Frost and Flame, Foes in the Dark (book 2)

Chapter 19, Letter from the Past

(I'm sorry for not releasing the chapter on time. I haven't had internet in nearly a week. Turns out that I do almost everything through internet. You don't miss something until you lose it :P)

"For all the Forgotten Gods, I hope you don't have any more secrets," Sidastir muttered, stretching out on their bed. His head was still hurting trying to keep up with Helder and Akana's discussion about mechanics. Most of the words was not even understandable and he was utterly sure that they weren't in any known language.

"Not quite," Akana muttered, his voice faint. Sidastir peered at him with one eye, noticing Akana's stiff back.

"What is it?" Sidastir asked, knowing that whatever Akana wanted to say would not be good news.

With a deep sigh, Akana walked over with a letter in his hand. He sat down beside Sidastir, the bed giving of a creaky sound like it wanted to warn him about the new he was about to receive. Sitting up, Sidastir peered at the letter clutched in Akana's hand.

"Isn't that from Ceva?" asked he.

Akana nodded and handed it over. Peering down Sidastir frowned, " A letter to ask you to meet her up. I remember you recieveing it-"

"Continue reading," Akana said briskly. His eyes stuck on the wall, like he didn't want to face Sidastir.

Sidastir peered down once again, his body going stiff as he read the continuation of the letter. His breath was shaky, as his mind kept racing.

"Ice elves?"

"From Eitir. They apparently escaped the war and settled down in Balkrav, creating a village. They are lead by someone called Midar A Lannalac. I am not sure-"

Sidastir let out something between a held back wail, and laughter, covering his mouth to impede it. A proud elf, came into mind, dressed in fur and leather, with hair braided into thousands of braids. Eyes piercing with two blades on his back.

"Take care of my daughter."

"So, he survived?" Sidastir uttered in a silent whisper.

"You know of him?" Akana asked carefully.

Sidastir nodded, swallowing a painful lump in his throat. "Yes, he is the leader of the Lannalac, the Blade Clan. They were the ones that guarded the border and all the citizen living there. At the end of the war when only Eighpalas remained, the commoners were starving. We had no food and father had decided to give the little we had to the army. Midas took the rest of the people and left Eitir to protect them. The ones loyal to my father snuck out of the city after that."

Taking a shaking breath, Sidastir blinked away tears. " I never new what happened to them, I was to afraid to look. I failed them as their prince. My duty was to protect them, but I failed. How can I look for them? What right do I have?"

He could feel Akana's searching gaze, looking over at him Sidastir gave him a faint smile. "Was this what you were afraid of showing me?"

"I didn't know if it was true, and didn't want to rip open wounds before I was sure they were who I thought they were."

"And now?"

Akana pulled out another letter. It was not of high quality, and the words was written in charchoal. "I wrote them another letter, using your seal, hoping that would catch their attention. I hope you can appreciate the hardship I went through. I wasn't sure if they knew any other language than that of the elvhen one so I wrote in elvhen."

"You know no Lisaan."

"Exactly, your people probably had a hard time understanding their Rial Caraid," Akana muttered, handing the letter over. "Midar was very kind and didn't mention it though."

Sidastir looked down and read the words, not sure if he was ready for it.

"Many Greetings, honored Rial Caraid.

All of us are elated to hear from our homeland, only rumors has reached our ears. We never knew our Rial has taken a consort and I think a heartwarmed congratulation is in order. I remember Sidastir well, seeing him growing up with my daughter and I know that his mother would be overjoyed he has finally found a consort.

As you already might have understood, we are from Eitir. Maybe the last of our people, fleeing the destruction that had befallen upon our kingdom. We are well, alive and striving for survival. Each day might be filled with hardship, but we are a proud and stubborn people and will not disgrace our ancestors.

It gladden us all to hear that Eitir does the same. I beg you to not just see the desolate landscape of a forgotten kingdom, but also see the blood and tears that it has taken to built what once were. If you look underneath the snow, you will find beauty and history as old as the stones themselves. An history we are proud of being a part of once. A history that is now also yours.

We all hail you, Rial Caraid of Eitir.

With Regards from Midar A Lannalac.

"It's a beautiful letter," Akana said, peering down at what he was holding.

"It is," Sidastir said. "He still sound old though."

"I can't believe you are considered a child by your people."

"Then me taking you as a consort would be considered baby snatching straight from the cradle."

Akana hit Sidastir on the arm, before leaning his head against his shoulder. Sidastir leaned his head against Akana's, looking down at the letter. Feeling the painful feelings fade away, giving place to a searing warmth he hasn't felt in a long time. Not since his parents were alive. The feeling of home, warm and comforting like a blazing hearth.

"Are you going to write back to them?" Akana asked.

"What?"

"Well, considering my bad language skill I think it would be better to give the task of writing them to you."

Sidastir stared down at the letter, feeling guilt cloud his mind. "And write what?"

"How about offering to come back to Eitir if that is what they want?"

"I cannot do that, they won't want to come back to a kingdom that has caused them so much pain."

Akana watched Sidastir who avoided his eyes by closing them. Soon he felt something hot on his lips, opening them he met Akana's two dark eyes staring into his just a few inches from his own. Releasing him from his kiss, Akana smiled.

"That isn't your decision. Your task is to reach out your hand, if they want to grab it, its up to them."

"What can I give them?"

"A home, wether they would want to live in Eitir or not is for them to decide. If they decide to come back, it's our job as Rial and Rial Caraid to welcome them and haunt away any bad memories. To built a home worthy of such a strong people."

Feeling fear seep into his marrow, Sidastir closed his eyes again and Akana grabbed onto his hand, forcing him to open his eyes and look at his consort. "And if they don't then we will send every aid they are willing to receive, so that they can built a home for themselves even if it is far away from us."

Grasping Akana's hand, Sidastir took a deep breath and got to his feet. Forcing himself to find the courage to write the letter to something he ones through would only exist in the past. Bracing himself for what to come.