Life Excerpts of Alea Mangrave

[Twistie]

"Now play it again Alea" barked her governess, "and this time, straighten your back and arch your wrists a little more."

Alea starred at the klavier keys in disinterest. her gaze kept wandering instead to the nursery room window where, outside amidst the rolling moors and hills of Waterdeep county, she could see her beloved older brother, Marcus, swing at an unfortunate tree as he practiced the parrying and sparring techniques he had learned at the Academy that day. It wasn't fair, why wouldn't the silly Academy take girls? She could run as fast and throw as far as him!

"Alea, play it again!" Her governess' stern voice interrupted her wishful dreaming. Sitting at the klavier stool and yet not old enough for her feet to reach the floor, Alea kicked at the klavier legs in rebellion. "Alea, dearest," said her governess, "is that any way for a lady to behave? Now play it again and then we will finish here and go and do some embroidering in the garden."

"Embroidering," thought Alea, "I will do that, at least it will be outside." She made a sideways glance at her governess, "and later tonight, when you and Uncle are sleeping, Marcus and I will steal out into the night and he will practice his new sparring tricks with me ... "

[Twistie]

The bell rang for dinner and a line of servants emerged from the kitchen and placed an assortment of dishes on the table in the dining hall.

Upstairs in her dressing room, Alea was helped by her maid into her dining gown. Fixing a green bow to her lovely blonde locks, she starred with approval at herself in the looking glass. She felt very grown up and though she was still only 16, she already had several suitors calling to pay their compliments.

Leaving the quiet safety of her dressing room, she gracefully walked down the stairs and was met at the bottom by her brother. He was not smiling.

"What is it dearest?" Alea asked immediately. Her first thought was Uncle. He hadn't yet arrived back from his merchantry travels abroad and she felt cold as she thought of the pirates, bandits and worse horrors that Marcus had often scared her with as children.

"Is Uncle .... no, not Uncle?" she barely got the words from her mouth. "No, Alea dear, I have heard from Uncle and he is well." Her relief was obvious, but quickly followed by concern. "Then what is the matter Marcus?"

He took her arm and led her to the warm confines of the library fireside. "Sit down, my dear," he said softly, "I have something to tell you."

She sat down with a cold, heavy feeling inside. What was wrong? Why was Marcus acting this way? He took her hand and patted it gently and began to speak.

"You know Alea, since our parents died and Uncle took us in as if we were his own family, we have always taken care of each other. I have taught you everything I can about swordsmanship - and you have learned well, and bested me more than once - and you have always tended my wounds when I came home from practice with my classmates. You know that I love you dearly, beloved sister, but my training at the Academy has finished and I wish to travel to find adventure and seek my own fortune instead of living out of Uncles pockets. I have heard good things about a city called Isenhold from a friend, and I thought I would visit there."

She starred at him, a look of shock clearly painted across her fact. He was leaving? He was going away to leave her to the mercies of propriety and marriage? Involuntary tears welled up in her eyes. "Please don't leave me Marcus," she whispered.

Marcus let forth an unexpected chuckle. "My dearest," he said, "I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of leaving you, I only want you to come with me! You know I could never leave you behind to become the wife of one of Uncle's rich puppets!"

Part sobbing, part laughing, Alea threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Oh Marcus, why were you looking so grave just now then, you scared me!"

"So you will come Alea?"
"Of couse I will!"
"You will leave your fine home, your beautiful clothes, your parties, suitors, wealth?" He raised an eyebrow. "You will even leave your klavier?"
She laughed. "You know I might just have to use that thing for sparring practice before we go!"
"So you'll come then?"
"Of course Marcus, you know I will"
"I feel so relieved to hear it, I wasn't sure you would leave all this. We must leave soon though, before Uncle gets back, for he will surely never let his flower go!"
"I can have my trunks packed in a few hours Marcus".
"Then let us leave tonight dearest ..."

[Twistie]

The rain poured constantly. With water seeping inside her armour, Alea felt wet and uncomfortable. Her horse was sodden and even Marcus was hunched on his horse. The trees on both sides of the thin track provided little protection as the water fell upon them. Alea thought with brief longing of her warm cosy bedroom so far away in Waterdeep. She'd had to leave her trunks at the last inn to follow in the caravan later, because Marcus had wanted to continue their journey on horseback and to leave right away. This forest was vast and he'd wanted to cross it and reach Isenhold before night fall.

The trees seemed to reach over and grab at her, almost like they were alive. She felt a little frightened, but seeing her brother's strong form riding ahead gave her comfort.

Suddenly, as if he had fallen asleep at the saddle, he slumped forward and fell to the ground. With a cry of dismay, Alea slid off her horse and rushed to his side. She was horrified by what she saw.

Lodged in his neck lay the barbs of a dart, tipped with a poison she had no knowledge of. She didn't hear herself screaming, but the quiet group of bandits that had been watching them for some time heard all too well. They leapt from the surrounding trees upon her with a strange, savage look in their eyes.

[Twistie]

If you ask her now, about that day, she won't be able to tell you much. She simply says Marcus must have been protecting her from within the Fugue Plane somehow because the last thing she remembers is standing over her brothers lifeless body as men leapt upon her, then suddenly she was surrounded by a grim picture of dead and dying, holding her brothers sword, stained with blood.

She has often thought of going back to Waterdeep, to the comfort and normalcy of her upbringing. But that girl doesn't seem real to her now and she would rather live a life of independence and freedom.

Maybe one day she will settle down and have a family - but that day is not today ...

[Twistie]

The music was playing loudly when she entered the inn. Weary from travels, she looked briefly around her to see, with relief, that it had few inhabitants - a red-nosed drunk in the corner, an old bitter beggar standing by the stairs talking of the old days to anyone who cared to listen.

She was about to sit down and order a drink when she spied a dark looking man eyeing her from a veiled corner of the room. His eyes glinted at her with interest and as he watched her she felt a small shiver go through her body. She was surprised that the shiver was not one of displeasure. She quietly ordered a drink from Talbot, keeping the stranger just barely in sight at all times, then sat down to enjoy the well-needed respite.

He moved then, once she was seated. He came out from the shadows and moved with purpose towards Talbot. She noted as he walked by her that he was tall, ruggedly good looking with a well-trained and muscular form. She sipped at her wine delicately, suddenly interested in watching his movements.

He approached Talbot and said something to him which she could not distinguish. Talbot quickly produced from behind the bar, a bottle of the same brew that she herself was drinking, and handed it to him. Taking the bottle, he turned and made eye contact with her. Blushing from his intense, dark gaze, she averted her eyes and continued to sip her wine as if she had not noticed him at all.

When next she looked up, he was standing over her, his great strong frame blocking the light from the candelabras behind him. She noted he smelled like smoke and when he finally spoke to her, his voice was dry and raspy as though he had recently been fighting some fire beast.

"I wish to sit with you" he said to her quietly. She looked up at him and motioned to the chair next to hers. Taking it, he placed the bottle of wine on the table in front of her as if some offering was being made.

She looked at him, wanting to take in what sort of man he was that had approached her. Keeping her sword at her side at all times, she allowed her eyes to wander over his features. She was not disappointed by what she saw. He was handsome with a strong jaw and a warriors brow.

He spoke to her again. "I have heard of you, Alea Mangrave" She was surprised, this time as much by his statement as by the gentleness of his voice.

"Oh? And what have you heard of me Sir?"

"I have had my eye on you for some time. My name is Thorstein, I am of the Uthgardt, from an island of the far North West. I may have need of your services, if you are willing to trust them to me."

She heard her own voice, eager and interested in his offer, answer before she had a chance to really consider what he was saying.

"Oh? Sounds interesting, Thorstein of the Uthgardt, and what is your proposal?"