Taking risks, chances you otherwise wouldn't consider - that's what makes a life well lived.

What a load of crap, Tellah thought. In front of him, in the very house he built with his own hands, stood his daughter: the beauty of Kaipo. Behind her was that bard, the one who'd mysteriously appeared in town a few short weeks ago. Tellah hadn't seen him perform, but the older women in town had raved incessantly over his beautiful ballads to anyone willing to listen. So enamored were they with his enchanting voice, his flaxen hair and emerald eyes that they could hardly discuss anything else before bringing the conversation back to the troubadour. He stood in front of him today and kept his head down, avoiding Tellah's hard gaze. It didn't matter to Anna, clearly, as she crossed her arms in the stance she usually took when it came to arguments between the two.

"We love each other, Father. It's in your best interest to be kind to both of us, unless you want me to stay away from you like Mother did with her parents." Tellah narrowed his eyes at her.

"Don't be ridiculous, child. He hasn't said anything to me since you walked in and spoke for the both of you - you mean to tell me that he's your object of affection? What does he have that the other hardworking men here don't?" He stepped closer to her, loud whispering, "Need I remind you that looks fade away?" Anna's lip curled.

"It's not infatuation! I already told you-" Tellah raised a hand to silence her.

"-And how long have you known each other? A month?" She opened her mouth and closed it again.

"It's been four months since we started courting," she said finally.

"Four months - well then by all means, let's invite the Elder of Mysidia to ordain your wedding. He would be more than honored to celebrate such a beautiful example of true love. After all, you've basically known him all your life - it has been four months."

Anna's eyes began welling at his outburst, her chin quivering. A derisive laugh slipped out of Tellah. "Ah yes, a very mature woman you are - let's get you to the altar!"

With that, Anna's face hardened. Her tears rolled down her cheeks, but she kept her face expressionless.

"I hate you," she said. She turned on her heel and left, pulling the bard along by his arm. "Come on, Edward."

Edward finally looked at Tellah. Tellah faked a lunge as if he were going to attack him - Edward flinched, and scurried away.

Unbelievable, Tellah thought as he sat down in his kitchen, slamming his hand on the table.

Hours later the sun began to set, illuminating the brilliant desert sands of the quaint oasis town like a glittering calm sea of copper and honey crystals. Anna had yet to return home. Tellah paid the situation no mind - it wasn't the worst argument they'd ever had, and she'd always stayed at the inn when she didn't want to be near him. In the morning, when she came back, he'd make her some of her favorite breakfast and explain his reasoning a little more clearly, calmly. He wouldn't be caught off guard again, and he'd be able to explain why it was such a bad idea to get married so quickly without attacking her or her sense of judgment. His plan was in place, so Tellah went to bed and slept a dreamless sleep, content that the morning would foster a stronger bond between the two (and hopefully, break the relationship she had with that spineless cretin she called her fiancé). Morning came, and Anna was nowhere to be found.

Tellah sat at the table watching Anna's breakfast cool down across from him. He grew sick of waiting as the sun blazed overhead. This wasn't like Anna–she'd never stayed away this long. Tellah made his way to the inn, hoping she may have just overslept. The inn was a smaller one, despite offering a scarce and valuable service in the vast desert. The innkeeper once mentioned that he had considered expanding, especially to offer more luxurious, private options for the wealthy merchants that passed by. For now, though, he was content with the state of his humble business. Tellah walked in to find the innkeeper and his teenage daughter behind the counter, a large ledger open in between them as his daughter - a young, freckled woman of Anna's age, wrote down the figures the keeper dictated.

"No, Tellah, she wasn't here last night," the walrus of a man had responded, pulling another receipt out from his stack. He pulled on his horseshoe mustache thoughtfully before reading the total aloud. The scratch of his daughter's quill followed.

"Where could she be?" Tellah cried, feeling his voice rise.

"Another fight so soon, Sir Tellah?" The girl asked, smiling sympathetically as she kept writing.

"We haven't had a fight like this in a long time!" He responded defensively. The girl and her father exchanged a glance Tellah ignored.

"For what it's worth, I didn't take this seriously until now. I didn't want to believe it - you see, the two of you are so close, so I thought it was just an outlandish rumor," she started slowly. The innkeeper placed a meaty hand on his daughter's shoulder, nodding in encouragement.

"Spill it, Mabel!" Tellah snapped. She was taken aback, but continued regardless.

"Beatrix, my friend, is being courted by one of the men who was on night guard duty last night. She told me that he told her that Edward and Anna slipped out in the middle of the night, and they were giggling and smiling. When he'd asked the couple if someone should look for them should they not return, they said no-they said they were retrieving his hovercraft. They were going to Damcyan to be wed."

Silence. The innkeeper put down his stack of receipts. Mabel bit her lip, expecting another outburst.

"Tellah, I know the traders have mentioned a boom of monsters lately, but there haven't been as many in the desert here. I'm sure they'll be okay on their travels - the journey to the coast isn't long. More importantly, are you okay?" he asked, noting Tellah was nearly hyperventilating. He nodded, passing a hand through his beard.

"Yes…yes, I'm fine," he said. "I'm-I'm going to go now." He crashed into one of the townsfolk standing behind him in the queue. The stout woman let out a small cry, catching herself before she fell.

"Pardon me…" Tellah trailed off as he walked past her and headed home.

Eloped? He thought numbly. He stood in the doorway of his home, not daring to go inside quite yet. He hadn't accepted the news. It couldn't be true - at least, he tried to tell himself that. Since she hadn't come home, and no one had seen her yet, he knew deep down that it was. They'll be okay on their travels. So why was that the most unbelievable thing he'd heard? He went straight to his bedroom, to a chest at the foot of the large bed he hadn't replaced since his wife had passed. Out of it he pulled a leather traveler's pack - well worn but trusted. A memory he forgot he had came rushing back as the familiar oaky scent drifted to him.


Tellah ran past the gates, his travel pack swinging wildly on one shoulder, not bothering to greet the guards at the gate to Kaipo.

"Congrats, Tellah!" one of them called to him. He waved in thanks at the voice behind him, not slowing down. He rushed through the familiar streets and shortcut alleys, jumping over old Gertrude's fruit cart with air time he didn't think he had anymore.

"Hurry! She's been at it a while, Tellah!" Gertrude shouted. Tellah pumped his legs faster.

"I know, I know!" he yelled back, his sable hair bouncing wildly as he moved. Her croaking laugh faded as he rounded the corner. His house was at the end of the street, a gorgeous abode his wife had personally designed.

He burst through the front door, and he briefly worried about breaking the new hinges he'd just installed, though that wasn't the focus of his attention.

Tellah gasped for air, holding a cramping rib and dropping his pack on the ground.

A woman came out of the master bedroom holding several dirty towels and shut the door behind her.

"Elizabeth," Tellah gasped. She spared a glance at him as she threw the towels in the washbasin and rushed to the fireplace to collect the hot water in the pot in a clean bowl.

"Finally," she muttered. "What took you so long? The baby's almost here!" Tellah swallowed.

"Is she-is she.." he asked, still unable to recover. She smiled at him.

"Not yet. You're just in time," she said. He smiled back at her. "Now help me take this hot water to your wife!"

At once he joined her on the hearth, holding the bowl as she carefully poured the water out of the pot. She walked in front of him and put her hand on the handle to the bedroom.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked. Tellah's hands were cold and clammy despite his exertion. His mouth twitched.

"It's not like I can do much about it now, can I?" he asked. She laughed.

The door opened to show a red-faced, sweaty Claire in bed, clutching the bedsheets with her fists. She looked exhausted, eyes downcast as the midwife's words of encouragement couldn't reach her.

"Darling," he said, concerned. Claire's eyes slowly met his, and she burst into tears.

"Oh, Tellah!" she sobbed. "I thought you weren't coming." Tellah reached her bedside and held her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Claire. I came as soon as I heard," he said. She let out a cry of relief and threw her arms around his neck. He rubbed circles on her back, apologizing over and over. She suddenly recoiled and screamed in pain. Tellah clutched her hand and caressed her cheek.

"That's another contraction," said the midwife, rubbing Claire's knee. "It's okay, a few more and your baby will be here." Claire nodded, holding her husband's hand for dear life.

The midwife smiled at Elizabeth. "That's all she needed - her husband's support." Elizabeth turned her nose up.

"Hmph. She's known me forever and I'm not good enough? I see where I stand, Claire," she said. Tellah smirked. Elizabeth stuck her tongue out at him. Claire laughed and reached for Elizabeth.

"Oh, Liz, thank you for being here, too." Elizabeth smiled and squeezed her hand. "Let's deliver my baby."

A few more contractions, encouragement, and pushes later, and a baby was born. Tellah felt his heart nearly burst as she let out her first cry. The midwife wrapped her in a small blanket.

"You did it. I'm so proud of you!" Tellah whispered, kissing Claire's forehead.

"Anna," she said. Tellah blinked in surprise. She looked at him as the midwife handed them the baby. Elizabeth dabbed at her tears with her sleeve. "She's an Anna."

"Anna, it is," Tellah reassured her. He looked down at his baby's red face.

"Hello, Anna," he whispered, afraid to touch her. "I'm your dad, and I can't wait to get to know you. I think you and I will be very close friends."

Claire simply smiled up at him, and he leaned down to kiss her.


He needed to hurry. His gut was telling him that something was wrong, and he wasn't inclined to wait around to find out what. With his pack on his back and his staff in his hand, Tellah started his own journey to Damcyan.

A/N: Tellah is one of the most fascinating characters to me and it's a shame we lose him early on in the game (spoilers? lol). He's this guy who's got a reputation that precedes him, his reactions to death show he's seen some shit, and he's slowly losing his library of spells that made him so famous to old age. THE PLAN IS...a Tellah POV with his life story sprinkled in between flashbacks. That's if I can nail it right. I've always been a discovery writer, and this is an attempt at outlining for once. Given my tendencies this may go in a completely different direction, but hopefully I can rein it in long enough to get to the end.