____ Here is a little bit more of the story, for my few fans. I promise, that I will finish the tale, but it may take a while longer. I plead for your patience. Azurielle
Oblivion was a longer time that it seemed. For me, moments passed, moments spent in a dark place that was finally peaceful…for a time I felt as though I was standing at the edge of one place and another place. One world and another. For a moment, there almost seemed to be light, a green place that I knew I would be happy in, no matter what…and yet I felt that I was not ready yet to go there. Strange that I felt unready to feel happiness, but as I stood in the realm between worlds, I knew that there was more to life than being happy…life was living, and living sometimes mean unhappiness, and pain. I fancied for a moment that I could hear crying, from somewhere beyond…back the way I had come. I wondered how my going would affect her…and somehow, I felt it would. So I took the first step, the one that would lead me back the way I came.
One step was enough.
I woke slowly from whatever state I was in...be it sleep, or death. Sound returned to me first, and I heard the sound of whispered voices. Though they were familiar, I could not identify specific people. I heard them speaking about me, wondering if I would ever wake. I guess I poured more of my life into the sword than I'd thought.
I opened my eyes, world coming back into view a bit at a time. I still felt weary beyond belief, and yet, it was not pain. I sat up, looking around cautiously. I was in a place I did not recognize at all. The room I was in was spartan, a simple cot, all in white. A small window admitted light, letting me know that it was day. There was no door, only an open doorway, leading out into a larger room.
As I drew myself into a sitting position, I immediately knew that something was odd…the blade, The Fury of Battle was still trapped in my clenched fist. It took me a full minute to pry my fingers from the hilt. It was more that my finger was locked, rather than actually stuck. I spent another moment looking at the artifact. It looked different than before…somehow less than it had been, but still the same. Odd that, and yet not unexpected.
It did not take long for me to learn where I was, as I was soon swarmed by several priests, all bent on discerning "how I was." I was at the temple of the Seldarine in Leuthilspar. It was a temple dedicated to all the gods of our pantheon, and as such numerous priests and priestesses were always in attendance.
As soon as it was ascertained that I was "all right," and was still myself, the priests sent for my family. They then explained that I had been discovered, unconscious nearly two months ago, and that no amount of magic, divine or arcane, or any other method had worked to awaken me. I was simply unable or unwilling to be woken. And, they added, they had been unable to take the Fury of Battle from my grasp. My parents, it seemed had been frantic when they brought me here…and time passing had only created a mystery that the priests could not solve.
Strangely enough, as I recall, I not the first member of my family to fall under such a sleep. A distant cousin of mine, or so I have been told, also fell under such a sleep once. When I was young the story had fascinated me. The elven woman…hardly more than a girl had fallen mysteriously unconscious, back before Queen Amlaruil had married King Zaor. Although in her case, it was said to have been a curse…she never awoke, and never aged. I, personally, have never seen the girl, but we tell stories about her…a great mystery, especially seeing as her mother had been a Nightstar.
Anyhow, obviously it was not the same with me…but similar, somehow.
So my family arrived shortly after I woke. My parents alternated between being overjoyed, and scolding me for doing anything so overtly dangerous. I took both their scolding and tears with equal diffidence. My father, I noted, was watching me very carefully…a thoughtful expression on his face.
Sera was with them, of course, and she ran into the room…apparently having been kept out there by Sylthas, until my parents spoke with me. Her wails began as soon as she saw me, and did not cease until I had assured her numerous times that I would never do this again, and that I would always wake up when she shook me.
I returned home. There was talk for a time, of taking the Fury of Battle away me, but I quickly assured all that the blade was mine, both right of blood, and divine right, for certainly the knowledge of how to repair it never would have been given to me if Tempus had not willed it, and had not Corellon allowed it.
The smith I had been training under simultaneously bereted me for my action, and yet tried to learn how I had accomplished such a feat...me being such a…novice.
Time passed. Things returned nearly to normal after that. My parents asked only once why I had done what I did. I answered that I only did as I was bidden…figuring that I should get used to such a thing…after all, was that not what nobles did…follow all the rules? They have not asked again.
The years trailed on…I began to run out of things to do…ways to keep myself feeling alive. I went through the motions…wondering if this was to be the way of things for the rest of my life. And just when I began to think I could not possibly take it much longer, I received a summons for the palace. The Queen wished an audience with me.
I went, thinking it little more than one of the talks she has with the nobles…but I was wrong.
She was in a portrait gallery, when I was lead in to see her. In it were portraits of the royal family…all thirteen of the children, and several of Queen Amlaruil and King Zaor. Many were done in different styles, painted by different painters. I took a moment to look at the portraits, admiring the work. There are few portraits among elven culture, you see. Strangely enough, it is not because we cannot paint…indeed, there are many who excel at the art. The lack of portraits is due entirely to the way that many elves view the world. When they paint a person, more often than not, the painter will paint what they see within the person...and oft times that is very different from the exterior appearance. Or at least, that is what I read in a book somewhere.
But these paintings, however, were very realistic…uncannily so, in fact. As I stood before the one of King Zaor, it almost seemed to be alive, the blue and gold eyes watching me. In a way it was saddening.
The Queen approached silently, her slippers little more than a whisper against the cool, crystal tiled floors. She stared at the portrait for a moment, and I noted that the Queen was very tall. It is not something that is immediately apparent about her, for she is often seated…but the truth is, the Queen is nearly 6 feet in height…taller than many human women I met.
"You miss him," I said to her, not looking away from the portrait. It was certainly an understatement…but until then I had made little mention of the King to her.
"I do," she replied softly. "But I have a duty. That is why I do not join him."
"Duty…" I muttered. "Why must we always be so constrained by it?"
"You are like him," the Queen said, not responding to my bitter comment.
"I? Untrue, my Queen. I could never be like him," I replied.
"And why do you think so?" she asked.
"Look at me…he was a leader…a great elf…people loved him…he was a hero…"
"And you think that you are not and will not be any of those things?"
"Yes. I am a noble, but hardly a good one…and it is my own fault. I am not respected because of what I am, and my own behavior…and frankly, my Queen…I feel…trapped here."
"I know. You are like him, though. The King you knew was not always the elf he was. When my Zaor came here, to Evermeet, he was weary…he'd had adventurer…he'd seen the world…he'd done much, and proven himself in battle. He came here after Myth Drannor fell, never expected to be what he became…but when the need came, he accepted his duty and proved himself to be true."
"He proved himself…he was tired…that is just it…I saw so little…and I certainly cannot prove myself…not here, anyhow," I stated.
"You would leave Evermeet?" she asked. I nodded, slowly.
"At first…when I first came back, I never thought to ever want to leave…but things are different. I…need to feel alive, and I don't feel it here," I confessed.
"You are close to fading…closer to Arvandyr than Evermeet," she stated, turning away from the portrait to regard me for the first time. Again I nodded.
"I don't know what to do, my Queen…it is not that I do not love Evermeet…or the people here…it is just that…I feel there was more for me to do…but away from here. Sometimes I cannot breathe here…and sometimes the island seems too small."
"I know a bit of what you speak of…yet what to do, when it is duty keeping us here?" she asked.
"One must do as they are bidden," I shrugged, saying the words, and yet feeling as though I was speaking a lie…for I did not want to believe it. After all, had I not done as I was bidden in Ruathym…and look where that got me.
"What if duty demanded you return to the mainland, Keledrial? Would you do it?" Queen Amlaruil asked.
"I would…I think I would even beyond duty anyhow. But that is neither here nor there. My parents would never allow me to go."
"But what if it was I who demanded you go?" she asked. Part of me felt a sudden rise of elation, while another part was immediately suspicious. I wondered for a heart beat if I was about to be banished for my behavior.
"You would have me leave Evermeet, your highness?" I asked, sounding far calmer than I felt.
"Not in the manner you fear," she replied. "The leaving would be on a task for me…not because of your behavior. Certainly my Lamruil did far worse than you have yet to contrive," she laughed softly. But still I wondered…after all, in all my time back on Evermeet, Lamruil has been gone…to where, no one seems to know. I drew myself from such thoughts quickly, as I saw that the Queen awaited my answer.
"Then, if I am not to be exiled…it would be the greatest honor for me to do any task you set for me. Only, there is the matter of my parents."
"What if I told you that your parents have already given their consent, and indeed, their blessing in their matter?"
"Why would they?" I asked, incredulous. "They have told me, time and again, that they will not let me leave."
"Keledrial, they know you are unhappy…they fear for you…it is just that they did not know how best to help you. Indeed, it was your father who came to me, and expressed his fears to me."
"My father?" I repeated, faintly. She nodded.
"He loves you dearly, Keledrial. But both of your parents are afraid of losing you again…and I think they have come to believe that if allowing your return to Faerun is what is needed to keep you, then that is what they will do. So I ask again, would you accept a task I set for you, Keledrial?"
"I will, my Queen…I will do whatever you ask," I fell to one knee, before her.
"Then come, and we shall sit, and I will tell you what I would have you do."
The task my queen gave me was certainly an unusual one…and something I did not quite expect. She told me that she had for me a task that was multi-fold. She told me that I was to go to a school…a very special school in the dalelands of the Faerun…which, as I have learned is near a great country called Cormyr, which is to the east of where Evereska once was.
Perhaps going to a school does not seem like much of a task, but there is more, which I shall explain.
The school is called the Everall school, founded some twenty years ago by an elven woman named Liralyn Sunstar, and the group she once adventured with. The school, though it has not been around long, is highly sought and fairly controversial. From what information I have been told, and managed to gather, there is quite a bit of story behind it.
Liralyn Sunstar is not an unfamiliar name to me, although among the Nightstar house she is more commonly referred to as the "sleeping one." I believe I may have made mention of it before, but if not, I shall do so again. The "sleeping one" is one of my families great mysteries, as she is a relation to the house, even though she is Ar-Tel Quessir…a gold elf. Tracing history back, I believe that she is the cousin of my great-grandfather, and she was born well-over 4 centuries ago. While such a length of time is not so long for the people, the manner in which she spent much of that time is rather unusual. Liralyn Sunstar slept away some 3 centuries of her existence, never aging, never waking. Powerful magic had put her into a state of stasis, though no wizard or house Nightstar, Sunstar, or any other house could devise a way to break the spell. The problem, as I have learned, was that the curse had been cast, not on Liralyn, but on Liralyn's mother, Astianna, a moon elven woman. It had affected my many times distant cousin through her mother…and the spell, therefore could only be dispelled on Astianna…and no one, to this day, ever found Astianna Nightstar.
Now, while I was on Ruathym, it seems, the curse finally ran its course…and with the passing of the last of my great-grandparents, and Liralyn's gold elven relatives, Liralyn awoke. For her, it was as though no time had passed. She awoke to find her known family dead, and the world she knew changed…I certainly can sympathize…at least with the latter statement. Furthermore, not only had Liralyn been affected by this curse, but so had her unborn child…
Now, I promise I am getting to the point…
The unborn child was born, a boy. Liralyn refused to name the child's father…but the Queen knew who he was, and more importantly, why Liralyn Sunstar was afraid for that child's life.
Now, I have mentioned that the King and Queen of Evermeet had many children…only a small few of whom I ever met. You see, the heirs to Evermeet seem to suffer tragic accidents…many of these so-called accidents, I am certain were aided in no small part by the traitor, Kymil Nimesin. One of these heirs was the first born son of the king and queen, second in birth and rank only to his sister, the princess Ilryana. His name was Xharlion Moonflower, and he was killed before he reached his first century. Before he died, however, he fathered a child…just one child…and that child is the eldest son of my distant cousin, Liralyn Sunstar.
Although this child is a direct descendent of the royal family, the boy cannot ever inherit…for, you see, he, like his mother, is Ar-Tel Quessir. And the gold elves cannot wield a moonblade…and only a member of the royal family who can wield the King's blade will ever rule.
All of this the Queen told me, and more. Part of my task, you see, is to guard this child's life…for although he is a gold elf, and out of the line of succession, he may still be in danger due to his heritage. Although this boy cannot inherit, the Queen explained to me, he is still her grandchild, and the last link she has to her lost son, Xharlion…and so she wishes him safe. When I asked why she would have me do this, and why now, when the boy was already entering his 4th decade, the queen gave me an answer, which I shall explain further, momentarily.
Liralyn Sunstar left Evermeet shortly after her son's birth, taking him with her to Evereska. But, like many of the people, she felt the need to travel. The queen has hinted that my cousin had some greater purpose than mere wanderlust, but has not volunteered any further information on the topic, and so I have not asked. She left her son in Evereska, and traveled for a number of years with a group of adventurers…all of varied races. During their adventures, the group amassed a great deal of wealth, gained renown, and were regarded as heroes in the dalelands, where they had stopped a demon residing in Myth Drannor that sought to expand its power by spreading its taint into the humans' lands.
Perhaps it was the variety of the party, a group, which I am told, worked together well…or perhaps it was their adventure to Myth Drannor that inspired them…but some ten years after they began, the group retired. They poured much of their wealth into a school…a school the likes of which have not been seen since the Fall of Myth Drannor.
It is called the Everall school, because everyone from all goodly races are invited to study there. From what little I know, this means that there are elven children schooling alongside dwarven, human, halfling, and gnome children. However, because the idea of such a school could never come easily to many, the party devised a plan to keep the location of the school a well-guarded secret, thereby assuring the safety of the students and teachers living there. Only those who are invited will be taken into the section of the forest of Cormanthyr where the school is located…and only a small number of people…mostly the original party, and closely trusted friends can guide those invited through the forest…I gather that magic is involved on a grand scale, for the queen has informed me that invaders, or those that mean harm to the school or the students, often find themselves lost in the forest, only to emerge where they began, some many days later, telling wild tales of dragon protectors and the like.
It shall be interesting to see how much of those tales are true, for in order to complete the protection part of the task, I must go to the Everall school, where the boy and his mother live. Getting an invitation was easy enough, or so the queen informed me. Sera, whom I am not leaving behind, will be invited as a student, whereas I am to go as a …teacher, believe it or not. Just what I am expected to teach; I have no idea yet, however.
The second part of the task I have been given also requires that I be situated in the Dalelands, close to the forest of Cormanthyr. You see over the past decade or two, the elven retreat has ended. The elven retreat was a calling that most elves felt…a need to depart the mainland of Faerun and go to Evermeet. So the people did just that. In the process of doing so, we foolishly abandoned the elven court in the forest of Cormanthyr, and the mythal that guards it. We'd hoped that the mythal would protect the ghost town we left behind…but apparently it was not to be so.
According to the queen, after the people abandoned the forest, drow moved into the places we once held. The dark elves began to try to use the mythal, to twist it to their own will. And because they are still, in many ways, elves, they were able to get control of the elven court. Fortunately, there are several different drow factions who have taken residence in the forest, and so they fight with each other, and the humans so often, they have not had the time to completely devote all their efforts on corrupting the mythal. And so I come to the second part of my task.
Over the years since the end of the retreat many of the people have returned to the mainland, back to the homes from whence they'd come, only to find that their homes are now infested with drow. Part of my task is to aid those among my people working to take back what is ours. To that end, I am to lend my strength and magic whenever it is needed. And since the school is located just inside the forest of Cormanthyr, it will be the best place for me.
Though the queen only spoke of the two tasks, I suspect there is another reason I am being sent to this school…I would almost hazard to say that the tasks were made as more of an excuse. For although I can understand that protecting the queen's grandchild, and removing the drow presence from the forest…both tasks given to me seem almost…unnecessary. What I mean by that, is simply that, the child is already well past his second decade, and has suffered no harm…furthermore, his mother and an entire school full of teachers who are trained in magic and war surround him…protecting him. What possible use can there be of one more protector? And as for the drow, well…I'll grant that when it comes to battle, I am neither a coward, a weakling, nor inexperienced. Still…why me? As I have been told time and again, I am young…and foolish. Why would they not send someone better suited to taking orders…and to combat against the dark ones, than I am?
Those are the reason that I suspect that there might be a third reason behind all this…and more than just my restlessness here, on Evermeet. But what the reason is, I am not certain of yet. I shall figure it out, yet, though.
I returned later that evening, in better spirits than I have been in, in years. When I arrived home, however, my spirits dimmed somewhat. My parents were waiting for me. Their faces were…sad. That is the best I can think to describe their expressions when I saw them seated in one of the smaller sitting rooms. They were trying to hide their emotions, as befit their stations…but they were not quite managing it. My father looked up to see me pause in the doorway. As I met his gaze in the fading light, I noticed, for the 1st time, that there was more silver threaded in among the pure sapphire blue of his hair. It shocked me…my father is far too young to be showing signs of aging yet…and yet he was. In that moment, I was able to look at him, without the anger I had felt towards him and his high-handed ways, over the past years. He was simply my father, and I was painfully aware of what a horrible son I was. I lowered my eyes, not able to meet his any longer.
Even worse was my mother, beside him. She is even younger than my father, and yet with her, was her ever-present cane. Her leg, even after all this time, has never fully healed. She walks with a limp from a wound sustained while protecting our home. And here was I, her son, happy that I would be, once more, leaving Evermeet.
"The queen has spoken with you," my father stated. I nodded.
"And you have, of course, agreed to her proposal," he sighed. Again, I nodded, holding tightly to the doorframe. I wondered then, how I could be so happy about something that was making my parents so very unhappy?
"Keledrial, come in, and sit," my father ordered. So I did.
"Look up, please," he added, when I kept my gaze on the floor. I forced myself to do as he wished.
"She…told me it was your idea," I began, softly. My father nodded.
"I am not blind to your unhappiness, son. I only thought that time was what you needed…but I can see it is more than that."
"I know…sometimes…sometimes I think that I can never be happy…no matter where I am," I mumbled.
"It's like being Cha'tel quessir…trapped between two worlds," I added, feeling miserable again.
"Don't say that!" my father snapped, a bit of his fire returning. "You are not a half-human! You are our son, and as elven as I am…but we have to accept that you are not as you were…that you are not a little boy anymore. For better, or worse, your time among the humans has shaped you into who you are. I can accept that, if you can accept that I only wanted the best for you…and tried to make sure you had it…even if it was not always what you wanted."
"I am sorry I am not the son you wanted," I apologized. "If you wish…I will renounce my claim on the heirdom of the house…that way Sylthas…or Kedriel, or the girls could take my place…they are all better suited…" My mother was the one to glare, this time.
"You will do no such thing! You are my heir, Keledrial. You seem to forget one thing, my son…it is I, and my sister who make the decisions, and it is I who will decide if you are worthy…not you." She was silent for a moment, as though contemplating something, then she spoke again, her voice calm, once more.
"I understand that you are restless…it is in your blood, baby. Both my family, and your father's family number adventurers among their ranks…you won't be the first…or the last, I'd wager. The way things are looking, Sylthas will be off to the mainland not long after you…and Kedriel is already talking about following in your footsteps."
"I'm sorry…"
"Stop apologizing," my mother said. "Now listen to me…we are not angry at you, and your leaving is not because we don't want you here. It has just taken us…time to realize that the future we had planned for you, the life we thought you wanted, and the reality of things are not the same. When you were little, you seemed perfectly content to stay here, on Evermeet. You never showed the slightest curiosity or interest about anything beyond Evermeet, and especially not adventuring. It has taken your father and I a while to reconcile the changes we have seen in you. And I am the one who is sorry, for we allowed so much time to pass while we adjusted, that you suffered for it." My father spoke up as my mother stopped.
"Son, when I told you that I didn't think adventuring was an appropriate profession for you…it was my fear speaking, and I beg you to forgive that. You have the right to choose your profession, only so long as you do not neglect your duties to your family. It was only that I was afraid to lose you…and to tell the truth I still am. We lost you once, already, but by the grace of the Seldarine, you were returned to us. After reading your journal…the close calls you had while with your…comrades…all I could think was how many times we might have lost you. You are our first born…to lose you to illness was a thing we always expected. But you came back, healthier than we even dreamed…to lose you now would be even worse."
"I don't know what to say," I mumbled, feeling joy at their love for me, and yet saddened, for I was causing them pain. "I don't know what to do. I want to go…I want to see things and do things…I keep thinking that if I stay here, I'll never have the chance. But I don't want to leave you either. On Ruathym…I saw you in my reverie every night…it haunted me to think that I had survived and you hadn't…and that I would never see you again. After a while, I could hardly even remember what you looked like, and "mother" and "father" were Ingrid and Brander. I never thought I would ever see you again…but you lived, and I came home…and all I have done since that day is cause trouble and grief for both of you…and there is nothing I can think of to do to repair that damage, except stay and be what you want me to be…but I can't…I just can't be that boy anymore," I explained to them, expressing more of my inner feelings and thoughts to them, than I had in years.
"Please…I need you to understand that it isn't you, and it isn't Kedriel or the girls that I am trying to get away from. I love all of you. It isn't even Evermeet, for I swear to you, I love this place…it is me…I feel so trapped here…at first I could stand it, but the feeling has grown more intolerable since then. I don't even know why I feel this way, but I do. I keep thinking that if I can go back…see things, travel, like Tobias did…maybe even fins people like me…people who don't really fit in, that when the time comes, I'll feel that I have done and seen enough to be able to come home and stay here, without feeling…lost."
"That is why we want you to go," my mother stated finally, after a long moment of silence. "It is not because we don't love you…and we know that you love us…we just want you to be happy. But I won't lie to you…I also want you to be safe…and a big reason why your father and I agreed to the queen's plan, is because you will be safe at the school. And if there is any place that will be able to help you through what you are feeling, it is at a school, where the main goal is to teach cooperation, and acceptance between the races."
"You are certain that this is all right with you both?" I asked…at that moment I desperately wanted to be reassured of their approval…I needed to know that on the day I decided to come home, that I would still have a home.
"Of course…I never would have spoken to the queen about it otherwise," my father stated.
"And Keledrial, don't worry so…it is not like this will be the last you see of us," my mother added, reassuringly. "The Dalelands are far from Evermeet, true, but that does not mean they are impossible to visit…nor does it mean you cannot return to Evermeet and see us." She glanced down to the ring I now wore on my finger, as though to make a point. The ring, you see, is an elf-rune ring…which the queen gave me just as she finished explaining things to me. It granted two abilities to the wearer. One was that the queen could contact me, and I could contact her if the need arose…at any time. The second ability was greater still…I need only use the command word in the ring to transport back to Evermeet in an instant. Though the ability to do so is a great gift, one that only the queen could grant, I knew that she never had to worry about the ring's misuse…for the ring can only be removed from my finger by the queen herself, or after my death…and if I should die, it would lose all of its magic, anyhow.
I knew that that was what my mother meant by being able to return to visit them.
I stayed up with them, for much of the night, talking. It was a great thing to be able to speak with them…to say what I felt…and it was an even greater thing to finally realize that I had both their love, and understating.
It took a bit of time to get all my affairs in order. Naturally Sera would be coming with me. I know that I once said that Evermeet would be the safest place for her, and indeed, it probably is…but I cannot bear to leave her behind, nor would she, in any event, permit herself to be separated from me. So she is coming as well. At least this time she is older, and more readily comprehends what we are doing. She seems only a little upset that we are leaving Evermeet…and that is mostly because she does not want to leave my parents, or her friends here. Yet, I think she realizes that she will make new friends, and she seems a bit excited about going to the school. She has declared that she has decided she wants to become a wizard, like me…and that she will learn how to do so at the Everall school. We shall see…after all, her opinion can change as often as the tides.
She has also asked if we are going to visit Lita and Rosa, and Allianna when we return to the mainland. I was somewhat shocked at her question, seeing as how she had been a baby when we knew them…but then again, she is a dragon, and dragons are even more renown for their amazing, and long memories than elves are.
I managed to finish packing the things I would need in short order…mostly I took my weapons, clothing and armor, the gems I had brought with from the mainland, but had never gotten around to spending, and other necessities. My parents weighed me down with a great deal of coin, claiming that they were not about to have their son and granddaughter wander off without enough money to keep us comfortable. I did try to refuse it...after all, there isn't a whole lot I need that I don't already have…but naturally, they insisted.
Sera's packing, on the other hand, took a bit more time. She was determined to bring everything she owned…which is no small sum of items. I suppose I understand why…it's her draconic hoarding tendency…but I ended up having to purchase two very large bags of holding in order to fit it all. And while putting everything into the bags, I cursed all of my friend and family members for buying Sera so much…clutter.
All said and done, it took about a ten-day before I was ready to go. Everything had been packed up, and consolidated down to a few bags, and I said all of my farewells. Tobias, I learned was going to stay a little while longer on Evermeet, but added that I should not be surprised if I ran into him again, somewhere on the mainland. Sylthas seemed rather envious of my going, claiming that he, too, would like to see the world a beyond Evermeet, but that his father was not having any of it. I told him to act miserable and eventually his father would give in, as mine had. My sisters seemed only vaguely interested in my leaving. They both claimed they would miss me, and perhaps they would…but I do not think it will bother them much. As much as I have grown fond of the girls, I realized earlier on that Anarihne and Amentrine are their own little unit. For the most part, their world consists of each other…and occasionally our cousin Orianna…and there is really no one else they need at this point in their life.
Kedriel's reaction, however, was anything but mild. He screamed and yelled, he cried and pouted. He demanded to go with me, and alternately demanded that I stay. He had decided at some point after I had made my reappearance on Evermeet, that since our sisters had each other, that I was his. That meant he believed he should be able to go wherever I went, and do whatever I do. Early on he began mimicking my rather unique mannerisms, and was ever at my side…a fact, I might add, which infuriated Sera to no end, for she does not wish to share me with anyone, not even my little brother.
At first I tried to explain to Kedriel that he was too young to come with me…but then realized that I sounded too much like my parents, who had claimed I was too young to leave. So I changed my stance, and told him that I had to leave on a secret mission from the queen. That perked his attention long enough that he ceased his tantrum. He demanded to know more.
"I cannot tell you, or else it wouldn't be a secret, now would?" I admonished him. He thought about it, and finally nodded.
"I wanna go with you," Kedriel replied. "I can help!"
"And I am certain you would be a help, little brother," I stated seriously. "But where I am going, you cannot come yet."
"Why not?" he demanded.
"It's a secret, remember?"
"Oh…well, can I come with you some day?" he asked.
"Yes…as soon as the queen says you are ready, you can come with me. But until then, you have to behave, and do as our parents tell you, and be the best there is at the things you do…that is how the queen will know you are ready," I told him. He nodded solemnly, as though everything I was telling him came from the mouths of the gods. I stared down at him, taller that he was even while kneeling. His green eyes were the same color as mine, hair and features also as mine were. I wondered if he would grow up, and become as tall as I was...or if my own size had something to do with my time spent on Ruathym. I stood up abruptly, and ruffled his hair.
"Cheer up Kedriel…I'll come back to visit you, I promise."
"All right then…you can go, but only so long as you promise," he stated, as though my going was forestalled by his approval.
"You have my word, little brother" I vowed.
Sera and I left later that afternoon, after a strangely sorrowful leave-taking that was marked with a great deal of hugging, and promises to return extracted from me.
This time, I would not be taking a boat back to the mainland. Apparently both my parents and the queen did not feel like tempting fate, and Umberlee twice. Instead, I was brought up to the palace, and the queen activated a gate to the mainland. She had already made arrangements for its use with the people at the other side. The gate would take me to Blackstaff tower in Waterdeep, home to the Archmage of Waterdeep, as I recall. The queen gave me several sealed letters that would gain me entrance to the Everall school, and confirm my identity to my gold elven cousin there. The plan was that I was to gate into Waterdeep, and then take the wayfarer's guild as far as Suzail, the capital city of human kingdom called Cormyr. From there I was to meet with a caravan headed over to the daleands, and arrive at the village of Hap, in Battledale. The town itself is small, with only a few permanent buildings, but it was also where students from the school are met by the guides who take them to the school itself.
However, I had slightly different plans. As there was no time limit to exactly when I had to reach the school, I decided that as soon as I got to Waterdeep, I would visit some old friends and acquaintances. And I certainly did not need a caravan's aid to get me to Battledale…I was more than capable enough to follow a map on my own.
So when the sun rose on the day of my departure, I headed up to the castle, with my family, and all that I was to take with me back to the mainland. The Fury of Battle was tucked safely into my glove of storing. Sera was skipping about, looking at the streets we passed, and the people we were with as though memorizing everything she saw. Sanhandrian sat upon my shoulder, chipper as only a squirrel can be. In all the time I have had him, he has not aged much…the magical nature of familiars I suppose. He has, however, gotten considerably smarter as time has passed, and far more adept at making his opinions and feelings known. His opinion on the matter of returning to the mainland was fairly indifferent, for Sanhandrian claimed that female squirrels and nuts were much the same, anywhere in the world we went. I was leading my horse, as well, for the beast would also be traveling with me. He is not Lashrael, however, for unlike Sanhandrian, Lashrael was no special or magical creature…only a horse. He passed on to wherever it is horses go when they die, last year…still as feisty as ever. He left behind a legacy though, for during his life he'd managed to impregnate no small few moon horses on Evermeet. Several of those offspring had been born with Lashrael's dark coloring, rather than the pale pearly hued coats of most moon horses. My current mount is one of Lashrael's offspring…another ill-tempered stallion, whom I have rather uncreatively dubbed Lashrael 2. The beast is very much like his sire in size, temperament, and coloring…however, from his dam, he gained a degree of intelligence, and an empathic ability, which allowed him to express his thoughts to me. After a few arguments, Lashrael 2 and I have come to an agreement. He will behave for me, and I will let him do mostly what he wishes. I think that we shall get along famously, once the beast realizes for once and for all that it is I who am in charge in this particular relationship.
We reached the palace in no time at all, and after another round of farewells, and "we shall see you again soons," and be carefuls, Sera, Lashrael 2, Sanhandrian and myself were escorted further into the palace. We met with the queen in the king's garden…a place that had always been a private sanctuary for the royal family. I had never before seen it, and found it a simple, yet soothing place to be. The queen activated the gate; causing powerful magic to flare all about me…so strong I could feel the strength of the energy thrumming in my bones.
"Good luck, Keledrial Nightstar," Queen Amlaruil said to me. "And take care, that you and your daughter will one day return to us, with peace a comfortable thing in your heart."
"I shall, your highness, and I shall strive to perform the tasks you have given me to the fullest extent of my abilities…and seek the peace that you wish for me," I replied sincerely. After all, it is not like I wish for strife and discord in my life…but at this point in my existence, I do seem to have a habit of attracting. Peace is a thing I seek…but I am not foolish enough to believe that it will be an easy thing to achieve…nor a short time in which I shall achieve it.
We stepped through the portal, and with a rushing whirlwind of energy, we left Evermeet behind, and found ourselves standing in a simply furnished bedchamber in the famed Blackstaff tower. Standing before me, was a stunningly lovely human woman, with long silvery hair. She was obviously waiting for my arrival, and did not seem startled in the least at our sudden appearance. She held her hand out to me, and in a courtly manner, I took it, and bowed…believing that she must be of some importance. The minute my hand touched her, I felt the tingle of magic searing my fingertips with its intensity. It felt almost as though the woman's very skin was infused with magic.
"Welcome, Lord Nightstar." The woman said, in a musical, somewhat laughing voice. I had been told to expect a male, human wizard with black and silver hair, so I was a little surprised at the woman.
"Such a welcome is well accepted by one as lovely as you, my lady…and please, it is Keledrial, for I am no lord. Yet I was told that a Lord Khelben Blackstaff would be meeting me," I replied smoothly.
"Well…Keledrial," she smiled…and as I met her eyes, I sensed, somehow, that this woman was no mere human woman, for there was age, and experience in her gaze that me feel as though I was a child, once more.
"Khelben did, indeed mean to meet you, however a situation arose that has unavoidably detained him...and so I am here in his place."
"And might I have the pleasure of your name, lady?" I asked.
"I am called Laeral," she replied easily.
"Well, Lady Laeral…I have heard your name…for some years ago when I lived in Waterdeep for a time. Are you not the Lord Khelben's Lady…and bear another title as well…chosen of Mystra, as I recall?" I queried, curiously. She nodded.
"It is so, on both accounts…and your name is not unknown to me. There are those in this city who remember the deeds of you and your former party members…indeed, my sister is among those who well recalls her meeting with you."
"Your sister? Then she must look very different from yourself, Lady Laeral, for I am certain I would remember meeting someone like you," I stated.
"Indeed we are different…as night and day," she replied cryptically. "I believe you might recall your meeting with her…in Skullport." I thought for a moment, of all the time that I had been in Skullport with the rest of my former party…but not for any trying could I remember any woman who'd looked even fractionally like Laeral. I would have been more than happy to continue the conversation and clarify just when I had met her sister, but I was interrupted, unsurprisingly enough. Sera, irritated at having been ignored for so long, reclaimed my attention with her usual bluntness.
"Dad-yy!" she whined, dragging out the last syllable of my most important title. "Are we going yet? We're s'posed to go see Lita and Rosa and Alli!"
"We'll go in a minute Sera, be polite," I admonished her, not overly impressed by her pouting expression. Fortunately, Laeral did not seem to mind Sera's behavior.
"That's all right…I'll show you out of the tower so that you can be on your way, Lady Sera." Sera seemed to puff up a bit at being called a lady, and remembered her manners, thankfully.
"Thank you," Sera smiled, curtsying to Laeral. The human woman seemed charmed by my Sera…but then again, I really can't think of too many people who are not…except of course for my witch of a fiancé…but I'd rather not think about her at all.
True to her word, Laeral showed up out of the building, through an illusionary door in the wall of the tower…the illusion was so clever that even I did not immediately notice it. As we left, Laeral asked where we would be staying while in town. I named an inn, one that had a tavern in it, and one that I had frequented when I'd last been in Waterdeep. Since Laeral nodded, I assumed that it was still in business, Rosaleen's old inn: the Dancing Blade. Laeral proceeded to tell Sera that her flittercat, which is just like a regular cat only with wings, had had kittens some weeks earlier, and she was wondering if Sera might like one for a pet. Sera, who loved gifts, especially ones she could play with agreed instantly, and thanked Laeral again, not even bothering to ask me if it was all right. I guess she knows me far too well…I hate to refuse her anything…unless of course I think it might be bad for her…and somehow, I do not get any sort of bad feeling about Laeral.
We headed over to the inn. It looked a little more weather-beaten, the wood more aged that it had been some 20 years ago, but other than that little had changed. Rosaleen's old boss still owned the place, his brown beard having gone fully gray. He rented me a room, and surprised me when he called me Airk, stating that I was a hard person to forget. It has been so very long since anyone has called me that…and I still felt a shiver of fear when I realized that even after all this time, the name was still as familiar and instinctive to me as Keledrial is. I asked him if he knew where Rosaleen was. He stated that she hadn't worked at the inn for twenty years, but that she still lived in Waterdeep, in a nice house up in Trade ward. He added that she occasionally stopped by to say hello to everyone, but that after she'd come into an "inheritance," and gotten married shortly thereafter, that she didn't come down to the dock ward as often…she'd made herself "respectable." The man seemed almost proud of Rosaleen's accomplishments. And upon hearing that she'd done well for herself, I was gladdened. I learned her address from him, so that Sera and I might drop by to say hello, before we left town.
After a short time of settling in, Sera and I decided to take a walk about the city. Sera actually wanted to go visit people right away, but I thought that looking around, and seeing how, and if anything had changed was more ideal…just to have a little time to get used to the crowded human city once more.
Waterdeep was as it had been twenty years ago…a wild mix of people, races, shops and homes. The sights and smells were a little overwhelming after the tranquility and peace of Leuthilspar, but I adjusted quickly enough. I stopped by many of my old hangouts. The faces had changed a bit, but for the most part it was all the same. The adventuring guild had been rebuilt, but I didn't bother to do more than glance in. A stop back at Brian's forge revealed that the human was still there, still working and ordering the smiths around. His hair had a considerable amount of gray in it, and he'd acquired a bit of a paunch at some point, but looked no less formidable than he had when I'd worked for him.
He greeted Sera and I warmly when I happened to poke my head in. The first thing he asked was whether or not I wanted my old job back. I smiled and told him no, that I was only passing through Waterdeep, on my way to the dalelands. He made a noise, and asked why I'd want to go to a dull place like that, when Waterdeep had everything I could want. I shrugged, told him that it wanderlust, I suppose. He laughed, claiming he was unsurprised to see me…that he never thought one such as my self would be content sitting peaceful in Evermeet. We talked for a while after that, but as night began to fall, Sera and I continued on our way, back to the inn.
Morning came quickly, and by the time it did, Sera was all but demanding we go visit. I swear, she awoke even earlier than I did, and shook me out of reverie. She was fully clothed already, telling me that I had to get up, get dressed, and fix her hair, so that we could go. I did manage to convince her that breakfast was in order before we went tromping throughout Waterdeep looking to find old friends. She grudgingly agreed, and we went downstairs.
Since we knew were Rosaleen and Lita lived, I allowed Sera the choice of who we would visit first. She quickly decided on Lita, so we walked the distance to the house I had given to the human thief and her daughter.
When we arrived however, and knocked on the door, it was not Lita who answered it, but rather an older human man. When we asked about Lita, he nodded knowingly.
"She's my landlord," he said. "Rents the place to me for a fair price."
"Well where is she living now?" I asked. "We're friends of hers, but it's been quite some time since we last saw her."
"Well, she moved up to Silverymoon some ten…maybe eleven years ago. Said she wanted her daughter to go to the college up there, I think." He proceeded to give me the address where he sent the money to. I thanked and bid him a nice day.
Sera pouted for a bit, until I assured her that we would stop and see Lita before we went to the dalelands. She made me promise, of course, but I didn't really mind. I happen to know that the wayfarer's guild here in Waterdeep can teleport up to Silverymoon in a trice, it would only cost a bit, and money is something that I have plenty of.
So we continued onwards, up to the ward were Rosaleen lived. Rosaleen's house was at the end of a quiet street, not early as full of people as the lower wards were. It was actually quite pleasant: trees lined the streets, which were comprised of cobblestones. Each house had its own little yard, many fenced in. Rosa's house was made of brick, and was a fairly large in size. It was, I might add, considerably more expensive than the house I had bought for Sera and myself when we'd lived here, so I had to assume that Rosaleen, or perhaps her husband had done well, beyond the money I had given her.
We knocked on the door, some time just after noon. A young man answered the door a few minutes later. He was probably about ten or eleven, and with curly blond hair and blue eyes, I thought he looked very much like Rosaleen, and so assumed that this was her child.
"Can I help you?" the boy asked me politely, looking bored.
"I would like to speak with a woman named Rosaleen. Is she at home?" I asked. The boy turned, leaving the door partially opened, and shouted down the hallway.
"Mom! It's for you!" He then proceeded to abandon his post at the door, and return to whatever he'd been previously doing. Another minute or two passed before Rosaleen arrived. I had a moment to study her as she opened the door fully again. Her blond hair was shorter, and there were a few gray strands mixed in with the blond. She'd gained a bit of flesh, and her breasts were larger than ever. There were more than a few lines on her face, but other than that, she looked much the same as she always had…except, of course, that she no longer looked like a bar wench.
She looked up to see me, a hello died on her lips. Her face broke into a smile, and she hugged me before I had a chance to say a word.
"Keledrial!" she cried. "It's been so long!" She released me, only to grab Sera next. Sera, always affectionate, returned the embrace. After a moment, Rosaleen held Sera out from her at arm's length.
"And little Sera! Just look at you! You were just a baby when you left! What a little lady you are now! Well, come in then! What are you doing back in Waterdeep? Oh, I have so much to tell you!" Rosaleen exclaimed.
So we went into the house…or rather, were practically dragged in by Rosaleen. She showed us around the place, which was rather nice…and certainly a great deal better than the small apartment she'd been living in when we'd left. She introduced us to her husband Gareth, a dark haired human man who was a bit older than Rosaleen. He was fairly tall, but not quite my height, and his build suggested that he was physical sort. He worked as a merchant, buying and selling cloth. I gathered from the conversation that he'd once been in the guard, but a sword wound to his right arm had made the limb useless for battle, so he'd retired and started the business, which was doing well, according to him. He did not seem at all bothered by my visit, even considering that I am one of Rosaleen's former lovers. He said that as far as he was concerned, I was Rosaleen's old friend…and a good friend at that, for what I had done. I didn't really feel comfortable with the praise, for I hadn't done much at all, but sleep with her, and so I changed the subject fairly quickly.
Sera and I were both invited to diner, and introduced to Rosaleen's three children, 2 boys and a girl. The younger boy, and the girl were both fairly young, and did not seem interested in me at all. The older boy, James, who was 17 I would guess, seemed shocked when he saw us. He whispered something to his mother that I did not catch, but I heard Rosaleen's response.
"…we'll talk about it later," was what she said. I should have been paying closer attention, I think. Perhaps then I would have realized that Rosaleen, Gareth, and their son all knew something I didn't…and that Rosa was hiding something from me.
We sat down in their sitting room and talked for a while. Rosaleen wanted to know all about Evermeet, and the things I had been up to. I described her first request, as she wished, but did not feel it necessary to tell her every detail of what had been going on my life to make me wish to return to the mainland…especially the less…savory details.
It was shortly before sun down that I got a shock I will never forget.
The front door opened, and slammed shut a moment later. Then a feminine voice called out,
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I caught a look that passed between Rosaleen and her husband, but could not interpret. And then Rosaleen turned to me, looking a bit nervous.
"Keledrial…" she began. "There's something I should tell you…"
"And what's that?" I asked, still unaware of what was going on. Before she had a chance to respond, the door to the room opened, and a girl walked, pulling off a helmet, and chain shirt, a tabard slung over her arm bearing the symbol of the Waterdhavian guard.
"I hope that dinner's almost ready, 'cause I'm starving…and you won't believe what happened today down in the Dock ward…" suddenly the girl's babbling trailed off, as she looked over at Sera and I for the first time.
"Oh…we've got visitors?" she asked…and then I took a good look at her.
The first thing I noticed was that she had green eyes…my green eyes, to be exact. Other features followed…elven ears only slightly less pointed than my own…and her nose, which was just like my mother's. Her hair was blond like Rosaleen's, but straight like mine, and cut short to her chin. Tall, and almost boyishly thin, she carried herself like a warrior.
I think that if I had been struck by lightning at that moment, I could not have been more surprised. Rosaleen's voice was strangely calm as she spoke.
"Kelly, this is your birth father, Keledrial Nightstar. Keledrial…" she hesitated. "This is my oldest daughter, Kelly, who was sired by you the ten-day before you left for your home."