(ooc: Good morning all! And thanks for speeding up the plot ... now it's just a matter of cut and paste for me
)
Mistral examines the structure of the palace.
Coral… big deal , she frowns. At the sound of the familiar footsteps, she sighs. Without turning her head, she asks, “Yes, Fabian?” Unexpectedly, there is no reply. She casts a sideglance at him and perceives his troubled and sorrowful face.
“I know I’ve behaved atrociously to you in the past, Mistral. The heavens know how much I regret it.” ~ He gestures helplessly with his broad hands, “But it’s been so trying to be bound to these...” ~ his voice fades into a whisper ~ “creatures. I
am human despite Serephine's wishes and I… I can't tell you how glad I am to see another of the same kind as I."
Without waiting for her reply, he continues. “You've been so civil to me despite my boorish ways that I feel you will understand… I was once like you, adventuring on my own and trying to prove my worth in the human world. But killing beasts and man alike was simply not enough; I wanted to conquer.” ~ His eyes gaze far into the horizon, so that for a moment he seems to have forgotten Mistral's presence ~ “Yes, conquer a new land for my own! And so, tired of everything I had known before, I decided to set sail from the city.”"
“It was at the port that I met Tudor.” ~ The sound of knuckles cracking ~ “He persuaded me to board his ship. Said the scythe ornament would bring me good luck and even offered to throw in a crew for free …” ~ his voice breaks slightly, then regains firmness ~ “The ship set sail well enough, but it met the same fate as the one we arrived in. That was when Serephine appeared.” ~ Breathing deeply, he pauses before going on ~ “From the moment we met, I could feel the attraction between us. She ordered every other human on board the ship to be killed, for as you may have guessed, this city is considered holy ground and none are allowed to enter without permission. Serephine’s permission.” ~ Snorts contemptuously ~ “She’s the Elite Commander of the sea-elf guards, by the way. Well, being the besotted fool that I was, I readily swore to spend the rest of my life with her. Laughingly, she asked if I would prove it by allowing her priest to cast a permanent spell on me. And I agreed in the fun of the moment… well, she has all the fun now. The day I leave her or end my own life, I shall be condemned to be an undead warrior of the sea-elves… and in return for my ‘obedience’, I have the privilege” ~ winces ~ “of living for as long as she does.”
“But to get back to the story - the more we went on assignments back to the city, the more I longed for human female company. Serephine is too possessive, even for a sea-elf. Our relationship is stormy, to say the least. Unfortunately, she still loves me, for I swear at times I’d rather die by her hand and end this miserable life… anyway, you now know my plight. And I… I beg for your forgiveness.”
Mistral looks into Fabian's gray eyes, sensing the anguish in them. “I forgive you, but I did have a part in encouraging your interest earlier,” she replies softly. “Please... if there is anything you know about Meldrin or my father… share this with me. I have spent eleven years unsuccessfully searching for my past… I fear that I'm doomed to die ignorant of it."
For a moment, Fabian ponders over the request. Then, he sets his jaws firmly. Casting a furtive glance around to ensure nobody is listening, he nods his head.
[This message has been edited by mistral4543 (edited 10-09-2001).]
[This message has been edited by mistral4543 (edited 10-09-2001).]