Tales from Lorianthil

Once back at her house, Ashlyn had Damien lay down on her mother's sofa. His head rested back as Ashlyn knelt down beside him. "Perhaps you should open your shirt," she said, resisting the redness creeping into her cheeks. Giving a pensive stare, Damien undid the buttons on his shirt and let the two halves dangle at his sides. Ashlyn's fingers traced the deep-colored veins along his ribs, weaving their way inward. Damien gripped her hand, causing her to stop. "What are you doing?" "I'm...

When Ashlyn opened her eyes, she found herself trapped in a giant bird cage. Her prison was built with slender steel bars and a rounded dome at the top. “Girithane!” She got to her feet, tugging at the bars. “This doesn’t solve anything!” It was quiet where she stood captive. After scanning the layout of the place, Ashlyn realized she was completely alone. Damien and Girithane were nowhere to be found. Her hands glowed with power, and the metal bars soaked it up like dew. But the cage did...

Girithane led Damien and Ashlyn back the way they had come. Once they arrived at the mossy circle of stones, Girithane stepped inside it and disappeared. Like the flapping of wings, his figure vanished and left nothing in its trace. “Whoa.” Damien was startled at the sight of it. “Where did he go?” “He went inside,” Ashlyn said, placing him in the circle with her. Lifting her arms, the circle began to spin. The forest around them blurred together before fading. When the world pieced...

As Ashlyn made her way from the deep part of the wood, she stopped at the sight of a beautiful flower standing by its lonesome. It struck her as odd that there were no other blossoms of its kind, though it did appear noble in the way it rose above the grass. "Hmm." Her face lit with delight as she bent down to brush its petals. "You are a lovely one, aren't you?" Unable to sever its connection to the earth, she left the flower where it was and pressed on. But the sound of lurking feet...

Ashlyn reveled in the sound of the rushing stream, the pure light glinting off the water. She had missed this: standing in the cool riverbed as the current gently pushed against her ankles. The pebbles and stones beneath her feet were smooth, softened by moss. Bending down, she picked up a stone that was to her liking, raw as a precious gem now that the water had chipped away its roughest layers. Not far downstream, her mother, Calda, was doing the same, picking up worthy stones and placing...

27 April Ashlyn woke up later than she deemed normal. It was a calm, glistening morning. She heard the chirping of robins as they flew back to their nests to feed their hatchlings. After getting dressed, she came out to greet Calda at the dining table. "Good morning, Mother." "You slept in, too, I see." Calda smiled, sipping a full glass of orange juice. She waited as Ashlyn gathered her own glass of juice and sat down. "What do you have planned for the day?" "Nothing in particular,"...

Ashlyn rushed out of her bedroom, eager to put some distance between her and Damien. Her chest felt tight and heavy as she breathed, as she contemplated the hundreds of innocent lives lost. A few paces away from her now, Damien stood leaning against one of the chairs. He was quiet, as if waiting for her to speak. "Y--you," she stammered, "you killed all those people in Githal. You completely decimated the place didn't you?" "Ash, I don't--" "Didn't you?" "Probably," he shrugged. "It's...

It was early evening by the time Damien made it to Calda's house. Before he could even knock, Calda was there answering the door. "Damien," she kissed his forehead in greeting. "You are right on time." Damien greeted her warmly in return, kissing her cheek as elves often did. Letting himself inside, he took off his shoes and went straight for the table. "So, what's for supper? It smells good." As he sat down, Ashlyn made herself visible. She had changed clothes since their chance meeting...

Gumber- Year 465 26 April Damien strolled along the road to the local marketplace, carrying the metal pieces he had crafted for this month. Among them were swords, daggers, and smaller treasures that the female elves were prone to find beautiful. A few moons ago, Damien had no interest in making jewelry. He only recently picked up the skill because of Lila. He enjoyed crafting small trinkets for her, though she was no longer there to receive them. She had been gone at the Fighters Academy...

"Your secret is safe with me."

"What do you need us to do?" they asked. "I need you to stand back."

When Kallus woke up, he saw a pair of shiny blue eyes staring at him. For a moment he thought they were Lanara's eyes, but these were more gentle, carrying a hint of sorrow. "Calda?" Kallus touched his aching head, wincing at the sting. In Calda's hand was a glass vial. Her graceful arm reached out as she offered it to him. "For the pain," she said. "You have a little potion for everything, don't you?" "Not everything," she said, checking the wound on his head. "I would patch you up, but...

Naelen walked alongside his father. The ground was slushy beneath them as they traveled along the footpath. They were both carrying sacks of provisions with them, foods and goods alike. They were a kilometer away from home and hearth, and they both longed for the warmth of indoors. But Kallus had a few other tasks to tend to. He turned onto another road, leading his son along a more secluded path. "Dad, this is not the way back," Naelen gestured. "Home is that way." Kallus looked back at...

21 December It was a bright morning when Damien came downstairs. Glancing around, he saw the oak bannisters lined with garland. Lanara had placed strings of garland on every doorway, every entrance. "What is going on?" Damien asked. "Are we having guests?" Lanara was standing on a stool, pinning the garland in place. "Yes, tonight we are expecting company. It is winter solstice, we are hosting the traditional feast." "Oh." Damien crossed his arms, leaning against the bannister. "I...

"If Lilathanor is going off to school, one of you must promise to stay here."