Tribute to Gobaith

[Achae Eanstray]

(( Achae will be a personal tribute to somoene close to me ))

Achae would walk through the forests, the sun reflecting off her light brown wavy hair, hazel eyes light with the enjoyment of the day once more. Her life has been so wonderful, she never regretted a day since she came to Gobaith. Every person met was a new experience and reaffirmed for her the love shown to all nature and man. Maybe that is why she wanted to be a druid in the first place, she saw that in people even though they didn't see it in themselves. Quietly going about her days as nothing out of the ordinary, no one would ever suspect the pain in her side increasing, her petite body now having a slight limp when she walks yet hardly noticeable when walking slowly. Dropping herbs is usual for her so a few more when her hand can't grasp the leaf won't be observed. The bottle dropped the other day... most just considered it a usual accident, not her hand giving away suddenly. Achae will continue giving to all as she always has done, quietly and without complaint until she can do no more.

Making her way back to Greenbriar, she smiles comparing the town now to when she first moved there, a lot has changed yet much has stayed the same. Achae wanted to visit all the towns and settlements one more time, she hoped to see all her old friends and laugh about their antics, the plans they had, cry at the sorrows. She wanted to remember friends that had gone to the mainland so plans to visited the harbor hoping for a parchment telling her how they were doing. Achae tried to remember all her friends yet knows she forgot some also. Stopping to rest on a dead log she wrote in a small notebook made expressly for her plans: "Greenbriar, the Druid House, the Harbor, Hellbriar, Tol Vanima, Trolls Bane, Nordmark" laughing she adds "Silverbrand" remembering exchanging a lot of logs for coal with the King when she was Mayor of Greenbriar. The last place on her list is in small letters and can barely be seen "the whispering tree"

[Anon of D'Athen]

With a tattered and hole-ridden cloak's hood pulled forward, a man stumbles across the bridge crossing the Fairy's Tears. Griped tightly in a fist is a sword broke off short. He coughs and brings up the hand carrying the blade to cover his mouth and jerks with the startle of nearly cutting himself. Finally, he looks up to see the walls of Trollsbane and stares, watching the bustle of citizens entering for the daily market.
After a time he spots the familiar figure of a Druid known to him exiting the West Gate. Dropping his broken sword and coughing along the way, the destitute wanderer follows after Achae, murmuring incomprehensibly to himself in a one-sided conversation.

[Achae Eanstray]

Achae never minded the long trip to Greenbriar until now. Excited about seeing friends an impatience spurred her on..the forest to possibly find interesting herbs, or the road to possibly find company on the way and a faster travel time? Usually enjoying the infrequent insolitude of the forest somehow she felt lonely this time.

The road it is.

One more step then a sudden stop as she hears a cough then random murmurs of speech behind her. Curiosity overcoming her urgency, Achae stops to turn toward the gate raising a hand to her forehead to block the sun. Was the somewhat familiar man walking straight toward her or maybe she was simply in the way of his purposeful steps? Abruptly her thoughts rambled to the time strong yet gentle arms carried her to the hospital when she was injured, then to a much later time when she was at Nordmark. Quickly walking toward him but denying her urge to get too close or reach her hand toward him she speaks softly yet her surprise can't be hidden.

Mattin, what are you doing so far from Nordmark!

Achae knew the Nordmarkers called to her Ama'shoon heritage like no one else on Gobaith. When Jarl Leif first abducted her last year carrying her all the way from Greenbriar...and she saw the tree in their settlement she was hooked. It called strongly to the druid in her yet the clan called to her Ama'shoon. How this man managed to pull both sides of her just like the settlement, she didn't know yet the confusion was one of the reasons she abruptly left.

Though I am actually very happy to see you, I was a little lonely.

Giving him a warm smile, Achae slowly reaches her hand toward his not sure if he would allow the touch or not and also unsure how long he would stay yet a growing concern for why he was so far south simply adding to her confusion.

[Anon of D'Athen]

Mattin continues his steady stride, his gaze, if one were to look into the shadows of the good, is not focused on anything so near as the druid he follows. When he catches up to her he continues to walk quickly, only stopping when she reaches out to him, nearly running her over. He does not pull back from her touch as he normally would but stares at her, his dark brow drawn down, creases covering his sun darkened forehead.
Achae.. I'm not sure. I saw you-from the bridge. The man ways vaguely behind himself with the hand not grasped, the motion causing his hood to slide back and reveal the mess of long brown hair, twigs and leaves dominating the scene. At that moment he notices his hand in hers and gentle pulls back from her, a frown joining his confused gaze.
Why are you headed this way?
His dark eyes search over her, seeming to focus at her middle for a moment before he shakes his head and meets her eyes once more. His gaze becomes questioning, suspicious as he waits for her reply. Mattin straightens himself, drawing up to his full height and gaining control of himself.

[Achae Eanstray]

Observant hazel eyes note every expression in Mattin's face as she wonders if he will stop yet afraid to move and startle him. Finally he halts motioning behind him as a couple of leaves from his hair fall on her upturned face before gently trickling to the ground. Surprised to feel a warm hand in hers Achae's gaze turns down just when he pulls his hand away then wraps her arms almost protectively covering her middle as if he somehow could see her pain. Experiencing a plethora of emotions similar to their first meet...a definite element of fear can't be denied, yet her druid instincts come to the fore with more then a little guilt. Should she have left Nordmark when she did? This was the look when she first saw him, but later he wasn't as... as frightening. In fact...no, she won't follow down a path that is no longer there. Watching the visible effort he makes as if pulling himself together, yet the question plainly seen in his eyes, Achae assumes he heard nothing of her words previously. Softly, almost in a whisper...

Mattin, I am so glad to see you! I have decided to take a trip and visit all my friends in the cities and settlements of Gobaith. I was hoping to go to Nordmark also.....

Beginning to say more she suddenly stops as a blush blooms on her cheeks making the freckles obvious as her words become less formal and more from the heart while the same time her hand reaches to brush the remaining leaves from his hair instinctively.

I have missed our talks.

[Vern Kron]

A man steps across the bridge from the south gate of Troll's Bane. His boots clop solidly along, before he goes towards the fields. Once there, he takes off his black robe, and slips into an old green one. His red shirt remains, and he looks down at himself with a self pleased grin.

"It sure has been a while since I wore this. All the trouble going on, it is good to relax." Artimer says to himself, and runs a hand through his hair. He moves off to the road, a large pack at his side when he looks over and sees the couple talking quietly. He looks down and blushes slightly, and waits for the private moment to break. Finally then he waves to Achae and the man.

"Achae! Hello there!" He calls out to her, the sleeve on his robe flapping wildly as he waves, once again the youth he had from when they first met returning to him.

[Achae Eanstray]

Still with a small blush on her face, briefly startled at the voice, Achae turns from Mattin then smiles warmly seeing who is speaking before calling with a louder voice...

Hello Artimer!

Motioning him closer with her hands hopeing he would have the time to stop and join them, Achae takes a careful step from Mattin's proximity as if instinctively understanding his need for space then quietly giggles at the sight of Artimer's enthusiastic wave...

It is very good to see you again, it has been a long time. I was just on a ... uh.. a journey to visit some old friends....

Achae's warm eyes turn first to Mattin then to Artimer including them both..

..and find out how everyone is doing. I am glad you happened by Artimer. How have you been?

[Joxia Doral]

* exiting from the southern woods her swords still in hand Joxia notices the 3 near the west gate and as he eyes adjust to light after the shadowy forest she quickly recognizes Achae and Artimer. After taking a couple of steps closer studying the third figure, she sheaths her weapons and one hand reaches to the odd crystal at her throat and surprise fills her expression as she recognizes Mattin. Involved in their own conversation, they had not spotted her yet and she paused and looked back at the woods as if undecided to continue or not. The name exits her mouth in a hoarse whisper and concern filled her eyes at the condition of the man who was her dearest friend for so long.*

"Mattin...."

A flood of memories fills her and stands immobilized,her eyes glued on the 3 still.*

[Vern Kron]

Artimer steps up to them then, gladly joining the pair to make it a trio.

"I'm well, actually! Helping out Troll's Bane as some sort of representative of the crafters, or some such. And how are you two?" He looks to them and smiles gently. As he stands, he slips his hands into his empty pockets on the green robe. He did not recognize Mattin, and possibly did not know. But that didn't truely matter to Artimer, always quick to try to befriend a person.

Artimer's mind however was not as idle as he was, though his outward demeanor would never show it.
"Don't bring up the troubles with the demons yet. It would only trouble her."
"It is not needed to bring out a long conversation of politics."
"Make sure to ask her about..."

He caught a second question then, and thrusted in the question before she had a chance to answer, "Oh! And where have you been and where are you, or we, going?"

[Fianna Heneghan]

Fianna walks a solitary path, making her way slowly from the Druid House through the West Woods towards Trollsbane. Her pace is slow and deliberate as she jumps nervously at the sound of every twig snapped underfoot. She pauses on her travels to pick mushrooms and fresh strawberries, thinking about the meal she will prepare later this day and eating a few of the ripest berries rather than let them spoil in her bag. At length she emerges from the woods, partway between the western gate and the turn in the path towards the Farmer's Union and pauses a moment, squinting in the sudden brightness of the full sunlight as she makes out a few figures standing on the road.

A smile overspreads her freckled features as she recognizes them. She calls out a greeting and waves to them before making her way over. Approaching her friends as if she had seen them recently, she shows no evidence of discomfort and offers no explanation for her long absence, but only pulls a few leaves free from her bright red hair and readily joins the conversation, greeting them each with words almost as warm as her smile.

Her keen grey eyes seem to miss nothing as she looks over each of them, noting a certain dullness about Achae that is not typical for her. Despite her recognition of her friend's apparent illness, she smiles and says nothing about it. Instead she enquires after each of them, their health, their families and mutual friends, taking refuge in the ordinary banter of every day conversation as a worried gaze keeps wandering to Achae.

[Achae Eanstray]

The joy of seeing all her friends moved to the background of her thoughts as Achae heard a call all her own. Turning suddenly she began to walk north then west. Those listening would have only heard two words from her "whispering tree". Achae was never seen again and some may say occasionally the whispering tree speaks of a beautiful druid that graced the land briefly.

[Anon of D'Athen]

The unkempt and disheveled man begins to rub at his chest in irritation as an itching, almost burning sensation begins in the center of his chest, nearly driving the suspicious thoughts of this strange and over enthusiastic friend of Achae arrives. Ignoring the man's questions and merely nodding brusquely to Artimer, a frown comes over his brooding expression. When Achae turns away, he simply watchs her, and a hint of concern flashes over his dark features when he recognizes the need to be alone.
As she finally disappears into the distance he turns to the other figures, looks them over with a wariness innate to him any more and then turns away from them. Rubbing at his chest his glowering stare scans the horizon. When he finds what he is looking for, it is as if a fist took hold of his heart and shoved it up his throat at the same time. For all of a second, he stares at her, a deer frozen before a wolf, and with all the impetus shared with the animal, turns and quickly charges into the brush, heedless of the needles and pines slashing at him as he travels west as the sun lowers and meets the horizon.
When the dark shroud of the night takes grip of his senses and forces him to coherent thought, he turns to the north, brooding over the flood of images he had worked so hard to forget until he reaches the Nordmarker's tavern and drowns them in the strong, dark ale.