The Temptation of Elminster - Ed Greenwood [102]
"To your first: yes, the same man named Elminster dwelt in Myth Drannor from before the laying of its mythal to some time after, learning and working much magic. Those who hated the idea of a human thrusting his way in among us elves…for he was the first, or among the first…and many folk who came to Myth Drannor, once it was open to all, and envied him his power, might have termed some of his castings 'dark,' but I cannot in truth judge them so, or his reasons for working this or that enchantment."
Umbregard opened his mouth to speak, but Star-sunder chuckled and threw up a hand to still him. "Not yet, please, bald and important truths shouldn't be rushed."
Umbregard flushed, then smiled and sat back, gesturing to the elf to continue.
There was a twinkle in Starsunder's eyes as he spoke again. "Humans who master magic enough…or rather, think they've 'mastered' magic enough…try many ways to outlive their usual span of years. Most of these, from lichdom to elixirs, are flawed in that they twist the essential nature of persons using them. They become new…and many would judge, I among them, 'lesser'…beings in the process. If you ask me how you could live longer, I would say the only unstained way to do so… though it will change you as surely as the lesser ways… is the one Elminster has taken… or perhaps been led into. I know not if he ardently sought it and worked toward it, drifted into it, or was forced or pushed into it. He serves Mystra as a special servant, doing her bidding in exchange for longevity, special status, and powers to boot. I believe he is called a 'Chosen' of the goddess."
"How did he get to be chosen for this service?" Umbregard asked slowly. "Do you know?"
"I know not," Starsunder replied, "but I do know how he has continued it for what to humans is a very long time: love."
"Love? Mystra loves him?"
"And he loves her." There was disbelief or incredulity in the confusion written plainly on the human mage's face, so Starsunder added gently, "Yes, beyond fondness and friendship and the raging desires of the flesh, true, deep, and lasting love. It is hard to believe this until you've truly felt it, Umbregard, but listen to me. There is a power in love greater than most things that can touch humans… or elves, or orcs for that matter. A power for good and for ill. Like all things of such power, love is very dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Starsunder smiled faintly and said, "Love is a flame that sets fire to things. It is a greater danger to mages than any miscast spell can ever hope to be."
He leaned forward to lay a hand on Umbregard's arm, and said almost fiercely, as they stared into each other's eyes, "Magic gone awry can merely kill a mage, love can remake him, and drive him to remake the world. Our Coronal's great love drove him to seek a way for Cormanthyr that remade it… and, most of my folk would say, in the end destroyed it. I was yet young one warm night, out swimming for a lark, with no magic of my own to be felt…something that probably kept me alive then…when the Great Lady of the Starym, Ildilyntra who had loved the Coronal and been loved by him, slew herself to try to bring about his death, driven by her love for our land, just as he was…and both of them seared in their striving by their denied yet thriving love for each other."
The moon elf sighed and shook his head. "You cannot feel the sadness that stirs in me when I hear them again in my head, arguing together…and you are the first human after Elminster to know of that night. Mind and mark, Umbregard: to speak of this secret to others of my kind may mean your swift death."
"I shall heed," Umbregard whispered. "Say on."
The elf smiled wryly and continued, "There's little more to say. Mystra chose this Elminster to serve her, and he has done well, where others have not. The gods make us all different, and more of us fail than succeed. Elminster has failed often…but his love has not, and he has remained at his task. Bravery, I think your