[center][h3]Auriëlle[/h3][/center]
Auriëlle was getting close to Ha-Dûna, though she suspected the route she was told to take had been much longer than it need be. Curse those damn travelers. Why did they have to send her all the way up the high, rocky hills? Eventually, she caught sight of the place from atop a cliff. After one look she already hated it. The fields were just thrown around with seemingly wild abandon. Then again, you had no choice in a gods forsaken place like this. From her vantage point, she could see the various peasants tending the fields and filling their granaries. She felt a little happier, knowing that she never had to live as a farmer. These days, if someone told her to pick up a sickle she would have burned a field before the day was over. At the center, she saw a sizable town and a palisade core. After that there was just forest. “Should’ve chopped or burned that.” Auriëlle muttered to herself. The forest would’ve given more even ground to grow food on. But this was the land of druids. They lived in peace and harmony with the world.
 
What a load of deeply spiritualist, complacent crap that was. Druids could help grow fields and talk to the wild-life. Why the hell would they choose to live here? Screw it, it wasn’t her decision. She didn’t have to suffer living here. She only had to be there for a day maybe. Hopefully less.
 
She took the slow and winding path down the cliff. The closer she got to the town, the more she was blending in with the common pilgrims visiting the megaliths of the gods. Auriëlle ignored everyone and began to wander around the town. The language was utterly comprehensible, even though she knew it Ketrefian influences. The accents made it sound like they'd thrown Ketrefian into a mangle grinder and then let it soak in pig fat. She kept away from the palisade core for. Something there just felt…off. She knew druids wouldn’t harm a fly but it felt like that was the problem. Perhaps worse were the children constantly running about and playing. There were just far too many of those things around. Finally, she found someone dressed like a druid.
 
“You, druid. I need some answers.” Auriëlle approached the druid with a rather brusque demeanor.
 
The girl Auriëlle addressed looked up. She couldn't be older than seventeen. “Oh, I’m not a druid. Just a simple apprentice. What can I do for you?” She said with a much too cheery voice.
 
“I need a druid. Like yesterday. I need answers.” Auriëlle said though she began to question why she was so harsh. Perhaps it was the place. It was playing tricks on her. Something was wrong here, she felt it in her skin.
 
The apprentice didn’t seem to be bothered at all though. Which only made Auriëlle feel even more bothered. “Not a problem!” She said. “Follow me, I will bring you to the main hall where you can meet a druid.” With enthusiasm and almost a skip in her steps, she led Auriëlle through the palisade gates. “And these-“ She said as she spun around and swung her arms open, with the great stones of the gods behind her. “-are the megaliths!” She spun around and began to point out each one and which god it was dedicated to. When the stood amid the dolmen, she turned to Auriëlle. “Why do you require a druid?” She asked as she guided Auriëlle towards the courtyard with the megaliths.
 
Auriëlle was about to say that it was none of her business. Except it was her business. “I've got questions about the gods. The questions are-” It were questions she didn't trust with a city's priest. "-sensitive." She answered as she kept her eyes on those carved to the likeness of Oraelia. “Wonderful! I will notify the concerning druid. Please wait here.” The young girl said.
 
Auriëlle nodded in affirmation and began to walk around the courtyard. The tributes to the gods were stunning, even she had to admit that. She recognized some, like Oraelia who the druids called Reiya. Other had been foreign to her until she had talked to a druid, about a year ago. Like Mascal and Seeros. Though she saw the great stones more as a testament of how powerful mankind was. They had raised those stones, not the gods.
 
“A druid will talk to you when he has the time. Should you require a place to stay, the hall of the weary always has a bed free for a pilgrim such as you. Perhaps I could show you?” the apprentice asked, with a gentle, caring smile.
 
Auriëlle didn’t trust it. Druids talked to animals. What if they had a snake in her bed already? There was no reason to suspect they wanted her dead and druids rarely hurt anyone. But then again she probably sinned against half their rules in the last seven years already. “I’ll stay here.” She said with a very short tone. “Thank you.”
 
The apprentice let out a small sigh and walked away. For a few minutes, Auriëlle felt alone and good. A stranger amongst the other strangers waiting in the courtyard. Either marveling at the megaliths or waiting for a druid to talk to them. Auriëlle kept pacing between the rocks. This place was having a strange effect on her. The air was too thick. Like it tried to suffocate her. It wasn’t just that. It was the general niceness. People were smiling, handing out food and water like it was nothing. They were so friendly. Having lived alone, then with Carn and his mercenaries and then on the road alone again had made her suspicious of anyone who helped others too much.
 
“A cup, my lady? It’s water from the basin of the weary.” The apprentice returned holding a wooden cup in her hands, offering it up to Auriëlle. The water was see-through and thoroughly pure. “I assure you that it will do you much good because… well, apologies for my directness but you seem gaunt. You must have been traveling for-“
 
“I don’t want your water!” Auriëlle snapped as she slapped the cup out of the apprentice’s hands. The outburst garnered a lot of attention. Guards armed with spears approached. Auriëlle took a deep breath. “Bring it.” She whispered to herself. Ready to cast her magic and erase those guards from existence. Consequences be damned. At least she would feel good for one bloody moment in the place.
 
Yet as she was making herself read, the apprentice held out her hand to the guards. “No need, no need.” She slowly said as she picked up the cup from the ground. “I-I think I have been a bit to insistent.” She told the guards. They shared a look. Auriëlle knew it well. “I assure you, I’m fine. I don’t think our guest means any trouble.”
 
It took every fiber in Auriëlle's body to shake her head.
 
“Very well then. Return to your post, brave guards.” She told them, and they did. The attention wore down. Still, the apprentice approached Auriëlle again. “Apologies if I gave any offense, my lady. I meant none. I just-“
 
“You wanted to help." Auriëlle cut her off. “I get it but I don’t need your help. I never had any help. I just need a druid and answers.” Auriëlle didn’t look the apprentice in the eyes though. Shame began to eat her up alive. They meant no offense. No pain. The apprentice only offered comfort. She was just being nice.
 
The girl backed away and seemingly returned to her duties. The guards kept an eye on her, as did several pilgrims. She didn’t care. All she had to do now was to sit down on a bench and wait until a druid came to see her. Hopefully, that would happen soon.
 
Hours passed. Pilgrims were met, guided inside and waved off again. The sun had long since reached its peak. The courtyard was becoming empty as the shadows grew long. Many of them retreated into the resthouses. Farmers outside returned to their cottages. Only a handful of guards remained outside. Them and Auriëlle, who hadn’t moved from her bench.
 
“Are you sure you don’t want to sleep at one of the resthouses? I can ask around. Surely some of them would still have a nice, comfortable bed.” A now familiar voice said behind her.
 
Auriëlle turned to face the apprentice. “You don’t give up, do you?”
 
“I don’t.” She said with a slightly self-assured smile. “Kaer Harla says that’s one of my strengths. I never give up.”
 
Auriëlle let out a sigh. Just her luck. She talked to an apprentice who never knew when to quit. “What’s your name?” Auriëlle asked.

“Sennah.”

“And you’re an apprentice. You druid apprentices have to serve people, right?” Auriëlle continued.
 
“Yup! It teaches us many of the druidic values!” the apprentice answered.
 
“Good. Then serve me this way: go home and get a good night’s sleep.” Auriëlle said.
 
“But-“
 
“No.” Auriëlle was using the same tone she used to use on the Redspears now. “Go. Home, Sennah. Be with your parents. Or the one you love. Stop trying to help a bitter girl like me.”
 
She looked as if she wanted to protest again, but then quickly turned around and walked away.
 
Auriëlle let out a deep sigh and stretched herself out over the bench. Maybe she could close her eyes for a little while? Just to let her body rest. She did so, let her body relax for a moment. It felt good. Until she janked up again. She didn’t hear the usual hammering of smithies or gambling going on. No the courtyard was just completely quiet. Which was just wrong. It was the wrong place to even close your eyes. So she got up again and waited. No druid would talk to her now, probably. Yet she still waited.
 
Boredom soon caught her. Auriëlle began to walk around the courtyard. Inspecting the megaliths one by one. Eventually she sat down against the one of the World Tree and faced those of Gibbou, Oraelia, Mascal, and Seeros. She let out a chuckle. “Dear Oraelia…” She began in mock prayer. She even held her hands together. Though her eyes remained wide open. “Is this the life you had envisioned for me? Or did you never look my way? I’m not sure what would be worse: my life going exactly as you planned or you just not caring. Maybe it’s according to one of the other god’s plan? I don’t know.”
 
She then turned to the megalith of Gibbou. “Do you hate me now for being up this late? Druids told me you like it when people sleep at night. Maybe you just pity me. I know your druids do. They might think I can’t see them peering with those sad little eyes of them. Can you see in my head what I want to do to those eyes? If so, can you see all the other things as well?”
 
Then she turned to Mascal. “They say you made the world beautiful. Colorful. Vibrant. Happy. Those are the words they use for you. I don’t see it. They say you love dancing. I’ve never danced. Maybe it's you who cursed me that fateful day. Tell me Macsal, are you in the habit of dumping obelisks?” As if in answer, Auriëlle could hear the wolves howl outside in the wild. Above she could swear the inky colored sky moved a little faster. Though she chalked it up to coincidence.
 
It was all mockery. Pure mockery. As if the gods would respond. Though she then turned to the megalith of Firinn. “For you I only have questions. what’s my truth? Am I blessed by a god? If so, what god?” She wasn’t sure if she would thank him or hate him. She let her hands fall to her side again. What use was praying? Even if the gods were listening, why would they answer her?

[color=gold]“A mortal life is a precious thing, Auriëlle.”[/color] Came a sad voice inside her head, followed by a gentle warmth, small but steady. The voice spoke again, [color=gold]“What would life be if not the choices we make of it? I do not control you. Life was not made to be enslaved by some predetermined fate. You were born free, to be as who you wanted to be as you grew. As you grow.”[/color] The voice paused before continuing, [color=gold]”I have always cared for you and I will always care for you. Since the moment you drew your first breath, until the moment your eyes shut. It is my sacred charge to care and protect life, sworn before the world flourished, before the green, before the mountains and before the seas came to be.”[/color] The warmth became light, growing brighter as the voice spoke, before fluctuating again as it continued on, [color=gold]”Not every prayer comes with an answer. Not every answer is the one wanted to be heard. Such is the nature of divinity. But you have called and now I have answered. I am Oraelia, Goddess of Life, and I have heard your cry.”[/color]

For a minute Auriëlle thought a druid was playing tricks on her. She even had her copper dagger pulled half-way out. Yet that light, that warmth in her mind, it couldn’t be mistaken. It was godly in every sense of the word. It made her drop to her knees. The dagger fell to her side with a clang. A tear dropped from each of her eyes. It was majestic to feel, wonderful. Safe.

Then she shook herself free from that spell. “Now!?” She said as she kept her wide eyes focused on the ground below her. “Now you appear!?” Her body was shivering. Inner conflict raged. She should be feeling happy, relieved, secure yet she didn’t want to be. Those feelings were dangerous and utterly foreign to her. “Now you appear with the guts to tell me I was born free!? I was chained by my family and my city for a decade and then they hid me away for another one.” Something twisted in her own stomach. “If you protected all life then where were you in Jalka!?” She said those words in her own mind. Accompanied with all the rage, pain and regret she couldn’t put a stop to now. “Where were you when I killed those people who just wanted to eat!? They didn’t have a choice. I didn’t have a choice! I [i]never[/i] had choices!” It was kill or be killed in the last few years.

The warmth in her head grew small as she lashed out until she had finished. It ruminated her thoughts and shared in her pain. The warmth erupted again as Oraelia spoke with sorrow in her voice, [color=gold]”Not every answer is the one wanted to be heard…”[/color] she repeated softly. [color=gold]”You chose to leave your home, you chose to live your life on the road, killing for coin and food. You chose to go to Jalka, did you not? For war? Why Auriëlle,”[/color] The Goddess’ voice seemed to break, [color=gold]”Why did you not walk away when you could? Before you murdered innocents? That was [i]your[/i] choice. You could have been better, could have used your power to help them and now you come before me in mock prayer, alone and afraid despite your anger and rage and you ask why I didn’t prevent those deaths? When you, all along, could have?”[/color] Her voice faltered, sounding not angry, but terribly sad. [color=gold]”You are terribly lost, Auriëlle. Terrified of what anything else but hate might bring. You must ask yourself this question; Is this who you truly want to be?”[/color] she asked, the warmth and light at its brightest.

“But what else is there for someone like me!?” She screamed it now. Her voice was shrill. In her head and out loud. Hatred mixed with pain and regret. “I’m a monster! I can’t do anything else. I don’t want to do anything else. I’m good at killing!” Even saying felt liberating but wrong. Like it was a secret she should never have said. Tears ran down her cheeks. “You saw what I can do. They called me blessed for it!” A shameful truth began to boil up. She wanted her old life back. The life of a scribe. She was comfortable in Acadia, surrounded by safe walls with a warm hearth. She just had to count sheep. It was so simple, so peaceful. Then she was ripped from that life and could never return. Now she would always have blood on her hands. No matter what she did. “What kind of wretched thing would bless me with this!?”

[Color=gold]"You are not a monster."[/color] Oraelia said sternly in her mind. [Color=gold]"A monster does not feel remorse, guilt, regret and pain, Auriëlle. I have seen what you were, what you are and but a glimpse of what you could still become. Wanting to kill and killing are two very different things. If your desire is to kill in the great game of win or lose, so be it. But that is a path you will never recover from. It will consume you. However, as my daughter showed me once, there is a path to take that protects those who cannot protect themselves. Who fight evil men and bring about justice. Which one will you find yourself on?"[/color] she asked her. Then once more her voice returned, but softer. [Color=gold]"I know not who empowered you, only that I can taste the divinity upon your soul and it is unfamiliar to me. I am sorry."[/color]]

She couldn’t say anything anymore. Only cry. There was no way she could bottle everything up again. Maybe Oraelia was right. Maybe not. She couldn’t think now. She just felt pain and cold. So cold. A chill, midnight wind had finally taken to her.
 
Then there was warmth. An embrace. Someone was hugging her. “You’re not a monster. Nobody’s a monster.” It was Sennah’s voice. The young apprentice was holding her tight. Auriëlle felt like she was melting in her arms. Yet as she felt the warm and the touch of someone caring, her senses suddenly fell away. Her eyes became heavy and her mind blank. Had fatigue finally caught up with her? She couldn’t fight it. There was no fight in her life. She just fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

[colour=lightblue]”Hah! That’s right! Go to sleep, you rowdy, little--... Thing.”[/colour]

[Color=gold]"Gibbou…"[/color]

[hider=Summary]Auriëlle finds herself near Ha-Dûna. Where she believes she’ll find answers to her questions. She encounters an apprentice named Sennah who gives her a quick tour of the inner parts of the town and then gets a druid. However it takes a while before a druid can see her. Meanwhile Sennah offers Auriëlle a cup of water from the basin of the weary but she refuses in a super rude way. Night falls eventually and Auriëlle, paranoid as hell, decides not to go to a resthouse. She even sends a very helpful Sennah away. Instead she stays outside amongst the megaliths and gives several of them a mock prayer.

Oraelia decides to respond. Prompting Auriëlle to first explode in rage at her and then have an emotional breakdown as she calls herself a monster for killing a lot of people. Oraelia shares some words and thoughts of wisdom learned from her daughter. Then says she doesn’t know who blessed her, but that she is definitely blessed by some divine entity.

Then Auriëlle is embraced by Sennah who overheard her breakdown. Telling her she’s not a monster. Finally the sorceress falls asleep…though perhaps not by natural means.[/hider]

[hider=Prestige]
[b]Post length: 17K characters[/b]
Auriëlle >> +5 Prestige
Basin of the Weary >> +5 Prestige
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