Completed New Beginnings

[Elann]

Timestamp 26th Summer 515 (First post!)

Awakening from the dead sleep she cascaded into, Elann fluttered her eyes open with a laze and droopy intake of her final "sleep breath". Her lungs now awake and her strength returned, she takes note of her surroundings. It had been a day since she had arrived in this town of Syliras so not being in the lavish rug-draped surroundings of her father's tents was a bit of a shock. Where there once was fresh air to wake up to, now a nauseating stentch filled her morning lungs and made her let out a shocking cough. Bringing her hand up to her nostrils she covered them to aid her in her recovery, yet it was too late. A few more coughing fits and she righted herself though.

It was moments later she was dressed, up and ready to start her day. Retreiving a fresh pail of water she began to boil it on her hearth and cook up some breakfast. In the desert it was common to boil your water as you never knew if it was bitter (poisonous) or not. Many had died from drinking tainted bad water that had sat there too long or bubbled up from who knows where. Now ready she had to go out into the city to see about what she can do about setting up a rug selling business. Of course she would need some sort of wool or silk to get started so she figured the bazaar would be the best place to look for some textiles.

All this was the plan for the day, a mass of bodies barraging her and her squirming through the masses without getting lost. Thank goodness her representative helped her to figure out what was what yesterday. She could always go back to him if she had more questions he had said. She was bound and determined to do things herself. She first had to begin her day properly though and took the sheet from her bed and laid it on the floor. Prostrating herself before Yahal she began her prayers in faith to him. Watch over her, keep her safe, bring life into this city. She then quietly began to praise him in her soft sweet voice while putting the blanket back. She wasn't the best singer, but wasn't too bad. She had always sung her songs to Yahal as she worked, so today wouldn't be any different. Heading to the lower levels she kept her wits about her, yet that didn't mean after a few minutes of looking for the way to the lower level that she didn't get lost. With a slight confused look about her she puzzled on which way it was. Much of this area all looked the same to her. Could she find an Oasis in the desert? Yes, but this was different.

[Garland]

Today was just suppose to be a long patrol in the bazaar today. After the incident with Sverfa and the merchant, he was posted in the bazaar today, He sighed, he hated patrols in the bazaar, they were always so crowded and such, and with summer here and the full-plate he was forced to wear all the time, it was very very hot here! He was making his way towards a large crowd, probably making their way to the Bazaar as well.

He was glad he never really bothered to wear a helmet. He was walking down the streets of the crowded halls, usually the people would try to part to make room for the patrolling knights or such, but today it was too crowded to make enough room for someone as bulky as Garland to squeeze through.

After making it through the crowd he decided to just wait by the street, until the crowd thinned out. He noticed something a bit odd. A benshira by the edge of the crowd, looking very lost at the moment. He walked over to her and greeted here. "Hello there, I couldn't help but notice you're a bit lost, are you new here? Where are you looking for?" He asked and noticed a delivery boy running very fast.

He grabbed the Benshira away from the boy's route. "S-Sorry, it's very busy in the morning here, so do be careful." He said and let go of her hand. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself." He dusted off a bit of his armor. "My name is Garland, a pleasure to meet you." He said and extended his hand in a greeting."

[Elann]

Elan had clambered out the door not moments before and here she was now caught in a torrent of people. Looking for a bit of relief to gain her bearings she would poke her head up above the crowds, raising herself as high as possible on the pads of her feet. Her sandals squeaked and groaned as she stretched the leather and fabric, yet it could not be heard amongst the commotion.

What could be determined was a man first stepped out, noticed her, and now was approaching her. Though you could hardly call him that. He seemed a boy by her piercingly bright, ocean colored eyes but perhaps more mature than most. He was human and so therefore she was wary, and on top of that he seemed very well built; almost as if he were prone to fighting. It's not that that was a bad thing in her perception, but in this new town it was something to be feared. She had received warning from her representative of the guards and how harsh things are here, so causing any sort of trouble at all rolled about in her mind over and over again doubling in size and compounding interest. So needlessly to say as he approached her what little irises she had of dark pigment doubled as her fight or flight mode kicked in. A look of slight terror crossed her face as he spoke, but despite her fears he seemed nice enough. Trying to find the words in an all too suddenly dry mouth she mutters out with almost a blustering fumble

"Oh not-thing..!?", meaning to say oh nothing, yet floundering and despite her lost nature at the moment, only seeking not to meet with demise and back breaking labor. She became poised and turned to leave but was suddenly face to face with human delivery boy. While most people would move like a fish in a school, making way for the messenger, she instead stood like a deer or even a frog in bright light. Semi-squinting she braced for impact when she felt hands wrap about her and pull her out of his way. While not nearly quick enough to stop her dragging feet from tripping up the messenger a little bit, at least he was quick on his feet and didn't fall.

Looking to the boy she said. "Sorry!"

She regained her footing and almost forgetting herself she wondered how, what, where, and who saved her. Arching up and spinning around, in her mind she expected to see some humble shop owner who saved her, but instead she sees the very guard who had moved toward her. Now even more confused she found her feet putty and not moving at all; faced with the harsh reality she would have to answer the guard who has shown her a kindness, it was her duty to return the favor and thank him at the least.

"Um...thank you" She said to him and his introduction. Though hesitant to give her name, even to him, his courteousness at the very least provoked it out of her.

"Um....Elenn...no Elann" Were he not wearing gloves of any sort he may by chance feel the strange disturbance of injured skin on her hand to which does hurt at the moment as it is burnt, but it seems all Elann's nerves just stopped working.

[Garland]

Garland smiled at the Elann. She just seemed so lost here. "Ummm... Elann right? I can tell you're new here. Why don't I escort you around, it would be better than just walking around by myself." He said and looked at her, she was very fair for a desert girl, at least compared to Oriah, since both of them are desert people.

If it wasn't for the clothes he wouldn't have noticed her heritage. "Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you." He said, the armor was heavy and clunky. He could honestly do without it and would rather just strap weights on his body, at least if that was the case he could let the wind cool him off at least.

He scratched the back of his head, it seemed that she wasn't so good with talking in common, it didn't matter, he was usually the one that was talking anyway. "I'm heading to the bazaar. I hope that's where you're heading too as well." He said and looked at her. "I'll lead the way if that is the case." He said and started walking down the street. The people were still crowding here and there, though as they neared the bazaar, there were a few stalls being set up now.

"Elann, I wanted to ask, what made you come to Syliras? I know a friend from the desert, I heard it was far away, and possibly dangerous. Umm... Anyway, how do you find our city? Not too cramped I hope." Garland said and pushed through a small crowd. "Excuse me, pardon me. Sorry about that."

After a little walk they made it to the bazaar. "Here we are. What are you looking for here? Maybe I can help you out, most of the stalls here are from regulars though a few are from travelling merchants, so theirs always a fresh selection of things to buy here."

[Elann]

When it comes to courage, Elann was like a wolf: fearsome, able to hunt the mighty buffalo and elk, face down the harshest winters, and even still dare to howl at the moon, yet at the same time you put a buffalo in front of her ready to charge she is going to yelp and run for cover. Garland at first was a big buffalo as she had intently desired not to even experience seeing a guard on her first day here, let alone talk to one. It was not as though she was even experienced in the common tongue. Her father spoke Shiber and being the head of the family, made everyone else speak it or be disobedient. The only reason she even knew common was from speaking to fellow traders who would stop by and look at rugs while growing up. Her father didn't speak it nor did anyone in her family outside of basic fravata trade language. Being naturally inquisitive she would always ask questions of people after business was concluded. So charge buffalo, charge! She may fumble, but now she was regaining herself. Courage was pumping back into her, she was ready to face him down, this courteously nice guard. Be prepared to be mauled by a wild wolf! Run for cover, rally with your herd of guards! She won't be the victim today.

Flickers of light bounce off Elann's face as she looks up to the just barely taller than her Garland. Due to her wearing flat sandals and him probably wearing of some kind greaves, he was probably at least a few inches taller than her. She tensed her cheek-bones, mustered this new-found courage she had found, and with predatory eyes she stands tall giving his hand a firm shake (which surprisingly is quite spritely due to her weaving all day).

"Pleased to meet you", she said confidently, having said it in common countless times. A strange thing this was. Not moments before she having prayed that not only she be safe, find her way, and many other things and now she having a guard lead her right to where she was going. In her heart she was filled with joy unexpressed at the moment and only the faintest of curls graced across her lips into a smile. He spoke to her as if she was known to be someone fresh off the boat and she supposed it was obvious. Looking over herself briefly she nodded quickly to him, studying his face with shimmering, flashing eyes that danced in the torchlight.

"I actually am heading that way and am lost. You can show me the way" she said in a cautionary tone heavy with accent. After they head down the path a little she saw the obvious turn to the bazaar on the lower level and almost felt stupid as to how she could have missed it. Leave that for when heading back home when she can't find it. Heading down the pathway down she is asked why she came to Syliras. What could she say?

"It is quite far though. You are right. Two months on ship I was. I was sent here by my father. He made me come, but no, not too crowded." Whether she thought it was or not, she wasn't going to say anything to offend him. She had seen crowds in her hometown at the temple. It would just take some getting used to. "I don't really know the city yet as I am just come here. I will learn more as days pass by." Slowly the pain crept back into her hand from the shake and as she walked she nursed it gently with her other hand, almost trying to hide the injury.

As they finally made it down to the bazaar she could see why it needed its own level. Her eyes roamed about, looking at what she can see right here and then when he asked her what she was needing she says with a slight bit of delight behind her voice. "I am a weaver. I make rugs. I need material. Yes? " She asks, seeing if he understands her common well enough.

[Garland]

Garland was happy to lead the way to a new resident, someone had to be the welcoming fire in this cold-as-stones city. He looked around the bazaar and set his eyes on a few stalls that shown various exotic clothing and such.

"You make rugs? Hmm... I guess there are a few things you can buy here to make rugs, but if you want quality things the store 'An Elegant Weave' though I think their prices are a bit higher than average." Garland said and kept Elann close to him. "There should be a fabrics stall fairly close to here."

Garland grabbed Elann's wrist and led the way, Garland had little to no sense of personal space. He kept Elann close, a bit too close for comfort, but the bazaar was crowded up to every stall, it was needed if they didn't want to be separated. He pushed his way through the crowd, if Elann was alone right, she would most likely have been stuck in some corner of the bazaar or be pushed around all over the place.

Garland, with his armor and physique, was not something easily pushed around. The heavy squire made his way to a rather large stall, having quite a large selection of fabrics and material, a number of colorful cloths hung from the top of the stall down to the ground. There were even a few rolls of fabrics set on the side of it.

"Hello sir, welcome to my humble stall." An old bearded man said with a welcoming gesture, several younger girls were tending to other costumers and one large woman in the back weaving the threads of wool together to make them into the cloths and such.

"Umm... Hello sir! We're looking for materials to make a rug." Garland said and let go of Elann. "S-Sorry Elann..." he said sheepishly, only now realizing that he had been dragging her through the bazaar.

"Ahh... Yes good, we have plenty here, and they fetch for a good price. Girls, come help your father and bring out a few rolls of cloth and such." The old man said and then two identical looking girls came out from the back, carrying a few small rolls cloth to give Elann a choice of cloth. "The cloth here was weaved by my wife over there and my sons handle the dying of the cloth, they don't do it here of course, there wouldn't enough space, they deliver more whenever we run out. This is just a small family business."

S-Small!? He has enough children to run a small company! Garland thought and gave a small cough. "Hmmm? How many children do you have sir?" He asked and looked at the rolls set on the table.

"Hmmm? Let me see... About... 15 maybe more, I've lost count. A few of them had moved on and tried to seek their own families." The old man said, and looked to his daughters. "Hmm... I honestly don't know."

"O-Oh... How do you manage? I don't think I can handle something like that..." Garland said, a bit worried, he had two children coming and he wasn't sure he was ready for such a big responsibility.

"Hahaha, don't worry young man, when you become a father, you learn how to cope with them and... well... the kids, they may drain you, but at times they motivate you to do more than you than you think you can."

"Hmm... Y-Yeah, I guess they do... Huh? Oh, right. Elann, here are the fabrics they brought out. Ummm... how much is a yard of these." Garland asked and looked over to fabrics.

"About one gold miza a yard, sir. Are you and your girlfriend planning on making something?"

"Girlfriend? No no, we just met, I'm just showing her around, she's new to the city you see." Garland laughed and looked over to Elann. "Well, you're the one buying, so you should try to haggle with him."

ooc(hover over me)you can play the old man too if you want.

[Elann]

Sure enough Garland was like a big shark. You hoped you were small enough not to be noticed, so you swim behind him with your school of fish because he gives you protection from larger fish that he wanted to eat and you don't want eating you. Looking now, Elann could see sure enough they were gaining a small following of fish, people who wanted the slower pace and to not be pushed around. He speaks about a shop and she figured that there would be a shop for her style of fabrics and she somewhat had a small desire for such a thing for herself. Who knew what she could or couldn't do here in this town. Something made her fearful of persecution for being Benshiran. Could she really survive? Regardless she gave him an affirming "mhmm" and headed that way.

Like a little puppy, she followed Garland silently as he led her by hand through the Bazaar. It was really sweet holding her hand and guiding her through the crowds. With her other hand however, as the pain grew she reached up to the hand that was being dragged, and just held her burnt wrist to support it. As they journeyed it burned more and she slightly winced, occasionally giving it the slightest glance yet hiding it from Garland that she was looking. Boy it didn't look pretty, but at least it wasn't infected. The ship steward had taken care of it very nicely for her and it had closed; it was just still a bit too sore to be grabbed. As they make their way up to the stall she flashes a hint of a smile seeing the fabrics and all of a sudden it was like all the pain fell away and an eruption of fire was coming out of a sleeping volcano. You see "trade" was her life and she loved it. Garland gets greeted and introduces their purpose there. By the time he looks to apologize to Elann she has already whooshed past him to his other side and is holding about three different pieces of wood and silk thread in her hands; evaluating each one for quality. She flashes a bright smile, the first look from her that didn't have a hint of fear behind it but rather joy.

As the young girls come out to show her the fabrics she sets down the spools she had and takes the new rolls of cloth in her hand and feels it with her fingers. Like a surgeon searching for the source of internal bleeding, her hands skim over the surface of the fabrics looking for minor bumps and tears. She flutters her eyes closed to focus and dances her hands about it for a moment and then nods with a grin to the girl holding the bolts in front of her.

"Very nice quality." The girl shrunk back behind the counter and the other daughter presented her bolt of cloth to her. Doing the same she eventually nodded and then let the girl shirk back to the counter behind their father. It seemed they were slightly shy. Perhaps their father was slightly dominating like her own. Elann always saw that as a challenge though and was always fierce in response and level headed, never really one to be shy. With a calm and clear voice she speaks to the trader with decent fluency, "I need some nice spooled silk, not weaved. Four square yards of wool, fine quality, prepared and cut." Looking about a bit she points out the silk she wants. "That one please", she looks a little bit more and points out the quality of wool she wants, "That one please." The daughters start to gather things she is ordering and then to the trader's delight she begins to order some fabrics, dyes, and some more spools of quality weaving material.

He asks her, "Do you know what you are doing young lady?" Elann smiles and nods at him. She was Benshiran and on top of that was a rug maker by trade. "I know", she says astutely. Now with spool after spool in her arms she looks up to the all too kind Garland. Something itching at the back of her mind in what he said earlier to the trader peaks her curiosity. He was curious about the mans children and not in a commentary way, but it seemed almost in a nervous fashion. The trader had then of course mentioned about kids draining him and he replied nervously back about fabric. This made her suspect something more going on behind the scenes, but she tucked it away to ask after business was done. She chuckled at the girlfriend comment and just shook her head, not letting it distract her from trade. When Garland hands the reigns over to her to haggle she nods excitedly and takes them.

"That will be twenty-four gold Miza", the old man quotes the price to her and Elann lost her smile, smirked and made some sort of negative grumbling sound. "Can you do twenty three and five silver miza?"

"Well I don't know..." she delayed and shuffled. "You do twenty three and five silver miza and I would part with that". That made the old man squirm as that was a fair price, but he wasn't winning over a dumb young "new" girl. Finally letting the stubbornness go he shook his head. Twenty three and a half gold mizas was not a small amount. First however she was not going to lug those spools around town.

"You know where a basket I buy?" The old man had some for sale magically all of a sudden and actually quotes her a fair price for it being that she is buying from him. Ultimately if she left to find a basket, then she might not come back, so it was in his best interest to give it to her for a good price and have one available. Quoting her one silver mizas set her on her way and now she had a nice big basket to carry not only her spools in, but everything else she needed today. Tucked underarm now she closes her basket and ties it shut. She then looks to Garland and reaches up with her right hand (yes the one that's burnt) and subconsciously brushes some hair back that was trying to get to her eyes.

"You have daughters? Children?" Yes it was brave of her to ask, but he had been so nice and she was filled with enough courage right now to ask. Without knowing boundaries not to cross here she still was wary though. Hopefully now that she was being nice, kind, and close to the shark he wouldn't bite.

[Garland]

It seemed that Elann was wrapping things up with the store owner. Garland couldn't help but notice a few stray glaces were sent his way by a few of the girls at the store. Garland looked away and pretended to examine the streets.

He could hear the girls snicker and giggle behind his back. Was there something stuck on his back? Wouldn't be the first time he had been embarrassed because of something so trivial. He looked back at the girls and noticed they all turn away from him, some even having a faint tint in their cheeks.

"Strange... Sir, don't overwork your girls too hard in this heat, they seem a bit flustered." He said and looked over to Elann with her basket and spools of wool and such. "Ready to go?" He asked her looked back to the stall. "Do you need anything else?"

Elann raised her right hand pulled back a bit of hair, Garland could see that it was burnt, he had good eyes, but the burn was barely visible earlier, he didn't see them until she had raised her hand. "You have daughters? Children?"

Garland snapped out of his trance of looking at her burnt hand. "Y-yes? Well... No, N-not yet. Soon though. Around Fall maybe." He blurted out, his composure was cracking, he wasn't good at talking about his personal life, he was more accustomed with talking about random things no one actually cares about, like his pet spider, Bristly, or something else insignificant.

Just thinking about being a father worried him, he didn't want to think about this now, he had made a bit of money from his little adventure with Sayana and the crew, but he needed a steady source of income. "What about you Elann? Do you have family somewhere?"

[Elann]

Elann couldn't have been more focused on the trade, so she didn't even really notice the girls giggling about Garland nor why. She may have heard them in the back but just figured they were playing around with each other to keep from being bored. Perhaps the reason for their laughter was because he was good looking, which he was to a point, but also it could have been a status thing. Should she had noticed them giggling and whispering to each other while looking at Garland she would have likely known why. A man with many daughters was likely to be a poor man with no lineage. How great would it be to have your daughters married into the Knights? Their father's sole thought at their age was probably to get them out and married, and for that reason they would have had a mind for it. Boys would have become something to look at and chase after, and he looked to be quite a catch from a status viewpoint. Yet it was all giggles and nonsense as she closed the deal with their father. Perhaps he even was so focused on the deal that he didn't notice the girls and their looks to Garland.

Upon completing the trade and with basket in her hand, she looked like a kid who had just received a treat. Where before was a drab exterior and a solemn beat down face hiding pain and hardship, now was alight with the fires of life. She spins on he feet to face the crowds with Garland and responds to him with a kindly nod "Ready". Her tone was matter-of-factual as she was ready, ready for a day of shopping more like. When he asks her moments later while looking back to the stall if she had anything else, she considers if he was asking if she was done with him or if she really did have something else.

"I am not done. I have nothing in my house. It is bare. I come to get...mmm...spoons? Bowls, cups", she beams a grin to him. "You understand, these such things."

The more she used common, the more she felt comfortable with it. Was she fluent? No. Could she diagnose someone in medical terms? Heck no, but she was forbidden from speaking it in her home so it was like dusting off an old book. Once it is cleared of dirt and grime, the leather oiled, it is just as useful as it was. She listens to his response to her about the daughters and nods sagely. With a playful lean in his direction to show affirmation, she astutely said, "You will be okay. Fall is a good time for children." She could tell he was bursting at the seams of his armor with nervousness and worry on the topic. If she had a dagger and was seeking a weak spot to fell him in one swift strike, that was it, family. She was one to pay attention to the concerns of people and when others were shy, she was patient with them (to a point). He clearly showed worry on his face now thinking about his income, but overcoming it he bothered to inquire about her. When she is asked about her family she shakes her head no.

"My Family is gone from me. I do not know how long. They are in Yahebah. My only family now is Yahal. He is only with me", of course speaking about her God Yahal, who was said in his Penita Scrolls to love her very much. Working in the temple at times growing up she knew that culturally when the word of Yahal would come down, it would have to be tested and if the withering did not happen, then the word of Yahal was recorded into the Penita Scroll. That scroll then was kept in the temple and also sent up north to here in Syliras. Evidently many of the knights here served Yahal and she wasn't sure if Garland was one of them or what.

A concerned look comes over her face as she considers him. She was always caring of others, even in this situation where she was the one who somewhat needed help. What about him? He was a Syliran Guard. Didn't he have to go be somewhere else? She didn't want to have to occupy his time. "I uh...I'm ok if you want to go. You don't have to help little me", she chuckles and waves vaguely to the crowd passing buy. "If you want to go don't feel I am so lost here. I am a tough girl. I will find my way."

[Garland]

Garland looked at Elann and gave a warm smile. "Oh, I'm sorry about asking about your family, but at least you have faith, that's important." He said, though he honestly didn't believe in any god, well... he does believe in gods but he doesn't worship any god, he believes in hardwork is what makes people strong, not gifts given from gods to people.

He looked over to the crowd of people walking around and just being regular citizens here and there, he would sometimes just lose himself in the crowd, to let his mind wander yet, now he could only think of his children, would he be a good father? Would they love him? Would they hate them? These question had plagued his mind for a whole season now.

"I uh...I'm ok if you want to go. You don't have to help little me. If you want to go don't feel I am so lost here. I am a tough girl. I will find my way."

Garland thought about it, though he didn't want to be alone, he needed someone to talk to. His mind was nothing but a minefield of anxiety and fear right now. He had stared death in the face and kept a calm mind for the most part, he had stared at a horde of Yukmen without flinching, he had talked to girls he liked only moderately embarrassing himself, but the mere thought of disappointing his children or his soon-to-be wife made him afraid.

But there was something even more terrifying to the young man, one fear he had not yet even thought about, but if he did, he would snap.

If his children died.

He was not afraid of death, he had lived a good, short life, he would have regrets but he would not complain. It was not uncommon for children to be stillborn or to suffer miscarriage, anyone else would feel a pity for the mother and the father, but they wouldn't really know how they would feel.

If he was left alone, his mind would wander to these thoughts, he would be even more distracted than just talking to someone, he would break down sooner than anything else.

He returned to his senses and looked over to Elann. "No no. I would be happy to escort you around. Besides, my patrol today is in the bazaar, no reason not to help out a new citizen while I'm at it."