Leaves From the Vine

Oh Helm, take me now. What made me think I could keep up with those wee lads? Elric sat up in his bed blinking out the midday sun. He sighed as he realized he was still in his full plate. It’s official. I’m not as young as I used to be. Havent partied like that since I was in my 240s. Let’s get those blasted day started.

                It was downstairs that Elric ran into an old enemy. The dwarf he had bested at the entrance was there waiting with his goons. “Helm giveth, Helm taketh away.” As Athona would say.

                “Cheater. Heard you were here causing a ruckus. Look at you, Clemic of Helm. What would your god think of ye?”

                “My god thinks highly of me, One-Eye. Come now, it’s too early for fighting. Shove a biscuit in your mouth and sit and talk with me.”

                One-Eye turned to his crew, motioned for them to spread out. They took positions at every exit.

                Helm protect me. “Look, I’m sorry you lost the other day—“

                “Wasn’t no fair fight, cheater! I didn’t lose--“

                “Aye. About as fair as your “toll” eh? And it’s not a loss if you learned something, aye?”

                “…aye.”

                “Now I asked you your name when I came into town. Didn’t provoke you or try to start anything. And what did you do?”

                “…”

                “Aye, challenged me to a fight. You big knob. You didn’t know me from any other passing stranger and instead of offering a kindness first you chose to open your big mouth and try to fight me. You love this town and you want to protect her, aye. That’s noble of you, but you don’t always have to start something to protect her. …Now this aint no Helm teaching but it’s one me pop passed down to me, ‘Do no harm, but take no shit.’ Now I know I give off a certain look, and I come to find out that you been fighting my clansmen, but we’re not all the same. And, here, let me buy you all something to eat. Does that sound agreeable?”

                One-Eye looks around to his men, nods once. “Aye.”

                “Alright, maybe you’re not such a knob after all. Breakfast on me lads! …Or is it lunch now?”

                Elric and the dwarves sat down to lunch. The tension dissolving as stories and songs were swapped. Elric learned more about the skirmishes between the boundaries and One-Eye heard the story of the Vampires Masquerade. After some time they parted ways, not friends perhaps, but not enemies either.

                Elric headed up to the Temple of Lathander. Pausing here and there as the townspeople rushed past him. Always in a hurry, the young. Don’t know how to appreciate their time. He eventually reached the temple doors where he was greeted by the “healers”. Elric taught them what he could about Lathander, her customs and her worshippers. He was fortunate enough to remember a prayer and pass it onto the people.

“Lathander, Lathander, Lathander,

Morning, noon, and night.

Renew me. Renew this body. Renew this heart.

Morning, noon and night.

Lathander, Lathander, Lathander.”

“Aye and pray that at least three times a day. Liked threes Lathander did, couldn’t tell you why exactly, gods are a kooky bunch, but maybe he’ll speak to ya soon.  May Helm protect ye.”

                And with his services done for the day, Elric went to find a place to pray. He found a hill with a single tree in a secluded spot. He pulled out the incense sticks and the portrait of his son. 

Finley… I wish I hadn’t said what I said. I’m so sorry my boy.

                Helm protect me.

                Helm provide for me.

                Helm light my path.