QOS (update Oct) Wow it was Sep when I last updated! Coz I've so many ideas jostling and on several projects. I wouldn't say I'm busy RL but I'm stimulated as an introvert would be. The soundtrack I'm listening to is Christian that Speaks truly to me! I really feel love for Ilkar and the elves. Frances is not a young modern singer but it's awesome

Chap 25 The Queen gives new weapons, We are but flowers fading

Who Am I sung by Frances Yip

~ For you, Shannon /Friends forever!

"For me?" the Julatsan mage gasped as the Lady Alustriel unveiled a long white staff imbued with a single emerald. From her foresight, she knew Ilkar's penchance towards natural magic of the forest. She instinctively liked him for his enthusiasm and comradeship to the child and the drow.

His hands trembled as he accepted it from her and studied the rune craftings. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome, Child of sunlight. You've drained your own mana without a focus-weapon. There're so many artefacts in my collection, it is my pleasure." She smiled and flushed. Alustriel had fancied Drizzt but his heart was sworn to Catti brie. Ilkar liked magic with the same fire she had always nurtured, had good looks not inferior to other moonelf princes, humble and approachable too.

"I've not wielded a staff before. Will you instruct me?" he asked, turning his radiant charming smile on her.

Fel and Drizzt watched them engage in conversation, walking behind them. Serif followed sniffing the ground. She was in a dress and he did not have the need for armor inside. He relished the ease of breathing without the extra weight, in a Moonelf traditional silver blue garb. Alustriel's female elite guards flanked the stairways as the companions went into the Inner Sanctum. "Wow the queen likes him. Though I can't catch what they're saying. Does she have a man?" Fel asked the drow.

Drizzt replied evenly, "I do not know. You are very clever, but nosy."

She laughed. "Just wanna have fun! Oh did she like you?"

He pretended not to hear that and tried to refrain from laughing. Yes, he knew of the flame for him, because Bruenor showed him the tracking amulet the Lady had designed in order to seek him out. It was a very personal story. Felicia tugged his sleeve insistently. "What do you expect if she does? Hm?" he murmured, lavender eyes twinkling. "It is heartening that Ilkar finds common ground. He was lonely without another mage to discuss and bond with."

Felicia

Yea it was true. Though we were best friends and my mentor did not mention, he must be feeling alone. I was just a beginner's novice anyway. Having wrapped up with the Queen, Ilkar came to talk to us. "Look can you feel the mana?" I obligingly touched the handle. "I'm really keen to learn how to use this to focus spells. I've always been taught just to use myself and my hands."

"We are glad for you, friend. Have you rested well?" Drizzt asked. Ilkar nodded and embraced us. Before coming here to Silverymoon, I had asked him more than once if he felt alright not healthwise, but his emotional state. Sometimes Ilkar didn't touch his food and stared through the wall. I had to call him more than once.
His standard response would be to chew again and say- I'm fine just tired. Wizards, mages no matter how they call themselves Are deep contemplators. Because they use their minds to cast! "Hey you can always talk to me. Don't worry so much."

Ilkar glanced at me as if he had not seen me like that before, his brows angled and ears pricking once. Good sign, it meant he was not angry but wondering. Could it be that I wasn't an old enough mage? "Not at all. You are good company, if I am alone it'd be much more unbearable. Why?"

I paused and stuck out my lower lip. "Look glum, gloomeee." He smiled and made as if to toss a fruit at me. I ducked.

"Rubbish! No I'm not, stop imagining things. My usual face. Of course I am thinking of my old friends. Hope to meet Sol, Hirad and Denser again… oh I forgot, shouldn't say that." He sighed.

Serif barked thrice, as I asked what. "Only I found out his name… he is the Unknown. Perhaps they have… forgotten me and I am a ghost of a memory." The elf's smile faded, and regret, sorrow colored his voice. Ilkar closed his eyes, I noticed the glint of tears at the corners.

"No they won't, Ilkar. I won't let them!" I whispered and put my arms around him. The mage accepted my hug without pulling away. I heard his soft breathing,and tuned into Serif's telepathy, merging the purity of Life, the world….

I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean

A vapour in the wind

Still you hear me when I'm calling

I hear the voice that calmed the sea…. And calm the storming me

Then I heard his voice say my name and touch my shoulder. Ilkar beamed. "Hey you're not here again, Felicia! What is it you look so happy about?"

"If only I can show you how I picture it as the music and how the lady sang it when we passed by a church, guys… not because of the religion but… I am so Happy we're a family! I've always wanted exotic brothers!"

Drizzt hadn't been present then, and he normally did not like to discuss about religion but they wanted to hear me sing it. Wow!

Ilkar said simply that he wouldn't brood anymore and that he had entered a new Lifetime now. "It is so true, all of us will fade. But we can't possibly learn every single fact and spell. We have a longer lifespan which can be a blessing and a curse. Or rather, we worry and fret instead of cherishing simple things like having a full stomach. Let's stay in this palace for some time, I've not enjoyed a clean bed, and clothes for years."

"Great, I don't like having the heavy mithril on my body all the time too." Drizzt remarked. We chuckled. I said I wanted to try it on and he shook his head. He is slim but taller than me so the armor reached down to my knees and I couldn't walk! Only the tinkle of it was nice. "It is enchanted and made by dwarves. I think it'd be safer if you have a set too Ilkar. Leather is still vulnerable to arrows."

I sobered, recalling how he had been unconscious and frail. The mage looked doubtful and they discussed more about the processes. When I walked slower, they waited for me to catch up patiently. "In Balaia there wasn't leather for mercenaries. Only the kings wore chainmail, but not of this quality. Fel, don't go to war ok?"

I let him go into the whys and all the theories. He wanted ultimate peace for all peoples.

Later, the dark elf invited us to watch him polish some blades in the smithy. It was really hot inside that even his dark skin gleamed with perspiration. I seldom watch him sweat, and got waterskins for us. A smith poured cold water on a reddened metal then hit it into shape with a hammer.

The Lady said it was time to bestow Drizzt Do'urden with a new scimitar. He had told her not to bother but she wouldn't hear of any decline.