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 Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 12:54 am
Sszin was able to wait with his hand outstretched while Mikaril struggled with his thoughts. He couldnot push himself upon the other, and if he turned down his offer today...Sszin would return tomorrow, and the day after that. Then the day after that as well. He would return for as long as the circus was present to extend his offer to Mikaril. He just had a good feeling about the other male, he suspected that the Goddess may have even had a hand in the outcome of Mikaril's trip to the surface. Why not? Just because he was a male did not mean he was any more important then the rest of the elf people.
Sszin felt there was even more proof of this when Mikaril nodded his head and mutely took his hand. He knew it..he had to feel it too. Sszin rose to his feet with the dancers grace that was his attribute, and gently pulled for Mikaril to rise with him. He allowed his smile to speak for him in this moment. Words would have likely just gotten in the way and complicated things anyways. Szzin silently released Mikarils hand and started to lead the way. He kept his pace slow, just so he would not risk tiring Mikaril out while the sun's heat still lingered in the air. His village was close...but it was still a hour long walk over a winding dirt road through fields of corn and wheat. There was little by the way of scenery unless one liked to admire the roughly cut wooden fence. When they did finally reach the small dip of a vale, Sszin paused to look with admiration upon the low white stone fence that surrounded the grouping of mud and thatch homes. Standing alongside the edge of town, the pride of his eyes, was Sszins home. A modest sized temple with the image of a moon placed over the door seemed to glow faintly in the now appearing twinkling starlight. From where he stood, he could see the large temple flower garden and standing bird bath. This late in the evening, he did not think any birds would be splashing about. A pity, it would have been nice to show Mikaril the creatures he had observed in the tree's at their play and wash.
Sszin gestured towards the temple, then glanced at Mikaril. "Come inside. I shall introduce you to my parents."
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 1:16 am
With his grip on Anon’s hand as strong as he could make it without hurting the other, Mikaril fought to hold down the fright that was building up inside of him. He remembered what Anon had said about his home; how it was full of peaceable folk who welcomed anyone with good intentions. Supposing he saw surface elves there? He had a hard enough time containing himself at the circus when he saw them; how would he manage if he found himself surrounded by them, unable to turn his body away? He did not wish to do anything shameful in his friend’s village, but the old and rancid feeling of hate was not one to be dismissed so easily, and remembering who it was that his friend served, the sick feeling brought along a wash of shame. He surely had no hope if he was this filled with lingering hatred.
But as they walked along, and the world passed by, Mikaril began to relax and observe his surroundings more, inwardly delighted by what he saw. More and more of the tall plants, as far as his eyes could see; they seemed to go on forever except when a far away mountain range broke through them like jutted rocks amidst a waving, green sea. Along the path they took, more flowers were growing, and it was all he could do not to stop and peer at every blossom, bring his nose down to sniff every cluster, run his gloved fingers along every petal. What a wondrous treasure these surface dwellers had, right along the paths they trampled on as though they were mere rocks and not masterpieces of artwork and delicate scent! It seemed just as absurd to Mikaril as though the paths to the Underdark were strewn with precious stones and the dwellers would just trample them underfoot or not spare them a glance as they hurried about their business, unaware of the wealth beneath them. The corn and wheat, though not as pretty, were equally fascinating. Such tall, leafy plants! He imagined how easily he could get lost in the corn; so tall did they grow. And the wheat rippled just as daintily and with as much synchronization as the skirt of a dancer in the highest house, the dry rustle reaching Mikaril’s ears like a peaceful sigh, as though seeking to put his troubled mind at ease.
The cut wooden fence, though unremarkable to Anon, was possibly the most fascinating thing of all to Mikaril on the entire trip there. He looked at it in disbelief, at how plain and rough the wood was; he felt as though he had but to lean on it for it to come crashing down. How could Anon’s people ever hope to fortify their village with such a flimsy fence? This would certainly keep nothing out; did Anon’s people not know of the danger they put themselves in by letting their defensive structures be so unenforced? He bit his lip with worry and tried to reassure himself; perhaps the fence had some sort of protective enchantments on it, ones that would contrast sharply with the fence’s rickety and harmless appearance. Yes, that must be so.
As he saw the mud and thatched homes, and the temple on the outskirts, Mikaril’s fear swelled into panic. Here was something that had always been a dreaded symbol; a place of worship. The flowers surrounding it failed to reassure him even as their gentle perfume filled the air. He stopped and stumbled for a moment, feeling the pull of Anon’s arm and almost giving in to the urge to yank his arm free and flee back to the circus, back to safety. But he did not know the way back, and it could be days before someone found him, assuming they would be friendly enough to give him any directions and not just gut him where he stood. Feeling as meek and fearful as the day he had first set foot in his own house temple, Mikaril bit down on his lip and allowed himself to be pulled forward, into the temple and into sheer panic.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 1:32 am
The relaxed gait of Mikaril quickly changed to one of understandable fear. Though he had urged Mikaril to come with him, Sszin did not push for him to hurry along. He knew what to do, he had seen it done so many times before after all. Sszin waited for Mikaril to gather himself, to steel himself and choose to begin walking once more towards the village. In order to help him reach this place, Sszin began to speak softly of the village.
His hand lifted and he pointed towards some of the buildings along the outskirts. "The children have all been tucked into bed by now. Once the sun is gone they are normally sent to bed as in the morning they shall have chores and schooling to tend to. That building over there is the school house. You can see the playground just barely behind the back corner. I helped create the swings and built the sand box for the little ones to play in." Sszin glanced towards Mikaril to see if he was still looking as scared as a cat before a black bear.
"Over there next to the school is the bakers. He makes the bread for the morning meals and often that is the scent we all waken to before the sun even rises again. His wife bakes sweet cakes for the mid day meals and every year on our birthing day she makes a special cake just for us. I can't possibly imagine how she memorizes every birthing day in the village but she does. Their daughter helps take care of the chickens and cows now that they have gotten on with age, but even as elders they simply will not be content to sit back and relax in their twilight years. Humans can be very stubborn you know?"
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 1:47 am
Allowing himself to be pulled along, Mikaril listened to Anon’s chatter and readily welcomed it, knowing that the reason for it was to help set his mind at ease. He was a bit glad that there were no children; knowing that they were not going to be as quiet and disciplined as drow children raised in the Underdark, they would doubtless swarm upon him like ants on a stray drop of honey, pestering him with questions and pulling on his cape, maybe even clinging to him and trying to pull his knife away, not knowing the deadliness and danger they were so wanting to play with.
He nodded easily enough at the thought of schooling and chores; the way of children in his world was very much the same. Though at the mention of playthings, he couldn’t help but crane his neck in hopes of a glimpse of these extraordinary items. Playing had been virtually unheard of in his house, unless it was the rough kind that always ended with a black eye or a bloody nose. He had little to amuse himself save for books, and even then there was only so much fun to be had in sitting still for so long. Again he marveled at how lucky these surfacers were, and wondered how long any of their children would last if they ever had to go without such simple pleasures.
At the description of the bread, Mikaril felt himself unconsciously sniffing the air, as though expecting to smell the bread right then and there, even as Anon said it was not available to smell yet. How long had it been since he had smelled bread that was actually worth smelling? In House Torlyl, wheat for bread was, like much of the surface world produce, a rare commodity, and though haellara had often demanded that she have to best, many was the time they had to do with a spongy, bland bread made from mushrooms. Even when himself and Kyil had made their own life and were able to buy real bread, any scent that it might have had was always lost in the riot of other smells that dominated the marketplace, and upon taking it back to the cave, had never given any thought to just smelling it. What WOULD just plain bread smell like? Would it be as lovely smelling as the flowers themselves were? And to have a whole cake to yourself on a birthing day…….he cannot ever recall celebrating a birthing day; he wasn’t even sure what day he HAD been born on. Only females gave such things any thought.
He nodded in acquiescence to the remark about humans, almost thoroughly relaxed, but all too soon they found themselves facing the temple, and Mikaril’s sense of panic returned, albeit significantly lessened from before. He squeezed Anon’s hand and tried to squash his fears deep down where they would not be brought to light and interpreted as him having something unpleasant to hide. "Should…..should we announce ourselves or something? Would they…..mind us walking in like this?”
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:49 am
Sszin had to admit, that he had only employed the tactic of redirecting ones thoughts in another direction only a few times. Sometimes it was without a doubt effect, other times not so much. he was glad to see the slump of Mikaril's shoulders and the smoothing of the lines about his eyes when he spoke of the simple folk in such a innocent and nonthreatening way. Sadly, once they were faced with the temple once more, the fear seemed to return to Mikaril all too quickly. Sszin glanced up to where faint light flickered in a few of the small two story temple. It really qualified as more of a chapel really. With only nine worshipers residing in the twelve room temple, it hardly had the bustle and feel of a important place.
Sszin kept his hand gentle in Mikaril's grasp, so the other would be able to pull away without feeling like he'd have to fight for the release. His other hand lifted, and slowly he gestured up the length of the temples front.
"This is my home. I was born here. My mother raised me inside and I was taught my first lessons sitting upon this very stoop. My place of play was the garden in the back, where I first learned how to dance by watching the priestesses at their rituals." Sszin turned to glance at Mikaril, his green eyes crinkling with the fond smile he cast to the other. "I sang my first song here. Ate my first sweet. Father took me to the top of the tower so I could watch the priestesses during the crescent moon depart the temple when I should have been long ago tucked into bed. I suffered my first scraped knee here, and was given my first soothing kiss. The priestesses call me their little brother. You are my guest here Mikaril, and I know they will welcome you as warmly as they did when I returned from being away so long. You do not need to be afraid. I promise you." He hoped, that once more by sharing more information about the place he looked upon, he could help calm the other.
"Since night has come, most of the priestesses will be out patrolling the borders of the vale. The presence of the circus puts them on alarm. We know there are many who are loyal to the Spider Queen there and we take no chances that some may slip away to prove their loyalty with a temple of the Dark Maidens so close. Inside will be only the youngest initiates who stay here temporarily during their training, and my parents. My mother is a worshiper but not a priestess, and my father is the one who erected this temple in the Dark Maidens name. They will welcome you like a son, I can assure you." He soothingly spoke while reaching a hand to place upon the doors latch. He paused then, to wait to see if Mikaril was ready or not. To come so far he was certain the other would be prepared...but one never knew. The final breaking of resolve often came when one faced the final destination of their journey.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:00 pm
Despite the raw panic that gnawed at his insides as the temple drew ever nearer and eventually filled his field of vision, it did comfort Mikaril to feel no tightening in Anon’s grip, which would only push his alarm further and likely cause him to wrench free and rush back through the village and into the forest, and to Hell with getting lost along the way. But the hand that held his was calm and reassuring, as though knowing his fear and seeking to assure him that all was well, no matter what his eyes took in.
As Anon spoke, Mikaril recalled the time when he had to live in the house chapel, learning how to polish statues and respect the deity who’s effigy watched him every step of the way with her hard, stone eyes. Looking at the stoop, he imagined young Anon sitting there in the sunshine, then seeing himself in a dark corner of the temple, books in a pile behind him as he concentrated as much on not turning the pages too loudly as what he was reading. He could not even imagine a time where he had ever played; his entire childhood was an endless stream of study and cleaning, mixed with beatings and worse, getting dragged down into the depths of the house by his sister to be tortured. No songs, no sweets, and especially no kisses; only pain and terror. While Anon seemed lost in fond memories, Mikaril’s were rank with old hurts and chilling recollections.
Oddly enough, such memories only served to make the temple look even more peaceful when Mikaril finally withdrew from his memories and focused back to what was before him. As Anon assured him that he had nothing to be afraid of here, his gaze continued to be fixed on the building, and how much friendlier it seemed in comparison. Seeing it surrounded by green growing things and in the midst of the coming twilight, it reminded him more of the small building from his dream, where the robed figures dwelled that took him in from the perilous outside and hid him from his sister. He almost thought to ask Anon if those inside wore robes that covered their faces. But of course it didn’t matter.
He felt his breath catch in his throat at the sight of his friend’s hand upon the latch, and the old instinct to flee nearly overcame him. But the peace he had felt in his dream clung to him like the fresh surface mud on his boots, and he found himself giving Anon’s hand one short squeeze, as good an indication that he was ready as he ever would give. Besides, he thought to himself, it WOULD be nice to see some drow who wouldn’t size you up and assess your ability to threaten whatever schemes they were involved in.
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:27 am
Szin pressed the latch on the door even as he felt the squeeze upon his hand. The door swung open to reveal a dimly lit interior. Szin had walked this hall so often that even had it been concealed in darkness he would have been able to see in his mind everything within. Across the large entry hall a statue of black stone stood. The Dark Maiden looked down upon rows of wooden pews, her arms outstretched and her hair swirled over her form as the only sort of covering. He loved looking upon that statue, he could almost see the hint of a smile upon her lips and the possibility of a tear to be shed within her dark eyes.
Gently Szin pulled Mikaril in behind him and onto the thin rug that lined the internal room. The windows of the temple were currently thrown open, so that the moon and starlight could be seen outside. Just as he had informed Mikaril, the temple seemed rather empty. Only a few candles flickered in scones around the room, casting not only light but a scent of lavender perfume. Szin's lips pulled upwards a little as he looked at the scented candles. There was such a sense of peace here, he was positive that Mikaril would see and feel this aura of peace just like himself. Szin turned his head a little, as the sound of footsteps echoed from a staircase to the left. He turned a little and his smile grew wider as a white robed figure stepped into view. Though to call what she ware a robe was to be generous, as slits up the sides showed off her legs and revealed naught more then white strips of cloth binding her female areas from view.
"Szinaun'chev" (Szinaun Beloved) The drow female spoke as she turned to look at the pair in the doorway. "You have missed last meal. I see you have brought a guest as well." Her red eyes moved from Szin to look upon Mikaril slowly.
"Usstan tlun taudl mother" (I am sorry mother) Szin spoke in apology, then turned to gesture towards Mikaril with his free hand. "This is Mikaril, a young man I met in my travels. I thought to show him my home." He explained simply to her, and then in turn he gestured towards the red eyed female. "Mikaril, this is my mother, Mayune." Szin shifted a little to one side, so that his mother could greet Mikaril, and so that his friend would not be unhindered in looking upon the woman that had birthed him.
Mayune carefully took in Mikaril's clothing and stance before offering him a small smile. "It is good to meet you Mikaril. It is not often my son brings visitors with him. Would you like to come and share a meal with us? I am afraid it has gone a bit cold but it should be easy enough to reheat if you wish."
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 6:19 pm
Well, Mikaril thought, at least the place wasn't flooded with light, like the way he had heard the humans lit places when the light of the sky was extinguished. The entire race at times seemed mortally afraid of the dark; when they walked the Underdark, as seldom as it was, even their torches were absurdly bright and flaring. And they wondered why they seemed to attract every angler, hook horror and goblin in the entire area to them, more so than the sensible folk who used darker, magic lights; or like the drow, who chose to do without altogether.
Mikaril's eyes immediately fell on the statue, the same that his companion had stopped and gazed so lovingly upon. His first impression was that it looked similar to the statues that he had rubbed his knuckles raw polishing in his childhood, but as his eyes lingered upon it, he realized how different it actually was. Lolth too appeared in statues naked, but while her form was usually thrust out for all the world to see, this one had swirls of long, flowing hair covering it, like a garment made of gleaming black ribbon. The face held none of the cruelty, scorn, or coyness of Lolth's usual visage, but more like a drow female that had a wonderful secret, one that she couldn't wait to share and just might be pleasant enough not to involve disembowelment or the annihilation of an entire house. Her arms were spread as though to gather the lost near, and the longer he looked, the more he could interpret kindess in every groove and cut. Mikaril thought that in all it was a very likeable face, one that he thought he would not have minded imagining on his own mother.
He let Anon pull him along, deeper into the temple and onto the rug, such a drastic change from the hard, endless stone in Lolth's temple that he couldn't help but look down at it, as though imagining how it could have come to be here. Looking up, he squinched his eyes at the candles' pinprick lights, despite his goggles. Here on the surface, they hardly seemed necessary; with the windows flung open and the gleam of the outdoors streaming in, to him it still seemed quite bright. The scent of lavender made him twitch his nose; he found the scent rather soothing and quite preferable to the smoky incense that he was used to seeing and smelling.
Mikaril turned as he heard the sound of soft footfalls, and his eyes widened behind the gogles as he beheld a female in a white robe. It reminded him so strongly of his dream that for a full minute he just stood there gawking before he realized how utterly insolent he must look. Turning a dark shade of red, Mikaril lowered his head and gazed at the carpet, hoping that his enormous blunder had gone unnoticed. As the female spoke however, he jerked his head back up and looked at Anon oddly. Szin? he mouthed to him wordlessly. After calling him Anon for so long, Szin almost sounded....rough.
He could feel the female's eyes on him, and even though he felt that her gaze held none of the scathing scrutiny that he was used to feeling, he had a hard time lifting his eyes up to meet his gaze. He knew that here, subservience could easily be interpreted as guilt, and he did not want to look as though he had a mind to do anything mischevious. But when Ano-.....when Szin introduced him to her, he knew he had no choice but to raise his head and meet her gaze. The obvious kindness there, so much like the statue that he had seen at the entrance, seemed to melt his insides. He felt almost ready to burst into tears, wanting to seek comfort from this kind-looking creature before him, the motherly kind that he had only heard about and never gotten the chance to experience. But of course that would be silly; this woman was not his mother; kind as she was, she deserved respect, not the attention of a blubbering male. "It's good to meet you, Mistr-.......ess." He squinched his face in embarassment; such a word did not seem to fit Mayune, but he just could not seem to recall another fitting title for a female. First the gawking and now this; already Mikaril felt that this meeting was off to a GREAT start.
As she extended the offer to dinner, he nodded meekly, thinking that perhaps his blunders had been overlooked after all. A small voice in the back of his head began to caterwaul: Kyil will panic, Ssu will worry, they might search and find this place and think he was captive....... But another small whiff of the lavender candles and another look at Mayune's disarming smile and he was nodding. "Yes, I.....I would like that very much."
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:01 pm
The look on Mayune's face was varied. She seemed amused on some level, but was attempting to hold back on showing it. Her red eyes turned towards a doorway located next to the stairs and she gestured with one hand towards it. "Mayune will suffice Mikaril. There are no Mistresses here." She explained before taking the lead towards the door. Once his mothers back was turned to them, Szin turned and leaned towards Mikaril. He murmured softly as he gently pulled him along to follow his mother. "Szinaun is the name my mother blessed me with when I was born here. It means Pleasure Dancer, I did not think that such a name would be wise to share while below. I feared it would give away my true alliance when coupled with my oddities." Szin lifted a hand to gently touch the tip of a finger beside one eye. "Anon was the name given to me by another when I would not offer my own name."
Mayune turned and looked over her shoulder at the whispering and arched a brow. Thus far she had led the two down a hall and past a small assortment of doors. She passed through a archway and into a fair sized kitchen. Within no candles were lit, but the faint glow from a lit oven flickered through the thin air holes poked in the door. "So tell me." She spoke up as she set about gathering some plates and cups. "How is it you know my son? He has not spoken much of his travels since his return, but has had a rather distant longing gaze to his eyes." She turned to eye Mikaril with a continued sense of amused suspicion while laying out four plates on a wooden table.
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:36 pm
Nodding his head in what he felt was a competely stupid manner, Mikaril followed Szin and Mayune through the doorway. He nodded and smiled at Szin as he whispered back. "I can understand why you would keep it hidden. Though I do rather like Anon; it really suited you. I think it was a pretty clever person who gave you such a name." He didn't quite understand how pleasure dancing would be tied to his alliance, since he associated such a profession with Kyil and remembered how careful he was to keep his opinions to himself. Before he could ask for clarification however, he saw Mayune look over her shoulder at them, arching a brow quizically, and he bit his lip and quieted.
Mikaril looked about with interest when they reached the kitchen, taking the time to compare it with his own former home. Though still bright, the kitchen was much more comfortably dark, so much so that he risked lifting his hand up to his goggles and peering out at his surroundings. The oven made his eyes ache, but otherwise it wasn't too terrible. He carefully moved his goggles further up his head until they were perched over his hood, which he found were wonderful for holding the cloth in place and preventing any accidental discovering of little white ears.
At Mayune's question, Mikaril found himself hesitant. He wasn't entirely sure what he would say to his companion's mother. Of course he knew that Szin had been staying with someone when they had met, but that surely was innoculous enough to tell one's own mother, wasn't it? After all, mothers had all sorts of ways to pull truth from you; he imagined that though the methods might be gentler, that this mother had them too. Clearing his throat nervously, he decided to provide the information that he knew best, the kind that he didn't have to speculate upon and risk it being untrue through no fault of his own. "Well, down in the city that I used to live in, he saved me and my dear friend from being killed as we escaped my former house. He then risked himself by hiding us until it was safe to emerge and flee to the wilds. Without his help, we both would have died.....I know he was lost and wanting to get to the surface, but even I did not know the way....." Mikaril looked at the dull light of the oven, embracing the dull, persistent ache. "I am very glad that he has escaped the Underdark. If it's not so bold to say, I would call it a genuine miracle."
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:19 pm
Szin found himself flushing a bit with embarrassment. Now was not the time to share the full tale behind the name. He was sure that he and Mikaril would have the time to do so later though. If the circus lingered for a few days, perhaps he could coax Mikaril to make the daily walk to the temple? Szin's thoughts were pulled from their current train as he watched his mother placing a pot on top of the stove. She seemed to be listening intently, and her red eyes shifted to look at Szin as Mikaril would share more with her then her own child had thus far.
"I see. I was unaware my son had been acting so valiantly. He has been most modest since his return." She gently responded while stirring the contents of the pot slowly. Szin's cheeks turned a darker shade of black and he murmured softly.
"I did not see any reason to speak of such things mother." He explained before looking at Mikaril. "I did not wish to worry my parents with tales of what had happened. I was home now and I thought that was all that mattered."
Mayune peered into the pot as the stew she had been stirring began to bubble slightly. Lifting it by the handle, she walked over to the table and began to spoon out the thick gravy stew onto the plates. "Do not underestimate yourself my son. Your father and I would have been grateful to hear what trials you overcame on your travels." She glanced over at Mikaril and managed a faint smile.
"Triealein and Szinaun had a bit of a falling out when my son chose to leave the vale. We did not approve of him placing himself in such danger. But I fear Szinaun would not listen to our council. I suppose it was for the best though, if it aided in your escape." She explained as she served the stew and returned it to the stove.
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:47 pm
Rather than be comforted by the lingering scent of lavender candles, the comforting near-darkness of the kitchen and the new smell of stew that made Mikaril's mouth water in spite of himself, he found himself growing more and more uncomfortable as Mayune listened to him with the undisguised interest of someone hungry for news. Just how little HAD Szin told his mother? Why would he keep such things from her? Did something dark lurk beneath that gentle smile after all? Or was it just the simple modesty of someone not wanting to fuss about their accomplishments, astounding though they were?
"Well....." Mikaril fought to choose his words carefully, bringing back the training he had used as a child to say just the right thing in front of the matron mother. "Perhaps he did not want you to worry. Even when a danger has passed, the thought that someone you cared about WAS in danger is sometimes enough to worry someone." He keenly felt poor Szin's discomfort as he tried to justify his lack of news; it tore at him that the one who had saved his and Kyil's life had to sit there and fidget and explain things, even to his mother. Shouldn't she be pleased that her son had done something so.....anti-Lolth?
Despite his inner turmoil, Mikaril found himself returning Mayune's faint smile. "He showed abilities that would be the envy of many of the city wizards. And he used it to help us instead of himself. My friend and I owe him our lives, and couldn't possibly repay him enough." He fell silent at the mention of Triealein, marveling at how close the name sounded to his own long-lost brother Treillyn and remembering how little he really knew about fathers. His own had only been in his life for a very short time before his 'accident' out in the wilds, and it didn't seem as though he really had had a purpose except to provide the seed that resulted in himself and his siblings. He couldn't imagine what a fatherly relationship would be like, good or bad. Surely it wouldn't have been the same as the one between him and Matron Dilayne; not with another male. Would he have been allowed to punish him the way Dilayne and Haellara had?
Mikaril watched as Mayune returned to the stove and looked at the plates uncertainly. There were three of them and four plates. Apparently Szin's father would be joining them too. He couldn't help but wonder if the addition to the company would ease the tension, or rocket it clear through the roof of the chapel.
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 4:41 pm
Sszin kept his green eyes down a bit as his mother would speak. She had some wrong thoughts about how he and Mikaril knew each other, but she was quickly learning some of the things he had kept from her. He pushed his stew around on his plate and took a slow bite of the warmed food.
Mayune continued to smile while watching Mikaril struggle through his words a bit. She lifted her hand, and very gently waved her hand in the air. "You are correct. My son has always done what he could to spare others discomfort." Her red eyes fixed on Szin as she continued to speak. "Even when Szin was still in training he would try to hide when something bothered him. He never liked to make others worry. His father and I have known that there must be many things he needs to speak of, but we have not pressed the issue. You need not feel such unease Mikaril." A mother knew after all. And she knew that Szin was keeping as much from her as he could. "I did once live in Menzoberazzan after all." Her lips remained perked upwards, as though she had just shared a secrete of some sort.
Szin's face flushed just a few shades darker as his mother would speak. "Mother please. You are embarrassing me." He murmured, and then he looked over at Mikaril. "As are you. What I did was nothing special in itself. You owe me nothing at all, just seeing you here and knowing you and your friend have escaped is enough for me to know that it was no twist of fate that led me to you. It was clearly the will of the Goddess." Szin nudged a potato around his plate for a moment as silence would follow. Mayune glanced at the two boys, then gave a light little laugh.
"Goddess! Lighten up you two. You act as if something terrible is looming above unseen. Just enjoy your dinner." She rose and collected a kraft of milk from the cooler. Pouring out some in a cup for the three of them, she addressed Mikaril. "So you belonged to a House did you? That must have been terribly harsh for you. Are you happier now that you are beyond it?"
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:55 pm
Unlike Szin, Mikaril had no inclination of Mayune thinking of the two as more than friends. Such a thing often brought snide remarks at the very least, and Mayune had given no such remarks. Any eyebrow raising or amused glances he took entirely upon himself and his bumbling around her as he tried to show the respect her gender commanded while trying to please her, with her decidedly unorthodox ways. Following Szin's cue, he sat down at the table and picked up his spoon, looking down at the savory stew and letting the steam waft gently up to his nose. He nodded as she mentioned Menzoberranzan; he recalled the story that Szin had told him about how his mother had blundered out into the surface world from the Underdark, blind from the searing sunlight and carrying Szin within her. It seemed no less incredible to him than when he had first been told of it; how could the surface elves have possibly shown such consideration, even tenderness toward the ones that they so openly hated?
And then there it was; the answer to all of his meanderings. It was the will of the Goddess; Szin's goddess and his mother's goddess; the one who apparently saw fit to watch over the drow who made it back to the surface and had to contend with their lighter-skinned foes; the one who's effigy had stared at him with kindness and made him sad in thinking that such a goddess was not meant for him. Mikaril found himself blinking back tears at the thought. All of this closeness of family, this kindness and well-being; it was so new to him, so different. He would have very much loved a life like this, but to him, it simply couldn't be. As beautiful as the surface world was, it just couldn't be.
Mikaril couldn't help but smile and shrug at Mayune's sudden laughter. "I'm from the Underdark; I'm used to thinking that way because it's often so true." He eyed the milk set before him and sniffed the glass as he picked it up. He had not had milk since he was a child, and this was not from a rothe, but apparently some other, similar animal. His smile vanished like magic at Mayune's question, as he recalled his last moments in his house, hiding beyond the walls like rats, healing from burns and holes in his back while his poor friend scrambled about the house for supplies and sustenance, risking being discovered and crushed underfoot like a rat. He recalled the feeling he had experienced when they had floated on the Glimmersea and he had thrown his house insignia overboard. It had felt like he had finally been able to stetch after years and years of being huddled in a cubby somewhere. He looked up at Mayune and nodded quietly, his voice barely a whisper. "I like being free of it very much. It ceased to feel like home long before I left."
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 10:55 am
Szin nibbled on his dinner, and once his mother had served the milk he took the opportunity to drink deeply of the clean white liquid. After hearing the turn of the topic, he had to admit he felt somehow left out. His mother and Mikaril seemed to share some common ground in a way here. He supposed that after his travels he had a better understanding of their past, but there was no way for him to completely identify with their true history. He had not been born there, he had not suffered his childhood they way they did. Szin looked between his mother and Mikaril. His mother had overcome those trials though, and she had become more comfortable and peaceful with her extended time on the surface. Mikaril still looked like he was on guard and waiting for something dark to leap out.
Szin knew that feeling, he had suffered it for a few months after he found himself once more on the blessed surface. Mayune seemed...oddly calm. Even when Mikaril would admit to the fact he really was feeling like something was going to swoop down on him. Her red eyes remained fixed on the young male, and Sszin could almost detect this odd knowing expression twisting the corners of her lips downwards. She did not seem to have a response to Mikarils whispered words, and Szin wondered if perhaps there really was no answer that could be offered. He looked to Mikaril and managed to smile a little towards him. "Those were trials of your past though, now you can focus on your present." He began.
The sound of a door opening and then closing caused him to pause, and Mayune glanced towards the open kitchen archway with the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall. "Ah. That will be Triealein." Mayune rather happily informed the boys. Szin set his spoon down, then reached a hand over the table to rest on Mikaril's elbow.
"I should warn you. My father is, well...he is not my birth father." Szin paused as Trielein would step through the archway.
Trielein was, to put it quiet simply, a prime specimen of the Sylvan elf species. He was tall and slender in compare to most drow males. His bright golden hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and spilled down his back to his waist. His eyes were such a clear blue they nearly glowed in the faint light. He was dressed in a over robe of white and green with golden decorations hanging from his hair. Upon entering the kitchen, he smiled at the trio.
"Ah. Mayune, you made stew for dinner? I could smell it the moment I opened the door. Had I known I would have left for home a bit sooner." He half apologized as he laid a stack of books onto the counter. Mayune shook her head a little as she walked over to embrace her husband.
"Triel'chev. We can discuss your consistent tardiness later. Sszinaun has brought a friend home with him. This is Mikaril." She interrupted the pale skinned elf and redirected his curious gaze towards the other drow sitting at the table.
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