Chapter Two: The Dawn of a Moonpriest's Journey
It was with light, quick steps that Bugoron Bearfang made his way from the southern gate of Waterdeep. He had left some time after posting his note to everyone back in his hometown. The sun was high in the sky today, but it was past noontime, so the priest of Selune had removed his steel helm. As he walked, he looked at the helm for a moment, noting the many dents in its top, some old, some newer, some small, small larger. I really should take this in to the armorer back at the church and get this repaired, he thought to himself. He then nodded quickly to himself, coming to a stop and slipping a leather backpack from his shoulders to store the helmet. He hastily pulled the pack back onto his back and headed off again, a look of determination and curiosity on his face. Bugoron pulled his left hand from its gauntlet, running a hand through the short-cropped hair on the left side of his head, his finger running along the tip of an ear that was slightly pointed, marking half-elven origin. He was finding the sunlight a bit too warm for his liking, so he finally gave in and found a patch of trees off the side of the road to run behind. He took his pack off once again, pulling out a blue and silver robe, and then quickly put what armor he could in the pack, hooking what wouldn't fit to the outside clasps. After changing into his robe, he felt much better under the afternoon sun, so he began back toward the road. As he approached, however, the half-elf thought he heard something from back up the road leading to Waterdeep. He waited a moment, and soon, his dark brown eyes fixed upon a covered wagon coming around a turn in the road. Bugoron smiled, and quickened his pace to the road, flagging down the driver with his hand.
The two horses, both with light brown colored hair, came to a stop in front of the half-elf. He looked up to the driver, who was sitting in front of the cloth flaps that lead inside the wagon. He was hunched over the leather reins, holding them in thick, knobby hands. He looked at Bugoron with eyes of a dull blue-grey, his brow furrowing a bit, bringing two full eyebrows close together.
"Aye, wha d'ye want?" the driver said, sounding a bit irritated. His wide nose wrinkled a bit as he watched the half-elf, waiting for his reply.
Bugoron hesitated a moment, then answered, "Good afternoon, sir, I just noticed you passing by, and I was hoping to ask you where you were headed."
The driver gave him a look, asking curtly, "Berdusk, why?"
The Moonpriest had a bad feeling about the driver's response after he gave his answer, but replied nonetheless, "I was just curious as to whether or not you had some spare room in your wagon."
The driver's brows furrowed further, and his round ears seemed to go red as he shouted back, "No passengers!"
Bugoron almost jumped back at this, but kept his composure and nodded slowly to the driver, "I understand sir, it's alright, I was just curious, sorry to bother you." The half-elf had just started to leave when he heard a high voice call out, "Here, now!" Bugoron turned around and noticed the head of a young woman pop out from between the cloth flaps. She looked over at Bugoron and said, "There's room, come back here in the back." She smiled softly at him. The priest looked at her for a moment, and then asked quizzically, "But...didn't the driver-"
The woman quickly cut him off, "Get in here before he drives off on ye, silly!" she interrupted. The driver started to protest to the young woman, but she quickly turned her gaze down at him, shaking a finger at him, "Now don't ye start, da, we got room back here, and ye know it!" The woman's father grumbled a bit, then looked at Bugoron and jerked his head back toward the wagon, signaling he could climb on. The half-elf bowed quickly, "Thank you very much." He headed to the back of the wagon and got on without delay. It wasn't much sooner than when Bugoron got settled down at the side of the wagon that the horses were coaxed into moving along once again.
The woman pulled her head back inside the folds of the wagon covering and sat down with Bugoron. She smiled sweetly for a moment, then said, "Sorry about that, he gets in them cranky moods and won't hear anything from nobody except me."
The half-elf smiled back, looking at the young woman. She looked to be around her early twenties, to his reckoning. The weather had been kind to this flower, he figured, for she had blossomed into a very attractive lady. Bright golden hair hung loosely about her shoulders, framing a sweet face, with high cheeks and cheerful blue eyes. She wore a homespun dress, along with a lady's blouse, and although it was a common ensemble, she was still quite complemented in it. The blouse hugged her frame tight enough to show the curves of her sides, while the neckline was cut low, giving a generous-yet-conservative hint of an ample buxom. Bugoron looked about the wagon, noting that there were some supplies here and there. He mused to himself that if they were selling there goods, he can understand why they may have sold so much.
He brought his eyes back to the young woman's face and smiled again, "Thank you again, I appreciate your kindness, madam." The young woman giggled a bit, "Madam? Oh, go on, now, there's no need o' that, sir. My name's Willow, ye know, just like the tree!" She smiled happily at Bugoron. "The driver is my da, his name is Douglas, and he's a poor one for to try and have a talk with, so I'm not lyin' when I say I appreciate the company."
The Moonpriest chuckled softly at Willow's words. "Well then, if there is no need for madam, then there is no need for sir." He winked at her and continued, "Bugoron Bearfang, Blue Moon Cleric, at your service."
Willow seemed to blush a little at this, and smiled, "Pleased to meet you." She offered. Bugoron smiled back, replying, "Likewise." He watched her face redden a bit more, and saw her turn her head slightly. The half-elf noted this and mentally frowned. Willow was very nice and very attractive, yes, but Bugoron had stopped courting the day he had met his present-day fiancé, Avia, and had not started again since. He was offering her friendship, and he hoped she wasn't thinking to look for more. He quickly thought of something to say to ease the tension in the conversation. "Well then, you came from Waterdeep, I suppose, but just what were you and your father doing there?"
Willow turned back, smiling, and said, "My da and I were up selling our goods on the market, and now we're making our way back toward Shadowdale."
Bugoron let his eyes widen slightly, "From the Dalelands, then. Well now, you've made quite the journey, haven't you?"
Willow nodded, replying, "We did, but lots o' folk bought our goods for a fair price, so we're all the better for it. We'll be stopping at Berdusk to give the horses a rest for the night, and then we'll be takin' off again in the morning."
Bugoron nodded, saying, "Well, I'm glad you happened by, and thank you again for your generosity."
Willow just smiled back warmly, replying, "Don't worry about it, it's not a problem at all."
The wagon continued to rumble down the road to Berdusk. The horses' hooves thudded dully on the dirt road, Douglas could be heard cursing whenever they would bounce over a bump, and a friendly chat could be heard from within the cloth walls of the wagon as the sun made its way across the horizon to settle just above the skyline.
By the time Douglas brought the wagon to a stop, Bugoron and Willow had become oblivious to how much time had gone by, and had become very well acquainted. Bugoron had told her stories about himself and his religion, and Willow had, in return, told him about her childhood and about growing up in the Dalelands. Willow had marveled at Bugoron's stories of Selune, and adored the amulet of Her faith that hung around his neck. Numerous times, the half-elf had let her take it in her hand and look at it. It was adorned with a pair of eyes surrounded by stars, the holy symbol of Selune. Bugoron was more than happy to relate what he knew about the Moonmaiden to his new friend, and was glad to see her so excited about it. When the wagon came to a stop, though, they looked at each other for a moment, and then looked out the back flaps of the cloth covering. They were outside of a tavern in Berdusk, and the sun was on its way down past the horizon, out of sight.
Bugoron sighed slightly and said, "Well then, I guess we've arrived." Willow seemed to frown slightly and nodded slowly, "Aye, ye'd be right." The half-elf turned to regard her. He couldn't just let Willow leave in this state, so he reached up and patted her on the shoulder, saying, "I think I'll make a stop by your place when I come back through, so I can say hello, if you wouldn't mind-"
Willow had turned, her eyes wide and happy, as he cut him off before he could even finish. "Yes!" She blurted quickly, then blushed profusely, clearing her throat a bit before correcting herself quietly, "Yes, I'd...like that very much." She smiled happily at Bugoron as he exited the back of the wagon and offered his hand, helping her down. Once they were both out, Douglas wasted no time in driving the wagon to the stable. Bugoron watched Douglas go, and then turned back to Willow, "Well, I guess this is where we part." Willow nodded slowly, a small frown starting on the edges of her lips. Bugoron caught the frown before it could develop, and banished it as he added, "For now." Willow's face lit up once again, and her lips quickly spread wide into a happy smile, as she nodded quickly. The half-elf gave her a parting bow, "Bless you and your father, Willow. May Stars guide you both." Willow was still smiling as she replied, "Thank you, I hope I see you again soon." She gave Bugoron one last look, and then went inside the inn. Bugoron smiled to himself as he turned and headed back toward the northern section of town, to arrive at Hullybuck's, the inn where he would stay. The Moonpriest made his way slowly into the meal room, where he disappeared from the eyes of the town for the night.
