Watching the Tolerz (OPEN)

[Rochen Elanessė Eydis]

Rochen, at times, came to see the Tolerz in Illúminas. Mostly, she came to see the families, which gladly took these huge vehicles and were transported to far away places. However, today´s visit to the aerodrome was not just to observe, but to take one and head to Nayelien, the elven realm.

She had been appointed to head to Galadia and thus reunite with the elven Queen, Avanna Nova. This was to be done in the name of the Echa race, in response to the current war. She was the only one who could go right now, since her brother Gaelan was to defend the Echa front if any attack was to come this way, and princess Brigid had gotten progressively sick.

She worried for her family, for the royals and nobles back in Nanníe, but mostly of the commoners and all those innocent men, women and children that might (just might) join the war. A war which wasn't even theirs to fight! What a folly!

The Tolerz started it's engines. All around, echa children played with their families. Since this was a one way trip to the elven realm, many families were also of the nayeli race. She could see lovers as well, perhaps in their honeymoon at the other side of the world, oblivious of the war going on.

It seemed as if, in Destina, the only constants were love, politics and war.

[Niklas Maëve]

Niklas Maeve's latest task was somewhat dull. Picking up an Echa noblegirl all the way down in Illuminas was not his idea of fun, but it gave him the opportunity to get to explore again. His journey had begun weeks before, the day the queen Avanna Nova had summoned him.

He remembered the queen's words as clear as if it had been yesterday "...she has never left Guiar.... and I might as well believe that she has never left the faerie palace itself. All I know is that she is a gentle and kind young girl. Very innocent, as well. Her brother could not come, nor Princess Brigid, nor any of the other royals, and she has to take her place in nobility someday. I think the time has come, and you will escort her back to the elven kingdom in time for my council."

All he had really heard was that this damsel in distress was to be taken to Nayelien. Couldn't she do it alone? Now that the world was surrounded by war, she had to learn to fend for herself, he thought.

He spotted her as soon as the Tolerz started it's engines. Magic and mechanics were at work, which he did not understand, but he was also enthranced by it. He could see that this lady, Rochen, really did love this air ship. She had curious eyes, and he could actually notice that she was very young indeed, and very beautiful.

He cleared his throat and fixed his hair before approaching the girl. "Good day, m'lady. I am Niklas Maeve. I was sent here in the name of Queen Avanna Nova, Leader of the Nayeli of old and new. I am to take you to Nayelien, to escort you if you will. It will be my... my pleasure to do so".

He fumbled a bit with his words. After all, this was the first time he did something like this for a member of another royal family. Why had he said it was a pleasure? That was not polite, it was weird. He felt like an idiot, choosing to smile arrogantly to hide his shame.

[Rochen Elanessė Eydis]

Rochen felt a mixture of anger and shame. She had believed the Eydis had sent her to Nayelien all by herself, but she was just realizing that they did not trust her as much. What? She could get lost? She was 24, for crying out loud, she could fend for herself. Even if she had never been out of the capital, she knew how to take a Tolerz, and then a vessel, and how to arrive to Queen Avanna´s palace safely. Who did they think she was? A 5 year-old? She was exasperated with their overbearingness, the overprotection and the constant need to control everything.

Who could be behind this? It must have been her brother, Gaelan. He always assumed the parental figure around her, it was maddening at best. Or perhaps it had been the princess, her cousin. It was not uncalled for; she had a habit of making their lives impossible. Perhaps the princess wanted to get back at her, seeing as the she was always the overprotected one out of the two. “That’s what you get for being the future queen, Brigid” she thought, furiously.

Nevertheless, this was a man who seemed kind enough, albeit a little bit young to be an escort. He did not seem a year older than her… but she knew the elven folk could live for hundreds of years without seeming old in the slightest. She envied them for that. Soon, she started fantasising with the entire race, with Nayelien and the palace and…

“It will be my... my pleasure to do so"

She had been so lost in thought; she had not heard what the boy had said. “What did you say your name was? And who sent you? Was it my brother, my cousin, my aunt the queen? Tell me!” her tone was recriminatory. She did not want to sound angry, but she was hurt nonetheless. When would her family see that she was an adult now?

“I am Rochen Elanesse Eydis. It is a pleasure as well… Tell me, how long will this voyage take?” Her curious, blue eyes watching him carefully.

[Niklas Maëve]

Niklas was taken aback. Why was the duchess enquiring him for coming to meet her? The Tolerz was quickly gaining speed, and as it gained altitude the lady begun introducing herself. He noticed he was somewhat nervous… mostly because Rochen was surprised to see him here. Wasn’t Lady Rochen glad that she would not have to make the journey unaccompanied? Why was she angry with her family for organizing this? Unless she thought that it was somewhat domineering. In that case, he planned to assuage her anger by keeping a distance for the rest of the trip, if necessary.

“It was… it was your brother who organized my arrival and your escort, my lady. Your brother and the Queen, Avanna.” He cleared his throat, “they both imagined that it would be best if you came… I hear your queen is rather… indisposed at the moment. And the princess, your cousin, has to stay in Echar to solve the realm’s pressing issues.”

He tried to take her mind off the inevitability of his companion. “So tell me, duchess, are you enthusiastic to visit the elven realm? It is most beautiful, I can assure you… I can also leave you to your business, if you’d rather travel relatively alone.” Perhaps that was all Rochen needed: to feel self-sufficient. He could watch her from afar, he figured. But he would definitely keep an eye on her; she seemed somewhat… impetuous.

[Rochen Elanessė Eydis]

“Of course it was my brother”, she thought, resentfully. Gaelan had been incredibly busy exchanging letters with a mysterious correspondent for the past weeks.. Now Rochen knew that the receptor of these communications had been no other than the Queen of the elven realm. “Indeed, my aunt the Queen is indisposed… and so is my cousin, the princess, and apparently my brother… so much for the Imperial General of the realm!”.

She cut herself short of sharing her innermost thoughts. Did she sound like a brat? She noticed that the words had come tumbling out of her mouth and for a moment she felt foolish and utterly juvenile. Every single member of her kin was currently busy, of course. Why would she be the exception? Why would she have a chance to mingle inside the castle wars while everyone else was running errands from one place to another, striving to maintain Echar in balance?

But no… this was not the reason behind her anger and her tantrum. Rochen had expected and known that she would be sent afar. She wanted to go to Nayelien and to meet Queen Avanna with all her might. The elven Queen was a personality of legend; a woman who had lived so long in Destina that she had been able to witness all the ages of men. Rochen wanted to learn from this wise Queen.

In truth, she was irritated with this boy who stood in front of her. Did he think high of himself? Proud, as elves used to be, here escorting a “defenseless” faerie? No, she would take these ideas (if he had them) out of his mind.

“… and yes, I look forward to my arrival to the elven realm… although I would have preferred arriving there by myself. I do not need a caretaker, Sir Niklas, I assure you. I can perfectly fend for myself. I am a princess, but I am not a child!”

Rochen held her head high and proud in an angle that (she thought) made her look mature and sophisticated. In actuality, she looked rather silly and comically childish.

[Niklas Maëve]

Niklas was surely taken aback by the lady’s words, but still he understood that perhaps her pride had been hurt. Moreover, he felt empathy for the girl; mainly due to the tantrum she had just thrown. He realized that this was merely a very young girl who had wanted to traverse the world by herself and, in place of this fantasy, she had been sent with a “caretaker”. Yes, of course Nik understood her feelings.

And thus, Nik did not feel personally attacked when she said that she could fend for herself. Actually, he let out a smile, but he tried to hide his sympathy for the girl so as to not make her feel even more ashamed. 

He moved closer to her, smiling kindly. “My lady, I understand. I can protect you from afar, if that is your wish. Pay no heed; it will be as if I weren’t here at all! I promise”

With this, he moved to the veranda, situated to the far end of the Tolerz. The airship was very wide and spacious; he did not expect to see Lady Rochendilwen for the rest of the trip. It would take at least 2 days for them to arrive to Guiar, and from there they would take another Tolerz which would pass over the deserts of the blazing realm, Xenthia. 

After that, they would be arriving at Lenneckor, were they would have to disembark again and continue their journey by land for some leagues. So many days and so many nights… would the echa’s rage succumb?