Aletta's words hang heavy on Kelda's heart. No one should be a slave, ever. She knew the Kharans had little to no compassion or care for anyone but themselves...if that. Their main motivators were power and greed. She knew that going to Kharas to try and stop them there would be little more than suicide, but she couldn't allow them to take over their valley and destroy everything they had worked so hard to protect.
Kelda listens while finishing her own meal, giving her a chance to process everything Aletta told her before speaking.
"Well then, we will definitely not be taking you back to that horrid place. Are you okay staying here though, or would you like to travel with us until you find a place that you feel more comfortable? It's completely up to you. Traveling with us can be a bit dangerous, but we would do our very best to protect you until we could get you somewhere safer....for whatever that's worth around here now."
"Let me sleep on the idea," Aletta says. "I'd much prefer a town to settle in, but..."
She trails off, not sure of what to say. The halfling lets out a yawn and scampers off to find a place to sleep.
Astoria turns to her fellow Half-elf to respond. "I... Yes, that is my hope anyway."
"Then you should talk to her about it. Maybe get an idea for anything you need to do, or she may even be able to take care of you being admitted if she's as important there as it seems." Lysithia replies to Astoria.
==================
Listening to Aletta's tale she is reminded that people are far more cruel than any animal, taking sympathy in the halfling's plight, being happy to be free, yet completely lost with no idea what to do or where to go next.
"I guess she'll have to figure out what feels better for her. It must be tough being free to make decisions what to do with your life, after spending all of it under someone else's' control."
Kelda nods, her expression thoughtful and somewhat somber.
Letting out a soft sigh she says, "Yeah, I just want her to be happy and feel safe. Well, as safe as one can be in these uncertain times. I will understand if she doesn't want to go with us, but I thought if she did we could find her a nice place where she could live and just be herself. I really wish we could put a stop to this slavery stuff for good. It makes me so angry just thinking about it. No one should be subjugated to someone else's will, against their own. Sorry, I feel like I'm just babbling. If she wants to find a town to settle in, we'll help her find one. Maybe there will be a decent one along the way. I just don't want her to feel like she's being forced into any certain decisions." Kelda closes her mouth and tries to shove the unpleasant thoughts from her mind.
"I understand love. I guess we'll just have to see what she wants to do." Lysithia says, leaning in and giving Kelda a kiss on the forehead.
"And you're not babbling. Part of what I love about you is that you want to help everybody you possibly can."
Kelda nods as her cheeks get a light blush to them, "Thank you love, your support means so much to me. I just don't like to see anyone hurting."
Once everyone is done eating, and the young ones have been put to bed, Kelda goes to find the Elf from the tower.
Kelda pauses before walking too far away from the group. Looking over at Astoria she asks, "Did you want to come with us to talk to her about the tower? I don't know when you'll get another chance to talk to someone about studying there."
Astoria thinks for a moment and nods. "Ah. Yes, that's probably for the best." She answers somewhat hesitantly before standing and joining the others.
You find Erytheia sitting on a barrel next to Anselina. The elf regards your presence with a brief glance.
Kelda gets a look of concern on her face as she hears the hesitation in Astoria's voice, As they head over to talk to the Elf, Kelda looks over at Astoria, "No matter what you end up doing, you have our support. We just want you to be happy, no matter what you decide to do."
Kelda gives the two women a nod of greeting, "Good evening, we were wondering if we could ask you some questions about the tower and the forrest around it? Is now a good time?"
Lysithia simply observes the interaction, giving both women a nod.
Erytheia adjusts herself to face the group. "Anselina and I were just making some small talk. Go ahead and ask your questions."
The older woman gets up. "I'll leave you be. I don't make a habit of putting my nose where it doesn't need to be and I have some cleaning up to do."
Anselina toddles off to pick up plates, bowls and cups scattered around the area.
Kelda nods at Anselina and thanks her again for their hospitality. Looking over at Erytheia she says, "Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, we'll try not to keep you up too late. I was just wondering a few things, so I'll start with asking about the circumstances surrounding the young ones capture. Was she outside of the tower, or were you attacked while in the tower? Was anyone else taken?"
"It was while we were gathering spell components," Erytheia answers. "Goblins attacked suddenly and in great numbers. Strangely, they seemed familiar with the grounds around the tower. They knew how to approach us so that we would be unaware. Two other students were taken besides Kerkysera...I mean, Ysera...that is her preferred name."
Lysithia frowns at Erytheia's revelation. "It looks as though the goblin problem has spread everywhere. Attacks by groups of goblins, more coordinated that one would expect, popping up everywhere. Could you describe the other two, in case we encounter them at some point?"
The elf seems to take a moment to construct her descriptions. "Tomas is about your height."
She gestures at Kelda, not being told the dwarf's name earlier. "He has dark hair, fair skin and freckled cheeks. His eyes are hazel and he speaks with the most dreadful accent imaginable."
Erytheia muses for a second before continuing. "Elowen is Tomas' twin sister, so her appearance is similar. She speaks a bit better than he does, though."
Realizing she had forgotten to give her name, Kelda blushes slightly before speaking again, "I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier, my mind was in many places at once. My name is Kelda, and we have been trying for the last several days to get to Cooperton, but have been running into problem after problem and we are trying to figure out the best way to deal with it...but we just keep getting the crap kicked out of us, and it's getting old. When we found Ysera and Yoska, there were 4 cages, but one of them was empty already. I don't know what happened after they were taken, but if we find them, we will bring them back." Kelda takes the note that they found while searching the last group of enemies and holds it out to Erytheia, "Found this on the last group of enemies, but we couldn't make it out. Is there any way you could interpret it for us please? I thought it might be something useful if we could find out what it said. Didn't get anywhere with the goblin since it was too busy throwing fire at me." She says with an involuntary shudder as she remembers the burning of her flesh.
Lysithia gently rubs Kelda's back as she shudders, likely at the memory of the near death experience. "We will definitely commit them to memory."
Erytheia takes the note and looks over it. "I'm sorry, but I can't read this either. Most people don't learn the goblin language without a particular reason."
Kelda takes the note back, "That's okay, thought I'd ask just in case. We had heard before that there's supposedly a goblin camp in the forest, somewhere close by the the tower. If that's true, it could explain how they snuck up on you so easily. Other than the attack that day, had you noticed anything else unusual or suspicious in the area surrounding the tower?"
Erytheia shakes her head. "I don't leave the tower often. If things had changed in the forest, I wouldn't have noticed."
"So the tower and it's denizens have no awareness of the forest around it?" Lysithia asks.
Erytheia grimaces slightly, feeling her character under attack with Lysithia's question. "Everything is provided for us within the tower. We have no reason to go outside unless it is to teach the students how to forage for spell components. It's a handy skill to have, if you think about it."
Hearing the defensive tone in Erytheia's voice, and knowing that Astoria had some questions of her own for Ardin's assistant, Kelda decides to steer the conversation in that direction.
Looking from Astoria to Erytheia, "That makes perfect sense, and for right now it's probably best that you stay in the tower while all these goblin attacks are going on. I'm guessing that the tower has a magical way to protect itself?" She takes a breath, "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to take up so much of your time. I know it's starting to get late and you need your rest for the trip back to the tower. I think Astoria has a couple of questions about the tower, if that's alright?" Kelda asks, looking over at Astoria to see if she wanted them to stay in leave so she could speak with Erytheia privately.
The elf shakes her head. "It's a normal tower. The goblins never try to get in for some reason or another. Again, I may not have all the answers but your friend is welcome to ask what she wants to."
Lysithia simply nods, silently contemplating the rising goblin problem.
Kelda looks over at Astoria, "Do you want us to stay while you talk to Erytheia, or would you like some privacy?"
After a minute or two of no response from their friend, Kelda turns to look at Astoria, "Are you okay? You don't have to make any decisions right away if you don't want to, and regardless of what you decide to do, you will always have our support and friendship."
Astoria approaches with a smile and asks. "Hello, I was wonder how one becomes a student at the tower? What the qualifications were and such."
Kelda moves off to the side while Astoria asks about the school, and wraps her arm around Lysi's waist.
"Either be blessed with wealth or be a danger to society," Erytheia answers with a touch of sarcasm. "In the remainder of cases, an entrance exam tailored to the prospect's preferred school of casting is held."
"So...what do you think you want to do next, love? We do still mean to make it to Cooperton, do you think we should just keep pushing in that direction?" Lysithia asks Kel, leaning down to rest her head against her love's.
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Giving Lysithia's waist a light squeeze, Kelda nods while waiting to see what Astoria is going to say.
As she waits to find out what Astoria wants to do about her training, she turns into Lysithia so that she's facing her, "I thought I was going to lose you again. I don't think I could stand it if something happened to you. We have to try to be more careful about how we deal with the enemy, but I fully intend on continuing on toward Cooperton...once we rest tonight and gain back some strength. We will continue in that direction right after breakfast. Hopefully, it doesn't take much longer to get there." Kelda pauses to wrap her arms around Lysithia.
Stretching up on her toes, she kisses her beloved softly. A warmth flows through Lysithia as Keldas healing abilities spread through the kiss like a light summer breeze, carrying all of her love with it as she attempts to repair some of the damage caused by their encounter.
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Melting into the wonderful, healing kiss, Lysithia comes up breathless, a warm tingle going all the way to her toes. "Gods you're wonderful." she says with a smile, gazing into her love's eyes. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere without you."
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Blushing slightly, Kelda pulls back slightly and looks up into Lysithia's deep honey colored eyes, "I'm just the girl that loves you with every fiber of my being. You're the most amazing person I have ever met, and I couldn't imagine a life that didn't have you in it. We never know what tomorrow might hold for us, so...I wanted to tell you exactly how much I love you, and how much you mean to me. I....I don't want to just be your girlfriend, I want to be your beginning, middle, and end. I want to be yours forever, no matter how long that might be....I want you, and maybe someday down the road that could include children and even a pet. As long as I'm with you though....that's all I really need."
Having completely put herself out there, Kelda takes the next logical step.
Pulling back from her love, Kelda takes one of Lysithia's hands in hers as she goes to one knee in front of her, "These last few days have taught me that every moment is precious, and life is too fragile. I know we've been through a lot, and I don't have a ring to offer you yet, but will you do me the honor of being my forever? Lysithia Pasiphae, will you marry me?" Not thinking about the people around them, Lysithia is the only one Kelda sees as she pours out her heart to her beloved.
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Lysithia's eyes go wide for a moment as Kelda's words and action begin to register, almost immediately followed by them brimming with emotion, as a stunned, but ecstatic smile graces her lips.
Until recently, she'd never even given any thought to her future in terms of things like marriage or family, and yet, now, it all made perfect sense, feeling as natural as anything she could have imagined. Kel was right, if they'd learned anything it was how short, and utterly precious life could be, and that it needed to be celebrated the best one could every moment possible. She could think of nothing that would make her life fuller than spending it beside the amazing woman kneeling before her.
"There is nothing that could bring me more joy, than to be your forever, and have you be mine. Yes, Kelda Highcliff, I absolutely will marry you!" she says breathlessly, utterly beaming and completely oblivious to anyone around them as she helps Kelda up, leaning down to kiss her again, this time with far more more passion and intensity.
Erytheia briefly glances in the druid and warpriestess' direction before looking back at Astoria. "Any other questions?"
As she is kissed, Kelda wraps her arms around Lysi and moves as close to her body as possible without actually melding into her.
Hearing Erytheia pulls her back a little to reality, and once Lysithia lets her up for air and she catches her breath, Kelda looks over at Erytheia and Astoria, her face slightly blushing.
I ummm...I have another question if that's alright? Are you and Ysera going to be okay going back to the tower tomorrow by yourselves, or would you like us to go with you before we try heading back to Cooperton?"
Looking at her beloved, she kind of shrugs. She still fully intended to continue towards Cooperton, but she would never forgive herself if they let the two Elves go off by themselves and something happened to them.
Looking back over at Astoria she says, "Sorry for interrupting, but I just wanted to make sure they would be okay getting back. If there is anything else you need to ask Erytheia it's totally okay."
"I would rather not hinder your journey," Erytheia replies. "I can handle a few goblins under normal circumstances."
"Good to know." Lysithia says with a smile. "Just be careful and be safe."
Kelda nods, "At least you won't be caught off guard again since you know they're out there. Hope you have an uneventful trip home."
Looking back at Astoria and stifling a yawn she says, "We're gonna go find a place to rest while you finish speaking to Erytheia. Whatever you decide to do, just let us know in the morning. Have a good night Tori, and get some rest." On impulse, Kelda steps over to Astoria and gives her a reassuring sisterly hug.
After saying goodnight, she goes back over to her love. Stretching up onher tiptoes, Kelda gives her beloved a kiss on the cheek, "Ready for some rest my love? We still have a ways to go to get to Cooperton."
"Definitely!" Lysithia says, returning the kiss. "We do still have quite a way, and it's been a very long day." she says with her arm around her love.
"Either be blessed with wealth or be a danger to society," Erytheia answers with a touch of sarcasm. "In the remainder of cases, an entrance exam tailored to the prospect's preferred school of casting is held."
Astoria suppresses her unease at Erytheia's answer. "I see... Are these exams held on a schedule or would someone normally make some kind of appointment?"
"They are done on an 'as needed' basis," the elf says. "There's no giant labyrinth or flaming obstacles, if that's what you're getting at."
Kelda leans into her as they walk together, "I'm thankful to Anselina for putting us up for the night, but I'll be happy when we can finally rest somewhere with a little more privacy." Smirking slightly, she gives Lysi's bottom a slight squeeze before swatting it playfully, "I've really missed having time alone with just you."
"So have I!" Lysithia replies, making a little humming sound at the squeeze and playful swat. " I look forward to a nice inn or something, we have some...celebrating to do.