Disclaimer: To avoid any possible lawsuits (as if I have anything of worth, har har!) I own nothing and claim no ownership over anything Bioware, Atari, Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate II, Interplay, Forgotten Realms, or Black Isle(r.i.p.) related. This fan fiction is simply a product of love and admiration for "Hordes of the Underdark" and of course my favorite tiefling, Valen Shadowbreath. The only character that belongs to me is Windeline Crystaliis.
Chapter Five: Memories and Accidents
ooo
How did she know? Windeline was lying on her bedroll with her hands clasped behind her head. Her eyes were closed while she greatly wished slumber would overcome her. She so desperately didn't want to be reminded of the Seer's haunting gaze. If only the cracking of the fire and the rhythmic snoring of a sleeping kobold were a gentler lullaby. The shadows gently danced along the walls of the cave as the flickering flames commanded them so.
Deekin was sprawled out in his bedroll; the kobold's blanket was shoved aside in one of his dreaming fits. Facing the small entrance to the cave, Callisto was curled in a large ball of fur; lazily opening an eye to make sure everything was at peace now and then. The tiefling was seated next to the large bear, his large mace leaned against his chest, his hands gently wrapped around its hilt.
How did she know!? The ranger kicked back her blanket angrily as she sighed in her frustration. She rubbed her eyes as they adjusted to the light.
"Unable to sleep?"
Windeline tossed Valen a smug look as she reached for her sack. "Heh, you think you'd be able to sleep over that?" She pointed a finger towards the snoring Deekin. The kobold smacked his lips, perhaps feasting upon a large meal in his dreams. A large snort was followed by his happy squeal. So envious...
Valen lightly chuckled as his tail gently tapped the ground. "Point taken."
The woman pulled out a few of her sketches, eyeing the drawings of various flowers and animals. Windeline felt the tugging at her heart and her shoulders sagged as she felt a wave of regret creeping over her. The ranger's eyes closed as she tried to remember what the warmth of the sun felt like on her bare skin. The kisses of the gentle winds and the fragrance of the forest were the things she missed most.
The image of the Seer slowly emerged, the drow's lingering stare shattering the ranger's flow of thoughts. Her eyes flew open as she felt the familiar tingle along her spine. "Your... Seer," Windeline scratched her head as she tried to pick her words carefully, "seems to certainly like leaving lasting impressions on people."
Valen slowly nodded, his bangs gently caressed his cheeks with the gentle movements. "That she does..." He studied the woman carefully as she continued to slowly flip through her papers. The rustling of the sheets quietly echoed within the small cavern, making the two keenly aware of each other's presence.
As she continued to look over her past sketches, a grin formed as the ranger came across the drawing of the tiefling she began a few days ago. If there was ever a drawing to finish...
"So... my lady seemed very pressed to talk back in Lith My'athar. After the Seer, however, you have scarcely said a thing... Do you wish to talk about it now?" Valen tilted his head in regard to the occupied woman.
Windeline's grin faded into something melancholy, her eyes seemed to look at various images that appeared in the back of her mind. She looked at Valen sadly; her eyes lingered on his as she considered what to say.
"I hope you're in a comfortable spot, 'cause this could... take a while."
"I am willing to listen." His smile was faint.
The ranger took a deep breath as the painful memories started to manifest into words. "My family was one of nobility... in Trademeet of Amn..." She paused as the familiar faces emerged in her thoughts. "I... was the youngest of thirteen children."
"T-thirteen siblings, my lady?" stammered Valen as he blinked in awe.
Windeline managed a faint smile. "Yes... my beautiful sisters and my handsome brothers. My mother bore my father seven sons and six daughters."
"No small feat... Your mother must have been one marvel of a woman."
"Oh she was." The ranger's green eyes held a slight twinkle. "I hardly remember her though. I do remember that she was a cleric of Helm and my father was a respected merchant."
"We were all happy there in that city... Father would talk of his travels whenever he returned from one of his caravans... All of us would be enamored as he wove his tales with such powerful words... Mother watched over us while he was away. She never worried too much about him as she had her hands full with us. We always managed to keep her mind occupied, that much I remember."
"But like all good things, it..." Windeline's smile faded completely as she looked down to the rocky ground, a few of her bangs slid from behind her ear and kissed her cheek. "It was not to last."
Valen tilted his head as he continued to examine the girl as she told her story. "What happened?" His voice summoned her gaze to meet his own.
"We... we were traveling... all of us together... that is. It had been years since we had seen my grandparents. I think there was some sort of dispute that caused the lack of visits." Windeline shrugged helplessly. "Anyways... traveling from Trademeet to Athkatla takes a good nine days, if you're quick that is."
"We were traveling by caravan, already a few days past the half way point. Night had fallen around us; I remember being cradled in my eldest sister's arms, half asleep."
A grimace flickered across the ranger's face as her hands brushed her bangs away from her face. "I don't remember how it started. I think it was ...the shrill cry of one of the guards as she was struck down outside the wagons."
Windeline motioned one of her hands helplessly at Valen. "From there it was complete chaos. More screams and groans were followed along with the clashing of metal against metal. 'Drow!' was cried out to let everyone else know the danger around them."
The last sentence caught Valen's attention. His gaze became intense and his lips pursed tightly as he began to understand. "The... drow killed your family?"
Screams, the clang of metal, the roaring of fire, and the screams of her relatives as they were struck down: all these echoed fiercely in her mind. It was almost more than she could bear.
"Killed? No... T-they were slaughtered!" Her emerald eyes flashed with anger as the warm tears began to flow. The half elf's lips curled up into a snarl as the darkness of her hate from the pain of remembering coursed through her.
Windeline's fist clenched as she continued on, her voice trembling. "My sister stuffed me in a crate as the fighting outside seemed to reach its climax. When the wagon was turned over, my crate fell out into the open. A-and..." The words were lost in her throat as her sobs worsened.
Valen's voice was gentle as it cut through Windeline's staccato sobs of pain. "Do not distress yourself on my account, my lady. When you are ready to speak, I shall be here to listen, but for now... I think it best that you rest."
The half elf looked up to the tiefling. His gaze was soft and the corners of his lips were lifted into a gentle smile. The ranger's brow furrowed slightly as his stare set her off into confusion. Was this the same untrusting man who made it a point to make the lack of his trust so known? Windeline couldn't shake the pounding she felt in her heart from the empathy Valen radiated.
Her moist lashes were cast down as the last of her tears slid down her warm cheeks. When Windeline raised her eyes once more, those puffy green orbs, they were filled, not with the bitter hatred for the drow... but with a warm relief of gladness.
The girl chuckled as she wiped the wetness from her face and her nose on her sleeve, "I guess you aren't such a grouch after all." Valen's smile deepened as a faint blush touched his cheeks, tossing his glance to the fire. "But... I really should tell you the rest... This is the kind of tale I'd rather not have to wait to finish for another day."
"If you wish, my lady," replied Valen softly. "You may stop at anytime if you change your mind, however." He gave her a meaningful stare.
Windeline paused as she considered the tiefling's words. The respect and concern was something she hadn't expected, but more importantly, something the lesser elf appreciated.
The ranger broke the awkward silence as she cleared her throat. "Let's see... while I hid in the crate I could hear heated arguments. I couldn't understand the language, but I knew it was the drow."
Her fingers tapped the ground absent mindedly as she continued on. "I was able to peek through a small hole only to see a few of those..." the young woman's words were stopped short as she tried to reconsider the choice of words she had in mind, "...those drow had my father held up, waving some paper in his face."
The lesser elf didn't seem to notice Valen's perplexed expression as she continued on. "Before I knew it my crate was kicked to the side, knocking me out into the open. I-I didn't know what to do! That's when I first saw the bodies around me, the fire, and the... drow...It was the first time I had ever seen such death and ...the dark elves."
Windeline closed her eyes as she spoke. "Father tried to make his way to me, calling my name...but those vermin struck him down." Her lips trembled but the ranger quickly pushed aside her sadness.
"After he was felled their attentions turned to me. I-in my life I had never felt such sadness, such panic, but above all else... such hatred. I remember the delicate spiders designed on their armor, the shade of their skin, their colorless hair... but most of all I remember their eyes." The silence was thick in the air, hanging heavily between them as Windeline's voice trailed off.
A loud snort echoed within the small cavern followed by the shuffling of a kobold in his slumber. Callisto had long since fallen asleep beside the tiefling, her deep growls quietly rumbling in her throat. The camp's fire had died down considerably to merely glowing embers.
The lesser elf sat crossed legged staring at nothing in particular, a scowl marring her face. Valen carefully examined the woman, his eyes intense and his lips curved into a frown. Too many questions were forming in his mind. How did she escape? What was on that paper? Why had the drow attacked her family?
"Boy, am I beat!" Windeline finally blurted as she feigned a yawn and stretched her limbs out as far as she could. Curious sapphire eyes looked the half elf over; the tiefling was unsure what to make of the sudden switch of the woman's mood. "You better get some sleep too, Valen. Drearing's Deep is still a bit a ways away." She seemed to avoid any sort of eye contact as she nestled into her bed roll.
"My lady, I - "
"Sleep well, Valen."
The man paused as a look of concern brushed over his features, his swishing tail coming to a halt. "Sleep well... my lady."
After an hour or two had passed, Valen sat beside the sleeping girl. Her expression as she slept was hard to read, but the man couldn't help the slight smile that lingered on his face. ...Why am I smiling?
He found himself questioning her stories once again. Was she telling the truth? Could this woman really be trusted with the future of Lith My'athar? He sighed helplessly as he brushed his hands over his head.
A slight motion caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Deekin was laying on his side, trying to write as quietly as possible. "Where are you at in your notes, bard?"
The kobold looked up and scratched his head as he replied, "Deekin done for the night. Just trying to get editing out of way. Say... how you spell... 'Athkatla' and 'affectionately?'"
With a low growl, Valen threw a small bag of rations at the scribbling bard. "You are absolutely shameless, kobold."
ooo
Her fingers traced the strange etched letters on the golden gong, the metal felt cool to the touch. She scratched her head as she tried to make out what the letters said. "I can't make these out at all" Windeline sighed helplessly.
A bat flapped its wings as it glided through the large underground cavern. The ranger's lips were pursed as her eyes followed the flying mammal until it was lost from her line of vision. A few others soared over head, weaving through the stalactites that were scattered through out the area.
"I really hate being underground," the half elf muttered as she placed her hands on her hips. The village was strange indeed: a sanctuary for the free but not free. She couldn't shake the fear and emptiness the former slaves had in their eyes. "Free..." the word left her lips in a soft whisper as she turned to face the village. "Just who do they think they're fooling?"
"Themselves, no doubt," The man stepped up beside the young woman, Valen's eyes purposely looked to the citadel, the tiefling's tail swishing about. "It has to be their doing..." He gestured toward the building as he regarded the lady ranger. "I was able to talk with one of the men in the village... From what I was able to gather they worship a god that is said to protect them from those that would mean to take away their freedoms."
Windeline nodded at the remark as she turned her attention back to the strange gong. "There's an inscription here, but I... I can't read it a- Deekin?"
A scaled claw traced the letters as the kobold examined them, a small tongue sticking out the corner of his toothy mouth. "Hit gong.... sacrifice the one who hit gong, praise Vix'thra... Mecka lecka hi, mecka heiny ho..."
"It can not seriously say that..." the tiefling rubbed his temple gingerly, slowly shaking his head in disbelief.
"If you read ancient draconic, you see for yourself," the kobold swayed from side to side triumphantly. Deekin knew all to well that he was the only one able to read the primordial language of the dragons. He was taught by Tymofarrar after all.
Valen's tail swished about in agitation as he rolled his eyes, "You walk a thin rope, kobold. It would be best not to test how much weight it can hold."
The scaly bard's lips quivered and his eyes began to water as if on cue, "Boooosss! Goat man being mean to Deekin!"
The lesser elf quickly turned away failing to stifle a chuckle as her bow slammed into the golden disc. The three companions held still as the deep clear sound echoed through out the cave. The village seemed to stop at once, the people's faces transforming from vacant to alarmed stares.
"Sweet Mielikki..." Windeline whispered as her worried eyes looked up to Valen, who was only able to return a concerned glance of his own. "I- I didn't mean to do that."
The residents of the cave began to flow in around them, stopping only to allow a bit of breathing space around the three. It was as if the villagers wanted to make it known who was responsible for daring to ring the gong.
The doors to the gloomy citadel opened only a moment after the sound finally vanished, three figures emerged from within. Their pace was quick and their expressions quite pleased.
"Praise Vix'thra!" the middle man raised his arms as he cried out, the sleeves of his dark robes tumbling down. Windeline's eyes narrowed as she took a step back, the hairs upon her neck seemed to stand on edge as she looked upon the one who began to talk. Something... was wrong about the man, although she couldn't quite put a finger on just what.
"The gong has sounded and another ceremony has been called for." The pale man's exotic accent was strange indeed. His palms clasped together as if the priest was about to say a prayer. "Vix'thra turns his ancient gaze upon us. Mighty is the will of Vix'thra and great is his hunger!"
His hunger? Windeline's lips were tightly pursed, quickly recollecting what Deekin had said was inscribed on the golden gong. The next words only proved her fears and she finally understood just why the people acted as they did.
Once again the strange priest threw his hands into the air, his words echoing through out the silent village, "Vix'thra, sage protector, our safeguard against all peril... To thee we offer up one of our own!"
"This be bad, boss..." Deekin quietly whimpered as he held on to the half elf's cloak. Valen's stern stare did not leave the apparent leader of the strange cult, his gauntleted hand firmly held the hilt of his mace. Her fists trembling, Windeline looked around the village only to notice that all eyes were on her.
"Very bad, Deek..."
A sneer elegantly painted itself on the strange man as he continued, "Are there any here who wish to serve the will of Vix'thra?" The murmurs and such began at once, the crowd was growing impatient.
The ranger's mouth opened, not knowing what words had just escaped her lips. Valen quickly turned to her, a gape of alarm was fixed upon his face. "M-my lady?"
She looked up to the man beside her, not entirely sure of what just happened. "Valen, I - "
The robed priest slowly stepped up to the woman, examining the ranger with an appreciative stare. "Vix'thra approves of his servant... Priests!" With a flick of his wrist the two men were upon the ranger, her bow falling to the ground.
"Boss!"
"Lady Windeline!"
The tight grip on her arms made the woman cry out in pain, but the ranger shook her head at the two as the knights began to drag her off. "Stay where you are! I'll," she winced as she continued, "I'll think of something..."
ooo
The flickering light from the torches did little to warm the cold dark halls of the stronghold. The two knights held the ranger firm in their grasp, her head hung low as she tried to think of a way out of her predicament. The priest paced about the room speaking his orders to the men.
There's no time, no time... What to do, what to do... Her eyes meandered about the room, unimpressed with her surroundings. There was the entrance behind her, two doors along the corridor, and another set just ahead. She gave an inward sigh of defeat; her thoughts exhausted when...
"Strip this one and bring it to my chambers." The ranger suddenly looked up, her green eyes wide with panic. The man continued on, ignoring Windeline's reaction. "Vix'thra grows impatient with us and we must sacrifice a victim to the pit with no delay."
"Yes, Master Sodalis..." The priest walked toward the doors to the left while the two knights began to pull the woman to the ones ahead.
The ranger frantically looked about, "n-no! I don't want to do this anymore! Please, oh please let me go!" She cried out helplessly, trying to pull them back. The more she fought the tighter their grip became.
"Quit y'er fight'n, lass. Ye haven't got what I haven't seen b'fore." The other knight replied with a raspy cackle. One of them kicked open a door while the other shoved the lesser elf inside, the girl stumbling to the ground.
"Why they be always fight'n us?" sighed the first knight. The other simply replied with a shrug.
With no delay, Windeline sprang to her feet to find some spot, some opening, any place to escape the large men's reach. "Oh no ye don't! Quickly, Dredge!"
She hastily scrambled beneath the table, leaning against the far wall. Frantically she looked about the area, her heart pounding, beads of sweat upon her brow. A thick hand lunged from the side, grabbing her cloak and her hair, pulling her from underneath.
The talking knight picked the ranger up into the air, her neck snugly held in his grasp. "As I tolds ye! No fight'n and ye don't get hurt," he snarled.
She tried to pry his large hand away with her own, but her vigor was quickly fading, her sight suddenly hazy. No... Not this humiliation... With what strength she managed to summon, she swiftly delivered a kick to the man's side. His hold relaxed, causing the girl to fall to her knees.
The other knight quickly ran towards her, hands outstretched, while the other was slumped over as he recovered from the blow. At last some amount of cloth was ripped and the sound made the woman ill. The thought that these men would see her bare... No, she would not let that happen. The knight held Windeline's shroud tightly in his hands as he pulled the fabric back. She still persevered to move forward, the pressure around her neck was almost too much for her until the cloak, her precious sanctuary, was torn from her shoulders.
Suddenly free, the ranger sprinted inside a small cell, quickly shutting the gate behind her. The silent knight tossed the ruined cloak to the floor, shaking his head at the half elf.
"Y'er a stupid one, a'right... Lock'n y'erself inside dat bit of bars..." The man she was able to stun for a moment sighed.
"Not stupid," Windeline finally replied. Her heart was beating frantically against her wrapped bosom. The young woman held up her hands as she quickly chanted a prayer. The bear appeared outside her bars, a worried look flashed across her big brown eyes.
"Tua amin, Callisto!" With a loud roar, the bear hurdled itself into one of the warriors. As the animal slapped the downed man with its claws, teeth tearing into the leather and metal that was bound on the knight beneath her, the other warrior reached for his long sword.
The ranger raced arcane words from her memory and through her lips as the man thrust his weapon inside the prison. Afraid she would lose her concentration, Windeline remained in place, feeling the sharp sting of the blade as it jabbed her in the upper thigh.
The knight sneered as the girl winced in pain, her voice becoming shaky as she tried to ignore the feeling that throbbed through out her leg. Just as he was about to take another shot at her, the spell was complete. Magical vines reached from the ground, entangling themselves around the warrior's limbs.
He cried out as the greenery forced him to the ground. His dark eyes glared at the girl who clutched at her red stained wound. "Ye bloody bitch," he scowled, "alls we needed was yer clothes takin' off. Vix'thra won't be happy hearin' 'bout this mess."
Windeline's tired eyes wearily regarded the man as she sank to the floor. "Tell your stupid god he can rot in the hells."
ooo
A warm hand brushed against her cheek, her eyes fluttered open, her sight slowly coming into focus. "...Valen?" The man sat beside her in the small cell, the door was propped open by a sleeping Callisto. Looking about, she noticed the two slain men lying as lifeless heaps on the floor.
She turned her head away from the scene; her skin feeling a familiar fabric. What remained of her cloak was neatly folded beneath her head and a torn piece of it was wrapped tightly around her blood soaked leg. The ranger winced as she tried to sit up, her wound still throbbing.
"Stay where you are, my lady... I am not as keen in the healing arts as you are, but I did try my best with what I do know..." His voice was strangely soft to her, the young woman's face crimsoned slightly. Thankfully, however, he didn't seem to notice.
"When... did-"
"We come to try and rescue you?" His words held a strange mixture of regret and mirth. "You were already unconscious in the cage, a pool of blood beside you, when the bard and I arrived. Callisto had just finished one of the knights as the vines began to lose their hold on the other."
"With their help the other was fallen... but-"
"Oooh! Deekin likes this part! I tell!" squealed the kobold with delight as the tiefling glared in the bard's direction. "Valen was worried for Boss! You not wake when Deekin try to sing or try poking with lute."
The ranger winced as she laughed, "that's a dirty joke just waiting to happen."
The kobold skipped to the bars to get a better look at the woman as he continued, "after goat man fix wound, we not know what to do. Deekin remembered stories about people putting mouth to sleepy person's mouth and they huff and puff - "
"That is quite enough, kobold!" Valen quickly rose to his feet, facing away from the girl and towards the bard. His tail swayed back and forth as he rigidly stood with his arms crossed.
The ranger's eyes went wide and her fingers brushed against her lips. He didn't... did he? Overcome with a heated blush, she decided it was best to sit up and undo Valen's attempt at bandaging and do some healing of her own.
As she cast her spells, her glance swayed to and from her wound to the tiefling. The lesser elf bent her leg, making sure the wound had healed correctly. "That's better..." She leaned back in her seat, her hands resting on what was once her cloak. Her fingers clenched at the material, she sighed. "So much for hiding underneath this old thing."
At last she rose to her feet, stretching a bit before she finally regarded the suddenly silent weapon master. "Hey," she rubbed the backside of her head, "thanks for coming to my rescue, I was really scared you guys weren't going to make it before - "
She shuddered at the command Sodalis had uttered so nonchalantly. "Never mind, that. You guys came when I needed y'all and that's what matters most!" She quickly kissed Valen on the cheek, then rushed out the room. "Come on you two, something's really strange about this place and I mean to find out what it is."
The tiefling remained standing, as the other two walked out the room following the girl. He reached for the torn fabrics of her cloak, humming as he neatly folded it within his pack. As he stood to trail after the others, he met the toothy grin of the bard's.
"It would be best to move out of the way, Deekin." His low voice growled at the smiling creature.
"Deekin saw."
Valen brushed past the kobold, not looking back, only stopping at the door to reply a few hasty words. "You saw nothing."
The kobold was left alone in the room trying his best to hold in his laughter. "Silly goat man! Deekin see everything!"
"tua amin" is tel'quessir for "help me."
Whew! It sure has been a long time since I updated this fic! Thanks for all your patience and reviews. I have to give a shout out to my beta, the talented and wonderful Ms. IceyCold. You're great, Icey! I hope you guys enjoyed this latest chapter. Please review and tell me what y'all think. :)
Lady Winde
How did she know? Windeline was lying on her bedroll with her hands clasped behind her head. Her eyes were closed while she greatly wished slumber would overcome her. She so desperately didn't want to be reminded of the Seer's haunting gaze. If only the cracking of the fire and the rhythmic snoring of a sleeping kobold were a gentler lullaby. The shadows gently danced along the walls of the cave as the flickering flames commanded them so.
Deekin was sprawled out in his bedroll; the kobold's blanket was shoved aside in one of his dreaming fits. Facing the small entrance to the cave, Callisto was curled in a large ball of fur; lazily opening an eye to make sure everything was at peace now and then. The tiefling was seated next to the large bear, his large mace leaned against his chest, his hands gently wrapped around its hilt.
How did she know!? The ranger kicked back her blanket angrily as she sighed in her frustration. She rubbed her eyes as they adjusted to the light.
"Unable to sleep?"
Windeline tossed Valen a smug look as she reached for her sack. "Heh, you think you'd be able to sleep over that?" She pointed a finger towards the snoring Deekin. The kobold smacked his lips, perhaps feasting upon a large meal in his dreams. A large snort was followed by his happy squeal. So envious...
Valen lightly chuckled as his tail gently tapped the ground. "Point taken."
The woman pulled out a few of her sketches, eyeing the drawings of various flowers and animals. Windeline felt the tugging at her heart and her shoulders sagged as she felt a wave of regret creeping over her. The ranger's eyes closed as she tried to remember what the warmth of the sun felt like on her bare skin. The kisses of the gentle winds and the fragrance of the forest were the things she missed most.
The image of the Seer slowly emerged, the drow's lingering stare shattering the ranger's flow of thoughts. Her eyes flew open as she felt the familiar tingle along her spine. "Your... Seer," Windeline scratched her head as she tried to pick her words carefully, "seems to certainly like leaving lasting impressions on people."
Valen slowly nodded, his bangs gently caressed his cheeks with the gentle movements. "That she does..." He studied the woman carefully as she continued to slowly flip through her papers. The rustling of the sheets quietly echoed within the small cavern, making the two keenly aware of each other's presence.
As she continued to look over her past sketches, a grin formed as the ranger came across the drawing of the tiefling she began a few days ago. If there was ever a drawing to finish...
"So... my lady seemed very pressed to talk back in Lith My'athar. After the Seer, however, you have scarcely said a thing... Do you wish to talk about it now?" Valen tilted his head in regard to the occupied woman.
Windeline's grin faded into something melancholy, her eyes seemed to look at various images that appeared in the back of her mind. She looked at Valen sadly; her eyes lingered on his as she considered what to say.
"I hope you're in a comfortable spot, 'cause this could... take a while."
"I am willing to listen." His smile was faint.
The ranger took a deep breath as the painful memories started to manifest into words. "My family was one of nobility... in Trademeet of Amn..." She paused as the familiar faces emerged in her thoughts. "I... was the youngest of thirteen children."
"T-thirteen siblings, my lady?" stammered Valen as he blinked in awe.
Windeline managed a faint smile. "Yes... my beautiful sisters and my handsome brothers. My mother bore my father seven sons and six daughters."
"No small feat... Your mother must have been one marvel of a woman."
"Oh she was." The ranger's green eyes held a slight twinkle. "I hardly remember her though. I do remember that she was a cleric of Helm and my father was a respected merchant."
"We were all happy there in that city... Father would talk of his travels whenever he returned from one of his caravans... All of us would be enamored as he wove his tales with such powerful words... Mother watched over us while he was away. She never worried too much about him as she had her hands full with us. We always managed to keep her mind occupied, that much I remember."
"But like all good things, it..." Windeline's smile faded completely as she looked down to the rocky ground, a few of her bangs slid from behind her ear and kissed her cheek. "It was not to last."
Valen tilted his head as he continued to examine the girl as she told her story. "What happened?" His voice summoned her gaze to meet his own.
"We... we were traveling... all of us together... that is. It had been years since we had seen my grandparents. I think there was some sort of dispute that caused the lack of visits." Windeline shrugged helplessly. "Anyways... traveling from Trademeet to Athkatla takes a good nine days, if you're quick that is."
"We were traveling by caravan, already a few days past the half way point. Night had fallen around us; I remember being cradled in my eldest sister's arms, half asleep."
A grimace flickered across the ranger's face as her hands brushed her bangs away from her face. "I don't remember how it started. I think it was ...the shrill cry of one of the guards as she was struck down outside the wagons."
Windeline motioned one of her hands helplessly at Valen. "From there it was complete chaos. More screams and groans were followed along with the clashing of metal against metal. 'Drow!' was cried out to let everyone else know the danger around them."
The last sentence caught Valen's attention. His gaze became intense and his lips pursed tightly as he began to understand. "The... drow killed your family?"
Screams, the clang of metal, the roaring of fire, and the screams of her relatives as they were struck down: all these echoed fiercely in her mind. It was almost more than she could bear.
"Killed? No... T-they were slaughtered!" Her emerald eyes flashed with anger as the warm tears began to flow. The half elf's lips curled up into a snarl as the darkness of her hate from the pain of remembering coursed through her.
Windeline's fist clenched as she continued on, her voice trembling. "My sister stuffed me in a crate as the fighting outside seemed to reach its climax. When the wagon was turned over, my crate fell out into the open. A-and..." The words were lost in her throat as her sobs worsened.
Valen's voice was gentle as it cut through Windeline's staccato sobs of pain. "Do not distress yourself on my account, my lady. When you are ready to speak, I shall be here to listen, but for now... I think it best that you rest."
The half elf looked up to the tiefling. His gaze was soft and the corners of his lips were lifted into a gentle smile. The ranger's brow furrowed slightly as his stare set her off into confusion. Was this the same untrusting man who made it a point to make the lack of his trust so known? Windeline couldn't shake the pounding she felt in her heart from the empathy Valen radiated.
Her moist lashes were cast down as the last of her tears slid down her warm cheeks. When Windeline raised her eyes once more, those puffy green orbs, they were filled, not with the bitter hatred for the drow... but with a warm relief of gladness.
The girl chuckled as she wiped the wetness from her face and her nose on her sleeve, "I guess you aren't such a grouch after all." Valen's smile deepened as a faint blush touched his cheeks, tossing his glance to the fire. "But... I really should tell you the rest... This is the kind of tale I'd rather not have to wait to finish for another day."
"If you wish, my lady," replied Valen softly. "You may stop at anytime if you change your mind, however." He gave her a meaningful stare.
Windeline paused as she considered the tiefling's words. The respect and concern was something she hadn't expected, but more importantly, something the lesser elf appreciated.
The ranger broke the awkward silence as she cleared her throat. "Let's see... while I hid in the crate I could hear heated arguments. I couldn't understand the language, but I knew it was the drow."
Her fingers tapped the ground absent mindedly as she continued on. "I was able to peek through a small hole only to see a few of those..." the young woman's words were stopped short as she tried to reconsider the choice of words she had in mind, "...those drow had my father held up, waving some paper in his face."
The lesser elf didn't seem to notice Valen's perplexed expression as she continued on. "Before I knew it my crate was kicked to the side, knocking me out into the open. I-I didn't know what to do! That's when I first saw the bodies around me, the fire, and the... drow...It was the first time I had ever seen such death and ...the dark elves."
Windeline closed her eyes as she spoke. "Father tried to make his way to me, calling my name...but those vermin struck him down." Her lips trembled but the ranger quickly pushed aside her sadness.
"After he was felled their attentions turned to me. I-in my life I had never felt such sadness, such panic, but above all else... such hatred. I remember the delicate spiders designed on their armor, the shade of their skin, their colorless hair... but most of all I remember their eyes." The silence was thick in the air, hanging heavily between them as Windeline's voice trailed off.
A loud snort echoed within the small cavern followed by the shuffling of a kobold in his slumber. Callisto had long since fallen asleep beside the tiefling, her deep growls quietly rumbling in her throat. The camp's fire had died down considerably to merely glowing embers.
The lesser elf sat crossed legged staring at nothing in particular, a scowl marring her face. Valen carefully examined the woman, his eyes intense and his lips curved into a frown. Too many questions were forming in his mind. How did she escape? What was on that paper? Why had the drow attacked her family?
"Boy, am I beat!" Windeline finally blurted as she feigned a yawn and stretched her limbs out as far as she could. Curious sapphire eyes looked the half elf over; the tiefling was unsure what to make of the sudden switch of the woman's mood. "You better get some sleep too, Valen. Drearing's Deep is still a bit a ways away." She seemed to avoid any sort of eye contact as she nestled into her bed roll.
"My lady, I - "
"Sleep well, Valen."
The man paused as a look of concern brushed over his features, his swishing tail coming to a halt. "Sleep well... my lady."
After an hour or two had passed, Valen sat beside the sleeping girl. Her expression as she slept was hard to read, but the man couldn't help the slight smile that lingered on his face. ...Why am I smiling?
He found himself questioning her stories once again. Was she telling the truth? Could this woman really be trusted with the future of Lith My'athar? He sighed helplessly as he brushed his hands over his head.
A slight motion caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Deekin was laying on his side, trying to write as quietly as possible. "Where are you at in your notes, bard?"
The kobold looked up and scratched his head as he replied, "Deekin done for the night. Just trying to get editing out of way. Say... how you spell... 'Athkatla' and 'affectionately?'"
With a low growl, Valen threw a small bag of rations at the scribbling bard. "You are absolutely shameless, kobold."
Her fingers traced the strange etched letters on the golden gong, the metal felt cool to the touch. She scratched her head as she tried to make out what the letters said. "I can't make these out at all" Windeline sighed helplessly.
A bat flapped its wings as it glided through the large underground cavern. The ranger's lips were pursed as her eyes followed the flying mammal until it was lost from her line of vision. A few others soared over head, weaving through the stalactites that were scattered through out the area.
"I really hate being underground," the half elf muttered as she placed her hands on her hips. The village was strange indeed: a sanctuary for the free but not free. She couldn't shake the fear and emptiness the former slaves had in their eyes. "Free..." the word left her lips in a soft whisper as she turned to face the village. "Just who do they think they're fooling?"
"Themselves, no doubt," The man stepped up beside the young woman, Valen's eyes purposely looked to the citadel, the tiefling's tail swishing about. "It has to be their doing..." He gestured toward the building as he regarded the lady ranger. "I was able to talk with one of the men in the village... From what I was able to gather they worship a god that is said to protect them from those that would mean to take away their freedoms."
Windeline nodded at the remark as she turned her attention back to the strange gong. "There's an inscription here, but I... I can't read it a- Deekin?"
A scaled claw traced the letters as the kobold examined them, a small tongue sticking out the corner of his toothy mouth. "Hit gong.... sacrifice the one who hit gong, praise Vix'thra... Mecka lecka hi, mecka heiny ho..."
"It can not seriously say that..." the tiefling rubbed his temple gingerly, slowly shaking his head in disbelief.
"If you read ancient draconic, you see for yourself," the kobold swayed from side to side triumphantly. Deekin knew all to well that he was the only one able to read the primordial language of the dragons. He was taught by Tymofarrar after all.
Valen's tail swished about in agitation as he rolled his eyes, "You walk a thin rope, kobold. It would be best not to test how much weight it can hold."
The scaly bard's lips quivered and his eyes began to water as if on cue, "Boooosss! Goat man being mean to Deekin!"
The lesser elf quickly turned away failing to stifle a chuckle as her bow slammed into the golden disc. The three companions held still as the deep clear sound echoed through out the cave. The village seemed to stop at once, the people's faces transforming from vacant to alarmed stares.
"Sweet Mielikki..." Windeline whispered as her worried eyes looked up to Valen, who was only able to return a concerned glance of his own. "I- I didn't mean to do that."
The residents of the cave began to flow in around them, stopping only to allow a bit of breathing space around the three. It was as if the villagers wanted to make it known who was responsible for daring to ring the gong.
The doors to the gloomy citadel opened only a moment after the sound finally vanished, three figures emerged from within. Their pace was quick and their expressions quite pleased.
"Praise Vix'thra!" the middle man raised his arms as he cried out, the sleeves of his dark robes tumbling down. Windeline's eyes narrowed as she took a step back, the hairs upon her neck seemed to stand on edge as she looked upon the one who began to talk. Something... was wrong about the man, although she couldn't quite put a finger on just what.
"The gong has sounded and another ceremony has been called for." The pale man's exotic accent was strange indeed. His palms clasped together as if the priest was about to say a prayer. "Vix'thra turns his ancient gaze upon us. Mighty is the will of Vix'thra and great is his hunger!"
His hunger? Windeline's lips were tightly pursed, quickly recollecting what Deekin had said was inscribed on the golden gong. The next words only proved her fears and she finally understood just why the people acted as they did.
Once again the strange priest threw his hands into the air, his words echoing through out the silent village, "Vix'thra, sage protector, our safeguard against all peril... To thee we offer up one of our own!"
"This be bad, boss..." Deekin quietly whimpered as he held on to the half elf's cloak. Valen's stern stare did not leave the apparent leader of the strange cult, his gauntleted hand firmly held the hilt of his mace. Her fists trembling, Windeline looked around the village only to notice that all eyes were on her.
"Very bad, Deek..."
A sneer elegantly painted itself on the strange man as he continued, "Are there any here who wish to serve the will of Vix'thra?" The murmurs and such began at once, the crowd was growing impatient.
The ranger's mouth opened, not knowing what words had just escaped her lips. Valen quickly turned to her, a gape of alarm was fixed upon his face. "M-my lady?"
She looked up to the man beside her, not entirely sure of what just happened. "Valen, I - "
The robed priest slowly stepped up to the woman, examining the ranger with an appreciative stare. "Vix'thra approves of his servant... Priests!" With a flick of his wrist the two men were upon the ranger, her bow falling to the ground.
"Boss!"
"Lady Windeline!"
The tight grip on her arms made the woman cry out in pain, but the ranger shook her head at the two as the knights began to drag her off. "Stay where you are! I'll," she winced as she continued, "I'll think of something..."
The flickering light from the torches did little to warm the cold dark halls of the stronghold. The two knights held the ranger firm in their grasp, her head hung low as she tried to think of a way out of her predicament. The priest paced about the room speaking his orders to the men.
There's no time, no time... What to do, what to do... Her eyes meandered about the room, unimpressed with her surroundings. There was the entrance behind her, two doors along the corridor, and another set just ahead. She gave an inward sigh of defeat; her thoughts exhausted when...
"Strip this one and bring it to my chambers." The ranger suddenly looked up, her green eyes wide with panic. The man continued on, ignoring Windeline's reaction. "Vix'thra grows impatient with us and we must sacrifice a victim to the pit with no delay."
"Yes, Master Sodalis..." The priest walked toward the doors to the left while the two knights began to pull the woman to the ones ahead.
The ranger frantically looked about, "n-no! I don't want to do this anymore! Please, oh please let me go!" She cried out helplessly, trying to pull them back. The more she fought the tighter their grip became.
"Quit y'er fight'n, lass. Ye haven't got what I haven't seen b'fore." The other knight replied with a raspy cackle. One of them kicked open a door while the other shoved the lesser elf inside, the girl stumbling to the ground.
"Why they be always fight'n us?" sighed the first knight. The other simply replied with a shrug.
With no delay, Windeline sprang to her feet to find some spot, some opening, any place to escape the large men's reach. "Oh no ye don't! Quickly, Dredge!"
She hastily scrambled beneath the table, leaning against the far wall. Frantically she looked about the area, her heart pounding, beads of sweat upon her brow. A thick hand lunged from the side, grabbing her cloak and her hair, pulling her from underneath.
The talking knight picked the ranger up into the air, her neck snugly held in his grasp. "As I tolds ye! No fight'n and ye don't get hurt," he snarled.
She tried to pry his large hand away with her own, but her vigor was quickly fading, her sight suddenly hazy. No... Not this humiliation... With what strength she managed to summon, she swiftly delivered a kick to the man's side. His hold relaxed, causing the girl to fall to her knees.
The other knight quickly ran towards her, hands outstretched, while the other was slumped over as he recovered from the blow. At last some amount of cloth was ripped and the sound made the woman ill. The thought that these men would see her bare... No, she would not let that happen. The knight held Windeline's shroud tightly in his hands as he pulled the fabric back. She still persevered to move forward, the pressure around her neck was almost too much for her until the cloak, her precious sanctuary, was torn from her shoulders.
Suddenly free, the ranger sprinted inside a small cell, quickly shutting the gate behind her. The silent knight tossed the ruined cloak to the floor, shaking his head at the half elf.
"Y'er a stupid one, a'right... Lock'n y'erself inside dat bit of bars..." The man she was able to stun for a moment sighed.
"Not stupid," Windeline finally replied. Her heart was beating frantically against her wrapped bosom. The young woman held up her hands as she quickly chanted a prayer. The bear appeared outside her bars, a worried look flashed across her big brown eyes.
"Tua amin, Callisto!" With a loud roar, the bear hurdled itself into one of the warriors. As the animal slapped the downed man with its claws, teeth tearing into the leather and metal that was bound on the knight beneath her, the other warrior reached for his long sword.
The ranger raced arcane words from her memory and through her lips as the man thrust his weapon inside the prison. Afraid she would lose her concentration, Windeline remained in place, feeling the sharp sting of the blade as it jabbed her in the upper thigh.
The knight sneered as the girl winced in pain, her voice becoming shaky as she tried to ignore the feeling that throbbed through out her leg. Just as he was about to take another shot at her, the spell was complete. Magical vines reached from the ground, entangling themselves around the warrior's limbs.
He cried out as the greenery forced him to the ground. His dark eyes glared at the girl who clutched at her red stained wound. "Ye bloody bitch," he scowled, "alls we needed was yer clothes takin' off. Vix'thra won't be happy hearin' 'bout this mess."
Windeline's tired eyes wearily regarded the man as she sank to the floor. "Tell your stupid god he can rot in the hells."
A warm hand brushed against her cheek, her eyes fluttered open, her sight slowly coming into focus. "...Valen?" The man sat beside her in the small cell, the door was propped open by a sleeping Callisto. Looking about, she noticed the two slain men lying as lifeless heaps on the floor.
She turned her head away from the scene; her skin feeling a familiar fabric. What remained of her cloak was neatly folded beneath her head and a torn piece of it was wrapped tightly around her blood soaked leg. The ranger winced as she tried to sit up, her wound still throbbing.
"Stay where you are, my lady... I am not as keen in the healing arts as you are, but I did try my best with what I do know..." His voice was strangely soft to her, the young woman's face crimsoned slightly. Thankfully, however, he didn't seem to notice.
"When... did-"
"We come to try and rescue you?" His words held a strange mixture of regret and mirth. "You were already unconscious in the cage, a pool of blood beside you, when the bard and I arrived. Callisto had just finished one of the knights as the vines began to lose their hold on the other."
"With their help the other was fallen... but-"
"Oooh! Deekin likes this part! I tell!" squealed the kobold with delight as the tiefling glared in the bard's direction. "Valen was worried for Boss! You not wake when Deekin try to sing or try poking with lute."
The ranger winced as she laughed, "that's a dirty joke just waiting to happen."
The kobold skipped to the bars to get a better look at the woman as he continued, "after goat man fix wound, we not know what to do. Deekin remembered stories about people putting mouth to sleepy person's mouth and they huff and puff - "
"That is quite enough, kobold!" Valen quickly rose to his feet, facing away from the girl and towards the bard. His tail swayed back and forth as he rigidly stood with his arms crossed.
The ranger's eyes went wide and her fingers brushed against her lips. He didn't... did he? Overcome with a heated blush, she decided it was best to sit up and undo Valen's attempt at bandaging and do some healing of her own.
As she cast her spells, her glance swayed to and from her wound to the tiefling. The lesser elf bent her leg, making sure the wound had healed correctly. "That's better..." She leaned back in her seat, her hands resting on what was once her cloak. Her fingers clenched at the material, she sighed. "So much for hiding underneath this old thing."
At last she rose to her feet, stretching a bit before she finally regarded the suddenly silent weapon master. "Hey," she rubbed the backside of her head, "thanks for coming to my rescue, I was really scared you guys weren't going to make it before - "
She shuddered at the command Sodalis had uttered so nonchalantly. "Never mind, that. You guys came when I needed y'all and that's what matters most!" She quickly kissed Valen on the cheek, then rushed out the room. "Come on you two, something's really strange about this place and I mean to find out what it is."
The tiefling remained standing, as the other two walked out the room following the girl. He reached for the torn fabrics of her cloak, humming as he neatly folded it within his pack. As he stood to trail after the others, he met the toothy grin of the bard's.
"It would be best to move out of the way, Deekin." His low voice growled at the smiling creature.
"Deekin saw."
Valen brushed past the kobold, not looking back, only stopping at the door to reply a few hasty words. "You saw nothing."
The kobold was left alone in the room trying his best to hold in his laughter. "Silly goat man! Deekin see everything!"
"tua amin" is tel'quessir for "help me."
Whew! It sure has been a long time since I updated this fic! Thanks for all your patience and reviews. I have to give a shout out to my beta, the talented and wonderful Ms. IceyCold. You're great, Icey! I hope you guys enjoyed this latest chapter. Please review and tell me what y'all think. :)
Lady Winde