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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
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Tiercel's Peregrinations
Topic Started: Jan 10 2017, 09:00 PM (4,147 Views)
Serethil
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Et'Ada
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*snerk*
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neildarkstar
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Overlord
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:bravo:
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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:wub: it.... At least they got a few moments of peace.. together!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks guys! 'bout time, huh?
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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yup!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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98 - and up the mountain....

We set up camp in the open area under pines below Frykte Peak. Var climbed the peak with me to look over what clearing I’d got done earlier.

“I can’t believe you climbed this alone! You could have fallen.... I’d never have known what happened to you!”

“Oh, the princes would probably have told you. I’m aware it wasn’t wise.... and I can promise you I won’t do the same again! I wasn’t - really - thinking....”

We crawled back down, and settled to wait for the Caerellius couple. We had time, so we re-found each other, now that Bal was (I hoped....) gone. I mean, I know the princes are going to deal with him.... but I think I can be forgiven for worrying....

And again, I sent blessings to every Divine and every prince even marginally considered “good” that I didn’t have to finish those damned Books! And as I had that thought - I remembered agreeing to return to Neloth.... Sometimes I hate my inconvenient memory, not to mention my honor.... Well, I put that aside for another day.

Crescius and Aphia showed up the next day. Crescius bounced out of the carriage (quite a feat for an elderly Imperial!), and started chattering like a madman at Var.

“Aphia, come down, and let me deal with the mare. Horses are my job at home.” She gave me a grateful look, climbed down carefully, and headed for the fire. I put the mare up - after making sure she wasn’t likely to come into heat tonight! - with the boys in the makeshift corral, where, stud and gelding notwithstanding, she promptly fell asleep. She wasn’t young, though certainly not aged - but I thought perhaps a couple of days of not-horse-aware people - and the ash - might have just been enough to cause some stress. I thought things over, and reconfigured the enclosure to give her an area to herself, and once that was done, I made a mash for her, and left it for when she woke.

Then I stopped beside Aphia, and asked if they’d like me to pitch their tent. She smiled, though her eyes were tired. “No no. We’ll sleep in the carriage. The seats make a bed; it will be far more comfortable for both of us than a tent.”

“Oh, no doubt! That’s a clever idea. I’d like to look at the workings of it once this is done; we might want to do something similar at home....”

I looked around. “Where are the men?”

She laughed. “Up the mountain of course.” She rolled her eyes. I responded in kind.

“Well, I’m for making something to eat. We’ll leave them some - if they get back here before dark!”
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neildarkstar
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Overlord
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:thumb:
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks! <3
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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great read... some times people have one track minds...not always a bad thing.
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Kane
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*rolls eyes* Men.

Wait....
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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ROFL! Thanks sis and Kane - I got a good laugh out of all that myself!
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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Good one Sis! I love those kind of interactions!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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99 - Crescius has some thoughts

The men returned at dusk. Var tipped me a wink, which I think meant that Crescius was not only a jabberjay, but that he had some decent ideas.

Aphia made the old man sit and eat some of the stew and fry bread I’d put together before she let him talk. It had to be hard - she was Dunmer, and he was human. Imperials lived about as long as the rest of us - a hundred years or so.... and he was likely in the last decade of his life. So she was looking at a couple of centuries without him.... A ghost walked over my grave.... how awful that would be - now that I knew love, how could I live without it? Him....

Once the men had eaten, and we’d all settled with wine around the fire, Crescius held up a hand. “Aphia, I’m FINE. Leave off. We’ll go to bed when I’ve finished!” She sighed but said nothing.

He went on, “So, yes, making a decent route up there where you intend to put those shrines - it’s hard work, and long - and will cost a lot of gold. I can set you right with the best people to do it - and they won’t be the cheapest because they do know what they’re doing!”

“That’s fine. I’m not broke. And this is something I MUST do. I - owe - these princes. For my life, and Var’s, for sanity, for family. The gold isn’t an issue. But I also want this done safely - I want no one hurt! It’s a horrible climb, and we have to make it safe - for those who come, and it has to be safe for those who build as well.”

Crescius looked at me with something like awe. “I’ve never heard the like! You actually care that no one dies?”

That made me so sad I almost couldn’t talk. “Crescius, Aphia, Var. I do care that no one dies. I couldn’t - it wouldn’t be a true shrine to either prince if people died building, or pilgrims died trying to climb....” Tears ran down my cheeks.

Var put an arm around me and tucked me close. “It’s how I feel too Crescius. Too many people die in our world - we don’t want to add to that total. So we have to get that clear before anyone’s hired.”

“Eh, you bein’ the High King and all, they’ll listen I think.”

“How....” Var started to ask, and then just hmphed and shrugged.

“Heehee.... word gets around even to this place ya know!” And Crescius went off into gales of laughter.

“So then. We’ll go back with you tomorrow, and hire people.”

Aphia gave Crescius a stern look. “You are NOT going to stay out here to supervise. It’s bad enough you’re messing about in the mines still!”

He shook his head. “My darling. I will be dead in another few years. What will you do for someone to carp at then? But no - I agree that I’m too old to stay on here. I would of course want to.... but I know....”

Aphia’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “Crescius.... you’re still an obstinate old fool. But I do love you. Now it’s time for sleep.” They went off to the carriage, and Var and I fed up the fire and had a bit more wine.

“I hope.... we have an old age like those two.” Var seemed unwontedly sober.

“So do I, my love. So do I.”
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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:clap: awesome read... gave me a wee sniffle, cause I know the feeling!
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neildarkstar
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Overlord
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Well done, Sere. :)
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thank you both. It's.... an ever-present issue....
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Kane
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That always bums me out, too. He'll likely pass soon, and she could live for another 200 years.
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Yep. Sad.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Jarl
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Beautiful Sere, and I sniffled somewhat too. I envy Crescius and Aphia.
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thank you Sis! I wish they'd made him a Mer too.... *sigh*
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