Dominique Darkwatch and Daza Mistwalker
Daza is in Isil, keeping an eye on some interests that he has there that effect certain residents of Vana. While the numbers increase, those who are capable of defending themselves against the forces of the southern neighbors are few.
It is near the southern border in the bay that he encounters Dominique.
Daza Mistwalker waves. "Vedui, Lady Dominique!"
Dominique looks up from her reverie of feeding a few of the swans who were swimming on their way to some other migratory destination, a tinge of sadness in her voice. “Vedui, Lord Daza.”
Daza peers at the cleric. “You are well, I hope?”
Dominique nods. “Aye, I am well, but I fear for the wellness of someone else.”
Daza raises a brow. “Oh?”
Dominique sighs. “Aye. I fear for the Teleri King. I have heard nothing from him since you and I last saw him when he had first become infected by the Nightmare's Tears.”
Daza nods. “I see. Yes, there has not been much news from Alqualonde as of late, but what little news I have heard is not good. He is apparently suffering greatly in mind, body and spirit.”
Dominique looks up at the mage, and then back to the swan, casting more bread upon the water. “I had sent prayers, appealing to the Valar for help as requested by King Olwe. The hawk Varonwe returned, but with neither the note I sent him with nor any answer.”
Daza looks over at the swans, who grab and gulp up the bread pieces. “I had meant to visit him, but all this business with the hoon, the undead princess and other affairs in Vana have detained me. And with the disappearance of the morning star...I have some difficulty trusting my own ability to portal without landing in the middle of the sea somewhere!”
Dominique looks out at the feeding swans wistfully. “If only we were something besides elves or were like those elves who could fly, like these swans here! For surely they know the way and easily journey back and forth between here and Alqualonde!”
Daza looks at the swan and scratches his chin, deep in thought, the beginnings of an idea forming in his mind. “Perhaps we can. Let me see your bread.”
Dominique hands him the rest of the bread as she only had a few pieces left and watches the mage carefully. Daza takes a small piece of the bread and tosses on to the water just in front of one of the larger swans, who swims toward it and quickly snaps it up. The next piece Daza tosses brings the swan closer to the shore. He tosses another, luring the bird in closer.
Daza tosses the last piece of bread very close to him and the shore, within arm's reach. Dominique Darkwatch 's eyes widen a bit, seeing what he is doing bit remains silent, wondering what his intent is. Daza tosses the remaining piece just in front of him. Just as the swan plucks it from the surface of the water, he dives in and grabs the swan, who immediately honks, hisses and begins nipping at him furiously.
Dominique's mood is not much better than the swan's as she hisses angrily, “DAZA!! Just WHAT are you doing??” She cradles the bird, and amidst a minor tussle that involves his nose getting severely pinched, Daza is finally able to subdue it, cradling its body and trying to hold its neck. “I don't want to hurt it! Help me hold it, please!”
Dominique looks at Daza angrily but decides to see if she can calm the bird. She places her hand upon it and speaks to it gently in Quenya. “Shhhhh.....I'm Dominique. Telin le thaed. (Ssshh...I'm Dominique. I am here to help you.”
Daza cradles the bird and also whispers reassuring word in In Kalimag. "Reth... Ko krin ra krin... A ka talsa sto gi mahn krin kras. ( Shhh...be well my swan...I am sorry but we need your help.)"
Dominique softly strokes the angry bird's head, whispering prayers and words of reassurance, and notes that the bird seems to relax slighty and is hissing less. Daza continues to apologize profusely, calmly and quietly speaking to the bird, feeling it relax in his arms. He knew this was his only chance as the other swans had quickly flown as soon as he caught this one. Dominique Darkwatch continues to stroke the bird's head, humming a soft elvish tune, but glares at Daza.
Daza senses the relaxing bird but also Dominique's anger. He softly tries to answer her questioning and accusing glare. “I think this one may be our,or your, ticket to Alqualonde.”
Dominique looks at the mage doubtfully but decides to keep humming to the swan, gently stroking it's head, and then indicates to Daza that she will hold it's head while he cradles its body.
Somewhat reluctantly, he releases the bird's neck and marvels at how it seems to relax more at Dom's touch. “I'm sure this swan knows the way, and I think there may be a way to get her to take you there. It just involves a bit of...erm...persuasion and growth.”
Dominique stops humming and blinks. “What are you planning to do to this poor swan?”
Daza shakes his head. “No, no, I do not want to hurt it. I want to get it to help us help the Teleri king."
Dominique sighs. “I am not sure I approve of this.”
Daza decides there is only one thing left to do. He places his hand upon the bird's head and closes his eyes. He sends his own thoughts to it, letting it know of the dilemma with King Olwe. He begins to sense that the bird now begins to understand. Daza again concentrates, sending thoughts and images of what he wishes to do into the bird's mind. He is amazed at the intelligence of this creature and senses that it does have some affinity toward Dom already.
Dominique watches the mage as she pets the swan's soft and smooth feathers, noting a few had fallen to the ground in the intitial struggle. She strokes the long smooth neck gently, no longer holding or restraining it. Daza relaxes his hold upon the bird, and gently sets it upon the ground, releasing his hold upon it and asks
In Kalimag, "Kras rok kras tu? Ta rok tols os ka von, a kras fel'tes tas zela'von rok gi mahn (Will you help us? If you wish to go now, I will detain and trouble you no more.)."
Dominique watches the swan, wondering if and how it would answer. Daza watches the swan stand for a moment and blink. The he sees it waddle slowly to Dom and rub its head against her hand.
Dominique smiles, amazed and pets the swan. “Thank you!”
Daza then takes up the feathers on the ground and takes one of them and gives it to Dom.“Here, hold on to this. While you two seem to have a bond already, I wish to help it along a bit. For whenever you call out to her, she will know where you are and will respond if she is able.”
Dominique furrows her brow. “I still have no idea how this is going to help us.....me...get to Alqualonde. It's not like I can ride her there!”
Daza smiles, “As a matter of fact...yes! You will be able to ride her.”
Dominique sighs and shakes her head. “Even though she is big, I am still much to big for her to fly carrying me!”
Daza is already at work as he summons forth his staff and prepares an arcane circle around Dom and the swan. Dominique watches the mage and decides that even though she is not sure what he is doing, or if HE even knows, prepares the ground around them by consecrating it with a prayer to Iluvatar. Dominique consecrates the ground on which she stands for divine use. Daza touches the feather with his staff, the bird's head and then the feather again and Dom's forehead, whispering the incantation:
"Birds of a feather,
Flock together.
To the feather be bound,
Your affections be found.
The swan shall hasten and not stall
when she hears her cleric's call."
Daza sends forth a stream of light, binding together the swan, the cleric and the feather. “As long as you hold this feather, the swan will know those thoughts you care to share with it.”
Dominique nods and thinks reassuring thoughts toward the bird. She smiles. “I should give you a name...I think I will call you Lu....after Luthien whose devotion to Beren is one of the most famous stories of old.”
Daza smiles and notes the bird's approval by nuzzling Dom's cheek. “And now for the more difficult part of the spell. For you are right that it is entirely too small to carry you, as of yet.”
Dominique nods. “Yes, that is what I just said, Daza.”
Daza produces a small jar from his pouch. “Here, have the bird..erm...Lu....drink from this. It is 'ent water' and will help this process along.”
Dominique looks at the bird, and then at the open jar. “Go ahead, Lu, drink!” Daza watches in amazement as the swan dips its beak into the the jar and then tips its head up to swallow. Dominique lifts the jar up and gently helps Lu drink most of the jar's contents. To her amazement, the swan does seem to grow in size slightly.
Daza closes his eyes, concentrates and then touches the swan with his staff, sending arcane energies toward her and enhancing the effects of the 'ent water.'"
Dominique looks in amazement as suddenly she is standing next to a GIANT swan! “Wow!”
Daza Mistwalker slumps a bit to the ground, having expended so much of his own energies, and wondered if perhaps he had overdone it slightly. “Well, there you are, my lady....my ladies.”
Daza smiles at the swan. Dominique places a hand on Lu's large wing and marvels at it. Lu flaps her wings in excitement. Daza smiles. “Go ahead! Get on.”
Dominique looks a bit doubtful but places a hand on Lu. She notes how the swan remains patiently still as she finds her way around and crawls up on the soft back. She sits for a moment and then softly utters the words: “Giddyap!”
Daza's eyes open in amazement as the swan's huge wings begin to flap and it begins to lift off the ground, gracefully and easily.
Dominique giggles with excitement as she flies around Isil on Lu's back,marveling at the scenery below her. She utters a prayer of thanks. “Túrë ar elmendië nar cardalyar, Héru Eru, i Iluvala (Great and wonderful are your works, Lord Eru, the Almighty.)."
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