Iolair smiles and looks up at the young woman, "Yes, I was actually born not far from here."
"Please," he says as he motions for her to have a seat. "Not exactly lost, but yes I could use some help. I'm here visiting and was hoping I could be provided a place to stay for the night?"
"I saw you talking to some of the magi. I take it they're not putting you in one of the empty cottages? Can't say as I blame you if you don't want to stay there."
She smiles almost shyly. "Of course, if you're looking for a place to stay that's a little more comfortable...my husband is out in the fields for a few days, if you wanted to stay there. We don't have any children yet, so there'll be no one to disturb your rest."
"Well, I had thought to stay in one of the cottages, but it seems the magi have left me without a place to say," he says with a chuckle. "As for your offer, I'd be honored, but I'd hate for your husband to get the wrong idea."
"Oh," she says. "I understand. I mean, if you're worried about that, I have spare sheets and bedding. But if you'd rather not..."
She moves to get up.
Iolair reaches his hand over and gently touches hers, "No, as I said I would be honored. It just might be best to keep my...presence there quiet. So as not to give any appearance of impropriety."
She smiles and gives you directions to her cottage. "I'll go ahead and make things ready for you. And I'll see you when you get there. I'm Cairi, by the way."
She gets up and makes her farewells to a couple of other people on her way out.
After Cairi leaves, Iolair stays in the Revel Hall for a short while before leaving and walking around the grounds of the covenant, smiling as he remembers various happenings of his childhood here. Eventually he finds himself standing on the doorstep of Cairi's house and knocks on the door.
Cairi opens the door quickly and invites Iolair in. It's a humble cottage, what looks like four rooms in all (a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and living room, which is more or less the normal muggle cottage, as Iolair remembers). There's a fireplace going, with what looks like a rough mattress with bedding in front of it.
"I hope you don't mind," she says as she motions toward the bedding. "It's not much, but it's better than the floor."
She smiles. "I'll let you decide who sleeps where."
Iolair steps inside and smiles warmly, the small cottage reminding him of the simple cottage he'd spent the first few years of his life in.
"This is perfect," he says as he walks over to the mattress and begins taking his shirt off. "The fire is nice, but there is still quite a chill in the air. The warmth of another would definitely be welcome," he says as he sits down in the edge of the mattress.
She's quite willing to provide warmth for Iolair.
The next morning, she makes breakfast, and looks surprised when he starts doing his Parma ritual. After watching for a moment, she shrugs, goes back to what she was doing, and brings him oatmeal and a glass of weak ale.
What does Iolair want to do this cloudy winters' morn?
Ioloair will thank her for the breakfast, and last night, and after some morning chitchat head out to wander the covenant. Eventually he'll make his way to Eilid's living quarters to she if she's around so they can catch up.
Eilid doesn't have the same maidservant that she had when Iolair was there last. This one is a young girl in her mid-teens who answers in Gaelic. She asks his name, and has him wait while she informs the maga that he's there. Within moments, Eilid comes to invite him in.
"Did you have a pleasant evening?" she asks, with no hint of rancor or disapproval in her voice.
Iolair shrugs as he enters, "Eh, not bad I suppose. It's been a while since I've dealt with people; I've spent the last year 'on the wing' and it always takes me some time to get my mind back into the thought mode of Man."
"I hope that was by choice," Eilid says as Bonnie (her maid) brings in a couple of glasses of weak wine.
"You certainly look like life has been treating you well."
Iolair definitely gets the sense that Eilid is stalling...like she wants to talk about something, but doesn't, at the same time
Iolair nods as he takes a sip of wine, "Oh yes, it was definitely by choice. I recently tracked down an ancestor and was initiated in the inner mysteries and wanted to spend some time exploring all that I had become. But what of you Mater, how have you been?"
Eilid swirls the wine in her glass, watching it closely.
"Not...not well at all. I...it's been almost impossible for me to Change the past few years. I've been in my human form for almost two and a half years, now. And before that, in my Heartbeast for two. The last time I changed...I was bedridden for two weeks."
Eilid looks and sounds like she's almost in tears.
I...I'm so sorry. Do you know why, what happened to cause this?"
"I'm old," Eilid says flatly. "I'm over a century old. I've been a maga for 85 years, and I've been under the influence of a Longevity Ritual for 75."
She shakes her head. "I don't think it's any one thing. Rather, a combination. Too many spells gone awry over the years. Too much time spent in the Common Lab. Pushing myself too hard in the lab. Too many other things that have pushed me into Twilight."
"I've pretty much made my peace," she continues as she looks up at Aiolair. "I'm ready for the endless fields. I'm not going to say that I'm totally satisfied with the way my life has turned out, or that I have no regrets...and I include not being able to finish your training in that...but all in all I think I've lived a good life." She sighs and dabs at her eye quickly.
"I have one last chance to leave my mark, in Ezio. I just hope my...illness doesn't mar him somehow. But...I miss being well. I miss slipping out of my robes and running on four legs through the woods, I miss grazing, and I miss not being afraid to change."
Iolair's eyes begin to fill with tears as Eilid, the one who opened his eyes to a whole new world, said that she had given up. "Maybe...maybe there is still something we can do, something you've missed. I...I could stay here and help you to...find a cure...or at least...make things easier for you."
"I couldn't ask you to do that, Iolair," Eilid says as she reaches over and pats his arm. "But I would appreciate it immensely.
"I don't think there is a cure...not without a major Breakthrough that can undo aging and Twilight. But I'm willing to explore whatever avenues we can find."