Pulling the Strings

[Tismri]

Allecia watched the crowded streets of Aberon for several moments. It was barely early springtime, but Surda was already relentessly hot and humid. She could only imagine what the visiting Ismalian royals were suffering here, used as they were to the nearly icy climate of distant Freia. As for the cunning woman herself, she never minded any weather. It was an insignificant thing.
"The world has become so stale and stagnant," she muttered to herself from where she sat under the awning of a shop near the castle courtyard. "Peace is so boring...Although numerous people will die and feel pain, war is the only way to keep this world interesting."
~~~~~
Tenel Ka did her best to keep from showing her discomfort during the meeting with King Orrin. She'd gone to renew relations with the Surdan sovereign before the current situation escalated into full-blown war.
But now that they were out of the formal meeting, and it was just her, Romulus, and Dastan in the room, she was furiously beating her face with a fan.
"How do people live in this sort of climate?" she asked her husband. She'd lived here for a time after travelling with Caedus, many summers ago when she was still a princess herself. Even then, she could never get used to the heat. And the moisture in the air made her feel as if she was drowning. She glanced over at her guard.
"Dastan, feel free to go to town," she told him. It was her subtle way of telling him she wanted some time alone with Romulus. "You need some free time, I am sure."

[Max452]

Romulus chuckled at his wife's comment about the weather. "It can't be that terrible, can it?" He asked with a hint of amusement. He was quite use to the heat, as he was trained to acclimate himself when he was a ranger; he had spent many missions in Surda when he was scouting for then-Lady Nasuada. He glanced over to Dastan, who merely gave a polite nod to his Queen and Romulus.

"As you wish, Queen Tenel Ka." Dastan replied, trusting Romulus (now) to protect her. He departed from them and Romulus could not help the comment that escaped his lips once he was alone with his wife.

"You know, since its hot...I can think of a few ways to cool off..." The former Ranger impishly implied as Dastan left their quarters to explore Surda.

***
The heat was troublesome indeed, Dastan had thought as he walked the city streets toward nothing in particular. It had been so long since Dastan had been back in Surda, to the point, where he felt like a foreigner. He was so use to the cold climate of Freia now. He finally exited into the busy streets, glancing at the approaching local shops for anything that was interesting. Perhaps he could purchase something for the children? Teza Mae would enjoy a new bow. Jason a good book about Surda, perhaps? Oh, there seemed to be a nice shop that fancied itself for knives that Tatiana would be sure to enjoy. If only he could remember how to get there. Dastan continued to think of gifts for the children that he was so fond of. Thane would enjoy a nice set of cloaks; better to wander in them than impress the ladies of the court. Tylon...if they ever found him, that young prince would enjoy a good joke book or two.

Dastan glanced to his left, trying to remember which shop was located where when he thought he spotted a familiar figure lounging at a nearby shop. The Royal Guard felt something stir in his chest; a feeling he had not felt in so long. Dastan paled as he recognized the woman. Allecia. His mind reeled. What was she doing here? The unnaturally ageless woman had a knack of stirring trouble, and deep down, Dastan somehow knew, that she was partially responsible for the turmoil that was now seeping within Alagaesia.

Dastan approached Allecia, his expression passive and unreadable. "I would say that I am surprised to see you here, and yet, I am not; what business do you have here?" He asked, his voice slightly threatening. If she was planning something that would harm the Royal Family, he...he would not let it pass, despite the dull pain in his heart.

[doitean]

Ali Di'lika had traveled to Surda with the merchants from his tribe. He went to help protect them. The spellcaster had his hûthvír in hand with his condor, Felix, over head. When the tribes reached Surda, they were all happy. The fares would help his tribe greatly. The silks in Surda were said to be the best and many of the higher members in the tribe liked them.

Ali stood in the market resting, his horse next to him. Felix was resting on his shoulders. Ali noticed some kids who had seen him in Surda many times. He entertained them with stories from the wandering tribes and with some harmless spells. The kids were always excited to see him. They enjoyed his stories and the spells. They loved chasing the werelights he'd summon.

[Tismri]

Tenel Ka smirked slightly at her husband's implication. She wondered if he would ever lose this playful side to him; she hoped he wouldn't.
"Hmm...I'm sure you do have an idea or two," she said, stopping her fanning and putting her arm around his neck. "But I'm afraid whatever you are thinking will end up warming me right back up."
~~~~~
Allecia smiled as she caught sight of a very familiar man approaching her. Time had altered his appearance, of course. He was quite noticeably older. If he'd had any doubts at their last meeting as to her longevity, it was surely erased now.
"Well, Dastan, this is a pleasant surprise," she told him, still smiling. "Oh, I'm not here for any serious business; just a bit of shopping, really. And how have the years treated you, my friend?" She spoke as if she hadn't just up and left him all those years ago. In truth, she had sensed a change in the winds at the time. The war had been nearing its end, reaching its crecendo, and it had left her breathless with anticipation: the final results to over a century of manipulations. Yet as excited as it had made her, boredom was swift on its heels, sending her to immediately cause mischief elsewhere in the world, but soon return to the same spot. In the midst of it all, she had nearly forgotten this young man whose life she had decided to spare on a whim. A young man whose heart she had unintentionally and unfortunately captured.

[Max452]

Romulus' feigned a confused expression. "What ever do you mean, my heart? I would never dream of making you any more uncomfortable in this humid heat." He wrapped his arms around her waist and immediately a smirk merged as he drew himself close. "My idea involved water." He hinted before kissing her tenderly. He pulled himself away and began walking toward the door. "But, if you think my idea is poor, well...." He trailed off as walked further away from Tenel Ka and toward the door. "...I suppose I shall have to take a bath by myself." He announced to her in a overly dramatic voice as he opened the door and walked out with purposely slow steps.

***
"I highly doubt that." Dastan replied quietly, his eyes surveying the woman before him as she continued to ask how he was doing. Did she really think him dumb or has her old age somehow caught up to her? He shook his head mildly at the situation. Despite their small time together, Dastan had figured out a bit about her personality...and still fell in love with her. He had really hoped that she was seeking the same Peace as he was, but somewhere near the end of their travels together, he had begun to notice the distance she presented between them. He could have said that he was surprised to find her gone that fateful day, but deep down, he truly wasn't; she had become bored. And her boredom, had no doubt fueled the brewing war they were now encompassed in.

Ignoring her beauty and the ill timing of his heart's sudden warmth, Dastan narrowed his eyes into a glare. "I have finally found my Peace, Allecia; why do you disrupt it so?" He asked her.

***
Aramis held his daughter closely as the small family manuerved about the busy streets of the capital. He really did not like being here; people may realize he was alive. However, Samara's business had brought them here, and so, hiding his scarred self under his cowl, he held his infant daughter with his good hand. The former assassin, now Father, glanced about, making sure that no assassins were coming toward his own family. It was in this process, he overheard a small commotion of children. Aramis' eyes honed in on the man that sat with his horse, telling stories and entertaining the children, it appeared. Perhaps he could pick up some tales to tell his daughter when she grew older? Unable to help the fatherly side of him, Aramis quietly approached the storyteller/entertainer and decided to have a listen of the tales that he spoke.

[Tismri]

Tenel Ka matched her husband's smirk as Romulus closed in on her, raising an intrigued eyebrow as he mentioned water. She let him threaten to walk away for a moment or two before following.
"Well, we cannot have that, can we?" she asked him. "Then you would have no one to scrub that one spot on your back. I suppose I will have to sacrifice my own comfort for your sake." She gave him a knowing grin as she took his hand.
~~~~~
Allecia gave Dastan the lightest possible smirk, hiding beneath a sad expression.
"Have you really found your Peace, dear Dastan?" she asked him. Her bright turquoise eyes probed his deeply. "If that were so, do you really think I could disturb it so easily? I must have more power than I had ever imagined." She caressed the side of his face very gently with her fingertips for a moment before turning away, studying a rack of expensive rugs.
"As for the peace of this world, such a thing never truly exists. When you have lived millenia and seen entire empires rise and fall, you see that what is perceived as peace is a momentary rest in the growth of civilization. Imagine, my dear, if this peace had lasted several centuries. The people would all be lulled into security, not remembering the lessons their fathers had learned the previous generations. The world would grow stagnant, would rot, and deteriorate. Then, when conflict finally would arise again--for you see, conflict is always inevitable--the current generation would no longer remember how to fight, and they would suffer even more greatly than these children are now. You see, Dastan, I am actually doing the world a favor by spurring this war on so quickly. Your grandchildren will thank me one day." A small smile rested on her face as she gazed at the familiar sun, the one thing that had remained the same over the centuries of her life; and yet, it was not the same. As imperceptible as it might be, she could still see the age beginning to affect the great light.

[doitean]

Ali Di'lika smiled at the kids. They truly were why he comes to Surda with the merchants.

"Children, have you heard the story of the dragon Freja?" he asked the kids.

They all shook their heads. Ali figured that. Not many people had heard the story of the dragon.

"Freja was a beautiful golden dragon. Freja was just a young and adventurous dragon. She always got into trouble until she met a young elf named Talf'en. They formed a quick friendship and would always fly together. It was said that they flew to the top of the Beor Mountains. They traveled everywhere together until one day....They just vanished. Rumor has it that if you look at the Beor Mountains you can see a golden flash from the tops." he told the kids who listened attentively.

He had grabbed a flat stone as he was talking. After he got done telling them the story he cast a spell creating a fairth of the Beor Mountains with a golden dragon and an elf flying to the top. The kids loved the story. Ali then grabbed more stones nearby and cast a spell causing them to take the shape of a stone dragon with an elf. He handed the kids the small statues. They loved them. Ali couldn't help but smile at the children. He loved telling them stories and making little figures for them. Felix even played some games with the kids. The condor would hide while the kids looked for him. They loved that game. Felix happened to take flight and hide nearby after the kids were given the toys.

"Oh no kids. Felix took off. Go find him." he told them smiling.

The kids took off looking for the bird excitedly. Ali was smiling the whole time, enjoying the sound of the children's laughter .

[Max452]

Romulus gave Tenel Ka one of his mischievious smiles as she took his hand. "Yes, well, we both know how hopeless I am without you." He replied as he lead his wife oft. "After this, I suggest we actually go and visit the area to gauge King Orrin's military strength. We'll need all the information we can get to best devise a strategy to help him and Queen Nasuada." Rom added in business as he strolled with his wife to the private bath house. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can return to the children." Rom proclaimed with a hint of concern, and a dash of anger; the thought of how his dear Teza Mae was tortured by the Shade Rider boiled his blood! Romulus would do all he could to kill the Shade Rider.

***
Dastan tensed as he stood before Allecia, his cheek still tingling from the light contact with her finger. How could she possibly still affect him so? He clenched his jaw, not allowing those buried emotions to be unearthed. He concentrated on the conversation and not on how pretty her eyes were. He listened until she was finished, watching her carefully as she eyed the rugs before them, and then when she stared off into the horizon. It saddened him to hear those words from her. Did she truly believe that? Did she really believe she had the right to meddle into the affairs of life? To play a God?

After a string of silence, Dastan finally spoke, his voice soft, but convicted. "That. Is. A. Load. Of. Crap." He stated as he studied her. "You devise an excuse to create chaos to fit your own musings. You say that you're doing this for the betterment of the world, but in fact you're crippling it. Allecia," he sighed and shook his head in disbelief of her words, "you're forcing people to harm one another. Where is their free will? You're forcing us into a cycle that knows no hopes or peace; into servitude." He desperately wanted to shake her, if only to make her see what she was doing was wrong. "Peace is real. You once asked me to describe it to you." He recalled their conversations as if they were yesterday. "And out of my own naivety I told you it was an idealism brought upon unity under one man. I was wrong." He gestured toward his heart. "It is found here. In the heart. It is warm and filled with hope; filled with happiness and contentment. I have come to realize, that Peace with one's self is truly all that matters. If we all have that, Allecia, we will all strive to become better each day, to want to do what is right. Maybe, maybe their will always be conflicts, but, as long as their is hope, someone will always be fighting for what is right. What. What you're doing, Allecia, is taking away people's choices to live. To find a future that is of their own making. To find their own peace." Dastan expressed to her in a passionate, but deceptively calm voice. "Have you never felt that warmth?" He asked her, wondering if that was why she chose the path she did.

OOC: Oi! So much philosophy!
***
Aramis listened with interest to the storyteller, placing his words into his memory so that one day he could share them with his daughter. He watched as the children scattered with glee after the end of the tale, to chase after the creature that the man had brought with him. Once the crowd had settled, Aramis felt inclined to converse with the fellow. For what purpose, he really knew not; he should be more careful when he was among the world; for not only for his disfigurement, but also because of the possiblity that his enemies may realize he was alive. Nonetheless, this did not halt him in making idle conversation.
"That was a good tale; the children here seem to enjoy your words, Master Storyteller." Aramis replied as he held his daughter close to him. "It is nice to see that we can have some normalcy during times of war." Aramis commented, his head low so that his cowl could have his half burnt face.

[doitean]

"Yes it is. Though what we may think is normal may be different to others. I am Ali Di'lika, spellcaster and storyteller of the wandering tribes. I love telling stories to these kids and giving them little statues resembling parts of my stories." Ali told the stranger.

He noticed the stranger kept his head low but did not care. He also noted that he had a little girl with him. Ali picked up a stone and, casting a spell, shaped it in the form of the golden dragon and an elf.

"Here you go young one." Ali said handing the girl the little figurine.

[Tismri]

Tenel Ka smiled softly as Rom lead her, but her eyes became a bit distant for a moment when he mentioned seeing their children again. She was just as concerned as he was about Teza Mae, but perhaps for different reasons. Whenever she saw her daughter, Tenel Ka noticed that she seemed much quieter and more sullen. Perhaps depressed. She felt the girl had even more on her mind that just the torture that left her disfigured. Also, another thought crossed the queen's mind as she walked with her husband.
"The children...yes, I'm going to have to remember to tell you something," she said. She smirked slightly, wanting to leave him wondering. She wondered how long it would take for him to guess.
~~~~~
Allecia gave a soft, melodic laugh as Dastan protested what she had just told him.
"Of course you would never understand, Dastan," she said. She brushed her hand over the rug in front of her, circling a small portion with her finger. "You are only able to see a small portion of the grand scheme, the individual threads of fate. Your short life will not allow you to see the pattern yet. To you, the changes that occur seem chaotic, broken, jumbled. But I can see the entire picture. I watch as eternity shifts. Should the threads remain the same, the world would be dull and lifeless. But these changes, these shifts between war and peace, chaos and order, evil times and good ones, create a pattern of breath-taking beauty. Some elves can even see a portion of it, though many refuse to comprehend it. If only you could see it; perhaps then you would understand why I do what I do. But in order to do that, you would have to live through the lives of a thousand men."

[Max452]

OOC: Lol, Rom's going to be ecstatic if Tenel Ka is going to tell him what I think she's going to tell him. lol

Rom gazed at her wife with complete curiosity as they continued along toward their destination. "What? What's wrong?" He asked, his curiosity replaced by concern. He hoped nothing further happened to them! He couldn't take it if his children were further hurt or exposed to the war. He stopped in his tracks, expecting his wife to explain. "Are they all right?" A hint of panic echoed in his voice.

***
OOC: Jeriah, you wanna play the baby? lol

Aramis nodded, his hood bobbing up and down as he did. "It is a pleasure to meet you Ali Di'lika. I am called David." Aramis used the name that he and Samara had agreed upon, as not to alert the assassins of his survival. "And this, is Joshlyn, my daughter." Aramis lifted her proudly to Ali. "She is my joy here, along with my wife, although, she seems to have disappeared for the moment." Aramis referred to his wife, Samara. Where did she go? He glanced around, feeling like he had abandoned his duty toward her, even though she had told him to walk around whilst she shopped for something. His attention returned to Ali when the storyteller presented the statuette to his daughter. "Thank you, Ali...that is very kind of you." He reached out to take it and show Joshlyn, as she was still an infant. "Have you always resided in Surda?" Aramis asked, as he entertained his child idly with the statue.

***
Dastan shook his head again. "It seems only dull and lifeless to those that live far beyond the age of man, Allecia. You've come too accustomed to the life you led now that you cannot truly see the peace anymore - which you have yet to answer my question: Have you never felt the warmth of true peace?" He asked her again, wanting to understand her motivatons and feelings. "Have you forgotten the simplicity of living in the moment?" Dastan asked her, raising a hand to touch her cheek, but halting it when he realized what he was doing. He returned his hand to his side. "I had always envied your longevity, Allecia; for the wisdom and knowledge you can gain and share, but now I feel that it is more of curse than a blessing. It must be lonely." He whispered to her, eyes compassionate and tender as he watched her toy with the rug.

[Tismri]

Tenel Ka laughed lightly at Rom's concerned expression. He cared so much for their children; she was touched by his pure love for them. But sometimes he jumped to conclusions too early, and often to the worst-case scenario.
"You worry too much, Romulus," she told him, a cheery smile on her face. "I am certain Teza Mae and Jason are both perfectly safe in Bromsland right now. But...well, perhaps not all our children are there right now." She took his arm and wrapped it around her waist, resting his hand gently against her stomach. She could still remember the first time she told him she was going to have a child--which turned out to be two. She expected no less of a reaction this time.
~~~~~
Joshlyn's eyes gazed intently up at her father most of the time, though she occasionally looked around at the surrounding environment. When she noticed the little statue he held out to her, she cooed with glee and reached up toward it, giving a delighted happy baby laugh.

Samara approached her husband from behind, being careful not to startle him. She had just finished her business with some various nobles in the town. She always had difficulty dealing with them honestly and politely at the same time. She was beginning to understand why her father had become such a heartless, cruel, and manipulative man. One almost had to be among the nobility, but she was managing to get by. She stood next to Aramis without interupting his conversation, focusing on their infant daughter in his arms.
~~~~~
Allecia remained silent as Dastan pressed his issue with her. His words brought back memories of their first conversations, and feelings of loneliness and anger that she had long tried to suppress.
"A fiend is cursed to never understand peace," she told him. "I came to this conclusion a short while ago. As for contentment, any I had was ripped away from me years ago. Even revenge does not bring it back, no matter how satisfying it is."

[doitean]

"No, I've been here many times. I live in the Hadarac Desert with the wandering tribes. I travel with the merchants to protect them from spellcasters.", Ali told him.

He found the city beautiful. He often frequented Surda with the merchants.

[Max452]

A brief glimpse of relief flashed in Romulus' eyes as she expressed that their children were safe. However, it was followed with confusion. Shock came next as he continued to process her words. Excitement brimmed his grey eyes once his hand was led to her stomach.
"You are with child!" He exclaimed with glee! There was going to be another Kingsley! "Truly?" His voice was highly inclined as he twirled her around to face him. "That is wonderful!" He declared as he kissed her quickly before bending down to address her stomach. "Oh, I cannot wait until you arrive! You will love Teza Mae and Jason and they you, dear one! And of course us! Oh, what shall we name you!?" He continued to speak to her stomach with clear joy on his face. He cared not if it was a boy or a girl, all he cared that it was his and Tenel Ka's! "We shall go hunting, riding, adventuring..." he babbled on, slightly forgetting his wife with this exciting news.

***
"Ah, I see. It is good to hear and see that one such as yourself goes about to help those less fortunate. It is a testament to the noble hearts of this land and the peace that was fought for so long ago." Aramis complimented before feeling his wife's presence beside him. He turned his head to the side to greet her. "Samara." He smiled and then gestured to Ali, "Samara, this is Ali, a traveling storyteller. Ali, this is my wife Samara." He politely introduce, before glancing at Samara once more. "Business done?" He asked, a slight hint of asking whether or not it was time to go; after all, he was still unused to wandering about with his marred features, though hidden they were.

***
Dastan could not help the emotions that he was feeling after he heard Allecia's words. If she had felt this way, what gave her the right to try and cause pain to others? He did not know his own actions until he found his hand on Allecia's forearm, forcing her to face him. "So you will condemn this world because of your own loss and misunderstanding?" He growled out, feeling an unknown tension rising within him. "How selfish can you be, Allecia? Why do you wish to make others feel pain because you cannot deal with your own?"

[Tismri]

Tenel Ka laughed...giggled...with glee at Rom's reaction to her news. It had been a while since she had seen him look so happy. Actually, she hadn't seen his eyes sparkle quite that bright since Teza Mae had been hurt. She was glad she was able to bring such joy back to him.
"Now, now," she told her husband, stroking his hair gently, "I think it might be a while yet before the little one is ready to go off hunting and adventuring." A very brief look of concern crossed her face. "I just hope we survive this new war and are able to raise her...or him." She leaned forward and kissed his forehead before smirking at him.
"Now what was this about a bath we were going to take?" she mentioned.
~~~~~
Samara gave a slight curtsy to the storyteller as Joshua--now called David--introduced them.
"Pleased to meet you, Ali," she told him. "Thank you for entertaining my family while I was away." She turned to her husband, a slightly pained expression on her face.
"Unfortunately, it seems business is going to keep me here longer than I had anticipated. Politics is a must more fragile practice than I had originally anticipated." She gazed at him for a few moments, knowingly. "You can go ahead and take Joshlyn home if you want."
~~~~~
Allecia felt a blaze of anger burst through her entire being at Dastan's imputence. As he forced her to meet his eyes, her gaze became an intoxicating poison, like that of a snake. The arm he grasped began to burn with a smoldering heat that scorched through her sleeve.
"You foolish child," she declared, her voice like a soft, menacing, fiendish hiss. "You believe you have the authority to stand there and rebuke one far more ancient than you? You are nothing but an ignorant ant, only going through life as you perceive how. Why I ever attempted to make you see is beyond even my understanding. Go now, before I curse you in such a way that even death will not relieve your suffering. Leave me be, silly, foolish child."