Runed Fairy Reunion
From Goggleheadarchive
By the time Aelthir had successfully hidden the letter of his burdened thought inside his guild locker and walked to the market district of Freehaven, it was still dark, so he figured he had lots of time. Admittedly, he wasn’t sure what time it was or whatnot. After the last series of missions, his schedule had been horribly destroyed; not that it really mattered. He did know he was not tired enough to rest again in any sort of way, so he decided to kill some time in the market district.
Aelthir browsed through the varied wares that the eager salesmen and women peddled. A few items along the way intrigued him, more for his allies than for himself, but nothing really stood out until his eyes noticed a longsword that rested gingerly upon a table, whose blade shined in the morning light. The hilt was gold and white, and looked as if the grip had been hand sewn in such a way that could improve grip, yet keep the weapon looking beautiful. It was easily the second most beautiful sword that Aelthir had ever seen in his life. The only more beautiful one, he recalled; was his family’s ‘Ari’avel’, which he had left at the Baequi’via estate, four years prior. The paladin glanced behind the counter to see a cloaked person setting out another item or two, back turned away from him. “Excuse me, but could you tell me more about this exquisite blade?” Aelthir asked politely as his eyes returned to the blade momentarily.
The person quickly turned around and nodded their head from behind the cloak. The person almost reminded him of Lady Alis in that respect, but anonymity was something he could respect. The cloaked person looked at the blade, then at the paladin and long arms folded across a chest in a feminine manner. “Ah, yes” the person began, with voice as feminine as her mannerism. “That longsword is a tribute to a sword that has gained some fame in one of the northern nations of Reydala. While the design of the sword is the same as the original, the creator took a few liberties in this weapon’s creation.” The cloaked woman motioned to the hilt. “One of Leyandra’s most prominent seamstresses took the weapon and added an extra thin layer to the handle, made of a material that is as beautiful as the original, yet formed to have an improved grip. The very same seamstress also enchanted the blade with a special power that she felt represented the last owner of the original blade.” The clerk noted Aelthir looking to the weapon still and smiled lightly, a smile Aelthir could barely see from under the cloak. “You can pick it up and see if it suits you.” She answered his silent question.
Aelthir gripped the handle tightly and raised the weapon into the air. It felt familiar to him as he waved the weapon around a small bit, and it felt like a warm light shined down upon him. “The original weapon’s last owner was a paladin from the northern continent. The seamstress describes him to have a large heart, and to care for others long before he cares about his own well being.” The clerk paused and lowered her hood to reveal elven ears and long red hair. Aelthir froze in place as he recognized the girl without a shadow of a doubt. “He is also a man whose actions are usually so reckless that just thinking about them and hearing no word from him upsets his sister to no ends, Aelthiria Baequi’via” The woman finished and stared at the paladin. “Lady Onna…?” Aelthir asked in disbelief and stared at the woman. “What are you doing here in Freehaven? You’re not a merchant!” His tone was accusing, as if she was only there to be a pain in his side.
“No, but I am the daughter of a merchant trader and a textile designer. I do the Freehaven run for my parents from time to time.” Her smile turned into a knowing smirk. “It’s thanks to my parents you ever made it here, Aelthiria.”
“Yeah, I remember. You were in your thirties back then; I was about fifty or so. It still amazes me that my sister’s retainer and best friend is younger than she.” Aelthir answered her and placed the weapon back on the table. A moment of consideration passed, and a dreadful realization passed through him. “Wait, if you’re here…” Aelthir froze again momentarily as a lithe hand clasped his shoulder. “Then my sister is not too far behind… Holy Triana save me” he finished and sighed deeply; he was screwed beyond all belief.
“Miss me, big brother?” a familiar voice asked him in a stern, yet soft tone. “It’s been so long since your last letter, and your last visit was four years ago, so when Ansr’onna told me that she was headed here, I took a vacation from teaching, tailoring and running a family to come with her. A sister needs to check up on her brother, from time to time.”
“You can harass your brother in a moment.” Ansr’onna interrupted Syllae in a teasing tone. “I’m in the middle of making a sale. Tell you what, Aelthiria. If you buy a second item as well as the sword, I’ll give you a discount on both items.” The elven warlord suggested with a smile on her face.
“Wait, who said I was going to buy the sword to begin with. Maybe I’m just browsing.” Aelthir answered simply, his attention returned to Ansr’onna, who just gave him a ‘don’t kid me’ expression. “Fine, fine; I’ll glance around” Aelthir caved and glanced around the table.
“Oh, and as an added bonus, I’ll make sure Syllae doesn’t hold you up all day.” Ansr’onna added, which earned a small glare from Aelthir’s younger sister. That sold him, and thus he bought a belt as well, which he was told was crafted by Syllae. On further inspection of the sword, Aelthir realized that the sword’s blade was engraved with familiar elven script, but an extra word added in. “Aegis Ari’avel?” he asked quietly as he read the script.
“Indeed. Aegis means protection; this blade was made with a certain defender in mind.” The baroness of the Baequi’via answered him. “I didn’t quite expect that same defender to be the one to buy it, but maybe it was fate~” Syllae’s voice sounded almost sickeningly sweet to Aelthir, and that was all he needed to know what came next.
“…Excuse me while I believe otherwise.” Aelthir spoke up and glanced to his sister. She just continued to smile as she grabbed hold of his left ear tightly and pulled. “Ow!” He bit his lip and corrected himself mentally. Now he was screwed beyond all belief.
“Okay, you’re right. I digress though. You will be bringing me to see our friends and catching me up before you go gallivanting off today. Now, you can lead me willingly, or you’re going to be dragged around Freehaven while I explore until you decide to cooperate, or they find us.” Her tone was still soft, but Aelthir knew just how much of a threat that was. Syllae had obviously learned a few things in the last few years.
“Fine, fine, fine! Just let me go!” Aelthir conceded quickly to his sister. Her sickeningly sweet smile turned into a triumphant smirk and she let go of his ear. Aelthir tied the belt around his waist and hung his new weapon off of it. “We have rented out a mansion in the upper class area of the city.” Aelthir explained as he rubbed his ear.
“Lead the way, brother and if you run, I will freeze your feet, but why would you run?” She asked and scratched behind Aelthir’s ear. She continued to smirk as his demeanor softened and he looked completely relaxed. If she hadn’t have convinced him earlier, he couldn’t argue it now; he didn’t have the will to. Thank Triana that only Syllae pulled this stunt, because Aelthir wasn’t sure he’d be able to take it if his travelling family did this to him too.
Aelthir made a small noise in response and started to walk off slowly and relaxed, far different from his normal straightened and fabulous manner. He didn’t even have the will to complain about the fact the time was limited.
“Couldn’t you have just pulled the ear thing first?” Ansr’onna asked Syllae curiously and tilted her head. Syllae shrugged and smirked back to her retainer.
“He deserved the ear pull, I am still angered with the paladin for not writing to me in months.” She spoke in a cheery tone and waved to the warlord-turned-trader. “Come get me when you close, I’m going to go say hi to our friends.” She walked off gracefully after the entranced paladin.
