J'Doran

Name	J'Doran
Origin of Birth	Deep in an unclaimed forest north of New Kerofk
Residence	Undisclosed
Parents or Kin	Brintanna and J'Doran
Clan	Undisclosed
Interests	Finding out what is previously unknown and using that to some advantage.
Words of Self	"I shall come to know"
Known Allies	Certain tribes of the P'Allarri
Known enemies	All who cross me and mine.
Worldview	"Survival is for those who simply live. Thriving, however, is for the industrious of heart"
Backstory An insistant wail pierces the cold night air, a child is born. Inside a small, warm cottage tucked away deep inside a distant forest, a fire burns, warming the newborn and her unconcious mother. The nervous midwife and young girl assisting her frantically clean and dress the healthy, screaming child. "Here Traena." the midwife says, handing the loud and squirming bundle over to the girl carefully, "Take the little one and give her the goats milk now, keep her quiet while I see to her poor momma." "Yes ma'am." Traena says in a small voice, taking the baby gently into her arms with a worried look to it's mother. Gantii hurries over to the woman lying so very still, more blood than should be pools all about her on the small bed. "Brintanna..." Gantii utters softly as she strokes the womans face, "Brintanna wake and see your brilliant little girl." Gantii presses two fingers upon the womans stark white throat and sighs heavily when she feels just how weak the pulse is. "Brintanna," Gantii pleads, "There isn't much time." Reaching for the rag in the basin of cool water, Gantii rings it out before pressing it to the womans face, "You must meet her, name the poor little dear..." Eyelashes flutter briefly and the eyes of the once beautiful priestess open wearilly, "Gantii?" she says weakly, bearly audible. "Aye luv, I'm here." "Is...is the baby alright?" "Aye, she is, and a right sassy one she is too, just like her mother." Ganti smiles, looking into the womans near vacant eyes. Brintanna smiles weakly, "Thank the goddess..." she says, visibly relieved. Gantii frowns as Brintanna closes her eyes again, "No, dear." she says, wetting the rag again and placing it upon Brintanna's forehead, "You must name the baby, she cannot go without...wake...Brintanna..." Unable to open her eyes again, Brintanna speaks a single word so softly that Gantii has to bring her ear to the dying womans lips to hear. "What's that luv?" Gantii takes Brintanna's cold hand in hers. "P'allari" "P'allari?" the womans eyebrows shoot up at the strange name, confused. "Take...take her to the...P'allari, they will help you...will...love...my...my baby..." A small tear runs down her cheek. Gantii makes a small gasp and looks at Brintanna's face as the last of her life drains away from her. All strength leaves Brintanna, causing her hands to drop. A small gold key falls to the rush covered wood floor with a muted thud. Letting go of her other hand, Gantii frowns as she stands and walks over to the opposite side of the bed, retrieving the key. "Now what do you suppose made her keep ahold of this wee key that whole time?" Gantii asks herself, puzzled as she looks at the little key resting in her palm. Still frowning, Gantii places the key in the pocket of her bloodied apron, dismissing it for the moment, and begins the long arduous task of preparing the body. @=======================================@ 16 and a half years later... @=======================================@ The old woman smiles to herself as the girl turned woman standing in the mirror in front of her takes a short breath from her very long winded story only to continue on without let up untill the next breath. "...It was so beautiful Gantii!" the girl says passionately, "You should have seen the pure depth of the blue that adorned this poor bird. I know you told me to never touch a wild and wounded bird, but oh! If only you could have seen the anguish this poor animal was in I am simply convinced you would do the same for it!" taking a breath she opens her mouth to continue. "Stand still child." Gantii says patiently to the gesturing girl, taking advantage of the breath, "I can hardly get the braids right if you speak with your hands all the blessed time now can I?" "No ma'am." she answers as she quiets briefly. "But it was such an easy thing for Mistress D'rallia to do!" she quickly explains, "One spell and the beauty of the bird returned to the forests. I simply cannot see how that can be considered a waste of power and energy, how can anyone think that Gantii?" she says to Gantii through the mirror, unconciously gesturing again. Stopping, Gantii lets go of the girls long dark hair, wild by nature, and turns her around to face her, "I can't imagine a world without the beauty of a heart such as the one you hold m'girl." Gantii beams proudly at the young woman, so much like her mother was. "Gantii what is it?" the girl says, noticing the familiar look of pain cross the old womans face. "Is it your bones again? I'm sure Mistress D'r...." a smile and a hand stops the girl from continuing. "No m'little love, this is not the kind of pain that can be healed by that priestess that loves to spoil and indulge you so much." Gantii says with a renewed smile wrinkling her sweet face. "Oh how you have grown J'doran." she says, hugging her tightly to her, "I wish your dear mother could know you now." she continues, letting her go and holding her back to look at her, feeling very lucky to have had the opportunity to raise this girl. "Tell me about her again Gantii, please?" J'doran asks quietly for what must surely be the millionth time. Looking at her a moment, Gantii thinks again of how she has grown, such a beautiful girl, becoming an even more beautiful woman. Gantii remembers that same beauty in J'doran's mother, not only to look at, but inside as well. Nodding to herself inwardly Gantii makes a decision that she had been grappling with for some time now, "I think it's time you hear about your mother directly from your mother herself little one." J'doran's eyes widen a moment in wonder, yet not understanding. "The key." Gantii says to her, smiling. J'doran thinks a moment and then reaches under her light spring blouse and pulls the delicate gold chain that holds the small key she had carried with her ever since she could remember. She looks from the key to Gantii and back again, for once speachless. Chuckling Gantii turns and reaches under the bed bringing out a dusty wooden box. Holding it out to J'doran expectantly, she smiles." I've waited for when I thought you were old enough to know the entire truth of your mother, and just how it is you came to be here with me, amoungst the gentle and loving P'allari." J'doran regains her composure a bit and wipes away the dust covering the gold lock with a delicate finger, staring at the hole that was obviously made for her little key. Still stunned and uncharacteristically quiet, she lifts the chain from around her neck and places the familiar key into the lock. >click< Hesitating a moment, J'doran looks from the lock to the woman who had raised her as she would her have raised her own after her mother died, she never questioned why she was with the pixies, she just was. This was all she knew, all she ever needed. This was her home and she was immensly happy here, with these people, with Gantii. The only thing she had ever longed for was her mother, or at least a greater knowlege of her. With a feeling that her life was about to change J'doran looks back to the box, afraid yet curious. Gantii smiles softly and sets the simple wood box onto the bed and stands back, looking to the stunned J'doran with an expectant smile. Replacing the necklace out of habit, J'doran walks slowly over to the box. Trembling slightly she opens the lid to see inside. A small precious tune plays, one she seems to remember but can't quite place. J'doran runs her hands along the blue velvet interior and reaches the leather bound book that lies inside. Looking at the book in disbelief, she can see clearly what the gold imbossed letters say on the front...J'doran. Gantii grins at the gape of J'doran's mouth and sets the box down upon the mirror stand. "I'll leave you to it and meet you in the garden for lunch when you're ready little one." At J'doran's absent-minded nod Gantii leaves through the door, shutting it lightly. J'doran runs her hands over the ornately done name,her name, and opens the book, on the first page is an inscription in the beautiful handwriting of what must be her mothers. It reads, "To my child whose name shall be J'doran, I give to thee what I know now shall be my last words." Tears cloud her vision as J'doran turns the yellowed page. Swiping them away she continues reading, "I am writing these words to you now at the start of what I believe to be my last month of pregnacy, and life. I am not well and have only enough strength now to bring you into this world my darling child. I am so very sorry I will not be able to be with you and see you grow. But I now make provision for your well-being and leave you with my faithful nurse-maid and dear friend, Gantii. She is someone I trust completely with the most precious thing I have ever known, you." J'doran sniffs and swipes another tear. "Gantii has been with me a long time, and has stayed even when she could no longer be paid to be my nurse-maid. Now she is even more to me, she is my friend. She is helping me through this time of pregnancy and, I know, she will love you when I cannot be there. I know Gantii will see this and I ask that she show it to you when she feels you are ready for the telling. I also wish for her to take you to the P'allari, the map to the tribe that I speak of is enclosed, there you will be safe, loved and cared for, and can protect you from the world where I now cannot. They are deep in the forests and shall keep you with them out of a love they hold for me, and in turn for you. I have become close to these wonderful people. as close as any family. Perhaps you shall hear that story some day from them, as for now, I shall go on to tell you of your own." J'doran takes a deep breath and turns the dusty page. "The whole story of a persons life never seems to truely have a beginning, since we are all entwined in on way or another and one persons start is always preceded by another that, but the best place to start for your story, I think, is just before you were concieved. I was the yuannorian priestess in the kingdom of the s'ale'un, serving for the royal family and, for that matter, the entire keep. I was busy in my work there, much of the time assisting the royal house in everyday matters, such as caring for their children and dealing with meanial matters of state. It was a widely known fact that the Leader and the one whom he chose to marry were only so for political reasons, and although she was a sweet child, the lady was just that, more of a child. She allowed for two sons to be borne, and in that time there came about three children. These were the only times she would tolerate her lord near her in an intimate capacity. She was raised well and did what was expected of her. However it left her husband quite alone, and him believeing himself to be a faithful man, he respected his wife and never strayed. There came a time however when that belief faltered. He was too handsome not to notice, also gentle strong and kind. A rare combination to say the least. We had to spend many a day together working, sometimes long hours. In this time we learned alot about each other here and there. Before long we were finding reasons to be together, small insignificant matters became of utmost importance, thus bringing us within eyesight of one another. I fell in love with him my darling. In that time I had with him I knew love, there came a day when we could deny what we knew to be true no longer and gave in to the desires we held inside for so long. I found out a few turns of the moon later the result of our actions. He was elated, ready to give up all he had, including his family and throne. I loved him so but I couldn't let him do that, in fact love is exactly why I could not. All he had worked for would be shattered, his name ruined and family humiliated. Also, I could not stay there and bear his child, could not play the concubine, seeing my precious child being branded.... I left as soon as I could to spend the time needed in a small but cozy cottage that Gantii had grown up in herself, she came too as you know, to stay with me. For that I can never repay her. Pregnancy did not agree with me it seems however, for shortly after moving there I collapsed, unconcious and bleeding badly. I hadn't the strength to heal myself, I simply could not. Gantii knew of a local apothacary also reputed to be a witch, I didn't care, I just wanted you to be ok. After many weeks and potions she knew, only one of us was going to make it through all of this. I began losing what little strength I had left, coming to a point of doing absolutely nothing for fear of losing you. I could not let that happen, you were, are, all I have left of the man I love. I pass on to you all I can of him to you my sweet, and though I have been told you are to be a girl, you shall have his name...J'doran." J'doran takes a ragged breath and turns another page. "He will likely have moved passed his pain by the time you see this and have found peace in his heart, I cannot know. If you should choose to seek him out, be aware of this before you tell him who you are, please little one. Take care that you do not bring to ruin all I have sacrificed for. I would as that you not go about looking for him at all, but alas, you should not have to live like this my sweet, without either parent by your side. Possibly just being able to see the man I love, your father, can bring some solice. I only hope my mistakes can be used to aid you in not repeating them, and that the choices I've made have turned out for the best. My burden is yours to bear now, and I regret it to be so. This is why I ask Gantii to wait untill you are ready, decide what you will do, but above all be happy. Learn of who you are, J'doran, remember, the blood of two races flows within you, along with much talent, do not hesitate to learn all you can for such knowlege can take you far in this world. I feel as if I know you. I have seen you in my dreams, I think of your future with a growing constancy. I love you my little one." J'doran wipes away tears she had not realised were there and turns the page, there is more, maps, stories, thoughts and advice, but no more of her father. Shutting the book and laying it back into the box gently her fingers glide over another object left in the box. Looking into the box the best she can through her tears she sees a golden mass and runs her fingers over it again. Searching about for a handcloth to dry her eyes upon she gives up and quickly swipes the sleeves of her blouse over them. It is a locket, a heart. Turning it in her hands she notices that the ornate and intricate carvings cover the entire surface. Noticing a clasp on one side, she opens the locket and smiles. Inside are two words...Britanna on one side and J'doran upon the other. Closing the locket she holds it to her and cries anew. Gantii enters and, upon seeing her state, sits down and encases her in a hug, rocking gently, "Shh now my sweet, all will be well." J'doran opens her hands and looks up at Gantii with tear filled eyes, "She left me this," she looks back down and runs a thumb over its surface, "It has his, and my, name in it." Gantii smiles, "Aye that it does. It was his gift to her when he found out about you. Can I have your key for a moment little one?" Frowning a moment in confusion J'doran removes the necklace with the key on it and hands it to her. Gantii takes the small key off of the gold chain it has been on for close to 17 years now and holds out her hand to J'doran expectantly. J'doran looks quizically into Gantii's eyes, still not fully understanding and realises Gantii wants the locket too. Almost afraid to let it go she reluctantly hands the treasure over to Gantii who proceeds to open it. "Now you can keep it all with you, together." She says as she slips the tiny key into the locket and shuts it. With a small smile to J'doran Gantii strings the chain through the small hole atop the locket and replaces it to J'doran's neck. "Thank you." says J'doran softly, now playing with the bulk of the locket hanging about her neck. Gantii smiles and pats her hand, "Well now love you know more of who your mother was, and a bit of your father also. What is it you want to do?" J'doran looks into Gantii's eyes, "Learn more." Nodding slightly, Gantii awaits what she is sure she will hear next. "I have decided." J'doran says with a look of determination aimed at her locket, "I will study and train to be a priestess, as she was. I will learn all I can, as she said I should. In this I hope to learn about who I am, all of who I am, and not only my past, but my future..." J'doran stares out the window with a far away look in her eyes, "...and I want to find him..."