Aliel

Chapter 27

A large archway stood tall in front of us, the white stone shimmering like everything else I had seen since entering elven land. Through the archway I saw the city of Valenass laid out before me. It was magnificent, majestic, magical. Tall white buildings with even taller spires were scattered about, and in between the buildings were the same towering trees that we'd been traveling through. A thin blue ribbon of color snaked through the trees and elven buildings, which I thought must be a river. Two elves stood sentry at the arch, and came forward as the passageway through the barrier closed behind us.

"Vale-heir," one of them said, coming forward and clasping hands with Lorien. "Vale-zrah has been expecting you. We are to take you to Vale-vram as quickly as possible."

"Very well," Lorien said, and, taking my hand, allowed the elven sentries to lead us into the city. I was glad that he did have a hold of my hand, because I would have certainly been separated from the group if he didn't. I craned my head back as far as it would go, admiring the elven architecture that thrust towards the sky. As we walked down the paths (they were more like paths than streets) of Valenass, more elves emerged from the buildings, and once again they all came and touched my hands, like when I had first come to the elven camp.

Vale-vram turned out to be a kind of palace, and we were ushered inside while our horses were put away. The inside was just as splendid as the outside, and I saw intricate carvings set into the stone everywhere we went. We were led up a grand staircase, and at the top it opened up into a large chamber. There stood a lone elf by the far wall, and we came forward until we were standing before him. He was arrayed in a silver robe which perfectly matched his silver hair, which was the longest I had ever seen, even on all the elves I had met so far. It almost brushed the floor, it was so long. His eyes were a brilliant violet, with the gold flecks just like Lorien's. He didn't speak, and neither did Lorien or Varen. He seemed to study me. Then he strode forward and took both of my hands in his own.

"Welcome," was all he said, and then released my hands, and Lorien and Varen led me away. I wondered at this rather short exchange. I was, after all, his daughter-in-law, as I assumed that he was Vale-zrah, Lorien's father. Did he not want to get to know me at all? Perhaps he just had a lot on his plate at the moment. There was a war going on, that his people were now involved heavily in. I decided that that must be it, and that I shouldn't expect much with all of that going on. We were again led down the stairs and out of the elven palace, over a little bridge with a gentle stream underneath it, and into another tall white building.

An elven woman with green eyes stood in the large front room when we entered the building, and came forward, clasping Lorien's hands.

"Lorien, I am glad to see that you are well," she said.

"And I you, Mother."

She smiled softly, then turned to Varen and said the same thing, to which Varen replied: "And I you, Meren." Then she turned to me and clasped my hands warmly in her delicate fingers.

"Welcome, Aliel of my son. I am Meren of Fouriel."

"I am Claresa of Splethantown."

"I am pleased you are finally come. Lorien sent word as soon as he was claimed, and I have looked forward to meeting you every day since." It seemed that I would receive a much warmer reception from the female element of Lorien's family. Meren showed me around the building, telling me the uses of all the rooms, and that they were all for me, Lorien, and our growing family. I expressed my thanks several times, and she was so gracious and kind, I loved her immediately. I finally had a mother again.

Hours later we sat down for a meal, and afterwards Lorien said it was time we went to bed.

"But it's still light outside, it can't possibly be that late," I had said incredulously. It hadn't grown any darker since the moment I'd stepped foot inside Valenass. Perhaps the elves kept strange hours, but I didn't think it right to force it on me on my first day here.

"It's nearly midnight, Claresa. You must sleep sometime."

"Midnight?"

"Oh, I forget. The Vale-jor gives us light all hours of the day, it never darkens in the city. I'm sorry, I should have told you that." When I thought about it I was tired, but I thought it was only from the journey, and being with child. But I took it in stride, and followed Lorien up a flight of stairs to our new bedroom. I was so happy that we finally had a bed that was big enough for the both of us, and I fell asleep almost immediately with my head resting on his chest.

I woke up several times because of the light that still shone through the various windows. Lorien noticed my restlessness, and asked me what was wrong. I told him, and he went out of the room, brought back some thick blankets, and hung them like curtains over each of the windows, effectively blocking out the light. "Now can we sleep?" he asked, almost cross, and I apologized and went right back to sleep.