Acadian: haha, I too felt Lissa's frustration when she was unable to learn anything to ACTUALLY summon. and yes, her use of the 'F' word was very well said by her
Grits: haha! I think she would enjoy a 'summon Rhano' spell more than anything
King Coin: yes, poor Lissa. Her journey hasn't been filled with peace; and now the mystery with Earana only thickens the lack of peace.
PREVIOUSLY: After making it to Chorrol Jessie and Lissa headed to the mages guild where Lissa met Dar-Ma and bumped into Earana. once inside the building, Jessie left Lissa to learn a spell in conjuration. The only spell Lissa could learn was 'Bound Boots'; of which she later vented her rage to such a lame spell to Emfrid in the grey mare. Later, Lissa is warned by Jessie to leave Chorrol as Earana is looking to kill her, believeing Lissa to be an assasin. When Lissa goes to leave she see's Earana; who does not attack but merely warns Lissa that her presence isnt welcome because of 'who she is'.
12. Chapter 5 ~ Reunions ~ Part 1Sitting on the carriage to Anvil was tiresome to say the least. We had just ridden past Skingrad and were closing in ever closer to my hometown. The carriage was surprisingly fast; four black mares can do that.
I sat pondering about the whole situation with Earana. I wasn’t sure whether she was possessed or knew something about Leinahtan or whether she knew something else. Either way I knew that she was hiding something. Something that she wasn’t about to share any day now.
“But what did she mean by ‘it’s not what you’ve done, it’s who you are’?” I asked Rihanae.
“I am not too sure. Maybe it has something to do with your family?” he replied.
His theory seemed plausible, but I didn’t even think that she would know anybody from my family.
“I’m not sure. I have no family around that area. And besides, how would she know who my family are? It’s not like a walk around with a big sign saying ‘I'M LISSA CRISTENN, ASK ME HOW!”
I could hear Rihanae laughing.
“Don’t laugh. I’m being serious.” I said to him. It was highly inappropriate.
“I’m sorry.” He apologized, trying to calm his laughing down. I couldn’t help but giggle; it was infectious.
“Why are we laughing?” I giggled.
“I’m not… too… sure.” He laughed; he sounded as if he was struggling for breath; which seemed odd for a spirit.
The laughter really caught on now; to a point where the driver took notice.
“Are you okay?” said the dunmer driver. He looked confused.
“Yeah… I’m… haha… I’m fine. Thanks.” I said; trying to end my laughing fit. The driver turned his head back toward the road and continued his duties. My laughter slowly began to cease, but then I felt some sort of shadow loom over me. Reality suddenly came back to me at full force.
“Why is everyone trying to kill me?” I asked Rihanae.
“I don’t know. But it seems to have ceased.”“Yeah. For a day. Woohoo.” I replied sarcastically.
“Thing’s will turn around soon. I’m certain.”I smiled; whether he could see it or not I wasn’t sure. I decided to take the opportunity of his silence to take a quick nap.
“I’m gonna sleep for a bit, okay?”
“Sure, that’s fine. You deserve it.” said Rihanae. I put my legs on the seat and laid down on the carriage seat; with barely enough room to cause any comfort. After a couple of minutes I could feel my eyes slowly drifting of to slumber…
Leinahtan…***
“Why if it isn’t my dear cousin Maelissa. I thought you’d gone to travel Tamriel!”
I was awoken by a familiar voice. I sat up and looked around; only to see my dearest cousin Clesa. I jumped off the carriage and hugged her.
“Clesa, It’s so good to see you!”
“Well, it’s good to see you too!” she said. We jumped on the spot whilst hugging in exciment; then realised what we were doing and stopped immediately.
“How is everyone? Mother? Maelona?”
“Well I haven’t seen your mother in a few weeks now, but maelona should be at home.”
I reacted to what she said about mother.
“What do you mean you haven’t seen mother? Where is she?”
Clesa laughed; she must have sensed the tone of panic in my voice.
“Don’t worry, she’s fine. She moved to Kvatch a while back, that’s all.”
A sigh of relief filled by shaky body.
I guess it’s a good thing. Still haven’t plucked up the courage to see her after leaving without a word…“Oh, thank Dibella! You really had me panicking there!”
“Sorry. Yeah Oleta’s in Kvatch. Has been for a while.”
“And what about Tandilwen? Is she around? I promised I’d tell her of my travels.”
Clesa shook her head.
“No, she went to study at the university a while back.”
I felt slightly disappointed. Tandilwen was the only one of Clesa’s very few friends that I liked. She was so lovely. I can remember the first time we had a conversation which was just us two…
Five Years Ago…I sat by the pond by the statue of Dibella. It wasn’t long after my fathers death. I sat on the pier just… thinking. I was a lot better than I had been before; but that didn’t seem to stop the tears.
I sat there throwing small rocks into the ponds when I heard a voice behind me.
“You know you might cause damage to the water if you keep throwing rocks at it.”
I turned to see the beautiful, raven haired bosmer; Tandilwen.
I laughed at her comment. He bright personality cherring me up ever so slightly.
“I’ll be sure to apologize later.” I joked. Tandilwen laughed and moved closer to me, sitting down beside me on the pier’s edge.
“How are you doing, little Lissa?” she asked. The sincerity in her voice was calming.
“I’m holding up.” I said; I turned my head to face her and smiled. “I’ve just gotta hold it together, you know?”
Tandilwen nodded. I could see in her eyes that she wanted to say something.
“What?” I said. I was worried that I sounded rude; but I didn’t get the offended vibe from Tandi.
“I know you must be feeling a lot of pain right now. Truly. If I lost my father I do not know how I would cope,” she grabbed my hand in comfort, “but you are ever so strong, Lissa, you must know that. You witnessed something no girl of your age should have to witness and your headstrong attitude is what is going to get you through this.”
She used her other hand to rotate my chin so I was looking directly at her.
“You’re a good girl, Lissa. You have friends and family who love you. It’s okay to feel like you want to be on your own sometimes.”
I nodded slightly; I could feel tears welling behind my eyes.
“It’s just…” I said; I wasn’t sure how to finish.
“Yes?” Tandi said, wiping away a tear.
“It’s just… I don’t know how to talk to mother about it; or Maelona. It’s like they blame ME for what happened…”
“You get that thought out of your head this instant. Please, do not think that. They are grieving; just like you. Everyone mourns a loss in different ways, Lissa, but I can guarantee that they do NOT blame you. Okay?”
I nodded my head and began to cry; properly cry. She pulled my head to her chest in comfort, shuching me as she stroked my hair.
“It’s okay. It’s okay…” I could hear her say. She treated me like I was her little sister or something. I guess that was just her personality; her heart warmer than a Bravillian sunset.
After a little while I began to calm down.
“Are you okay?” Tandi asked me. I nodded in reply, wiping away the rest of my tears.
“Lissa, if you ever find that you can’t talk to anybody else, I will be here for you, okay?”
I nodded my head. Tandi then suddenly rose to her feet and brushed herself off.
“You’re leaving?” I asked her.
“Yes, I have arranged to meet aunt Carahil and Traven at the Mages Guild to help file some spell scrolls.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean to hold you up.” I apologized; I felt selfish for some reason.
“Oh no, you didn’t. Really. But I do have to go now. I can’t be late!” she laughed. She knelt down beside me and put her hands on my shoulders.
“Seriously though, if you do need to speak with anyone who you feel won’t judge, I will always be here, okay?” she said, giving me a hug before standing up again and heading toward the harbour.
I smiled.
Thanks Tandilwen…Present time…“…You okay?” Clesa asked me. Thinking about my encounter with Tandi must have left me staring blankly at her.
“Yes, I’m fine! Sorry.” I replied embarrassed.
“Come with me.” Clesa said before walking toward her house; I followed her.
***
“So, tell me all about your travels!” Said Clesa, gently sipping her tea.
Oh no, not again.“You know, did some exploring, dungeon diving, ate some food, slept, did some more exploring.” I said.
“Ah, the usual then?” she joked.
I laughed at sipped my tea. Clesa’s house was lovely and very homey; But it smelt a bit; horses wernt the freshest of animals.
“So… is Rhano still in town?” I said; I had to touch on that subject sooner or later.
“Yeah, he is a full time member of the Fighters Guild. I think he is second in command after his dad.”
I was glad that he was still in town; at least the butterflies in my stomach seemed to suggest I was. I decided to change the subject by changing the topic to Rhano’s dad.
“And how is Azzan?”
“He’s okay, I think. Him and Ernest go for the odd drink at the inn every now and then.”
“And how is Ernest?” I asked her, taking another sip of tea.
“He’s… got his health.”
I noticed the slight look of despair in her eyes.
“Whats wrong?” I asked her.
Clesa shook of what she was thinking about; or rather she tried to.
“It’s nothing.”
“Look, I’m 19; not 9. Are you having fights?”
“No, no, no. Nothing like that. It’s just…” she said. I could see in her eyes that she was trying to resist telling me. I gave her a very demanding look and it wasn’t long before she caved in. “…okay. It’s just we haven’t made love in over months and I feel it’s beginning to affect our relationship in a dire way.”
“Yeowch, that’s a long time. But hey, be lucky. I haven’t even done it yet.”
We laughed. It was true; I was waiting till marriage, just like daddy raised me.
“Well two years ago we started trying for a baby with no success and Ernest assumed their was something wrong with him, so…”
“He’s lost the urge?”
Clesa spit out a bit of tea after my unexpected and blunt remark.
“I guess! But…”
Before she could finish Ernest walked into the room; the silence was awkward, although I don’t think he picked up on it.
“Why hello Lissa!” He said. I stood up from my seat and wen’t over and hugged him.
“Hello Ernest! You’re lucky you caught me; I was just heading off.”
“Oh Lissa you don’t have to…” said Clesa; probably thinking I’d driven her away with the intercourse talk.
“No it’s fine. I need to show my face around town anyway.”
“Aw, okay; but pop by again soon okay?” said Ernest.
“I will, don’t worry.” I said, hugging him again; then whispering in his ear. “Don’t make her feel unloved just because you think you are a failure; okay? Show her how much you love her.”
I patted him on the chest and walked over to Clesa and gave her a hug.
“It was great seeing you, Lissa.”
“You to, Clesa. I hope thing’s get better for you.” I replied. I released her from my hug and winked at her then headed to the door and left.
Time to show my face I guess…***
I walked through the gate; the fresh Anvil air filling my lungs. Nothing had changed; the buildings were still there, the tree in the centre was still standing tall and the chapel was as beautiful as ever. I just stood there for a few minutes relishing in the fact that I was finally home.
Suddenly I heard a very faint but familiar voice.
“How would you like to help get my husband out of hot water? No? I don't blame you.”
I followed the voice slowly; listening to it become louder and more clear as I headed in its direction.
Eventually I found the source sitting by the old tree; as beautiful as the she where she sat.
“MAELONA!”
----------------------------
NOTE: Tandilwen is the creation of Lady Syl, who is featured in Journey of Truth.
This post has been edited by Rihanae: Jun 8 2011, 11:51 AM