Getting+ready+for+the+Wedding+of+Magnus+and+Lynneth

"Oh my Sune did you see that elven ranger's arms....so very strong looking. I guess probably from all that training with the bow that elves do. I can only imagine what they'd feel like holding you! That would be dreamy I'm sure of it!" Rue giggled, turning to her companion Yuki. Wearing a fine silk red robe to Yuki's snow white one, the two of them has just come from the inn's bath, a large porcelain tub that unfortunately could only hold two at a time. A far cry from what they'd been used to in Waterdeep. A thought that brought images of scrubbing, work, and back pain to Yuki's mind.

"YOU DEVIL AXTON! GO BALD!" Yuki exclaimed and then put her hand over her mouth embarrassed. "S...sorry...don't know why I…said that!" Yuki reached up to adjust the towel wrapped around her beautiful drying hair. "Y…yes...he was quite handsome!" She'd been glad that their bath had been peaceful...she'd half expected that sneaky monkey to come up from out of the water somehow...totally unexpectedly.

"And his ears! So cuuuute! Don't you think! I've heard that elven ears are very...sensitive if you know what I mean!" Rue grinned, and both she and Yuki blushed. They'd been both talking all morning about the new people they'd met and the story they'd heard last night. There was no doubt that there'd been something between the two older halflings...Esme and Falco. As priestesses of Sune they could sense that much. And it sounded like an exciting story. Yuki wondered if her time in Lyrabar would be that exciting...what would her life be like as a full fledged priestess now!

They heard the sound of voices up ahead and saw that one of the inn room doors was open and as they approached heard a strange accented voice arguing with several others. "I don't know that this style suits...me well, Miss Wren....oh...I was never very good at this..."

Yuki and Rue stopped, peering in the door to see the dusky skinned young drow elf peering skeptically into a mirror while two other young elven women looked on approvingly. One was as pale as the drow was dark, with shockingly white hair like her. The other had dark hair, like a raven's. Yuki recognized them as some of the girls they'd met last night. Wren...and Loch...and Shri...she thought. They appeared to be doing the drow woman's hair in preparation for the wedding in a few hours.

"Oh! Excuse us, we couldn't help overhearing!" Rue said, with a cheery wave at Wren. "We used to do each other's hair at the temple all the time for us and all the other priestesses in training! Perhaps we could lend a hand? If you don't mind?" Rue smiled, and Yuki followed suit...

"And...in exchange, you can tell us about your handsome ranger friend!" Yuki added with a giggle, "You two…have such wonderful energy together! Don't you think, Rue?"

Wren giggled at the girls in the doorway and returned Rue's wave. "Rue and ... Yuki, right?" Loch smiled at the girls and nodded in greeting.

Wren turned back to look at Shri in the mirror, "Sounds like it might be your lucky day. YOU'LL look beautiful in ANY style you wear... but a hair-do from a far away land might be just the perfect exotic touch... what do you think, Shri? Want to give it a try?" She gave her an encouraging smile.

"I'm willing if the young ladies are willing. Be gentle!" Shri laughed, a low, sultry affair that was echoed a moment later by Loch. The two girls seemed to get along well during the trip from Myth Coramanth, as opposed to Loch and Kale, who fought like cats and dogs.

"Where's the fun in that!" Loch teased, gesturing for the two girls to come into the room.

"I see that you are priestesses yes, of Sune? I have heard that she is the goddess of beauty yes? Like the elven goddess Hanalil? It is said they share a bath in the golden pools of Arvandor to restore their beauty." Shri smiled "I myself am a priestess of Eilistraee, the dancing goddess of the drow." She smiled at the two girls...they seemed so young, did the humans really make priestesses that age?

Loch leaned on Wren at the end of Shri's little story and whispered, "a human goddess and an elven goddess of beauty... sharing a bath together? We might have to look into religion." Wren giggled at her. Wren made room around the mirror for the girls to work and closed the door behind them. "A look this good should be a surprise," Wren winked. She sat on the edge of the bed brushing her own hair and watching the girls work.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Not like that, Yuki. Here. Twist it this way to complement her brow line..." Rue took charge, nudging the younger priestess out of the way. "See? Isn't this better?" The human woman didn't seem to mind all that much. She seemed used to her friend's take charge ways and smiled, nodding, "Yes, I see. You're right Rue. That is much better!" Slipping away from the mirror, she came to sit beside Wren and offered to take the brush from her hands, "Let me?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled at Yuki beside her and handed over the brush, "Thank you! You're very sweet to help us." She turned her back to Yuki so she could reach her hair.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She ran the brush gently through the witch's soft, silky hair. "So soft...Miss Wren!" She gushed, "You must really take such wonderful care of it. I know quite a few priestesses who would kill for hair like yours."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well we spend a lot of time in the woods and there are certain plants that do wonders for your hair and skin... I'm a bit of an herbalist. I could show you how to use them," the raven haired witch offered happily.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki laughed, but as she ran Wren's tendrils through her hands, she was suddenly aware of Loch's eyes watching her. Had she...overstepped some unknown boundary? What...exactly was the nature of the two women's relationship... She'd heard things about witches and wondered if any of them were true. Hexes. And love potions. How they preferred their coven sisters to men. How a man, once smitten with a witch, would be enthralled to her forever... Really...it was all very titillating. It couldn't quite possibly be true...could it?

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch watched the young priestess brush Wren's hair with her fingers, knowing full well how soft Wren's hair was. For a moment, she longed to touch her.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "A bit of an herbalist..." Loch echoed Wren with a giggle, "don't let her kid you... she loves her herbs."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Wren grinned at her, "You hush."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Mmm....Eilistraee! I've read a little about her." Rue mused. "Me too." Yuki smiled, glancing at Shri, "I should have known. You have such a beautiful body. So long and graceful. Your performances must be beautiful! Do you dance to a lute? Or do you prefer a flute?" Yuki's eyes sparkled, "And...what of 'your' handsome ranger? Is he also a beautiful dancer?" Clearly the young woman was already imagining the two elves dancing together in some hidden, moonlit glen...

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue interrupted with a sigh, "How I wish we had some fresh flowers. But there! Behold, my masterpiece!" Turning Shri around, Rue preened, "Isn't she lovely? I really am quite good! Though, she was already so pretty to begin with. Now. Who's next?! Oh Miss Loch! Don't be shy!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Both Wren and Loch turned to look as Rue displayed her work of art. Both smiled in admiration.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Beautiful," Loch nodded at Shri.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Breathtakingly beautiful," Wren agreed.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "You have quite a talent with a brush," Loch grinned at Rue.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "What do you think, Shri?" Wren smiled, "Better?" <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well I know you can't make me that pretty..." Loch winked at Shri, "but I can't turn down the opportunity for your skill on my hair." Loch nodded to Rue and smiled. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren turned to Yuki, "What can we do to help you girls get ready?"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A date with a handsome man would be nice," Rue sighed and Yuki giggled, "Keep that up and William will get jealous." Rue glared at Yuki but the other priestess just laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "Rue's right though... Attending a beautiful wedding on the arm of a handsome man would make everything that much more wonderful! Someone tall and handsome... Eyes...confidant and knowing...Hair as black as night..."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Or...as red as fire!" Rue added slyly. It was Yuki's turn to glare.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Not if my life depended on it!! He's...just so mean! That…two-faced...prince!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Sure...sure..." Rue snickered and looked back at the elves, "Ah, sorry. Forgive us. This is the first bit of excitement we've had in months! It was a long, homesick trip from Waterdeep to Lyrabar... For that one especially. I had to listen to her crying into her pillow every night!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"H…Hey!" Yuki interjected. "I've been fine! Fine, I tell you!!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue gave Wren, Loch and Shri a knowing look. "Anyway, this was just what we needed! So you've already helped us just by letting us play."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled at Rue, "unfortunately I haven't met any available handsome men around here to introduce you to... although I believe the human mage who's with his sister may be available." Wren smiled, "and I'm sure your William and your 2-faced fire haired prince are probably missing you as well... but to travel so far away... why didn't they come with you? ..."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And almost simultaneously... <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Rue said, "Ha! Not 'my' anything!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And Yuki leaned against Wren's back and cried, "If ONLY he hadn't!!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren paused thoughtfully and then added coyly, "Ohhh! Unless you're shopping around..." she winked.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Both girls perked up immensely and nodded.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch glanced at Wren and shook her head. She gave a soft sigh of disapproval. Wren glanced at Loch out of the corner of her eye.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki nodded, "Yup! And...Well..." She eyed Wren's lips appreciatively, "...I wouldn't mind borrowing a little of Miss Wren's lip colour! It's so...shiny and pretty. If it's no trouble, may I?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ohh!" Wren exclaimed excited at Yuki, "Of course!" She pulled out a pouch of little cubes of what looked like different colors of dirt. She opened a little vial of a soft solid. She opened one of the cubes engraved with the words, rose petals, and pinched out a little of the dust. She put the dust in the vial and stirred it together slowly with a stick. She looked at Yuki and then the vial and held it up by her face. She put in a little more dust and stirred it again.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"There! Perfect!" She took the stick and rubbed the waxy color on Yuki's lips. "Beeswax… with a little honey makes your kisses sweeter," Wren giggled and winked at her. She handed Yuki the remainder of the new vial. "For you!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"OH!!" Yuki threw her arms around Wren, giving her a warm, exuberant hug, "You're just the sweetest person! Thank you so much!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She immediately let go and turned towards Rue, "RuuUUuue!!!! I want to try it out! Come here!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What? Yuki!? Wait! ...er?! No Way!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki threw her arms around her fellow priestess and planted a big, loud, giggly kiss on her cheek! <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue made a face, "Sticky!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren burst out laughing at the two of them.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"But..." Yuki laughed, watching her friend's face...as inspiration slowly struck home, "You love it too, don't you?! Isn't it wonderful? It smells just like the temple gardens back in Waterdeep!!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Mmmm..." Rue nodded, eyes sparkling as she mused, "...I could make a fortune selling these...back home..."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I knew it! You want some too, don't you? Here!" Yuki opened the vial and dipped the little stick in, as Wren had moments before, "Mmm... Now let's see... I put it on like...THIS!" She smeared a little on Rue's lips, made a wry face then giggled, "...uhm...OOPS!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Wha?! What...did you do?!" Rue struggled to turn round and glance in the mirror directly behind her. "Wha...?! Yuki?"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"It's nothing! NOTHING! Ah...Miss Wren? Could you...er...?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled and went over to Rue, she took a handkerchief and fixed the skewed line. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She glanced back to Yuki as she took out the little stick from the vial, "So, let me get this straight... he's mean to you AND he came with you uninvited?" Wren pouted.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She turned to the pale, white-haired elf, "Loch, we need to help Yuki find a good partner." She rubbed the colored wax lightly on Rue's lips, accenting her natural lip lines. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch looked up, "Oh, that's easy... I vote for Rue. Solves both of their problems and they already have chemistry." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled and nodded, she looked up to see the expressions on the cute priestesses.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki and Rue looked at each other as if seriously considering the proposal then burst out laughing. Neither seemed shocked or embarrassed by the proposition. Rue, wiping tears from her eyes, turned towards the elves and rested her elbow on Yuki's shoulder, leaning in until their heads touched, "Methinks the elves hoped to shock us mere humans, Yuki!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren grinned at the girls and then noticed Loch looking at her with a blank look as if she had no idea what they would find shocking. Wren giggled.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Hush Rue..." Yuki giggled, "They'll think we're not taking Love seriously. That's blasphemy. They might not understand Sune's ways or Sune's heart."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Sorry...!" Rue laughed again..."Let me explain. Please. Embracing Yuki as my lover would be like...Mm... Kissing one's own brother! Or mother! Or blood sister. Nice enough. Warm even. But utterly passionless!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"H...Hey! I'm passionate!" protested Yuki!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren and Loch both giggled together.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You know what I mean, Silly. There's no...romance. No...intensity. You're my rival. Not my lover!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"At least some things never change!" Yuki rolled her eyes with a smile, "But...yup! That's exactly how it is." She turned to Loch, perhaps for the first time really considering her pale unearthly beauty, "For a Sunite priestess, two things are of the utmost in one's soul partner. Exquisite physical beauty and...a profound and passionate love. Kissing without either is...disappointing, don't you think? For nothing...nothing at all rivals that kind...of love. Settling for less is...unthinkable."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch smiled and nodded to Yuki.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"But that's not to say we don't savor the company of others...men and women!" interjected Rue, "Yuki speaks only of life mates or soul partners. It is... Well...She can be a bit obsessive about that."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"H..Hey! Whose side are you on here?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Both Loch and Wren giggled at Yuki.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue went on, "And while it's entirely possible either one of us could find that love in the arms of another woman... It most definitely would never happen with each other!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yup!" interrupted Yuki breezily, "As much as Rue fantasizes about me...It won't ever happen! Sorry Rue!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled and glanced at Rue.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"H..Hey! Who's fantasizing about WHO here?!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki giggled. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch and Wren both laughed.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"So you see, not all humans are as close minded as Tyrites!" <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki nodded, "So yes... In this... Between Rue and I..." Yuki shook her head, glanced over at Wren then back to the beautiful moon elf as if recognizing something sweet and profoundly moving, "We're not like you in that way, Miss Loch... Our passion for one another could never equal yours for your dear one. Truly, I envy you."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch smiled at Yuki with soft knowing eyes. She glanced over to Wren who winked back at her. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch laid a gentle hand over Yuki's, "I hope that you find that person for you, and that he or she fully returns the warmth I see in your soul."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shri flipped her long silvery hair in the mirror, once more admiring the fine work the young ladies had done. "It is not uncommon among my people as well, to find women who take other women as lovers. The Dancing Goddess especially has a mostly female following so a certain amount of experimentation can be expected. Especially given that…well...drow culture as a whole frequently looks down upon men in the first place, centuries of rule by drow priestesses of the Spider Queen has seen to that."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch grinned "The drow weren't wrong about everything it seems!" The pale elven girl certainly didn't like the way that brutish Kale had been looking at her Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled and tickled Loch.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shri shook her head, not wanting the other girls to get the wrong idea. "But...we've been working to change that, since we were brought to the surface years ago and joined with the elves of Myth Coramanth. It has not been easy...much like getting used to the sun, getting used to new ideas about men can be...painful. I still slip sometimes into the old ways." The tall drow blushed, an unusual darkening of purple around her cheeks.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren and Loch raised an eyebrow toward Shri and grinned. Wren thought about the strong, handsome ranger Shri often stood quite close to and imagined them together with the quiet Shri in charge... Wren giggled.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I know a handsome, young elf you could practice on when you're lonely..." Loch grinned. Wren nodded thinking of Erevin and then she saw the look on Loch's face and thought of Kale... she poked Loch.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What? You're the one who said he likes having multiple women around..." Loch shrugged. Wren's jaw dropped open.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You can't just use my words against me like that!" Wren folded her arms.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch just grinned mischievously at her.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren turned away from Loch and tilted her head at Yuki, "By the way… What's a Tyrite?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh!" Wren interrupted her own thoughts, and looked back and forth between the priestesses, "I just thought... the alchemist who's traveling with us. I know you can't tell here because he's wearing a mask... but I've flirted with him before without it... he's very handsome!" Wren grinned and nodded to Yuki and Rue. Loch just shook her head and sighed exasperated.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This had Yuki's interest. She plunked down on the bed beside the elven witch, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "If...he's so handsome then why wear a mask!" She glanced up at Shri then back to Wren, "Beauty should be enjoyed by all! Why hide such a gift away?"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue, too, was suddenly all ears, "There must be a reason? It isn't something...nefarious, is it Miss Shri? He's your companion after all? Is he REALLY as handsome as Miss Wren says?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shri smiled mysteriously, the tiny pendant of Eilistraee gleaming around her neck, a tiny onyx statuette of a beautiful drow dancer. "He is indeed...quite handsome. You should see if you can get him to take off his mask for you, perhaps you could see for yourself. As to the why's, I'm afraid that's not my secret to tell!" Shri laughed inwardly, who knew what mischief she had just caused for poor Dominic, perhaps the two young ladies would keep him occupied enough that she'd have a little more time alone with Erevin!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren grinned at Shri knowing she just sealed the deal on their interest in Dominic.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue nodded, tiny hearts flashing in her eyes. A mystery! She loved unraveling mysteries! She turned to Wren. "A...Tyrite is a worshipper of Tyr...he's the god of law...justice...good. And totally no fun. All properness and rules and regulations! I've heard he has a pretty big temple here in Lyrabar too."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh!" Wren nodded to Rue, "I'll keep that in mind and try to stray away from the Tyr temple then... I'm not much for rules or no fun." She grinned.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The drow woman turned to Yuki "You say...you girls travelled a long way, you didn't travel by yourselves did you? Where did you travel from?"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ah!" Yuki seemed surprised by the question, "No, no of course not! Can you imagine?!" She laughed, shaking her head... "...Rue and I are part of a contingent of Sunite priests and priestesses from the City of Splendors...Waterdeep, perched along the Sword Coast in the Sea of Swords."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh Jeez... You're not going to cry again, are you?" Rue asked, teasingly.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I...Of Course not!! Who's crying!?" Yuki replied, unconvincingly. She stuck her tongue prettily out at Rue and continued on, "A year ago, the battle of Lyrabar was waged in the very halls of Sune's temple here. So much beauty was lost. Destroyed beyond mending. So...many precious people." She shook her head, "It was devastating for all of us... Waterdeep is a great training hall for many of our faith. And...so many of our order there knew those lost. When the call came that Lyrabar needed help to heal its temple and serve the city's needs, several of us were chosen to come immediately. There's Rue and I, of course, and Amynta and Oriel. We were all acolytes together and I count them my dearest friends so, it's hardly lonely at all!”

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Don't forget The Prince...!" Rue sighed dreamily.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki...frowned and mumbled, "...'prince'…my...foot..."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue sent her a sly look and went on cheerily, "And a few others! So yup! We'll be in Lyrabar well into the foreseeable future! We have no idea how long we'll be here too! Or if we'll ever be sent back home. It's all a big, new adventu...! Oh...! Yuki!!!" Rue took one look at the priestess and threw her arms around her. Tears had suddenly started streaming down her cheeks. "Yuki...I'm sorry... It'll be fine. We're here. Myn and Ori and me."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ridiculous." Yuki laughed, brushing the tears away from her lovely face. "Oh sweet goddess, what's wrong with me! I'm fine. Really. This is the most annoying thing. I'm fine. I'm just..."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Homesick." Rue glanced at the others...patting Yuki's back, reassuringly. "She's not usually like this. This is just...the first time she's ever been away from her family. It's just the three of them and they're the sappiest family I've ever seen."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki started laughing, wiping her eyes clear, "...we're...*sniff*...not like that *laughs* at all!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rue smiled, "...Are too, silly Ashwoods. Always... I've never seen you anything but."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki smiled warmly at her friend then to the others, "Sorry... What Rue said is right. This is my first 'great adventure'. I must seem so naive! There's always just been the three of us and my mother...has never been...healthy. I had no idea I'd miss them this much. My best friend too... She's back home too."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sat and listened intently to the two Sune priestesses story. Her heart broke for Yuki and she sat on her other side and tried to help Rue comfort her. She tried to imagine what it must be like to travel for months away from her parents and her friend... AND Yuki was human... months to her must feel more like decades. Wren couldn't imagine being away from her own mother for decades ... and not to know if she could ever return, she might NEVER see them again?! How horribly tragic. AND her mother is ill? she could lose her at any time and she is so far away... Wren got a little tear in her eye in sympathy for the poor tearful Yuki.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch smiled and listened to the girls’ story with great interest. She smiled at Wren, knowing full well that it had only been a few weeks for them to travel here... but Wren likely missed Raven already. Loch spent a lot more time alone, so it didn't bother her so much. She had the one person she would miss the most with her. She still felt sorry for the girls. It must have been a very hard choice to make... were they even given the choice? She wondered.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"H...Hey! I thought 'I' was your best friend!" Yuki laughed and hugged Rue, "Yes yes, but I've known Hana MUCH longer! You know you're all my best friends!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"So...there you have it." Rue smiled, "We were ordained and kicked out the door! And now we're months away...in a strange place surrounded by beautiful elven women and quite a number of little people AaaaaNnnnNNND...!" Rue glanced towards the door, pondering, "...a very handsome man somewhere nearby wearing a mysterious...mask. Can't say I'm minding it all that much!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren grinned at Rue with another mention of the handsome human alchemist with the mysterious mask. Wren liked these girls. She hoped that Dominic might have the opportunity to get to know them better, that might mean she'd have a better chance at returning here on occasion to see them. She didn't want to just get to know them only to never see them again... maybe she could even get them to come to Myth Coramanth for a visit! They would just LOVE it, she was sure.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki giggled, "Don't forget the wedding!!! And a whole new city to explore! With lots of potential love matches to help make! And it's not like we can't write. Or send messages back home! And, of course, Sune...is always with us..." She touches her lovely fingers to her breast, "...here."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"That's our story." Rue smiled...

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki nodded, her mostly dried eyes now sparkling with curiosity and excitement, "But...what about yours? Are you all...from Myth Coramanth? I've heard such amazing things! Is it true the trees are so great they house entire families? And do you really...have platforms towering up into the sky?! Is it all really so lush and green as the stories?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh," Wren looked excitedly at Yuki, "Yes! It's so beautiful! The trees are so tall... it’s nothing like this city. There are some buildings on the ground, of course, but everything is more natural. And there are some shops and buildings in the trees and around the trees... it’s really more like they're almost a part of the trees.... and there's big baskets that you get into to ride WAY UP to the great maze of variously long, narrow, and wide bridges with flowering vines and beautiful magical globes that light the paths! I love it there... It never stops amazing me how beautiful it is. I would love to take you girls there to see it!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch grinned. If Wren got something in her head... it was hard to divert her, she could be very stubborn.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch chimed in, "...but the two of us are from Raven's Nest. It's our coven nested in the protected woods outside of the city. It's an elaborate weave built within a very large tree secluded and protected by several natural barriers. It too is quite beautiful." she nudged Wren.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh, of course," Wren giggled, "Our home is ... well its home... its natural and cozy, lit inside by magic burning candles and globes of light. There are long spiral stairs to take you to the different levels. We have a natural hot spring deep below the tree, where we've made a meditation pool. Its one of my favorite rooms. The tree itself is surrounded by a meadow that's protected in the deep part of the woods, you kind of have to know the trails within the thorny bramble to get in. We sometimes have big bonfires outside with ceremonial dancing or celebrations."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch nodded, "and the forest is amazing. Trees as far as you can see. and on the ring of where the protected woods stops, some of the trees are blended... half is the tree of Rawlinswood, and half is the tree of Myth Coramanth... very interesting to see how the magic of the reappearance of Myth Coramanth affected Rawlinswood."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren nodded to Loch. She spoke a little more in whispers, "and there's tales of a dragon that used to reside in the city after it first appeared... before Lady Lionspaw and her comrades reclaimed it..." Wren thought for a moment and looked around, she continued in softer whispers, "I think there may have even been others..." Inali, who had been lazily lounging on a pillow of the bed suddenly lifted her ears and looked up at Wren. Loch raised an eyebrow between the two.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Anyway..." Wren spoke normally again, "When my mother decided that she would be unable to attend the wedding, she asked Loch and I to go in her place. I don’t know how long we'll get to stay in Lyrabar. I think we're only here for the wedding, maybe a little sight-seeing and shopping before we have to return home," Wren added, "Do you know how long we're planning to stay, Shri?"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"W..wait! Wait!!" Yuki threw a graceful arm out then dropped her voice to a whisper, her eyes were wide, "...dragons?! Others?! How is that..." The priestess couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice. "...I want to go!" She glanced over at Rue, "Don't you? Come on, Rue. You know you do. We need to see Raven's Nest! And Myth Coramanth and...dragons! Bless. A dragon...And others...?!" She shook her head, "Miss Wren, you can't just drop that out here and not tell us the story! Please, continue. This is the stuff of epic tales!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled with Yuki's excitement. "Yay! I can't wait to take you there! You girls are going to love it!" <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch stood by, still watching with interest. As far as she knew the tale of the dragon who resided in the city before it was reclaimed for the elves wasn't a secret... but other dragons? What was Wren up to... and why was Inali prompted by this story? <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren huddled in closer with the girls on the bed, "Well... the dragon from the tale of Lady Lionspaw and her companions was GREEN... but..." Inali got off of her pillow and leapt onto Wren's shoulders. She whispered something quietly in Wren's ear. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stopped in the middle of her story, and shifted her glance to Inali.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Telling them the story," she answered the little fox who whispered something else to her. "Well because of the wall story. I thought they'd like it. ... well no, of course not... do you have to ask?... of course I will... ugh! I SAID I was sorry... Inali this isn’t..." Wren sighed and removed Inali from her shoulders. She placed her in her lap, and petted her gently. Inali seemed disgruntled, but she settled in.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki watched the whispered interaction between the beautiful witch and her familiar with fascination. Her fingers itched to touch the pretty fox's tail but, somehow, this seemed extremely inappropriate. How, she wondered, did they understand each other so well...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I'm so sorry!" Wren apologized, turning back to the girls. "Now where was I?... oh! ..." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren leaned back in, whispering once again, "so I found this secret cavern below the city... there were old paintings of a green dragon... And... You girls are going to love this... There was a love story written on the wall!... An elven woman and the dragon were in love... isn't that amazing?!"

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"H...How is that even possible?" Rue blurted out without thinking. But Yuki had a dreamy look in her eyes, "...really..." She breathed softly, "...such loves are possible... How lovely...!" Rue glanced at her, arching an eyebrow but Yuki only smiled sweetly, "What...? I have a weakness for Great Loves that overcomes the obstacles of race...and time...and prejudice, didn't you know?" Rue shook her head...and the girls turned their attention back to Wren...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She pulled out a necklace she wore under her clothing and pointed to one of the shiny white scales. "It was all very old, but surely it must have been the same dragon that was evicted from the city… I even found real dragon scales down there! …Only they’re WHITE! Who knows where those came from?!" As she rubbed the scale, for just a brief moment, it looked like white scales formed on her fingers, but of course that must have just been an illusion.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Both girls blinked...and Yuki shook her head...wondering...was that…

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch stepped closer and examined the necklace. She looked at Wren with concern. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Why haven't I heard this story?" Loch looked at Wren, reading her. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well I was saving it for a surprise, to take you there to see it... but it's a dragon LOVE story and well... we are at a wedding and..." Wren grinned and gestured toward the two priestesses of love and toward Shri, "I thought you all might like to hear the story." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loch nodded and smiled, she would let it go at that... for now.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"May I...touch it?" Yuki asked, "It's...beautiful! I've not seen its like, not in all the lovely things in the Temple of Beauty. And you say the story was written across the walls? Did it say what happened in the end? To the dragon or his elven lover? Did they live happily ever after and have children? Or were they kept apart? How...did it end...this great Love story? Please tell me you know its ending! It will drive me mad otherwise!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh! Of course!" Wren held out the necklace for Yuki to touch the scales on it. They were smooth to the touch, and still lingered with Wren's warmth. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I was very excited to find them!" She continued, "I really wanted to explore more, but Inali reminded me that we weren't packed for that." Wren absently stroked the little fox in her lap. Inali finally looked calm and content. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"We were there to see Kale... I got lost looking for him," Wren giggled, "and it was Cirdan who helped me find the cavern." The black raven flew over and landed on her outstretched hand when he heard his name. She stroked his feathers and smiled at him. Inali lifted her head and glanced at the bird holding Wren's attention and licked her lips. Wren giggled. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She petted Inali's head, "You leave him alone." Inali laid her head back down and closed her eyes, content to have Wren petting her again.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Unfortunately we haven't been able to go back to the cavern and explore further," Wren looked back up at Yuki, "I don't know about the White Dragon or the Elven woman.... maybe they're even one and the same... But I believe the stories say that the Green Dragon was cast out of the city by the city's magical defenses when it was retaken by Lady Lionspaw... do you know more of the story, Shri?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The dusky drow nodded, watching the strange black raven warily. It almost but not quite acted like a real...raven. There was definitely something unearthly about it. "That's what I was told...although myself and the other drow were brought back to Myth Coramanth some time after it had been liberated. From what Erevin said when the elves first refound the city the dragon was here, but I never heard why. Perhaps looking for his lost lover? That would be very...romantic I suppose.” She noted by the hearts in the two Sunite priestesses eyes that's surely what they thought.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And so...the elves had to find a way to reactivate the mythal...the ancient high elven protections that normally protect large elven communities. Each mythal is different, so I've been told, but when this one was activated it started flinging all sorts of destructive magic at the dragon. It drove it off and it's not been heard from since.

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki raised her fingers to her lips, "...why...?" She leaned forward, "...Why Shri...?

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...Yuki..." warned Rue... She shook her head... Really...Yuki, meddling with elven affairs. The girl had no sense. "This isn't our story..."

<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"But...!" Yuki shot Rue a look as if to say, "'Love'...is our story..." then glanced back and forth between the drow and the elven witch, "The story doesn't end there...does it? Isn't there...anything else...known of the fate of the two lovers? If the dragon...the green one, lived in the city for so long then...where was his lover? Elves are long-lived, are they not? If they did not stay together then...could she still be alive somewhere...on the other side of the world...or wherever Myth Coramanth was before it appeared in Rawlinswood...searching for her lover?" Yuki frowned, as if trying to remember a very old story, "And dragons...! My father used to say they were extremely possessive creatures. Stealing from a dragon's hoard, for example, meant a lifetime of looking over one's shoulder... How could he let...such a Love...if indeed it was a Great Love...simply part from him without...a terrible fight?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren laid a soft hand on Yuki's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Yuki, but I don't know the rest of the story... yet anyway" She grinned, "Maybe there's more information still to find in the cavern." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And yes... elves live long lives," Wren nodded, "the paintings are old... I don't really know how old... but I imagine that by age, it's possible that she's still alive... maybe they've already found each other and they're even alive together somewhere." Wren smiled sweetly.