Of Trolls and Homecomings Day 4

From Reydala

Current revision as of 14:58, 17 July 2011

Of Trolls and Homecomings: Day 4

Timeline: 27th of Chiarore

Scene 1: Quality Time?

It was still dark when the paladin opened his eyes, only a few short hours after the Baequi’via ball and gave a light groan at how stiff his body felt on that morning. As he looked out the window at the moonlit outside, the paladin figured that although the day had definitely overturned since he last remembered being awake, he had approximately five hours or so until any of his allies would awaken and thus continued to lay in bed for a few moments to get a proper handle on his body and mind. Although, the very fact he was in a bed puzzled the paladin and the fact the paladin realized he was not in his suit, but in silk sleepwear was even more puzzling. Ultimately, the beautiful elf decided it was likely a hundred times safer on his mentality than to bring it up to any of his comrades later, despite the fact that he knew he was far too inebriated last evening to have performed either of those tasks on his own.

As the paladin felt his body start to move stiffly, he slid out of the bed and onto his feet as he faced the window. Although he did not feel up to all of his morning rituals, he at least wished to get a few prayers in to his divine goddess Triana. The paladin started to move around the bed and stopped as his eye picked up something that shined in the moonlight. White and thin, smooth from the distance between his eyes and the object; and that was all it took for Aelthir to realize that it was Katrin who laid upon a bedroll, fast in her slumber with a blanket to cover her. The paladin frowned slightly at this, as he realized that she gave up the bed for him to rest well. With only minor hesitation, the paladin carefully kneeled by the woman and pulled her into his arms. He paused and braced himself for her to awaken and punch him, or something of the like; but nothing happened. Of course, Aelthir was not sure she would do such a thing, but he was always cautious when working with an unconscious person. He laid the woman on the bed and pulled the comforter over her form. “Thank you and good night, Lady Katrin.” Aelthir murmured and brushed some hair away from her face, before he moved to take Ari’avel and left the room.

As the paladin quietly walked toward the workshop, he was so lost in thought that he did not notice Syllae step out of her room, in casual clothing. “Big Brother, what are you doing up this early?” Syllae asked curiously as she began to follow the entranced paladin. He gave no response and Syllae twitched. “Brother. I asked you a question.” She spoke in a huffy tone and continued to follow him. Another twitch and she grabbed his ear. “Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s not important. You’re coming with me now.” She huffed again and began to lead him along as she pulled on his ear.

“W-Wh-What the!?” Aelthir snapped out of his thoughts as he began to curse under his breath in pain. “L-Let me go!” Aelthir hissed and tried to escape Syllae’s iron grip. “S-Syllae!” Aelthir near pleaded as the mage continued to lead the paladin.

“Not until you apologize.” Syllae answered with a huff and walked on. “We’re going somewhere important.”

“For what? You snuck up on me!” Aelthir argued as he followed her in a most uncomfortable manner.

“I asked you where you were headed!” Syllae whispered and tugged harder. “Keep quiet. Your comrades and wife are still asleep.”

“F-Fine, I’m sorry!” Aelthir hissed lightly. Syllae smirked and let go of his ear. The pair continued to walk in relative silence until they entered Mirror Garden through the back yard. “Where are we going?” Aelthir finally asked as he looked around the area. The whole place bathed in moonlight, and had a strange peacefulness about it. The elven Baroness kept silent and continued to walk toward an archway at the back. Syllae remained silent and walked through the arch.

Aelthir raised an eyebrow, but followed his younger sister quietly. She finally stopped in front of a slightly elevated platform. The paladin squinted slightly and looked upward. At the top of the stairs was a statue with two familiar figures. “Mother and father” Aelthir stated simply as he watched his sister. “I don’t understand; why did you take me here?”

“I just wanted to show you the back garden and spend a little bit of time with my big brother.” Syllae turned to face him. “We have not actually had time to properly spend together and talk, you know?” She sat down on the stairs in front of the statue and patted the place beside her.

“I suppose.” Aelthir nodded his head and sat down beside her. “So, what would you like to talk about, Little Syl?” The paladin asked as he glanced toward her.

“Hm, I’m not sure.” Syllae’s expression became pensive for a moment as she thought. “Ah, what’s it like? Travelling, I mean.”

Aelthir laughed lightly and nodded his head. “It’s different. I’ve been in near constant danger for the past thirty years or so, but I am able to live without being forced to hide my faith. Add in all of the great people I’ve met over the years and I cannot say it has been a bad experience.” Aelthir nodded his head. “Well, the camping aspect can really go to hell though” the paladin added in as an afterthought.

“I’d think the camping is romantic; you and your wife, both laying in a single bedroll and cuddling under the stars.” Syllae smirked.

“I didn’t realize my sister had grown up to appreciate romance.” The paladin responded with a laugh. He laughed harder as Syllae slugged his shoulder lightly.

“I’ve grown up more than you believe, Aelthir.” Syllae spoke in a confident tone to the paladin as she sat up straight.

“Yet, you’ll always be my little Syllae whom I would protect with my life.” Aelthir said to her as he closed his eyes.

“Aelthir…” Syllae whispered and felt her barrier broken with those few words. She slouched a bit and leaned her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm. “Why did you never write me over those many years?”

“I was afraid that if I’d write you that I’d never get a reply. Whether it was because mother and father wouldn’t give you my letters, or because they’d never send your replies, either way; I was afraid.” Aelthir murmured to her. “Well, that’s part of it. For many years, the memories of being ejected from the family hurt me worse than any wound I’d taken in battle, because a cleric can heal wounds, but emotional pain is like scars. They stay with you, eventually they stop hurting, but you know they’re there. Eventually they fade away somehow, but you never know how long they’ll last.”

Syllae remained silent for a moment, as if to absorb his words before she asked “Did you miss me?” She looked away from him; as if she was afraid he would turn around and say he did not.

“Always, I thought about and prayed for you and our parents every day. It doesn’t matter to me that you all follow the Elven Pantheon, and that I am praying to a human goddess. I wish for your safety and happiness far above my own.” Aelthir answered with a saddened chuckle. “It was a shock to hear that mother and father had passed on. I admittedly did not believe it, until I saw them in the family tomb.”

“I can’t stand that place.” Syllae frowned lightly. “The thought of dead bodies sickens me.”

“I cannot say I am used to it, myself; dear sister. Seldom actually do.” Aelthir murmured quietly as he squeezed his sister’s arm in a comforting manner.

“Do you regret any of it?” She asked him next, while she continued to avert her gaze.

“Of course, the phrase ‘live without regrets’ is an impossible one after all, if one takes it at face value. One will always regret some choices they made in life and should take care remember them, but one cannot let their regrets rule their life; such is a childish and stupid thing to do.” Aelthir chuckled lightly. “Remember that.”

“Are you mad at me for dragging you here to the estate?” Syllae asked next, and Aelthir felt her body tense up completely at that.

“Well, I cannot say I was the most amused at the idea; but I’m not mad at you. In fact, I honestly am glad that I came here.” The paladin responded and smiled as he felt his sister’s body relax completely. “Nor am I mad at mother and father for their decision. Ultimately, it kept them, you and me safe from the rest of the family. I’ve learned that since my return. So, I’ve forgiven them.”

“One last question” Syllae paused to glance at the sword at Aelthir’s side. “Why do you have a sword on your side, while wearing sleepwear?”

“Ah well…” Aelthir laughed nervously and opened his eyes. “I was going to perform my morning prayers, and I usually take Ari’avel with me to do so. A ritual without a ritual sword is a strange ritual, is it not?”

“O-Oh, my apologies, big brother! I did not realize that you were going to do morning rituals!” Syllae hopped up to her feet and began to bow apologetically.

“Don’t worry about it.” Aelthir laughed lightly. “I can always perform them before the day proper begins.”

“No, no. Go perform them now. I have some paperwork to fill out, so that I can requisition a new ballroom.” Syllae turned and pointed to the ballroom, which had a rather giant hole in the wall. “You were intoxicated last evening, so you may not remember, but your bodyguard valiantly faced off against a giant last evening. He defeated the enemy and tackled the giant through the wall with such force that the chandelier fell, as did a good portion of the ballroom itself.”

“I do remember.” Aelthir said with a sigh. “I assume there were no real casualties then, well aside from the giant?” He certainly hoped not, at least.

“None at all; in fact, the family have given Sir Vidar the title of ‘benevolent giant’.” Syllae responded to the paladin as she shrugged her shoulders.

“A perfect end to a perfect ball then, I assume.” Aelthir’s tone was dripping with snark, and Syllae caught onto it as her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

“I resent that. I believe that before the giant creature’s attack that things were going rather beautifully! Just because your only dance of the evening was with Sir Fal, does not mean it was not a good ball. You should have danced with your wife at least once, but you were off drinking with your squire. Although, I suppose you did your ‘dancing’ with your wife in your room. You looked pretty, er… energetic as Big Sister Katrin led you out of the room.”

Aelthir paused for a moment at her words and narrowed his own gaze. “You can be sure that nothing happened.”

“I don’t believe you.” Syllae stuck out her tongue. “My brother, the nymphomaniac of the family; you get that from father, not from mother.”

“Nothing happened, believe me. I was too intoxicated, even if I wanted to.” Aelthir retorted as he continued to glare. “Also, the official term is hypersexuality.” Aelthir quoted out of a book.

“Ah hah! So you admit it, you’re a nymphomaniac!” Syllae pointed at him and burst out into laughter. The paladin blushed deeply and glared harder at the girl.

“I am not! I just have read enough books in my life!” Aelthir denied quickly as he rubbed at his temples, it seemed to the paladin that nine-tenths of the conversations that he’d had with Syllae had ended up with him embarrassed.

“Oh, like I’ve said before, there’s no need to deny it.” Syllae answered with a smug tone. It became apparent to the paladin that he was not going to convince his sister of otherwise and arguing the matter only served to give him a headache. After a moment longer of silence Syllae continued “I am back off to the manse. You know where to find me, if you need me; dearest brother.” Syllae left the paladin to his lonesome with that. He groaned and rested his head in his hands. He still had his prayers to do and only a few hours before morning.

Scene 2: Aelthir's Insecurity

By the time the sun had risen in the horizon, Aelthir had completed most of his morning rituals and had just finished bathing. It had been a good morning thus far, and the paladin felt rather rejuvenated from the ongoing shenanigans which had occurred over the last few days. All that was left before the paladin was fully prepared to join the world was his makeup and his hair; the latter was in process now as he sat in front of a vanity, hidden away at the back of the Baequi’via bathhouse. He had even already dressed himself in blue and silver coloured silk clothing.

To the paladin, it was a far easier and quicker process to comb the hair of someone like Katrin, or even Alis, albeit the avenger would never ask him to, and he wasn’t even sure she brushed her hair at all; because he had full sight and control over his brush; whereas with his own hair, he was forced to comb it for longer periods of time. This removed the knots in his hair before he brushed it properly to make it smoother. He stared at in the mirror carefully as he took two inconspicuous hairclips and clipped his hair behind his ear. Males of elfish nobility always wore their hair without any loose strands that fell past the ear; it was improper and not very fabulous. However, these same rules allowed women of elfish nobility to have their hair however they wished.

After he triple-checked his hair and was satisfied, Aelthir took a moment and stared into the mirror. He did not like the look of his face. He felt like such a hypocrite at times, such as now. He lived as an embodiment of fabulous nature. Yet to himself, he was not beautiful. Nay, in fact; Aelthir Baequi’via felt that his face was as ugly. He was not sure why, there was just a stigma behind it. Therefore, he always wore makeup while he was awake, and even while he slept. If he did not have the time to reapply it, he wore the same batch for as long as was needed. To him, as long as his friends did not see how he looked under the makeup, he was satisfied.

Aelthir reached for a small makeup kit that was on the vanity and opened the case. There was no makeup inside. No foundation, no powder, no blush, not even any colour corrector was inside the compact makeup kit. The paladin frowned and questioned to himself why he had not checked this before he had gone for his bath. “No matter, I suppose; I can simply return to my room and set my makeup there.” Aelthir said and stood up. He turned to the door and froze. He realized the flaw in his logic; and his stomach turned. “How can I go out there as I look now?” He frowned and looked back to the mirror. He bit his lip and looked around the still empty bath house. He wouldn’t be alone for long, thus he needed to figure out just how he’d make the trek to his room. Quickly, an idea struck the mind of the paladin and he walked to the storage closet.

He quickly found a soft towel and began to wrap it around his face. He was careful and left both an opening to see and to breathe. He resigned to the idea that he would later return for his sleepwear, the paladin quickly left the bath house. The paladin crept up to the nearest set of hedges and kneeled down behind them. He glanced around them and looked to the tree that grew beside his room’s balcony on the third floor. “I can see my bedroom from here. I could probably climb into my room and avoid everyone.” Aelthir murmured with a tone muffled by the towel as he looked around the courtyard. “Coast is clear.” Aelthir whispered, and left his hiding place. He remained crouched as he ran through the courtyard toward the tree. He didn’t notice the servants who just stopped and tilted their heads at the easily recognizable paladin with long brown hair.

“Why is Lord Aelthir wearing that towel around his head…?” one of the butlers asked in a curious tone. “It seems rather odd, if you ask me.”

The head butler Dreraan tilted his own head sideways and just watched the paladin’s actions. “I’m not quite sure, but we do not ask questions. In fact, let us pretend that we did not see Aelthir at all this morning.” The man turned around and ushered his underling away quickly.

When Aelthir made it to the tree, he pressed his back against the tree and looked around. Sure, this meant he likely needed to change his shirt when he made it to his room, however; that was a small price to pay for the objective. When he was sure that no one was around, the paladin climbed the first few branches of the tree. This proved to be challenging to the paladin, but he bit his tongue and refused to complain at the feeling of the splinters which poked into his perfectly treated palms. He could always have them hidden with gloves as he did when his sword arm decided to show evidence of being well used.

He climbed onto another branch and paused. He heard voices from below. He leaned over slightly and glanced downward. Nearby, he saw other servants as they approached the bath house. They seemed to not have noticed him, but he still kept quiet. He waited until the pair disappeared into the men’s bath house and climbed up the next few branches. He placed his feet carefully and kept his movements silent as he climbed. It felt like an hour to the paladin before he made it to the branch which was adjacent to his balcony. All Aelthir needed to do was keep balanced and he’d be victorious. He kept hidden in the shadows and looked around carefully. He couldn’t see anyone else around, and he heard no one either. “Chance!” Aelthir whispered behind the towel and moved carefully toward the balcony.

He froze as the door opened and a pale skinned cleric stepped outside. She wore a bathrobe for the moment, and just looked at the morning sky. Aelthir hadn’t been noticed by the cleric yet and he backed up quietly. A few steps and he’d be hidden by the brush again. She’d have to leave eventually to go for breakfast, and that was when he planned to sneak into his bedroom. However, as Aelthir backed up, the wind picked up and the leaves around him rustled. Katrin looked curiously and saw the ‘masked’ paladin. “Aelthir, what are you doing in that tree?” She asked him and folded her arms with a curious expression.

Katrin was a reasonable woman, Aelthir figured. He’d explain the situation and she would let him to his makeup supplies. Yes, of course she would. “It’s not what it seems like!” Aelthir answered her and shook his head. “I just need to get to my backpack. I promise.”

“Oh?” Katrin asked as her lips quirked slightly. “I must admit, this looks really suspicious. You’re climbing up a tree, wearing a mask and from the looks of it, trying to be all stealthy for a backpack? How can I be sure that you are telling the truth? Why couldn’t you just walk into your sister’s estate and walk to your room like a normal person? I don’t bite, you know.”

Aelthir groaned at this. (What was I thinking? I mean really, Katrin let me off easily? Of course not!) Aelthir mentally questioned himself as he watched Katrin. “The same reason I’m wearing this mask.”

“Why are you wearing that mask?” She inquired and kept her arms folded. Her smirk only grew as Aelthir grew more uncomfortable.

“I can’t tell you.” Aelthir answered her simply. “However, I am being serious when I say that there is a really good reason behind it.”

“Can’t tell me? Well then.” Katrin paused to turn toward the courtyard. “You brought this one on yourself.” She let out a shriek of fear and embarrassment and Aelthir wondered just how she was so good at that. “THERE’S A PERVERT IN THE TREE WEARING A MASK! HE’S COME TO SPY ON ME WHILE AELTHIR ISN’T AROUND! SOMEONE, COME QUICK!” She shrieked after and smirked as the paladin blankly stared at her for a moment. “All’s fair in love and war. This is war~” she answered the paladin’s silent question and he scrambled down the branches of the tree.

The paladin ran away from the tree and hid himself behind more hedges. Katrin smirked and waved to Aelthir from the balcony. She twirled and walked back into his room. Aelthir frowned and considered his options. He needed to get to his room, but after Katrin’s scream, there was no way he could get there from the tree, and likely there would be others scouting around by now. He looked around the hedges and saw the door to the main building. It was unlocked, he was certain, but being undetected was the issue. He hid back behind the hedges and removed the towel from his head. He breathed deeply and looked for anything he could use to his advantage.

When he found nothing, the paladin sighed and resorted to extreme measures. As he remained crouched behind the hedges, he unclipped his fabulously long hair. He then brought his hair over his face and glanced out toward the courtyard again. He couldn’t see anyone and crept toward the door, only to be tapped on the shoulder by an elfin butler. “Lor, erm… Aelthir, there is a problem.” The butler spoke and Aelthir straightened. He lowered his gaze and let his hair act as his camouflage.

“I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, Dreraan.” Aelthir sighed. “However, I can assume this involves my wife.” Aelthir was not sure if should be afraid that those words had begun to flow easily from his lips or not; trickery or not.

“Indeed. It seems there is a masked pervert on the loose.” Dreraan commented with a suspicious tone and moved in front of the paladin.

“I’m aware. I am investigating now.” Aelthir answered the butler as he turned his head away. “I think I have a lead, so I must be off before it goes cold.”

“I saw you with a white towel around your face earlier, how can we be sure that it is not you, my lord?” the butler asked as he shifted to get a better look at the paladin’s face. Aelthir’s expression deadpanned and he wondered just when he had been seen.

“Okay, okay. It was me. I forgot my keys in my room and did not wish to wake her so I can get my backpack” Aelthir turned away from the butler. “Do me a favour and do not tell Katrin or Baroness Syllae? I am worried that something like this would break their poor hearts” Aelthir couldn’t believe himself for those words.

“Understood, just next time… ask me first.” Dreraan sighed as he pulled out the master ring of keys from his belt. “I am the head butler and have the master keys. Shall we?” the butler asked in an amused tone.

The paladin shook his head and continued to look in a different direction. “Go to my room and obtain my backpack, please. If I approach my room now, Katrin will definitely know it was me. If she asks where I am, tell her that I will meet her for breakfast.”

The butler raised an eyebrow, but did not question. “Understood, I will return momentarily.” The butler bowed then entered the manse. Aelthir shuddered after the butler left.

Aelthir moved to a wall and just faced it as he waited. His head was lowered and his hair covered all sight. Soon he’d have his backpack, and then he’d have makeup and things would return to normal. A few moments later, the butler returned with the backpack. “If that will be all, sir; today is a day off for all the staff and I need to prepare” the butler spoke.

“Oh, please. Go ahead. Thank you Dreraan and enjoy the festival.” Aelthir thanked the butler and opened his backpack. He found clothes, rations, other supplies, but there was no makeup. He picked up the backpack and retreated to his hiding place behind the hedges. He searched once more to be certain, and felt nauseous as his search came up negative.

“This leaves me with three options. I could go out as I am…” he paused and laughed at his own comment. Such an idea was ludicrous. “Alternatively I could attempt to see if I could obtain some makeup, or hide myself for the remainder of the day.” Aelthir murmured to himself as he continued to hide.

“What are we hiding from?” a voice whispered from behind Aelthir. The paladin jumped in surprise and heard munching as he pivoted on his heel. He really sucked at this stealth thing.

“Ah… Lady Alis.” Aelthir coughed and brushed turned back away. “Ah, nothing in particular.” He responded as he waved her off.

“Is something the matter, paladin?” Alis asked as the munching stopped. “You seem jittery, and your hair is not done properly.”

“Before I get into that, curiously; do you have any…” the paladin stopped himself and shook his head. “No wait, never mind.” Aelthir finished and face palmed. There was just no way that Alis had makeup. Such a concept was as ludicrous as his earlier thought.

“I’m not even going to ask, paladin.” Alis murmured and resumed munching. The paladin felt relief and strapped his backpack to his body.

“Sorry, Lady Alis, but I need to head inside now. We’ll speak later.” Aelthir marched off quickly and entered the manse. He glanced down the hall toward the stairwell and saw no one. This relieved the paladin even more. He walked toward the stairs quietly and he murmured a prayer under his breath. As he placed his foot on the first stair, he stopped and glanced behind him. The way his luck was this morning, there had to be someone behind him he figured. He sighed in relief when no one entered his field of vision. He took a deep breath and ran up the stairs as fast as he could. This proved to be a mistake as he tripped on the top stair and slid across the waxed floor painfully.

The paladin opened his eyes and saw red cloth in front of him, most likely a dress. He just shut his eyes and laid his head on the floor. “Hello again, little sister” Aelthir murmured against the floor before he stood to his feet. His hair covered his face still.

“Big Brother, are you alright?” The elven baroness asked as she watched the paladin. “Your hair is a mess.” She frowned and started to move the hair away from his face. Aelthir backed away a few steps and fell to the ground again.

“D-Don’t touch the hair. It’s like this for a reason.” Aelthir stated and looked away from his sister. He trembled slightly now. He was honestly scared. Syllae tilted her head and watched him.

“Well it looks stupid on you.” Syllae huffed and walked toward him. “I don’t care what your reasoning is; there is no excuse for a Baequi’via to be out in public with improperly styled hair.”

“It’s because I have no makeup.” Aelthir answered sharply as he stood to his feet once more. “Please understand, Syllae. This is a dire emergency” He pleaded with his sister.

“Oh, this is perfect!” Syllae said with a smirk on her face. “I’ve never seen what you look like without makeup before, no matter how many times I’ve tried. Show me and then I will give you some make up.”

Aelthir groaned and looked around his sister. “Interesting offer, but unfortunately I do not think I can accept. You and I both know I have never let anyone aside from our parents see my true face. So, take care!” Aelthir bolted past his sister and ran down the hall. Unfortunately for the paladin, Vidar exited his room as Aelthir approached.

“Sir Vidar! Grab my brother!” Syllae called out to the berserker. The giant glanced at the running paladin, toward the wizard, then grabbed the paladin and put him into a full nelson faster than the paladin could react.

The paladin struggled in Vidar’s hold as Syllae walked to them. “Thank you, Sir Vidar. You may let him go now.” She spoke and the paladin was dropped to the ground. “Now, why is it so important that you never show anyone your face without makeup?”

“It’s because he’s an ugly bastard who does not look like a member of our family.” Another voice spoke from the stairwell. Aelthir lowered his gaze slightly in embarrassment; the other person was right.

“What do you mean, Feranes?” Syllae asked and turned to face the newcomer. “My brother is not an ugly bastard.”

“Ah, but he is, look at how he does not defend himself. Look at how he cowers in fear. He knows it.” Feranes then murmured something in an elven tongue, which made Syllae’s eyes go wide.

Aelthir was on his feet quickly and he started to run. “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!” Aelthir yelled out angrily. Vidar was left confused as to what was said.

“Vidar! Grab him!” Syllae demanded again and Vidar tackled the paladin. This didn’t stop Aelthir, however as he began to squirm his way forward, dragging the berserker with him, still fairly quickly. Feranes’ face paled and he ran away in fear.

“What the hell, man. Calm the fuck down.” The berserker demanded as Aelthir continued to drag Vidar. “Calm down or I’ll knock you out!” Vidar hissed as Alis appeared to grab hold of Aelthir as well. Although this proved effective to immobilize the paladin, he continued to struggle.

Syllae calmly walked over to the paladin and his captors and reached behind his left ear. She scratched it, much like one would scratch behind a puppy’s ear and the paladin stopped thrashing about. In fact, he calmed right down. “You can release him now.” Syllae said as she stood up.

“What did you do?” Alis asked as both she and the berserker stood to their feet.

“Oh that? Just a little trick I learned about him from mother. When he had trouble sleeping as a young child, she used to scratch behind his ear and he would calm down from whatever was troubling him.” Syllae answered as she flipped the paladin onto his back. The paladin was fast asleep as his hair rested on his face. “Oops, I think I scratched a little too much.” Syllae coughed and kneeled down beside him.

“Katrin must never find out about this, for Aelthir’s sake.” Vidar commented as Alis munched again. Syllae just looked up in confusion at this, she honestly did not see how this was a problem.

“You wound me, Vidar.” Katrin walked to the paladin with a grin on her face. “I won’t abuse this power too much~”

Syllae just ignored the group and started moving hair away from Aelthir’s face to get a good look at it. “I know this scares you, Aelthir, but now I have to see.” Syllae murmured as she turned the paladin’s face forward. His skin was tanned, his eyes were sharper, and everything about his face was ruggedly handsome; all he needed was a chiseled jaw. “He is the spitting image of dad without makeup.”

Aelthir opened his eyes and saw everyone looking at him a moment later. He quickly wrenched his face out of Syllae’s hand and scampered over to a wall. “S-Stay away from me, I am hideous!” Aelthir was even more afraid now as he hid his face in his hands.

“Now I understand.” Syllae sighed and rubbed her temples. “Mother and father always taught that for an elf of the Baequi’via family, one must always look effeminate. Nothing below that was acceptable. If you were Baequi’via and anything below that, you were improper. That meant makeup, magic, or whatever you had to do so that you could accomplish this. Aelthir obviously is taking this too far and believes himself to be ugly. Being a man who cares about his looks as Aelthir does, it stands to reason that he fears showing his self-presumed ‘ugly’ side to the world and likely try to avoid that at any cost.” She explained to the group and sighed again. She walked over to her brother and knelt down in front of the terrified elf. “It’s okay; we didn’t see your face. There’s makeup in my room, if you want to freshen up.” Syllae murmured to the paladin and hugged him. She also scratched behind his ear again and his body calmed down. “Now go.” She whispered and stood up. Aelthir got to his feet and scampered off toward Syllae’s room as fast as he could.

“Okay, everyone go get ready for the festival today.” Syllae started to walk off as if nothing at all happened. “I expect no one on the premises when we leave.”