Solanar the Gleaming

<i>‘I once thought of him as arrogant, impulsive, brash; nothing more than a loud gloater and a show-off. It took me a long time – perhaps too long – to see his steely resolve. His determination is as immovable as a city-sized iceberg, his will over his magicks akin to the moon’s effects on the tide. Yes, he might be prone to outbursts and possess exhausting energy, but it is only ever directed in the defense or service of his loves. For that, there is no one I can depend on more faithfully.’ – <color=#774418>Noldua the Gloaming</color>, on her love, Solanar</i> * Solanar’s parents so named him as he was born on the summer solstice. He always took pleasure in the warmth, heat, and light of the sun. As if he was fully swept up in fate’s tides, he grew up obsessed with astronomy and Light magic. His charisma and charm were as comforting as summer sun, ensuring he made many friends in the great universities of Aravia. He was also bold, like the sun’s light, and his passions and temper burned with its heat. He learned much in Aravia of the sun's power, but Solanar sought new perspectives. Bidding his friends and colleagues farewell, he traveled to the Bibliotheque Spire, the greatest center of learning in all Kaerok. There, he encountered a perspective he neither expected nor wanted. It was that of Noldua, a Dark Elf of Durham Forest. Like every other High Elf, Solanar had been raised learning about the Dark Elves’ betrayal of Aravia and the brutal war that followed. His ire was further raised by the subjects of her passions: quiet, the night, the moon, darkness, and shadow. Solanar was also struck by Noldua’s strong, pale beauty, and the way she glided through the Spire with a cool, deliberate effect. His conflicting feelings around her only made him more resentful. The dislike was certainly mutual. Solanar, however, did not know the attraction was, also. Solanar and Noldua’s arguments were ferocious and bitter, replete with barbed insults designed to pain the other as deeply as possible. Neither ceded the smallest point. Both saw themselves and their people as intended victims of the other’s learning. After several months of this, with no sign of it ever abating, the Spire’s leaders made a simple point to them – any more fighting, and they would both be banished forever. For many months, Solanar made every effort to avoid Noldua, losing himself in his studies. Yet he could not stop thinking about her, silently fuming at her ‘audacity, rudeness, stupidity, origins, domain of study, and general awfulness’. Elder Elves who had lived and worked in the Bibliotheque Spire for years spoke with him frequently, reminding him that the enmity between the Elves was wholly unnecessary and harmful – they had lived far away in neutral territory long enough to lose their hatred. They said he should, too. Their efforts, as well as the passage of time, worked. Solanar came to more easily tolerate Noldua’s presence. This progressed into the exchanging of pleasantries. Then, polite conversation. Those around him couldn’t help but notice the furtive glances he gave her when she wasn’t looking. By being just a little open to Noldua’s ideas and thoughts and listening to her, Solanar saw her passion, quiet determination, and steadfastness. Where he might rage at a failure or mistake, Noldua responded with cool rationality and steady encouragement of herself and others. Once where they had argued, they now discussed. Jokes once intended to hurt became intended to amuse. Assertions the other was wrong became helpful questions or observations. Solanar learned that Light wasn’t everything. The world was also Darkness. Teleria needed both. Noldua’s place was necessary. Not just in the Spire, he realized, but in his own life. He had fallen in love with her. Out of this, as well as respect for Noldua and her skills, he had dark patterns tattooed over his body – a humble and public acknowledgement of the importance of dark and night. Observers couldn’t help but see a parallel between the connection of Siroth and Lumaya, and wondered if this could perhaps herald the beginning of a reunion of the Elves.