Telquessir Legacy

Haha it's nice of Bethmoora Raven, DA pple and Smilingtiger to encourage this little story. Yea!!!

Part 4- Where did she go?

The amnesia aphrodisiac makes the drinker forget who he or she once was and forges loyalty, a fierce loyalty to the administrator. Since the young Nuala was captured one night eight years before, she did not remember her life before Xandros. The Xandros were not a barbaric country. Its chief, their king who preferred this namesake, had always favored exotic women. The women in their nation always died after childbirth.

As Nuala ran out from Bethmoora she had gone through the magical veil that separates the humans from the Sidhe. She was fuming that her brother dared to threaten her! So what if he is older than I am? He is so selfish, I hate him. Her ears couldn't detect anyone following her and she shut off the Link between herself and Prince Nuada. Nuala pulled up her cloak, her amber eyes shining. Yes, finally she could explore the forests without supervision. It was so tiresome to be followed all the time. The bodyguards wanted to tail her, but noticed something was not quite right. In the trees! The elves opened their mouths to sound the alarm. But it never went out. They had actually passed out from the aphrodisiac shot by unseen darters.

Experienced feet followed the youthful girl. Though Nuala wore her hood up, her bracelet was gleaming and looked valuable. Marvelous, thought the pursuers. The chief gave specific orders to come to this Green forest for the magical folk. She laughed, her delicate hand up to caress a night flower from a branch. Some of her white blond hair was blown back by a breeze. One of the men nodded, at a signal he put his lips to the blowdart.

Chief David smiled. I won't mistreat this child. She is an…. Elf! I've never thought they are real before. He was a middle aged man, human but this race had violet eyes. Nuala moaned and came to. She frowned at the strange surroundings. A tent, all the same violet color and the flames were green. The drug was not such a dosage to knock out her memory yet. David set out food.

Nuala spoke in one of the common tongues to tell her where she was. He held out his hand to the slender girl. Unlike a human, the elf did not shrink back and watched him. David changed his mind and bowed. In his customs exchange he had seen people do this instead. Nuala bowed back. He talked to her about his home, and showed her outside. It was still nightfall. The place was rural but the animals were numerous. The herds were semi wild. The elf princess was fascinated. Father had not allowed her outside of the fey kingdom before! Nuala had only heard their people complain of the unpleasant humans.

Yet David was kind to her. She liked him and wanted to stay here for some time. David was pleased and one day offered her the amnesia drink. It was not a bad herb but gave peace to the critically ill and took away all sorrow. It was a gentle blue color. Nuala smiled.

"What is this?" Nuala took the cup.

He truly wanted her to stay! She was so friendly and kind. The children were really happy with her. Nuala was bold and unafraid, unlike anyone he knew. No, David did not want a wife as yet, but couldn't she stay longer? So he replied, "A tea brewed for happiness. All that hurts will ease." It was not a lie.

The elf glanced at him. She asked him to give her his hand. David had to, or she would not drink. Nuala was satisfied and took the cup and downed it. Her last memory had been the furious Nuada shouting, "You will do as I say and stay here! I will not waste time looking for you!"

"All right, then don't!" She had escaped from him. Nuala smiled and when she finished, fell back on the pillows. Her face flushed and sweat beaded on her brow. David gasped and called the servant. Had they given too strong a dose? Oh no! What if she died? He begged the delicate elf not to die and he was sorry. The healers took care of the girl as she lay on the pallet, deathly still.

She awoke one morning, her head heavy. Could not lift up from the pillows. Nuala asked for help. The man came and supported her upright. She whispered, "I'm sick? My weakness is…"

He shook his head and bade her to rest. Nuala turned and saw a mirror. Her eyes were amber but his were violet. "Do not fret, my lady. This is your home now. Take the medicine."

The cup. It was what I drank.

Nuala hesitated. Heard a voice telling her, don't go without me. We've always been together, sister! But it was so faint and she couldn't see his face. The elf was too tired to protest. Initially the chief had given her a big dose but this one was less. The healer stroked her forehead. Nuala fought the wave of darkness, clinging to the pallet. She had something to do. Must… not… give up. The wet cloth soothed the elf, she gazed up at the strange man. Why did he look so dark? While she was fair.

"Cuidigh." She managed to utter. Help me. The man supported her head, urging her to drink. Indeed, it seemed the fey could not do without the drink once they had sipped the wine. Nuala refused, but her eyelids were too heavy and her hands too weak. Desperately, she clung to his hand and begged, "Do not let me go."

The man was moved. He wanted to help her. There were two alternatives, drink the wine once more though it would mean total forgetting, or give her a drug to wake up. He couldn't find it. By then, the elf's breathing was shallow. David rushed in and hugged her. Nuala smiled. "Quickly! Give her the drink."

The man sadly poured the wine and fed her. She sighed.

The second time Nuala got up strength had returned to her limbs. The place was familiar, it was home. Humming, the elf combed her hair and went out.

She found David her friend. He embraced her. "I was afraid you didn't wake up." He said to her.

"Don't be silly. We elves are not weak." Henceforth, Nuala became one of their people. She never remembered the moment of her first waking in the mirror's reflection. There were other fey too.

At that moment, Nuada felt a part of him gone. A total withdraw. "Could she have died?" No. If it was death, he would know it. It would be a dagger in the chest. (the story was up till Nuala disappeared)

KeLin closed the book as the prince called for someone. He smiled at her overflowing concern. "I was scared!" They touched hands, and her thoughts resounded. Nuada held her without speaking as she cried. Drayfus bounded in.

Nuada assured them he wouldn't leave them and he saw the Guardian. "My friends, I don't know how to explain it, but she was magnificent…."

********

A long distance from the palace, the deep deep Green forests

Harsh panting. The dark elf was on the move again. He was superior to them in night vision but it also meant he couldn't stay long. That commander really wanted to make a kill. Also he had stared at him in the eyes as Drizzt defeated him in the contest. "I will kill you filthy drow!" that elf had sworn. He must be crazy now.

Surely the problems of Bethmoora are too much, than to hunt me down, Drizzt thought. The world is unfair, I didn't ask to be born like this! He would rather be a fair elven. What about the mask of illusion? Shit, he had lost it. He had stayed around watching the small asian girl grow up. Drizzt had been certain she would be illtreated, but it seemed that her life was luxurious. And he had seen the prince occasionally. Although Nuada looked very harsh and unfriendly, Drizzt was unsure if he, they had given orders to kill people like him. Born to House Do'urden, the dark elf society was very harsh and males were treated like servants unless they wanted to be outstanding.

Well, now he was in the domain of the Telquessir. Didn't seem any different. Merchants said the king and prince were not unjust. Lavenders narrowed. The pursuers followed the false path and crazed commander ran ahead. If only he could talk to the prince, and exchange pointers about sparring. Warriors enjoy such matches.

*Where Nuala is exactly no one knows. But she did not die, yet her kind do not know for certain. More on Drizzt next time! Inspired by rain sounds. Pretty good to go with flute celtic music.