Post by Lady Elestirne on Apr 19, 2007 14:46:10 GMT -5
Prologue
Since I am an elf-one of the Elder Kindred, the Firstborn-it is not easy for me (nor any of elven-kind for that matter) to understand that which is named 'death' by those of mortal race. What is death? I know not. Even though I have seen it, have lost my parents and others to it-yea, have even come close to it myself-I still understand not the thing known as death. What does it mean to die? Does it mean to cease to exist, to lay down your life and pass from the world? Where does one go when they die? We of elven-kind know not for we do not know death-only the sorrow and grief that follows when it takes a mortal friend from us. All other beings-Men, Dwarves, the other races-they know death, know mortality. We elves alone among the races know it not.
But if that is indeed the definition of death, that you cease to exist and pass from the world-whether of your will or no-it is no wonder then that we of elven-kind know it not. For we do not die in that sense. We of the Firstborn are bound to the world-not to leave it until we are slain or fade from grief or weariness. Nor though, do we live forever-though it is oft believed so.
We who bear the ever-mounting burden of the years are all too often called 'immortals'. Yet, in truth, this title is false. Though we indeed die not-save by weapons or grief-we do not live forever and so, are not immortal. All life is doomed to fade and eventually we also-like all the other races-must pass from the world. A true 'immortal' is one who is ageless, who has unending life, who lives forever- a 'god' of sorts. Such beings the Elves are not. Yet we are deemed as such by the other speaking peoples-for our lives are far longer in length than theirs. And so it is that the name 'immortals' has stayed with us throughout the ages-however inaccurate the title may be.
We may not know death in the sense that mortals do, but a thing that could be considered it's equivalent is a thing we name 'firinne' in our tongue-'fading' in the common tongue of mortals.
It is difficult for us of elven-kind to explain 'firinne' to those of other race because they, being mortal as they are, find the concept of 'fading' hard to understand-if not entirely beyond their comprehension.
But if those of mortal race find 'firinne' hard to understand, then we of elven-kind find it equally difficult to comprehend death. For we, being of the Firstborn as we are, know not death, nor mortality, nor what it means to die-to lay down one's life and leave the world.
And it is because of this-because we die not and do not sicken or age as mortals do-that we understand not the swift waning of the years of Men, nor the weariness of life that they are subject to. For these things we know not in ourselves and how then may we understand a thing if we know it not in ourselves? And so, for those reasons, death is a thing we do not wholly understand-even as 'firinne is a thing uncomprehendable to mortals.
For our part, we of elven-kind do not wholly understand 'firinne' either. It remains a mystery to us-even to the wisest and most ancient of my kind. It is commonly held among us that 'firinne is the end of our life, where we weary of the world and fade away; becoming once more apart of the world that gave us being in the beginning. So we believe, but even we are not certain what happens to us when we weary of the world-nor where we go when that time is come. Some among my kind believe that we go to the Halls of Waiting, there to linger eternally until released; or that we go to dwell and walk in our ancient home once more-others that we become once more a part of the world which we have known, loved, and walked for so many long years. Still others of my kind believe differently. It may be that any or all of these are true. But I know not myself.
By the grace granted to me for being of the Elder Kindred I shall not die, nor shall I fall subject to the sickness, aging, and weariness of life that mortals know. Many long years of Men must still pass ere I weary and pass from the world-many centuries yet-for I am still a young elf in the reckoning of my people. But when I am ancient in years both by the standards of my people and mortals both, when all I have known and loved in my lifetime is gone, then I shall at last weary of this world and relinquish my life; going wherever it is we of elven-kind go when we weary of the world. And when that time is come I shall go willingly, without regret-if my is not shortened by blade or beast beforehand-for the evermounting burden of years that I and all the rest of my race must bear is a heavy one and we shall set it aside with relief when it is our time.
And yet…by the same grace given me for being of the Elder Kindred-that I will live for years beyond mortal reckoning and know not death, sickness, or aging-by that same grace I must also watch my friends and all others who have become dear to me eventually lay down their lives and pass from the world; leaving me to linger on. It is a bitter thing to accept the fact that I-as an elf and one of the Firstborn, the Elder Kindred-shall outlive my friends (at least, those of mortal race) But such, alas, is the price of immortality-however bitter the knowledge may be of knowing that I shall linger on long after my mortal friends have all laid down their lives and passed from the world. Such though, is my fate-and that of all those of elven-kind.
In the reckoning of my people, I am accounted young-yet I am touched with a wisdom and sadness beyond my years, for I have seen, known and experienced things that others of my kind-though they be far more ancient than I in count of years-have not. Strange have been the chances of my life and Fate has ever been-and had-a part in it.
What is Fate? Is it that which governs our lives, decides what we will be, who we will be? Is everything in our lives-the events and occurrences, what happened, is happening, and will happen-all pre-destined, foreordained? Is everything in our lives-all that happens-out of our hands, beyond our control to alter and change? Is Fate and Destiny the only forces in our lives that guide us, that determine what will happen? Or do our own decisions and actions play a part in deciding which way our lives go, which way the wind blows? Or is it Fate only and naught else which governs our lives, makes us who and what we are, sets in stone what shall and has happened, what will be? Or can it be altered, changed? Can one change Fate? Alter what is pre-destined, unalterable? I think not. To the gods alone and the Father of All is the power given to change Fate, alter Destiny. We are but threads in the tapestry of Time. It is not given to us to weave ourselves as we see fit. Our lives are our own, to do with as we see fit while we walk the earth-but our fates are in the hands of the gods and thus, ultimately for they to decide. All things are in a balance and ill fate it is to disturb that balance.
And yet…Fate is not entirely in their hands either, for there have been times in history where things have happened that have been beyond their control, events that they did not foresee. Thus, it is proven that our decisions and actions, and not Fate alone can effect and change the future. But Fate and Destiny still play a important part in ruling and shaping our lives-perhaps more than we know-and thus, should not be taken or meddled with lightly. None can be sure completely what their path is or where it leads, nor what it holds, and so, should tread carefully the road they find themselves wandering.
My story is a complicated one. To understand it you must first understand my parents' story, for theirs is interwoven and connected with my own and without them I would not be. Thus, to understand my story you must first know theirs. I am Elestirne Starbrow, Queen of Taraer. Here is my story.
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Of Amaurea and Elentirmo
What I am going to tell you now I learned from Mardil, steward of Taraer. He was one of those few to have known my parents well and to know, moreover, who my father truly was-not merely a noble of a high-born family-but a royal of the line of kings. Thus it is that he is also one of those very few to have been told and known their story in full. By birthright I their daughter and only child, have also learned and been told it.
My mother was called Amaurea the Golden. She was so named on account of her hair. Golden as the sun, bright as the dawn it was held a marvel among her people for it seemed to indeed shine with the light of the sun. Some there were that murmured that her hair held the light not only of the sun in its golden tresses but also the light of Laurelin the Golden Tree of Valinor-from which the Sun was originally fashioned and given being. For this reason my mother was also named Laurwen -'Golden Maiden'. Such I think was the given-name among her folk; her mother-name perhaps, ere she took or was given the name Amaurea.
As to my mother's lineage, she was the daughter of a noble family of the Elven-folk that dwell in the forests of Taraer; a blending of the wild, silvan and Sindarin Elven-peoples who in ancient days may have mingled more freely with one another than one sees them doing in these current times. Daughter of the ruler of the wood-folk-a prince they call him-my mother was a famed healer and skilled ranger morever. Much she knew in herb lore and healing and much also in the ways of birds, beast and the forest.
Renowned among both her people and my father's, the high kindred, for these abilities and also her radiant hair, she was also known for her love of singing and for her noble kind, gentle and generous nature. Word began to spread through the land of the prince of the wood-folks' daughter's beauty and her golden hair but my mother, so I afterwards learned, shunned every suitor that sought her hand- a few of those not of her people at all, but of the high kindred, my father's people. It was my father in the end, who eventually won her heart and her hand.
My father, Elentirmo, was of the House of Nolimon-a very ancient High-elven house. But, as I said earlier he was no noble only but royal also; son of kings, heir of a noble and ancient line. For the House of Nolimon was the royal house, the house of the king and had been so for time out of memory since the founding of the realm-though this had been largly forgotten somehow during the feud that tore apart the two kindreds and sundered the noble houses of the high kindred from one another.
My father was a elf who knew a bit of everything and who was good at most of that which he knew. He could ride and wield blade as well as any warrior and better than most, as well as being able to track, hunt, and shoot, though not, perhaps, as well as a wood-elf-of whom it is said, rightly, that, when hunting they can get close enough to touch the hunted creature without it hearing or seeing them or being remotely alarmed-so silently are they reputed to move through the forest; their natural surroundings. This my father never managed to do but he was still held a accomplished enough hunter by the standards of his people.
In addition to those abilities he was foresighted and learned; a seer and a bit of a scholar and loremaster. He also, as is true of many high elves, knew something of magic and could use and wield it-though he seldom did so. Noble and honorable was my father; courageous, chilvarous and valiant. He was well-known for being fair; just and friendly as well as charismatic, and held the respect of the people, all the people-even if they didn't know of his true lineage and rank
I mentioned that my father knew something of magic. This is true, but, compared to many of the high elves that know of magic and have the ability to use it he knew little. What he did know of magic was useful minor spells mostly-to call light to one's hand for instance or neutral, such as conjuring a invisible shield or barrier of protection-nothing in the way of offensive or defensive spells. Yet even these few spells he possessed he used seldom, and only at need. Why he had this seeming aversion to magic I never knew and Mardil has not been able to tell me either. I am not sure of this, but I think part of it was for love of my mother. The wood-elves are not, as a general rule, overly fond of the high-elven magic; shunning and distrusting it because it is so different from their magic and their spells-nearly all of which are based in nature and all that is natural.
Some of the wood-folk no doubt see the high-elves as meddlers; trying to change and alter the world and natural order of things to their own whims through use of magic. This may be true of some of the high elves but the majority of the high kindred love and respect nature just as much as do our woodland kin. Whatever other reason my father may have had for using magic seldom I know not and nor does Mardil. That is a thing lost with him.
A thing I often wonder about with my father-a question that always comes to mind whenever I think of him-is whether or no he knew of his lineage and, if so, when he learned of it. Did he know that he was royal from the beginning or did he learn of it later, when he was older? Did his parents tell him or did they keep it from him-even as he and Mother did with me? If his parents did keep it from him, did they tell him eventually, when they deemed him old enough, when he was accounted full-grown by our standards-or did he find out all on his own? Or did someone else tell him that he was descended of the house of kings? Did he learn or begin to suspect the truth from visions and dreams-even as it was with I in part-or did he learn it some other way entirely? I do not know and oft I wish I did-if only to have the answer.
How my parents met and fell in love I also, alas, know little of. One thing that I feel relatively sure of however, was that their love was not allowed, possibly even forbidden. It was certainly not expected, for, Mother was of the woodland kin Father, of the high elves. Since these two kindreds had been on less than friendly terms since the blood-feud that had torn the twain apart and left the royal house and its descendants all but forgotten, it was only natural that news of their love-when it became known-was met with nothing short of complete shock and astonishment.
As best as I can make out from what Mardil told me, it appears that it was unthought of, even unheard of, for one of the woodland kindred and one of the high kindred to even get along well, much less to fall in love with one another-such was the state of relations between the two kindreds, owing to the ancient feud between them. Yet, whether or no it was unheard of, whether or no 'twas allowed or not, my parents did so and in doing so set in motion Fate-for 'twas fated that they should fall in love and come together.
How my parents met however that, at least, I know more about than how or why they fell in love-though still far too little about either to be appeased. Father met Mother in a forest not far from her father's camp. What year this meeting occurred I know not but I imagine it was in the later years of the Age by my understanding.
According to Mardil's account of the tale to me Father happened upon Mother one day in a woodland glade and the story goes that she was dancing and singing in the glade when he had happened upon her and that it was her song and voice which led him to her. But this I cannot be sure of and thus, cannot judge accurately whether or no it be true. Why Father was in the forest to begin with I know not-it may be that he was just wandering and so, came upon her by chance. It seems apparent however, that he was enchanted by her and she by him the moment they met. Love at first sight, one might say. And Fate, of course, had a hand in that meeting, as it always seems to.
Oftentimes I wonder if my parents somehow sensed that 'twas fated for them to meet and fall in love or if they believed 'twas mere chance only that they came together. I think that my father may well have sensed that Fate may have played a part in the meeting of Mother and him-being foresighted and a seer-but having the gift of foresight does not always merit that you will know when Fate is acting in/upon your own life. Mother may also have sensed something, if at a lesser degree, for Elven-women-of whatever kindred-are betimes known for their uncanny sense of intuition. Thus, she may also have known or sensed that Fate was at work when she met Father-even if she had not the gift of foresight. I cannot know, of course, for sure whether or no my parents knew that Fate was acting in their lives when they met, and likely never shall know, but it is ever something I wonder.
Now we are come to that portion of my parents' story which is my part and begins my tale, and which explains how their story and mine are connected and interwoven with one another, as well as why their story had to be told and understood first ere mine could be told and understood in turn. In addition it shall hope, show and help one to understand how Fate was a part of my life from the very beginning of my birth and why.
What I know of my birth I learned-as was the case with most all I know concerning myself, my lineage and my parents-after or at the time of my ascension to the throne; mostly from Mardil or Galion, the aged seer of the realm. This is no different.
I-as best as I can understand from what I was told by Mardil and Galion-was born on a night sometime in summer. What day I am not certain, nor can I say for a surety what month. I feel though, without really knowing why I feel such, that it 'twas the night of the summer solstice-for that is a night fraught with magic and, as such, is one where strange things are expected to occur and anything might happen; a night of omens and strange happenings.
As such is the night of the summer solstice often perceived as-a fey night and one that some regard as dangerous; a night of power and supersticion, of the unexplained and unknown, a night commonly held by all to be associated with and symbolize magic and omens. A night of mystery, where strange things and occurrences are known to happen and often do-for on a night of such power and magic the unexpected can and does happen and all things are possible.
If it was truly the night of the solstice that I was born then that would make the time of my birth either the end of Narie or nigh the beginning of the month Cermie- June and July respectively, to give the names I suppose mortals know and call those months by.
It would have been a clear night, a night of stars. A night of silver fires flaming bright in the deep, blue-blackness of the night sky; their brilliance and radiance outshining by far the wan, pale light of the new moon just then beginning to grace the skies again with its presence after its absence from them. Thus I have dreamed and such I know the night of my birth must have been.
Thus then, was the night of my birth, a fated hour, one predestined, and it was moreover the night where Fate and Destiny saw fit to mark me as the one the Elven-peoples of Taraer have long awaited; the one prophesied to heal the ancient feud, bring together the two kindreds, and sit the throne as ruler-the first of the royal house to do so since the feud that had torn the two elven-kindreds apart, sundered the noble houses of the high kindred from one another, and almost caused the royal house and its descendants to be forgotten.
But most of all-more so than any of the things mentioned above that are significant and important in themselves-it was the night that my story first began to unfold and when my thread first began to be woven into the great tapestry that is Time, a tapestry that shall continue to be woven throughout the ages and yet ne'er completed, for time will not end until the world ends and when the world ends Time shall then also cease to be and the great tapestry be finished. But, though Time shall end when the world ends, the tapestry shall remain in its stead-as a memory and tribute to all that has been in history and antiquity. Now though, 'tis time that my story be told…
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Since I am an elf-one of the Elder Kindred, the Firstborn-it is not easy for me (nor any of elven-kind for that matter) to understand that which is named 'death' by those of mortal race. What is death? I know not. Even though I have seen it, have lost my parents and others to it-yea, have even come close to it myself-I still understand not the thing known as death. What does it mean to die? Does it mean to cease to exist, to lay down your life and pass from the world? Where does one go when they die? We of elven-kind know not for we do not know death-only the sorrow and grief that follows when it takes a mortal friend from us. All other beings-Men, Dwarves, the other races-they know death, know mortality. We elves alone among the races know it not.
But if that is indeed the definition of death, that you cease to exist and pass from the world-whether of your will or no-it is no wonder then that we of elven-kind know it not. For we do not die in that sense. We of the Firstborn are bound to the world-not to leave it until we are slain or fade from grief or weariness. Nor though, do we live forever-though it is oft believed so.
We who bear the ever-mounting burden of the years are all too often called 'immortals'. Yet, in truth, this title is false. Though we indeed die not-save by weapons or grief-we do not live forever and so, are not immortal. All life is doomed to fade and eventually we also-like all the other races-must pass from the world. A true 'immortal' is one who is ageless, who has unending life, who lives forever- a 'god' of sorts. Such beings the Elves are not. Yet we are deemed as such by the other speaking peoples-for our lives are far longer in length than theirs. And so it is that the name 'immortals' has stayed with us throughout the ages-however inaccurate the title may be.
We may not know death in the sense that mortals do, but a thing that could be considered it's equivalent is a thing we name 'firinne' in our tongue-'fading' in the common tongue of mortals.
It is difficult for us of elven-kind to explain 'firinne' to those of other race because they, being mortal as they are, find the concept of 'fading' hard to understand-if not entirely beyond their comprehension.
But if those of mortal race find 'firinne' hard to understand, then we of elven-kind find it equally difficult to comprehend death. For we, being of the Firstborn as we are, know not death, nor mortality, nor what it means to die-to lay down one's life and leave the world.
And it is because of this-because we die not and do not sicken or age as mortals do-that we understand not the swift waning of the years of Men, nor the weariness of life that they are subject to. For these things we know not in ourselves and how then may we understand a thing if we know it not in ourselves? And so, for those reasons, death is a thing we do not wholly understand-even as 'firinne is a thing uncomprehendable to mortals.
For our part, we of elven-kind do not wholly understand 'firinne' either. It remains a mystery to us-even to the wisest and most ancient of my kind. It is commonly held among us that 'firinne is the end of our life, where we weary of the world and fade away; becoming once more apart of the world that gave us being in the beginning. So we believe, but even we are not certain what happens to us when we weary of the world-nor where we go when that time is come. Some among my kind believe that we go to the Halls of Waiting, there to linger eternally until released; or that we go to dwell and walk in our ancient home once more-others that we become once more a part of the world which we have known, loved, and walked for so many long years. Still others of my kind believe differently. It may be that any or all of these are true. But I know not myself.
By the grace granted to me for being of the Elder Kindred I shall not die, nor shall I fall subject to the sickness, aging, and weariness of life that mortals know. Many long years of Men must still pass ere I weary and pass from the world-many centuries yet-for I am still a young elf in the reckoning of my people. But when I am ancient in years both by the standards of my people and mortals both, when all I have known and loved in my lifetime is gone, then I shall at last weary of this world and relinquish my life; going wherever it is we of elven-kind go when we weary of the world. And when that time is come I shall go willingly, without regret-if my is not shortened by blade or beast beforehand-for the evermounting burden of years that I and all the rest of my race must bear is a heavy one and we shall set it aside with relief when it is our time.
And yet…by the same grace given me for being of the Elder Kindred-that I will live for years beyond mortal reckoning and know not death, sickness, or aging-by that same grace I must also watch my friends and all others who have become dear to me eventually lay down their lives and pass from the world; leaving me to linger on. It is a bitter thing to accept the fact that I-as an elf and one of the Firstborn, the Elder Kindred-shall outlive my friends (at least, those of mortal race) But such, alas, is the price of immortality-however bitter the knowledge may be of knowing that I shall linger on long after my mortal friends have all laid down their lives and passed from the world. Such though, is my fate-and that of all those of elven-kind.
In the reckoning of my people, I am accounted young-yet I am touched with a wisdom and sadness beyond my years, for I have seen, known and experienced things that others of my kind-though they be far more ancient than I in count of years-have not. Strange have been the chances of my life and Fate has ever been-and had-a part in it.
What is Fate? Is it that which governs our lives, decides what we will be, who we will be? Is everything in our lives-the events and occurrences, what happened, is happening, and will happen-all pre-destined, foreordained? Is everything in our lives-all that happens-out of our hands, beyond our control to alter and change? Is Fate and Destiny the only forces in our lives that guide us, that determine what will happen? Or do our own decisions and actions play a part in deciding which way our lives go, which way the wind blows? Or is it Fate only and naught else which governs our lives, makes us who and what we are, sets in stone what shall and has happened, what will be? Or can it be altered, changed? Can one change Fate? Alter what is pre-destined, unalterable? I think not. To the gods alone and the Father of All is the power given to change Fate, alter Destiny. We are but threads in the tapestry of Time. It is not given to us to weave ourselves as we see fit. Our lives are our own, to do with as we see fit while we walk the earth-but our fates are in the hands of the gods and thus, ultimately for they to decide. All things are in a balance and ill fate it is to disturb that balance.
And yet…Fate is not entirely in their hands either, for there have been times in history where things have happened that have been beyond their control, events that they did not foresee. Thus, it is proven that our decisions and actions, and not Fate alone can effect and change the future. But Fate and Destiny still play a important part in ruling and shaping our lives-perhaps more than we know-and thus, should not be taken or meddled with lightly. None can be sure completely what their path is or where it leads, nor what it holds, and so, should tread carefully the road they find themselves wandering.
My story is a complicated one. To understand it you must first understand my parents' story, for theirs is interwoven and connected with my own and without them I would not be. Thus, to understand my story you must first know theirs. I am Elestirne Starbrow, Queen of Taraer. Here is my story.
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Of Amaurea and Elentirmo
What I am going to tell you now I learned from Mardil, steward of Taraer. He was one of those few to have known my parents well and to know, moreover, who my father truly was-not merely a noble of a high-born family-but a royal of the line of kings. Thus it is that he is also one of those very few to have been told and known their story in full. By birthright I their daughter and only child, have also learned and been told it.
My mother was called Amaurea the Golden. She was so named on account of her hair. Golden as the sun, bright as the dawn it was held a marvel among her people for it seemed to indeed shine with the light of the sun. Some there were that murmured that her hair held the light not only of the sun in its golden tresses but also the light of Laurelin the Golden Tree of Valinor-from which the Sun was originally fashioned and given being. For this reason my mother was also named Laurwen -'Golden Maiden'. Such I think was the given-name among her folk; her mother-name perhaps, ere she took or was given the name Amaurea.
As to my mother's lineage, she was the daughter of a noble family of the Elven-folk that dwell in the forests of Taraer; a blending of the wild, silvan and Sindarin Elven-peoples who in ancient days may have mingled more freely with one another than one sees them doing in these current times. Daughter of the ruler of the wood-folk-a prince they call him-my mother was a famed healer and skilled ranger morever. Much she knew in herb lore and healing and much also in the ways of birds, beast and the forest.
Renowned among both her people and my father's, the high kindred, for these abilities and also her radiant hair, she was also known for her love of singing and for her noble kind, gentle and generous nature. Word began to spread through the land of the prince of the wood-folks' daughter's beauty and her golden hair but my mother, so I afterwards learned, shunned every suitor that sought her hand- a few of those not of her people at all, but of the high kindred, my father's people. It was my father in the end, who eventually won her heart and her hand.
My father, Elentirmo, was of the House of Nolimon-a very ancient High-elven house. But, as I said earlier he was no noble only but royal also; son of kings, heir of a noble and ancient line. For the House of Nolimon was the royal house, the house of the king and had been so for time out of memory since the founding of the realm-though this had been largly forgotten somehow during the feud that tore apart the two kindreds and sundered the noble houses of the high kindred from one another.
My father was a elf who knew a bit of everything and who was good at most of that which he knew. He could ride and wield blade as well as any warrior and better than most, as well as being able to track, hunt, and shoot, though not, perhaps, as well as a wood-elf-of whom it is said, rightly, that, when hunting they can get close enough to touch the hunted creature without it hearing or seeing them or being remotely alarmed-so silently are they reputed to move through the forest; their natural surroundings. This my father never managed to do but he was still held a accomplished enough hunter by the standards of his people.
In addition to those abilities he was foresighted and learned; a seer and a bit of a scholar and loremaster. He also, as is true of many high elves, knew something of magic and could use and wield it-though he seldom did so. Noble and honorable was my father; courageous, chilvarous and valiant. He was well-known for being fair; just and friendly as well as charismatic, and held the respect of the people, all the people-even if they didn't know of his true lineage and rank
I mentioned that my father knew something of magic. This is true, but, compared to many of the high elves that know of magic and have the ability to use it he knew little. What he did know of magic was useful minor spells mostly-to call light to one's hand for instance or neutral, such as conjuring a invisible shield or barrier of protection-nothing in the way of offensive or defensive spells. Yet even these few spells he possessed he used seldom, and only at need. Why he had this seeming aversion to magic I never knew and Mardil has not been able to tell me either. I am not sure of this, but I think part of it was for love of my mother. The wood-elves are not, as a general rule, overly fond of the high-elven magic; shunning and distrusting it because it is so different from their magic and their spells-nearly all of which are based in nature and all that is natural.
Some of the wood-folk no doubt see the high-elves as meddlers; trying to change and alter the world and natural order of things to their own whims through use of magic. This may be true of some of the high elves but the majority of the high kindred love and respect nature just as much as do our woodland kin. Whatever other reason my father may have had for using magic seldom I know not and nor does Mardil. That is a thing lost with him.
A thing I often wonder about with my father-a question that always comes to mind whenever I think of him-is whether or no he knew of his lineage and, if so, when he learned of it. Did he know that he was royal from the beginning or did he learn of it later, when he was older? Did his parents tell him or did they keep it from him-even as he and Mother did with me? If his parents did keep it from him, did they tell him eventually, when they deemed him old enough, when he was accounted full-grown by our standards-or did he find out all on his own? Or did someone else tell him that he was descended of the house of kings? Did he learn or begin to suspect the truth from visions and dreams-even as it was with I in part-or did he learn it some other way entirely? I do not know and oft I wish I did-if only to have the answer.
How my parents met and fell in love I also, alas, know little of. One thing that I feel relatively sure of however, was that their love was not allowed, possibly even forbidden. It was certainly not expected, for, Mother was of the woodland kin Father, of the high elves. Since these two kindreds had been on less than friendly terms since the blood-feud that had torn the twain apart and left the royal house and its descendants all but forgotten, it was only natural that news of their love-when it became known-was met with nothing short of complete shock and astonishment.
As best as I can make out from what Mardil told me, it appears that it was unthought of, even unheard of, for one of the woodland kindred and one of the high kindred to even get along well, much less to fall in love with one another-such was the state of relations between the two kindreds, owing to the ancient feud between them. Yet, whether or no it was unheard of, whether or no 'twas allowed or not, my parents did so and in doing so set in motion Fate-for 'twas fated that they should fall in love and come together.
How my parents met however that, at least, I know more about than how or why they fell in love-though still far too little about either to be appeased. Father met Mother in a forest not far from her father's camp. What year this meeting occurred I know not but I imagine it was in the later years of the Age by my understanding.
According to Mardil's account of the tale to me Father happened upon Mother one day in a woodland glade and the story goes that she was dancing and singing in the glade when he had happened upon her and that it was her song and voice which led him to her. But this I cannot be sure of and thus, cannot judge accurately whether or no it be true. Why Father was in the forest to begin with I know not-it may be that he was just wandering and so, came upon her by chance. It seems apparent however, that he was enchanted by her and she by him the moment they met. Love at first sight, one might say. And Fate, of course, had a hand in that meeting, as it always seems to.
Oftentimes I wonder if my parents somehow sensed that 'twas fated for them to meet and fall in love or if they believed 'twas mere chance only that they came together. I think that my father may well have sensed that Fate may have played a part in the meeting of Mother and him-being foresighted and a seer-but having the gift of foresight does not always merit that you will know when Fate is acting in/upon your own life. Mother may also have sensed something, if at a lesser degree, for Elven-women-of whatever kindred-are betimes known for their uncanny sense of intuition. Thus, she may also have known or sensed that Fate was at work when she met Father-even if she had not the gift of foresight. I cannot know, of course, for sure whether or no my parents knew that Fate was acting in their lives when they met, and likely never shall know, but it is ever something I wonder.
Now we are come to that portion of my parents' story which is my part and begins my tale, and which explains how their story and mine are connected and interwoven with one another, as well as why their story had to be told and understood first ere mine could be told and understood in turn. In addition it shall hope, show and help one to understand how Fate was a part of my life from the very beginning of my birth and why.
What I know of my birth I learned-as was the case with most all I know concerning myself, my lineage and my parents-after or at the time of my ascension to the throne; mostly from Mardil or Galion, the aged seer of the realm. This is no different.
I-as best as I can understand from what I was told by Mardil and Galion-was born on a night sometime in summer. What day I am not certain, nor can I say for a surety what month. I feel though, without really knowing why I feel such, that it 'twas the night of the summer solstice-for that is a night fraught with magic and, as such, is one where strange things are expected to occur and anything might happen; a night of omens and strange happenings.
As such is the night of the summer solstice often perceived as-a fey night and one that some regard as dangerous; a night of power and supersticion, of the unexplained and unknown, a night commonly held by all to be associated with and symbolize magic and omens. A night of mystery, where strange things and occurrences are known to happen and often do-for on a night of such power and magic the unexpected can and does happen and all things are possible.
If it was truly the night of the solstice that I was born then that would make the time of my birth either the end of Narie or nigh the beginning of the month Cermie- June and July respectively, to give the names I suppose mortals know and call those months by.
It would have been a clear night, a night of stars. A night of silver fires flaming bright in the deep, blue-blackness of the night sky; their brilliance and radiance outshining by far the wan, pale light of the new moon just then beginning to grace the skies again with its presence after its absence from them. Thus I have dreamed and such I know the night of my birth must have been.
Thus then, was the night of my birth, a fated hour, one predestined, and it was moreover the night where Fate and Destiny saw fit to mark me as the one the Elven-peoples of Taraer have long awaited; the one prophesied to heal the ancient feud, bring together the two kindreds, and sit the throne as ruler-the first of the royal house to do so since the feud that had torn the two elven-kindreds apart, sundered the noble houses of the high kindred from one another, and almost caused the royal house and its descendants to be forgotten.
But most of all-more so than any of the things mentioned above that are significant and important in themselves-it was the night that my story first began to unfold and when my thread first began to be woven into the great tapestry that is Time, a tapestry that shall continue to be woven throughout the ages and yet ne'er completed, for time will not end until the world ends and when the world ends Time shall then also cease to be and the great tapestry be finished. But, though Time shall end when the world ends, the tapestry shall remain in its stead-as a memory and tribute to all that has been in history and antiquity. Now though, 'tis time that my story be told…
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