Ari's Gift

The following morning after the Seeker Meeting a messenger delivers a message to Ari from Xaveus.

In a very painful scrawl

To ary

thanx fur all da tings u dun fur me as sponzar. X

ps. u kan still kik me if u need 2.



Ari reads the message and shakes her head.  To K'harn <"Why would I want to kick him?  He hasn't annoyed me for oh...days at least.>  She chuckles  aloud.

<Come along little one.  I think it is time we went and spoke to Xaveus.>

Ari and her bond travel to the Seeker's compound.  Once there she spends a little time with Mogo and Tharg, if he is around, before seeking out Xaveus.

If Xaveus is at the compound Ari asks him to come into the living area for a chat.   "Well Xaveus, it has been some time since we have sat down for a  talk, I think we should have one now.  Do you have the time?"

Xaveus stands in the middle of the TSR compound with a veritable army of children rolling snowballs of all sizes, all giggling, and having the time of their lives.  Shouting orders to pack the snow more on the nearly three foot snowball, as several children horse the monstrosity towards the barn door.

"Ari, this is a very dangerous place for you!"  As a snowball whizzes past his head.

"Cut it out you little mongrel!"  Xaveus yells to one of the kids in mock anger, "or we'll be droppin' you from the hayloft next!"  The little girl runs off, laughing as she goes.

Xaveus's hair is quite unkempt as it covered with snow, his beard also dusted with frost, makes the bizarre dwarf even more bizarre.

"I'll be there in just a second to hoist the snowball into the loft!" Xaveus spouts.

"Aye, Aye, Captain!"  The little boy salutes and heads towards the snowball.  The children are having a blast, as perhaps Xaveus is as well.

"This is the last one as the children need to get back inside to warm up!"   Xaveus looks at his workforce and smiles.  "I love the little tykes!"

Turning to Ari, "I'll be in shortly.  Go inside and warm up, I knows you don't like the cold!"

As you head back towards the compound a snowball hits you squarely in the back, showering you with the cold dust.

You turn to see the compound filled with several suspects, but there is little doubt in your mind as to the snowballs origin as a whistling dwarf heads towards the hayloft, with a mass of children listening to ever word as it were gospel.

"Now here's what we are going to do . . ."  His voice trails off and is lost.

What Xaveus may be unaware of is that she has seen Matar pack a snowball and throw it with accuracy.  She scoops some snow, packs it into a round ball and hefts it weight.  Grinning, she cranks her arm back and lets it fly, hitting the dwarf squarely in the back of the head.  Chortling madly she runs towards the house.

Once inside, Xaveus joins Ari in the warmth, his rosy red cheeks, made even more rosy by the chilled wind.

The drow doesn't really wait for him to answer and proceeds with what she wants to say.   "First off, this note you sent to me this morning."  Waving the scroll the air she indicates the message.  "There is no need to thank  me for I did not do anything special.  We chatted, we laughed, we argued.  I do that with all of my friends.  And from the first I considered you a friend.   K'harn certainly seems to like you so I guess I must too."  Ari smiles.

"As for kicking you, I have never done so."  Selective memory. Ari refuses to remember what she doesn't want to remember.

Xaveus glances to his shins but says nothing.

"Now, on to other things.  I have been meaning to speak with you your behavior.   Not that you have done anything wrong mind you.  It was brought to my attention some weeks ago that the staff had a few 'concerns', and this is the first I have been able to speak to you about them.  For instance, do you know that most of the staff here think you are daft?

"The whole world thinks I'm daft, I'm use to it mostly, do you think I'm daft to?"

"Of course not.  You actually explain yourself to me so I know why you do what you do.  You don't go around explaining your behavior to others do you?"

Throwing snowballs and chunks of ice out of the barn?"   She tries to suppress her grin and fails utterly.  A chuckle soon follows.   "Did you prove your ice is lighter than air theory? I must confess, when I heard about your experiments I tried to picture what you were doing and ended up practically falling off my bed with laughter at the image."

"I'm working on, so far tests have proved inconclusive, haven't found the right mixture of snow, ice, and size.  But when I do I'll make sure I fly by your window first!"

"And stop long enough to let me climb into the basket I trust."

"Of course."  Xaveus states, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

Taking a sip of tea, the people here at the compound know her so well she thinks, that they bring her tea before she can even ask for it, Ari moves on to another subject.   "Another concern that cropped up, well maybe not concern more like a 'must he really do that?' sort of thing."  Reaching down beside her chair Ari pulls a medium sized box from beneath it.  She hands it across to Xaveus, laying it on his lap.  She waits to see if he will open it before she continues.

Xaveus's eyes brighten as he holds the box as if it were a delicate egg.

"Thank you Ari, I don't have a box like this.  I will cherish it always, especially since it came from you!"  Xaveus carefully sets the box on the table next to where he was sitting and goes to hug Ari in thanks.

Ari reaches out with the toe of her boot and nudges him.  "You are supposed to open the box Xaveus.  The present is inside."

"Of course, you are more than welcome to keep the box as well."

"I knew that."  Xaveus quickly replies, then opens the box sheepishly, peering inside carefully, at first barely looking inside,   wondering if Ari had forgotten about the skunk incident.

Inside the box Xaveus finds a robe.  A deep silver, to match the streak in his hair.   "It is for your bath.  That is, when you are done with your bath you put that on and *then* you can walk about the hallways.  The people here well...Xaveus do you really want the children to see you running about without a stitch of clothing on?"

Xaveus rubs his hand across the soft clothe, then answers Ari's question.  "I from time to time made the trek back and forth "au naturale" sort of speak, but only very, very late at night.  But I see you're point, and will make sure that they will not see mine!"

Looking closely the dwarf will find the Truth Seeker emblem embroidered on the front of the robe, near the left shoulder.

Xaveus stands up and puts on the robe, a perfect fit.   He pulls his hair out from under the robe, you notice, that the silver is much more pre-dominantly than you seem to remember.

She asks a bit hesitantly, "Do you like it?"

"I love it, just as I love the box that it came in!"  Xaveus reaches and squeezes Ari's hand gently.  Thank you very much, it was a nice thought!"

Ari holds his hand and smiles.  "I am very glad you like it.  I wasn't certain you would accept it."  She releases his hand and leans back.   "So tell me about what you and the children were doing outside when I came to find you."

"Dropping different sized snowballs from the hayloft, making snow dwarfs, just having fun.  They've been cooped up inside with the storm for a while, it does good to get them outside in the air."

Ari smiles.  "Snow dwarfs.  I see.  And what do they children make of your theory? Sometimes they can come up with the most wonderful ideas."

"Well, most the kids agree with me, except this one five year old.  The little know it all!  He says I got it all backward, says cold doesn't rise, heat does!"   Xaveus looks at Ari incredulously.  "Can you believe that?  A five year old?  Says look at a fire, how come we got chimneys then, if heat don't go up?"

Xaveus stops momentarily, then shakes the idea right out of his head.

Ari bites the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything.  Perhaps after he is done with his ice floating experiments he will turn to the five year olds suggestion.  She knows he won't be content with anyone else just telling him he is flat out wrong, so she figures that the best thing to do is let him have fun figuring things out on his own.

She just nods as if saying, "Uh huh. I follow what you are saying."

"Plus too, I figure I should get to know them, as I'm hoping to be in school with them when we get back from the Underdark next time.  The spell that Diane figured out should let us spend more time here if we wish or anywhere else for that matter."

"You are going to go to school?"  The drow looks delighted. "Oh how wonderful Xaveus.  If there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know." Ari makes a mental note to pick the dwarf up something special for his first day of school.

"Well. not for sure Mogo(Saif) hasn't said I could for sure, but I don't see a problem with it.  I think I'm going to see if I can pick up a slate and perhaps some chalk in town, perhaps even some sort of primer.  That way I can take it when we go back down.  Maybe I won't have a tutor down there, but at least I can get use to making the letters in such, I'm pretty good at copying things and stuff.  Just got to figure out what they mean.  Book learning has always come pretty hard for me, but since I'm spendin' so much time up here thought I should learn.  Would like to learn drow and dwarf as well, but thought that reading common would be the place to start."

"Have you asked Mogo? I could speak to him if you wished it."

"Yes, just waiting to see if it is okay.  

Ari starts to fidget wondering if she is pushing herself into Xaveus' life to much with her next offer.  She actually sits and ponders it for a good two minutes before speaking.  "You know Xaveus, I know how to read and write in common. I could perhaps, if you wished it, help you with your letters and reading while we are in the Underdark.  Now, don't think you will hurt my feelings if you say no, that you would rather do this on your own for I will understand completely. I just thought that perhaps...if you would like..that I could maybe...help."

Xaveus tilts his head back and forth.  "I suppose."  He says with a lukewarm tone.

Xaveus's expression lights up, "Oh, don't misunderstand me, I would like you to help me.  It's just . .   early on you chastised me pretty good about me saying that I was, well, slow.  I'm just afraid that if you're tutoring me, you might realize that I was right.  Book learning, is pretty difficult for me, and might require quite a bit of, er, ah, ah, patience.  Not that you can't be patient, heck, you wouldn't be a doctor if you didn't have the patients."  Xaveus smirks at Ari, thinking he was being quite clever. (OOC:Old joke, forgive me!)

"It's just that there have been times you have not been very patient with me, but If you're willin' then I'm willin' too!"  This last sentiment Xaveus expresses with a hopeful smile.

Gnawing her lip Ari wants to refute Xaveus' words.  But she can't.   She has lost patience, her temper being on a short leash, more than once.   "Well, the only thing I can say Xaveus is that I will try if you will.   You may at any time tell me that I am not being a good teacher and end the sessions."  She then tilts her head to one side, a thought occurring to her.   "You know, if you really do not wish me to help perhaps we can ask one of the others to teach you?"

"I think I would be  too nervous to ask somebody else Ari!"

"Why? You think they are going to bite you or something?"

"No, but perhaps not as understanding.  You can take that as a compliment."


Xaveus's eyes smile at Ari.  "I mean, from all the talkin' that we've done, there is a certain comfort level around you.  I mean, I know with you, if I mess up, I have only my shins to protect.  With the others I'd be so concerned with what they was thinkin' of me, that I wouldn't be able to study the words and letters.  Besides other than my grandmother, you're about the only friend I got, and dat's important to me.  If you mess up in front of a friend, it isn't as bad.

"The only friend? Now that I do not believe Xaveus! You are too friendly to have me as a friend.  What about all those drow you go on and on about?"

"More acquaintances than true friends.  Eilistraee followers tend to be very transient in nature.  Except when near an established temple or city.  Most drow have left returning to the Underdark after the Solstice, even the surface
elf whom I met is gone."

Shrugging,  "Whatever it is you wish.  I will do my very best to be a patient teacher and if I am not.."  Ari smirks, "You can kick   m...ummm...yourself in the shin."

She stretches her legs out in front of her and picks up her tea cup for another sip.   "So,  how do you like it here at the compound?  You are enjoying the hot tub I trust."

"Oh, the tub is great, I use it quite a bit!"  Xaveus fidgets a little bit.

"I had Mogo move my stuff back to my room while I was gone, I don't feel comfortable living in it, it's not mine, it's yours, regardless  of whether you use it or not."

"If that is what you wish."

Xaveus pauses a bit, breathing deeply before continuing.  "This place is alright, I guess."  Xaveus looks around the room where Ari and him are seated, it is easy to sense that something is not quite right, as he struggles to come up with the proper words.

"You know, Ari, I was by myself in the Underdark for almost 35 years, and I can't say that even once, I thought about being lonely.  But since I've been here, it seems that I think about it every day.  There's all sorts of people around me all the time, but I feel more alone than when I was by myself."

"I know that don't make no sense."  Xaveus seems to be expressing that more to himself than to you.  "Don't get me wrong, people are always nice to me, heck, the other night got to sit and get to know Amber a little bit.  But everybody seems so busy with themselves, Diane and Nikki with their research, Thengal training with the militia and all, plus there's lots who aren't here at all.  Castinar doesn't stay here, nor do you or Kat.  Sigurd and Garrah are gone, so there really ain't a whole lot here to talk to.  Other than the children of course."

"I'm really looking forward to going back down to the Underdark.  Even through I like it up here, the Underdark is me home.  I came into existence in the Underdark, spend 35 years by myself in the Underdark, it's kind of where I belong.  I mean TSR is where I live, but the Underdark is my home.  Does that make any sense to you?"

"Completely."  The drow turns serious now.   "I too feel at home more in the Underdark than here, I always have.  I feel it more so when we have to spend so much time up here on the surface for long stretches at a time. I mean, nine weeks?  What did they expect me to do up here in the sun, with all this noise for nine weeks?  If it hadn't been for Arm I probably would have gone insane.  I *like* being in the Underdark.  I know what to expect there. I know how to survive there.  Up here," Ari waves her hand in the air to encompass the entire land, "I still don't know what to expect or if I am going to say something wrong to someone because of some propriety that I don't know.  As for traveling outside of Jurgenville alone...do you know that there is just no way I could ever do that?  I am finally accepted here. But elsewhere.."

Ari sees that she's gotten away from her the point of her mini-tirade, for lack of a better word.  "Its just that I feel the same way as you Xaveus.  I was in alone in the Underdark for a very long time and had gotten used to it.  Now, here, on the surface when we spend so long it just depresses me."

"That is one of the reasons I stay at Laila's and not here.  At Laila's I can keep myself busy, my mind off of how much I want to be below."  Ariessus looks at Xaveus out of the corner of her eye, "You know I have never told this to anyone, not even Kat because I wasn't certain she would understand, but you will won't you.. I have often contemplated staying in the Underdark while the others come back to Jurgenville for whatever it is they need to do.  Just finding a nice safe spot along the way home and meeting back up with them when they are done.  Truthfully, I think I would benefit greatly from that.  Maybe help to keep my emotions under control better than I have been doing."

Xaveus mouth drops open, "My sentiments exactly, in fact I have taken steps to move my residence to the Underdark permanently, I'm just waiting for "official" permission from the Jurgenville Mining Company, although I'm not sure if I need it, I don't think they "own" the Underdark but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask."

"When I first met Valaeron, you know the guy that turned you to stone.  Oops, sorry didn't mean to bring that up."  Xaveus turns a bit red, then changes his train of thought.  "I was wondering about that, and I've got a question for you.   You don't have to answer if you don't want.  But besides the terror of being turned to stone.  How did it feel?  I mean, did it hurt?"

"Truthfully, I didn't 'feel' anything.  One moment I was walking beside Beleg and the next I was sitting in a chair wondering what happened.  Apparently after Valaeron changed me back I was disoriented long enough for Laila to look into my mind and glean my intentions.  Valaeron wouldn't release me until he was certain I wasn't out to kill anyone."  She doesn't add that the leader of the mage guild is *still* paranoid about her.

"Anyway, getting back, Valaeron told me that there was an abandoned shrine to Elle in the mountains surrounding Jurgenville, that's where I've been for the past couple of days.  I guess that's the reason why I didn't come back and tell you all about what happened at the Winter Solstice Celebration like you asked me to do the following day.  I met a few people who knew of it's location so we went to check it out.  I was so excited about finding somebody who new where it was that we headed out to see it that next morning.  Didn't get much sleep that night, the festivities lasted longer than anticipated.  Didn't even get to go to visit any elves in Jurgenville as it got to be too late.  We ended up getting back to the compound somewhere around four-thirty or five in the morning.  I grabbed my stuff, made a quick message to Mogo, saying would be away for a while, then we headed to the Underdark to find it."

"To make a short story long, excuse me, a long story short, we found it, away from the main mining, and there is little mine-able ore in the vacnity.  But, there are a series of chambers away from the shrine that could be used as a place where I could live.   So I'm thinking that I could make it into a home, might take a little carving, course I still need to be here at TSR part time, to learn to read and write and all.   But it's close enough to be in the Underdark, yet close to the compound.  Who knows, maybe Diane could put in one of those teleport spots there so if anybody wants me, all they have to do is pop through and get me. What do you think?"

"All you have to do is ask her.  Perhaps we can ask her and Nikki if there is some sort of communication spell as well.  Or a device that   woul....hhhmmm... We should go and speak with Tessalynn.  When we were on standby for her she gave us coins that vibrated when she needed us.  Maybe we can get one of those for you, or ask where we can get one of our own.  Something to think about."

"As for the rest, well I must admit I am quite jealous.  A home in the Underdark.  Something I have been longing for."  She waves the depressing   thought away and tells herself to be happy for her friend. Ari smiles and listens as the dwarf continues.

The cleric shrugs.  "But I doubt any would let me do so, Kat would more than likely either want to stay with me or down right try and tell me no.  I'd get 'It's not safe Ari.'  or 'I don't think it's a good idea Ari that you be alone down here."

Xaveus chuckles a little.  "Ari, you don't listen to anybody anyway, why the heck would you listen to them anyway!"  Xaveus unconsciously slides his new robe in front of him, carefully draping it over his lap, hiding his exposed shins.

"Excuse me?!"  Ari sputters in mock indignation.  "I don't listen to anyone? Just what do you mean by that?"

 She starts to chuckle.  "I know, I know. I usually do as I choose. But Kat can be quite stubborn when she puts her mind to it.  I wouldn't get any peace."

"I *am* a drow you know, I have taken care of myself for many years in worse places in my homeland."

"Yeah, the Underdark is safe as say . . . a walk in a meadow?"

"Depends on who you are walking in the meadow with."

"I could even set up a chamber for you, a kind of guest quarters if you like.  Case there were times that you just wanted to get away?  Course there might be an occasional Elistraee follower stopping near-by, I know not how much you hate them, well, except for me, but that could be worked around so that if you did happen to visit, you could avoid them.

"That would be lovely. Thank you Xaveus."

"And I do not hate followers of Elistraee.  How can you even say such a
thing."

"Cause the way you avoid them, like they got the plague or somethin'.   Doesn't matter."  Xaveus downplays his statement as he doesn't want to start anything as it's been such a pleasant day.

The cleric's eyes narrow.  "You think I avoid them because they are followers of Elistraee? You are wrong."  She says no more on the subject, letting it drop.

Xaveus breathes a sigh of relief.

"Bah."  Ari makes a face and falls silent thinking it all out again.   "You know what. I could go for a hot soak in the hot tub.  Lets go."

Ari stands grabs Xaveus' hand and makes her way to the hot tub room.  If Mogo is in their path he gets dragged along too.

"Hu... wha... wai.... I've got to go see what Thengal wants.  He mentioned something about... oh, the hot tub?

Hum.

I guess Thengal can wait.  Let's go!"

"Lead on!  I'll use my new robe!  Thank you for it again."

Ari laughs. "He can come along too if he needs to  talk to you that badly."  On their way to the hot tub Ari stops in at the kitchen.   "Could you have some snacks brought up?  We are going to go relax in the hot tub."

Then the drow's face lights up in a grin.  "Last one up has to grab the towels!"  She races up the stairs, taking them two at a time.  Of course K'harn's is fleet of foot.  All four of them and makes it into the room long before anyone else.

"Wait a minute!"  Xaveus yells as everybody, as the others speed away from him.  "this ain't fair, you know I can't run fast, Ari!"

"I know it!!"   Ari laughs as she continues to run upstairs.

"You're one to be complaining!" Mogo exclaims as he - with his artificial foot - follows everybody else up the stairs.  Upon reaching the top of the stairs, well behind everybody else, he pauses, then turns around.  "Fira!  Bring a dozen towels up to the hot tub please!"

The drow turns at Mogo's voice.  "Now who's cheating! Getting another to bring the towels Mogo." her face is lit up in a grin.  Ari hasn't felt this carefree in a long time.

Later:

Mogo, Ari, Thengal, and Xaveus all sit in the bubbling hot tub.

After several minutes of conversation, there is that awful lull of silence, which often comes when people run out of small talk.

Xaveus searches his mind for something interesting to say.  Finally the torch flares in Xaveus's cavernous mind.  "Say, turning to Mogo and Thengal, what did you guys think of the three bean salad that we had for lunch today.
Thengal, I saw that you had almost two plates full, Mogo you seemed to shoveling it in pretty good, too!"

Mogo slowly opens one eye.  "It was OK, although I thought it could have used a little more vinegar.  I sure miss fresh vegetables too.  A diced tomato  would have been perfect in it."

Xaveus smiles in Mogo's direction, but the smile causes his stomach to grumble, and he wipes it completely away, replacing it with a stoic expression.

Her head laying back, arms outstretched Ari suddenly lifts her head and stares each male in the eye.  "Do not dare. Not any of you.  The first one who does, all three of you are out of the tub."  Ari has to stifle her laughter, for K'harn's snickering fills her mind.  <Stop that. I'm trying to be firm with them>

<Can't help it Mistress.  Funny.>

<Won't be so funny if someone slips while you are beneath the water swimming.>

K'harn's snickers are cut off abruptly.  The little cat jumps out of the tub an onto the towel her bond placed open on the floor for her earlier.

<Thank goodness I passed on that soup earlier Beloved.>  Ari bites the inside of her cheek to keep the smile from gracing her lips.

Mogo then goes on for about ten minutes about the the three bean salad, beans in general, salads in general, and food in general.

The silence returns, each of the three men lost in their own thoughts, all with a look of determination written across their face, as the hot water bubbles up around them.  Each look at the other, wondering who will be the first to break . . .

Xaveus prays to every god he can think of, making sure that it is not him. Beads of sweat roll down his nose, too proud to wipe them away.  The water continues to bubble.

Ari puts her head back down and closes her eyes.  She enjoys the sound of Mogo's voice as he speaks, letting his words wash over her.

When he is done she asks a question, totally unrelated to that of soup.  "Mogo, if I give the staff a recipe for tea, do you think that they would make it the way I like? I don't wish to offend Cook, but it is just that...well...the tea is a bit weak for me."  Once again she lifts her head to look at Mogo.

Mogo looks a little surprised at the question.  "Of course they'll make it for you however you want, Ari.  They have good jobs here and they know it.  And they know that you guys are the reason for this whole thing.  So when you guys are in town keeping you happy is their top priority.  Just let the cook know, or tell me what you want and we'll make it happen."