A Careful Balance

The tempers of the populace rose with the new day's sun. Where the night prior was some nasty looks and a singular angry voice, the journey through the streets of Bremmira, this morning had turned for the worst. There was direct shouting at you, including some local foul language you could only guess at. Some rotten food had been thrown at you. Flatly flopping off your armor and landing on the street, it was hardly any risk to you, but the insulting intent of it was still made perfectly plain. Inwardly, it was a painful, haunting scene. You’d known conceptually what to expect, what your parents and the Matriarch had told you of the millennia of strife between Elves and Drow, and the war.

Some of the vitriol appeared to even be pointed at your aide. Though you were ready to be the target and victim of this hate and anger, you were not so prepared for it to be inflicted upon him for simply being in proximity of you. For what it was worth, he was taking it in great stride, at least by outward appearance.

"Well, looks like you have your work cut out for you" Fineth said in a dull moment to break up the mood and the tension. "Good luck bringing those people over to your side"

"Oh, don't worry about me. You have the more difficult job, by far" You replied with a macabre grin.

"How so?" He asked, not getting the point.

"You have to be the one to keep the peace, which will repeatedly mean putting yourself between them and me."

His eyes did grow slightly large in anxiety, unsure to what degree you were playing around. "I think in most cases, I'd rather stand beside you, if it's all the same."

You smiled gently, comforted again by his support "How is it that you came to be you, Fineth?" You asked "With so many people in the Empire full of such resentment and hostility towards my people, how is it that you seem so unaffected?"

His eyes shifted for a second, his lips pressed gently. There was a nervous look about him. "These folks don't get out much, I don't know. I've got your back Brena, that's what matters. The why doesn't change that."

You let out a short, contended note of acknowledgement. It wasn’t the answer you hoped for, but you conceded that his final point was true in the end. "I guess not. Thank you for that perspective, and for having my back. Even if it is your job."

"We're about to speak with my father, so we'll see how much longer I even have that." Fineth opened and held a door for you, heading into a large, respectable office building. There were several elves working in the space, conducting all manner of bureacratic work. There was glass window that took up most of the wall, making a large impression given the size, that allowed one easy viewing of the ships entering and exiting port, as well as providing natural light in. By fortunate chance, Fineth's pudgy father was passing through and happened to see you both. His face read immediate dismissal and animosity, something you had to try not to reciprocate in equal measure.

"You're both late" He held his left hand across his body, pointing the opposite direction. Understanding implicitly, you both took the stairs to the upper floor, into his office. He followed behind, closing the door with force to show his authority.

"The behavior you've shown in your first day in your nation's capital is unbecoming and rude" He began as he made his way to behind his desk. "I would expect that from Fineth. I had higher hopes from one so many others are depending on, though perhaps I was asking too much."

You began to feel defensive already, speaking up directly "If I may, of all the things the Drow have been accused of, or any of the crimes you claim my Matriarch was guilty of, tardiness was never among them."

He leaned forward with a cruel smile "Perhaps not, miss. There is an underlying problem of loyalty, is there not? I mean, your little hovel exists because your general betrayed her loyalty. She lacked the bravery and honor to die in combat as your culture expects and demands. If her and the rest of your little band came about from treason, what expectations am I to have of their progeny, who comes marching into my office armed as if going to battle herself?"

He threw a great deal at you, an onslaught that you could not realistically respond to or defend in it's entirety. You could stomach a fair amount of it, but disparaging Khilgana, your Matriarch, General, and Prophet, was unacceptable. As you felt your face warm in anger, grabbing at the chair to hoist yourself up in a defiant rage, there was at least enough of a voice in your mind reminding yourself to be tactful.

"It is no small thing to take a stand and fight a battle you know you are to lose. Every General or Commander Khilgana has ever faced would say that she lead her soldiers with bravery, and honor. Her soldiers, including my parents, followed her to Hylsa because they were loyal to her, knowing how great of a leader she was, and that she was loyal to them. An officious clerk has no business lecturing anyone on things they do not understand, particularly one that would fall out of a parade march from end of the Capital to the next. You should expect me to follow the orders that I have been given by my Matriarch and Goddess, just as surely your Emperor has given orders to you regarding my authority to be here." It was rude and callous, you know, but it was as close as tactful as you could be. It was enough to put him on the back of his feet, caught in a verbal trap.

"Our Emperor" Was all he could get out at first, as he reached into a drawer of his desk "Lord Calathrin is Our Emperor, Drow." With a quill pen, he affixed his signature, as he began to prepare a wax seal upon it. "I, Yrul, representative of the Emperor and administer plenipotentiary, do affix my name and seal, granting you full legal authority to visit this capital and transit about the Sylran Empire." With a few drops of wax, he made a solid punch into the hot wax, no doubt releasing some of his frustration with you. "As you are aware, my dear son Fineth is appointed to be your adjutant, assistant, and watchful eye. He is to report any misgivings, immediately. Do you understand?" He handed the paper, already folded in thirds, to you for keeping, as his scornful eyes looked between the both of you, ensuring the message was heard by both.

"I understand most things. There is one question I still have." You began as you took the paper "If Hylsa is part of the Empire, and I am an Imperial citizen, than is this not unnecessary? Does this process not indicate that I am a foreigner?" It was a pointed barb of a question, one regarding the tenuous legality of your position within the Empire.

"Enough" Yrul stood slowly, leaning forward on his desk as he rose "You have tried my patience enough as it is. I am have neither the capacity nor the interest in addressing your problems. I would have rather you never left your island. If it were up to me, no quarter would have been given at all. It is by the Emperor's will alone that your people were given mercy, and that you are even live, let alone stepping foot off of that island. Even his benevolent graces and patience has limits. If you are truly on a mission of forgiveness and unity, than might I begin with a word of advice. Learn a thing or two from your green comrades in arms about Quargh and how to be a hospitable guest."

He pointed towards the door "Go. Quickly, and quietly. Both of you." As you both reached it, he made a final warning "In case it's not immediately clear, I will not tolerate any philandering or consorting between the two of you. It’s bad enough my own flesh and blood has to be entangled in this matters, I refuse to allow there a treasonous union be formed between you. You don't want to see how painful an officious clerk can make things."

Fineth made a simple nod as he lead you out. Without a word said, you both hurried down the stairs and back out of the building, into the wide road. You turned towards him, and let out an exasperated sigh.

"I think this is where we say goodbye, Fineth. I can't risk you and your livelihood by associating with me."

He shook his head, an unexpected grin on his face "I can't do that. If watching my father and these other spoiled oafs finally have someone stand up to them means having to fend for myself again, that's a price well paid,” He stared deep in your eyes, speaking slow and calm “Helping you is the first time in a long while where I feel proud of what I’m doing again, that I'm actually doing some good for someone who needs it."

You were still nervous about what might happen to him, but you knew to respect his decision "Thank you Fineth, that means alot. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I arrived, but I think meeting you was the best possible outcome."

"Besides, we're both responsible adults" He began as he held your hands and closed the distance "we know how to behave. We know better than to be caught 'philandering and consorting' ".

There was a long pause as you looked into each others eyes. "Yes," you agreed "very responsible". The desire between you two grew.

"He'll never catch us" Fineth remarked with a grin as he reached in for a kiss. It was short and sweet, but it left a long impact. The desire for more showed two things.

One, that last night was likely not going to be a one time event, and may in fact become a frequent occurance. You wanted him right now, the wetness you felt in your intimate regions made that obvious to you. Seeing a bulge in his loins as you glanced your eyes to the lower regions of Fineth, it was clear he felt the same.

Two, that the two of you would need to move extremely cautiously moving forward. That your longing for each other was so strong, and that Fineth seemed to have a reputation for being sexually active meant you needed to be all the more active and conscious in your discretion and subtlety.