Precedent scene: Give Me Your Hand (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/give-me-your-hand/2931915/?p) First scene of the story-arc: Chaos and Death (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/chaos-and-death/2889324/?p&ca) ________________________________________ The text is very long this time and I hope it will not be tedious to read, but I really didn't wanted to do a fourth picture for these "Guild" scenes. ________________________________________ " So, what's the plan now? When do we leave? asked Sigrid. - Well, the time to prepare our trip. Prepare our gear, taking enough provisions, finding the fastest way to travel and say goodbye to those who welcomed us here for so long. It would be insulting and dishonoring to not doing it. That said it shoudn't be that long. So, in two or three days? What do you think Delphine?" The young magician raised her eyebrows, surprised. The way Marina asked her, let it occurred that she never thought to leave without her and it was pleasing to hear. " Yes, I think two or three days maximum will be enough. - You want her to come with us? Sigrid looked at Delphine with a unconvinced gaze. Not to insult your friend, Marina, but isn't she a little frail for what will be a dangerous trip like ours?" Delphine tried to show nothing, but if it was not insulting, she didn't wanted to know what it was when Sigrid insulted people. - Don't be fool by her delicate apparency, responded her sister. Delphine is a very powerful magician and could turn us into a pile of ashes with a snap of her fingers, if she wanted to. - Really? said Sigrid looking at the young magician with new eyes. Marina smiled and winked discreetly at Delphine. What she said was exagerated, but the fact her friend took her defense made Delphine extremely happy. " I have also initiated her on the sword, at her own demand. She is still learning, of course, but she is talented. I'm sure she could make a great warrior." Delphine was not sure if Marina was saying that for continuing to impress her sister or if she was really sincere, but she couldn't helped to blush a little. Considering the culture of her friend, saying she would do a great warrior was a wonderful compliment. " Speaking of great warrior, continued Marina after a short pause and looking at Amon, Amon is the best swordman I have ever met. With both of them on our side, we wont fail! she said with a big smile." But Amon choose this moment to intervene. " Marina. I would liked nothing more than to accompagny you, but, I'm sorry, it won't be possible. In two days too, I'll be send off on a mission in the Eastern Marches. I came here to tell you that when your sister appeared. - Oh! Marina stayed quiet for a moment. What's the mission? - A lot of dissapearences are happening in the barony of Trististerram. According to Omdeo who scanned the area, something dark and very powerful is behind these. In the Eastern Marches it's not surprising, he added. We have to go investigate. - We? - Yes. Ordinarily, you know that I prefer working alone, but the threat seams big enough to have a highly trained team send. He stayed quiet for a moment. I'm really sorry Marina. - Don't be." She smilled tenderly at him and reach for his hand. Nobody talked for a while, until Delphine decided that the time to stay politly quiet was long enough. " Well, if Amon is not coming with us, she smiled, I know two people that will be certainly happy to join us. - There is nothing I would like more than having them on our side, sighed Marina, but they are far in the south and in this season, it would take more than a month to reach them. We can't lose so many time. - Don't worried. You wanted the fastest way to travel? Well I can tell you that even by going south, we can be in Hvíttland (the Northern Continent, author's note) in less than a week. - By which miracle? asked Sigrid in complete awe. - Well, it's simple..." The servants brought the food soon after Delphine finished her explanations. They all ate with appetite, Sigrid eating the most, in an impressive quantity, like if she haven't had a decent meal in a long time. Which was probably the case. They continued to talk a little after the dinner, but Sigrid, that the fatigue was finally catching up, almost fell asleep on the dining table. They decided to end the discussion and go to bed. Having his own trip to prepare, Amon was not sure to be able to see Marina again before their respective departure, but they both agreed it was better that Marina stayed with Sigrid for the night. Amon kissed Marina, said goodbye to Delphine and Sigird and took leave. The two sisters went directly to Marina's bedroom, while Delphine stayed a little longer in the dinning room, drinking a herbal tea. Later this evening, in Marina's room, somebody knocked softly at the door. " Come in." said Marina, trying to not sound too loud. The door opened and Delphine's head passed through the doorway. " Am I disturbing? she asked wispering. I saw the light under the door. - No, not at all, come in, responded Marina with a gesture." Delphine was wearing a red silk nightgown with a golden pattern at the extremities. Marina's nightgown and the one she had lend to Sigrid were less delicate, made of wool with a simple solid color. Blue for Marina and dark green for Sigrid. But they were ideal for a cold winter night like this one. Although, the room was pretty warm, been one of those who had a chimney in it. The fire was illuminating the room, as well as some candels here and there. Against the wall on the right of the chimney, on the oposite wall of the door, was the bed where Mariana and Sigrid were. Behind the bed, was a tapestry picturing a female warrior in armor. When they moved in, this was what pushed Marina to choose this room. The red headed woman was sitting in the bed, a pile of pillows behind her and was holding her older sister that fell asleep in her arms. A warm fur cover resting on them. Delphine approached the bed silently. She noticed a basin full of water, on a furniture, near their folded clothes. " She was exhausted, said Marina seing Delphine looking at the basin, but I convinced her to wash herself a little before going to bed, because... She didn't finish her sentence, instead, she pinched her nose, making a grimace. Delphine put her hand in front of her mouth to not laugh. The magician lean on the bed, looking pensively at Sigrid for a moment. The untied hair of the blond woman looks as wild as those of her sister. Delphine extended her hand and brushed her hair. In her sleep Sigrid moaned and said something that she could not understand. The only words Delphine comprehended were the names Sven and Svadil, the names of Sigrid's husband and of her son. Marina understood everything though and her face was filled of sadness. Delphine didn't asked. " She never traveled that far. started Marina after a long moment of silence. Except for her occasional visits to our grandparents in the south, her whole world was the area around our home town. And now she is here." Delphine was listening quietly. " She was really impress you know? continued Marina. By your plan. Excited too. Because of that, we will be able to be in our home town in no time." "Our home town", it was the second time she was saying these words. " I think I never asked you why you leaved your country? asked Delphine. - I wanted to see the world, I suppose, responded Marina after a short moment of reflexion. Which wouldn't had happened if I had married a guy and had a kid like Sigrid did. - Do you have somebody waiting for you there? - Do you mean someone who was in love with me? Not I am aware of. Actually I don't think I fell in love with any men, when I was there myself. Oh, I had some strong crushes, especially when I was a teenager. And I had some "amusement", she emphasized the word, with some of them. Delphine blushed a little. But no love. Now that I think about it, except my family, I haven't missed a lot of people after I left. I don't know if it makes me a bad person? - You are nothing but a good person Marina, Delphine smiled tenderly at her. Never think otherwise, please. - Thank you, responded Marina." Delphine leaned and kissed her friend on the cheek, surprising her a little. - I start to be very tired, said the magician with no transition and standing up. Good night, Marina. - Good night, Delphine, she smilled at her friend. Oh! Could you blow the candles, please? I would like to sleep too, but I don't dare to move, I don't want to wake up Sigrid. Delphine noded and made what she was asked to do and after a small gesture of goodbye she left the room. The night went well. When Sigrid woke up in the morning, she was full of energy. This night being the best she had in a very long time. They took their time until the end of the breakfast, where Sigrid ate a lot once again. After that things went very quick. Marina and Sigrid were starting to pack the equipments and the provisions while Delphine went to see Omdeo. She was always welcome in his office, but he was a very busy man and often couldn't afford to be distracted. Fortunately this morning things were pretty slow and Delphine had been able to explain the situation to him without been too much disturbed. He said he will help her with the first part of her plan and that he would warn Erana and the others of their upcoming departure. After that she came back to her quarter to pack her own stuff and help the others. At the end of the day they were ready to go. But it was late, thus they decided to wait until the morning the next day, not without warning Omdeo before, of course. The morning, like the day before, they took the time to make a good breakfast. Then they gathered in a little square, near The Fortress, where Omdeo was already there with some of the people they made friend with, especially Delphine, during their stay. The high elf, Mistress Erana; the montains dwarves, Master Grimlok and his wife Olk-Emi and even Master Eon, a high elf too and one of the oldest of his kind still alive, which Delphine had some of her most interesting conversations of her life with. If Sigrid had already interacted with dwarves, it was her first time with elves, rare in Hvíttland and she was pretty impressed. Both very gracious, blond and tall. Taller than her or Marina, especially Eon that had a head taller than them. He was smaller than their father though. But their father was some kind of giant after all. What really impressed Sigrid though, was not their height, but their eyes and once again Eon was the more imposing, almost disturbing. When he looked at her, directly in the eyes, she felt like pierced by them, like if her soul was completely naked to him and she had the impression to see eternity in the depth of his eyes. In fact all these people, except Olk-Emi that seemed to be a normal person, gathered around them and who seemed to know and to appreciate her young sister, were imposing. They all had an aura that made her feel very small. In her heart she felt glad and proud that her sister made such connections. It was almost time to go, but Omdeo had something for Delphine before she leaves. He handed her a little box. Inside was a set of earrings. When she touched them she felt the magical energy flowing through the stones encrusted in them. " These stones have a lesser quality than the one of your staff, but it will serve you in case you'll get separated of it. - Thank you, Omdeo. Thank you very much, for everything." She putted her arms around his waist, he was so tall and huged him strongly. He did the same in return. When they finally separated, he said: " I hope you will come back soon and in good health, my child. - Me too, Omdeo." She had tears in her eyes. Master Grimlok and his wife had something to give to the girls too, gifts for the two they would soon met. It was now time for the three girls to leave. Marina looked around, a part of her felt sad. Omdeo was ready to make what it was planned, when: " WAIT!" It was Amon, running towards them. His own team was ready to leave too, but he could not stand the fact of not seeing Marina before he left. Marina could not refrain a big smile. The couple moved away from the group for more privacy. They talked a little, kissed and spent several minutes in the arms of each other. They knew that the mission of the other would be very dangerous and that it was not sure that they'll both come back alive, if anyone came back. Marina remembered what she said to Delphine. That she never fell in love when she was in her home town. The reason why she could say that now was because things were differente since she met Amon. She knew what being in love really meant. Amon left directly and Marina can back to the group alone. She had some tears in her eyes, but it was all you could see of her feelings. Omdeo demanded to the girl if they were ready. Then he tunred around and started to raise his staff. But stopped almost immediately. Turning his head to the the girls he said: " I advise to put your hands far from your weapons, before passing the portal." ________________________________________ Phew! It was a long text to write. Like I said at the top I hope it was not tedious to read. I had a lot of things to say and it was also the occasion to develop the character of Marina a little more, because I think she is the less developed from the team. For the bed cover, I have used the "Strand-Based Hair" to makes the fur. I think it renders pretty good, even if it might be a little too flat.