Fifty years ago, in a faraway land, a paragon of justice descended into madness.
While the choice had been difficult, in the end, what other choice did she have? If she did nothing, her life would never be her own to live. Somehow, she had to break the enchantment.
Ellis had taken her to a beautiful waterfall. It was peaceful and secluded, and the sunlight playing off the mist created a rainbow at its base. There, he had dropped to a knee, taken her hand, and asked her to be his wife. The ring he offered was modest but lovely, a simple gold band with a diamond chip in its center. A sudden wave of repulsion filled her, and her mind was clouded red and black. You will NOT accept! a voice in her mind shrieked. At every turn, this woman sought to control Asha's path in life... much how an insolent rider guides a horse by a harsh bit. Ellis's arms came around her as she fell to her knees. His whisper in her ear as she lay limp against him was full of concern. "Asha? What's wrong?"
"I... I can't, Ellis..." At once, the pain cleared, and her arms came shakily around him. She wept into his neck, clinging to him like a rock in a too-fast flowing river. He held her patiently as she cried, softly consoling her. Again, she had been denied happiness at the fickle hands of her puppet master. It was the last straw. She pushed away from him and wiped the tears from her face. "There is something I must do first. I only pray you do not hate me for it."
"My love, I could never hate you," he replied, his arms still around her. However, his voice had not lost its edge of concern.
"Then come with me. I would have you by my side for this..." Ellis stood first and helped her up. She was still weak-limbed from the ordeal, and the mageling leaned on his arm as they walked back toward civilization. As she led him along the outskirts of Naerlan, she stopped prematurely before a dark spire that crackled with a dark aura. Ellis looked at her questioningly as they stepped inside. Those in the entry way eyed the two elves suspiciously. The monk bore the mark of Barbades; the mage wore the mark of Sylune.
"Why are we here?" Ellis asked her.
"Ellis..." She turned to face him. "Oh Ellis! I have to make her stop! You know what she does to me... and if I don't stop her, not only will she always fight against us being together, but my life will never be mine, for she will always turn me from the paths she does not like and all but shove me into those that suit her better. I have to end this. I have to reclaim my life. So I must break this enchantment... somehow. We are here because I need access to Sainos' libraries. Somewhere in them must be the answer."
The monk stiffened as she spoke. There was only one way they would allow her access. "Then you will... renounce Sylune... and pledge your faith to the mad god?" He sounded on the verge of incredulous.
"It is not something I want to do," she answered in a whisper. "It is something I must do. Ellis... please tell me you understand..."
He sighed and pulled her close. "I don't like it either, but I understand." Hand in hand, they walked into the next room.
Asha removed the mark of the Huntress with hesitance. For years, she had fought for order and justice and peace. "Please know I do not do this lightly," she whispered softly to her goddess. Then she offered the mark to the dark-robed man who stood before her. "I wish to convert to the faith of Sainos." He eyed the pretty elf who stood before her and the temple symbol she held out to him. "Yes, I am certain," she answered before he could ask.
He took the mark, and it dissolved in his grasp. Raising his hand over his head, he began to chant, and a mark of a follower of Sainos appeared in the air. This, he handed to the elf mage. "Do not lose this symbol. You are now a follower of Sainos."
Ellis watched all of this stiffly, expecting to see some change in Asha as she swore herself to evil. But as she turned to face him, rushed to him and embraced him, he saw only his Asha choosing a desperate course of action to fight the darkness that had plagued her life as long as he had known her. "I will not rest until I find a way to stop her. And then," she added with a smile, kissing his ear, "I will marry you. Happily, joyously... Oh Ellis, I hope you know how much I wanted to say yes. But I could not... Not just because she forbade it... but because I cannot offer you all of myself. Not yet. But when I can..."
"Shh... I know." And he stayed further explanations with a tender kiss.