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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tokiwong" data-source="post: 54263" data-attributes="member: 961">Bump for my JournalMisha’s Journal #109th day of the Drawing DownHappiness is like a butterfly; it is beautiful until caught, and then it withers away, only to be replaced by other pretty butterflies.  Or so I thought; it is nothing of the sort.  Happiness is indescribable at times; I know that now, I am actually happy for once in my life, for I have much to be thankful for.The days after Aliya’s rescue were peaceful, the Zhentarim no doubt still trying to assess the damage that had been done to their citadel.  I had wanted to push onward, but I allowed Aliya and Karanaj time to catch up on old times, so to speak.  Speaking of Aliya, I think she will be a pleasant addition to the party; she has a tongue and a skill of wit that nearly matches my own.  I am not sure if that is such a good thing, but I find it interesting, at least. But anything that keeps Karanaj from annoying me, I say is a good thing.  I did not see much of either during those few days, not that I expected to.  I busied myself with mastering my sword arts and keeping Vallia company; she thinks I have become much too serious in the days following my death and rebirth.  In hindsight I have to agree, it seems there has been an ironic juxtaposition in our roles.  I have become the serious one, while she has learned the merits of mirth and wit.  I like her this way, though I do miss the Vallia that kicked me back in Athkatla, but things change, perhaps.Thankfully the reunion between Karanaj and Aliya had concluded and we were finally ready to travel, first to make a brief sojourn with the Queen, and then on to Athkatla.  The plan was to simply to have Aliya see her mother and then engage the queen with a simple discussion of succession.  Our stay in the elven village was much more eventful then I could have hoped, a pleasant surprise indeed.  One that I am still trying to get adjusted to; needless to say, my situation has become complicated.That was a pleasant morning; I recall a passionate kiss with my love, only to be intruded upon by Aliya, with an all too coy smile.  Vallia was embarrassed; I am not sure why, but she was.  I will never understand that woman; she is an enigma.  She was rather quick with her words and made me out to be a “rogue”. (The nerve…I am, or at least I was, a merc, not some churl of a rogue.)  I let the words pass as Aliya went outside and mounted her horse, the rest of us following suit. I did not like her brash attitude.  Indeed, I had not a chance to think before her and Vallia were engaged in a race, with Nym chasing after them calling out for the “princesses” to desist.  I swear; he has not a bit of common sense to use an ounce of subtlety.  I charged headlong after them, only to have them slow up to allow the rest of us a time to catch up to them.  Aliya had already begun to try my patience, thankfully, my patience has become much longer than it used to be.  The journey to the elven village to meet with the Queen was short and dull, but at least we had a break from the seemingly unending onslaught of chaos and action I was getting rather accustomed to.  Being an adventurer is not that bad after all, though never will anyone get me to admit that I am an “adventurer”.We arrived at the village of the elves and were able to find the company of the Queen rather easily, though with two princesses in your escort, guards tend to part ways rather quickly.  The Queen was pleased to see me as always, meaning she had her usual glare of disgust and loathing upon her countenance at my presence.  But she lost her composure at the sight of Aliya; I was shocked at the pleasant show of emotion she showered upon Aliya.  Vallia turned her face, stung by the overt show of favoritism between the two sisters.  Both Karanaj and Aliya were favored, while Vallia and myself are pushed away.  I did not let it move me; I had more pressing concerns then petty familial quarrels.After the reunion had passed and the Queen regained her composure, I pressed on with my own agenda.  The Queen was less than pleased to see me, but I have grown used to such overt rejection to my presence.  I am Misha Koldun, I bow to no one, I give respect only when I feel it has been earned, not that I don’t respect the Queen.  I just will not bow to her whims.  I approached the Queen with the matters of succession, to which she was surprisingly receptive.  I then followed with my proposal, that I should marry Vallia, to give the elves an heir, so that way she would not have to marry off Aliya as well, to Tharivol.  Plus there was an inkling of this thing men call love; just an inkling, mind you.Surprisingly the Queen agreed, and more than that, she said she liked me.  I was shocked to the core, that the Queen was impressed by me.  I have to say, I do enjoy earning her respect, and it took long enough… but I digress. The Queen, or mother as I call her now, told us of a civil war brewing between herself and the supporters of Thain.  I was incensed that someone would dare attack my mother, and I vowed on the spot to support her cause.  All she had to do was call for me, and I would come.  She was pleased with my words, and my manner.  She also entrusted to me the care of both Vallia and Aliya, though I am sure I will not be alone in that task.Much to my surprise Karanaj and Aliya wanted to be wed as well.  Thankfully the Queen agreed and the date was settled for the evening. Elves, for such creatures of longevity, they tend to be in such a rush.  I did not complain, and was whisked away to a pleasant bath to get prepared for the night’s events.  I appointed Gruush to be my best man and had a serving girl by the name of Alannah carry wedding gifts for Vallia.  Alannah was shocked at first but settled into her role rather quickly.  Although there was one more item I wanted to complete before I was to be married, and that was to deliver my gift of 1000 gold to the local temple of Corellon Larethian, to show my devotion.  I smiled gently to Alannah and departed; I left the details of my attire in her hands.I made my way quickly to the temple and found it for the most part empty, besides an elderly elven priest who was slightly deaf…or maybe just had hearing that was rather selective.  Though after I did get his attention he related some very interesting bits of information that I must say continue to haunt me even now.  He knew of me, and that at first troubled me, for he said I was touched by “Corellon…” This man could see things, or at least he knew of things few should know.  He humbly explained to me the “Pattern of Life” and how my thread interacted with that pattern, or I should say the thread I share with Vallia, for after the events of my rebirth both Vallia and myself share the same path, the same thread, at least as far as I could glean from this elderly priest.  He spoke of how my thread and Vallia’s had changed course and then spliced into one, an odd occurrence according to him.But the Pattern has become a tangled mess of late; something is causing many knots, deaths, and it threatens to snip the center of the Pattern, reducing it to nothingness.  But he said that there were threads supporting the Pattern, my companions and myself.  I was stunned, for I am not one to believe in fate or destiny, but we are involved in something greater then ourselves.  What will come of this, I do not know, though he did mention to me that I am Corellon’s champion; I am pleased, for I now strive to be such.  Maybe one day I can be the hero I always dreamed to be in my youth, despite myself.  I could not glean much more, for the priest bade me to go and prepare for my wedding;  but he made me promise to never reveal what he told me.I returned the manse rather quickly, for I was running late.  I dressed quickly as well and barely made it out the door to meet Karanaj and the wedding party.  We walked out to see the whole of the village gathered, the Queen waiting by the elderly priest.  Gruush fell into step behind us and as we approached the newly constructed dais, a hush fell over the crowd.  We took our places, and as if on cue both Aliya and Vallia approached.  They both looked simply amazing, heavenly even, though Vallia more so.  Take my words with a grain of salt, for I fear I may be slightly biased.  I was pleased to have her at my side, as the ceremony continued I nearly forgot where I was, and nearly missed my vows.  Thankfully I recovered smoothly and had Alannah present my gifts, a silver necklace for Vallia and a ring for Aliya.  Vallia in turn presented me with jewel-encrusted scabbard, fit for a king, or in my case, a prince.I do not remember much else of the night, as the ceremony ended, though I do remember a sharp pain of happiness when Vallia became officially my wife.  I lingered with her, dancing, eating and drinking, before saying my gratitude to mother and then retiring for an enchanting evening, from which I am still recovering from as I write this.  I watch her now sleeping blissfully, and I see that our path is hard but manageable.  As long as we stay at each other’s side, we have nothing to fear.  For as the priest told me, we must live, for life is more precious than anything in this world.  We leave early, a few scant hours from now, for Athkatla to meet with the Shadow Thieves, and the ghosts of my past, but I fear them less.  As I said before, I return to Amn often, though usually in worse company.  That, I guess, does not hold true, for my company is pleasant indeed.  Vallia Koldun has a pleasant ring to it.  In time she will be my Queen, for I will be King; the elves deserve a just king… I will keep them free of the machinations of Thain and his progeny.  A war is coming, and I fear I will be caught up in the tide, but I will fight against it, and bring peace back to the nation of elves…-Misha “Burning Rose” Koldun</blockquote>

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