A journey full of answers

[Hailfall]

She took the bag of supplies and headed towards the forest of Daris. She needed to check if her friend was still there, she preferred not to take one of the Corda bred horses. From underneath her robe she got a long flute, this was given to her when she left Rian. If you played the right melody then a griphon would appear. Ru pondered for a moment. She couldn't remember how it went. Then suddenly it all came to her and started to play the flute. The Griphon appeared only a few minutes after. "I need your help, my friend. I want to travel to Rian, it urgent". The Griphon seemed to understand her needs and lowered himself so she could climb on his back. This was the start of the journey. The journey to Rian.

Almost a day later they arrived in Rian. "Thank you, I will summon you again when I want to go back". She dusted off her robe and looked around. If only you could see this, Lone. It is beautiful. One day I will take you here and show you around she sent the thought to Lone. The library, that is where she would go. She could find information about the leaf there and hopefully also about Lone's family. why did I end up going to Rian in the first place? Why am I doing this? I want Lone to feel better and I want to help. I know this is a good thing to do, but still.. She walked towards the place of which she remembered the library was located. Ah, the library. Fond memories for her. So often she spent her time there, learning about the different races and the history. She enjoyed spending her time there. Would they still recognize her if she entered the place? She would find out soon.

The inside of the library was so overwhelming big. "Ru'itas? Is that you?" she turned around and looked right into the eyes of the old, well old for Elven standards, librarian’s wife. "It is so good to see you Ru. But I thought you were in Daris, helping Captain Fera'Vanna?” Ru'itas sighed and nodded. "That is a long story Naithar, but for now I need your help. I need to find information about the Yathalien Leaf and about the antidote that can be created with that leaf. A friend got poisoned and the poison appeared to be of Elven Nature". Naithar grabbed her hand and lead her to the far end of the library. There was a section of books on all kinds of herbs. "Here you can find what you need. Is there anything else you want to know?” Ru nodded "Yes, Do you still have the family archives here of all the citizens of Rian? If so, then I would like to request to read the archive of the Baelkash family for another friend of me". She nodded "I will get one of the men to bring it to you. I hope you will find what you need Ru". A smile appeared on Ru her face. "Thank you Naithar, Thank you so much". Ru stood in front of the bookshelf and closed her eyes "Books of the ancient, give me information about the Yathalien leaf" she spoke with a powerful voice. She frowned when nothing happened. "Stubborn books" she mumbled and sat down. "I just want information about the leaf, I am not planning on doing something else with it". One of the books magically got pulled out the shelf and landed in front of her. She shook her head "You are getting more stubborn by the decades. What is that good for?" she said annoyed while she opened the book and started reading trough the index. Ah, the Yathalien leaf. She skipped trough to the page of the book, then started reading. “Sorry to bother you, Miss. But I have this archive you requested." She gazed up at the tall Elf and nodded, pointing her finger to a spot on the table. "Thank you, put it there. That was all I needed".

Later in the evening she could sense happiness coming from Lone. Happiness. Did they perhaps found the cure for Isis? She started to search off Lone's mind. She wanted to see what he saw. Yes, they had found the cure and Isis was healed. They looked so happy together now. She sighed and closed the book. "I guess I do not need you anymore then". She commanded the archive to come closer to her. "This is where the fun part starts" she said with a sarcastic tone. "Going to trough the whole history of the Baelkash family. There must be an easier way..". Someone coughed making Ru jump up from her chair. "Who is there?" she asked. An Elf dressed in long red robes appeared in front of her "Have you not learned anything at school, young lady? You name the person you want to look for and then archive opens there.” She raised her eyebrow at the man "Do not call me young. And it would help if I would know the name of person I am looking for. I was just asked to check how the Baelkash family was doing. Oh, I remember.. Jarod Baelkash". The man spread his arms and spoke in a monotone voice "We ask the archive of the family Baelkash for information on Jarod Baelkash. Show us what you know". A light surrounded them and the archive started to open shooting several pages out of it, right under Ru her nose. "Well, that works. Now I need to find what I can.” The man sat down close to her "Why is one of the Arkenea'ghymn interested in the history of the Baelkash Family?” Ru gazed at the man for a few seconds then continued reading. "That is my own business. Who are you anyway?” The male grinned, "My dear, who I am is not important". Ru rolled her eyes then gasped when she stumbled onto a part of the history. "I should tell him this. He should know about this. She grabbed a quill and paper and started copying it. "Have you not learned anything at all?” He stood up and took a sheet of paper holding it in front of him. Then he picked up the other sheet of paper and put them against each other, mumbling some words. It seemed as if the two sheets of paper merged together but not fully. He parted the two sheets and the text was copied onto the other. "Thank you, Mister I know it better." she snatched the document from his hand. If you could do it with the other sheets to, that would be helpful". She continued reading the family tree of Baelkash, her eyes widened when she saw a very familiar name Gael'ma Arkenea'ghymn. That was impossible! She blinked her eyes; she must have read it wrong. She looked at the paper again. No, it was true. But that would mean. No, this couldn't be. She was an aunt of him. "And happy with what you found?" the man asked her. "I.. this.. Go away please!" she spoke confused. How could this be possible? She cared so much for Lone now and now she was his aunt? She wrapped up a copy of the family tree and grabbed the other document and hasted out of the library. She would go back to Daris as soon as possible. No, she shouldn't tell Lone this, it would only confuse things more. Lone had to know this but at what cost? Tomorrow she would travel to Daris and tell Lone about her findings.

The next morning Ru'itas packed her bags. She wasn't looking forward to tell him all the news. She was afraid what his reaction would be. What if? She shouldn't think like this. It is for the best that he would know. The ride back seemed to take so much longer, or was it because she wanted it to take longer. When she arrived in Daris she searched for Lone Lone, I need to speak with you. It is urgent. I have some things to tell you she spoke to him with her mind. She walked to the Blue Boar where she would wait for him.

[Cerberus]

Lone, I need to speak with you. It is urgent. I have some things to tell you...

As Lone sat back in the Blue Boar, the words echoed over and over in his mind. Its as if so much good news could happen in one day. His close friend, almost a brother, Dorvan, had arrived earlier in that day... and then Ru returned from Rian.

Lone did his best to console her... he hadn't realized how she felt until it was too late. At first it seemed it was bad news, he could feel her mind searching for the right way to say what she knew. Lone, having been through a lot, prepared himself for the worst of news.

She hesitated, and dodged it... she even said out loud she didn't know if she should tell him. Lone, in his way of doing so, consoled her, letting her know that he could take it.

And then she did. "Lone... I am your Aunt."

He blinked at the statement for a few moments, not quite comprehending... or thinking it was a joke. This wasn't bad news, if she wasn't messing with him, it was fabulous news! A member of his family... he had so many questions he wanted to ask his family... but he could not think of any at that moment. He was confused by Ru's reaction... she staggered as if hit.

Why would she be hurt for me to be her nephew...? He had thought to himself. Only if she did not WANT to be my Aunt, and she would only not WANT to be my Aunt if...

Lone sighed to himself at the Boar, leaning back, looking at his untouched bottle of ale. He hadn't known what she had felt for him... he was in the business of breaking women's hearts, it seemed. But he couldn't push his Aunt away... he always knew that he felt right around Ru... and their mindlink came so easily. He closed his eyes and felt Ru several rooms away, where they had discussed it. She seemed so ... sad. He would have to do what he could to make her feel comfortable.... soothe her heart.

He reached out with his mind, and mentally put his arms around Ru, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. He could feel her smile and return the embrace, and they held it for a while until Lone drifted to sleep, for the first time in his remembered life, softly sung to while he fell asleep.