#elsewhere

********************

In a market in the Dreaming, Sylvi leads an Eiluned Sidhe to a quiet area.

They find one, Clodagh says "LEt me know when it's safe to sit. I confess I didn't want to let the others know how nervous I am like this"

"So...okay. A really big part of me doesn't want to know what this is all about, but...well, you asked specifically as repayment for the cookies, so I feel like I gotta...." A sigh.

"Oh, here...yeah, there's a seat right behind you, here."

"Oh goodness.. look. Sylvi, I don't know you well but you have to be a BIT Curious. It's like.. total strangers truting? this is past life stuff"

An uncomfortable pause. "I think probably there's a lot of past life stuff that would not get along with my current life stuff."

"That's...reasonable' she nods then a sigh "Your Gwydion friend is rude. You know? Like anything an Eiluned says has to be verified by interogating their friends?"

"Well...she's protective."

"And I think she's had issues with Eiluned."

"mmph" A sigh

"Anyway...I got this thing from a merchant. It's supposed to be a memory...and I think it's about...well, us."

"Well, can we share it?"

"Probably, is what I'm guessing. Or if it only works for one, I can tell you what it is. It's like a thing you inhale. I can't promise it's totally safe. I mean, she said it wouldn't hurt me, but...I can't promise for sure."

A sense of responsibility is clear in her tone.

"Somehow you nattering over me feels familiar. Let's open it" She directs.

Somehow her just insisting like that feels famliar to Sylvi in turn

"Wow, so not 'nattering,'" she corrects, a bit miffed...but mostly because she's knows she got called out accurately. "Fine. The blonde leading the blind..." she smirks, and holds the vial between them. "Deep breath on three. One, two, three..." and she uncorks the vial.

And inhales.

And images flow of memories.. sort of.. images of memories that even a blind person can see... and a voice speaks

Sylvi bites her lip and listens.

It's more like a movie you didn't realize you'd seen before when very young, suddenly fresh again, but it's clear, insightful...

and a story is told of a sidhe and troll , each a leader in their way, having to stop a war between trolls and Sidhe nobles... during a time when the sidhe were taking control with the Tuatha gone. The sidhe needed unity, to have folks under them! the Trolls wanted their ways respected.... but the greater threat was the fell...

If anybody is watching, Sylvi's expression is a frown of concentration.

As is Clodagh's

as a story unweaves of the troll misleading her lodge for their own good, and the Eiluned giving up secrets of her House ...for their own good

An uncomfortable shifting.

Clodagh gasps "I'm lucky I didn't get thrown out"

A half-smirk. "They probably admired your sneakiness. Reluctantly."

"I mean for the honesty and sharing of secrets" She groans "it's almost troll like"

A huff. "And there I am, tricking my Lodge." She shakes her head. "You were such a bad influence."

"I was a bad influence? You got me half beliving that code of doodoo or whatever it is. You corrupted me"

and yet, it feels warm, fun.

"DAGDA, not 'doo-doo,' geez!" But yes, Sylvi's amused, and the amusement feels familiar.

More facts and images are revealed, later years when they would joke and tease.. and be sent on missions together. And images and smaller stories and memories on display of scenes where they argue, then turn on anyone insulting the other. Where the Eiluned jokes about needing a troll to cast some magic, and a troll jokes about needing a sidhe for lifting a heavy object

A bit of a grin, unconsciously.

And ... yes, the troll that was joined House Eiluned ..by affilation to help the peace. And, a Eiluned Noble woman ends up marrying her brother? A mere troll... yet a good man. They ..were sisters. .in law but...

"oh." A blush at memory of her husband

"Hm...." A bit of a frown at the House membership. Then...."I had a brother?"

It would appear she did. Images of a burly stubborn troll fellow who was surprisingly sensitive at times

Vernar? Something like that

"And I married him for an alliance..." Clodagh says feeling that blush go on "Okay. I admit it. If anyone else saw these images I'd be very upset at the exposure"

"I think you enjoyed more than mere alliance, there." A gentle tease.

"Perhapps" PRimly.. blush

and then, it all goes to hell. The worlds break, the gates to Arcadia start to close...

and two friends are separated...

"...oh."

And they arranged to make sure a troll man went with her... one of the few commoners to.. "We both betrayed him. To make sure he made it. Oh he was furious but by then he aws on the trod. "

and the vapors end...