Dream Dance, Summer Rain 12, 1476
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*After a long day of packing and moving boxes into storage, Leaf and family finally settle in for the night. Feawen rocks with Melaa in her lap as Leaf sits across from them in his chair. With an anticipated quiet evening ahead of them, he takes the time to update his neglected memoirs*It has been a very hectic last 3 years.....
Melaa keeps Feawen and I moving from sun up to sun down most days. She use to stay close by our legs and remained shy until just about this time last year. Then one day she seemed to blossom into a vibrant, speedy little girl. Melaa has always loved to climb just about anything she possibly could since she could walk. The other day I caught her trying to scramble up a tree without the usual safety rope we have when we practice climbing. She is becoming fearless of heights these days, which makes Feawen and I toss and turn with worry at night just thinking about it. Her eyes are as sharp as a Falcon's as well. She can spot movement from good distances and I can't even get much past Melaa's eyesight, which has led to Da' sharing many evening snacks with her lately.
Her archery lessons are coming along very well. Her current lesson is learning to steady the bow out in front of her for a count of 15 seconds. She keeps asking me
"When shoot Da'..,when shoot?". I feel once she has learned the proper stance, poise and posture holding the curved stick, then I will attach the silk string to her bow and teach her how they both interact together as one weapon.
Feawen is teaching Melaa our language as well as Common. Feawen has this way with Melaa and other children as well that is hard to describe. Children seem to approach 'Wen without hesitation or fear. I believe they can sense her inner goodness and they are drawn to it like a newborn baby deer is to its mother. Melaa likes to know where Mom is at all times and often goes and looks for her in other rooms when she has left the room for any length period of time.
When I watch mother and daughter together I become overwhelmed with joy as I look upon the two lovely ladies that have become my life. Melaa is a very happy young elf who loves to dance, play and learn. She loves to go downstairs and play the piano too...or at least attempt to play it. Melaa will be upset when the movers of Elly's come to collect the large musical piece and transport it to Alindor and eventually, the Silver Buckle. If in a few years Melaa still continues to show signs of interest in the piano, I might hire Andrew to give her some lessons. I remember when Andrew gave Melaa her first instrument, a slide whistle for her very first birthday. She still plays that instrument today and even though she has had no formal training with its use, her sound output is not bad.., well, most of the time. I think she will like "Mr. Andrew" teaching her a musical instrument, this time the large piece with many thin white colored planks of wood that she loves to push with her fingers.
This past year, my time has been mostly spent in Krandor, at the hospital. The K.A.R.T upkeep has been quite demanding, especially with the aid for Hlint. I pray to Longstrider that a cure for the contagion plaguing Hlint will cease and exist and the serpents of the sky will be driven off, never to return.
When Moraken's Tower first came under attack from the Green Dragon Cult, some thought it was just an isolated attack. Then when a group of travelers and merchants were attacked by the Cult forces traveling the main highway between Karst and Krandor, the towns folk of Karst, Krandor and even as far inland as Ft. Llast and beyond began to worry gravely for their own safety and of their homes and lands. I feared for my family's safety after that event. It was described as a vicious attack from a blue and silver dragon that descended down on the travelers, then many Myr'Drachs followed, shredding the few remaining survivors after the brutal first attack from the mighty dragon. One of the few survivors from that attack claims that from his hidden location in the trees, he witnessed the Cult force consume all the dead bodies on the ground before they took flight once again. It has been almost two years since the first attack from the Cult and yet we still wonder if or when the next attack will be and where.
I am so glad that Feawen and I took the time to mark out hidden trails leading to various secluded rendezvous points deep in the forests for her and Melaa to meet me in case of an emergency. 'Wen keeps Melaa close by her side these days in case they should suddenly have to leave Ft. Llast at a moment's notice.
Many brave friends have stepped forth and offered their aid to help miss Elly and the Aeridinite Sisters of Rebirth in any way they could from outside Hlint's gates. I recently traveled with Andrew to the outskirts of Black Castle to locate a certain box that was supposed to of arrived in Hlint on a resupply caravan. The contents within contained something that sister Moonriver said might lend some comfort and healing to those quarantined inside. We did manage to locate the box and deliver it to sister Moonriver. Elly talked with Andrew and I threw the gates that night after we returned with the box. Elly is maintaining, but from the tone in her voice I could sense that the long hours were starting to take its toll on her body. She is devoted to helping those in need and hopefully to bring Hlint's suffering to an end. She said that all the sisters are exhausted, but stand proud and continue tending to the suffering. I left Hlint that night hoping that maybe whatever was in that box would lead an answer to perhaps finding a cure.
Elly went to Hlint sometime ago to join her Sisters of the Rebirth and bring healing to those in need. When I first traveled to Hlint with K.A.R.T. after the first reports of the attacks on Moraken's Tower, my eyes were devastated by the carnage that the Cult force could unleash on such well seasoned warriors. Soldiers twice my size lay on the ground almost severed in half while others lay screaming with severely burned appendages. Even the poor children were not spared in the least. I wept inside from the sight my eyes saw that day. I continued guiding the team up the road passing by all the wounded, burned and recently deceased to reach the drop off point just outside the gate. The smell of death permeated the air. I regained my composure and got to work handing out the jugs of fresh water, clean bandages, food rations and the other supplies.
The Queen of Trelania declared Hlint in a state of emergency and quarantined the entire town within it pallaside surroundings after the first attacks. The Fifth Queens Guard regiment have been stationed outside the town's gates and are ordered to use deadly force on anyone trying to enter or exit without permission. I fear that if they don't find a cure for the contagion soon, this epidemic could spread outward and contaminate surrounding lands, and If the Dragon Cult cannot be stopped, what will be the fate of Mistone, or all the lands of Layonara even...
When I was last in Krandor checking on available K.A.R.T supplies, I noticed miss Galathea explaining in great detail on how she wanted a certain archway to look to a few workman. I walked down to her and the hired dwarven masons where I was greeted with a smile from her. Galathea said that she wanted to speak with me briefly in the guild hall. We went there and sat in the lounge area of the guild. She began to speak of the last hospital board meeting and what was discussed. Galathea has come under a calling from the Deep Mother and must relinquish her duties to the Krandor hospital and needed someone else to take over the duties and keep things moving forward in research. My name was mentioned by the board members as a potential head master candidate should I choose to take on such a responsibility. The head master is one who would preserve the Oath and keep the hospital growing in advancement in cures for Illness, diseases and poison research. To lead the stewards and staff so they can offer healing and care to those in need. To build the hospital within and offer a hands on learning environment for our youth to learn from master healers, surgeons and physicians so that one day they can take over and provide care for those in need as well.
As I sat there and listened to Galathea explain the details, I started thinking of Melaa growing up inside the hospital and the learning environment that would surround her. By the time Galathea was finished with her offer to me, my decision had already been made. I felt a keenness build inside me when I stood up from that chair. A new found passion that I knew I must fulfill and continue from that day forward. Also, I could not afford to not give Melaa this chance to learn and mature from so many intelligent teachers. Feawen literally jumped into my arms when I got home that night and told her the good news, then Melaa came running in for her usual hug and kiss from Da', wanting to know why mommy was very happy.
As the family sat down to dinner that night, I informed them of all the details about the meeting I had with miss Gala and the great offer and responsibility that I have accepted. Melaa doesn't really understand it totally yet, other then she knows that Mommy, Da' and she are soon moving to a place called...
"Crayondore" as she makes it sound sometimes. Melaa is excited but seemingly sad that she is leaving her home that she has known since birth. There is still a great amount of paper work to be completed, orientation protocols to learn and other incidental tasks that will need to happen before I will take over the administration duties of the hospital and the family moves to Krandor.
Feawen has been my driving force with this endeavor ever since I informed her of it.
*He looks over to Feawen and Melaa asleep in the rocking chair* I was having second thoughts and lack of doubt about taking on such a large responsibility like running a hospital, but my beloved was right by my side with her gentle reassuring touch and words of wisdom to give me the confidence that I needed to cancel any doubt of the challenges that lie ahead in the future. I do not know what my life would be like without my Forest Rose.
I have another busy day ahead of me tomorrow and I need to end this entry and get my ladies tucked warmly into bed for the night...[/FONT][/SIZE]
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