\u201c..appears to be Greek? Or Roman? Or Greco-roman? Looks just like ruins I\u2019ve seen in pictures back on Earth. Did you know\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Merasiel sighed and tuned Gestlin out again. All of the years she had lived had given her ample opportunity to see places that were once vibrant and alive be pillaged of their souls and left to stand as mere shells and a stark reminder of what was, and could be, lost to time. They ceased to interest her. Sometimes she wondered if she should be counted among those ruins. She brushed her fingertips gently against another section of wall and a\u00a0faint cloud of powder puffed away into the air. More small bits of stone crumbled to the ground and lie still.<\/p>\n
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April, 2009<\/p>\n
The only sounds to be heard in the Great Forest were those of night beasts and their unfortunate prey. Somewhere above, an owl sang from the darkness\u00a0and Merasiel looked upwards into the canopy. The forest had always had a wild element to it, but this was different. It was too wild. Too untamed. Merasiel\u2019s expression assumed its natural state: a frown. Mendelel and she\u00a0had completed their service to the humans who had been responsible for breaking the spell that held them locked away inside Mortuturesihad. In gratitude for their freedom, the pair had agreed to forestall their return to Elven lands to aid the humans\u2019 Lord Wallace in his Crusades. Somehow they had defeated the Vasar, driving them from the Huallapan lands. And now, Merasiel and Mendelel were\u00a0free to resume the lives they had once led. Only, Merasiel had heard nothing of Estrelere during the crusades. The humans who served had never ventured into the Forest and knew nothing of her home. The elves who had joined the armies were all from Sylvilara, and if any of them knew anything, they remained silent. Merasiel\u2019s frown deepened, threatening to become a scowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t look so sour! We\u2019ll be home tomorrow.\u201d Mendelel looked up from the campfire and Merasiel met his gaze. His face glowed red in the firelight and he smiled. \u201cHome,\u201d he repeated, then looked back to the fire he tended.<\/p>\n
Merasiel\u2019s frown softened, and then her lips curled upwards in a rare smile. \u201cYes, home. It will be good to see\u2026everyone again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mendelel stilled and his expression became guarded. \u201cMerasiel, we were asleep for nearly a thousand years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what you\u2019re going to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, hear me out. I know you hope he still lives. That he waited. But\u2026\u201d his courage seemed to falter as he looked up from the fire once more. Merasiel\u2019s jaw was clenched and her expression dangerous. Mendelel look a deep breath and pushed on. \u201cHe would be well over a thousand years old. Anything could have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop. I understand.\u201d Merasiel looked as though she wanted to say more, but instead she drew her rough cloth blanket around her shoulders and settled down to sleep, ending the discussion. Sleep wouldn\u2019t come, though, and her mind twisted alternatively with hope that she could resume the life she led before, and fear that she would never be able to do so. Time will have changed him. Time will have changed them all. How many of those I knew will still be there?<\/em><\/p>\n In the gray light of early dawn, the pair cleared their camp and shouldered their few remaining belongings. No words were spoken; Merasiel had not slept well and was in more of an ill temper than usual. Mendelel had become accustomed to his friend\u2019s dour moods and wisely avoided discussion with her. As the morning\u00a0drug on, Merasiel\u2019s disquiet grew, and when they stopped for a midday meal, Mendelel appeared just as concerned.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should have seen a scout by now,\u201d he said quietly as they packed up their belongings.<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMerasiel, I\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cQuiet.\u201d She held up a hand and listened. \u201cWhat do you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n Mendelel\u2019s eyes scanned the tree line around them. \u201cBirdsong. Little else.\u201d<\/p>\n Above them, a raven cawed. \u201cThis is wrong.\u201d Merasiel said, then picked up her backpack and took off into the forest at a brisk trot. It took Mendelel a few moments to catch up with her and they glided through the forest, their dread growing with each passing moment.<\/p>\n When Merasiel stopped suddenly, Mendelel nearly collided with her. He twisted awkwardly and fell to the ground, nearly smashing his head on a stone. Merasiel barely registered this, her attention completely focused on what lay before them. \u00a0An uneven, moss-covered stone road cut through the overgrown forest, visible in patches beneath\u00a0fallen limbs and bushy undergrowth. \u00a0What did show of the roadway\u00a0was even worse: \u00a0individual pieces of stone were missing or chipped, and the road had obviously fallen into disrepair many years ago. \u00a0Several yards away, only just visible in the thick of trees, stood a partially collapsed ruin that once was an archway marking the entrance into the Elven city of Estrelere.<\/p>\n Merasiel took a hesitant step forward, then another and another before breaking into a full run. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she distantly heard Mendelel shout a warning, but she would not stop. She ran along the broken road, jumping over tree roots that had encroached upon the stone, until her feet carried her into the city proper, or what remained of it. She turned in circles,\u00a0her eyes shifting from one destroyed structure to another. The forest had long since reclaimed the once vibrant city. Full grown trees twisted around broken, collaped buildings, and thick brown vines twined their way to gaping rooftops and beyond. Where once there were statues, gardens and carvings, only crumbled stone and wild growth remained. Mendelel once again caught up to her as she fell to her knees, overcome by grief. Her face was hidden, masked by her hair and upturned hands, but she shook, and a single sob came from her bowed head. Mendelel sank to his knees next to her and lay a hand on her shoulder. They remained there for a time, the only comfort to be found in each other. The sound of Mendelel\u2019s voice whispered softly from behind her. It shook with a great sadness and she lifted her hand to her shoulder and gripped his tightly.<\/p>\n
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