Silent Reverie

At this hour of the night, the thirteen pillars that wrap around the sacred pool at the center of Eluna's austere marble sanctuary is usually a deserted place, and indeed, the quietude amid the single silver mana lamp near the entrance, not close enough to the pool to disrupt the vision in the pool of Her stars, is as the peace of a starry night. But, it is not deserted, for a single figure has taken a rug and a seat some distance from the pool, in the shadow of one of the pillars.

Clad only in shirt and trousers, a gem-encrusted headband on his brow doing absolutely nothing to hold unruly hair back and only his steel holy symbol around his neck, Seldan's lips move soundlessly in the words of rote prayers.

There is in fact more than just that one. Unable to sleep, Auranar had felt the urge to go to the temple of Eluna. Once there she found herself wandering almost aimlessly until she found herself praying. It wasn't that much of an oddity to her until she opened her eyes and then...

"Pardon me." She murmured quietly to the man at his own prayers, standing at his side. She couldn't explain it in simple terms but... here she was. "I don't mean to interrupt but I was at my prayers and... I felt the strangest urge to come over here and talk to you." She flushed at her words, the dark color of her skin hiding the color well but not the whole of her embarrassment.

"I know that might seem odd but... Are you alright?"

The ginger-blonde head raises, and up closer, she can see that he is barefoot, the shirt loose and untied, despite the chill of the evening that permeates the marble of the Temple itself. A nod to modesty, then, rather than any attempt to ward off the chill, and one done in haste. Black tattoos are visible around the open collar, but he doesn't appear to notice, and the look that he turns on her is at once lost and deeply hurt, in that moment before he conceals it beneath a polite, quiet reserve. "Her light upon your path," he murmurs in low tones. "You are well-guided, do you come here, although I confess that I would not have expected to be sought out by you." His words are carefully chosen, each one tasted first.

"I suppose that's fair, we aren't exactly well-known to one another." She offers a friendly smile in spite of her words, noticing his disarray and taking on a more serious mein. "Still, Her light shines where it will, and perhaps I have some insight to offer you that I don't know I have." Auranar sits down beside Seldan, arranging the skirts of her dress carefully as she does so. "I'm certainly willing to try."

Seldan blinks slowly at this revelation, but scoots aside politely to make room. "That does it do," he agrees. "Does She send me allies, I shall not question Her wisdom, for in truth are my allies few enough," he sighs, turning his eyes to the starry pool. "I find myself turning to She who will not turn from me, and will not lead me astray. For in truth is this city full of fools and those who would place others at risk for their own self-interest."

Auranar smiles. "I find myself turning to Her more often than anyone else myself, but... It's not the same as having a living, breathing person to talk to." She turns her smile into a wry grin. "Nor can I really deny the whole 'city of fools and selfishness' thing. Much as I would wish to..." She looks up at Seldan. "It must be hard, if that's how you really feel."

"Did I not so feel, I would not offer such words, and certainly not words so harsh," Seldan replies, letting his hands drop to his lap and lowers his eyes to the pool and its marble. "And yet - a companion in arms calls upon a demon to heal her wounds, within these holy walls. My own husband labels me the enemy, for wishing to keep a thing created by the demon under magical protection, lest he use it against us. He fears its destruction, and I understand not why. Yet another companion is too lost in her own sorrows and burdens to aid others. Another keeps a succubus for a friend, knowing what she is. Another still spotted me on the return of a child, ere I had moved, and drew steel upon me with no hesitation. Are there so few left who keep the ways of the Light, and concern themselves with the good of all? At times do I wonder if I truly do stand alone, and - do I do so, will I be enough?"

It seems to her, that these are words that this man needs to say, so she does not interrupt as he unloads his worries and his woes to her - though she is little more than a stranger. Her lips twist and she shakes her head. "I..." The words she is about to say feel wrong to her so she looks at the waters and thinks instead, feeling for the right ones. "Have you ever heard the story of the Rabbit and the Lion? It's a parable that they tell at the orphanage where I was raised. It's supposed to be this story about how a rabbit takes a thorn from the paw of the lion, and later the lion returns the favor in kind."

She tilts her head. "Yet as a child I always wondered... wouldn't the lion eat the rabbit? Sooner or later I mean. Lions can't live on berries their whole lives, so eventually that lion would eat the rabbit. I guess what I'm saying though is... sometimes people can't see their enemies because they think that the big evil thing that's right there in front of them is going to return their kindness in kind. And when they think that their enemies are their friends... it's natural that their friends become enemies." Her brow furrows. "Does that make sense at all?"

Puzzled, Seldan nonetheless listens in silence, speaking only at the question. "Speak you of me, or of them? That I do not see my enemies for what they are, or that they do not?" He does not seem offended, only puzzled.

"Them of course!" She snorts. "As far as I know /you/ aren't making friendly with demons and pointing weapons at your allies." Auranar looks at Seldan and arches an eyebrow. "Are you?"

Seldan stiffens and shakes his head, immediately, swiftly, and decisively. "Nay! Were I doing so, doubtless I would better understand their actions." His quiet reserve has slipped as they speak, showing itself for the facade that it is. "I think that I better understand. They see only that which they desire, and not its price, not to themselves, and not to others. But - how do I find those who see further, and are thoughtful of action? Such as they are few indeed."

Auranar shakes her head. "That might not be the question. For there may be none who can meet such standards for you to find. We all have weaknesses Seldan. Instead perhaps you should see yourself a master of chess. For you yourself just stated the weaknesses of all your allies which means you know them well. How they might be attacked or used. I would wager you know their strengths just as well. What weakness can you turn to advantage?" She smiles a little bit. "After all, even a clever rabbit can lay a timely thorn."

Silence reigns for a long minute as Seldan considers that idea, his expression shifting as he turns the possibilities in his mind. In truth had he done so before, at least a little, but he, too, had become lost in his own sorrow and suspicion. "I shall have to think on that, but the answer shall depend on what need there be. Still are your words wise, and I shall give them thought. I must be the guide, and not merely an organizer. It is time I led others back to the Light."

The woman nods and then leans back slightly then tentatively tilts her head. "Can I make one more suggestion? From my personal perspective? I've noticed that you... tend to let people talk over you. You're a peace-keeper, and that's no bad thing, but... You should stand up for yourself more. People might not like that you're more bold for a time... but they'll respect you more in the end." Auranar gives the paladin a small look of encouragement and a nod.

More silence, for a time, while Seldan considers that. "Perhaps it is time for such," he agrees. "I shall think on what you have said, for does this continue as it is, we shall fall." That is all he says for now, turning his eyes back to the starry pool and allowing the silence to fall once more.

-End