"Some call it the Tree of Life, some say its called, Yggdrasil, the World's Tree, and those of a place called Pandora, call it the Aiwa. We've always known it be the Ancient Tree. All the fey in the Realm live there. They have one Elder that counsels them and their ties with the Sidhe are also present there too. How old it is, even the Bronze Man doesn't know. Your guess is as good as mine, Neven." Seri held out her hand and several of the lightning bugs landed on it, "Make a wish."

"Do you want me to say it aloud or do so silently?" Neven asked a little unsure about what to do next.

Seri smiled warmly before him, "Say it with heart, say it with mind, and always believe." The cool breeze of the late evening picked up a little on the top of the wall. She stepped to the left as the wind blew between her and the thief. The starlight sky was both mesmerizing and dangerous at the top of the wall.

Neven closed his eyes and silently made his wish. Upon opening his eyes he smiled at Seri, "My wish came true."

Seri released the tiny creature back with its fellows and wrapped her arms around the thief again, "And what is your wish?" The wind swirled around the young pair on the wall over looking both the Ancient Tree and the city of Asylum. Lights of a different kind flashed in the western sky though. Seri was too engaged with Neven to notice the storm on the horizon.

"That I would find happiness," Neven replied, "And I have found it--with you!" With that said, he gave Seri a kiss.

Seri embraced him again slowly and lost in the moment when she began to feel rain drops. "Oh, my dear Neven, we should continue this under cover. I only tell you this because the rain here will soak you to the bone in minutes and that would totally kill the mood. And I don't want to lose you to the elements either."

"Okay!" Neven replied, "Where should we go?"

"I borrowed these from the watch early today," She held up a set of keys. "They'll unlock any tower on this wall. Pick one."

"How about that one?" Neven picked the tower that was closest to them though it was fifty yards away.

"Okay!" She headed straight for the one he pointed at. She ran through the keys until she found the right one to unlock the door. It opened and she pulled Neven in behind her just as the wall of water hit. **WHOOSH!** Closing the door, she scoped out the tower just in case they were not alone. "All clear. We have our own private tower for the evening."

"Sounds like a winner to me," Neven wrapped his arms around Seri's waist, "Now, where were we?"

***********

"What happened?" Irzen asked with a raised eyebrow, "If you don't mind my asking."

"The Curse," He said flatly. "That damn curse Venger cast on us when we were forced to flee. We had come so far only to fail in bringing justice and peace to the Realm." Madeous took a big gulp of his drink. "I always wondered if it had any effect here in the Realm, it did not but unfortunately I also still have a company to run back on Earth. I was thinking about handing it down to the vice president of the company since my luck is better here than there. At the same time, I am reminded of losing Celestra over and over again. Watching her being thrown into a portal to yet another world unable to return. Seems like I'm stuck. Catch twenty-two."

"What would you give to find her?" Irzen asked, "Celestra, I mean. What would you be prepared to endure for a single shot at finding her again?"

Willow raised his eyebrow at this question but said nothing.

Madeous grew quiet for several moments to ponder the swordsman question. Then he looked him in the eye, "I haven't thought of it like that since everything happened, and perhaps its time to do something about it. I'm just not sure how or where to start looking."

"Who is Celestra?" Irzen asked as he took another swig from his bottle, "How important is she? Not just to you, but to the Realm as a whole. Would you count her as a historical figure whose exploits are worthy of a bardic tale or two?"

"What are you driving at, Irzen?" Willow asked curiously.

"Bear with me, Willow," Irzen cautioned the Ranger, "The answer to these questions are important." The Swordsman waited for Madeous' answer.

For a moment the platinum knight pondered the questions at hand, and finally gave him a reply. "She's the Golden Lady. A paladin of Bahamut, righteous to the core, my bonded companion--," He stopped mid sentence and gave the swordsman a hard stare, "What you playing at, Irzen? I can hold my liquor. You don't strike me as the type that can hold yours. Careful, you don't get yourself hurt."

A couple of militia guards doing the night patrol came in drenched. They rung out their cloaks at the door. One spoke up to the patrons of the tavern, "Storm blew in folks. Watch your step if you choose to leave out in that mess."

The other added, "Better yet just stay inside where its dry."

The regular patrons broke out into laughter at the sight of the militia guards who both went up to the bar and asked for a stiff drink each.

Irzen looked at both of the guards before he turned his attention back to Madeous, "I am playing at nothing! Venger banished her to another world, right? And Celestra is a paladin of Bahamut, right? Well, considering the importance of the players in that little drama, I bet dollars to donuts there was a Chronicler of Validor around at the time to record that event. And if there was one present, then she probably recorded which world Venger sent Celestra off to. So--"

"--so all we have to do is get War Scribe to take us to The Great Library, find the right tome that would have that knowledge and then we would know where Venger sent her." Willow nodded his head in agreement.

"The Great Library? It doesn't exist!" Madeous downed another gulp of his drink. He wiped his chin off and sighed, "There might of been here during the invasion of the Torque Armanda thirty years ago. Mind you time is different here in the Realm than on Earth. And I recall that Armendes stated there was one."

"It does exist," Irzen replied calmly, "How do you think my friends and I sneaked into The Black City without Venger's knowledge? The Great Library has a portal that connects to the Draznien Library located in The Black City. Or at least it had one until we sucked the city into a black hole. However, we have a Chronicler of Validor who can take us to The Great Library."

"And War Scribe is bound by her god to aid all who seek knowledge there," Willow added, "She cannot refuse us even if she wanted to."

"So, what are you afraid of, Madeous?" Irzen asked the Platinum Knight, "Or, more to the point, what do you have to lose?"

*********

Caliaphy now could see a wall of water bearing down on them, "Time to go!" She lead them to Madame Mabel's washer womens place. An odd name for a laundry mat but the name stuck a long time ago. War Scribe and Serna could see a bunch of women aging from late teens to adults hustling about with wet linens being placed elsewhere to dry.

"Aye, Caliaphy." A woman with red hair, green eyes, and an Irish accent walked over to her, "Come to help out, have you? Who are your friends, lass?"

"Actually Madame Mabel, we were playing Hide and Seek in the Commons when the storm blew in. We'd like to wait if out if that's okay?"

"Sure. Sure. As long as you don't have a tantrum like Seama, you and your friends are welcome." Madame Mabel eyed the trio.

"She what?" Caliaphy blinked.

"Threw a fit like a wee babe! Hopefully, The Bronze Man set 'er straight." She said in a huff.

Quake got done lugging in the heavy loads of laundry and came to find Madame Mabel and found Serna, Caliaphy, and least of all, War Scribe. "It's the three amigas! Hahaha! Wait a minute," It dawned on the elemental, "you actually stayed and played with the kids, War Scribe?"

"Yeah, fright face, and I actually had fun!" War Scribe chided the Elemental.

Serna gave War Scribe a hard nudge in the ribs, "You played nice earlier today, so be nice now."

The Drowling sighed, "Okay, yes, Quake, I played Hide and Seek with the kids and I actually had fun."

"Better?" The Chronicler turned towards Serna.

"Better." The Shield Maiden replied with a grin.

"Wonders never cease," Quake laughed again, "Wait 'til the Lady hears about this one."

Madame Mabel sat down on one of the many stools that randomly littered the main room, "So, will ye be staying for the night 'ere too? I don't have beds just hammocks 'ere. Then in the morning was heading to the lighthouse for some breakfast. The Bronze Man does host a fantastic variety of foods for guests."

"I might, I might not, it all depends," The Chronicler replied dismissively.

"Thank you for the offer," Serna declared as she sat down on a stool, "I really would not mind waiting out the storm here."

"I'm sure the lady will be glad to have her clothes and gear back as well." Quake grabbed another stool and sat down next to Madame Mabel.

"Aye." She gave the elemental a wink. She also took notice of the chronicler's outfit, "So, little drowling, what profession do you do that requires one such as yourself to wear that?"

"Little?!" War Scribe stared in shock at the Washer Woman, "Who are you calling 'little'? I will have you know that I am TALL for a Drow. I will also have you know that I am War Scribe, Chronicler of Validor, Chief Librarian of the Great Library and Keeper of Knowledge for The Realm of Dungeons and Dragons. My profession does not REQUIRE me to wear anything. I CHOOSE to wear what I wear because it is beautiful, seductive, form-fitting and smoking hot! And what of you Washer Woman? Do you choose what to wear because of YOUR profession?"