Aerel

Aerel and his identical twin, Aema are two sides of the same dangerous curiosity. Where Aema wants to experience, Aerel wants to learn. He's a a sponge for information, but together, it would be impossible to discern the difference.

Timeline
Born in 467 with his identical twin Aema

In 486 Merlin gave Aema and Aerel each a seed. They took these seeds, and planted them together in a single hole in the hollow of the roots of the great willow tree, by the burbling stream that pools, shaded within those same roots and holding whorled river stones.

By 488 the seeds had bloomed into a strong vine, constantly blooming flowers of its own in defiance of the season. The vine has grown long and full over the tree and up, building a strong, blooming arch over the stream. The twins step through this arch together, but only Aerel was standing on the other side.

In the fall of 489 Aema returns, and Aerel runs away to Ireland to stay with the O'Quinns, accompanied by Rhonia.

Appearance
Aerel is shorter than Mailes, but with the same shock of red hair and spatter of freckles. His hair is cut close to his head on the sides, more to keep it from catching on anything than anything else. He's wiry and narrow, but the stretch of his shoulders is wide enough to promise he could build mass to match his stockier kin.

Personality
Where Aema wants to experience everything the world has to offer, Aerel wants to learn and deconstruct the world around him. To understand it intrinsically. His curiosity is insatiable. Where Aema is quick to laughter, Aerel is quick to anger. His patience is low, and he's quick to chafe at slights or nuisances.

Us - 488
We have always been a pair. Since we were born we have stood - two as one, one as two. We were together in our pranks, and our exploration. We met Merlin together, and together we buried the seeds he had given us - "One for each" he had said, but together there are two and one. So we planted them together - by our favorite tree.

There we nurtured, and there the plant grew, one for two. Just a small vine, small like we had been, but it grew, until it no longer needed our care. It bloomed and bloomed, and we spent so much time together, dreaming about when next we would meet Merlin. When we could see our own great adventures. The vine became an arch, and our dreams turned to where it would lead. An arch is a doorway, and it was a doorway given to us by a great druid. We dreamed of where it would take us, and what we could see. A door is new pathway, and we relished what it would bring. When it touched ground, we felt no trepidation or unease, only giddy excitement and pleasure.

We stood together, as we always have, and we went together, as we always have. Step, step, step, and together through the arch we went, a door wide enough for us both.

But there was only one on the other side. No we, just I. The stream keeps flowing, and there is a lovely breeze slowly blowing, but I am here alone. We are not standing together. Aema is not here with me. There is only one, and... and... I... We were... But now I am... And what are we- I- what am I to do now? Where is Aema, without me there?

Go - 489
He's gone, or, rather, she's gone, but it's the same thing, and he doesn't know how to be without her. They're the same, but Faerie accepted her and refused his existence, but he doesn't understand they're the difference. He's just a shell, a separate form for the same person but now she's gone and who is he? Mailes said it would be okay, that he would be okay, but that's not how that works and then Mailes vanished too. And then Tan after that. And everyone keeps saying he'll be okay. Riechart said it wouldn't get better, but like living with a missing arm but he's wrong and that's not what it is either. No one gets that he went through that portal and there's just a husk and he doesn't even know who he is.

But when he find a place to panic where he can avoid the platitudes and attempted support - Olan is already there panicking. They both just stop - regard each other as if time has stopped, but it hasn't, and he still needs to scream. It makes things different - just a bit. Someone who feels at least a taste of that rage and hollowness. They spar because it's a distraction from the pain. Aerel learns sword and spear skills he never bothered with before because it's something to focus the rage on, and a distraction from the way his throat catches on a scream.

Olan keeps pouring over stupid books, Books about elves and dwarves, and nothing of value. It's foolish and infuriating because he doesn't understand. He wants sense and it makes Aerel burn with a rage thinking about what Faerie chose. Faerie was their companion, a play friend and promise of adventure, but he and she were different, and Faerie only wanted her. If they'd planted their seeds separately, he knows his wouldn't have grown. His existence is denied and he is but a husk and he doesn't know who he is without- "It's not something to understand. It just is. The accept you don't understand and you just experience what it shares and accept that you will never know." And the words are sharp and he doesn't want to be mean but he is so angry.

And then they talk. A little. They hadn't before. They talk about Faerie, and they talk about Ireland. And they keep sparring. And Olan talks about the druids there and the O'Quinn. And nothing is okay. And it's not getting better, and the rage is still there but at least - there's something else to focus on... Sometimes.

And then Aema comes back. She comes back, but she didn't bring him back with her. She's had a whole life time and found love and become - she's HER now. They're not WE and she still looks at him like she knows him but what is there to know? He doesn't even know him because she left him behind and who is he without her? But it's not her anymore and they aren't them  and she is something else and he's left behind and there's no going back. And he's so glad to see her happy and whole but he can't stop the rage and betrayal choking out his voice and he can't stay like this and he can't stay here.

So he packs some supplies and steals a sword and leaves. Because he can't stay like this and he's been refused by Faerie and there's nothing here that is him anymore and he needs to-

He needs to go.

So he does.

Parents

 * Maurel - Father
 * Aenailes - Mother
 * Tanree - Non-blood Mother

Siblings

 * Tanaerel - Older Half-brother
 * Mailes - Older brother
 * Aema - Identical twin sister

Cousins

 * Gerin
 * Morgan
 * Sofie