Ellowyndriel opens her eyes to find sunlight streaming into her room. She doesn't remember falling asleep, and is suprised she was able to. She'd spent most of the night laying on her bed staring at the ceiling with her fingers laced behind her head, her feelings fluctuating between ecstatic excitement that she and Amon would be travelling together, and deep melancholy that he wasn't interested in her. And sometime in the night-- in the middle of all that-- she'd finally fallen asleep.
She gets up off the bed, goes to the wash basin, washes her face, neck, and hands, brushes out her long, snowy hair, and then pulls it up into a ponytail. Suddenly realizing she's still in the clothing she'd been travelling in all the day before, she quickly strips everything off, and gives herself a fast sponge-bath before dressing in fresh, clean clothes. She perfumes herself lightly, inspects her appearance in the looking glass, and then quickly packs up her things. Strapping her sword and other weaponry on, she chooses to wrap up her armor-pieces and carry them in a large bag rather than wear them today. She places all her baggage neatly on the bed, and slips out of her room. Hurrying down the hallway to the next room, Ellowyndriel raps lightly on the door and waits for a response. "Amon?" she calls quietly, but-- she hopes-- loudly enough for him to hear.

Amon finishes lacing his sandals and walks over to the door. He opens and nods her in. Turning around he walks back into the room and picks up his sword and straps it on.
"So, Ellowyndriel, I take it you are ready then?"

Ellowyndriel clasps her hands behind her back and nods. "Yes, quite ready. How are you feeling this morning? How is your head?" She starts to reach her hand up to lay it on his brow, but her hand freezes, and then rejoins its companion behind her back again. "You drank quite a lot last night, and I practically had to carry you up the stairs!" she gives a little laugh, and glances around the room.

Amon raises his eyebrow and nods. "I am sorry for that...sometimes I...well no matter. Good then. Do you still wish me to come with you? I may not be the best of company these days, but I will come if you wish."

Ellowyndriel turns quickly. "Oh yes! Yes! Of course, Amon! Ummm...that is to say, I would very much appreciate and welcome your company." she says a little hastily, and pauses to take a breath. "I have never travelled through the lands we will be passing through, however. Will we need horses? And where are we going next?" Ellowyndriel finally becomes composed and relaxed as they slip into the exciting topic of travel.

"Hmm perhaps Greece-- we would need to take passage on a ship. Luckily the Mediterranean is only a few days to cross." Limping across the floor he takes his cane and starts walking to the door. "Have you ever been to Greece?"

Ellowyndriel follows Amon's movements with her eyes, being reminded of his limp as she does. "No...never! she answers, "But I HAVE spoken with many a Satyr about that land-- they never tire of bragging about it! I am intrigued! Oh this will be so exciting!" Ellowyndriel beams while following after Amon.
"Ah-- one moment and I will get my things!" she hurries next door, disappears, and then reappears with a large bag slung over each shoulder. "All right-- ready to go!" Ellowyndriel's cheeks are pink with excitement-- very noticable on her alabaster skin-- as she pauses beside Amon. "We can get some quick breakfast, bid farewell to dear Bastenofret, and be off for the ship in no time!"

Amon walks down the stairs and finds a table in the corner. He motions for Ellowyndriel to sit and sits down after her. He looks around the room and spots the tavern girl. He motions for her and then looks back to Ellowyndriel.
"I believe you will enjoy Greece. I have been there a few times."

Ellowyndriel smiles. "How wonderful to be well-travelled as you must be! I have seen how people react to foreigners-- if only everyone was well-travelled, I believe lands and cultures would be less foreign and more valued by all, instead of feared! But then again, I have seen the destruction that can come from foreign travellers who covet land..." Ellowyndriel sighs as she feels melancholy tainting her mood again.
She turns to see a waitress waiting with a large, gleaming smile on her face. "Ah-- she must have heard about the tips we leave..." Ellowyndriel thinks pessamistically, and then orders something light to eat, and waits for Amon to order. Once the waitress has gone, Ellowynriel leans in to Amon. "If you do not mind me asking, why do you still have a limp? I had not thought about it before, but as a Mummy, shouldn't that have, well, been fixed?"

Amon looks out the window and sighs. "It is a...reminder of...another time." Amon returns his gaze back to her and purses his lips.
"Well-travelled is not always as glamerous as it sounds. I rarely have time to settle or enjoy where I am. The few respites I do get, I try to relish as much as possible."

Ellowyndriel listens intently as Amon speaks, and then a look of worry crosses her face. "Oh-- I am sorry, Amon! If you would prefer to stay here for a time...if you are weary...I would understand! I am in no hurry to return home. I...I could stay here and do some sight-seeing for a time..." Ellowyndriel watches Amon's face, but hopes he won't want to stay-- this land is too full of death and decay for her comfort.

"No, no I wish to be as far from here as possible." He says.
Amon runs a hand through his hair and leans back.
"I understand your hesitation of returning home. I too feel that way at times. It brings back...certain memories that are best left undisturbed."

Ellowyndriel nods in understanding. She'd wanted to see more of Egypt while here, but not at the cost of Amon's misery. She would never be the cause of that, if she could help it. What she CAN'T help is noticing how handsome Amon is as he leans back, and feels her blood burning hot in her veins. She quickly looks down at the table and closes her eyes for a minute, slowing her breathing. "Phew-- this heat!" she laughs with strain in her voice, fanning her face with her hand. "I am sure there will be a nice breeze on the ship-- ah! Breakfast is served!" she exclaims as the waitress hurries up to them with a tray of food.
After the food is layed out and the waitress has hurried off again, Ellowyndriel nibbles some fruit as she continues the conversation. "We should get a map of all the lands from here to Cambria and plot which cities to see! Are there any in particular that you would like to visit, Amon?"

Amon takes a bite of of bread and leans down and digs into his pack. He pulls out a map and unfolds it onto the table. The map is filled with x's.
"These," he says pointing out the x's, "Are the places I have been. There are a few places between here and Cambria that I have yet to see."
He takes another bite off his bread and washes down with a sip of wine.

Ellowyndriel looks down at the map-- clearly impressed-- and nods slowly as she follows each X with her eyes. "Wonderful..." she murmurs, "...this will be wonderful!" she glances up and her eyes alight on Amon's lovely brown ones for a moment before she looks down hastily to study the map again.
Breakfast passes quickly, and as the two finally get up to look for Bastenofret, who should happen to come down the stairs-- stretching languidly and yawning-- than the were-cat priestess, herself. The three companions greet on another, and Ellowyndriel quickly explains she and Amon's travelling plans. After chit-chatting for a bit, they finally wish one another well and part ways.
Ellowyndriel and Amon walk down the street with Amon leading the way to the docks. Ellowyndriel is silent as she looks all around her, drinking the city in as if trying to commit it to memory, and finding beauty where she can. At last they reach the docks, and stand in line to buy passage aboard a Greece-bound ship.

Amon and the dockmaster talk for a second and frowning he turns to Ellowyndriel.
"He says he has only one cabin left," he says with a sigh.

Ellowyndriel flushes as a mental-picture of she and Amon...well, as it flashes through her head...and she brushes a stray strand of hair out of her face as a sudden breeze loosens it from her ponytail. "Well...I am sure we could figure out some sort of...mutually acceptable situation once we got settled on board..." Ellowyndriel takes a step forward and speaks to Amon in a low voice. "I do not think I could stand staying here for one more day and risk not getting a cabin at all tomorrow. I am too excited to be off! What do you say, Amon? I remember my promise." she asks pleadingly, trying to keep the small smile off her lips at this lucky fortune.

Amon purses his lips and raises an eyebrow. He sighs and turns around, handing some coin to the dockmaster. The dockmaster bites one of the coins and smiles, stuffing them into his pocket.
"Well then let's get aboard." Amon says as he starts up the gangplank.

Once Amon's back is turned, Ellowyndriel does an excited little jump, and leans over to pat the dockmaster's cheek before following Amon up the plank. The dockmaster looks surprised, but then smiles dreamily as he watches Ellowyndriel hurry away. "The most beautiful creature I've ever seen..." he sighs longingly until she disappears onto the ship.
Ellowyndriel follows Amon to their cabin, and once he has the door open, she hurries inside after him and looks around. Nodding, she walks over and places her bags against the wall with relief.
"Well, Amon, I think this is a lovely cabin, but I wonder if they allow passengers to lay out under the stars on deck! I think I would like to try that! What do you think?" she asks with a cheerful smile on her face.

Amon stops to look at the small bed that would fit two people, rather too close together. He thinks a moment and puts down his bag in the corner as well.
"You would have to ask the captain, however I imagine that a beautiful woman lying upon the deck sleeping would be too much of a distraction for his crew...and too much of a temptation for them as well."

Ellowyndriel beams at Amon and raises her eyebrows, feeling very pleased. "Ah...well, I had not thought of that! Thank you for thinking of my safety, Amon! I am a bit impulsive...but you already knew that!" She chuckles, and glances over at the bed, herself. "Well, there it is. One bed, and two bodies. Perhaps we could ask the captain if there are any spare blankets and pillows, and take turns bedding down on the floor? I know I am quite used to sleeping on the ground...not on board a ship, mind you, but this is quite the adventure for me!"

"No, no do not trouble yourself. I will sleep on the floor." He says walking to the door. "I will be right back." Amon closes he door and walks up the stairs to see the captain.

Ellowyndriel watches Amon leave and sighs, shaking her head and smiling. She can't believe her luck! Not only is she travelling the world with the only man who can stir her heart, but sailing on a ship with him, and sharing a cabin! She'll be able to hear his breathing as she lays there in the dark...
Ellowyndriel sits down on the bed, and finds it quite firm. She lays back, letting her legs dangle off the side, and folds her hands on her stomach. Looking up at the ceiling, she begins to quietly sing a song in her native tongue as she waits for Amon to return.

Amon opens the door and closes it behind him. He sets the pillow and blanket down on the bed and sits down.
"The captain said we will be sailing within the hour, he is just waiting for some cargo to be loaded." Amon finally looks around the cabin.
"I have seen worse, I suppose."

Ellowyndriel feels butterflies in her stomach as Amon sits down near her on the bed, but continues to lay there non-chalantly for a minute before sitting up and straightening her hair. "Perhaps the rooms are luxerious on board the ship of a Seneschal or queen...you are lucky you are not sharing a room with a Sidhe countess from a different House! We of House Dougal are not above standard living conditions!" Ellowyndriel smiles with pride at Amon and gives a little laugh.

"I've stayed in worse. So, what is your home like? I have never been to the Dreaming and doubt I could." He says as he lays his cane down.

Ellowyndriel ponders. "I am sure I could find a way for you to travel in the Dreaming. I have heard of the Garou being welcomed in at times...sometimes even sorcerers." Ellowyndriel thinks for a moment, nodding slightly. "Yes, I am sure you could enter! Especially in the company of a countess!" Ellowyndriel smiles. "The Dreaming is a beautiful, beautiful place...I supposed you could say it is an idealized, fantastical reflection of the earth. There are dangers, and Fae with dark ambitions, but we have a carefree, happy life there for the most part...many parties and celebrations!" Ellowyndriel pats the hilt of her sword above her shoulder. "There ARE some of us, however, who grow tired of parties and easy-living, and seek adventure and exploration!"
Ellowyndriel crosses one leg on top of the other and clasps her hands around her knee. "What was life like in the Egypt you knew when you were mortal? Did they know of the Fae...Garou...sorcerers there?"

"Your kind no. The others yes, very much. I was a sorcerer as was my...she was as well. The Egyptian people knew much of those and were very accepting of them." Amon says as he gets a faraway look.
"It was a place where many of us could live in peace. Of course there was some strife and personal problems and those unscrupulous types with dark ambitions. For the most part however..."

Ellowyndriel nods in understanding, but sorry that she, again, made Amon think sadly of his wife. She looks down at her hands, thinking of what an extraordinary man Amon is to still be so affected by the memory of his beloved. She looks up and her eyes have shifted from cornflower-blue to a dark luminescent blue.
"I did not know that you were once a sorcerer! You are quite remarkable! Could you do things like this?" Ellowyndriel lifts her hand, and suddenly one of Amon's amulets is laying on her palm. Moving her lips, the amulet bursts into flame, and when Ellowyndriel drops her hand, the amulet levitates in the air, still burning.

Amon grasps his hand to his chest to find his amulet there safe. He sighs and shakes his head. "Impressive illusion. I believe I actually felt the amulet leave my chest. Your kind have strange powers indeed. I will be more careful the next time I meet one."

Ellowyndriel throws her head back and laughs loudly. Then she gets a mischievous gleam in her eye and brings both of her hands up, points at the amulet around Amon's neck, and begins curling her fingers towards herself in a "come here"-gesture. The amulet lifts off of Amon's chest and hovers in the air.
"I COULD play with the real thing, if you are wary of illusions! However...I am of an honorable house, and will respect your...protection." Ellowyndriel snaps her fingers and the amulet suddenly plunks back down onto Amon's chest. She smiles, and places her hands safely back onto her knee.
"You saw how those powers were able to make it past a powerful Bali-- " Ellowyndriel spits out the word 'Bali' as if it were made of poison. "-- so they are not just for playing pranks on handsome men!" Ellowyndriel blushes and turns her head slightly as her eye-color shifts from deep blue to dark rosey pink.

Amon raises his eyebrow and frowns.
"Anymore of that and you will be sleeping on the deck after all," he says sitting back down. The ship suddenly begins to move creakily as it leaves port.
"There we are on our way..."

Ellowyndriel sighs. "Cannot even joke with him!" she mutters quietly, and glances up at Amon, her eyes settling to a magenta shade. "Oh Amon, if you are going to be a stick-in-the-mud, this is going to be a long journey!" she says, and stands. "I, for one, would like to go on deck and watch us sail out from port! Will you join me and lend me your protection from men who actually want me?"

"Of course, Ellowyndriel." He says standing up. He waits for her to open the door. He smiles a bit and suddenly the door closes hard. She tries again and the door once again closes.
"Hmm must be the amulet."

Ellowyndriel turns around to face Amon with her hands on her hips and a frustrated look on her face, and then when she sees Amon's face, a smile turns up the corners of her mouth and her eyes shift to an orange-yellow color. "You! And I did not think you had a sense of humor!" She laughs and walks over to Amon, offering him her arm. "Come! Let us go stroll around the deck! I think we're going to have a great time after all!"

Amon smiles and takes her arm. "Yes let us stroll around the deck. Perhaps you could find just the right spot to put your bed." He says and again flashes her a rare smile.

Two two walk around on deck, taking in the view for a while and inspecting the ship, and then stop and lean against the wooden railing and spend time telling each other about their lives, lands, and loves. The day passes quickly, and after the two have eaten dinner and taken time to study the stars, they head back to their room.
Laughing over her shoulder at a wry comment Amon has just made about a pair of sailors in the hallway who seem to be a little more than sailing buddies, Ellowyndriel bursts into the room and flops down onto a chair. "Phew! We were gone a long time! I think I'm still too excited by being on a ship to sleep, but we should get some rest! Are you sure you want to sleep on the floor? Maybe we should draw straws."

"I am fine, Ellowyndriel. I have slept upon rougher surfaces," he says picking up the blanket and shaking it out to lay across the floor. He lays down and rests his head upon the pillow, lacing his fingers across his midsection.

Ellowyndriel watches all of this with a bemused expression on her face, successfully biting her tongue to keep from making a comment about how he could sleep on a very soft surface if he wanted to. She finally sighs and stands, walking over to the bed and laying on her back on top of the covers. She lays like that for a moment, and then turns onto her side, propping her head up with her hand.
"Amon...how do you do it-- going on and on with the centuries passing, not knowing when you will have your reward? The thought of that makes my stomach clench-- it is like an odd prison-sentence, of sorts! I do not like it. They should get someone else to do this-- someone who does not have a wife waiting for them. I will go to whoever I need to to demand your release!" Ellowyndriel has an empassioned, stubborn expression on her face, and clenches her fist next to her stomach.

Amon sighs in the darkness. Turning on his side, away from her he thinks of what to say.
"I am the only one who can do this. It is not something that some one chose for me to do, Ellowyndriel. It is fate that I should do this and yes it can feel that I am trapped at times. But I do it willingly, for if I do not...who will?"

Ellowyndriel makes a quiet noise and lets her eyes fill with tears, as Amon is facing away. "I would do it for you if I could..." she says so very quietly that even she could barely make out that any noise was coming from her lips. She takes a moment to try to steady her voice so Amon won't know she's upset.
"We...we are all very lucky that it is you the gods chose, then, Amon." she says, holding her voice as steady as she can. "I am of an immortal race, and sometimes it feels that I have nothing to live for in the Dreaming-- I will step from the Dreaming from time to time to see if I can be of assistance to you, Amon, if that would be satisfactory? I do not want you to feel alone in your years of...service."
Ellowyndriel hastily wipes at her once-again deep blue eyes and fans her face to make the color disappear from her face in case Amon turns around.

"I would enjoy the company, Ellowyndriel. But I would not have you hurt or..." Amon stays still not quite hearing her.
"Still there are many years in between...things. I believe during those times we could travel. See the parts of the world you have yet to see."

Ellowyndriel smiles, overjoyed and surprised that her offer was accepted. Again, she tries to keep her voice steady, yet her eyes shift to the blazing orange of sunset. "I understand. Is there a set amount of time between each of these...things? I do not want to pop in at a bad time-- that would be rude and unseemly!" Ellowyndriel laughs and gets up on one elbow, relieved to no longer be embarrassingly emotional.

Amon turns towards her voice. Detecting the excitement he smiles.
"It can range from hundreds of years, to months. I do not know when they will happen. All I know is that I must be there." He says thinking a moment.
"It has been forty years this time. I am still waiting..."

Ellowyndriel thinks for a moment. "All right...I will space my visits about 50 years apart, say?" She suddenly feels her heart clench up in protest-- too long to wait...too long! "Unless you think more...or less time should pass? If I discover you are in the middle of something, I will not make my presence known, and depart to return later. What do you think about this?" She clenches her hands together waiting for Amon's answer as her eyes grow less firey and more mellow-colored.

"You do not need to hide from me if you believe I am in the middle of something. Just be careful is all," he says. He rolls onto his back again.
"Some of the people I will work with need to...meet...hmm...if they were to see such a beauty as yourself it may complicate things."

Ellowyndriel flushes pink with pleasure, as do her eyes, and she grins at Amon-- suddenly feeling the world isn't such a bad place after all. "Well Amon! Such a wonderful compliment-- I thank you!"
Ellowyndriel basks in the compliment for a moment more before continuing to speak. "I understand-- I will not alter the future by accidentally walking across the path of some poor man who was meant to meet the woman of his dreams but falls for me, instead!" Ellowyndriel gives a deep belly-laugh and lays back a little, but she's still able to peek over the side of the bed.
"I can see other problems-- if I were to show up and greet you warmly, no one would believe that there was not something going on between us...seeing as how you have such fine taste..." Ellowyndriel winks at the reclining Amon, even though he probably didn't notice it. "...and then after I left, 'teacher' would be teased incessantly, hmm?" Ellowyndriel continues to smile, thinking how pleasantly amusing this predicament would be.

"Hmm," he says rubbing his chin. "That could be a problem. Ah, I know of a way for us to remain in contact with the other. When we reach Greece I will gather what I need and..." Amon trails off as he considers what he needs and where to find them.

Ellowyndriel gets onto her stomach, peeking over the side of the bed with her fingers curling over the edge, and rests her chin on the tops of her hands. "Aaah-- another of your amulets? I, too, am skilled at making amulets, although they are harder to make when I am not in the Dreaming. I am a skilled metal-worker; if you would like the metal crafted to your exact specifications I could do it. I could also use faery-metal-- much lighter and stronger, and more beautiful in my opinion!" Ellowyndriel's eyes turn a dark green as she talks about her craft.

"Yes...yes. I could use your help in this," he says sleepily. Amon looks over to her and he can just barely see her outline in the moonlight.
"Let us sleep, Ellowyndriel. We shall speak of this tomorrow..."

Ellowyndriel sighs disappointedly, having been excited to exchange amulet-crafting secrets, and her chin sinks back down to rest on her hands again. "All right, Amon. You sleep, and I will make an attempt to. Good-night, and have sweet dreams."
Ellowyndriel sits up and yanks her boots off, careful to set them quietly on the floor, and then bends down to get a hairbrush out of her pack. She takes her hair down out of the ponytail and begins the nightly 100 brush-strokes while watching the candlelight dance across the walls and humming as quietly as she can manage. When she finishes, she puts the brush away and climbs under the covers, her moonlight-colored hair fanning across the pillow and over the blanket. She stares at the ceiling, listening to Amon's deep breaths until the candle finally burns itself out, and then she finally closes her eyes and sleeps.

The two spend the next week in Greece-- mainly in Athens-- where Ellowyndriel insists they visit every beautiful marble temple in the vicinity. They find the stones for their amulets there, and Ellowyndriel is able to get a pouch full of good faery-metal from the Satyrs. However, Amon insists that they move on after they attend a Satyr-party that gets embarrassingly out of control very quickly, where Amon practically had to carry Ellowyndriel-- drunk after one enchanted drink from a well-meaning Satyr-female-- away before the lusty Satyr-males could get to her!
They travel up the coast until they reach the Adriatic Sea, and then sail straight to northern Italia-- completely avoiding Roma and central Italia, at Amon's insistance. Amon shows Ellowyndriel the vineyards and rolling hills, as well as rivers and waterways. Buying horses, the two ride to the northern borders of Italia into the Alps, then further north-- skimming through the black forests of southern Goth and into Gaul. There they settle for a few months, taking in the beautiful countryside that Amon tells Ellowyndriel will be the site of something important one day.
Finally the two slowly ride through Gaul and sail to Brittany.

Arriving in Londinium, Amon reveals to Ellowyndriel that this is where his journey must end for now-- the next important event will take place here, although they do have some time to spend sight-seeing before it happens. The two spend a couple of months roaming the countryside of southern Brittany, with Ellowyndriel serving as tourguide for a change! She shows Amon Stonehenge-- old even now-- the white cliffs of Cornwall, and then they cross into her home-country Cambria in western Brittany where the rolling hills are deep green and dotted with sheep and cows.
Finally they return back to Londinum where the task Ellowyndriel has been procrastinating begins: the making of the amulets. Ellowyndriel finds a blacksmith who will allow them private, undistubed access to his forge-- after they hand him a hefty bag of gold! There Ellowyndriel forges and crafts the feary-metal into two fine chains-- the links so tightly wrought that they seem to form a fluid line that bends with great flexibility and never tangles. Then she measures the stones, and makes the settings for them to be placed into.
Now comes the most delicate part of the crafting-- enchanting the stones to do their work, and securing the stones in their settings. Ellowyndriel spreads a blanket on the floor of the forge, and sits cross-legged on it-- motioning for Amon to sit across from her-- with the chains, settings, and stones between them.

"All right, Amon. What exactly is your amulet going to do?" Ellowyndriel asks curiously. "And are the two amulets supposed to work in connection with one another, or can they work alone?" Ellowyndriel has seen some examples of Amon's powers here and there throughout the journey, but she's never watched him make an amulet before, and he has her complete attention.

"They work together, as a beacon for you or I to find each other," he says as he takes out the gem and lays it before him. He takes one of the amulets and begins to rub his hands upon it.
"Should I be resting, the amulet will let you know not to bother finding me," he says. He leans forward towards Ellowyndriel and brings up his hand slowly to her hair.

Ellowyndriel blinks, and suddenly goes perfectly still-- her breathing stopped-- as she watches Amon reach for her, not knowing what he's about to do. Her eyes shimmer with shifting grays and flashes of color here and there as she waits in rapt anticipation.

Amon gives her a sardonic smile.
"Relax, I only need a strand of hair...there," he says as he plucks a single strand. He puts the amulet down and takes the gem. He begins to wind the hair around the gem and chants softly.

Ellowyndriel laughs and exhales a shakey breath, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment. All their time travelling together has forged a strong, close friendship between them, and even Ellowyndriel wishes Amon to be happily in Issa's arms one day-- her own dreams and fantasies pushed aside. She takes a deep breath and listens carefully to Amon's chanting, watching everything he does.

He continues to chant as the gemstone begins to glow blue through his fingers. He shuts his eyes tight and continues to chant, rocking back and forth slightly. Finally he stops and the gemstone's light fades away.
"That was exhausting, but it is finished," he says opening his hands and looking at the amulet.

Ellowyndriel quickly leans forward and peers at the amulet intently. Then she leans back. "Wow...that was much more exciting than my enchantment will be! I hope you are not disappointed!" She laughs and slides her components close to her.

Amon wipes his brow and lays down the amulet. "I will not be disappointed. Magic such as this takes a lot out of me. I would rather it be less involved that it is," he says wiping his hands on the blanket. He turns his gaze to her and watches intently.

Ellowyndriel puts a finger to her chin and studies Amon. "That hair-idea is a very good one...one I think I will use, myself! Usually I use blood, but that tends to stain the stone, and I hate having a pure moonstone tinted if I can help it. Besides, maybe using a common medium will help the amulets work better."
Ellowyndriel doesn't wait for nervousness to make her hesitate, but quickly leans forward and plucks a hair from Amon's head. Willing away all stray thoughts, she winds Amon's hair into a loop-shape and lays it in the palm of her hand, takes up the large moonstone and lays it on the hair, and then cups her other hand over the stone. Then she looks up at Amon.
"Would you be so kind as to assist me a little? You see that pitcher of water to my side? Please pour the water over my hands until I nod that you can stop." Ellowyndriel waits expectantly.

Amon nods quietly and takes the pitcher. He begins to pour water over her hands. He looks up at her then returns his gaze back to her hands.

Ellowyndriel stares intently at the water as it flows over her hands. Then she begins to chant, "Water flowing, liquid state, stone soften, enter fate." She murmurs this over and over, and then nods to Amon to stop pouring the water, and lifts her top hand to reveal that the stone has, indeed, turned very soft-- almost like jelly! Ellowyndriel takes a small tool and pushes the hair-- still looped-- into the center of the stone, and then gently smoothes the stone back to its original shape. Then she places her hand back over the stone, and begins chanting, "Softened stone, regain your form!" She repeats this rhyme fervently until she's satisfied, and then removes her hand to reveal that the stone is back to its original hardness!
"See?" Ellowyndriel asks delightedly. "Would you like to hold it?"

Amon takes the moonstone and nods. "I have seen these before. Does this stone have properties that you need in the amulet? Or is it just your favorite stone?"

Ellowyndriel smiles. "I am quite particular to moonstones! They are all white with flashes of color here and there-- much like me-- and are a favorite of goddesses-- very powerful to women-- AND my surname being Moonglow, after all..." Ellowyndriel laughs and takes the moonstone back. "I suppose the answer to your question is yes to both suggestions!"
Ellowyndriel takes the setting and stone back to the forge and crafts them together the old-fashioned way-- with a bit of Glamour used-- and then returns to sitting across from Amon. She strings the chain through the loop on the setting and holds the completed amulet up for Amon to see.

Amon raises his eyebrow and takes the amulet. He twirls it around in the firelight. "That was amazing, Ellowyndriel. You have a real command over this. I am impressed." He sats handing the amulet back. He takes his and places it over his neck.
"Finally it is done."

Ellowyndriel beams at Amon's praise, and places her amulet around her neck, as well. "Now anytime I want to see you and what is in your vicinity, all I have to do is activate the amulet! If you are, well, in such a position that I should stay where I am for a time, your amulet will communicate that to me, as well." Ellowyndriel's cheeks color a little at this, and she smiles, glancing down at the amulet and clearly seeing Amon's hair suspended within it.

Amon nods, leaning in and reaching over to take a better look at the amulet.
"Excellent work. You cannot even see where the metal ends and the stone begins. Go ahead and try to use it. Let us make sure it will work," he says as he sits back.

Ellowyndriel's eyes close as she feels Amon's hand brush the skin over her breastbone to examine the amulet, and her mouth opens slightly. She thinks to herself that it's good she's going to have to leave soon, because her heart can't take anymore of this innocent touching or it will reveal itself, and she might possibly lose Amon as a friend! Her mouth quickly closes, and she blinks and nods at Amon.
"All right-- that is a very good idea!" Ellowyndriel stands up and brushes the legs of her riding-pants. "I will go stand outside, and you do something while I am looking into the amulet, and then you stop and I will do something, and then I will come back inside and tell you what you did, and you will tell me what I did! How does that sound?"

Amon nods standing as well. He walks over to the far corner.
"Good idea, it may not work if we are too close to each other," he says watching her walk towards the door.
"Let me know when you have finished activating your amulet."

Ellowyndriel nods. "All right, I will knock three times against the side of the smithy when I am ready! Then you do something, and when you are done, activate your amulet and then give me a wave and I will do something. Then I will return, and we will see if we saw!" Ellowynriel chuckles, and leaves the smithy-- closing the door behind her. She looks both ways-- phew! No one around for now. She walks a few feet, places her back against the wall, and holds the amulet in her hands, concentrating and moving her lips. The stone starts glittering, and then quickly turns into a screen that shows the inside of the smithy. Ellowyndriel quickly knocks three times against the side of the wooden building, and watches to see what Amon does.

Amon walks over to a rack and takes down a sword he gives it a couple of swings and puts it back. He then looks down at the amulet and waves at it. "If you can see me knock again," he whipsers.

Ellowyndriel laughs delightedly that so far everything is working to perfection, and knocks against the wall three more times.

Amon nods, "Alright, my turn. You do something out there and I'll knock when I see you," he says walking towards the wall.

Ellowyndriel smiles, and then thinks for a moment. She rubs her hands together, moves away from the wall, backs up a few steps, and then runs forward and does a handspring back round-off followed by a back-flip. She smiles-- flushed-- and flips her ponytail back as she hurries back to the wall to listen for the knocks.

Amon walks out of the smithy and nods at Ellowyndriel. He lets his amulet fall to his chest and stands the looking at her with a strange smile on his face.
"You know I do not appreciate you upstaging me like that," he says with a chuckle. "Nice acrobatics. Where did you learn that?"

Ellowyndriel throws her head back and laughs. "Oh Amon, you may not mean to, but you constantly entertain me! If only I had thought about it ealier, I could have tried to teach it to you! I learned it from our House fighting coach long ago. She said that a woman's advantage is her quickness and agility, whereas a man's is his strength and dexterity, so instead of teaching us to try to beat a man with strength, she taught us how to dodge and strike when it is to our advantage!" Ellowyndriel places her hands on her hips and smiles, happy to discuss fighting-techniques.

"Truly, perhaps when next we meet you could teach me. I cannot do certain things," he says looking down at his leg. "Other techniques however would be quite useful," he says leaning on his cane.
"I am starving from all that. Let us go for dinner."

Ellowyndriel feels like smacking her head and moaning a string of apologies as she is reminded of Amon's crippled leg, but nods energetically, instead. "Oh yes, there is much I could teach you, although magic may be a stronger point for you! Still, it is good to learn all one can in this life. Wait one moment while I gather my things..."
Ellowyndriel disappears into the smithy for a moment, and then returns with her bag of tools and scrap-metal tied up, slings it over her shoulder, and cocks her head at Amon with a grin. "All right, Amon, where are we going to eat?"

Amon considers a moment rubbing his chin.
"I know of a place," he says as he begins to walk down the street.
"The food is good and the wine even better." He says.

Ellowyndriel smiles. "Sounds wonderful!" She follows Amon as he leads them to the place he has in mind. Something is nagging at her mind, and she decides she should ask him about it the minute they're sitting down and have ordered.

Amon leads her to a local tavern. As they enter they can see a crowd of people sitting and talking and being merry. They sit in a corner table and Amon waves the waitress over.

Ellowyndriel smiles and watches Amon order when suddenly it hits her that this might be their last dinner together in a long while, and her smile fades as her face pales even more, and her eyes turn a very, very dark blue-- so blue that they might be mistaken for black. She sits back in a deep funk until it's her turn to order, and then she musters the best false smile she can muster and places her order. When she's finished ordering, she stares off into space as if in a trance-- not noticing the waitress leave at all.

Amon looks over the crowd and leans back. He sits there awhile waiting for Ellowyndriel to say something. When she doesn't he leans over and looks at her, seeing her eyes go blue.
"What is the matter?"

Ellowyndriel finally blinks at the sound of Amon's voice, and musters another tiny smile. Her eye-color lightens slightly so the blue is more dominant.
"Oh do not mind me, Amon-- I was just suddenly realizing that this might be our last dinner together in quite a while, and it made me very sad. I will get to see my children again...my beautiful Gwendolyn and my poor Corrander...and I will have the priveledge to deliver the news to the Seneschal that the freehold has been avenged, but then I will probably have to interact with my husband..." Ellowyndriel sighs. "I suppose I am just being selfish. The Seneschal and families of the victims need to have the news, and my children need their mother...from time to time..." Ellowyndriel sinks back into her chair again and crosses her hands on the table.

"I see," he says. "Well then. Let us have a good time here and not think about when we part ways tomorrow." He takes his amulet and touches it.
"The amulets worked perfectly. I wonder if I will be able to see you in the Dreaming?"

Ellowyndriel feels a little better when she hears Amon's interest in looking for her while she's in the Dreaming, and sits back up with a small genuine smile on her face.
"That is a very good question...I have never tried to scry on someone in the mortal world from the Dreaming, or vice versa. I have a feeling I will have to step out of the Dreaming to use my amulet, but I will try it from the Dreaming first! In fact..." Ellowyndriel leans forward and crosses her arms on the table, "...how about if I contact you right before I enter the Dreaming, then try it from the Dreaming, and then if it does not work, I will come back out again to say farewell?"

"That is a good plan. It would be useful to know if it worked across the Dreaming. This way I could contact you when I have a few months to myself." Amon leans back making sure Ellowyndriel sees him smile.

Ellowyndriel stares at Amon openly, her mouth opening. She tries to say something, but when she moves her lips, nothing comes out. She feels her eyes tearing up, and quickly looks down. She doesn't want Amon to think she's reacting negatively to his suggestion, and so she forces her voice to speak.
"Amon...I would love that more than you know. I pray that these amulets DO work through the Dreaming, else I will le..." she looks up at Amon's face and suddenly remembers Issa, and her throat closes up quickly. She looks back down at her hands. "If they do not work that way, I will have to rely on your amulet letting me know if it is a good time to visit you or not." she murmurs quietly, wiping quickly at her eyes.

Amon nods quietly. He sits back in silence for a time and soon the waitress brings their food. Amon picks at his food and glances over at Ellowyndriel.

Ellowyndriel picks at her food and glances up at Amon. Suddenly she's reminded of the question she wanted to ask him, and is relieved she has a topic to bring up to end the silence.
"Amon...you said that it would be bad to disturb you when you "were resting." I have a feeling you were not talking about sleeping. Am I right?" Ellowyndriel slices a piece of bread off the loaf they are sharing while watching his face.

"Ah, I mean when my body dies and I rest in the other lands before I return," he says as he takes another bite.

Ellowyndriel's eyes open wide, and she stops cutting the bread. "What?? What do you mean? 'Body dies?' 'Other lands??'" Ellowyndriel looks alarmed.

Amon chuckles and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Relax, Ellowyndriel. It happens to all my kind. We have a...life force or energy. And when we use our magic, over time it diminishes. So our bodies die, while that energy replenishes. We aren't harmed by this at all," he says and takes a drink. "And when our energy has returned, our spirit comes back to our bodies and we live again."

Ellowyndriel continues to stare at Amon in surprise, and then slowly starts nodding. "Very interesting...SCARY--" Ellowyndriel shakes the cutting knife at Amon reprovingly. "-- but very interesting. I suppose there has to be some kind of price to pay..." Ellowyndriel pauses to think again. "Amon...when your body dies and your energy is replenishing somewhere, where is your body?? Surely people would notice it laying there where it died and...oh, I do not know, bury it or worse!"

Amon chuckles again. "My body could be burned and scattered to the winds, and I would still come back in time," Amon frowns, "It would take a little longer, but I would be back. Consider my body as a shell that only houses my energy. It matters little what happens to it."

Ellowyndriel hands Amon a piece of bread, and then begins cutting another. "But still...your body laying there! I do not want to see it desecrated-- even if it does not matter what happens to it! Could you enchant your amulet to notify me in the case of your...your death??" Ellowyndriel stops cutting again and looks pleadingly at Amon.

Amon looks at her bemusedly. "Ellowyndriel, stop this worrying. When I die my body is taken care of. I have already taken steps to ensure it is well taken care of when I die. Please trouble yourself no further."

Ellowyndriel sighs and blows a piece of hair away from her face frustratedly as she resumes cutting bread. "Fine, do not let me help...let some strangers help who could not do as fine a job as I could..." she mutters under her breath, and then butters the bread and takes a chomp out of it. She continues muttering to herself for a moment, and then glances up-- her eyes red-brown.
"Well then I only have two more questions. First, how long is it from the time you die until the time your body re-animates? Second, will you have your amulet send me a different signal when you are...are dead, rather than indisposed? It would put my mind at rest to know what is happening."
Ellowyndriel takes a long swallow of white wine, and then another bite of bread while watching Amon's face.

Amon sighs and sits back folding his arms.
"It is usually a century or so. And yes the amulet will send you a signal to let you know that I am away from my body," he says.
"Now let us away from this morbid conversation."

Ellowyndriel feels her bottom lip begin to quiver, and takes another bite out of her bread. Throwing back her head proudly, she chews and swallows, and then takes another swallow of wine. "All right...I am sorry Amon. Let us talk about happier things." Ellowyndriel takes another quick swallow of wine, and then chuckles.
"Could you believe what that merchant was saying about his Egyptian goods?? The 'ancient vessels of a pharoah?' HA! Even I could tell that it was common pottery that he mostly likely bought off a merchant in Cairo, or stole from a housewife's cabinet!"

Amon laughs a genuine laugh and smiles.
"Yes yes, that 'ancient vessel' looked as if it were made last week!" He says laughing still.

The two spend the rest of the night drinking and laughing. They speak of their adventures from Egypt to Londinium well unto the morning hours. In the morning, more worse for the drink, the two make their way out of the city towards a secluded clearing in the woods.

When Ellowyndriel decides that they are in a completely secluded spot, she feels her heart grow heavy, and turns to face Amon. In her full set of faery plate-armor with her great-sword Petrus' Fist sheathed on her back, her large pack slung over her shoulder, and her head held high with the wind gently swirling her hair, she makes quite the regal and awe-inspiring portrait. Her amulet glints suddenly in the sunlight as it lays on her breastplate, and she takes a deep breath.
"All right...I will open a portal to the ruins of the freehold in Caernarfon, step through, and then open a trod to the Dreaming. It will all only take a few seconds, and then I will attempt to contact you with the amulet. If I get no response within a minute, I will step back into the mortal world and attempt to contact you again." Ellowyndriel tries to keep her face composed, but it's taking all her willpower to do it.

Amon nods and walks over to her. He smiles at her and takes her hand and shakes it. He smiles again.
"You have been a boon companion, Ellowyndriel. I shall miss our talks. Farewell, until we meet again." he says.

Ellowyndriel cannot hold the tears in any longer, and begins to sob. She covers her face in shame, and turns her back, unable to control her emotions for the moment. Amon can see her shoulders shake, and hear the sobs as Ellowyndriel fights the hardest battle she's ever fought in her life. She nearly threw herself into his arms, but to feel him stiffen coldly in her arms and not return the embrace-- as she knows he would do-- would be the final break in her heart, and she could not stand that. She continues facing away in horror that she was so weak, and fearful of Amon's reaction, as she reaches into her pack for a bottle of liquid with a misting-device on top that she can squeeze to dispense the liquid into the air as vapor. She holds the bottle in her hands and stares at it as the sobs finally reduce to sniffles.

Amon nods and turns away. He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly and quietly walks back to Londinium. Once he is far enough away he turns to watch.

Ellowyndriel hears him leave, and looks up at the sun-- her face a mask of torment-- as the last tears run down her cheeks. She stares at the sky for a moment, blinking and trying to control her breathing, and then holds the bottle out and squirts the liquid-- rainwater she collected at her dead freehold when it was once thriving-- into the shape of a door, steps through the mist, and disappears from Amon's view.
She steps out into the clean air of Caernarfon, Cambria, immediately smelling the sea, and feeling that she has returned home. She looks around at the ruins of her former freehold, and her face takes on a look of defiance as she remembers proudly what she and Amon did to avenge themselves on the Bali. She puts the bottle of rainwater back into her pack, holds her hands out, concentrates and speaks several words, and suddenly a gateway opens before her. She steps through, and the gateway closes. Standing in the Dreaming now, she removes her amulet and holds it in her fist. Suppose it DOES work in the Dreaming, but Amon doesn't answer because of her little display? She considers putting the amulet back on and not even trying it, but if Amon is waiting, that would be rude to just leave him waiting, and a Sidhe countess is NEVER rude!
She closes her eyes, speaks the name "Amon"-- being a name of power as it is his true name-- and waits. The stone glints in the light, but nothing happens. Ellowyndriel feels her heart sink, but then reminds herself that she was quite sure it wouldn't work. She steps back from the Dreaming into the mortal world again, concentrates on the amulet, and again speaks the name Amon.

Amon hears his name called and he takes the amulet and looks into it. He smiles at her image. "I am here, are you in the Dreaming?"

Ellowyndriel feels great relief flood through her, and smiles for the first time since waking up that morning. "No...unfortunately it did not work in the Dreaming, as I feared it would not. I am back in the mortal city Caernarfon. I am glad it works from this distance! Can you hear me OK?"

"As if you were right next to me." he says with a smile. "Good they work perfectly."

Ellowyndriel nods, and her face grows serious. "Amon...please forgive me for that outburst back there. I am horrible with good-byes, and I miss you terribly already..." Ellowyndriel quickly shuts up before she sticks her foot in her mouth again. "Anyhow, am I forgiven? Do you still want me to visit from time to time-- emotional embarrassment that I am?" Ellowyndriel laughs nervously.

Amon gives her a half-smile and nods. "There is nothing to forgive. Don't worry, next time you visit, I'll emotionally embarass you," he says and gives her wink.

Ellowyndriel laughs and shakes her head. "Oh Amon!" she exclaims and laughs again. Then she looks down at the ground and smiles a bemused smile, and then looks back into the amulet. "I had better be going...I have to report to the Seneschal, and many others." Ellowyndriel swallows. "Until we meet again, Amon, be safe, and good luck. I do not want to have to wait 100 years to see you again while your energy builds up because you allowed yourself to be killed!" Ellowyndriel puts her fingers to her lips and then holds her hand up as a gesture of friendship and farewell.

Amon smiles as she waves and the amulet winks out. Overhead the dark clouds that have been threatening begin to rain cold wet drops. Amon stands there a good long moment staring into the amulet. He touches it's surface, sighs, then puts it back on. Turning around he begins to walk back to town.
"I am sorry, Ellowyndriel, I am sorry. Perhaps...in a different life."

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