"She was the finest arranged stardust I had ever stumbled across."

~

A million stars dotted the night sky, lighting up both the heavens and the hearts of the elves that made merry beneath them in the grounds of the palace, as they danced, drank, sang together and celebrated the peace, that deep within their hearts, they all knew was an illusion, but they chose to bury that tiny voice of reason anyway.

The doors were thrown open, and out stepped the princess. The voices hushed as she stepped forward, and eventually faded to give way to complete silence. Her blue eyes scanned her surroundings, and the faces of thousands of gathered elves. With her effortless grace, long dark hair falling to her waist, contrasting her pale skin, a small smile adorning her lips and those striking eyes, she looked every bit as regal as she was.

"My friends," she began. "We gather here today to celebrate the light, and under the stars we stand as we honor every thing that is pure and wholesome on this earth. For the light we celebrate is not merely the one that is bestowed upon us by the stars, but also every moment of peace and tranquility, every act of kindness that has ever graced this land and the ones beyond. This light is sacred to us, to our people, and come what may, it is our sworn duty to protect it, whatever may be the cost." She took a deep breath. "And today, I call upon each and every one of you to fulfill that duty."

She paused.

"I often walk among the trees and by the river as the sun sets over it. However, not many days ago as I walked through the woods, I discovered something that does not belong."

She motioned with her hand, and a guard stepped forward, loosening the strings of the bag in his hand as he emptied its contents on the grass.

The elves erupted.

Shouts of confusion rose from the crowd around her, the incredulity in their eyes evident as they stared. It took a while for the chaos to settle, but even once it did, heads shook in denial, their eyes trained to the ground as they muttered to themselves incoherently.

"You knew this day would come. You have always known. That the peace you celebrate is transient, that somewhere out there, the evil grows stronger. All these years, we chose to shut the city gates and hide in our homes, but that is merely akin to a child drawing a blanket over his head, thinking it would protect him from the horrors of the world." She smiled grimly. "The clutches of evil tighten their grip around the earth, and the darkness approaches us as we speak." She shook her head. "But soon, you will meet it in the battleground."

"Choose to stand and fight, and you may die. Try to flee, and all you would do is buy yourself a few more moments. You can bury your head in the sand, or you can send the evil right back down the pit it rose from. So join me. Stand firmly behind me, and once these days are over and gone, we will meet again, either in paradise or victorious on the battlefield."

__________________________

She lay on the ground, her hands running through the grass, feeling its coarseness between her fingers, as she let its sweet smell overpower her senses. Athena closed her eyes, trying to memorize the moment, lest she never got to experience it again.

She heard footsteps, and felt the grass rustle as someone's weight shifted next to her.

"What did you think?" she asked, not wanting to open her eyes.

She waited. After a few moments, she felt his weight shift again, as he lay down beside her. She remained silent, anticipating his reply, but he did not speak. She sighed, finally opening her eyes.

Daniel lay with his hands behind his head, his face turned towards her. For the first time since his return, she studied him. He had on a loose white shirt, half tucked in, and his chest rose and fell gently. The pale moonlight made his green eyes twinkle as he blinked those long lashes, and turned his body towards her side, his tousled, dark hair moving softly in the breeze. Her gaze traveled down those elegant cheekbones and slight stubble to his mouth. The top lip was thinner, the bottom one was more full. All elves were beautiful, but she found that he drew her in, hypnotized her. His mouth parted slightly, and she realized he was calling her name. Her gaze flicked back up to his eyes. He reached out, brushing away a stray strand of hair from her face.

"Regina mea," he whispered.

My queen.

She flushed. "I'm not. Not even close."

"You will be. They look at you now to lead them."

She turned her gaze to the stars. "I'll miss this. The gods only know if I'll ever get a chance to experience this again. What would I not give to lie one more night under the stars, surrounded by music and laughter."

They both fell silent, and she closed her eyes, trying to commit the moment to memory. For a while neither of them spoke, the rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional screech of an owl breaking the silence of the night.

The first golden hues kissed the darkness of the night. The rays stretched outward into the inky blue, and in that moment she was bathed in a rosy glow as she felt warmth seep into her bones. The sun and the night sky were lovers, nut never would they meet, for they were destined to wrap themselves in each other's tender embrace for merely a fleeting moment before they were pulled apart again.

She felt him stir beside her, and he sat up, brushing his clothes and running his hands through his already messed up hair to remove the pieces of grass that clung to it, before he stood up. As she turned to look at him he held out his hand for her to take. She turned her eyes to the sky one last time, as the light bathed her surroundings in a golden halo. She relished the scent of musk blooms and the sight of the fading stars, not yet ready to let the moment slip away, before she sighed and reached for his hand.

They walked through the city as they made their way to the gates. Every time she laid her eyes on Arlana was like the first time, for the city always took her breath away. She looked up ahead to see the faint outline of Lord Cadeyrn as he waited, and she could make out guards carrying two bags full of supplies.

She approached her father, and he turned to face her. Her bottom lip trembled, and as her eyes landed on his face, she yearned to memorize every wrinkle, every blemish, every imperfection, and to lock it away in the deepest crevices of her mind, so that it may never escape, so that she may never forget.

"I was there when you came into this world," he spoke softly, jarring her out of her thoughts. "When your mother gave you to me for me to hold." He took both her hands in his. "You were beautiful, of course. A mere glance was enough for one to see that. But then you laughed playfully, and grabbed my finger with your tiny hand." He smiled. "You were so strong. There was warmth in your laugh, fire in your eyes, and steel in your touch. And in that moment, your mother and I knew the kind of woman you would grow to become."

"I wish I'd known her longer," Athena sighed. "I remember her reading to me, when I was too young to do so on my own. When I close my eyes and picture her, I remember her eyes, her hair. Gradually, I remember her smile." She shook her head. "But with every passing day, the memory of her features grows dimmer, and I fear the day I would forget her face altogether."

"Elanor," he murmured, the expression in his eyes growing fonder at the thought. "In a world where women are looked down upon, she defied all norms, like yourself. After she had you, the world was finally a safer and peaceful place. She swore to protect you, come what may, right up to the moment she breathed her last. She was a remarkable woman, and she never loved anyone as she loved you." He smiled at her, before pulling her into his embrace. "As do I. Remember that, my child."

She squeezed his hands softly, never taking her eyes away from him. On her darkest nights, she would hold onto the memory of him as a bond which tied her to her virtue, her honor, to the place she called home.

He let go of her, and she turned away, walking towards the gates. She approached a guard and grabbed one bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

The gates of Arlana opened, their rumble resounding through the earth and sending chills of anticipation down her spine. Daniel glanced at her, and she nodded. She closed her eyes one last time, and felt the wind blowing right through her, as if she were made of nothing but ashes and dust.

They walked out into the night.