Resurrection
"What are you doing here, Kaleyl Malinoi?" came a gentle, melodic query, as a warm breeze caressed Kaleyl's cheeks, stirring the stray tendrils of hair resting upon them.
A lick of her nose roused the priestess further, and she opened her eyes to find the ferret perched upon her chest, peering at her intently. "Tiris?" she asked, her eyes rounding in disbelief as she sat up a bit, her eyes only barely catching the spray of flora around her. She tilted her head and looked at the ferret quizzically.
Musical laughter echoed from the trees behind her, and Kaleyl turned to find the voice's owner, her emerald orbs trailing over the scenery. Flowers of every variety her eyes had ever fallen upon flourished in harmony among each other in patterns of red, purple, yellow and orange. Tall trees filled with abundant green leaves shaded a pool of crystal blue, and although no sun blazed in the sky, Kaleyl felt bathed in warmth, and light shone all around her. The spill of flowers seemed to go on forever, and yet, it felt almost cozy, as if she were ensconced in a dreamland globe, held safe and gentle like a lover's hand. The perfectness of it all nearly made Kaleyl forget she had been spoken to, until she heard the voice again, it's soft melody accompanied by the babbling of parted waters.
"Tabondielsi did not speak to you, child," the voice said, laughing softly again. "Although he very much tries. You just cannot understand him."
At that, Tiris popped up onto his little hind legs and looked behind him. Dashing off, Kaleyl followed his flight to the perfect ivory of an equine leg. Tiris bounded up almost effortlessly, and perched upon an equally pristine back, nuzzling his little head into a snowy mane. Kaleyl's orbs completed the path to the beast's head, and her eyes widened with wonder, a small gasp escaping her open mouth.
"Tabondielsi?" Kaleyl heard herself ask, her eyes still gazing upon the magnificence of the creature before her.
"You know him as Tiris," the unicorn answered, "A name which he has grown to love hearing from your lips, Kaleyl."
Kaleyl leaned forward to a crouch, standing slowly. Both hands drew to her heart, and it was only then that she noticed the white robes that clothed her, and the unmarred flesh of her limbs and face.
"But I ask you again," said the unicorn. "What are you doing here?"
"Where is here?" Kaleyl asked, although she knew the answer before she'd even finished the question.
"Walk with me, Kaleyl," the unicorn beckoned, turning back the way she came. Kaleyl rose and padded after her. The grass was cool and soft under her bare feet, and when she dipped her toe into the rippling pond, she found it to be perfect, refreshing, but not too cold. Holding up her new attire, she skipped after the unicorn.
"Life is precious, Kaleyl. Why did you choose to give yours away?"
Kaleyl looked down at her water covered toes as she swished through the stream, dropping the tail of her robe and letting it spill into the water. Tiris chittered on the unicorns ivory shoulder.
"Malik," Kaleyl answered quietly.
"Have you that little faith in me, my child?"
Kaleyl lifted her eyes to look piously over to the unicorn, but found in it's stead, a breathtakingly beautiful young maiden, her lips forming a peaceful smile.. She had leaves and golden moss for hair, and her vestments were delicately sheer robes of yellow and green.
Slipping to her knees, Kaleyl's eyes fell upon the holy symbol upon her white-robed breast.
"Forgive me," Kaleyl whispered.
"Fear not, Kaleyl," Mielikki answered, gently guiding Kaleyl to her feet with an ivory hand beneath the priestess' elbow. "Malik lives, and you shall see him again."
Smiling down at Kaleyl, she laid a hand upon her shoulder. "Your life is not finished yet, child."
Lifting Tiris gently from her shoulder, the Lady of the Forest placed the ferret in Kaleyl's hands. "Stay a while. Time does not pass the same here as it does on Toril."
Kal looked down at Tiris, and then back up to Mielikki, but the goddess had vanished. Looking about for her, she was greeted instead by a flutter of red and gold. Smiling, Kaleyl emerged from the coolness of the pond, and followed the butterflies' flight over a patch of twinkling bellflowers. Sitting there, she cradled Tiris in her arms.
"I'm glad to see you, my friend," Kaleyl whispered to the ferret, kissing his little head. "Tabondielsi." She smiled.
The song of the bellflowers soon lulled Tiris to sleep in Kal's lap, and she was just about to lie down upon the cool moss when a familiar voice rose over the musical flora.
"Kallie."
The semi-reclined priestess sat up quickly, looking across a spray of delicate yellow blossoms to a form dressed as she, with light red hair spilling over the front of her robe.
"Arien?!" Kaleyl stared in disbelief. "How?!"
"You prayed for me, Sister." Arien walked softly down a stone pathway hidden amidst the flourish of petals, and stood before Kaleyl, a smile of contentment gracing her face. "You saved me after all."
Arien lifted her hand and slipped it into her sister's hair, her fingertips catching the braid of their combined locks. "I love you, Kaleyl. I never wanted to hurt you."
"Oh Arien," Kal whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she threw her arms around her sister. "I'm so sorry... so sorry for everything."
Embracing her sister tightly, Arien kissed her cheek, tears overflowing from her own eyes and staining Kaleyl's robes with their salty moisture. "No more apologies, Kallie... no more. All is right now."
Pulling back just a bit, Kaleyl looked into her sister's eyes, seeing something she'd not seen since she'd awakened those months ago... something she'd likely not seen since that fateful night in the forest when Arien was taken: light... and love.
"You'll come back with me?" Kaleyl asked hopefully.
"No, Kallie," Arien replied shaking her head. "I can't go back with you." She drew her fingers to Kaleyl's hair again, pushing away the curls that shadowed the green of her eyes.
"I wouldn't want to leave this place, Kal. But you.. you have things left unfinished. Your love awaits you, your friend.. and our sister."
"Our sister?" Kaleyl blinked with surprise, looking at Arien curiously. "What are you talking about? Who?"
"I can't tell you, Kallie," Arien replied, an apologetic look upon her face. "But look into your heart, and you will know who she is."
Kaleyl looked down at her sister's shoulder for a moment thoughtfully, and then her green orbs were mirrored by Arien's once again. "Siria?" she asked.
Arien nodded, and then squeezed Kaleyl tightly to her one more time. "I must go now, Kallie. But I will be with you always... just like on board the Wave Dancer. I will watch over you, and I will help you when I am permitted."
Pulling back, she took Kaleyl gently by her shoulders, and looked deeply into her eyes. "You will never be alone, Sister."
Kaleyl wept again as Arien walked back up the path, disappearing into the forest.
"It's time for you to go now as well, my child," a familiar voice said softly from over Kaleyl's shoulder. Turning, Kaleyl saw the pristine form of Mielikki's avatar, her golden horn glistening in the sunless light.
"Mielikki...:" Kal began humbly, "I still can't remember anything... anything before I lost my memory."
The unicorn nodded her head. "Yes, Kaleyl. I'm afraid I can't help you with your memories. I cannot undo what another goddess has done. But I will show you the way to find it for yourself, and for your friends."
Kaleyl nodded her acceptance, smiling softly through still misty eyes. Looking upon the Mielikki's beauty, she asked softly, but in earnest, "Have I always been..."
".... one of my children?" the unicorn finished for her. "For as long as you have known who I was, you have followed me."
The unicorn's dark eyes twinkled her pleasure, and then she stepped closer to the priestess.
"You have tarried here long enough now, Kaleyl Malinoi. Bring Tabondielsi, and kneel before me."
Scooping the ferret into her arms again, Kaleyl knelt respectfully before her goddess, humbly bowing her head.
"Aa' menealle nauva calen ar' malta, Kaleyl," the white beauty intoned softly, and with a touch of her golden horn to the half-elf's forehead, fate was undone, and a priestess was reborn.