Jarvis, bard
Chapter 1
Even though they were brothers, they were the best of friends and, of course, trouble followed them wherever they went. That day, they were fencing out in the clearing. As the duel proceeded, they had worked themselves back into the trees and then crash. “Orome!” “Sorry, Grandma.” He had backed into her tea set. “Elrond! Put that away.” Elrond had knocked over her guest. Her tone grew very quiet and the boys knew they were in trouble. “This is enough. My apologies, Morwen. Please excuse us. I will be with you shortly.” Morwen smiled a knowing smile, bowed and left the area, glancing briefly at the two young elves. “It is time. Time for you, Orome, to accompany Aranel to Greyhawk.” There was an audible gasp from a figure standing in the shadows. Grandma raised her hand and there was silence. “You will watch, learn, and above all, listen and obey. And you, Elrond, will stay here and rise to your station.” At that, she turned and left, followed by Aranel. The boys looked at each other. They had never been separated, especially since their father had died in a border dispute with the orcs of Pomarj and they had come to live with their grandmother. Their mother had passed away shortly after Orome had been born. Orome broke the silence. “I can’t leave and I certainly do not want to go with that stick in the mud, Aranel.” Elrond, once again the older brother, stated somberly, “Orome, you have to. It is time for both of us to grow up. And besides, not only is she our grandmother, but she is her Fey Majesty, Queen Yolande, Perfect Flower of Celene, Lady Rhalta of all Elvenkind, etc., etc., etc.” Both young men burst out laughing. Elrond stopped suddenly and looked like he was missing his brother and companion already. “And a command is a command. You must get ready to go at once.” Orome returned the look of loss. “And you, to assume the duties as the first prince of Celene.”
Chapter 2
They stepped into the tavern in the town of Dyvers. Orome was tired not only from the ride, but from the endless lectures from Aranel. He made his way to the only empty table which, unfortunately, was next to the kitchen door. But it was dinner time, the place was packed and it was loud. The good thing was Aranel did not bother talking over the din and dinner would come soon. A woman came up and welcomed them. She recognized Aranel and asked about his travels. She then looked at Orome, smiled and said, “Hi, I am Beth and welcome again to our tavern.” She then took their order and left. Dinner came and was different for Orome, but delicious. After a round of ale was passed out, the room became quiet. It was then quickly interrupted by a chant that became louder as it progressed. “Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth…” “All right. All right.” Orome looked around to see what was going to happen when he saw the young woman, who had greeted them so warmly and served them their dinner, get up on a table. The room then became dead silent. Orome again looked from face to face of each man and then she began to sing. He was immediately ensnared in the spell of her voice, as was every other man. Not even in the forests of Celene had he heard such a voice. She sang a song he had never heard before; a song about a wonderful day in the spring. All of a sudden, he was covered with his drink. The men around him began to laugh. He realized, as he turned his head and body to follow Elizabeth off the table and into the kitchen, that he had brought his arm across the table and hit the tankard. In a blink of an eye, she was there again with two towels. One to dry Orome off and the other to clean up his mess. Orome clumsily muttered an apology. Aranel quickly took over, paid Beth and asked about rooms. She gave him the room number and the men took their leave.
Chapter 3
Orome was looking forward to visiting the tavern in Dyvers again. They had been back and forth several times in the past year. He had done his best to learn from Aranel and follow directions and so far he had been doing well. But this trip, Aranel had a worried look on his faced and suggested that maybe we look for a different tavern. Orome wouldn’t hear of it. He was headed full speed through the door and looking for a table. He quickly found one near the fireplace and looked around for his favorite waitress. Beth soon appeared with her usual welcoming smile and took their order. Orome’s eyes followed Beth as she moved around the room taking and filling orders. Finally, Aranel cleared his throat and mentioned that Orome really needed to focus on one of the females at home. Orome was taken aback. He hadn’t realized where his feelings and actions were taking him. He became withdrawn and did not notice much as they ate dinner. He began to take notice when he heard a familiar voice begin to sing. It was a song he knew from the forests of Celene. Then he heard another voice join in with the counterpoint of the song and found it was his own. Beth got down from the table she was singing on and moved to Orome as they continued their duet. At first the tavern was dead silent as the song ended, but then burst out with thunderous applause. Even Aranel joined in. After the applause died down, Orome asked where she had learned the song. She replied she had picked it up from one of the bards who had passed through, smiled warmly at Orome and then returned to the kitchen. As the dinner crowd thinned out, Beth was cleaning up tables when one of the patrons grabbed her and pulled her to his lap. At first, Beth laughed and tried to get up, but the patron persisted. “Please Thomas, I have work to do.” “Come on, give me a kiss.” “Now Thomas, this will not do.” Thomas then persisted in trying to plant kisses on her. Orome was up in an instant and at their sides. “I believe the lady said she needed to get back to work.” “Be gone long ears, this is none of your business.” Orome quickly grabbed one of Thomas’s arms and twisted it behind his back. Beth ran towards her father as he came out the kitchen door. “You two, there is no fighting in here.” “But father...” replied Beth as Orome let go of Thomas. Thomas punched Orome in the face, backed up and pulled out his short sword. “Enough!” Orome unsheathed his rapier and set to defend himself. Thomas being drunk was not really in shape to fight and Orome quickly disarmed him. Beth’s father moved to grab Thomas, drag him to the front door and throw him out. He then turned to face Orome. Beth spoke again telling her dad that Thomas had held her against her will and that Orome came to help her. Her father, Ben, thanked Orome and offered him free lodging but warned that maybe he better avoid this tavern for a little while. After Ben returned the kitchen, Beth thanked Orome, kissed him on the cheek and followed her father. Needless to say, Orome did not remember much of going to bed. In the morning, Beth brought them warm bread for their journey. Orome kept looking over his shoulder at Beth watching them ride out of town. “Your grandmother is not going to like this.”
“Yes, you are probably right Aranel. But it won’t be the first time.”
Chapter 4
Luckily, Aranel was quickly distracted by court business and Grandmother never heard of Orome’s interests. Orome did not even share with his bother, although his brother did suspect something and kept nagging and harassing him. Orome and Aranel avoided Dyvers on their next two trips. But on the third trip coming home, Orome begged Aranel to stop at the tavern in Dyvers. Aranel grudgingly agreed. They entered and found a table. As soon as Beth entered the room, her face brightened at the sight of Orome. She took their order remaining a little longer than normal. When it came time for her to sing, she asked Orome to join her in another Elven song. The music once again mesmerized the room with the exception of one sitting in the corner. Thomas blurted out “Enough of these fairy songs, how about something human.” Ben, listening at the kitchen door told Thomas to go home. Thomas looked around noticing the hostile stares of faces still under the spell of the music. He got up and left muttering curses as he went. Beth looked at Orome and told him that she had missed him dearly. Looking deep into her eyes, Orome knew he could not go without seeing Beth every moment of every day. He asked to her to come away with him. At that point, Aranel interrupted and asked Orome to wait and think about what he was doing. Orome said no, he could no longer wait and moved to find Ben in the kitchen with Beth in tow. “Sir, I wish to marry your daughter.” Ben looked Orome over. “You realize the two of you will harassed by the likes of Thomas.” “Yes, sir. I do. But I will protect Elizabeth with my life.” “Then so be it. All I ask is that you marry her nearby so I and her mother can attend.” Orome and Elizabeth were married the next day in the woods outside of town and they with Aranel in tow proceeded to the forests of Celene.
Chapter 5
Elrond was the first to greet the trio. At first Elrond was taken aback by the news, but then decided it was great and hugged and harassed his brother. Grandmother was another story. Orome asked Aranel to let him tell his grandmother. Aranel agreed since he did not want to be the bearer of this news. As Orome introduced Elizabeth to his grandmother, she was very polite. When she found out that the two were married, she quietly asked if she could speak to Orome in private. Elrond was quick to escort Elizabeth out of the room and then Queen Yolanda was no longer quiet. Basically, she told Orome that what he had done was totally unacceptable for someone of his station. “What if something happened to Elrond and you had to assume the throne. The Elvin kingdom would never accept this. It is scandalous! Do you not realize you will out live her? What of your feelings then?” Orome knew he could not argue with his grandmother but he was going to try one last thing. “Grandmother, I love her. Even if I only have today, I will still love her. You of all people should understand. What of your love for the Monarch of Sehanine?” His grandmother looked away and then turned back. “The Monarch of Sehanine was Elven.” Orome turned and left.
Orome and Elizabeth stayed in Elrond’s quarters. At first, everyone was welcoming and enjoyed Elizabeth’s singing. But as the court learned of the Queen’s displeasure, Elizabeth was ignored. Orome knew it was time to go. Elrond tried to help, but he too gave in and wished the two well.
So, Orome and Elizabeth decided to move to the forest outside of Dyvers. There they built a home and had a son, Jarvis. Elizabeth’s mother was thrilled to be able to help her daughter during delivery. They sent Orome and Ben to chop wood.
Chapter 6
And so they lived fairly happy for years as Jarvis grew up. There was the occasional harassment from Thomas and the likes as they went to shop in the village and orc raids in nearby villages. Finally, when Jarvis was ten, an official group of elves arrived in the forest looking for his father.
Aranel was no longer able to travel to Greyhawk and Elrond was asking the Orome continue as “ambassador.” The steward hinted that Queen Yolanda was not happy with this but Prince Elrond was quite persistent. After much discussion with Elizabeth, it was decided that he would accept. He would only need to go to Greyhawk three times a year and then an Elven envoy would meet him here at his home. Elizabeth and Jarvis would stay with her parents at the tavern.
All continued to go well, with the exceptions of the Thomas’s of the world. Jarvis loved spending time in the tavern. He loved to help out bussing tables, talking to all the different travelers and singing with his mother. He had inherited her musical gifts. His grandfather had begun to teach him to play the mandolin and Jarvis began to accompany her in the tavern.
When he turned twelve, Jarvis begged to go with Orome to Greyhawk. Orome proudly agreed. Elizabeth was a little nervous but agreed in the end. She would worry about both of them at the tavern. But when they returned, Elizabeth was not there. Ben was worried. She had gone back to their home to get some herbs they had run out of but had not yet returned. And so Orome and Jarvis hurried to their home in the woods only to see smoke in the distance. Everything that happened next was just a blur. Their house was engulfed in flames. Orome tried to enter in several places screaming for Elizabeth but was driven back by flames. People came from the village to see what was happening. Orome went from villager to villager to ask if anyone had seen Elizabeth, but no one had. Ben had to pull Orome from the area as the villagers dug trenches to keep the flames from traveling to the surrounding woods. Jarvis followed in a trance.
Nothing was left of the house.
Rumors followed the burning of the house. Some said it was another orc raid. Some said maybe Thomas had followed Elizabeth out of town but Thomas had been going about his business without acting suspicious. The other mystery was that a body was never found. Orome began searching the woods for months while Jarvis stayed with his grandparents. Finally, Orome came for Jarvis. He had received word to return to the court at Celene.
At court, Queen Yolanda welcomed her grandson home. She never mentioned Elizabeth but was respectful to her great grandson, Jarvis. Elrond was grateful to see his brother once again but shared in his grief at the loss of Elizabeth.
Chapter 7
Jarvis made quick friends with many of the Elven children and enjoyed taking lessons with them and playing. But after the first couple of years, there began to be noticeable differences between him and the children at court. Many of his friends were still respectful but became distant. Great-grandmother’s cool treatment of him didn’t help matters much as well. He continued to ask to accompany his father on his trips to Greyhawk, but even then his father was still distracted by the loss of his wife. The only real conciliation to living at court was his occasional fencing lessons with his Uncle Elrond. Finally, when he was about seventeen, Gemman, the bard, had come to court. Jarvis was fascinated by his tales of adventure and travel and soaked up all the music he could. Gemman, realizing Jarvis’ potential, even let Jarvis perform with him. Listening to their duet, even Queen Yolande was pleased and praised Jarvis. His heart soared. It was her suggestion that Jarvis should travel with Gemman as his apprentice. Gemman was open to the suggestion but Orome was not so sure. Jarvis begged and begged and finally his father said yes.
And so for the next two years, Jarvis served as Gemman’s apprentice, learning new songs, honing his mandolin skills, traveling and meeting new people. It was not all glorious. Avoiding the orcs, going hungry between performances from time to time and the occasional drunk patron were some of the pitfalls, but Jarvis endured it all. Finally the time came when Gemman said it was time for Jarvis to continue on his own. He had enjoyed the companionship, but the women were paying more attention to Jarvis and he needed a little less competition. Gemman left Jarvis in Greyhawk, where Jarvis continued to perform in many of the pubs and taverns.
Jarvis enjoyed performing on a regular basis but missed the traveling. After a performance one evening, he sat and listened to some tales of a group of adventures and decided that this might be what he was looking for.