Silent Rain

Of Oaths and Familiar Faces July 14, 2010

It seems Felwynd is staying in Stormwind as well.  He strikes me as even less comfortable there than I am.  I think he is there searching for something.  Perhaps he lost something in the canals?  Still, seeing him provided another familiar face and a bit of home in those walls, though I do not know him too well.  While he is one of the sylvadorei, he is one I am not well acquainted with.  My father knows him better, they met on a fishing trip.  Father occasionally brought Felwynd back with him to share a meal.  I think he still hasn’t accepted the requirements placed on me by the temple and perhaps he was hoping something might come of such family visits with his younger fishing friend.  I appear to be the only one in my family who has accepted the oaths forced upon me.

Of course, I think Kalshen is relieved about the oath forbidding my use of Elune’s shadow.  I doubt he is really aware of how relieved I am about it as well.  The shadow reminds me of darker times and experiences I’d rather not revisit.  Elune’s light, the warmth of that life-giving glow is where my heart truly lies anyway.

As for the other oath…I find it really bothers me very little.  Father insists it the temple is wrong to deny me love and family.  I’m just grateful they saved me, then let me live.  Is it wrong to not miss your mother?

Stormwind City June 29, 2010

Stormwind again.  I confess my dislike for this city, but find myself assigned here once more.  With Kalshen’s return, he has agreed to care for father and the temple has seized the opportunity to send yet another healer to take care of the wounded, returning soldiers and mercenaries from the North.  Most ships sail to Stormwind first.

I learned my lesson last I stayed in Stormwind to help heal wounded.  It is not as bad now as it was then, but I declined a bed at the Light’s Cathedral.  While the patients outnumber the healers, it is still unwise to exhaust the healers, but that is precisely how they treat those healers staying in the church.  Of course, there were other problems as well.  Humans often err as a result of short-sightedness; a race with trouble understanding the ways of different peoples, even their allies.

Last I stayed at the cathedral in Stormwind, they insisted I worship and meditate as the humans, enclosed in man-made walls of stone.  They made many excuses for why I should not leave to conduct my meditations and worship in the moonlight.  The most prominent was that they could not be bothered to send someone out to fetch me from worshipping the light in such an antiquated way when I could be more readily available in their prayer room.  It is the price you pay for staying free and handy while you answer the healer’s call.

At least the humans solved one of the original problems for kaldorei healing in the human city last they needed more healers than Stormwind alone provided.   When they finally realized a priestess of Elune is at her best during the night hours of moonglow, they optimized the time by calling on kaldorei healers at night, while other healers took rest unless needed.  There is a reason they call us night elves, after all.

During the scourge invasions, I did not have time to secure a room at the inn and it kept healers in Stormwind busier than the return of troops now.  Overall, I stand less chance of being over-tapped by the Cathedral and during the hours when I am not required to come in, I can find one of the sparse areas of vegetation in this city to relax, or sleep much more comfortably at the inn, at least.  Before I come in each night, I can also stop to admire the moon and soak up the Goddess’ gentle touch for extra strength to keep me through the evening of healer’s work.

I encountered Echesii tonight.  After so long of not seeing or hearing from the draenei tracker, I have suddenly encountered her twice in the last month.  Once was in Darnassus, shortly after my brother’s return.  I suppose we are both returning out of hiding worlds apart?  She did mention she has been on Draenor a lot until recently.  The brief conversation reminded me just how little…friendly? conversation I have had these last few years.  Not to say no one I know is friendly, but all of my contact has either been in the interest of maintaining hearth and home, or business related.  My father is nice and easy enough to talk to.  He has opened up considerably since mother’s death.  But that is not the same.

I have not even seen another member of Delari Sylvae in some time.  It makes me hope that perhaps…

If not, there is always the Goddess.  She has always been enough for me.

Elune’adore

-Ta’elesara Ethala’Aman

Family Untied June 14, 2010

I almost thought he’d forgotten this place existed.  Apparently, my brother occasionally remembers father and I exist.  I think he remembers mother too much when he visits.  Perhaps that will change?

While he was here, he seemed surprised by my hair colour.  I stopped using mother’s herbal wash recipe almost a year ago!  To be honest, I am uncertain why I continued to use it for so long after she died.  Habit, I suppose.  She use to insist it was a mark of our heritage, the power and profession of our line.  She used it on me early and even after her passing, I continued to use it.  I honestly had no clear idea what colour my hair would turn once I stopped using the wash.  He said he liked it, another remnant of that witch thrown out.

I remember mother largely ignoring him as we grew up.  When I was much younger, he was nearly always by my side, or just behind me, a loyal protector.  When my training started, he was always angry.  I think he knew what mother was doing.  She sent him away eventually.  I was told she forced him into the druids.

After that…Well, it wasn’t until after mother’s death that I saw my brother again, and even then his appearances were few and far between.  Father could use the extra support.  I hope Kalshen sticks around more this time, but it seems he doesn’t get along well with father either.

He asked me why we stay here said it was nicer, quieter in Feathermoon.  Mother haunts this place, for him.  I have more memories here than her, good memories.  My garden is here, our livelihood.  And father, he’s become an entirely different presence without mother around.  I hope Kalshen stays to see that, but I doubt he will.  Maybe I could persuade him to care for the sabres?  He always was better with that.  At least the fishing.

Father’s injury is still acting up, this is the longest.  I’m not sure I can continue handling all of this much longer on my own.

Silent Rain November 10, 2009

It rained again today, which I have found is perfect for fishing.  Ashenvale has always been somewhat rainy.  The house is incredibly quiet, so much so that the whisper of the rain against it sounds more like chatter.  Father is staying in Darnassus for a few days, and I find the break somewhat relaxing.  I don’t have to worry about him at the house alone when I go out, his injury has been acting up where before he couldn’t even feel it.  He has also been more agitated in general, and it is only increasing.  He simply said that it was time to have a short break of routine and stay in the city for a few days.  It makes me wonder…often in my line of work, you have some patients, or at least hear of patients whose injuries act up before an impending change in the natural world around them.  I sat in the rain for some time this morning thinking about this, communing with the wet earth under me.  Is something coming?  My father hasn’t left Ashenvale in years for the city, he is much more attuned to the land we call home.  I cannot help but think his agitation and phantom-limb pain is more than just an oncoming cold spell or flood levels of rain.  I thought I felt that same bracing in the land beneathe my fingers this morning, but I cannot be sure if it was simply my own apprehension, or my imagination.

Perhaps I will feel better if I make some general preparations?  Stock up on food, work on irrigating water build up away from the house and gardens, or something.  The longer I think about it, the more certain I am that the rain is increasing and a flood or severe patch of storms is on the way.

I think I prefer the whispered hush of the rain, nearly silent and calming.  A quiet, supporting reminder of life and hope that is unassuming and undemanding on its own.  Often, the rain is taken for granted, cursed for ruining days outside by some.  But the lush plants around me and thriving life of this forest speak well for the rain that continues to nurture life.  It has no need of recognition.  I feel so much in common with that rain.  Healing through Elune’s grace, nurturing life, but preferring to do so in the background.  I have little need for recognition and prefer to go unnoticed.  Perhaps that is why Delari Sylvae suffers?  It needs someone to stand at the forefront and lead.  The wall flower does not thrive well as the center piece.  But, does Delari Sylvae need that truly?  Or, perhaps they would be better served as a silent rain, quietly nurturing life around them.  That is perhaps a topic for another day.

Ta’elesara Ethala’Aman