Private Tales Question of Character

[Eren'thiel Xyrdithas]

Many had gathered in Sharyrdaes' council chamber. Though this was a place of the ruling council of the Order to convene, with the joining of many allies in their war against Arkhivom, the leaders and representatives of many castes from many kingdoms were present. Recent news from the front had prompted an emergency meeting to discuss what was happening, and for the first time in many years Erën had found himself again in these halls.

While many had advocated for a counter-attack, he, as First Sword, argued that mounting a defense at the city would be wiser. They had too little time to effectively mobilized themselves, but they had well enough time to fortify where they were.

Though this argument spurred a great deal of debate, before long it became clear that Erën's tactic would likely result in the fewest loses for them.

Lómin leaned in a little closer to Enderathil, saying, "I can't believe it, its true. That's Erën! Its amazing he's alive after so long."

From their seats further up the round chamber's many rows. they could see more than well enough down into the center of the chamber. But it was not quite the same with the... outsiders. In a normal Aerai meeting they could telepathically que one another for the floor. In their case, this time, the Order's various leaders, head of their respective Spheres, served as voices for the elven collective. Erën, despite having been absent for so long, was still one of those heads and served now as one of those voices.

While some like Lómin were unphased, even delighted by his presence, Erën couldn't help but feel like this sentiment was not exactly shared by all.

Adjourned, they had voted to rally their defense here at the city. As he had recommended.

After, he lingered in the Temple Shorai, and dwelt in the great crystal's chamber, musing the things to come as he looked upon it. He thought also of the things that had been, and some of the things that had been done. Some of the things that had to be done. Things that for so long he had thought himself at peace with, only now in this place to find himself once again in conflict.

Had he done the right thing? Was he everything they all thought he was? Or was he actually something else.

---

Enderathil ​

 

[Enderathil]

The chambers were full to the seams, with a very tangible mood permeating the energy of the room. There were many guest in attendance, and the tenseness was evident. It wasn't the fact that they were there, as much as it was the reason. There were various arguments, thoughts on what they should or shouldn't do. Enderathil had been focused, Lómin breaking her concentration for just a moment as he remarked on the current speaker. She turned to him, wide-eyed, gripping his wrist tightly for a moment before remembering herself. She did not reply, she would fill him in later. They were thick as thieves anyways, typically.

They finally had argued all that could be argued, at least for now. The votes were cast, there was nothing more to be done now. Enderathil had continued to keep her words, her thoughts close. She was too focused on Eren, the man of legends. Though, he wasn't the only one. The voting revealed to all that they would defend, and with the convening of the council, Ender bid Lómin a quick goodbye, hurrying after the back of one particular man.

He was deep in thought, and she approached with an open, yet quiet mind. "The right thing was chosen, because of you. At least, in my opinion." She stopped some distance from him, not sure on how she would be received.

Eren'thiel Xyrdithas

 

[Eren'thiel Xyrdithas]

His was a steady presence, albeit stony and quiet. Ever had he been this way, easy to perceive but difficult to see into, almost at all. But not so much as to be seen negatively. His obvious devotion throughout the centuries had long ago abated any possible worry.

Despite his contemplation, her approach had not gone unnoticed, and as she spoke to him his attention turned from the luminous pillar and his gaze met hers.

"Enderathil," he addressed her with the bowing of his head.

He'd not met her before, not in person. But the nature of the Aerai made one another so quickly and easily familiar with one another that most typical courtesies were moot. They knew each others names, each others castes, and with varying openness they could also be privy to more intimate information. But most Aerai were still quite singular and personal individuals, despite their collective gift. Erën, for instance, was an extreme in this.

"I simply spoke what many others thought, with which I also agreed," he said, lifting his head. He studied her for a minute, somewhat hesitant to reach out in the Shoraes. After having been apart for so long now, he was still getting himself re-acquainted with it. Still, he could tell well enough she'd hardly come here simply to tell him he was right, "there is something else you wish to discuss?"

---

Enderathil ​

 

[Enderathil]

He was a legend, as they said. Indeed it looked like he was a carved statue, not quite real and tangible. She was locked in, the minute he raised his gaze to hers. There was no backing out now, she had his full and stoic attention. She kept her mind and her heart to herself though, she was still struggling to reintegrate after waking from their infernal slumber.

It was not a surprise when he spoke her name, and she bowed her head in kind as she watched him with a careful eye. She did not trust him, a legend that vanished and then conveniently disappeared. There had been two others, likened to his status. Unlike him though, they had not resurfaced. She did not linger on the thoughts for long. That would come with time.

"You are far to humble. You carry much weight behind your words, wanted or not. What you say, how you feel, has great bearing on the choices that are made. If you had suggested the other route, surely the vote would have also swayed in your direction." He switched the tone of the conversation, and she merely tilted her head for a beat. "Perhaps, but I think I will keep that to myself for now. I simply want to know the walking legend before me. I fear I don't trust as easily these days."

Eren'thiel Xyrdithas

 

[Eren'thiel Xyrdithas]

It was not lost to him that, as First Sword, he was held in high esteem. And then again, on top of that, his reputation abounded. He was, of those who had held the mantle, one of the highest esteemed. He was not so humble as to say some of it was without merit. It had been proven, time and time again, his ability in battle was admirable. To be held amongst the greatest in Arethil, he would say is perhaps hubris, but none among his own Order had matched him as of yet.

She called him a legend. The term may have flattered him, were it not that he knew better.

A small smile crept over his lips. His eyes fell shut and his countenance fell.

Everything she said touched on something in himself. The walking legend...

"You mistake me," he said, turning away for her and cast his eyes back upon the Shorai and its radiance, "it is of course, the way of our people. As First, they would hearken to my call..." his eyes fell sideways upon her, "but all that I do is for our people."

Secrets kept to oneself.

Then again, the stone met his gaze, and he said, "it is a curious thing, isn't it?" he proclaimed, more than asked, "that we as a people are born to become joined with one another, and yet... we strive so diligently to remain ourselves... to remain separate. I wonder if what we have made is what our forefathers, what the Patriarch, had envisioned for us."

The fear of trust.

He turned to her again, "I fear that none of us have ever trusted one another, Enderathil... I fear that we are right in that.

You wish to know me? You may know me. I embody that which I believe... that is what a legend is, isn't it? And yet, here we linger, in these darkened halls. Shouldn't legends shine brightly?"

---

Enderathil ​

 

[Enderathil]

Enderathil listened to his words carefully, digesting what he said, the tone he used, every nuance of his voice was not lost on her at all. He was like an ant to her, a magnifying glass studying everything about him as he scrambled atop the anthill.

He was appearing to be humbled by his position, appeared to be weighted by it. She was slow to buy it. "One could only assume that you do it for our people, and not for your agenda. Can it be proved? Likely not. Most would take you at face value, surely you know more than the rest of us, and only have us in mind. Not any agenda of your own." She was a member of the council, and she took it seriously. Most did not question, she was one of the few that did not vote like many other sheep. She questioned, she pushed, she prodded. Once, she had been a sheep, and then she had woken up changed forever.

"A legend should shine brightly, naturally, yet your countenance and manners are muted and dim. You know things that we do not, is holding them to your breast the thing that frightens the smile from your face?" She was pressing him now, testing him in her own way.

Eren'thiel Xyrdithas