Life continues..

[Nikkii O'seth]

Many years had passed since Lilyth's death and Phelan's disappearence on the isle of undead. Naldany had taken a more active role in the running of the house. She acted more like Nikkii now more of a colder approach to most things in life. Darlena held true to her word to watch over Naldany and Aramis, even the new additions Zealott an Tailu. Zealott was a gift Phelan had left with Naldany as Tailu was Darlena's daughter. Aramis had grown to be a fine young boy with a bit of a temper problem that Darlena was working with, but with him nearing his preteen phase it proved very difficult. Nikkii had a hard time accepting Tailu at first due to who her father is, but took the child under her care an groomed to be in the service of the church. Zealott is another gifted child but not nearly on the same level Aramis was at her age, clearly she would be like her mother a wizardress.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"My'lord please wait....." a young knight pleaded."Madam Darlena will kill me if you get into more trouble."

The boy smirked an chuckled a bit. " Like I care, if she wanted me to stay out of trouble she'd be here instead of a flunky like you. Olantar just wanted to get you outta his way. And she isn't my mother... that woman spends her days sulking about."

"Lord Aramis please... I" The knight was cut short by the boy blasting him with a bolt of lightning thru his chest. The boy smiled as he looked at the smoking corpse before turning to the tavern. Once he was inside he got a few stares before the barkeep spoke.

"Oh no ..... Not this week Aramis. I have grown sick of this little game you play with my patrons here an you are killing my bussiness. Now why don't you march yourself back to that church an I won't charge Lady Nikkii with a bill for my profit losses."

" Pipe down you old fool, you think that scares me. I don't think there is a single one in this rat trap that can best me." Aramis said mockinly. But no sooner did he finish his statement than two of the men stand up an draw their daggers. Aramis showed nothing but joy at the fact he had an opponent an unsheathed his swords that was once used by his father. With a bit of concentration one blade changed to ice the other burst into flame. Most of the tavern patrons now had their attention focus on the young boy. The two was taken back for a second but then refocused on getting him.

Aramis dashed right at them with blinding speed, taking the first swing he downed the one to his right before he could mount a defense. The next one got off a swing but the boy was too fast an much smaller than he was. Ducking under his arm Aramis thrusted the sword of fire into the ribs of the man setting him ablaze as he he died. With that done he sheathed his swords an smirked at the barkeep before darting back out of the tavern. The patrons went back to their drinks an whispering, but someone was waiting for the boy just outside. As he slowed himself an started fixing his garments a fist catches him off gaurd an sends him to the ground.

"You are being foolish I asked you to stay out of trouble an not show off your abilities... We have enemies here an I would remind you of that." Aramis looked up to see Darlena looking down on him. She quickly snatched up the boy an the two was off to the chruch.

[Phelan]

Phelan took no special notice of anyone. people came and people went and none of it registered to Phelan. When the young boy entered Phelan glanced at him, but nothing out of the ordinary registered. He looked like most young Dark Elves he supposed, having not grown up in Neriak himself.

It wasn't untill the boy challenged two grown men, that Phelan's interest returned. It hadn't been the arrogance of the boy, that was normal here, it was the swords in his hands. Those swords cut through the fog of his memory. The sheaths at his sides seemed to sway toward the swords.

Phelan watched as the boy fought, he had some ingenious skill, but there were holes in his sword play. Phelan would dare say that the young boy that the bar keep had called Aramis could have rivaled Phelan himself when he was that age. The boy was lucky that he hadn't faced a true swordsman yet.

If he had he might not be here to still draw breath. Phelan dropped the pouch of gold at his side on the counter.

"Sorry about the mess." he said to the bar keep as he headed for the door after the boy.

Outside the tavern Phelan glimsed a face that kept peering through the fog of his memories at him, a red haired Dark Elf. She had grabbed the boy by the arm and was now dragging him off while yelling at him in hushed tones.

Phelan quickly shadowed them. He didn't think that she was an enemy, but he intended to live long enough to know why he was here amongst the living again and wasn't about to take any chances. Silent as death Phelan gracefully flitted from shadow to shadow stalking them as a panther through the streets. A familar sight emerged from aroung a corner, a tall church of some sort and they were heading directly for it.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Aramis I was told you left the church, I didn't believe them at first but then I saw your father's swords was missing ..... again. I knew where you was off to again an you will stop pestering that man. " Darlena sighed an bent over to look him in the eyes. "I am just looking out for whats best for you. If you believe me or not I'm probably the only one here that understands what it means to be you the best."

Aramis jerked his arm from her and turned his head so not to meet eye contact with her. " So I herd aunt... I herd you hide another form of yourself.... maybe your scared to just be that an so you hold me back." He started in without her but was stopped by a young girl hugging him.

" Hello brother welcome home." She said.

Aramis pushed her aside an went in leaving the two watching him enter the building. Darlena shook her head at the boy then turned to the girl.

"Auntee Darlena mother asked to see you inside the ceremony chambers."

[Phelan]

Phelan walked casually upon the scene, not knowing what to expect when they noticed him. He knew that those were his swords and that they had a just told the child that those used to be his father's.

"So that must make me your father, if those used to belong to him... because they are mine." Phelan said glancing at the crowd. The young girl stepped back a bit.

Phelan wasn't sure what to do, the boy he knew as Aramis was lunging at him with those swords, both springing to life with ice and fire. He decided not to harm the boy and danced easily out of the way of the blades. The boy overextended with his strikes and Phelan now had him by the wrists.

"So the question still remains, does that make me your father?" Phelan said smiling as he wrenched the boy around to place some shelter between the red haired elf and himself.

The boy trembled in his grip. Phelan now regretted how he had approached this. He thought perhaps a light hearted approach would work better than sneaking around anymore. But now, looking at the boy, he tried to place himself in his boots. He would have more than lashed out at anyone who, what he would have percieved as, mocked his dead father. Phelan quickly crushed the tendons in the boys wrists making him drop the blades and let him go.

The girl had withdrawn behind the red headed woman. She had tears running down her face, but she also seemed angry. The red headed woman looked as if she had been shot in the chest with an arrow and still had not found her voice.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Let my brother go you stinky man." The girl cried out.

Darlena unsheathed her sword an held it toward the man. "Gaurds.... take Zealott inside. You, I'm not sure of your intentions but taking the form of Phelan will prove a fatal error, now move away from the child and state your bussiness here."

Darlena smiled some at Phelan showing her fangs and inched a bit closer to him. Zealott hesitated at the door watching to see what would happen to the stranger.

"We have had others come here claiming to be Phelan but this is the first time one has gone thru so much trouble to get into this house." Darlena said glancing over to Aramis. Now Olantar an several gaurdsmen had arrive. A quick search of him an took him into custody.

"Have him placed in a clean cell till I can further question him. Do not tell Naldany or my mother of this." Darlena commanded.

" Yes it will be done madam, an if I may ask to accompany you when you are ready to do so?" Olantar asked softly.

Darlena nodded to him an they took him into the church. Zealott looked into Phelan's eyes as he walked past with the gaurd. Aramis brushed himself off his pride bruised again, he picked up the swords an stormed inside.

"You keep your mouth shut sis... He'll pay for insulting me." Aramis said brusing his little sister aside.

A few hours later Darlena and Olantar payed Phelan's cell a visit. They both pulled up a chair an looked at him intently.

"Now .... why should we keep you alive?" Olantar asked.

[Phelan]

"Well for starters, I didn't harm the boy... Second, you seem to know me, though you think I am an imposter, you have called me by name. And third I just needed my swords back. I have been brought back for a reason, but I don't know what that purpose is yet... Oh and who are you?" Phelan said with a truly puzzled face.

Phelan took in the cell around him, it seemed familiar for some reason and so did both of the people before him. His frustrations grew as he tried to remember who he was, his life was nothing more than remembered snippetts and faces, places and sounds.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Phelan is what I called you if that is truly your name...." Darlena spoke with head resting on her fist. She thought a bit before opening up the cell door an standing in the way.

"I am Darlena.... an that is Olantar.The is the church of Neriak an the O'seths are the caretakers of this house. You look like an old friend of my that dissapeared many years ago. The only reason I am saying this is because your smell is like his." Darlena motioned for Olantar to leave.

"The boy is the son of Phelan an as for the swords..... you would have to speak with his mother about that...... do not worry I will be there with you... But do not expect her to be quiet as friendly as I have been." Darlena stepped back an started out into the communtiny area with Phelan close behind. " As you may notice this is a training place for those going into priesthood or wizardry... If you are indeed Phelan we would have to fill in the blanks an then maybe introduce you to your other child."

From down the hall another girl's voice called out. "Mommy!!!" A girl ran towards Darlena with her arms outstretched. She could almost pass for a Dal with her skin being pale an hair silver an red. Darlena scooped her up an continued walking toward the main chambers. The girl smiled at Phelan an looked him up an down.

[Phelan]

"I am Phelan Seladria of Neriak, raised by an elf out side of the elven city. I died once, what I precieve to be quite some years ago, but I am here now living and breathing. You, Darlena I recognized, but I am having trouble remembering details of my life and who all of you are."

Phelan was quiet for a long time. His heart raced and pounded in his ears, he had more children and he was about to see his wife again. 'what will I feel? Will I remember her? Or she me?' Phelan stopped.

"Darlena... I don't know. I'm glad that you recognize me and I am starting to remember you." He said as he looked at the girl in her arms. "You had a child with the elf? Elin-somthing was his name right? Son of an important elf?"

Phelan paused a second, but Darlena just nodded as smiled a bit.

"Will she remember me?..." Phelan said in a downcast voice. "Is it worth the pain if she doesnt'? And is it fair to bring pain to her?" Phelan hesitated for a moment and then something struck him. " Did she remarry?"

[Nikkii O'seth]

Darlena stopped for a moment then whispered something to her daughter before setting her down. She ran off toward the bed chamber area without lokking back. Darlena looked back to Phelan with a uncertain look.

"No she never remarried.... she took your death very hard and after the birth of your daughter. She shut herself off from everyone and didn't speak for quiet sometime out of grief.." Darlena took his hand an held it. "I can't say if it is fair or not for her but I think she deserves the opportunity to make that choice for herself an you can perhaps warm her heart that has grown quite cold."

Soon the girl was back an behind her was another red haired dark elf woman. She frowned at Phelan and sent the girl back off, before comming straight to them.

"Darlena why is this man here... and he smells awful. Just because you play dead doesn't mean you should smell the part too." Nikkii said holding her nose.

"Mother I think he is going to have alot more berating comming his way from Naldany no need to add to it." Darlena said letting go of his hand.

Nikkii shook her head in protest when she thought about what Darlena just said. "Are you mad, Naldany had finally come out her her depression an you wish to place this man infront of her? I thought you cared more for her than this...."

"I do an maybe this could be what she needed all along." Darlena said starting to get upset.

Nikkii fluffed her hair up before placing her hand on Phelan. "Well then Phelan you must be cleaned up first an you should speak with Naldany only after you do so to your children."

[Phelan]

Phelan knew the face of this woman, she was in alot of his memories and always there were feelings of Anger associated with it. He immediately could see why. He was begining to wish that he hadn't come back here. Everything seeed to be building so fast that he couldn't keep track of what was going on.

Knowing now that he had seen his son in the tavern he felt grief. His son had turned out to be just as muderous and wicked as every other dark elf around. Was Phelan an oddity? Had he been unique in his ability to grow up a kind and trustworthy?

He couldn't help, but to blame himself. 'Perhaps if I had been here things would have been different.' He thought. 'Who are you kidding?' He chidded himself. 'No one chooses when they die. You were doing what was right.'

"Phelan, did you hear me?" Nikkii said shaking him a bit with her hand.

Phelan snapped out of his thoughts.

"Yes, I heard you. I would enjoy cleaning up... You said children, I thought that I only had a son. How many children are there?" He said queitly. Brushing his tangled mess of hair out of his eyes.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Nikkii removed her hand from Phelanbefore speaking. "Yes I said children... only two thankfully. Your son is more than a handful an has been getting worst. This is probably due to your absence, an had it not been for his "gifts" I would have killed him in his sleep years ago."

"Mother we had this talk before." Darlena interupted.

"Yes my child.." Nikkii began to lead Phelan down to where he might clean himself. "If it wasnt for my daughter he might not have lived as long as he has."

Nikkii motioned to a few handmaidens to follow. "So the other child?" Phelan asked observing the surounding.

"Zealott, she is the complete opposite of your son. Starting to wonder if she has any aggresive tendencies at all. She has very good potiencial but getting her to do anything is proving most difficult."

Nikkii came to a stop infront of a door an pushed it open. The handmaidens brought him a change of clothes. "I can wait here if you like an show you around a bit more or you mae do so as you wish..... just stay from the ceremony hall an library for the time till I can prepare your wife for meeting you. She took years getting over that day." Nikkii bowed slightly to Phelan an turned back to the handmaidens.

[Phelan]

"No that will be quite alright, I think I find my way around. Somethings never change I see... Nikkii." Phelan said with a strained voice.

Phelan turned assuming that the others would find their way out. He started to undress. At one point in his old life he might have considered not turning his back on her untill she left, but he had no worries left when it came to death. Stepping from beyond the grave back into the world was an odd sensation, but finally his memory was returning somewhat.

He drew a bath of extremly warm water and slipped in. He washed himself and just enjoyed the peacefullness of solitude for a short while before stepping out of the bath. On a nearby counter he found a razor and shears.

He looked in the mirror and shaved the stuble on his face, so that it was completely smooth again. Then he took up the shears and transformed from the long unkempt mess it was into a mid length hair cur that used to be popular amongst the humans, if he remembered correctly.

He chose one of the many purfumes that lay on the counter and sprayed himself lightly with it. He redressed choosing out a pair of Black leather pants and a plain white shirt. He pulled the washing cloth from the tub and cleaned up his dusty old boots, until they glistend black once more. He belt his empty scabbards back about his waist and exited the washroom. Outside stood a servant of some sort.

"Take me to Lady Darlena." Phelan said to the young boy.

The boy bowed and brought him before Darlena who was outside in the courtyard with her child.

"Hello again." Phelan said smiling at the girl.

The girl giggled and ran to her mother.

"So perhaps you should catch me up on things before I start meeting the rest of the family?" Phelan said with his boyish grin flashing.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Nice to see you decent again." Darlena said with a smile. She took an extended pause before she spoke again. "Well lets see.... After we thought you had left us for good fighting with Lilyth. Naldany couldn't believe you was dead an refused to say that you was. She would travel to the ruins of that keep week after week, hoping to see you waiting. It was my mother's harsh telling that you wasn't comming back...... It was maybe a few months later that Naldany's pregnancy was known, even though she really didn't seem to care." Darlena set Tailu on her feet an told her to go inside. Darlena smiled at the girl as she nodded an ran inside.

"Yes... her father is the elf Elindar.... but that is another story. When she gave birth mother named her Zealott, thinking she would be another weapon to use for her own use. Zealott did not show as much potential as Aramis, but was believed to have hidden ability. From there Naldany became more withdrawn from us for a few years an barely spoke or ate. Durning this time mother twisted Aramis mind to be very hateful... someting now I bet she regrets. He became very unruley an spiteful, killed any teacher that he felt was completely inferior to him. I thought I could help him focus some of that an taught him some minor skills with a blade. But being his fathers son he picked it up quicker than I thought an stayed out of trouble. Silly me..... I showed him how to combine a bit of spell casting to enchant his blade as I do, again he took that a step further he combined elements of wizardry an sword play as you saw with the fire an ice. "

Darlena looked back towards the entrance at a little girl that was looking back at them. "Naldany has started speaking more as of late, but she won't hesitate to cast a bolt at someone that upsets her." Now that girl was standing behind Phelan an looking at him with curiosity.

"Aunt Darlena why are you talking so much to the commoner." she said.

Darlena chuckled an bit an crossed her arms. "Phelan meet Zealott..... she is quite a nosey girl. Zealott this is your father."

[Phelan]

Phelan was at a loss, what do you say to a child that you just found out was yours and have never known. He hoped that perhaps she was like him. He was happy to hear that Nikkii was not happy with her. Instead of speaking Phelan settled with just smiling.

The girl looked up at him and then back to Darlena.

"Are you sure Aunt Darlena?" She said arching an eyebrow.

"You know you look a lot like Adaun when you do that." Phelan said before Darlena could reply. A hint of sadness crossed his features.

"Who is that?" The girl said.

"Well, she would have been your Aunt if she hadn't been killed. She was my sister." Phelan replied. "Why don't we take a walk and you can ask all sorts of questions about me and whatever else you can think of?"

The young girl looked to Darlena, who nodded to her. The girl took the motion to mean it was ok to do so.

"Very Well..." She said a little aprehensive.

Phelan smiled.

"Ok, lets go."

They headed off around the church walking in slow steps. The girl Zealott asking questions and Phelan sometimes looking serious, sometimes chuckling and at other times seemed to be acting out long forgotten battles. Phelan smiled as they entered the church again some hours later with him carrying Zealott who had fallen asleep on their way back in.