'You have one chance,' Peter pointed a finger at the old man. 'If I see you do anything foolish, I will make sure you pay for what you've done.'

The elf silently nodded and sat down beside her on the floor of the small temple. Through the huge arches of the building entered the sound of the raging waterfall crashing down the mountains, like it was reminding them of its presence.

Long shadows were cast all around them. The sun hadn't found its rightful place in the sky yet and the most daring of the night stars still shined. The fire that had threatened to destroy the city was long put out by the elves, but the biggest part of the city was gutted beyond repair.

The poignant scene of the destroyed settlement saddened Matthew. Families emptily stared at whatever remained of their homes and healers were rushing to check on the wounded that never ceased to roll in. Matthew sighed in defeat and slumped down on the floor across the other two. He couldn't shake off the feeling that they had failed once more.

With that sense of disappointment, he turned his attention to the others who were talking in hushed tones. They were sitting side by side, holding hands, while small candles had been placed around them in a circle.

He saw the elf raise his left hand and all the candles were lit at once. From the wick of those candles glowed a warm and flickering light that would guide Peter through her mission. That day, they would build the perfect bridge between the world of the awake and the world of dreams.

'You have to make sure they are not extinguished,' the elf informed him with simple directness. 'If they are all blown out...it won't be a good thing.'

'Okay.' Matthew glanced at Peter who was already looking at him. He gave her a worried smile and nodded. Sometimes words were not needed for her to understand; they had reached a point where only a glance was enough. She nodded back and shut her eyes like the elf had instructed her, entering a realm where he couldn't follow.

. . . . .

In the quiet solitude of the temple Matthew kept watch of them. Many a time he would light a candle that rebelled against its brothers, or just observe Peter. He couldn't help but think about their time in the woods, the way she fitted perfectly in his arms.

He wished they would have more moments like that, when war and death were too far away to worry about. When her hands were enough to mend the broken pieces of his soul. But that wasn't the time or the place for that. People depended on them, and they couldn't, they wouldn't let them down.

He looked at her peaceful face and patiently waited for her to come back to him, hoping she was doing okay. The minutes trickled by and still the two of them remained still, eyes closed, and hands clasped together. Although he was starting to get nervous, he knew that whatever he was going through couldn't compare to her challenging task, so he swallowed his raging emotions and stayed silent.

As he was calmly listening to the waterfall's booming sound, the sun's rays suddenly reflected upon him and Matthew shielded his face from the blinding light, scrunching up his face. When he opened his eyes again, Peter had already regained consciousness and was blinking rapidly in means to adjust to the bright light. Matthew immediately went to reach out and check if she was alright, but she cut him to it.

'I'm okay,' she lifted a hand up. 'How long have I been out?'

The old elf next to her was tiredly rubbing the nape of his neck.

'Not too long,' he reassured her.

It was still early in the morning; the sun had just made its appearance amongst the mountains.

'Ugh!' she groaned and stretched her back. 'It felt like a lifetime.' Peter suddenly froze still for a moment, her face frowning in puzzlement. Matthew saw her slowly bring her left hand forward and open her palm. In it, lied a necklace, a silver chane that held a beautiful black stone.

Its perfectly cut angles gave it a round shape and its rough surface made it look like it had just been mined from the mountains. It reflected the warmth of the dawning sunrise as the sun cascaded the world with its light, as if to greet the coming of a new day. It radiated power.

Matthew couldn't take his eyes off the dazzling necklace. He sat there staring at it with parted lips, too mesmerised to avert his gaze, until the old man's voice woke him up like a slap on the face.

'Give it to me, please,' he signaled her, and she hesitated before agreeing. The elf carefully inspected the dark stone, his expression gradually turning to one of astonishment. It caused Matthew to fidget against the hard floor. 'This necklace is called zmei rafsda,' he explained to them in a serious tone. 'It means steel of dawn in our language. We believed it was only a myth that was not real. Until now.'

Matthew and Peter looked at each other in confusion.

'The necklace is made of amethyst which means that it can carry the burden of magic. It is said to help the elves control their powers by storing a big weight of them. When you wear it, it will carry your own magic powers.' 

'What does it do?' Matthew asked him.

'No one has used anything like this. She will have to find out on her own,' he only said and gave it back to Peter.

'Alright.' Matthew glanced at Peter.

She was skeptically eyeing the necklace like it was something from out of that world. She was hesitant to wear it and test its powers, and he didn't blame her. All those months, her trust had been tested over and over again, and oftentimes with no good outcome. After a few seconds' thought she finally stood up and nudged him with her boot. 'Come on. Let's go, Matthew.'

He got up and stretched his legs. All that sitting had made his body go numb. He would have liked to relieve his discomfort for a little more, but Peter gruffly pulled him up and led him away from the temple. Matthew didn't miss the cold look she gave the elf, as if to warn him that she hadn't forgotten his misdoings and that that was the last time they would have dealings with him.

'We will be getting ready for the full moon,' the old man called after them.

'We will meet you in five days!' Matthew yelled back.

Peter only shook her head and hastily walked, as Mathew assumed, towards the city, but instead of crossing the city bridge and heading to the infirmary, she began descending its steep stairs down the river. Matthew frowned in surprise.

'Where are you going?' he asked her.

'Let the elves prepare for the attack. We need to warn our people.'

Matthew's eyes widened in realisation. She was right. They had to go back and at least give them the chance to defend their freedom, and fast. They were already on borrowed time. 'Yeah. Let's go.'

. . . . .

Moonlight travelled through the night with graceful ease, bringing a comforting beauty to the starlit heavens. It glided from tree to tree and from shadow to shadow and offered soothing words to their ears. It temporarily fought off the nightmares that threatened their future. For the time being, they were alone, just them and the quiet forest.

Matthew tightened his arms around Peter's shoulders and rested his chin upon her head. He didn't know when it would be the next time they could enjoy moments like that. They had crossed the threshold of a newfound relationship, but they hadn't got the chance to make the most of it, and it saddened him a bit.

He let out a deep sigh and gazed at the landscape behind the trees. The view of the lake calmed his soul. Its still waters created a sense of peace inside him and transfixed him. Against the whites of the hills it stretched for miles, cradled by the mountains around them, resembling a dark blue hole on the earth. Like a mirror it reflected the light of the stars above and called out to them.

'Do you think we stand a chance?' her voice suddenly broke the silence.

Matthew glanced down at her in thought. 'Yes, I do,' he nodded. 'It might break us, scar us beyond our strength and make us live in pain for the rest of our lives, but I will carry that burden if it means that others get to be saved from that.'

'Yeah.' She was looking at him with eyes that glinted in the darkness. Her warm smile was the prettiest thing he had seen in a while, a gentle touch to his heart. It came from deep inside her and spread into every part of her face.

He leaned forward and gave her a small peck on the lips. Because her love was so whole, his missing pieces appeared. Because she was steady and patient, his open wounds had time to seal and vanish. She was there for him each passing day, in the good times and the bad, and in return he would keep her safe not with his words, but his deeds.

Peter lovingly touched his cheek and eagerly kissed him back, like her life depended on it. They were bound in a kiss so tender that it washed away their unseen wounds and unspoken worries. His hands, gently in her hair, hers upon his chest. In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts conveyed in a most intimate manner.

Before they completely lost control, Matthew broke their kiss and looked at her. Her blushing cheeks made him smirk at her in satisfaction, and she buried her head in his neck to hide her embarrassment.

He had no idea what was going to happen in six days' time, or if they were going to make it in the end, but at least for now they had each other to lean on.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: You know guys, I'm a little worried with all that moon threats and upcoming war. At least the chapter ended in a sweet way. If you want me to write more chapters like that, let me know by voting ;)

Phrase of chapter: ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem apellant / they create desolation and call it peace - Tacitus