Secrets+Whispered+Among+Old+Friends

Ahnahi was tending the courtyard of her grand temple to Hanalil. Her hair was tied back loosely with a silken kerchief and a necklace of gold carrying the holy symbol of a golden heart led down to the plunging neckline of her sheer robes of gold and white. It would be the night of the full moon and they always celebrated with romance and dancing.

The temple was set on the side of the city along the a natural edge of the mountain. A path of gold and crystal hearts led the way from the temple door to the welcoming archway. There were many swirling paths of glittering golden stones throughout the courtyard that drew back to the main pathway of hearts. The courtyard was welcoming with trees pruned to look like hearts, gardens of vibrantly colored flowers, fountains, a natural waterfall from the snow-capped mountain, many private areas for intimate conversations, a large open area for festivals, and magically warmed pools of water that had multiple levels, pouring like waterfalls into the next.

Beautiful art was collected and created at the temple and sculptures were placed throughout the courtyard... A maiden of gold sat on the edge of a fountain, posed plucking petals from a crystal flower, a smile of joy was on her face. There was a sculpture of two elves dancing and a statue of an elven woman braiding the hair of an elven girl sitting on bench in front of her. An elven man sculpted in white marble was posed leaning against a tree with a bouquet of white roses held behind his back, and a matching elven woman was sculpted in front of him, hands clasped behind her back, a shy smile on her face, and the edge of her skirt caught in a twirl. Ahnahi removed the bouquet from the statue's hand, replacing it with a newly cut bouquet of fresh white roses, and brushed away a stray bit of dirt from the woman's pure white face. A priest and priestess were pruning the trees while a few flighty acolytes were laughing as they strung beautiful lanterns of white and gold, prepping the open festival area for the night.

The High Priestess looked up at the sound of footsteps coming through the archway and a warm smile brightened her face, "Valren... it's been at least a month, what desire of pleasure brings you to the Temple of Hanalil?" He smiled charmingly and greeted her with a sweeping bow, "Why to gaze upon the beauty that our lady has saw fit to grace us with, of course." Ahnahi waved him off, laughing, "You're shameless!" "Ahh there is no shame in bringing the music of your laughter to the courtyard," he winked at her as he continued his approach. She shook her head, still laughing, and walked to meet him.

He swept her up and hugged her warmly as she returned his embrace, "Ahna, how are you, my friend?" "Welcome home," she greeted him, "I have been worse, and I am pleased to see you returned unharmed." "Ahh but you have been better as well, I see," He took her arm in his as they walked the path of hearts toward the temple, "How is your daughter?" The red-haired elven woman's blue eyes misted as she nodded, "She is becoming... more Gaerond's child than my own. I fear for her... and pray every day that love and joy will bring out her fire." "Forgive my callousness, Ahna, I did not intend to bring tears to your eyes... though admittedly, you even cry beautifully," he brushed a tear from her cheek, "Though if it lessens your fears... I seen her last night in the company of a young man... a student of mine." She pulled the golden silk kerchief from her hair, letting the long red silken strands of hair fall perfectly around her as she dabbed her eyes, "Thank the goddess... and thank you for that," she nodded to him, "She is finally making friends... from what I hear they are //all// students of yours. Is that //your// doing?" It was his turn to laugh and he shook his head, "No credit goes to me... I have been away. I returned only last night... to an earful from our Lady Andraasdahn as well." "Oh?" the priestess of beauty looked at his face with concern, "The queen was upset? About what?" "It seems Lu went off another adventure shortly after returning from one... though this time he took his baby sister with him," Valren laughed, "He only left a note to tell them... that she found after they were both already gone. I think he shaved another decade from his mother's life." Ahnahi shook her head, "The poor queen... I had no idea. I should visit her. See if I can restore some peace to her heart."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"You should have went to her long ago," he accused her, shaking his head, "I still don't understand why you didn't. He's never understood what happened... I've kept your secret despite many times wanting to tell him the truth. Does Lorwynelle even know yet?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Of course not!" She quickly snapped at him, "You know that I can not tell her... or the queen... or... Luthais." The ache in her heart could be heard as his name almost whispered from her lips, "Only you... only you and I know." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Ahna..." the golden-haired elf took her hand into his, "How long have we been friends?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">She looked up into his bright green eyes and smiled, "As far back as I have memories." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"And double that time for Luthais and I," He nodded and squeezed her hand, "This has gone on long enough... it's time they knew... no one can hurt you anymore. If that bastard, Thaldain, even thinks of it... I'll kill him myself." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Valren! Shhh! Such words in the courtyard of our goddess," she swept him over to a bench and wove a spell, blocking the sound of their voices beyond their own ears as they spoke of the secret of Lorwyn's true father. She had spent a couple of blissfully happy years in the loving arms of the prince of Evereska... and while he was away on an adventure she was forced to marry the nobleman, Gaerond Thaldain... though she was already pregnant with her love's daughter. The broken look on Luthais's face still haunted her when he returned to find her married... and she couldn't tell him why...