Chapter 2: The Creepy Forest

"Ah, the places the heart can lead us!" he says, strumming his instrument absent-mindedly, as he stares the flames licking up out of the fire! His face is hard though, rather than its usual mirthful self…

"You may not know that the heart led yours truly to settle down, once upon a time. Yes, yes! Hard to believe it, I know. Such is my fame with the fairer sex!" he continues to work his instrument.

"Yes. A little place, out of the way. Rookwood was its name on the imperial maps. Well, there was three of us in it; my wife and our little girl." he says, but doesn’t give their names along with the story.

"Suffice to say that Rookwood’s not there any more… and neither are they!" he says, his instrument coming to a sudden silent stop. He sits quiet for a moment, before continuing.

"I believe it’s some ghastly goblin hovel these days, or whatever manner of beast it was that swept out of the woods!" he says, clearing his throat before going quiet. He starts up a softer song on the instrument, and passes the night in silence.

"That leaves me out then, eh, Xaka? Or maybe not. I would never let a woman take the blame for something she didn't do."

Staring into the fire he tries to pluck out some good memories amongst the mostly bad ones seeing as they are sharing campfire stories.

"I've been a rascal, I admit it. I have had some interesting adventures but the one that stands out the most amongst many is the day I stole a widow's set of imported china. She caught me red-handed, and as we looked upon each other's faces, first in fear, then with interest ... bah!

Suddenly Grimbly becomes shy, and whether it's the fire or him blushing, he hopes none of the present company will be able to tell the difference. Stirring some coals with a stick he continues. "To make a short story shorter, we fell in love but it didn't last."

As the group sits round the fire, Katie rummages in her pack and produces a number of small earthenware jars with cork stoppers. "Whoever's nicked up a bit," she gives Xaka a wink and tosses one gently to her. "Might want some of this treeman goo I whipped up. It's not a full fledged healing potion, but it should help a little. Oh, and I wouldnt suggest taking it orally. A topical application is probably better," "she adds offhandedly, as she begins applying some of the amber unguent to her own wounds, wincing just a little.

She slugs one back. "Thank you!" and then pats the ground for good luck Sky: 😆

"You know Katie, I was supposed take up the family business, fusing elven magics with all sorts off treeman goos and flower petals found in the wood elves' forest. Guarded, secret elven stuff, you know. Had the best teacher my father could afford set up, Master Silvadra Lunis...I think that was his name.

My family set up my marriage to a fine elven maiden from another house. But when I was alone, out in the forest, searching for plants for my first lesson ever as an apprentice, it hit me. I didn't want that life. I wanted to explore beyond the woodland of my kin. I wanted to discover, experience, and map other wildernesses where my people never trod. I have never regretted my choice to leave, but it has gotten lonely.

Even if tragedies such as hangings or goblin hordes have prevented you all from settling down, it remains my great fortune that you have not and we are able to travel together on this road and others. I am grateful for your company."

"Oh yes! Who could suffer something dreadful like a beautiful elf maiden, when there are snake filled caves to spend the night outside of!" Belvedere quips, his old self slipping to the fore again for a moment.

Understanding the irony in Belvedere's quip, Kendral goads, "Well then let's suffer through a full song on that instrument of yours Belvedere."

"Yes, Belvedere. Let's suffer terribly through your music!" he says jokingly. In truth, Grimbly felt sorry for the man having lost his family. Joking around was the rascal's way of dealing with the unwelcome feelings of empathy. Those feelings were not the rascal's way.

Belvedere flashes a mischievous smile and stands to his feet. He strums his instrument with some fervor then, and begins to play!

"This one, I dedicate to all the elven maidens of this world! May our paths cross with a band of them before long!"

He starts up, and looks to the others to see if they knew the tune. He sings low at first, until he breaks into the roaring chorus. He beckons the others to sing along:

"Give me, give me, give me a maiden at midnight…
Won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away?…
Give me, give me, give me a maiden at midnight…
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day…"
Abba Bardcore Classic

After the song (and attempting to pick up and join in the chorus to the hauntingly familiar tune), Kendral claps in appreciation.

"That was wonderful Belvedere. Did you learn from the bards of the Northlands?."

Grimbly had to admit to himself that the tune was very nice, hypnotic almost but he wouldn't sing along as he had a terrible voice and would look and sound like a fool. His voice was too scratchy to hold a note for long.

"Ah, Belvedere you have some talent, sure enough."

Xaka slaps her hands at the song, dancing a little as they go. "Oh, marvelous. On behalf of human maidens everywhere, I say bravo for singing about elves!" She laughs and knocks on the wood of her spear for luck.

"With any luck, the birds of the forest are already carrying word of my song to the elves that surely make their homes in this wood!" he responds, flashing a hopeful and mischievous smile!

"If they make me an offer, well, I trust you can all see to the quest yourselves in my absence!"