Inescapable Changes

[Audrey Fëfalas]

Title: Inescapable Changes
Chapter: 1
Caste: Initially closed (Audrey Fëfalas, Ancalagon)
Rating: PG-13
Plot: As uneasiness pervades Elidoris, even Tazar's innkeeper Audrey and her normally cheery disposition are affected.
Location: Capitol City T'Gatherin: Tazar's Inn
Mood: Apprehensive & discontent


That unrest was predictable did not soothe the fact of its existence. Since King Zardra's disappearance, gossip about the royal family's tragic story had inevitably morphed into rumors of a coup d'état. Those that supported the status quo and Ryan's ascension to power didn't do so out of trust in the boy's ability to rule, but out of fear; anything was preferable to bloodshed.

More troubling than the likelihood of a coup d'état by nobles who had always fought amongst themselves and elves who had always prided themselves in providing purebred heirs to the throne, was speculation that even the council of regents had grown corrupt. They, whose ethics and fealty had always been relied upon before to maintain stability and justice. It was impossible to tell how much of it was true and how much had been born of paranoia.

Despite the pervasive uneasiness throughout Elidoris, business at Tazar's only seemed to benefit from it. The semblance of normality lent a false sense of security to those who had the most to lose even as nobles scrambled to assure their loyalties on the surface and others tried to curry favor with them or scope out more information.

Audrey watched it all with a passive eye as if she, too, were not waiting with stomach upended. "Pippa, light the candles!" Her command shot across the bar, startling a violet-eyed beanstalk into motion. The last rays of sunshine glittered off a golden locket Audrey wore over the rich purple of a dress. The clothing reminded her of how far she'd come since she lived on a farm. She had earned leagues beyond what she could have once imagined, and yet somehow she had grown unsatisfied. Brows furrowing slightly as the innkeeper crossed her arms beneath her breasts and surveyed the inn she owned, she couldn't help wondering if there would ever be more to her life than this tavern. It was a silly notion to begin with, but it had an undeniable bite.

No matter how boisterous Tazar's became, there was now a constant, straining recklessness beneath it, as if everyone instinctively knew that peace was not due to last. Audrey held onto hope that it would as vainly as the rest of the country--believed misguidedly that happiness could not be found unless it prevailed. Everyone was counting down the days til Ryan's coronation ceremony.

Everyone was readying themselves for changes they knew they couldn't escape.

[Ancalagon{BD}]

Months, no, at least a year. He was not even sure anymore, everything had changed within himself yet he remained the same. Ancalagon had returned after disappearing for an extended period of time. No one knew where he was. He wasn't even sure himself if he knew where he had been. That did not matter now, as he knew now, things he had forgotten a long time ago. He walked the streets, an average man in average clothes, blending in with the crowd.

He walked, and as he drifted from his quiet thoughts to looking out at this city he had lived around for such a long time, something was uneasy. That uneasiness stemming from the current political unrest. With a soft shake of his head he did not worry more about it. At least not for the time being. "Do not meddle with their affairs Ancalagon..." The voice echoed in his mind as he quietly walked this evening, threading through the civilians and patrolling city guards.

A light and a sign on a building. He was at his destination. Would she still remember him? Does she even still live here? The questions rolled through his mind as he approached this building, Tazar's Inn. He pressed his palm against the door and pushed it open, stepping inside and pausing as the door closed behind him, eyes shifting and scanning the room. A smile softly curled on his lips as he did in fact spot her. A face he could recognize after such a long time away, Audrey.

He made his way slowly to the inside of the room, but not directly to her. He had to see if she'd recognize him. His human form was the same as it always had been, with the exception that the clothes he wore were simpler, he looked the same. Gently he propped himself against the bar, back to it and looked about, quietly, eyes still returning to the owner of the Inn every few moments passed.

[Audrey Fëfalas]

Long habit turned her distracted brown eyes to the door when it opened. A disorienting sense of recognition darted her gaze just as quickly away, irrationally fearing being caught staring when she had not even begun. The man's face conjured up feelings that she had trouble discerning in her mild shock, but left her unable to ignore him. When she felt sure he had his back turned to her on his way to the ever-popular bar, Audrey chanced another glimpse. Without seeing his face, the way the man walked was hauntingly familiar to her.

It had been a long time. She felt self-conscious and her idle fingers closed over the locket at her neck just to have somewhere to put them. The last time she met with Ancalagon had been at the market, merely friends who had a romantic history courteously never mentioned. They had planned a picnic to catch up and to take a break from their personal, singularly busy lives of which Audrey believed to this day had separated them in the end. Very young and in the midst of war, Audrey had been unable to cope with the circumstances they had been under, no matter how gilded her dreams once were.

That picnic had never happened. Instead, Ancalagon had disappeared.

A simple barmaid when they first met and easily swept away, she was changed now--older and perhaps wiser for it, cautious. She knew that she was not the only one Time had marked. Ancalagon dressed so plainly it couldn't have been anything but on purpose, almost as if he wished to conceal who he was. A guard of the realm before, he had always been proud of his position and duty. It used to be that she would hear the great flap of his wings announcing his arrival at the inn before she ever saw him. It was not so now and it made her wonder.

Questions weren't answered by keeping silent. Finding Ancalagon again was easy, his features a beacon bright by virtue of memory, though it was not exactly the same anymore. She sought his gaze and somehow knew she wouldn't be denied it; all she had to do was wait. In a matter of seconds, the very first of her curiosities would be answered. Did he remember her? She might have laughed if she could know he speculated the same.

[Ancalagon{BD}]

Silently he stood, leaning against the bar, his eyes roaming the room, not directly to Audrey but instead idly over the entire room. Slowly those eyes fell upon Audrey and a smile brightened his features. The same soft smile he used to give her all those times ago whenever he saw her. For what seemed like an eternity to him he looked upon her, but only a few seconds passed in reality before he spoke up. "Long time no see... Audrey." His words trailed off hoping she would approach him after he initiated verbal contact.

As he waited he turned and pushed himself onto one of the stools. Sitting down, and returning his gaze to her. He knew she had to have some questions about where he had been, why did he change, what had happened. He had answers for her, at least, as much as he was willing to tell her for now.

As he waited quietly for her response, his mind went back to all that time ago, the war and how it and many more things had pushed them apart. He remembered their last visit and the talk of a picnic together. They never had it, instead he was brought elsewhere and many things changed for him over the past months.

[Audrey Fëfalas]

Ancalagon's reassuring smile eased her immediately and her eyes relaxed, the corner of her lips perked. There was familiarity in his smile, held by his gaze with simple relief to find that their friendship had withstood. She heard him as if he stood next to her; being able to pick out his voice from a crowd returned to her seamlessly.

By his side in a matter of moments, a welcoming hand warmed his shoulder briefly. "It's good to see you again, Ancalagon. Follow me?" It was a clear question and unassuming, her voice low and her head dipped toward him as if in confidence. Something told her that the questions she wanted answers to might be best kept private. If she was wrong, at least it would be easier to hear each other.

Catching the eye of one of her barmaids, Audrey nodded discreetly before turning to lead the way to one of Tazar's private dining rooms. The girl would know what to do. Audrey's hand had returned again to the locket at her neck, gripping it gently as she looked back at Ancalagon. "Are you much hungry from your travels?"

[Ancalagon{BD}]

As she moved and stood next to him her hand on his shoulder he stood in turn and still with the warm smile on his lips he nodded in agreement about moving to somewhere slightly more private. "It's good to see you as well Audrey." He simply said for now.

He went quiet as he watched Audrey nod to her barmaid, well in control of things even through the turmoils of the land at this time. It seemed that she had grown with the time that passed since he last saw her, she had matured both in mind and beauty. Ancalagon could see this in her and it made him happy to see that she'd manage this success.

Soon he was following her trailing her path through the inn, dodging chairs, tables and patrons alike as they made their way to this said quiet private dining room. He shook his head softly as they walked. "No I'm not, but thank you for offering."

As they reached the room, he entered last and closed the door behind them, the loudness of the inn faded off into the background. He sighed a bit, enjoying the peace a bit more then the action of the Inn. He turned to Audrey and smiling at her he put his hand on her shoulder in his turn now. Instead of removing it as she did, he pulled her into a soft hug and held it for a moment before releasing her but keeping one of his hand on her shoulder. "It's truly good to see you, it has been long since I've seen a friendly face. I see that you have done incredibly well for yourself through all this..." He paused a moment and spoke again, "I suppose you have some questions to why I disappeared so suddenly. I have some answers, to the point I can share. Do not get upset if I can't tell you everything or do not have the answers for some things, please." He said finally letting his hand drop from her shoulder, watching her, he would wait to ask his after wards.

[Audrey Fëfalas]

After so long without, turning at Ancalagon's hand and into his arms surprised Audrey. Whatever uncertainty came with time apart though, melted at the physical contact. She returned his hug, and held on for that warm moment longer. Her eyes met his, sincere and tinged with worry. "Then I'm glad you've returned to see one."

Her fingers curled into her skirts slightly. "I'll do my best. Please... rest at least." Gesturing to a chair, she settled into one herself, and then said no more, expectant. He was right, she did want answers, and a fulfilled hope that things were more alright with him than it seemed so far.

[Ancalagon{BD}]

At her gesturing his gaze turned and fell on the chair that was indicated. He gave her a soft smile and a nod, "I can do that yes." He said warmly and slowly stepped to the chair, bending at the knees as he sat down, pressing his back to the chair supporting his weight with a soft content sigh.

His attention returned to Audrey, he watched her quietly as well for the time being, reminiscing on the past the both had together so many years back. A smile on his lips a moment and then a soft shake of his head as he didn't want to drift off with her in the room.

With his attention back on the woman before her he finally spoke up, "Why don't I start, hm? And then you can ask me what you'd like." He gave a nod at that conclusion and continued, "Tell me, what have you been up too in my absence? How did you come to this success? I'm very impressed." He said warmly, trying to break the ice after such a long time away.

[Audrey Fëfalas]

"Business has been well." Audrey began, hesitating. Her eyes flickered downward, avoiding Ancalgaon's eyes. "Business has been well, but I fear how long it will last. You must have picked up on, if not heard, the tension in the streets. How long peace will last, I don't know." She stopped just short of babbling about how truly anxious she was. Smoothing her hands down her skirts with an effort, her eyes seemer braver when she raised them again. "The men and nobles that come here don't come for all the same reasons they used to. They try to hide their motives and their fear, but it's transparent as glass." It won't last.

Audrey didn't say that last bit aloud, but she thought it. "I'm sorry." Her cheeks colored faintly and her gaze dropped again. "I thought to welcome you with warm food and drink, with talk to make us both smile and remember better times. No matter how far I've come, it isn't all as I expected when I was just a lucky farmgirl come to the capitol. But I'm thankful. I am." She said so as if she thought Ancalagon might not believe her.

"I want t-- I'd be honored if you would tell me about how you've been. Where you've been these past few years... I've missed you." She was intent now on him, searching his face for clues as to what he was feeling and had gone through before he even opened his mouth.

[Ancalagon{BD}]

His eyes followed her eyes as they flickered downwards and he lost her gaze for a moment as she spoke now with what he could almost feel a hint of negative emotions in her tone. Her body language spoke for itself as well, watching her straigthen her skirt with an effort. A smile came to his lips as Audrey's eyes rose up again to meet his, "Perhaps it won't last but I have a feeling that you'll pull through no matter what happens here. Your eyes speak for themselves, you won't let business go down without a fight. If there's anything I can do to help you as well, you just ask me." He paused for a moment, seeming pensive about the tension and the motives of the people, "So the tension rises hm? Well I suppose with being away for so long, I'd have to catch up with the daily events."

As he snapped away from his pensive state he noticed the coloring of Audrey's cheeks and her dropping gaze which made him smile warmly and then chuckle softly at the end of her words, "Why would I need warm food and drink when I can spend a moment with someone that means a lot to me? Even if it's not the best time for the land and the city, I'm still just content to sitting here with you."

He paused for a moment at her last question, almost as if hesitating, unsure of what he should or should not be sharing with her. He wanted to tell her everything and so he was conflicted and it showed in his eyes for just a fraction of a moment before he smiled once more and spoke, "I know I have been gone for a very long time..." He cast a sideways glance out the window and then looked back to Audrey, "Things have changed, a lot, I have learned things about myself and I've had to change my views on many subjects." He once more looked pensive as if trying to figure out how to put something into words, he put his hand on Audrey's hand for a moment before speaking once more, "I tell you this because I trust you, I've met my father... CoiOntar." He assumed she'd be able to connect the dots after his words came out in almost a whisper.

"That is where I've been all these years, learning from him, who I was and why I existed." He paused once more before speaking, "Now promise me that this will stay between us for the time being, this is all still very new and fresh to me, but I am happy I can share with someone I trust." He looked at her, almost trying to gauge her reaction and adding quickly, "I am the same Ancalagon I was years ago when we first met, none of that has changed and it never will, trust me on that." Finally he says, "I'm sorry I simply cut off contact, but I had no choice, I do hope you understand this?" Unsure of what to add to this anymore, he went silent.