Histories

Madelaine

Penned by Donovan

Prologue

The Marked

Born to fine, upstanding Romany parents in a family situated along the Southern Borders of the Dragon Sea Madelaine's life began much like many others. That changed before she reached her first full year even. For her tribe had long been harassed by Lasombra, who at their whim, would prey on the tribe. This lasted for centuries, until the tribe and brood came to an agreement. Every four years a minion of Lasombra came to her tribe and inspected the newly born of that year. Each visit one child was marked, this child was to be the property of Lasombra. Each visit the minion would take the child who was marked three visits prior. This practice had lasted decades when Madelaine was born. It was that year that Velanna was the minion of Lasombra who came. Madelaine was the child such marked.

Life as a marked child of the Curaros tribe is vastly different from the lives of most Romany children. As Madelaine and the other marked were seen as saviours of the tribe they were never left wanting. They had everything they could wish or dream for, save one thing. For the entire tribe, or family, knew they would only be with them until their twelfth year no one grew close to the child. Love was witheld.

Knowing she was marked from birth Madelaine came to accept her fate, even embrace it. So when her eighth year came she eagerly awaited Velanna's visit, wanting to see the fate of the child who would go before her. The fall came and Madelaine began sleeping through the day so she would be awake at night when Velanna came to harvest her child. The nights became longer and a bitter cold came into the air, fall passed into winter, Velanna had forgotten about the child, who was now safe.

A Temporary Reprieve

One fall eve, as the moon stood high in the sky, Madelaine awoke to the chill of the fall wind. She opened her eyes to see a merwoman of astounding beauty sitting at the foot of her bed, watching her as she slept. The realization hit Madelaine very soon, it was Velanna. Unlike any of the previous children the Lehitor gave Madelaine a choice, she could go freely with Velanna, or another of the tribe would be taken in her stead. Knowing this was her duty to the tribe, and not wanting to see another taken in her place, Madelaine freely went.

Embracing Eternal Death

Velanna's occasional visits became highlights for Madelaine. For it was then she was showered with gifts, small luxuries and, most of all, kindness. In sharp contrast Baere was a hard man, teaching Madelaine what she needed to survive and preparing her for what was to come. Though he gave her much, encouragement and caring were not gifts he gave.

Ten years had passed since first being brought to Baere when Velanna came to Madelaine with another choice. She had replaced Raakshus, ascending to become Matriarch of Ravnos. Madelaine was asked to join her, told if she wished otherwise she could say no. Madelaine accepted and was embraced.

Epilogue

With that, Madelaine simply smiled and said, 'It is time for me to return to that from which I have come.'