Title: Strike One

Date: 6/29/2004 - 09:23 PM EST

Characters: Winnowill & Savah

Summary: After Winnowill rudely enters the Guest Chamber within the
Mountain, interrupting a private conversation between Ktai, Savah and
Skywise, she alludes to the fact that 'someone' was rude within her home and
attacked the two Chosen: Savith and Kureel. In the next breath, Winnowill
mentions Djhala's name in collusion with these events, and hints that he may
be somehow harmed. Savah, being Djhala's Recognized, ends up trailing after
Winnowill, not quite demanding to know what has befallen the mate that is so
different from her, whom she cares deeply for, nonetheless.

Winnowill's Room(#4542RDJU$)
     A pale golden light, just more than a flicker from a shadow, trickles
down from overhead. The room opens up to an ornate bathing tub, leading to a
series of hooks with Lord Winnowill's wardrobe. In the far corner, a large
bed appears to be formed out of the rock itself, canopied with a transparent
veil of dark gray silk. The floor has been smoothed over kept clean, almost
a softness of stone underfoot. The ceiling breaks off into stalactites that
crane down to form arches against the wall and pillars in the center of the
floor. A light musk smell hangs within the air, perfumed with a honeysuckle
sweetness radiating from several vines and plants that grow near the
entrance and the bed. Several piles of folded leather, dyed black and
streaked about the edges with a dark sky blue, lay near the tub and at the
foot of the bed.

Bare minutes have passed since Winnowill lead Savah here to the Lord's
private quarters, presumably to discuss the 'visitor' she had hinted at,
that Savah seems so interested in. After the Lord and Mother of Memory have
passed through the stone tunnel leading into this private sanctuary,
Winnowill sends a flicker of though, and like liquid does the tunnel become,
dripping down and meeting the floor, piling fold upon fold on itself and
growing higher, sealing off the chamber, the warm tingle of magic caressing
senses. As soon as it is shut, Winnowill sets down the platter with wine and
glasses that she had picked up from their resting place in the grotto. That
done, she begins detaching her shawl from its intricate joining to her
dress. "You wished to discuss something, Sister?"

Savah's steps have been as quiet as ever, which is to say, she doe snot hide
her steps, and the sparkle stones sewn into her garment click and clack
against the stone floor of the Mountain. She's kept a measured distance from
the dark lord of the Mountain, but, her pace has been easy to keep with,
after all, both are of an age, and neither can fly. When the stone behind
closes, there is a tenseness to Savah's eyes, the crows feet at the corners
becoming slightly more pronounced than usual. Her words, when they come, are
not the rush and tumble of one worried, but the slow measure of the Mother
of Memory, "You spoke of a wish to let me know about someone. I am here, in
your chambers, awaiting you to fulfill your own wish, sister."

Winnowill places the shawl, finally separated from the rest of her gown..
beautiful, but rather complex to get in and out of.. and folds it, placing
it near a similarly folded pile of blue black cloth. "Yes.. I did." She
turns, on pale hand, palm up, resting her chin, while her index finger
strokes the side of her chin. "That recognized of yours.." She smirks
lightly.. "Quite the troublesome elf. Then again, in my experience, they
always are" She chuckles, the joke apparently more for her own benefit then
yours, for she continues. "I thought you would want to know."

Savah's expression remains placid, but there is a flash, worry, fear... is
that a flash of anger within the calm mother of memory? Her voice, gathers
an edge to it, ripe with emotion she does not hide, "What happened..." The
two words are softly spoken, neither demand, order, nor pleading begging
question. Her hands fall to her sides, though, one hand can be seen, to
gather some of her silken garment into clump, holding close to her body, as
if holding the memory of another's dark hand.

Winnowill quirks a brow.. "Do you feel faint, Sister? Please do sit down."
She sweeps a hand to the side, indicating what *might* be a chair, or some
fort of half-bed/reclining stool/shelf... it would work to sit on at least.

The chime of golden metal fills the room as Savah shakes her head not once,
but twice. Her voice, words towards regaining that even softness which she
is known for, "I am fine, your.. concern is... appreciated." Savah's words
pause, her eyes unblinking as the Mother of Memory continues to wring that
invisible hand in her won, "Please, just tell me."

Winnowill purses her lips.. "Tell, you, what, exactly? You seem quite
expectant, Sister... almost fearful.. whatever could cause such a reaction
in one such as us?" Wait... perhaps... its not unheard of... "Is this mate
of yours the reason.. has he been cruel to you Sister?"

A step forward is taken, the clink and chime of metal against metal and
stone against stone accompany the brief motion. Ancient lips turn down at
the corners, an unfamiliar frown making its way to the dark skinned visage
of the Mother of Memory. Her voice regains that edge, the knuckles of her
right hand grow still as she grips the material of the dress, "Do not play
games with this Winnowill. You called us here to aid you, do not make me
regret that decision so soon. What happened to Djhala? Why did he try to
kill your Chosen, and where is he now?" Unusually direct for the Mother of
Memory, but, her heart and soul resides in two locations: the Village at
Sorrows End, and the first born killer - her Recognized, Djhala.

Winnowill sighs, the smirk not fading, but perhaps softening just a bit.
This is what you get when you try to care about other elves... le sigh.. Her
mind like some dark deadly blossom, festering with a sweet poison, opens as
she makes her points clear. **He was rude, demanding, a poor guest, and
attacked both Savith and Kureel, no doubt with intent to kill them.** She
continue, the most important facts taken care of.. "And they were so well
behaved as well, I am to understand that Kureel even did his best to save
poor Djhala's life when Savith responded to his threats. It is not often
that he acts to protect an Outsider, Sister.. so your recognized betrayal of
that trust is ... no doubt affecting him deeply."

** What happened? ** Savah's mind opens up, the heady bright strength of the
daystar behind her mind, heated, yet tempered by time and understanding. **
There is more to this than the snippit which you share. I would have the
full truth of the matter, sister. ** Savah, at last, releases her hands hold
on her gown, letting the material, now wrinkled, fall back to the ground to
pool softly at her feet,

Winnowill narrows her eyes, "I see now where Djhala obtains his imperious
attitude, and his demanding nature, Sister. Your mate came here, under the
pretense of wishing to 'help' with our current issues. Issues I would not
have had him know about, and which he would not have known about, had you
heeded the advice that I gave Kureel. When I told him his particular
services were not required, save perhaps to find the twins and bring them
here to us to deal with, he seemed quite upset. I had Savith and Kureel
escort him out, when he attacked them. After he was subdued he was left
outside, which was better then he deserved." She takes a moment to pause,
then her eyes blaze as she stares hard at her dark Sister. "Is that enough
truth for you Sister, or shall I tell you the color of the clothes that
everyone was wearing at the time?" Her voice drips with an anger, and a
irritation at this questioning guest of hers, demanding information on her
demanding mate.

For several moments, Savah remains standing, silent, her amber hued eyes
locked on Winnowill's form and face. And then, dark lids close slowly, her
head bowing forward, causing the metal of her head piece to chime once more.
Bringing forth such anger in another, it is not something Savah relishes,
but, such things, must be done. For, does she dare to go out after her mate?
Top find him, seek him out and find out how he fares? Her words are husky,
thick with worry and love for the one that wrapped his soul around her own,
long after she should have been done with such things, ** I did not mean to
anger or offend you Sister. **

"Yes, I'm sure you didn't, your kind never does.. never thinks about what
they are doing, or what they demand, especially from me." She draws a hand
up to her shoulder blade, clasping there at the cloth, her face growing more
unreadable, more cold and removed, more... Winnowill. "Get, out, of my
room." Even as she sys these words, each syllable a carefully constructed
effort, the tinkle of magic returns, as the wall behind you opens.

The wall glows softly, and then begins to change. Almost as if liquid, a
hole opens up, allowing those in Winnowill's room to enter the Grotto.

Savah makes no move to depart, instead remaining there to stand, for a few
moments, "If you wish me out Winnowill, you should not have called me in."
She turns then, to depart, her beads and headpiece chiming, ** Perhaps you
should think what it is you truly desire from me, and the others you have
called. Until then... **

And with that, Savah makes her exit. Perhaps permanently...