Life continues..

[Phelan]

"Very well..." Phelan scratched his chin for a moment. "Well I will just start at the begining..."

Phelan spent the next few hours summarizing the whole of his life. He told Aramis of how the house of Seladria was destroyed when he was at a young age and he had fled Neriak to save his life. How he had been raised and taught to fight by Aramis, the person he had been name for, the elf. He related how he had to kill Aramis and flee once more back to Neriak. He told him about the human Gaien, who was raised by Aramis' family and considered the elf his brother. About how Gaien had actually defeated him in battle and then his heart had changed on account of learning the truth.

Aramis listened and every once and a while smiled at the story or arched an eyebrow in disbelief. Phelan told him what he knew of Adaun's past and how her path had brought her to almost killing Phelan.

"And now it is late...you should get some sleep, you have a busy morning with Darlena tomorrow. Perhaps if I have time in the evening we can have a duel with practice swords." Phelan said.

"Really?" Aramis said trying to mask his excitement.

"If I have time then yes. Good night son." Phelan pulled the blankets over himself in the chair and closed his eyes.

Phelan's fell into a fitfull sleep

Phelan heard someone screaming in the woods. He rushed forward to help, but the sound always seemed just out of reach. Run as he may, he couldnt' catch up to the blood curdling screams. He looked about himself and found that a heavy white fog had rolled in. Every things seemed so bright that Phelan couldn't make out any of the trees around him. Shadows danced at the edges of the fog and voices laughed at him.

Phelan was awaken by a creaking noise coming from the darkness in the room.

[Nikkii O'seth]

There was soft footsteps an the smell of a woman's perfume thoughout the room. A gental touch brushed his hair to the side an as sudden as it was there, the smell the foots steps was gone an the door shut gently. Phelan jumped from the chair an looked out into the hall, he saw nothing at first but then he saw a shadow cast further down under the candle light. A quick look back into the dark room Aramis was asleep on his bed feet hanging off. Phelan fixed him back in his bed before heading down after the person.

The night gaurd kept a close eye on Phelan's movements as he went down the corridor. Making sure to keep as quiet as possible he began to see the shadow once again, the doors to the courtyard opened and he lost sight of the shadow. Soon the figure of a woman appeared, Naldany. He watched as she took her gloves off an clenched them tightly finding a spot to sit.

Behind Phelan he could her a conversasion between two of the other gaurds.

"Can you believe this? " One voice siad.

"Believe what? " the other replied.

"I herd today that the Devil elf struck another human settlement earlier this week."

"Well... if that is true you know well be getting sent to enforce our borders again till this blows over again."

"Yes, the foolish humans will think that it was Teir'dal doing an send parties to investigate our land in search of the Devil elf."

"I wonder if Lady Darlena will go ahead with that spoild boy alone still?"

"She will do fine on her own .... that boy on the other hand is trouble.... he would ride right into enemy hands if he wasn't properly watched."

The gaurds chuckled a bit between each other for a moment. "Lady Nikkii would probably be happy if he was caught, that way the counsil would stop questioning her so much."

"I think the humans wouldn't take the boy anyway.... too much trouble for them to hold as a hostage."

"Here comes the lieutenant... be quiet."

Soon the footsteps of someone in heavy armor could be herd walking quiet loudly. In stepped the lieutenant of the O'seths gaurd Blexanu. One look showed that he was one that gave little to no quarter for error or carelessness, his armor highly poslished an his rested on the hilt of his sword.

He eyed the two guardsmen over before moving on, then his eyes met Phelan's.

"You there why are you roaming about after hours?" He asked.

[Phelan]

"Since when is there a curfew for the members of the O'seth family?" Phelan asked as he sauntered into the hallway a bit closer. "Is it not the job of the guards to protect this house and the family, not to badger it's inhabitants?"

Blexanu looked Phelan up and down.

"You presume much to still call yourself an O'seth. Lady Naldany nor Lady Nikkii have refered to you in such a manner, I don't know you nor do I trust you so I will question you as I see fit. Now what are you doing roaming the halls?" Blexanu said letting his authority be known.

"I can accept that I suppose. I heard someone in the room I came out here to investigate and a conversation pulled me in this direction. Seeing as that it is late and that it had nothing to do with who ever it was that entered my room, I think that I shall return to bed, sir." Phelan said diplomatically.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Very good then, see to that you remain there till a more suitable time." Blexanu said easing off a bit.

At that monent Phelan felt a brush behind him, looking back out to the courtyard Naldany was gone. The smell of her perfume filled the area, Blexanu looked back and forth for it's source but quickly dropped it.

"Too many women here.... Smelling perfume everywhere good night to you." Blexanu turned away from Phelan and continued his rounds.

[Phelan]

Phelan walked out to the courtyard. Blexanu hadn't persuaded him one bit to stay in his room. 'This is ridiculous' He thought. Phelan stared off over the water for a while. He closed his eyes and could suddenly see a lush green forest with birds chirpping happily in the trees. He could hear the happy sounds of commerece. Phelan opened his eyes from the memory, he knew that forest all too well, it had been his home for many years. It was where he learned to wield a blade with the expertise he displayed anytime he drew his swords.

Phelan began walking, he walked and walked all around Neriak. He finally ended up where most depressed people end up, the tavern. He ordered an ale and hunched over his drink lost in thoughts and memories. He kept wondering what he must do, perhaps he had chosen poorly in coming back here. Maybe it wasn't working out, because it wasn't what he was to do, or maybe it was. Maybe it was hard because it was near impossible and he was the only one who could do it.

For a breif moment he saw Naldany's face reflected in his ale. He shook his head and fell back into his thoughts.

[Nikkii O'seth]

A hooded individual sat next to him. "You don't look right being in here." A familiar female voice sounded from the person. "You never brought me here when you was her the first time." She reached over an took one of Phelan's hands. Her hands was soft an sent chills up him as she examined his hand.

"I don't see the ring I gave you ....." She said an started to remove the hood from her head. Phelan reached over and stopped her.

"It might not be such a good idea to take that off in here." Phelan said bringing his hand back down.

"I want to know what happened that day you dissappeared from our lives..... an what means got you here."

[Phelan]

"well there isnt' much to tell, honestly. Most of that day is still pretty vague for me. The last thing I remember was Lylith trying to cast a portal... I finished her easily as she was opening it, but the thing never finished. It twisted and pulled apart as I landed and fell through it. Then my next memory was standing on the moutain above us...

I don't know how I came to be here. The only thing I knew when I arrived is that I was here to do something... but I have no idea what. I was very dissoriented and the only thing I remembered was that once I had a wife and child. My feet led me home... to you.

I don't know what more you want me to say... that is all that I know at the moment. I never meant to leave, the thought that I might die and lose you had never crossed my mind."

Phelan went back to staring at his ale in silence. Naldany sat in silence also, Phelan sighed and took a long pull from his ale. He heard Naldany's breath as if she was about to say something, but then hesistated.

'I just want to make things right again.' Phelan thought.

[Nikkii O'seth]

"I should apologize then.... for sneaking in on you an our son... I will also tell Blexanu to be more mindfull of you... And I want you to stay here ... with me, us." Naldany pulled the ale from infront of Phelan.

"We have much better stuff in our own private storage... an beside if the barkeep here finds out your Aramis's father we'll have trouble here." Naldany said looking towards the bar. "Phelan ..... there is somethings that has changeds in the last ten years you should atleast be aware of."

Naldany stood up from where they was sitting an headed out. She gave one look at Phelan to see if he would join her.

[Phelan]

Phelan looked at her as he stood. He walked over to her and joined her as she led the way.

"What things...?" Phelan asked warily.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Naldany took his hand an took off her hood. She walked quickly till they was closer to the church before slowing her pace.

"Humans... they have grown more in numbers an now have started settling closer an closer to our borders. This is something we can thank those stupid elves for... If they hadn't struck a deal with them we might not have this problem. Last month there was a clash at the green rift with the humans, the gal' saris house was the victor and now they commisioned us to make some talisman's to shield the inner santum."

They was back at the church's front entrance, both the gaurds at the gate was shocked to see Naldany outside.

"My'lady you shouldn't be out of the house walls at this hour." One of the gaurds spoke.

Naldany ignored him an continued inside. "I think I did a good job in making this, I have come far since we last was in eachother's company."

Phelan nodded in agreement to what she had said, and attempted to hug her but was unsure how to approach her.

"You always was very talented Naldany. So what else has happened." Phelan said leading her.

" You probably haven't herd the rumors yet of an elf, an elf known as the Devil-elf...."

Phelan raised an eyebrow but said nothing allowing her to continue.

"Well hear say tells of a very dangerous elf, not sure if it be Teir'dal or dal. Just rumored to be a woman, kills just for the joy of doing it. An outpost of ours was attacked by the devil an the victim that was alive when help showed said she was merciless."

[Phelan]

Phelan was quite happy to be with Naldany again. She had accepted what he had to say. He would think twice before rushing headlong into a fray again, the possibility of hurting those he loved weighed heavy on him now.

The news of the so called Devil-elf disturbed him. Of course news like this usually stems from one or two exagerated tales and things get blown out of proportion. At one point his name was whispered in swordsman circles as if Phelan himself were a god and yet there were those out there they could best him. He put the news of the rumored elf out of his mind and turned his curiosity back apon her distain for the humans.

"I see. Why are the humans a problem? Weren't we on fairly friendly terms with those in Freeport?"

[Nikkii O'seth]

"Humans tend to over step their bounds... an for the most part yes we are on good terms with the freeport humans..... its the ones that worship Mithaniel Marr. They believe that the other races of Norrath have become corrupted by darkness, I still wear the brand of the hunters on my back."

Naldany yawned her fatigue was catching up to her, she has started to look more relaxed an her gaurd lowered. She leaned against Phelans shoulder. "Aunt Nikkii is woking on settilng this since she has the most experiance in dealing with them......"

Naldany trailed off and got quiet, Phelan looked down toward her an saw she had fallen asleep on him.

[Phelan]

Phelaln craddled her in his arms and carried her into her quarters. He changed her into a night gown and tucked her into the bed. Phelan laid next to her with her in his arms as he fell asleep. 'For Once today everything seems right.' Phelan thought with a smile.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Morning would soon come an with the start of the morning brought a visitor to the room. A small body came up from the foot of the bed an stopped at their midsection. A small hand started shaking them both in attempt to wake them up, Naldany rolled over an covered her head. Giving up on Naldany the hands shook at Phelan till he awoke. Opening his eyes slowly he met gaze with Zealott smilling at him.

"See, you are my daddy..... she is happy now." Zealott crossed over him and off the bed.

"Mom is suppose to be teaching me today, but she doesn't want to wake up. Grandmother Nikkii will be cross with me if I am not doing my studies. " Zealott's eyes seem to lite up as she had an idea. " Will you show me to the wizards hall? I can read my books that I am to read but I can't reach them yet an they are heavy."

Phelan sat up in the bed an looked over to the sit sleeping Naldany. "Aramis left this morning with aunt Darlena if you was wondering." Zealott smiled an hugged Phelan.

[Phelan]

"Well aren't you just a cute little thing?" Phelan said rubbing her head. "Ok, but lets be quiet and let mommy sleep." Phelan said in a hushed tone.

Phelan escortted Zealott to the wizards hall. She pointed out which books she need and Phelan grabbed them for her. He sat and watched her as she read through the books. She paused and looked up at him with her eyes twinkling.

"Daddy?" She said.

"Yeah?"

"Can you cast any spells?" She asked.

"I've never really learned. I'm sure that if I had grown up here, that I would have been taught, but I didn't." Phelan said with a smile.