Post by arnoc on Nov 16, 2019 20:45:20 GMT -5
Eilonwy starred moodily out the window, the fingers of one hand tracing random patterns in the pile of tiny scraps that now littered the table before her. The original paper and what it meant for her future had angered her and she saw no choice but to vent her frustrations. Not that ripping up a marriage proposal would negate the impending marriage her well-meaning parents had set up but...well, it helped her mind.
They wanted so much for her. A marriage to some haughty nobleman whose face vaguely resembled that of a mule. Initiation into the clergy to become a cleric of the Goddess, Tunare. And her mother of course, wanted her to wear the fine gowns all highborn elven women wore and most definitely NOT return home in said gown reeking of animals and speckled in mud and grass stains.
But while they plotted and planned her future away, they had never once asked HER what SHE wanted. Of course...she didn't know the answer even if they had asked.
What she did know was that she found more comfort under the arms of the elder trees in the Greater Faydark forest and that she especially enjoyed spending time with the animals living within the forest as well.
The pattern the light took caused her to think back to the events of nearly a week ago.
A visitor had come to her home. Two in fact. A tall Vah Shir Beastlord and his very large tiger warder, both of them covered in intricate leather armor and old battlescars that marked the years they must have spent fighting together. But the Vah Shir's eyes spoke of another story as well. It was almost as if, in their depths, there existed more than one life-time of adventures. And when he spoke, there was a strange blend of wisdom and amusement that carried with it a weight and the occasional bit of sarcasm. When she and her parents had dined with the ancient cat, she thought for sure that at any moment, his way of speaking would have him quickly escorted out of the house. And yet, her dour, 'set-in-their-ways' parents just laughed and traded remarks right back. It was...baffling.
The strangest part of the entire visit possibly (and the entire visit from the Vah Shir was strange) was when he approached her as she was sitting in the garden braiding flowers together into a crown.
"She won't mind either way, you know." His voice carried the natural purr-like accent of his people.
"I'm sorry, what? What won't who mind? My mother? Maybe. I know she loves me and I know she just has my best interest in her heart so...." Eilonwy fidgeted with the flower crown, finding herself made suddenly nervous by his perplexing words.
"Of course. But there is another mother who also wants the best for you." He turned toards her halfway and held out a small seedling in the palm of his hand. "Take it. It is exactly what you want it to be."
Eilonwy hesitated for a moment. It wasn't like any seed she had seen before and yet, it reminded her of visits to Kelethin with her parents as a small child. It was no secret that her mother was Feir'Dal but had come to the city of Felwithe on the arm of her father. And then -one day, around the time of her tenth year, the visits to and from cousins had just stopped.
Lost in the thought, it took a moment before she realized the seedling was growing in the Vah Shir's hand. A small spiraling vine thickening as it blossomed to reveal a tiny golden apple.
"How...how are you doing that? This is nature magic, only druids can perform that spell." She asked in awe. He smiled that strange knowing smile and she reached carefully towards the apple as he again offered it to her.
"Yes, well...I have learned a great deal in my time spent wandering. You are right though. Only druids can cast this," He closed her fingers around the small apple, "and only druids can hold it."
He looked at her again, a smile playing across his furred features and stood up. "I should go check on my warder. Blinky really is still just a kitten at heart. I'd feel...awkward if he accidentally ate one of the gnomes in the libabry here. Oh, and remember, Eilonwy...the choices you make must always be your own." And he wandered away just as quietly as he had shown up that day.
He had stayed for two days more but that day in the garden was the only time he had really spoken to her. Though he did look at her and give her a wink as he and his great tiger companion walked away down the road.
And so now she had a choice. She knew she did not want to get married. She suspected that plate-mail armor was very heavy and chafing. And while she liked the gowns, she also knew from experience that a bit of mud, grass and dirt could always be washed out. And then, she understood. She knew what she had to do and with the decision, it felt as if a great weight had left her shoulders. Just a few things and she could leave tonight.
A quick note of apology to her parents, a short time spent packing some clothes and necessities along with her father's old gnoll-hunting blade he had kept above the mantle for so many years and then, she was gone.
Looking back only once, Eilonwy left her family home to venture to Butcherbloock and from there, to the forest of Surefall Glade where she would seek her path as...a druid. Her excitement was such than she took no notice of the feline eyes in the shadows nearby nor of the soft footsteps as her silent guardian kept watch.
They wanted so much for her. A marriage to some haughty nobleman whose face vaguely resembled that of a mule. Initiation into the clergy to become a cleric of the Goddess, Tunare. And her mother of course, wanted her to wear the fine gowns all highborn elven women wore and most definitely NOT return home in said gown reeking of animals and speckled in mud and grass stains.
But while they plotted and planned her future away, they had never once asked HER what SHE wanted. Of course...she didn't know the answer even if they had asked.
What she did know was that she found more comfort under the arms of the elder trees in the Greater Faydark forest and that she especially enjoyed spending time with the animals living within the forest as well.
The pattern the light took caused her to think back to the events of nearly a week ago.
A visitor had come to her home. Two in fact. A tall Vah Shir Beastlord and his very large tiger warder, both of them covered in intricate leather armor and old battlescars that marked the years they must have spent fighting together. But the Vah Shir's eyes spoke of another story as well. It was almost as if, in their depths, there existed more than one life-time of adventures. And when he spoke, there was a strange blend of wisdom and amusement that carried with it a weight and the occasional bit of sarcasm. When she and her parents had dined with the ancient cat, she thought for sure that at any moment, his way of speaking would have him quickly escorted out of the house. And yet, her dour, 'set-in-their-ways' parents just laughed and traded remarks right back. It was...baffling.
The strangest part of the entire visit possibly (and the entire visit from the Vah Shir was strange) was when he approached her as she was sitting in the garden braiding flowers together into a crown.
"She won't mind either way, you know." His voice carried the natural purr-like accent of his people.
"I'm sorry, what? What won't who mind? My mother? Maybe. I know she loves me and I know she just has my best interest in her heart so...." Eilonwy fidgeted with the flower crown, finding herself made suddenly nervous by his perplexing words.
"Of course. But there is another mother who also wants the best for you." He turned toards her halfway and held out a small seedling in the palm of his hand. "Take it. It is exactly what you want it to be."
Eilonwy hesitated for a moment. It wasn't like any seed she had seen before and yet, it reminded her of visits to Kelethin with her parents as a small child. It was no secret that her mother was Feir'Dal but had come to the city of Felwithe on the arm of her father. And then -one day, around the time of her tenth year, the visits to and from cousins had just stopped.
Lost in the thought, it took a moment before she realized the seedling was growing in the Vah Shir's hand. A small spiraling vine thickening as it blossomed to reveal a tiny golden apple.
"How...how are you doing that? This is nature magic, only druids can perform that spell." She asked in awe. He smiled that strange knowing smile and she reached carefully towards the apple as he again offered it to her.
"Yes, well...I have learned a great deal in my time spent wandering. You are right though. Only druids can cast this," He closed her fingers around the small apple, "and only druids can hold it."
He looked at her again, a smile playing across his furred features and stood up. "I should go check on my warder. Blinky really is still just a kitten at heart. I'd feel...awkward if he accidentally ate one of the gnomes in the libabry here. Oh, and remember, Eilonwy...the choices you make must always be your own." And he wandered away just as quietly as he had shown up that day.
He had stayed for two days more but that day in the garden was the only time he had really spoken to her. Though he did look at her and give her a wink as he and his great tiger companion walked away down the road.
And so now she had a choice. She knew she did not want to get married. She suspected that plate-mail armor was very heavy and chafing. And while she liked the gowns, she also knew from experience that a bit of mud, grass and dirt could always be washed out. And then, she understood. She knew what she had to do and with the decision, it felt as if a great weight had left her shoulders. Just a few things and she could leave tonight.
A quick note of apology to her parents, a short time spent packing some clothes and necessities along with her father's old gnoll-hunting blade he had kept above the mantle for so many years and then, she was gone.
Looking back only once, Eilonwy left her family home to venture to Butcherbloock and from there, to the forest of Surefall Glade where she would seek her path as...a druid. Her excitement was such than she took no notice of the feline eyes in the shadows nearby nor of the soft footsteps as her silent guardian kept watch.