The Path of the Faendryl
II. The Gift of Amayla
It was the discovery of the body of Amayla, known to the Elves as The Weaver, that forever changed the Elven people. In her destroyed body the Elves found the understanding that, though powerful, the Arkati were not gods.
Their religion ripped from them, most of the Elven people were stunned beyond action. The Faendryl recognized the danger this presented to the Elves during the time of the Great War. Amas Faendryl ordered his family to remove the body from public view, and to properly prepare it, with the utmost respect, for disposal.
The body was quietly and carefully removed, with the deepest respect for Amayla. Even though they were not gods, the Arkati were still our one-time protectors. Never again would we, as a people, worship them, but we would respect them for their sacrifice during our years of need.
The Faendryl took something more from this experience, something that shapes our beliefs, and our lives, to this day. Curiosity, a love of knowledge, and an unmatched mastery of both spiritual and elemental magic were already marks of the Faendryl. Some among them had begun to think upon new things. They reasoned that if the Arkati were as mortal as the Elves, could we not, through our own initiative, through understanding and knowledge, become as powerful as the Arkati?
These thoughts kept Erydith Faendryl, nephew of Amas, company as he kept a lonely vigil over the body of Amayla. For many long days he meditated upon these things, neither eating nor drinking. He existed in his magic during this time, allowing it to sustain him.
[Author’s Note: What follows is an excerpt from the journal of Erydith, a work preserved by magic and carefully guarded as a priceless treasure of the Faendryl people. That which is revealed now has never been spoken outside of the well-guarded halls of our House. Much is left unsaid, but that which is given is to help you, the reader, understand the origins of our highest Art.]
“It had been days since I had eaten, or tasted the sweet waters of the Ildan’ai, yet my magic held me. I had questioned the nature of our Being, and that of the Arkati, for many days, thinking on many things, but I was unprepared for what I witnessed. The body of Amayla, lying before me in disquieting stillness, for she had recently been a god to my mind, began to hum with a Song I had never before heard. Or, I should say, that I had never before heard with such clarity and harmony of sound. Her form began to unweave before me, and in that instant I saw what we had for so long missed. It was the union of the Elemental and the Spiritual, for so long two separate Songs to our way of knowing, that flowed forth in Song from Amayla. In the unweaving I saw also the way of weaving, and I knew the Essence of Creation. It had become one Song, whole and pure, known with heart and spirit. It was the last Gift of Amayla, The Weaver, to my people, and the beauty of her passing as she returned to that which she had Been in the Before held me aloft as I slipped from this world to the world of dreams. I would never again know such sadness or such a completeness of being.”
Thus was born al’Amayl’Ari, the Way of Weaving, the High Art, named in honor of Amayla.
Erydith was found, unconscious and barely breathing, at the next turning of the sun and moon. So he remained for many days, and some thought him passing from life. He did eventually awaken one morning, with the rising of the sun, and like the sun he was bright with the newfound Gift. He went immediately to his uncle, Amas, so that this Gift could be given to all of the Elven people.
With the blessing of his uncle, Erydith began to travel among the scholars and magic workers of the great families. With hope he left, but his path among the people left his heart heavy. Those with whom he spoke rebuked him, telling him that enlightenment could be found only in the perfection of a single path, without the distraction of another. For them, each Song was complete and needed no other.
Some measure of joy, however, returned to Erydith when he returned to the Faendryl. Those of his family, already masters of the magical arts, could see the truth of his words and embraced al’Amayl’Ari with all of the passion of the Faendryl heart, mind and spirit. The other Elven people could not see and could not comprehend, but the Faendryl would carry the Gift of Amayla forever.
This was the first true distinction between the Faendryl and the other Elven people.