A Beginning Haven!

[Alyssia]

48th of Ymiden, ARC 721

Alyssia looked around her room while packing her bags. She had received an invitation from Elisabeth to join her in Haven. The teen had not been to see the settlement before when it was across the badlands. Though from what she understood they had managed to finally move it just past the sentry. She was goad that they were closer in case something was to happen they could receive help easier. Novus ran around the room barking and tossing one of his toys in the air playing while tagging his tail. The teen knelt down a laugh and scratched him between the ears. She had been so happy since Devin had given the nightpup to her when it was indeed a pup.

“Okay Novus, I have to finish packing now. Elisabeth already sent a ride to pick us up. We cannot be late for it,” Alyssia said with a laugh.

The teen hurried around her room making sure to grab parchment papers and the beautiful quill that Saoire had gifted her. With the new settlements growing, they would need someone to make writings of all that was happening so others will know of the beginning. Alyssia stopped at the window to her room and looked out at the sentry of the late Baron von Smooglenuff. Even after his death, he was still watching over Faldrass as he had once done in life. Taking a deep breath, the teen only hoped that she was doing the man proud before looking down seeing movement.

“Oh crap! The carriage is here!” Alyssia hurried and made sure to have Novus some food packed along with two of his toys, “come on boy!”

Alyssia put her shoes on and grabbed everything the pair would need making sure to close her door behind them. The teen made sure to stay away from any decorations that could be knocked off while making her way quickly through the halls. She had to slow down on the stairs though when she came to them after nearly falling down several times prior to that. When they made it down, the girl laughed when Novus jumped into the carriage and looked back at her waiting. She handed everything over to the driver so he could tie everything down before she got in as well. Her heart pounded with excitement looking around at everything as they began to trip.

“This is exciting isn’t it boy?” Alyssia asked and scratched behind the nightpups ears.

She looked out at the world around them as they traveled past the sentry. Alyssia looked up at how much bigger it was the closer she was to it. Though that did make sense in her mind for sure. It was like people or animals, everything was bigger the closer that you got to it. The waves lapping at the beach as they got closer to the coast made the girl smile as she got comfortable for the ride.

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 721, 48 Ymiden

Elisabeth had spent the morning getting things ready for Alyssia’s arrival in Haven, although truly, the young woman knew next to nothing about the young Baroness. In fact, that was the very reason she had invited her to come visit. The occasions that the two had crossed paths, it seemed as though the teen was a bit adrift, and while the young mage knew Alyssia was now living in the new manor, there was a desire to forge a relationship. There seemed to be a distinct lack of female presence in the teen’s life and having lived that life, Elisabeth had no desire to see it repeated if she could help it.

A knock sounded at the door of Haven House, followed quickly by Silk’s head poking inside. “She’s here.” Elisabeth started a bit, rushing to the door. “Are you sure? It’s a bit early.” The avriel guard nodded, smirking a bit in response. “Little? Looks a bit out of place? Red hair? Yeah, I’m sure.”

Rolling her eyes, Elisabeth laughed. “Fine. I’ll be right there. Storm, are you coming?” Upon hearing his name, the ever-present Sir Storm of Haven lifted his head briefly to see why he was being summoned. Upon noting that it was just his girl and the head of the feathery one, with no new admirers to be seen, he lowered his head back down and resumed his morningtide nap.

Turning to Silk, Elisabeth arched her eyebrow gently. “I guess that’s a no. Let’s go.” Stepping out of the house, the pair made their way to the edge of the settlement, joining up with Ronan and Balder. Ronan, never one to hold back with Elisabeth, kicked a bit of sandy dirt, smirking just a bit. “Soooooo, we are babysitting?” Silk immediately smacked the man on the shoulder, although she too had a smirk on her face. All out of arched eyebrows for the trial, Elisabeth shook her head, giving him a knowing chuckle. “No. I’m getting to know her, that’s all.”

Glancing at all of them, she continued. “She needs adults around to guide her. I trust the Barons to look after her needs, but sometimes needs are a bit deeper. I want to figure out if there is something she needs that is not being addressed. Haven is about people taking care of each other, and that extends past the settlement edges. If I, or we, can fill a need for her, we should and will.”

There was really no arguing with Elisabeth once she got to the whole ‘should and will’ point. Balthazar possibly would have pushed things a bit more, but the others knew that when their leader dug her heels in, there was very little that would move her.

Waiting until Alyssia arrived, the young woman moved to greet her, smiling warmly. “It’s good to see you again, Alyssia. Welcome to Haven.”

[Alyssia]

Alyssia watched the water allowing it to calm her mind and her racing heart. There was nothing for her to be scared or worried about. Elisabeth had always been kind and patient with her in their previous encounters. The teen hoped that that same kindness would still be there even after she had become a member of the barony. Though that title weighed on her mind, she was still only a teenager, and therefore it was of no use to her till she came of age. Would the teen be ready for that kind of responsibility when the time came? She was unsure and it worried her. Though her mind was at ease knowing that none of the barons or new settlement leaders had done anything of the sort before. Or to her knowledge they had not, of course she really needed to see if there was anything to be known about those watching over her.

She knew Darius and Devin well. Darius had protected her when he did not even know her. The teen had been little more than a street urchin just trying to scrape by. But when the girl had found him in the crowd that day after spotting Keanu watching her, he had not pushed her away. But instead made a plan that would include her being safe from the hunter. That had been the first time that she had ever felt safe actually going to the elements for help. Looking ahead, the teen smiled seeing Elisabeth waiting for her. The girl felt confused when she spotted the others that were with her. Taking a deep breath to help steady her nerves, Alyssia got out and waited for Novus to get out before going over to the woman.

“Hello Lady Elisabeth! It is great to see you again. I am sorry that it has been so long since we were able to meet again. I had hoped we would be able to meet again shortly after the feast Saoire held for everyone that had been before Faldrass was being rebuilt. I am glad to see that everyone in Haven was not opposed to moving closer to the other settlements,” Alyssia stated with a big smile.

The teen truly was happy to see how all the barons and other settlement leaders were doing. To see the island of Faldrass coming back to life after the tragedy that had befallen it made her heart warm. She took a deep breath hoping to keep the strange screaming from taking over again. It only happened when someone came up suddenly behind her, or when she saw someone just standing alone minding their own business. It was not something that would cause guards concern, but it was enough to draw attention.

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 721, 48 Ymiden

Elisabeth saw Alyssia’s smile and somewhat uncertain glance towards the guards. The young leader of Haven was slightly skilled in interpreting others’ expressions and mannerisms, and something about the guards made her a bit uneasy. It wasn’t wholly unexpected, and as such, Elisabeth took measures to make sure the apprehension didn’t last.

She also noted the young girl’s slightly odd behavior, but then again, taking note of all within one’s environment was something Elisabeth was good at. Making an educated guess on what was causing said behavior, the settlement leader was comforted by the fact that she might be able to help with it.

“It’s wonderful to see you again too, Alyssia. And no apologies. Life has been a bit crazy this last cycle, so I completely understand, but I’m also sorry we couldn’t get together earlier.” Giving her a warm smile, Elisabeth knelt to greet the girl’s canine companion, holding out her hand gently for the animal to sniff if it so desired. “And who is this beautiful creature?”

The young mage took a few steps, after rising, to stand next to Alyssia and introduced her to the three others with them. “These are the Haven guards. I wanted them here to greet you to know who to ask for help if you need it and I’m unavailable. In truth, anyone here in Haven would help you, so don’t be shy.” Gesturing to each as she said their names. “Silk. Ronan. Balder. At least one is always on guard in Haven at all times.”

All three smiled, nodding at the young girl, then quickly dismissed by Elisabeth so that she and Alyssia could catch up on things in private. Moving a bit closer to Alyssia, whispering dramatically, the young woman gave her a bit of advice. “Silk and Balder are fine. Ronan will tease you, but he doesn't mean harm. Seriously though, you need anything, anyone will help. Just say the word.”

Returning to a normal tone, Elisabeth bent down to help Alyssia with her bags. “Let’s get you settled into Haven House, shall we? Balthazar is away currently, so I thought it best for you to stay with me in Haven House.” Elisabeth briefly considered how Sir Storm would handle having Novus in close quarters, but she wasn’t concerned. He needed to learn, eventually, how to be a hospitable guest.

Leading the way, Elisabeth stuck close to Alyssia, mulling over how to broach what she had witnessed. “When I first arrived in Scalvoris, I was overwhelmed. Often,” she said, spoken in a soft voice. “Balthazar taught me about meditation, and while it’s not as easy as people like to make it sound, I’ve found it to be a wonderful way to feel ‘in control’ again when things overwhelm. Now, I’m to the point where I can meditate anywhere, without others knowing I’m doing it. If you’d like, after we drop off your bags, I can teach you a bit? Haven is perfect for meditation. The sound of the waves and the warm sand.”

There was nothing in the woman’s offer that sounded insincere or false – she truly wished to help if Alyssia needed it.

After hearing the girl’s thoughts on that, Elisabeth continued, giving Alyssia a highlight of the evening events. “Tonight, we will have a bonfire dinner. Everyone in the settlement brings food, and we all eat and spend time together. Some people tell stories and sometimes there is singing. It’s a lot of fun – you’ll see.”

[Alyssia]

Alyssia looked at the woman as she stepped forward to address the young teen. She did not know Elisabeth very well, but that would change in time. It took a while before Devin was more welcoming to the girl. They had only really met when she had become sick and was living on the streets. It had taken everything in her not to simply tell him at the time that she had no home to call her own. The teen took a deep breath to help calm her nerves while listening when Elisabeth explained about the reason there were guards with the leader. Hearing that it was mostly for introductions, Alyssia relaxed some knowing that the older woman did not have anything planned against her.

“I see, thank you for this. Hello Silk, Balder, and Ronan. It is a pleasure to meet you, my name is Alyssia,” the teen stated and bowed her head to the three guards and went to get her bag.

The teen was shocked when Elisabeth picked it up and quickly motioned for them to head towards a place called Haven House. It stood to reason that it was like the barony manor in that the leadership lived there when they were not away doing things.

“Following you, how is Balthazar doing? I do not believe I have had the honor of meeting him yet. I hope we can fix that one day; he seems like a kind man from the way you talk about him,” Alyssia stated with a smile, “meditation? I have heard of it and even tried it on my own once. Let’s just say I got a nap out of the experience.”

Alyssia saw the building slowly coming into view and smiled. It fit in with the rest of the settlement and yet stood out in a good way. The thought of a big party made her nervous, but the teen knew that hiding would not help her leave how to control her emotions. She glanced out of the corner of her eyes towards the waves she could hear. There was not a chance to learn to meditate with someone who could do so without giving it away.

“I would like that very much, Mrs. Elisabeth. It is not every day I get a chance to have the perfect place to practice with an actual teacher,” the teen stated, “a bonfire dinner? I have never heard of one. It seems very intriguing though. If it is not too much trouble since I cannot cook I would love to be in attendance tonight.”