This was initially meant to be a solo Arius story, so please read it and feel free to post your comments at the end. If any of you thinks you can pick up the thread at the end, feel free to do so, though!

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"Shadows."

Arius seethed with envy.

The cursed elf—now completely concealed in black from head to toe—turned his back upon his gathered companions as, with a barely perceptible flash and a slight intake of air, Alaya returned to the sanctuary of her jewel. There she would be safe until her strength was once again needed.

There, she would be with her family…

Arius felt his throat constrict as he tried—nearly in vain—to keep his stoic composure in the face of the sudden rush of images that assailed his mind. Galdria is burning… The humans have come… To arms, to arms… The King, the King has fallen… My family— He clenched his fists and shut his eyes tightly as the macabre memory of his slaughtered loved ones came to the fore, and he swallowed hard to calm himself, to no avail.

Without a sound, the elven warrior left his party behind him as he exited the vampires’ hidden lair, breathing a sigh of relief to once again be out in the fresh air. His relief was momentary, however, as his shining eyes took in the sight of the wasteland around him. It had once been a mighty, ancient forest, filled with life and energy, a place he had often escaped to when life in the City of All Names became too constricting for one of his heritage. More often than not, Nanethiel would accompany him here as well, for she too understood the elven need to sometimes lose one’s self in nature.

I wonder how different things would have been, Arius thought, slowly removing the black sash that covered his face, had she been here with me on that day…

Though more than ten years had passed, Arius could still remember the exact spot he’d been standing when the mysterious stranger—Tempest—had approached him, playing upon the Galdrian refugee’s lust for vengeance and his hatred for mankind to fuel his own sinister agenda. On that day, in a display of power unmatched by anything that Arius had encountered since the destruction of his kingdom, Tempest had laid waste to the ancient forest, doing so with little more than a wave of his hand. It was the promise of this power that drew Arius to the evil warlock, though something inside of him had screamed warning. Memories of the terrible blood ritual that had infused his body with a fraction of Tempest’s eldritch power tore through Arius’ mind, and he shook his head to clear it, lest those gruesome recollections prove too much to bear.

After having received Tempest’s “gift,” the amethyst eyed elf immediately realized his mistake, for the powers he had received were of ill-aspect, if not innately evil, and his natural affinity for the subtle flow of magic within nature—something all Galdrian elves had shared—was lost to him; after finding himself suddenly and irrevocably cut off from this natural energy that had surrounded and suffused him for his entire life, Arius had become enraged. As he strode slowly through the decimated blackness around him, the cursed elf bitterly recalled the moment he had first brought his new powers to bear…

Calling upon every bit of eldritch power that he could muster, Arius had channeled that energy into a single, massive attack that should have brought Tempest to his knees. Instead, the eldritch blast had simply dispersed before even reaching its target, and it had been Arius himself who had fallen to his knees, for such a large offensive had completely drained the small well of power that he then had control over. Despite the fact that no damage had been done, Tempest was enraged that the gift he had bestowed upon the elf had been turned against him, and in his frightening rage, the warlock had then fashioned the curse.

The curse that has controlled my life for the past decade…

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Arius stopped at the small shrine that contained Nanethiel’s grave, which lay just on the edge of the wasteland, where the grass was still green and a few small trees still held their roots deep within the earth. The cursed elf walked into the small, shaded glade, stopping before his beloved friend’s final resting place as he once again found himself carried away by memories…

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Several hours earlier…

Arius knelt before her grave.

Slowly, gently, the elven man reached forward, running his gloved fingers carefully over the words that he’d had inscribed upon Nanethiel’s headstone all those years ago:



As his hands—gloved though they were—made contact with the cool stone, Arius found himself suddenly in a different place; or, rather, the same place, but at a different time.

Arius looked cautiously over his shoulder, standing slowly to his feet as his mind rebelled against what it was seeing. All around him a mighty forest dominated the countryside as far as the eye could see. The tops of the looming, massive trees swayed ever so slightly as a gust of wind came down from the north, bringing with it the scent of wildflowers from the fields beyond the forest. No creatures could be seen or heard, and the entire scene was shrouded in a soft golden light, as if twilight had once descended and had never let go its hold.

A sound from behind, near the location of Nanethiel’s grave, caught his attention.

He suddenly whirled about, drawing Daerist from its sheath at his hip as he sensed a presence behind him. What he saw rocked him to the core of his being, and he had to struggle simply to remain standing. The rapier’s tip slowly lowered, though he maintained a firm grip upon the smooth, bone hilt. He narrowed his iridescent purple eyes as he took in the scene before him.

Nanethiel’s grave site was gone, as was the entire shrine that had surrounded it. Instead, standing mere feet away from him, was the elven woman herself, looking exactly as she had on the very day of her death. A breeze wended its way through the forest at Arius’ back, stirring his long dark hair and sending Nanethiel’s pale blue gown fluttering about her, lending an otherworldly air to what was already a ghostly and unusual sight. Arius felt suddenly afraid, but a simple smile from the green eyed woman set his heart at ease. She strode forward with a fluidity to her movements that, elvish though she was, she had never possessed in life. Arius stood rooted in place, unable to move as his long dead companion came to a stop before him.

“Have you nothing to say?” she asked simply, her voice sounding just as musical and lovely as it always had. A frown marred her beautiful features as she continued. “Have you changed so much, then, that you no longer remember one who was dear to you?”

Arius replied softly, “It isn’t that I no longer remember you, but rather that I remember all too well when last we saw each other…” He closed his eyes, turning his face away in shame. He started, nearly crying out when he felt Nanethiel’s hand gently stroking his cheek. “No! What are you—?!”

“Fear not, beloved,” the spectral woman said with a smile, her pale face framed by several loose strands of golden-yellow hair. “For here, nothing will harm you, not even the curse which has cut you off from all life around you.” She brought her other hand up to join the first, and she could feel Arius’ flesh tremble beneath her fingers. “Dear one, know this: Never have I blamed you, not once. I pray that you believe that…”

Arius could say nothing in response as tears began to trickle slowly from his eyes, still held tightly shut as if he were afraid to open them, lest this miraculous vision suddenly resolve itself into an oft-relived nightmare. Nanethiel made soft, soothing sounds as she moved in closer, drawing the trembling elven warrior into a firm embrace. For several moments neither one of them said anything, content to simply find comfort in each other; a comfort that had long been denied them both. Finally though, Nanethiel slowly pulled away as Arius opened his now red-rimmed eyes.

“Listen close to what I have to say, Arius, for the future of this world depends on it.” She stopped for a moment, holding her grieving companion away at arm’s length, as if to get a better look at him. “You must know by now,” she continued, “that killing Tempest will not be enough to break his curse. There is, however, another way, Arius. You must journey to Galdria, for there and there only will you find what you seek.” The cursed elf began to say something, but was interrupted as Nanethiel went on. “And it isn’t for your own sake that you must return there, son of my heart, but rather for the sake of each and every one of your companions. All of you are connected, though you may not see it yet, as the threads of a tapestry. And like a tapestry, the full picture can only be seen once all of the pieces have been woven together.”

“Nanethiel,” Arius broke in, “I—”

“Listen to me!” she said harshly, tightening her grip upon Arius’ shoulders. “There is still more to tell. I know that your reasons for returning here are twofold, Arius. I am sorry that I do not possess the power to free you from your curse, but forget not the other reason you have come, for your companions will sorely need your aid in the coming battle…” She paused for a moment, her serene features taking on a soft hint of sadness. Her sparkling green eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she once again embraced Arius, her cheek pressing softly against the raven-haired elf’s chest. “You may not understand yet, and you may never come to fully, but know that what I am about to tell you is the truth, for I could never lie to you: you must not let Alaya fall at the hands of he who has lured you all here.” She pulled away slightly, looking up to gaze into Arius’ eyes. “If she falls… If you all fail in your mission here, then I am afraid that all hope shall fail as well.”

Arius could only nod, though—as Nanethiel had said—he didn’t fully understand the meaning behind her words of warning. Time passed, seconds or minutes, hours or days, Arius didn’t know, nor did he care. For a brief instant, the black-clad elf prayed silently that perhaps some greater power had forgotten about him, and that he would forever be trapped here, within this vision of memories. As if sensing his thoughts, Nanethiel smiled and took his hand, beckoning toward the ancient wood.

“Come, my heart,” she said leading him onward. “Let us walk together, and for a time forget the sorrows of the world…”

The two elves walked hand in hand throughout the cool, quiet forest that had once been so familiar to them as the world around them remained dimly lit by the never-ending twilight. Neither of them spoke the entire way, but then again, at the moment words seemed entirely unnecessary…

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His reverie ended just as his vision had.

A sound from behind caused Arius to look back over his shoulder, his hard expression softening a little as he noticed one of his companions standing patiently behind him, nearly lost in the rapidly darkening evening. Without turning around, Arius began to once again hide his face beneath the all-concealing black sash, which had simply become yet another prison for him to endure. With the problem of the vampires resolved, the party would soon be returning to the City of All Names, and Arius would rather that what few friends he had there not see him as he was now.

“So, after all your worrying about where our next destination would be,” an all too familiar voice chimed within his mind, “we still end up bound for Galdria in the end. I told you,” Daerist continued, “I told you that our answers awaited us there…”

“You’ve been keeping quiet lately,” Arius said softly, so as not to alert his companions, who were now slowly emerging from the vampire’s lair. “I had thought, perhaps, that I was simply going mad. I guess I’m not to be that lucky then…”

“From where does this animosity spring, Son of Galdria?” the blade that had been wielded by every King of Galdria since the elves had first come to Boler’s Archipelago asked, a slight hint of bitterness in his “voice.” “Have I not always been here for you? Was it not I who used all of my power to shield you during Galdria’s destruction, so that you would be allowed to live on, carrying the flame of our kingdom safely within your heart?”

Arius sighed, realizing that he wasn’t going to get out of this one that easy. His voice was quiet as he answered, “It is not animosity that I feel toward you, Daerist. It is only that I would rather chart my own course through life, and it seems as if I’m being pulled in a thousand different directions…” He shook his head as the others began to slowly approach, knowing better than to disturb Arius when he wished to be alone. “I only want to live a normal life,” he muttered under his breath.

“There is no ‘normal’ life, Arius,” Daerist said, a sensation of reassurance accompanying his words, “there is only life.”

“Well, we should be off then,” he said softly, momentarily returning his attention to Nanethiel’s final resting place. Never have I blamed you, not once… Her words echoed in his mind, somehow soothing the ache that seemed to constantly plague his weary heart. With that momentary respite from sorrow came a sudden feeling of peace, and as he turned away from Nanethiel’s grave to face his fellow adventurers, they were completely unaware of the expression hidden beneath his tightly wrapped black shroud. Had they been able to see it, perhaps they would have been startled by the smile of calm relief that dominated the elven warrior’s typically stoic features.

And, perhaps, Arius himself would have been startled as well.

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And that's that, unless someone really wants to step in, though I didn't really leave it open for continuation. Anyway, what'd you think?

PS: The vision of Nanethiel DID take place during our last session, when Arius was crouched before Nanethiel's grave and you all came bursting in on his privacy (Oh no, he's in danger of the vampires, even though it's BROAD DAYLIGHT!!!). I only fleshed it out a little bit, while retaining all of the original information that Dan gave me.

AMdG

Jeyld walked out into the open air. The vampires were gone and Alaya had found peace. He smiled as he recalled her barely contained excitement at finding her family. And that smile faded as he saw the sadness in her eyes at leaving her companions. He would write her story and all would hear of her bravery and her compassion.

He watched as the rest of the group came out of the cave. And he noticed Arius standing alone and away from the rest. Jeyld knew exactly what he was thinking. This forest was a sort of birthplace for Arius. One of pain and hardship. He grabbed Treble's bridle but did nothing to prepare to go back to the city. Lost in thought he watched the others as they started out. Arius looked back at him questioningly but Jeyld simply nodded and he understood. The gnome watched as Arius spread his wings and took to the air.

"Clef, you understand what is happening, do you not?" Jeyld asked the large black bird.

"I understand as much as you do, master. And I can see where it will lead us." The raven was perched upon Baritones hilt, sitting comfortably upon the large blade.

"You are a new friend, Clef, but you seem to understand all. I would ask that you understand this... we are not doing as my father wishes. We are not going, not just yet. The world is more important than me, and I will see to other things before me and Beldon BlueTone meet." Jeyld laughed. "Such an interesting name for so powerful a creature."

"Indeed master, quite amusing."

"Don't patronize me, bird. You are no thrall. Call me Jeyld."

"I shall honor your wishes, Jeyld. I am, after all, an extension of you, given voice and opinion. Do you wish to be alone for what comes next?"

"No, you may come with me. Lend your voice to the paying of respect."

"You expect me to sing?"

"It is not so hard. If Febrien can do it, then surely a bird can."

Jeyld walked over to the grave site. The glow of the moon and stars gave him and Clef plenty of light to see by. Clef kept an eye all around them, always watching for any sign of danger, as Jeyld unslung his lute. The gnomes newly scaled hands played across the strings, his voice rang out into the darkness. Clef joined in, plucking the words from his master's mind, and the two voices were joined by the howl of Treble.

As he finished the song, Jeyld ran his hand across the surface of the gravestone.

"Hello, SweetSong. I have not forgotten what you have taught me. And I shall always play in your memory. This lute is as much yours as it is mine. I miss you, Nanethiel, but I do as promised. I have always watched over him, and I do not plan to abandon him. He has gotten strong as you can see. He has been forced to embrace his dark power, but his morals are the same. As I watch, you watch, and together we see." The gnome bent down and kissed the stone, and as he stood up, he felt lips press against the top of his head, just where the beautiful elf always kissed him. Tears ran down his face but a smile played across his lips as he leapt upon Treble and they ran toward the City of All Names.

Arius gasped for breath.

The black-clad elf clutched tightly to Daerist’s hilt as his vision blurred, and he ignored the urge to wipe away the sweat and blood that ran freely down his face. The attack had come suddenly, and he winced in pain at the arrow in his left side that had brought him down out of the sky nearly an hour before. Since then, Arius had been stabbed, slashed, and singed by a particularly nasty fire spell, yet still he fought on. His knees trembled as he struggled to stay standing, a chill wind tousling his sweat-soaked hair and shredded and scorched clothing. Each time he moved, the arrow sent jolts of agony throughout his body, but he refused to stand in one place, making himself an easy target for the woman before him.

She was unarmed, but Arius had learned to fear the opponents without weapons more than the ones who carried them…

His opponent kept her distance, her right arm hanging uselessly at her side, a gaping, smoking wound evident upon her shoulder. After Arius’ last attack, the woman had decided to remain wary of the elven warrior she faced. As the two circled each other slowly, Arius took a moment to study the fair-skinned young woman before him. Her hair was dark—in the twilight it was impossible to tell the true color—and it was pulled back tightly into a ponytail that reached just past her slim shoulders, all but a few loose strands that drifted around her pale face. Eyes as grey as storm clouds studied the elven warlock in turn, narrowing as a slight smile of confidence spread across her lips. That the woman was beautiful was obvious, for she possessed soft features more befitting of an elf than a human, though human she was. The wind picked up for a moment, causing the long, all-concealing black cloak that she wore to billow out around her like a shadow. She moved back slightly to avoid stepping over the unmoving body of one of her companions.

Two men lay on the ground near the combatants, both human, and both dead at the hands of Arius, who was meant to have been their prey. Taking a moment to glance at his fallen enemies, the cursed elf noticed the similar belt pouches that each wore, and he knew with a dread certainty what exactly he’d find concealed within them. The woman noticed his momentary distraction, choosing that very moment to strike. With a shriek of defiance, the mysterious attacker leapt forward, clearing the distance between herself and Arius in an instant. For a moment Arius was shocked, so suddenly had the attack come, but at the last minute he managed to dash backward, just as the woman let fly with a burst of eldritch power from her right hand. The dark energy coursed through the air, narrowly missing Arius and colliding with a nearby cliff-side with an explosion of stone and flickering power.

She’s strong, the amethyst eyed elf admitted as sweat trickled endlessly down his face. Still, I have a chance… His glance flicked to the female warlock’s injured right arm, a smile of satisfaction gracing his typically severe features. If I can circle around and attack from her injured side, she’ll have to reach around and fire at me from the left; I’ll have her entire body between us…

Daerist spoke softly within his mind, “You’re operating under the assumption that she can only channel her eldritch blast through her hands, Arius.” It was obvious that the sword thought it likely that the beautiful warlock had some trick up her sleeve that had not yet been revealed. “Take caution.”

Ignoring the rapier’s advice, Arius charged, diving to the ground and rolling as another blast of arcane energy tore through the air just above him. In a single fluid movement that would have been nearly impossible for any non-elf, the seemingly-young warrior sprang to his feet, lunging forward with Daerist’s blade angled at his opponent’s unprotected right side. For a brief second Arius smiled beneath what was left of his black shroud, for it seemed as if the rapier’s point would easily take the woman just below her armpit, an almost guaranteed deathblow.

Then, the blast came.

Arius cried out as the pale-skinned woman turned her head and fired a discharge of eldritch energy from her grey eyes, nearly spelling disaster for the cursed elf. Suddenly, almost of its own volition, Daerist changed its direction of attack, instead arcing upward to barely deflect the woman’s offensive. Still, though, Arius was knocked back, sliding to a stop as he held his prized weapon defensively before him. Something akin to a snicker within his mind gave him the unusual desire to toss Daerist away into the darkness somewhere.

“I warned you, you know,” the enchanted sword said, a sensation of disappointment coloring his mental words. “Just because you can’t fire an eldritch blast from anywhere but your hands, doesn’t mean that no one else can…”

“Enough,” Arius snapped, wincing in pain and ignoring the urge to simply pull the arrow out from his bleeding side. “I’ve enough to worry about without you butting in, so kindly stay out of this and mind your own business, sword.” His vision blurred momentarily, and he shook his head to clear it. Across the small clearing the woman waited, her left arm pulled back in preparation for another attack.

“For your information, my impetuous friend, you are my business,” Daerist replied wrathfully. “She’s preparing to attack once again, are you ready for it?”

“I know what I’m doing; I don’t need your help!” Arius shouted as he closed his eyes, calling upon the dark power within him to aid him in his defense. I’m not strong enough to take that blast head on, he admitted silently to himself. But if I can manage to deflect just enough of it, I can use the brief instant that she’ll need to recover from the attack to strike. He gasped in agony as, with a slight step back, the arrow managed to somehow work its way deeper into his body. Assuming, of course, that I can get to her in time…

“Now!” the rapier seemed to scream within Arius’ mind as the woman thrust her hand forward, unleashing the savage energies that she’d been summoning.

Immediately following this mental outburst, the battered and weary elf closed his eyes and tensed his entire body, willing an aura of arcane power to explode around him. With a cry of shock, Arius opened his eyes to see a sphere of semi-transparent, raging, chaotic blue and purple energy swirling about him, creating a barrier against the human warlock’s oncoming attack. The rapidly approaching eldritch blast coursed through the clearing, illuminating the darkness with an eerie glow of dark light before finally reaching its target.

Arius cried out as the blast struck his mystic defense, forcing him to stagger backward as the sheer destructive power of the human’s attack pushed unceasingly against the sphere of energy that protected him. A blinding display of flashing, multihued energy burst to life along the surface of Arius’ barrier, and the cursed elf found himself forced to avert his eyes from the riotous display. The attack seemed to go on forever as the female warlock continued to pump more and more power into her eldritch blast, determined to overpower her already weakened and injured opponent.

What power he possesses! she thought, gritting her teeth as she called upon every last shred of strength that she could muster, pouring all of that strength into the massive eldritch blast that crashed wrathfully against Arius’ defense. Be that as it may, I will not lose this battle! For the sake of my master, I will destroy this whelp! With one final push and a shout of exertion, the warlock forced all of her remaining arcane power into her attack, and she smiled in exhausted satisfaction as the discharge of energy completely engulfed her adversary. A detonation of negative energy shook the forest as the beautiful young woman shielded her eyes from the blinding explosion of light and power that surely signaled the destruction of the elf that had killed her two companions. She sighed in exhaustion as she used her trembling left hand to wipe a trickle of sweat from her brow.

From within the protective sphere of chaotic energy, Arius struggled to remain aware as his senses were bombarded by his opponent’s final, devastating attack. The temperature within the barrier increased by a startling amount, and even though he remained physically unharmed by the blast itself, such close proximity to such an intense amount of arcane power was beginning to severely wear on the cursed elf’s psyche. Just as Arius was about give in to the darkness that was beginning to encroach upon the edges of his blurring vision, a powerful voice cut through his hazy mind.

“Prepare yourself, my friend, for the time is almost at hand to end this,” Daerist nearly screamed, using what influence he had over his companion’s body to force Arius to an alert, offensive position. “Soon her blast will die down and, exhausted as she must be, it will be the opportune time to strike…”

As if the sword’s words were prophetic, suddenly the disastrous display of power around Arius simply ceased, leaving the small clearing once again in shadowy darkness. Arius wasted no time, and with a stunning amount of energy that surprised even the elf himself, he dashed forward, his feet barely touching the ground as he shot across the clearing toward the startled human warlock. As he neared his opponent Arius leapt forward, Daerist pulled back and prepared to deliver a killing strike to the woman’s heart. Time seemed to slow down for a moment as Arius finally found himself within range, and with a grunt of effort his right arm shot forward as he thrust, empowering Daerist’s blade with a flash of eldritch power. Arius’ aim was true, and as the rapier’s blade prepared to pierce his opponent…

He missed.

The warlock simply allowed her body to rag-doll, letting gravity aid her in her attempt to avoid Arius’ strike. The blade passed harmlessly over her shoulder, and she grinned in sinister glee as she quickly moved forward, inside Daerist’s threat range. Though she no longer possessed the energy necessary to fire off an eldritch blast, the female warlock reached into her black cloak and pulled out a long, black-bladed dagger with a serrated edge.

Daerist’s voice, filled with startled shock, sounded within Arius’ mind. “Look out!”

“I know!” the elf responded confidently, moving with lightning swiftness as he drew his wooden dryad dagger from his belt.

The two combatants collided with one another, the human warlock driving her shoulder into Arius’ stomach, causing the breath to explode from his lungs. Both warlocks—one elven and the other human—fell to the ground in a heap as their struggle continued. Stunned by the sudden pain-induced dizziness that flooded his mind, Arius barely managed to twist aside at the last minute as his murderous foe attempted to drive her blade deep within his body. Fire erupted along his side as the blade slid across his ribs, miraculously missing the arrow that remained lodged there. At the same time, Arius thrust his own blade upward, toward the human woman who straddled him, attempting once again to sheath her weapon within the elf’s battered body. Unlike the black-clad woman’s own strike, however, Arius’ dryad dagger found it’s mark, and the elf warrior buried the blade to its hilt as his human opponent cried out in a mixture of disbelief and pain. Her dagger fell from limp fingers as the light of life left her storm-grey eyes.

Panting from exhaustion and pain, Arius used his little remaining strength to push the woman’s corpse to the side. He lay there for several minutes, unable to move as he simply gasped for breath, doing his best to ignore the numerous pains that coursed throughout his broken body. Each deep breath he took reminded Arius of the arrow that remained embedded within his side, and he sat up slowly as he took hold of the shaft. An experimental pull resulted in hot agony, proving Arius’ fears correct: The arrowhead must be barbed…

“Leave it,” Daerist said softly, as if he shared in his companion’s pain and weariness. “You’ll only do more damage by pulling it out. Let a professional take care of it, Arius.”

Arius staggered to his feet, barely. “Do you think me a fool, sword? It isn’t as if this is the first time I’ve been shot, you know…” He stumbled over to where the body of the archer who had hit him lay, kneeling down to draw a single shaft from the man’s quiver. As he had thought, the arrowhead was cleverly designed, allowing easy entry into a target while making it nearly impossible to be removed without the proper tools. Arius looked doubtfully at his dryad dagger, wondering how difficult such a task would prove to be. Just as he was about to attempt to pry the arrow out with the wooden blade, nearly silent footsteps and a voice from behind caused him to stop.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

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AMdG

"Do you really think that's a good idea?"

Arius attempted to whip around at the sound of the voice but his wound flared and his head spun. He staggered and fell to his knees. Just as he was about to ask who was approaching he felt the arrow twist as it was ripped out of his side by invisible forces. He cried out in pain and shock and nearly blacked out. But a gloved hand layed upon his wound and he felt a warmth spread through his body. The pain receded and his head cleared enough to see a shockingly angry, scaled gnome bard staring down at him.

"I would apologize for not warning you but you earned that pain with your idiocy, Dark Elf." Jeyld helped him to his feet and the elf awarded him a rare smile.

"You have not called me that in a long time, old friend."

"You have not earned that in a long time, fool friend! How many times must I rescue you from certain death only to have you rush right back into the jaws of enemies once more? Are you so eager to die? If you must die then let me draw my blade and cut you in twain right now! I would rather a friend saw your end then to have you die alone due to some dark mood you feel you must express! I will not lose you, Arius! Not now, not ever. I plan on keeping my promise to SweetSong, you damned fool. Now you will walk with me. No wings for you tonight. If you so much as attempt to fly away from me then I will cut you from the very air." The gnome's eyes flared with light at every vehement syllable. It was an unsettling sight.

"Jeyld-" Arius began.

"No. No more excuses or apologies, Arius. This is... this is unfair. It is unfair of you to assume that you are the only one in pain. Unfair of you to assume that this journey is all about you. We all have stakes in this. Tempest stole her away from me as well. And Febrien is pained by Galdria's loss just as much as you are. Even the damn monk has been seeking that statue this entire time!" Jeyld had never felt so angry at his companion before, but as he looked up into the warlocks elven eyes he saw that his words were having some effect. Perhaps he had never truly thought about the other companions. "I know you are strained, old friend. We all are. Febrien has found some solace with Naturos. Hayato," Here Jeyld laughed" Poor FumbleFist. As much as he may not realize it I believe he has found a good and true mate in the orc. She loves him deeply and would do nearly anything for him. Perhaps he may realize it soon." The gnome trailed off as he and Arius walked along. Clef flew above them, keeping an eye out for danger and Treble followed Jeyld as he led him by his bridle.

"And what of you, Jeyld? What do you find comfort in?" Arius looked expectantly at the gnome.

Jeyld stopped, and became very silent. Arius stopped and waited for his answer. It was long in coming and left much to be desired.

"I do not know anymore." Jeyld continued walking. "I fought for this land, for this mountain, for this city. I fought for our friends and for the innocent. I fought simply to have something to sing about. But now, now I do not know. I find myself focusing on other things. I am... not myself anymore."

"You have gone through much, short friend. It is only to be expected that you will change."

Jeyld brought his hand up. The fine blue scales glinted in the moonlight. "And change I have, Arius. My father has made sure of that. And I am only going to change further. I am frightened. My own people stare at me already. They do not look with fear, however. But I can feel their eyes."

"'Beware the darkness and the light. Stay in twilight where it's bright.' Your mother once told me that, when she found out about my curse. I have always wondered at it's meaning but I feel that you already know." Arius smiled a half smile that was hidden by his height alone.

Jeyld sighed in the darkness. "It means that everyone is viewed as equals. No one shines in the light and no one is left in the darkness... no matter what." Jeyld shot the elf a withering glare. "Stop it. I know what you are trying to do and it won't work."

"She needs to know, Jeyld. She has not heard from you in many months. Although she might have heard the Ballad by now."

"She knew that I would be leaving for a long time." Jeyld stomped along the path as they walked.

"I believe you promised her something."

"She doesn't need to know everything as soon as I find it out."

"But you have learned much about him."

"Your determined, aren't you?"

"I miss her stew."

"Dammit, elf." Jeyld spun around upon his companion and glared at him. "Fine. We will see her, but, she is going to find out about your exploits as well!"

At this Arius actually looked a little frightened, but he held his resolve. "That is as may be. I will take what's coming to me. But she needs to know, old friend."

"I know, Arius. I suppose there is no help for it. And I might as well tell the rest of our companions as well."

Arius looked shocked. "You plan on telling everyone?"

"They have a right to know. It may... complicate things along the way. You never know what may happen. Brude has been giving me curious looks ever since it started. He may already know, but the rest have a right to hear it from me."

Just then they heard a clopping of hooves along the path ahead. They readied weapons but immediately lowered them when they recognized Kiera and her rider. Febrien stopped and looked noticably relieved.

"I grew worried when both of you failed to show up after a while. I know what trouble he gets into." She nodded in Arius' direction.

"We simply needed some time to talk." Jeyld cast a spell under his breath and suddenly Arius felt his armor repair itself and the blood simply disappeared.

"Err... yes. Just taking our time." He laid his hand upon the gnome's shoulder and squeezed a silent thanks.

Febrien dropped down out of the saddle and started to lead her horse alongside her companions. They walked in silence until they reached the city. They headed to the Inn of Loose Gears, where the rest of the party was waiting for them. The animals were stabled, except for Clef who stayed with Jeyld, and they went inside. The group was seated around one table. Gurl and Hayato seemed to be having an arguement and Brude and the cleric were eating. As the three late comers sat down, Jeyld banged his cup upon the table and got everyones attention.

"Friends, tomorrow I ask a favor from each of you. I ask that you come with me and Arius to take care of something."

Hayato looked up. "Will it be a short trip?" He started to snicker but Jeyld's cup bounced off his head.

"What do you wish to do?" Febrien asked.

Jeyld looked around at them, his gaze finally settling on Arius' face, with that damn half smile. The gnome sighed, gave up, and sat down. "We are going to see my mother."

Hayato rubbed his head where Jeyld had struck him with a cup, deciding he didn't have a sense of humor. "Your mother? wow, you act like this is dangerous or something. I mean... it's your mother." He gave the bard a weird look. Jeyld sighed, rolling his eyes. "Just... trust me, you'll understand when we get there." "Does she nag alot? " "Well, I- " "Because I know all about nagging parents. My dad was the same. And my mom just seemed to take over for him when he passed away-", and with this, Hayato was struck with another cup. "Enough already," was all Jeyld said to him.

Jeyld ordered another cup and with a glare at the now bruised monk he continued.

"I know you don't understand why this will be hard for me. You have become used to my outward appearance. It will come as quite a shock to her. Perhaps I have spent too much time away from my homeland but I am... anxious about her reaction. I would prefer to do this alone but I know that all of you are curious as to what is happening to me. I would rather tell you all at once."

"We are all here now." Brude chimed in.

Jeyld gave him a weak smile. The elven Blood Magus, although only Jeyld knew exactly what he was, had proven to be a formidable ally. His motives were entirely his own, but he was invaluable in a fight. Well, a fight he decided to join. "She deserves to know first, Spell Elf." The elf nodded at the logic and went back to eating.

"Are there any other questions? We did not have much time in the City before we left. If you have anything to ask then now is the time."

Arius sat alone.

From his table in the opposite corner of the common room, the elven warlock watched as Jeyld answered a seemingly endless stream of questions from the other party members, patiently dealing with even Hayato’s inane inquiries. The entire process had proven to be too much for Arius—who was already in a fairly bad mood from his earlier encounter—and the black-clad warrior had chosen to move to another table rather than let his sharp tongue make comments that he’d most likely regret the next day. His thoughts turned to the journey ahead as a familiar presence asserted itself within his mind.

“Worried, are you?” Daerist asked, his voice only slightly mocking. When Arius made no reply, the blade spoke on. “You really shouldn’t be here, you know. Remember, my friend, I know what hunts you…”

Arius replied tersely under his breath, “As do I, sword. Unfortunately, Febrien and Jeyld will have no more of my ‘foolishness’ as they call it.” He closed his eyes as he sat in the darkened corner, relying on the shadows to hide the markings upon his face now that his shroud had been mostly incinerated. “But it seems that our times of solitude have come to an end, and maybe rightly so…”

“I fail to understand your meaning.”

“Perhaps they’re right,” Arius elaborated, gesturing half-heartedly toward his companions. “Has it not been proven time and time again that we are stronger as a group than as individuals? Did not Nanethiel herself say that we are like the threads of a tapestry, meant to be brought together seamlessly?” The elf shook his head, for at times trying to explain something to the sword could be like talking to a child.

“And by staying here, you’re putting them all in danger,” Daerist said, filling Arius’ mind with a sense of impending doom. “The longer we remain here, the more dangerous each day becomes. We must flee while we can, if we are to ever reach Galdria alive.”

Arius instantly regretted his next words, spoken in weary anger. “Damn Galdria to hell, Daerist!” Jeyld and the others immediately turned their attention toward Arius’ corner, for he had spoken far too loudly to avoid notice. “‘Tis nothing,” he said, waving away his unusual outburst. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper.

“Listen well to me, sword, for I’ll not warn you again: my destiny is my own. I’ll not have a piece of metal and bone ordering me about, regardless of how highly I regard you.” Arius paused for a moment as a sensation of pressure filled his mind, as if Daerist were trying to subdue him somehow. “Take control of me again,” the cursed elf said, his voice filled with vehemence as he recalled the enchanted blade’s actions earlier that night, “and you will quickly find yourself at the bottom of the nearest volcano.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Test me not, sword.” Arius’ threat was met with silence, followed by a sudden feeling of withdrawal as Daerist’s presence left the elf’s mind. Arius smiled slightly as, for the first time in months, he realized that his thoughts were now truly his own. For the time being, he silently added. As his companions across the room continued to discuss the next step of their journey, Arius let his mind wander, recalling his conversation with Jeyld earlier in the night.

He’s right, most of us have found comfort in something, he thought, absently running a black-gloved hand through his long dark hair. Most of us, but not all… The pale-skinned elf reached down toward the floor, picking up his traveling pack and opening it to remove a bundle of dark blue silk. After laying the bundle on the table before him, Arius removed the violin that he’d sorely been neglecting as of late, removing his gloves as he began to clean the instrument. As his hands busied themselves with their task, his thoughts returned to the idea of comfort. It seemed to him as if he had yet to find that one spot of relief within the chaotic storm of doubt that had been plaguing him these last several years. Nanethiel’s words during his vision had done much to calm his soul, but even the beautiful elven woman’s spirit could do little to assuage the drive he had to be rid of his curse, and his dark powers…

There’s always revenge, he thought as he removed a broken string from the violin, beginning to replace it with a new one from his pack. Revenge, while providing a purpose, was cold comfort though, and Arius immediately threw the idea aside. Galdria, then? he mentally asked himself, tightening the violin string and moving on to the next. No, he realized, there is no hope for Galdria, not any more… In his younger years, while he and Nanethiel had escaped the ruin of their nation and begun their long journey throughout the archipelago, Arius had for a time dreamed about returning to his homeland. He would become a mighty warrior, the greatest that Bolermos had ever known, and with that power he would single-handedly restore Galdria to the shining state he had always remembered.

It was the foolish dream of a sad and broken child.

His glance flicked momentarily toward Jeyld and the others, a sudden feeling of understanding flooding his mind. He set the violin aside, rubbing his chin absently with one ungloved hand, for his curse had no affect upon his own flesh. He watched as, with expansive gestures befitting one whose life revolved around telling tales, Jeyld continued his discussion with the others. Though the bard had changed greatly in the past several weeks, Arius knew that—inside, at least—Jeyld was the same person he had always known: dependable, entertaining, powerful, and understanding. In that moment, Arius understood what exactly it was that he found his comfort in:

Jeyld…

The gnome had never left his side in all of their years together, not once. After Nanethiel’s death, when Arius had decided to leave Tenshiir on what had then seemed like a hopeless quest for redemption, Jeyld had decided to accompany him, despite the elf’s stalwart refusal. In the long years that they’d spent with one another, Arius had never once had to hide any aspect of himself from his small friend, and he liked to think that Jeyld felt the same way, for in each other they had found a kindred soul. It was in Jeyld that Arius found his comfort, his purpose, and he knew with a dread certainty what that purpose was.

The cursed elf gently replaced his violin within his pack, standing to his feet as he made his way toward the stairs, and the room that he would actually be using for a change. He moved past his fellow adventurers without a word, ascending the stairs and entering his room, darkened but for the moonlight streaming in through the open window. As he lay down upon the soft bed, Arius was determined to see his purpose through until the end.

No matter what is to come, he vowed to himself, I will do everything in my power to make sure that nothing happens to him…
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So that will end this one, then, on to the next!
AMdG