A Song of Remembrance

[Ishonbu]

((so I had this idea when I was getting my lunch today and figured I'd write a little somethingorother >.>))

A perfumed breeze danced through the canopy of branches surrounding Lake Elune’ara. The twilight robed paths were lit by tiny lanterns that glowed merrily against their verdant surroundings. The sun, what little of it could be seen in the glade, was almost set and stars tried their best to twinkle through the haze surrounding the lake.

A maiden walked along the brightened path. Her bare feet made soft indents in the grass as she neared the water’s tranquil edge. The elven woman wore a long shift of lilac silk that brushed the ground and covered her feet completely. Pinned with dozens of purple lotus blooms, her hair was completely masked by them; its true color hidden.

Stardust from the ruins of Ashenvale glinted upon her cheeks and around her eyes. Her lips had the warm purple hue of moonberry nectar. The scent of ripe heaven peaches followed in her wake, gently dissipating in the breeze.

Behind, a small procession followed, all clothed in plain robes and gowns made of raw silk. As they reached the edge of the lake, the group spread out in a semicircle facing it and the woman.

Lifting her eyes to regard the moonlit sky, the maid began to sing in warm, gentle tones.

What was before shall be again
Light faded shall burn bright once more
So long as all remember when
The dance began upon this shore

Years have passed, the memory fades
Yet still we honor all who’ve lived
Those who walked amidst this glade
Those who loved and those forgiv’d

This festival of light and lore
Which brings to mind memories thought lost
Returns them all, like shells to shore
Bright fruit enrobed in winter’s frost.

We can’t forget, what’s passed, what’s been
Lest those we loved fade from memory
Never to return again
Lost for all eternity.

The maiden bowed her head for a moment and the assembled crowd began to hum. Their wordless song traveled through the glade mirroring the brief poem of the maiden.

As they sang the maiden danced and called out names of those lost that year. With each name she removed a bloom from her hair and cast it upon the water’s surface. She skipped and twirled along the water’s edge, each name a cry of beckoning.

Silver tendrils of hair began to fall against her shoulders and back as each bloom was unpinned. As the last bloom hit the water the breeze in the glade grew stronger, causing the gentle surface to ripple. Her hair, freed from the weight of pins and blossoms, gently swayed with the breeze. The lotus blooms spread out in a circle as the maid began to sing.

Return to us once more, our loves
Upon this festival of lights
Return to dance upon the grove
On this hallowed winter’s night

Handfuls of stardust were thrown upon the maiden and the lake’s surface. It twinkled in the lantern light and hung in the air surrounding the group. The breeze, now wind, scattered the dust around the area.

Slowly, brighter pinpoints of light grew from the gatherings of stardust upon each bloom. Wisps revealed themselves and took to the sky in a flurry of light and energy. As the sky grew dark they could be seen floating amongst the gathering beside the lake.

[Icily]

Pretty

[Ishonbu]

A little girl crept into the clearing beside the lake. Her indigo hair curled in soft waves down her back, almost to her ankles. Eyes the color of moonlight scanned the gathering till she spotted a woman seated upon the grass. A brightly glowing wisp hovered above the woman's outstretched palms and flitted away from the tears trailing down her cheeks. The woman's hands were wet and her hair fell around her face in dark blue waves.

"Mama?"

The weeping elf glanced up from her palms and regarded her child. Her eyes were rimmed with the crimson hue of many sleepless nights full of tears.

"Ori? ...I thought I put you to bed..." her tired voice trailed off as she turned to watch the wisp dance above her palms.

"You did mama, you didn't forget this time!" The little girl nodded her reassurance and took a few steps closer. "I... I just wanted to see what all the pretty lights were for..."
She bit her bottom lip on one side and curled one bare foot around to scratch the back of her ankle.

Reaching out her hand the woman beckoned her child over. "Come here, Ori, I suppose it was wrong of me to keep you from this."

The child stepped upon soft blades of dewy grass mingled with clover. She took her mother's damp hand and knelt beside her. Orisanthe couldn't help but regard the bright wisp that hovered nearby.

"Your father..."

"Papa? I thought you said I mustn't speak of him because it made you sad." The child's eyes brightened at the mention of her father.

The woman smiled faintly and squeezed her daughter's tiny hand.

"Yes Ori... you did keep asking when he would return. It was... difficult.

"You know I used to read you the letters he sent of his adventures in the world. How he bravely ventured into human lands to aid their cause. His first taste of... cheese... which these short lived humans seem so fond of. Remember he sent us a sample and you thought it was a toy?"

Ori's mother smiled at the memory, visions of the tiny child rolling the yellow wheel of cheddar around their home with a tree branch. She shook her head and continued on.

"His daily fights against the demons south of the Swamp of Sorrows... the land beautiful even in its destruction..."

Again she trailed off. Orisanthe's mother had the tendency to lose herself in thought and forget her surroundings entirely as she wandered the vast terrain of her mind. Back when her father was still home he'd always laugh when dinner would be a little bit overcooked, a little more browned or boiled or baked than perfect. The warm chuckle that followed his discovery of a blackened pheasant in the oven as his wife sat by their window staring off into the distance still echoed in her mind. It was the last meal she made for him.

"Thea... if the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, you're quite lucky you've had mine since the day we met."

"Parvan, I think you're lucky you've a stomach of thorium!"

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts once more Theantris sighed, "Well... he has returned."

She pulled Ori closer to her and whispered, "This bright shining light is all we have left of your father Orisanthe. He always said he'd come back to us... he never broke a promise, ever."

The wisp glowed even brighter for a moment and began to circle around Ori's head. After a while It settled near her shoulder and pulsed softly.

Orisanthe crawled onto her mother's lap and cuddled against her for a long while after. Their tears mingled as they fell upon their gowns. Nestled within her mother's arms, Ori soon fell asleep from the excitement of the day. As the lantern lights grew dim Theantris carried her back to their home and tucked her into bed.

High atop a shelf within Ori's room a dim light flickered behind a toy frostsaber cub.

[Ayngle]

OK you almost made me cry

[Minkirra]

That was a very pretty story. I read these things and always wish there was more. I liked Veyl's but his was stepping on some nerves so I had to stop reading.

I like this one though...

[Ayngle]

Mink... Finish reading it. Really. Its good stuff.




Ish there better be more. If there isnt I am not sure if there will be more or less butt rubbing

[Minkirra]

I was gonna ask about the butt rubbing but then I realized I would be playing into Ayngles thread hijacking ways.

Though I think I just did...

[Ayngle]

Be careful what you ask for. I am looking for candidates for a rotation.



Its safest not to ask love.

[Minkirra]

...a...butt rubbing...rotation?

[Ayngle]

Yes. A rotation. I will be conducting experiments on later runs.