Thank you for your reviews. Any corrections you have pointed out have been made. I am glad you like the story so far. For anyone who might be reading this, remember to read Destiny and Duty, because that will help much of this story make sense. Occasionally, as must happen with my disorganised brain, there are some discrepancies between the two, for example, I made Elizabeth Delryn Anomen's cousin in the first story, and his aunt in the next. In this story, I retain the right to change things to make the story's value greater. Once again, thank you for your reviews.
Chapter Five
The elves danced beautifully, their pale-white skins seeming almost translucent in the blue moonlight. Delicate traceries of vines and leaves decorated their hair. Autumn gold and auburn were the prevalent colours, providing a sharp contrast to their silver-white hair. Panpipes and flutes tinkled with their wondering, high-pitched tones through the glade, the unmatched skill of elven music providing a fine blend with the perfection of Tethir Forest. The druids too, danced, some of them in animal form, weaving a sinuous dance of a feral nature. She saw druids mating together as wolves, as bears, celebrating with abandon the fruitfulness of nature in autumn. More than one druidess would bear a child within nine months, and the offspring would be honoured greatly, as were all children of the druidsmoot.
Joy seemed to hover on the air as the druids and elves shifted and swirled, yet of that joy, nothing touched Jaheira.
She felt empty, lost, waiting in a world that had lost all meaning for her. Once, she had been the Grand Druid of the southern enclaves, beloved of Silvanus, respected by all. Now, she was nothing. A druid tossed aside by a god she had displeased, ignored by the merry-making druids, disdained by the few elves that even bothered to meet her gaze. Yet even in the midst of her bitterness, Jaheira could not bring herself to leave, for this was still a holy occasion, and she was still a druid, committed fully to the Balance. Whatever happens, happens for a reason, she told herself, and as she whispered it in her mind, she wished she could make herself believe it.
A quiet hush fell across the gathering. Jaheira turned her head, to see a brilliant pearly light moving towards the glade, from the east. The panpipes and flutes were joined now, by grander sounds. Harpsong, drifting with sublime resonance melded with a hundred other instruments that Jaheira had never heard before. A gentle breeze stirred the grass of the glade, and then, a figure of painful perfection slipped into the clearing.
Ellesime, Queen of Suldanessllar, Chosen of the Seldarine... the elves who were dancing, stopped, and in one unbroken movement, bowed to her. Jaheira was only dimly aware of them bowing, however. She was too transfixed by the beauty of the queen. Ellesime and Jaheira had spoken with each other before, but each time the druid saw her, she was made freshly aware of her own imperfections and clumsy gait. For hair of gold, tumbling like a heavenly waterfall down her back, accentuated blue eyes that blazed with passion and wisdom. A smooth face, alabaster-toned, with angular cheekbones and sharp-pointed ears, looked more like the image of a goddess, than an elf. And her movements! It was as if she was part of the breeze that stirred through the clearing, for she moved with dignity and poise to humble the greatest of emperors. Smiling, in a motion that stung mirth into even Jaheira's heart, Ellesime spoke, her voice like the pattering of spring rainfall, "I bid the druids of the Sword Coast greetings, and offer the time-honoured alliance that has existed between druids and elves, to Phillar the Peregrin, elf-friend and guardian of the Cloakwood, which once was our domain."
Phillar strode forward, and even the old druid, wizened and gnarled, was visibly shaken by the presence of the elf-queen. His hands shook on his staff, and he brushed his robes, as if suddenly self-concious. "Welcome, your majesty, welcome. You do us great honour, to arrive for the moonlit dance. Though I wonder how you know so swiftly of the changes that have been enacted this night...?"
A radiant laugh echoed, before she spoke once again, "The Seldarine are the lords of the greatest forest in all the worlds, the divine Arvandor. As their chosen, I am honoured with their love. They have whispered to me through the leaves this night, through the chuckling of streams and the braying of deer. A new Grand Druid has been named." At this, Ellesime turned her head to gaze upon Jaheira. Pity was there in her eyes, as well as sorrow. "My condolences, Jaheira. It is clear that the forest has other plans for your destiny." Her smile seemed to lift Jaheira's spirits. "Once the dance is completed, I wish to speak with you. There is much I can help you with, I think."
Jaheira simply nodded, too wearied from the fight and the announcement of Silvanus' dissapproval, to speak.
Ellesime clapped her hands, and instantly the night erupted into joyous bursts of music. Faster, whirling faster than any hurricane, the elves, girt with bells, started to dance. The druids soon joined, and the rustic humans moved alongside the regal elves, the two races for this night at least, united in their love for the forest of Tethir, or the Wealdath. Jaheira closed her eyes, and breathed in deeply.
Everything in her life turned to ashes in the end. Her love for Khalid had been meaningless in the end, but her loyalty to the Harpers had carried her through her loss, with a new purpose, to bring Balance alongside those who harp. Yet her part in that order had expired, and she had been cast adrift. Then, she had turned to become fully a druid, overseeing the restoration of Trademeet alongside her second love, Cernd... but there, orcs had trashed her dream. Her lover had fallen beneath iron blades, and nothing would grow in the old grove for several decades. Everything good had been burned. Blood had defiled the sacred places, and salt had been sown to expunge all life. She had failed the grove of Trademeet.
And now, her work for two years in Tethir had been judged worthless by her god. Am I doomed to have my works ruined, Silvanus? She wanted to stand up, in the middle of the dance, and shriek, louder than the loudest wolf howl. Her frustration and fury at her rejection whipped through her mind like a scourge of Loviatar. Even though her eyes were closed, tears managed to seep down her cheeks.
A quiet voice spoke amidst her inner strife, "It is not a night to be sorrowful, druidess." Soft fingers brushed the tears from her cheek, and Jaheira opened her eyes, intent on unleashing the full scorn of her acid tongue upon the presumptuous male. Yet the words stopped themselves before they left, and instead, she breathed out, trying to calm herself. Eldeth knelt before her, his appealingly beautiful face and mysterious eyes pulling at her very soul. There was a deep gravity to him, beyond even the self-assurance that most elves possessed.
She shuddered once, and whispered, "It is not? When everything I have worked for is broken?"
His eyebrow quirked, and his lips moved into a quiet smile. A low, deeply musical chuckle lifted from his throat, and he touched his index finger upon her lips. The pad of his finger was silken, and Jaheira found her pulse quickening despite herself. Part of her suddenly wanted to join in the wild dancing, with this elf, feeling his fingers touch her and feeling his lips upon hers. "I would not say that everything you have worked for is broken, druidess. You have your united order. The druids are united, and happy. The elves are dancing alongside the druids, and even my Queen has, against the advice of certain counsellors, come to greet the new Grand Druid, signifying a true, binding alliance. What is broken, might I ask?"
Jaheira opened her mouth, trying to express what she felt in words, but she found she could not.
His fingers stroked her hair. "I do understand, druidess. The bards of the People sing of your deeds. I know of your husband, of your order, of the way destruction has constantly followed you like a shadow. Yet in this, you have won. What you have wrought here today, will last for centuries... what matter if you are not Grand Druid? Leave pride and longing for position to human kings and elves. Druids are too committed to nature for self-pity upon losing a position." As he said that, his eyes twinkled.
With a snapping voice, Jaheira said vehemently, "It is not pride!"
"No?" Again, the elf chuckled, and at once Jaheira felt her attraction for him fade like morning dew. He was insufferable!
"No!"
A look of puzzlement crossed his features, "Then why weep?"
Jaheira growled, but resisted the urge to grab him by the throat. "Because my god has judged me worthless!"
This time, the chuckle rose to an open expression of laughter. "Hardly. Your prayers were answered with equal power as those of the Peregrin. I was watching the fight. To say your god judges you worthless is to doubt the power he has so blatantly given you. Has it crossed your mind, that perhaps your Silvanus has another task for you? Another great victory for Jaheira once-of-Tethyr to accomplish in the cause of the Balance?"
His fingers touched her cheek again, his brow quirked in silent question, waiting for Jaheira to answer. She could not. Instead, she merely gaped. Finally, she whispered, "I have... I have been a fool. What has happened tonight is just a matter of the Balance shifting. Silvanus needs me elsewhere." She glanced up at his eyes, and this time her stomach seemed to tilt. Stop acting like a lovesick girl, Jaheira! "Thank you, Eldeth. You have helped me greatly. If there is anything I can do in return, I shall be most happy to do so."
Something quite like triumph flickered in his gentle brown eyes, and he stood, standing straight. "As a matter of fact, there is. You see, my People are dancing, and if I do not find someone to dance with, I will be the subject of many songs that are mostly reserved for dwarven mockery. So... would you, to save my honour in front of my kinsmen, give me your hand in the dancing this evening?"
Jaheira this time laughed, the sound breaking through the last of her unhappiness. "Of course..."
And she took his hand, and became part of the whirling swirl of nature's dance.
Flushed, giggling like she was fifteen again, Jaheira held close to Eldeth. Somehow, their clothes were gone, and their eyes gazed deep into each other's eyes. Eldeth's lips found hers, gentle but insistent, and Jaheira returned the kiss, slowly, ever-so slowly. It had been two years... no, more than two years, since she had been held like this. Eldeth broke from the kiss, and as he caressed her cheek, sang an elven lullaby to her. Around them, the druids and elves continued to dance. Above them the orb of Selune started to fade away at the onset of morning. The leaves of Tethir Forest rustled, and then Jaheira stopped thinking, and gave herself up to the moment.
The midday sun blazed above them, and, sensing the warmth upon her face, Jaheira stirred. Her eyes flickered open, and she saw Eldeth, sleeping in her arms, a contented, distinctly unelven smile upon his face. His brown hair was mussed. With amusement, Jaheira let her gaze rove across the elf's form, before she stood to her feet gently, kissing him on his cheek. She looked about the glade. Many druids still slumbered, some alone, some with other druids, some even with elves, though those were fewer in number. Reaching for her light robe of deerskin, Jaheira clothed herself, and held close to her staff, feeling its pulsing call to her inner strength.
Last night, she had nearly committed a great blasphemy agaist Silvanus, but the young elf had brought her away from it, and to a lovemaking she had not known she craved. Glancing one last time at his charming, flushed, satisfied face, she smiled. She did not think it was love, but nor was it as simple as lust. He was a druid and a mage, he had told her those years ago, and with his remarkable insight, was probably one of the more respected ones in the elven city.
Come into the forest, Jaheira...
The voice of the elven queen trickled into her head, and Jaheira frowned. Quickly, but with all the quietude only druids or rangers can truly achieve in a forest, she slipped out of the glade, into the shadows of the forest. She walked for five minutes, aimlessly, until finally, in the distance, she saw the beautiful form of Ellesime. She was in a state of partial undress, and beside her, slumbered... Phillar? Somehow, the elven queen's vision must have picked up on Jaheira's incredulous expression, for her voice whispered in Jaheira's mind...
He is a remarkable man.
Jaheira nodded, and followed Ellesime as she walked away from Phillar, until they were a decent length away from him. Then, Ellesime turned back to face Jaheira, and asked, with an impish smile on her face, "You had fun with Eldeth?"
Blinking once, Jaheira could only stammer an unprepared, "Y-yes." Whatever she had expected Ellesime to say, it had not been that, talking to her as if she were a childhood friend, to discuss bedfellows with.
Ellesime laughed gently, "You are surprised at my question? Perhaps you think I am still offended at the way you shouted at me concerning the Balance within the forest? Believe me, I harbour no ill will, even if you did say... what were your words? "If you think I'm going to sacrifice the Balance to satisfy the megliomanical ego of a decrepid, idiotic, xenophobic queen, you can go stuff yourself with a boiled orc liver." Did I get that right?" Her eyes twinkled, and Jaheira blushed. "I am glad you found enjoyment last night. I could sense your troubled mind. I had intended to speak with you during the festivities... but that rogue Eldeth found you first." Her voice warmed even further when she spoke of Eldeth.
Jaheira nodded, "Yes... he did. I am grateful to him."
The elf-queen fell silent, then, for a long time, before she said, "Jaheira. The Seldarine have told me of you... and you have a path filled with choices, and along many, your strand of life burns away to nothing... along a few, it burns brighter and brighter, growing in strength for year after year. I wish to ask you something, Jaheira... and perhaps it will help you in discovering what Silvanus would have you do next."
The druid frowned, "You may ask."
Ellesime sighed, and gazed into the distance. "Over the years, the elves have been dying, in these lands. Thousands fled, in the great Return. Some are coming back to us now, to revisit our old haunts, but there are too few of us. The Balance is shifting, for without elves, a great part of what brings magic and joy to Faerun will be lost forever." Her eyes became deeply sorrowful, in an expression Jaheira had only ever seen on an elven face. Humans, although they often gave in to grief, could never match that acute awareness of loss, for in the elven mind, the loss of an entire race and its history could be sensed each time they entered reverie. "Evermeet has been attacked, revealing our weakness for all the dark hearts of the world to read. My Queen, Amarluil, spoke with me yesterday. A new elven homeland is to be created, but I cannot tell you where."
Jaheira did not know what to say. There was nothing that could be said to help Ellesime cope with the possible death of her people. All she could say was, "What can I do to help, then?"
The elven queen turned to Jaheira, and the druid was startled to see tears sparkling in her eyes. "My seers have discovered a place, south of even the mysterious Zakhara. I want to you lead an expedition, unified between the humans of Amn and the elves of this forest. For the Seldarine have told me that there, we shall discover a way to survive the storms that will soon ravage Faerun."
Jaheira closed her eyes, contemplating the suggestion with trepidation. Would this guard the Balance, or destroy it? Her hands found the amulet of Silvanus, and through it, she sensed, very faintly, a faint pulse of warmth. It was only slight, but it was there. Opening her eyes, Jaheira spoke with icy determination, "So be it. I will help you, Ellesime."