Author's notes: I want to thank my betas (thank you, Brandi and Claire!)
for their wonderful work and help with this.
Disclaimer: The characters are mine - aside from the mentioning of names known in the Forgotten Realms - the story is mine but everything else belongs to other people, namely WotC and such. They could try to sue me for using this world of theirs but they wouldn't get much out of it - I am but a student and as that chronically broke anyway. ;)
Now on with the story, I hope you'll enjoy it.
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Chapter 1 - Beginnings
Aquiel Delmian sat in her room in her parent's house, surrounded by books. The gold elf looked out of her window, pinned a strand of her over hip long, fiery copper coloured hair behind her ear and sighed. The sun was shining and she could hear the usual bustle of the streets of Leuthilspar.
Her father had insisted that she stayed at home to study. "Your skills at the art of magic could be far greater at your age, Aquiel", Meranio Delmian had said. "You should spend more of your time studying than conversing with travellers in the taverns!"
Aquiel sighed again. What her father couldn't understand was that Aquiel had not inherited her parents love for this so-called art. She could not muster the needed discipline and patience. Damn it, she could hardly sit still at this moment when there might be so many fascinating tales to hear about the world outside of Evermeet. Another sigh escaped her lips. In all of her 48 years she had never been outside of Evermeet - the ever-boring Evermeet - and had never seen any races other than elves but heard so much of them. A lot of that she had learned from her own mother, who had lived part of her life in the world that existed around this island.
Aquiel looked at the books again. *To the nine hells with this!* she thought, her green eyes sparkling with defiance, and stood up. She locked her door - just in case anyone might try to check on her - and then opened her window. She looked to the street; it was quite a climb down. But it wasn't the first time she had taken this route out of her room. She stepped out onto the windowsill and carefully moved to the left where the rough wall of the house was climbable due to ranks that had grown up the wall. She made her way down without any problems. A few of the people walking by gave her curious looks but Aquiel just smiled at them and made her way through the crowd.
It was noon and the streets were busy as always around this time. Commoners were running errands, buying groceries, flowers and wine and carrying them back to their lord's homes. Nobles were going for a walk, the ladies often stopping at one shop window or another, looking for something special for the upcoming midsummer solstice festival. Young lovers were walking the streets arm in arm not really seeing anything but each other. To Aquiel this was the most beautiful time of the year in Leuthilspar. Flowers were in bloom everywhere, the trees were bright and tall, birds were singing and every house seemed to be glowing in the sun.
Soon Aquiel arrived at her destination, the one place she always headed to first when she went out, a small temple of Hanali Celanil. This was her favorite place; to her the most beautiful spot in the city. Even more so than the palace with it's simple elegance and beauty. She entered the garden, the bellflowers playing their melodious song as she walked by and walked to a fountain with a radiant golden statue depicting Lady Goldheart. Smiling, Aquiel bowed to the statue and sat on a bench by the fountain. How beautiful it was here and how peaceful it always seemed. And how free she felt whenever she came to visit this shrine!
A hand was placed on her shoulder and Aquiel did not need to turn around to know who it was. "Have you fled your home again, Aquiel?" said the warm and amused voice of Lerian. "You know, your father will not be pleased when he finds out that you have vanished yet another time." Aquiel laughed and threw the man a mischievous, twinkling look. "If he finds out."
"You know that I cannot approve of your way to leave your family's house." Lerian answered in a suddenly stern voice as he sat down beside her. She was still grinning at him, seemingly unworried. Lerian knew that she indeed was unworried. As he looked into her young, sparkling and still somewhat naive eyes, he couldn't hold his serious facade. A smile broke out over his smooth face and blue eyes lighted up. "However, I always do enjoy your visits, my dear." He chuckled and drew her into a hug.
Lerian, a blond sun elf himself, had been Aquiel's friend for most of her life. Ever since she had been a little girl and had gotten lost in the busy city that was Leuthilspar, out alone on her very first 'adventure' - of course without her family's knowledge. After hours of walking around in the city, trying to find the way back to her home, she had come to this little temple of Hanali Celanil. She had sat down upon this very bench, looked upon the statue and right then she had known everything would be alright and that she needn't worry. She had lain down and, being completely exhausted, had fallen asleep right away. The first thing she noticed when she woke was that she was lying in a soft and warm bed instead of the bench in the garden. She had opened her eyes and had looked into the friendly and slightly amused face of a priest - Lerian. He had found the girl in the garden and carried her inside into his own chambers, waiting for her to wake up. He had given her something to eat and they had talked for a while before Lerian had accompanied her back home. Her mother had been very glad to find her daughter returned, her father however had been furious but Lerian had done his very best to calm him down. She had been just a child after all and children were known to do such things from time to time. Aquiel smiled at this memory. She had known then, instinctively, that she could always rely on Lerian when she got herself into trouble. He was always there for her and she was glad to have a friend like him.
"A hundred years have past and you haven't changed one bit, Lerian!" came a voice from behind, startling the two. They turned around and Aquiel saw a beautiful moon Elven woman, with black shoulder length hair, who grinned widely at the priest as she moved toward him. Lerian stood and rushed to her
"El'uriel!" he cried out as he took her into his arms and swirled her around. The woman held on to him and giggled all the while. "So, you finally made it to our peaceful island." Lerian said as he set El'uriel down again. She cocked her head and grinned at him mischievously. "Well, let's see how long this island will stay peaceful." She answered, her blue eyes sparkling. Her gaze turned to Aquiel. She moved a step back from Lerian, placing her hands on her hips. "Where are your manners, Lerian? Won't you introduce me to your friend?"
Lerian shook his head and chuckled. "Of course I will." He held his hand out to Aquiel and bade her to come to him, which she did. "El'uriel, this is Aquiel Delmian. Aquiel, this is my old friend El'uriel who manages to be even more of a troublemaker than you." He said with a smirk.
"Oh, thank you for the compliment!" El'uriel laughed, obviously unhurt by the comment. She bowed her head to Aquiel in a greeting. "Well met, Aquiel Delmian. It is always a pleasure to meet a kindred soul."
Aquiel bowed her head in return. "Well met, El'uriel. For me it is always a pleasure to meet an old friend of Lerian. Although, I have to admit that you are the first and Lerian has never spoken of you. In fact, he has never spoken about his past to me." She threw a glance at Lerian who just smiled his usual warm smile. She had often asked him to tell her tales of his former life before he came to Evermeet. The only thing she had managed to find out about his past, that he had come to the island a century ago.
El'uriel raised her eyebrows but still grinned - her face never seemed short of some sort of smile - and turned to glance at Lerian. "No? Well then, I guess I will have to do that - while you two show me this city of yours and especially a good inn."
"I fear I will have to decline, my dear friend." The priest interjected. "I have duties that I need to fulfill here at the temple. But I would gladly share a meal with you this night, if you would like."
"Would like?!" El'uriel's eyes widened in disbelieve. "I haven't seen you in a century - of course I 'would like' to eat with you, you fool!" She hugged him again and then Lerian bowed his head to the two women and left them alone. El'uriel and Aquiel looked at each other for a moment. Aquiel truly liked this woman. She was so unlike most of the other elves that lived here, not at all settled and boring but bursting with energy and - and something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
El'uriel linked her arm with Aquiel's. "Well then, show me around, Aquiel."
Disclaimer: The characters are mine - aside from the mentioning of names known in the Forgotten Realms - the story is mine but everything else belongs to other people, namely WotC and such. They could try to sue me for using this world of theirs but they wouldn't get much out of it - I am but a student and as that chronically broke anyway. ;)
Now on with the story, I hope you'll enjoy it.
---------------------------------------------
Chapter 1 - Beginnings
Aquiel Delmian sat in her room in her parent's house, surrounded by books. The gold elf looked out of her window, pinned a strand of her over hip long, fiery copper coloured hair behind her ear and sighed. The sun was shining and she could hear the usual bustle of the streets of Leuthilspar.
Her father had insisted that she stayed at home to study. "Your skills at the art of magic could be far greater at your age, Aquiel", Meranio Delmian had said. "You should spend more of your time studying than conversing with travellers in the taverns!"
Aquiel sighed again. What her father couldn't understand was that Aquiel had not inherited her parents love for this so-called art. She could not muster the needed discipline and patience. Damn it, she could hardly sit still at this moment when there might be so many fascinating tales to hear about the world outside of Evermeet. Another sigh escaped her lips. In all of her 48 years she had never been outside of Evermeet - the ever-boring Evermeet - and had never seen any races other than elves but heard so much of them. A lot of that she had learned from her own mother, who had lived part of her life in the world that existed around this island.
Aquiel looked at the books again. *To the nine hells with this!* she thought, her green eyes sparkling with defiance, and stood up. She locked her door - just in case anyone might try to check on her - and then opened her window. She looked to the street; it was quite a climb down. But it wasn't the first time she had taken this route out of her room. She stepped out onto the windowsill and carefully moved to the left where the rough wall of the house was climbable due to ranks that had grown up the wall. She made her way down without any problems. A few of the people walking by gave her curious looks but Aquiel just smiled at them and made her way through the crowd.
It was noon and the streets were busy as always around this time. Commoners were running errands, buying groceries, flowers and wine and carrying them back to their lord's homes. Nobles were going for a walk, the ladies often stopping at one shop window or another, looking for something special for the upcoming midsummer solstice festival. Young lovers were walking the streets arm in arm not really seeing anything but each other. To Aquiel this was the most beautiful time of the year in Leuthilspar. Flowers were in bloom everywhere, the trees were bright and tall, birds were singing and every house seemed to be glowing in the sun.
Soon Aquiel arrived at her destination, the one place she always headed to first when she went out, a small temple of Hanali Celanil. This was her favorite place; to her the most beautiful spot in the city. Even more so than the palace with it's simple elegance and beauty. She entered the garden, the bellflowers playing their melodious song as she walked by and walked to a fountain with a radiant golden statue depicting Lady Goldheart. Smiling, Aquiel bowed to the statue and sat on a bench by the fountain. How beautiful it was here and how peaceful it always seemed. And how free she felt whenever she came to visit this shrine!
A hand was placed on her shoulder and Aquiel did not need to turn around to know who it was. "Have you fled your home again, Aquiel?" said the warm and amused voice of Lerian. "You know, your father will not be pleased when he finds out that you have vanished yet another time." Aquiel laughed and threw the man a mischievous, twinkling look. "If he finds out."
"You know that I cannot approve of your way to leave your family's house." Lerian answered in a suddenly stern voice as he sat down beside her. She was still grinning at him, seemingly unworried. Lerian knew that she indeed was unworried. As he looked into her young, sparkling and still somewhat naive eyes, he couldn't hold his serious facade. A smile broke out over his smooth face and blue eyes lighted up. "However, I always do enjoy your visits, my dear." He chuckled and drew her into a hug.
Lerian, a blond sun elf himself, had been Aquiel's friend for most of her life. Ever since she had been a little girl and had gotten lost in the busy city that was Leuthilspar, out alone on her very first 'adventure' - of course without her family's knowledge. After hours of walking around in the city, trying to find the way back to her home, she had come to this little temple of Hanali Celanil. She had sat down upon this very bench, looked upon the statue and right then she had known everything would be alright and that she needn't worry. She had lain down and, being completely exhausted, had fallen asleep right away. The first thing she noticed when she woke was that she was lying in a soft and warm bed instead of the bench in the garden. She had opened her eyes and had looked into the friendly and slightly amused face of a priest - Lerian. He had found the girl in the garden and carried her inside into his own chambers, waiting for her to wake up. He had given her something to eat and they had talked for a while before Lerian had accompanied her back home. Her mother had been very glad to find her daughter returned, her father however had been furious but Lerian had done his very best to calm him down. She had been just a child after all and children were known to do such things from time to time. Aquiel smiled at this memory. She had known then, instinctively, that she could always rely on Lerian when she got herself into trouble. He was always there for her and she was glad to have a friend like him.
"A hundred years have past and you haven't changed one bit, Lerian!" came a voice from behind, startling the two. They turned around and Aquiel saw a beautiful moon Elven woman, with black shoulder length hair, who grinned widely at the priest as she moved toward him. Lerian stood and rushed to her
"El'uriel!" he cried out as he took her into his arms and swirled her around. The woman held on to him and giggled all the while. "So, you finally made it to our peaceful island." Lerian said as he set El'uriel down again. She cocked her head and grinned at him mischievously. "Well, let's see how long this island will stay peaceful." She answered, her blue eyes sparkling. Her gaze turned to Aquiel. She moved a step back from Lerian, placing her hands on her hips. "Where are your manners, Lerian? Won't you introduce me to your friend?"
Lerian shook his head and chuckled. "Of course I will." He held his hand out to Aquiel and bade her to come to him, which she did. "El'uriel, this is Aquiel Delmian. Aquiel, this is my old friend El'uriel who manages to be even more of a troublemaker than you." He said with a smirk.
"Oh, thank you for the compliment!" El'uriel laughed, obviously unhurt by the comment. She bowed her head to Aquiel in a greeting. "Well met, Aquiel Delmian. It is always a pleasure to meet a kindred soul."
Aquiel bowed her head in return. "Well met, El'uriel. For me it is always a pleasure to meet an old friend of Lerian. Although, I have to admit that you are the first and Lerian has never spoken of you. In fact, he has never spoken about his past to me." She threw a glance at Lerian who just smiled his usual warm smile. She had often asked him to tell her tales of his former life before he came to Evermeet. The only thing she had managed to find out about his past, that he had come to the island a century ago.
El'uriel raised her eyebrows but still grinned - her face never seemed short of some sort of smile - and turned to glance at Lerian. "No? Well then, I guess I will have to do that - while you two show me this city of yours and especially a good inn."
"I fear I will have to decline, my dear friend." The priest interjected. "I have duties that I need to fulfill here at the temple. But I would gladly share a meal with you this night, if you would like."
"Would like?!" El'uriel's eyes widened in disbelieve. "I haven't seen you in a century - of course I 'would like' to eat with you, you fool!" She hugged him again and then Lerian bowed his head to the two women and left them alone. El'uriel and Aquiel looked at each other for a moment. Aquiel truly liked this woman. She was so unlike most of the other elves that lived here, not at all settled and boring but bursting with energy and - and something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
El'uriel linked her arm with Aquiel's. "Well then, show me around, Aquiel."