Kingdom of Qeynos, Antonica, Norrath Month 2 - Grayeven, Season of Decay, Thedas 9:29 Month 5 - Bloomingtide of the Dragon Age.
A Lady sat by the window looking out over the open plains of her home. An unrelenting storm outside, hammering against the houses in Qeynos. In a modest manse, the young High elf woman made her home, far from the great forest and marble streets of the Elven city she was born.
It was a night like this, she recalled, another storm vastly different from what was beating on the windows this eve. Sighing as she reached up to touch the golden circlet that adorned her starlight hair. Removing it, lightning crashed. Looking back out into the stormy night, she turned to sit by the roaring fire, comfortably warm, and troubled in her thoughts, while looking over two objects in her elegant hands as she clutched them tightly.
The golden circlet, a gift she is never without, glowing as the firelight catches it and in her other hand a ring, a silver king's signet, two lions on a shield, her other gift. Gifts given to her many years prior. She is looking at the flames, her thoughts recalling another time, one from those previous years. The flames, as they crackle agreeably, lulling her into a tranquil state, the heaviest of sighs cements her decision, her eyes fluttering closed.
A time later her cousin spotted her curled up in the chair she occupied asleep, as he was on his way to bed for the hour late. A soft clearing of his throat, a gentle hand to her shoulder, "Cousin, I thought you in bed hours ago?" he reached to help her to her feet. "You know what time it is?"
She heard the soft patter of the rain, stretching out her body, before she rose to her feet, being led to her room. "I do, I closed my eyes for just a moment." She said, yawning a sleepy smile, clasping a necklace around her neck, or trying. Her beloved cousin offered assistance, while she replaced the circlet where it often resides, then laid her head on his shoulder.
She squeezed his arm to get his attention, she never in loss of words feels unsure of how to tell her favorite cousin, the decision she made with the flames, "I… I thought I need to go back, have to, and it will be soon."
They stopped just short of her room at the end of the long hall; he looked down at the top of her platinum head; he pulled his arm from her grasp and faced her as she leaned on the railing. "What do you mean, you are planning to seek the help of your friends?" he folded his arms across his chest as his arched brows drew together.
He watched her as her aqua eyes darted looking for the words she seems to form. "Yes, if anyone can help me, it would be them, but I fear something is amiss. Communicating only works if I am there." The Elven lady sighed in great frustration as she closed her eyes, "I had located the book that I have been searching for, before… It took some heavy convincing and many favors to be allowed to look into the restricted section when we funded the excursions to Kunark. It will be a while before I leave. I will leave soon as I can." she stated. There was no question, no doubt. It was just a matter of time.
He nodded and gently tugged her elbow. "We can. Bed, young lady. We will speak more about this in the morning."
"You are coming as well? What about the girls, Okhor?" Determined, he knew it, when she came back to Norrath, what seemed like ages ago, she rushed to his room and sat him down, continuing for days, weeks about her time in Ferelden, he read her journal seeing that she had left once her task was complete. She left friends and loved one's behind. She was elated and miserable each time she came back from Ferelden.
"Yes, they are my family, too. I am fairly certain they will agree. Good night."
Years had passed since her journey to strengthen herself, enhancing her powers from when she returned, years ago she left for the Great Library, where she kidnapped by a madman, who once called her friend, one whom she trusted, to end up dropped back on her doorstep four troubling years later, all thought she perished.
He opened her door and nudged her inside, closing the door behind him. 'Certainly, we will be there longer this trip, the others will wish to go as well. I have to send word to Okhor.'
His thoughts fired off rapidly as he mentally ticked off things they would need as he was making his way to his own bed.
Jotting down a curt note, he summoned his familiar, "To Felwithe, the Paladins Guildhall."
With a hiss, the imp disappeared from sight. It was going to be a year, few months, or possibly days, to do whatever his cousin was planning. Sleep shortly overcame the Wizard when he received an answer.
Swiftleaf Manse, Qeynos, Antonica, Norrath Month 2 - Grayeven, Season of Decay.
Twin identical elves were up and about early in the morning, busily fixing breakfast, when Xellexes came down, joining them as he was tying his tunic.
Looking around to see the two girls, he noticed the room not graced by his cousin. "Morning, she still not up yet?" He called them both from his spot on the balcony. Ruroni shook her chestnut head as she was at the oven, carefully pulling from it fresh-baked sweet bread.
"Good morning Uncle, Mother should be up soon, did you need something?" Tenkou, the younger of the two, asked as she poured drinks into their cups, then returned to her spell book sitting open on the table nearest Xellexes.
With a shake of his snow-white head he came down to eat, "Not rightly, smell wonderful as always girls, how are you this morning?" He sat taking a sip of the cooled fresh grape juice, looking at the large bowl of hot porridge before getting a bowl of some himself.
"Morning Uncle, well as always, Lili left for Surefall and the market. I need to head there myself for more spiked arrowheads, you?" Ruroni came from the kitchen to put plates of fresh fruits, slices of cheese, and warm honey bread on the table. Helping herself to the food once she sat.
As Tenkou scribes the last spell in her book before joining the others to eat, the front door of the house opens with a bang with Lili'Enyel, walking in carrying two large baskets of fruits and fish. Xellexes went over to help her with her burden.
"Thank you, Uncle, I am so hungry I could eat a mammoth." The ranger grunted as she put the remainder of her items down, heading to the table for much-needed food. Ruroni looked surprised and ran from the table into the kitchen.
The door in the upstairs door closed, the sound of the Lady of the house heard coming down the stairs, she was putting her long hair in a low ponytail, kissing the tops of her daughter's heads when she reached them before taking food herself.
"Good morning Mother." The girls greeted in unison. Ruroni kissed her cheek as she brought the cooked fish for them out.
"Good morning loves, did we all sleep well?" Asking as she nibbled on her honey bread.
Xellexes looked up, and Deedo was looking right at him from across the table. "Yes, we did, and you, dear cousin?"
With a smile and nod. She popped a piece of bread in her mouth. All was quiet while they sat enjoying their morning meal, when the thought from the night before entered the Lady's thoughts, with a clear of her throat announcing her plan, "I will leave for the Great Library, I have found the book I had been searching for and will return in a few days time. I am going back to Ferelden for a long while."
The girls stopped everything they were doing, metal clanking on the wooden table where they sat, staring at their mother as if she grew six heads. They met her with very loud objections from her daughters; Xellexes placed his utensil down, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table with the crack of lightning, startling the women while he cleared his throat.
"You all know why she is leaving, we cannot and will not try to change her mind." He looked about the table to the faces of his little family, seeing no further objections as he resumed eating.
Tenkou had tears in her chartreuse eyes as she got up and sat on the High elf woman's lap. "I am going with you!"
Ruroni nodded sternly as she folded her arms across her chest and Lili was running her fingers through her light silver lavender colored hair.
He poked at his food before speaking. "I expected as much. I have already written what we would need for the trip." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
Deedo smiled again and hugged the girl in her lap. "I would not be leaving you all behind. I was just going to the Library. You all worry so much." Deedo laughed, shooing her child off of her so she could finish her meal.
"You leave us with cause to worry." Lili pointed out. The group chuckled in agreement.
With nothing left to speak on, they finished their breakfast and the quintet promptly cleaned up, as there was much to do and little time to do it in. They used the food Lili just brought for their travel meals, salting the fish and preserving the cheese in wax. They emptied the house of anything perishable they could not prepare, packing their meals, warm clothing, extra shoes, and other needed odds and ends.
"Deedo, I have contacted Okhor. He will be ready to depart when we arrive in Felwithe." Xellexes handed her the note he received the night before, as Deedo regarded him thoughtfully.
"This is why you are my favorite cousin."
Once ready with their bags for the long trip ahead, they then headed throughout Norrath, gathering materials for the mages, spell components, the scouts' arrows, and instrument upgrades. All the years searching, the journeys to the harsh unforgiving lands of Kunark, and the deadly winter wastes of Velious, spending equally long days spent in the magnificent halls of the Plane of Knowledge grand library. A stable portal was finally ready. All that was needed now was to cast the spell and walk through.