Harsh Reality: Letting Go (Part 3)

The song whispered to her, beckoned her, writhed within her
soul. It lifted up from the very depth of her, even past that
yawning pit of grief she had run from, to envelop what was
left. The pain became a dull ache, her weariness forgotten. The
only thing it seemed unable to do was save her from the
desolation that had grown inside her. Her husband had left her,
left their child.

'..need to let it go.'

Her fists tightened about the hilt of her sword, her leather
gloves protesting the strain about her whitened knuckles
beneath. Its tip was firmly embeded within the moss that
covered the ground of the Grove, the silver rays of the moon
glimmering off of the elven blade. Her forehead was pressed to
that cool metal, seeking refuge in its unforgiving solidity.

Silver swaths of hair spilled down over her back, over her
shoulders, appearing white against the black of her cloak,
which effectively concealed her body and kept her somewhat
hidden within the deepest shadows the Grove of Song had to
offer. The darkness helped, allowing her to drift as time
passed on and she eventually found that her mind had cleared.
It was only then that she slowly straightened her back, pulling
away from the blade to rest against the twisted Vallenwood.

It was with a detached sense that she found herself gazing
toward the canopy above and the hard gray light of dawn that
was even then spreading across the sky. She hadn't bothered to
keep track of the passage of time. She was only vaguely aware
of the stirring of the Grove, the elves awakening, beginning to
move about with the day's business but she made certain,
however, to note the passage of Lendach as he moved about.

Sitting in the back of the grove, her presence still and
shadowed, she wasn't certain he noticed her and if he did he
did not make it known. In the end, she was merely content to
keep her silence. Lendach was an issue she was not yet ready to
delve into though every sense within her felt the need to
address it.

"Shalonesti may or may not need my assistance. I will give it
as I always have. Nameless, Kyorl, Senator, what I am allowed
to do as each varies, but the reason for doing it remains the
same."

His words arose within her memory, the tone respectful but
brooking no argument. That had been one of the many aspects
about him that had put her on the defense and had made her feel
her intolerable youth as compared to he and Da'shal.

Remembered frustration began to simmer beneath the surface but
again, she curbed the unwanted emotion ruthlessly and contented
herself to merely watch him as he attempted to rehone his
skills. He seemed a picture of two rivaling forces to her;
bearing entwined auras of wild chaos and approachable trust.
The two seemed so unrelated to her and ultimately it brought
her confusion to bear. She had mentioned as much to Linot when
inquiring as to her experience with the elf.

'He was as much an enigma now to her as Da'shal had always
been' she thought to herself with a minute shake of her head.

Her features blank, she finally rose up silently and sheathed
her sword with a quick snap, earning a barely noticed glance
from the other elf.

'Everything was changing' came her last thought as she moved
past Lendach, giving the other elf a glance but keeping her
silence. She wanted to get home before her daughter woke.