Chap 10 Common elf slangs!
Over a nice game of scrabble online and pop/rock music Boa,Demi lovato *confused with the continent names, because somewhere Ysunedeth was mentioned but I think I'll simplify it.
Drizzt discussed about his panther. I really wanted to help him find the heroic animal who fought off villains. His tales distracted me from my hurt. "I don't think you're calm and quiet which is good. My only moments of calm are few. I don't regret anything though. So you're what, one hundred and fifty?"
He narrowed his eyes. "I don't know. Because of my hair color? I'm not old."
"Okay if you say so." I nudged him. The dark elf's astonishment was apparent for the first time, his white brows raised until hidden by the hair. Then he smiled and nudged me back. We sat together to look at the moon on a ledge.
Ilkar had been sleeping, but he stirred upon hearing our footsteps. We were very careful not to bang things. I felt quite awkward after our dispute though I had not been completely wrong. The Julatsan opened the conversation, "My hand still itches, though the headache is almost gone. You are right. I should depend on friends more."
He levered himself up, his face pinched.
I chewed on a fruit. Drizzt nodded, supporting him.
"Oh Felicia where is the salve? Look, he seems to have scratched at it." Ilkar tried to hide, but the dark elf had his hand firmly grasped on the non tender part of his affected hand.
I went to one of the chests to rummage through.
"I didn't scratch. Maybe a little," he murmured, as I opened the container.
"Um, has it bled before? It might get worse. Serif did you look after Ilkar?" The dog had climbed on the bed to keep his feet warm. He yipped, meaning yes he had. "Don't let him injure himself." We chuckled. The elf's toes poked the dog gently. He muttered he was no kid.
"I do need help when I faint, how embarrassing. Some spells make a huge demand on my body," Ilkar said soberly, as he watched me apply the cream to his hand.
"We will be there. I know who the truly evil people are, so I can show them to you. " Drizzt offered.
Then in a small voice, I told Ilkar I didn't want to argue with him anymore. "I respect your wishes. Didn't mean to lose my temper. But, it's quite hard to… to abandon people." As I said this, I looked at Serif, who seemed to accept and listen on his behalf. I almost got up but the elf caught my hand. I tried to shift.
So softly, Ilkar whispered, "Fel, stay a while. Thanks for helping with the medicine. I am also like that, on leaving people I- care about. I don't want that pain to happen again, that's why I wanted to…" He inhaled sharply, and I saw his ears prick. To my astonishment, the mage's uninjured hand cupped my face. Ilkar and I gazed into each other's souls at the moment.
How deep he was! On reflex, I laid my head against his chest.
"No need to talk about it. I'll never forgive you! Keep your promise not to abandon us." I said vehemently.
Ilkar laughed mirthlessly. Drizzt scratched his head. "Are you all right, Ilkar?" I guessed the drow had not heard my words. He was probably concerned the mage had turned insane.
The elf replied him something like, "Aevir nidtach."
Drizzt nodded and smiled. "How can you bear not to forgive me, friend? Hmmm?" Ilkar pleaded, stroking my hair.
My eyes stung but I refused to let the tears fall.
I listened as Ilkar told Drizzt to mark out any exits on the map that might be useful for escape, not too heavily guarded. He did not move away from me.
The Julatsan's breathing deepened. Now I was so near him as he slept, how young he seemed without pain and suffering.
Of course I didn't mean that. It just would hurt so much if anyone else left me alone again. Elves were a really tough group of people to understand. I checked the cursemark, now it was not so red and then I got up from my cramped position half lying against Ilkar.
Drizzt was gone.
My Familiar and I shared a powerful bond. I could see through his eyes wherever he went and roamed. One example was the guards or the entrances, places he ran to. Serif could not record voices though, if I saw the pictures they were mute.
I wondered what was his true Demon form. "Listen to me, Serif you care about Ilkar and Drizzt don't you? Yes yes. I want you to protect them." I repeated the word and reinforced the image of him standing in front of the elves.
Could it be the big cat he had become? It was a distant memory. The dark elf had a worried look in those purple eyes as he sat with one leg up. I was a little nearer to him. "If we find or hear any news will let you know ok? Relax."
He smiled. "Ilkar how are you? Don't rush if you feel feeble." I looked at the other elf, eating his stew. He had regained his strength, had been painstakingly hard to get up from his exhaustion. I would like to imagine we had less tempers flaring now. The Julatsan had a more positive disposition
Ilkar said he was fine. "You go outside a lot these days. Anything interesting?" He glanced at me, bright eyes shining.
"Hm I was scouting about for stuff, breathe fresh air. I picked those as a get-well present!" I pointed to the container on the table with colored flowers.
"Thank you. I feel much better. It's been so long since I've tried out my wobbly legs." Ilkar braced his hands on the table and rose. We watched him, he wanted to do it himself. The mage smiled. "I'm stable."
In fact Drizzt had seen me with Serif wandering about, people watching and all. I was glad he did not mention to Ilkar, who'd probably be worried. I wanted to keep him free of worries to ensure he got well. Poking. Huh?
Ilkar frowned. "I've called you five times now and you didn't hear me? I said, can we go for a walk together? Drizzt needs to sleep."
The drow yawned and lay down. I gave him a sorry look and agreed we would go. Though Ilkar could walk, I had to do a slow pace. "Are you all right? You don't mind the aged elf do you?" he said.
The other time we had gone to the gardens, now I led him around this wing of the castle. The guards were on the opposite tower, marching to and fro. I said didn't they look so comical like tincans? Ilkar chuckled. We had an easy time until I brought up our dispute.
"You know we didn't quite finish discussing that the pain of abandonment…" I said honestly.
The mage stiffened but he did not interrupt. I went into detail about my view.
"I see. No, it is hard for me too. I just don't want to have regrets. That's all. We were both too upset that day." Ilkar admitted this.
In my sleep I was troubled. People were being mauled by animals, human sized ones. This time the woman I had always run towards turned around, savagely and her face was black. She uttered a strange language, her fingers arched, fangs came out and claws. I moved aside and she leapt onto something.
Then the scene moved to my only clear memory, I had pinned flowers to my mother's hair. She had long dark hair. Some people yelled, flames broke out. She held a staff, overturning furniture, fastening this white locket onto me. "The locket! Don't lose it! Go go!" I didn't understand,tried to run to her but she was hitting someone.
Shadows surrounded mother! No! I ran into the flames but nobody there!
I fell in the neverending darkness, screaming silently. Save me! A pale hand reached out, anchoring me. His voice, strong and firm. "Do not fear Felicia, it is me. Stay a while," Ilkar said. I couldn't see where he was but he stood in front of me. Now he materialized, smiling. Warmth and love, and strength.
Yet it was not to be. His face contorted and he shoved me behind him. A dark shadow loomed over us. I leapt forward, how dare they hurt my friends! In my hand was an ornate dagger, with a snake on the hilt. I stabbed people left and right. Ilkar! the elf lay on the floor, too still. Don't die! I won't let him die too! I cradled my friend. A tiger appeared and growled. But I feared nothing now.
" NOBODY WILL TOUCH HIM! I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO PROTECT THEM AND FREE THEM!" I got up beside the tiger and faced the wave of black demons.
Distinctly near my ear, someone cried out in pain. I opened my eyes panting. Ilkar (from his voice) blew on his fingers, my locket was burning in front of my chest, all I felt was a buzzing heat. I rubbed my eyes. "What happened?"
"You in a nightmare, I tried to wake you. This thing burned me, damn."
I was sorry. Ilkar bade me to lie down and laid a wet cloth on my forehead. "It's fine, you are feverish too, Fel. Did something happen?"
His eyes were so piercing even in the dark. In the vision the elf mage wore black. "Will you, wear black? Is it a color chosen?"
"Not usually. I'm here, can tell me. I'm free now." The mage sat back and waited.
I paused to find the words, not exactly seeing his face as he was buried in the darkness. Gradually my shyness lifted. I only said he was casting and in black. I did not want to remember his almost death.
He remarked after I stopped for some time. "Sounds like your past. Chaotic, probably your home got attacked. She fought them and then you were lost. This tension and anger made it burn. I don't wear the color, strange…"
I sighed. "I hope not. I don't know if it's a vision. I'm scared."
Serif whined and licked my face. I touched him. The mage said, "No no it shouldn't be. I am here. Think of… this beautiful green forest with butterflies, elves…." He spun a vision for me so lovely that I smiled and relaxed. Then the mage suggested reading to me.
He insisted I drink something warm. Bringing a lantern closer to the table, he started to read a bedtime story. It was quite short. I didn't ask and Ilkar began spilling about his family. "I hardly talk about home. Got a brother Rebraal, older than me. I don't know if he still blames me for leaving them. In our family we were supposed to defend the faith. I always thought I can protect everyone outside of my country. Yet Rebraal is my only kin. I miss him."
I squinted. The elf was running hands through his hair, that had lengthened, the fringe covering some of his ears and the black silk to his shoulders. "Oh. That's nice. Does he, is he handsome like you are?" I flushed.
Ilkar laughed. This time it was a merry and free laugh, like bells. "Hoping to find a mate eh? Yes he is, only one scar over his right eye. He's darker skinned than I am. You're funny."
"No I ain't. Am not, ergh. At least you know he is there, waiting."
He became quiet. Had I hurt him? Drizzt told me elves are very emotional, and some don't express themselves directly. I am indirect with my emotions, Drizzt had confessed. In Ilkar's case he tended to say what he felt immediately, but he did not hide his anger and easily snapped.
"When we leave this place, I will be glad to share home with you, Felicia. If you will come," he said at last. "It is no heaven. But I can fulfil your wish, hopefully. Plenty of wildlife there and rare plants. Maybe you would fit in."
I nodded and sat up. Ilkar said I should not move, and I squeezed his hand happily. He yelped. Oh dear! He let me grasp his good hand. "I will come, how can I not? Free home free food to eat, handsome people!" I told him merrily. He chuckled.
Then I fondled his hair. Ilkar did not move and seemed dreamy. "I like your hair now. different. Nice." He thanked me but when I settled down in bed, he was overcome by a fit of coughing. It sounded bad. "You're sick?" Serif rushed to him. My heart tensed.
Water poured into a cup. "Not sick. I'm weak, had to cast again some days ago. The chills are gone. Phew. Drizzt will help." He drank from the cup and moved away. I couldn't see him. I asked him to come. Then I channeled warmheal to his chest. His skin was very cool to my senses. Here I was, pitying myself and the elf was feeling ill but not letting us worry.
The fair elf had not completely recovered from the exertions. His body was like he had been trampled repeatedly and his fever lifted but coughing was the result. They had to stand in the cold rain and perform a group spell.
"I will get better, not going to fulfil those bastard's wishes anymore. I just didn't want them to catch me lazing… They drained us! In the rain," he vented. In addition the mark drained energy excessively.
Felicia was sick and he wanted to do something for her. He was older than her for God's sake! She went to sleep holding his hand. Smoothing her hair, he tucked the blankets more around her.
In the Ritual instructions, more had to be done. If it failed, Ilkar had instructed Drizzt to make her escape too. The corpse must be burned by Meleefire, fires were not his forte. Also the light and energy drawn would attract attention, certainly!
He doubted he could even draw the insignias. Looking at his hand, the elf wished it away like a miracle and he could see his home again. Drizzt had almost wept, he had seen his expression when he tended to his ailment. How kind and odd this drow was. He truly forgave him now.
The mage felt too restless to sleep more. The door opened quietly and Serif sniffled wagging his tail. The drow let himself in, with a steaming brew. The kitchens let him cook, not bad. Ilkar smiled. "Why don't you show me how to make the medicine? Don't trouble yourself."
As Ilkar stood, a wave of coughing drenched him in chills and sweat. His stomach hurt too! Drizzt was a pillar of support. He patted his back. "Not till this eases up. Come, I will hold the bowl." Gracefully his friend ladled out a small bowl of herbs. Ilkar wrinkled his nose, the concoction looked like crap. But it would be rude to refuse and he closed his eyes and swallowed. The heady scent eased the coughing urge down almost instantly, and cleared his head.
Drizzt did teach him the recipe but the ranger wanted to collect the herbs personally. "Ele naut?" Ilkar asked 'why' in elven. It felt nice to share a code. The pair enjoyed the 'temper tantrums' humans threw when they could not get their secret language. Some dialect of the elven was similar to the dark elf's. While practicing they would also be able to deter eavesdroppers.
Still, it would be challenging to get on the same level of understanding.
"Usstan saph ulu alu doeb wun l'taur ( I just like to go out in the forest)," Drizzt replied, smiling teeth white. Ilkar scowled, his ears pricking.
He responded, "Fein haben es dieser Weg, ich werde nicht belästigt. Didn't get that. (the other explained) Oh." The Julatsan grinned watching the lavenders narrow. He felt a little concerned until Drizzt shook his head and laughed. Supposed to be in jest.
"What is that? New elven slang?"
"No it's a human language, Drizzt. I spent more time with Balaians, all kinds of people. I mean, fine have it that way. Let's see, I know three tongues, elven, common and this. Forgot what it's called. And yourself?"
"Ah just two, drow and common. English, a friend told me. Otherwise we would all look confused. No doubt of the smartness of a sorcerer." Ilkar beamed and leaned back on the cushioned chair. He told Serif to go and accompany his real master. The dog slinked off to cuddle around her feet.
"I'd have my head swollen. Haha Will this help Fel? She got a nightmare, just went back to sleep." Drizzt nodded. They would make her drink it later. For a while both of them glanced at the wild girl sleeping.
Ilkar's curiosity triggered. "That day she had this- shock on her face when I said I wanted to go too. Is it a dangerous place? I won't disapprove or anything."
The drow nodded. "I have watched out for her, we were looking at the exits and which are safe. I am anxious for my figurine, haven't seen people moving with them anymore. Then I saw someone holding Gwenhwyvar. How I long to get her back." He sighed deeply, his indigo colored pupils showing a troubled cloud.
Ilkar touched his shoulder. The dark elf flinched. Hm, so carress, contact with skin was not a positive gesture to him. "Sorry. I think I can do some casting by the day after. If you can carry me after I faint that is." He beamed.
"When you are ready, Ilkar. Thank you so much. How about I teach you some hand signals?" The mage picked it up rather quickly. Soon he knew basic words for all the needs and dangers. Drizzt told him more about the underworld denizens.
"Hm may I ask, you don't like touch? We know each other already."
The drow rubbed his chin, figuring how to explain this. Looking at the elf, he decided why not try. "No. I didn't expect… When people touched me, they wanted to hurt or torture me. Not a good childhood experience, when my sisters wanted my death. My brothers schemed."
Ilkar sighed. So he should be thankful his brother was around and not baying for blood. Drizzt waited for the inevitable reaction of disgust and revulsion, and then regretted mentioning, his friend had just recovered. "I shouldn't be talking about this… you're not well."
"Not at all. If it's a heavy burden, by all means go ahead. Well when I touch you don't be angry. I think I should get my village to adopt you both then. My family, I hadn't seen them for years but my brother is around… and Felicia likes the forest. It will be perfect." Ilkar was a little sad as he discussed this topic. He wished fervently he would live to see that done. Then he told himself, he will find a way to!
Drizzt swallowed. "Er you're not shocked by the horrible customs? Most people look upset."
The other elf's expression was placid. "I am. But I think I should remain calm as I'm far from that kind of place. That is a sad thing to happen. Will you accept?"
"I wouldn't dream of refusing. That means there's hope you'll be running out with us! That's wonderful!" Despite his usual reserve, the dark elf clasped Ilkar by the shoulders.
The mage smiled, glad to cheer him up. "Oh your humor is quite nice."
The girl woke up. "Yay we're adoptees! Let's celebrate!" She jumped on the bed.