A Few Thoughts on Wings
Aerie surveyed the members of the party. They had been traveling with for nearly a month now and they each meant so much to her, each in their own special way. After the times they had had together, the battles they had faced she felt certain they would listen and understand her anguish. She cleared her throat and spoke in a loud clear voice, ?I lost my wings you know.?
?Yeah...you?ve mentioned that once or twice? Nalia muttered pulling a blanket up over her head.
Jaheira started to rub her temples. ?By Silvanus, the woman is unnatural.?
Aerie allowed a pouty frown settle onto her lips, held her head high and continued. ?They were torn from me by slavers. This shows the cruelness of fate to have such a vital piece of my existence ripped from me.?
Sir Keldorn Firecam looked as if he were near tears, surely he understood her pain. ?For the love of the gods, please, please ? shut up!? He begged.
?I can no longer soar among the clouds,? Aeire continued undaunted. ?Yet I will persevere even though I am scarred and stranded here on the ground with beings like you? Hopeless pathetic beings who will never understand my misery or my torment.?
?Torment?? Hadrian drew Holy Avenger from its scabbard it?s jeweled handle glittered in the firelight. ?That is IT?I have had it. There?s goanna be chunks of winged elf flying all over the place!? Mazzy and Yoshimo tackled Hadrian, shoving him to the ground before he could make good on his threat and charge Aerie. ?NO!? He screamed. ?You won?t stop me this time!?
?Your grace.? Mazzy implored. ?Think of the consequences. You will be a fallen Paladin?no longer able to wield the holy sword you now hold in your hand. Your quest to free your sister would be in jeopardy.?
?Yes my young friend.? Yoshimo agreed prying the hilt of Carsomyr from his hand one finger at a time. ?Think of the consequences. What you contemplate, while surely satisfying, it is not worth it.? with a grunt he pried the last of Hadrian?s fingers from the hilt. ?Now why don?t you return to your bed roll and get some sleep? Things will be better in the morning.?
Aerie said unmoved by the spectacle before her. She moved to Hadran and crouched down so her huge limpit eyes, damp with tears unshed, shimmered in the firelight. ?You must think of me as hideously deformed, Don?t you Hadrian??
Hadrian bellowed and almost threw Mazzy and Yoshimo off of him. He renewed his struggle to get his sword. ?Give me my sword! Oh, it will be worth it all right. Give ti to me!?
Mazzy sighed while putting Hadrian in a sleeper hold. ?Sir Keldorn, do come and help force Hadrian back into his bedroll and Nalia, stop trying to hide and be a dear and cast sleep on Hadrian?and the rest of us as well.?
Aerie pouted and turned back to the fire of their campsite. This did not go at all like she had hoped, but then the two AM announcement always made everyone so testy.
