[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

***OOC glad you liked it lb *wink* I see that they served their purpose. [img]tongue.gif[/img] At least Alliene isnt sul- er griving any more *grins* ***

Calaethis layed a restraining hand over the handmaiden and stopped her from following her mistress. Shaking his head, he replied "At least she isn't grieving anymore, but did you have to slap me quite so hard Sui'aerl?"

The handmaiden looked startled, anger followed amusment washing over her features. "Calaethis... you are unbelieveable... you goaded me into hitting you - just to make you cousin snap out of her grief?" Calaethis with a wry look in his eyes, gingerly rubbed his cheek. "Yes, I'd say so." He smiled grimly - at least those two elves were safe now, he thought. He glanced up at the handmaiden; who was slightly taller then he was; it must irk his cousin, he thought, to have to look up at a handmaiden. Inwardly he shrugged, and outwardly replied, "Sui'aerl, surely you must have realised what I was doing?"
"Yes, I did, you play a very dangerous game Calaethis. Your lucky she didn't order us both flogged, or worst, killed."

Calaethis grinned innocently "Alliene wouldn't hurt me. Well, not too much anyway... She wouldn't kill me, I'm surprised she didn't snap at us more... I bet lady Verloren will come in soon and wonder what we've been up to to annoy Alliene so much..." He was startled as the Handmaiden embraced him suddenly and carressed his cheek with one hand. "Little one, if you have caused your cousin to stop grieving and cause her to fortify House Streea before the others can take advantage, we'll all owe you one..."

The young elf grinned and replied "Well, you've put up with me, and not punished me like you'd threatened... except a couple of slaps which I deserved." He handmaiden ruffled his hair and held him close, being very un-drowish. "Your far to modest little one, and your right, you did deserve being slapped..." After squeeshing him one last time, the Handmaiden released him.

Calaethis rubbed his still stinging cheek, and got his hair ruffled affectionaly again. "Come Calaethis, lets leave these chambers; you must be tired and you need to rest." Replying with an impish grin Calaethis said "Yes mother, would you like me to get into my nightgarments and be in bed before eight this evening?" Sui'aerl sighed, rolled her eyes, and then swatted his backside. "Come along now. And don't answer back." She sighed to herself, she'd obviously grown too fond of this elf-child.

Outside Sylquisitae and Tyatria were waiting nervously for Calaethis; he greeted them with a smile, and replied, "Both of you have House Streea's protection, and my own." he was startled by the tears of relief and joy from both of them, and was startled as the younger elf, Sylquisitae, embraced him. Idly he realised that she was Khalraan's age. He hoped that he didn't try to get her into trouble. Still, it would be good for him to have someone of his own age to keep an eye on him. Calaethis placed his arms around Sylquisitae and whispered to the sobbing elf, "Shush child, its allright now." he paused then continued, "Please, both of you, come with me."

They headed back to Calaethis's rooms, Sui'aerl escorting them. "Calaethis, I'll stand watch outside your room this evening; don't do anything else to anger your cousin. And don't do anything inappropriate, your cousin would not be pleased if you did. I'll leave you alone with your two slaves."

"Slaves!" Sylquisitae squeaked as soon as they were alone in Calaethis's room, with the door locked. Tyratria turned white. "Hush sister; he just saved us from death, be glad that we are alive... please forgive her... master" she finished tremebling. Calaethis sighed, and undid his sword belt, throwing it on the bed. "Hush, both of you. You are not my slaves - I had to claim you as pillage; profit of war, my share; it was the only way to save you both. I don't intend to hold you as slaves, and neither will I treat you as them, as soon as we are out of the underdark... gods, your the same age as I am Tyratria! How did you think I saved you?!"

Neither of the elves spoke, and both tremebled, Tyratria spoke finally, "My lord, I don't know what to say... thank you... I have... never imagined not being a slave..." she paused, "My lord... we have no where to go if we ever left the underdark... please, may we stay and serve you? I know you'll a far kinder master then the drow and..." her voice tremebled, and Calaethis sighed slightly, he had no desire for servants, and yet... he sighed again and said, "Both of you are tired, there are bathing facilities adjecent to my bedchamber, once you've both bathed, and are clean and relaxed, then we shall talk futher." he smiled at them both, "Go on, don't stand their gawking, the bath is large enough for you to bathe together. There are some clean clothes somewhere around here as well... and fresh towels..." Both girls curtsied, both filthy, and Sylquisitae looked at him slightly awed. He made a shooing gesture at them. Tyratria motioned for her sister to go ahead, and she did, and a exclaim of delighted laughter came from the bathroom.

Tyratria addressed Calaethis; "My lord, your tired and dirty too... I... am untouched, and... if you desire... I will..." she broke off blushing furiously. "Does my lord require assistance bathing and... perhaps... afterwards?" Calaethis smiled warmly and said "I can bathe myself, thank you for the offer - please don't be upset, you are very beautiful, but... not tonight." The girl sighed with obvious relief, and dissapeared after her sister... Calaethis closed his bedroom door and sighed... He wondered if Alliene would come in...

***OOC, I get bored at college, LHELs - talk to you on msn about... the "younger" elf, shes still Cals btw.

a quick note - only Alliene, and possibly Verloren can enter Cal's bedchamber - the lock is magical, and only allows in certain personages - this excludes Khalraan, so he CANNOT enter. BEFORE you get any ideas about sneaking in on Sylquisitae. Also, the other room has no outward exit, and no-one is allowed in. My two little elves *are* going to have privicy whilst they bathe LHEL! And you can't already be in there. Also, Cal has a few rooms, about 3; He's basically gone to his own suite of rooms, because Alliene's pissed at him. anyway...

Ah - also - Lb - when Alliene gets back to her rooms - and finds Cal *isnt* there, she COULD go looking for him... there *was* a reason I said Cal had 3 rooms - a bedchamber - another room - and a bathing room - I dont want those two youngsters sleeping in the same room as Cal - no, I'm not being a prude [img]tongue.gif[/img] I'm thinking IC - remeber that these two elves *are* still scared, and Cal's still young enough to want to sleep alone... *cough*

edit, damn missed one "[/font]" only replace the "["s with "<"s... btw, I'll be on msn at 9, must get AIM sometime - then I can speak to you lb - btw, where can I dl AIM from?

also when we DO make this new book - after this has been settled - keep on 'til 300 posts LB? or not.. [img]tongue.gif[/img] DONT use that smilie again! Use another one...

Incidently LB - you needed worry about Sui'aerl... her chosen deity... shall we say, would get her killed faster then Allienes... and no, its NOT Lolth, OR Shar, and since that kinda leaves only one other deity, I'll leave you to figure out which one it is - it also explains why shes so nice to Cal...

And there *was* a reason Cal goaded his cousin - right now, House Streea has just fought a battle - its Matron and some of its finest has fallen - Cal wants Alliene to fortify the House before you can be attacked - and No, Cal isn't cold blooded - hes worried about his cousin - of course, she doesn't know all this - Verloren should see it though.***

[ 01-21-2003, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]