Fuzzy Navel (mild language & content)

[Tenolein]

The back story of Erin's first EQ toon, Eirinnyeis.

~:Prologue:~

Aelaria sat by the window staring at nothing. She did not acknowledge her surroundings; her daughter playing outside with the other children, the sounds and smells of her neighbors' cooking dinner. Her own preparations for the evening meal laid on the table, half-chopped and untouched. The elven woman's thoughts were too focused on the shocking news she had recieved about her husband, Malek Clearsong. The note laid crumpled in her hand still, having not let go of it since the half-elf bard delivered it to her with an apologetic mumble. She had read the note, reread it, then looking to the boy in hopes that this was some mistake or cruel joke. ...regret to inform you of your husband's untimely death. We wish to extend our deepest sympathies in your time of grief...

The young half elf had assured her it wasn't a mistake nor a mean-spirited prank. The boy went on to explain softly how Malek had been found in an alley behind an inn, murdered and robbed. He'd stopped for the night in Freeport to rest before travelling back to Faydwer for his week off. Luckily the guard who found his body recognised him and reported the death to the Antonican Bards. Aelaria stepped back inside and softly shut the door, no longer listening as the boy talked. The bard's voice trailed off in mid-sentence, staring at the the closed door in perplexed silence before slowly turning to leave.

It had to be a mistake, the dead man could not be Malek. He was delayed, yes that was why he had not returned home yesterday. He could have been delayed by weather, a storm...yes a storm! The Karanas are known for their frequent rains, Aelaria assured herself, Yes, Malek must have had to travel through the Karanas! The dead man they found probably only resembled her husband; dark-haired Feir'Dal men are as common as anything. Aelaria nodded, believing her logic the more she thought about it. She stood and returned to her cooking, "A mistake, only a simple mistake..."

The next morning, Aelaria dressed and woke her small daughter with a cheerful smile. "Eiri, wake up! Today your father comes home!" The girl rubbed the dreams from her eyes and blinked at her mother, taking a moment for the words to register, "Da is home?" Her mother laughed, "Not yet little one, but soon."

As she helped the child change clothes and prepared a quick meal, Aelaria noted how much the girl resembled Malek. Eirinnyeis had inherited her father's almost-black hair and blue eyes instead of her mother's brown eyes and coppery hair. She had Aelaria's full lips and light cinnamon complexion, but when she smiled it was Malek's lopsided grin and just as full of mischief. This was proof to the woman, finding it impossible for her husband to leave such a child fatherless. Fate could not possibly be so cruel.

Before they finished breakfast, one of the neighbors knocked on the door. "I heard the news about your husband, Aelaria. If there is anything I can do..." The woman spoke softly with a look of sadness on her face though it quickly changed to confusion as Aelaria laughed. "Ladrielle, you should know better than to listen to gossip. Malek was just delayed in the Karanas."

Ladrielle blinked a few times, "But my daughter works for the Antonican Bards in the same region as Malek. She told me--"

Aelaria interrupted,"It was a mistake," she insisted,"Malek will be arriving this afternoon. Now if you don't mind, Eiri and I need to be going soon if we're to be there in time to greet him." The older woman nodded uncertainly and left. Aelaria shut the door and sighed, returning to her daughter and picking her up, "That woman can be so gullible. If there was a rumor about the sky falling then she'd run for cover!"

~o~

"Mumma, I'm hungry." Eiri whined.

"I know. It won't be long, we're almost there." Aelaria hoisted the sling higher on her back.

The child shifted and laid her head between her mother's shoulderblades, "When?"

"Soon. We'll be there bef--" Aelaria paused at the strange noise, slowing her pace.

Eiri wriggled and whined a bit more insistently, "Mumma, when?" Her mother shushed her.

This time the child heard the noise as well and fell silent, a soft grunting voice that made Aelaria think of a pig trying to speak. Fear gripped the woman, knowing the sound did not come from a pig. There were no pig farms nearby and wild boars did not reside in this area, though goblins were the only creatures in the area that made sounds like that.

Aelaria yanked the sling around and closed her arms over Eiri as she ran along the dirt road; the goblins' voices now shouting in squealing gibberish as they gave chase. The child began to cry as her mother's fright washed over her. Three goblins blocked her path now and Aelaria let out a cry as she almost ran into them, darting off the road and into the woods. Branches clawed at them, stumbling over roots as she ran. A limb scratched across Eiri's cheek, making her bawl louder.

The goblins sounded farther away now and Aelaria thanked Tunare, hoping they could lose them in the dense forest if only for a moment. She knew she could not keep running like this, having barely slept the night before and carrying a small child. She was in unfamiliar territory and the goblins would have an advantage. For all I know, this might be where they want me.

The trees opened into a small clearing closed off by the steep side of a mountain. A dead end. The goblins' faint voices squawked in excitement, gradually growing louder. Aelaria mumbled prayers to Tunare as she searched for something, anything that could be used to escape or to--there! She rushed over to a large old oak tree and knelt at the opening near its roots. Something had burrowed through a rotted section to a den long ago, though now it laid vacant. "Mumma needs you to hide for a while, alright? I need you to be quiet. Like a mouse." Eiri whimpered in protest, clinging to her mother. "Please, be still and let me hide you," Aelaria begged, pushing the child into the abandoned den. "You have to hide, they're coming!"

Eiri let go and scrambled back into the hole, startled by the urgency in her mother's voice. "Good," Aelaria tried to smile to comfort the child, "Stay there and then w--" A goblin lunged at the woman and knocked her over onto her side. Eiri covered her face with her hands and scooted backwards as far as she could. The screams of her mother could be heard clearly over the shrieks of the goblins. The child clamped her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, yet still she could hear the cacophony of violence outside.

Aelaria's screams had ended a moment later and the goblins' shrieks quieted to a chattering argument. Eiri opened her eyes cautiously and lifted her hands. Had her mother escaped or found a place to hide? The goblins were quiet now; perhaps they left? She leaned forward slowly to peek out.

The light from outside was suddenly blocked as a goblin popped into view and reached inside, grabbing hold of her arm. It jabbered excitedly and from what little light there was Eiri could see its wide mouth full of serrated teeth. The child screamed and tried to pull away from the creature, kicking at its face with her bare feet. The other goblins could be heard cheering on their comrade. The goblin shrieked and tugged, reaching in with its other arm which closed over her free wrist. Its dirty and ragged nails dug into her hard enough to break the skin. Blood was smeared over the goblin's face and dripping from its chin. Eiri could feel herself being pulled from her hiding spot with each tug from the monster's grip. She kicked wildly at its head until its grip on her arms loosened and then let go. The goblin now lay silent and motionless as she curled herself tighter into the back of the den.

Her screams died down to a loud hoarse sobbing, her eyes fixed to the goblin's inert form as something dragged it away. The child turned her face from the light and squeezed her eyes shut. The goblins were quiet again yet she did not dare peek out for fear of another attack. Something blocked the opening again, feeling darkness on her eyelids, though this time it seemed different. Eiri felt a hand pat at her shoulder. The child turned suddenly and bit down hard, catching the hand by the thumb. The owner of the hand let out a low bark of suprise and pulled back just as Eiri kicked it. She lashed out with her foot again and the hand closed over her ankle, hauling her out in one strong pull.

The hand held her in midair, twisting and struggling to free herself. The child kicked at the arm with her free leg. The hand dropped her roughly on the ground. A splash of water hit her in the face and suprised her enough to make her sit still. Before her stood a short stocky man who looked to be mostly made of beard. He replaced the cork into the water skin and rubbed his bitten hand. His left eye was already beginning to swell from where she kicked him.

"Now ah've had plenty o' that, Squirt!" The man bellowed, "Izzat any way ta thank me fer savin' yer?"

The wood elf sniffled and began to cry again, "Mummaaa.."

The dwarf's irritated glare softened, crouching down to pick up the child, "Ach, ye're only a wee elf. An' here ah thought ya were a gnome!" He chuckled softly. They had fled when he came into the clearing, all except the one goblin he killed who had been after the child. He glanced at the goblins' other victim. The body was mutilated and covered in blood, though there was enough for one to tell it was once female and once an elf. The dwarf's eyes closed as realization hit him. He held Eiri closer, softly whispering a prayer to his god, hoping the girl hadn't seen her mother's corpse.

[Tenolein]

This story and Dusk's Embrace was written by Erin, my best friend in EQ and EQII. All credit goes to her.

Note: Sorry for the double post, I reached the maximum character limit on the first post.. =/

[Tenolein]

~:Part 1: :~

Torsen Stonebender trudged past the entrance guards and deeper into the mountain. The winding path of the tunnel ahead would lead him to home; the dwarven city of Kaladim. The farther into the mountain he lumbered, the more the dwarf relaxed. There was something about the feel of stone surrounding him that was comforting, just as it'd be to any other of his race. He chuckled softly to himself as he remembered his brother-in-hand's joke: We'd sleep as sound as a bairn in 'is cradle if'n ye buried us under a rock inna bleedin' meadow!

He rounded the turn and heard a shrill voice bellow his name. Well, shrill for a dwarven female. Torsen muttered a curse as he saw his sister marching toward him. "What now, Aggie? Ah jus' got home!"

"Aw quitcher whinin'," his sister snapped back, "D'ye know where that girl was? Do ye?" The stout woman stopped before her brother and folded her arms over her ample chest. Agate Stonebender, as was her birth name, glared at her brother. Torsen was the lone son of nine children and the youngest. His father had wept with joy when the midwife told him that he finally had a son and spent the next week blind drunk. Torsen, on the other hand, thought his sisters were a more suited reason for intoxication.

"Lemme guess," the dwarf sighed and scratched his beard.

Before he could continue, Agate answered her own question, "At tha pub, tha's where! An' d'ye know what she wis doin' there?"

"Ah'd answer but ye'd tell me afore ah could," Torsen grumbled in annoyance.

"Playin' at knuckle-toes!"Agate screeched, her face flushing red, "Gamblin'! She sneaks outta me home ta th' bleedin' pub an' gets 'erself inna round of knuckle-toes!"

"Rilly? Di' she win?" The dwarf ducked as his sister took a swing at him.

"Dammitall, Tor! Tha girl canna be muckin' about inna flippin' tavern at her age!" The woman lowered her voice to a dancerous tone, "Or do ah hafter remind ye of tha li'l tune she learned last week?" Torsen winced, remembering the bawdy "Kaladim Is Forever"* and the expression on his eldest sister Citrine's face. The twins, Hematite and Pyrite, had all but fainted when the child asked what some of the phrases meant. (Bring out the shaman's daughter/You'll see how much I taught her/Bring out the sheep for I'm so lonely tonight/Bring out the sheets of leather/Whips, chains, and apple butter/Kaladim is forever but Halas is insane)

Agate continued, much calmer now, "Ah know ye're tryin', brother. An' ah know it's hard ta do since..." She trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

Torsen knew what his sister was about to say and nodded, completing the sentence for her softly. "Since Muriel isna here ta look after her properly." Agate opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off, "Now ah know ye meant no harm in whatchye were 'bout ta say. An' ah know ah should look after Eiri better. Ah been spendin' too much time out huntin' gobbos justa put a meal on tha table; no thanks ta this year's crop bein' pitiful. May be better if'n she stays wit one of yer, least ye know whatcher doin'."

The woman chewed her lower lip and stared at her brother. Last thing she'd wanted to do was dredge up the memory of her brother's wife. Muriel had died from a fever two summers before Torsen had rescued the small elven child. After a second she shook her head, "None of us kin do that ta her. Eiri should stay witcher. Movin' her about so would only giver more ta fret over." She tucked a stray lock of curly brown hair behind her ear and took the pack from Torsen's shoulder, hefting it onto her own. "C'mon, we're all headin' ta Tourmaline's fer dinner."

Torsen followed. The two walked farther into the residential part of the city in silence for most of the way until he couldn't contain his question any longer. "So just how much di' she win?"

"Thirty-four gold, seventeen silver, two copper, a keg o' Jarvis's rum, an' twenty pounds o' Durbin's cod."

The dwarf grinned. "Tha's me girl."

~o~

Torsen dropped himself into his favorite chair by the small fireplace and kicked off his boots with a heavy sigh, "Ah love me sisters dearly, but they kin get ta be so taxing."

Eiri took the iron poker and prodded at the dying embers to wake them, then threw a handful of dead leaves from the bucket. An annoyed sulk grumbled out of the small girl, "Dunna why Aunt Aggie wis so mad. I won dinner, din't I?" The embers greedily burned the leaves, turning into a small flame. The wood elf fed the fire some small branches for its second course.

Torsen wiggled his toes in appreciation of the warmth, noticing a hole in his left sock but being too tired to care. "Aggie's always been a bit spleenish 'bout girls in an alehouse. Ne'er made a lick o' sense ta me. Tha's how she met her husband, workin' as a barmaid." He shook his head, scratching his beard as he turned to the window. "Aw damn."

Eiri looked up, "Wha's wrong, Da?"

"Fergot ah needta water tha crop. Wouldja do it fer me, Squirt?" Torsen looked apologetically at the wood elf, who stood and brushed the leaf-crumbs off herself. "Aye, Da. Where's tha can?" He pointed toward the shelf by the door and Eiri retrieved it, filling it from the indoor pump before heading outside.

Behind the small cottage and past the small yard sprawled the unruly family garden of what her foster father referred to as "under-brew". Under-brew was the collective name of any plant used in brewery that was capable of growing underground; hops, barley root, turnips and potatoes. The land had been divided into fourths; one for each grouping of plants. Torsen and seven of his sisters all tended a part of the crop, two families per quarter. Eiri and her father shared the barley plot with Citrine's family.

As she approached, she could see the barley stalks were thin and the plants of mediocre quality and health. The child wondered if it was possible for a plant to look depressed, looking at the listless droop of the leaves. She lifted the watering can and tipped it slightly, letting the water rain down over the mineral-rich earth. After the can was empty and the soil dampened, Eiri picked off some of the leaves that were turning brown as she'd been taught and threw them into the can to carry back to the compost bin. While she worked the wood elf whispered to the plants, telling them how they were useful and made the dwarves happy. Once Eiri was done, she bid them goodnight and carried the watering can back home.

~o~

Citrine answered the door and found her brother standing before her, "Alright, whatcher been feedin' 'em an' whyncha tell me 'bout it?" The woman blinked at her brother's demand, "Feedin' who?"

Torsen waved one meaty paw in the general direction of the under-brew field, "Not 'who', the flippin' barley!"

"Ah done nothin' diff'rent, brother. Whatcher goin' on about?" Citrine looked over to the field as though she could see it from such a distance and through her kitchen. "Wha's wrong with it?"

"Nothin's wrong, the damned things're growin' like weeds! Now quit two-steppin' an' tell me whatcher be doin' diff'rent!"

The dwarf glared at her brother's annoyed expression and planted her fists on her wide hips, "Ah done tol'ye ah done nothin' to tha blasted barley! Been too busy ta; how's ye ask that elf-girl o' yourn?" Torsen opened his mouth and promptly shut it, a thoughtful look on his face.

~o~

"Gotta admit, it's lookin' a mite livelier." Citrine commented, watching the two men's faces as the three stood before the crop.

Jasper Irontoe stooped and gently felt one of the leaves, "Best ah've seen, ‘sides the stuff we useta get from that druid. Whassisname... Rowan, tha's it; Rowan Silverleaf." He looked over his shoulder to Torsen. "Yer girl did this, eh?"

Torsen shrugged, "Reckon so. Ah asked her 'bout it an' she swears she din't do a thing different from what ah taughter."

"Ye think it will harm tha flavor?" Citrine looked worried.

"A bad batch is better'n none."

Jasper stood and hitched his trousers up by the belt, "Aye, better'n none. An' if'n tha batch is off then we kin always sell it ta Kelethin or maybe Freeport fer cheap."

"But if it don't go over well then that could be bad fer tha business!" The woman twisted the edge of her tunic, frowning. "Then no matter if'n tha crop recovers."

"Woman's right, should make a test batch an' see." Jasper turned and headed back towards the road, "Headin' back ta me brother's. We'll send a cart down tamorra morn."

~o~

The amber liquid flowed from the tap and into the tankard as Tumpy held the lever down. "Doesna look any diff'rent," he remarked. He let go of the lever and set the drink in front of his brother, turning to pour another for his brother-in-hand and one for himself. Once he was done, the three dwarves stared down at their respectable tankard in silence for a moment.

"Welp, might as well giver a go. Won't find out by starin' at tha stuff." Torsen picked up his drink and raised it to his lips. Jasper and Tumpy followed suit.

Three mugs rose to three bearded and apprehensive mouths for a cautious sip. Then a gulp that in turn became a chug. Three half-empty tankards lowered to the bar, leaving three now surprised and smacking sets of lips.

"Ah'll be damned!"

"Whooo-eee, tha's better'n me own Tonic!"

"First time an elf did summat ah liked," Jasper quickly looked to Torsen, "No offense, Tor."

Torsen took another drink, "None taken." He finished up what was left in two swallows. "Girl wis raised right," he belched loudly with pride.

Tumpy nodded, "May be a wee point-ears, but she'd make a right fine dwarf."



*Lyrics to the Kaladim song were found long ago on the Noble Rage site. I'd post the whole thing seperately if I could ever find it again >.<

[Clareon Wolfeyes]

Excellant, well done.

[Kallysti]

Aye, I've enjoyed these as well. (both of them, I'm just too lazy to post it twice :D) Thank you (and your friend) for sharing!

[Tenolein]

~:Part 2:~

The wood elf waded through the field of hops, stopping here and there to check the plants' overall health. The crop was doing nicely, as was the barley. Satisfied, Eiri moved on to the turnips where she noticed the trouble. Crouching down to inspect ono of the leaves, she discovered some had been nibbled on with brown edges and at an even closer look were the telltale darker green tracks. Snails inside the mountain loved these turnip leaves though it was their slimy trails that did the worst damage. Something in their secretions acted as a poison to the plant, causing the leaves to turn brown and papery and from there it went downward into the turnips themselves.

Eiri grabbed the short stalk of leaves and tugged, pulling out the dirt-caked vegetable and gave it a shake. The slimerot hadn't taken affect just yet and the crop would be fine if cared for properly. All it took was crumbled eggshells and a shallow pan of beer. By accident, it had been found that snails loved beer and the creatures would drink themselves silly until they drowned. The eggshells would be placed around the turnips as a barrier, cutting any snails brave or stupid enough to attempt crossing the jagged edges of the barrier. The girl frowned, not wanting to kill the slimy little creatures, but knew as well that sometimes that was just how it was. Da haster kill a critter so's we kin eat, same wit me fishin'. Eiri returned the turnip to its hole, stood and wiped her hands on the back of her pants.

Waving to her Aunt Selenite across the field before heading home, Eiri thought of her life inside the dwarven city. She liked it there, liked her family, and enjoyed tending to the family's under brew field. Even more, the wood elf enjoyed hanging around her uncle's tavern to listen to tales of adventure or to play a game of knuckle-toes. Life inside the mountain suited her fine where she was concerned. Eiri could barely remember her life before she came to Kaladim. She ran her fingertips over her left arm; the one that had been damaged the worst. Of course, she still had nightmares some nights...

"Eiri!"

The girl looked up and saw a young dwarf running towards her. She tugged her sleeve down to make sure the scars on her arm were hidden. Once he reached her, her cousin stopped, panting loudly and red-faced, "Da is...he lookin' fer ya. Sent me ta find yer..."

Eiri rolled her eyes, "Wha's he be wantin' now, Zee?"

"Needs ye ta help at tha pub." Zeeviem regained control of his breathing, brushing his blonde hair from his face. The dwarf was three inches shorter than the elf's four-foot-six and close to her age. The two had grown up together as cousins and were often causing trouble together of one sort or another.

"But I wis there jus' tha other night! Why can't Tilly do it? I have a snail problem ta clear up," complained Eiri.

Zeeveim shook his head, "Tilly's helpin' Aunt Olivine wit tha new bairn."

The elf cursed softly, opening the back door to the cottage to retrieve a bucket. There had been complications with the birth and Olivine needed any help she could get. "Right, then you kin play wit tha snails." Eiri held the bucket of eggshells out to her cousin as the young dwarf groaned and reluctantly took it.

~o~

Rowan Silverleaf followed the winding passage through Kaladim. It had been quite some time since his last visit to the city of dwarves, but his memory still new the way. He opened the door and waited for three dwarves to pass, belting out the third verse of an extremely explicit song about a woman named Thurgadin Nell. Rowan chuckled softly and ducked to clear the doorway into the pub. Things hadn't changed much in almost a century.

Once inside, the druid straightened his posture and looked around. He still had a good foot or more between his head and the ceiling. The dwarf at the bar looked up and shouted, "Row! Whatcher doin' 'ere? Ah near din't see yer!"

Rowan smirked and made his way to the bar, calling back, and “Of course you didn’t, being there’s so many Feir’Dal crowding the place. A mug of the usual, if you can remember."

Tumpy pursed his lips and blew air through them, making a "pbbft" noise at the druid. "Ah may be gettin' older, but ah aint that old!" He lumbered over to a keg, mug in hand, and pulled the lever. Once full, he set it down before his old friend, waving away the druid's attempt to pay. "Ye know yer money's no good 'ere."

The wood elf chuckled and raised his mug in salute before taking a drink. He pulled the tankard from his lips and stared at the contents. "This isn't my usual ale..." It wasn't; it had a better flavor and a bit more kick than what he typically drank.

"Yeah it is," Tumpy wiped up a small puddle of whiskey from the bar, "Been improved, it has."

"Since when?"

"Since me niece been tendin' tha field." The dwarf's smile held back a secret. " So! Where ya been lately? Went off ta Kunark last ah heard of ye."

"Yeah, to the outpost," the druid took another gulp of ale, "I came home to replace one of the instructors."

"Ah see, gettin' yer old job back eh?"

Rowan nodded, "Pretty much." The druid blinked as he saw a young woman emerge from the back room with a serving tray loaded with food. "I think the ale's gone off, or else I'm shitfaced. I coulda sworn you had a wood elf working for you."

The dwarf laughed, "Ale's fine. That wis me niece, tha one ah been tellin' ye 'bout." He laughed harder at the druid's confused expression. "Naw, nothin' like that. Ye know no respectable dwarf would get hand-bound to a point-ears; ah'd hater see tha brat from a mess like that. Wit all respecter presen' comp'ny."

Rowan watched the girl return to the kitchens, "Then how..?"

"She's me niece through me brother Jasper. His wife's brother found tha girl when she wis only a wee ankle-biter. Said 'e took her fer a gnome 'til he gotta better look." Tumpy leaned against the bar.

"But what of her parents?"

Tumpy's tone lowered to a grim seriousness. "Damned gobbos offed her mum. Tha's how she wis found. Her da been killed in Freeport. Girl had no one else, so me brother-in-hand took an' raised her as his own."

The elven girl reappeared with another tray and hurried past Tumpy, "Heads up, uncle, comin' through!" The dwarf stepped closer to the bar and let her pass behind him.

Rowan caught a better look at the younger wood elf and noticed something familiar about her. "Tump, would you mind if I talked to her a moment? Wouldn't mind meeting the one who can do this to a drink." He tapped the rim of the tankard.

"Ah see no harm in it," Tumpy shrugged and then called out, "Eiri! C'mere girl, got some'un fer ye ta meet." The wood elf returned and Tumpy introduced them, "Eiri, ah wantcher ta meet Rowan. Row, meet me niece."

The druid could see the face clearly now, resembled by the girl's features. The same black-brown hair, same clear ice-blue eyes, even the same grin when she greeted him. She looks so much like Malek... Rowan blinked and then smiled back, "Sorry, I guess I was being a bit rude. I'm a bit surprised to see a Feir'Dal living here."

Eiri laughed, "Aye, I'm tha only one. S'pose I'm a bit of an oddity 'ere." She turned towards the kitchen as she heard Jasper calling her, "Best be gettin' back ta work." The girl smiled again and rushed off.

Tumpy leaned over to the druid, "Looks like ye seen tha ghost of yer own mum."

"Close. I knew her father." Rowan watched Tumpy's bushy eyebrows rise. "And I taught her mother."

~o~

"So this is what she's done?" Rowan crouched on the egde of the field for a better look at the hops. The dwarves had discovered long ago the four plants that they used in their brewery; a wild strain that could easily grow underground and since been domesticated. The "under brew", as it was called, barely needed to be watered and had no need of sun. In fact, the plants were much like the dwarves, naturally stunted and thrived off the mineral rich lands. Their topside cousins were not bad for brewing, but not the desired strength for the dwarves' preference. On top of that, the top side plants gave the alcohol too sweet of a flavor-- well, for a dwarf's opinion.

Rowan had once discovered a mushroom that was close to the desired taste and grew them for the dwarves before he was assigned to go to Kunark. Taking care of the broken eggshells, he carefully unearthed one of the turnips nearby and was impressed. On average, an under-brew turnip was the size of a lemon, though these were closer to a medium-sized apple. He replaced the turnip and packed the soil around it before turning to look at the dwarf. "What's her secret?"

"Hrmpf, no secret. Girl does ever'thin' just as she been told ta through me brother-in-hand. Same way tha family's been doin' it since me gran'da wis a wee one." Tumpy hitched up his pants and chuckled, "Ya think it's an elf thing?"

The druid grinned, "Wish it was sometimes, but no. Even Feir'Dal can be incapable of gardening," he thought back to how well Aelaria had done in Herbology and compared it what he saw. The girl may look like her father, but she had her mother's potential inside. "We should get back to the pub, I have a few more questions."

[Tenolein]

~o~

The bones clattered onto the serving tray and three pairs of eyes watched them settle. The younger dwarf slapped the table, "Three! Hah!"

His uncle snorted, "Pft, tha's no t'ree, tha's a four. Pay up."

"Aye, a four," nodded Eiri. The two dwarves began to shout at one another.

"The hellfire it is! Tha's a three!"

"Ye're drunk, tha's a four it is!"

"Rot ye fer a teee-totallin' ol' fart! Tha's a three!" Zeeviem looked at his cousin, "C'mon Eiri, ye know tha's a three. Help me out 'ere..."

The wood elf shook her head, "Sorry Zee, but that there's a four," she pointed to the knucklebone. "See how tha toe points eastwards 'ere?" This time she pointed to the bone beside the knuckle. "Tha's a four, so curse me ta sobriety."

Zeeviem noticed the toe bone and harrumphed. Jasper leaned back in his chair, grinning so wide his entire beard grinned with him. The younger dwarf reached into his pocket and dropped one silver and three copper pieces in from of his uncle. The front door opened and in walked Tumpy, followed by the wood elf Eiri met earlier. His eyes locked onto her for a brief moment before Tumpy barked, "Whater ye layabouts loafin' fer? Closin' time wis a half-hour ago! Git movin'!" Jasper headed for the kitchen and Eiri followed, taking her tray of bones with her. Zeeviem looked around for the broom he was using earlier and then hurried into the back room to look for it.

Jasper peeked out the door and watched his brother and Rowan sit at a table in the far corner. He ducked back over to the basin and plunged his hands into the suds, attacking the stubborn layer of burned soup on the bottom of a pot. "Hey. Eiri." The girl turned to him from her own basin and he grinned at her, "Looks like ye gotchersel' an admirer."

Eiri wrinkled her nose and pointed to the front room with a soapy hand, "Ye mean..?" She shook her head, "Nuh-uh." Jasper nodded. Her eyes widened, "But he's old enough ta be me da," she hissed.

Zeeviem ambled past, broom in hand, "Ah saw howie made eyes atcher." A handful of suds hit the back of his head and he turned and whopped his uncle in the rear with the broom accidentally.

"Hey! watchit wit that blasted thing!" Jasper turned and snapped a sopping wet rag at his nephew, who backed up to dodge the incoming rag and in turn klonked Eiri in the back of the head with the broom handle. The elf let out a yelp and rubbed her head. Jasper snapped the rag again at Zeeviem, "An' don't be hittin' yer cousin!" The younger dwarf scooted out of the kitchen before he could be assaulted again. Eiri and Jasper returned to their dishwashing in silence for a minute or so. "He's innersted in ye, old or no," Jasper glanced at his niece and spoke softly, "Mark me words, that elf will be knockin' on yer da's door in tha next few days. Saw tha same look on Jarvis's boy. Took tha boy t'ree days afore he asked me fer me blessin ta court me Ruby. Heh, might not be him though. Might be he's lookin' ta play matchmaker."

"How can 'e be? This is the first I seen of 'im. How can he know anythin' about me from watchin' me truck food out ta customers?" Eiri took her set the clean dish on the rack and rested her wet hands on her hips, now looking directly at her uncle. "And I thought ya said matchmakin' was fer nosy ol' wives wit nothin' better ta do."

Jasper shrugged, "Soma these elves --no offense-- kin be a bit diff'rent."

"But I'm not even old enough!"

"Ye lookit," grumbled her uncle, "and ye'll soon be of age. I think." Jasper turned to his niece, "Any idea when elves are considered grown?"

"As though I have a notion!" Eiri laughed, "I've lived in Kaladim since I kin remember, lest ye ferget, so no." She picked up a stack of plates and headed for the shelves.

~o~

"Hey, Eiri!"

The wood elf looked up at Zeeviem. Her cousin nodded his head in the direction of the cottage with a grin, "Got company, ah see."

Eiri turned and looked over her shoulder to see Rowan talking to her foster father. She watched them enter and the door close behind them. Jasper's words came back to haunt her, that elf will be knockin' on yer da's door in tha next few days. She turned and continued watering the potatoes; making a point to ignore Zeeviem's grin. Da will set him straight.

After a few trips to the well and all the plants watered and fed, there still hadn't been any sign of the druid's departure. As time passed Eiri's mind went from one thought to another of what might be taking place between the two men. She stood there on the edge of the field and let out a short sigh, Might as well break up this happy li'l party. The wood elf strode up and yanked open the back door.

"Listen 'ere now," Eiri slammed the empty watering can onto the table and stared at the two, " I don't rightly know what's goin' on but I've got a damned good idea. Me answer's no. No matter what ya two have mapped out fer me, I--"

"Alright then," interrupted the druid, "though I am sorely disappointed that one with such potential as yourself would pass up an opportunity like this."

The girl blinked, silent only for a brief second, not expecting him to give up so easily though still annoyed by his words. "Yeah? Then ye kin take yer 'opportunity and--"

Torsen cut her off quickly, "Eiri!" The girl shut up and looked at him as she continued, "Ah dunna whatcher been hearin' or even thinkin' fer that matter an' ah doubt ah wanter. Rowan 'ere is offerin' ye a chance ta learn. He saw whatcher did wit tha under brew--"

"Tha under...brew..?" Eiri interrupted, but the affront died and was reborn in confusion. "Learn..?"

"Aye, ah jus' said it. Rowan's offerin' ta take ye ta Kelethin and learn ta be a druid."

The wood elf looked down at the floor and fidgeted with the cuffs of her sleeves. She wished she could crawl under a rock and hide. He's a teacher... Then came a wash of relief, realizing her uncle had been wrong all along. The sound of chair legs scraping the floor drew her attention to the druid as he pushed back his chair and stood, "Perhaps this is a good time to leave you two to discuss things. I'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon for Kelethin. You can accompany me if you change your mind." Rowan smiled and ducked out the front door.

~o~

Eiri sat in the kitchen, looking out the window and replaying the evening's discussion. Torsen sounded as though he wanted her to go, talking of how much she'd learn. Ah know how good ye are now without it, but think of whatcher kin do if'n ye're trained properly! She sighed, did he really want her to leave? Kelethin may be where she was born, but Kaladim was her home. Things will change, Eiri. One day ye'll be wantin' ta leave an' make yer own way. The wood elf scoffed, Who says?

"Whatcher doin' up?" Torsen lumbered into the kitchen and sat down across from his adopted daughter, "Still thinkin' 'bout it?"

Eiri nodded, "Aye, canna sleep wit all this havin' ta make a decision by tamorra," she sighed and rested her arms on the table, "I don't wanter leave..."

"But..?" Her father watched her shrug. He scooted his chair over and rested his large hand on her shoulder, "Eiri, ah know it's a tough choice an' ah know ye're scared an' are too stubborn ta admit to it." She turned her head and looked at him silently, seeing her ice-blue eyes look at him in the dying firelight. "But tha's where ah'm confused. Wha's there ta fear? Goin' back ta yer birth home after bein' away so long, or leavin' me?"

The wood elf leaned over and hugged Torsen, tears welling up in her eyes, "Both." He held her, feeling the girl's body shaking with quiet sobbing. "What if summat happens ta yer? What if'n I..." She pulled away to look at him with a tearstained face full of frustration, "I may been born an elf, but I grew up a dwarf! I talk like a dwarf, I drink, gamble, hellfire I kin out-belch Zeeviem! How'm I ta live in a damned tree? I'll fall outta tha blasted thing afore tha first day! I wanter go there, but I wanter stay here."

The dwarf couldn't help but chuckle, "As me wife useta say, 'dwarf is ta stone as a dog ta bones'. Might be tha same wit trees an' elves, even ones raised as a dwarf. But one thing's fer certain: how'll ye know 'til ye try?" He gave Eiri a reassuring smile, "An' as fer me, ah did well on me own afore pullin' ye from a tree and ah will still be 'ere when ye're gone. Too stubborn fer anythin' ta happen. Jus' be sure ta pop in once in a while ta visit yer ol' man."

[Grand Puppeteer]

Great story, but now since you overlapped my poem on the newest thread thingie no one will ever look at it...:(

[Tenolein]

~:Part 3:~

Eiri limped towards the edge of the platform and down the ramp, trying to keep her gaze fixed on the platform ahead. After almost a decade inside Kelethin she still couldn't look down without getting the heebie-jeebies. She smiled to herself, thinking back to the day she arrived and how she'd latched onto Rowan's arm. People stared, of course, upon seeing what must have been the first Feir'Dal who had a fear of high places.

Over time, others gave advice on how to defeat her phobia but none worked well enough. Two days ago she'd discovered that alcohol helped her overcome the fear a little too well; causing her to be overly confident while walking down a ramp. When the ranger found Eiri she had a broken arm, a few cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and her leg was broken in two places. Her inebriation also helped numb the pain. She was still a bit sore and would be for the next week, even after the healer's bonemend spell. As she limped onto the platform, Eiri wondered if the ranger who discovered her was still laughing. She was too drunk to remember what the person looked like, but was pretty sure he didn't laugh then. Prob'ly once he got wit his chums he started laughin'.

While crossing the platform, someone bumped into her from behind and the two lost their balance, landing in a heap. "Sorry uh, miss, didn't watch where I was goin'," the boy got to his feet and helped her up, then reached down for her pack, "Here, lemme get that." He handed it back to her with an unbalanced grin; his milk chocolate eyes moved over Eiri, starting with her face on down and then back up. The boy was a wood elf, perhaps a decade or two older than her, with long hair the color of cornsilk tied back from his face. Compared to Eiri's four-foot-seven, the elf was taller than her by a little over a foot. He was handsome with a self-assured air about him; the word most would have used to describe one such as he would be "cocky."

"Thanks," muttered Eiri and stepped past him, continuing on her way.

"Didn't catch yer name, miss," the elf hurried to catch up and matched his pace to her own, "It's not every day I have the pleasure to bump into a beautiful creature as yourself." Eiri rolled her eyes and wondered if this was the best he could do. "I'm Tenolein, Tenolein Bladedancer. Most just call me Teno though." She didn't answer. "Hey, you're limping! Are you hurt? I uh, I could escort you to a healer--carry you if needed." No answer. "Um... Ya know, from my height I can see right down your shirt. Now I know this is a rare day because not only do I have the luck to run into the most beautiful girl in Kelethin but I can see she's well built, and I mean really well buil--"

He got a reaction that time. Maybe not the one he wanted, but he finally got Eiri to respond. She turned and gave him a right hook to the jaw. Tenolein raised a hand and gingerly touched where she nailed him and looked at her; surprised, impressed, and now even more intrigued. "Ow."

"Now will ye bugger off?" Eiri glared up at Tenolein, "I already seen a healer, I'll be sure ta lace me top correctly, an' I don' need an escort anywhere 'specially from someone who canna think of anythin' better ta say than 'nice tits'!" She turned and limped across the bridge to the next platform. Tenolein rubbed his jaw again and stared after her, watching her enter the drygoods shop.

~o~

When Eiri left the shop the boy was waiting for her, leaning against the storefront with his arms crossed. She let out a groan of frustration and limped as fast as she could to the ramp. Tenolein hurried to catch up, "Keep walkin' like that and ya might hurt yourself again, slow down."

She ignored him, wondering if acting like he wasn't there would discourage him. Would whack 'im one again, but he seemed ta like it. Uncle Jasper was right, elves are strange. Eiri veered left towards the herbologist's and stopped, turning to face Tenolein. "What. What poor excuse d'ye have now?"

"Excuse?"

"Aye, yer excuse fer followin' me," She folded her arms and stared up at him, "Don' tell me that 'most beautiful girl in Kelethin' bit was yer only one. If'n it was then I'm here ta tell ya it's unimag'nitive."

"Tenolein," they both turned to see a human walking towards them. The man wore the expression of someone who was repeating himself for the fifth time, though his voice was one of patience, "Brother Tenolein, we are here to help those in need... not badger them to death." The man turned to Eiri and smiled pleasantly, "Please forgive Brother Tenolein's actions, he meant no harm. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Cov Enchandis, patriarch to the Order of Divine Faiths." The human bowed.

Eiri nodded in return and smiled, "Eirinnyeis, but I pr'fer just Eiri." She watched Tenolein look up and give the human a look of pure astonishment and tried not to laugh. "Explain ta him I'm not in need of anythin'; he doesna seem ta unnerstand me when I say it. Now if'n ye don't mind, I needter be on me way." She turned and entered the shop, smiling to herself once her back was facing the two men.

~o~

Eiri limped over to the door and answered it, "Row! C'min, I wis 'bout ta go ta bed. Ya jus' caught me in time." The older wood elf stepped inside and she closed the door behind him. Eiri resided in a small two-room house that was half the size of her previous home in Kaladim. She motioned to a chair and Rowan took a seat. Once she was seated across from him, he began,

"I've been told that there is a group who wishes to recruit healers. We have been offered to assign two of our students to their order so they may learn to use their skills in a variety of settings. These students will be given a chance to travel and aid cities and farms in need of help." Rowan brushed his silver hair from his face, "I was given the job of choosing the two students. I chose Dusty Greatoak and you."

The young wood elf looked at him questioningly, "Me?"

Rowan nodded, "Yes. I have seen how you have progressed in such a short time and I think you are ready to take your knowledge and apply it to life. This will be a chance to fine-tune your skills." He paused and smiled sheepishly, "And it might put you back on solid ground where you'll be more comfortable."

"Aww," Eiri chuckled, "An' here I was jus' gettin' tha hang o' this place. So who's this group?"

"The Order of Divine Faiths."

Her grin evaporated. Where had she heard that name before? "Human fella runs that group, righ'? Has a short funny name; summat like 'Cob'?"

"Cov," corrected Rowan, "Cov Enchandis. I assume you've met him?"

"Aye, him and his lecherous friend," Eiri grumbled.

The older elf chuckled, "That had to be Teno." He leaned back in his chair and shook his head, "That boy never did learn to think before opening his mouth. His heart is in the right place when given a cause, he can sometimes be a bit too gung-ho about it."

The girl rolled her eyes, "I think tha boy's 'too gung-ho' 'bout women. And in dire need of a swift kick in 'is arse."

Rowan laughed, "That is not the first time I've heard that opinion about him." He leaned back in his chair. The two sat in silence for a minute before Rowan spoke again, "Listen, I know you really didn't encounter such behavior when you lived among the dwarves, even when working in your uncle's pub. If you had grown up here or among the humans even then you'd have met a lot more of Teno's kind and a lot sooner. You'll learn to deal with not only sickness and blight, but also a lot of different personalities. That's what this training is for, not just to practice healing and cures."

Eiri snorted and folded her arms, "I've been 'ere fer well o'er a decade, how come I never met more o' his kind?"

"Luck?" Rowan shrugged, "Not many Feir'Dal are as...vocal as Teno when they see a pretty girl walk past."

The young wood elf bowed her head and tugged at her long sleeves. Such compliments were not something Eiri was used to. Dwarves only doled out the rare albeit rough compliment for displays of bravery, strength, craziness, or a large alcohol capacity. She'd never really considered herself as beautiful, only as one of the very few of her race to be so curvy and well-endowed. The scars on her arms didn't help her self esteem much as well.

Eiri sighed as she got up, the stool legs scraping over the floor. She stepped over to the window and looked out at the platform and the forest that contained it. The trees were so thick that barely any sunlight shone through the foliage. "I s'pose I'll hafta learn sometime, righ'? Me own approach didna work."

"What might that have been?"

"I nailed 'im one in the jaw."

The young elf couldn't help but smile upon hearing Rowan's bark of laughter. "Sounds like him," The elder druid chuckled, "though I think between you and Cov he'll be okay. Might even straighten the boy out."

[Clareon Wolfeyes]

Good character development, keep it up.

[Tenolein]

~:Part 4:~

Eiri sat in the back of the cart with the others as it rolled through the mountain pass. The Order of Divine Faiths plus Eiri and Dusty had departed the docks for Kelethin only a few hours ago when the sun was rising. Now the sun's light was coloring the rocks around them in various hues of purple and blue. The small elf blinked and lowered her head, waiting for her eyes to adjust.

She could remember the first time she and the others had passed through this way, but in the opposite direction. Teno sulked all the way to the docks, thanks to Cov insisting that the young ranger sit next to him at the front of the cart. Eiri, Dusty, and another ranger named Llyiada sat in the back with Cov's squire, a boy named Rutger. Six years had passed since then; Rutger was no longer a skinny youth with messy brown hair but almost a man by human standards. How strange it was to her to see someone grow up so quickly. When they arrive in Freeport in less than a two weeks, Rutger would be leaving them to start his own training as a paladin at the Hall of Truth. The wood elf leaned her head against the side of the cart and sighed.

"Hey," Teno scooted closer and nudged her, "what's up with you?"

"Hum?" Eiri lifted her head and looked at the ranger, "Oh, um, nothin'."

The male wood elf smirked and shook his head, "Don't gimme that, you got that look on yer face. Something is eating at ya. Spill."

The druid shrugged, "I s'pose I'm no used to the ways of humans." Eiri glanced over at Cov and his squire who were deep in conversation at the front of the cart. "When I first set out with you and tha others, Rutger was only a child. Now he looks ta be yer own age. It's kinda sad, seein' how fast their lives pass."

"Yeah..." Teno wrapped an arm around the druid's shoulders and pulled her closer. "When I first joined the Order, I--" A long furry tail swung past his face and whapped against his leg. "Dammit Krennu, watch where you swing this thing!"

The owner of the tail turned and looked at the ranger apologetically, "Sorr-ry Ten, yanno it has a mind all its own." Krennu removed her tail from Teno's lap and curled up under the front seat for a nap. The shaman's snow-white fur was adorned with the marks of a tiger; her body a perfect 50-50 of humanoid and feline. Just your normal everyday Vah Shir. As she drifted to sleep Krennu began to make an soft purring snore. It was a sound that took some time to grow accustomed to.

The druid realized how close Teno was sitting to her and tried to be nonchalant as she scooted away. He noticed her movements and awkwardly removed his arm from around her shoulders, putting his hands to work at retying his hair like he meant to do so all along. "Anyways...I uh, you ever hear that story about Lesser Fay?"

Eiri shook her head, "What story?"

"The one about a unicorn that wanders through the woods there. Word is it's blessed by Tunare and will protect the forest at all costs."

"A unicorn? Thought they were a myth."

Tenolein shook his head, "Nope, real as you 'n' me from what they say." His eyes brightened, "Hey! I got an idea; maybe we can go look for it while we're staying in Kelethin, whaddya think?"

Eiri looked over at Teno. She remembered all his ill-fated attempts to grope, ogle, or proposition her. Like a month ago when she caught him spying on her while she bathed in a stream and rooted him to the tree branch. And let's not forget a few weeks ago when she woke up in the back of the cart with Teno curled around her like a child with its favorite doll. Even now there were still a few scratches from the Bramblecoat spell but they were healing nicely, there wouldn't be any scars. Since then, he hadn't made another attempt. "Sure, might be good fer a laugh." She smiled, An' if'n he tries summat funny...well I could use the spell practice.

~o~

"Teno, I don' think we're gonna find it," the druid stepped over a fallen sapling. They had been wandering through the forest known as Lesser Faydark for nearly two hours, but to Eiri it felt like much longer. That morning, after arriving in Kelethin a few days ago, Teno had asked again about looking for the unicorn. Now she was wondering what was so much fun about chasing a bedtime story.

Tenolein stopped and glanced back at Eiri, "Do ya really think it'd be easy to find? I don't think it'd have tales told about it if it was so commonly seen."

"I s'pose," she sighed, "Any signs yet?"

"Nope, I guess I lost its trail."

"Lovely," Eiri grumbled.

"Now hold on, I know I can find it again. It's gotta be over this way," he jerked his thumb over his shoulder, "the same way we were goin'. I have a good feeling about this." Eiri giggled. "...What?"

"That way?" Eiri pointed in the direction the ranger had just pointed. He nodded and the girl couldn't help but laugh, "That's 'bout where we came from!"

Teno looked behind him and then back forwards again. He threw back his head and let out an exasperated sigh, "Sheeee-it..."

The druid struggled to control her fit of mirth, "Least yer no' standin' in any." Eiri sat down on a nearby stump and untied her water skin. "D'ye least know where we are an' how ta get back home?"

"Well yeah," the boy snorted, "we just go..." He stopped and looked about, muttering to himself. "...we turned left, then..."

Eiri rolled her eyes and sighed. Finally she pointed to the right, "Tha' ways?"

"Uh, yeah, I was just about to say that."

"Sure ya was."

"What? You don't believe me?" Teno looked indignant, "It might take me a bit to get my bearings, but I know where I am goin'." He caught the water skin Eiri tossed to him and took a drink. "I'm not lost."

"Oh a'course yer not," the druid smirked.

Before she could continue, Tenolein raised a hand to silence her and turned around. "You hear that?" he whispered back to Eiri. She shook her head and listened intently to catch what the ranger was hearing. After a moment she heard it, a very faint sound, of a hooved animal approaching. Tenolein jumped into action suddenly, motioning for Eiri to pick up her pack and for her to follow. Shouldering her bag, the druid followed as Teno hurried to catch up to the sound of hooves.

It didn't take them long to find the creature, but something was very wrong. Unicorns are gleaming white, sometimes to the point that they seem to have an iridescent glow. This one was the complete opposite; a pelt so black it practically sucked in any light around it, a drowning, equine-shaped black hole. Eiri and Teno stumbled to an abrupt halt as the beast turned a firey gaze in their direction. Trying to remain as still as possible, Eiri whispered, "Tha's no' it, is it?"

The ranger did not even dare move or shake his head, simply stating, "I highly doubt it." The dark nightmare beast snorted and lowered its head, making a noise not unlike a growl.

"What now?" Eiri hissed.

The beast moved towards them menacingly slow. Tenolein grabbed the girl by the arm and spun her around, "Run!" The two broke into a run and the beast charged after them.

Thin tree branches whipped across them as they wove their way through the forest. Teno had let go of Eiri's arm and the two dodged trees and jumped over fallen logs, stumbling down slopes almost falling. They found their way into denser parts of the forest and kept moving, listening to the hoofbeats fall behind. Their escape into the thicker tree coverage had worked, the beast was slowing down. "Catch!" Teno's shirt landed in the girl's arms.

"Tha Hell ya doin'?!" Eiri screamed after the ranger as he slowed down to pull off his boots, hopping on one foot and then the other.

"Just stick 'em in your pack, okay?"

"What? But wh--"

"Just do it, Eiri! There isn't much time!" Eiri pulled her pack around and began stuffing the shirt inside. Was his voice different? She grabbed the boots off the ground and struggled to put them in the bag as well when Teno's pants hit her in the face. "Oi! Watch it!"

She pulled the pants from around her head and looked up to see Teno was laying on the ground. His body was contorted in pain, his bones shifting under his skin and making a sound like hollowed sticks being stirred inside a pot of thick sap. The ranger's skin was now covered in greyish-white fur and his body looked more like that of a wolf then elf. His long cornsilk hair was gone, also replaced by the same silver-white fur. When the shifting was complete, the wolf stood uneasily and shook himself.

The same milk chocolate eyes looked at Eiri, Tenolein growled out as best he could, "Gheddon-n." When she hesitated, he circled her and ducked between her legs, raising up so the druid was now seated on his back. Eiri grabbed a hold of Teno's fur as he took off at a run; she had almost forgot about the beast that was chasing them until she heard the hoofbeats close to her left. The beast emerged from the trees just in front of them, almost trampling the two. Eiri screamed and flattened herself to Teno's back as he dodged around the creature.

Again they found themselves weaving their way through the forest. A light appeared before them and they headed towards it, surprising a camp of orcs. The druid turned and watched as the orcs were not as surprised when the dark unicorn charged though the camp. The orcs' attack wouldn't last long against the beast but it would be enough of a distraction to aid Eiri and Tenolein.

Soon the woods began to thin out and Teno slowed down to a trot. "I think we lost it," Eiri hopped down as the wolf came to a stop. "Well, I vote fer home now. Any idea which way ta go?"

[Tenolein]

~o~

Tenolein looked around for a mintue then looked back at the druid and whined.

"Hrmph," Eiri grumbled, "No' surprised." The wolf let out a short growl. "Now no need ta be grumpy 'bout it," the druid sat down and slumped against him. Teno butted his head against hers.

"Well, aint this just all cozy," a voice said from above the two; raining sarcasm down on them. The two looked around and saw no one. Suddenly Eiri felt something land lightly on her shoulder and she turned to see what it was. There sat a tiny man with bronze skin that changed from goldish brown to having a slight green undertone when he moved. The druid guessed that the little man was close to a foot tall; noticing as well that his back was adorned by a set of iridescent dragonfly wings. He reached up and ran a hand over his closely cropped white-gold hair, smiling at Eiri, "Yeah, might not be a good idea ta be sittin' here."

"Why?" Eiri asked, still staring at the fey. She glanced past him to look at Teno who was also staring at the tiny man on her shoulder.

"Why?" the man chuckled, "Well this aint the safest spot ta have a picnic, if ya know what I mean," he shrugged, "I mean, what with brownies that don't take kindly ta strangers runnin' amok in this part of the woods. Not ta mention you 'n' yer pal here are sittin' pretty damned close to Mistmoore's place," he pointed and Eiri looked in that direction, seeing the large gates a short distance away. "Oh yeah, let's not forget that big-ass tainted uni that has been on a rampage after you guys," the tiny man smiled pleasantly at the druid, "Call me crazy, but I think that might have somethin' ta do with it, too."

"An' why's it matter to ye? Don't faeries usu'lly try 'n' stay outta others' business?"

A look of anger but mostly annoyance spread over the man's face, "I aint no faerie, elf. What is it with you tall ones? Anything smaller an' just happens ta have wings is a faerie ta you, id'nit?"

Eiri blinked, "Then, what..?"

"I'm a pixie, dammit! There is a difference yanno." The pixie looked even more indignant than when Eiri insinuated that Teno was lost. "Now if we're done with shootin' the shit, maybe we can get moving?"

"...'We'?" The druid got up and the pixie took flight, hovering in front of her. There was a loud creak of metal coming from the direction of the gate, sounding as though it was in pain. Eiri turned to see a dark elf woman and two men walk through the now open gates. All of those who resided inside of the Mistmoore castle were vampires, As though dark elves wasna bad enough.

"Yeah, 'we'. Cuz I aint stickin' around ta see if those guys're gonna invite me in for a pleasant chat. Now c'mon, let's get movin' you two." Teno nudged Eiri and she climbed onto his back. Once she was settled, the pixie alighted again onto her shoulder and took hold of her hair, "Gid'yap, fuzz-butt." Teno growled, insulted. The pixie rolled his bright green eyes, "Yeah yeah, just try not to run into that uni again."

~o~

"Well, that was fun," the pixie said, sitting on Eiri's knee. They had made it back to Greater Faydark with little incident. Now the girl and the pixie waited while Teno had shifted and was now making himself presentable. The ranger stepped out from behind the bushes that had served as an impromptu dressing screen; his shirt draped over one shoulder and his boots under one arm. He looked tired from reverting back into his natural form but tried not to show it as he sat next to Eiri and began to put on his boots.

The girl smiled at the pixie, "We owe ya one fer gettin' us outta there, uh..."

"The name's Steev," the tiny man grinned back, "but you can call me...Steev."

Eiri laughed and Teno rolled his eyes. "Thank ya then, Steev. I'm Eiri 'n' this is Teno. If'n there's any way we kin repay ye or even yer fam'ly--"

"Whoa now, hold on," Steev held up one tiny hand, "ya got it all wrong. I'm a free pixie." He grinned proudly, "Yep, no wife ta nag me constantly, no kids ta drive me batty. Jus' me 'n' myself."

"Um, well then," said Tenolein, "guess we should let you get back to the other fairies, eh?"

Steev glared at the ranger, "How many times I gotta tell ya, I'm not a ****in' faerie!"

"Same difference," Teno glared back.

"Bite me, dog-boy," the pixie growled menacingly. Well, as menacing as a one foot tall man could be.

"Boy!?" the ranger looked insulted.

"Yeah, 'boy'. I lost my virginity long before you were even thought of."

"Yeah? And how would you satisfy a girl anyways, crawl in and wiggle?"

"I bet you thought ya got yer first pubic hair 'til ya pissed out of it!" Steev screamed (squeaked, rather).

"Oi! Both o' ya shut it!" Eiri shouted. The two men looked at her, their insults dying in their throats. "So, um... Ya said tha unicorn was tainted?" She looked at Steev and hoped her attempt to change the subject would work, "Any ideas how it go' ta be thattaway?"

"Not really," Steev sat back down on the druid's knee, "It's been that way for 'bout a month or so now. There's been a lot of talk at the courts on what should be done."

"The courts?" Eiri asked.

"Yeah, the courts. Mostly all the fey belong to one of the two courts; the court of light and the dark court," the pixie explained, "The light is mainly the faeries, brownies, a few pixies; at one time the high elves acknowledged as part of the court of light after that business with Inny makin' a mess of dark elves, but then they pretty much got too big for their britches an' decided they no longer had to show up 'n' pay their respects. No offense."

"None taken," Eiri assured him, "An' which court d'ye answer ta?"

Steev looked a bit sheepish, "Neither of you better take this the wrong way, but I'm of the dark court. Doesn't mean I'm evil necessarily, just... not part of the court of light."

Tenolein narrowed his eyes in suspicion. The druid spoke up before he could say anything to possibly start another insult war, "So what does tha court think it is, tha taint?"

"The dark court thinks it is Inny's doin'. Everyone knows how much the god of Hate wants to overthrow all the gods of light, 'specially Mother," the pixie shrugged, "There's a coupla inkie camps here 'n' there in Lesser Fay. My cousin had a run-in with one; that boy was never the same. Took him the better part of a year to completely regrow his wings and most of the next to relearn how ta fly."

Eiri nodded. Steev was right, everyone she knew had grown up with the tales of how Innoruuk hated the gods of light. Especially Tunare, who was known as the Mother of All. The Mother was said to be responsible for creating the elves, who were known as the Elddar. In the tales she remembered, Innoruuk had captured two of the Elddar and twisted them into his own creation, the Teir'Dal. The Teir'Dal were dark as night and their hearts just as black as their skin. They would do anything to please the god of Hate.

Steev continued, "Now the court o' light on the other hand, they are split in their thinkings. Some agree with the dark court that it was ol' Inny and his inkies. But the majority think the dark elves aint powerful enough ta pull off tainting something as pure as a unicorn. They think it's a mix of man's corruption and the gnomes' industrial workin's. In simpler words, pollution and disregard for nature, anything from a wasteful poacher to anyone who hails to the darker gods. Some even go as far as ta blame you elves."

"And just how would you know what the court of light thinks?" Tenolein gazed warily at the pixie, "You just said you're part of the dark court."

The tiny man stared back, "I have my ways."

~o~

"Well, that's quite an adventure we had, eh Eiri?" Tenolein sat down next to the druid. She nodded and laid back on the roof with her hands behind her head. The three decided to return to Kelethin and tell what they had discovered to Cov and Rowan. The two men had just left and Steev the pixie was now passed out after getting quite drunk on honey mead. Tenolein glanced back through the open hatch in the roof to where the pixie laid snoring on the table; the ranger could barely make out the goofy grin plastered across Steev's tiny face. "Least he's stopped singin'. That was the dirtiest tune I've ever heard, where'd he learn that?"

Eiri chuckled, "It's a dwarven drinkin' ballad. Didna think 'e knew all tha words ta Thurgadin Nell, I'm impressed."

The ranger sulked, "Impressed? I've been bound by roots to a tree for less, or did you forget?"

"I didna forget, it's just..," the girl sighed, "I wis raised wit' dwarves, I worked in me foster-uncle's pub. I s'pose it reminds me o' home."

Tenolein shook his head, "It's still strange to me; I've known ya for almost a decade and I'm still not used to hearin' you call Kaladim home. Every time I hear another Feir'Dal say home I know they mean here. Kelethin." He looked down at Eiri, "You never told me how you ended up bein' raised by dwarves."

"Tha's a tale fer another night, Teno." The boy nodded, noticing the sad note in the druid's voice. Her story was one she'd tell when she was ready to remember that sadness and be comfortable enough to share it with him, if ever. They sat on the roof in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest and of the wood elf city. Somewhere below them the sounds of a flute being played accompanied by a mandolin and fiddle rose up to greet them. Suddenly Eiri rolled halfway over to Tenolein and hugged him, her arms around his waist. The ranger was taken off guard by her sudden touch, his body jerking slightly against her arms.

Eiri looked up at Tenolein and smiled a tired smile, exhausted by the eventful day, "Thanks fer draggin' me out t'day; I hafta admit, I had fun."

Teno smiled and pulled her closer, returning the hug, "Anytime, girl. Anytime."


((Thanks to Tenolein for reminding me of the trip we took into LFay in-game so long loong ago.))