To Walk a Dragon's Path, Chapter 2-Wills of a Demi-Goddess

[Nanobyte]

Now aggravated by his confinement, the drow looked at the dish of food placed on the table before him. He picked the platter up, examining the content. "Ol skal'as folbol," he said with a grunt. He sent the dish flying across the room, shattering it against the wall. A reverberated clash repelled the silence.

"Ele 'udtila streea quengen?!" he exclaimed, expressing the built up frustration. Now standing, he sat back down upon the couch, and groaned, "Vel'drav orn ol jal xuz?"

Translations: Ol skal'as folbol (It lacks something) ... Ele 'udtila streea quengen?! (Why does death linger) ... Vel'drav orn ol jal xuz? (When will it all end)

[Lady Blue03]

ooc-Cal, mind giving me a hint on when you're to return? If its beyond a week I'll advance a few days. But please don't plan on being gone the rest of the chapter [img]tongue.gif[/img]

As Alliene lay a sobbing Verloren on the bed, the door flew open with a loud crash, bringing in Captain Elon, sword bared. He looked around the room wildly and noticed the 2 women,
"My Lady Alliene, I heard Lord Avalon shouting..." His eyes traveled to Verloren curled on the bed, "He left, didn't he?" Elon whispered, and Alliene nodded. Elon took a stance next to Verloren with a tender look in his eyes, "Damn that beast...how could anyone leave such a beautful person.." His words went unnoticed by the wailing Verloren, but a snarl curled to Alliene's lips.
"He was threatened Captain, by a fool I once called cousin. No member of my family would disrespect eachother or a friend in such a way. He has done it too many times, and I do not know him anymore, nor do I want to," It was also the second time he had challenged a dragon! She had no nice name to call him, "Avalon will return, mark my words,"
Elon stared at the floor as Alliene pulled off her robe and started dressing. Her black hard leather came out of her bag and the chain went in. She pulled on lose black trousers with extra pockets(ooc-think cargo pants), and wound her sword belt through its loops, pulling it over her short boots, the leash she had retrieved from her House looped onto her shoulder "On top of everything, I have a wayward drow to question, and I'm in more of a foul mood than I was last bloody night,"
Elon started, "That reminds me, Matron. Last night I escorted the young drow Aeris to the temple district, where we came upon his brother about to be burned. He is here at the manor,"
Alliene clicked her tongue as she opened the door to the living room, "I will greet him when I am finished here then. Zachana, if everyone is not already awake from Avalon and the Gold, wake them, please," the dragon nodded and soared out the door, "Captain, if you please, remain with my sister,"
Elon nodded fiercly and sheathed his sword, his hand remaining on the rearing hilt.
Alliene stepped through the door and pushed it closed behind her. She blinked on the food sprayed on the marble and sighed, spotting the drow,
"Not hungry, I see?" she spoke to him in their language, "If you wish to starve yourself, then so be it. I believe you have a few answers for me, male," she stroked the leather collar and cocked her head at him.

[Kaltia]

OOC-hey, I'm back! *hears groans* Muaha
IC-Kaltia was writting up her journel, Dar pacing the room, when she heard Avalon's roared words and Calaethis' reply. Abruptly, Dar spun to the window, going into a crouch, baring human teeth. If he had been a dog, his hackles would have been standing up. From the back of his throat there came a low, threatening snarl, building in volumne and intensity. "The arrogance of that...elf...Calaethis...never ceases to amaze me," he sneered.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

***OOC, possibly 2 to 3 weeks, LB. That depends... and I'll talk to you on AIM - you should leave Avey in his cave during that time too. I think that Calaethis, when hes ready should go and talk to him - away from the others, when everything has calmed down - like I said, we'll talk about this later - for now, Calaethis is away from the rest of the group. Don't worry, he'll show up again with a few pages, 4 or 5 at the most - but before the chapter ends. It just depends on how everything turns out.
Long post - but this is sorta the last one from/by Cal for a while. I'll focus on my other two characters in the meantime.***

Calaethis slept, and a voice whispered in his mind; "One who serves Me comes in My stead, My child. Obey her, for she shall guide and protect you.. she speaks with My voice, and carries out My will... trust in her, for your life depends upon it, now sleep, My beautiful child...

A female hand touched Calaethis's shoulder. He awoke and looked up at her. She was elven, a female. Silver hair framed her face, at least shoulder length... it probably reached her back. She wore robes of midnight and skyblue. Sapphire eyes looked at him in an oddly compassionate way. She seemed youngish... in human terms, in her 20s. Calaethis couldn't place an age on her. With a gentle touch, she shook him, and smiled.

"So you have awoken, young one. My mistress has bade me to protect and guide you, child." she paused and waited for him to speak; when he didn't, she shook her head, and continued "Calaethis, please raise, there are many things we must talk of, and perhaps it would be best if you were fully awake?" Calaethis nodded, and got to his feet. Someone had changed his clothes: he was dressed in a lioncloth and a thin night-tunic which reached his knees. He looked around, he was still in the glade. The female placed a soft hand on his cheek, "You must be confused, child. You'll feel better after you've eaten and bathed."

Calaethis simply nodded, then he asked, "Where am I, priestess?" she smiled, "Now that, I cannot tell you. For if you knew where we are, you may try to leave. And, I am happy you realise what I am." She paused, "Come now, you must be hungry." She slipped and arm around the younger elf's shoulders, and lead him to the small pool, a few yards away. Already, there was a small fire laid out, but not lit. Calaethis blinked, "Surely you do not wish me to bathe in there?" he asked looking at the pool, "Its sacred!" The priestess shook her head, and placed her hands on his shoulders, "Child, do you really think that She would strike you down? Especailly after She led you here?" She ebraced him, "Oh you silly child, it's perfectly all right for you to bathe there. Besides, you need a bath and you'll feel better for one." Calaethis nodded, and placed his head against the elder elf's shoulder. She held him for a couple of moments, before kissing his forehead. "Lift your arms above your head, my child." Calaethis stared at her, his mind blank.

"Calaethis!" the priestess said sharply, "Do as your told." he blushed self-consciously, and dropped his eyes. The priestess sighed, "Calaethis" she said gently and slowly, "Your not embarressed are you?" he refused to answer, staring at the ground. "You silly child. Do you really think that yours is the first nude body I've seen? Male or otherwise?" Calaethis still said nothing. She held him again, "Whats really the matter child? My mistress spoke of you, and this sounds nothing like Her description; She said you were in pain, but..." Calaethis burst into tears, and sobbed furiously, grieving over what he'd done the day before, and how much pain he'd caused his family. The priestess, taller then him, held him close, before seating herself on a rock, and gathering him into her lap, holding him like a child. Eventually his tears stopped, and he fell silent. He looked up at the priestess, as if seeing her for the first time, he said nothing still. Quater of an hour pasted. Dawn was clearly showing in the sky, the first rays of the sun reaching the glade.

Calaethis spoke, his voice void of emotion; "...and who do I know you are who you say you are?" The priestess slapped him sharply across the mouth. "Calaethis! How dare you! I am here to guide and protect you, but I will not tolerate this attitude! I will not allow you to behave like a spoiled brat around me! Nor shall I allow any arrogence from you! Do you understand me?" still sat in her lap, he dropped his eyes, and leant back against her, "Forgive me, priestess..." she gave him a long, hard look. "My child, and you are my child, of sorts; you are tired. Take your bath, and swim for a while, after you are clean." she paused, "I shall cook you some breakfast in the meantime, all right?"

Calaethis nodded, his mind numb, and his cheek still stinging. Lifting up his arms as she'd instructed earlier, his eyes appeared foucsed on something else, something distant. The priestess looked at the child, compassion in her eyes. Gently she removed his nighttunic, and stood up, setting him on the ground as she did. Holding him close, she undid his loincloth appearing as a mother to her small child. Nude in her arms, Calaethis stared blankly, and allowed her to lead him to the waters edge, where he turned around and stepped in. The priestess watched him with a sigh. This one was in pain. A pity really, he was a handsome child. The priestess sighed again, and wondered why her goddess had picked his particular one. She turned her back on him, giving him a degree of privacy, not that he cared, and walked to the fire and began prepearing breakfast.

Half an hour later, breakfast was happily sizzling away, the fire burning cheerfully. Calaethis floated in the pool, his mind on other things. He was brought back to the present by a call from the priestess. He sighed mentally. Why was he here? He absently swam over to her, unthinkingly, his moments automatic. When he reached the waters edge, he stood up; a white towel was drapped around his shoulders, it reached his ankles. Gently he was pulled close by the priestess, who lead him closer to the fire. Seating herself on her rock, she dried the boy, who continued to stare absently. The priestess sighed and pulled him onto her lap. She dried his hair gently, and began to dress him. Vaguely Calaethis noticed they were not his normal clothes. Cool cloth touched his skin; it felt light, like cotton, but much finer in its weave. White in colour, it was an undertunic of sorts. A loincloth followed, made of similar material, then a pair of underbreeches. Warm, furlined socks, and finally a robe of sorts. It was dyed light blue, it wasn't heavy, but it was warm and comfortable.

Calaethis looked up at the priestess and asked, finally snapping out of his thoughts, and returning to the present; "...May I ask your name, priestess?" She smiled at the child, and replied, "I was wondering when you'd get around to asking that. I was afraid it might take you a couple of centuries." She gave him a reassuring squeeze and continued, "my name is Ariaera Lafilsum,* and I am a priestess of the one you address as 'Mother'" Calaethis nodded, " may I address you as Ariaera, priestess?" She smiled again, "I would like that Calaethis, and now I suggest you dine." She lead him to the fire, seated him on a rock, and served him some food. He ate, feeling oddly peaceful after the events of the previous day. Ariaera smiled at him, perhaps he would not to so hard to instruct after all...

* Ariaera Lafilsum Ariaera means 'silver song' and Lafilsum means (directly translated) moon mist water, in actual fact the second name means 'misty moon-water', or 'moon water of the mists'.

[Lord High Eater of Legs]

Ic:Khalraan turned in his bed, muffling his ears, with his covers, trying to drown out the noise of Avalon roaring. Rolling over, he fell out of his bed with a bump, and woke up fully, looking up at Skye and Tyra.
‘Didn’t you two get any sleep?’
Not waiting for an answer, Khal carried on,
‘What is that noise anyways?’
Getting a chair from the corner of the room, Khal sat down, and immediately sprang up again, his buttocks still sore. Realising he’d made it evident to Skye something was wrong, Khal took the chair back, and said
‘Actually I’ll stand.’

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Sylquis smiled at him, and helped him up. She sighed. "When I couldn't find Tyra, I came here." she smiled, "I'm glad she was here. I don't know whats been going on..." she shuddered a little. "All that shouting."

Tyra put an arm around her sister's shoulders "Hush Sylquis, I'm sure everything will be fine..."

[Skydracgrrl]

ooc- grrr Cal, why'd you have Tyra address Skye when I told you that I'd be away til at least sunday nite? [img]tongue.gif[/img] ah well.. -.-;

ic- Skye shook her head, relieving the ringing noise from her ears caused by the draconic bellows of rage. "Well, do you think we should stay here in our rooms or head towards the commotion?" she asked the others, smiling at Tyra, Slyquis and Khalraan. Noticing the conflicting emotions in their eyes, Skye nodded. "Right then, since we're undecided, we might as well go find everyone. Knowing what usually occurs after a commotion around these people, Alliene will most likely be summoning us very soon anyways," she said dryly before marching out of her room. Seeing the door to Cal and Alliene's rooms open, she rapped softly on the door before peeking in. "Erm, everyone okay?" she asked hesitantly, glancing at an irritated guard and sobbing Verloren, Skye's eyes widening in surprise at the last sight. Eyeing the guard apprehensively, she walked over and tenderly patted Verloren's hand comfortingly. "Shhh..." she said softly, then looked up at the guard. "Would you mind explaining what has happened in the past few hours?" Skye asked. "Perhaps out of earshot of the others," she added, looking at Verloren. "And where is Alliene?" she asked, looking around.

[SomeGuy]

Aeris and Malar awoke as soon as he heard the loud speech coming from the halls. Aeris's hands went to his sword and he immedialty fled to where the noise came from with Malar on his heels. As they reached the hall they found everyone gone.Aeris and Malar walked around and decided to wait until someone came out before they would ask any questions.

[Lady Blue03]

Verloren did not seem to notice Skye's pat, with her face buried into a pillow. Elon sighed,
"Lady Alliene is questioning some drow she caught on her way to the estates. I'm afraid I could not tell you what happened, the only witnesses were her Majesty, Lady Alliene, and her familiar. And Calaethis," he added, "Alliene will explain for you when she comes out I'm sure,"

Alliene scowled at the stone faced drow, "Don't feel like talking, do you? I see. Very well," she was beside him in the blink of an eye, the leather collar around his neck before he knew it, clasped magicaly in the back. Tsking at him, she took up the leash and tugged him after her. She noticed Skye in the room and nodded,
"Hello, Skye. I sent my cousin to apologize to Verloren, and he was...well, whatever he did, he made her angry. Avalon has been snappish the last few days and didn't like to see her being mocked, or something along those lines. From what I gather, Calaethis threatened him with his dragon's blood...well, being challenged is more than Avalon needs right now, so he left...Calaethis started turning into a dragon and bellowed a returning challenge. He broke my sister's heart, and therefore has left mine," she shrugged and touched Verloren's shivering shoulder, "It will take her a long while to recover from this...she and Avalon were always together," there was an angry glow in Alliene's cold eyes.

[Skydracgrrl]

Skye nodded slowly, looking at Verloren's form. "If you want, I could play a song to soothe her and give her a dreamless sleep. She could use from rest from all the excitement, I think." She glanced at Alliene. "Only with your permission though, of course." Skye raised an eyebrow at the drow Alliene had attached a slave collar to. "And who is that..?" she asked with curiousity.