Truth in a Dark Place RPG - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sophia the Thunder Mistress · 06-13-2003, 07:11 AM

Calimir didn't return to his quarters that night. After Bregand left him he moved closer to the prow, staring out over the sea at the water rippling gently out of sight. The wind had died down a bit, and the sails hung not quite full. The night was grey and the moon shone clear and cold. The elf shivered in its pale light, watching its white reflection play on the surface of the water. Every now and again, the light would flicker below the surface and Calimir would feel the sheer depth and weight of the water below him.

He had quickly adjusted to the movement of the ship beneath his feet, and he moved with it now, shifting his weight to meet the rise and swell of the waves, keeping his feet easily as he leaned agains the railing. One finger reached out and traced the length of the silver dragon figurehead. The elf licked the drop of water off the end of his finger, simply to taste the salt. He'd been tasting the salt spray on his tongue since the ship had pulled away from the pier, and the taste of it lingered in his mouth.

He let his eyes stray again, out over the water, out westward. Glorenwen was right, he knew, she's been right all along, and he had been a fool. The West was the place they belonged, their true home. He tore his eyes away from the white gleam of the stars on the water as someone came up beside him. "You feel it too, the call of the sea." It was Ani Dao, she said it bluntly, like it was a fact of life.

"Yes, I feel it." he said hesitantly, "Why do you not sleep?" Calimir didn't want to discuss this, didn't want to realize that the Great Waters were simply waters like any other.

"I need little sleep." Ani Dao replied, tracing the grain of the wooden railing with a long finger. "I felt it too. The first time I saw a ship, the first time I felt it move under my feet. I felt it in the first storm I saw, with the lightning flickering over the water. Oh yes, I felt it."

"But you don't feel it now?" Calimir asked, bemusedly. He had heard of the sea-longing, heard the tales and songs of the falathrim. He didn't know that it could be cured by time or herblore.

"I feel it still." Ani Dao said with a small smile. "And you will too." She placed a hand on his arm companionably, then moved off toward the helm. Calimir stared after her for a moment, and then his gaze returned to the green water.

The breeze stiffened just before sunrise, and Calimir's wonder was new with the feeling of the salt spray dancing on his face, and the sound of the sails snapping in the wind. The sun rising pink and gold in front of him was the last glory of the night, painting the water in silver and purple, drenching the sky in light. The elf stood silently, watching.

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

06-13-2003, 07:11 AM	#11
Sophia the Thunder Mistress Scent of Simbelmynë Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Aboard Highwind, bound for Traverse Town Posts: 1,780	Calimir didn't return to his quarters that night. After Bregand left him he moved closer to the prow, staring out over the sea at the water rippling gently out of sight. The wind had died down a bit, and the sails hung not quite full. The night was grey and the moon shone clear and cold. The elf shivered in its pale light, watching its white reflection play on the surface of the water. Every now and again, the light would flicker below the surface and Calimir would feel the sheer depth and weight of the water below him. He had quickly adjusted to the movement of the ship beneath his feet, and he moved with it now, shifting his weight to meet the rise and swell of the waves, keeping his feet easily as he leaned agains the railing. One finger reached out and traced the length of the silver dragon figurehead. The elf licked the drop of water off the end of his finger, simply to taste the salt. He'd been tasting the salt spray on his tongue since the ship had pulled away from the pier, and the taste of it lingered in his mouth. He let his eyes stray again, out over the water, out westward. Glorenwen was right, he knew, she's been right all along, and he had been a fool. The West was the place they belonged, their true home. He tore his eyes away from the white gleam of the stars on the water as someone came up beside him. "You feel it too, the call of the sea." It was Ani Dao, she said it bluntly, like it was a fact of life. "Yes, I feel it." he said hesitantly, "Why do you not sleep?" Calimir didn't want to discuss this, didn't want to realize that the Great Waters were simply waters like any other. "I need little sleep." Ani Dao replied, tracing the grain of the wooden railing with a long finger. "I felt it too. The first time I saw a ship, the first time I felt it move under my feet. I felt it in the first storm I saw, with the lightning flickering over the water. Oh yes, I felt it." "But you don't feel it now?" Calimir asked, bemusedly. He had heard of the sea-longing, heard the tales and songs of the falathrim. He didn't know that it could be cured by time or herblore. "I feel it still." Ani Dao said with a small smile. "And you will too." She placed a hand on his arm companionably, then moved off toward the helm. Calimir stared after her for a moment, and then his gaze returned to the green water. The breeze stiffened just before sunrise, and Calimir's wonder was new with the feeling of the salt spray dancing on his face, and the sound of the sails snapping in the wind. The sun rising pink and gold in front of him was the last glory of the night, painting the water in silver and purple, drenching the sky in light. The elf stood silently, watching. [ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ] __________________ The seasons fall like silver swords, the years rush ever onward; and soon I sail, to leave this world, these lands where I have wander'd. O Elbereth! O Queen who dwells beyond the Western Seas, spare me yet a little time 'ere white ships come for me!