(2022-07-26) A Troubled Heart

Details

Author:	Disknight
Summary:	Roriandris stumbles upon a fretting Velrin and offers some words of wisdom.
Rating:	T for Teen

+ Show additional content warnings

discussions of romance

Velrin sits alone on the dock, mumbling softly to herself and fiddling with her hands as she ponders.
[Roriandris]: Isnhu-allah, Sentinel. I did not mean to disturb your meditation.
Velrin starts at Roriandris' approach, "O-oh, hello!" Velrin looks embarrassed to have not heard him coming, "Sorry, I was not expecting company…"
Roriandris chuckles softly.
[Roriandris]: Grumble here can tread softly when he wants to.
[Roriandris]: He wished to visit his home for a bit.
Roriandris swats Grumble on the flank. "Go on, you're the one who wanted to swim here."
Grumble splashes into the lake and paddles off.
Velrin smiles softly, "Right…" she watches as the bear hops into the water and smiles.
Roriandris sits down and leans his head back, breathing deeply.
Velrin sighs as she watches the bear have its fun, "If only I could enjoy myself so freely…"
Roriandris watches Grumble in the water. "That does not seem to be our lot, does it? At least not in these days."
[Velrin]: Indeed… Even when I do get the chance to relax, I still worry it seems…
Roriandris looks sympathetic. "The life of a Sentinel is not an easy one, I know. My mate was one of your number for many years."
Velrin nods in agreement, then glances over to him, "Your mate?"
Roriandris nods. "Emerette. She fell at Hyjal, with so many others."
Roriandris looks up into the canopy above. "We walked this forest together for many years."
[Velrin]: Oh… *her ears droop* I am sorry for bringing up a painful memory…
Roriandris smiles wistfully.
[Roriandris]: It is no problem, surely. I have her memory that lights my way beside Elune's light.
Velrin tears up a little at his words, "You must have truly loved her." She does her best to smile.
Roriandris smiles.
[Roriandris]: I did. The goddess blessed us with time.
Velrin shakes her head, "I am sorry. Where are my manners. My name is Velrin Silverbloom."
[Roriandris]: Elune-Adore, Velrin Silverbloom. I am Roriandris Gladewarden.
[Velrin]: A pleasure to meet you. *she inclines her head to him in respect*
Roriandris gestures at the forest around them. "This was once my charge. Mine, and many others, to be sure."
Roriandris returns a respectful nod.
[Roriandris]: You are an officer of the Sentinels, are you not?
[Roriandris]: Is it your duties that burden you?
Velrin looks back out at the forest and nods, "It is beautiful." She turns back to Rori, "I am. A captain. And… no, not exactly…"
[Velrin]: Quite honestly, my duties have been the least troubling thing for me for some time now…
Roriandris regards her with his glowing eyes.
[Roriandris]: Troubles darken the soul, but bringing them into the light, I have found, makes them less so.
[Roriandris]: I mean not to pry. But these ears have heard many a tale. And if sharing your burden lightens it, well, I would be honored to listen.
[Velrin]: Oh, well umm… o-ok… If you think it will help…
[Velrin]: I am sure I am only being foolish…
Roriandris smiles.
[Roriandris]: There is no one of us who have never been foolish.
[Velrin]: I-I suppose…
Roriandris pulls out a small carving knife and a piece of wood and begins whittling.
Velrin keeps quiet for a moment. She finally glances at Rori again and clears her throat. She begins, "Well… not long ago I met a man. I… took a liking to him and so I spent some time together with him…"
Roriandris nods.
[Velrin]: I-it was very fun, but… I don't know… I got nervous…
Roriandris tilts his head slightly.
[Velrin]: How can I know if he is my shalan? How can I know that it is meant to be just as my parents were and as you were with your mate.
Roriandris 's hands still for just a moment.
[Roriandris]: I should have been more precise.
[Roriandris]: Emerette was my mate, but not my shalan.
Velrin's ears twitch, "What?"
Roriandris continues carving but watches Grumble splashing in the shadows.
Roriandris tips his head towards Velrin.
[Roriandris]: Not all couples, even those with centuries or millennia together, are shalan.
[Roriandris]: This does not make their bondings less worthy, I have found.
Velrin is dumbfounded, "B-b-but surely it is a sacred bond, no? Is it not worth waiting for?"
[Roriandris]: Hmm.
Roriandris ponders for a moment.
Roriandris turns his head fully and studies Velrin. "How many years have you walked your path, Velrin Silverbloom?"
[Velrin]: A-as a sentinel or as a kaldorei?
[Roriandris]: As a kaldorei.
Roriandris his voice is warm and his tone patient.
[Velrin]: 220 years.
Roriandris nods
[Roriandris]: Ah, you are not far off from one of my younger kin. He is a druid of the talon.
Velrin nods gently and stares into the water
[Roriandris]: These bones have walked on Azeroth, and now, on the ruins of Draenor, for 5000 years, give or take a few.
Velrin listens as close as she can manage without her mind wandering.
[Roriandris]: And I can say that over that time, I have met many romantically bonded kaldorei. In pairs, and other combinations.
[Roriandris]: Few of those have been shalan pairs. That blessing touches few of us.
Velrin's ears droop and her posture slouches.
[Roriandris]: And the love between those in alor is no less valid, no less real, than that between shalan.
Roriandris looks up to the sky.
[Roriandris]: Surely the goddess does not give us alor and not wish us to partake of its blessing?
Velrin dangles her legs over the dock and pouts, "But… what my parents had… It was so special…"
Roriandris speaks softly.
[Roriandris]: I have no doubt.
[Roriandris]: You speak of your parents in the past, my young friend. Do they no longer walk among us?
Velrin sniffles and shakes her head
[Roriandris]: I am so sorry. Shu dalas na. <Heavy are our hearts.>
Velrin wipes her eyes with her arm, "They were all I had, and now they're gone…"
[Velrin]: I have met others, had friends, even fallen in love, but… it always ends…
[Roriandris]: Hm.
[Roriandris]: You see these trees around us?
Roriandris points at one of the giants across the lake.
Velrin nods
[Roriandris]: I saw that one planted, when I was about your age.
[Roriandris]: But there had been one there before, my father told me. One that had stood since not long after the Sundering.
[Roriandris]: It fell, and after time the forest reclaimed it. And we saw another planted in its place.
[Roriandris]: No single tree has seen the whole of Ashenvale's life. And yet, the forest remains.
[Roriandris]: Such are our lives, we of the long-lived peoples.
Velrin tugs on her pendant and starts to cry. She holds it in as best as she can (which is admittedly, not very well at all)
[Roriandris]: If we are fortunate, we find a source of joy that travels with us through the years.
[Velrin]: And is such a thing too much to ask? *she says through tears*
[Roriandris]: Not at all.
[Roriandris]: But one must be open to others in order to find out, eh?
[Roriandris]: To find one's shalan is certainly a blessing. But there are joys in alor as well, which may last beyond the lives of our new friends.
Roriandris glances to the east, where Hyjal stands.
Velrin sniffles and starts to calm down.
[Roriandris]: And since the falling of the tree, the time available to us is not what we once had.
Roriandris turns and studies Velrin again.
[Roriandris]: In battle, does one wait for the perfect opportunity which may never come? Or does one take an excellent opportunity when one presents itself?
Velrin glances down and fingers the grain of the dock. "But battle I know…" she mumbles
[Velrin]: This is all new…
[Velrin]: It's… frightening…
Roriandris nods slowly.
[Roriandris]: But so was your first time upon the field, was it not?
[Velrin]: Y-yes but…
[Roriandris]: What frightens you about this, if I might ask?
[Velrin]: I-I don't know… I… I guess I want it to be special…
[Velrin]: I want my alor to be strong and true. To stand the test of time…
Roriandris nods.
[Roriandris]: Have you ever gamed with a dwarf? Clever people.
[Roriandris]: One told me once, "Luck or loss, the dice don't speak until after they're thrown."
[Velrin]: Not really… I've spent most of my days with humans.
[Roriandris]: Unless one is blessed with the gift of prophecy, the only way to know an outcome is to do the deed.
[Velrin]: B-but I cannot rush headlong into something I know naught of!
[Roriandris]: Does this man seem a person of good spirit?
[Velrin]: H-he… I think so…
[Velrin]: He was kind and gentle when we met… I… I don't know…
Roriandris cracks a thin smile.
[Velrin]: Perhaps he is a fine choice of mate… *she breaks into a mumble*
[Roriandris]: There is certainly no rush for anything, erm, irrevocable.
[Roriandris]: Perhaps he is.
[Roriandris]: Or perhaps just the light of a life's seasons.
Velrin sighs, "Only a season?"
Roriandris chuckles.
[Roriandris]: A metaphor. For surely the spring and summer of my life have passed, and I now dwell in autumn.
Velrin groans, "But why not the whole year? Should I not be confident in my choice before I make it?"
[Roriandris]: Only time can tell what is meant to last and what is not. But if one starts with strong foundation…
Velrin looks at Rori with wide eyes, "A-and how can I create this foundation?"
[Roriandris]: Ah. A good question.
Roriandris looks out over the water.
[Roriandris]: Two things, I believe, make for solid footing.
[Roriandris]: Trust, and communication.
[Roriandris]: But also leaving each other some space to be themselves.
[Roriandris]: You've built a fire, yes?
Velrin blushes, "I um, we… Yes, I suppose so…" she coughs nervously
[Roriandris]: If the logs are too far apart, the fire falters.
[Roriandris]: If too close, they smother the flames.
[Roriandris]: But just the right distance apart, and the flames can warm many.
Roriandris shrugs.
[Roriandris]: It can take a little time to find the correct distance.
[Roriandris]: But if both partners trust each other enough to try… well, that fire may last through the night indeed.
Velrin takes a deep breath. She looks much more at ease, but her posture remains tense, like she is ready to pounce.
[Roriandris]: The goddess grants us few certainties in life. The world will turn, Elune above it watching over us. The days will pass.
[Roriandris]: If one takes a chance on joy, one may be rewarded. Or not. But if one never risks one's heart, well.
[Roriandris]: Time will surely break it for you.
Velrin sniffles and nods, "I've been alone for far too long…"
Roriandris finishes his carving and holds it up. It's a small bear.
Grumble comes splashing back towards the dock.
[Roriandris]: Well, then, Velrin Silverbloom, perhaps you need another friend.
Roriandris he holds the carved bear towards Velrin.
Velrin smiles and closes Rori's hand around it, "I couldn't accept this. Your wisdom is gift enough."
Roriandris smiles.
[Roriandris]: Nonsense. Keep it as a reminder. Besides….
Grumble clambers back up onto the dock and shakes the water from his fur, soaking Roriandris
Roriandris laughs at Grumble.
[Roriandris]: One bear is enough for me.!
Roriandris lets go of the carving.
Velrin chuckles quietly, "Very well then." she takes the wooden bear, "I will not soon forget your kindness."
Velrin smiles warmly at him
[Roriandris]: Asha'falah, Velrin Silverbloom. May Elune guide your steps.
Roriandris bows before Velrin.
[Velrin]: Del nadris, Roriandris Gladewarden.
Velrin bows before Roriandris.