[Aylwen Dreamsong]

“Hello, Arethin. We just finished breakfast, but I’m sure if you haven’t eaten we can find something for you,” Jadae said warmly. Going closer to Arethin, she put a hand on his shoulder and whispered “You all right?” he seemed a bit preoccupied, or maybe worried. Arethin nodded and thanked Jack for the breakfast and began to eat.

“I only need to get one thing from the market. Something I think will come in handy,” Jadae said, shouldering her pack with her things.

“What’s that, Jadae?” Anuion asked, handing an empty plate to Jack.

“Candles!” Everyone just stared at Jadae when she answered, but then continued getting ready to leave. As soon as Arethin had finished eating, they all left the Rusty Hilt together.

Walking out into the streets of Dale, Jadae smiled as the sun beat down on the six companions. She’d miss Dale, but planned on coming back.

“My friend sells candles, and her shop is just around the corner,” Jadae assured everyone as she weaved through the crowds of people. Passing by a perfume shop, and turning left at a flower shop, the travelers followed Jadae to come to stand in front of a well-kept shop, labeled ‘Candles’ over the door. Jadae nodded in satisfaction, and walked into the shop. The main area smelled mostly of wax, but a hint of perfume could be smelled in the air, for some of the candles were scented.

“Emmy? Are you in here?” Jadae called in a loud voice. She turned to her friends. “Emmy is a bit…eccentric, so be careful what you say.”

“JADAE! I haven’t seen you in so long! Are you going somewhere else to get candles? Or are you still using the ones I gave you last week? How are you? Who are your friends?” A short, thin woman came out of a back room. Her long red hair was tied back, and her kind blue eyes were covered with safety goggles. She swept Jadae up in a strong hug, and Jadae tried not to make a choking sound. When the woman finally let Jadae go, she went to go give her friends hugs.

“No, Emmy that’s alright. I’m fine, how’s the business? Anyway, these are my friends. This is Arethin, that’s Angalos. Jack is over there, and the elf next to him is Anuion. This is Rosfin,” Jadae introduced each of her friends. They all shook hands –or bowed- to Emmy kindly.

“Aren’t you all a strange lot? I like you though! Any friend of Jadae’s is a friend of mine! Now, what can I help you with, child? I can give you all a tour and show you how to make candles! Melting the wax, adding dyes and scents, thank goodness the perfume shop is right next-door! And then…” The woman kept talking, getting quicker with each sentence.

“No, thank you though, Emmy. All we need is some candles,” Jadae frowned when she realized what she had said.

“Oh! Candles! Well I have plenty of those around here you know! We have long candles, short candles, and candles in the shapes of anything you can imagine! Blue candles, green candles, red candles, orange candles! Scented and unscented candles!” Emmy pointed to candles on display in the main room as she called out their description.

“Umm,” Jadae mumbled, not knowing what to say. “Do you have regular candles?” Emmy laughed and went into the back room. She came out with ten thin cream colored candles that were the length from her elbow to her wrist. They smelled of some sort of cake, but Emmy insisted they were unscented.

“Thank you, Emmy. I’m sure they’ll be quite useful,” Jadae handed Emmy a few coins, but it was more than enough to pay for the candles. “I hope to see you again soon,” before she could do anything, Emmy swept her up in another big hug. As the six travelers left the candle shop, Emmy waved giddily from the doorway.

“Anybody else have something to get before we leave?” Jadae asked, waving to her quirky candle-making friend.

[ February 23, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]