Chapter Seven
Suddenly, a different sound reached her. Not loud, just... different. Dariana turned to look in the direction of the sound, and caught just a glimpse of something large and white as it passed behind a thick Glade shrub. Her interest piqued – and perhaps needing a distraction from the musings that had been keeping her awake so late – she pushed herself up, grabbed her backpack and followed.
There was no doubt the figure was large, and it was quick, choosing its path through the forest with a sure and quiet step. Dari herself was barely quieter, despite being much lighter and smaller than whatever it was she was following. An expert tracker, she'd already concluded that the creature was a horse. Or perhaps a centaur – it was impossible to tell from just the hoof prints. Truth be told, the druid began to wonder if the whatever-it- was was leading her somewhere, for surely it seemed to occasionally pause to wait for her to catch up! Thoroughly intrigued, the young half-elf quickened her pace and did her best to keep up.
On and on she followed, to places in the Jaggedpine Forest Dariana had yet taken the time to explore. Finally, she found herself in a hidden clearing, and the horse was before her, shimmering in a ray of moonlight that beamed pointedly into the clearing.
Only it wasn't a horse. It was a gleaming white unicorn, and it was standing beside a tall, fair elven woman whose proud chin was raised and pointed straight at Dariana. Clear, determined eyes sought her own, then twinkled with an inward smile. With the barest nod she turned and walked north, indicating that Dariana was to follow.
Follow she did, keeping pace with Firiona Vie and Equestrielle, for that was whom these two surely were. The elven woman's pace was purposed, but not fast, and her strong arm was draped low about the unicorn's neck in a comfortable pose. Not one of them spoke; indeed, all three took long, purposeful strides as if their destination were eagerly awaiting them.
The forest became grassland; became frigid desert, became ocean and beach, mountain and marshland. Still, Dariana followed. Eventually, her sense of time and physicality vanished; sunrise, sunset, hunger, thirst, rain, sunshine, fatigue... all blurred together so that Dariana felt each as part of a whole, nothing individually beautiful or painful or needing attention.
She had no idea how far or how long they had traveled when suddenly, as if awakening with a wide-eyed start from a dream, she knew where they were! They were passing right through the Greater Faydark! Firiona showed no sign of slowing however; she continued to lead the party with that purposeful stride; heading southeast now. Dari wondered if her mother could see her, parading amongst the trees with Tunare's Champion. Then she realized that there were neither people nor animals nearby, none at all; and the mist of the forest had an odd greenish hue. "How curious," Dariana thought. For the first time, she wondered if she had fallen asleep under the Jaggedpine after all; perhaps this whole adventure was a dream.
When the forest broke to expose a large lake glittering in the moonlight, Dariana drew her breath in quickly. This was Lake Elizerain! Nestled into the foothills of the Steamfont Mountains, its chilly waters were the final resting place of Edril, the storied elven hero. This was one of Dariana's most favorite places on Norrath. She had come here often, first as a child to play on its shores with her parents, then as an adult whenever she sought solace and communion with Tunare. Given her state of mind of late, it had been a few years since she had been here last, but she knew it immediately.
Firiona Vie stopped abruptly and lowered herself with single fluid motion, sitting with her legs crossed and facing Dariana. Equestrielle took her position nearby, draping her long white nose over Firiona's shoulder and whickering softly. Following their cue, Dariana also sat upon the sandy ground, near a clump of rushes.
Her golden ponytail bobbing, Firiona worked to remove a small leather pouch from her belt, then handed it to Dariana with a smile. When the druid accepted the pouch, Firiona indicated with a simple wave of her slim hand that she was to open it.
Dari carefully tipped the contents of the pouch into the palm of her hand, and stared. She was holding a small pile of emeralds, but they were like no emeralds Dariana had ever seen, not even after imbuing them with Tunare's essence. These stones glowed with an inner light, casting a greenish hue that was not unlike the greenish mist in the forest they had just passed through.
She looked up at Firiona, speechless and questioning. The elven woman simply stood up, smiled again, and finally spoke. "Ilsar'rin. Until we meet again, Sha'lein." She nodded once, and walked back into the forest, her arm again draped casually over the unicorn's glistening withers. The two of them faded into the mists of the Faydark.
Dariana's mind raced as she carefully replaced the gems into the plain leather pouch. What had just happened? What was the significance of the gems? Why had Firiona Vie brought her here, to Lake Elizerain? What did she mean by ilsar'rin, "for the People"? How long had they been traveling? This was all some sort of crazy dream, she decided. Nothing is making any sense.
She settled back down upon the ground, pulled her cloak tightly about her once again, and shut her eyes tightly, determined to sleep. This time, there were no distracting whispers.
Later, she awoke to the sound of a lake lapping nearby and a lumpy leather pouch clutched in her hand. Rising, she hurriedly bathed in cold water. She had to seek out the Ryuujins immediately, and take her oath. There were still a great many questions to be answered, but she knew that three things were certain: her adventure had not been a dream; her life did have a higher purpose; and she would be pledging the House of Light with an ardent heart.
Suddenly, a different sound reached her. Not loud, just... different. Dariana turned to look in the direction of the sound, and caught just a glimpse of something large and white as it passed behind a thick Glade shrub. Her interest piqued – and perhaps needing a distraction from the musings that had been keeping her awake so late – she pushed herself up, grabbed her backpack and followed.
There was no doubt the figure was large, and it was quick, choosing its path through the forest with a sure and quiet step. Dari herself was barely quieter, despite being much lighter and smaller than whatever it was she was following. An expert tracker, she'd already concluded that the creature was a horse. Or perhaps a centaur – it was impossible to tell from just the hoof prints. Truth be told, the druid began to wonder if the whatever-it- was was leading her somewhere, for surely it seemed to occasionally pause to wait for her to catch up! Thoroughly intrigued, the young half-elf quickened her pace and did her best to keep up.
On and on she followed, to places in the Jaggedpine Forest Dariana had yet taken the time to explore. Finally, she found herself in a hidden clearing, and the horse was before her, shimmering in a ray of moonlight that beamed pointedly into the clearing.
Only it wasn't a horse. It was a gleaming white unicorn, and it was standing beside a tall, fair elven woman whose proud chin was raised and pointed straight at Dariana. Clear, determined eyes sought her own, then twinkled with an inward smile. With the barest nod she turned and walked north, indicating that Dariana was to follow.
Follow she did, keeping pace with Firiona Vie and Equestrielle, for that was whom these two surely were. The elven woman's pace was purposed, but not fast, and her strong arm was draped low about the unicorn's neck in a comfortable pose. Not one of them spoke; indeed, all three took long, purposeful strides as if their destination were eagerly awaiting them.
The forest became grassland; became frigid desert, became ocean and beach, mountain and marshland. Still, Dariana followed. Eventually, her sense of time and physicality vanished; sunrise, sunset, hunger, thirst, rain, sunshine, fatigue... all blurred together so that Dariana felt each as part of a whole, nothing individually beautiful or painful or needing attention.
She had no idea how far or how long they had traveled when suddenly, as if awakening with a wide-eyed start from a dream, she knew where they were! They were passing right through the Greater Faydark! Firiona showed no sign of slowing however; she continued to lead the party with that purposeful stride; heading southeast now. Dari wondered if her mother could see her, parading amongst the trees with Tunare's Champion. Then she realized that there were neither people nor animals nearby, none at all; and the mist of the forest had an odd greenish hue. "How curious," Dariana thought. For the first time, she wondered if she had fallen asleep under the Jaggedpine after all; perhaps this whole adventure was a dream.
When the forest broke to expose a large lake glittering in the moonlight, Dariana drew her breath in quickly. This was Lake Elizerain! Nestled into the foothills of the Steamfont Mountains, its chilly waters were the final resting place of Edril, the storied elven hero. This was one of Dariana's most favorite places on Norrath. She had come here often, first as a child to play on its shores with her parents, then as an adult whenever she sought solace and communion with Tunare. Given her state of mind of late, it had been a few years since she had been here last, but she knew it immediately.
Firiona Vie stopped abruptly and lowered herself with single fluid motion, sitting with her legs crossed and facing Dariana. Equestrielle took her position nearby, draping her long white nose over Firiona's shoulder and whickering softly. Following their cue, Dariana also sat upon the sandy ground, near a clump of rushes.
Her golden ponytail bobbing, Firiona worked to remove a small leather pouch from her belt, then handed it to Dariana with a smile. When the druid accepted the pouch, Firiona indicated with a simple wave of her slim hand that she was to open it.
Dari carefully tipped the contents of the pouch into the palm of her hand, and stared. She was holding a small pile of emeralds, but they were like no emeralds Dariana had ever seen, not even after imbuing them with Tunare's essence. These stones glowed with an inner light, casting a greenish hue that was not unlike the greenish mist in the forest they had just passed through.
She looked up at Firiona, speechless and questioning. The elven woman simply stood up, smiled again, and finally spoke. "Ilsar'rin. Until we meet again, Sha'lein." She nodded once, and walked back into the forest, her arm again draped casually over the unicorn's glistening withers. The two of them faded into the mists of the Faydark.
Dariana's mind raced as she carefully replaced the gems into the plain leather pouch. What had just happened? What was the significance of the gems? Why had Firiona Vie brought her here, to Lake Elizerain? What did she mean by ilsar'rin, "for the People"? How long had they been traveling? This was all some sort of crazy dream, she decided. Nothing is making any sense.
She settled back down upon the ground, pulled her cloak tightly about her once again, and shut her eyes tightly, determined to sleep. This time, there were no distracting whispers.
Later, she awoke to the sound of a lake lapping nearby and a lumpy leather pouch clutched in her hand. Rising, she hurriedly bathed in cold water. She had to seek out the Ryuujins immediately, and take her oath. There were still a great many questions to be answered, but she knew that three things were certain: her adventure had not been a dream; her life did have a higher purpose; and she would be pledging the House of Light with an ardent heart.