Legends of Belariath
Elthorion
Elthorion's Tale - Part 2
Confusion. Fear. The overwhelming feeling that you are about to change your life. These are the things that run through my head as I traipse through the woods. The road has been long, but because of Aphris it has been very tolerable.
You see, we left the inn a day ago, she left first and I came after her. The only place I wanted to go at this point was home, so that’s where we were heading.
The woods were deep, and rather dark. Vision was not a problem for me so I kept Aphris close to me, close enough to feel her warm breath on my arm as I held her to me. The entrance to the Underdark was only a short distance away, over the small hills we were approaching. As we crested the hills I saw what I had been looking for, the cave that led down to the subterranean areas of the world, near Tierrah’Nah. As we descended into the cave I heard her speak.
“Elth, where are we now, when will we get there?”
I looked cautiously around the tunnel and whispered back to her “We are heading down, into the caves, and it will take us about 3 hours.” As I said this I could feel her press a bit closer to me in the darkness, her warm body comforting to me.
3 hours later we stood at the gates of the fifth Dark Elf city, home to one of the most powerful noble houses, House Kinslayer. I looked up at the huge gates, seeing the spires of the city rise above the walls. The sight took my breath away and I hear Aphy gasp next to me, smiling I looked down at her “This is where I come from.”
Gasping, she looks up, trying to take in the whole city, amazed at the splendor and size, “What’s here for us, Elth?” she whispers.
“My family.” With that Aphris takes in a deep breath, her head tilts slightly, looking up at him, studying his face, his every movement, she slips her hand in his and squeezes it gently, trying to pass onto him any strength her small body possesses. With a final nod, I take a step inside the gates and make my way to a place long ago left. Heading towards the tallest tower, I take in the sights of my forgotten homeland. Noticing the places I used to come as a child, seeing the old shop owners, seeing new ones, the whole city a town of wonders.
Approaching the tower of Kinslayer, where the seat of the house is located a large Dark Elf guard approaches me.
“Who goes there?” snarls the hardened Dark Elf warrior. Aphris 's eyes widen upon seeing the guard, her mouth running dry as she slowly slips behind me, trying to quietly vanish from the intimidating Dark Elf's field of vision.
With a defiant smirk I look up “Elthorion, first son of Rhianna Kinslayer.”
The obsidian skin of the guard turns almost bone white as he stammers “L-L-Lord Elthorion? You return to us?”
“Yes, have my mother informed, and inform her that I have a guest, that is not to be mistreated.” Pulling Aphris closer to me, indicating her presence as the guard looks down rather confused, and a bit disgusted.
“Yes Lord.”
Looking down to Aphris, I smile a bit, “So, what do you think Aphy?”
"I think you get the same reaction here when people hear your name as you do in the Inn." Then quietly adds "Are you sure its alright for me to be here Elth, I don't want to interfere."
“There’s nothing to interfere in, I wanted to bring you here, it’ll be good for both of us, some time away.”
Upon his return, the guard says nothing but leads us into the tower, heading up several flights of stairs, everything colored purples and whites. Remembering slowly I begin to recall all the sights and sounds of the towers, the rooms, the hallways, the dungeons. Slowly smiling, passing rooms that I know I have been in, beginning to savagely grin. Walking in front of Aphris, looking behind me, her look of wonder and amazement at the towers rather cute.
“Yes Aphy, I used to roam these halls.”
Her look said it all, the fact that she had never been in a place as grand as this, I reached out and pulled her a bit closer as the guard leads us into a large room.
“Hello child.” A sweet, yet cruel voice sounded almost as soon as I was in the room.
“Hello mother.” I looked up seeing her standing there, the years had been kind to her, her long white hair flowing down her back, her older features showing signs of wisdom.
She walked slowly towards us, her long Matrons robes flowing about her, as she stepped closer, her shorter frame became even more apparent, that she had taken care of herself in my time away. “What brings you back to us, my son? And who is your little friend”
Before I could say anything she was in front of me, smiling that warm smile “Aphris, you must be Elth’s mother.”
I blanched for a second as my mother scowled visibly at the human girl before her. Her reaction was priceless “Rhianna Barayth Kinslayer, matron of house Kinslayer.” She smirked, much like I do, and turned. “I’m rather busy Elthorion, I have things to tend to, Marach will show you to your room. Marach?”
“Yes Matron, as you command. This way Lord.” Said the guard as he lifted his arm motioning for us to leave.
We followed him out, heading down the hallways to my old room, left just as I left it 50 years ago. The bed was larger, big enough for 3, everything clad in black and purple.
“Is this your room?” Aphris asked as she smiled warmly, pulling closer to me, her slight fear obvious as she hugged me.
“Yep Aphy, it is, and I haven’t been here in quite a while.” Walking over to the bed I began to strip out of my armor and set my whip on a table. Lying on the bed looking up at the ceiling. I feel her slide into be next to me, her warm body against mine, wrapping my arm around her and kissing her gently. With that I immediately fall to sleep.
A haze, a voice, a beautiful starscape.
“Kinslayer.” The voice is enchanting, and deadly at the same time, looking up, rubbing my eyes of sleep finally my surroundings coming into focus. I put my hand down, only to feel stickiness, looking down realization occurs. Spiders web. Looking up I see her, a half spider woman, beautiful and terrifying. Lloth. Scrambling to my knees I look up at her.
“Dark Mother. How can I serve you?”
“Your purpose lies no longer with me Kinslayer. You are to serve another.” Her hand waves and a coldly beautiful Dark Elf steps out, long flowing white gown, hair immaculate, but radiating a certain aura of death.
“Lady Elghinalee.” Bowing respectfully I look tentatively up, standing before the Dark Elf goddess of death and the Dark Elf Dark Mother.
“Elthorion of Kinslayer, you will be one of my champions. My sister, the Spider Queen has agreed to give me to you. You will be one of my chosen.”
“But, Dark Mother, why?”
“Because” she looked down coldly, “I have agreed to give you to her, and that is all you need know.”
“Yes Lady.” And with that I turned and stepped towards Elghinalee, dropping to a knee before her.
“Good, my sister was right about your loyalty. Now, you shall be one of my champions. You shall be a Death Knight.” she rested her hand on my shoulder and I felt a change inside me, it began at the core of my being, and spread throughout my body. Then I felt it in my head, my brain cleared and I could see my jaded ways, the way that I should be. Grinning savagely, I knew that it was time, even though it was the first day, it was time to return to The Inn, and begin my cleansing reign.
Opening my eyes again, I realized I was in bed, still with Aphris next to me. I slowly slid out of bed and donned my armor, heading for some old places I knew.
Striding into the rundown temple of Ehlginalee I began to sift through the crushed remains of the altar. If it weren’t for the enchantments laid upon my gauntlets, they would be almost unwearable by the time I found it, withdrawing the sword of the last high priest of Ehlginalee. Smiling brightly I held out, taking in the simple, yet savage, beauty of it. The long, slightly curved blade, the wicked barbs on the back, the long handle. Hefting it, realizing that it was at least 5 and a half long, placing it on my shoulder and heading for the other temple.
A guard stepped out from and alleyway, trying to block my path, looking at me. “What are you doing out of your room?”
Not even gracing him with an answer I swung the huge blade and kept walking. Behind me, the head of the guard hit the ground. Heading down the way to the other temple, and forcing into the door, beginning the search here. Almost instantly I found it, the missing pieces of my armor, hefting the shoulder guards up and clipping the plated things into place, letting the plates cascade down my arms, smiling evilly and heading back for my room.
Creeping up to the room, shaking Aphris awake.
“Aphy, we leave now.”
“Now Elth, why not in the morning.” Her eyes adjusting to the darkness as she awakes, gasping at my armor and new sword. “What’s all this?”
“Ask me later, now come on.”
With that we left the Dark Elf city, quietly, almost. Leaving a few more dead guards behind and collecting a cloak for my travels we began to head back towards the surface.