Legends of Belariath
L`aquera
Moriel.. proud.. Beautiful.. But aren't they all? Perhaps it was the lithe frame and the way she carried herself that propelled her through life like a whirling ebony stream of chaos come calling. Even as a child her exploits had been as sly as that smile, and if the girl was polite, or perhaps even charming one should be well aware to kick back and keep out of her reach. You never knew what was coming next but the dark elf preferred cruelty to those around her rather then a true sense of caring. The strong survive; the weak are made use of. End of subject.
When but a very small child, one of her mothers own slaves had grown far to large an ego, or perhaps it was mere jealousy, whichever the case, the young Moriels tongue found the best of the situation and pushed only to make it worse. The slave, manically depressed, perhaps he'd lost something or perhaps he had been paid to seek a higher order had soon had more then enough of the young upstart raised to believe the Moon set upon her soon to be elegant beauty. In a fit of rage, he'd reached for the fireplace poker and charged the small child and swung with all his might, even feeling the connection and seeing the ebony skinned child tip over, blood spraying and form only twitching out of a light kick to the body in response. It didn't sooth his rage. He continued on but was brought down not to much longer, the babblings hardly understood but they did search down the young one and take her in to be healed. The throat had been slashed, deep and telling were the ugly red wound and it really never had healed correctly. Turning out to be an even uglier welt to mar her for a long .. long.. lifetime. Yet when the opportunity begged the child to change the situation, she had not. Had indeed.. refused to carry the scar in an silent honor of sorts to remind her that none should be underestimated. That the best way to get to your opponent was by surprise and perhaps a bit more cunning then the slave had used. She stood at his execution stalwart.. and silent, a malicious need to see the man writhe in pain as she had. Gasp for breath that refused to come.. to let his eyes see her eyes.. the last thing he'd breath. Some would say such is morose in behavior and yet others of her kind praised her, noting the way that look of fury transferred into a new cunning and deadly sinister air. Even as she grew.
L`aquera didn't leave the 'nest' behind on her own free will however, rather as she grew and learned to use the night and the shadows to her advantage, as she gained a matrons eye for potential, she was also used. It was time, they wanted information.. the Moriel was perfect for whom would suspect such a small dark elf to be so clever, so quick, so dark within as her skin was without? She would suit their needs. They had sent out many before, some came back, some didn't. They expected her to come back at a far higher rate. The girl was a survivor. From the moment the decision was made, the girl was taught everything from stealth to thieving her way around. From walking silently and blending with her surroundings, distracting and fooling.. to the deadly art of persuasion by sensualness and using her glib tongue to perfection.
Such an occasion was given and tested, the Advisor to the Matron mother was given strict instructions.. “lets find out how wily, the little one would.. be..” The two had given conspiratorial smiles, the Advisor bowing from the room and only the rasp of her silken wrapped feet announced her to the dark elf even now, working upon her skills of agility and bounding. The snap of fingers brought L`aqueras head about and swept the lightness of silver depths to fall upon the deadly Advisor. She moved quickly and bent to one knee, chin dipping to give the proper credence to the one standing before her. A hand rested slowly atop snowy locks, fingers adorned in the silver and gold of sparkling rings, most displayed in the shape of a spider. Ahh.. but the feel isn't what caused L` to smile, but the notion that they needed her, and now was chance to perhaps gain favor within a courtly fashion. She never spoke, but waited and it was for sure the Advisor was most amused, knowing how quick this ones temper and tongue had long since been, she pressed to see how well patience had been learned. And so they stayed in such an odd stalwart position for near an hour before the Advisor slapped the girl to make her rise and L` was quick to her feet, no smile seen, only the coolness of silver hues cast to the side. “Wise girl.. lets see how clever you are. There’s a male that’s rising in his own right to power, and the Matron is, rather concerned he seems to be causing a stir. We hardly fear some male, but he's been gaining in his magical arts and we feel.. hmm.. that he should get a gentle nudge down the ladder. Don't you agree dear? Of course, it would be lovely if someone say.. would take the call of advise and simply.. take action.”
L`aquera had listened carefully. They wanted her to bring the male down, to separate every limb and make sure he'd not be found, nor that this discussion ever occurred. Her first test then, and she would do what she could. No words were returned, for if another were listening in, they might think the Advisor merely speaking to some slave, and she watched.. she watched to see what this small Moriel would do, and when she but kept her orbs to the side, she knew the silent 'order' would be taken to task. With a flick of fingers to L`s chin, the Advisor left without another word, expectations were not high, but she'd passed this little test rather well. Yet as soon as the Advisor left, the dark elf smiled rather oddly to herself. There were choices now. She could go to the one protecting the male, collect a big of coin or favor. The Matron would not dare say a word nor would she act in case this solidifies the words given to taken. Indeed, she could cleverly sell out without, selling out. How odd no? Yet the society that seems to be set in loyalty rarely is, they are loyal to themselves and seek to grow further in rank to one day, rule and be as paranoid as those that rule. Perhaps one might feel that L` should have assassinated the Male rather then slink off to the woman that favored him and tell the tale. And how to prove it, she would ask? A simple whispered word of how the Advisor had approached had the other woman nodding, gifting L` with a simple circlet of silver and a pouch full of coins. The male was promptly cast from her house, and why? Because if such notice were brought to her doorstep again, next time, they would not send one to rid them all of the Male, but might well possibly bring destruction upon her House, her station. And this would not be. She sent off L` with a mild thank you of sorts, yet already scheming was had. With the male cast out, he found disfavor with all and was soon not even found other then within the throng of other male slaves that were little but cattle to the fray.
When the Matron retrieved the news, L`aquera was sent for, left to see in the Salon and await her fate, but L` was quite assured that though the Matron might be slightly angry, she would also be amused and well founded in her praise that L` had so cleverly gone about getting rid of an issue. No blood shed, and she'd done it so very cleverly, so very sinister in its very quietness. She appreciated that.. but now it was time for the little Moriel to be cast from their region and sent above. But not yet. She merely was allotted a room all her own. For now.
Yet several years later...
Many a time found the Moriel squirming out of situations by talk alone, they admired this, she would go far, and she would stay loyal to the cause, bring them back what they sought. Why stay below ground when those that lived upon the surface could be ripe for the plucking, the enslaving. A race to take over, another to heel to. Still others to work fields for them. SO many things could be accomplished but they must know strengths and weaknesses. Trained well enough she was given what she could carry and ordered from her home of such a long time, she fought it all of course, hating ever breath and every step from the lower regions made. Males.. she might have to be around them. Slavery.. it was a good chance she'd be drug into such. Where would it end? Where.. would it begin. L`aquera took a begrudging respect to the Matron Mothers thinking and set out in a rather sullen mood, but she would be her best as she had always been, and when she returned, she expected her rank and popularity to rise. And most likely it would. But first.. she must get around Nathanial.. Learn. Come out unhindered from the Town at the Outskirts of a vast civilization. Treading softly.. she wouldn't do so bad, it was her tongue that tended to trip her up, she just couldn't bend will nor knee to anyone. Would likely cut their own off in the process and not look back nor care at the suffering seen. It was her time now. And she would grasp it in a tight fist. Shake it about and reshape.
As life moves along in all its slow order, so does the bitch of the darkness. Or rather is that Fire and Shadow? So hard to tell with this Firemage of late, for she's changed mates twice now and has slowly come to the understanding that they aren't worth a fardon pig on the market to a poor village idiot. Yet life.. had moved along for the pyromancer indeed. Her new duties are keeping things a lively debate as well as.. death coming to call more then a few times now. ShaKa.. what a loud mouthed lil horny toad. More lip then a herd of cattle going to the feed mill. But, he did seem to have some magical muscle behind him, even if he didn't display it to oft. She'd seen it enough to be respectfull of his abilities. Now.. now she could make fun of the ass to her hearts content.. as long as she wasn't in her employers earshot that is. Whos that? What Employer? Stormbringer of course. Lords below knows what brought his eye upon her short lil ebon frame. But in the small bit of time they had come to know each other, lover, and near friend.. she was working for him all the same. His bodyguard. The thought is laughable. Why? Have you ever SEEN the two together? She's not even five feet... he's well over the six foot marker. She's all curves and waves.. well at least tongue wise.. He's all muscle and firm command. She likes her dealings in shadowy areas or the Fire of Purification when anger takes it root. He simply likes to make a statement and back it up with the flat of his hand to her bottom. By the way.. she doesn't ever want that to happen again.
He makes the calls, she gets to answer it. And all is well. So far that is. She still retains her room at Ray`els, or rather with Ray, the dark elf she's come to adore, but now a new room has sprung up at Stormbringers castle. Whether she's sharing his bed oft is a new mystery. Certainly the two find the heat of the moment quite catchy. And wanted. Her firey spirit and need of firm domination as well as pain with the pleasure draws the two together. That, and her odd sense of loyalty never wavers. That is, until she finds a chink of weakness. Rarely will any dark elf female follow any male unless they can prove themselves over and over.. again.. the day he can be outmanuvered by her mouth or ways, will be the day she rejudges. Doubtfull that will happen any time soon however, but she's always looking. Sly creatures. Cruel of heart and nature, but perhaps that suits him just fine. And so far, his blunt Domineering ways, suits hers more then just fine..