Post by Chani {♥} on Sept 22, 2009 19:30:42 GMT -5
The Silver Tree Inn was nearly empty tonight, its only patrons being three loud, inebriated Elven men seated at the bar, singing old Elven tunes; an Elven couple in traveling clothes sitting at a table in the middle and talking quietly to themselves; and one lone, cloaked figure in the corner, who hadn't said a word to anyone but the barkeep all night.
Everything in The Silver Tree seemed to be polished to a shine; the smooth wooden tables, the large windows, the crystal wine glasses, the stone floor... The prices were a little steep, but the food was warm, the beds were soft, and the costliness kept out the 'commoners'.
The Elf in the corner was in a long, satin cloak of deep purple with a golden clasp around the neck and a silver star pinned to the right. The hood was pulled up, casting her face in a shadow that could only be seen past by use of magic. Her name was Aviel Cúthalion, and she was the queen of the Elves, ruler of Eria. There had been quite a fuss made over her as of late. Apparently, she had disappeared from Celebrindal Idril, the castle in Aluen, in the middle of the night a few days ago. The factual details - if there really were any - had been lost in the game of gossip. A myriad of rumors had arisen. No one knew what to believe. Luthos, Aviel's only living relative, had tried to keep her disappearance quiet, but such massive news was impossible to keep secret. He was, however, doing very well in keeping the country in order despite his worrying.
It had been four days since Aviel's argument with her dear brother.
"There have been more children taken from Balavan," Luthos had told her solemnly.
"More?" Aviel had inquired, a warning flashing in her eyes. Luthos averted his gaze to the floor.
"Well, I didn't think you should hear about the others," he said slowly, still not meeting her stare. "I knew it would distract you and worry you. It was just a few children, not something you should toss and turn over at night. I had some men look into it, I thought they'd have some results by now and the issue would be resolved already." He looked up again to see if she was angry. She wasn't angry at all... she was livid. She had stood up and placed her hands on the back of the chair she had been sitting at. A cold fury pierced him instantly as he met her eyes. To anyone else she seemed fine, but Luthos knew her like no one else did. The calm she maintained now was similar to the calm before a storm. The foreboding of what she might do or say now hung heavily on his heart.
"Is my position as queen so easily forgotten?" she asked. Though the words were said in an even, controlled tone, there was a sheet of ice beneath. "Dear brother, you have a good heart, but it takes more than that to rule a country. Your love for me has blinded you of my authority, my duty to my people, and your own obligation as an Elf in power." She shook her head slowly. To Luthos, it was obvious there were terrible, horrible things she would like to yell at him now, but was restraining herself. He would rather she screamed at him than to endure the disappointment in her face any longer. "What information do you have of the kidnappers?"
"They were Drow and there are many of them," Luthos responded quietly. "They were strong enough to fight off ten of my men. Only one returned with any news. They were headed toward Letra."
"Then I must go after them," Aviel said, as if it were transparent that this was the only option.
"No, sister, you mustn't!" Luthos argued, stepping forward. "It's far too dangerous and you have duties here that require your attention."
"You can handle Celebrindal Idril," the queen said, waving her hand as if it were nothing. "But those children need me, Luthos. I will not stand idly by and let those monsters get away."
"We will send a letter to the queen of Nroh. She won't want to break our treaty, not if she has any sense at all. We'll demand the children back."
"Nonsense!" Aviel exclaimed, and looked more warrior than queen for a moment, but then she was normal again. Calm and cool. She shook her head. "The queen will never give the children back, and I will take no chance of going to war with Nroh. I will not have anymore bloodshed than necessary while Eria is under my rule." Luthos growled.
"You're a fool, Aviel! You're a queen! Can't you see how ridiculous you're being? You can't be bothered to go after a few children!"
"Can't be bothered?" Aviel's voice was still soft, but now even someone who did not know her at all could tell she was irate. "Get out, Luthos."
"Sister, I..."
"Just leave, please." The queen turned her back on him. A second later the door closed...
And a couple hours later, she had set off on horseback, making a beeline for Letra.
"More wine, Lady Delamir?" the barkeep's wife called over the heads of the loud men, whom she had been talking to.
Aviel shook her head, not bothering to speak, and looked down at her half-glass of wine and plate of miscellaneous fruits that she had barely touched.
She had came to Letra and heard nothing about these Drow. Surely someone should know something... But no, she hadn't heard a word. She had even left Letra, a few miles in Nroh's direction, and had searched desperately for some clue that Drow had been there, but had found nothing. Still, she would not return home. There had to be some way...
Everything in The Silver Tree seemed to be polished to a shine; the smooth wooden tables, the large windows, the crystal wine glasses, the stone floor... The prices were a little steep, but the food was warm, the beds were soft, and the costliness kept out the 'commoners'.
The Elf in the corner was in a long, satin cloak of deep purple with a golden clasp around the neck and a silver star pinned to the right. The hood was pulled up, casting her face in a shadow that could only be seen past by use of magic. Her name was Aviel Cúthalion, and she was the queen of the Elves, ruler of Eria. There had been quite a fuss made over her as of late. Apparently, she had disappeared from Celebrindal Idril, the castle in Aluen, in the middle of the night a few days ago. The factual details - if there really were any - had been lost in the game of gossip. A myriad of rumors had arisen. No one knew what to believe. Luthos, Aviel's only living relative, had tried to keep her disappearance quiet, but such massive news was impossible to keep secret. He was, however, doing very well in keeping the country in order despite his worrying.
It had been four days since Aviel's argument with her dear brother.
"There have been more children taken from Balavan," Luthos had told her solemnly.
"More?" Aviel had inquired, a warning flashing in her eyes. Luthos averted his gaze to the floor.
"Well, I didn't think you should hear about the others," he said slowly, still not meeting her stare. "I knew it would distract you and worry you. It was just a few children, not something you should toss and turn over at night. I had some men look into it, I thought they'd have some results by now and the issue would be resolved already." He looked up again to see if she was angry. She wasn't angry at all... she was livid. She had stood up and placed her hands on the back of the chair she had been sitting at. A cold fury pierced him instantly as he met her eyes. To anyone else she seemed fine, but Luthos knew her like no one else did. The calm she maintained now was similar to the calm before a storm. The foreboding of what she might do or say now hung heavily on his heart.
"Is my position as queen so easily forgotten?" she asked. Though the words were said in an even, controlled tone, there was a sheet of ice beneath. "Dear brother, you have a good heart, but it takes more than that to rule a country. Your love for me has blinded you of my authority, my duty to my people, and your own obligation as an Elf in power." She shook her head slowly. To Luthos, it was obvious there were terrible, horrible things she would like to yell at him now, but was restraining herself. He would rather she screamed at him than to endure the disappointment in her face any longer. "What information do you have of the kidnappers?"
"They were Drow and there are many of them," Luthos responded quietly. "They were strong enough to fight off ten of my men. Only one returned with any news. They were headed toward Letra."
"Then I must go after them," Aviel said, as if it were transparent that this was the only option.
"No, sister, you mustn't!" Luthos argued, stepping forward. "It's far too dangerous and you have duties here that require your attention."
"You can handle Celebrindal Idril," the queen said, waving her hand as if it were nothing. "But those children need me, Luthos. I will not stand idly by and let those monsters get away."
"We will send a letter to the queen of Nroh. She won't want to break our treaty, not if she has any sense at all. We'll demand the children back."
"Nonsense!" Aviel exclaimed, and looked more warrior than queen for a moment, but then she was normal again. Calm and cool. She shook her head. "The queen will never give the children back, and I will take no chance of going to war with Nroh. I will not have anymore bloodshed than necessary while Eria is under my rule." Luthos growled.
"You're a fool, Aviel! You're a queen! Can't you see how ridiculous you're being? You can't be bothered to go after a few children!"
"Can't be bothered?" Aviel's voice was still soft, but now even someone who did not know her at all could tell she was irate. "Get out, Luthos."
"Sister, I..."
"Just leave, please." The queen turned her back on him. A second later the door closed...
And a couple hours later, she had set off on horseback, making a beeline for Letra.
"More wine, Lady Delamir?" the barkeep's wife called over the heads of the loud men, whom she had been talking to.
Aviel shook her head, not bothering to speak, and looked down at her half-glass of wine and plate of miscellaneous fruits that she had barely touched.
She had came to Letra and heard nothing about these Drow. Surely someone should know something... But no, she hadn't heard a word. She had even left Letra, a few miles in Nroh's direction, and had searched desperately for some clue that Drow had been there, but had found nothing. Still, she would not return home. There had to be some way...