Edileth was startled out of her slumber. She lay still, trying to discern what it was that had woken her so abruptly. It came again, a gentle rapping upon the door to her chambers.

Who has come at this early hour?

The rothnak slipped out of bed, glancing to the dark window. The slightest bit of light had started to appear on the horizon, but there was not yet enough to brighten the sky.

Perhaps there has been more ill news.

Edileth fretted as she shifted into a garment that would cover her nightgown. Padding across the cold, stone floor, the blonde extended her níadh. Her stomach lurched, and her heartbeat hastened.

As the door swung inward, she peaked out into the darkened hall. Joenek had just turned and started walking away. When he heard the latch of the door, the roth had paused. He glanced back at Edileth, and she felt her body give a nervous shiver. Joenek grinned.

"What is it? Has something happened?"

Edileth whispered, too afraid that her speaking voice would betray her apprehension.

"No, nothing's wrong. I just..."

Edileth tilted her head. Joenek cleared his throat as he took a couple steps to stand before her.

"Just...what?"

"I wanted to see you."

The rothnak's pulse raced, as Joenek lifted his hand to her face. He leaned in, as if to kiss her. Edileth tucked her head, and the roth smirked.

"Playing coy, eh?" Joenek took hold of her hand and gave it a gentle tug. "Follow me."

"Why? Where are we going?"

A slight sense of panic stirred within Edileth. Joenek grabbed her other hand and drew the blonde toward him. He shuffled backwards, pulling her along and laughing quietly.

"Just come here."

When Edileth finally started to follow, Joenek released one of her hands and walked beside her. The roth looped her arm in his and nudged her.

"Isn't this much nicer? You just need to trust me."

Edielth was still uncertain but followed without complaint. They wound through a few halls, all of them empty. The she-elf thought it odd that the keep was so quiet, considering the peril that drew ever closer. Before she had a chance to comment on the matter, Joenek stopped before a small-ish door.

"I found this yesterday, after we left the Tactics Chambers for lunch. I became a little lost and stumbled upon this...and I thought you might like it."

He reached for the latch and slipped in through the entrance. When she chose not to follow, he poked his head through the doorway.

"Aren't you coming?"

Edileth squinted, trying to decide whether she should trust the roth. He beckoned for her to follow, a mischievous grin playing on his face. Sighing, the rothnak moved toward the door. After glancing down the hall, she finally crossed the threshold.

Once inside, Edileth blinked, trying to see in the darkened chamber. A golden glow caught her attention. Glancing to her right, she saw Joenek holding a candle. His usual crooked grin was in place as he reached up and lit a small lantern near the low ceiling.

Every space along the walls of the round-ish room was full of books. A small gasp of delight escaped Edileth's lips, and she looked back to the roth.

"I told you you'd like it."

He moved to the center of the small chamber, where a simple settee sat. Joenek lowered himself onto the piece of furniture and patted the spot next to him.

"Come here."

With caution, Edileth moved toward Joenek. She seated herself, still looking about at the collection of writings. The blonde jumped when she felt Joenek's hand take hers. She glanced down as she felt him put something in her hand.

"What's this?"

"It's a book about Seal Weiv, the sacred tree at the center of La'el."

"Oh."

"Are you okay? You seem a little...off."

Joenek scooted closer to the female. Edileth's heart raced, and she could not meet his gaze. The roth rested his hand upon her lap, leaning close to the blonde's face.

"You're so close."

"Of course. That's so I can do this."

Edileth flinched as Joenek gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. He laughed at her stunned expression.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't quite help it."

Joenek reached up and grabbed a length of her hair. He looked at it for a moment, and then tucked it behind her ear. Before she quite knew what was happening, the roth had snatched the book from Edileth's hands, and shifted until he was lying with his head in her lap. The blonde drew her hands up toward her chest and looked down at Joenek in absolute befuddlement. He had opened the book, and his face was hidden behind it.

"Shall I read to you?" Joenek peeked at Edileth over the edge of the book.

"Can you even read? The book is blocking the light..."

Joenek laughed. He closed the book and set it on the floor. The roth then grabbed Edileth's hand and clasped it to his heart; she felt its rapid pulse.

"I don't need to read it. I already know the history of Seal Weiv. Should I share it with you? You're just dying to know the secret behind the mysterious tree, aren't you?"

Without waiting for her response, Joenek dove into the tale with a dramatic tone.

"Ages ago, there was a strong and brave warrior. He fought off a ton of the Sharukán race, saving all the elves in the Sillon Plains. But because he had fought the beasts single-handedly, he was mortally wounded. After he felled the last Sharukán, the warrior died.

"I guess he had promised Feridh to protect the High Elves. So, because he had sacrificed his own life to save complete strangers, Feridh granted the elf a new life. The funny thing is that this warrior asked to be turned into a tree. Isn't that crazy?"

"That's because he was a just, and noble warrior."

"Wrong! He was selfish. You don't know the rest of the story, do you?"

"I've never heard the story of Seal Weiv."

"Exactly; you don't know the end. If you did, you would know that he was selfish."

Edileth rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms and sighed.

"Well? Are you going to finish the story, or not?"

"All in due time, child."

Joenek pinched his nose, imitating Torbedhnik. Edileth lifted a brow. The roth smiled sheepishly.

"Okay, okay. So, apparently, this elf had a rothnak that he loved a lot. Rather than coming back as his normal self, he comes back as a tree. Try telling me that isn't selfish. This poor rothank loses her love, and then has to look at him in tree-form until she dies, sad and alone."

"How do you know she loved him?"

"Huh?"

Joenek looked up at Edileth. The blonde shifted in discomfort.

"Does the story say that this rothnak returned the warrior's love?"

"Well, not exactly..."

"So, is it not possible that the warrior was a victim of unrequited love?"

"I suppose. Even if it was, he still seems selfish. I think if I were him, I would have just asked to stay dead."

Edileth laughed at Joenek's dejected response.

"If it was unrequited love, then that means he sacrificed himself twofold. In order to protect the High Elves, his beloved in particular, he took on the form of a tree. That means he was able to watch over and protect her. What if she found a roth whom she loved? And what if they married? That would mean that he watched as she lived a life of joy, never having known of his love and sacrifice. Furthermore, he would have seen her die. And he lives on to this day, never having received a loving glance form the rothnak he so adored."

"I don't know if I like your version of the story. It's too depressing."

Joenek smirked as he sat up.

"I think it's terribly tragic and romantic."

"Romantic?"

Edileth blushed. She had never spoken with another elf about such matters of the heart. So often she was trying to prove herself – to seem stronger and more capable than she felt – that she rarely revealed the feminine side of her character.

"All the same, I'm glad I'm not the warrior. I much prefer my rothnak to like me back."

Edileth turned to glance at Joenek. Another of his roguish smiles lit up his features. The roth plucked at the garment that covered Edileth's nightgown. She shifted, hoping to deter the roth. Instead, he seemed to think she was making a game of it. He leaned close.

"You do like me, don't you?"

"I do..." Edileth admitted with hesitation. Even so, she felt an odd flutter of excitement at the confession.

"Really? You really mean it?" Joenek drew closer; Edileth gave a nervous laugh. "You're so pretty when you smile. You should do it more often."

Edileth was more than a little unnerved by his boldness, but she was also quite intrigued. She sat very still, focusing on her breathing, and praying that Joenek could not hear the pounding of her heart.

"Edileth."

Startled, the rothnak looked up. Joenek had moved closer still, and now sat directly beside her. He turned sideways upon the seat, so that he could better face Edileth. He leaned in toward the rothnak.

When she shifted away from him, Joenek rose some, so that one knee was on the settee, while his other foot was firmly planted on the floor. He rested one arm on the back of the settee, and with his other hand, he grabbed the rounded arm of the furniture. Her escape route blocked, Edileth's heart beat faster.