Clairette had always liked to watch the stars; These tiny, sparkling lights that decorated the sky at night. The two moons were beautiful, too. Yet, these patterned discs that were travelling the sky were far less fascinating to the elfess, who had spent most of her life underground. The moons reminded her of painted plates, like the ones that had been used on banquets in her family's palace. On the other hand, the shape and composition of the stars were more of a riddle to Clairette. When she had seen the night sky for the first time, she had wondered what these tiny lights were made of and how they got up there. She had imagined them to be shimmering mushrooms floating with the clouds.
Later others had told her different stories about the things that travelled the firmament, it seemed there were several theories and stories created by the surface creatures. So, it was reasonable to assume they also liked to watch the night sky and they were creating stories about what they saw with great commitment and joy.
Nowadays though, for Clairette watching the stars held little joy anymore. She felt lonely and small when looking up at the night sky. Small because the sky seemed so vast and the stars seemed so high up and unreachably far away. And the loneliness came from the memories of Yridia, the elfess whose beauty Clairette matched to the stars. The memories of the warmth of her smile, the softness in the little gestures she made and the gentleness in the manner and words she spoke. When watching the night sky Clairette would remember happy memories of spending time with Yridia, such as sitting on the balcony at the Hemp Necktie Inn sharing cake or muffins, the star gazing picnic where she had placed her head on Yridia's shoulder after shyly asking for permission, and Mirai's puzzled face at that action. Or she would think of the necklace with a pedant in shape of a mushroom and a bear paw Yiridia had given her for her birthday as a present once. All of these memories were followed by the thought of their last meeting. Confusion changing to disbelief. The feeling of making herself small, kneeling on the kitchen floor, offering the other elfess her harp as symbol to show that she'd surrender herself and do anything for another chance. And yes, in that very moment she would have given anything, including her position as the head of her house, even if that meant facing the wrath of her ancestors or abandoning the house to fade into darkness. She'd have done anything, even turning against her new home Galmair and betraying her allies and friends.
These memories then were followed the memory of her disbelief changing into desperation. Yridia had not taken any of the offered things, but told her to not behave like a slave and that she, Clairette, would need time - and with these words the elfess had left. There had been tears in her eyes, running down her cheek. Why had she been crying when it was Clairette who had felt like crying? Or instead of crying, begging or shouting, or all of this at the same time?
Yet, Cairette had just stared at the floor, for how long she could not tell...
Then she stood, picked up the drow blade from under the table, where she had tossed it, as she had seen Yiridia scared of the sword in her hands. Or was it she had been scared by Clairette? The dark skinned elfess frowned and sheathed the weapon. Next she put her magic harp at her belt and muttered to herself: "keep busy, Clairette... don't think". In truth she might have meant "don't feel" instead, but she will not even admit that to herself now. The pain had to be pushed away, the desperation kept at bay, so she could do her work and act as was expected of her. Plus, feeling numb was better than feeling pain. So, the unpleasent feelings were banned to stay somewhere in the darkness of her mind, along with all the other things she tried not to think of. Clairette readjusted her coat, her hat and looked over the kitchen table. They seemed fine, no plates to wash, no cookie crumbs to see. She moved the chair towards the table. She'd go farming to clear her mind.
The fairytale of the star creature and the bridge in the sky
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