Post by Keilune on Sept 18, 2009 5:39:50 GMT -5
At the Temple
We walked hand in hand up the stone ramp. Her hand comforting, encouraging, but also anchoring. I wanted to bolt, to run back to the boat and take it home again.. home. Where is that? The ramp has seen my feet many times, coming to study in the temple of the goddess. Which is home? One foot followed the other and we moved forward into the sacred building. Shari stopped a moment and offered encouragement. I felt so much compassion from her, I felt like she knew exactly what I was feeling, and even though my weakness was surely apparent, it felt like she held me in strength.
This was the temple where mother served. She was one of the priestess who tended the well and saw to the care of Elune's stone image. It was a position of honour and respect, though not within the inner circle. “Each of Elune's children has their place”, she once told me, “and mine is the good fortune to be at her feet.”
She looked up at the sound of my approach and her face broke. She practically ran to me, and I felt my feet quicken as well. Our arms interwove in an embrace of mother and daughter. I could feel her tears on my neck and her chest rise and fall with her sobs. Mine tears as well flowed, washing the street dust from my cheeks. “Where have you been child? The village ha been worried sick! Your father and I have been beside ourselves.” She told me that she knew I had gone to Stormwind. Once or twice friends brought back word of me, that I had been seen in the trade district and once at the Recluse. She pulled my face up when she mentioned the Recluse and looked me hard in the eyes. “You should know better than to frequent such establishments, and one that caters to magic especially” “But mother, I didn't drink. Well once, but then only a taste. Its a place where people go to socialize and talk, thats all.” My reply was desperate and once again I found myself seeking approval for something that I knew would never be allowed. Instead of the expected rebuke however, she smiled down at me. “I know, child. In fact the one who brought me this news also informed me that you passed on many offers of drink, stating that it was not proper. I was very proud of you when I heard that. It reassures me that you've taken our teachings to heart.”
I told mother that I had made friends, close friends. I told her especially about Shari and that it was her encouragement that brought me to see her. I told her also that I could not stay, but wanted to return to Stormwind later. She grabbed my wrist and held it a moment. A flash of anger on her face, but then something happened that I had never seen before. She relented. Her face softened and she let the wrist go. Illeine turned to address Shari, who stood a respectful distance away.
They talked for a long time. Mother thanked her for having looked out for me, for guiding me. Mother could see that Shari was a good standing woman with morals and character and this seemed to please her. There also seemed a bond between the two. I can't place it precisely, but there was a connection of some sort. Perhaps it was that that were both mothers. The two smiled and embraced. I heard Shari promise my mother that I would be cared for and watched over.
When mother returned her attention to me, it was not to forbid my leaving, but rather to give me her blessing and to extract a few promises from me. The first was to continue my studies, which have always been overseen by father, and the second was to keep the Kaldorei traditions. She warned that out in the world I would not always understand why our ways were as they were, but she made me promise that I would hold true to them. I gave her the promise she desired, though it was with some trepidation, because I often don't understand. I have so many questions about what I see and why I'm not supposed to do certain things. I don't know if I can keep the second promise, but I will try. Mother than gave Shari a blessing that I had never seen. It included a kiss.. three kisses, one on each cheek and on on the forehead. It must have been a very special blessing indeed.
After we left, Shari took me to choose my Saber. The choosing of a mount is a rite of passage among the Kaldorei, and I am very pleased that it was Shari who was with me. I thought it was going to be a hard choice, since every animal is unique and each of these would be loyal, courageous and fast. But it wasn't. I was ten feet away when I saw my mount. I knew him right away. As soon as I approached he nuzzled and licked my hand in greeting as if we were old friends. He is a tan colour with many stripes. It turns out that Shari's is of the same type, but with slightly different colours. His name is Shar'el Forestwind Nightglow. I hope Shari doesn't mind his name being so close to hers. I wanted to show her respect and for his name to have meaning.
We rode around for a bit and Shari took me to her home, a beautiful open room.. .only three walls with the forth open to the world. It felt almost like living outdoors and I immediately felt at ease. Shari welcomed me and turned down every effort I made to thank her. She even said I could stay there when I was in town if I wanted. Then she said something really peculiar, She said that she was my guardian now and that her place was my place too. I forget the exact words, but it struck me then that Shari had taken a responsibility for me. I felt welcomed and connected. I felt like family.
We walked hand in hand up the stone ramp. Her hand comforting, encouraging, but also anchoring. I wanted to bolt, to run back to the boat and take it home again.. home. Where is that? The ramp has seen my feet many times, coming to study in the temple of the goddess. Which is home? One foot followed the other and we moved forward into the sacred building. Shari stopped a moment and offered encouragement. I felt so much compassion from her, I felt like she knew exactly what I was feeling, and even though my weakness was surely apparent, it felt like she held me in strength.
This was the temple where mother served. She was one of the priestess who tended the well and saw to the care of Elune's stone image. It was a position of honour and respect, though not within the inner circle. “Each of Elune's children has their place”, she once told me, “and mine is the good fortune to be at her feet.”
She looked up at the sound of my approach and her face broke. She practically ran to me, and I felt my feet quicken as well. Our arms interwove in an embrace of mother and daughter. I could feel her tears on my neck and her chest rise and fall with her sobs. Mine tears as well flowed, washing the street dust from my cheeks. “Where have you been child? The village ha been worried sick! Your father and I have been beside ourselves.” She told me that she knew I had gone to Stormwind. Once or twice friends brought back word of me, that I had been seen in the trade district and once at the Recluse. She pulled my face up when she mentioned the Recluse and looked me hard in the eyes. “You should know better than to frequent such establishments, and one that caters to magic especially” “But mother, I didn't drink. Well once, but then only a taste. Its a place where people go to socialize and talk, thats all.” My reply was desperate and once again I found myself seeking approval for something that I knew would never be allowed. Instead of the expected rebuke however, she smiled down at me. “I know, child. In fact the one who brought me this news also informed me that you passed on many offers of drink, stating that it was not proper. I was very proud of you when I heard that. It reassures me that you've taken our teachings to heart.”
I told mother that I had made friends, close friends. I told her especially about Shari and that it was her encouragement that brought me to see her. I told her also that I could not stay, but wanted to return to Stormwind later. She grabbed my wrist and held it a moment. A flash of anger on her face, but then something happened that I had never seen before. She relented. Her face softened and she let the wrist go. Illeine turned to address Shari, who stood a respectful distance away.
They talked for a long time. Mother thanked her for having looked out for me, for guiding me. Mother could see that Shari was a good standing woman with morals and character and this seemed to please her. There also seemed a bond between the two. I can't place it precisely, but there was a connection of some sort. Perhaps it was that that were both mothers. The two smiled and embraced. I heard Shari promise my mother that I would be cared for and watched over.
When mother returned her attention to me, it was not to forbid my leaving, but rather to give me her blessing and to extract a few promises from me. The first was to continue my studies, which have always been overseen by father, and the second was to keep the Kaldorei traditions. She warned that out in the world I would not always understand why our ways were as they were, but she made me promise that I would hold true to them. I gave her the promise she desired, though it was with some trepidation, because I often don't understand. I have so many questions about what I see and why I'm not supposed to do certain things. I don't know if I can keep the second promise, but I will try. Mother than gave Shari a blessing that I had never seen. It included a kiss.. three kisses, one on each cheek and on on the forehead. It must have been a very special blessing indeed.
After we left, Shari took me to choose my Saber. The choosing of a mount is a rite of passage among the Kaldorei, and I am very pleased that it was Shari who was with me. I thought it was going to be a hard choice, since every animal is unique and each of these would be loyal, courageous and fast. But it wasn't. I was ten feet away when I saw my mount. I knew him right away. As soon as I approached he nuzzled and licked my hand in greeting as if we were old friends. He is a tan colour with many stripes. It turns out that Shari's is of the same type, but with slightly different colours. His name is Shar'el Forestwind Nightglow. I hope Shari doesn't mind his name being so close to hers. I wanted to show her respect and for his name to have meaning.
We rode around for a bit and Shari took me to her home, a beautiful open room.. .only three walls with the forth open to the world. It felt almost like living outdoors and I immediately felt at ease. Shari welcomed me and turned down every effort I made to thank her. She even said I could stay there when I was in town if I wanted. Then she said something really peculiar, She said that she was my guardian now and that her place was my place too. I forget the exact words, but it struck me then that Shari had taken a responsibility for me. I felt welcomed and connected. I felt like family.
Founded April 26, 2005