3
Now some things don't sit right with elves and the birth of Qelin was
one of 'em with most people. Mahdia knew here father wouldn't approve even
though he was born to his old friend, then again, maybe that would be a
reason for his disapproval. He had known D'Ellan and his bride before they
had their first son. He was there for him when she died in child birth as
Belladonna had. Their son was raised with the help of another maiden as a
wet nurse and mother. Though not wed to D'Ellan he had finally taken her to
bed after his first son had grown. And surprisingly she had sparked to him
and truly loved him and so gave birth to Qelin. D'Ellan was killed during
a hunting trip just at this time and soon after Cain wed Belladonna. The
child sort of was linked to this loss of friend and soon his wife. Cain had
spoken of this in passing once as he and Mahdia were delivering some armor
to the Academy where Qelin was a student. Cain had noticed the resemblance
to his father, D'Ellan and spoke to Mahdia about him and his old warrior
ways. He was very upset by the speakin' of it and though he told her of his
past life before Belladonna died he couldn't go on after reaching the point
of her death and Qelin's birth.
Mahdia never forgot how the young elf had caused here father such grief
in remindin' him of his pain. And so decided she had to keep here knowing
him a secret from her father. She had already started to have feelings for
Qelin. So Mahdia had to start making up stories about doing things to sneak
out to see Qelin. It finally came to be more difficult and she thought she
may have to stop.
Well a way to get past this presented itself in the coming of a stranger
to Navelorn. He first saw Mahdia as she and I were doing some work at the
Metheale gate, the East river gate. He had just arrived and heard her
singing as she helped me in her work. I saw him standing back and watching
us, well mostly watching her. This stranger looked at here like he was
seein' a ghost. I'd been noticin' other young men lookin' at Mahdia more
and more, lately. It was hard to get used to but our little tree climber
was growin' up and before our eyes had become a stunnin' beauty. This young
lookin' elf had the seem of being learned or well traveled. His light brown
hair and green eyes shined in the mornin' light. And the fact he was not
from Navelorn added an air of mystery to him as well. So, it isn't too
surprisin' Mahdia took notice, also.
After much of the mornin' had run it's course and we was packin' up and
makin' our good-byes to the gnomes who had come to trade with us, Mahdia
went ahead of me to tell her father that we had dome very well today and had
taken many orders for armor. Just as she had disappeared into the tunnel
through the cliffs that lead into the haven, the stranger got his nerve to
come forward. He started by introducin' himself and it went on from there.
"Hello, I am Nelian of Saerhud. I am sorry I have not approached
sooner. You see I have not been to Navelorn in a while and I didn't know
the custom of speaking with others when they are transacting business. I
hope you will forgive any offense I may have given by waiting till you were
done for the day?"
Lookin' him over he seemed to be nervous about somethin', but I figured
that was because of what he had said and so answered him politely,
"I have
taken no offense. If you didn't want to speak of business then perhaps you
did best. What can I do for you?"
"Good, Good. I am glad. I have wondered at the name of the maiden who
has been helping you and singing while you made your trades. Is she your
daughter?" He said with a smile.
This seemed a bit forward but I am not one to be uppity or that diplomatic
myself.
"No," I answered, "she is the daughter of the armorer who did most of
the work on our wares here. His name is Cain."
He looked a bit surprised, "Her Father is Cain. You don't' say."
Placing a finger alongside his cheek and thinking for a moment, he went on, "This then is a great coincidence and a most pleasant one. I couldn't
help but notice here talent with song and had hoped as much. I do have
business but not of the usual kind you may be used to. I would like to ask
here to walk and perhaps get to know me. I have traveled here to Navelorn
again because I heard of the Master armorer Cain and his singing forge, and
the use of song they have found to make their enchanted armor. I would be
in great debt to you if I could perhaps persuade her to aid me in an
enchantment of my own in which I am working. Of course I must gain here
trust and willing participation if the magics are to take."
"Well that should be up to her and Cain," I said. "Perhaps if you were
to explain it to him..."
"No, no that won't be necessary," he interrupted. "I wouldn't want to
bother the Master smith. I would just like to talk to his daughter and see
if she would be interested in helping another in his enchanting." He looked
at me expectantly and I didn't know what he had in mind. But elves are
generally good folk. There has never been a known case of rape or murder
amongst the elves so we pretty much trust one another.
"That would be a bit peculiar but we can ask Mahdia about it and then
ask Cain if she would even care to help you," I said after mulling it over
for a moment.
The young elf brightened and seemed to have a weight lifted from his
shoulders.
" Good, good," he said again. "I will contact you again in a week after
I make arrangements for a place to stay while I am here."
We grasped forearms in a warrior salute of peace and he went on his way.
Speaking of this later with Cain, he agreed to Mahdia helping another as
long as the one being seen was of good family. I had no way of knowing this
but the way this stranger carried himself was as if he had been a student of
the Academy and most of them were of the more noble families. This would
also explain how he knew his way here and how to get into the haven. He
also gave the Academy warrior grasp, as is the custom. This seems to be
common amongst the humans but particular to the Academy and the Elite Guard
amongst elves. I told Cain and he said it was all right as long as I would
chaperone them. I agreed to this. He had said he was from the Saerhud
Forest, that's the other great forest of Edilar. This didn't give me any
other knowledge of his house or parentage. But I figured what could go
wrong if I was there to watch.
When hearing of the strangers reasons for watching here that day Mahdia
was a bit disappointed that he was not interested in here for more than her
voice. But she had missed the singing in the forge that she had been doing
less and less of as she made excuses to slip out and se Qelin. This would
give here a chance to use here voice again to aid another in creatin'
something of beauty.
After a few meetings the two had and some walks they took together,
Mahdia came to me and asked for a favor. At first I was ready to give here
almost anythin' but as she explained I almost told the whole thing to Cain.
If only I had gone with my gut instinct.
Mahdia confessed to me she was feelin' strongly for a young elf, but it
wasn't Nelian. The elf was Qelin D'Ellis. I knew of here fathers feeling
about the young man and told here of them. She told me it was too late, she
would meet him with or without my help but if I was there to cover for here
then I could watch out for her and so be able to convince Cain later that
all was fine. Mahdia knew once I had met Qelin, I would approve. She said
here plan was to arrange to meet with Nelian and this is what here father
would know at least for now. She would actually go and meet Qelin while
Nelian and I would talk or sit at a distance and keep an eye on them but not
bother them. Nelian said he agreed to this. He had a love of his taken
from him once because of a fathers resentment and would be happy to set
things right with this couple if possible. So I agreed to go along, damn me
for a fool. When it comes to love sometimes elves can forget all common
sense.
After many meetin's such as this, all seemed to be going fine. I got to
know this Nelian and was happy Mahdia didn't seem more interested in him.
He seemed distant sometimes and there was an aloofness to him like he was
hiding somethin'. This isn't that uncommon with an elf. We all live long
lives and many things happen durin' that time. Some deal with it by
shuttin' it out. So I never asked about it and he seemed always the
gentleman and never gave cause to mistrust him. Qelin, also proved himself
to be a fine person. He was a little rough around the edges but so was I
and I got to like him. So, I let Nelian chaperone at times and me at
others. It gave me a chance to get away from work and hunt or read while
the two young lovers spent time gettin' to know each other and I assume
fallin' in love.
Nelian meanwhile had gotten himself one of the older homes in the haven.
Navelorn isn't very crowded and many homes become abandoned if their family
has a great loss or they move away. He spent most of his time there mendin'
it and readyin' it for some work he was wantin' to do. I think he was a
mage and was buildin' a place to research some new spell. Edilar has no
problem with the study of spells and the practice of magics and castin'.
Them other realms in Thardferr have some legal restrictions against it.
They so fear magic 'cause of the Sythian mages that attacked Thardferr some
700 years ago that they made it illegal to learn magic less you were a part
of their Imperial Magicians Guild. But Edilar, the realm of the elves,
never signed the treaty that made this restriction here. Though the elves
are part of the Confederation of Thardferr and paid homage to the rulin'
house, the Emperor there, we pretty much had all our own laws or lack of
them. So what Nelian did in his own home was pretty much ignored and fine
by everyone else.
After a season of me takin' Mahdia to meet with Nelian, and she then
leavin' to meet with Qelin; the time came that Qelin had to leave the haven
as part of his Academy trainin'. The Academy trained fighters and mages but
the most important of their trainin' was the elite guard, the forest wardens
some call rangers. Qelin most wanted this though his adopted father wanted
him to be a mage. But books and closed rooms with years of study was not
this boy's desire. He wanted to live off the land and had spent most of his
time in the forest or with his true fathers old huntsman R'Deinar. This old
warrior was a friend of mine and I respected his ability and what he would
be able to teach Qelin. So Qelin jumped at the chance to escape the
confines of Navelorn and the courts of M'Arteis to live in the deep Wood for
a year. Mahdia was a little heart broken. She had some feelin's of being
left out of Qelin's life when it seemed that they were about to be joined
forever. But a year isn't all that long a time and he would be back before
she knew it. They had one last meetin' arranged through Nelian, where they
made promises that only they may know. And Qelin went away.
Chapter 4
