The Morning After

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi listened to the dripping of the faucet, her eyes closed. She was in the dining room, the curtains drawn. Her fingers began to tap at the same rhythm..

Drip.
Drip.
Drip

Tap.
Tap.
Tap.

It had been an hour since Kethry had gone, and while she knew Keth had asked her to remain in bed, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She pulled her sheer robe around her tighter and pulled her hair up into a bun, clipping it with what used to be an ornate shell and stick.. It was clearly nicked, though not from a lack of love... worn would be the best to describe it.

Thinking by herself could be quite detrimental to her health. She took out her journal and started an entry. She couldn't figure why the old letters to herself had now been erased, marred since her expedition here with Kethry...

Kethry.. Kethry.. Kethry.. Why does everything lead back to her? Not to say she minded it.. Why else would she have followed her- away from everything she knew? She shook the thoughts from her head, her hands beginning to tremble from Mana withdraw.

[Keeper Of Lore]

*Kethry rode through the busy streets of Shattrath on her new Dreadsteed, patting its flank absentmidendly as it trotted along the Lower City's paths*

She heard a voice yell out, "FRUIT VENDOR, YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED!!" and knew that was exactly where she was going to buy Atha's strawberries she had requested that morning. Maybe a little coin would get the fruit vendor away from the man who seemed hell-bent on threatening him.

She approached the man's cart on foot, having tied her Dreadsteed to a pole a few feet away. The beast tended to scare people.

She walked up, and examined a quart of strawberries, their fragrance nearly bowling her over.

"Hello, my dear. I got those beauties brought over to me from the Eversong Woods, the elves do so like them. Otherwise, I would sell naught but my apples, here..." the old woman behind the cart indicated the bushels of red and golden apples behind her.

"I am very surprised that you have them, myself, lady. How much for them?"

"Hm...Two gold per quart too much for you? They did have to travel far."

Kethry nodded, taking four gold coins from her purse, placing the quarts of berries in the basket behind her saddle she used for running errands. She steered the horse in the direction of the Scryer Inn, and sighed.

Hopefully, Atha was still there...

She would not blame her for leaving.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi was now visibly shaking from head to foot, she stood up the table and looked around. She hadn't brought any of her flasks, berries or otherwise for moments like this.. She did not expect to stay this long. She whimpered and went to the back door exiting the house, her bare feet hitting the cool stone was almost refreshing..

She looked about, her robe billowing in the wind. She tied the ribbon around her waist and looked about the backyard, for a garden, for any sign of manathistle, or mana berries.. .or.. anything really. She shivered and went back into the house, making her way to the room. She knew Kethry must have flasks somewhere.. She was married to...

Her. Thief, wretch.. using...

Her thoughts became short, and her breath became shallow, she hadn't thought of Kilara that way.. ever.. really.. She didn't quite know what was coming over her. She closed her eyes and reached her hand into a cabinet, looking, praying... Her eyes opened and narrowed- looking into the darkness of the cabinet...

YES!

Her eyes and her fingers locked on a potion, she threw it back and gulped what seemed like not enough, and resigned herself to laying down on the tile floor.

[Keeper Of Lore]

*walks into her home to find Atha, face pressed against the cool stone tile, breathing raggedly. Kethry yelps a little in shock, and puts the berries on the counter, a few of them spilling in her haste as she leans down to pick Athalia up her her arms. She reaches into her pocket and tilts the other woman's head back, pouring the bright blue mana potion down her throat. She knew it was stronger than the potion vial the girl had found in her cabinet, and prayed it would work quickly*

"Atha...Atha love...Come back to me..." Kethry's deep blue eyes stared into Athalia's foggy green ones, hoping for some sign of life, recognition, anything...

"Atha sweetheart, please...You can fight this...I know you can...Come back to me, sweetheart..."

Kethry kept saying this like a litany, looking down at the fragile elven girl in her arms with worry.

The strawberries lay forgotten.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi's eyes flickered open, and she smiled gently up at the woman holding her. She cuddled close to Kethry, "I.. forgot to bring my bag."

She shook her head, "And you have no berries in your garden, like I do in mine.. or.. .did.. in mine." She shook her head, a fog had seemed to roll across her brain.. There was no room for Sarcasm, no room for being rude, or even happy or overly excited.

Her breath was steadying. Her eyes became clearer, slowly. This didn't effect everyone so drastically to her knowledge... Though, there were the mana sucking fallen Sin'Dorei...

Scum.

She smiled again, looking up at her savior... "The madness will catch up to me eventually" she laughed gently, she wasn't sure if she was completely serious in this or not.

[Keeper Of Lore]

*Kethry looks very confused at Atha...Esmi..Whatever's ramblings...She wonders if the girl knows she is making no sense* "Love...Love....It's all right...You're safe now. I gave you a mana potion, it will make you feel better..."

Kethry recalled with a shudder that she had never seen any Sin'Dorei act like this without mana. Most just trembled. She whimpered and kissed the bright red hair atop Atha's head gently.

"The madness will catch up with us all, my sweet...It is only a question of when."

Kethry's arms were full and empty all and once, and the feeling made her heart ache painfully; even though it did no longer beat.

She wondered if they would be strong enough not to let that madness claim them.

Prayers only went so far.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi smiled again, her eyes fluttering closed.. "I.. need something to drink... I think.. I know I will be fine.. it was just a withdraw."

She reached up ans stroked Kethrys hair, a yawn and a nuzzle to her arm. "Where did you go, anyway? Such a long time..."

Drip.
Drip.
Drip.

Each drip sounded like thunder within her eardrums- she said something muffled under her breath and clung her sheer robe closer to her body.

"We should... get blankets or something.... " She crossed her arms over her chest- paranoia of someone seeing her had set in...

[Keeper Of Lore]

Kethry gathered the elf in her arms, looking a bit scared at the girl's rambling, still. As Atha's voice strengthened, she sighed with relief. She walked back into the kichen, then into the living room, through to the bedroom. She placed Atha on the bed with a kiss to the forehead, and then left the room only to return with the strawberries.

She placed one to the redhead's lips, smiling sweetly at the other girl.

"Eat, love...You'll feel much better."

Kethry wondered if Atha could feel her trembling, as well.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi smiled and nibbled on the strawberry. "Lay down with me?" Her eyes were pleading, she rolled over onto her side, nibbling the strawberry.

"Did- did- you enjoy your time out? You have busy training tonight.. r-right?"

She fidgited, she was out of things to say, and she felt a bit dizzy... "There is a cure, somewhere... I think.. maybe? Perhaps I have to finish.. the process of withdraw.." her shaking was much less now, her breath even, steady, strong.

[Keeper Of Lore]

*shakes her head a little* "There has to be a cure somewhere...Perhaps, Northrend? I do not know...I promise you we will find one, love...Or I will create one...Somehow. Alchemist blood used to flow in my veins. I do not forget this."

*suddenly, vertigo claims Kethry. She feels as if she is looking through another's eyes, and her breathing, not that she did it to stay alive, stopped*

She whimpered, and saw herself...But...What? Whole, non-scarred hands, arms with muscle tone...She saw her reflection, blue eyes taring out from an elven face...

She saw herself, staring at Kilara...Felt their lips meet...The Kethry in Atha's arms screamed, then.

It was a sound Atha would never forget.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi's heart enveloped with terror at the sound of the scream- anything that wasn't clear- that had remained in a haze seemed clearer- sharp even. She whimpered and held Kethry, shaking with fear now... she bit into her lower lip and stroked the girls hair...
What could it be? What was it?
"Kethry- love... what... what.. is it?" Panic was stricken on her face.. Her stomach had turned over several times by now... she shivered and made soothing sounds...

[Keeper Of Lore]

Kethry whimpers and clings to Athalia...

"I...I saw...Myself...but...Not me...I swear. I was, but I wasn't. Whole again. B-b-breeathing. Sin'Dorei...Kissing...Kissing Lara..."

Kethry burried her head against Atha's chest.

"What...What is wrong with me...?"

it was a plea unlike Athalia had ever heard.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Esmi bit into her lower lip, mulling this information over.. she stroked Kethrys hair and closed her eyes.. She couldn't think.. nothing came to her... her mind drew blanks, and ran mazes to the same point: We left that realm.. is it real... or... She couldn't be faking that.. not this...

Has this anything to do with... It couldn't be..

She looked at Kethry shaking her head over and over, "I understand this less than you do..." she muttered something and held Kethry tighter to her.

[Keeper Of Lore]

*Kethry nods a little, reaching for a strawberry and eating it slowly*

"I wonder what happened to us when we crossed realms...?

It is all so unclear to me...Have you forgotten anything like I have?" she searches the girl's face imploringly for an answer, blue eyes locking onto the other's green.

"Tell me whatever you can, Atha.."

[Keeper Of Lore]

Athalias eyes held Kethrys Gaze. She did not know.. She remembered quite a bit, though yes some faded as the time continued on- not to the drastic extent of Kethrys dementia. She popped a strawberry into her mouth and closed her eyes for a moment thinking.

"I have not forgotten anything, or if I have I don't remember... what is it you wish to know?"