Arynna was never a spiteful girl. Never hateful. Raised in the ways of the Light; she had been a Paladin schooled in the ways of Protection. She grew up in Fairbreeze Village, and counted herself blessed to do so. She had been pondering what to do with herself since her training was near its end; and was running out of options. Guard a caravan, yes, fight the Horde; of course…She had seen her fair share of battlegrounds. She could hire herself out for any number of odd jobs, work in her parent's shop, make some money on her armor crafting…Any number of things; but none of them were actually interesting.
Then, one day she found herself walking by the church one Sunday morning…the doors were open to the summer air, and she heard a voice ring out clear as a bell in a hymn…A voice she knew damned well; that had haunted her dreams since she had been old enough to realize her tastes ran to her own sex. Kethryvaris. The Priestess. 'The only girl I'll ever love' Arynna thought with a sigh.
Arynna edged her way into the room and looked at the dias where Kethry stood; looking breathtaking. Arynna smiled as she caught Kethry's eye; and was rewarded with a blush and a nervous smile from the Priestess. The blush surprised Arynna; and her heart leapt with something like hope.
"Who will champion this lady?" the Priest thundered out; as the crowd grew quiet. Arynna did not notice; but her path had taken her mere steps from Kethry; and she heard herself calling out, "I will; sir Priest!" with all the conviction in her. Guard the lovely Kethry AND see the world? What better calling could there be for her? A guardsman's daughter; raised from nothing; now a noble paladin? Her life was the best it had ever been.
"The lady Arynna Solaris Elixa wishes to champion miss Freylenne! Do I hear any objections?" Arynna silently prayed no-one would; and stared into the blue eyes of Kethry before dropping her own emerald ones self-consciously.
"No-one? So mote it be! From this day forth; lady Kethryvaris Aridanna Freylenne is this chapel's chaplain-designate! And her champion; the paladin Arynna Solaris Elixa!"
Arynna bowed low to Kethry; as was only proper now that she was her Champion; and her hair fell into her eyes. She reached up to pull it behind her ear; and forgot to breathe as she felt Kethry's soft hand brushing her wayward tresses behind her ear for her. Her face flamed with a blush and she muttered something under her breath. Kethry only smiled sweetly; and Arynna thought she could die right then and be happy.
Yes; indeed-how far the girl that had grown up a mere peasant until fourteen-had come.
She would never forget this day. Not for as long as she lived.