Nameless [CURRENTLY BEING EDITED]

24. Home

 The portal was beautiful. The humans gazed, entranced, into its swirling green and blue depths that were tinged with traces of silver. It grew between Ciradon's hands, laced through with otherworldly shades of blue and gold.

"Wow..." Rae breathed, staring in awe as the High-elf lifted his hands, setting the portal floating into the air where it continued to grow. Soon it was taller than all of them, almost touching the roof. Bright light emanated from it, almost unbearable, but not quite.

Alyan took the hands of Ciradon and Nessa, and they stepped forward. The portal began to hum.

"Wait!" Ber cried out. He blushed as they turned back to look at him, and wiped away tears. "Nessa, I want you to have something." He pulled out a little blue dolphin from the pocket of his hoodie, cradling it in his hands. "This--this is for you. His name is Smooshi." Ber pushed it into her hands, then jammed his own back in his pockets, looking away. "So you'll remember us."

Her face softened.

"Ber..."

He sobbed aloud suddenly and flung his arms around her neck. Rae joined him, and Alyan let go of Nessa's hand so she could return their affection.

"I'll miss you so much. I promise I won't forget either of you," she whispered fiercely.

They hugged her harder. "Tell Finnian goodbye for me. You have to." She whispered to Ber. "Tell him I love him." Her voice caught and Alyan pulled her gently out of the twin's grasp.

She stumbled away, her face pale, struggling to stand and follow as Alyan walked through the portal. She turned with one last anguished glance to Rae and Ber, their own faces twisted in pain. Then Ciradon put a hand on her shoulder and they stepped through.

The portal vanished.

The floor rocked beneath her feet and colors flashed behind her eyelids as another elf and a room of white quartz swirled around them before slowly became solid, like a camera coming into focus.

She stumbled forward, her legs no longer working, everything blurring around her. There were voices all around her but she couldn't hear them. Couldn't hear anything except rough wind roaring in her eardrums, pulling, dragging, yanking her to the cold floor. The pain in her arm flared and her head throbbed. But everything was so blurry. Everything was fading.

The elf-girl hit the quartz with a soft thunk as her head made contact with the floor.

Saipha was by her side in an instant, Alyan shifting from one foot to the other as the Star-elf tried to awaken her. But the elf girl's eyes would not open, remaining firmly closed, her face pale.

Alyan groaned, lines forming on his forehead. "Should I return her name now?" he whispered, "Instead of waiting for the full Council?"

Ciradon shook his head slowly. "We have bent enough laws doing this. You can return her name in front of the Council, as tradition calls for."

Saipha picked the elf-girl up gently, cradling her head as it fell back, revealing more stitches that ran down her neck and shoulder. Saipha muttered a curse under her breath.

"I need to get her to a quiet room where I can heal whatever the humans have done. I do not think returning her name will do more good than harm with the young one being in her current state."

Alyan nodded and Saipha slipped up the stairs like a wraith, disappearing into the shadows.

Ciradon gave Alyan a tired smile, "We did it, my lord."

Alyan smiled back slowly as the realization sank in. The tension that had been coiled inside of him vanished and exhaustion rushed over him like a tidal wave.

Ciradon paused at the base of the stairs, "Lady Eradesse is waiting for me."

"Go, my friend, and thank you."

Ciradon inclined his head, acknowledging the king before fading into the darkness of the night.

The minute he was alone, Alyan leaned his head against the cold wall, ignoring the throbbing headache and exhaustion that slowly crept into his eyes. He focused on the one thought that kept him awake.

They had done it.

She was home. They had brought her home. 

Well folks, here it is. 

She's home....*tries to remain calm for the rest of this note and fails*

LASKDJFHGFHDJKLFKJGHFHDJKFJGHFHDJKDFGHDJSK

AAHA FINALLY. 

Did you think this chapter paid off your expectations? 

Any comments? Questions? Concerns about my fangirling? (I don't blame you for that one) 

Until next time, 

~NamelessFanbase