Illarion.org

Nariela stares at the parchment in her hands, debating on whether or not to send it. What would be the point? Would he even listen? Then again how could I make myself into anymore of a fool than I already have...

She continues to stare at it and after a few moment rips it up and begins anew. It has to be perfect. Nariela chooses her words carefully and hurridly signs the letter.

After sending it with a dove she sits back under a tree and waits for either a response or just something to happen.

Sitting away from his town, Troll's Bane, Kamik tries to put his thoughts into order as his eyes watches the clouds carelessly, as if searching there for some kind of wisdom. Or maybe a sign.

The start of this day was a bad omen...

He sighs and shakes his head; the wind slowly carries all the clouds away from his sight.

And as Kamik stands, readjusting himself again to the weight of the armor he is growing used to, a shadow passed under his feet. He stared skyward just to see a bird fly by and leave a parchment in the air. Kamik's deep blue eyes, so elven in their own way, followed the paper as it fell and at a moment - the right moment - he extends a hand and grabs the parchment still in the air.

It's from Nariela...

He says before even taking a closer look at the paper. He raises the paper near his eyes and opens it slowly, letting out another sigh and beggining to read.

Because sitting was now leaving far too much room for thought, Nariela stands and paces around the area aimlessly. Her upbringing had taught her to avoid such displays as she had shown earier and had anyone been about they would have seen the shame in her face. What does he think of me now? Probably a foolish child... She laughs at the thought of herself as being seen as childish for never had she acted in such a manner. Certainly the lizard she spoke with earlier had unknowlingly spoke of what was to come. She shakes the thought from her head as the racing of her mind was now growing tiresome.

Seeing Alica in the shop, Nariela speaks her name.

"Leryn...I am going to speak to Kamik."

"What about?"

"You. Him. Everything."

Nariela holds back the urge to bite her lip. She doesn't respond at first.

"There is no point. I have already told him that I cannot possibly compete with Devrah."

"I have a task for you, Lyren. Bring me two hundred conifer logs and I will reward you. She flashes an impressive piece of armour quickly." After agreeing Nariela removes an axe which she does not intend to use quite yet.

After a scene not long later Nariela rinses her hands in the well and waits. Apparently he was not coming back any time soon. Damn, I wanted to say goodbye... She fills an empty bottle full of water and places it snugly into her bag. Can you not do or say anything right, Woman?

She then removes a small parchement and scribbles onto it quickly before sending it off. I wonder how far off the docks are.

Nariela comes upon the docks and searches until finding someone who might be able to answer her question.

"How long until the next boat arrives?"

The man replies, "Not this day, Ma'am, but soon." She nods and turns to explore the area around the docks.

Nariela returns to the docks, her demeanor that of utter defeat. She intended to wait for the boat to arrive away from Trollsbane though the thought saddened her. It feels most unwelcoming there... She massages her bruised throat where Kamik has held his grip only a short time earlier. I am really confused. Another thought crosses her mind, one that disturbs her. What if in his rage he does reveal my secret? What if I was wrong to trust someone with it. Knowing that she would not get the goodbye she had hoped for, the defeated woman settles down by the dock and stares blankly off across the water.

A small, dirty boy peers around one of the large tubs by the docks and spies a woman sitting by the water. He giggles in a playful manner and skips over to her with a smile painted across his mud covered face.

"Heya, Lady!" He waves a hand in the air in a gesture of getting her attention.

Nariela sees a wavnig figure out of the corner of her eye and turns her head to see a scrawny child of perhaps ten skipping towards her with a toothy grin.

"May I help you?" She asks when he is close enough to hear. He slows to a stop a few feet from her.

"Whatcha sittin' here by yerself fer?" He shoots a shy yet curious smile to her. His brown eyes shine through the mud a childlike innocence.

Nariela replies with a warm voice, "I am waiting on the next arriving boat." She inspects the boys clothes with interest.

He dons a shirt obviously once a very nice shirt yet covered in dirt and grass stains just as his breeches are. On his feet are a pair of sandles seemingly too big for his dainty feet.

"I'm waitin' fer the boat too! My uncle is comin' to see me!" His grin shows an excitment of a child knowing he is not unloved.

Seeing his grin, Nariela cannot help but smile.

"I hope he arrives soon for you." She turns to the water again yet still sees him staring out of the corner of her eye.

He waits a moment before speaking, "Why you leavin'? Dontcha like it here? Theres lotsa peoples and they give me food!" He steps closer and sits next to her, staring at her and inspecting her face.

Nariela's hair is a long, curly, and auburn coloured. Her ageless face is pale and her eyes though once green as the leaves, seem foggy.

"I do. But also...I do not." She looks over at him with yet another soft smile. "It is hard to explain."

He lift his feet up until his knees are touching his chest. "Maybe ya jus' needa friend!" He waves a hand happily, "I can be yer friend and we can wait 'ere together!" The boy lets one foot fall over the side of the dock and tries to stretch it until his toes touch the water only slightly. The sandle almost falls in.

Seeing the smile ever pained on his face Nariela could only wonder. Is his uncle actually coming?

"Do you have any family here, Child?" She tilts her head in anticipation of his answer.

The boys smile turns to a frown, "Ma ain't here no more. She passed on cuzzu that fever she had. I think she knew it was comin' cuz she sent that letter to my uncle so I ain't gots to take cara myself!" His eyes brighten up again at the thought. "Don't you gots family, Lady?"

Nariela replies, "Well, yes but they are not here sadly." She stares down at his foot dangling, wondering how he is able to keep the large sandle from falling off into the water not far below.

"I've been waitin' here for three days!" He seems proud of himself. "I been catchin' fish by myself and even cookin' em without a grownup!" He pretends to cast a fishing line and then stifles a yawn. Obviously he is growing tired.

Nariela laughs a bit at his actions. "I am sure your uncle will be proud to hear about this. Perhaps you also can cook him dinner, eh?" She notices his eyes to have gotten heavier. He is looking sleepy. "Why do you not take a rest, Child...What is your name?"

"My name is Eire. Ma named me after gramps." He grins before continueing, "I ain't tired!" It is obvious he is holdiong back the urge to yawn again. Nevertheless he leans his against the barrel beside him.

She laughs at his defiance and submission. "It is quite a grownup name, Eire." Nariela finds that he does not seem to respond to her because he has fallen asleep.

Eire sleeps soundly and even more so once the sound of her soft humming reaches his ears.

Nariela stands once the boy seems to be fully asleep and wanders around the area for a bit. She notices that the road, like many others on the island seems to break apart after a while possibly from lack of care. After many minutes had passed Nariela makes her way back to the docks and not seeing young Eire, scans the street curiously. He must have woken up and wandered away. She returns to her seat at the side of the dock and looks over the water blankly. Something floating beneath her catches the womans eye so she leans over to inspect. Gods! Nariela lets out a short scream at the sight of Eire floating face down in the water. Without a second thought she jumps in without even putting her bag down and grabs the child, lifting his head from the water.

After pulling him back onto the dock Nariela opens her mouth in shock when noticing her hands were wet with watery blood.