his own passing. Vellyas tears would have to be beautiful indeed.
No... she wouldnt cry, not like this.
*******************************************************
Rivermoot. Fire and smoke. In and out of the hills the defenders went, poking at lurking orcs or rushing to put out the bonfire swallowing the plantation house.
The night was a swirling mass of battles. Vaya was as usual, calm and serene... his only worry that Vellya might somehow find her way to the battle. She would want to be here, and in fact consider it her duty.
Vaya could have gone into the room she was sleeping in, roused her from high hold before he left for Rivermoot.... but he didnt. He left her behind, in safety. He was sure she would have been outraged if she had known... but this was something he couldnt tell her.
Unlike my elven friends... I will not see you in the afterlife, my love. So you must live. It is a greedy, selfish, thing I do to keep you away from your glory... but every day spent fighting for your roundear godess is a day that I might lose you, forever.
During the battle, He had watched his brother Ama'asha grow paranoid and protective over Hyacinthe. Vaya understood and was glad once more that he had left Vellya safely asleep.
*******************************************************
It was morning now. As the last grey hours lingered they were joined by Thoron. The sad songs had been sung, the wine bottles had been emptied and Sehaine had passed... taking Tathars soul with her.
Hyacinthe and the others had a breakfast in near silence. The group broke up to give the wild elf girl time to be alone and compose herself as she asked.
Vaya had never really helped anyone for no reason before. He decided it felt good, but he couldnt get over the guilt of being fascinated at her sadness. Where everyone else was rested and relaxed, if a bit hung over, Vaya had not rested... and was feeling both physically and emotionally drained. He paused to consider these feelings, wallowing in their painful complexity.
Beauty really does come from suffering.
He picked up the empty wine bottles and packed them away... thinking a moment on what a huge drunkard his friend Tathar had been. His smile opened a bit more as he hefted is satchel.
Blessings, Tathar of Evermeet.
______________________________________________________
J
They had been drinking. Three elves sat in the thick flowers amongst the standing stones. Vaya, Hyacinthe, and Shaebanaria had gathered here to offer songs and tears to their fallen kinsman, Tathar of Evermeet.
As the wine and grief overtook Hyacinthe, Vaya could see her about to burst into tears. He really wished his brother were here to comfort her, but it seemed that uncomfortable duty was to be his.
He was considering something that always made him hesitate.
I should sit closer to her, probably contact her. I guess its what she needs.
Still he hesitated, drinking more wine and letting her talk. Physical contact with others scared him. Vaya was always sure there was some secret or lie hidden in him that would reveal itself to whomever he touched. Still, he wanted to help this elf that he had only recently begun to call "sister".
When did I grow up?
*******************************************************
There was an army of orcs between them and Rivermoot. The commander at High Hold had actually asked THEM to be the frontrunners and warn the town. This means getting around, and then ahead of, the orc army.
Before today Vaya had never really considered dying so long before taking the risk... but now he looked down a burning road and knew he would go into the battle. He was without his usual companions, his lover or one of his brothers. As fate would have it, he was with Hyacinthe... an elf he was reluctantly beginning to accept.
One of the many new feelings Vaya was learning to deal with lately was regret. He had doubted her sincerity with him before, but had seen her open up to his brother recently. He now knew regret because he had harbored resentment against her and now he was likely to die with her.
Vaya had never uttered clumsy words before, but his attempt at an apology were fumbled at best. The wild elf seemed to understand both his words and the sentiments. With the few words they had time for, she attempted to put his shame to rest. A warband was forming to make its way down the road, the time for talking was over.
*******************************************************
Hyacinthe choked up, trying to finish her sentence. They were still drinking, each swallow of wine was a toast to their fallen friend. It was one of these toasts to the fallen moon elf that had stolen the words from her.
It seemed she had been trying hard not to cry, but now her lip quivered and wetness conquered her eyelashes as she tried to speak words of remembrance for Tathar.
Vaya was moving, settling closer to the wild elf girl. He put an arm around her, and gave her a squeeze.
Crying girls are so... very pretty.
Vaya had been doing his best to maintain detachment, but as he touched her she cried more, harder. When he felt her body convulse with sadness it became real to him. He had been right, he touched someone and a lie was made into truth. Vayas own sadness threatened to overwhelm him. It was only the girls near-hysterical and sudden urge to get up and charge off into battle that kept him focused.
With some effort the other two, slightly less drunk, elves managed to calm her and return her to the grass. The effort was not so much in getting her to fall, but to do so without hurting her.
Hyacinthe curled on her side and cried. Vaya found himself holding her hand, and drying her tears. He had made dozens of girls cry, and had loved looking at them all. While he found these tears as striking as the others, he realised he didnt like seeing his brothers love crying so.
He couldnt help but think about Vellya in this same situation, crying over his own passing. Vellyas tears would have to be beautiful indeed.
No... she wouldnt cry, not like this.
*******************************************************
Rivermoot. Fire and smoke. In and out of the hills the defenders went, poking at lurking orcs or rushing to put out the bonfire swallowing the plantation house.
The night was a swirling mass of battles. Vaya was as usual, calm and serene... his only worry that Vellya might somehow find her way to the battle. She would want to be here, and in fact consider it her duty.
Vaya could have gone into the room she was sleeping in, roused her from high hold before he left for Rivermoot.... but he didnt. He left her behind, in safety. He was sure she would have been outraged if she had known... but this was something he couldnt tell her.
Unlike my elven friends... I will not see you in the afterlife, my love. So you must live. It is a greedy, selfish, thing I do to keep you away from your glory... but every day spent fighting for your roundear godess is a day that I might lose you, forever.
During the battle, He had watched his brother Ama'asha grow paranoid and protective over Hyacinthe. Vaya understood and was glad once more that he had left Vellya safely asleep.
*******************************************************
It was morning now. As the last grey hours lingered they were joined by Thoron. The sad songs had been sung, the wine bottles had been emptied and Sehaine had passed... taking Tathars soul with her.
Hyacinthe and the others had a breakfast in near silence. The group broke up to give the wild elf girl time to be alone and compose herself as she asked.
Vaya had never really helped anyone for no reason before. He decided it felt good, but he couldnt get over the guilt of being fascinated at her sadness. Where everyone else was rested and relaxed, if a bit hung over, Vaya had not rested... and was feeling both physically and emotionally drained. He paused to consider these feelings, wallowing in their painful complexity.
Beauty really does come from suffering.
He picked up the empty wine bottles and packed them away... thinking a moment on what a huge drunkard his friend Tathar had been. His smile opened a bit more as he hefted is satchel.
Blessings, Tathar of Evermeet.
______________________________________________________
J