Sept 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them. The
story, however, is mine.
A New Beginning
Chapter 9
Gilthanas awoke two days later, his head pounding and his tongue
feeling like sandpaper. "Water." He croaked. A ladle was lifted to his
lips and soothingly cool water was poured into his mouth. His eyes
fluttered open and he focused on the concerned face of Leth. "How
long?" he asked, his voice raw.
Leth's face turned relieved, "My liege, you're awake. You've been
out for three days straight, we were starting to worry when you would
ever wake up."
"Silvara..." he murmured, his mind going back over the foggy
dreamlike state of his memories. A whisper soft kiss and words spoken
had his eyes flying to Leth's face. "She's here, I know it, she was
here while I was unconscious."
Leth looked at his lord sympathetically, "Sire, Silvara has not
been here. Only the lady Arlena has been here and she is hardly the elf
you described to me. In fact, she's human."
Gilthanas waves his hand in a weak dismissive gesture,
"Unimportant. She's a dragon, she can choose any form she wants. She
could be a kender if she so choose."
"Sleep lord, regain your strength. Once you're well again we will
search for your lady."
Gilthanas smiled a secret smile, "My journey is at an end," he
whispered as he dropped back to sleep.
***
The Lady Arlena watched as Gilthanas dropped back to sleep, her
eyes full of pain and longing but she quickly shuttered them when Leth
turned desperate eyes to her, "I don't know how he thinks such things,"
he said sadly, "He'll be crushed when he finds out that Silvara's not
really here."
Arlena smiled softly at the elf and took his hand, "Get some sleep
Leth, when he is feeling better we will help him search for his lost
lady."
Leth sighed and nodded, turning away and leaving the room and the
Lady Knight alone with his liege. Arlena bolted the door behind him and
turned sad eyes on her love. "Gilthanas," she murmured, her voice so
low it dispersed as it passed her lips. She sighed, and looked away
from him. This wasn't helping either of them. If he suddenly woke to
see the strange human Knight, the Lady Alrena, staring at him with such
longing and hurt he would know for sure. She looked at him again and
this time detached herself from the emotions that were swirling around
inside her and adopted the cool mask she normally wore. She unbolted
the door and quickly left the room.
She entered her own quarters and went to the balcony, throwing the
doors open as she stripped down to her shift. She sighed, leaning
against the rail as she looked out over the keep, her heart heavy. The
cool breeze off the sea slid over her like silk, cooling the hot skin.
She hung her head. When Gilthanas awoke next she would have to face
him. If her truly loved her he would see through the disguise she wore.
Her heart ached, praying he would, and yet she feared the meeting more
than she could put into words. If he didn't recognize her she would be
crushed. She closed her eyes, "Paladine, if you're listening to your
child, hear me," she whispered, her hand clenching around the railing,
"Please, I beg, let him see me and accept that I cannot change who or
what I am. Let his love have matured enough to accept me for the dragon
I was born as." A single silver tear ran down her smooth cheek as she
opened her eyes to watch the horizon. "Please..."
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them. The
story, however, is mine.
A New Beginning
Chapter 9
Gilthanas awoke two days later, his head pounding and his tongue
feeling like sandpaper. "Water." He croaked. A ladle was lifted to his
lips and soothingly cool water was poured into his mouth. His eyes
fluttered open and he focused on the concerned face of Leth. "How
long?" he asked, his voice raw.
Leth's face turned relieved, "My liege, you're awake. You've been
out for three days straight, we were starting to worry when you would
ever wake up."
"Silvara..." he murmured, his mind going back over the foggy
dreamlike state of his memories. A whisper soft kiss and words spoken
had his eyes flying to Leth's face. "She's here, I know it, she was
here while I was unconscious."
Leth looked at his lord sympathetically, "Sire, Silvara has not
been here. Only the lady Arlena has been here and she is hardly the elf
you described to me. In fact, she's human."
Gilthanas waves his hand in a weak dismissive gesture,
"Unimportant. She's a dragon, she can choose any form she wants. She
could be a kender if she so choose."
"Sleep lord, regain your strength. Once you're well again we will
search for your lady."
Gilthanas smiled a secret smile, "My journey is at an end," he
whispered as he dropped back to sleep.
***
The Lady Arlena watched as Gilthanas dropped back to sleep, her
eyes full of pain and longing but she quickly shuttered them when Leth
turned desperate eyes to her, "I don't know how he thinks such things,"
he said sadly, "He'll be crushed when he finds out that Silvara's not
really here."
Arlena smiled softly at the elf and took his hand, "Get some sleep
Leth, when he is feeling better we will help him search for his lost
lady."
Leth sighed and nodded, turning away and leaving the room and the
Lady Knight alone with his liege. Arlena bolted the door behind him and
turned sad eyes on her love. "Gilthanas," she murmured, her voice so
low it dispersed as it passed her lips. She sighed, and looked away
from him. This wasn't helping either of them. If he suddenly woke to
see the strange human Knight, the Lady Alrena, staring at him with such
longing and hurt he would know for sure. She looked at him again and
this time detached herself from the emotions that were swirling around
inside her and adopted the cool mask she normally wore. She unbolted
the door and quickly left the room.
She entered her own quarters and went to the balcony, throwing the
doors open as she stripped down to her shift. She sighed, leaning
against the rail as she looked out over the keep, her heart heavy. The
cool breeze off the sea slid over her like silk, cooling the hot skin.
She hung her head. When Gilthanas awoke next she would have to face
him. If her truly loved her he would see through the disguise she wore.
Her heart ached, praying he would, and yet she feared the meeting more
than she could put into words. If he didn't recognize her she would be
crushed. She closed her eyes, "Paladine, if you're listening to your
child, hear me," she whispered, her hand clenching around the railing,
"Please, I beg, let him see me and accept that I cannot change who or
what I am. Let his love have matured enough to accept me for the dragon
I was born as." A single silver tear ran down her smooth cheek as she
opened her eyes to watch the horizon. "Please..."