Ari talks to Laila and thinks about Beleg
These two events happen close to each other, so they are presented here together
Ari climbs out of her lukewarm bath and dries off. Ah to feel clean again. She pays particular attention to drying her hair as best she can. It's going to take forever to comb out all the tangles but she doesn't mind a bit. Once dried to her satisfaction, the drow dresses in a one of her light summer dresses. Smoothing down the front of it she asks, ::What do you think beloved? Is it my color? Talii does wonderful work. Perhaps I should have her make a few more dresses for me hhmm? Now that we have the house built I can leave clothing there. Actually have a pretty decent wardrobe.:: Ari's kitten could care less about clothing and shows it by rolling over to present her back to her bond. Ari sticks her tongue out K'harn and then chuckles. ::I am sorry love, but you know how I get after being able to relax in a nice warm bath. I'll have mercy on you and go and find Laila. I am sure she won't mind speaking to me.::
Putting actions to words Ari picks up her dirty clothing and leaves the room. Throwing over her shoulder in drow, "You can walk my little love. Serves you right for not listening to me." Ari detours long enough to throw her dirty things into the room she inhabits while staying with Laila. Then she's off to find her friend.
"There you are Laila. I've been looking for you. Do you have some time? I wanted to speak with you about something that happened to me while I was in the underdark. Something quite wonderful. I feel like if I don't talk to someone about it I may just burst."
Ari makes herself comfortable in one of the chairs. Sitting there she looks like she is about to burst with happiness. "You will never, not ever, guess what I was able to do. I cast my first Divination spell Laila. And I spoke with an angel! An ANGEL!" Unable to contain her excitement, the cleric jumps up from her chair and practically dances around the room. "She was so beautiful it made my eyes hurt to look at her. I have never felt so blessed by Corellon as I did when she answered my call. Laila do you know how it feels? Have you ever been graced with such an honor? I'm sure you have, you being as powerful as you are. Even if I never get to repeat this experience again, I shall still die happy." She flops back down into her chair. Looking over at the older cleric, "You are most likely wondering why I cast it aren't you. We did not know which way the mage who kidnapped Shadow went so the Seekers asked me to see if I could find out. I wasn't exactly certain what to expect. And I was more than a little nervous. But when she arrived....I shall never forget her face. Or her voice."
A moment of silence as Ari brings both to mind, then - "Are Divination spells always like that? I had thought that I would only be allowed one or two questions, but she let me ask several. Of course, Castinar did give up a very nice magical item for the sacrifice so perhaps that had something to do with it. Hmm, yes..more than likely."
She gives herself a shake. "Anyhow, I just needed to talk to someone about it. And since I feel very close to you, I thought that perhaps you would not mind if it was you I spoke to." A slight frown creases her forehead. "I'm babbling aren't I? It never fails. Something wondrous happens to me and I get so wound up it is disgusting. And look at my hair! I haven't even combed it out! It must look a fright. I am very sorry that you had to see me like this. Goodness, I'm in such a state today."
Gathering her hair into two equal sections, Ari throws one section over her right shoulder and begins to comb out the tangles. "I came to ask you a question as well. I know that you know nothing of this mage that we met up with, but it did occur to me to wonder if you knew of any other adventuring party that might have passed through Jurgenville on its way to the underdark. We found a piece of parchment that looked like it was from a diary and it mentions the illithids. It also mentioned the names of some if its members. Lets see if I can remember." Ari tries to recall what exactly was written on the diary page. "Marshank, Hazakian - I think he was the one who wrote it- and Brother Ferarius I think the other name was. Wait, there were a few other as well. Blast. It will come to me sooner or later."
"Do those three names sound familiar at all? Do you think Valderon might know? If at least one of them was a wizard perhaps he was a member of the guild or at least purchased some things at the guild." The young drow finally falls silent long enough to let Laila get a word in edgewise.
One other thing I wanted to write about. I've looked back at the timeline and I *think* this festival coming up is the same one we missed back in Milborne. The reason I'm mentioning this is because Ari and Beleg were going to be married then and I do believe she should be feeling pretty sad right about now. So, surprise!! I'm sending you another email. (G)
Ariessus climbs the hill and walks over to 'the spot'. The same picnic spot where Beleg first told her he cared for her. In the distance she can hear the noise of the crowd celebrating at the festival. The same festival that should now be an anniversary for her and Beleg. She sits, bending her knees so that she can rest her chin upon them, and her gaze unfocuses as she recalls a day long past. Beleg looking so handsome, the basket of food carried easily in his strong hand. They sat and ate, talked about everything and nothing. Until he grew serious and confessed his love. Ari's forehead falls forward to rest on her knees now, as she runs his words over and over again in her mind. She recalls that she asked him to kiss her when he was through. She never thought she would ever fall in love, or have someone love her. An outcast drow had no hope of love. Or so she thought.
The tears come. Tears she would not allow to fall in front of others. She had even left K'harn at Laila's so that the kitten could not see her in this moment of weakness. The drow lets them fall for a time, not thinking of anything but pain and grief. As the tears start to subside, her throat raw, Ariessus flings her head back to face the heavens. "Beleg! Hear me love. I miss you so much it is a never-ending ache! I sit here and remember the first of our many picnics together. Sit and remember the day you asked me to be your wife. We were to be married today Beleg. Can you see me? Are you looking down on me and remembering the same things? Does it hurt you as it does me that you are not here by my side?" More tears follow, tears Ari did not know she could shed having cried herself out only moments before. "Will it always hurt so? Will this ache for you never subside? Will there ever be a time when I can spend this day in happiness instead of in weakness? I don't want to hurt anymore Beleg! It is too much for me. I am not strong enough to handle it."
Her words turn to a whisper of sound. Her body collapses to the ground. "I don't want to be alone. I don't ever again want to feel the loneliness I felt before I met you." Ari falls silent then, her secret fear at last revealed to herself in the light of day. She repeats, "I don't ever want to feel that alone again." Needing to feel a part of something, someone, the cleric of Corellon grasps her holy symbol. "Fill me with your power O Mighty Corellon. Show me that you are with me. Let me feel peace on this day of all days. Help me."
It takes only moments for Ariessus to feel her deity's power flow into her. Her weary soul is soothed somewhat, the raw edge taken off her pain.
"I love you Beleg. I will always love you. I can only hope that you still feel the same as I wherever you maybe."
Ari picks herself up from the ground and dusts herself off. She heads back down the hill towards town and eventually rejoins the revelers. She still can not let herself enjoy the day so she goes to the Seekers home and makes herself comfortable. Perhaps one day she can walk the streets with the happy crowd and join in the fun. But not today.