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[Ash]

Anduriel just smiled. It didn't seem like a great deal to her mostly due to the fact she saw it every day. She did like the four seasons, though. Especially the artistic statement by the two Elves. She took Neelahn into the map room, where there were two older-looking Elves who simply bowed courteously.

She returned the bow, and looked towards a large, circular pedestal in the centre of the room. It was about two feet high, and covering the entire pedestal was a huge scroll, easily large enough to be a bedsheet. Across it was a map of the entire world of Memoria, labelled in the finest calligraphical Elvish.
She stepped over to it and crouched down.

"Highness," one of the cartographers protested, "please be careful. That map is not to be touched!"

"We are not going to touch it, Selevé," she replied, "perhaps you could help my friend here? She plans to travel away from our lands, and I brought her here so that we might set her on the right path."

Selevé smiled. It was rare to find younger ones interested in such a thing of beauty as the maps.

"Ah, young traveller," he smiled sagely and warmly, coming over and inviting Neelahn to crouch down, "was there something in particular you wished to see? A city of Man? The northlands and the icy mountains of the Dwarves? Quite spectacular, both, I must say. And certainly a far cry from the world of Elvenkind. What is it you look for?"

[Athena]

Neelahn considered her options for a moment. There was no place specific she'd thought of. She studied the map, hopefully she'd remember some main locations, would come in handy later. There was the Green Mountains to the north and to the south the Ice Mountains. To the west she saw Emporia and Maynor where humans lived. She saw the forest, its lake and Tal Silmataurea. She felt an odd sting in her heart, looking at it like that. She noticed some dark trees to the right. Her father had always told her they were dangerous. Better to heed this advice. She wished she recalled more of the stories her father had told her. She forced herself to look at the map instead of thinking of him. To the middle right she saw a desert. Northwest there was a big set of caves. She closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated, trying to somehow find an answer within herself.

"I.. for some reason I feel I should head towards the Ice Mountains."

[Ash]

The cartographer's slightly wizened face broke a warm smile. "An excellent choice for an adventurous soul. Wrap up warm, child, for the Ice Mountains' name does not lie. The Dwarves live in the mountains, and beneath them. They are a most hardy race."

[Athena]

"I will take your kind advice and I thank you for sharing this with me. " She gave him a smile and a nod. She turned to Anduriel and said: "Thank you so much for showing me this. Really kind of you." She smiled.

[Ash]

Anduriel's face was blank, and she didn't even accept the thanks with a bow. She just said, "Actually, I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I went with you?"

"Highness!" Selevé called, outraged, "Y-you shouldn't travel without consorts! There are brigands, there are-"

"No threats to my safety greater than ignorance, Selevé. What good am I as future Queen of the Elves if I do not know anything about our neighbours, their customs, their people, their needs and the things they could offer us? You cannot get this information from books, not totally unbiased information. Besides, the only people who need know are yourself and my parents. I will travel as a regular Elvish citizen, not royalty."

"Your father will not approve of this..." Selevé groaned, thinking of the grilling he would get from His Majesty later about this. He would probably be blamed for encouraging her.

"Let me worry about that, Selevé. You encouraged Neelahn to travel. You advocate exploring distant new lands...yet you would prevent me from doing so? I will clear it with father." She began to laugh openly, "The spirits know that he wastes his time trying to stop me! Oh...forgive me, Neelahn. We are talking as if you have already said 'yes'...I would not wish to intrude on your journey if you do not wish me to join you. What say you?"

[Athena]

Neelahn hadn't seen this coming and she was really happy to hear this. It was a brave thing of Anduriel to do and to go against her father and a lot of people there, but Neelahn thought she at least partially understood it and admired it in her. She couldn't truly imagine what it must be like to have a life like that, with people who only see you as their new heir, instead of who you really are.

"I'd love that." She replied and smiled.

[Ash]

((OOC: I'll RP the King just for this thread.))


A few hours later, Anduriel had confronted her father about the whole venture. She had insisted Neelahn be allowed into the throne room where her father sat. He was, and had always been, a gentle soul. Never a hint of malice. That was what endeared him to his people. Anduriel had a habit of asking for things that he really wasn't happy to give. It was purely because he wished to protect his daughter, but even he had to realise that she wasn't a newborn. She herself was a whole two centuries old.

The whole argument had played out in front of Neelahn, and had been initially flat-out 'No's from the King, followed by numerous and repeated verbal barrages from Anduriel, explaining to him the benefits to himself, to her, to the Elves and to her future Queenhood. He also explained how she could better serve her King as an advisor.

Eventually, as she had gone through each benefit in turn twice over, she had worn him down and worn him down, and now he was actually quite receptive to the idea.

"I see far too much of myself in you, dearest daughter. I remember that I would never take no for an answer, either. But the choices are yours to make, and the mistakes yours to suffer.
"I trust your companion is able," he said, looking over to Neelahn, "you do travel with the future of the Elvish royal bloodline alongside you. I must place far more trust in you, Miss Neelahn, than I am willing to place even in myself. I ask you to keep a close eye on Anduriel for me. If you can swear your life to it, then my heart will rest peacefully with Anduriel's decision."

Anduriel quietly frowned to herself. She hated that he was doing this. Basically, he was appointing Neelahn as her protector for the journey. But he had seen her sabre training. He'd seen her beat grown Elves twice her senior in the training ring. He knew she could handle herself. Probably it was just a peace-of-mind thing. She hoped.

[Athena]

Neelahn had watched the argument and felt a bit shy and redundant, like she was somewhere she shouldn't be. But she firmly believed in Anduriel and supported her in silence. When the King asked of her to protect Anduriel, she replied: "Your daughter has done a lot for me. I like her how she is and if she needs or asks my help then I will aid her. If it's neccesary to defend her, I will. On my honour as elf and my life, you have my promise."

[Ash]

The king smiled warmly, knowing there was sincerity in Neelahn's words.

"Then go, my child, with my blessing. And come back to me with stories to fill the ears of our children and our elders alike. I will instruct your servants to pack for you. I suggest you go prepare. The journey to the mountains is long. Should you require horses, I will see to it they are provided as well."


((OOC: Am I OK to bring a talking bird? I wanted one ever since playing The Longest Journey ))

[Athena]

(OOC: I've not played that but yes, you can ).

Neelahn smiled. "Thank you, your Majesty," and made a bow. She turned to Anduriel and said: "We should leave as soon as possible." and gave her a warm smile. Neelahn was really glad she had met Anduriel and was looking forward to their trip.

[Ash]

((I'll hold you to that ))

"Not without me, you don't!" came a strange, sqawky yell from another room, in regular Memorian.

Two of the King's courtiers ducked as a green, long-plumed bird came flying from a side-room, beating its wings to come and land on Anduriel's shoulder.

"Oh! Meet Crow. My bird." For the first time since Neelahn had met her, Anduriel also spoke standard Memorian. "Say hello, Crow! Where are your manners?"

A squawk erupted again, and then Crow nodded his head to Neelahn. "Hello. Don't think you're taking my friend away, kiddo! She's MINE! I own her and-"

"And you talk way too much," Anduriel laughed.

"Where are we going, again? The Ice Mountains? Ooooh, there are some real frigid chicks up there. Frigid. Cold as Haagen-Dazs. Unless your plumage is six feet thick, you're plump like a stuffed turkey and you can carry their eggs on your feet...what's up with that, anyway? They won't even look at you!"



((OOC: Yeah, you're going to have to get used to Crow. I'm playing him exactly like his ingame counterpart, except his look. Other than that, he's identical ))

[Athena]

"Nice to meet you, Crow." Neelahn said and gave a smile. She wished she'd have such a bond with an animal. But every bond she ever used to have was now shattered and in pieces. Hmm well, maybe the future would bring a change. She asked Anduriel: "Will we travel by foot or by horse?"

[Ash]

"Horse will be the fastest way to go."

"Great," Crow groaned, "that means I'm going to have one hell of a job following you. Still. Horse's heads are great vantage points to spot all the chicks..."

"You will have to get used to that. He is always...shall we say, birdwatching?"

"Hey-hey-hey, got to keep 'em peeled. Might spot a couple of robin redbreasts among all the frigid penguins."

Crow was a loyal creature. He had always been friends with Anduriel, but he did have a ladies' man streak. Anduriel always found it amusing, especially since so few of the female birds were actually interested. Species gap aside, his self-professed charm and wit were rather lost on most (read: non-talking) birds. He wasn't even a really good singer.

"Just remember, if he asks to serenade you, my advice is to decline."

[Athena]

"Ok, seems fine to me," Neelahn replied. "It's very kind of your father to lend us horses."
Regarding the birdwatching remark of Anduriel, she replied: "Heh, that was some fun pun," and laughed. "I'll remember when he asks me." To Crow she said: "My name is Neelahn, hadn't said that yet, I believe." She paused for a moment and asked Anduriel: "Is there more stuff you need to bring, maybe some clothes and food? I think it's best if we leave as soon as possible."

[Ash]

The King answered the question.
"Supplies and provisions will be packed. Safe journey to the three of you."


((OOC: I'll make a new thread when you return to continue this))