Q.O.S 16: On the Road
Retro music of Feng Feifei, Nightwish: Last Ride of the Day. For this chapter, other than my OC's pov, I'm also going to let you see from the elves' views too. Let me know if it's confusing, I've got a heading.
Days passed without incident, we ate our fill, people were getting accustomed to our unusual looking friend. The weather was superb and fine, smiling with moderate sunshine. Drizzt had recovered-most of the time he could stay awake during early hours, take a nap at midday and spend time with us at dusk. Ilkar devoured some scrolls and books he had 'borrowed' and insisted his was not considered theft. I grinned when he looked dignified. The fair elf's rest was deeper. I did not nick items but admired them from a distance. My friends bought me new tunics and boots for my good behaviour.
I tuned into the moods of the horses in the stable opposite the inn we were staying at. They were agitated about some strangers coming. I closed my eyes and was One with their anguish. However they told me nothing much. When I came to, a little finch was chirruping. She had seen a group of men in black smoke galloping in this direction.
Drizzt was curious, and asked me what was wrong. He had silently come behind me. I turned to him and explained what the animals had shown me. His unusual purple eyes shimmered. He believed me right away. We let Ilkar sleep for an hour more, then awoke him. Serif had planted himself at the window on his hind legs, bigger than the wolf shape he stayed in. While strapping on his scimitars (I hoped I spelled that correctly) the dark elf frowned. "There's a scuffle below!" He seemed furious and tense.
Ilkar cocked his head and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. "We should leave, now. They won't notice."
"Yes." I supposed from his reluctance, the warrior wished to help the people having conflicts but that had not been good. To avenge his hurt, I had gotten some rats to leave their poop in that ungrateful bitch's room! My friends had heard the noise earlier, and my senses only kicked in now while we rushed down the stairway. The dining area was empty of souls. The dame who let us stay was preparing a crossbow.
"Attack?" Ilkar asked. I noticed his right hand making a sign. He was going to cast?
She smiled grimly. "Aye, them ruffians come every now and then. Ye best be going. We holding our own."
I had a rush of images from the horses neighing and begging to escape as I glanced outside. "Hey we're not going to fight them right? Let's go while we still can," I hissed. Drizzt was not here already, then where? The mage thanked the dame and came to my side. Ilkar rubbed the Telepathy- ring he wore, the other one was now with the ranger and frowned.
"Come on! He's found an escape route." Ilkar ran out by the side doors, Serif and I following. I was impressed that he could move that fast despite being weak.
The bandits, my little bird showed me, were making trouble at the markets which lay in the northern direction. The drow stroked the muzzle of our horses in a safe corner. I was rushing so quickly that I almost passed until Drizzt tugged me in. He advised giving some time to reduce chance of being seen. Ilkar panted slightly. I glanced at him in concern.
Ilks mounted behind me and the horses got moving. He cautioned, "Keep a Shield up, Fel. In case arrows come." I pictured the bauble around all of us and set it.
He said, "Drizzt, you wanted to help them? We would be quite outnumbered."
"I know." He sounded unhappy. Normally the dark elf agreed with plans. He wanted to be a hero?
"When they're smaller in group we could. I have only limited fighting spells," I put in. Serif had his tongue out and was running in pace with the horses. "Ilkar hope the shield works. Your mana?"
Drizzt did not answer, I noticed his fist clench on the reins.
The mage shifted in the saddle and touched my shoulder. "I've strengthened it. Hold until I tell you." We had to be alert for any kind of attack from the treelines or the hills. Our horses Sent to me image of blue skies and rolling plains- all is safe now, ally.
I said aloud, "No need to worry now, guys." Ilkar whispered 'Shield down'.
It was highly unlikely to come across inns and towns along this way. That was the sole thing Drizzt mentioned, when we dismounted for the horses to rest and stretch our limbs. "Are you pissed?" I asked when the second day passed without him speaking much. The guys decided to make camp and had a fire going. (Ilkar talked with me about everyday stuff. He did not reply about his conjuring abilities though.)
We took turns to make tea, fish and prepare food. Ilkar admitted he did not cook very well, drinks were the best way he could contribute and magic to light the fire. I had not revealed my ability with fire yet, for he would reminded of his own weakness. Also, I was not so confident of control. Because of my connection to animals, I could not bear to shoot game- Serif and Drizzt did the hunting when necessary. I could only eat if the animals had not died in front of me.
"Pardon?" he was holding Guen's figurine and glanced at me.
Ilkar stirred the boiling water. "Not happy, I mean? About that day?" I asked, kneeling beside him, noticing he sat alone and looked troubled. I had gathered some fruits and mushrooms. I offered one to him.
Drizzt shook his head. "It is all right."
"You're not this quiet, usually. Ilkar is that going to be soup or tea? I brought stuff," I told my friend, carrying the supplies over.
The mage made a thumb-up. "Soup. What did you bring?" I showed him. "Great. So, is he angry or not?" he lowered his voice.
I shrugged. Ilkar nodded and said he could manage. Serif watched in fascination. I went to join the ranger still in the same spot. I marveled at how different our backgrounds were, color, race, abilities. I'm a budding druid mage. "May I?" I asked respectfully, motioning to the grass spot.
He agreed. "Umhm. Do you know of sign language? My people have a system." I beamed. He showed me the silent code with fingers. "Most humans find it tough to learn. I hope we will not have quarrels among us. Not bad."
"Yep. He looks cute eh? At first he was suspicious of animals that follow us around." Serif and Ilkar were communicating, he was training him to sit. Serif kept licking him, and he had given up stopping that. Drizzt chuckled. "Oh, Drizzt is there a way you can talk to him? I steal with good intentions, but he gets so uptight. You're also a fellow elf."
"I see. I have spoken about it, but there's only that much I can try."
I thanked him and rested my hand on his shoulder. His hair felt soft though greasy. He allowed me to touch him. "So we got to bathe in rivers and streams eh? I miss a house. Is it possible to find a house and occupy for a while?"
He did not think so. Okay that was the signal for me not to push anymore.
Travels were exhausting. Since Drizzt was an experienced ranger, he led the way. They made no complaints but the silence said it as much. Occasionally, both of them spoke but I didn't get the language. We had slept in caves or sheltered by pitched leather skins. For a while I sang to the wildlife and exchanged mind pictures with them and with Serif but the routine bored me.
I gave up on waiting patiently for Ilkar to talk to me. I estimated this being the twentieth Silent-Treatment Day and was prepared to interrupt it. Today, the fair Julatsan was meditating inside our cave. Serif perched close by captivated, presently in the form of a hawk. The yellow green aura swirled, the color of his magic. Julatsa had green, and others had different. (Mine was unknown, violet hue) I had done some fishing, we were going to have rabbit as well when Drizzt came back. I stepped into the cave again, with some fish deboned. Ilkar needed to gain some weight. The Julatsan muttered something and got off the raised ledge. Any ledges were utilized fully for rest, in case of flooding. "Yes? Have you waited long?" He turned to me.
"Not really. Oh I want to learn Elvish too. Can I?" I asked. Please don't be quiet anymore! Ilkar chewed on what I had prepared. Then he glanced to where our Familiar perched. The hawk swooped down and stood on his shoulder.
"Ah. To understand what we say. Well, it is possible though elvish language is complex. I use what I know of the common words, Drizzt mixes some of his own dialect with Sindarin. It's not spelled the same. If there's anything important, we'd translate." Ilkar's brow furrowed as if he was annoyed.
"I feel sad when I don't understand. Please? I want to learn. It's so nice and musical." I persuaded my friend. "Just to talk with?" We sat side by side.
He had a concerned look, almost close to the one which he was going to lecture me. "Okay. What do you want to know? I can try." He flashed me a faint smile. While I tried to pronounce basic words for greetings and common phrases, making merry jokes, I found that we could talk again about anything. On tutors, I imagined our mage being very hardworking and a tutor to himself. That was not the case.
"Ah now I'm one to you. Tutor is like teaching, and when I'm not wandering in search of adventure, I'll take it up. We had plenty for different modules, Julatsa was thriving then. I dreamed of ideals and aspirations. What was your- training like for stealth, Felicia?"
The elf had no idea what kind of 'training' I had. "Um, I dunno if it's considered that (with air quotes of my fingers) a master showed us examples. Starting simple, it was food, small stuff, then underwear for mine. He got a few of us off the streets, a really old man. Yuck. Yea, horrible eh?" I smirked as Ilkar sucked in his breath and frowned. "Don't worry not the dirty ones, the fragrant kinds and how to identify rich pretty women. Still remember his cracked voice 'don't take the old fat ones' I think about four or five of us under one bastard like that.
"I can do substituition, taking an object and changing it to look like the original.. picking locks, nicking items without discovery, how to look confident and walk slowly from scene of crime. See, I'm not entirely evil. I never want to take from the people I like, that's my rule. And I'm more loyal than some assholes. Don't be sad."
I smiled. The elf paused for some time, then replied, "I know you're not evil, what you said about hating me was just a guise. Understandable why you like doing what you've always done... I am sorry." We cuddled close together.
"Ah why?"
Ilkar gazed afar, his voice soft and the truest of intent, "I think I am on a moral high horse. I keep judging your life. It shouldn't be so, but that's one of my flaws. I have never found it easy to accept corruption, dishonesty, lying. When Denser of Xetesk lied to us about his mission, I remember one of our fiercest arguments was about how I see myself as a white knight. I'll explain- a white knight means always good while others are always bad. The insult stung. Now you're here showing me about this too, friend. How fateful." We had eye contact then.
"No I'm fine. Don't be too hard on yourself. That's another fault with Drizzt too, by the way. Good-looking kind guys, heroes blaming selves, not good!" I said honestly to lighten things up. "Oh yea my name means happy. Someone told me that, I really like being a Felicia."
"Oi, that's not fair. Stop pointing fingers, it's hard not to when we've lived so long. Try to understand that ok? Are you a white knight too?" he feigned insult and glared. Then we both laughed together. I quipped I would make a cool white knight.
"I can let things run their course, and not be too angry for a start. Need your help okay? Hello boy, yes you too," he said, looking at Serif who had become a ferret and flowed to us. How humble and wise the mage was, it touched me deeply. I didn't want to cause him grief! Then the elf stifled a yawn and closed his eyes. I remembered what he had been doing.
"A General Surveillance to scan for any hostile people in the area. I'm not as weak as before. But, I badly need to recharge."
"Oh. At your College right? We'll get there."
"Balaia is not anywhere near. Looking at the maps, it's not shown." Ilkar said glumly. I stroked one of his ears. Somehow, when he was unrolling one map, he drifted off. I covered him with a cloak. Serif bobbed his head. Ah yes, Drizzt had come back!
"Narmo meren!" I tried out.
The drow folded his arms. "What? That's not a nice phrase." The translation was wolf's feast which was rude.
I shook my head, peeping at the sack. "Oh dear sorry. I wanted to say welcome back. I forgot them though. Rabbit?"
I got the fire started with my Gift as he started skinning and gutting the prey. (and I always used two stones to fake the method) In a curious tone, Drizzt said, "You could say Alassëa tyë-omentien- that's the equal to welcome. I am joyous to see you. Some cannot do directly," he mused.
"Okay. I'll try it. I learnt a bit, Ilks taught me. Balaia is not near?" I added.
"Not on these maps we obtained…I see. Why do you want to learn elven? Common is fine."
"So I can be an elf too. Hehe. Are you okay, there has been no talking. I am worried," I commented. Cooking meat smelled heavenly- hunting yielded almost nothing and we had become vegetarian. Drizzt smiled. We ate some.
"Well, we've talked plenty and see each other everyday. I am fine. Ilkar told me about his need to recharge. I discussed about the possible direction we can go to find mapmakers. I don't mind if you want to speak, I will listen." His ears twitched, longer than Ilkar's.
"Eh okay. I want to know more about the Underdark, um Menzo…. Something?"
Drizzt told me about the weird creatures that lived there and the poisonous toxins, crossbows that the female priestesses used. Sometimes he had to stop and think if the memory was accurate or not. "It has been almost a century or so, hmm. Once I had to introduce myself to the whole gathering of Matrons. Each house of dark elves was ruled by a queen. I had won some tournaments in dueling. All males underwent fighting and combat as basic training. Would you like to know my full name?" He was always so polite and considerate.
I perked up."Yea! Not Do'urden?"
My friend traced on the ground, erasing a couple of times. It was- Do'urden Daermon N'a'shezbaernon."Whoa I like it! The N'a'shez part is great." He laughed and said he would probably not respond.
"I didn't like being with them. Have you had that feeling before, like you are alone even with a group of people? Nothing in common." The drow looked into the flames. Now Ilkar had risen and demanded hey why didn't we share the meat with him. "Oh dear I am sorry. There's a lot left."
That set me off and I held my stomach, gasping. Not everyday you hear Drizzt talking 'oh dear'! Ilkar put in, "Felicia, calm down. Congrats, you made a joke Drizzt." The drow was genuinely puzzled. He sighed when we explained. Ilks didn't stop smiling and jibed some more about stuff. Everything felt much much better. I lay my head against Serif's bulk and beamed.
Drizzt finished washing of the utensils and rose. "So, Fel you didn't answer me yet. Have you ever been lonely?" the ranger repeated, leaning against the nearest rock.
"I didn't have time to. It's a chaotic life, running around with other street urchins, is that the word, yea- having to feed ourselves. I just didn't like being hungry and cold. So I would try to keep more stuff and fight with others. Some were friends. I don't know if it's lonely." I wondered.
He knelt down, an intense flame lit in his special eyes and his brows were sad. "Yes. I did not mean to bring it up. Are you alright?" I shrugged and said no problem.
"I told Ilkar not to get so down, give me your burden. Picture it as a package- give to me and I'll keep it for you." I held out my hands. He clasped my hands and it touched me how warm his skin was.
Life struck me that although I had always been unfortunate in my happenstance with people and betrayed, hurt, alone, now the two men were my sworn brothers and steadfast friends. I am most satisfied with this part of my wandering existence.
While the various maps were placed together, Ilkar exclaimed in joy about something. "Look there's Calaius! My home continent. I miss my brother!" I chuckled. Drizzt didn't know of that. Ilkar told us about the culture of his people, and that he hoped we could be adopted. We made plans to reach a port and enquire about ships going there. Ilkar's mood perked. Yeay!
I made some mistakes too. It fell into a category called tact, an important Elf talk. Once Drizzt said his brother became a monster, a Drider and I asked 'why would he do that?' He was quiet and went off by himself.
"See, he's very hurt. Imagine not having a good family and people wonder, hey why did this happen? How would you feel?" Ilkar explained, patiently. He patted the space beside him. Even though the elf was lying down, his practicality won out.
"Hm annoyed. I know he is sad. I mean why didn't he tell me to shut up?"
Ilkar blinked. "You're adorable. No he won't, he's polite. I too was pained when you asked me about my home. Nobody approved of my choice to be a mage. It was tough."
"Damn. You're really good at this magic casting! They're so dumb, seriously. Sorry, didn't mean to." I exclaimed.
"No no don't call them that. My brother whom I always respected was angry too. We had a huge row- everyone wanted me to join the Al-Arynaar a warrior clan. Their expectations hurt me, I didn't want to stay on Calaius defending the religion. Am I boring you?" he asked me, sitting up. No way, storytime for us! Serif sat down swishing his tail.
Ilkar's Past
Watching how supportive his present companions were, Ilkar was consoled and at peace. Other than the tricks played, Fel skillfully implemented anything she learnt and made them laugh. How he had missed that! But even if his family did not accept his occupation, the last time Ilkar visited had been ages and he had made up with Rebraal his only kin during a near-fatal illness. "I almost died, and it is going to sound old… I couldn't bear to leave them. The day I recovered, it was still painfully slow and hard to wake up. Rebraal wanted me to stay. But I had other things to do. I care a lot about Balaia, not sure what made me go to the place we were imprisoned at."
She touched his forehead. "Definitely weak. Okay now I hope?"
"I'm fine. As a child, I fell ill often. While people would be playing in the rain, if I got drenched, I needed to lie down with fever. How could I be a warrior? I doubt it. My calling is to be a mage, my instincts needed to be fulfilled. You understand? Even if my world is so different, I feel that you won't mind. Thank you, for listening." Ilkar hugged her, so she would not notice how he was about to weep. She laughed, fingers in his hair belonging in his embrace.
"Welcome. I'm so happy you came or I'd be lonely."
When Drizzt returned, he had heard a bit of what they were chatting about and soon we were settled with fresh rations, steaming mugs of special herbs and listening to Ilkar's tale of Elf country!
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