DECLAIMER: NWN does not belong to me, Valen does not either (shame actually). I only adore him and the person who designed his character (appearance as well as personality) and couldn't refrain from burrowing bits of the conversations to serve my own fantasies ^^
Two Worlds
Chapter One – The Arrival
She woke with a sever headache and her body covered in sweat, when somebody knocked at her door and asked: „My Lady, can I bring you something?" She slightly moved her body and felt the fabric of her shirt glueing on her body. Automatically one hand went to her neck and with a relieving sigh she felt the familiar form of her mother's necklace there.
"I need a bath", she muttered and couldn't add anything before the voice already humbly replied: "Of course, my Lady, in an instant." She then heard footsteps behind the door, which stopped shortly afterwards and mumbling voices reached her tired head. She couldn't make anything out of the conversation, only just as one of the voices became louder and replied angrily: "She's having a bath and dressing up? Before seeing the Seer?" followed by an indignant snort. The voice kind of waked her from her doze and made her curious about her whereabouts. With eyes half shut, vaguely realizing that she didn't know where she was, she stumbled to the door and opened it a little to gaze outside.
About three steps ahead stood two men, still arguing. She couldn't see much because the one closer to her had his back turned in her direction and covered the other one with his broad shoulders. However, what she saw made her twinkle twice or trice and gape with a most sheepish look on her face. The man she could see was big and broad with red hair and clad like a warrior. So far, so good. A little more exceptional were the two brown horns covering his head and a thin sinewy tail on his back, lashing quickly from one side to another. The sight of this amazed her so much that she didn't even notice that the two men had stopped their conversation, obviously having recognized her presence. And it was only when both turned towards her and the clear blue gaze of the horned man met with her own that she realized. She closed her mouth instantly and her eyes widened in irritation at the sight of this cold, stern look amid a face of pale skin with a touch of greenish-blue.
"Wha-what is going on here?" She stammered.
The look in the clear blue eyes got even more piercing, though this was almost not possible, when the man answered smirking: "If you would be so kind to come down to the temple, after your luxurious toilette, my Lady, you could be informed about it." With these words he turned and was about to walk away.
She pressed her teeth together and frowned. She could feel the heat of rage coming op her head, when she shouted back with an imperious tone in her voice that surprised herself: "WAIT!" It seemed to work, because the horned man froze, turned and looked at her with one eyebrow lifted, saying nothing. This stoicism drove her mad and so she continued to shout in his direction: "Maybe someone could tell me, where I am and who you are and…", she turned to the still totally perplexed other man - realizing on the edge of her conscience that he had black-blue skin colour and white long hair - and continued, "or he? And why the hell am I here!!!??"
During her statement she had felt an observing gaze of deep blue eyes walking up and down her form. When she'd finished he finally replied with a teasing grin: "As I said, you can be informed about that down in the temple." His grin got broader. "But before that I'd suggest a small dress up, my Lady. You could at least need some clothing." Irritated she looked down herself and gasped. She only wore a small shirt, which was covered in sweat and underlined the form of her slender body. "Great", she hissed and looked up again. "If someone could bring me some clothes then, because I don't know where mine are!" With that she turned on her heels, stepped back into her room and slammed the door shut.
About half an hour later she went through the corridors of the building, everybody called 'the temple'. The architecture looked as alien to her as the people roaming about. "This way." The soft and girlish voice of the woman who accompanied her, interrupted her thoughts and guided her to a staircase leading down. The woman had called herself Nathyrra and had shown up shortly after her quarrel in the corridor. She had brought her water to clean and a robe to cover her body. She seemed quite nice, though she had the same strange black-blue skin, white hair and tipped ears as the one man she had met minutes ago. This gave her a dark and ominous appearance. Nathyrra was obviously sent by this mysterious Seer to help her catching up with the situation and the woman made no secret out of it. She also told her willingly that she was a Dark Elf, a so-called Drow, and that everybody of her people looked like this. She on the other hand was also very interested in the other woman's pale orange coloured skin as she hadn't seen many other races, yet. By the help of Nathyrra she already got to know that they were in a camp of Drow rebels and the only one here not being a Dark Elf beside her was the horned man, whom she called a tiefling. She only nodded while trying to absorb all information and fighting down panic-attacks about the reason she was here and not at least the circumstances she had come here.
When they both reached the centre of the temple, a quite large group of people was already waiting for them. Nathyrra finally stopped in front of a tall and beautiful Drow woman in impressing but still simple garments. Nathyrra bowed shortly and whispered: "There she is, Mother Seer", she then stepped away some paces behind her.
"Welcome in Lith My'Athar, Ariaen", the woman named the Seer smiled at her and opened her arms as to show her that this was the name of this place.
She blinked. "How did you call me?"
The Seer smiled even more deeply. "Ariaen Pathfinder, that's the name you are known by within our realms". She gaped, thoughts whirling around her mind. Should I tell her that this is not my name? Should I tell her my real name? Should I tell her that she's mistaken? But instead she only stammered: "Are …you sure?" The Seer nodded warmly. "Yes. I saw you in a vision helping us in the battle against the Valsharess." The Dark Elven woman bent slightly in her direction and looked deeply into her eyes. "And - I'm never mistaken", she whispered finally.
Ariaen's eyes widened, she nodded, shook her head and twinkled being unable to catch a clear thought. "Was it you who brought me here then?" she finally managed to say aloud.
"That's true."
Ariaen sighed deeply and looked up to the Seer again. "But I really don't know how I could help you. What you see is what I am. No more and no less."
The Seer didn't stop smiling. "Don't worry this will be enough, according to my vision. There are several things though, that have to be done, before the battle. But, of course, you won't have to do it alone. There are people to assist you, to help you."
"And these are?" Ariaen replied a little distracted by urgently trying to think of a way out of this situation, before things got out of hand. "Myself and everybody here. But especially", the Seer focused on a spot behind Ariaen, "Nathyrra and," she pointed behind herself, "I suppose you already made acquaintance with Valen Shadowbreath", she finished. Ariaen groaned and looked at the strange man again. "If you mean this horned man without manners? Yes, I did," she replied ignoring the annoyed snort that was his reply.
She suddenly got impatient and angry. She actually wanted to shout that this could not be real, that she wanted to go home, that she didn't know anything about battles and fights, when she realized the silence in the room. Her sight fell on a dozen of Drow, dressed in armour and equipped with various weapons. They all looked at her with a mix of breathtaking hope and starting desperation.
She cleared her throat and looked again towards the tall Drow woman. "Could we maybe speak in private, Lady Seer?" This was the first time the smile vanished from the face of the Seer, just to be replaced by a look of concern. "If you think that this is necessary, Ariaen." Ariaen only nodded resolutely and the Seer made a gesture to her followers. "Please, leave the room for once, so that we could speak confidently." Movement and murmur arose, but nobody refused.
Ariaen, ashamed of what she was going to say soon, had looked down at her feet while everybody was leaving. When she raised her eyes again she was surprised seeing the horned man still standing behind the Seer. She narrowed her eyes and said angrily: "I meant only the two of us!" He didn't move, while responding coldly: "I'm not going to leave the Seer unprotected."
Ariaen shook her head, he seemed not open to argue about it and she was actually too tired and confused to do it herself. Instead, she fully concentrated on the Seer, her voice almost pleading.
"Lady Seer", she sighed, "I really don't know how I should put this, but I honestly am sure that you must have picked the wrong person." She started to walk through the room nervously, while continuing: "See, I have no skill in fighting, like…him". She pointed at Valen without stopping her pace. "Or in magic like Nathyrra or you. In the world I come from, we don't have magic and we", she grimaced, "don't usually get trained in hand to hand combat. In a fight, let alone a battle there's no possibility I could be of any use." With the last words she let herself fall onto a little stool standing nearby. She looked up at the Seer again and noted that the warrior looked at her cold and repelling. She only spared him a short gaze, until her eyes went back to the Dark Elven woman. Again there was no smile on the Seer's face, but an expression of motherly care, when she spoke to Ariaen again.
"You where overwhelmed today with a lot of things. You must be weary and confused. However, I know that you are the right person and", now her gaze got soliciting, "are the only hope for our people in the coming battle."
The Seer's gaze made Ariaen shiver, such conviction spoke out of her eyes making her almost believe in this vision herself. After some long moments in which nobody said a word, Ariaen finally sighed like so many times before.
"Lady Seer, as you said, I'm tired and confused. I need to think about all this. I would like to…just rest a while and speak to you again in the evening, if…if that's okay with you?"
The Seer lay one hand on her shoulder and smiled again a little relieving. "Of course it is. Rest and if you need something just ask. Otherwise nobody will disturb you before the evening meal."
Ariaen smiled at the Drow and with a whispered "Thank you" took her leave. She had just opened the door to the staircase when she heard the low voice of the horned man again starting an argument with the Seer not meant for her ears. Ariaen didn't turn around, but before the door fell in its lock she heard the Seer say loud and clearly. "You should be for her, if you are for us, my dear Valen."
Ariaen slept long at least that's how she felt when she woke up again. But in fact, she had no sense of time in these strange surroundings. Outside her window it was always dark, a fact that didn't help cheering her up. She watched the Dark Elves passing under her window with an absent mind when a faint knock raised her attention. She turned slowly, surprised that it should already be dinner time when she said: "Come in."
Slowly the door was opened and Nathyrra's face appeared in the door grinning. The rest of her slender and elegant body followed and she closed the door behind her.
"Sorry for the disturbance", she said, but obviously didn't mean it and without asking settled herself opposite to the bed on which Ariaen sat.
"What is it, Nathyrra?", Ariaen asked the Dark Elven woman, as she realized that she didn't come to get her for dinner.
"Well", Nathyrra began slowly, biting her upper lip, "I was wondering about something you said". Ariaen looked at her without responding.
"Eh, you said that you are no magic user, but that's not true."
Ariaen looked had her in bewilderment. "What do you mean with 'That's not true'?"
Nathyrra bend forward to come closer. "You see, I have this spell to see if somebody or something is magical and I'm pretty sure that you are magical. However, I'm not sure about the kind of magic. Maybe it's holy magic like the Seer casts. It's quite faint." She shrugged, having spoken the last words more to herself than to Ariaen.
Ariaen blinked, then her eyes widened. "Wait a minute! How could you actually hear that? I was telling that when everybody had left the room!" A piercing look held Nathyrra's surprised gaze. "Well, I – I actually happened to stand…eh", she obviously looked for an appropriate lie, "close to the door". And when Ariaen looked at her in total disbelief she giggled, "alright, inside the room. I was inside the room, hiding in the shadows". An impish grin stole on her face when she continued, "I found it absolutely inappropriate that Valen should be allowed to overhear your discussion and I should not!".
Ariaen burst out laughing. "Thank you, Nathyrra", she said still laughing, "this could be a very important information – for me." Nathyrra looked at her satisfactory and smiled. Ariaen smiled back at her for the first time she was here.
When Ariaen met with the Seer at dinner time, only a few other people were present. Ariaen greeted them quietly and said down near Nathyrra. Nobody started to ask her questions and so she could eat in peace while listening to the conversations around her. Only when almost everybody was finished, she started to seek the eyes of the Seer, who quickly but eloquently rounded up the topic she was just discussing with an Elf who was introduced to her as Imloth, the commander of the troops, and then turned towards her smiling. "Did you make a decision, Ariaen?"
Ariaen nodded and suddenly felt half a dozen eyes on her and blushed.
"Nathyrra told me that she had found out that I'm magical", Ariaen shrugged, "though I don't know how this could be possible…and I also don't know how to use it. But maybe this means I'm no total—", she could just stop herself from saying 'loser'. She blushed in even deeper red and stammered "eh, user…eh useless, not totally useless, I mean." The Seer looked at her and nodded. "Yes, you bear the sparkle of holy magic inside yourself." She smiled at Nathyrra. "Well done, child." Nathyrra grinned back. "I can try to teach you a little about holy magic, but the way to your God – whoever it may be – you have to find for yourself."
The Seer sighed, "Does that mean you decided to help us, Ariaen?" Ariaen nodded again. "Maybe you could explain me some more about this battle and the things that have to be done beforehand?"
The Seer nodded and started to explain to Ariaen who the Valsharess was, whom they were to battle against. How she came into power and how the little group of rebels had tried to escape from her grip since a view months. "The Valsharess has a great number of allies you see, but we are only a few. That needs to be changed, if we want to have only the slighted chance against her." The Seer paused and quickly gazed at Ariaen. When she nodded the Elven woman continued. "We happen to know the whereabouts of three of her most dangerous allies. These are a horde of undead, a nest of eye-tyrants and the Illithids." When she realized that Ariaen gazed at her in total perplexion, she quickly explained what kind of creatures she was talking about. "Moreover we know about places in the surroundings, dangerous places as well, but where maybe we could find some allies ourselves."
"What kind of places are these?" Ariaen breathed deeply. "And what kind of allies?" The Seer turned towards Valen who was seated not far from her. "Valen, if you would…?"
The horned man nodded and told Ariaen about a mysterious city and the so-called 'Island of the Creator', which were both near by. He couldn't say much about the city, but according to him, the island of the Creator had once been inhabited by a powerful mage who had made Golems to protect his home. If he was still there or any of his Golems still existed, wasn't clear, but worth to find out.
Ariaen thought about all the information she'd got and finally said. "That all sounds quite dangerous…" Valen clicked his tongue. "Well yes, my Lady, it certainly is."
Ariaen looked at the Seer again. "Well, I still need some days for preparations. To learn something about my magic and", with a gaze at Imloth she continued "I also could need some basic training in hand to hand, I guess."
The Seer nodded. "Of course, you can come to me in the mornings and in the afternoons you will be trained by Valen, who is our best fighter. We will see when you are ready to leave." Ariaen's face froze and she blushed as her eyes wandered from Imloth to Valen Shadowbreath. Their gazes met and he seemed as surprised about the Seers' decision as Ariaen herself.
When Ariaen went to bed the same night, she expected to wake up at home the following morning. Only when she opened her eyes into the everlasting twilight of the Underworld, felt the rough linen under her hands and heard no birds singing, she started to believe that this wasn't actually a dream.
Ariaen wasn't in much of a good mood, when she left the temple after lunch to attend her first fighting lesson. She had learned a lot of things about magic with the Seer, but hadn't made any progress in actually casting it. The Seer told her to be patient, but Ariaen couldn't help to be awfully disappointed, since the magic was where she put all her hopes in.
Her mood did not get better, when Valen, handing her a far too heavy sword and after teaching her the basic attacks and parries in an instant, chased her up and down the training grounds, without making a secret of his opinion about her bad fighting skills. Totally exhausted she had to endure another flow of critical comments and advices, when she finally replied huffy: "I get the feeling that you don't like me." He stopped his tirade and looked at her thoughtfully. "That's not true." He said softly. "I barely know you, how could I then decide if I like you." She sighed angrily. "Oh, I got enough of that. You are insulting me and pointing out my weak spots since the first time we met. Why can't you just admit it?!" Valen was obviously astonished about what she was saying, but all he replied was: "Well, it's dangerous out there and without some basic skills in fighting you won't last long…"
"Aaaah", Ariaen squeaked and looked straight into his face. "How can somebody possibly be so…so", her heart bounced as she admitted it to herself, "damn handsome and at the same moment such a pain in the ass?!" She saw his baffled look and threw down her sword turning to leave, when his well-known emotionless voice sounded from behind her. "We are not finished with our lesson, yet."
With burning anger about his total lack of empathy, she turned again and spat: "Oh, go to hell!" She had whirled around the next second, but in the corner of her eyes had realized that something had happened. The sudden and total silence behind her, confirmed this awkward feeling. She sent a last gaze over her shoulder while trotting away and noticed that everybody stood frozen, staring at Valen, who himself had an infernal look on his face. His eyes were shining purple. Not even his tail moved. Ariaen gulped. Maybe she had gone too far somehow. However, since she couldn't think of anything better to do, she just quickened her pace, breathed in deeply as she reached the temple and shut the door behind her back.
A tentative knock at the door, woke her from her thoughts. She felt terrible and actually didn't want to see anybody. She was ashamed of herself, but couldn't help saying: "Come in". Moments later Nathyrra was inside her room, excitedly walking up and down between the walls and licking her lips several times, before starting to speak. "I heard what happened at the training grounds today. Ariaen growled. "Don't remind me." Nathyrra winked at her and let herself down in the chair in front of Ariaen's bed. "You were great", she giggled, "Only the 'hell-thing' – I would have loved to see his face, though", the Drow mused. "You must know that he's been there and from what little I know, he didn't like it much."
Ariaen said upright and looked puzzled at the Elven woman. "Been where?"
Nathyrra grinned. "In hell, of course."
Ariaen froze and her thoughts rushed through her mind. He was in hell? How was that possible? Did hell really exist in this world? She tried to imagine what her careless saying must have meant to him and couldn't. She flung her hands in front of her eyes. "Ah, I'm such an idiot."
Ariaen didn't go down for dinner and almost didn't want to leave for breakfast as well. However, as she finally managed to convince herself that she had to, she was surprised how everything seemed so normal. She attended her magic classes with about the same success as the day before and fearfully saw her fighting class coming closer. When she finally left the lunch table, she had made up her mind and with a decisive look upon her face headed for the training grounds. Here too, everything seemed normal, although Ariaen could clearly sense a certain tension when she approached. Valen was already there, waiting for her. Without a greeting or looking at her though, he gave her a sword and shifted into fighting position. Ariaen looked at the sword in her hand then looked at the face of her opponent. His eyes were clear blue again, but he looked at her with a somehow dull gaze that made her heart jump. She shook her head and lowered the sword. "Valen, could we speak for a moment?" She said with a soft voice. He looked at her a little startled, but finally went back to a normal standing position and answered, "Sure, My Lady, what is it you want to talk about?" Ariaen send a look over the training grounds while stepping some paces away from the other soldiers. She lowered her voice and said, "I – I'm very sorry for what I've said yesterday. I was tired and downhearted from the little progress I had made as well with my magic as with the sword. Even that I didn't know about the fact that you…eh", she actually hadn't wanted to let him know that she had heard something about his past by rumour, but obviously had failed miserably, "the fact about your past, I mean, doesn't excuse my words."
As she had finished and looked at Valen again, he stood without motion, saying nothing. She tried to read something in his eyes, but couldn't. However, when he finally focused on her again, she happily realized that the dullness was gone from his clear blue eyes and couldn't help, but smile. As he answered her with a smile himself she nearly had to fight for balance. God gracious, he really is handsome, she couldn't help thinking and blushed instantly.
On the same evening they discussed about where they should go first, when they finally would start the mission. Ariaen listened to the possibilities over and over again, until she finally decided that it would be best to start with the strange city. Although they had littlest information about this place, it was the only one they weren't sure that dangerous opponents were waiting. The Seer respected her decision, since the order wasn't of importance. She also decided that Valen and Nathyrra should accompany her on her mission. In the end they agreed on starting two days later, since time was pressing and they didn't know when the Valsharess would attack.
The next day Ariaen used her spare time between the magic and the fighting training to walk around the rebel camp for the first time alone. She had been shown the black river, the gates and some buildings already by Nathyrra, but never had taken the time to really explore the place. Besides the temple there were only two other buildings, an Inn and a house inhabited by one of the Drows high-ranking families, called Maeviir. Ariaen also noticed a black smith working on a beautiful armour and weapons – all much too heavy and expensive for her, of course. Not far away she also had a look at the goods of a merchant, selling almost everything from boots, over necklaces to holy water. Each thing had its own story and especially enchantment. She couldn't stop picking something up, showing it to the seller and asking for what it did. Every new thing impressed her even more than the one before. He had rings giving extra protection, cloaks making her look more attractive and charming, gloves to increase her self-control and much more. She finally decided to stop the funny game when she realized the merchant slowly getting sick of it. With a broad smile she was already about to turn away when she noticed something hidden under a pile of daggers and other small weapons. She ignored the annoyed look of the merchant and freed it from its trunk. It was a bow and a very fine one as well, she thought. Ariaen had done bow-shooting for several years when she was a teenager, but had never seen such a beautiful bow in her live. With a knowing hand she caressed the blue coloured wood and wondered about the strange runic carvings. She smiled when memories of her membership in the bow-shooting society passed her mind. She even had won quite a few trophies back then. Ariaen showed the bow to the merchant. "How much is that?"
"Oh, that, My Lady, is not a normal bow, as you certainly already assumed, it is called 'Forever', because it can shoot flame arrows without having to be recharged. The arrows magically appear on the string, when you span it. However", he tried to reach for the bow with an arrogant look in his face. "It can only be used by an Arcane—". Ariaen who had listened carefully to the explanations of the sorcerer, reached for the string and pulled it. The last words of the merchant went under in the crackling noise, as an arrow purely made from fire appeared on the string. "It's 271347 gold pieces, my Lady", he breathed his voice filled with respect. Ariaen's eyes widened at the sight of this magical incantation and she was overwhelmed by the longing to keep it, when the immense number entered her conscience. "How much? Twohundredthousand…", she repeated coughing. Ariaen wishfully looked at the bow. "Under no circumstances I could ask the Seer for so much money." With a last sigh she laid back the weapon to the other ones and left the merchant with only a faint greeting.
The house of the Maevir she wasn't allowed to enter, so she decided to at least have a look in the tavern, before she would attend her fighting lessons. The house seemed not very big and as she entered a strange odour filled her nose. With a grimace on her face she recognized that it must be the smell of the strange Drow food, which had found its way from the nearby kitchen to the big main hall. There were only a few people – all of them Drow - sitting at tables, drinking or having conversation with another. Only one Drow woman Ariaen found to be of greater conspiciousness. She was beautiful and richly dressed and stood in the centre of concentration of a bigger group of guests. When Ariaen approached a broad smile appeared on her face, which Ariaen without greater effort unmasked as false and cunning. "Ariaen Pathfinder, I suppose?"
Still quite startled Ariaen finally left the tavern heading for the training grounds. She was still quite absent-minded during the lesson and although Valen criticised her several times, she couldn't really concentrate. Ariaen finally excused herself after having trained to her physical maximum and went to the temple for dinner. However hard she tried to stop it, her thoughts circled around the offer she'd got from Zesyyr Marviir. She found it disgusting to kill one's own mother. On the other side it was the Drow's way and Zesyyr had promised her a lot of money, which could help her buying the bow she'd seen by the merchant on the market.
The Seer obviously had recognized her total lack of interest in any conversation or planning for the next morning, where they were going to leave the camp. So, after the dinner she asked Ariaen to stay for a moment so she could talk to her. Still arguing with herself Ariaen only listened with half her concentration to what the Seer was asking, telling her nothing of what held her busy. The Seer finally recognised that she wouldn't get her to talk, when she stepped closer to Ariaen and fixed her with her eyes, while she whispered: "One shouldn't kill for fun and also not for money." Ariaen's eyes widened from the shock of realisation. She stood frozen and only after a few moments was she able to nod and with a quick greeting flew to her rooms.