[OOC] This is the first time that I'm undertaking something like this, so if I mess up, please bear with me
[OOC]
[OOC] Also, this is, I think, sort of a love story. So if you're not interested in those, you have been warned.
Eylin doesn't only tell love stories though, so you might like the next one better. [OOC]
Eylin's First Tale - Listen to You Heart
Part 1
As it was on most evenings, Kada-El's was packed. There was a comfortable atmosphere that lazed about the tavern. Mugs clinked, beers sloshed, patrons talked; their chatter mingling into that background noise that can be heard in all busy, cheerful places.
A hooded figure slipped through the doors, seemingly unnoticed by all. It made its way towards the corner table, seated itself and, judging by the familiar nod that it gave Kada-El's questioning glance, whoever it was came here regularly.
A mug of liquid that glistened like rubies was set before it.
The hood hid any distinguishing features, masking the wearer very effectively. Although the figure was obviously not of the dwarf or kran race, few other details were noticeable, even to the particularly observant eye.
The figure sat in silence. The laughter and clamour died down and eventually, all attention was on the sole occupant of the corner table.
"Give us a story, Eylin!" boomed a deep voice from the back.
Murmurs of argreement to the request echoed around the tavern.
Eylin tilted her head. The hood bathed her face in shadows, making only her mouth and chin visible. Darkness seemed to cling about her shoulders and arms, hiding the small hands and slender fingers that clasped her mug.
Her mouth curved into a smile.
With a voice like liquid silver, she began her tale the way she always did:
"Be it like tinder
Or be it like gold?
It depends on the manner
In which the tale is told."
Jilla opened her eyes sleepily. Something had awakened her. She sat up and stretched, just as a pebble hit her window pane. She pulled off the bedclothes, swung her feet onto the floor and crept towards the window. Brushing her blonde hair out of her eyes, she leaned out the window to see a youth, with wildly curly brown hair, of about the same age as she was waving at her madly. She laughed and waved back.
The wind snatched her hair and whipped it about her head, creating the perfect frame for her beautiful, young face.
The youth below her window motioned for her to come down, but she shook her head no. She laughed as he made exaggerated pleading gestures and finally, blue eyes shining the the crystal itself, she gave in.
She quietly opened her bedroom door, crept down the ornate wooden stairs, past expensive pottery and sculptures, through the kitchen and, after unlocking the back door with the heavy key that hung on the hook next to it, she snuck out and closed the heavy door behind her softly.
The wind tugged her hair and clothing playfully as Jilla breathed the fresh night air in deeply. She gazed at the velvet sky; the crystal seemed brighter tonight than it ususally was.
She loved night-time in Hydlaa. Everything always seemed magical and made you feel as though you could do anything, be anyone.
Jilla sighed.
She didn't want to move to the family living in the lower levels. She didn't want to go with her parents and siblings. She wanted to stay in Hydlaa. To travel to the Bronze Doors. To explore the Stone Labyrinths. And most of all, she wanted to stay with Yeotri.
She sighed again, but then brightened. Tonight was her last night in Hydlaa and she intended to enjoy it to the fullest. Giving herself a little shake as though to shake off all her melancholy feelings, she jumped over the fenced and bounded up to Yeotri.
"Finally," he smiled.
Jilla smiled too. "Let' go."
"Where to, my queen?" Yeotri teased.
After swatting at him playfully, she replied "Let's go explore those caves by the lake. We never finished after you were scared by that familiar."
"Now I'm the one that was scared; I could have sworn that it was you..." Yeotri pondered deeply with mock seriousness.
Jilla purposefully ignored his last comment and instead she asked him whether he had a light glyph with him. He did and the two set off into the night.
Sunlight filtered into Jilla's bedroom, making its way across the floor, an armchair and a vanity table to Jilla's bed. Awakened by the light, Jilla groaned and covered her eyes with one hand. She was exhausted and her body hurt all over, but she supposed that one has to be willing to pay the price if one wants to go gallavanting about caves all night.
She heard footsteps coming down the hall. A friendly stonebreaker with a kindly face and smiling eyes poked her head around the door.
"I see you're already awake, dear. Well. I just thought I'd come along and make sure that you're up."
The old woman smiled.
"Today's the big day, you know... I'll miss you dreadfully when you go."
Jilla gave a half-nod and, seeing how upset she was, the kindly dwarf sat down beside her on the crumpled, unmade bed.
"What's wrong, dearie?"
Jilla sighed.
"I don't want to go. I want to stay here."
"Come now, Jilla. You're a smart girl and you know better than to sulk around, wishing for the impossible. You know that you have to go. Your father won't let you stay. You're a beautiful young girl and he isn't about to let you roam the streets. And with good reason too."
Jilla gave a sardonic smile and replied bitterly, "He doesn't care about me, only about the bride price."
The old dwarf tutted.
"Now, now, dear. You know that isn't true. Your fater does care for you, he's just not very good at showing it. You know that one of the reasons for moving there is that you have many rich, young nolthrir cousins."
"If he cares for me he could show it by letting me stay here! And I'm far too young to marry anyway."
The wrinkled dwarf shook her head.
"Not by most dermorian and nolthrir standards, dear."
Jilla looked away and blinked hard in an effort to rid herself of the tears that were already adorning her lashes. The dwarf bit her lip in consternation. She never could understand the, wild, hot-blooded girls of nowadays, even though she loved Jilla like her own daughter. She herself had been a very simple girl, easy to manage. She put her hand on Jilla's arm.
"Even if you could stay here, where would you live? What would you eat? Who would look after you?" she gently tried to talk sense into her young charge.
"I..I could..." Jilla paused, desperately searching every corner of her mind for an answer.
"I could, erm, work. As a waitress or something. You could look after me, and Yeotri too."
The woman shook her head.
"Now, dear, we both know that plan isn't feasible. Firstly, being the daughter off a well-known merchant, you haven't done a day's work in your life. Secondly," she hesitated and then continued, "Yeotri, well, he is a boy of the streets. Boys like him don't always understand basic morals and values like honesty an loyal-"
Jilla jumped up, eyes flashing.
"What are you implying? Yeotri is one of the most trustworthy and honest people that I know! He has never lied to me or broken a promise. And he does honest work, at a smithy. He's a good, hard-working boy. Anyone who knows him or works with him will tell you that he's a diligent worker. We've been best friends since, since, since forever. Don't tell me that he's not to be trusted."
The dwarf raised her hands in a placating gesture and then dropped her hands to her lap, looking hurt.
"I apologize, Lady Jilla. I was speaking out of place and not thinking what I was saying."
Dismayed at what her outburst had done to her dwarven friend, Jilla knelt before the short woman and took her hands.
"No. I'm sorry. You were only trying to help and I thank you for that, my dear friend. It's just, "
She stood up and strode to the window. The dermorian girl leaned against its pane, frustration written all over her lovely face. She hung her head and turned back towards the dwarf.
"I'll finish packing."
The old woman squeezed her arm, gave a sympathetic smile and left.
