Securing the Flame: Aug. 11th, 2008

[The Librarian]

Emerald flames licked up Sage's arms as the spirit of the fire spoke through Elisandra, "you do not fear fire as other trees might?" "I do not fear you," Sage spoke the words reverently as the balefire embraced her.

Bathed in the emerald glow the fire spoke again from Elisandra, "I accept you Sage in this time of need..." "I will give all thats in me to protect you," Sage spoke softly accepting the approval of the spirit, the mantle of guardian and keeper of the balefire.

This responsibility weighed heavily on Sage's mind in the weeks since her and Elisandra descended the stair from Winter Guard, entering the chamber below the Freehold that held the Spirit of the Fae, The Heart of the Freehold, their life spark. Warded to only allow Sage to open the door, both from Winter Guard and Grey Manor, the ring of fire, the caryatid, and statues surrounding her seemed a weak defense for what could truly threaten the balefire. Sage knew in her heart more was needed but long gone were the Nockers and Boggins of Mirage... and the resources to achieve any further significant enforcement.

Sage had worked with Dryads to learn to weave the branches and trunks of living trees into furniture and adornments in the space she claimed in the caverns below the Freehold, her mind wandered night after night back to the journey she took with Ian into the Dreaming. The Gnomes she spoke to deep in the earth, they moved the waypoint, and seemed to move through the rock with ease, could they weave stone, fashion it to her needs? Do Gnomes exist on Sosaria? If Sage could find them, convince them to work with her, she could seal the balefire behind solid rock, learning the art of portal passage Sage could enter and take care of the balefire without fear of any non-Fae finding a door to reach her by.

Should she... could she... reach beyond the Fae and into her own nature kin to secure the Emerald Flame?

[The Librarian]

October: 2008

Sage approached Weverbæn as she always did with awe and adoration. The Old Oak was her link to the nature kin and the Inanimae of Sosaria. Sage also loved him dearly, and felt the pangs of separation anxiety beginning to grow, knowing winter would come soon and he would sleep till spring. Sage had met gnomes in Arcadia, saw them move freely in the stone of the cave they'd hid the waypoint in. Sage needed to know of earth spirits that could help her mold the balefire cavern, change the stone and secure the fire. Today she didn't approach the tree spirit as lover but as student seeking his advice and direction.

Sage knelt before him her eyes cast down to her knees as she spoke of her request to the ancient tree. In soft tones and trilling notes she explained what she was looking for. As she spoke, Weverbæn donned his mortal husk and stepped from the anchor of his oak tree, he knelt down beside her pulling her close to him resting his nose to her forehead. "You Ghille are not a small quaking flower, you burst forth in brilliant colour and energy, why now make requests in a small voice?" It took time for the words to come and he always spoke in earnest, not wasting time on verbosity. "You tend the flame, you promised to keep her safe, demand what you will knowing what you do is for the fire," he said slowly though with affection. "I need the crafters of stone, I need them to re-fashion the rock walls of the cavern to protect the fire for me," Sage said again, "I need you to send me to them, to request their aid." Sage finished her statement then tilted her head up to look into his eyes. Blue pools of living water looked down at her smiling.

"I will send them to you precious, anything for you." Weverbæn spoke lovingly kissing her forehead. Sage trilled softly holding him close, the two nature fae listening to the song of the wind and watching the day pass into darkness before he rejoined with his anchor and she returned to the Freehold. Sage would have her crafters of stone, and the cavern would be made anew as in her dreams.

[The Librarian]

November 2008:

Ilangren and Greta have both been tasked to creating the "T" junctions in the corridors down to the balefire, once complete the next stage can begin..

Weverbæn has put me in contact with the Glomes, the spirits of stone Once Ilangren and Greta have finished I will ask the Glomes to begin the artistry of stone they work miracles with. Now to learn the art of portal passage, I focus my glamour into my legs and I can jump high and far; I focus my glamour into my legs and I can run faster than horses... the portal is not within, it is outside myself burrowing through stone or other obstacles. I've used visualization to my advantage before... more practice, more desire... I will learn this...