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Dalben
The sight of the golden-haired Sorsha brings a sigh of relief to his cracked lips ~ She is safe... ~ A frown crosses his wrinkled face ~ "Where is Legolas? Did he not promise to protect you?!" ~ His voice rising a little, then drops to a mumble as he notes Rrang ~ "Here is one that bears some semblance... perhaps he had some other tasks." ~ His surprisingly rapid glance over the group brightens a little as he notes Delita ~ He has kept his word... a true paladin.
Now sensing two other charismatic presences, he sees the lovely pink-armoured Galadria and the luscious beauty Eliza ~ A bunch of good-lookers... yet Sorsha remains the centre of attention. Or mystery. ~ Gripping the quarterstaff whose light has dimmed at will, he whispers ~ "We haven't much time left. But the truth, I will tell now." Lowering himself onto the ground, he begins unravelling the almost forgotten tale...
"Many years ago, Sorsha... no, Elena's father, Gareth, was the king of the realms." ~ Darts a warning look at Eliza, who sullenly silences her cry of protest ~ "He was a noble and compassionate ruler. Nothing was too beneath him, and the people were happy under his leadership." ~ He blinks once, coughs a little, then continues ~ "There was much rejoicing when Elena was born. She grew up in a happy family, filled with love... but this did not last for long."
Pausing to take a deep breath, he sighs and continues, his eyes now pinned on the nervous Eliza ~ "Cedric, Gareth's brother, coveted the leadership. He managed to raise a revolt against Gareth within the castle, slaughtering all in his path..." ~ His beard trembling with indignation ~ "Elena's mother died in the massacre. But she had managed to entrust the care of Elena to Gareth's trusted advisor Eldrin. Eldrin fled with the blessings of his master, and brought the child far away from danger... I stayed on to help Gareth defend his position."
Closing his eyes now, pain evident in his mutterings ~ "In his dying breath, Gareth asked me to leave rather than join him in death. He wanted to know I would be around should Eldrin seek my aid..." ~ His gnarled hand begins to stroke his beard ~ "But Eldrin never did. He wrote to me, saying he had changed his name and Elena's... to Philip and Sorsha."
At the sound of Sorsha's gasp, he reopens his eyes and smiles peacefully now at her ~ "Yes, you are Elena, daughter of the former king Gareth. Your guardian Eldrin was your father's henchman...
"As for who Cedric is, surely that should be obvious by now." ~ Dalben's eyes narrow as he beholds Eliza once more ~ "Your father. He has been hunting the entire group of Eldrin, his wife Jocelyn and Elena all this while. You have been aiding him in finding her out."
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