"He looks... human," said Valruin softly, his blood-stained sword dripping to his side.
Camlhach shook his head. "Aye, but he was not so a moment ago."
Thinidiel fixed his eyes on the young man, Silme sitting on his shoulder doing the same. His face turned serious as he kneeled to analyze the body, his eyes met Nimtar's. The queen also kneeled to look at the boy. "He must have been under some sort of spell," Thinidiel spoke almost whispering.
"His birth was not a wicked one. Now I see this," replied Nimtar as she ran her hands slowly over the body, not touching its skin. "He was corrupted over time, they all were; something very powerful must have changed their hearts." She stopped as she reached the boy's face and gently closed his eyes.
She looked at Thinidiel for a moment, the same thought crossing their minds.
"We must not leave him like this," said Nimtar, rising to her feet. "Regardless of their intentions, regardless of their actions, we must let his soul be at peace." Silver fire appeared on the tip of her staff. She lowered it only a few inches and as it touched the ground, the tongues of flame found their way to the body, setting him ablaze under the pale moonlight.
Thinidiel looked at his youngest son.
Night had fallen and the cave waited for them nearby. Queen Nimtar led the company towards the mountain where her sons had spotted it. She could see the entry of the cave now that they were almost there, but as they approached it she felt something was amiss. The cave was and was not there. Its outline and darkness were there, but as she placed her staff to test its depth, its contact with the mountain side echoed for all to hear.
A cruel trick, she thought. The Dark One's work, no doubt.
She took a few steps forward, just enough to place the tip of her staff against the mountain wall. She closed her eyes and wind began to move all around her—wrapping her in a transparent veil—and growing from where the staff had been placed, blossomed small carvings of vines. They spread and grew in silver light as they formed a two-sided door on the mountain wall, covering the darkness of the fake cave opening. Once it had fully formed, she twisted her staff as if it were a key. The doors opened.
At first, there was only darkness inside, but when she stepped in and lowered her staff, grass began to grow from it and spread at tremendous speed until it covered the entire cave floor. Small trees bearing fruit sprouted from the earth and flowers, too. The plants illuminated the cave, for they had light of their own. Many Erathiel, specially the dwarves and Telwen, gasped in awe at Queen Nimtar's magic, for they had not all seen what she could do in the days of old when there was good magic in the air. Some smiled and remembered those days.
"Follow me," she said raising her staff only a little, its light glowing as strong as moonlight, illuminating their path as they entered the cave.
Thinidiel was reminded of the old days and the power that she could wield. This new world had great magic in it, a magic that could help his people cross the land and build their new home, but he knew well that wielding magic always came with a price and that if one did not control it well, it consumed you. He only hoped that his Nimtar would not forget.
There was room for all in the cave, and their queen had made it so that silver trees grew, reaching up towards the beautiful starlit sky—there was an opening in the ceiling that let both starlight and moonlight in. It was a mere resemblance of the past, but a warm one in their hearts. Bazur and Nurunn beamed up at her, Nurunn with her hand over her mouth, covering a gasp, and Bazur's eyes wandering from corner to corner, admiring what she had done.
"May you rest and find nourishment within these walls," spoke the Queen to all. "The mountain has shared its magic with me, but not only that." She smiled, walking towards the center of the cave where the moonlight fell upon her. "Behold! The mountain's secret."
She touched the green grass with the tip of her staff and a stone fountain emerged from the ground. The water coming out of it pure and never-ending. A clamor of happiness filled the air. They had water at last. Yet they did not all rush to taste its sweetness, instead they waited for their leaders to speak.
"Come!" said Thinidiel as he made his way towards Nimtar. "Drink and eat, but rest well, for tomorrow we have a long journey ahead of us. Let us thank this mountain and our Queen, for giving us all a home tonight." All bowed before Nimtar and she in return also lowered her head gracefully in thanks.
They entered the cave to do as commanded—some with satchels and packs, others with their animals and wagons, there was room for all inside. The first thing they did was drink the heavenly water. Nimtar sealed the cave and continued to make it appear more and more like their old home. Thinidiel watched over his people, how they rested their weary feet on the soft cool grass and how they delighted in each other's company. It was a miracle that they still kept hope in their hearts. They even played their guitars and violins, their flutes and drums, with such merriness that it brought happiness to all around. Even though some of the songs had a melancholic tune, it was a pain and sadness that did not linger. The lost ship would come and with it their families.
The queen made her way to her husband's lonely spot. She bowed down before his feet and as she brushed her hand from the grass and towards his face, she made flowers and vines sprout to twist and tangle into a beautiful throne for him to sit upon. Thinidiel smiled and held her hand, waiting for her throne to complete. They sat together.
"Why did the stars make you so lovely?" he asked as he brought her closer, admiring her face, running his fingers through her raven hair.
"Just so I could match you," she replied softly, caressing his face.
Thinidiel shook his head. "You are far lovelier. I carry too many scars, for which I am thankful."
"I too carry them," she said now gently caressing the long scar that crossed his face.
"I know," he replied. Thinidiel's eyes wandered to where their two sons were. "Valruin..."
"Yes, tomorrow, my love," she spoke as she gently turned his face to look at her once more. "You know as well as I do that he regrets it. Let us rest and let tomorrow be another day."
Thinidiel nodded. Nimtar smiled as with the wave of her hand, more vines and plants began to grow around them, making a gazebo of many colors and light, with curtains of flowers separating them from those around. Thinidiel's silver eyes shone with happiness as he held her in a warm embrace and looked into her emerald eyes.
"Together in life," he said to her.
"Together in death," she responded as she gently placed her hands around the back of his neck.
The elf children sat around a mystical fire that emerged no smoke, only light and warmth, as an elder told tales of their ancestors' great deeds, their obstacles and how they had overcome them in the past. It made the elflings proud and hopeful for a brighter day. Telwen smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. Sûlmen who was sitting next to her leaned in to whisper.
"Telwen, what is the matter?" she asked coyly.
"Nothing," began Telwen. She tried to look away from Sûlmen, but then again she had always been a wonderful listener and a dear friend. "Well, it is just that I wonder what tales they will tell of my people. There are none of us left, but me, and I probably won't do anything great with my life. It just makes me sad."
Sûlmen smiled sweetly and took her friend's hand. "You cannot be sure about your future, nor that you will have no great part in the forging of our new home. I have known you since you were a baby, Telwen, and I know that there is something special about you," said Sûlmen.
Telwen smiled back and remembered how amazing it was for her to know that her friends, who seemed not much older than her, had known her since birth. Who else that was alive knew her better than her friends and family? The Erathiel grew in such a strange manner. The moment they began to not feel as children was the moment they grew incredibly fast into adulthood. Sûlmen and Enora had already begun this process but it seemed that it had not separated them at all.
"Thank you, Sûlmen," replied Telwen, no longer with heavy eyes.
Close by, Valruin and Camlhach sat on the grass, leaning against a tree trunk, looking through the cave's enchanted ceiling to seize the stars with their eyes.
"They all look the same to me although I know they are not," said Valruin. "I've never truly cared much about their stories, just their light."
"A lot of things look the same to you," said Camlhach with a laugh but it faded as he saw a figure in the sky that made his heart sigh. "It won't be long till sunrise. I hope we do not come across our 'friends' again tomorrow."
"Friends?" scoffed Valruin. "I understand what you mean and I hope we do not, too. Mind you, I always enjoy a good fight, but it all seems so strange. Who were they and why did he turn human after I..."
"You did not mean to, brother," said Camlhach.
"I never should have unsheathed my sword. Why do I always find a way to make things worse?" said Valruin. He suddenly remembered sparing with his sister when they were little and accidentally cutting her in the process.
"You do not make things worse, Val," replied Camlhach looking over at him. "You just let your emotions rule over reason, at times."
"Father has not spoken to me," said Valruin looking over at the gazebo. "Waiting, not knowing what he will say, is torment."
"Father understands us far better than we do ourselves, as does Mother. He knows your heart, trust me on this," replied Camlhach reassuringly.
"I am sorry, truly," Valruin began, his silver eyes looking at the grass. "It is just this journey, this barren land, the storm--" he paused. "Will we ever find her?"
"I know we will or she will find us, most likely the latter," replied Camlhach with decision. "It'll be alright. Some things never change."
"Some things never should," Valruin looked at the stars until the sky grew dark and only dreams filled his mind.
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