Legends of Belariath

Adrienna

Let's start with the excistance of Adrienna

It was the 31st of July, the women had gathered around Archyan, they were discussing the signs, it was strange, for Archyan was considered infertile for many years, now at a time most of the other women could not bear any children anymore, she was pregnant, in labor even, soon if everything worked out she would have her firstborn, hopefully a female. In the hours that came, delightful and antagonizing screams were heard, screams that sent shivers down your spine, screams of pain, then a cry... The women had stood all night in front of the house, the night had passed and shed into morning, it was the day of Retribution, ironically on exactly the 6th hour of the day of Retribution the cry was heard. The gossiping stopped, as they waited for the answer. Be praised! A female!

Adrienna, this is how she was called, was a sweet baby, she never gave trouble and looked wise out of her eyes. The day came when she started to walk, her first cry, her first laugh. Nobody really noticed that Adrienna never seemed to do the things normal babies did, squash bugs, pull on the hairs of their pets. Her dad was proud of her, he noticed it however, he saw, he knew.

It was time for her to go to school, a year early than the others, she was placed in a class, well away from her home, the nearby school which was considered better then the one she was going to now, it was handpicked by her father, which demanded that she was placed in a specific class. He had had much troubles arranging this, and only after her mother Archyan herself demanded that Adrienna was placed there, she was accepted.

For some strange reason, Adrienna was bigger then all of the children, except for one, she grew out to be her best friend. They were the odd ones, picked on by the other girls, feared by the boys as they seemed not to care, they were picked on yes, but every girl tried to be like them, they were taller, more mature, more beautiful. Their skin which was considered to be praised was more ebony then black.

Years passed as Adrienna was taught how to behave, how to act. She didn't accept it though, at every point she declined, did not do what was expected of her, this was probably why nobody noticed, nobody noticed that she didn't have that cruel streak, nobody except for one. Her matron mother. Their stubbornness was praised, they were true females, not a slave to anyone. Of course they weren't allowed to be stubborn but that was another problem.

And so they continued, at one side proud that their daughter was so stubborn that she didn't want to do anything she was taught ,on the other side they had to punish her. Her father never did though, for some reason he always knew how to twist her stubbornness, her refusal to be cruel to something that was accepted, letting it seem she was cruel that her stubborness was her cruellest weapon. Everyone of the community, the many friends, the family had fell for it, from the side the Matron mother watched contemplated mischiviously planning.

They grew into their teenage years, and Adrienna had become really fond of Dingeano, she didn't even tell her best friend. They spend time together, much time. To the rest it seemed she rebelled against tradition, she said she was strong enough to decide what she wanted and if she wanted to explore she would. Nobody knew that her explorations were just a cover-up to meet Dingeano, that they were seeing each other, that Adrienna told him how she felt, except for her father, who followed her occasionaly, and Dingeano's mother, the matron mother. Miloicia her father saw though, he saw the matron mother follow, he also saw that fatal day when Adrienna was waiting for Dingeano, how his own mother waited, waited with a spawn of hell it self or so it seemed, Miloicia had never seen a Drak Sen before, he certainly didn't know about the power some of these creatures contained, Dingeano was mauled by the Drak Sen, his mother screaming... “Did you really think I was going to allow you to be with that Person!!! Did you really expect me to let males be equal to us!!!” The matron mother spit at her son, walking away from him as he was gorgling for his last breath, praying to Eilistraee for the safekeeping of Adrienna, a prayer, which was heard in the form of Miloicia who had seen all, and acted.

The pain Adrienna felt was undescribable, she changed forever, she hurted other people, she mauled, she despised, she was adored, loved, feared... She never spoke to anyone about Dingeano, she bewildered her friend, though her care for her friend eventually took the over hand. Miloicia watched, and was in tears, his daughter which he was so proud of, turned away, his hopes perishing...

The day of Sacrifice came, Adrienna had grown to adulthood. She would now be accepted by the Matron mother, accepted by Lolth. She however did not want to participate in the Ritual, she couldn't even after her life was stripped away by the loss of Dingeano, she could not sacrifice someone else. The matron mother was pleased, this would mean Adrienna would have to endure the trail, she hopefully would become a drider. Her father knew, he knew and acted, he was her guardian from childbirth, he was the chosen of Eilistraee he did not know, nor did Adrienna herself what Eilistraee had in store for her, did the goddess herself know?

Miloicia hired a priest to scare her, to convince her she had to perform the ritual, that otherwise her parents would be sacrificed. It worked. On the day of Sacrifice, Adrienna stood in the temple, the choice was there, she had to sacrifice someone. The matron mother smiled, she knew she couldn't sacrifice, especially not her best friend which she hand picked. There she stood, choosing between her parents, and her own life, or chose to Sacrifice her best friend.

Standing by the altar she bowed her head and waited for the chosen to arrive. Once she did arrive, Adrienna's eyes got tearsin them. Seeing whom it was. Elicaria lay down on the altar and Adrienna had the dagger in her hands. The priests said those disgusting words and after that she rose the dagger. Pointing at her heart. Her friend closed her eyes tightly. Adrienna pushed the dagger into her chest and through her heart, tears flowing from her eyes. She let go of the dagger and ran out of the room as quick as she could. She went to her own house and stayed on her bed the rest of that day crying. Adrienna swore that she was going to break away from traditio and leave the underworld forever, and will never show her face there again. So she did that night, she set her house aflame to cover her tracks, not knowing her father had arrived to see how she was doing. The flames raged fast trough the house, trapping her father, he burned alive. But she didn’t know this, she kept on running.

The next few days were a blur, she never knew how she made it out of the underdark, suddenly she was out, her eyes hurt, and she stayed in a tree for weeks, foreging on touch for some fruit to keep her alive, her eyes slowly growing accustomed to light. Her ebony skin lived up in the light, she became even more beautiful, her ruby hued eyes slowly became accustomed to the bright light. and then after regaining her strength she wandered out to explore the wide and big upperworld. She didn't see much of her kin, and people and other creatures treated her with disrespect. Afraid of the stronglooking Dark elf. Eventually she came to Nanthalion in the world of Belariath.

There she met a few of her own kin, at last she felt at home in a place so unknown to her, so far from what she was used to. Adrienna heard about the Lonely Inn from a stranger as she passed through the town, he directed her there and she went there hastily..she stepped into the large building and found allot of cheerful races there, also that of non cheerful, she rented a room there with the few money she had, each day she would meet new races..that made her so happy.

One day, while drinking some wine, a male dark elf approached her, Dyce Bloodmoon, they talked for long hours and she became quite fond of him, they shared many things, although no one would ever know Adrienna for who she is, she has never told anyone about her past much, and she swore she will never bring it up, although it still haunts her terribly. Adrienna and Dyce became lovers, so on and so forth, until yet another day she met another dark elf male ,Syntaca, whom she fell in love with on the second week, he bought her a ring to tell her how much he loved and cared for her, but that ring was maybe now lost due to a big fight they had in the bath house, she tossed it to him and soon back at the inn she had stabbed him with a dagger through his liver..it tore her apart of course, the words he had said to her was so mean, words that was untrue, still today she is struggeling to forgive him. But it seems he has passed away.

Allot happened in the two years she is now living in the wonderful town. Enemies has come and gone. Some has stayed, some has become her friends. She has become more stronger, more wise. Now being a mistress of fire and practising it well. She’s found new love, strong and deep love. Who knows what will happen? Each day is just lived as it is brought forward. Exciting and mischevious it is. But that is the beauty of it all.

Adrienna has started her life now in Nanthalion. And is seems she will stay, something she will never regret. She is happy and that is all that counts for the lovely dark elven maiden. But she still fears that one day, she might lay eyes on her matron mother again, she knows for sure if that day should come, she would kill Adrienna for turning her back on her people in the underdark..and most of all for turning her back on She herself.

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