<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/thumb/c/c0/Fd5e741b1b90361f6a2643d2aad8e6d3--felicity-jones-hair-photo-pro.jpg/450px-Fd5e741b1b90361f6a2643d2aad8e6d3--felicity-jones-hair-photo-pro.jpg)</div><strong>Name: </strong>Kirien Silverlark<br/><strong>Class: </strong>Cleric/Mage<br/><strong>Time: </strong>Patchwall 7, 577 CY, late morning<br/><strong>Location: </strong>Gnarley Forest, Beratana Village<br/><strong>Tagging: </strong>Brennisen, Enastril, Yesqwyn<br/><strong>Content Warning: </strong>none<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/>After patching up widow Leila's youngest son for his fall out of the old oak near their barn, Kirien guided them out of her home.  The cottage doubled as the village apothecary, and with two extra beds crammed into the living room in the front and one in the second bedroom, it was as close to a true temple healing quarters as the tiny village would probably ever see.  The Spellmaiden stood at the door and turned back towards the clutter of her home, gazing over the bunches of dried herbs hanging from the rafters, jars and bottles of extracts and essences, as well as the rolled bolts of various cloths and fabrics, unfinished dresses, and--always--books of limitless sizes, colors, and degrees of wear.<br/><br/>She valued the knowledge she'd collected, she really did...it just did not seem in her to ever wish to expend any time organizing or sorting all of her various interests and studies.  After all, time spent organizing was less time spent actually reading or doing something like filling more vials with essences of herbs, or reading another treatise on the efficacy of turmeric versus blue-green algae on removing snake venom.<br/><br/>Teria remained lodged within the neckline of one of her almost-finished dresses, draped in amber and white layers over the back of a rocking chair next to the fireplace.  "It's time," she spoke, too softly to hear...but with a telepathic and empathic connection, the spoken words to her familiar were always just a habit...and after two hundred and thirty-seven years of life, habits tended to stay deeply ingrained in an elf.<br/><br/>The miniature dragon dextrously extracted itself from the dress, flitting effortlessly over to the petite woman, and, with the ease of many years of practice, slipped under her dark green, travel-stained cloak.  The hood was left down as she walked out onto the stepping stones before her door, closing it behind her.  Freeday it was, and the first Freeday of the month--which meant traveling for pleasure, and that ultimately meant the Idle Boar.<br/><br/>She made her way to the back of her home, past the various rows of late-season herbs still growing in haphazard rows, or along trellises tied to the side of her cottage, breathing in the mixture of sweet and bitter scents.  The lean-to that doubled as a shelter for her black mare and storage for the saddle and harness was against the back of the little building.  Wissil had been a gift from the High Priestess of the Inner Circle back in Olve Minrith, and she had been a good friend as well the last three years, though she seldom rode her.  Still, the gentle beast nickered and nuzzled her as she approached to pat her strong neck, and brush her mane.<br/><br/>"Ready for a little trip?" Kirien asked good-naturedly, and then got to the task of saddling the horse and mounting her.  She didn't bring much other than what she wore, though she did bring her pack and a few items within it, including her spellbook.  After two hundred plus years, she'd learned the sense in a mage always bringing the necessities with them.  Her short but sturdy staff was stowed across Wissil's back as well.  Also included in her kit was the odd little piece of metal she'd come into possession of in a most ominous way.  She'd relate that story to her friends when they were all gathered at the Idle Boar, for certain.<br/><br/>Meeting Enastril and Yesqwyn at the village inn took only a short minute--her home was fairly close to the only inn in Beratana.  She'd have gladly let them stay in her home, if she'd had the room...but being the village healer meant that the extra beds were often needed by the injured and sick.  Her friends joined her on the journey, and they set out for Brennisen's tent on the outskirts of the village.<br/><br/>The thought of her closest friend brought a soft glow to her cheeks.  It was only too apparent to her why.  The kiss the day before had been a great surprise, especially coming from such a shy woman.  A surprise, but very pleasant, and very welcome.  Her own words to Brennisen had been about being open and honest, and yet here she'd known the ranger for almost three years, and never truly been honest with herself about her feelings for the auburn-tressed half-elf.  She wasn't going to continue such faulty behavior, not any more.  She could give more than half the credit to Teria for that, but when she thought about it, the very echoes of guidance she felt she received from Ehlonna for most of her life were pointing her in the direction she was now deciding to take.  She was a mage, true...but she was spiritually a priestess of the forest goddess...and it was time for her to follow her heart just as thoroughly as her mind.<br/><br/>Besides, she'd bet that Yesqwyn would be tickled at her new attitude as well, knowing her personality.<br/><br/>As they approached the point near the road where Brennisen called home, she saw her friend already seated upon Ghost, waiting for them.  A happy smile creased her lips, and she moved forward of the rest.  When she pulled up next to the other woman, she reached a gloved hand out and softly rested it on Brennisen's muscular thigh, and her green eyes sought out the other's blue ones.<br/><br/>"You left too soon yesterday."<br/><br/>Her hand on Brennisen's thigh moved up to take one of the ranger's, and held it affectionately.<br/><br/>"Can we talk more of it at the inn?  I have much I'd like to share with you."