September 363

The departure of Miguen
But hope can only stay a glowing fire indefinitely without fuel. After that magic spring day in 362 the seasons came and went – spring passed to summer, then autumn and winter, and a new year – then a second spring came and passed, summer was ending but there was no further news from VanQa. I neer quite gave up hope but by then hope was an ember kept alive only by a smouldering love.

Then in august I was in The Trinsic Rose one Monday eve as usual. Gwen had just returned from Eska’eldalie and had for the first time met VanQa. She leaned across the bar and quietly told me I should go and visit her. I asked if all was well with her. With no forewarning, Gwen gave me the stunning news that Miguen had left her – permanently! At first I was shocked and grieved for VanQa, but slowly I realised what this might mean and hope kindled in me that this would be the turning point for her. And I even began to nurture a small spark of hope that with both of us free our relationship might change…

I arranged with Gwen to meet me at Aldenkoi, that ancient elven tree from where she would lead me to the secret elven city. I arrived at Aldenkoi early, nervous and excited, waiting there for Gwen, peering into the west from where she should appear. Then I heard a soft footfall behind me, and there stood VanQa! We embraced tenderly. Then I took the potion of forgetfulness to last the rest of the way and, taking my hand, she led me to Eska’eldalie.

We talked alone together, sometimes holding hands. In bliss, I made clear my love for her and said that any time she wanted to return to Sosaria she should let me know. She said - more than once - that she would not return to the Elven Quarter. I understood and stressed that my home in Silverleaf would always be there for her. Behind the magic veils of that elven village by the sea, my home would also be her home if she so wished and I would be honoured and blessed.

But I did not press her for an answer, she so recently abandoned by her life-mate and still not fully free of her fears. And what did she feel for me other than as a close friend? An hour flew by and soon it was time for me to go. I found myself back at Aldenkoi and taking leave of VanQa, I kissed her lips in tender farewell, and she allowed it.

Since then I have walked on air. Yet I dare not hope. She needs time still, and while I am approaching the age of 40, she stays her young and lovely self - the eternal dilemma of elf and human relationships. Yet though I count the passing years I have learned both patience and an acceptance of fate. What will be will be, and I will be content with the blessings I have.

Mid-October 363

A Gift from VanQa
I had not been back from Eska’eldalie for more than a few days when I found a bouquet of flowers and a note from VanQa in my mail box. Smaed was returning from a regular stealth-scouting patrol in the north when, unobserved, he saw an elven messenger dressed in the manner of an Eska’eldalie courier leave the bouquet and continue towards Heartwood.

This gift is very special. I record here all I can of it. The bouquet was held together with a white silken ribbon, the slender stalked flowers are all of the same kind that I do not recall ever having seen in Sosaria before – they clearly come from Eska’eldalie and as far as I know they are uncommon even there. Most of them are white but some have a palest sort of green colour. The scent is pleasantly overwhelmingly sweet and instantly reminds one of how rich and joyful life can be. There is a letter attached to the bouquet with the same ribbon that holds the flowers together. I record here word-for-word that message:

I have tried to plant these flowers outside my door in a spot sheltered from the sea and facing east towards where I believe Eska'eldalie lies. I watch them anxiously to see if they will live and have asked my Silverleaf elven friends to tend them in the elven fashion. I pray they take root!

“Mylady,” A green clad messenger approached VanQa, startling her and making her quickly hide her face underneath the hood of her robe. “I carry a message that is addressed to you that was left for you in the Elven Quarter.” Respectfully and with a hint of regret in his face for her sudden embarrassment, the man knelt down before her and offered her a bouquet of Rosehips together with a note.


With a polite nod and feeling her cheeks blush for causing the man to feel uneasy, VanQa took the flowers and the message from him, thanking him for bringing it to her before he turned and left her.

She smiled and cradled the bouquet. After a while she and her flowers moved to the edge of Eska’eldalie, staring hopefully into the woods. Waiting…

50th November 363 SR

Researching the Gift
I knew that soon I would gain the right to add my personal mark to my highest quality tinkercrafted items, just as I do with smithied items, and that much fine jewelry, some magical, could be crafted by tinkers. I dreamed of making items the fame of which rang across the world, such as the Pendant of the Magi. I knew, too, that these required resources of great rarity and cost, and demanded much skill to make well. And I would choose the finest gold to fashion a bracelet or pendant to give to the love of my heart.

But when the day came when at last I received my mark-rights, I found that my mark could be affixed to only very few items. Undaunted, I set about researching the items and the resources they would need.

It was then that it began to dawn on me just how difficult this task would be. All items that may bear the maker’s unique mark require large numbers of rare gems obtainably by mining - over and above larger numbers of lesser gems that could be purchased at any good jewelers shop for a few thousand gold. At the same time, the chances of making a lesser quality item were more than half, even with the aid of a powerful tinker’s talisman. I could mine for years to find enough rare gems to eventually succeed – or buy them from a vendor for a small fortune, perhaps 100,000 gold! Moreover, some of the resources for the more fabulous magic jewelries needed the successful completion of a difficult quest to obtain. Such items needed quests involving legendary warrior skills - whch of course I don’t have. If only good stealth would suffice to get close enough to take the resource needed!

I began to despair of ever making a gift worthy for me to give to the love of my life.

But heartened by Gwen Irima’s encouragement, I began to understand that VanQa was not one to measure worth and value by such base considerations. I am who I am and can only do my best. I need nay prove anything that I am not. I would make a magic bracelet for my love that needed 10 rare gems of one kind, like fire rubies or blue sapphires, and 20 lesser gems of the same kind, and would pray to the virtues that I would succeed at the first attempt to make an item of such quality that it would be able to bear my mark.