The Eldars

23

Although Montani had acted quickly last night some of the evil ones got off arrows of their own. Three elves had been killed and sent on their way last night with the remains of the human family and animals that had been killed. The loss makes Montani sad.

The loss also has an effect on the remaining elves. "Leear? What is it?" Montani asks softly as the funeral pyres become ash. She stops playing as the last of the fires die out.

"We'll be leaving tonight Montani. It has been a pleasure to see you again and to know that you didn't perish with your family. I have to report this activity to my parents and warn them about the return of the vacar. They may not be so happy about that, but at the same time, these creatures are gaining too much ground near our lands." Leear speaks and Montani hears more than a little bitterness in his words. There is more that he's not speaking.

She faces him and he cannot look away from her eyes. "Very well, I accept that as truth, but there is more that you aren't telling me. I realize that there is much you haven't told me, but this something has to do with me, Mant or Teondae or all three of us."

"The elves have already cut all remaining ties with the humans. The Eldar alliance I was sent to gain wasn't meant to be an alliance of war, just information. Now the vacar are thrown into the mix I'm not sure how my parents, let alone my people are going to deal with this."

Montani smiles, "That's simple enough, tell your parents that I'll be visiting soon with the Eldar equivalent of prince and their master of masters. We'll talk about alliances then."

"Master of masters? Didn't someone, your husband say that you-" Montani smiles as the realization of just how important she and Mant are hits Leear.

"You haven't failed in your mission and you got to help hunt down evil ones, now aren't you glad you went on your little mission Leear?" Montani says with a satisfied smile on her lips. "We'll be there in a few days, and makes sure the sentries don't bother us. We're going to need all the people we can get to fight the evil ones and I'd hate to kill your people over a misunderstanding." Montani says evenly and Leear has no doubt that she'll be able to kill any of their sentries before they even spot her.

"I'll makes sure the word is passed. You and Mant won't have a problem, but you'll have to come in daylight. The vacar preference for night won't sit well."

"I will come with them during the day, elf prince. Just because the sun irritates doesn't mean it incapacitates. I have nothing to hide, but if I am attacked, especially while I'm acting as an envoy, I will defend myself." Teondae says more than a little amused by the elf's attitude.

"I will make sure my people are aware and won't harm you. Stay with Montani and Mant and you won't be bothered either." Leear says giving a bow to Mant and Montani first then turning to Teondae, he gives him one as well.

Montani asks before they melt into the shadows if they know the name of the village up ahead, "It's your village, Montani. They were heading towards your village. Five miles over that ridge right there is the elven lands. From there you know your way." Leear says giving Montani a gentle smile. He knows he's shocked her by her face having gone white.

Leear gives them all a nod before melting into the shadows with the other elves.

"Are you okay Montani?" Mant asks in concern as Montani sways.

"I need to visit my families home, well the old farm anyway." Montani says softly and Mant nods.

"Tomorrow then, we will meet here? I don't think the elves will welcome me with out you." Teondae says.

"No, come with us, I know your home isn't far from where my parents had their farm. Then you will know where to find us." Montani says fighting the memories even now.

Teondae nods and steps back waiting for her to lead the way. Montani takes them around the elven lands not wanting to cause any problems before Leear has a chance to talk to his people. By the time they reach the land Montani had once called home, it was nearing dawn.

"I will leave you two here. Tomorrow at dawn I will return so that we may go to the elven lands. Then I will have a gift for you two," Teondae's eyes have a twinkle of fun in them. Montani is thankful for that for although it has been ten years she finds the clearing where her family had once lived bringing many memories to the fore. Many of them painful for her.

"Thank you, Teondae. Please go rest at your home while you can." Mant whispers to him as Montani loses herself in her memories.

"Perhaps it wasn't wise to bring her back here?" Teondae whispers back.

Mant looks at him and laughs softly. "I didn't bring her back here, she brought us, remember? She wants and I think needs to be here again. The memories are still so painful for her, perhaps this will help her heal some more." Mant hopes so at least.

Teondae bows to them both but Montani doesn't see it. She's lost in her last memories of this clearing. The fiery sunset that had cleared her mind and given her peace. The horror of what she found here. Everything that she did. 

She finds herself held in Mant's strong arms as she cries the tears she has denied herself for ten years. She has cried before this, but these tears are for those last memories of her family and home as a human.

Mant holds her until her tears cease. She is drained by the emotional release that she's been holding back all these years. She steps back from Mant's comforting embrace and finds that she needs to sit or fall down. She sits on the hard ground, "I guess it's kind of ironic, isn't it Mant? The anger of it all comes full circle. It started here and finally I'm released from the feelings that have been buried for ten years, here."

Mant is a little confused at her words and she can see that. She smiles gently and pats the ground next to her. "You've known for some time about the anger that I've carried with me, from the destruction of my family." It's a statement and she doesn't wait for him to reply but feels him nod anyway. "I've finally released all those feelings I've kept inside from my family's death. I feel so much lighter than before. But that won't change how I feel about the evil ones they will die if I run across them."

Montani's words bring a lightness to Mant as well, he'd been worried about her for some time.

"That's good to hear. You rest while I make us some dinner. Then you can share what you wish or we can just watch the stars until we fall asleep." Mant says getting up and gathering firewood. Montani can't imagine how her life would have been if she hadn't had her life turned upside down ten years before. She loves Mant more than she thought was possible and has felt such love from him that it takes her breath away.

"Montani?" Mant breaks into her thoughts as he hands her some food.

Montani smiles in appreciation and eats. Mant sits next to her, just enjoying her company. They finish and clean up silently. "I love you Mant." She finally says with tears in her eyes.

Mant turns to her and smiles, but the smile dims as he sees her tears. "Hey, what is this?"

"If I had just accepted the marriage my family arranged for me I'd be dead with them and have never known you."

Mant holds her tight. The thought hadn't entered his mind. The idea makes him shudder. He can't imagine his life without her. He kisses her in reassurance, but he's not sure who he's reassuring, her or himself. But he loses all thoughts as she kisses him back. They don't even bother getting their bedrolls out they are so lost in each other. But Montani isn't so lost that she doesn't put up a barrier of protection. She shouldn't have to worry about it, but the evil ones are just too prevalent now.