13th of Uktar-Gwilly and Elric-Zazesspur

*grabs hard hat and jack hammer for ground breaking ceremony*
well, here it is. the first official RP of the forum!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

When Gwilly awoke from her spot on the table under the pavilion the day after the Great Party she could tell that the sun was already high in the sky. She yawned and stretched, taking in the sites around her. It was still quite peaceful in Zazesspur, even for that late hour. Many people were still sleeping, all huddled together under the pavilion, near the dying pyres, as if, in their sleep, they still didn't want the party to end. The few that were awake moved slowly and spoke in hushed tones to each other, if they dared speak at all. Much of the festive decor was strewn about the area in sleepy chaos as if to say that it too had taken advantage of the fruits of the celebration and had enjoyed itself all too much the night before.

To some, the remnants of a party strewn all about can be a depressing reminder that life must now go on as it was before. To Gwilly, it was a sacred thing. It was wonderful for her to wake up the morning after and feel the soft memories of joy the party had brought to life. The pixie liked to take that time to just lay a while and dream, dream of all the wonderful things that were to come.

After this, the Great Party, Gwilly couldn't help but continue her ritual of party homage. She lay her head back done on the table and set her mind to dream of great things. Would it not be wonderful when Ashara and Elric were married! They, too, would have a grand party to celebrate their happiness! What a wondrous thing it would be, and soon, too, the pixie was sure of it.

Gwilly sat up.

"There's so much to do!" she muttered to herself, "I must find Elric!"

This morning wasn't near as enjoyable as the previous. The party was over and it was time to get back to their lives. Add that to the discussion he'd had with Therogeon and Ashara earlier, and his mood was fairly soured. It had been agreed that they would all speak with the king this afternoon, once everyone had been gathered and they had their senses about them. So he had the morning to himself.

With time to waste, Elric decided to put himself to use. Trying to put this morning out of his mind, he mingled with the departing partygoers and helped where he could with the clean up.

The pixie quickly spotted the sinewy half-elf among the "living". He seemed to be helping tidy things up from the Great Party. Gwilly sighed. It was another reminder that the fun was over. Why couldn't people just leave the sacred alone... she thought sarcastically.

Gwilly thought it would be best if she went back to being unseen for awhile. She had spent the duration of the Great Party visible to all believing it brought more joy to all participating. How does one get a dance when they are invisible anyway?

Gwilly flew slowly over to where Elric was, enjoying the crispness in the air as she went. Though she never really needed it she wondered where her winter cloak had gotten to. She had stored it somewhere. Was it in Eddick's things? Or was it somewhere back in Imprisk...? She would have to go looking for it now.

"Good Morning, Lover Boy!" she said to Elric. "You don't look like you partied nearly hard enough, these past two days! How did you like my party??"

"What the!" Lost in thought Elric hadn't hear the familiar flutter of wings. Startled, he spun around to see... nothing. Immediately realizing the pixie was hiding again, he addressed where he thought she was. "Oh. Good morning Gwilly. You talking to me?"

Thinking back over the fun they had all shared the last two days was enought to bring a small smile to his face, in spite of the mood he was in. "Best party I've ever been to. Maybe not the "biggest... but certainly the best." Remember all the drinking and dancing... and the headache before he'd cast the spell he'd borrowed from Ashara, he added "And yes. I 'partied quite hard' thank you! How the morning treating yourself? Last I saw, you were barely conscious. Did your party meet 'Pixie Standards'? "

Gwilly let out a contented sigh. "The Great Party was indeed a wonderful one! It was almost like a real pixie party, if you know what I mean. And this morning has been gloriously filled with the after party glow! Which brings me to the question... why aren't you sitting back and enjoying the after party glow? Why are you disturbing the peaceful chaos of the remains party memories?"

Gwilly took a good hard look at Elric's face. For some reason it looked as if a black rain cloud were forming above his head. He looked a lot like Therogeon looked so much of the time. There was a word for that, now what was it? Grumpy! That was it. Elric looked grumpy.

"You said you had a fun time at the Great Party, right?" the pixie asked Elric in a mock whisper. "Maybe you should tell your face. It doesn't look like it was at the same party you were at..."

Gwilly paused. "I know something that will cheer you up!" she said excitedly! "Tell me how the wedding plans are going with you and Ashara!!"

Elric's legs felt weak. Did he just hear what he thought he heard? Elric quickly sat down before he fell down. Looking around to where thought she was, "Gwilly.... What did you say? Why??? Where did you..." Confusion was becoming an all to familiar feeling to him lately.

"Did Ashara say something to you last night?"

"Huh uh! Nope, Ashara didn't say anything!" Gwilly replied. "So, tell me, tell me! What do you have planned???"

She looked expectantly at the half-elf.

"Gwilly..." Elric began speaking in her own language. "Come sit with me for a minute..." Elric sat on an abandoned bench and motioned a spot next to him. When he was relatively sure she was there, he tried to think of how to take this conversation. How was he going to explain human courting rituals to pixie, when truth be told he didn't really understand them himself.

Maybe its because they didn't have much in the way of common reference. "Gwilly, What are pixie weddings like? I mean... So much has happened in so short of time... Is that common amongst your people?"

The pixie was overjoyed to hear Elric speak to her in her own tongue. She willingly followed him to where he was sitting, excited to hear what he might have to say in regards to his upcoming wedding. Gwilly thought it odd that Elric didn't seem as excited as she had expected. He must be trying to build the anticipation she thought to herself.

So Elric wanted to know about pixie weddings....

"Well, as you can imagine, a pixie wedding is really one big party!" she replied in pixie. "We enjoy celebration and love is one of the greatest things we figure we can celebrate! It isn't simply a party, though. A pixie wedding is full of many strange and wonderful traditions. It can last for days. I don't think you and Ashara want to have a pixie wedding. It would be to confusing for ones who had not grown up with it. So of the traditions I don't even understand yet, but I love them! I could teach you our traditional wedding dance, though. Its very intricate and beautiful! I would have to adjust a quite a bit of it, though, because there is usually a lot of flying involved... I might be able to get Therogeon or Eddick to help me, though..."

Gwilly pause for a second. She was puzzled by the last half of Elric's question and she had to think a moment before answering.

"Ummm, well, it is common for pixies to get married... I thought it was common with humans and elves as well but I don't know their ways as well as my own. You aren't like minotaurs, are you?"

"I don't know what that even means..." Elric with a puzzled expression then with a touch of panic in his voice, "AND I don't think I want to!" He paused to make sure she wasn't going to begin a rant about things he didn't want to know.

"I think I may have misphrased." The Half elf was quiet as he tried to think of ways to get through to her. "Perhaps... Courtship rituals," That may be the right direction he thought. "Yes Elves DO get married. Sometimes love even has something to do with it. Just as often its based on family, politics, and power. Regardless when elves set their mind to a task, it could be decades or even centuries before they actually perform an actual ceremony!"

"What of your people? Pixies are just as long lived as elves I've heard." Despite the uncomfortableness of the conversation, he could resist a smile. "Are they all as ... impulsive as the pixies I've known?"

"Impulsive?!" Gwilly squeaked, "Of course we're not impulsive! We just know what we want and we do it! There's no reason to be slow about it!

"You elves are so strange! Why would you marry someone if you didn't love them? Isn't love the foundation of marriage in the first place? How can you stand being married to someone without loving them? It's unreal and stupid!

"We pixies marry for love, because its right and practical. A man loves a woman and the woman loves that man back so they marry. We desire to share our love with each other and, therefore, share it with the next generation!
Love and family are as important to us as celebration and joy! We do not see the need to make love wait, like you said the elves do. Once we love someone we feel it is important to pass that love along! First through the joy of marriage-where the love of the couple blesses the whole community, then through starting a family-where the love is shared with the next generation.

"Pixies don't fall in love, real love very easily. In fact, it is common for a pixie to stay single all their lives. The blessed ones who do fall in love don't play games with each other. The best and simplest thing to do is marry, right away. That's how we do things. And to me, it makes a whole lot of sense!"

Elric started to get a little nervous. Gwilly was starting to get excited. He didn't want to upset her, but the pixie had unrealistic expectations. "Your right in a lot of what you say. The elves can be fools. Quite often actually. I couldn't imagine marrying someone I didn't love completly. But it isn't unheard of. I've heard stories of arranged marriages amongst the humans too. They're rarely happy occassions."

"However I only know the elven way of things. When I'm married it will be the rest of my life. They plan things, make sure of all the details before commiting to something. Our lives aren't simple things, there are... complications that need to be addressed. Sometime when were not about die, saving the world, or lost in revelry."

The half elf's seriousness melted away into a mischevious grin. "What about yourself Gwilly? I saw you with a certain leprechaun. Should we be expecting bells to ring for you?"

"Do you mean to tell me that you haven't proposed to Ashara yet??" the pixie practically yelled at Elric, "Are you really that foolish? Can't you see that she loves you and trusts you? What more assurance do you need, Elric? For goodness sake, man! Get your act together! You don't want to lose her to someone else, do you? You would have to be blind not to see how beautiful she is... do you think that other people, other men, just ignore her?"

Gwilly let out an exasperated snort. It was a few minutes before she spoke again.

"Why do you mortals have to make so many excuses why not to do things, especially good things, like parties and marriage? Very rarely do any of you make up your mind easily. How do you live like that?"

"You speak of all these complications in your lives, complications that need to be addressed before you and Ashara marry. It makes me wonder if you really do love her, truly love her. If you did than no 'complications' would ever get in the way of that love. They would mean nothing to you as long as you had Ashara's love. No war or prevailing evil could be more important to you than Ashara."

"I'm not saying that you can't do anything about these 'complications' you speak of, I'm not stupid about dangerous things as some may think a pixie to be, I'm just saying that they should not come between you and your love for Ashara. As patient as love is, it should not be kept waiting! And I have confidence in both of you, that even after you wed you will slay many dragons and defeat many strong foes!!"

"You and Ashara both have strong and valiant hearts, though your minds are far to worrisome and serious that you are inhibited by it. Are you so afraid of the evil in this world that you think it best to put your love, your lives together, on hold until it is finished? Fear has no place in love, it is much to cowardly! Evil will always be there until the end of time when good will reign. We must do our best against it so that it does not rule over us but the best way that we can do that is through love! Unafraid, unashamed, wholehearted love. It is our first and best weapon against evil...."

The pixie's tiny voice trailed off. She wasn't used to being this serious with people. It was very exhausting. But if only she could get Elric to understand what she was trying to say. She didn't want him and Ashara to get married just so she could have another party, she wanted them to understand that through their love and marriage commitment to each other they would become stronger in this battle that they were so passionate about. But all the words that she could say very well could do nothing to change Elric's mind. She was familiar with the trait of stubbornness, quite familiar with it, in fact!

Gwilly smiled and let out a soft sigh, hoping that Elric would catch the fact that she wasn't mad at him. Maybe she should tell him outright. One never knew, with mortals, sometimes they could be such dense creatues.

"Elric," Gwilly said in a much softer tone then the one she had been using, "I'm not mad at you. I just wanted you to know that."

She thought about his question regarding the leprechaun. "And no. There will be no wedding bells for me. But don't be sad, what I felt for the leprechaun was not true love. Not the love that I see in yours and Ashara's eyes. I've never known what it was like to feel that kind of love and it may be that I never will. It is truly a gift. I hope you know that, Elric."

Gwilly reached over and playfully poked Elric in the ribs, just so that he would know she hadn't lost her head and gone all serious on him for good.

Elric was starting to get nervous. He couldn't remember every hearing the pixie get so high strung. When the 'poke' came he half expected it to be her little dagger, and jumped accordingly. You never know the lengths a pixie may go to get her point across. Realizing there was no danger he quickly sat back down.

"Gwilly..." he began with a chuckle, "What your saying is very wise... and I'm not saying your wrong. Well... some of it may be, but you're very insightful AND you were able to do it without metaphors! You have no idea how much I appreciate that!"

"Regardless, I'm sure you've realized I'm a bit impulsive. I know it. I admit it freely. Its gotten me in trouble a LOT over the years. Some things need to be taken slow." He started to get a little more serious again. Still speaking in pixie so the converstion would stay private... At least until she inevitably told everyone anyway.

"There are complications to this relationship that will need to be addressed before marriage is ever brought up. You do realize that 'techniquely' Ashara and I aren't even the same species right? There are things that I'll have to live with, and things that Ashara will have to understand." He lowered his voice. "I know I'm going watch my friends and loved ones grow old. That's just something that can't be changed. Its a fact. Same with any of my children. If the mother is human than the children will be human as well. Odds are i'll outlive them as well."

"I can deal with that. Its not a happy thought, but I can do it. There isn't really any choice in the matter. But what of Ashara? Does she understand? She'll grow older and I won't. Is she prepared for that?"

"You understand don't you? Have you had to go through that yet?"

Gwilly thought for a minute, then looked up at Elric. (*yes, she is visible right now*)

"That does seem to be quite challenging," she said thoughtfully, a coy smile tugging at her lips, "but, in the end, does it really matter that much?" Gwilly shrugged her shoulders as she blinked, smilingly at Elric.

Elric stared at the smiling pixie with his mouth open in shock. Then he started chuckling, which lead to laughing, which degenerated into tears. All his concerns of the future reduced to "Does it really matter?" Blinking away the tears, he tried to get the laughter under control.

It took a minute or two.

"Gwilly?" He said through intermitten laughs. "How is that you can do, what it is you do... I needed this today. Thanks!"

His mood was lifted again, but the issue with Gwilly was yet unresolved. He decided to attack it from a different angle. "Gwilly, how long did Therogeon 'owe' you a party? 80 ... 90days? I KNOW you have the exact count! I saw how mad you got at him. I don't want something like that to come between us!"

He gave her a wink. "I'll tell you this, If or When there is a wedding, You will be involved in making it the best party you know how! Nothing but the best!" And this is where things get touchy, Elric thought. "However, I will not give you a timeframe. I do not want a running tally of how many days its been or will be. That road leads to pixie vengence."

Gwilly tried to contain the giggles as she watched Elric laugh, but she couldn't help herself, it was too much, her laughter overflowed like a bubbling fountain! How wonderful it felt! How glorious to be laughing! Why didn't mortals do it more often.

Gwilly? How is that you can do, what it is you do...

Through her laughter, Gwilly just shrugged at Elric's question. She had no answers for him and she didn't think he really wanted one. "Your welcome!" she said between giggles.

The pixie just couldn't stop giggling, even when she thought of how long it was before Therogeon finally threw her the party he promised.

"91 days..." she sighed happily between giggles, "It took Therogeon 91 days to throw a party! A crazy long time!! Do you suppose that's what I should expect from the silly mage from here on out...? You don't have to answer that."

"And don't worry about me, Elric. You owe me nothing for the moment." the pixies eyes twinkled as she said this. "Ashara is the important one here, if you owe anything to anyone, its to her! But you should know that I'm looking out for my girl, Ashara!" And in a mock Kaber voice, Gwilly said to Elric, "I've got my eye on you!" Then she burst out into another fit of giggles, eventually falling off the bench and rolling around in the air just above the ground.