Tirlannon Fan Fiction by Lenden Reynolds
(Originally posted: HERE)

D.G. Edit: Story contains some possible spoiler information regarding the characters of Volume II: Shadow of the Chimaera... I am including some spoiler space in this edit. You have been warned.











































































































She lay on the forest floor, dipping her left hand into the cool clear waters. In her right hand, a twine necklace, bearing the house of Tuvitor's symbol. The string wrapped around her fingers, she gazed at the symbols intertwining pieces.

Ky'rea closed her eyes once more, remembering Daecrynn's noble form. She'd only seen him once. Once was enough. He already had two wives, but this was no matter to Ky'rea. Polyamory is common in Tirlannon. 'But no matter,' She sighed to herself. 'He will never even know my name...'

As she drifted off to sleep in the warm sunshine, a shadowy figure descended. Waking tied to a pole while dealing with her throbbing head, Ky'rea was in no mood to be talking to the man prodding her with the blunt end of an arrow. Trying to kick him in the shin, she demanded to know his name and "WHAT THE BLOODY VERDUHN IS GOING ON?!"

Squatting by her side was a thin lanky elf that identified himself only as member of the Scarlet Stripe. Ky'rea shuddered. She'd heard horror stories about this group. And rumors that their leader was Ereya Tuvitor, Daecrynn's daughter. That was truly doubtful, however.

'Why would any child betray their parent's trust like that?' Ky'rea thought quietly to herself. 'Though, any daughter of Nadali is bound to be strong willed enough in body and mind to do what they thought was right. And any daughter of Daecrynn is bound to be charismatic enough to pull off being a bandit queen.'

Interrupting her thought process was the bandit leader herself. A tall beautiful elf, with copper-red hair, the bandit queen stood over her captive. "And what have we here, Tanos?" She intoned to the young dark haired elf who stood and saluted her with arrow still in hand. "A pretty young lady elf... And what's your name, child?"

"I-...I don't think I should tell you that..." Ky'rea mumbled.

Suddenly, the sky turned to fire, and both Tanos ans Ky'rea cowered in their place. "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DENY ME!" Screamed the bandit queen. "I AM THE GUARDIAN OF THE EVERWOOD! I AM THE MISTRESS OF THE SCARLET STRIPE!" As her hair flared out around her head like a bloody halo, Ky'rea screamed in terror, tears running freely down her face, the sky turned blue once more.

"Do you have something to say NOW, child?" The Bandit queen queried.

"Bright Rhia'li..." Ky'rea sobbed, "Ky'rea...Ky'rea..."

"Much better." Her captor smiled, then looked around. "Tanos, where-?" She looked down at the quivering mass at her feet. "Oh for Ceeleeya's SAKE, Tanos, get off the ground and do your job!" She rolled her eyes as he scrambled to do her bidding.

Later that night, Ky'rea, still tied to the post, and tired of trying to chew through the ropes, she shuddered. It was cold, and damp. She let out a small sob, frustrated and frightened.

"You ok?" Tanos stepped around from behind her. "You've been working all day on getting free, would be a shame if you just gave up now."

Ky'rea had already come to terms with her situation. She couldn't free herself. There was no way. She just looked sadly up at him. She knew not what he was going to do to her, but there was nothing she could do.

"What? No snappy response?" He stepped forward, and his dark skin reflected the light of the flickering torch. "No gasp of surprise as I reveal I've been watching you all day?"

She only looked down at his feet and let a single tear splash to the ground. Taken aback, Tanos took to one knee. "You ok?"

"OF COURSE I'M NOT OK!" She exploded, causing him to fall over backwards, away from her. "I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED, TIED, STARVED, THREATENED! I-...I..." She shuddered. "I'm never going home again..." Hunching over, she tried to curl into a ball, but was hindered by the ropes binding her. Tanos lay a hand on her shoulder, and she pulled away as far as she could, which wasn't very far. He couldn't help but snicker a bit. As she began to growl at him, he leaned out of her reach and began rummaging through his rucksack. Tanos pulled out a piece of dried meat and waved it in front of her face. Immediately she stopped growling and let out something akin to a whimper.

"Now, I'm going to untie your left hand, and you are going to eat this meat, and then I am going to retie you, alright?" Tanos pulled the delicious morsel away from Ky'rea, who struggled against her bonds, trying to bite at the jerky.

"Yes, yes, please, I'm hungry..." Ky'rea whined, eye's lighting up. When she had that one hand free, it went not to the meat in Tanos' hand, but strait to his throat. Digging her nails into his skin, she growled. "Now, you are going to untie my right hand, or I am going to remove your jugular and shove it up your-" Tanos cut her off by simply smashing her hand aside with his own. Standing up and laughing at her, he stepped out of the way of her kicking feet.

"Did you seriously think that would work?" He tossed the disgusted query her way. I'm disappointed in you. Well, no meat for you, I guess." He chuckled and tore a piece of the jerky off with his teeth. Laughing, he walked away, leaving her humiliated, and she raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face. Blinking a few times, she realized he had left her hand untied, and she made easy work of the other binds. Sneaking away from the bandit camp, she hoped that in the morning she would hear the bandit queen's raging voice and Tanos' screams for mercy.

In no great hurry once she reached the Andriel city walls, Ky'rea relaxed. Brushing the dirt off her light blue gown, she hoped the caked in mud would come out with a bit of water and lavender soap. She was dirty, hungry, tired and annoyed, and her last place of relaxation had been sullied by bandit hands. Ky'rea realized she was going to have to go home. Home. She shuddered at the thought. As wonderful as her family is... As wonderful and caring as they are, as much as she despaired at never being able to return to her home when death was a threat.... Rhia'li, it was dull. And her mother wanted her to be... a handmaiden. Even as a wealthy family, Ky'rea was set to be a handmaiden for Dae'nys, who was, as it happened, one class above herself. Royalty.

Apparently Dae'nys had taken a liking to her, and she had an open invitation to work for her, whenever she decided her childhood was done. For nearly fifty-five years she had had this open invitation. Even as an elf, that was a long time to put off working for royalty. And yet, her mother still wanted her to take the job, still had hope for her wayward daughter. As Ky'rea mounted the last step on the staircase to her mothers front door, she sighed. There was no getting out of a teary reunion, despite the fact that she had gone away and come back nearly half a dozen times.

When she finally got her will up to knock, the door opened, Antom already waiting with a clean pair of clothes. Antom was her favorite servant, and though he was human, Ky'rea suspected he had the Radiance, and more. Ridiculous, yes, but Ky'rea had many a reason to suspect. He always seemed to be where he was needed, even over great distances in short times, and he always seemed to know what he was needed for.

After a bath and a change of clothes, Ky'rea opened her bedroom door and stepped into the hallway, ready for her mother to jump out from behind a corner and shower her with hugs, kisses, and tears. But even by the time she had reached the kitchen, there was no sign of her mother.

"Antom?" She queried in no particular direction, knowing he would be behind her no matter what way she faced. "Where's my Mother?"

Antom shook his head sadly and sighed, always a bad sign. "Your mother," He intoned, "is bedridden with sickness. No one knew where to find you, but it tis better this way. With you knowing nothing of her desperate pain, she was gladdened."

Ky'rea backed away. "Sh-She's not... Gonna... Die... Is she? Not... Not my mother..." Before he could answer, she darted up the stairs towards her mothers room. Swiftly and quietly, she slipped past the doorman, the doctor and her father. Sliding to her knees at her mothers side, Ky'rea grabbed at the pale and weakened hand that lay upon the silky purple bed sheet. "Mama? Mama, can you hear me?"

"Ah... There you are... Just in time, young one..." Her mother started, then fell into a coughing fit. "I'm leaving, I think."

"But! Mama! You-"

"Shh... Baby, it's alright...It's alright..." Mother rested a single hand on Ky'rea's head, petting it once or twice before letting it slip down and hit the bed.

"Mama..." Ky'rea repeated once more before her father spoke.

"Ana ti d'nassi, d'nani nan." He stroked his lovers face, and they both smiled.

And then she was gone.

A tear ran down her fathers face, and Ky'rea began to cry. Her father stood, put a hand on her shoulder, and left the room.

Ky'rea spent the night on the floor next to her mothers bed, and a small time before dawn, Antom came into the room, picked her up, and brought her to the room that her mother always had ready in case she came home. Laying her on the blue satin sheets and pulling the soft corners up to her shoulders, Antom let his fingers linger on her skin for only a moment. He brushed her hair tenderly out of her face, and left to tend to her father. As sunlight began to stream through the thin curtains, warming the room, Ky'rea's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment she thought it was all a dream.

"I fell asleep near the pond, then Antom found me and brought me home. That must be it." She smiled, opened the closet, and sighed. Her mother had never agreed with Ky'rea's sense of style, and delighted in switching her closet out for a more acceptable garb.

"No matter, Antom will have saved my clothes." She hurried down the stairs, and while she was looking at her frilly dress and pinching some fabric distastefully, she began speaking to her mother before she even got all the way into the dining room.

"Mother, I need a word or two with you about my wardrobe. I thought we already...agreed on..." Ky'rea slowed, stopped, and stared towards the empty space at the table next to her fathers chair. He looked up, amusement mixed with sadness evident in his eyes.

"Oh...Ky'rea. I know. It was strange, waking up in a cold bed..."

Her eyes suddenly misted, and as her chest constricted painfully, she moved quietly to her fathers side and knelt. "Father...What do I do now?"

"Take Dae'nys' offer. Your mother has been pushing you to it for nigh fifty-five years. The last fifty-five years of her life." He lay his hand on her head, and stood. "I'm leaving this estate to you or Antom. He has served me well, and you are my daughter. You will have the final say as to that decision. No, don't speak, hear me now." He quieted her before she opened her mouth to speak.

"My Daughter... My beautiful daughter. You will never be satisfied with fortune like this unless you earn it. I know you would grow restless. If you take-"

"Give it to Antom, father. I don't want it. I never did. I'll work for Dae'nys. Antom deserves this wealth more than I do, in any case." She stood as well, cutting off the rest of his speech.

"...Very well, Ky'rea. Spend one more night here, with me, before you leave. I'll have Antom set up travel and other details for you in the morning. For now, Daughter of my Beloved... Spend the day with me before I join your mother on the other side."

"Father!" Ky'rea exclaimed.


-------------------------------Update below------------------------------------

"Ky'rea. You are all that is left here for me, and you know you cannot stay in one place for long, travel is in your blood. Dae'nys will be understanding, and while you'll have work, I believe she will let you roam when it is appropriate. You need to do what is best for you, and I need to do what is best for me." He took her hand and stood. "ANTOM!"

Antom appeared almost instantaneously, with a plate of food for Ky'rea.

"Antom, ready the horses, hm?"

"Yes, Sir." Antom bowed his head and left for the stables.

Sitting down, Ky'rea's father motioned for her to do the same. They spent the rest of breakfast in silence, and when they were through, they headed to the west courtyard where the horses were tied.