The Dreaming- pt1

Chapter 1
Kae Lor was in the morning phase of the day cycle, artificial daylight swaddled the craftworld in warm light and the ship almost suddenly hummed into life with the waking and activity of the Kae Lor Eldar, ships and speeders whirled and zoomed over the heads of others, eldar ran from place to place, doing daily errands, meeting and greeting old and new friends. At the port of many greetings, trade ships from all over the galaxy disembarked bringing all manner of goods; traders bartered and sold their wares on the street. It was a large storm of colour and music; the choir of voices rising and falling, the Kae Lor Eldar all in one glorious harmony. The dock was miles long, and if someone was to look at it from above they would note that the dock was in the shape of a huge curved, opalescent sword reaching out to the borders of the craftworld. Freighters, trading schooners and flute bowed people carriers hurry from port to port. Eldar of all paths came and went to welcome goods or people back to Kae Lor
         The Carvings on the floors lit up at the arrival of the "Isha's Lament" Arsaedrar's military vessel- catching some of the eldar's eyes, whether they were rich or poor, noble or commoner,; they were all dressed in beautiful finery, flowing robes and glittering body suits, gold and silver jewellery, gemstones glittered in all directions and in all manner of colours and hues. Without thought, some of the Eldar made their way to the military dock at the end of the port, weaving among each other with inhuman grace, smiling to each other if they almost collided. Among them was Laudera; she scurried and danced quicker than the other eldar to the front of the arrival point. He slender body was draped in a loose, cream dress that flowed down to the floor, the billowing sleeves were almost see through and glittered slightly in the morning light, she fastened her dress with a green sash around the middle fixed with a silver clasp, she wore several silver bracelets on each arm and her emerald waystone on a silver chain around her neck. She wore her hair natural; long waves of deep auburn she allowed to fall down her back. She looked almost like a ghost as she danced between her kin, the weightless dress making her look ethereal as she danced on bare feet.
  Her green, almost yellow eyes scanned the ship for any sign of her friend, the ship began to unfurl its walkway like wraith bone materializing into a beautiful sculpture, she was accompanied by Daedanel, Arsaedrar's keeper, advisor and fellow seer, he wore a simple purple robe fastened with a gold belt, and wore a simple braid over his right shoulder, but what was most beautiful was his prized clasp in his hair, a wondrous holoclasp that was constantly changing from rubies to emeralds to his favourite: Amethysts. His Violet Waystone fluttered with light slightly as the ship's doors opened and the first of the aspect warriors disembarked into the sanctuary that was Kae Lor. As much as it was a happy occasion that they had returned victorious, other eldar could not shake the  cold, dark aura of death around them.
" The bringers of Khaine's will have arrived after all" he muttered to Laudera, such was the way that the aspect warriors were spoken of, both respected and feared.
"be kinder to their kind Daedanel, they fight to keep us safe after all"
"you would know" he smiled playfully and rested a hand on her shoulder
"yes, I would" she looked up at him, her eyes narrowed slightly, not finding his quip at her in the least bit amusing, he bowed his head slightly apologetically, they both smiled at each other, blaming their excitement for their frustrated nerves. Howling banshee's passed in their bone coloured armour and painted faces holding their helmets with wild red manes that crackled with psychic energy, they nodded their heads in mutual respect to their former sister, and she nodded back. Laudera looked back at the ship; Daedanel noticed the slightest of quivers around her, slight moisture to her upper lip. He could not wonder if there was a deeper meaning to her excitement.
"It has been a while since Arsaedrar has been home hasn't it?"
"Yes... too long he deserves to come home and rest... the galaxy is a dark place, we all deserve respite, even if once in a while"
"I see a fire in you Laudera, that I haven't seen in almost three hundred cycles"
"Look there he is!" she called out to Daedanel and pulled him by the sleeve to him where she flung her arms around him in greeting. Arsaedrar was still in his armour; a set of royal blue plates and an ice blue cloak, his helmet was being carried by Lalanill, it was blinding white with red eyes and feathered crests. His sapphire coloured way stone sat nestled in his armour, his hair was an oaky brown that framed his stern, handsome face. He hugged her back, though struggling to mask the pain to his side that her embrace had caused. He held her for longer than usually acceptable, but being away for three hundred cycles had made him miss her than he thought he would, he tried to fight back the words he planned for the journey back, this was neither the time nor the place for such tender sentiments.
"Laudera, I'm glad to see you"
"and to you too" she smiled up at him and stroked a stray lock of hair back behind his ears, a gesture of friendship between good friends, she rested her hands on the sides of his face, his face made more stern looking with his warmask runes still painted on his face and took in how tired he looked
"Laudera, are you a complete fool?, can you not see that he is injured from war?" Lalanill pulled her away gently, she looked down and saw a bloody patch where the hole in his suit was, she gasped slightly and took Arsaedrar's hands in apology. Lalanill was much older than his voice showed, the lines on his face showed countless battles and endless wisdom, he was known as a brilliant general and a kind man unless angered.
"I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" Laudera was shocked and covered her mouth with her long slender fingers.
"Yes, don't worry I'm quite alright" Arsaedrar laughed at her playfully, his heart felt warmed to have a woman such as her care so deeply for him.
" Daedanel, I assume you are here to take his highness back to the Ahran Estates?"
" only if he wishes to, master Lalanill- he may come and go as he wishes" Daedanel smiled at his friend and placed a gloved hand on Arsaedrar's shoulder, the prince returned the gesture then turned and gestured over another noble, who had been on the campaign with him; he had high cheek bones and piercing blue eyes, Laudera recognised him as Arsaedrar's best friend Ymaerg, a commander of the rangers who had been called to the fight, other than that he was also an autarch but preferred a glass of alcoholic beverages and watching a play  rather than planning battles and getting involved in the politics of the craftworld.
" I think that I and Ymaerg would prefer to go home now, if it's all the same to you... I have my wounds to attend to. A bath and a warm spice fruit drink wouldn't be amiss either" he smiled and placed a brotherly arm around his friend, who smiled shyly and looked towards the Ahran estates,
"yes, I think I should be getting back to Bharenia, she'll be wondering where I am soon enough"
"oh of course!, she is on the path of motherhood now isn't she?, she must be far along now- I offer my congratulations to you both" Laudera smiled, Bharenia was with child and close to giving birth, and Ymaerg had told their servants to keep her in the estate as she was too frail to travel far. It was rumoured that their home was now a haven of serenity crystals and calming music, though Bharenia saw it as little more than a gilded cage, she was too free spirited to wish to be kept indoors for long.
" yes, not long now before another soul blesses us with its presence... but I think we should go now, another ship is due to come in soon" Daedanel quipped as they began to leave the dock. The honey scented breezes whirled around the dock.
" oh, before it slips my mind I am presenting my latest performance tonight at the theatre of sailing stars, I would be honoured if you all could come, though I understand if you are not feeling well enough to"
"so you have left the Grasp of the bloody handed god's daughters?" Ymaerg asked, he was acquainted to Laudera but only really knew what Arsaedrar had told him, though he could understand his friends interest in her, though he did not say it, he knew it was not just friendship that kept him thinking of Laudera.
"Yes, enough bloodshed to quell my anger for centuries, I feel at peace now my friend"
"I would not miss it, I missed your last performance when I was on campaign, Lalanill, will you join us?"
"Of course I enjoy the theatre, I understand you follow the Snoaence discipline do you not?"
" I do!, I find it both majestic and fierce, while portraying the beauty of movement in its purest form... but I ramble now,  What about you Daedanel?"
"I'm afraid I can't I have to report back to the king and the rest of the royal family, though if it is anything like before, I'm sure it will be a wonderful performance"
Lalanill summoned down a speeder allowing Ymaerg, Arsaedrar, Daedanel and himself to board, leaving Laudera who wandered back to the theatre district where she lived above the theatres and studios.