Elwen

Elwen folds her arms over her chest. "It's /Elwen/, not 'Ki.'" the little thief complains. "And don't forget it, either! I'll be the greatest thief in the spirit world someday.../everyone's/ going to know my name!"

This was very well-written, ashke, though not about a topic I like...(as everyone has already guessed, I'm not one for gore...) but as Parmenion pointed out, we were and are a barbaric race deep down, and our darker sides are captured in this poem.

"He died of natural causes. Look-there is not a mark on him." Elwen points out. "No one can dispute that."

"Of course it was /not/ supposed to happen!" the harper said darkly. "I did not intend to show myself for what I was..." Her eyes are filled with remorse. "It is still my fault."

"With the reputation /I/ have, anyone who knew of me would think that it was more the other way around." the child informs him smugly-telling the truth, which is rare for a kitsune. Obviously, she is darn proud of her hard-earned reputation.

Elwen drops to her knees besides the boy's lifeless body, whispering apologies and prayers for his soul in both her native languages-kitsune and elven. "It is my fault." the harper says remorsefully. "I should never have come. If it were not for me, he would be alive."

Elwen snatches back her prize, as she removes the kitten from her neck. ((OOC: I believe the kitten is on Elwen...I could be wrong.)) "Why would I want to share any sort of credit with /you?/" the child asks Yasuo. "I did this all on my own. I don't share credit where it's not due."

A tall, quiet kitsune woman in sheer, gossamer robes stands silently in the back, considering this idea. Elwen's kitsune side-she was in her fox spirit form, not her elven form at this time-was quite curious. "This idea is intriguing." she comments in her calm alto. "I wish to participate."

Elwen, still lost in her thoughts, walks right past Tamaranis without noticing him. The quest for the Morninglark harp occupied her thoughts. It would be a difficult, dangerous one...but worth it. Completely. Unfortunately, she is /not/ masking her aura, and it is plainly obvious that she is one, two souls in one, and two, one of those souls happens to be a kitsune.

{{OOC: Yes, I'm using Elwen for this again. She's my best-done character for this site...anyway, this is *before* her rebirth as Lirya. She's in the middle of her kitsune childhood.}} A small shape, of a fox spirit, perched in the branches of a tree, as gold eyes peered out curiously. In her small hands was a bright gold necklace, obviously well-made and quite expensive. Obviously not something she could afford. Her footing was rather unsteady, and she slipped from the branch, somehow managing to land on her feet on the ground below, not dropping her hard-earned prize. The little kitsune looked at the others in the clearing with her intense eyes, no expression on her face, not even surprise from the long drop. She was a small thing, about five or six, with long silver hair and eyes that were strangely hard for one of such young age. Already, she was showing signs that she would be extremely beautiful when she grew up. And a skilled thief.

Elwen sits silently in a tree outside the hostel, sighing to herself. The kitsune/elf was on her way to Lord Dariel's castle, a journey of /much/ importance (and a lot of stupidity on her part), but she had to travel at night because she would be easily recognizable during the day...and she didn't want Dariel to know she was coming. With a graceful movement, she leapt out of the tree and walked with silent steps towards the hostel, simple white tunic (in place of her normal white silk dress) making no telltale rustle. "I might as well get some rest." the gray-eyed harper mused to herself sadly. "This will be a long time in coming."

Happy birthday, Silexion. *makes reverent bow* I am only a young one-*cringes at her lack of tact* Not to say that you aren't young, but I'm only seventeen (as of a week and two days ago...) and needless to say, everyone over the age of twenty-one is old to a 17-year old. *ducks thrown objects* Well, I'll shut my big mouth now...happy birthday! Ignore everything else I said, please!

"Those you have loved and lost will live on in your hearts, as long as you remember."-Me Nice poems, Pip. They're beautiful...especially the first one. And you will never be forgotten.

Very funny, Sam. I like this piece a lot. I wish I could write humor like this...but I'm an angst writer! ~Elwen~ (Lynne-ish, who eats angst flakes for breakfast)

Tales of another world are always fascinating to read...especially when they are as well-crafted as yours, honored ones.

"I am a /fox/ spirit. Dogs and foxes are related but are NOT the same." the elf maiden scowls. "Never mind...why I am wasting time arguing over whether I am a kitsune or a dog? I already know the answer."

This is a ten-minute play that I originally entered in the Arena Stage playwriting competition...it didn't win, but oh well. "A Lesson After Dying" A Play Characters: (in order of appearance) Mirya, a young woman Ariel, a mysterious girl Aidan, Mirya’s fiancé Rune, Mirya’s older sister (…somewhere.) Mirya: Where am I? Ariel: On the other side. Mirya: The other side? Ariel: Don’t you remember? Mirya: Remember what? Ariel: (shakes her head sadly) Poor, poor child. Mirya: Child? Who are you? Ariel: I am older then all, except for the Powers Above. Mirya: I don’t understand! Ariel: You will. (snaps her fingers.) (Aidan and Rune enter. Neither of them notice Mirya or Ariel.) Rune: Poor little sister. It hasn’t been that long…and I…miss her so much…it’s hard to believe…that this isn’t all a dream… Aidan: I don’t understand! Why, why did she have to do it?! Rune: I don’t know. Aidan: I…I thought if I loved her enough, she’d stay. (bitterly) It wasn’t enough. Rune: You can do nothing to help her now. None of us can. Aidan: But, if only- Rune: You cannot help Miri now. She’s…beyond all hope. Aidan: (breaking and guilt-stricken) And it’s my fault! Rune: How? Aidan: I- Rune: (comfortingly) It wasn’t your fault, Aidan. How is it your fault? (Aidan is silent) Rune: Let’s go inside. It’s too cold out, and you’re in no shape to be outside in this weather. (She leads him partway across the stage, he gives in listlessly. Ariel snaps her fingers and they freeze.) Ariel: Do you understand yet? (Mirya shakes her head. Ariel sighs.) Ariel: Perhaps this will help you. (snaps her fingers) Aidan: Why…I still don’t understand why. Rune: (dully) No one understands why anyone chooses to end their own life, Aidan. My sister had so much to live for. You would have been married, soon, she had everything she ever wanted-(stops for a moment.) Gone. All gone. Aidan: But why, Rune? Why? Rune: I don’t have the answers. I don’t know what you want to. There is only one person who can tell you now. (she rests her hand on his shoulder for a moment, then walks away and freezes, as Ariel snaps her fingers.) Aidan: Mirya…wherever you are now…I- (He can speak no more and begins to walk away. He stops near Rune.) Mirya: (pleading) I’m right here, Aidan! Can’t you see me? Can’t you hear me? I’m here, Aidan! Ariel: He cannot see you. He cannot hear you. He cannot find you. Mirya: …Rune, too? Ariel: Everyone. (Mirya is confused at first, but she soon realizes: the weight of the truth seems to crush her for a moment.) Mirya: (stunned and disbelieving) I’m…dead. (the words rush out of her) I’m dead, aren’t I? (Ariel nods slowly) Ariel: You are. And now, all you can do is watch the world, the people you left behind. Watch only, no more: we are invisible observers. Aidan: (steps forward) You were my strength, Mirya. And it’s my fault you’re dead. If only I’d-(chokes) Aidan: All I want is to know- Mirya and Aidan: (simultaneously) Why. (Ariel snaps her fingers, and Rune and Aidan exit.) Mirya: Who are you? What are you? (Ariel smiles, a mysterious smile.) Ariel: My name is Ariel. But as to what I am-(walks closer to Mirya) Ariel: (mysteriously and evasively) I am the road that leads to nowhere. I am the darkness that never lifts. I am the cold colder then ice. I am the dream that never awakens. I am the night that has no day. I am the guide to no return. Mirya: (realizing her identity and stunned at the realization) You’re…Death… Ariel: Yes. I am the Dark Lady, and you are dead. Do you have any questions for me? Mirya: How? Why? Ariel: You took a bottle and a half of sleeping pills. That is the how. As to the why…only you can answer that question. Mirya: I don’t know why…I wasn’t thinking. Ariel: It’s too late for thinking, Mirya. You can’t change anything. Look into my Mirror once more. See what you have done. (she snaps her fingers. Rune and Aidan enter. Rune is very upset, but Aidan is hysterical and half-crazy with grief.) Ariel: Watch. (Mime. Rune is trying to calm Aidan down. Her attempt fails miserably.) Rune: Aidan- Aidan: Don’t tell me it wasn’t my fault! Don’t tell me that! I don’t believe you! I can’t believe you! Rune: I- Aidan: See? You can’t even say anything! Rune: Aidan, stop it! Aidan: Stop it? What do you mean stop it?! Rune: (desperately demanding) What did you do? Why do you think that you caused Mirya’s death? (Aidan is silent) Rune: Answer me!! (she shakes him) (Aidan twists out of her grip) Aidan: I can’t stand it anymore! I can’t stand it! Everything is just so empty and there’s no light anywhere, it’s gone, and it’s my fault that it’s so dark- Rune: Aidan! Listen to me, calm down! Calm down! (she tries to grab him again, but he twists away) Aidan: I can’t stand it! I’m so tired, and there’s nothing left! Nothing at all! There’s nothing left! (he runs offstage) Rune: (screams with sudden fear: not for herself, but for him) Aidan! (she runs after him) Ariel: How many lives will be affected by you? Your family grieves, and your fiancé mourns. Mirya: (not wanting to believe what she knows is true) Time heals all wounds. They’ll be…happy again…someday. (Ariel shakes her head sadly.) Ariel: Aidan will never be happy again. He loved you more then was good for him. He will never heal. (Aidan enters) Ariel: He is fading, falling into shadow. All because of your death. Wracked by grief he should not bear and torn in two…his heart died with you, and his soul is already fleeing into Shadow-realms… Mirya: (disbelieving) Died with me- Aidan: Mirya, I knew you told me once that there was nothing so bad it was worth taking your life for. Mirya: (bitterly sarcastic) I was right. What I did wasn’t worth it. Aidan: You were my light, Mirya. Now there is nothing left for me but the darkness. I can’t find my way out. Mirya: Don’t give up, love! There’s always a way out! Aidan: Not for me. Not this time. Not ever again. I’m sorry, beloved. Wherever you are. (long pause) Thus I atone. Mirya: (screams) Aidan! No! Aidan: (slowly and lovingly) Sayonara…aishiteru. Mirya: (in shock) (whispers) Goodbye…I love you. (Aidan exits. Mirya stares after him helplessly.) Mirya: (shrieks) Aidan! No! Don’t- (A shot rings out. Mirya collapses, crying.) (Ariel has stood by silently. She walks up to Mirya.) Ariel: In the end, one person’s actions affect many. To the ruin of all, if need be. Mirya: I wish…I wish I could take this all back! If only I’d known-if only… Ariel: But there can be no taking back. You only get one chance. Your chance is gone. Mirya: But…you’re-if not me, then Aidan! He doesn’t deserve this! Ariel: It is not within my power. Not even the Powers Above can restore a soul to life when it is gone. I can bring no one back from the dead. I can only guide them to the furthest shore. Even if I could, I would not. For everyone has their time. (she points at Mirya) And you set the date and hour of yours. You and Aidan made your choices. And those choices are final. Forever. Eternal. Nothing can alter them. Nothing. Mirya: I should have thought…I should have thought before I acted… Ariel: You should have. For it was your suicide which brought Aidan to his: he was not strong enough to live without you, and the manner of your death only made it worse. And what about your family? What about your sister, who still lives on? (Rune enters, weeping, clutching a bouquet of flowers) Ariel: She already had to bury you, her blood sister-and now Aidan as well, who she loved as a brother. What about them who live on? What can anyone say to ease their grieving? Words can’t replace the life you waste, the life you wasted. (Mirya reaches out for her sister longingly.) Mirya: Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry, Rune… (Rune doesn’t hear her, and still weeping, exits.) Ariel: Death is forever, Mirya. No matter how much you long to say what you have realized beyond the grave, no matter how much you want to redo everything…you can’t. Mirya: …I know that now. Ariel: But a lesson learned too late is as useless as a lesson learned not at all. Mirya: If I could, I would take this all back. Ariel: So do all who have taken your path. But there is no returning from the furthest shore, Mirya. Death is forever. (these next speeches all build and get louder and louder in a ‘haunting’ chorus’) Mirya: Eternal. Aidan:(offstage) Everlasting. Rune: (off) Never ending. Ariel: Your story has ended. Aidan’s story has ended. Those who loved you are tangled in grief because you chose the wrong path. Aidan: (off) Why, Miri? Why? Rune: (off) We have questions…that have no answers. Ariel: Words cannot replace the sorrow. Words cannot replace the life you waste. Aidan: (off) Tell me why, please! Tell me! Rune: (off) I don’t have the answers…I don’t know. Aidan: (off) All I want to know is why! Rune: (off) You had everything you ever wanted. Aidan: (off) I can’t stand it! I can’t! Rune: (off) Gone. All gone. (all suddenly becomes silent) Mirya: (sadly) It…doesn’t matter anymore. It doesn’t matter now. Ariel: No. It does not. Mirya: Can…can I ever be forgiven? Ariel: Ask not of me forgiveness. It is you who must find it in yourself. (Mirya shakes her head no) Mirya: No. There will be no redemption for me. Aidan: (off) Sayonara…aishiteru. (The shot again is heard) Rune: I have no answers…gone, all gone… Mirya: There will never be redemption for me. No matter how long I atone…I can never be forgiven. For I cannot forgive myself. (Ariel and Mirya exit.) (End Play)

Elwen puts her hands on her hips. "It's /kitsune/, NOT dog. I'm a fox spirit/Elf, whatever you want to call it, NOT a dog."

We ARE authors, after all...should not the merits of a particular pen or pencil be a concern? After all, if we are not comfortable with our writing utensil, our productivity is hindered.

"This is one of my selves." Elwen says gently, as the image of the kitsune woman fades. "I existed as two beings in one. Both are dead. And..." she holds up a slender finger and taps her chin with it. "'Careful' doesn't have anything to do with it. It is obvious to anyone who reads my aura that I am dead. But sometimes, she wants to get out...and I let her. It isn't like this "condition" is a secret anymore."

The curse of the shadows is a heavy one, Lady Ayshela...and you have captured its heart in your words. *smiles* Well done, my lady.

(Goddess, help me...) Calonderiel thinks, praying to the Lady he serves for aid. "Wind's four quarters, air and fire Earth and water, hear my desire Grant my plea who stands alone- Calonderiel begins his invocation, but screams as loud as his voice will permit-not very, as has been observed-as Cate rather neatly slams his own Power into him. The Elf's channels are still raw-after all, he is only 60 years old, definitely too young to have grown out of threshold sickness-and not only does the Shadow-servant's power rip through him, his own magic backlashes due to the interrupted spell. His eyes widen as his frail body spasms, then he goes limp, completely unconcious. [Anyone who senses magic senses that Calonderiel's aura is gone. He's out cold...] "Now to take care of the rest of you fools." Cate Kent growls. The assassin is /not/ in a good mood. [You sense that he is calling on a LOT of dark power. Bad for you... ]

OOC: This is all a "mental" post, meaning it's all inside "Iriador's" head...heck, now we all get to see just how messed up she is. Italic is her Elven self, and bold is her...other self. Calm yourself. the soft voice of Lirya Wintermist said. You may not like this Shianna woman, as I do not, but there is no need to growl at her. Control your emotions. You are right, Lirya. I should not have lost control like that. her "twin" said. Harmon is annoying. Lirya commented sourly, her normally pleasant soprano gaining a bit of an edge. How can you not kill him? You have permission. It may be a terrible thing to say, but such a man should never have children. I do not know, Lirya...but soon it will be over. Soon... Their voices blend in a melody of alto and soprano. Our lives will end...but the one who matters will live. And that is all that counts... Absorbed in her thoughts, she follows this "Shianna" to where Harmon is.

Oh, Bright Goddess... Just what we need, Harmon's ego growing any more...if it's any consolation, "Iriador's" frostiness towards him will grow exponentially based on her level and his ego. *grins*

I am VERY fussy about what kind of pen I use...so am never satisfied with what I have. *sweatdrop* But last year, I drove my chemistry teacher crazy because I wrote an entire test in bright pink. "Lynne, you didn't put your name on this, but with the handwriting and the ink, I can tell whose it is. Stick with blue or black, please."