Death of Moon and Darkness: Part 1

Death of Moon and Darkness: Part 11

It had been three years, and still my love blossomed for young Lunarai.  We would meet every time possible ... by the lake, near the willow, under its gentle swaying leave, on the soft patch of grass surrounded by the golden night flowers.  By the coming and waning of each moon we would meet under the stars in our small Eden undisturbed by all.  For our love was forbidden by all.  For she is moon elf, and I am drow.   For I would never be aloud to cross into in the Crescent Peaks, and she would never be able to come to the Underdark.2

But something had changed, something was not right.  For months it seemed I was being watched by the eyes of another.  The precense of Lady Lolth was ever strong, and this I feared greatly.  For I am ever faithful to my people, but evermore to my heart.3

On the night of the twelth full moon, I visited once more with Lunarai.  And together we made sweet sensual love.  My shiny black body against her soft silvery blue ... the passion was intense.  She would moan with the great sensation and continue to ask for more.  Like a dream, I would float in and out of my conscious mind as I let myself be free with my love.  If only this were not forbidden ...4

I desecended the long path from the caves that would lead again into the heart of the Underdark.  And yet the eyes were upon me again.  Then something in the shadows caught my eyes.   Someone, or something, was following me.  As I opened the steel gates to the city the shadows materialized, to drow hunters gripped me by the arms and took me away.5

'Unhand me, vile scum!'  I yelled and spat in there faces.  For this I received a fair beating, rendering me bloody and worn.6

'Silence you insolent rat, your defile is your own downfall!', and they gave me one more blow to the cheek, 'Lord Selvetarm will decide what to do with you.'  And then they continued to drag me away.7

At that moment, I turned as pale as any drow could possibly become.  Lord Selvetarm, the champion and loyal minion of Lady Lolth, had been the one watching me ever closely.  Fear shot threw me like ten adamantine arrows as I was dragged to the altar of Lady Lolth and the awaiting Lord Selvetarm.  The two hunters stepped back and stood silently.8

At that moment the drow in elegant purple black robes turned about with a look darker than that of a shadow dragon.  'Andellin ... Andellin ...,' the whisper of my name was pervasive in his voice, 'Andellin ... What have you done!' he suddenly boomed.9

'I've done nothing more than follow my heart!' I shouted back.  With a rage, Lord Selvetarm let fly a great steak of purple lightning into my chest.  I screamed in anguish as I felt myself slipping out of existence ... then it subsided.  I laid there quivering from my weakness.10

'Pick him up!' Lord Selvetarm yelled to the hunters as they lifted me quickly off the ground.  He lifted my chin and looked into my eyes.  'Either you kill her, or your family will pay the price for your heracy.'  He said with a menacing whisper.  Lord Selvetarm gave a quick wave of his hand and an image of my father, mother, brother, and two sisters appeared, all of them shackled and left at the mercy of two shadow dragons.11

In that moment, my will was broken.  'Okay,' I whispered and the image dissipated and Lord Selvetarm stepped back, 'I'll do it'.12

'Very well,' he handed me a dragon's tail dagger glazed in a green poisonous venom. 'She will be dead by the next full moon or your family will pay the price.'  Lord Selvetarm warned.13

I nodded solemnly in defeat and he waved me off.  The two hunters stepped aside and let me pass bloody and beaten without question.14

The Underdark remained ever silent and more solemn in that long agonizing month.  I awaited the moment where I would have to kill my one true love.  I would be over soon ... but, maybe there would be another way.  When I had returned, I found that the images of my family were nothing more than an illusion; they were fine.  Perhaps, there truly was a way for both my family my love to live through this.15

On the night of the first full moon of the next year, I gave word for my family to flee quickly and make for the havens of the goddess, Lady Elistraee.  Later that evening the two drow hunters led me to the edge of the woods bordering the lake and the willow covering that was their meeting place.  One hunter disappeared almost instantly into the trees to take watch as the other stayed to speak a few words.16

'Know this, Andellin, Lord Selvetarm knows of your attempt to evacuate your family and has them contained,' he pointed to the cliff side off in the distance.  Five figures hung in fear above a pit of wargs.  'Be careful of what you choose to do.'  He smirked and disappeared off into the trees as well.17

Defeat was now inevitable, I would have no choice but to kill Lunarai.  He walked silently through the trees until I saw the golden night flowers that surround the patch of grass below the willow tree.  Lunarai turned at the sound of my coming.  She smiled so gracefully as she gave a gently wave for me to approach.  I forced a smile as I approached, prepared for what I must do.18

'Andellin ...' She whispered as we embraced and kissed so passionately.  Many minutes passed as I let myself feel free in Lunarai's arms.  But then I pulled away a moment.19

'What's wrong my love?' she asked with a hint of concern.20

'Lunarai, will you love me always?  In life and death?'  I asked holding her close at the waste.21

'Always, Andellin, in life and death.'  At that moment she leaned in and kissed me once more.  I felt the dragon's tail dagger in my right hand a moment as I kissed her back so passionately.  And in that moment, it ended.22

I drove dagger through her stomach, she gaped in silence as I held it firm for the longest moments of my life.  I cried all the while, tears streaming down my face.  Blood streaked my hands, warm upon my skin as I felt her body go cold.  She fell back to the ground, bleeding profusely as she laid there dead.  I threw the dagger into the lake and kneeled down and kissed her on the lips and closed her eyelids.23

'Forgive me my love ... forgive me,' I whispered and disappeared back into the forest.  When I reached the other side, the two hunters met me there.  'Its done'  I said in silence with tears still flowing down my cheeks.  With the two drow trailing just behind me, we entered the caves once more.24

I passed back into the shadows of the Underdark.  But after this I would never return to the world above.  For even though I lived, my heart died with her.  All that I loved so passionately had passed.  I became nothing.  25

... For without Lunarai, I am already dead ...26