• Closed • [Haven] It Takes Two...

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 48 Ashan

Chapel Series

#1 - Step By Step

#2 - Here We Go Again....

#3 - Without a Solid Foundation....

#4 - Memories Within These Walls...

The walls were going up nicely, and the chapel build was ahead of schedule. Almost all the inner walls were erected in the chapel, giving form to the rooms. One could actually walk through the front door of the building and make their way through. There was no roof, save the skeleton frame, but they would soon remedy that.

The group was halfway through the outer walls and continued the quest to finish those while the good weather held. It was fifty-two trials until the wedding, and everyone kept asking Elisabeth if she was nervous about the wedding. The wedding? No. Getting everything done before the wedding? Absolutely. Her lists became more significant by the trial, but she kept reminding herself that she could devote her attention to things she had put off once the chapel was done.

It was something of a quiet morning. Building walls was a monotonous task, so everyone kept up the energy by telling stories and chatting in general. The settlers and cadouri enjoyed it when Elisabeth told stories, but coming up with new ones could be difficult, having shared so much of her life with them.

Through the course of the build, they learned about Saoire through the cadouri, and Elisabeth imparted knowledge about Immortals she knew. However, there was one story that popped into her mind that she hadn’t told them, so when the group urged her to do so, Elisabeth had an idea of what she wanted to tell.

Balder was her building partner that trial, and Elisabeth told her story as the pair worked on one of the back walls to the structure, speaking up so others could hear. “So, before the Forging, in Ashan – wow, has it been a whole arc already?” Had it really been an entire arc since the madness of the Forging? Part of her felt like it had been just yesterday, and Elisabeth certainly hadn’t come to terms with everything that had occurred then or during the Rynmere situation.

Shaking her head, she continued, holding a board up for Balder to nail. “Anyway, I left Haven for Scalvoris Town – most of you know that. The Elements helped me out with transportation, and we were on our way. I went to Scalvoris Town to collect Storm and shop for ingredients to make Balthazar a special birthtrial dinner. Oh, and books. I needed some books.” Luckily, she had managed two of the three objectives before being pulled into the Forging, and Storm had been taken care of by Perdita until Elisabeth reappeared, without her memory.

Scalvorians had a handful of Immortals that they were familiar with, and while Vri and Famula weren’t two of those, the one Elisabeth met that trial was – U’frek. “After leaving, the trip was quiet for a bit. We enjoyed good weather on the crossing until suddenly, a storm hit. Unlike any storm I’ve ever seen, the way it came on so quickly. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was a Chrien-fueled storm. We quickly made our way below deck, and I met a strange man there.”

Being an island, U’frek was widely worshipped and respected in Scalvoris, so the young mage thought, this time, that perhaps telling a story of her meeting with U’frek would be a nice change of pace. “He spoke in riddles and ambiguities, and I didn’t know it at the time, but he was someone you all have heard of. As I understand it, during that time, Immortals visited various people, encouraging them and offering advice. None of us knew what was coming or that we would be pressed into service so soon, but I am glad for my meeting with U’frek. He was kind and wise, and I understand why he is so respected in Scalvoris.”

It had been a short story, but then again, their meeting had lasted only bits. Grabbing another board, Elisabeth turned to smile at those listening, laughing just a bit. “Sometrial, I’m going to run out of stories, you lot. It’s someone else’s turn.” There might have been teasing involved, but she really didn't mind the stories. Telling them made her think of Cassion, whom she was fond of as well.

Balder, absentmindedly glancing around for a moment, noticed a form making its way through the trees as Elisabeth started her story - a very familiar form at that. A smile slipped over his lips, glancing at Elisabeth, who had her back turned to that area.

Someone had come home.

[Balthazar Black]

48 Ashan 722

Things never stopped and as often as Balthazar assured Elisabeth that he would make it back to Haven and back to Faldrass, he was severely behind on visits in his opinion. Things in Almund had been difficult and there were other pursuits that seemed to eat at his time, but he could not and would not forget the commitment they had to each other and to Vri. The chapel was not done and he wanted to be there to help before it was. His liberation from the Elements had freed him up to do a lot his own way. He hadn't stopped investigating anything that he'd started, but he had to approach things differently. He couldn't go out as openly and seek information, so he had to have others go out for him. Fortunately he and Robin had come up with a fairly reliable group.

Balthazar felt like he could take time to himself so he made a plan to visit Elisabeth and Haven again. He met up with Robin in Almund and the two of them got a ship to Faldrass together. They had not had as much time to spend working together as Robin wanted but until and unless he joined the Elements, Balthazar wasn't comfortable involving him in investigations openly. He hinted at where Robin could help but he never permitted. He would not have it come back on him.

The journey across the sea to the volcanic island felt long. It was the first time in a long time that Balthazar could just sit and take his mind off work. He was going home. For the first time in a long time, home.

How long would the peace last in his head?

They reached the docks early on the 48th of Ashan and from there it was just a journey across a familiar land back to Haven. The walk felt good. The motion relieved the sense that Balthazar always eventually began to feel when he took boats places. The feeling of immobility. Stagnation. He knew it was his spark pushing him but he felt it all the same. Upon arriving in Haven, Balthazar and Robin were greeted by two of the settlers who Balthazar recognized from the earliest bonfires the settlement had. They spoke briefly, kindly, and then gave Balthazar directions to the chapel that was being built. He didn't need the directions because he and Elisabeth had picked the location together, but he wanted the settlers to feel like they were helping him. He thanked them and made his way to where he knew Elisabeth would be.

He arrived to find her in the midst of a story about the Forging and stopped beneath a tree to listen to her. Robin stopped beside him, a little confused for a trill before deciding simply to listen to the story. No one building had seen them yet and Balthazar wanted to take just a few trills to see Elisabeth in the habitat she'd build for herself. It made him happy to see her doing so well. Her story ended and the group seemed to get back to work, picking up another board to put on the wall. It was then that Balder saw the former leader standing under the tree and Balthazar gave him a small nod.

"Who is that?" Robin asked Balthazar.

"Balder, one of the settlement guards." Balthazar said quietly before gesturing for Robin to follow him. He moved quickly to close the distance between Elisabeth and himself. He moved quickly so she did not turn around before he wanted her to. When he was close enough, he said, "I doubt you will ever really run out of stories at the rate you're going now."

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 48 Ashan

That voice. It was the voice she loved most in the world, whether instructing her, teasing her, or whispering things that would only ever be known between the two of them. Over their time together, the range of tones and inflections became noticeable. Moods reflected, or unasked questions lingering beneath the surface – all left traces, wrapped within his voice.

When Balthazar was called back to resume his duties with the Elements, Elisabeth had anticipated there would be much she would miss about the way their lives had been versus the new versions. What she hadn't counted on was how much she missed his voice. He could always hear hers, if needed, via his memory; Elisabeth had no such ability. Moments spent with her eyes closed, trying to conjure forth a snippet of something he had said to her, needing to hear just a few words in her mind's eyes. The longer he was gone, the harder it was.

When he spoke, everything in Elisabeth came alive. He'd feel every ounce of it because of their link, but outwardly, she stayed calm. Discipline was a wonderful thing, and it really wouldn't have been appropriate for her to tackle him in front of everyone, despite the desire to do so. No, that wouldn't do at all.

Without turning to look, she smiled. "Let it be noted that I only started having stories to tell right about the time I met you, I believe. A clear sign that life with you would never be dull, and it never has been." Only then did she finally turn, gifting him the smile only he received. It was a glowing, brilliant smile that made her cheeks ache when worn too long but well worth it, in her opinion.

Stepping over the menagerie of tools, boards, and like items, Elisabeth managed to detangle herself from work for just a moment, approaching Balthazar and embracing him warmly. "Welcome home, love. I missed you, but we've been busy, as you can see." The settlement leader was still learning many, many things, but one thing she was very good at, was getting things done.

After releasing him, the young woman recognized a face, giving Robin a warm smile. "Welcome to Haven!" They didn't know each other well, but Balthazar had told her about the young man and knew there was a standing invitation for him in Haven, stood he desire it.

A few more introductions needed to be made, and Elisabeth was happy to do so. Gesturing with her head gently, she smiled at Balthazar. "Follow me. There are a few people I'd like you to meet."

Glancing around, Elisabeth quickly found who she was looking for; the cadouri tended to stand out. "Professor McGerman, I'd like you to meet Balthazar Black. Balthazar, Professor McGerman is the one who headed up the built team that came to Haven to help us with the farmhouse and barn. I asked him and his team to return for the chapel."

The mouse cadouri gave Balthazar a beaming smile, offering his hand in greeting. "Well, well! I was hoping to get the chance to meet you, Mr. Black – a pleasure! As I've expressed to Elisabeth already, congratulations on your betrothal! So exciting!"

Herman, in turn, introduced Balthazar to Melinda and Miles, two other mouse cadouri, who were his student assistants. There were other cadouri milling about, working, but the professor assured him that more introductions would come after the work trial.

After a few bits, the professor found himself pulled away for a consultation on a matter of measurement, leaving Elisabeth and Balthazar alone again. Well, standing together alone near a whole bunch of other working people, if one could call that 'alone.' The chapel itself was taking shape nicely. A quick glance would tell one that the foundation and frame were in place, including the roof. Half of the walls were erected, including most of the interior ones.

Elisabeth paused for a moment, mind racing. There were so many things they needed to catch up on, but one seemed more important than the others.

"Would you like a tour before I put both of you to work?" she said, offering a mischievous grin to both Balthazar and Robin. Obviously, it would be a quick one, but Elisabeth thought the mage might be interested in what the inside would look like considering he had been gone when she and Herman had planned that portion of the project.

[Balthazar Black]

48 Ashan 722

"Correlation, not causation." Balthazar said with a small smirk when Elisabeth suggested that she'd only really started getting stories to tell when she met him. It might have been true but his presence was likely not the reason for the many things she'd been through. He wasn't even there for the Forging. He was trapped on the island with the settlers in the middle of an unexplainable freeze. Strange things happened all the time. Elisabeth moved around the tools to reach Balthazar and Robin, embracing the former with a warm hug and warmer smile. She alluded to the work they'd done and Balthazar looked up at the site of what would become their chapel to Vri.

It looked more like a building than Balthazar had been expecting it to when he returned. They must have been ahead of schedule. Good. He was eager to complete the tasks that Vri had given them and as soon as the chapel was built, they could hold the memorial and inter the remains there. They were so close to the end that he almost felt nervous. They had no shortage of tasks to complete from different sources- tasks from Vri, tasks from Raine, and for Balthazar some tasks from that woman who sold him the sealed decanters and book. At least he didn't have to worry about the Elements anymore. He felt more free to do as he pleased and hoped that feeling of freedom would last till the wedding.

"Thank you, it seems like a good place to be." Robin replied in a friendly voice when Elisabeth welcomed him to Haven. He was standing a little bit off to the side so that the couple could have their privacy. He, like Elisabeth, knew that Balthazar valued his privacy. Robin thought it a little ironic that Balthazar placed such a value on his own privacy while he worked in a field that practically destroyed the notion.

Elisabeth got to business quickly by directing the boys to follow her. She wanted to introduce them to some people and Balthazar didn't argue. He wasn't sure he needed formal introductions to anyone who helped or passed through the settlement but if Elisabeth wanted him to meet someone, he would. She brought the duo over to a cadouri, apparently a professor, and introduced them to him. Professor McGerman. Interesting name for an interesting creature. Balthazar shook the professor's hand when it was extended and smiled through the things the cadouri said, but Balthazar's responses were brief. Mostly just a 'thank you' for the congratulations on his betrothal.

The professor introduced them to some of his students and Balthazar made sure to remember the names. The conversation didn't last long before McGerman was pulled away to another task. The chapel wouldn't build itself while they talked. Elisabeth asked if they wanted a tour and Balthazar shook his head. Did he want to walk around a construction sight while others were trying to build and he was just watching? No. "No tours, I'm sure we will see all we need to see when we are helping. Let's get to work."

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 48 Ashan

With a tour declined, nothing was left to do other than get to work. Elisabeth led Balthazar and Robin over to where she and Balder were completing an outer wall. The settlers quickly provided tools to the pair, and the young mage promptly explained what they were doing. "So, the frame, as you can see, is already up. We are just making the walls now by nailing in the boards."

Gesturing behind them, Elisabeth pointed out the stack of pre-cut boards meant for that particular wall, smiling. "Those boards are already measured and ready to be put in place. We've found it's easiest for one person to fetch boards, then help hold the board in place while the other person nails in the first few nails to secure the board to the frame. Then, while they finish that process, the other goes back for more boards, if needed. It allows us to move quickly."

Grabbing a board, Elisabeth and Balder demonstrated for the pair. It was a straightforward process, and since Balthazar had worked with builders before, she was reasonably sure he knew how to nail boards to other boards.

Balder glanced at Balthazar. giving the mage a small smile. "We don't let her near hammers if we can help it. Occasionally she gets a hold of one and madness ensues." Elisabeth shot the guard a withering look. "One time! One time did I almost try to nail my fingers to the board. You all freaked out after that."

Silk, having heard the banter, chimed in. "Just like we try to keep you down off roofs after you almost fell off the farmhouse." Sighing dramatically, Elisabeth had an answer for that one too. "That was a misunderstanding between myself and the roof. I won."

The building process itself tended to be a little monotonous, so there was always time to talk as people worked, and Elisabeth took advantage of the opportunity. "So, what have you two been up to?" Balthazar shared a little via echo scroll conversations, but those couldn't replace talking to him face to face. He had experienced a personal challenge in Cylus, and she was curious how he was fairing with it. He wouldn't say certain things in public, but then again, Elisabeth was just offering a bit of chit-chat.

To be honest, she hadn't ever thought the Elements and Balthazar were a good fit. Back in Rharne, when he spoke of his job, there was a sadness to his words. Elisabeth had tried to reassure him that he would find his calling, and perhaps what he was doing then wasn't it. She loved him, and for him to find something he had a passion for was all she wanted.

"Meow?"

From behind the group, the inquisitive sound came. Sir Storm of Haven, having exhausted all his opportunities to snag fish bites, had proceeded from Munny Farm to the chapel site. The sound was simply his way of announcing his arrival and for everyone to lavish attention upon him. Settlers and cadouri alike greeted the feline but kept their hands in their work, which simply was not proper etiquette in Storm's opinion.

Glancing around, Storm noticed the tall one had returned. Good. That would make his girl happy, which was always a good thing because fish bites and affection overflowed when she was delighted. The feline wasn't quite sure how that worked, but it did, so here they were. On the other hand, it meant that sleeping on the bed was out of the question until the tall one left again. That was not so good, but one had to make sacrifices sometimes so they could get more fish bites.

There was a new one as well, and as was his sworn duty as Sir Storm of Haven, the feline was required to greet all newcomers. Sauntering over to Robin, Storm sat down near the man's feet and issued his greeting, deep orange eyes blinking slowly, giving Robin an indifferent look.

"Meow?"

[Balthazar Black]

48 Ashan 722

Elisabeth guided them over to where they'd be working and Robin paid much closer attention to her direction than Balthazar did. He'd helped put up a wall in the past and he could hold a beam in place with plenty of ease. Robin, on the other hand, had an artistic mind that he had geared towards smithing more than woodworking. He could figure out what he was doing and make it look nice, but he would probably hit his hand a few times trying to drive in nails. Smithing and building houses both involved a decent amount of accurate hammering, but hammering a nail was different then beating the bend out of or into a peace of metal. All the same they both felt like they were being talked to like children, just a little. By this point in building it really didn't seem all that complicated. Maybe if they still had to put up the frame they would understand detailed instructions.

Elisabeth and Balder deemed it necessary to demonstrate the steps that Elisabeth had just explained so Balthazar and Robin waited and watched them. The guards took shots at Elisabeth and Balthazar just grinned through them. He liked to think they wouldn't have been so willing to betray his mistakes to others as they were willing to betray her mistakes to him. Maybe he was just being too sensitive about it. Secrets were slowly becoming a necessary evil in his life. Elisabeth admit to almost nailing her hand to a board and Balthazar's eyes widened slightly. He understood hitting your own hand with the hammer, but not quite how she had almost driven a nail through her hand.

He gestured for Robin to grab a hammer and some nails while Balthazar moved over to pick up one of the pre-cut boards from the pile. It was heavy but he'd lifted heavier things before. In the end it would be the continued motion of bending over to pick up the planks that would really test his strength. When Balthazar had the plank in his hands, he heard Silk chime in about Elisabeth almost falling off the roof. That got an actual laugh out of him. He pointed at Silk with his left hand, allowing the beam of wood to rest against the floor for a moment, and said "That one is entirely your fault. You know she is terrible at staying on her feet. Do better guards." Silk and Balder laughed, knowing that he didn't actually intend to blame them for it. Robin didn't laugh. He felt a bit out of the loop.

Elisabeth asked what he and Robin had been up to while Balthazar moved the plank into place above where Elisabeth and Balder had just secured theirs. "Mind your fingers, Robin." Balthazar instructed quietly to his friend before turning his attention back to his bride-to-be. Robin began carefully, and slowly, hammering nails through the plank into the support beams that made up the frame of the chapel. What had they been up to? That was a difficult question to answer. A lot. A little. Everything and nothing at all.

"It's a long story." Robin said after Balthazar took too long to reply.

Balthazar nodded and with a small sigh said, "Robin, you're just inviting her to ask more detailed questions." He adjusted the height of the plank a little when he realized it had begun to droop on one side. Robin moved over to put a nail in so that it wouldn't happen again. Balthazar turned his head towards Elisabeth, "Many things, but this isn't the place to discuss them. Too many... roaming ears." It wasn't that he didn't trust the builders she had hired, it was just... well... exactly that actually. Trust had to be earned these trials. He would not openly discuss things if he could not ensure others did not overhear it. Until he had what he was working towards, he felt it wasn't worth talking about.

"Could someone move this cat? I don't want to drop a plank on it." Robin said suddenly when Storm approached him. Robin would have never allowed a cat in a forge and he would never have expected a cat to want to be around one. All the hammering should have scared the little ball of fur off. He didn't bend down to pet the cat, he just kept working. Balthazar had brought him to work, not to become infatuated with overly friendly animals. Balthazar admired Robin's dedication, but even he thought Robin could take a small break to pet the cat... just not while they were building.

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 48 Ashan

The crew worked, and Balthazar chided Robin for opening them up to further interrogation by Elisabeth regarding their travels. As the mage spoke, his fiancé just grinned, glancing over at Robin and nodding her head. "He's right. It's true. I tend to ask a lot of questions. But I'm an excellent listener as well." She had to be, of course, being a settlement leader. The people of Haven had troubles, and very often, Elisabeth was the one they sought out to help sort out how they felt about things.

Elisabeth would never know how she ever found herself in the job she did. She often doubted her ability to lead people but was constantly reassured by the settler's happiness in Haven that there were at least a few things she was doing well.

Balthazar's comments about prying ears were met with a nod of her head. His reaction had been expected, which made Elisabeth a bit sad, reminding her of the trials when privacy was stripped away from them altogether. He still held so scars from that – they both did.

Returning her attention to the wall they were finishing up, Balder repositioned a board that had gone slightly askew, nailing it into the proper position and gesturing over to the adjoining wall, indicating that they should start on that wall. Looking into the structure, she was pleased to note that a few more inner wall sections were going up. Progress always made her happy, and they were so close to finishing what Vri had asked of them.

Focusing on Robin for the moment, wishing to get to know him a bit better, her thoughts were broken by comments about Storm. She gave the cat a small smile, striding over to scoop him up.

"Apologies, Robin. This is Storm. He's near convinced everyone in the settlement that he runs things, and I'm not sure he's wrong."

Hearing her name called, Elisabeth turned in the direction of the voice, noting Delilah's approach. "I figured as much!" the young woman said, laughing as she saw Elisabeth holding Storm. "I was working in the sand frames behind the farmhouse, and he snuck off. I can take him back until you are all done for the trial."

As the pair transferred the miffed feline from one pair of arms to the other, the farmer's daughter noticed Balthazar and Robin, smiling at them. "Welcome back, Balthazar! It's good to see you. And hello! I'm Delilah. Welcome to Haven." Delilah was naturally friendly with a sunny disposition. Truthfully, Elisabeth wasn't sure she had ever seen the girl anything other than cheerful, which was a rare thing in a person.

Balthazar had told her that Robin was from Rynmere, which had not been in the best state when they had left it. Probably best to avoid that subject, she thought. Trying to come up with topics to discuss, considering she knew very little about the man, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try. Elisabeth just needed a bit more time with the man to get a better feel of his personality.

Continuing working on the wall, Elisabeth returned her attention to Balthazar. "Well, I hope whatever you've been up to has been productive for you. I can't wait to hear about it."

[Balthazar Black]

48 Ashan 722

Balthazar was glad that Elisabeth did not push about what the two of them had been up to since his separation from the Elements. It was not that he did not trust Elisabeth, it was just that he knew she now had a better connection to the Elements than he did. He did not want to put her into a position where she had to choose a side. He wasn't going to lie to her but he was going to keep particulars that the Elements didn't need to know about to himself. Robin and the company could be told the particulars but even then, Balthazar only told them what they needed to know to do the jobs they had to do. He handled a lot of things by himself, as was his preference. It was easier to avoid being caught that way but sometimes numbers were needed to make a point or prevent a fight. As long as they were not discussing it, he did his best not to think about it. Not all his work was as clean as it used to be.

What Elisabeth considers scars, Balthazar considered lessons. It didn't help that he couldn't think about everything that had happened with the clarity of memory that he had. It was always fresh in his mind and if he allowed himself to think of them as wounds, they would always be wounds. He had to learn from what happened. Either so he knew what it was he really wanted to do or so that he could prevent the same thing from happening again.

Balthazar noticed the ball of fur beside Robin before the man from Rynmere commented on the hazard the cat created. He was right but Balthazar was just amused someone wasn't entirely infatuated with Storm. It seemed that the feline would have to earn anything he got from Robin. The squire of many dead knights nodded to Elisabeth when she explained who Storm was but he didn't take much of his focus off the work on the wall. Robin had spent time learning to blacksmith, which saved his fingers a few times while hammering, and he developed a habit of getting into a very focused state when working. It was then that Delilah arrived with an explanation for how Storm had wandered over to them. Honestly, Balthazar was surprised that the cat had never wander off into the more dangerous parts of the island given how much freedom they gave it.

Delilah welcomed Balthazar back and introduced herself to Robin in her usual cheery manner and Robin shifted the hammer in his right hand to his left hand so he could offer his right to Delilah. "Thank you. I'm Robin, it is nice to meet you." He said before giving her a small nod and returning to the work that Saoire's builders were helping guide them through. Balthazar could see in Elisabeth's expression that she wanted to know more about the boy but she didn't ask for one reason or another. Maybe she was afraid of how he would react? Balthazar was slowly getting to a point where he didn't care much about how others reacted to what he did. Elisabeth seemed to decide on a more general wish that whatever they were working on was productive for them and Balthazar replied to stop Robin from letting anything slip.

"Productive is an odd word for it, but we are making progress. Slow progress, but progress all the same. When we're done here we can talk about it at the house."

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 48 Ashan

She kept her eye on Balthazar. His mood concerned her to a degree, but she wasn't sure exactly why. He was a focused individual, certainly, but even more so then. Perhaps it was the chapel? Did he feel the same need urge to finish their task?

Sighing a bit, she and Balder continued to work on the wall as Balthazar answered her regarding his and Robin's productivity while gone. Nodding, she knew he would tell her what he felt he could, but there was an awareness that she'd never know everything going on with him while she might want to.

Instead, Elisabeth tried to focus on what they were doing with the chapel. "We came upon a thought early in the building processes. Since one of Vri's Domains is Remembrance, we've been telling stories as we build. Like the one you stumbled upon me telling when you both arrived."

Smiling, she turned to glance at Balthazar. "I told them about how we met. That trial in Rharne when you were fighting."

Balder chuckled softly at the comment, remarking to Balthazar. "And how she asked you a million questions. That's the Elisabeth we know and love. So, apparently, you knew what you were getting into from the start, eh?"

Elisabeth gave a dramatically shocked look, then let it fade to a smile. "Questions are good, Balder. Always question things. In the case of that trial, I wanted information, and Balthazar was kind enough to oblige."



The work progressed, and soon enough, they were finishing the last outer wall. There were still inner walls to be erected but having all the exterior walls up allowed her to visualize the finished concept better.

Walking over to the pre-measured and cut boards pile, she picked up as many as she could lift and hauled them back over to where she and Balder were working. They were on the backside of the structure, so that wall was closing in the four rooms that would make up the back of the chapel: the bedroom, a small kitchen area, office, and special-purpose space.

Considering the rooms as they worked, holding boards for Balder to nail in, she was pleased with their size. It was always hard to visualize size for her, and while she trusted Herman greatly, it was a relief to see the ideas they spoke of materialize.

Balder had been quiet for a time, but Elisabeth knew he was much like Balthazar in that regard, where his mind was constantly chewing on things. In fact, she was similar. It surprised her when he finally spoke up and asked for another story. And this time, it was one she really didn't want to tell.

"Elisabeth, how did you die?"

There was no need to look around; Elisabeth knew the others were listening. They knew she had died and been resurrected during the Forging, but she had glazed over the details. She felt there was a need for openness and transparency in the world, and she tried to embody that with the settlers, but her death was a sensitive subject. Her willingness to delve into such topics was a double-edged sword sometimes.

The hesitation would be enough for Balthazar to know Elisabeth was uncertain about answering the question, but he also could sense her conflicted emotions. She glanced at him, trying to figure out what to do and hoping the answer would come to her, looking at the person that meant the most to her, but ultimately, she knew it was something she needed to confront herself.

She never looked at Balder, or Balthazar, as she spoke, keeping her eyes on the boards she was working with. Somehow, that helped.

"I…. don't really know, Balder. Ishallr was confusing. We landed, and it was unbearably cold there. I slipped coming off the Sohr Khal – there was ice everywhere. That slip ended up sending me and one other member of the party, who also slipped, into an emergency. My inexperience in such a climate and dealing with something like that didn't help matters. After that point, things devolved quickly, and there was a powerful ghost there."

It was hard explaining, but she tried the best she could. "There was an order not to use magic, and one of the team members tried to use magic to help me. It backfired. Somehow the ghost ended up inside me, and I was quickly removed from Ishallr by the Elements." Everything had happened so quickly.

"I don't know when I died. I remember battling the ghost. I remember hoping she'd help us and offering to help her, but once she was inside me – it was like a possession of sorts – all she did was tell me all these horrible things about myself, trying to make me believe the worst of myself. That would have been as they were flying me to Scalvoris Town."

Sighing, she placed another board up for Balder. "Things like how I cause trouble and people would be better off if I died. I don't know why she felt the need to do that, but I haven't forgotten about her. I hope sometrial to try and find out what happened to her and see if I can help."

Silk, listening nearby, scoffed at the idea. "After what she put you through? Why?" Shrugging lightly, having considered the same question of herself repeatedly, Elisabeth knew the answer. "Ghosts aren't like us. Perhaps they start that way, but something tells me she's an older ghost. You can't assign the same types of psychology to them that you would like another person, I don't think. Maybe she was fighting for her survival too. I don't know."

Stopping for a second, Elisabeth considered her following words carefully. "But trying to help people is who I am. I can't be someone else. Sometimes people don't want my help, and that's their decision, but in Isis' case, I don't know if that's true or not, or if she just didn't think I could help her. I don't know, but I'd like to find out sometrial."

There was much more wrapped up in that thought than she let on, although Balthazar likely would suspect that there was a reference to the Council in there. It was something that still saddened her, being rejected, but in a way had let her to bury the idea of helping on a larger scale, allowing her to focus to Balthazar, Faldrass and the settlement. Regardless, there was still a sense of loss that she needed to come to terms with it.

Continuing, she knew that her answer had drug on longer than she intended, so Elisabeth wrapped it up. "I died sometime on the flight in from Ishllar or the Mausoleum. That's where I was taken when I arrived and where I was resurrected. I don't know for sure what actually killed me, or if it was a combination of everything. I remember a female presence being with me in this warm haze, and I know that now to have been Famula."

There was something she wanted to add before ending her answer. "I don't regret the experience. It's difficult to speak of because I made mistakes that contributed, but I don't regret going through the experience. It's made me stronger, I think, and allowed me to appreciate all the things I have in my life that sometimes we take for granted. I rose from that experience and learned. How well I learned? That remains to be seen."

[Balthazar Black]

48 Ashan 722

The work progressed and the stories continued to flow like wine at a banquet table. Balthazar was quiet and Robin was as well but they were not unresponsive. They seemed focused on what they were doing or on the thoughts in their heads. In Balthazar's case, he was thinking about the chapel and how close they were to being done with it. In Robin's case, he was thinking about the homeland he had not heard from in so long. As the trials dragged on for Robin the distance from Rynmere felt further and further. Balthazar knew of his friend's feelings but whenever he proposed that Robin take a trip back to visit family, Robin claimed it wouldn't change anything. Balthazar didn't want to bring it up, so more often than not when they were working they found themselves in an almost meditative state where they only said the things they needed to. It seemed the builders working with the settlement enjoyed the stories being told though.

Balthazar and Robin stayed relatively close to Elisabeth and Balder while they worked. The duo did nothing inventive or creative, they simply followed the instructions that they were being given by the builder who knew how to do it better than them. It seemed that they might be able to work the entire trial away when suddenly Balder asked a question which earned him a confused look from Robin and a somewhat irked look from Balthazar. He knew she didn't want to talk about it. He could feel the shift in her emotions when she heard the question and for just a moment, Balthazar stopped working to check on her. He set down the pile of pre-cut boards that he was bringing around to add to those which they had and he watched Elisabeth.

He talked about what happened at Immortal's Tongue far less than she talked about her death. It was easier to look back on the memory now and not feel what he felt then, but easier did not mean easy. He couldn't imagine how it felt for her. Before she'd be aware, he was next to her with his hand in her own. He could take the sadness and sorrow over what had happened and bear it himself but he knew she wouldn't want that so instead she got his hand in her own. He squeezed her hand gently and then let go, moving back over to where he and Robin had been working so Elisabeth could tell her story. She did. She did in the uniquely her way. With many words.

The only new thing that he heard was that she wanted to find the ghost who'd tormented her and try to help her. Balthazar, having decided rather promptly that the Empty in Viden could not be saved, could not see the logic behind it. Elisabeth made excuses for the ghost and while Balthazar agreed with the note about the mind of a ghost, he disagreed that they could not be held to the same standard. Zach. The LeFluer family. The dead inside the Sentry. Nimue. There were plenty of ghosts who refused to move on that had maintained a decent enough composure. The LeFluer's organized an entire party and they were all dead. The ghost who attacked Elisabeth chose to hurt her the moment she saw the chance. Because of that, she ranked very low on the list of the dead that Balthazar was interested in helping.

Elisabeth went on to justify it by saying that helping people was just part of who she was. It was wonderful, but would also probably be the doom of them all in the end. The world would never stop taking more than it gave and if they didn't shore up and hold onto what they had, they'd lose it all. Elisabeth had a way of being positive about everything that Balthazar admired most trials. He'd never be like that. She had hope in her core and he did not. He did not want hope. It was the last resort for the unprepared and he never wanted to be unprepared again. Hope was a wonderful thing, but it was for those around him and not him. If he could give them hope, he would, but he would not partake. He would prepare. He would fight for what he wanted rather than hope for it.

He didn't say anything about the story he had heard a few times now. He got back to work.

"Why do you think Famula helped you?" Robin asked after a pause which prompted Balthazar to give him the same look he gave Balder.