Ariana sat on her luxurious bed, watching the sun sink lower and lower into the horizon. Her hand ran over the rich fabric of her covers, her new life contained this as a standard. Could she really call it “new?” No, by definition of the word she could not. Her old life ended 92 years ago, not long in the lifespan of an elf, not long enough…
She could to this day vividly hear the screams of her family and of her friends at the blades of the drow. She was but a little girl at the time, only 32 years of age. The night was calm and crisp, freshly washed by a spring rain. Walks by moonlight had always been Ariana’s favorite pastime, and tonight the moon was a lovely crescent. The silence was broken by a scream, quickly followed by many more. She turned to see her camp, not a few hundred meters away, burning. She froze, already knowing what had occurred. Her father, one of the few able-bodied fighters in the large camp had told her stories of drow and their infamous, though rare, surface raids. Her fears were reinforced at the sight of a mane of long white hair in the bough of a tree. The drow had not seen her, his back was turned. A scout, envious of the glory his brothers were no doubt enjoying. Everything seemed still except for the lone tear running down her cheek. She knew she could do nothing, she knew none of her kin had escaped. Her heart beat as fast as her legs as she emerged from the undergrowth where she was hiding and onto the path away from the camp. Only one place of civilization was nearby: Silverymoon. Her tears came in full as she ran, but she dared not stop. In her mind, the drow were behind her, gaining, their white hair billowing in the wind behind them. None did follow her, the scout did not bother to give chase, her lead was too much as it was. It took the best runners of the camp two days to make it from the camp to Silverymoon; Ariana made it in a bit over one. She collapsed the next night at the gate, her exhausted and weary form clearly visible to the watchmen by torchlight. She was taken into the city and given the best care, for in the morning she was to giver he story to the famed Alustriel Silverhand. No survivors from her camp were found by the small detachment of the Knights in Silver sent by Alustriel, none but Ariana herself.
Ariana was given into the care of Evelynn, a prosperous matron in the city, widowed for decades and left child-less. Evelynn cared for Ariana as her own, raising her among the nobility, having her attend the finest balls and parties, meet the wealthiest suitors, all the while being a trusted friend and dedicated guardian of Ariana Argent. Ariana’s wild side was masked by the expensive dresses she wore and by her upbringing in Silverymoon, but nevertheless it showed. She grew to be very beautiful, the envy of the women in Silverymoon. Her rich dark hair grew to her shoulders, her figure became the favorite attraction of most of the city’s males. One in particular noticed her. Jeryll was the heir of one of the wealthiest families in the city. Rich, handsome, courteous, he was almost every woman’s desire. None of the woman he met had any passion, being born and raised in the city. His attention turned to Ariana, and everyone saw where his gaze lay. Evelynn was overjoyed that Jeryll, one of such high birth, had taken a fancy to her own little girl. She did everything to encourage the union. At first reluctant, Ariana complied.
They had been meeting for months now. Jeryll had to this point been nothing short of a gentleman. Her fears were alleviated quickly every time he smiled; she thought it to be genuine. Happiness had come to her at last, after nearly a century of waiting, her childhood dream of love was about to come true. Tonight was to be their last date before they were to be engaged. A carriage waited for her downstairs just as the sun finally sank down below the skyline. Her satin and silk dress was beautiful and elegant, a design similar to one of Alustriel’s. Ariana was nothing short of surprised to see Jeryll already awaiting her in the carriage, usually they had met at the specified location. Tonight was different. He whispered something to the carriage driver, handing to him a small leather bag jingling with coins. Strange, Jeryll usually paid the driver after they had arrived. Ariana thought little of it, tonight was a big night, nothing was going to ruin it. The carriage turned down a darker street, one closer to the edge of town. Through the windows she could see the occasional glimpses of the woods outside of town. The carriage came to an abrupt stop in the shadow two large buildings. The driver hopped off and went to find the nearest tavern with his payment. Jeryll’s hand grasped her own, her brief fears were alleviated, until his hand reached for her leg. It was not proper for a courting couple to have any contact, that much she knew. His hand went higher up her leg, making her increasingly uncomfortable.
Jeryll, what are you doing?
His face was different in the moonlight, darker and more feral, his gaze on his hand and its steady motion upward
Jeryll? Her voice carried a hint of fear, this was not like him.
Hold still, Lady Argent…Sarcasm was heavy in this statement, his hand going yet higher.
Ariana grabbed his hand and forcefully pushed it off. What are you doing?!
He did not respond, simply pushing her hands away, his eyes on the prize.
Ariana reached for the door and pushed. It did not budge, it was bolted closed from the outside. She knew now this would be a night she would never forget, no matter how hard she tried. Her screams he silenced quickly, not that it mattered. None would help her here. Jeryll never intended to marry one of such low birth, his purpose from the second he saw her body was solitary. That night, his goal was achieved. He pushed her out, her once-wonderful dress torn and ragged, into the street as he himself jumped and took the reigns, leaving a barely conscious Ariana Argent in the dirty street, the one thing she truly valued and held dearly, gone.
Her tears flowing freely, she ran for the nearest gate, sprinting past the guard, ignoring their calls. This city was not for her, she could never return, would ever return. She did not cease to run for hours, the city well beyond sight. She took a seat on a stone, and broke down. He had nowhere to go, none to turn to. No family, no friends, no…she felt a sudden chill. Looking up she saw a thick mist rolling in. She had nowhere to go, so her destination came to her.