A Wilderness Road Archive 1

Despite her earlier objections to him dogging Vithkun she felt a bond with this man when he actually smiled. As there was much more to her companion so did she believe there was much more to this man beneath the rather odd greeting she had received. Smiling in return while he reminisced so did she imagine such a time. What glory might their have been to behold in those times when equality stood above all else. The Drow race had made some of their greatest advancements then for there was a chance for them to work together openly with one another. Even the pure elves at one time acknowledged them when an alliance was made between two great people. Now for what it was worth she had seen some small acceptance in Vith.

"I do," his first question came with ease for she already knew its location. Had seen the halls, passed the first test, the second was the one she was unable to conquer. His own pacing did not inspire her own and firmly planted into the seat he had insisted she sit in she was beginning to draw comfort from the fire and the gentle haze that surrounded the cottage itself. His musings gave way to darker futures. To ones she wished not to speak of just yet but he would not be satisfied with nothing, "A lot could be," she agreed but the confusion within was coming forth, "And yet it could not. I have seen the scrolls of the elders and listened to their tales when they admonished upon me the very depth of such a quest needing to be fulfilled and yet they sent an orphan from Host. An outcast to do their bidding for they believe I should fail in the task and who is to say I will not."

Who is to say I shall not willingly fail? Rubbing her eyes she wanted nothing more than to go home to what little home she had and that required her completing her task but now she was not so sure she was capable.

Little time was left to ponder these thoughts as he gave her knowledge that others would not willingly share. The instant he finished she knew that he also knew of the devastation she left in her wake and she cringed as if waiting for a scolding that never came. The very best, he said, there was nothing good or great about her innate powers but to know now why her hair was of such a pure color and her eyes filled with the very skies above them was interesting. No more, no less, for the fact was that both had earned her a place in Host as he had declared they were oft likely to do with the 'Ashborn' as he referred to them. The cringe was but a momentary reaction, a split second, but the level calm that came on her features as if she wanted to deny it by indifference but still admitted it all the same, "I wish it had."

Annonai offered words of wisdom, or what he believed to be wisdom asking her to abandon the faith she had placed in the elf she traveled with. Could she look past the kindness he had offered so far when this man was also offering the same. So much had changed in only a few short days with her expectations of the world. By using the magic gifted to her by her line she had caught the attention of another, one who not only knew of her suffering but by knowing welcomed her into his home in order to reassure her that she was capable of using it and achieving great things. The means to an end at times was not worth what was done to achieve it and though she would listen she was not swayed by his sweet words and the full use of her name as if it had meaning to him. The shortening of it was done as a nickname, less formal and easier to pronounce and full names were generally not spoken unless it was of great importance. Any ceremony would be performed with every syllable and with the older Drow it took some time.

"But I do not wish to do the harm it takes." I do not wish for him to look at me that way again either. Remembering the disgust that Vithkun had shown at the very sight he only outwardly expressed what she inwardly felt and it made her feel like bawling. She had bottled it up instead pushing away her anger and her sadness and putting it into the determination that Annonai could see so clearly displayed in the way she had chased his little thieves to his home.

Rising as he asked she would grab a lantern from the wall. Thus far she had no reason to believe he was a threat, or he meant harm, and therefore she descended behind him. One by one she took the rungs until they came to the bottom. As she landed on flat ground turning with the lantern she asked of him, "Elder, what made you settle here of all places?"

Comparing needless use to what he spoke of every instance in which she had been forced to pull from that around had been necessary. Never had she taken in anything but self defense and the first time she had done so in nature she remained sitting in the middle of the newly barren field with her hands in the dirt that once had bright grass above it. She had kneaded them through it pulling and pushing and willing life to show her that there would be new birth. His speech reminded her of the fires that sometimes flooded the forest. The forest would eventually die should it not be weeded out in a manner, too much growth would cause everything to vie for attention and with such there would be death. She was simply giving light to new life and completing a circle just a bit early but it would not as he stated unsustainable if she was careful as she had been so far.

Descending downward in naught but her socks she pulled them off once she reached the bottom feeling the first step was damp upon them. Placing them on the side of the ladder she continued on with him saying, "Yes Elder," at his instructions but with bare feet she was much more proficient than with her boots on as she ran often as a child with naught but the touch callouses to protect her.

Holding the lantern up high his hair like a shining beacon in the darkness she could almost see it even in the pitch of the hall without light due to her eyes being well adjusted to the darkness. Most Drow could see in the dead of night but it took strain that was not necessary when a dim light was available. Listening to his tale he glanced back just as he mentioned his fate at High Haven. The falling out as he referred to it was more like massacre of their previous agreement. Very few lost their life but the toll upon those so integrated into a different way of life was almost the same in a sense. She said nothing only gave him a grim look of sympathy that would do no good when voiced aloud.

Passing into the room it appeared to be almost a perfect half sphere, open and wide, and the walls wet with the water that splashed around them. Reaching out they were slick and smooth worn down and crafted by magic and hand. There was barely an opening to tell where one began and the other ended but he had other things for her to see and like an obedient child she would once again say, "Yes, Elder," and follow him to the waterfall looking up to the top and to the depths and wondering where the true end of their adventure would find them.

The water shifting colors was amazing in and by itself as the very light within the cavern dimmed giving it a softer glow as if by candlelight the embers not interrupting the screen produced by the water. Wondering if the elder had crafted all this over time she almost asked until it began to play like a movie in a fashion. Though this was not some trick of production and she felt a chill run down her spine at the image of it. No one would like to be watched in such a manner as this, and it was becoming increasingly clear the elder had done so long enough with her to determine he wanted to meet her. Whether he knew of the patch of dead land or not her white hair would have been signal enough of what she was according to him. One swift sideways glance told her nothing but that he was not amused by Vith's actions with the pond. She had felt no animosity from him earlier otherwise she would not have entered but his continued hatred towards Vith was suspect for he was not giving him a fair shake so to speak.

Still she turned her attention to the image of him lingering over the pond. Watching carefully the angle was poor and she suspected there was more to the tale. The man had not used magic except when necessary so far, lighting the fire and the tree but otherwise holding back as if it was precious. His hands moving she recognized the drawing style even if she could not mimic it with the same result. She would never ask him how it worked just as he would never again wonder about hers as he had seen the result.

The look of uncertainty on Vith's face told her one thing, he was uncomfortable, something was wrong, and the way he went back to camp she could draw two conclusions. The first was he was off to warn her, the second was he was going to collect his things and run. It appeared that Annonai wanted her to believe the latter but with all that was within her she could not believe the man to be so callous. "I cannot judge his actions in my absence for he went scouting on his own and when he did not return I went looking for him. He left before my absence and therefore would not notice mine until his return." Unless he was keeping tabs on her with magic and though it was entirely possible it was a rather personal thing and neither one had ventured to bring it up. Facing her elder who held his form in a defensive manner his question was an unfair one, "Of course he's been trouble," she scoffed slightly one hand going up in the air in a dismissive motion, "The man has a knack for opening his mouth and speaking the exact wrong thing and yet sometimes it is right," like the night around the fire, "But I need him to complete my task and despite the fact he acts like an imbecile at times I do believe he has been frank with me so far on his intentions and he has not betrayed my trust." Yet, yet was the key word she left off for it was the truth but just because she had to say the truth when she spoke did not mean she had to say everything on her mind.

Her mind still wrapped around the worry of the elf she took one last glance into the waterfall before adding softly, "I am sorry Elder, I cannot remain here longer as I know there to be something wrong." 

Annonai questioned her very motives in matters about Vith. The answers were more difficult to produce than the worry that had flashed across her face the instant that she saw his worry. "Elder?" Stepping away from the waterfall she wanted nothing more to do with the rather invasive manner of spying. For that was what she considered it the instant that he had pulled up an image she felt to be true. "I believe there is much more to him than meets the eye, or at least I have to be believe it. There is more to our kin than anger and more to us than the mole like behavior most of us exhibit."

Belief in the superiority of the knowledge and opinions of elders was a way to blind one self. Conclusions drawn on personal experience as well as their own told through stories would give one the ability to come to their own beliefs. Myra took what he said into account and she had been weary of Vith, worried in her own way, and perhaps it was because she needed him that she was rushing back but something about the way he went marching back through the forest concerned her. Either something frightened him or he had discovered something worth sharing.

Taking the ladder she was careful to hit every rung and in his home she replaced the lamp. Grabbing Vith's tent she wadded up the cloth in her hurry and shoved it into her pack one of the corners peeking out of the edge. Closing the door behind her even though she'd found it open she gave his cottage only one last glance doubting that she would ever see it again. The rabbits she could do without ever seeing again as well. Though it amused her she did not smile as she made haste back the way she'd came. Her frolic through the woods had left a visible trail and a path to follow back as she made her way. With both moving towards one another they would soon meet. Her vision was better in the dim light of the morning and she spotted him first.

"Vith!" Slowing her pace now that she saw him in one piece she had visible relief on her features as she crossed the rest of the distance.

"I hope so as well," the whisper under her breath or may not have been heard by the dark elf but her decision was being made for her even as she rushed through the forest. Unaware of how events would unfold in the end it was with uncertainty that she returned to the man who was searching for her in return. Had he truly been concerned for her well being? The tone of his voice was filled with honey and soured by the sword he pointed in her direction that gave her a spliced reply to an unspoken question. Halting she might have embraced him for comfort but instead now she had taken a step back her hand touching the base of her morningstar which once again sat comfortably nestled against her hip.

"A saddle," not in the mood to play games nor to be threatened there was exasperation in her voice that gave it a slight tremor of anger, "Now will you lower that bloody thing?"

Her shoulders appeared broad when she rode a horse, when she carried the mace upon her hip, when her back was turned after she found him and rushed off to collect his belongings. Even if she had been crouched then it had appeared as if it could handle the world that had been placed upon it. Appearances could be deceiving. Just as the image in the pond had been dispelled by a few simple spells so did one touch reveal just how slim they truly were. Not frail but with a long collarbone and with strength beneath it but truly as he felt them now he could tell that beneath her broad cloak and thick loose clothes she had a womanly form.

She looked up to him not bedazzled by his beauty nor wanting for much in the look other than to seek some sort of comfort in him. She wanted to believe the best of those blue eyes that looked to her slightly amused and yet confused at the situation. Standing but a bit below him she had to look up to meet his gaze strong chin raised and beautiful tresses having lost their bindings framing her face and brightening her eyes by its reflection.

Finally she would relent lowering her gaze to his left arm saying softly, “No it is not and it is a story I do not think you would believe.”

The pipe smoke had lingered on her clothing even if she had not purposefully come close enough to allow it to do so. The cottage itself had been filled with it and sitting on the furniture would have only transferred it. Annonai told her he meant her no ill will, for he had freely let her go, and yet he had at the same time confused Vith out here. Tormented his dreams and threw illusions at him to frighten the poor elf simply because he believed that he was something that he was not. She could respect her elder while find his methods impermissiable. While all this had occurred Vith came to the final conclusion that her actions had not been purposeful. Perhaps if he had asked her to start without hatred stemming from his heart she might have explained then. But his words about being typical wrenched her from her place her heart hurting from all sides. Neither Drow nor Pure Elf seemed to accept that either could change, easily or not. Vith might have accepted she was different or at least was trying to but lumping the rest of her kin together, he was falling along the same lines as Annonai.

Stepping backward to take herself out of his grasp her lower lip trembled with the burden of all the emotion that she felt. Anger and sadness and uncertainty and yet some sort of half joy that he’d wanted to find her and that he’d forgiven her for something she’d never felt needed forgiveness from him. It was she that needed to forgive herself for such treachery first and the teaching of the Elder had not helped in that regard.

“Because there is a Drow in this forest,” she told him her words short and clipped, carefully controlled, “He is its guardian. It’s best if we leave. Immediately.”

They needed to collect Uma, which meant going back the way they came through the forest and she passed his shoulder bumping it lightly in the process.

His insistence opened her eyes a little to his plight and she paused when he grabbed her shoulder and turned back to face him. Her brows furrowed at it but when he spoke of going to see him she would say, “No,” worry flooded her tone and it cracked slightly on the edge of his name, “It would be unwise for you to seek him.”

Settled on the edge of a knife she had to decide who to trust in that instant and Vith was before her. He had not been forward with her yet as to who exactly he was his personality seemingly slipping off either edge as well. Taking a deep breath she would tell him, “There were rabbits that came and took out belongings. I gave them chase and while doing so I asked the forest for help. The trees refused me and spoke of the fact that they only listened to him,” trying to puzzle it together she added softly, “I believe Annonai has much more control than I thought at first.”

Fearful of his rather immense control he had been bolstering his power, perhaps threading it through the forest itself, “Your best chance is to simply leave and I will accompany you as you have accompanied me to this point.”