Journal Part I
				A book I feel the need to write so often that I decided to buy myself a book from the shop near the temple today. I am a little elf from Solhaven, a beautiful town near Wehnimers landing, Elanthia. I think I am young, because my sister says I am so, but I don't know much about myself. All I know is I like to talk and write and hunt mostly, and I carry a backpack with an elf in it…I have a sister, her name is Gwendalath and she is a singer and poetess. She is beautiful and so nice to me. She keeps me well fed and clothed and I have learned much of this small town from her. There are so many different types of beings here not just elves. Gwendalath is a human. She is also very silly. I think I am too serious sometimes, but that is the only way I know how to be. Who? I was dining with Gwendalath today and she introduced me to this elf, his name is Valentrus and he is so nice and polite, not like many I have met in my life. He has beautiful eyes. They shine, and he looks so familiar to me, but I know I don't know him because I have never met him before. He is Gwendalath's friend and I think she has a crush on him. She makes me laugh sometimes with her flitting from man to man and I know I could never be like that because I know when I find the man I will know he is it for me. I will know just by looking at him. This Valentrus though, he looks at me like he is uneasy around me. I don't understand because I think I was polite to him. Unease I came from Oleani's temple today and I saw Valentrus sitting in the glade there. There is something about the glade that makes me relax, and again I have to say I felt like Valentrus was familiar to me. I think I scared him off though because I told him about that. He just raised his eyebrow at me like I was crazy and stared at me. He then stood up bowed and left leaving me with my thoughts. The roses were so beautiful and the trees so large, it reminded me of something, but I can't put my finger on it. Amnesia I was talking with Gwendalath today and she told me the story of how I came to live in Solhaven. I was trying to figure out why it was that I was having memories of a glade with beautiful flowers and she told me what she could about me that she knew. She told me that I was found on a horse mostly dead by some pathfinders, and they took me to the nearest town, which was Solhaven to get me healed and nursed back to health. It seemed that I had been robbed and hit hard, there was blood all over my clothes and leathers, and they didn't think that I was going to make it. Gwendalath and her friends took me in and nursed me back to health. She was only able to salvage two of my things, a backpack and inside the backpack a hand-sewn elf. They didn't know my name and so Gwendalath has always called me sister…until today that is. Remembering I went to the glade again today to collect my thoughts, and who was there but Valentrus. I was scared of him today, mainly because he kept looking at me closely. I think he is a handsome elf, but I must say, he seems afraid to speak with me. As I stood up and smiled at him he sighed heavily and spoke the name "Ilvane." My head snapped up and I looked at him directly in his eyes. He stood up and walked out of the glade, leaving me with my questions. Missing Valentrus hasn't been around for days, and I want to see him again. I have to ask him about that name. I need to know. Gwendalath thinks I am crazy to say I know him because she says he has lived in Icemule Trace most of his life, where she met him first. I just want to share a dinner with him and talk to him about my past, if only I could remember some of it. It is evening now and I am looking at my elf. I wonder if this holds a key to my past as well… when I hug it and smell the smells of it, I am reminded of the forest for some reason, but I can not place it. It is not a place I have seen before in my lifetime. Confronting I met up with Valentrus on the street today. I think he is afraid to look at me. I don't know why though. I was so embarrassed at an outburst I had though. I was looking at him and Gwendalath was there as well, and I turned to him and said, "Why did you leave me?" Trust me, I don't know where it came from, but it caused him to stand and stare into my eyes once more. "Ilvane would know." Gwendalath told him to sit and he did. It was a good thing she was there, because I think I would have lost nerve to ask him the questions I wanted to. I looked at him and smiled and said "Valentrus, you need to tell me, because I don't remember anything anymore! Everything is gone… I remember a glade with flowers and the woods and your face, I just don't know anymore…I am losing my mind!" I began sobbing and was embarrassed by my reactions. All I know is I felt like I wanted to protect him. As time goes on now, all I feel is an undying need to protect him. From what, I don't know. Knowing Valentrus has been kind to me in many ways, and after finding out who I am I feel that he is even more kind than I thought. I am a shameful elf…Someone that shouldn't be near him because of the disgrace of my family. But for some reason, he doesn't seem to feel that way. I want my memory to come back so I can remember more myself and know for sure that I am not dangerous to him. My birth parents I don't want to find, but my adopted parents, I do. It's taken a little time but now I know who I am and what has happened to me, it has made some things easy and some not so easy. I don't know how to talk to Valentrus, or how he feels about me being here, although he doesn't seem entirely sad. Faith in Ronan We were walking through the various temples in Solhaven today and I found many of the Gods and Goddesses to be interesting. I feel the most affinity with Ronan though. My da used to always say that I was fascinated by my dreams. As I walked into the temple, the beautiful smells and the planetarium that shows the stars so beautifully overwhelmed me. I stepped into the prayer niche and prayed, knowing that this was my place, my God. I worry sometimes of things back home. Being away for too long makes me wonder if they are in the same kind of danger the king thought I was in as a child. As far as anyone can tell, my birth parents have no knowledge of my existence as a living child. I am glad to hear that, but it doesn't stop me from worrying. My parents were wood-elves, not Vaalor elves and well, I've seen the way my da handled orcs in the woods, and it was sometimes very comical. A warning Reaching out into my dreams as I prayed today in the small Niche, I had the most horrific vision and am now in great need to go home. I only wish I could. The vision was of a woman with a black veil over her head, and you couldn't see her face all. She walked towards one of the guards watching my parents cottage and paid him some silvers then walked down the path to where my parents lived. She went inside and I heard blood-curdling screams and as she stepped out of the house the smoke began to pour from the back. The vision allowed me to watch as the house was engulfed in flames and my parents were killed. I haven't told Valentrus about it but I will tonight. I'm sure he'll want to know what I saw. I'm scared and I don't want anything to happen to them. Valentrus is returning home to Ta'Vaalor tomorrow. He received some unsettling news from home and wants to check it out. I'm not going with him because he is afraid I may be put in danger. I hate the idea because I really like to make sure he is safe and protected. Insomnia It has been a series of sleepless nights for me because I am so worried about Valentrus. I wish I could hear something so I know he's ok. I haven't sensed anything bad, but still I worry. Valentrus returned to me today but is too tired to talk about what happened. I want to know what has happened at home but one look at his face and I know I can't push him right now. When her regains his strength I will speak with him about it. Danger As Valentrus tells me the entire story of my parents attempt to take control of his fathers estates once more, I feel ashamed at the behavior of my own blood. He told me of a message he received with Senalaria's handwriting that told him my parents had sneaked into the estate and imprisoned Isal and Amber in the tower. Varilus, my father, while he was in power the short time he gained it by claiming Amber was ill, had treated his fathers associates and servants badly, and had ruled selfishly not thinking of the people of the land and areas he owned. With the help of Valentrus and the Royal army, he was soon out of power once more. The Nalfein forces there had been beaten soundly and Valentrus had released his parents from the tower once more. My father had thought he was strong enough to take on Valentrus in a duel and had lost badly. My father is crazy he says, driven by the forces of madness. I don't want to know that…and it scares me to hear. Even though I don't know my parents I feel sorry for them. My mother was no where to be found and is around somewhere. No one knows where. I'm so glad he is back now, and some good things have come of his trip back home. He spoke to his parents regarding his betrothal to Senalaria and upon seeing both of them were not happy about getting married to each other, Amber cancelled the betrothal. I am more relieved than anything, yet I don't exactly know how he feels about me aside from being a good friend and companion. I can't imagine he would want me for his own lady. We traveled to Ta'Vaalor today and I met Amber and Isal. Amber's eyes grew wide when he saw me, and I think he knew who I was. He is a wonderfully kind man, and his eyes are much like Valentrus'. Valentrus surprised me by telling his father about us, and Amber actually said he though my loyalty had proven me fit to be of the higher class, a Lady!. I could only hope. I am just so plain and simple. Isal showed me a few mirrors around the castle today, and I was embarrassed at my dark dusty clothes near to her beautiful outfits and jewels. Another thing I could never imagine is sitting by and not being able to go out and hunt. I'd probably drive my guards as crazy as I used to with Arlias and Elit. We are heading back to Icemule today. I am kind of glad because there are so many people watching us around here and I like to be able to walk alone in the woods with no one around. I think I understand more now of why Valentrus wanted to have more of a life of adventure, only after a few days of being here. Icemule Back in Icemule, there have been some strange things going on. A friend told me that there was someone seeking me, although I can't imagine who. Later this afternoon I met Rhianon. She is an angry elf with shining violet eyes and blond hair much like mine. We even stand about the same height. I can't say we are alike though because she has wild eyes and hair and she is so angry! She hates me for some reason, though I can't understand it. She told me today that she is my sister. Poor dear girl was left alone with the dissidents in the Nalfein camp and she seems to think that I did something wrong and that is why I was abandoned as a child. I just don't understand that. She makes me think a lot though and I do wonder sometimes if she is right. I am so sad today. She says my parents were wonderful people who just felt that they could rule better than Amber could. My mother had gone increasingly crazy after she found out I was still alive, and well it was hard to explain to Rhianon that I had nothing to do with it directly. Dreams The dreams keep coming. It is the same one of the death of my sylvan parents at the hand of Joallia. I am worried because everytime I pray and dream I see that vision. I have spoken to Valentrus about going back now, and now that he has heard the vision he wants to go back as soon as possible as well. We have arrived at my ma and da's home and I haven't felt so relaxed in a long time. I saw Elit today and almost challenged him to a little fight but as I drew my sword back he jumped back and fell over a trunk in fear. I laughed it off because he is an old friend and I pulled him back up to his feet. I wanted him to see how much I had learned since I had last saw him but he didn't seem so interested. He was more concerned about my parents safety and mine once again. They had guarded for a long time now and were old friends to my parents now. When I sat many of them down and told them the vision I had, they were concerned because most visions from Ronan don't lie. Soon after we changed the subject and had a wonderful dinner. It was so good to see them again and Valentrus seemed to fit in so perfect with my family. I think they like him a lot. I hope they do. Da went to get some wood, stood up came over and kissed me on the forehead saying "I love you princess" Like he used to when I was little. I decided after a large meal that I needed to get out and get some exercise and walk quietly through the woods I used to travel in as a child. About a mile away from my parents house I heard voices and looked behind some trees to see the woman I had seen in the visions. I was terrified at first, seeing that woman from my vision, but I gained control quickly as I watched her pay some of the guards some silvers and say talk of plans to harm the royal and kill my parents. A moment later Valentrus came out of the house they all scattered. I didn't immediately go towards the cottage, but I heard later from Valentrus that he had come across my mother. When we got back to the cottage I planned on finding a way to find out what was really going on in the camp of dissidents. I was intent on getting in there. As luck would have it, I came across Joallia in the woods with another guard and saw her hand him some coins as she had done in the vision…I sighed heavily and was concerned that one of the Royal guard would take silver from such a woman. I then stepped into the shadows and followed them on foot softly watching them and listening to the plans they were making. I succeeded very well, or so I thought until at the end of the path. Joallia whipped around and said "Who ever you are I could certainly use you for protection!" As I stepped out of the shadows she smiled at me and said, "And strong too. How are you young elf?" I smiled back at her trying to keep my resolve strong and I talked to her for a moment and she readily took me into the fray of the group she was leading. When I arrived I was introduced to the group and I was happy to see that no one I knew was there to recognize me. We talked about how I would help and what could do to aid the plans they were laying. My relief was changed to unease when I saw Rhianon at dinner. Her steely eyes looked right at me and she whispered some words to the bodyguards and to my mother. My mother looked up, and I thought I saw a tear well up in her eyes. They then imprisoned me in a small cell. I was trying to think of any way to escape from the cell when Rhianon came in and looked at me with concern in her eyes. " Ilvane," she said, " I am letting you go." She raised her hands up towards the lock and she looked at me again. " I fear something is drastically wrong with my mother" she sighed. I was concerned for her because she looked so downtrodden. As she let me out of the cell she said, "She is not the same." I saw tears in her as she said this so I knew she was sincere. She told me she had witnessed my mother in the woods doing many different rituals and she was worried it was harming her soul. With that she let me go and said "Good luck my sister". It really meant a lot to me when she said that, and as I ran from the camp I thought about her and her predicament. I ran back to find Valentrus and he got the guards to the place where my mother and the others were hiding. The captured my mother and put up in the tower with my father. I don't know if I feel safer, or if I have betrayed my own blood. But the feeling doesn't last long when I ask Amber to go see them in the tower. I went up there expecting to find parents who would at least feel sorry for abandoning me, but instead I found 2 crazy people with wild eyes and evil from every pore. I feel terrible for them. I told the servants to make sure that they get plenty of food and water and go back down stairs to speak with Valentrus and Amber. They want to know what I want to do with them. To kill them would to be as bad as they were, so I tell them that all I want is for them to be imprisoned for a long time. They looked at me for a long time and agreed it would be so. Later in the evening we receive a note saying Joallia and Varilus are dead. We are travelling back to Icemule again, and I can't get my parents off my mind. I also can't shake the feeling that we are being watched. Blood and dirt cover the end of this entry. Valentrus found this journal after the kidnapping.
		Journal Part III
			Journal Part IV
	The Reading