The Eldars

18

"Katiri is the name I went by in the human world yes. That is the name you knew me by. So tell me prince why are you out this far from your lands." Montani isn't helping the elf any with her attitude or her tone.

"We thought you were dead. I missed your birthday due to the evil ones making raids on our borders. I couldn't get away. When I did I came by and found your families home and barn in ashes long cold. We followed the trail of the evil ones but when it crossed over into the forbidden forest we turned back."

"Then you missed seeing the dead bodies of the ones that killed my family."

"How did you survive the attack? We've taught you well but there was no way you would have been able to survive that, especially by three of them." Leear says astounded.

"I wasn't home. My parents had told me earlier that I was to be married to the baker in town. I needed time to think. You know how the people regarded me," Montani pauses and Leear nods, she had often gone to the elven lands to get away from the humans.

"By the time I got back, it was all over. There wasn't much left  and my family...the only thing I could do was give them an elven funeral. The animals in the barn were no better, it was too dangerous to leave them like that so I also gave them the send off."

"You were going to be married?" Leear says once more astounded. Montani gives him a dirty look.

"That's all you have to say after I tell you my story? Wow, you've got some serious issues prince."

"I meant no disrespect Katiri. You never belonged among the humans."

Montani snorts, "No, so it's a good thing the Eldar took me in, isn't it?"

Leear looks down in shame. "I was going to offer you refuge among the elves once you came of age. I would have at your birthday celebration. When we found your house destroyed you have no idea just how much that devastated me. I haven't looked after and taught you for all those years for no reason."

"Well, I guess what you were going to do decades ago was finally accomplished by me."

Leear looks at her hurt and not a little surprised. "You knew what I was going to do back then?"

Montani shrugs, "I figured it out. My family was the closest to the elven lands, uncomfortably close. I heard whispers more than a few times when I visited."

Montani looks at the elf prince closely, "Why didn't you? Why did you make time for a pesky human child? You saved me that day and you didn't have to."

Leear gives a bitter laugh, "I saw the most beautiful child I have ever seen. The fact that you were human didn't mean anything. That it was your family that was living in that place did make a difference. I couldn't hurt them without hurting the child. Without your family you wouldn't have survived, so I made a choice and haven't regretted it. I did regret not being there to save your family, Katiri."

"Yeah, it's my regret as well." Montani slips back into the shadows. Leear startles once more.

"Where did she go? I don't sense her." Leear stares intently into the shadows.

Mant shrugs, "She goes where she wants. She will return when she is ready. You love her."

The prince closes his eyes and doesn't deny Mant's statement. "Yes. I would marry her if I thought for a second my people would accept her. But when I thought she was dead a part of me died as well."

"You followed her trail, you should have known she was still alive," Mant is trying really hard to not be jealous of the elven prince.

This time Leear gives more than just a small chuckle. "Montani far surpasses the elves in wood lore. I don't know how she does it, but it sounds like you know what I mean if she's become a master of masters. No, I didn't see any sign of her on the trail."