Postmarked Waterdeep....

cbarton · Post by **cbarton** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 12:35 am

When I opened the door to our room at the Wayfarer, I was pleased but surprised to find Analia in the room. There she was moving methodically from the chest of drawers to a larger trunk. Slightly puzzled at her activity, I slipped quietly into the room and closed the door. 
 
"I hear you, melindo." She said with her back turned to me. 
 
I couldn't help but smile, even though i had been worried sick. I walked over to her and placed my hands upon her shoulders, gently turned her around and gave her a gentle kiss. 
 
"What is all this?" I said when we parted, gesturing to the packing. 
 
"I need to go to Waterdeep. I heard my sister may be there." She said. 
 
"I see. When do you leave?" 
 
"I have already booked passage on a boat from River Vesper Landing, which is why I was gone. Didn't you get the note?" 
 
I merely shook my head. She looked by the nightstand and cursed quietly under her breath. Walking over she bent down and picked up the note, holding it between her thumb and index finger. 
 
I bit my lip as she turned to face me, note in hand. "This note," She said as she shook it lightly. "This note tells you that I would be gone a few days to make arrangements. I have booked passage for both of us, if you want to go with me. I know your family is from Waterdeep, and I would like to meet them. Perhaps we can go there, look for my sister, meet your family and marry there?" 
 
I could only smile as she continued to work. We had talked about this at length. She knew I wanted to take her home as my bride. Perhaps I could convince the captain of the ship to do the honors before we made landfall. I only nodded in acknowledgement as she looked to me for my response. 
 
There was a slight knock at the door. I crossed quickly and opened the door partially. It was Jayde. 
 
"Is seleramin here or is she still gone?" Jayde said quietly in her returning accent. 
 
I opened the door more fully and allowed her in with a small smile and flourish of my hand. Jayde giggled slightly and played back to me. I was could not help but smile more, seeing how far I had come with her from the early days of my time with Analia. 
 
"Seler, did you purchase the tickets for us as well?" Jayde asked. 
 
"Uma Seleramin." Analia said. "I have booked passage for the four of us. We leave in only a few short days for Calaunt. There we can find a place to stay until we book passage on ships heading to our separate destinations." 
 
"While you were gone, I composed this note for my gwan. I will leave it with Chelie, with our note to Innuvindyl." Jayde said and then continued on noticeably saddened. "It tells him that I love him, will miss him greatly, and am sorry that I too am leaving, along with a few other things but that is mostly it." 
 
Analia turned and smile, in a bitter-sweet fashion. "Oh, seler, I feel for you, I do. But will you not be happier back in Kara-Tur living the life you have earned than staying on here? You will have your ways, and your people, you will not be looked at strangely for your customs." 
 
Jayde only nodded and the two embraced tightly. Then Jayde quietly slipped away to the door. "I will see you at the north end of Vesper in a few days then, Seler. Berik. I am sure we will have a pleasant ride down the River Vesper, and an interesting time in Calaunt." Jayde said as she opened the door. She looked back and smiled briefly, and then left, pulling the door quietly shut. 
 
Analia walked slowly up to me. She laid her hand upon my shoulders, her arms crossing my chest. She then laid her head upon her arms and just stood there for a moment. I gave her a gentle embrace, my heart still beating fast as my anxiety slipped away. 
 
"Mi mela lle, Analia." I said. "I will go with you anywhere if you ask, as I have from the beginning. You are my sanity. Without you, I have nothing." 
 
"Mi aw'mela lle, melindo." She replied. "I want you to come with me, now. Help me find my sister. Marry me in Waterdeep. Begin your life with me away from this place that keeps taking my breath from me. I was not made to live in such a place as this. I want my cities back." 
 
"But what of our gardens, our animals," I paused. "What of our children?" 
 
"Living near the city is good enough for me, love. We will have the house, the garden for me to tend, the animals..." She paused and looked up at me and smiled. "And our children, they will know then at least one set of grandparents." 
 
I nodded, and kissed her on the forehead. 
 
"Very well, my love we will go. I must take care of a few things first. You said a couple of days we have yet?" 
 
She nodded. 
 
"I shall be as quick as possible." I said while I bent down, picking up my bag. I must say goodbye to some friends." 
 
I kissed her again. I then turned, crossed to the door and left. Thoughts of home entered my mind and almost took my breath away. Finally I was going home. Then I began to think, how I was going to explain all this to my family. I shook my head lightly as I walked down the stairs and into the common room of the Wayfarrer and out into Dragon Dale for one of the last times.