Editing Fallen from Grace (section)

===Chapter Six===

The retinue of Harlequins departed the stage, save for one, as lights dimmed. Remaining center stage, she opened her arms wide and spoke. “From there, the pair traveled to the fair Exodite World of Quor, where they would live lives of happily seclusion.  Accounts vary of their exploits, but one thing remained constant: their love of one another never faltered. “ Bowing, the actress drew to a close, resulting in a thunderous applause from the crowd as the rest of the troupe retook the stage. Soon after, the curtains fell, and the Eldar of the Alaitoc Craftworld began shuffling back to their homes.

Backstage, the starlet found her family waiting for her with watery eyes. Leaping forward to squeeze her tight, her sister happily extolled, “You did great sis! I told you there was no need to be worried!” “Indeed,” T’riss added, standing beside Adeon as the two proud parents regarded their daughter, “you did a fine job telling our story, Nydia.” Laughing, Nydia pried herself free of her sister, “That’s enough, Mist. But yes, I suppose it probably helped that I had a first-hand account of matters.” Together, the family shared a caring embrace, a small sense of sorrow overtaking them. It would be a long while before Nydia’s troupe would be near enough for a visit again.

After saying their goodbyes, Adeon, T’riss, and Mist returned to the Weaver, which was docked in one of the Alaitoc’s bays. While her twin was content to travel about, spreading stories of their race, Mist preferred to remain with her parents. It was true, their home on Quor was rather isolated, and few exodites ever came to visit. Still, she found the planet of her birth to be a welcome alternative to her brief stint as a corsair. Plus, her mother always needed a helping hand about the temple, whenever her father didn’t require aid maintaining the fields. 

Once Mist had taken her place in her quarters, T’riss and Adeon found themselves alone on the bridge of the Weaver. Taking each other’s hands, the pair silently watched as the Craftworld faded from view into the darkness of the void. By now, neither needed words to know how the other felt, but that never stopped Adeon. “S’alright. She’ll be fine,” he said, squeezing T’riss hand lightly, “Nydia’s a strong girl.” Wiping a small tear from her eyes with her free hand, T’riss nodded, “I know. Still, it’s hard to let go, even now.” It was a fair point, Adeon thought, taking up his bride in a hug as they regarded the heavens outside. He hadn’t quite figured out all the mysteries they contained, but he was content with simply knowing that they had brought him true joy.

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Unlike their trip from Sehella, the journey to Quro only took a week. Granted, they had the fortune of using the Harlequin’s vessel, so the ability to enter the Webway greatly sped matters along. After the encounter in the bar, T’riss and Adeon had docked the Weaver in the bay of the Othello, a grand Wraithship under the control of the Avatar’s masque. As T’riss explained it, these traveling performers were headed to an Exodite World to spread their brand of entertainment to the Eldar there. Though Adeon was skeptic at first, his fears of being led into a trap fell by the wayside as the jesters aboard the Othello went to great lengths to make T’riss and him feel welcome.  They seemed eager to teach him about their culture and race, and Adeon was all too happy to learn more about his beloved’s people. 

Meanwhile, T’riss found herself under the tutelage of the masque’s High Warlock. Though she had obtained a spirit stone, she lacked the proper means to control and utilize it. Still, after being lead through numerous exercises and trainings, the Warlock was content that his pupil would no longer have to worry about the eternal damnation of her soul. The one matter to which he could not help T’riss with was kicking the addiction to drinking souls, but she found herself facing that prospect with renewed vigor and optimism. 

When the Othello finally put into orbit above Quro, the pair found themselves being given a set of coordinates to land at. Apparently, the Harlequins had contacted the world during the journey, and arranged for T’riss and Adeon to have a small plot of land some distance away from any main exodite populaces. Adeon found himself asking what they had done to warrant such kindness, though it would be T’riss that supplied the answer. “They found our story to be worthy of remembrance,” she said, as she piloted the Weaver down towards the planet. “I think we’re going to be the basis of some new play they’re working on.” Adeon didn’t know how to feel about this, but he wasn’t about to turn down such a generous gift. 

On arrival, the pair emerged from the Weaver to find a sparse forest, along with several bags of what Adeon quickly discovered to be plant seeds. Wasting no time, the pair set to work building a home together. Though it took the better part of a month, the sturdy and spacious abode that resulted was more than either Adeon or T’riss could have hoped for. All the while, Adeon began cultivating the crops he had been given, adding in those that had survived the journey from Sehella. T’riss supplemented their food supply with the occasional game hunt, but was not above helping her beloved whenever needed. Though they knew the nearest settlement was but a two days walk away, both secretly enjoyed the feeling of having the world to themselves. 

Over time, Adeon’s little farm expanded, and it came to pass that the local populace came to seek his guidance and trade with him on a near weekly basis. As for T’riss, she began a sort of martial temple, teaching any who were willing the battle-arts of the Dark Eldar. Though many were weary at first, soon many an exodite made a pilgrimage to learn from her. It was not long before a small settlement grew around the Weaver, though it never grew larger than a simple hamlet. 

Six months after they had put down their roots, T’riss began showing signs of pregnancy. Adeon was overjoyed to learn he would be a father, but his enthusiasm paled in comparison to his companion’s. When it came time, with the aid of one of the local doctors, T’riss gave birth to a pair of healthy twins. Both beautiful little girls, the couple agreed on the names Mist and Nydia for their children. Though raising such bundles of energy proved to be a challenge, the proud parents couldn’t have asked to be happier. 

One night, some eight years after T’riss had landed in his field, Adeon found himself staring up at the stars again. His girls were fast asleep in the house, and there was a cool breeze flowing from the south. As he sat underneath the apple tree, which had grown from the supplies he brought from Sehella, he couldn’t help but feel as if all was right in the world. He hadn’t quite figured out all the mysteries the heavens contained, but he was content with simply knowing that they had brought him true joy.</div></div>