Legends of Belariath
Veronique
Veronique’s Background
Born in the heart of an ancient and beautiful lake, high up in the mountains, upon a dark velvet night when it seemed the very air danced with a myriad of colors. The lake and also the heavens were acting mystical..upon the lake one could see bubbles of crystal emerging to the surface, and high up in the sky the clouds started swifting in beautiful patterns..soon a beautiful nymph began to form from the colorful crystal bubbles and at the same time within the heavens the sylph was born. Some would say they are sisters, one of sweet water and one of air, forged from ancient beauty and magic that grew up from the lands itself, Created to represent the simple beauty of the crisp air, and majestic waters from the mountain lake.
As the final rays of the beautiful sun came down to touch the earth, and the blue water..the two were left there, upon the surface of the mirrored lake, the waters sparkling beneath her..and the other raising up with the colorful bubbles from beneath the mirror of the lake. They both knew their names as they looked upon the unfamiliar landscape surrounding them. The naiad's first words were Veronique, this is what she called herself. She felt the need and call to travel down the rivers path to where it would take her. For within this beautiful lake a simple river of pure crystal clean water flowed down to the south, heading towards lands unknown, lands of mystery and beauty.
As the lovely sylph rose up into the sky, looking down longingly to her sister, perhaps for the last time in many a times to come, she floated off to explore the amazing world surrounding her. Veronique was left all by herself to ponder and think on where she herself would wander to.
Her big and wide blue orbs looked about her with much curiosity, she still had allot to learn, but only time would help her. She looked upon the green grass on the side of the lake, also the big numbers of trees reaching high into the heavens, taking in her first few breaths of the clean air all around her naked form, a smile upon her face as she looked down the river. Eventually the naiad too would depart, falling into the water again and swimming through the gentle flowing currents with a natural grace and fluidity of one born with waves, finding herself in many different places, each more beautiful.
One day she came upon a small village, about six hundred miles south of the borders of Nathalion, where a small community existed, simple rural people and creatures who tilled the land and still gave praises to the earth for it's bounty, a place the naiad could find sanctuary and perhaps welcoming arms. There where children playing carefree, and it seemed a beautiful woman was always welcome, especially one who understood the call of nature itself, this was where she met her first real and true friend.
The beautiful woman was named Arun, a young woman that was full of life and knew about allot that Veronique didn't know, she was a fair woman, a bit older than Veronique it seemed, she was of a race unknown. Arun was the first to meet the naiad, the first one to guide her to a small village situated near a big river, she also taught Veronique the ways of society and the boundaries within it, perhaps even the first among many lovers and friends yet to come.
However time passed on quickly and things changed as the seasons went pass, also did the long years. Arun grew older fast while the naiad did not, this worried Veronique a bit. The naiad was a welcomed and most loved member of their community, due to her friendliness and love for each and every being surrounding her, sometimes she would go out of her way to even help a sick plant, spending days with it until it was healed again. Many admired her for her kind and soft heart. She also saw how new children would be born and grow up so quickly. But that one tragic day came, the one Vero never wanted to have. The sun was setting awfully slowly that day, Vero could feel something bad was about to happen, her instinct was usually right. On the verge of the sun setting she heard a starling cut in the air while sitting with Arun on the bank of the river where they were talking, Arun fell over upon Vero's lap, blinking as tears began running down her cheeks, brown eyes looking up at Vero with hurt and love. Arun said only a few words “My friend, i am leaving you now only in this world, but i will always be with you in your heart and in spirit”. The naiad started crying as those were her final words, her best friend now passed away in her slender arms. She now lost someone she had grown to close too in so little time. Veronique didn't have the heart to stay any longer, it was time for her to move on.
With a broken heart and allot of good memories, the naiad felt her work in the village had be done, saying goodbye to everyone as she then parted making her way towards the great city of Nathalion. Passing through many smaller villages along her journey, but she didn't stay in them for too long as she felt she needed to go on as fast as she could, to find a new home, one where she would be happy and help others on her way, who knows, perhaps Nathalion a fairly beautiful land, would become her home forever.