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It had been a very long time indeed since she had made her presence known. Usually, Vaun’ithili sat hooded in the shadows keeping to herself and never speaking. On this day, however, she entered the inn silently as ever and sat in plain view. The odd Valkin’vi looking woman with elven ears and lavender eyes swept over the room, as if she were looking for someone. Not seeming to find them, she took a seat near the bar and drew out an elaborately decorated deck of overly large cards.

“Pray, is there one who could, perhaps, direct me to the Duke,” she said in little more than a whisper to no one in particular. She began to shuffle the deck and awaited an answer.

*Later that evening, Corbyn enters the Inn with Arthos. They are discussing the status of trade routes and what the yield might be from this season's crops.*

Having gotten no response from the folk in the Inn, Vaun had resolved to wait and see what the day and evening might bring her. After all, all she had was time, and so waiting was no trouble for her. At last, her patience seemed to have been rewarded, for the person for whom she had been waiting walked in the front door.

Her lavender eyes studied the Duke and his Trade Minister. Neither she knew at all, really, for she was not in the habit of approaching others. She preferred to allow others to come to her if and when they desired, and on their own time. This time, however, that was not a luxury she had. Not, at least, if she wished to get any sleep in the near future.

The harlequin painted woman with long white hair stood, tucking her hair behind long, elegantly pointed ears. She waited for a pause in the conversation between the two elves and silently walked over to them. When Corbyn at last noticed her, she spoke very softly.

“If the Duke has the time, I would beseech him for a moment of his time. Though,” and her lavender eyes flitted over to Arthos briefly, “if he is otherwise engaged in more important matters, I shall wait.”

She stood still, completely serene, watching him with her odd looking eyes.

*Corbyn studied the woman for a long moment, then turned to Arthos.*

My friend, we will continue this discussion after you have spoken to some of the primary farmers and Joseph.

*Moving over to sit across the table from Vaun*

I indeed have some time, and am grateful for any opportunity to get to know one of the citizens of my Duchy. We have not seen you frequently as of late, so I will make the most of this chance. Speak freely, Vaun, on what topic has led you to seek me out.

The Vau’An’Dar studied him equally, her hands folded neatly in her lap and no expression what-so-ever on her white face. Finally, she took a breath and her words seemed to come somewhat against her will.

“It is not in my nature to share what I See with those who do not first seek me out. Even less,” she said with absolutely no apology in her voice, “an Elf. Thy kind and mine are not friends, though thou may know it not. However, as this town is my home for however long I see fit, and thou art of some importance to most here, I thought thou shoulds’t like to know I dreamed of thee and thy Lady… and have been for the last few months.”

Her lavender eyes were unblinking and there was neither emotion nor guile in her tone. Rather, simply statements of fact. “I will not recount unto thee what thou know already. That darkness shrouds thee must not be of any surprise. And so too, thy son, for a son I saw indeed. Dark was his hair, like thine, and thy pointed elven ears too, but green eyes as his mother shall he have. Two storms surrounded the eve of his birth, one of iron gray, one of back lit white.” She held the Duke’s eyes keenly. “His life, and that of thy Lady rest solely in thy hands. By thy words and deeds shall both live or die. On one side I Saw torrents of crimson, and the cries of a woman rent asunder the night. On the other, a wooded path lined with silver birch trees.”

She shrugged. “Perhaps this means nothing to thee that thou dids’t not already know. I know thee not, and so will not make a guess at what thou may or may not know. What I do know is this; these words resounded in my dream, and they are what I have come to deliver unto thee, for I know I will know no peaceful night of sleep until I have given them thee.”

“Side by side in darkness dwell,
Not one but two apart.
One from out the darkest Well,
The other of the heart.
What was broken now undo,
Or lose the two to one.
Find the Key that holds the dark,
And all shall be undone.”

Vaun paused and sighed, if only slightly. “What it means, I have no way of knowing. I know not thy plight. However, if it is thy wish, I may read what the cards have to tell me, though I cannot promise that thou shalt like what it is I might See there.”

*Corbyn listened intently to the strange woman's words, at times looking towards the quarters he shared with his wife and unborn child. When she finished, he addressed her in a tone that reflected his optimism.*

Thank you for those portents Vaun. I have learned to heed the various ways in which the mysteries of our world reveal themselves. Be it by careful research or vivid dream, the truth may be learned in some form.

Read your cards, then, and let more be revealed...or not. When you last read them to me, what you told me had more to do with my past and inner self. I will be interested if they now hold something of value for the future of my family and this place.

*Dallid enters the Inn after having been away for only three days on a mission that should have taken at least a week. His eyes quickly find Corbyn. Seeing him currently involved, he maintains a respectful distance from him and Vaun, folds his hands before him, and waits.*

*Walks in about 10 seconds behind Dallid and when he sees Vaun a smile creases one corner of his mouth like he is trying to hide it but it clearly reaches his eyes as well. As he walks toward the bar he makes sure to pass within reach and as he passes by the table he slows and hovers his hand within millimeters of her hand and slides his hand without actually touching her to her shoulder and leans down.*

Didn't miss me too much did you?

As Atrum strode into the Inn and drew near, a first, soft, smile lit the otherwise emotionless face of the Vau’An’Dar woman. For the first time that most had probably ever seen, she seemed pleased. Her eyes lit with real light, and she bowed her head to the tall man. No one could understand the bond between them, for while his behavior may have seemed odd to everyone else, it meant the world to her. He alone in Haven understood.

In little more than a whisper, though colored with repressed laughter, she answered, “I did, in fact. Thou said thou woulds’t be gone not overlong. That was early this morn. Thy definitions and my own yet vary, it seems.” She held his gaze for a moment, and relented. “I’ve to go gathering some components that might only be gained by the light of the moon this evening, if thou art yet willing to journey with me.”

In stark contrast to her warmth to Atrum, when she turned back to Corbyn, her mask of cold and formality returned. She shuffled her cards and laid them before the Duke, meeting his gaze directly.

“Ask what question lies closest to thy heart, draw a card, and lay it before me without flipping it over.”

(If you have spot)

*Standing in the corner cloaked in shadow*

*A Ga'vin dressed in black and grey, Watching the moves and counter moves of the inn.*

*Chuckles to himself, he turns and leaves*

*Mumbless* There not unlike the animals I hunt in the woods. Except for one small diffrence...

But of course. a moonlit stroll would be rather nice.
*turns to Corbyn*
Excuse me for interrupting.
*Makes his way to the bar.

*Nods to Atrum, then returns his attention to Vaun*


The question is: Do I have the means to save my child?

*Kidwynn walks into the Inn covered in dust from working hard on something. She brushes off her coat and looks at Atrum. *

Something more then wine please Atrum if ya don't mind.

*Notices Vaun and just observes the going ons in the Inn.*

As the High Elf spoke his question, he became the focus of Vaun’s entire world. She trained all of her senses upon him as he drew the card and placed it on the table before her. She closed her eyes then, and opened her mind to the Ether. She then flipped the card over and opened her eyes.

A gasp escaped her involuntarily and her eyes widened in shock or horror, it was impossible to tell which. The card that lay before her was the Dark card. She turned her inhuman eyes on the Elf with a hiss.

“Cursed this place is, for in every Telling it is Darkness that rules! Twice have I drawn for thee, and twice the Darkness hath bound thee.” She spoke quickly and with intensity, more emotion then she had shown in all her days in Haven. What she Saw seemed to disturb even her.

“Dark is thy path, Elf, and dark thy future. Thy child is bound by it, consumed. Strife lies all about thee, blocking thy attempts to lead the child into salvation. Where thou wouldst make progress, there are forces working to block thee, hinder thee from thy goal. Beware false friends! There are those who speak fair, but mean foul unto thy child. If means there are to save him, then it is a dark road thou must walk to bring him hence.”

Her hands were shaking, her eyes still overly large and her voice had gone ragged. She shuffled the cards again, and spread them before the Duke. “Draw again, for I must know what forces are at work on thy path, and if there is any Light before thee at all.”

*Donovan enters with his tome under his arm, obviously looking for someone. He makes a straight line for the Duke until he realizes to whom he is speaking. Looking at first suprised and then a bit curious, he gives both Vaun and the Duke a cordial bow and then settles against the wall a polite distance away.