Of Trolls and Homecomings Day 4

From Reydala

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Revision as of 09:49, 16 June 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.