Princess Naineh

In the darkness a candle burns and there sits Alnor, head of history and scribes, sorting through countless books and parchments copying the history of Arianus into the Royal tombs... He lays his head in his hands and sighs, rubbing his eyes.. it has been a long day Looking up he sees in the corner a book bound in leather... He can tell by its appearance it is not of Elvin makings... intrigued he stands to investigate. Walking over he picks up the book and examines it, the title reads "Elfling" Alnor returns to the table moving the candle stick closer and sits... opening the book he begins to read...

~7th moon of the Spring Equinox my 60th turn
Today we of the Maralite Gypsies came across a sad sight.. a carriage was crushed and the bodies scattered about.. broken limbs and shattered skulls... Twas a sad sight indeed, but we are strong and used to such things and went into the rubble to search for anything useful. I came across the body of a young elf woman and around her neck was a pendant made of silver and gold, now I thought it curious that this trinket would still be here on her body and so reached out with care to touch it. Upon contact, I cried out in horror, for I saw all that had befallen these people and felt their pain.. the magic was strong. After a moment the pain stopped, and a bright light blinded me. When my vision cleared I found that I was standing in a clearing... to my right in the bushes was a box. I searched the box over but there was no opening or lock to be found. In my mind I heard a whisper.. faint but there and it startled me, "Take care of the child Naineh... her destiny is great... do not fail her..." I looked about distraught... I new the child was in the box but knew not how to retrieve her. I called out softly, reassuringly... "Naineh, child, I wish to free you but I know not how.. remain calm I will help you..." I jumped back in surprise as the box began to glow... it opened slowly and there stood the most beautiful child I had ever seen... she too wore the silver and gold pendant, and it seemed to glow slightly. She was slight as elves are but taller it seemed than most her age.. for she was young. Her hair hung long pulled back by a single band of silver and her coloring... startled me Her hair was violet and streaked with silver... her large frightened eyes were a deep pool of dark amythest framed by long lashes and her skin was so pale... like milk. I was amazed I had never seen such an elf. She reached up and touched the pendant around her neck and nodded... then said in a soft voice..."Lady... you will care for me? I must retrieve the pendant from my nurse... you must wear it always" I was so stunned I had no idea what to say. She took my hand and led me calmly back to my people and the bodies of hers. She bowed down and hugged her nurse and then removed the pendant from her throat and handed it to me... looking at me with those dark eyes pleading, I knew I must take on this responsibility and watch over her. I took the pendant and placed it around my neck... I felt the immediate connection to the child... we could feel each other and I was shocked at the pain I felt coming from such a small soul.

With this Alnor marks the page and closes the book... he must sleep though his mind races with questions his eyes will allow him to continue no further. He sighs and stacks his papers and books neatly then carries the book off with him to his chambers. The next morning Alnor tends to his duties then sits down to read once more, he reads a nearly day-by-day description of his Empress and her growth. Intrigued he continues to read throughout the day. One particular excerpt catches his attention...

~Beltane, my 70th turn
My dearest Nain is now a young woman... she is fine to the eye and has many talents having learned all of our magics, she hungers for more. She is now on her 22nd turn, they have passed by so quickly. She is trained up as every good Gypsy girl is and seems to have quite an affinity for our ways. That girl could charm the pants off of a priest, and her use of daggers is just short of amazing, she is quicker than the eye� I am so proud her! She dances like the river, graceful and flowing, tis a healing for her soul I think, for in her dance you can feel all that she is and struggles to become. I know she does not forget about her past, for the medallions we still wear and I can still feel her as she can me. She has grown restless of late and I fear it may be time to return her to her people, I shall miss her if she goes, she does my heart good. though she could never be mistaken as my daughter she is as such to me, and will always be a Maralite Gypsy, though her blood be Elven and she move on to her destiny end. The festivities are drawing near a close and this old crow must rest, I hope to give her these memories as a parting gift when she leaves me...

Alnor sighs and closes the book once more his eyes refusing him the knowledge hidden within until the next day. He is nearing the end and anxious to see what happened. He takes care of his personal needs then still deep in thought lays down to rest.

Throughout the next few days Alnor finishes the pages of the journal ending with the return of his Empress to the kingdom of Arianus. He sits there pondering and decides he will now add a most important part of history both for the kingdom and for his beloved Empress. The marriage of Empress Naineh to the most honorable Lord WoodsRunner, Magnus Imperium, Ruler of Isle of Mist, son of Lord MoonCrow. He works long into the hours of the night and sends a pageboy to the resident artist asking he make a miniature drawing of "The Proposal" which was created and presented to them as a gift from the great artist Nik'Affo. Finally after a week of writing he finishes and the drawing arrives... he then places it within the book so that none shall forget their love...

Once more Alnor takes a seat and opens that book to record the happenings of his Empress...

Tis sad indeed our Lord WoodsRunner has passed and left our Empress an expecting widow, the days pass and her sickness is finally lessening, her supple body becoming round with child. Having returned today she has announced to the house that she be blessed with twins and though we all rejoiced we were saddened as well for she must raise the fruits of her love alone...

As the time passes Alnor adds more and more detailing the pregnancy and the difficult times had by his Empress from warring to espionage and the trials she must face.

Empress Naineh gave birth this day! Twins, a female and male child... beautiful to behold. The female named HeavenLei and affectionately called Lei for short. She sports silver tresses streaked with violet her colorings the opposite her mothers. Dark amethyst eyes streaked with silver creating a sometimes eerily look. She was first born and blessed with lungs to spare! The second born a young male, called MoonRunner; named in honor of his father and grandfather, was almost lost to us. A handsome child, strongly resembling his sire. Chestnut brown hair with a single streak of silver... intense emerald eyes. A quite child, truly a blessing on all our ears!

After a time Alnor sits smiling as he looks over the book before adding once again...

Mayhaps my Empress will find a love once more, a high elven man of stature and grace. Though he not be her love and our Lord he seems a worthy man. Who knows perhaps one day we shall see what the gods have in store for them... meanwhile the babes continue to grow rapidly! I fear the days when they can really walk about!

And so the book is once more opened to record these sad tidings...

Though our hopes of love be rekindled for our majesty, it seems that her heart would have none. She has sworn forever to remain faithful to her lost Lord and love� We wish only for her happiness and yet are found here to be quite melancholy. Our great Empress has been cast into a deep sleep from which she cannot it seems be awakened! Her children do grow into a fine young pair of elves. Her daughter's beauty only rivaled by her mothers, her son�s only rivaled by his father. We pray that the gods would return to us our Mistress, our Sovereign soon.

The next entry of the book is written in fast bold strokes...

My lady has awakened! She has returned to us from her long sleep in good health though abnormally pale. In the time of her absence the children have grown so quickly, each taking full controls of their kingdoms, their regents no longer needed. Since her return she has taken over the sisterhood of the Amazons, they have which have flourished under her guidance. Much joy and feasting are being held this night in celebrations of our Lady's full recovery!

Arnor sighs and slowly sits in the chair his ancient body near death as he begins his entry.

Strange magicks have afflicted the land and our Empress as well as the children and the Lady Cassiandora have dissapeared into aparently another realm. Nalani, the lady in waiting is strong in her mental abilities... and she could sense them in a seperate plane. She came out of her trance crying out frantically speaking of an aged Heavenlei attacking Empress Naineh... none of it makes sense and we are again at a loss.

A middle aged man enters the old scribes office and looks around with sad eyes. He takes a seat and skims the tomb of his Empress. He runs his hands lovingly over the pages before taking up the quill and writing...

Arnor passed from us in his sleep a fortnight ago, I Remral have taken his place as Head Scribe and shall continue in the recordings of the great Arian family.

Much has happened, our Lady has discovered that the Lady Nevaehlei her twin was not indeed dead as believed for so many hundreds of years. She is the keeper of a sacred land. She is the Banshee, a powerful woman not at all like our Mistress in disposition, but identical in looks to our young Mistress Heavenlei. Peace has come to the kingdom now that they have reconciled... The Lady Cassiandora and Heavenlei have embarked on a quest which has left our Empress somewhat meloncholy though not deoressed as she has been in times past.

Remral closes the book and sets the place to his liking before going on about his studies