Chapter 2: A surface spider

The job of an Imha’Akthan was to be the spiritual guide of the Tribe. She was seen as the connection between this mortal world and their goddess Selûne, the Moonmaiden. And Ly’Kalyn took her job with pride, having seen the power of their goddess already several times in her lifetime, she trusted her goddess with her life. Little did she know how much she would be involved in her “mother’s” plans…

While the nights of the full moon were often used to pray to their goddess, it was also the perfect time to go on a hunt for herbs. Now that the winter was gone and the spring was entering the lands, it was time to restock the Tribes supplies. And while several healers would do the same, Ly’Kalyn always took it upon herself to help with the search. And so she also did this night.

In silence and with quick feet she traveled through the forest, plucking the herbs she needed and only those she needed. She would not take more from nature than was intended. Her bags were filling quickly when she heard the soft rushing of a stream. Knowing she still had a long way to go back home, she decides to take a turn and walk up to the river to take a sip. 

And while she had expected to be alone, she wasn’t. 

Another elf was sitting at the riverside, taking water with his hands. Ly’Kalyn’s silver eyes went over the figure. His skin was dark, even darker than hers and with bright white hair. His clothing were dark, marked with symbols of spiders and webs. And his eyes glowed in a soft red hue. Ly’Kalyn did not need long to realize what kind of elf was sitting in her sight.

A drow!

Quickly Ly’Kalyn took her dagger, maybe not the biggest weapon that she could wield, but the only one that she had right now. With careful steps, she crawled up to the lone drow, trying to figure out what he was doing.

“A lone Drow is a dead Drow.” She said when she placed the tip of her dagger in the male’s neck. Yet instead of jumping up, ready to fight,he only raised his head, tilting his head that bit so that he could watch the female standing behind him.

“Then kill me swiftly, it would only be a blessing to me.”

Ly’Kalyn had learned about the Drow from her own mother. Dark elves that lived underground and were living in a world of treachery and murder. Drow were not loved or wanted on the surface and seeing one was enough reason to kill it, for Drow only brought pain and destruction. However, she had always learned that Drow came to the surface to raid, in a group. This one … seemed to be alone. 

“Why are you here?” Ly’Kalyn asked, letting her curiosity take over. 

Still with his hands raised, he turned around slowly. His body was covered in the finest armor and when he turned himself to her, the Night elf could see the giant spider that adorned his chest. The eyes of the spider were marked with several small red stones, that were almost shining in this bright moonlight. The sight alone made Ly’Kalyn take a step back. It was a symbol of death, but at the same time, it also attracted her, for it looked so familiar.

“I am not here to harm you.” The drow said, his hands still raised.

“And why should I believe you?” The night elf said, giving a slight flick with her dagger. 

“As you said, a lone Drow is a dead Drow.” And then he smiled. And it was that smile that made the Night Elf calm down, because that smile was simply not evil. It was pure honesty, just as the shimmering in his eyes. Neither did she fell fear like a few seconds before, no, she was calm. Taking a deep sigh, she lowered her dagger, knowing that this all could be a trick, but that idea just didn’t came up to her right now. And when she looked up to the full moon, she saw the stars around it twinkle, like they were dancing. 

“I will ask you again, what are you doing here?” The Night Elf asked, yet her tone was calmer. The male Drow lowered his hands slowly, his eyes turning around.

“I can not say I know, but I was drawn to this place. I was wandering through the Underdark tunnels, only devoted to my own thoughts, not knowing what I was doing or where I was going. And before I realized, I had reached the surface.”

He looked back to the Night Elf before him, still seeing the awareness in his body.

“Trust me, if my own kind would know I was here, they would have killed me by now for treason.”

Trust me … 

The words sounded so strange coming from a Drow, but Ly’Kalyn believed it. His voice was calm and kind and the longer she stood by him, the more she realized that she could not sense any evil in him. 

“What’s your name?” She suddenly asked, like something was forcing her to ask it.

“Elendar.” He replied, tilting his head a bit. “And yours?”

“Ly’Kalyn.”

You know that some things simply weren’t possible. And then you had that moment when they suddenly became possible. This was one of these things. Ly’Kalyn had never imagined that the first Drow she would meet would be a kind one. For she had only learned about their evil ways, that they killed the Elves on the surface. Yet this one was different. And for the rest of the night, they simply talked. It wasn’t a smooth going conversation, but Ly’Kalyn no longer had the feeling of fear. And when the sun was almost about the rise, Elendar said he had to leave, for he could not stand the light of the sun. And then the question came to meet again. Ly’Kalyn was first hesitating. It would not be smart to see each other again, their kin were enemies after all. But she could not suppress the feeling that all this was meant to happen. So she said she would be here by the next full moon.

And so it happened. The next full moon they meet again, and the one after. Their conversation growing softer and smoother. They were learning about each others' worlds, their lives and Ly’Kalyn would even share her knowledge with him. But as the time passed, the feeling of being strangers passed as well. Strangers became friends and friends became more, when Ly’Kalyn could not wait for the next full moon to arrive. If her Tribe would know that she was meeting a Drow, they would shun her and kill him, just because of what he was. But these meetings were a proof to her that not all evil beings had to be evil.

Yet she could not suppress the feeling of guilt, that was growing with each meeting. And after one meeting, this guilt was even greater than ever. For she could still feel how Elendar fingers had touched her body. She shivered by the thought, but not of fear for it filled her heart with joy. But that joy was swept away when Fa’hadir, her mate and Akthan of the Tribe came to her, glad to see his mate safe and sound from her trip back home. His fingers lingered through her silvery hair and a soft kiss was placed on her lips. Every time he did that, Ly’Kalyn could only feel the guilt rushing through her body. She loved him, she cared for him, but she could not deny the feelings that she had for Elendar as well … or for what had happened that night. 

Knowing this had to stop, she had to make a choice. And with pain in her heart, she knew that her life was on the surface, with her Tribe. She was the Imha’Akthan, the spiritual leader of this Night Elf Tribe and she had to behave like one. So on the next full moon, she prepared herself to meet Elendar again. She had to tell him that this was too dangerous to continue. So she went to the place they always went when they were meeting and she waited. But he did not came … And neither did he the next full moon. And fear struck Ly’Kalyns heart again. She had no idea what had happened. Was he dead? Or captured by his own kind, being found out that he breached the surface every full moon. And when he also didn’t came on the 3rd full moon, Ly’Kalyn knew something was wrong. He was gone … except for that tiny spark, that tiny life that had started to grow inside her. And while it filled her heart with joy, it was also filled with fear. Fear for what she had done and for what could happen. So she prayed, she prayed to her beloved Moonmaiden, for help and guidance, to stand at her side, for she had done a mistake. But no answer came, except for the light that was shining brightly as ever ...