Q. sorcery 15: Elves ruin my fun of stealing

*I've set this realm during the renaissance era. I still like males with long hair, though in research it says they have bobbed hair.

Music: S.H.E superstar, I won't say I'm in love (Disney Hercules movie)

My hair had grown thicker and become a deep violet hue in the sun. Ilkar and Drizzt made no awkward remarks. I wondered if I would ever be attractive enough to clinch someone of such nobility as a mate! Drizzt had made it clear he only loved one person Catti-brie. Ilks was taken by Ren. Only in my daydreams will I be dancing with them, in my beautiful dress in an eternal festival of youth. I would never guess their real age! Haha.

We had moved to another inn, to reduce the possibility of our being recognized. The mage had recovered considerably, not constantly racked by exhaustion. Serif spent most of his time in the guise of a black and white shepherd dog or a barking cat. I had to shush him when people looked at him oddly. Some humans steered clear of Drizzt, our dark friend. It pissed me off, which led me to wish to throw stones at them and take their things, much to Drizzt's chagrin. 'Don't do that, it'd worsen their prejudice of me. They will hate me more, I do not mind,' I knew better, for we did not miss the pain of emotion in his lavender eyes whenever curses were directed to him.

Prejudice was a concept I grew to loath, mainly that people didn't like the black skinned peoples, though they themselves were not perfect. I did not know if I was a human or not, occasionally I also received disgusted glares.

Ilkar often soothed us with his soft words, because he felt weak and generally he didn't believe in outright ferocity and confrontation. Back then, the Julatsan acted as if he were some lordship. The real Ilks had no such airs. He always knew if I was going to be rash and spoke to me of other things when my anger mounted. I calmed as soon as I listened to his advice. It was my motto to make him happy, not vex him more. Other than prejudice, we were unmolested.

One day, I returned from scouting and nicking a few items. Drizzt was polishing his blade at one end of our room and Ilkar was drawing some shapes like triangles, circles in deep concentration. Their outlines were visible when I squinted, using my mana to See with. Otherwise it appeared invisible. I stepped closer, but very careful not to make any sound. He had taught me that it was crucial never to interrupt any casting or meditation trances, as the result would cause deep harm to both the mage and the disrupter. Some orbs bounced harmlessly off the walls. A lock of dark hair flopped concealing Ilkar's eyes. He absently pushed it back. Yesterday he had his hair trimmed, but the barber didn't want to cut away his fringe and most hair. Our mage disliked needing to handle long shoulder length hair and wanted to crop short like the first time I had seen him. The barber flatly refused, declaring elves should look like how he did now. 'Fine, cut at least to the collar length alright? I'm paying,' the elf said impatiently. The barber nagged which he didn't appreciate at all! Ilks had pulled his dark mane into a loose ponytail. 'Never mind, then you won't look odd!' I had teased. As long as they have hair, god forbid they get bald! I said I didn't like bald and ageing males. When Drizzt told me of some bald drow, I said yuck, and made him laugh.

He opened his eyes and exhaled, facing me. "What is it?" Ilkar picked up his book and the pages flipped rapidly on their own volition.

"Oh what spell?" I held the book which came into my hands.

"Basic rehearsal of replenishing stamina. Every casting has a concept. How is your summoning gift? Any concepts?" Eh, I had not told him about that in detail. He talked about his discoveries. I loved him when he ardently shared his knowledge.

Serif had become a small leopard cat and pawed my leg. He had a ring in his mouth. Wow! I shook my head, hurriedly pocketing the new find. Serif, he should have waited for me outside. Sullen, Ilkar chided him sternly for stealing it. I backed away thinking I could escape, but he crooked a finger. "Come back here, Fel. Now. What did I say about stealing?" his voice remained soft but became curt and righteous.

I slunk back. Part of the long- running series of Elf-talks, with their honor and glory theme throughout whenever my deeds were not right or up to par- "Give it here. We can very well afford to buy what we need! I am so disappointed in you both. How long have you been thieving again? It is wrong. These are honest people. How will they feed themselves?" He lectured me very seriously. Serif's ears cocked and he watched Ilkar, trying to look hurt. The mage took the ring, a heavy one and very valuable. I smiled and started to explain: not until this week. Of course my pet wanted to please me and was linked to my instincts to survive. Usually I was forgiven quickly.

Wouldn't the ranger speak up for me? Drizzt watched us but made no move to stop him. I looked on the floor, silence being the best remedy. The previous time Ilkar had seen me stealing, he felt pains in his chest as we argued and I felt terrible and guilty.

Ilkar moved on to part two or three of the Talk, not drawing attention, being honorable, kind, how grateful we should be to others.

"But it can fetch some coin," I argued faintly. The Julatsan's ears pricked and he whitened, seeming about to pass out or blow up. I swallowed. Spots of color reddened his cheeks and his hazel eyes blazed golden.

"Both of you will come with me to return this to its rightful owner and pay for it." Serif purred and wove about his legs to appease the mage, but the elf ignored that.

"But… but I'm not sure how to ask Serif to show where he got it. I'm sorry. Can't we keep it? I can buy some health potions for you, Ilkar." I pleaded.

Ilkar's glare did not lessen in intensity. From his side, the dark elf walked over and said something in elven. I wondered if it was in my favor or not. I prayed Drizzt was helping me! They conversed in private and then Drizzt shrugged. "I did my best. Accept your fate. Don't be overtly angry, Ilkar."

"I won't. In fact I was in a fantastic mood until this happened."

Oh shit. Ilkar repeated we were to follow him while he questioned who had this ring missing. 'Save me!' I whispered as Ilkar walked out the door. Drizzt just had a sympathetic look but he lay down in his bed.

"Stop dallying." The elf folded his arms and scowled.

"Okay." Outside we were to call one another with alias names. The inn was at the centre of activity. Vendors sold their wares and there must be a jeweler somewhere among the mix. I struggled to catch up with his long strides. Ilkar began asking merchants if they had lost the ring. He conversed fluently in Common and dialects. I hoped that the owner had left then I could pawn it for money. Health potions carried a huge price tag. I meant well. Serif was in my arms, and I asked him if he could show me where he got it.

My Familiar showed me blurred images, of how a man wanted to hit him but missed. I smiled. Ilkar said, "Not these people, Jodie. Where else?" He pointed to Serif.

I told him what I had seen. After a while, we chanced upon a jeweler at a corner of town.

He apologized profusely for what we had done and nudged me to say it too. The uncle was not angry and simply smiled at our honesty. "It is all right, children are young sire. Find something nice for yourselves." He invited us to look at his collection. Ilkar turned him down.

This time his temper had cooled, for he matched my pace. I held his arm. "Why can't we take things? I'm not doing it for myself. isn't it okay?"

He didn't answer until we were at the side of a street with food. "We're not in a bad place anymore, Jodie. These people are making an honest living. You are lucky the man did not mind and chose to forgive you. In some places they will chop off your fingers."

My heart ached. Ilkar's ears pricked backwards, meaning he was deeply concerned and sad. I found all my excuses fading and said I loved him. "I'm sorry, Ivan. I know it's bad. Don't be mad, take care of your health," I added and looked into his eyes.

The elf nodded and embraced me. "It is over. No, more the fault of the ones who were supposed to guide you. Promise not to steal again, all right. I am much better, no need to buy potions."

Inside, I didn't agree. Ilkar slept badly.

Drizzt rolled over in bed when we opened the door. "Hello dark ranger." He smiled and leaned back on the pillows. "Hello too. Had an enjoyable time?"

I pulled a face and drank some water.

"They can't stop being thieves. I don't want us to be thrown out of town, Drizzt. It was all right," Ilkar said, sitting down and removing his boots. Had he not forgiven me? He sounded grumpy again.

The drow smiled. "Don't be too hard on them, we were youths once and rash too. How's your casting now?" Thank you, I cried out inside and beamed.

"I'm much improved. Felicia, would you rub my arm for me? I sprained it," he asked, unveiling his upper body. I helped him obediently. Softly I said I didn't mean any harm by it. He had some scars. I didn't dare to ask what happened.

Drizzt's gaze on me was knowing. He had noticed me being less than perfect at night, and at first gave me a shorter version of the elf Talk, but understanding my motivations said he would act unaware. He was more flexible than Ilks. They began nattering in their tongue. Though not of the common races, most elves can communicate in basic forms of their language. It was spoken very quickly little room for us to understand. Drizzt had picked up some basic phrases. If he did not get it, he would substitute some terms of the common.

In lighter times, I was annoyed and said they were being mean to exclude me. Today I had better be submissive and simply listened to their melodious chatter.

Drizzt spread his hands. "is féidir linnmuinínfósiad, tá siad de chineál. Ántë apsenë"

Ilkar countered in a calm voice, "Stealingan-mícheart, tá siad chuna mhúineadhan difríocht! indáiríre ní mianruddonale tarlúchun pionós a ghearradhorthu. beidh sé i bhfadró-mhall."

"Ta anwa. Ilks, ná bíodh imní ortan méid sin, a chara mo chroí. cuimhneamhdo shláinte.a ligean arfadhbanna a réiteachcairdiúil."

I heard his name! At this, the mage reached back, for I was behind him, and said I could stop now. "Let me see your scar. Feel all right?" I said fine. The scar on my right leg itched from being bitten by a kind of flea. It was the problem with the poor hygiene of inns, one of the reasons why we left too. He had hovered over me constantly, reminding me countless times not to scratch too much.

"conas amilistúan dábreathnúle chéile!agus is féidir linnlabhairtgo sona sástaisindarin!" the ranger chuckled and commented.

Fair elf gently probed my bite scar and smiled. "Nah a úsáid quenya." After he washed his hands, Ilkar lay down and closed his eyes. Like our night operations, we normally took it easy for the day and rested up. The heat was too intense for any productivity. More markets were open at night too. It began to rain outside.

"Any chance I can know what's going on guys?" I asked lying down and not feeling the least bit tired. Each of us had our own beds, even Serif who lay on his paws. My bed was at the window parallel, for I did not mind any light, Drizzt's was furthest close to the doorway, and Ilkar's was near mine. I could see the Julatsan's chest rise and fall.

Drizzt replied me, "Which part? You know he sleeps lightly."

I went to sit with him, told him no need to get up. "Okay. Was it about me? Is he mad at me?"

"Not at all. Mainly I told him to take it easy and you're young and you'll learn. He just has utmost concern for your safety. I think it's good that you're so close and match well."

"Really? But not when he goes into elf-talks. Anything new that his health will improve? I do want to buy potions, he's still weak. I saw him shivering the other day when he was already cloaked." Ilkar's right hand relaxed completely, when he had clutched the blanket to his body and he turned on his other side. Then he slipped under the blankets.

Drizzt held my hand, patted once. "Um sleepy." Within a few minutes, the drow went to dreamland too. He had taken off his shirt and armor. So many scars crisscrossed his chest and left shoulder. I observed him closely, actually he was not completely black but a deep brown. He was more muscular than Ilks and me. His stomach had a bandage, a shallow wound from being in a fight. Even though he was in pain, he insisted on helping someone to get back her money from a highway man. Yet the victim had not appreciated his kindness. Drizzt had fallen to a kneel, worrying us. My skill of healing was not strong enough. A good man had given him a good bandage and he should not exert too much these days. His fine brows and angular features made him really handsome too, and one of my fingers touched his eartip. On his chest rested a horse-head figurine. The one known as Mieliekki.

He smiled a little and stretched his long legs. Because the bed was short, he let one leg dangle over. I looked at his toes, they were very small. "Fel."

"Huh? Not asleep yet?" I asked. It was Ilkar.

"Don't annoy him." I chuckled/

Guide:

is féidir linn muinín fós iad, tá siad de chineá- we can still trust them, they mean well.

stealing an-mícheart, tá siad chun a mhúineadh an difríocht-they must know the difference, stealing is wrong

Ántë apsenë- forgive them

i ndáiríre ní mian rud dona le tarlú chun pionós a ghearradh orthu- i really don't want anything bad to happen to punish them.

Ta anwa- that's true

ná bíodh imní ort an méid sin, a chara mo chroí. cuimhneamh do shláinte. a ligean ar fadhbanna a réiteach cairdiúil- my dear friend, remember your health. let's try to solve problems amicably.

conas a milis tú an dá breathnú le chéile! agus is féidir linn labhairt go sona sásta i sindarin!-you are so compatible. And we can talk in sindarin!

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