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The elf woman had always prided herself on being cool under pressure, she’d fought in hundreds of battles at this point and commanded legions of soldiers - so why was it her hands were shaking like a damn leaf over a simple letter? Never mind a letter she hadn’t even opened yet. Aurelia didn’t need to know what the letter contained to know who it came from; the wax seal bore a symbol she would never forget. The same crest was detailed into the hilt of her sword that rested against her hip and on the armor she had tucked away in the chest by her bed. It was his seal.
She had not so much as seen him since the day he dismissed her from his service. That was 400 years ago. She didn’t make any attempts to hide her presence, it’s not like she would be able to leave the country after all, but still she was shocked to be holding this letter in her hands. Aurelia shut the door behind her, grabbing a knife off of her table as she sat down to open the letter, breaking the seal off of the envelope in one clean motion.
“Aurelia,
Many years ago you swore yourself into my family’s service. After many years of dedicated service, you were released from your position and invited to live your life as you saw fit. Therefore, you are under no obligation by duty to come when I call. However, if you are the woman I remember you to be, I suspect you will not keep me waiting.
I bid you to dine at my Castle, as we once did. I can assure you, your passage will be safe and no harm will come to you in my walls. I await your arrival.
Yours,
Strahd von Zarovich”
Aurelia let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding, as she folded the letter and placed it in her jacket breast pocket. Her feet carried her to the mirror resting above her hearth and she found herself staring at the reflection.
She was getting old. It would be hard to tell for anyone not familiar with the lifespan of elves. She could see it in her eyes, and the increased number of scars that ran across her body. He would recognize her, there was no doubt, but would she be what he expected?
Barovia gave many opportunities to continue fighting but it was nothing like the scale of the wars she had once fought in. Once upon a time, Aurelia was a fierce warrior, someone who by their very appearance struck fear into the hearts of their enemies.
Another deep breath, she would do a mixture of armor and her more regal attire. She had no idea why he called upon her after all this time, but she needed to be ready for whatever he threw at her.
A black carriage arrived outside of her cottage just after midday. No words were exchanged as the door was opened for her and she entered, embarking on the three hour long journey to Castle Ravenloft.
It was just before dusk when they arrived outside the castle gates. Another deep breath as the gates swung open in front of her and she approached the doors of the Castle. The last time she had been in this place, there were men she had fought with lying dead all around her. Shaking off the mental image, she placed one strong knock against the door and waited.
The door swung open, from what she could see as she stepped inside not much had changed since she was last there. Rahadin stood waiting, as stoic as ever, waiting for her to follow him down the halls. No pleasantries were exchanged as they made their way through the castle. If her memory served her correctly, they were heading towards the library.
Another knock removed her from the memories that were haunting her in the hallway, bringing her back into the world as the great doors to the library opened and she was ushered inside. Aurelia took a few steps inside the room, finding the only other occupant with their back towards her. She stood, just inside the doorway at attention and simply waited.
Strahd spoke without turning towards her, his commanding voice cutting through the quiet of the room. “You do not need to stand at attention, Aurelia. You are no longer in my command.”
“I have always told you, My Lord, I would come when you call.”
It was then he turned to her, and they took each other in for the first time in centuries. Anxious as she was about this meeting, she stood steady under his gaze. He was just as handsome as she remembered, although this had to be an altered appearance from what she remembered. He looked younger, almost as young as when they first met, no sign of age could be seen on his face.
Her grey eyes finally met his blue and she swore she lost the ability to breath for a moment. A part of her had known she was still desperately in love with him, no matter how much she had tried to block out that piece of her. His eyes were the same, cold, calculating, comforting. It all came rushing back.
Strahd moved slightly, gesturing for Aurelia to be seated in a set of chairs next to a small table where a glass of wine awaited each of them. She re-adjusted her sword slightly as she sat and waited for the man to speak once more.
“I need your help.” Those four words may seem simple coming out of anyone else’s mouths but from his? She had never heard those words fall from his lips before.
Aurelia scanned his body language again, finding him just as composed as ever and took a breath before responding. “What do you need?”
“There may be a way to free us all from the mists. I believe this reincarnation of Tatiana is the best chance we have ever had. She has fallen in with a group of adventurers, I need you to join them.” He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table between them.
“When you left my service, I was angry. I could not listen to the words you’d spoken. There is some hidden part of me that has always believed you.” He took a deep breath, hands curling so hard they began to grow pale as if he was in physical pain. “It needs to end, Aurelia.”
“How?”
“I’ve been defeated in combat before, and after a time of rest I awake and am faced with the cycle anew. Something is keeping me tethered here and it will not let go. I cannot fight it as hard as I’ve tried. It’s taking everything I have to be able to tell you this.”
His eyes met hers again, and for the first time since she saw him again the facade began to drop. “Aurelia, I-“
His voice caught in his throat and almost without thinking her hand found his closest and enveloped it. “Strahd, I will do this and whatever else you may ask of me. I have seen you in all of your fucked up glory, and I have seen I am just like you. If this is what you wish, I will do it without question. But the man I knew is not the monster I have heard shadowed whispers about. He is not the man you are portraying yourself to be.”
“You have no idea what I have done.”
“I have burned cities for you. I would have stayed by your side through all of this if you had asked. I am not an innocent. I have chosen you through everything, and I would continue to do so.”
He didn’t pull his hand away from hers.
“You are a far better person than I ever deserved to have by my side.”
His free hand began to trace glyphs through the air until an envelope appeared in it that he sat down in front of her. “This is everything my research has brought me.”
“This is the final thing I will ask of you, ensure that this curse is broken. No matter the cost. I’m losing my hold on the darkness, you should leave before it is completely gone.”
“Strahd, I-“
Her voice broke as his hand left hers to rest against her face. “It took living for centuries to realize that what I was doing wasn’t living at all. This is the most alive I have felt since before my first death. I will not allow it to ruin you.”
His hand left her, and he rose, Aurelia following suit as they headed toward the door. “You’ll find them in Valaki, at the Blue Water Inn.”
A simple nod was her response, his voice had returned to that of a commander. He did not expect a response, it was a command.
They walked side by side until they reached the main doors, he froze, one hand on the door as she took her first steps outside. “I have one last thing before you leave.”
He took a step into the outside air and pulled a small box out of his pocket, extending it to her.
She picked the box out of his hand carefully and opened it to reveal a necklace bearing the Von Zarovich crest. “Flip it over”
The back of the crest was inscribed, everything for you.
“It was my mother’s.”
“Thank you, my Lord.”
She turned as quickly as she could away from him so he would not see the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. “I will not let you down.”
With that the elven woman stepped in to the waiting carriage, not daring to look behind her as she left. If he had asked her to stay, to live out every cycle by his side even if it meant watching the country they fought so hard to win burn at their feet, she would have done it. She was in love with him, of course, but it was more than that.
They had been by each others sides through everything. He had known her better than any other and despite the difference in their lifespans she allowed herself become attached to someone for the first time. She had meant what she had told him, she was no innocent.
There was so much more grey to the world than most chose to ever see. her hands reached into the small box and placed the necklace around her neck, clasping it so it rested just between her breasts. He had told her once that she was fiercely loyal, had claimed that it may make her weak.
Aurelia had laughed in his face and told him she’d cut him down herself if she believed it to be necessary. And she had meant it. She realized now, that is why he had called her there tonight and given her his notes. He was trying to convince her that it was time to keep her word.
It was then the tears began to fall as the castle fell out of sight behind the mountains, reaching the road that led to Valaki.
She would compose herself before she arrived, but for this moment, hand clasped on the necklace, she allowed herself to mourn what would come to be if she succeeded.