Duendewood vs. Solari 2: The Abbess

(FS557-07-20, so about three months after the Duendewood elves departed the Temple of Amun...)

The Abbess Hilda Sturmgart sat behind her wide wooden desk and regarded the two women in front of her: Anica, a solid and experienced human paladin, a credit to the order; and Aesa, the half-elf, newly risen to the priesthood but favored of Amun. Anica looked back at her, and Hilda thought she detected a hint of resignation behind the paladin's attentiveness; Aesa, on the other hand, kept glancing nervously at the floor. 

"You're both starting to show," she said flatly. Then she smiled. "It wasn't the bard, I take it?"

Aesa blushed and cleared her throat, but Anica just said: "No. He was busy... elsewhere."

"Indeed he was. The warrior, then?" She looked at Aesa. "The one who helped you find your way into the priesthood?"

Aesa swallowed and nodded.

She turned her gaze back to Anica. "And you?"

Anica nodded matter-of-factly. "And me." She clarified: "Also the warrior."

Aesa said, "Neither of us found out about the other one until after they left, but..."

Anica nodded: "...I don't think that was a deliberate deception on his part."

Aesa nodded her agreement. "It was all very sudden and unexpected, and there wasn't a lot of discussion involved." 

"No," Hilda said drily. "I imagine not. So what do you intend to do?"

"Well," said Anica, "Obviously we're both planning to have the babies... And we'd talked about co-parenting--" 

"When we're not busy with our duties," Aesa put in. 

Hilda nodded. That was about what she'd expected; neither Anica nor Aesa was going to abandon the order, even for the sake of raising a child. Nor was there any reason that they should have to; the Temple of Amun took in unwanted children, and maintained both a school and an orphanage as part of their care for the poor in Caristhium proper. The nursery here in the temple was smaller, but perfectly adequate for watching over children while their parents were away. "Then the only issue I see," she said, "is that you'll be raising elvish children in a very human environment. Leaving aside the politics of the moment, there may be issues there that you aren't expecting -- elves being so much more long-lived than humans, for example." 

Anica drew breath to reply, stopped, and shut her mouth again. 

Aesa said, "I had a thought about that."

Anica turned her head to look at Aesa, and Hilda said: "Oh?" 

"Ruin mentioned a friend of his, a paladin of Corellon Larethian named Werendril. He said Werendril was still in Duendewood..."

"The Exalted Order of The Bow Made Golden By The Touch Of Dawn," Hilda said, pausing for a moment as she sorted through her memories. "It sounds better in Elvish. They have a chapter house not far from Woodhill. I could send word to them, see if this Werendril is available to consult with us."

Anica frowned. "That seems like it might be... awkward." 

Hilda shook her head. "Not at all. I won't mention either of you. I'll simply ask for them to send an emissary to consult with us about coordinating our efforts, and request this Werendril as someone who was recommended to me. Our orders know each other of old; in these times, they might suspect a trap, but they'll send someone and probably him." She paused, considering, then added: "We can explain the situation when he gets here, but even if he's no help for the two of you it would do us all good to establish better communications with the Duendewood elves. If only the King..." She shook her head; there was no point lamenting things that couldn't be changed. "Well. Enough of satisfying an old woman's curiosity; both of you, get back to your duties and try to stay out of combat."

Aesa glanced at Anica, who nodded sharply before she turned and started for the door. Hilda sat quietly, listening, as the door to her office closed behind them. Her attentiveness was rewarded when she heard Anica say, muffled but unmistakable, "Old woman my shapely ass..."

Aesa said something in response, but her voice was softer and the closed door muffled it beyond deciphering. Abbess Hilda smiled, then got back to work herself. She had letters to write, now, and treaties to compose. Possibly an edict or two to outline, just in case she needed it.