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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Meliamne" data-source="post: 974" data-attributes="member: 95">Misha’s Journal #617th Day of the RottingWhere to begin, the end or the beginning? Sometimes I can’t tell the two apart; it seems life is like a circle, and for some strange reason the end tends to blur with the beginning. Selune has chosen a strange path for me, but who am I to fathom the ways of the gods, it is my place only to live. Life is a funny thing though, it can be much shorter then we ever plan it to be, but I may be getting ahead of myself, I should continue my account so that one may better understand my tale.Well the next morning came upon swift wings; I was up early and decided to see the elven village in all of its glory. The villagers were less than friendly but understandable considering the circumstances, the men disappearing in the woods due to a strange unknown menace. It seems though that my infamy as one of the greatest mercs in all of Amn had preceded myself. Well not truly, but the villagers were aware of me and some had some incredible insight to my connection with Vallia. Elves, as I am finding, are very perceptive beings, a quality I find endearing. Vallia though seems to lack this quality at times, but I don’t hold that against her. Much. I would have rested the day away if I had not heard Vallia’s voice in my mind. She wanted me to come to her for some reason and who am I to disagree with her highness. Sometimes I wonder just why I fell in love with that crazy elven woman, she can be more trouble then I ever could think love should be worth. But I love her regardless, much to my own aggravation at times. I returned to her room and knocked on the door and was quite surprised when I stepped inside.Karanaj and Vallia were sharing an embrace, that bastard had finally made his move, on my woman. Well it seemed like that at the time. Karanaj and I had a tense standoff, but thankfully Vallia was able to clear up the misunderstanding. Though I do not understand what she means when she says she loves Karanaj as well. Though not in the same way as myself, he will warrant closer watch, I suspect. He is a bastard after all.Karanaj excused himself and waited outside the room while I spoke with Vallia privately. It seems last night I hurt her with my words, not really sure how, or when but I apologized nonetheless. She can be very sensitive to some things I guess, not really sure, one of the things that frustrates me about her. I would not have long to tarry on my thoughts; Vallia’s mother, the Queen, was due to arrive any moment. I keep forgetting that our highness is really a Highness. Vallia seemed to be very worried about me; I guess her mother would not like me too much, not much of a surprise there. I am just a scruffy human after all.Vallia was not content to stay idle though and we went to gather both Gruush and Kay. But it seemed that they had left earlier in the morning with the bastard Thamior, by Selune, I hate that elf. Vallia was not pleased with that, she felt he was holding them as a bargaining chip so she wouldn’t leave. He is bastard and I hate him, but I admire his intelligence and guile. He had Vallia right where he wanted her, and I hated him even more for that. The three of us decided to retreat to Vallia’s room to think of what step to take next, I wanted to run, it would have seemed so easy. To just run, and never be found, but Vallia, she has that sense of responsibility. To her people, something I may never understand, even though it seems to bring her so much pain and suffering.I don’t understand her, I guess, but then again she is an elf and I am a human; there are plenty of things I guess I do not understand about her. I often wonder what it is that she actually loves about me; I am not rich, not all that important, and I can admit that I am not the most personable fellow. But I am the best damn merc this side of Amn. Though I seriously doubt that is the reason.Anyway, I decided that for the time being, we should follow the ruse we had established and that some kind of plan would materialize in my mind. Sometimes I can be too optimistic, but I was hoping inspiration would come to me. Vallia was at stake and I had promised to protect her as best as I could. During my thoughts Vallia held me close as the Queen and her entourage arrived. The time was nigh it seemed, and yet I had still thought of nothing. I gave her a kiss for “Luck” and waited for Vallia outside, resuming my role as the faithful, yet somewhat incompetent mercenary. A stretch I am sure, but these are the things I do for Vallia, much to my own aggravation.I can say though that I do enjoy annoying Thamior, he is so easy to prod. His disdain for humanity is worn clear on his face, though I think that disdain extends to all things outside of himself. He and I, well we settle our differences later… I am not sure if I am ready to speak of that yet though. By Selune I cannot fathom the path you have chosen for me, but it may save us yet.Vallia led us into the Queen’s audience, who is a radiant creature of power, grace, and almost painful beauty. I can see where Vallia gets her looks. And to some extent Aliya as well though I have not met her, she is creature without visible flaws, yet there is a rift between her and Vallia I do not understand. Maybe it is an elven custom I do not know, but they do not get along well, if at all. The Queen quickly had the room cleared of all of her attendants, including the smug bastard Thamior; death is too good for that one. Much to his consternation, which was read easily on his face.The Queen was pleasant in a halting superior manner befitting her station and place of power among her people; she questioned Vallia at length about her current choice of company. I tried to make myself beneath notice, but my mouth does not stay closed even when I wish it to. She moved her attention to Karanaj, after he visibly winced at the mention of Aliya. She was a perceptive one, though I did not expect any less of the Queen of the Elves. She broke Karanaj rather easily and he confessed his love for Aliya, a move, which saved his own hide, I suspect. In my own arrogance I felt that I could beat the Queen at her own game.I am sad to say she saw through my words fairly quickly, and turned her anger upon Vallia. I was less then pleased and spoke to the Queen in her own tongue, which shocked her as much as I thought it would. The words came easily from me then, the truth as it were set me free:“I am Misha Koldun... of Muraan... I am only a man... mortal... and short lived in time... But I have some thing that makes me more then a simple man... I am the man that loves your daughter Vallia... and she in turn me...”The words still ring in my head, they haunt me, and I had never so declared such a statement as that in all of my short life. The words shook the Queen, once more and Vallia as well. But even with my words it was to no avail, Vallia was to be married to Thamior, the Elven nation demanded an elven heir. They would accept no less; pure elven blood, would sit on the throne, for that was their way.Karanaj drew attention to himself at that moment as he groaned with pain; the Queen was intrigued and took a moment to look over him. It was her conclusion that Karanaj had the blood of a silver dragon inside of him; he had small silvery-scaled flecks on his chest. I was shocked; him related to a dragon, would wonders never cease. Though looking at myself, I can see that his changes are simply mundane when contrasted with my current condition. Though I am sure that the Queen would be pleased, though pleasing her has never been my intent. Only Vallia.Vallia left the audience of the Queen, and I soon followed at her behest. She needed me and I her, I had not the heart to tell her I had not devised a plan outside of running. Which she would never do, but I kept trying, much to my aggravation she continued to distract me. But it was a deliciously enjoyable distraction, but I knew that time was growing short. Selune help me, I do not want to lose her.-Misha “Burning Rose” Koldun</blockquote>

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