So Long, Farewell...

The Morning of Tarsakh the 15th, not long after Lady Darya returned to camp with Szaraal and Lathander's Lantern.

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The paladin's stormy gray eyes followed the object of her affection as he strode off into the forest. Was that it then? All she would ever know of him was a name?

Before leaving the group, Ollimer said that perhaps they would see him again someday, and Darya's heart was still recovering from the wink he'd shot her after saying so. She stood there in a stupor just as she had on the night she'd first met him, wondering if she was about to wake up. O. was leaving...the dream was over! But she didn't wake up, and when the last glimpse of his white shirt disappeared into the trees, a dull ache encompassed her heart.

In spite of herself, her lips could not contain the low groan of loss that escaped them. It couldn't end like this! There were so many unanswered questions, and she realized with a start that she never actually told the man 'goodbye'...

"Szaraal, please stay here and be nice to my friends," she asked of the behir after snapping suddenly back to reality. "And please don't eat the dwarf! I'll be back in a moment!"

With that, Lady Darya trotted off into the forest in the direction she'd watched him leave. This behavior was completely out of character for her, and she knew that if her parents had been there, that they would have been as embarrassed for her as she was for herself! To go chasing after a man like some kind of love-sick puppy?!

No... She convinced herself. It was only proper that she thank this devoted servant of the Morninglord for setting her to that mission. After all, it was because of him that she had befriended Szaraal and recovered Lathander's Lantern! It wouldn't be very Courteous of her not to see him off properly and say a polite goodbye!

Yep... That's why she was following after him...

In her heavy scarlet plate mail, she had no doubt that he would hear her approaching, but once she'd gotten a short distance from the group, she called out to him anyway.

"O? Please, wait!"

Ollimer walked away from the camp, feeling good about his choice. Lady Darya was a special one, of that there was no doubt. He had been watching her on occasion since he had led that peasant to discover the undead near Senegha. Since then, she had continued to impress him. He had enjoyed his time with the mortals, training them and teaching them things, but when she came back, he stood up at full attention. It was a dangerous mission he sent her on, one that he knew full well she should be able to come back from, but he was still impressed and excited to see her when she did. He had little knowledge of his mortal life, but after he had spent some years in meditation over the idea, the phrase "Knight of the Rose" had come into his mind. It was how he ended up choosing Lathander of all deities to serve exclusively. His entire existence was spent in service, in self perfection, ascension.

With Lathander's power waning though, many questioned that choice. It had been debated and discussed what would happen in such a case for many years, and the possibility was well known in his circles. It was his personal desire to slow that descent, by whatever means necessary.

And as he was readying himself for the journey, he heard the familiar sound of plate mail in motion. She was coming. As he turned to address her, he heard her call out

O? Please wait!

How could he resist such a request? He stepped out into the path, into her sight, brushing the hair that had fallen over his eyes to get a better look at the noble lady.

When Ollimer stepped out onto the path in front of her, Darya stopped in her tracks and all thoughts of formulating words fled from her mind as she was momentarily distracted by the golden curtain that drifted over the sparkling sapphires of his eyes.

After managing a breath, she approached within a respectful distance before speaking.

"My lord, I... I wanted to..."

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"I feel that I should...

Swallow.

"Thank you," she finally managed after a deep breath. "Thank you for 'indirectly' involving yourself with me..."

The paladin's eyes widened at her poorly chosen words.

"I mean! For involving yourself in the matter of the Lantern!" The brown tone of her skin brightened as a flush rose to her cheeks. The normally confident woman felt hopelessly awkward, but she pressed on in the face of potential humiliation.

"I can't help but feel that you knew of Szaraal as well, and I know he will be a staunch ally against the darkness that prevails in this place."

She shut her eyes briefly and swallowed hard before attempting to meet his gaze again.

"Please forgive my rudeness back there, my lord... I just... I find myself hard pressed to find appropriate words in your presence!"

Lady Darya chuckled restlessly and raked her fingers through her mop of black hair. She knew she must look like a gargoyle next to this paragon of perfection that stood before her. She certainly felt it! How many days had it been since they were in Milbourne and she had a chance at a bath?! Why did she follow him out here again?! To make a fool of herself?

Another mission accomplished...

Black hair. It was so interesting to behold. Where he came from, all was blonde or ginger. This had a quality all of its own.

Ollimer smiled, his dimples appearing underneath his perpetual evening shadow. There was something about this girl that made him smile. He knew of her devotion and resourcefulness, and her ability to overcome great odds. But there was something else too, and he felt like discovering what it was, even if it meant that he was a little later to his next assignment.

"You are most welcome Lady Darya, I assure you the pleasure was mine. They say that gratefulness is on the path to wisdom. Great things are expected from you, and I am greatly honored to make your acquaintance before they happen." He watched her as she fidgeted, and decided to try to make her more at ease. Uncertainty came from fear, and it was odd that she never showed fear before when she had a task, perhaps it would help for her to have something to do.

"I was wondering if you could do me a favor." He asked with his eyebrows raised. "That Lantern, keep an eye on it for me? It is like an old friend to me, and I would hate to see anything happen to it. I would take it with me, but I fear that it would be ... counterproductive." His voice had slowed down toward the end of the last sentence as he was slightly uncertain himself. What color exactly would you call those eyes?

Darya smiled gratefully as the comfortable mantle of duty was placed on her shoulders.

"Of course my lord!" she exclaimed, gently resting her hand on the fur-covered bundle that hung at her side. The paladin had strung a length of rope through the handle of the Lantern and tied it in a loop to sling over her shoulder or back for easier transport. "I will guard it with my life!"

It had come as a surprise to her that Ollimer had not intended to take the Lantern with him. She'd assumed, wrongly it seemed, that she had been sent on her mission to retrieve the artifact and return it to his possession.

"Um... O?" she chanced, saying his name aloud if only to feel the form her lips were required to take to make the appropriate sound. "Should I return the Lantern to the pilgrims when we find them, or are we to use this sacred trust to light our path as we travel these lands?"

The paladin was hardly sure the captured followers of Lathander would be found alive, but until proven otherwise, she had to have hope!

Her eyes flicked hesitantly from the lantern to the mesmerising orbs of the golden man that stood a few feet away. A slight breeze blew through the trees towards her, rustling the leaves above and carrying with it the intoxicating scent of Spring. The same out-of-season scent that she remembered from her last encounter with the mysterious Ollimer.

The young woman shuddered slightly, and she hoped not visibly, as the smell awoke pleasant memories of childhood, peace and joy within her.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Perhaps... I could... I mean... Perhaps I might be given the honor of...personally returning it to you one day?"

Swallow.

As she spoke his name, his eyes traveled down to her lips. How full and pink they were, and they moved in the most peculiar way. But he was not sure that they were the things that made him smile, and now possibly late. "Oh, I am afraid I cannot lay claim to the Lantern. That honor belongs to whomever Lanthander wills, and as of now, it seems as if that is you. If you do find the pilgrims, they may be able to tell you more of the lantern, but it is not my place to do so."

Unable to see in her strong yet soft chin, what it was, his eyes continued downward. Her strong white neck framed by her fragrant tresses. Her...

"You are injured!" He blurted out. "Forgive me, I should have seen it earlier. Here. Allow me." He stepped within arms reach of her and inspected the wound. "It has already started to heal nicely, but I think that you may need to be fully prepared for whatever may lay ahead. Now I know the priests around you should be able to do this as well, but this is something that I can do for you."

He reached up and caressed her cheek softly, the healing flowing from him as effortless as his words.

It was fortunate for Darya that she had been firmly planted on both feet when Ollimer approached her. Even so, her legs nearly buckled beneath her! She stood as still as a surprised rabbit, taking only shallow breaths and afraid to move, not trusting her body to remember how to function.

Something was said about an injury, but she didn't feel anything remotely like pain... Actually, all she could feel was her face burning, and she wondered if this was anything like what the giant had felt after Sunscorch had been cast at his face!

When O reached up to lay his hand against her cheek, her eyes suddenly lost focus and she had to force her mind to remain alert or end up passed out right there on the ground. Darya didn't exactly want to leave him with that impression of her... She remembered to breathe and blinked a few times to help the world stop spinning.

"Thank you again," she managed to whisper after she felt the healing warmth seal up the wound she'd forgotten she had.

"Is there a way... A way that I might contact you again someday? Not to request anything of you of course," Darya explained, "but just... If you'd like... I mean I could..."

The frazzled young woman closed her eyes and clamped her jaw shut for a moment to collect her scattered thoughts.

"I find that I...very much enjoy your company..."

"As one who understands the importance of service to the Morninglord and the ideals he represents, of course!" she added hastily. "I feel that there is much I could... learn from you..."

A single bead of sweat rolled down the side of her cheek in what felt like slow motion.

Ollimer was going to have to watch himself. Normally he didn't get this close, and by normally he meant never. He pulled his hand away from her cheek, and almost put it back before returning it to his side. "I wish that it were so, but duty calls. There is more for me to do here, but I have other things that also need attending." He took a step back.

"I promise to return to check on you, and Lav... I mean, the Lantern. Be courageous, although I don't know if you are capable of anything else." With that he turned to go. There were some tough things that he had done, difficult decisions on what was best, but now, even though he knew he was doing the right thing, something felt enormously wrong.

Patience. It always yields dividends. He turned back over his shoulder. "I can only teach you the lesson of patience right now, Milady. But it is a valuable one. Learn it well, and soon, you will enjoy my company once again." With that he smiled, and resumed his path.

Streaks of fire still burned where his gentle fingers had laid against her cheek. Patience, Ollimer had instructed... The lady had to admit that patience was one of the many qualities she was trying to improve upon. She still had a long way to go...

As her beloved turned and started walking away, the world seemed to dim a bit and longing filled the place from which nervousness had just vacated. She took two steps toward him to follow, then stopped herself. Patience. He had promised to return, and the paladin had no doubt that this radiant man's word was anything less than complete truth!

"Goodbye, O," she as much sighed as spoke aloud, her voice slightly tinged with pain. "I will live in anticipation of that happy Dawn when we will meet again..."

With a sinking heart, Darya watched as Ollimer turned his smile to the north, eventually disappearing again into the Thornwood. A bloody war was raging inside of her. The compulsion to follow after him was overwhelming, but eighteen years of discipline forced her feet to turn her around and begin walking in the opposite direction.

He'd said he had duties to attend to, and to delay him any longer with her own selfish desires would be wrong. That's what her mind was telling her anyway... The rest of her body was railing against what was obvious to it to be a STUPID decision!

The paladin's mind won out as it usually did. That was a good thing! Right? If so, why did she feel so hollow now? As she walked, she couldn't help but to look over her shoulder, doubting her decision, and cursing her own overdeveloped sense of practicality.

Ollimer turned off of the path and into the trees. A simple spell kept him from disturbing the plants and animals around him. He had been on dangerous missions to the Abyss, Baator, and even the harsh elemental planes. Here, in this forest, he actually felt a little fear. He could not blame her for falling in love with him. Normally, visual confirmation with female paladins waited until they had already declared their devotion, but he had felt that she was terribly necessary to the issue at hand. Lavendolyn had waited so long already.

But what will the Solars say? It was difficult to say. He had saved the lantern mission, not to mention a valuable ally in the war against evil, but had also gotten involved with mortal affairs. He would try to make the case for courtly love, being as it was often an unfulfilled passion, and that it could be used to bless Lady Darya. If he pulled away now, she may become depressed and fall in her duties. She had such promise.

His last meeting with the Solars, Bulentain had questioned him, as Solars are wont to do to those who desire ascension, and pried into the motives of his heart. Ollimer had shown great promise, and was being considered. But Bulentain was against it, and for the reason that even though O was excellent in everything he put his hand to, it seemed as if his heart was not in it, and that he was cold and detached from his duties. But now a fire burned in his chest. He would finish his duties with fervor in hopes that he would be called back to this plane, and finish the duty here.

He arched his back and raised his face to the sun as wings sprouted from his back. The brown of his outfit changed to a brilliant white, and his boots were changed to sandals. He stretched his great wings out, and then folded them over himself, briefly imagining their embrace once again. Wouldn't Bulentain be surprised when he learned of what was in his heart? Wouldn't they all?

And he vanished.