Hmmm... No one, and no one AT ALL has ever done this beautiful, mysterious, sad pairing. While I don't credit myself to be some great writer (having written only 3 stories, out of which only one is Pellinor!), I do hope that I can at least speculate within the limits of minor to moderate OOC errors and story timelines to throw Light (pun intended) on this pairing. Many people dislike Nerili. Many like Cadvan. Whilst Nerili is not my favourite character as such, she intrigues me a lot. I... actually quite enjoyed role-playing her before I decided to begin this fic. And of course, what's not to like about Cadvan, eh, fan girls?
So, do enjoy please. And yes. REVIEW! And here's a disclaimer: Because I've put up the disclaimer I needn't write in my disclaimer that this is a disclaimer. Ok. Read on ;)
"Have you understood the Lore of Manianae, Nerili?" Intatha asked her.
"Yes, Intatha." Nerili replied. "Is this all for today?"
"Yes, Nerili. I want you to go and translate the first ten clauses into Annaren and Thoroldian, please, and explain in two pages briefly about the same. And don't look so aggrieved, please; I have to make sure that my lessons don't pass over your pretty little head." Intatha added, after observing Nerili's mortified look.
"Yes, Intatha. Have a good day!" Nerili chirped as she gathered her things and left the hall where she was studying.
"You too have a good day, Nerili!" Intatha wished back.
Nerili went back to her room in the Bardhouse of Busk to freshen up, before joining her friends at the Copper Mermaid. Gliding through the confusing corridors, she finally arrived at her room. When she opened the door, she found herself facing an ornate mirror, with a heavy frame which was crafted as to show arms of Light interlocked together. It was done up in silver, and at the top of the mirror, two hands surported a flame, whose three tips were marked by three sapphires.
Nerili had insisted on such an exquisite mirror; she had wanted the mirror to be as beautiful, as the person - her - it reflected. It wouldn't be completely correct to call her vain, for she was too smart to be that. Rather, she was more what one could've called self-centered. Nerili had been born into an influential house. Her parents were Nelnyra of Thorold, a Bard reknowned for her political wisdom and intense knowledge of much in the great Library of Busk, and Rilinak of Thorold, a famous Thoroldian explorer, diplomat and linguist. She was also related to the then First Bard - he was the father of her mother's another child. Naturally, great things were expected from her.
She was brought up as much by her peers and her teachers, as her parents themselves. Her lifestyle wasn't constricted, so to say, but it was well disciplined from all the qualities imbibed into what her family called "an ideal daughter". When she was a minor Bard, her time would be full from taking care that she carried herself as was expected from her, doing her best in her lessons, and making sure that she did enjoy herself with her friends. Now, four years after having been made a full Bard at eighteen years of age, more complex studies of High Magery, Tending and Making, deeper mysteries of the different Lores of Edil-Amarandh and Bardic ethics and duties to her School kept her busier.
Nevertheless, she did find some time today, and was glad for it. After deeming herself ready, she made her way to the pub. The weather outside was the typical Thoroldian weather: a glorious, shining sun, warming everything generously, whilst wind blew freely from the sea, seering through the heat, to cool down the heat and the volatile tempers of the lively Thoroldians.
"Would you like some juice, madam?" a vendor came up to her, smiling.
"No, thank you, sir." She smiled, squinting from the glare of the sun.
At last, she arrived. She found the pub to be noisier than it normaly was. She entered hesitantly, as she saw a huge furore.
"If such is the state of our future," a man cried, "The future which calls itself 'Bards of the Light', then I say," he declamed dramatically, "That I do not want to be called a Bard of Light!"
His statement was greeted with a loud, supportive cheer.
"What's happening here? Kabeka?" Nerili rushed to her good friend. Kabeka, who was near to the entrance, spun around, a look of excitement in her eyes.
"Are you well versed in the names of famous Bards in Annar and north?" Kabeka asked.
"Why, yes. Hey, Sajon!" Nerili called out to a young boy who served drinks in the pub, "Get us two moonshimmers, would you?"
The boy nodded and scuttled off.
"So, what were you saying?" Nerili asked as she flipped her hair, and flinched at the noise the Bards created, "Ah, yes, about Bards, right?"
"Well," Kabeka sighed, "I'm sure then you must have heard about Cadvan of Lirigon?"
"Ah, yes, of course." Nerili replied and paid Sajon as he arrived with the drinks. "What about him?"
"Well," Kabeka inched closer to her. "News has come from Annar that Cadvan has fallen to the Dark!"
"Impossible!" Nerili gasped. "I refuse to believe it!"
"Oh, that doesn't change the truth, does it, Neri?" Nerili turned around to see a man leaning across the small table where she was sitting.
"Elenxi." Nerili nodded in greeting. Elenxi nodded back. "So I see you believe this news."
"Well, news which reaches us Thoroldians is twisted and spiced up, definitely!" Elenxi said grimly. "But alas! It's all the more easier to believe this news because of the circumstances which unleashed Cadvan's true colours: it so happened, that to show his so-called rival, Dernhil of Gent, that he was better than him, he summoned a Revenant, challenging Dernhil to do the same. The Revenant got out of control..." Elenxi paused. "And I think you're smart enough to complete the tale."
"No!" Nerili rose. "It can't be, Elenxi! Cadvan of Lirigon falls to the Dark and manages to kill Dernhil of Gent? But surely -"
Nerili was interrupted by Elenxi's hollow laugh. "Oh no, no! Dernhil lives, but is profusely injured... By the Light, it would have been all the more grievous had a great Bard such as Dernhil would've died... Which goes on to say that one thing is certain: Cadvan and Dernhil were arch-rivals. But alas! Someone else did die."
"Who?" Nerili asked, sitting down again.
"Ceredin of Lirigon. Some believe her to be Cadvan's lover."
Nerili looked sick by then. She wiped her face with her lace hankerchief. "By the Light... Ceredin dead? That poor darling never harmed anyone in her life! I didn't know her very well, but I talked to her once or twice at a Meet, and I could tell just by looking at her that she symbolised everything for which any Bard of Light stood for!"
"Aye... it goes only worse, though." Kabeka added. "They say that he'd been in touch with a Hull too!"
"What - what verdict has been passed?"
"He is banned from all Schools." Kabeka replied grimly.
Nerili sat silent for a while, assimilating everything. Finally, she shrugged her head. "I suppose it is fair, considering the crimes which he has committed."
"Well," Kabeka suddenly smiled. "The best we can hope for is for the Light to shine on his path and to drive away the clouds of ignorance which made him commit such a crime."
"Hear, hear!" Nerili raised her glass and toasted Kabeka. "Let's finish our drinks and move around the shops, shall we? Elenxi, would you like to join us?"
"Thank you, my fair charm of Busk," Elenxi joked, "But, no. May the Light shine on your path!"
"And on yours!" The two young ladies said.
Whilst walking around the market, Nerili came across a beautiful blue and grey scarf. It was of a very thin material, probably satin, with a dark band as borders, and a linining of golden threads, which formed a frame around an azure sketch of Busk, and the School, done up in threads of gold, silver, blue, white and mostly grey. Along the border, written in a cursive hand writing in grey threads, was "Busk" in Thoroldian.
"How does it look on me?" Nerili asked, grinning.
"It matches your eyes perfectly!" Kabeka gushed. "Buy it, Neri, buy it! Oh, for my sake, just buy it! You wear this to the next Meet on Springturn and teach that Helgar a lesson!"
"I don't need a scarf to show that mean woman that I'm better than her." Nerili replied stiffly.
"Don't be so touchy, Nerili. I was just saying that this looks good on you!"
"Oh, I was going to buy it, no matter what!" Nerili grinned again, and paid the merchant and got the scarf the wrapped in a typical Thoroldian blue silk cloth.
As they were walking by and talking, enjoying the pleasing warmth of the typical Thoroldian sun, Nerili looked gravely at Kabeka.
"Beka... do you really think a Bard could fall so low?"
"Well, that is the reason for the existence of Hulls, isn't it?" Kabeka shrugged. "But why are you getting so upset, Neri? Yes, it's a grievous thing to fall from the Light, but surely you needn't be that upset, eh?"
Nerili shook her head. "Oh, I don't know, Kabeka. I just can't think of such a powerful and promising and well taught Bard of Light going corrupt. It just unnerves me. I find it hard to see someone in such a dark light, however serious his crime might be. Perhaps it's because I'm naive; because I've barely seen the world?"
"Maybe, Nerili, maybe." Kabeka replied, equally solemn. "Come, let us have a quick lunch and return back to the School, or Janusa will surely kill us!"
The girls laughed at the improbability of the idea, considering that the said Bard was too pious to even think about killing someone, and trotted merily to find a shady place to enjoy their lunch.
Sooo... How was it? Was it too OOC? Too short? Too... bad? Please, review, anyhow! Criticize me, praise me, be neutral, hell... flame me! But do review. I won't get offended, I swear. I wouldn't even bite. Or strike you down with a Dark flame... Or change you into a Hull... okay, I'm gonna stop now!