Willow's End - Jera Skyspear
Elvish words/phrases linked to Glossary OR hover mouse to see translation.
The Library: Part One

Ashevathallion walked out of Blackthorn's office, where he'd sat most of the night reading some old letters from a Moslem friend of his nephew. As he entered the firehall, he noticed Najitha and started to speak but then paused as Jera appeared in the garden doorway.

"Cormamin lindua ele lle, arwenamin."

Jera arched a brow, "Nae saian luume'..." She smiled softly as she approached then spoke more quietly when closer, "...for a day, an hour, is too long."

He took her hand the moment she was near enough. "Are you ready for that trip I promised?" Jera felt almost as though they came together in slow motion, only brought back to the ordinary pace of reality by his touch. "I have been looking forward to it, of course." How could she not? Besides the prospect of going anywhere with Ashevathallion, it was the Library of the Green Silences they were to visit.

With a nod, Ashe extended his hand to gesture toward the hearth. "Tula, hama neva i'naur. No need to stand while we speak."

"Fire?" She smiled and her query suggested playfully that she was aware of nothing but he on whom she gazed so fondly.

"Lle auta yeste'." he chuckled, "Forgive me, I've forgotten to speak English. You go first."

She snickered and took his suggestion if not his lead. "You have that effect on me as well. I am at times fortunate to manage speech at all in your presence, a'maelamin."

"Hmm... then we best take care lest the folk of Camelot think we've become tongue tied."

Jera's smile faded just a touch. "Or think we tell secrets, and grow suspicious."

He squeezed her hand lightly. "Jera, that is not the way here. Ian has many elves who fight for Camelot."

"I know you reassure me of this, but..." She took a deep breath and nodded to herself. "I am unlearning old thinking. Bear with?"

"Gladly. I know the prize is one worth winning. So, when do you want to visit the Library?"

"On your whim. You surely know I'd follow you to anywhere, anywhen."

"Hmm... Very well. We'll leave tomorrow night. This will give me a chance to send a message to let my father know we are coming."

"Your father? Had you planned to... Are we to see him?" She had not at all thought that perhaps she might meet up with Evaynanvathallion, Ashe's father and Lord of the Green Silences.

Ashe smiled slightly at her reaction. "Oh, I doubt we will, but he might want to let the guards know he is expecting visitors. They watch the Road closely now near home, mostly because of Yarrow, I think."

"Ah, yes, I suppose so." She noticeably relaxed. "It's just that I do oft let myself forget... who you are."

His brow arched and he scoffed the notion, "It's more because of my brother than because of me."

"Well, few others have to alert the guard 'ere they journey home, aye?"

"More a point for our safety. I'd hate to be hit by an arrow meant for my brother that some youngling shoots by mistake. Would you care for a drink?"

"Yes, I too would be quite distraught to have you mistaken. And yes, anything will be fine. I've no preference at the moment."

Cider became their refreshment for the evening as Ashe ordered it from Lumiere. Jera took her cup and enjoyed the scent of it first. "Mmmm... perfect for this cool weather. Excellent choice." She had a moment then to enjoy Ariadne's skill on the harp too, a more than pleasant accompaniment to her most enjoyed company.

Ashe appreciated the aroma of the cider as well. "It seems the harvest has blessed Camelot indeed this year." He lifted his cup to toast before sipping. "To Galendin."

Jera tapped his cup with her own and added, "I do think I love this season best, though I may be heard to say so in all seasons." She snickered then took a sip, savoring it.

"Any season that holds you in it is the one I love best." Ashe sipped then lowered his cup. "I'm sorry if my mentioning letting my father know we are coming worried you. But no one knows where Yarrow is. He's disappeared since Ian took the girls back."

"Well, I do hope there will be no trouble. I could not bear any season without you in it and as you said, this venture does open opportunity for a dreadful mistake, however innocent. Much as I'd enjoy the Library, are you sure we should go?" She frowned, though even that did nothing to detract from her elven beauty.

He simply nodded and took another sip of cider while watching the firelight play on her hair. "Aye. Why wait? It could be harder to go later. No, now is the time. I'm sure we will have no problem seeking to use the Library."

Jera's expression softened as she glanced aside to the harpist and even began to sway a bit with the light tune Ariadne played. "I was trying to recall if I had ever even seen it, back when. I think not. Or I've simply forgotten it with those years."

"Ah, I think had you seen it, you'd remember it. After all, it's inside the castle."

"When I was quite small, there were a few journeys. Very intimidating to me. Mostly blurred then... and now." She grinned and sipped again at the deliciously rich cider. Each time taking the opportunity to gaze upon Ashe as though he could not catch her at it.

"Well, the Library is amazing... rows upon rows of books and scrolls..."

Jera laughed lightly, "That much I could surmise." and Ashe laughed with her. "Of course, but it's..." He paused, groping for words. "It's the smell of parchment and leather... and the idea that RIGHT there are the words of men and women from ages past."

During their conversation, two children in the firehall had been discussing Ashe and his features with which they were apparently unfamiliar. Najitha and Serenity were unsure what and who he was, but Ariadne was kind enough to inform them that he was elven and the uncle of Ian Blackthorn.

Jera had caught bits of the exchange too and whispered to Ashe with a grin. "Seems you draw attention where'er you are." Then her thoughts began to stray back to the topic of the library and she nodded agreement with his comment. "Something of the history, the wisdom, even just the act of things done and said being recorded and carried forward... Quite enthralling, I do agree. I get something of that from any library, but... The Library at Green Silences, well..." She was for a moment soaked in that notion.

"Oh and don't let the librarian rattle you. He may rail about proper respect for the books and such, but I'm sure he'll see you are as much a lover of knowledge as is he."

She was listening to Ashe but had to snicker at the continued discussion of her companion. "There could be a song in this 'ere it's sorted out. A legend about Ashevathallion. Shall I note that you're a prince as well?" She was mostly teasing.

"Legend? Me? Hardly that! That's my father... and his father..."

"Aye, nary a connection to you at all. Certainly not." Jera snickered into a sip.

Ashe was quite insistent and earnest though. "That's the truth! I'm not even the Heir, Jera. Father has not named one, and if he did, it would be Shane."

"Is that so? He would choose a great grandson of lesser blood over a full son?"

"Shane... Shane can do what I cannot. He has it within him to move the Green Silences."

She understood the import of this and regarded Ashe, seeming to try to read something from him. "And you would not want it, though it were given you, would you. What... Is this something you fear?"

He mulled over a response, then spoke it. "I would welcome the chance to serve the Green Silences and our people in that way if I were able. But I cannot. So I do not begrudge another the chance to do so."

"I see." She still thought there was more to it, but let it sit for now. "As for the librarian, I do hope that my reverence shall be evident and I shall not cause him concern in any way, nor embarrassment for you."

Ashe reached over to once more touch her hand. "You could never embarrass me. I will walk the Road and the Silence proudly with you beside me. Oio naa elealla alasse'."

Jera actually blushed. "You are free with your endearments this eve. Perhaps the cider is more than it appears?" She jokingly looked down into her cup then back to Ashe.

"No, it's the company I keep." He smiled warmly. It was a sight Jera dearly loved. "But alas, if we sit here like this all night, we shall be tired when we start our trip."

"Agreed. I should be fresh for review by the librarian, for the odd chance that we encounter your father, and... to enjoy every moment with my most cherished companion."

Ashevathallion nodded, and for a moment, his head seems poised as if he would kiss her but then he blushed and simply nodded again.

Jera felt the warmth of his closeness and a flush of warmth in her own face accompanying her soft smile, even for the thought, the seeming possibility. Yes, there must surely be something in the cider.

Ashe set his cider cup down. "We best go or else I will forget myself entire and we'll have no rest at all." He stood and held his hand out to her.

She chuckled lightly and blushed a bit more, for those were her thoughts as well. She set down her own cup and took his hand to rise and meet him. For a moment, she felt that suspension of time and motion again.

"I will meet you back here tomorrow eve, and we'll walk the Road." Ashe then lifted her hand to his lips and lightly kissed her fingers. "Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'."

She sighed softly, "Quel esta, Ashevathallion. Elen sila lumenn omentilmo." Then she bowed with a respectful nod, more than she might give to any other, for it carried her affection for him as well.

Ashe smiled and released her hand such that each finger left his separately, then he bowed and turned to leave for his bed to dream.

Jera turned to depart by way of the garden and surely remembered very few steps on her path home.

(from 2002 1109) © DHP and Bill West

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