E'licks'is

A gift for the young web.

by sapphicwitch

E'licks'is is the name of the Spinwix responsible for the distinct violet hue and indigo sheen of the Lartasian Silk used to make garments for The House of Spiders, a major Daimyo in Lartasia. The spider is nearly 1200 years old and has witnessed each head of the house pass through her den. The house of spiders has a tradition: Before a new head may take control of the housed they must meet with E'licks'is and survive the encounter. Only then would they be considered worthy. Each and every one had their own merits, but none made more of an impression on her or the people of Lartasia Than Ixian Kaede. (EYESHIN KAYDE)

Reception

The story is told by many in The House of Spiders. It is a tale that many Lartasians latch to for its heartwarming tone. Killing spiders is illegal in Lartasia, and this Daimyo made it so. Their connection to the Spinwix is a deeply personal one for both parties and to kill a spider can lead to death. The story itself is only a decade old, as Ixian is the current head of house. It has remained unchanged during this time. Ixian would go to great leangths to keep it truthful for both his parents and his own legacy.

Ixian is the current head of The House of Spiders. Like his ancestors before him he journeyed Into the wood on his family's estate in search of the spinwix (spin-wish) spider his family befriended. He recalled the story of his father and how he meant the great spider. The boy of 14 feared his death at her hands and hunted a manic stag in the wood to bring as an offering as his father did.
His father brought a stag to the spider's den in hopes that she would share a meal with him while they engaged in polite conversation. He found another stag, and then another, lashing them together on his sled. He pulled with all his might but tired quickly. He fell to the ground, unable to carry the massive weight any further. He lamented, unwilling to quit but unsure how to continue. He heard a strange voice next to him, a female voice that was undistorted and while he could tell where the voice was coming from it sounded as if it was coming from within his own mind.
"Hello young Ixian." She said. He turned on impulse and saw eight almond shaped eyes staring at him with two fangs and a gaping maw beneath them. He jumped back in fright and screamed loudly.
"Hush," she giggled, "I'm sorry." He didn't listen, backing away and falling into one of her webs. He was stuck, unable to move even an inch. The giant spider towered over him walking with elegance towards the trap he fell into. He screamed louder, the horror of the end he was sure to meet taking its toll on the mind. She hushed him again.
"Quiet young web." She said with a lethargy that snapped him from his panic. "If you wake my children...I will eat you." His mouth slammed shut, and he nodded, embarrassed that he had made such a fool of himself before the great spider herself.
"Now then, let us fix this." She plucked the web loose and began to pick each thread from his body until he was free. It was uncomfortably soothing, like being held like a baby in the arms of your worst enemy.

"I've been expecting you, young web." She said, putting the boy down and nestling herself down on the ground before him. She brought her face low to the ground as if resting it on a rock. Her eyes appraised him, analyzing every square inch of his figure.
"How? Did someone tell you of my father's death?"
"No, we were such friends... You can sense such things..."
"My father had a friend?"
"He was a private man, but yes. He told me all his secrets, his ambitions. He did so since your mother died. He came to me weeping and I conforted him. We were very close. He called me E'lee, you can too if you like. She looked to the sled with several stags loaded on top. "You seem to be much like him..."
"I'm nothing like my father, or my mother." Ixian snapped, and she pointed to the sled.
"Are you sure? Were you trying to be better than he was?"
Ixian looked to the ground, embarrassed.
"No, Your brood, I didn't want to bring you food and your children be without..." It was strange, the spider had no way of smiling, but he could feel that smile as wide as it could be.
"Your more like your father than you think... and your mother." She said, spinning silk in a pile between them. "I don't see how, my father was greedy, impossible to satisfy. My mother was cold when I knew her, she didn't even care for me." E'lee rose up, imposing her size on him and spoke in a calculated and stern tone.
"Young web your mother is turning in her grave at the fact that you were to meet me tonight. she worries so much she cannot rest. Your father loved you more than he had words to express it... at least to you."
"You know this? You wern't even there." He said, baffled by her words. She chuckled and lowered herself once more.
"I've been around for over a thousand years. It's not an original story, young web..."


"I have never seen you're parents more proud and in love that night. Did you know they brought you to me the night you were born. I'd never ask of such a thing, but your father new I desperately wanted to meet you. We all felt that great things would come from you. Your mother even proclaimed that you would be the best of all of us. You would have all the things that made the house great, and none of the faults." He was about to speak, but stopped. He had heard his mother say that before... but he misunderstood her intention. He pushed back tears forming in his eyes. He looked around and saw the sled.
"I'm sorry...E'lee," he began, trying her name on the tongue reluctantly, "where are my manners... let me prepare a meal... Would you dine with me?"
The smile came agaib as she replied. "Young Web, id be delighted."



He built a fire, and prepared the meat. They spoke while it cooked and for many hours after. They spoke of law and philosophy, of religion and the many other topics befitting such minds. They ate well, and as the sun crept over the horizon, her children ate well too. He marveled at her method of speaking, using her two front legs like arms and hands to add body language to her words. Just before leaving the wood and returning home with her blessing, he turned back to her. She found this unexpected and was eager to hear.
"What did my father say? You said he loved me more than he could say to me?" She thought a moment and finally gave him an answer. "Ixhian, your father would come to me after every achievement you made, no matter how small. He'd pace the very spot where you stand, giddy like a child while he told me of you. He told me of your first steps, that your first word was spider, that you excelled at your studies, and even how every time you scraped a knee, you'd never let it show. He knew you wanted to make him proud, and he never got a chance to say it. When your mother died he started getting very protective of you. Did you notice? He said you were the last thing of her he had left. He loved you more than anything else, young web. It was a love I havnt seen in many years."
Ixian smiled and turned to leave but headed E'lee move. He turned back and saw her holding a violet sheet of Lartasian Silk.
"Take this and may it protect you. Take it to Kilo, he will fashion a garment fitting of your greatness. Don't be a stranger, young web. I get so few visitors."
He folded the sheet and thanked her. It was large ebough to wrap him several times over, but to his surprise it seemed to have no weight.

Kilo made a fine outfit indeed, adorned with all the trapoings of the house. Ixian was happy he had moved on. His father's death took a toll on everyone but it hurt Kilo the most. He presented Ixian with his new clothes and smiled as he tried them on.
"What?" Ixian asked. Kilo looked at the boy in admiration. "I was there when he passed, your father. It is my duty to tell you his last words, bow that you are head of the house. His final words were for you." Ixian listened with anticipation.

"Be strong, be kind, and all the other traits I love you for. Me and your mother will be waiting, and we will never be more proud."