Early Gifts

A foxy afternoon in Alexandria, crystal clear, and ice-cold, with a howling northwest wind that rattles shutters and tugs at the last vestiges of leaves on trees. It is only a few days since their team and meeting with Seldan, when a firm knock comes upon their front door.

It's Auranar who answers the door, dressed down and out of her usual bright and cheerful clothing. Instead she's wearing what seems to be a more modest dress in dark purple. It almost looks like something that her other half would appreciate more than her. She looks suspiciously out the door, but her vision clears as she realizes who stands at the front door. "Seldan!" She seems pleased to see him. "Just a moment please!"

She casts a quick spell that he can easily recognize as granting her the ability to detect magic. Her black eyes turn silver and she nods to herself before opening the door. "Come in! It's so nice to see you. Boy! You do wear a lot of magical gear don't you?" She sounds amused as she backs up to allow him entry.

GAME: Auranar casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13

Verna certainly appreciates Auranar's attire, and may well have assured her as much. Of course, her opinion is decidedly biased. She is, herself, dressed in plain robes only marginally differentiated from her occupational set in that these are the natural ivory of unaltered linen. She stands not far behind Auranar with a clear view of the door.

Her posture relaxes following the announcement and invitation. "Welcome, Seldan. It is good to see you again, if a suprisingly short interval. I trust all is well?"

Nearly everything Seldan wears has some magical field - one of the cloaks does not, one of his rings does not, and the boots do not. Literally everything else does, some of them quite strong, for all of his low-key mundane appearance. The most striking thing about his appearance, though, is that he looks - somehow different in mien. Taller. Stronger. Bright-eyed and focused, with more alacrity in his movements. Compared to the man standing before them, the man they saw several days ago was weary and sad, almost exhausted.

"Her light upon your path," he greets in low, even, steady tones. He steps inside. "All is mostly well. I would ask your forgiveness for dropping in unannounced, but I must ask a small favor of you."

Auranar smiles, and contrary to Seldan, there's something muted about her. Decidedly so. The smile is nowhere near as bright as it usually is. She motions him to a seat and gives Verna a fond little wave toward hers. "Come on, come in! You're always welcome to visit; you can have some tea with us. Tell us about this favor you have. I'm sure that whatever it is; we'd be happy to help."

"Please, ask," Verna concurs, eyes moving between the two, "and as she says, you are ever welcome." If others are brighter and more muted, respectively, she could be said to be more vigilant than her norm. She does not promptly accept Auranar's invitation, instead turning towards the kitchen. "I will put the kettle to heat whilst you settle." She then moves to do precisely thus before returning a few moments later.

"For that do you have my thanks." Seldan's eyes flick from Auranar to Verna, and his eyes lower - regret, perhaps? But, he sets his pack down at the foot of the space he often occupies on the sofa when he comes here. Instead of settling down on the sofa, though, he settles down on the floor before it, a thing he has also done before. "I was able to attune Her statue to myself-" he begins, carefully. "I was at once overtaken by a vision."

All trace of smile has vanished, replaced with a quiet reserve that holds a note of uncertainty. "I am bid to return it to you, and bid you find another keeper. It is attuned to me, and thus is safe, but the Dreamer in my vision was most clear on this point. It is intended for another."

A deep breath, drawn, and then released. "I remind you that I am hunted, and dare not show myself openly anywhere in Alexandros, for I put it not past the llyranesi to take me wrongly, do they find me."

Auranar blinks once at Seldan as she makes her way to her normal seat. At least she seems more relaxed now than she had in the moment that she'd opened the door. "She gave you a vision and... asked you to give it to me? Me?" She sounds utterly confused, sitting down in her chair and leaning forward. "And I'm supposed to find the person that it belongs with? Why not send you directly to the person that it is supposed to be with? I..."

Her face does an odd twist, first confusion, and then regret and pain. "She... She _must_ have meant someone else Seldan. I understand if it can't stay with you, but I'm... I'm not trustworthy." She stares down at her hands.

A bare hand appears on Auranar's shoulder as Verna steps beside her. "Love, there is no one I trust more. You are a most protective guardian and an accomplished investigator. If it is meant for another, you would discern whom more quickly than most, if not all." It is herself that she feels is lacking in some of these regards, though she does not say as much.

Only after that does she look to Seldan. "Your presence in this matter will be welcomed in whatever role you might manage, Seldan, but your situation is understood. As well, I would never disregard the words of a goddess."

"The Dreamer disagrees with you, Auranar," Seldan replies, an easy, boyish smile that is rarer on his face than diamonds in these days lighting the ice-blue eyes. "As do I. I think you most trustworthy, but - I cannot promise that I shall be findable, do you have need to gather them to you. I would bid you find one faithful to Eluna, who is safe within Alexandria's walls. It must fall to you."

There's a moment, right before Verna touches Auranar where the latter flinches. A motion that Seldan might well recognize. Yet she seems to relax further under Verna's hand and the reason for the flinch is lost. Verna's words only make Auranar stare more intently at her hands, and Seldan. His assurances seem to fall on deaf ears. Or at least ones that can not believe the words that he is saying. "Why me?" She asks quietly, uncertainly, her voice muffled with emotion. "You don't understand Seldan. Verna's faith in me is born of love, but surely you'd understand. I barely made it home the other day."

She looks up and her eyes are full of self-doubt, a seed that has grown into a full and thorny bush that stings. "You wouldn't ask if you could have seen me then. Tell me what you were told. Maybe I can help you determine who it was REALLY meant for."

Verna's touch is too late to hesitate at the flinch, though her jaw tightens at it. It is not until the mention of recent homecomings that her hand tightens, if briefly. There is a long pause before she notes, "You fared no worse than I would have in that situation. We are not puglists... but it is a situation that will -not- repeat." A fact that is stressed as such. There is more she would say, but the moment is not now: there are questions for Seldan and, perhaps she requires time to formulate the words.

Some of the weariness and sadness is beginning to settle back onto Seldan's shoulders, and reappear in the set of his jaw. He draws a deep breath, and lets it out, his eyes lowering. When he does look up, his gaze is sober and serious. "She bade me give it to the one who gave it to me," he answers finally. "That that person would know the right person to give it to." His eyes lower again, then, and take on a distant look, as one seeing and hearing things not present.

The wild elf doesn't fail to notice the effect that her words have on Seldan, and his words strike deep to her. There can be no doubt that she was the one that gave the totem to Seldan. She has not forgotten the vision she received when they both touched it. Auranar takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I... It's not you I doubted really. Just... me." She blinks once, chasing back her emotions roughly. "I'm sure Eluna wouldn't steer you wrong I just... Don't feel like I know what I'm supposed to do."

Seldan shakes his head slowly at this, leaning back against the sofa, turning an armored knee up and resting his arm on it in what would be a casual pose, were the topic less serious. "The Dreamer's wisdom is sure and strong, and that she speaks it so plainly says much. She places her faith in you, and bids me do likewise. That shall I do."

"I would bid you think, Auranar. Did I know what was to be done in the face of Kol Demontry? Salina? Eclavdran? Nay. Fate is not decided, and many possibilities yet exist. This is why mortal hands are needed, to do the will of the gods. All you need do, Auranar, is try. You shall find a way. You shall find the answer. Whom do you know, who looks to Eluna and might be able to keep such?"

Auranar doesn't answer immediately, but rather nods thoughtfully. "I... I guess if I can't have faith in myself... I should at least try to have faith in Her. And you." She smiles here softly. "Goddess grant me the wisdom you showed in defeating your foes."

It's a fervent prayer, one that has her leaning forward again. "Alright Seldan. I'll try. I'll find the best person who serves Eluna to hold the totem. And if it turns out I'm wrong... I'll take it back if need be." There's a set and determined look in her dark eyes now.

Seldan's smile returns, at least some of it, and the sense of weariness on his shoulders mutes, fades around the edges. It is not gone, only faded. "You will know. This am I certain of - do you find a servant of the Draco Solis who will attune the one I gave to you, record what befalls. These items hold many secrets, and it is in my mind that I have not found them all."

"A wise piece of advice Seldan." Auranar nods to this, thinking about the other totem. "I know exactly who I intend to give it to, and I'm sure that he'll be amenable to documenting the attunement process." She nods again and looks at Seldan more gently. "Would you care for some tea? I think Verna is getting it ready."

"I shall be honored and pleased to accept tea, when it is ready. If my knowledge and wisdom is useful to you, I shall share as much of it as I may." A considerable weight falls from Seldan's shoulders when she accepts, and he pulls from his pack the totem in question, which looks no different at all from the one she handed him. "I cannot guarantee my presence, or a task, but do you find me, and find need of that which I know, that shall I offer freely."

As if summoned, Verna returns on cue from the kitchen with tray of cups, tea, kettle and accouterments. She sets the tray on the central table. "We have faith in you, Auranar. If that of myself, Seldan, and Eluna Herself are not enough to convince you of your own worth... you can at the very least be confident in your own impenetrable will." A soft smile graces her features.

Auranar looks embarrassed by their words, and she simply pours herself, Verna, and Seldan a cup of tea. Not in that order of course. Seldan is a guest, so he gets his first. Verna is her beloved, so she gets one second. She pours for herself last and looks at the totem with trepidation. "Best I think if we don't both touch it at the same time. I don't suppose that Eluna told you any secrets about the totems while you were dreaming did she?"

A quiet chuckle escapes Seldan, genuine if rare laughter from the paladin. He takes his teacup with a, "She speaks wisdom," but considers the question posed to him in silence, sipping at his tea with a quiet reserve. "Nay. She did not. The vision was of a more - personal nature," he admits carefully, and in a way that suggests that there is a great deal more to be said, that he is not saying.

Verna looks to Seldan with no small curiosity along with Auranar's inquiry, though it returns to neutral at the answer, or lack thereof. She does not press the issue and instead notes, "I regret that my interactions with the totems are not as ... potent as others. As there is no relic of The Harpist, She and I, both, aid in less direct manners. That I cannot glean information as well as others is mildly irritating to my nature as a scholar."

A small smile flickers to life on Auranar's face. Not a fully-fledged thing, but she reaches out and touches Verna gently, offering a brief amount of comfort. "I know the feeling, though in other ways. I suppose... I had hoped that I could help more and... The goddess is giving me a way! Insisting really." She smiles softly to herself before looking at the statue and rising to her feet so that she can collect it. "I'll just put it away somewhere safe. I'll be just a moment." With that she disappears upstairs.

Seldan allows Auranar to take it without protest, instead watching and sipping at his tea while she does so. "A wise precaution." He lapses into silence then, gaze distant and thoughtful.

The smile is contagious: Verna cannot help but grow a similar one, if not as bright, even as she nods encouragement and agreement to Aura. She watches her bound away with renewed vigor and confidence, which only makes her expression warm further. It still lingers as she turns her focus to Seldan. "I have no doubts of you, her, nor your goddess, and yet... I am as fearful for her as I am confident in her."

Seldan's eyes lift, and he appears to come back to the present, cradling his teacup in both hands. "Would that I could aid you in learning more. The dreams are - intense, and yet so long as it is attuned, they are not frightening. I attempted little of the first, seeking first to keep it safe, but was able to learn of their nature, and which one I held. This one was - much more potent. The vision that I set down, was but the first. I was granted another when I attuned it, as I have said, but, it did not pertain to the totems. It is in my mind," he goes on hesitantly. "That she thinks the mater in good hands, without requiring me."

Verna nods, only now retrieving her own cup. A sip is taken as her own thoughts drift briefly before her gazes refocuses. "You aided as you were able, and I know you would ever do so. What you both witnessed is already passing to others who should know of it, and can take action." Verna's head turns to glance to the stairs. "She is not forced to bear this burden alone, nor shall she any other. Ever."

At this, Auranar returns, looking as though she'd taken a moment to gather herself as well. She looks... better. More at home with herself. "Alright! Enough of that!" She says as she comes downstairs and flops pleasantly into her chair to pick up her tea. "We are going to talk nothing more than idle gossip now. I hear, that Cor'lana has a new Crimson Pen book about her out!" She smiles warmly.

The mention of the Crimson Pen immediately brings a pink flush to Seldan's cheeks, and his eyes drop down into his teacup, staring intently. The cup shifts from one hand to both, and he's staring into it as if it held the deepest secrets of the Source. Nope. Nope nope.

Verna offers a warm smile to Auranar at the further improvement in demeanor. Relaxed and comfortable is how she should be. "Do you imply that our library is in need of update?" Her eyes pan to Seldan, brows lifting at his sudden study of tea and more rosy cheeks. There is curiosity there, but, as before, she does not make a direct inquiry. Instead, another sip of tea. "I believe it is, indeed."

Auranar snorts at Verna. "I wouldn't read a Crimson Pen unless it was absolutely necessary." She rolls her eyes which land on Seldan. More attuned to his sudden embarrassment than Verna she seeks to change the subject a little. "I do find it interesting though that they continue to print about her now that she's married to Telamon. Their wedding was amazing. I'm so happy for them. You're married right Seldan?" She inquires, knowing full well the answer and their conversations shifts to more polite talk and gentle gossip. It's a much-needed respite from the more serious things that their conversations lately have been laced with.

-End