*Sienna's POV*
I exited the portal, disoriented and stumbled. Many eyes were on me now. I look around and greet them, "Hello. I'm looking for someone." I say to the many people.
After a moment, someone approached me, "Who are you looking for?" They asked.
"Alexander, a bard. Do you know him?" I ask.
"No, I do not. How unfortunate." They sigh. "Are you going to be staying around here?"
I droop instantly, depressed. Then, I perk back up, "No, I am looking for Alexander." With that, I wonder away, down the road to the right.
I take out my ocarina and play a melody, summoning Bellam, one of my companions, through the spell Find Steed. I made him a warhorse and we traveled together, me on his back, playing my ocarina. It took hours for it to turn dark, and hours again to become bright again. But eventually I came across another village. I spoke with the village elder and asked my question if he knows Alexander, or if he knows someone who would. He did not. But, he did suggest I see Tilton, an adventurer elf.
I'd need to travel West, to Dueling Rivers he'd told me. Where Tilton is a Mayor. So, Bellam and I did so. Travel was going slow, but my necklace, a pendant connecting me to my father suddenly shone, I felt a rush of excitement and fear. After a handful of minutes it quit shining, and I simply laid upon Bellam's back. He didn't mind. Like Baas, he's been my only friend for years. Unlike Baas, Bellam is sweet. Well, to me. He actively bites others. Then again, so do I.
By this point, it's just a learned behavior. Originally, it was a mutual suggestion from both Baas and Bellam, the second time they agreed on something. I should summon Baas soon. He'd probably like to be here with me. I can tell him about how my mom's necklace finally reacted.
Baas was my first friend I'd summoned. He was vaguely soulless, for a spirit. He complied with anything I asked of him without opinion. Most of what I asked of him was to fly around and see what he can see. Or to bring something to my mom. But the main thing I asked was for him to listen to me talk. And maybe interact with me.
It wasn't long before he opened up and became vicious towards others. And I'd merrily repeat his threats for him. Which made him happy. We bicker sometimes, but that's what friends do, Bellam says.
Bellam isn't bothered by much these days. I stroke his mane as we went. We had to travel quickly before my brother or mother found us. My brother was likely looking already, even if mom hadn't figured out yet that I was gone.
My brother is very tenacious. We look pretty similar for fraternal twins, we have the same blue eyes that we inherited from Alexander. Unlike me, he isn't concerned with his absence. And he tends to take on a full Celadrin appearance when his emotions are strong, though regularly, he's just a blonde. My hair is mostly blonde, too, but streaked with whichever season I embody, which is usually spring. Alexion normally embodies fall, and it suites him now. He used to get into fights a lot when we were small, but grew out of that when he began to serve the goddess Tamara.
Eventually, while playing a tune on the ocarina, we came across something quite odd. To the right of a newly constructed bridge, there was a cave that had a doorway, and door, adorned with a wreath. Curious, but determined to meet Tilton, we continued across the bridge.
Shortly after crossing the next bridge we found the town called Dueling Rivers. I let Bellam go back into the pocket dimension to rest and approached the gates.
"Stop," One guard said. "We need to see some I.D."
"I.D? I asked, confused.
"Identification paper." The second guard said.
"Identification paper? We don't have those in the Fey." I replied.
"No I.D, no entry." The first guard said.
"But, I need to get into town.." I protested.
"Can't help you." The guard said.
"Pardon me, Miss, but could you come over here a moment?" Someone called from behind me.
I turned and saw a young, tall, couple who looked alike. They were both pale humans with shoulder length black hair. The woman had pale blue eyes, the man had light green eyes. They oddly had blink dogs. I approached him easily and said "Yes?"
"Why do you need to enter town?" He asked. The woman stayed quiet, watching.
"Because I need to speak to Tilton." I replied.
"Why do you need to speak to Tilton?" The woman asked.
"Because he may be able to help me find Alexander." I said.
Her eyes grew big once I'd said that, and she eyed me. "Why do you want to find Alexander?" The man asked.
"Because I want to meet him." I replied.
"Why?" The woman asked.
"Because Alexander is my Father." I replied.
The woman's mouth dropped open in shock. The man said, "Oh, I am afraid I do not know Alexander..."
My shoulders drooped and I looked down, then I brightened again and said, "Neither do I."
"Oh." He said, "Ooh.... I am sorry." The woman had recover from the shock.
"So am I." I said.
"Well, what is your name?" He asked.
"Sienna, what is yours?" I asked.
"Plight. And this is Sarial." He introduced them.
I giggled and said, "I'm fey..."
Plight looked confused, but Sarial looked like she'd just heard terrible news, which is what I expected.
"Like Fey fey? Or elf fey?" She asked.
"Both," I told her, "I'm a Celadrin born and raised in the Fey. But, I'm not the steal your name or time sort."
"Oh, you didn't accidentally mess up then, Plight." Sarial said.
"Steal your name kind? There is one such as that?" Plight said, brows knot together in concern.
"Yes." I nodded firmly, a smile on my face, "They steal your name and make you their slave. Or erase your existence."
"Ah." He said, then he approached the guards, "I-I'll vouch for her."
Sarial took my arm and walked me to Plight, agreeing non verbally with his vouch.
"Are you sure? That means anything she does in town will be on you." The guard said.
"Yes... I am aware." He nodded.
With that, the guards let us in. I excitedly threw my arms around Plight's neck and said "Thank you!"
He froze up, stiff and said "We-we should take you to see Tilton."
"Though, he lives on the outside of town." Sarial pointed out, amused at Plight's discomfort.
I turned him lose and said "He does? Wish I'd known that."
"He does." Plight nodded, recovering and then walking down a path leading to the right and to another set of gates.
"So you're a Celadrin? What's the difference? Why aren't you a half-elf if Alexander is your father?" Sarial asks.
"Yes, my father is the human bard Alexander. Mother is a Noble Eladrin, a Celestial Eladrin, an Archfey Elf." I explained.
Sarial had went quiet. Plight looked at me and awkwardly said, "This way... my Lady?"
I giggled and took not of the area. Beyond the gate we were heading for was a large hill with a big house on top. Looking around the little town, I saw cute and tidy wood homes that were generally only one floor high, and several that were two floors high looked like shops and one place in particular had four floors. In the distance there were sturdier houses of stone. Marvelous.
Everything was so different. Plain in comparison to my home, but nice. I liked how even in town there was still grass and a few trees and bushes.
As we started up the hill to the mayor's house, Sarial says, "You look like Alexander, a bard that adventured with Tilton. I never met him, either, but he tutored my Mom for six years, when she was little. He's the closest to family Mom had before she met my dad."
"So your mom is like my sister?" I asked, "Has she seen him?"
"Not for twenty-three years. He left Mom at the previous mayor's home when she was fifteen. Which is a story for another time." Sarial said as she knocked on Tilton's door.
It took a few minutes, but Tilton opened the door. He's a tall elf with dark brown, nearly black, hair all the way to the middle of his back. His facial features are regal, and his eyes were black. His clothes maximized his importance, while leaving his movements entirely free. He looked decidedly grumpy, which made me giggle.
I immediately covered my mouth and tried to squash my joy. "Sorry, I'm spring aspect currently. I can't help it." I explained as his expression soured further.
"I know your kind." He says gravely. "Come in."
Sarial merrily follows him, patting me, then wrapping her arm around my shoulders, leading me along to Tilton's study.
"Why are you here?" Tilton asked.
"I came to ask you about Alexander Lockeheart." I answered, smiling.
"Well that is a particularly tough question. Something is affecting the memories of all those who even can remember him." Tilton replied.
I drooped briefly, then perked back up, meeting his eyes and said, "You haven't seen him? When was the last time? Or can you not recall?"
"Last time I saw him was during the last battle against the orcs." Tilton said. "He fought with us all the way to the orc warlord and disappeared."
"Could he have been stolen away?" I asked.
"I find it extremely unlikely." Tilton said, "Why do you seek him?"
"Because I would like to meet him. I've always wanted to." I told him with a grin.
"That doesn't answer my question." Tilton replied.
"It does technically, Tilton. But she says he's her father." Sarial says.
"Yes. Alexander is my father. Mother said so." I replied.
"And who might your mother be?" Tilton said.
"Sylvia Briar." I answered.
"You're claiming your mother is an Archfey. And.. no, wait. He did say he was running off to an Archfey didn't he? Didn't really believe him." Tilton said, almost to himself.
"Yes. Mother is the Archfey Sylvia Briar, a Noble Eladrin. I am her daughter, Sienna Locke. Fathered by Alexander Lockeheart, a human bard." I told him.
"Well at least you don't seem to have any issues admitting to such things." Tilton replied. "If you are here looking for him, I can only assume he did not return to the Fey."
"No, Mr. Tilton. We've never met Alexander. I should like to, though. He was somewhere around in the Mundane just yesterday, though, briefly." I replied.
"And what makes you say that with such confidence?" He asked.
"This," I tell him, showing him my mother's Elven Kiss, "It's two of a kind, connected through Mother's magic so that Alexander may find his way to her when he came back, it lights up and had lit up yesterday. Mother gifted it to me when I was little so that I may be the first he meets... oh. Oh.... No. She was.. comforting a child by not telling me she thought him dead. That took an embarrassingly long time to realize."
"It is.. particularly odd that it lit up at all. Would it react if someone else put it on?" Tilton said.
"I don't think so. My mom had to attune it to me." I replied, shaking my head.
Sarial looked at my pendant, curiously, her mouth then dropped open. "Hold up!" She got into her pack and brought out a writing kit, pulling out a piece of paper. Then looking between my pendant and the paper. "It emits a very bright, white light right?"
"Yes." I answered with a nod and confused smile.
Then, she showed us the paper with mother's Elven Kiss sketched onto it. "I think we may need Bibs." She said.
"And why would we need Bibs?" Tilton asked.
"Because, that pendant is on my bag friend that scared away Jack." Sarial told him. "And it was lit up. Yesterday."
I looked at Plight confused.
"That certainly sounds like a problem." Tilton said, his tone once again, more to himself, then to us, "Well, you can certainly ask Bibs his opinion on this matter."
"We'll take her to Bibs with us, Tilton." Sarial says to him.
"Yes, you might as well finish your grand tour of what used to be a peaceful town." Tilton said.
Sarial waved at him, cheekily telling him she'll visit him later, and I said, "Thank you, Mr. Tilton, and have a good night."
"Something tells me it will be an eventful one." He said as we left.
Back through town we went until we approached a goliath. Sarial had approached him happily to give him a hug, which he returned.
":Greetings:," I told him in the Giant tongue.
":Greetings, small one:!" He replied happily, in his native tongue.
":What were you doing, just then:?" I asked.
":What the small folk call whittling:." He replied.
":Ah, may I see:?" I ask him.
":This one's not done. Once it's done, yes. I can show you others:." He offered.
":I'd most assuredly enjoy the pleasure of seeing:!" I replied.
He opened a small bag that was next to his bench and pulled out a large box that wouldn't normally have fit in the bag. He then began to line up different carvings, a guard, a horse, a bird, some spider's that he's extra gentle with. He then waved his hand at them pridefully, allowing us to look.
":Magnificent! These are so intricate, you're amazing, Stone's Child:!" I tell him, marveling over his creations. You can tell he put extra effort into the spiders, but the others weren't lacking, either. Sarial also appreciated the carved figures. Plight seemed to as well.
He was grinning ear to ear at the praise. He then offered us to take one. Delighted, I double checked, but he was sure. Sarial accepted a bird, Plight took the horse, and I selected, gently, one of his precious spiders. I was so pleased that flowers sprouted everywhere nearby, including on Plight and the goliath.
":Stone friend, I am called Sienna Locke. Thank you preciously for this gift. I will always treasure it:." I tell him.
":As long as you treat it kindly and take care of it, it will take care of you. And Bibs says I should introduce myself to people. I am Kershka.:" He says.
I give him a hug then tell him, ":Sarial brought me to see Bibs to find Alexander, my father.:"
":Bibs is inside. That name sounds familiar. Bibs can help:." Kershka said, then he opened the door for us.
I thanked him graciously, as we went into Bibs' home. It was a tidy home with a desk and two armoires. Also a nice sized table, Sarial warns me not to touch anything. At the desk sat a cute and tidy little goblin with greased back black hair and a tidy little red vest over his clothes.
"Hi Bibs. This is Sienna, she's been looking for Alexander and we have a strong lead that we need help with." Sarial says.
"Oh?" Bibs says, "Tell me bout this lead."
"The bag friend." Sarial said.
"The bag friend?" Bibs parroted.
"Yes. Remember the pendant I'd asked you about? Apparently it's two of a kind made by Sienna's mother for Alexander and herself." Sarial explained. "It glowed because Sienna brought the match to this plane while he was out. Or that's the theory."
"I can only assume once you made this connection you tried to have him come out. Have you had any success with that?" Bibs asked.
"We were with Mr. Tilton. Mr. Tilton thought you may be able to help or have ideas." I said.
"No, we didn't try. I can try cookies again, but I suspect failure." Sarial shrugged.
"Well if he's become what you say he could have possibly become, then it is unlikely he is aware of who he was, or what he is. I will look into.. hopefully some way of reversing what he has become." Bibs said. "It will certainly take time, and quite a substantial amount of magic. Transformations like that are not a simple thing."
"Mother may be able to help. We'd just need to figure out how to get him to come out." I say.
"Who is your mother?" Bibs asked.
"Sylvia Briar." I answer.
"Well yes, I would say your mother would be able to help. She has quite the substantial amount of magic." Bibs said.
I smiled at him, it was a step towards getting meeting my father.
"We've just gotta figure out how to get him to come out. Cookies aren't reliable. And I don't want to use Jack." Sarial says.
"I don't know anything about Alexander. Just that he is a bard." I told them, "Else wise, I'd try and come up with something."
"Remembering things about Alexander seems to be quite a feat at the moment. Something is altering memories." Bibs said.
"I wonder if it's because of his new form? I am sure Mother would remember him well. Perhaps I should've asked her about him. That always made her sad." I say.
Sarial petted my hair and said, "I'm sure Alexander won't fault you for not saddening your mother. Father's tend to like it when their children are good to their mothers."
"We'll try and come up with ways. There is time, I hope." I say.
"Yes, yes. There is plenty of time. I'll contact some of my contacts and see what can be done on my end, if you'll excuse me." Bibs said.
"Thank you, Bibs." Sarial said.
"It was good to meet you, Bibs, and thank you for your help." I smile.
It hadn't taken long at Bibs' home, we'd left for the night. At that time we went and saw the guard captain then, Sarial separated from us for the night, leaving some packaged meats for the dogs. Their blink dogs followed us, per Sarial's request. Plight took me to the Inn, saying Sarial was off to see her sweetheart. So I'd asked Plight if he has a sweetheart, he doesn't.
He asked a lot of questions about the fey, and I asked him questions about the Mundane. He wasn't incredibly knowledgeable. I told him all kinds of things about the Fey Wilds. And I told him about my spirit friends, how Baas is bossy and Bellam was a very good friend to me. I told him about the elemental spirits, too.
At midnight, to my dismay, he had to go to his own room to rest. I was confused, initially, but humans sleep. In fact, a lot of people in the mundane sleep. So, it made sense. I wished him the best sleep possible, and then poutingly prepared myself for boredom, as he'd asked me to stay in the room.
I hate being by myself. I'm a twin, we aren't meant to be alone. With lonesomeness squashing me, I summoned Baas and explained what all had happened since I came into the Mundane. He was a little miffed to learn I'd had Bellam with me. But he accepted my apology, eventually. Especially when I resummoned him as a hawke.