It had been a long walk back to the Lady’s College, but Galen’s mind was so filled with thoughts of the night’s strange and exciting events that he barely remembered it… although his sore feet attested to every step of the trek from the opposite side of the river Rauvin across the Moonbridge. In the eight years he’d been at the College he’d mastered his natural arcane abilities and progressed in both skill and knowledge to the point that there was little more he could learn here, but the thought of leaving the place that had become his home, since he was no longer welcome in the one where he’d been raised, filled him with both trepidation and excitement. However, he felt that the odd trio of strangers he’d encountered tonight were brought together by more than simply random chance. Whether Faeryl’s Dark Maiden or some form of fate was responsible, he knew whatever they were to become he had to be part of it. Looking about his sparse room he knew what he had to do and set about packing his few possessions, then sat down to wait for morning. He’d miss many of his schoolmates, one in particular, but he knew it was time he ventured beyond the safety of the College and faced the unknown. When the Watch Bells sounded five, still well over an hour till dawn, he gathered his things, scanning the room one last time to ensure that he hadn’t forgotten anything, then walked the few doors down the hallway to the room occupied by the one schoolmate he’d miss most. He knew she’d be up and about. Elves didn’t sleep like most other races, instead they entered a trance-like state called the Reverie in which they relived the events of their lives far more vividly than any mere memory, but it only lasted a few hours. Knocking quietly on her door as he had many times before, for a much different reason, he was met a moment later by a vision of stunning beauty as Adria opened the door, greeting him with a sly smile; “You’re up early. Did you wake thinking of me?” “I did… but not for the reason you think,” he admitted, stepping inside so they could speak privately. Though no larger than his quarters, hers seemed more spacious because it lacked a bed, having only a chaise instead, and was much better decorated. As he turned to face her she slid her lithe body up against him encircling his neck with her arms to draw his lips down to hers, but, for likely the first time, he resisted her, putting his hands on her slender hips and pushing her away, declaring with a reluctant sign, his resolve teetering on a knife’s edge; “I’m leaving the College. Something happened tonight that I can only take as a sign that its time I do.” Briefly recanting the night’s events, omitting many of the details of Faeryl’s religious rites, he tried to explain that he knew these strangers were meant to become something special and how he felt he had to be part of whatever it was… even though he didn’t really understand it himself. Pausing to consider what he’d told her, she reached out to stroke his check affectionately. A daughter of the Alastrarra noble sun elven house, one of the wealthiest and most insular, she’d lived a sheltered life before coming to the Lady’s College, so he was the first human she’d come to know well… and they’d come to know each other extremely well. She’d miss him deeply, but with their centuries long life span elves knew they’d lose those they cared for of other races. To her, their eight year liaison was just a brief interlude, so she concurred with a regretful sigh; “You must follow your heart… even if it leads you away from everything you know. Whether by a divine hand or the hand of fate, if you are meant to be part of what these others are to be, then you must go… to resist would likely only bring you misery.” ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* Disclaimer: Some of the material presented here may be the property of Wizards of the Coast, LLC© taken from the Dungeons & Dragons® Forgotten Realms® Campaign Setting authored by Ed Greenwood & Sean Renyolds, the Dungeons & Dragons® Forgotten Realms® Campaign Accessory Silver Marches® authored by Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl and/or other sourcebooks registered to Wizards of the Coast, LLC©. This is unofficial “Fan Content” permitted under Wizards of the Coast, LLC© Fan Content Policy, it is not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast, LLC©.