Alia's Story Alia sat by the Aldur River, watching the water run by her on its journey. She had been sitting there for several hours now trying to decide what to do. She sighed, there was no easy answer for her. Picking up a flower, she absently started picking off the petals as she mulled over the choice she had to make. She could either stay with her clan and her sister Lanaya, her only family. Or she could join Sitar, whom she loved to distraction, and live with him. What a choice, to be with her sister or the one that she loved.
Alia loved her sister. She was the only real family she had left, and the idea of being separated from her broke her heart. Their parents had died when she was 6 and her sister was 5. The family had been on their way back from Muros after the yearly cattle drive. Late one night as they set up camp off to the side of a road, their parents heard some talking not far from their location. They pulled out their sabres and after speaking with their children quite sternly about not leaving their camp, they went to check it out. Alia and her sister, naturally crept after them. They stumbled upon two Murgos in a heated discussion about a woman with long black hair and a white streak on her brow. One of the Murgos seemed to make quite a big deal about the streak. As they were Murgos, their parents quite naturally attacked, but what they didn't know was that one of them was a Grolim. From their hiding place, Alia and Lanaya watched as their parents were consumed by fire, even before they got close enough to use their sabres.
The two sisters had huddled where they were, too scared to move, until the two Murgos left. Then Alia led her sister back to the camp and held her as she cried for the loss of her parents. Alia had not cried though, the tears just never came. She stared into the darkness, and felt the hate building up in her heart. From that day forward she would learn how to use a sabre so that she could kill all the Murgo's she could find. The next morning another family of Algars who were on their way home happened across the camp. Learning what had happened, they took the two girls into their home. They treated them well and Alia and Lanaya always felt loved. Alia held to her conviction though, and by the age of 10 she could hold her own in a fight. The hatred that had began that night hadn't died nor did it lessen.
Alia smiled slightly, as she was thinking about her past. That hatred had been apart of her for over 15 years. She almost thrived on it now, living only for the chance to kill Murgos. Then she met Sitar. From the moment she met him, she loved him. The way he looked riding his horse in the open grass land... She didn't want to admit though. She prided herself on the fact that no one could get close to her, except of course her sister. These feelings she had for Sitar were new and they scared her.
They had been spending a lot of time together recently, going off on rides alone, and talking late into the evening. For once in her life, she had found something else besides killing Murgo's to occupy her time. The general talk around the clan was that Sitar would ask for her hand soon, and it was obvious by the twinkle in her sister's eye that she approved. Alia grimaced, the problem was, he had asked, and now she was forced to face this decision. She wanted more than anything to be with Sitar, but how could she leave her sister behind?
Picking the last petal from the flower, Alia sighed. She was so torn. She new her sister would be upset to hear that she was contemplating saying no to Sitar because of her. Her advice would be to follow her heart. But her heart was also with her sister. She closed her eyes trying to imagine what life would be like with Sitar. He was so gentle and sweet. She smiled as she felt his arms around her, holding her. It took her a minute to realize that she wasn't imagining those arms, they were real. Alia turned to find Sitar staring lovingly into her eyes.
"You have been here for quite some time, my love" leaning forward for a kiss.
"Yes, I know. Just trying to organize my thoughts." Alia replied. It felt so good to be in his arms, his kisses were so gentle. How could she say no?
"I understand how close you are to your sister. You know I would never want to come in between you?"
"I know, dear" Looking deep into Sitar's eyes, Alia realized what her answer was, she wanted to be with him. She kissed him soundly on the lips and smiled. Whispering in Sitar's ear, "Yes, My love."
Sitar smiled and held Alia close. Alia closed her eyes, she would miss her sister terribly, but she knew this was the right decision.
The wedding happened shortly after. It was a small but beautiful occasion. Alia really didn't remember much of it afterwards, but that didn't matter. All she cared about was that she was with Sitar. She spent much of the ceremony lost in his eyes, as he was in hers. The party that followed lasted long into the night, although not for Alia and Sitar. The two of them snuck off early to be alone, they wanted to start their life together as soon as possible.
The next morning it was time for the two of them to take their leave. Alia held on to Lanaya, hoping that if she just held her, that somehow maybe she would be there with her as she started her new life.
Lanaya, pulled back and looked into Alia's eyes. "Alia, I love you, but it is time for you to go. We will always be together, we are sisters after all."
Alia nodded, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall. She was the oldest and was supposed to be the strong one here. The thought made Alia smile. Lanaya was the strong one, it was her that had held Alia together in those terrible days after the loss of their parents. She was right though, it didn't matter how far apart they were, they would always be linked.
"How is it that you are the wise one? I am supposed to be the one guiding you?" Alia smiled through the tears that were welling up.
"Alia, you have been guiding me from the day our parents were killed. It is time for you to have your own life now. Sitar is a wonderful man, who loves you almost as much as I do. I will be fine, and besides I will visit. Now go."
Kissing her on the cheek, Alia turned and mounted the horse that Sitar had given her as a wedding gift. It was a beautiful black mare, one of the best of the herd. Alia smiled and waved, and then turned her horse to join her new husband.
The happy couple spent three glorious years together. While Alia missed Lanaya, Sitar often found excuses to travel so that they could visit her. He was very observant and made a conscious effort to make sure that the link between the two of them was not lost.
About three years after the wedding, Alia received a letter from her sister asking her to come home as soon as possible. Apparently one day, a few weeks earlier, she had gone to the coast and she had found a woman close to death, who had washed up on the beach. She took her home and nursed her back to health. After several days that were touch and go, it appeared that the woman was improving quite nicely. Lanaya had wanted Alia to come to meet this woman and see if there was anything else they could do for her.
It was about a two days ride, and after saying good-bye to Sitar, Alia left that same afternoon. She was excited to see her sister, and was interested in meeting this woman who owed her life to Lanaya. Hopefully there would be something that they would be able to do to help her find her way back home.
It was late when she arrived in the village, and Alia went straight to Lanaya's home. As she was moving through the streets, she noticed smoke coming from the direction of her sister's house. She pushed her horse to a canter and hurried on. When she reached her sister's house, she found it engulfed in flames. A woman was running away from the house laughing madly, but Alia didn't have time to go after her. She could see her sister's body lying on the floor just inside of the house and she had to try and save her. She did get one glimpse of the woman's face, and that face was burned into her memory forever.
Taking a deep breath, Alia pushed past the flames, and entered the house. She drug her sister's body out of the house and tried to revive her. But there was no hope. A cruel knife was sticking out of her sister's chest. While death had not been immediate, the wound was severe enough that there was nothing Alia could do to save her sister.
Grief overcame Alia, and she lay sobbing over her sisters body. The rest of the next few days were a blur. Apparently someone in the village had seen the fire and shouted an alarm. When the villagers came to help, they found Alia mourning over her sister. One of the villagers, Traleel, who had been good friends with Alia before the wedding had taken her home and tried to comfort her. She also sent word to Sitar to let him know what had happened. A few days later, they buried Lanaya. Alia had been totally incapacitated, and barely remembered the ceremony. Sitar came riding in later that night, and took his grieving wife home.
Alia fell into a deep mourning, that even Sitar couldn't reach. She took to wandering out into the surrounding valleys for hours at a time. Sitar grew increasingly worried, and tried to be there for Alia, but she just wouldn't open up. He finally decided after several weeks, that a change of scenery would do them both good. He had a sister who lived in Riva, and that he had not seen for years, so he talked Alia into going to visit them.
Even going to Riva didn't make much of an impact. Alia was silent and removed. She would lay in bed next to Sitar and cry softly most of the night. She would disappear during the day, as she wandered in the hills behind the city. It broke Sitar's heart, there wasn't anything he could do to lesson the grief that she felt. One night as he held her, he decided that he needed to find out more about Lanaya's death. If he could find the woman who killed her, maybe it would help to lesson Alia's grief. Sitar decided to go back to Lanaya's village and start the search there, Not wanting to take Alia back there, he left her with his sister, saying that he had been summoned by Hettar. Giving careful instructions to watch Alia closely, Sitar kissed her fair well and left on his journey.
Several days later, Sitar reached the village, where he immediately went in search of Traleel figuring that if anyone knew what had happened she would.
"I don't know how much I can tell you Sitar. We heard the yelling that Lanaya's house was on fire, and by the time we got there it was almost completely gone. I arrived to see Alia laying over Lanaya's body sobbing. I do know that she had been murdered, Sitar. She had an ugly looking knife sticking out of her. The only thing Alia could tell me that night was that a woman was running away from the fire when she got there. Maybe the knife will help give you clues. I have never seen a knife like this one, and since it is unique.. maybe you can trace it to its owner."
Sitar grimaced, "I was afraid that there wouldn't be much to go on, but at least the knife is something. I have to at least try. Its the only thing that I can think of to get my Alia back."
Traleel smiled. "I know you love her. She will come back to you, if anything can see her through this, it is love, Sitar. Don't give up hope yet." She left the room and returned shortly with the knife.
Sitar left the village the next day setting out in the direction of the Stronghold. Hoping to be able to find Cho-Ram or Hettar and ask for their assistance. After several days journey he saw an Algarian caravan up ahead. Hoping that maybe they would be able to help, he nudged his horse to a canter. All of a sudden, one of the wagons burst into flames. At a dead run, Sitar raced to help. Most of the wagons were in flames by the time he reached them. Sitar braced against the flames and tried to help those that were trapped inside. But he was too late, he looked around and saw three figures in the distance. Algar bodies littered the ground around them.
Rage filled his mind as he saw the bodies of his country men. Picking up a sword he ran towards them. One of the figures stepped forward, her black dress whipping in the breeze. She raised her hand and froze him in place. Unable to move, Sitar struggled against the invisable restraints as the strange woman walked closer. Suddenly she stopped, raised her hand again and a shot of fire hit Sitar in the chest. As he died, his thoughts were of Alia, and the pain that his death would cause her. "I love you my Alia." He whispered with his final breath, with the woman standing over him, laughing.
Alia had spent several weeks on Riva and no word of Sitar. She spent most of the time walking in the hills behind the city. Her thoughts were haunted by the image of her sister lying dead with the knife in her chest, and the face of the woman running away from the fire. With each passing day she was determined to find the woman and make her pay. One morning, almost two months after Sitar had left, Alia again went up into the hills. She found herself next to a small creek and knelt down next to it. Closing her eyes, she saw the face of her sister. Lanaya, dear sister, I will avenge your death. Her decision had been made that she would leave the island. She was becoming impatient waiting for the return of her husband.
When she returned after her wanderings she found Sitar's sister waiting for her, her face was ravaged with grief. Alia knew without being told that Sitar was dead. She listened as she was told that his body was found on the plains, along with many other dead Algars. They had been attacked and most, including Sitar had been burnt. Alia crumbled, her whole world was gone. There was nothing left for her. She barely noticed the comforting arms that were around her as she cried for her loss.
Later that night, she lay in bed, haunted by dreams and images. She couldn't stay in Riva, although Sitar's sister had told her that she could. She couldn't go home as there were to many memories of Sitar. In that moment her decision was made, she would leave Riva and search out the woman who had killed her sister. Her face was burnt into her brain, and maybe along the way she would learn something of the death of Sitar, and could avenge him too. At least that would give her a reason to live. Silently she packed her things and was on the wharf at first light.
Alia took a ship to Sendaria, she didn't really have any idea on where to start her search. How do you ask people about a woman that you only saw a glimpse of? As the ship approached Sendaria she stood at the front of the ship, wind whipping through her hair. I love you, Sitar and Lanaya, dear sister. She whispered. A surge of grief threatened to overcome her, but she put it down. She had a purpose now, and she wasn't going to let her grief come in the way. Her face determined she set her eyes on Sendaria.
*****
(This is the point where the RP started and the history of Alia ended. It is my intent to eventually right more for her story.)
Arandor Library