Narunith stood patiently in the back of the little stage where her mother was holding a speech. It was the celebration of their parents 150 years anniversary and Narunith, her equal twin sister Mornith and their elder brother Gwendir waited for their queue to play for their parents to open the dance.
Narunith was... well, not angry, more frustrated beyond belief with her sister. Being sisters was the first and foremost thing they were, as implied in their names. Narunith simply meant "red sister" whereas Mornith meant "black sister". Even though they were equal twins elves adapt very strongly to their environment, to some degree even to their habits. Thus, while their features were identical, Narunith had blazing red hair and a reddish tan, whereas Mornith had deep chestnut and a brown tan, almost black hair.To any human that would probably been a strange sight: Two identically looking beautiful young woman in very similar clothes but completely different colours, Narunith wearing her hair open, long and carefully combed, Mornith wore her as a well tended, but deliberately wild mane.
Of course it was always the outgoing, tameless Mornith who got all the men, which was the exact problem.
Narunith had planned to use the occasion to announce her engagement with her boyfriend, a fellow wizard, who was unfortunately much less adapted to drinking wine than Mornith. Last night he asked her to become his wife and Narunith said "yes" - they had been a couple for fifteen years, and while it wasn't a relationship of blazing passion, Narunith would probably spend the next threehundred years with him anyway. So they celebrated a little. Mornith showed up late, spun the whole party around with her stories and her irresistable charm (for which Narunith was glad at first), had all the boys cling to her lips (yes, that's an euphemism) with tales of her adventures while she wore nothing but a Negligée (one of Natunith's, which she only used as sleepwear). At some point later the group got smaller, Narunith chatted with her friends and didn't really think much about it when she went looking for her betrothed in order to reap a kiss and see whether he was alright, given all the wine.
It was Gwendir who stopped her from walking up the tower tree of the building. He didn't say much, just that she wouldn't want to go up there and he had this look on his face. The world crumbled a bit for Narunith and "Mornith?" was all she could ask. Her brother's face became harder and he gave a sharp indication of frustration. The wind in the leaves carried one of her sighs down to them. Her own equal twin sister, the one person Narunith loved most in the world, was having Narunith's betrothed on the night of their engagement. Narunith didn't even know how she got to her own rooms high up in the trees, but it must have been Gwendir who brought her there and tugged her in. For Gwendir, being a sibling to Mornith must have been almost harder than for Narunith - alsways so righteous, principled. A paladin of Iomedae and lietenant of a small elven elite group in the crusade who just came home for a couple of weeks to join the celebration.
Narunith hadn't spoken a word with either Mornith or Landir, her... maybe-betrothed. Narunith hadn't decided on that yet.
Their mother ended her speech - despite Narunith's outstanding memory she could not remember a word of it if her life had dependet on. As they turned around Narunith cast a straigh, very frustrated and disappointed look on Mornith and raised an eyebrow. Why? The two sisters didn't really need words they were equal twins who knew each other for 120 years. Mornith answered with an indicated grin that at least showed a bit of bad conscience, though the way she lifted the bow of her violin almost got her furious. Oops, you caught me again. Narunith always caught her. It was as though she wanted to be caught. Don't worry, he's not even a good lover. I might not do it again.
They started to play, Gwendir was singing an old tales of their mother's and father's respective families, both very old and well respected, if not strictly noble as close to it as it gets. Morinths played the violin while Narunith played the flute and their paranced danced. At first Narunith didn't dare to continue the conversation, but as others joined the dance. She changed a vibrato here, gestured with a foot there and cast looks on Mornith. I did never mind that you play it wild. On the contrary, I love you for that. By why does it have to be my men? Why can't you be at least discrete about it? You can have anyone you want!
Thank you. Mornith replied with a nod.
For what?! Narunith almost got out of the rhythm and Gwendir cast a frustrated glance on them. He probably didn't understand everything, but he did know his sisters and knew they were arguing.
I love you, too. I am sorry, sister, but do you seriously want to live with this guy? Be a scholar and a wife and nothing more?
Yes! She calmed down a little. Mornith said that she was sorry and it was in Narunith nature that, no matter what her sister had done, she would always forgive her. But not tonight.
We're going on a trip to some old ruins from time before the exodus the day after tomorrow. Why don't you come with us and have revenge... we might need a scholar to get in there and unlock its secrets. And there are some real men I am very fond of in case you want to get back at me.
No! I am going to throw it in Landir's face, make sure he'll beg for mercy and leave him hanging for a couple of days and give then give him the best sex of his life.
See? There is some of Calistria's spirit in you, even though you're overestimating yourself. But you forgive too easily. Why don't you fight me for a change, make sure I regret it?
I don't want to fight you! I just want you to respect what's mine - not anyone else's just mine - and leave your fingers of it. Please!
Mornith seemed disappointed. If that's what you truly want, I promise. Just consider trying things my way for a change. You know, I am not your enemy. I don't want to hurt you, I challange you because I do love you and think you're selling yourself short. I thought you knew that.
I am not... Narunith missed another note and Gwendir cast that paladin-look on them he always used to keep his younger sisters under control. Men shouldn't be taught anything like that in Narunith's oppinion. Nevertheless, both sister focused on their play. After that it took a while, but it did become a surprisingly pleasant evening, even though Narunith kept avoiding Landir.
Two years later Narunith was sitting over a copy of a stone inscription when she was apruptly disturbed in her studies. "Gnolls!" A young messanger came running onto the front terrace of the Silvertree Mansion where she was sitting and working with Landir to decipher the parchments with text from a twelve thousand year old stone pillar. Narunith was annoyed by the disturbance but could stop herself from letting the boy notice. "The expedition ran into a group of Gnolls and were overrun! They need help at once, Lady Narunith!"
That did sound serious. Only that Narunith had no idea what he was actually talking about. By the looks of his outfit he had been running for a while. "Expedition? What expedition?"
The boy seemed gave her that slightly frustrated look that most elves usually use on humans when they don't see the obvious. "To the north, an exploration to the border areas to Razmiran in order to find an old refuge of the Taladar, the warrior king. Taladar's mask just might be there."
"But that mask can not possibly be magic anym... wait, Gnolls?" Slowly a deep concern got through to her. She put her pen down and reached for a wand of magic missiles she had never used before as she raised. "Who is on that mission?"
"We! The Band of the Brave! I ran as fast as I could, but all our horses were lost... and they have Lady Mornith. None of those who escaped is in any condition to fight..."
"Stop right there... Go find my father, he is around in the garden to the lake, I think. Erm... please, I mean." She turned to Landir. "Get the horses, I'll see whether some healers are in the settlement." Narunith was actually surprised to hear herself speak in such a commanding tone, but this was not the time to think about it.
"What are you going to do?" came back from Landir, who was still holding his pen.
"Save Mornith, of course. And the others... get going, all this training must have been worth something. And don't forget the wands!" She tried to keep her voice friendly, but she would not accept any come back on that.
She didn't wait for his reply but rushed in all haste out to the settlement. Two hours later the Landir, Gwendir and Narunith were riding much fast than was save in the forest to the north. The young boy - actually he wasn't that young anymore, he was a good 100 years old, but Narunith was used to compare all men to the most handsome man she knew, which was frustatingly her brother. Leroleth was holding on to Narunith on her horse, since she was the lightest of the trio. A bit too tight for her taste, but it was a rough ride and she was afraid of letting him fall off the horse if he didn't. Pretty brave of him to rush straight back into battle after hours of running through the forest. she thought. While Landir seemed a little uncomfortable on the horse, he still seemed to be less troubled than he thought he would, nor did he show any hesitation since they got started.
There were no healers available, but luck had it that her brother was around. While Narunith had not been in any actual fight in her life, Gwendir was used to fighting demons and the grim determination with which he rode to save his sister was inspiring. What trouble could gnolls possibly be? Her fingers were clutched tight around the wand and she tried focusing on the forest floor and low hanging trees, rather than the upcoming battle.
When they reached the camp site of the gnolls, Gwendir didn't give them time to think, but commanded them as the experienced leader he was. "Narunith! The hill on the right. Whatever area spells you have, no matter effective, we need to spread chaos. Landir! Get to the bushes over there and try to take them out one by one with your spells."[/b] He had already slipped off his horse and strapped on his shield. "Leroleth! You stay on the horse, give us cover with your longbow and back up the retreat." He looked around. There was no indication the gnolls had noticed them - they were merely but 100 steps away but they made a hell of a lot noise, debating over something while others were getting carts loaded. It took Narunith a moment to realize they were loading prisoners onto the carts, elves, and not just those of the Band of the Brave. They were slavers. She couldn't see her sister anywhere - she just hoped she was alright. Mornith would never go down without a fight.
Gwendirs tactic to go in alone in the middle seemed insanely reckless to her, but his voice left no room to argue and she didn't know an alternative anyway. She hastened to the little hill as fast as she could neither alert the gnolls, nor leave her brother waiting he would otherwise have to face the gnolls without support.
She had barely reached a hidden spot on the top with a good overlook when she heard Gwendir's voice boom through the forest. "Hear me gnolls! You crossed the borders of Kyonin and laid hands on elves! Surrender now and accept your punishment, or be brought to the justice of death right now in Iomedae's name!" Narunith was completely struck by Gwendir's entrance - he had called out in Taldan, not elven, but his voice clear and flawless. She had no doubt that Iomedae was giving him strength. And so were the gnolls, since there were guards in the trees she hadn't noticed earlier who would definitly have seen her without the distraction. But now the gnolls moved in on her brother, whose entrance was certainly brave, but seemed somewhat foolish as well - there was a good one and half dozen of them.
The gnolls were trying to engage him in melee, which wasn't the brightest choice, but the probably didn't worry. She just needed to channel them somehow... she had never done this in an actual battle but trained it a billion times over. Casting a spell was a work of art, and as ridiculous as it seemed she was proud of the elegant way she shaped her spells - a sleep and an entanglement spell - and let them loose on their enemies. The gnolls realized late that there was more than one attacker and they lost order. Gwendir was indeed a shining bright knight like right out of a story, the way he waded through the attackers and smite them, one by one. Narunith did her best to channel them and engage them with combat spells, but when she was out she drew her sword without thinking and stepped down to her brother. Landir had pretty effectively prevented the ones that Narunith missed from getting into Gwendirs back, killed two and gave others something to think about so that Gwendir could effortlessly strike them down.
The battle was going so well and Narunith was so caught in the awe inspiring impression of her brother that she stood by her side to assist him. From the corner of her eye she could see that one gnoll who was trying to flee was caught by an arrow - she couldn't say whether it was Leroleth's or Landir's. That moment of distraction. She just heard a somewhat desperate cry from Gwendir: "Naru, get on my shield side! Watch out..." A hairy gnoll with a drooling mouth full of long fangs was upon her and already considered her his price. Gwendir could not step in because she was blocking his sword with her body. She barely deflected his gigant, curved and rusty saber, but the blade carved deep into her shoulder and the world faded to black.
Her body was full of pain when she woke up, but surpringly intact. The air was filled with the moans of dying gnolls and both pleas for help and cheers from elves. Gwendir stood over her - he must have used his divine healing powers on her, since her shoulder seemed intact, even though she could hardly move her arm. "Narunith! What were you thinking! You're not a warrior! Things like this require training, experience." He looked at her in deep concern.
"I am... I am sorry... I just... I felt so invincible when I saw you fight them. You seemed so fearless... How are the others? Where is Mornith?"
"Never! Never think you're invincible! Never underestimate the enemy! I was trying to let the enemy think I was invicible to break their spirit, that doesn't mean that I wasn't fully aware of my own limits, of my power and theirs. To defeat an enemy you need to know him better than he knows himself and you need to veil your own strengthes or weaknesses from him... or her..." The last addition was probably a reference to Mornith. He sighed and looked at her a little softer. "Well, I never thought you had it in you, little sister, but you did amazingly well. Landir and Leroleth are freeing our people. Let's go look for Mornith and see that we got the gnolls." He helped her up and she tried to look brave despite the pain which made it difficult to convince her body to move at all.
The people they freed didn't seem to mind that Narunith had been struck down, but congralated her for her bravery. Right now she didn't really feel all that brave and all the death around her paired with the pain almost made her fade out again. A single one cry burst through into her consciousness and the sound of a sword. Pulling herself together she followed Gwendir to its origin. And there he stood: Landir was standing over a dead gnoll, the blood soaked sword he had probably not drawn in one hand, helping out Mornith from beneath the dead beast with the other. Mornith beamed at him in a strange way that Narunith could not remember ever having seen on her sister. She was badly rugged up, had cuts and bruises all over, but didn't seem to have suffered any serious wounds. She gave Landir a kiss - obviously she only decided in the very last moment to plant it on the cheek - and cast an excusing look to Narunith.
Narunith was too dazzled to send her anything but a smile back and stumbled over to her sister.
The rest of her memories of that day were blurry. She rememberred that the gnolls somehow knew that they were coming, that the hole site of the supposed hidden lair of Taladar had been a trap and they hadn't stood a chance when they were upon them. She decided to play it a little slower for a while and Narunith was perfectly fine with that.
It was another year later that Narunith caught Landir and Mornith again. Not that they were doing anything forbidden, but the way they were standing there at the terrace by the sunset, the way they were looking at each other... she had never seen any one of them look so... in love ever before. The way they both looked in shame at her when she came just gave it the rest. She had never been so angry in her life. Mornith had given Narunith her promise and she trusted her. But since Landir had saved Morinth's life she had never been the same. She had never thought that her twin sister had interest in anything more than Calistria's gifts. But the two hadn't touched each other, this was something different. And Landir: Even though she was Mornith's twin he had never looked at Narunith like that in all the twenty years she knew him.
"So this is it. Traitors." She hissed, but without anything she could do about it, she got louder and louder: "Why don't you follow through, after your hearts have long betrayed me. It was I who charged to your rescue without a moment of hesitation, it was I he through herself into battle and got struck down to save your life. And you" She screamed out now, her voice tumbled and tears were in her eyes: "Did you ever even consider loving me? After all the things we shared, after all the time, when you proposed marriage and went straight f*** my sister... When I forgave you and embraced you. Did you ever consider loving me?"
"But, Narunith! We're just..." started Mornith, completely flabbergasted by her sister's unusal outburst.
"Silence!" interrupted her Narunith and continued quietly: "Silence. We were one. I know what you feel. I can see straight into your heart. There are powers greater than you or I - Do what you must, Shelyn bless you." Tears were running over Narunith's face now and she added with a hiss: "But don't you dare ever talking to me again. We're sisters no longer."
With that Narunith left and left them standing. For a couple of months she hid in the most boring and most reclusive libraries she could find. Then she turned everything upside down. She had a brief, but very intense affair with Leroleth, traveled from celebration in the forest to the next, spent her nights drinking and hooking up every boy she could get. She even spent one couple of nights with the one or the other girl - for elves it was pretty common to try their own gender, even though the vast majority stayed straight in the end. At first it seemed fun to live like that, but she went down ever deeper, not doing anything meaningful anymore. She lost track of where in Kyonin she actually were or what time of year it was... it didn't matter, somehow she got through and she was still a member of a respected house, regardless of how she behaved.
One morning after a party she woke up alone at the grove where the celebration had taken place. She really didn't want to think about how she got into this exact spot between the bushes at the edge of the grove - there should be someone to keep her warm, but she didn't mind she was alone. With nothing better to do she just stood up, went to the little forest lake at the other side of the grove and looked at her reflection in the water. She didn't even recognize herself anymore. Nor her sister whose face often looked back in reflections of water which wasn't perfectly smooth.
She didn't turn around when she heard steps behind her - she knew she should be polite, try to make up for her inappropriate behavior and excessive drinking the last night, but she couldn't bring herself to. Fornately the other person didn't say anything. That was good, her head surely hurt enough the way it was. Unfortunately the person sat down next to her. She could simply ask them to leave - an elf would never deny a request of enother to be left alone. Surprisingly a hand reached into her field of view holding her comb. She took a look at the reflection of the other person in the water and found out that it was Gwendir sitting next to her. He had her bag with him and another which she thought she had lost, containing spell book and ingridients.
For a moment Narunith was worried. The last time she had been home she had a serious argument with her parents about appropriate conduct. Gwendir had always been intensely disciplined sibling, the one who was even more strict and aware of code than their parents ever were. It had always been Narunith who had to negotiate peace between her siblings. Forunately the lecture she was expecting didn't come. He was just sitting there holding her comb.
Carefully she took it and, since she had still nothing better to do, started to comb her hair. It was tricky, there were some nasty knots in it, but she wasn't in a hurry. She had tried all kinds of wearing her hair in the past few months, all kinds of tying it up, but for now she just wanted it fall down smooth and straight again. The sun had well crossed the zenith when she was pleased with it and the figure in the reflection reminded her a lot more ... well, of herself again.
She realized that Gwendir was still sitting next to her. And still hadn't lectured her. She was glad he was here. Even a pack of gnolls wouldn't be able to bother her. She leaned down to the water to wash her face, her hands and to drink. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was, but all the alcohol last night left her pretty much dehydrated. Her head became a little better.
Gwendir still hadn't said anything but he was now looking straight at her. She could feel how he was wandering whether he should dare to address her. He sat there for more than half the way of the sun from one horizon to the other and was still wondering what he could do. All he wanted was to help her. She laughed softly and immediatly regretted it. "So, you could be saving the world at the wound. You could fight all kinds of evils. But here you are, saving your messed up sister's life again. I am so glad you're here Gwendir. Owww..." She should better not be too glad, her head didn't like it.
"You were wounded again."
They sat there for a while longer in silence. She just let him hand over her bundle and she dug through it. No clean dress in sight. She put it away and grabbed her spell book. She hadn't prepared a spell in a while but she wasn't in the condition to right now, either.
"You always were the best of us." She just said, not quite sure what else there was to say. There was something to say, but she just couldn't nail it down. Something she was afraid of.
"Strange I always thought that was you. I have my principles to adhere to. My codes, my rules. Mornith does whatever she wants. That's not to say her heart wasn't in the right place, but she's just too reckless. But you just follow your heart, find your way to make Avistan a somewhat brighter place without rules and regulations."
"Hmmm... alignment theory. I know what alignments are, I am a wizard after all. It's not just a phylosphic concept but magical reality. The thing is, whereever my heart may be, I've never done anything but sitting and studying while you and Mornith were out there, doing things, each in your own way. And now I am just getting drunk and screwed up."
"And yet, when Mornith life was at stake, you didn't hesitate, you cast whatever spells you had, picked up a sword and through yourself against a horde of gnolls."
"True." She thought about it for a moment smiled carefully at him, even though mimicing all too aggressively made her head hurt as well. Somehow the question she wanted to ask came over her lips: "You think she will forgive me?"
"Forgive you? It was she who hurt you." He answered honestly surprised.
"It's not that simple..." she started to explain, but decided to first have another sip of water. "You see. She didn't really do anything to hurt me. Well, other than the things I had already forgiven her before. You see I blamed him for not loving me when we broke up. But the truth is, I never loved him either. I saw it in Mornith eyes, when she looked at him. Because we're the same. Mornith loves him and if I did, I would look at him the way she did. I was so envious. I was so angry that she felt so deeply, when I could not. That they just loved each other and was completely on the outside. But, you know, that's not a sin. Love can never possibly be a sin, the things you do out of love, yet, but never love itself. So Shelyn help me."
She could see in Gwendirs eyes that he didn't fully agree, that he found that a romantic, but not very realistic view. But he wouldn't say anything, so she continued. "The one elf I love most of all... and I don't think that will ever change, even if I found a man and loved him the same way that Mornith loves Landir, is Mornith. In a way I just felt betrayed as a sister because she would give all her love to him. As foolish as this was. As though her love for him would change anything between us. And that's why I broke up with her. How could I ever have told her she wasn't my sister anymore... this... could have been a good moment. And I tore what means most to me apart. Technically speaking I didn't break up with him at all." She dug with clumsy fingers in a pocket hidden between the folds of her dress and produced the engagement ring Landir had given to her.
"While I must admit, that I don't think that anyone but yourself sees such a terrible guilt in what you've said to her in a moment when righteous anger carried you away... you won't find forgiveness if you don't ask for it."
Well, the truth was, now that she sat there and had talked to Gwendir, the thing she most wanted is to go home and make peace with her sister. But she was also afraid to help her. "We can't go right now. I have nothing to wear. I need to wash and dry a dress first."
Gwendir seemed somewhat amused. "Curious how well you know each other. Mornith said you might need something to wear and gave me one of her dresses. And even though you may have gained some weight recently, you still should be able to squeeze in. I'll wait down there with the horses... I brought one for you. Will you come."
Narunith was actually happy now that the decision was made and didn't really dare to delay too much, so she had no chance to reconsider. "Yes... I'll make it fast."
The whole trip back Narunith tried to find the words she would say. She rearranged words over and over, formulated short statements and long speeches... In the end, when the sun had long set and they arrived at Silvertree nothing of it mattered. Their parents saw her first, but stood aside on a sign from Gwendir and when Mornith came out the two sisters just stood face to face for a moment and looked at each other, recognizing their respect own face in each other. Eventually Narunith produced Landir's ring and gave it to Mornith without a word who clutched her fingers tight around it but didn't put it on and the sisters fell into each others. "I am so s..." Narunith started whispering into Mornith ear, but Mornith interrupted her: "Shhh. None of us is without guilt. Let's just say 'Sisters forever and ever.' Will I get my dress back?" For a moment Narunith was puzzled and Mornith started to laugh.
A bit more careful continued: "You know, that... after you gave me that ring... you know that I'll have to ask you to be my bridesmaid?"
Narunith was indeed a bit shocked. She may not love Landir the way that Mornith did, but she did still care a great deal about him. "You're engaged? It is that serious? You're going to settle down?"
Mornith didn't reply with words but let her sister feel the answer: We're engaged now that you gave me the ring. I did not touch him yet. I'll let the proposal to you count for me as well, we make it up between us and he'll have to live with it. And yes, it's that serious. What Landir and I will do remains to be seen, but settling down is an option. So, what say you? Will you be my bridesmaid?
I will. Sister.
The preparation for the wedding took a while. The twins took particular pride in being able to befriend a woman which hadn't really ever liked them and get Gwendir to invite her to be his company during the celebration. Not that they hadn't tried a billion times before to find him a woman that was important to him as were his duties, but this time they tried a different approach: Find a third sister, find Naenith, the white sister, to complement the red and the black. Obviously it had to be a blonde about their age and height. Considering that Mornith was the wild sibling and Narunith the diplomatic, compromising one it had to be a third that was just as lawful as Gwendir. Not radiantly beautiful, but good looking with abit too sharp cut features and relatively small nose and mouth, just as the twins. She perfectly complemented the duo, even though mornith and Candwen were fighting all the time and Narunith caught in the middle, that was just how it was meant to be. Of course, it would never have worked, Candwen wouldn't even have considered to waste her time with the "posh, rich snob twins" if it weren't for the prospect of a date with Gwendir - most maidens were interested in him, even though Candwen was not the type to lower herself to stand in line, she took the chance when it presented itself and Narunith did manage to earn some of Candwens respect. It remained to be seen if it worked out with Gwendir, but as far as the twins were concerned she already was the "Naenith" they had been looking for.
The wedding was wonderful, as elven weddings were more rare than among humans and Silvertree a respected house, hundreds of elves were celebrating and Mornith and Landir did make a good couple. Even though it still hurt Narunith a little to see them like that, she was happy for Mornith. It was curious to see how she changed when they were together, usually Landir was a shy guy and Mornith a dominant person, but he had no trouble being her equal. Gwendir and Candwen did come together and even though they danced only briefly and that because protocol demanded it, it looked as though he did actually care about her - the two were talking all night and hardly seemed to notice anyone else.
Two days after the wedding and the cleaning up Narunith's time to leave had come. The last two years had taught her that she had to face the wild world in order to be true. She had the powers of a wizard and the libraries were not were discoveries were made and the Avistan defended from evil. Both her siblings had been her example, brave, ready fight for what they believe in or what they desire (respectively), but now it was her turn. She wasn't about to underestimate the dangers of the world, but she would face them again, until she conquered some little part on her own.
