The Speaker of the Suns paid a visit to Keganthilas. His entourage
consisted of his sons Porthios and Gilthanas. Alongside the speaker
walked Lauranthalasa, Teleri's childhood cousin friend. She was not
surprised that the other member of the Speaker's entourage was not to
be seen. In fact, she had not seen Tanthalas for a long time. She had
heard from Lauranthalasa that when her Tanthalas left, her world
pained her and fell into pieces. The last days, Teleri has spoken to
Tanthalas, urging him to stay.
A few years before, outside the stables of the House Protector...
"You are running away from true love." She stood outside the trees, she had been kind enough to fill his bags with supplies, he reluctantly accepted since she threatened to tell Lauranthalasa that he was leaving like a thief in the dark. "It is something that cannot be, tenesa." She hated that nickname the children of the Speaker of the Suns had given her, which meant mangled fruit. Her legs were always bruised and her hands had been callused, compared to Laurana's smooth and ivory ones. "So why do you keep on wearing her ring, if your intent is not to come back?" She paced, whispering to his horse a calming tune. Tanis then saw this "tensa" as the true leader of the Wildrunners. Not her anti social brother Accalon, or the merry Surielas. This elfmaid was touched by some otherworldly intelligence but also spoke honestly. This was no delicate Laurana, she was a creature for the world of Krynn, not just for Qualinesti. Unlike everyone else, she did not treat him with the politeness mixed with pity that everyone used when dealing with him. To her, he was just like any other and her cousin's love. "I wish I could fulfill my life and be out of this forest sometimes. I feel my life will have no meaning and will wither like a rose, whose only destiny was filling my father's garden with fragrance." He nodded gravely, agreeing with her. She hugged him farewell, tears moistening in her eyes "I do not feel your spirit will sit tame for long." He mounted his horse. Her brothers should feel blessed with a sister like this behind them. "Farewell, Tanthalas... Tell the dwarf I like the wooden shield he made me." She continued, her voice unlike herself this time. " May we meet again, as warriors fighting the side of rightfulness." Her gaze was distant and glazed. The half-elf was somewhat confused at her expression, but said nothing. She took in a few breaths, her tone going back to her normal timbre. "Yeah, ok. You take care and remember that you have a friend who judges you not for your birth, but for who you are." He smiled and galloped away.
Her thoughts came back to her time now. Her father called her to pay the respects to the Speaker. He moved his hands and laughed. "Brother, kindred of mine should not be forced to bow to their uncle." Teleri knew that he spoke as a mere courtesy. Everyone paid their respects to the Speaker. From those who seeded the earth, to her brothers and father. He continued, "Laurana, daughter, leave with Teleri and summon her brothers. The men of the house will sit and speak." Laurana smiled at Teleri, but her face was a mere ghostly reflection of her sadness.
"I have some comforting news, " she led her to her room. Both sat on the bed, Teleri holding her hand, as if that was to keep Laurana from crying. After sobbing a few more times, Laurana smiled at her childhood friend. They were both different, extremely unlike each other, but close nonetheless. Teleri trained with her brothers, while Laurana played in the gardens of the towers of the sun. Teleri's hair was copper and silver, the different colors co-existed, the thickness of her hair was kept tamed by intricate braids she used. Laurana's hair yielded and moved along her back like a river of honey, she did not need to force it still. The beauty of the warrior child was spiritual but fierce, like a wild rose, her eyes were a sad gray. Laurana's looks were warm and inviting, soft and pliable, like a daisy, whose stem had no thorns.
"Is Tanis coming back?" Her face illuminated but after looking at the unchanging expression of Teleri, she once again saddened. "I saw him before he left the edge of the city. It has been years." Laurana was pained that this detail was left for her to discover now, and not then. Teleri's face changed " I know, but today I remembered that night in detail. He wore your ring still, the token of love you gave to him. I, believe he still plans to return, but when the elves change their ways." Her gaze saw beyond the skies and the stars, near the three moons and the clouds. Laurana hated these many moods of Teleri, she spoke such nonsense sometimes, like she was in a trance or reading from a book, never paying full attention to her. "I guess it is better news than none." Laurana stood up looking at Teleri's room. The soft colors of silver radiated on her cushions and rugs, but inside many chests contained weapons that were given to her by her brothers. A sharp contrast from silks to metal. "He had no other choice but to leave, no one felt he should have been close to you. I believed that true love should not be controlled . Maybe you should have run away with him." She had a mischievous smile, once again, sounding like herself. Laurana gasped and laughed. Teleri continued, "Next time, when he comes, since I know he will, you should not let go of the love you have for him." Laurana's face was once again somber but her heart felt at ease. Teleri always knew what to say to her. "Yes, I will not let go next time." The Princess took a brush and began untangling Teleri's hair, and sang to her. Her cousin was a mystery to Laurana sometimes. Teleri would do anything her brothers did, yet she would always wear the gowns her maid sew for there. Teleri just shrugged at her words by just saying, 'I might fight like a male, but I am an elfmaiden still.'
Teleri and Laurana hid between the heavy curtains of Keganthilas' war room, making sure their long robes did not make a noise, and none saw the ends of their soft leather shoes. It was a pastime of old, listening to their fathers and brothers speak. They both wanted to be accepted but it seemed that Teleri did belong with these men, making plans for their city, speaking of new defense quarters, among many other things. The "tensa", like the name they teased her with, had a wisdom that many ignored.
"Speaker, my brother , we have heard news from the outskirts of Qualinesti. Armies of strange creatures, dark tidings." He was not much of details, he cared not to believe that war might be near their city. He had scouted all the borders, and everything pointed to war. The Speaker's face was a mask of sorrow, one that he did not show his sons and daughters.
In another part of the room, Porthios, Gilthanas, Accalon and Surielas spoke among themselves, quietly, knowing that the two elders should not be disturbed with their talks.. "I think my father will agree with our plan to send spies to the cities of Gateway and Haven. Porthios shall lead the spies along with Surielas knowledge of the forest. Accalon and I will contact this resistance group of humans I met on the road days ago." Gilthas was not comfortable speaking and giving orders to the two brothers who seemed years older than him. Accalon spoke. "I trust no humans, but I respect your plan Gilthanas. One thing that might stop me from taking those soldiers that are loyal to me, to fight your cause is my brother. He must agree with your plan or I will not ride forth. He is the eldest and the next Head of our Guild and Household." His gaze went to his brother who devoured the breads in the basket. "I agree with my brother and will follow Gilthanas plan. He has a good advice, knowing that this plan comes from Porthios himself." He spoke with a mouthful of bread and crumbs spilling over his tunic. With a smile, he drank some more wine. Porthios just nodded his head and tried to ignore the state of uncleanliness of his older cousin . The Speaker walked where the youths sat. "Sons and nephews, we look upon the young leaders of Qualinesti for an answer." Their faces, looked at each other, and with a common understanding, nodded at Solostaran. "We have a plan" Their voices were in unison.
Teleri mouthed those words while hidden behind the curtains. It was her family, it was her people too. Surielas confessed to her that she was a better fighter than all of them combined. But her reasoning head was the one working her own idea. She was going to help her brothers from a distance. --
A few years before, outside the stables of the House Protector...
"You are running away from true love." She stood outside the trees, she had been kind enough to fill his bags with supplies, he reluctantly accepted since she threatened to tell Lauranthalasa that he was leaving like a thief in the dark. "It is something that cannot be, tenesa." She hated that nickname the children of the Speaker of the Suns had given her, which meant mangled fruit. Her legs were always bruised and her hands had been callused, compared to Laurana's smooth and ivory ones. "So why do you keep on wearing her ring, if your intent is not to come back?" She paced, whispering to his horse a calming tune. Tanis then saw this "tensa" as the true leader of the Wildrunners. Not her anti social brother Accalon, or the merry Surielas. This elfmaid was touched by some otherworldly intelligence but also spoke honestly. This was no delicate Laurana, she was a creature for the world of Krynn, not just for Qualinesti. Unlike everyone else, she did not treat him with the politeness mixed with pity that everyone used when dealing with him. To her, he was just like any other and her cousin's love. "I wish I could fulfill my life and be out of this forest sometimes. I feel my life will have no meaning and will wither like a rose, whose only destiny was filling my father's garden with fragrance." He nodded gravely, agreeing with her. She hugged him farewell, tears moistening in her eyes "I do not feel your spirit will sit tame for long." He mounted his horse. Her brothers should feel blessed with a sister like this behind them. "Farewell, Tanthalas... Tell the dwarf I like the wooden shield he made me." She continued, her voice unlike herself this time. " May we meet again, as warriors fighting the side of rightfulness." Her gaze was distant and glazed. The half-elf was somewhat confused at her expression, but said nothing. She took in a few breaths, her tone going back to her normal timbre. "Yeah, ok. You take care and remember that you have a friend who judges you not for your birth, but for who you are." He smiled and galloped away.
Her thoughts came back to her time now. Her father called her to pay the respects to the Speaker. He moved his hands and laughed. "Brother, kindred of mine should not be forced to bow to their uncle." Teleri knew that he spoke as a mere courtesy. Everyone paid their respects to the Speaker. From those who seeded the earth, to her brothers and father. He continued, "Laurana, daughter, leave with Teleri and summon her brothers. The men of the house will sit and speak." Laurana smiled at Teleri, but her face was a mere ghostly reflection of her sadness.
"I have some comforting news, " she led her to her room. Both sat on the bed, Teleri holding her hand, as if that was to keep Laurana from crying. After sobbing a few more times, Laurana smiled at her childhood friend. They were both different, extremely unlike each other, but close nonetheless. Teleri trained with her brothers, while Laurana played in the gardens of the towers of the sun. Teleri's hair was copper and silver, the different colors co-existed, the thickness of her hair was kept tamed by intricate braids she used. Laurana's hair yielded and moved along her back like a river of honey, she did not need to force it still. The beauty of the warrior child was spiritual but fierce, like a wild rose, her eyes were a sad gray. Laurana's looks were warm and inviting, soft and pliable, like a daisy, whose stem had no thorns.
"Is Tanis coming back?" Her face illuminated but after looking at the unchanging expression of Teleri, she once again saddened. "I saw him before he left the edge of the city. It has been years." Laurana was pained that this detail was left for her to discover now, and not then. Teleri's face changed " I know, but today I remembered that night in detail. He wore your ring still, the token of love you gave to him. I, believe he still plans to return, but when the elves change their ways." Her gaze saw beyond the skies and the stars, near the three moons and the clouds. Laurana hated these many moods of Teleri, she spoke such nonsense sometimes, like she was in a trance or reading from a book, never paying full attention to her. "I guess it is better news than none." Laurana stood up looking at Teleri's room. The soft colors of silver radiated on her cushions and rugs, but inside many chests contained weapons that were given to her by her brothers. A sharp contrast from silks to metal. "He had no other choice but to leave, no one felt he should have been close to you. I believed that true love should not be controlled . Maybe you should have run away with him." She had a mischievous smile, once again, sounding like herself. Laurana gasped and laughed. Teleri continued, "Next time, when he comes, since I know he will, you should not let go of the love you have for him." Laurana's face was once again somber but her heart felt at ease. Teleri always knew what to say to her. "Yes, I will not let go next time." The Princess took a brush and began untangling Teleri's hair, and sang to her. Her cousin was a mystery to Laurana sometimes. Teleri would do anything her brothers did, yet she would always wear the gowns her maid sew for there. Teleri just shrugged at her words by just saying, 'I might fight like a male, but I am an elfmaiden still.'
Teleri and Laurana hid between the heavy curtains of Keganthilas' war room, making sure their long robes did not make a noise, and none saw the ends of their soft leather shoes. It was a pastime of old, listening to their fathers and brothers speak. They both wanted to be accepted but it seemed that Teleri did belong with these men, making plans for their city, speaking of new defense quarters, among many other things. The "tensa", like the name they teased her with, had a wisdom that many ignored.
"Speaker, my brother , we have heard news from the outskirts of Qualinesti. Armies of strange creatures, dark tidings." He was not much of details, he cared not to believe that war might be near their city. He had scouted all the borders, and everything pointed to war. The Speaker's face was a mask of sorrow, one that he did not show his sons and daughters.
In another part of the room, Porthios, Gilthanas, Accalon and Surielas spoke among themselves, quietly, knowing that the two elders should not be disturbed with their talks.. "I think my father will agree with our plan to send spies to the cities of Gateway and Haven. Porthios shall lead the spies along with Surielas knowledge of the forest. Accalon and I will contact this resistance group of humans I met on the road days ago." Gilthas was not comfortable speaking and giving orders to the two brothers who seemed years older than him. Accalon spoke. "I trust no humans, but I respect your plan Gilthanas. One thing that might stop me from taking those soldiers that are loyal to me, to fight your cause is my brother. He must agree with your plan or I will not ride forth. He is the eldest and the next Head of our Guild and Household." His gaze went to his brother who devoured the breads in the basket. "I agree with my brother and will follow Gilthanas plan. He has a good advice, knowing that this plan comes from Porthios himself." He spoke with a mouthful of bread and crumbs spilling over his tunic. With a smile, he drank some more wine. Porthios just nodded his head and tried to ignore the state of uncleanliness of his older cousin . The Speaker walked where the youths sat. "Sons and nephews, we look upon the young leaders of Qualinesti for an answer." Their faces, looked at each other, and with a common understanding, nodded at Solostaran. "We have a plan" Their voices were in unison.
Teleri mouthed those words while hidden behind the curtains. It was her family, it was her people too. Surielas confessed to her that she was a better fighter than all of them combined. But her reasoning head was the one working her own idea. She was going to help her brothers from a distance. --
