Table for One Options

[Lady Door]

Lu laughs and dances with the man, then changing partners, then back with the man again.
Suddenly, a strange thought comes to her. If I ever owned my own ship... I think I would call her Revelry in Motion. She laughs and shakes off the thought, still dancing.

[fistandantilus4....]

The young man is gone, but the revelry continues on long in to the night. Lu dances with partner after partner, even Kyla a few times, and downs drink after drink. The night becomes a beuatiful swirl of exultant revelry.

[Lady Door]

In the morning, Lu wakes to the sound of a bird chirping. Confused, she sits up and blearily wipes her eyes.
She's still on the deck, as are half the crew. Ky is nowhere to be seen but Lu seems to remember her spending half the night curled up with some burly looking human.. so she's probably somewhere with him.
Lu feels someone stir against her side and looking down sees Vincent's hand curled around her waist. He's still asleep. She smiles down at him and then looks around. Seeing Atherton at the helm, she makes he way to him, stepping gingerly amongst the sleeping crewmen.

[fistandantilus4....]

Good morning Luthielien. Get any sleep?

[Lady Door]

I must have. How about you? Lu stands beside Atherton, watching the ground pass underneath them. She runs her fingers through her hair, absentmindedly brushing out the tangles. Going to need to talk to the Captain about borrowing his bath..

[fistandantilus4....]

A little. I've mostly been concentrating on keeping the two ships together. I'll get some rest when the Captian wakes.

We'll be putting in to Kratas in about 6 hours. I expect we'll stay a week or two, taking on more crew there, as well as off loading a bit of our extra cargo.

May I ask, what are your plans?

[Lady Door]

Well, Ky and I have business in Kratas itself. We have an ork to find. Then, a little.. treasure hunting, I think. After that, I've decided to return to the ship and try my hand at air sailing. I still have to speak with Ky. I cannot speak for what she will do.

[fistandantilus4....]

It would be hard to imagine one of you without the other. But it would certainly be a blessing on this ship for you to return. I'm glad that we'll be seeing more of you. Lots to do now, especially with two ships....

Will you be training as an Air Sailor then?

[Lady Door]

I would like to, if someone on board would see fit to train me. When I first boarded the Cloud Leaper I wanted more then anything to feel the ground beneath my feet again... but, now... I don't want to land. It's a strange feeling, but one I've finally decided to accept. I'm hoping that Ky agrees with me. Sometimes the Longing get so bad... I can't imagine what it would be like without her... Lu trails off, realizing that being an elf, Atherton would be one of the few people on board who would understand the pain of the Longing.

[fistandantilus4....]

He nods The pain at our loss always seems easier with others of the people around. I did not have many elven friends, and so I took to the skies. The freedom of the open winds fulfills that need for me now.

[Lady Door]

My family were once courtiers of the Queen, favored by her above all others, especially the women. She showed her favor by gifting the women of my family with hair the shade of hers. When she spurned Throal's aid before the Scourge, my family left... and the 'gift' became a curse. Each female member since has died prematurely, wasted away by the Longing. My father and mother rejoiced when we were born... our hair lighter then other generations. They took it as a sign that we would be spared.
Our Longing is intense but nothing compared to what our mother suffered before she ... before she died. Lu stares out at the horizon, images of the Wood and her mother filling her head. Then she seems to snap out of whatever reverie she had fallen into, and smiles at Atherton.
Maybe your cure for the Longing could be mine as well.

[fistandantilus4....]

He smiles again. I certainly hope so. I have known a few elves that have taken it upon them selves to restore the Wood. Always their elders tell them to leave the cursed place be, but they never listen. They always go. None of the ones I know have ever returned. I would hate to think of you and your sister falling to that fate.

It's been some time since I've seen someone feel the Longing as strongly as you. Perhaps you only need what I needed: something else to fill your heart.

[Lady Door]

She smiles at Atherton and nods.
That's what I'm hoping for... you know, it's strange, but for the longest time I wanted to journey to Sereathra and see the City of Spires. To put my name forward as an applicant for the Knights of Crimson Spire... but now, I suppose dreams change.

[fistandantilus4....]

People do change. Especially up here. When they get this high up, they see not a world of lmitations, but of possibility. They believe that they can achieve more than they ever thought possble on the ground.

Besides, from the scant rumors I have hear, Sereathra fell to the Scourge. I do not know the truth of it, but I have hear od no more tales of Crimson Knights afte the Scourge passed. It's a great loss.

[Lady Door]

Lu's face falls. It.. fell? The Knights are gone? Lu stumbles back a bit, deathly pale and actually physically reeling from the news.
She sits down on a coil of rope. I would have thought we'd have heard... how could they fall? What hope do we have if the Knights fell? Tears spring to Lu's eyes. It feels as though where joy had once been in her heart now sits a ball of molten lead. She shakes, wrapping her arms around herself.

[fistandantilus4....]

Athernon ties the wheel off for a moment, putting his arms around her.

The worst is past now. That is the hope we have. The world is ours to remake, rebuild. We have an oppurtunity our ancestors never had. We have hope ahead of us, where they, they had only darkness. Look forward to the light. To many of our people have wallowed in the darkness of our past and been consumed by it Luthielien. Do not be another.

[Lady Door]

Lu just stares ahead, hearing his words but unable to process them for a moment.
I think.. I.. I just need some time to think, Atherton. Lu gets to her feet uncertainly, and makes her way down to her room. Opening the door, she doesn't see Ky. Still walking on auto-pilot she makes her way to her bed and lies down.
In her head, she can't help but imagine what it must have been like when the Spire fell. How many were killed? What happened? Lu chokes back her tears and a sob. She rolls over, burying her face in her pillow.
For a long time, she just cries.

[fistandantilus4....]

Lu is awoken later by Kyla.

Hey, sleepy, we're here, we're in Kratas. The ships have landed just out side the city. The Captain said that it's a bad idea to land inside. More chances of someone sneaking on board.

Get your things together, we need to get going.

[Lady Door]

Lu nods and stands up, running a hand through her hair. Crossing to the bureau she pours some of the water into the washbasin and splashes some on her face. Looking at her reflection, she remembers everything from the night before but remains stoic. Atherton was right. There's no use in crying over what has already happened. The past is the past. The future is here. Lu towels off her face and dresses, surprised again at the weight of the armor after so long spent in the light leathers. She pulls her cloak around her shoulders and fastens it with her brooch.
Fully dressed and armed, pack in hand, she heads up to the deck. Once above, she takes a deep breath of the fresh morning air and is surprised to note that she can tell the difference. She can tell they are within range of the city just by how the air tastes. She smiles slightly.

[fistandantilus4....]

Lólindir and Ordat are both on deck when Lu and Kyla come up. Ordat is wearing his armor, heavy piece meal, with parts of plat, chain ,and crystal. Lólindir is dressed as he always does, in light flowing fabrics that give him room to move, and extra cloth to dramatically be cut by blades.

Lólindir walks up to greet her with a kiss. We've arrived, and with enough time left in the day to find a semi-decent Inn. I assume we'll be taking lodgins before heading out to find our Lady Warlord?

[Lady Door]

Lu nods. I'm not sure exactly what we can expect from Kratas, but I think a safe spot to work from would be best.
Turning to face Ordat, Lu smiles. And what of you, Ordat? Where will you go now?

[fistandantilus4....]

We are bound for the same destination. I had inteded to travel with you. Besides that, I am a Warrior of a higher circle than the two of you. I thought perhaps you may be interested in learning the Talents of the next circle, as you have already demonstrated a complete knowledge of the Talents you now know.

Kyla simply beams.

[Lady Door]

Lu echoes the smile. Thank you, Ordat. We would be honored to learn from you. The thought of learning a new discipline reminds her of her most recent decision to become an Air Sailor, and how she still hadn't told Ky.
Ky... perhaps before we dock, I could have a word with you?

[fistandantilus4....]

Kyla laughs and points over the side, at the small, impromptu dock set up, as the ship floats some 40 feet off the ground.

Little late for that sleepy head. What's up?

[Lady Door]

Well, Ky. After we get the shield, find the gold and return it all to Father... well, I'm not going to stay home. I'm coming back to the Cloud Leaper. I'm going to learn the Way of the Air Sailor. I want you to come with me.