Tullarix checked to make sure that the satchel slung across his chest was tightly secured. It would not do to damage the items stored within, even if the pocket dimension that the satchel contained gave the items enough room. The young drow noble just hoped that what he carried was enough to take his mother's mind off from his recent indiscretions. If not, he knew he would be in for a tough time for the next hundred years or so. But he tried not to dwell on that very long. It just gave him an upset stomach and migraines which ended whatever plans he had for that moment.

Walking down the twisting corridors, he encountered several slaves who dragged away the cooling, but still bleeding corpse of a male human. He glanced at the jagged wound on its chest and knew that his mother had just performed a sacrifice to Lolth. *Didn't look like a paladin. Looked like one of the male slaves,* he thought. *She must've been in a hurry to get the ceremony done.* He continued on to where his mother was, thinking now that he really must behave or she may find a really suitable sacrifice. 

As he walked to his destination, he encountered less and less people. It was as if the closer he got to where his mother was, the more people wanted to avoid the area. It was this observation than most which made him more apprehensive about seeing her now. *Oh stop stalling and just get it over with,* he silently berated himself for acting like some effeminate Darthiir^*1. 

The closer he got to Mavralyn, the stronger the sensations in his mind (a by-product of his past favor and close attachment with his mother). This time he would make sure the link only strengthened and not weakened. Whether it was of his doing or by others. It took awhile for him to realize it, but his goal to rise far above the station in life that he was in now could only be achieved with the help of his mother. Letting himself wander in thought he almost passed the door to the chamber Mavralyn was in, despite the constant tingling in the back of his mind. 

There he stood just in front of the closed doors getting himself ready. Sighing, then taking a deep breath, Tull opened the doors to the chamber and walked in quietly. Closing the doors behind him with nary a sound. He saw lounging on a chaise in the chamber was the slender form of his mother, her gown shimmering in waves as she moved. Orbb Solen was also there sitting close by with a satisfied look to her face. Standing with back straight, Tull walked over to the front of his mother's chair and went down on his left knee, left fist on the floor and right fist against his chest and over his heart. 

"Vendui’, ussta malla Ilharess^*2," he greeted with a slight bow of his head.

"Vendui', ussta dalharuk^*3," Mavralyn replied from the chaise with a sly grin.

He then greeted his newly adopted sister, "Vendui’, malla Yathrin lueth dalninil^*4." 

With a voice devoid of emotion, but with eyes simmering in contempt and disgust at his presence, Orbb greeted in return, "Inlul dalninuk^*5." And almost at the same time his mother bid him to rise with a much more warm tone, though still with a hint of suspicion, "You may rise, son." 

Tull rose slowly, still somewhat sore from the healing his body went through and the scarring he received because of it. He tried not to look his mother in the eye, but like always he needed to get a sense of what mood his mother was in. It was a quick glance, and he hoped she didn't notice. Hoped that both of them didn't notice it or it was going to be a long day for him. He stood there silent not knowing where to begin, but then his mother spoke up and relieved him of that duty. 

"We have finished the adoption ritual," she said in a tone that left unspoken a question, wondering why he wasn't there to bear witness to such an important ceremony. She continued after that brief pause, "So Zesstra Freth is no more."

"Zesstra Freth? No more?" The name was new to him. He thought it was Orbb Solen who was being adopted. 

Seeing the confusion on his son's face, Mavralyn added, "Meet Lizinil." She swept her hand in Orbb's direction. "First Daughter of House Xol'Niaren." Mavralyn's face lit up into a smile as Orbb ---Tull would always remember her as that name -- nodded and smiled in Tull's direction. Acknowledging the fact that, yes, she was his new first sister. Tull bowed respectfully at finding out Orbb's new name. He heard his mother chuckle, causing him to stiffen slightly. Was she laughing at him? Maybe. This brought a wave of soreness through his body, his face grimacing slightly. Deciding then that waiting just made him less at ease, Tull looked at his mother. 

"May I come forward, mother?" he hoped it sounded deferential enough for her. 

She nodded her head and permitted him to move closer. Tull sauntered the short distance and prostrated himself in front of the chaise, eyes lowered to the floor. He heard his adopted sister mention, off hand and in the background, that he seemed in a better mood this eve. He concentrated on what he needed to do and blocked out her comment as best as possible. Following what he had planned over and over in his head before coming here, Tull took a deep breath and opened the satchel he was carrying and began to pull out one of the items he was here to present to his mother. This particular item was the tiara he had been examining many days before. Its gemstones sparkled brilliantly even in the dimly lit chamber. Its base frame of mithril and gold gleaming pristine. "One of the treasures and enchanted artifacts I found in S'rotavele's secret vault, mother," he offered up the artifact to Mavralyn as he remained kneeling. 

He waited for her to accept the gift, wondering why she was taking so long. When she finally did take the headpiece from his hands he heard her comment on its beauty, "It is exquisite." He glanced up to see her set the artifact down onto a small stand next to the chaise. "I will look into it before wearing it though." 

As he had planned, Tull chose his words carefully and made sure the tone of his voice didn't sound demanding or offended. "Would you want to know what abilities it will grant you?" Mavralyn sniffed at that and answered that of course she wanted to know. He acquiesced and relayed all the information he had been able to find on the tiara amongst the many personal notes he found in the secret vault where he had found the artifact. Soon he sounded as if he was some sort of automaton whose only task in existing was to relay information. But his mother broke in here and there to ask him questions about it. Making sure he wasn't trying to hold anything back. Satisfied with his report she bid him to stop explaining more. 

Mavralyn looked over her son with a searching eye. With that brief look she examined, took apart, catalogued and put back together what she saw. Long, ruby-lacquered fingernails tapped on the arm rest of the chaise, her gaze falling on him, "I will tell you son, you have NOT been the same since you returned from scouting this cavern many months ago," there was a tiny hint of weariness in her voice, "since your imprisonment from this alhoon creature in fact." Tull closed his eyes tightly and breathed in deeply at hearing her words. 

"I want my old son back," Mavralyn spoke softly, but with enough conviction that said she wanted it done now and not later. She paused, waiting for him to reply to her statements.

Sighing deeply, "I cannot explain the change in my behavior, mother..." especially since he wasn't really sure of the cause himself.

Mavralyn broke in, "You have been arrogant, questioning of my authority, distant, and even though you pay lip service to how loyal you are...," she leaned forward and closer to his lowered head, "you have given me only the most cursory of respect and loyalty lately." Tull knelt there, lowering his head much more to hide the anger in his eyes. Now was not the time to speak his mind. And this time he knew what he was feeling was all him and nothing else. Mavralyn continued, not giving her son a chance to speak in his defense," At first I thought perhaps it was all those trips to the surface, but now with the emergence of this artifact... I think perhaps it is something else." 

"Forgive me, mother," Tull whispered softly, making sure it only reached his mother's ears, and sounding very close to being truly sincere.

Her face and voice softened at his words, "If I did not forgive you Tull, you would now be serving Lolth." Tull struggled within himself. Struggling with whatever was coaxing him to speak out. *No! I will not be used by you, whoever or whatever you are. Never again!* He still heard his mother speaking beyond the fight he was having internally. Not meaning to interrupt her, but he had to say something to keep his temper from flaring out in the open.

"I have other items I wish to give to you, mother..." his voice low, barely enough for Mavralyn to hear.

Reaching forward, Mavralyn caressed and stroked Tull's cheek with a slim hand, "Yes of course son. I miss how you were. Yes, do show me what else you have brought for me." She leaned back into her chaise after a lingering caress. "If it involves psionics, I want you to have Noir examine them. And to examine you as well. Maybe the problem lies within your mind." All this time the young drow male wondered if Orbb was somewhere behind him ready to strike him in the back if his behavior ever became insolent.

Tull nodded slowly then reached inside the satchel once again and removed a long and slender scepter of carved platinum, mithril, and adamantium. Topping the scepter was an intricately carved figure of Lolth in her half-drow/half-spider form. Even after seeing it for the umpteenth time, Tull's breath still caught in his throat whenever his eyes fell on it. It was like looking at it for the very first time. He hesitated in handing the scepter to his mother, but he finally did and this time she didn't take her time from taking it from his hands. He saw her eyes widen as soon as she saw the scepter and were still wide as she held it in her hands, "And how did S'tro...S'rot... oh whatever its name was, get such an item?"

It looked like he finally got her complete attention, "This one you may really enjoy, mother," he allowed himself a small grin, "He was here when the original city mysteriously disappeared."

"I see," she stopped staring at the scepter long enough to glance back down at him, "and what does this do?" she returned to examining the scepter with excited eyes.

Again he began to explain what he could understand from the alhoon's notes on the item. Giving as much detail as possible to keep her interest at a high peak. With every power and ability he relayed, he knew that his mother valued this above all the other items he had given her in the past. Even Orbb asked him questions about where, what, why, and how of the scepter. Tull explained everything that he knew, even some assumptions he had come up with after several days of careful studying. 

"These are excellent gifts, Tull," she set the scepter next to the tiara. "It is most unusual to find one artifact in such a hoard, let alone several. I wonder why this creature did not use these against us." Her voice took on a more suspicious tone, her eyes falling icily on him waiting for an answer. 

"I do not know, mother," was all he could say.

"Yes, I wonder as well," Orbb's spoken thought mirrored that of her adopted mother.

Sensing that he was losing their interest rather quickly, Tull moved on to present the rest of the treasures and artifacts to his mother. Like before she accepted them and asked what they did, if anything. As the final item he had come here to present was in his mother's hands, Tull knelt there and remained quiet. *You make yourself act like a slave, Tull. And a female slave for that matter. Where is your pride,* the voice in his mind taunted and mocked him, hitting several sore points to his psyche, but he held on to his temper with a steel-like vise. He wasn't going to fall for any counsel his mind was going to give at this time. 

"These are all good gifts, Tull," Mavralyn complimented the items more than she did Tull for finding them, "Do rise and sit. You are not a slave," she said lightly, but then her voice turned low, soft, and smoky, with a touch of malice thrown in. "But do anything like what you did several nights ago and I will make sure that you become a slave for me to use as I see fit. For whomever I feel like giving you. This I will do before I send you to Lolth. Do not disappoint me and do not try my patience ever again, son." 

"Yes, mother," Tull listened as Mavralyn had leaned very close to press home that threat, his skin tingling at the closeness of her and the sound of her voice. Rising once she leaned back on the chaise, Tull took a seat close to his mother and opposite from Orbb. 

With one more storm weathered and his skin still intact, Tull listened absently to what his mother and sister started talking about. The young Noble's mind elsewhere. Thinking of what other tests and tribulations were going to be sent his way. His life just got more interesting as his mother's promise to him finally sunk deeply into his mind...

Tilfahr sat in the small chamber set off of Tull's. It was her first chance to relax in quite some time. She sat at a small desk with a leather-bound book open before her. Taking her quill, she dipped it into the ink-well and began to write. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Much has happened recently... The battle for the cavern is over, and the building has begun. Tull, much to my happiness, has recovered, although, he doesn't seem quite the same anymore. He's changed somehow, and I can't figure out what it is...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He asked me to lie to the Ilharess the day he woke up from unconsciousness. It was hard... choosing... I did, for him... I couldn't bring my self not to. It's so frustrating, this position I'm in... I wonder if I made the right choice sometimes... giving up my freedom to serve my late husbands people...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sighing again, she returned to her writing. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know he's changed. I could tell when he first woke up... and when the Ilharess gave him her warning. It seems clear to me that She is close to reaching the end of Her patience with him... 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was horrible... seeing Farenth, the slaves following her and carrying in his unconscious body... It seems he his like that a lot lately... unconscious. And Farenth... she was furious. I could tell by her eyes, they burned so bright... All I could do was stand there while she had the slaves lay his body on the bed. She had him laid him on his stomach, and told me to treat him, then just stormed out... I think she was hurt, as well as angry... but... who knows? Sometimes I wonder... about the past...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As she cleaned, her mind wandered back to the day she first learned of these people, the ones she now served. Back to the day she became a slave. She remembered the thoughts she had on that day... thoughts she had again, today...

...Sitting alone in the quarters she shared with the other slaves, Tilfahr sat upon her bed pondering what was to become of her. Not long ago she had been free, a wild, fun loving Sylvan who answered to no one and helped just about everyone. 

Then she had met Tylek, a handsome drow who showed an unusual interest in her. Through many conversations she learned that she liked this drow, dangerous and evil as he was. Something about him reminded her of someone from her past, someone she'd lost many years ago. 

She had had a different name then and she had been younger. She had been known as Elwing, a member of the guild of the Children of Seldarine, and his name was Matrim Hazon. They had been married and quite happy, until he was killed. He had also been a drow, who refused to follow Lloth, and that is what killed him so they say. She had been heartbroken and unable to stay and face the memories of him that haunted her in that cheerful place where they had lived. She had run away, disappearing into her beloved woodlands, to forget... 

Later she had changed her name and with it, her self. She joined some newfound friends in building a new guild together. She had never been happier than she was with these new friends, this new family. 

Unfortunately her ill luck followed her. Her new family lost the guild, splitting up to wander on their own. That was when she had met this strange drow, this Tylek. She had been at loose ends with no where to go, when he found her. He told her of a place called the Temple of Lloth, and that's when the memories returned... 

She remembered what Hazon had told her of his society, and though he had chose to leave it, she was intrigued and wanted to learn more of the world that shaped him. When Tylek offered to introduce her to one of the House Matrons she could not refuse, she had to learn. So she went with him to meet Mavralyn...

She sighed quietly to herself, remembering the choices she made. She didn't regret them, per say, only wished it had been a little different. Despite her dedication to them, she was desperately missing her freedom. It was a point of extreme trust that they allowed her to continue using her magical skills. If they did not trust her, at least to some extent, she was sure they would have made her wear one of the slave collars, metal bands imbued with spells of coercion, and a spell capable of killing a slave without them raising a finger. 

She shuddered, remembering a slave who was killed that way. No, they did trust her, for they knew as well as she did that she was too good and kind a person to betray anyone, even those who restricted her freedom... 

*Perhaps,* she thought, *perhaps they would let me visit my forests again... if only for a little while...* She sighed and shook her head, knowing she dare not ask such a favor from them. She doubted they trusted her that much... to keep her word and return. 

Tull entered the room then. She cleared her thoughts of times past and went about serving him in silence...

*1.  All elves that live on the surface are called Darthiir by the Drow.
*2.  "I greet you, my honored Matron."
*3.  "I greet you, my son."
*4.  I greet you, honored priestess and sister."
*5.  "Little brother."