He spoke and the words that came out were very unfamiliar to her, they needed to get to the forest as fast as possible so that she could recharge her magic, that spell was necessary in order for them to communicate. Tarn started to speak again and this time the words were coherent, he was actually picking up her language, excellent she thought, he learns quickly. Some things were still giving him trouble but at least he was trying. When he smiled she smiled again, his progress and cheerier disposition made her feel good.

She laughed when he seemed to be speeding up apparently he wanted to get to the forest as fast as possible, luckily it wasn't that much farther. Arylia was busy looking up at the sky, some birds overhead had caught her attention, when she heard a laugh which caused her to jump nearly out of her own skin. Heart racing she looked at Tarn shock in her eyes wondering what was so funny. 'What was that about?' she asked abruptly, as she touched her hand to her chest, her breathing now heavy she tried to calm down and relax. When her breathing returned to normal she shook her head, smiled, then started laughing.

Forgetting the scare Arylia could now see the entrance to the woods, just as Tarn told her he was pleased, walking up to him her hand placed gently on his shoulder, she said, 'well you'll be even more pleased. The forest is right through that clearing,' she could feel the power emanating from the woods, it called to her like a beacon, now her steps quickened as she longed for her powers to be restored. 'Come on Tarn' she called to him running now.

Arylia Dumas reached out and touched his arm, speaking quietly as she did so. He could understand most of what she said, although he did not recognize the word yool. He smiled at her, and then looked ahead, trying to see past the clearing, and sense the trees beyond. They were foreign, but they were trees, and he felt a great exhilaration pass over him, and he sprinted beside Arylia Dumas as they moved toward the forest.

Tarn Va Thaeindor laughed into the wind, grinning like a fool. This was what he was meant for: running, laughing, with a friend beside him. That was what it meant to be an Aerin Ishtheh. All were brothers and sisters beneath the sky and above the earth. That was the way of the world. That was the way of the world. A bit of Tarn Va Thaeindor's happiness ebbed away as he remembered the downfall of his proud race.

Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he ran, whether from the wind or his memories, he was not sure, but they fell all the same. "Ei g'n elaeef! Ei g'n elaeef!" He shouted to the skies. "Ei whill laeef! Laeef!" Determination spurred his body to an even faster pace, when only hours before his legs had been so weak he could hardly stand. Wind whipped through his long hair, sending it flying in all directions. He felt more alive right then than he had since he had arrived here.

Finally he slowed as the trees began to take shape in front of him. He opened his mind to the forest, and felt everything around him. Each life in the forest glowed with its own light, and each living thing had a purpose, and a reason in its mind. The trees had a different light, a green light that sparkled brightly in the recesses of his mind. And he felt other people amongst the leaves of the trees and the stalks on the ground. He supposed they were the elves.

But there was one elf in particular, one who stood near him, whom he was acutely aware of. "Arylia Dumas, we are in the forest!" Tarn Va Thaeindor turned and grinned at her, breathing in the scent of the air around him. It was the best smell in the world: sap, moss, the bark of trees, the fur of animals. All of it blended together in the smell of the forest. He delighted in it.

The thrill of being in the woods caused a giddiness in her that she was hard pressed to control. Looking at her side she saw Tarn happy as she was. Giggling with him, laughing like a young elf should, but then sadly she sensed a change, not a change in the atmosphere but a change in Tarn, trying to stop and look, she saw a tear slip down his cheek, and all she could do was wonder what had brought that on. Moments before he had been laughing and smiling with her and now he was crying.

She was about to try and console him when he began running as if his life depended on it, screaming words that Arylia did not and could not understand. Running after him she watched as he slowed down in the forest Breathing heavily she had finally managed to catch up to him, but did not speak. It looked to her as if he was taking in the forest, and she did not want to disturb him. So she stood beside him and looked around herself, but she only had one thing in mind, and that was finding the tallest oak tree.

When she spotted it her feet began to shift as if anxious to move on their own, realizing that she needed to recharge her magic she was about to walk over to it, when Tarn spoke to her. The excited look on her face was enough to make her forget what she needed to do, smiling back she touched a hand to his cheek, 'Yes we are Tarn, I hope you are...' she was not able to finish the sentence because weakness settled in, her head felt light, and the forest began to spin around her, before she fell to the ground, only seeing black before she passed out...

"Yes we are Tarn, I hope you are..." Arylia Dumas then did the strangest thing. She began to sway slightly. "Arylia Dumas?" Tarn Va Thaeindor asked, concerned. Arylia Dumas swayed once more and then collapsed onto the ground. Tarn Va Thaeindor moved quickly to help her, unsure of what to do. Why had she fainted like that? What was wrong with her? His mind spun with questions, and he looked around for some form of shelter to put Arylia Dumas in. There were nothing but trees all around him, and none of them looked big enough to hold an elf and an Aerin Ishtheh. Tarn Va Thaeindor cast a wild glance around, all prior thrill easily forgotten in the panic of the moment. He had to get Arylia somewhere she could lie down and rejuvenate herself. Perhaps she was thirsty.

Tarn Va Thaeindor cast his senses out into the forest, searching for the nearest stream. He easily found it and moved toward it, carrying the limp Arylia Dumas in his arms, which were shaking with the effort. Normally he would have been able to life her slight frame easily, but not now, so soon after the grayness. He slowed to a walk as he neared the stream, then laid her gently down. He dipped his hands in the water, and came out with a bit of it cupped in his palms. He lowered them carefully to her lips and poured it gently into her mouth. He could see her swallowing. That was a good sign, at least. If only he had his powers back. He could actually do something for her, instead of sit here and hope. And hope was worthless now, with no god to pray to. He had to learn who they were. He had to find a place of worship. Of course, he would not likely find one in the middle of a forest.

"Arylia Dumas...Arylia Dumas..." he said over and over, trying to bring her back into consciousness. Eventually the forest grew dark around him, and when Arylia Dumas showed no signs of waking, he had to acknowledge the fact that he needed to find shelter and help, and fast. He reached out with his mind again, and felt a spark that was elf in his mind. He picked Arylia Dumas up and carried her toward the light, but it kept moving around, as if he was trying to confuse Tarn Va Thaeindor, which undoubtedly it was. It could probably tell that he hated elves. It was as much a part of him as his arm was, now. It could sense it, of course.

"Light to you, elf! I have...Arylia Dumas." He hoped the elf would recognize the name, if not...who knew what would happen?

"Elf! She is hurt!" Now where did the word hurt come from? He was sure it was the correct word, but how did he know it? "Please. Please," Tarn Va Thaeindor said imploringly. He had to hope the elf could hear. Without the elf, Arylia Dumas may never wake up. Whatever it was that afflicted her, the elves would know a cure. They had to.

Finally an elf appeared from behind a tree, perhaps intending to startle him, but instead being startled when he saw that Tarn Va Thaeindor was not an elf. However, when he saw Arylia, all was forgotten in his haste to grab her out of Tarn Va Thaeindor's arms. With a muttered, "What have you done, by all the gods!" he rushed off with the girl. Tarn Va Thaeindor followed with a bitter frown on his face. Would the elves insist on keeping her?

But instead of leading Tarn Va Thaeindor to other elves, the man took Arylia Dumas to the tallest, grandest tree in the forest, one that Tarn Va Thaeindor had seen before Arylia Dumas fainted. Once there, he laid her down against the tree, and sat back on his heels, waiting. Tarn Va Thaeindor sat a ways away from the elf, looking him over with eyes that spoke volumes. How could they not? He was so full of hatred he did not know how he had ever been loving.

This had never happened to her before, she always managed to rejuvenate before it was too late, but she had been so taken with Tarn that she let it go far too long and now she had paid the price. Part of her was semi conscious and she could hear Tarn calling to her, but the part of her that needed to answer could not.

She could feel him picking her up, and all she wanted to do was call out to him that he needed to get her to the tree but still she could not speak. When he laid her down, she tried yet again to for some sort of connection with him but to no avail. When he poured the water down her throat, she swallowed, allowing the cool wetness to slowly flow down her throat but still not, what she needed.

Why could she not call out to him why? She was tempted to begin crying at this point frustration at her situation causing her more distress every moment. Then she heard him calling for an elf, if there was anytime for her voice to come back it would be now, she tried to hush him, to tell him that he need only take her to the tree, but for the umpteenth time words would not come.

Soon she knew that one of her own had appeared, and she heard the way Tarn was addressed by the new comer, feeling shamed by it she could do nothing to stop it in the state she was in. That was about to change though as the elf carried her to the tree of empowerment.

As soon as she touched the tree, she could feel the power rushing back into her weakened body. It was as if tons of electricity was being sent from the top of her head all the way down to the tips of her toes, and in moment, she was rejuvenated. Slowly opening her eyes, she paid no mind to the elf standing nearest her. She only had eyes for Tarn.

Getting up quickly she practically knocked down the elf, as she made her way to Tarn. Taking his face in her hand she turned it to look at her, 'Please that is not me; you must know I am nothing like that.' The thought of him looking at her the way he was looking at one of her own, saddened her more than she could voice in words she needed him to know that she would never treat him that way or speak to him in such a manner 'Tarn,' she said quietly, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

It was as if something had shocked her, her body shook slightly and her eyes blinked open. As if nothing had just happened to her, she stood right up and walked over to him, something akin to fear in her eyes. Tarn Va Thaeindor watched closely as she approached him. The expression on her face vied with his own feelings for elves, until he thought he was liable to erupt from all of the controversy growing inside of him. He could not stand this. How could he like elves yet hate the race at the same time? How could he live that way?

She moved toward him. He wanted nothing more than to turn and run off, and leave her and the other elf behind. The elf was staring with something akin to frustration in his eyes. Tarn Va Thaeindor threw a hate-filled glare at him, and was surprised when he felt Arylia Dumas touch his face. She moved it to look at her, and spoke.

"Please, that is not me." Her voice was worried, anxious, and shamed all at once. Tarn Va Thaeindor could not understand. He was so lost here, in this world. So lost. "You know I am not like that." She was talking about elves, wasn't she? She must be. But she was like them, she was. She must hate him as this elf did. There was no other explanation. His gaze pierced her to the core, trying to decide if she was telling the truth. Tarn Va Thaeindor felt slightly insane.

"Tarn," she whispered tenderly, and he could see the tears forming in her eyes. He felt himself seize up, as if something had taken hold of his entire being and straightened him out. Then he was dropped once more, and he could see clearly again. Tarn Va Thaeindor was frightened at his behavior. How could he not trust Arylia Dumas, after all she had done for him? What is happening to me? He asked himself, suddenly terrified.

"No, Arylia Dumas, I do not believe you are like them, for whatever reason. I cannot believe it, and yet I found myself thinking you were an enemy, just then, an enemy. I do not know what is happening to me, Arylia Dumas. When I tried to communicate with the forest, it shunned me. When I try to communicate with you, you cannot understand because of my language. I am lost in this world of dark terrors and foreign minds. Even my own mind is foreign to me now. I was lost, Arylia Dumas. Lost and alone and insane, I could feel it. Yet if I know I am insane, can I truly be so?" He finally quieted, aware that he had been speaking in his own language the entire time, and neither Arylia Dumas nor the male elf had understood a single word he had just spoken. Tarn Va Thaeindor wanted to laugh at the irony of that, but he could not, because his mouth would not move to form a smile, nor would his throat open enough to admit a laugh, even a false one.

He gently took Arylia Dumas's hand from his face, and put it down at her side.

"I know you cannot understand me, and so I know that what I say now is pointless and you will never know, but I must tell you all the same. I am afraid of you and yours because I love you, and I loath you because you are an elf." It is a hard decision to make, whether or not to trust you, but I find myself stumbling over my own tongue, trying to find the right words to speak, and cannot. I cannot speak in your tongue, I cannot speak in my tongue any longer. I need my own people, but they are not here. The last was not spoken aloud, nor need it be. She did not understand anything he said anyway. His own language was beyond her to understand.

"Arylia Dumas," Tarn Va Thaeindor said, and grabbed her arms and embraced her in the way a brother would a sister. That is what they were now, whether he wanted it or not. Arylia Dumas was his sister, as much of an Aerin Ishtheh as he would ever find on Arda. He had to accept her, and he had to love her.

She was so unsure what to do now. She wanted to help him wanted to be there for him, now more than ever. Why did she have to faint? It was not her fault no but if it had never happened he would not be standing there now so looking so lost, confused, angry, and afraid all at once. Looking toward the elf that was looking at her with eyes full of questions, she turned away, embarrassed by her own kind. So often had she spoken to other strangers she had met about acceptance and here in her own woods, in her presence one of her own was acting in such a manner.

She looked at Tarn, wanting him to see in her eyes that she was not judging him that she cared for him and his well-being, that she would forsake her own kind for him. She was vowing her life to him.

He began to speak and again it was in his own tongue, she wanted so badly to comprehend him but she did not want to risk angering him further by using her magic on him. So she allowed him to speak, to say what he needed to say, anything that would get the two of them back on track. Feeling that maybe things were better her heart lightened a bit but then he grabbed her hand and dropped it down to her side, her eyes moved right along with it, as her heart raced and she moved the fingers of that hand his touch still lingering.

The desire to run away beginning to overpower her, the thought of him hating her...Shaking her heard she was prepared to turn away, when she heard him say her name, as she turned hazel eyes on him he hugged her. The movement took her off guard and she almost stumbled back from shock, but she grabbed him and hugged him back, holding on as if afraid to let him go. 'I am yours Tarn my life is yours. I will not turn my back on you.' Knowing he probably would not or could not understand she voiced her thoughts anyway...

Tarn Va Thaeindor was relieved and pleased when Arylia spoke back to him. By the tone of her voice, she was relieved as well. "I am yours," she said. My sister. I thought never to have one again. How my life has changed... Tarn Va Thaeindor gladly would never have let go of Arylia Dumas, but he suddenly became conscious of the elf looking on in stunned silence. Tarn Va Thaeindor tried not to let the anger rise again. Instead he merely asked him, "Why?" Why, in the common tongue of Arda. Perhaps the man would understand, perhaps not, but Tarn Va Thaeindor was ready to laugh in his face and run off with Arylia Dumas again.

The elf blinked a few times, then answered in reluctant common, "No reason, sir. I will be going now, it looks as if you do not need me here." His voice was cold and distant, unused to the hatred that Tarn Va Thaeindor was giving off in waves. The elf turned and disappeared between the trees. Tarn Va Thaeindor felt with his mind as the man retreated farther and farther away from the tree whose boughs Arylia and he stood beneath. With a sigh of relief and light happiness, Tarn Va Thaeindor let go of Arylia Dumas.

"Will you...?" Tarn Va Thaeindor gestured around the forest, asking her to show him anything she would like, or just to run with him as they had before. He wanted to have that same carelessness he did before. He wanted to feel his hair, longer than Arylia Dumas's, flowing behind him, or slapping him in the face as he moved. That was what he wanted, needed.

Tarn Va Thaeindor abruptly reached up into the lowest branches of the tree (high above his head), and grabbed hold of one. Without so much as a grunt he pulled himself up into the tree, amongst the branches. He looked down, imploring Arylia with his eyes. To climb a tree would be a wondrous thing. How long it seemed since he had been sitting in that tree, recording. He wanted to feel rough bark beneath his hands. He wanted to have sap sticking to his palms. He wanted to hear the wind whispering through the branches.

"Kanrepese, tren. Ei whill niyt erm yi." he told the tree calmly, and reached upward and grabbed another branch. He did not look down to see if Arylia Dumas followed him, because he could feel her presence coming ever closer to him.

As her and Tarn rekindled the friendship they had created she heard him ask very clearly and in her own language why? At first it did not register, who was he talking to she thought to herself, but then it all came rushing back the other elf. As Tarn released her, she turned to see him, this was one she had seen in the village, seen in passing but she never really had opportunity to speak to him, and at this point, she was happy for that. Apparently seeing the two of them bothered him because he could not have left them fast enough. By the time she went home, everyone would know of the stranger she befriended. Watching as he walked away, she tried not to let him or his opinion faze her. Tarn was what mattered now.

Soon Tarn seemed to revert to his cheerful self, all the excitement and fire in his eyes returned now, and once again, like a disease it infected her and caused her to giggle like a silly little Elvin schoolgirl. She was ready to resume running around the forest with him but he had something else in mind, she saw him climbing the tree, and she had to make a face because she was not much for tree climbing. This was one activity she liked to avoid at all costs but--shaking her head--for him she could do it.

Jumping up off the ground slightly she reached a branch and grabbed hold. Her Elvin hands clinging to it as if they were made for climbing. Feeling the bark under her hand she cringed inwardly, this was not her idea of fun but it was Tarn's so she wanted to appease him. So looking up at him as he climbed she smiled, 'Are you enjoying yourself? You like to climb trees Tarn?'

Tarn Va Thaeindor did not realize that Arylia Dumas did not like to climb the way he did, and he answered her question with a shout of laughter and a bright, "Of course!" Who could not enjoy themselves while climbing? To be up in a tree was one of the greatest pleasures in life, next to running. With a grin he turned from Arylia Dumas and climbed ever higher into the tree, until he reached the highest he could without being stuck between the dense branches.

"Thane yi, giyd tren. Thane yi," he said. Trees loved to be thanked for whatever joy they gave a person. Well, at least the trees back on Keehrr had. He did not even know if the tree could understand him here. It did not seem like it, but the tree had not harmed him. Or Arylia Dumas...

He looked down into the tree, searching for Arylia. She was some ways down, looking annoyed and somewhat unhappy, but also determined. Tarn VA Thaeindor frowned thoughtfully, trying to think why she would be annoyed. Perhaps she had snagged her clothes on a branch or...Tarn Va Thaeindor's thoughts trailed off as it suddenly dawned on him. She did not like to climb trees. He almost gaped at her, but instead he kept his mouth shut and let her sit where she was. If she did not want to enjoy this, she did not have to, but Tarn Va Thaeindor had the feeling she would come up soon enough.

With a wild shout of elation Tarn Va Thaeindor stood up, looking out across the forest, and beyond, to the plains that they had crossed through to get here. The sun was dropping through the sky, and he knew that soon it would be too dark for them to see where they placed their feet. With a sigh, Tarn Va Thaeindor resigned himself to a night out of a tree, and out of Keehrr. His first night spent away from home. How would he handle it? He would not weep, that was certain. Not any longer. He had cried enough for now. Would Arylia Dumas know of his sorrow, though? Would she feel it in him? It seemed tangible enough, even now, even up in the boughs of the tallest, thickest tree in the whole wood.

My sorrow is thicker than the thickest tree
My joy as deep as the deepest canyon
My love soars as the eagle soars
My heart yearns as a son for his mother.

The chant had popped unbidden into his mind. It was not a commonly known poem. In fact, he was probably the first scholar to have found it in over three thousand years. It had been written in a book of old poems, many of which were familiar to him, many of which were not. It was strange that he remember it now. He had not even liked it when he heard it. It did not rhyme, and did not seem to have any sense of rhythm. With a strange feeling in his chest he looked up at the slowly darkening sky, wishing for home.

Tree climbing was not for her but she was willing to do it for Tarn since it seemed to make him so happy. The only problem was that she was not dressed for it, a long flowing ankle length skirt, and peasant top were not tree climing attire. She had gotten the skirt caught on so many branches that there was now a hole about the size of a human quarter on the left side near her thigh. Sighning deeply she looked at the hole not really seeing it, sure it was easy enough to fix a bit of magic would make it dissapear just like that, but no it was not the hole that had been bothering her it was just everything that she learned that day.

When she had ventured out all she wanted to do was have a nice pleasant day, but instead all she got was news that shook her whole life to the core. The foundation on which she had been brought up was slowly crumbling around her. She now felt just about as lost and confused as Tarn. What had happened to cause her own people to do such a vile thing? The idea of it made her sick to her stomach, so she sat where she was just staring at a hole.

Sounds from above caused her thoughts back to the present moment apparently Tarn was completely giddy being in the tree and she wanted that for him because he had just been through so much. She needed to stay strong and think positively for his sake if anything else. So taking a deep breath she began to climb. Up and up she went listening to the material of her skirt tear as it got caught on branch after branch.

On her way up she heard him as he began speaking in his native tongue, a smile played across her lips as she began to enjoy hearing him say words in this mysterious dialect that was now all his own. 'Being in the tree does agree with you' she said loudly seeing as she was still a few feet below him. She was so far below in fact that she did not realize he was not as cheerful as he was a few moments before.

"Ah...yes, Arylia Dumas. Trees..." his voice trailed off as he realized he did not have the correct words. His voice was quiet, his demeanor somewhat forlorn but at the same time glowing with the rightness of being there, high up in a tree, looking out across the world. With a slight frown Tarn Va Thaeindor looked down at Arylia Dumas. She seemed to be having a bit of trouble, as her skirt was torn in a dozen different places, but she seemed pleased all the same, though all her pleasure was in him being pleased. It was a confusing thought, that one of the invaders, the elves, could so so selfless. It made Tarn Va Thaeindor realize that there was yet hope in this world. There had to be.

"It is dark, Arylia Dumas," he stated in the same voice as before, slowly climbing down the tree, toward her. "It is dark, sister." His eyes widened slightly. Sister. Sister. It was a pretty word for this language, but not what he was expecting to come out of his mouth. He had not known that word before, but it had come from his mouth unbidden. He smiled lightly at Arylia Dumas, and reached over to take her hand, but thought better of it and instead brushed at her skirt where the holes were. "Hard climbing?" he asked simply, with concern in his voice. He continued his descent, more slowly this time, so Arylia Dumas could keep up with him.

As he worked his way down the tree, he wrapped himself in thoughts and memories. Of times and places best forgotten now. On his face was a sad smile, reflecting how he felt about everything. Listen to your heart. Listen to what it tells you. In it is the answer. He remembered being told that, a long, long time ago, when he was less than three hundred years old. But what was his heart saying now? Was it his heart saying that the trees were the best place for him, or was it is head? How would he ever tell? His path was blocked by some impregnable wall. He needed someone to help him tear it down. He needed a brother, or a sister, or a mother or father or elder or master. But he had none now. None, except...

I have a sister. Arylia Dumas is my sister. Now and forever, yes. My vows. I am an Aerin Ishtheh. I was pure. With her, I will be pure again. I am of the Aerin Ishtheh. The one true race. The only race.

((Short, but to the point. :)))

Arylia was sitting in the tree right beneath Tarn now she was staring dreamily at the sky watching as the sun began to sink hiding behind the clouds, then soon she could see the faint outline of the moon beginning to appear as if from no where. Arylia loved the moon, loved the nighttime so many wonderfully things happened at night. Tarn still happy being in the God forsaken tree, answered her feeble question. Looking up at him, she grinned, 'So long as you are happy I am happy. You can stay in this tree as long as you like and I will sit here as well.' Shaking her head she could not believe she was being so nice to him, it was just so easy to do with Tarn not because of what happened but because he was just great to be around.

For a long time they were both quiet each thinking their own thoughts. Now it was night the sky now navy blue and several stars started to pop up blinking like diamonds in the sky. The moon could be seen clearly now and Arylia just leaned against the tree, the forest was coming alive, the animals that hid during the day were now coming out to play. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance apparently ready to go hunting for food. The sounds were soothing to Arylia almost hypnotizing she had been so busy listening to them that she barely heard the words Tarn had spoken to her, 'Yes Tarn it is dark but dark is good very good,' then she stopped again realizing that she had called her sister. She looked up and saw him about to take her hand but she stopped himself and she chose not to let on that she noticed. Plus the sister, comment threw her for a loop.

He changed the subject asking about the climbing, and she was glad because she needed time to process his comments. Sister? He saw her as a sister. For some reason that felt weird to her, it just did not seem right. She thought that...No no no never mind that forget it Arylia do not go there leave it as it is she thought to herself. Latching onto the new topic she just said, 'yes it was I'm not very good at tree climbing I was too much of a girly elf. I thought tree climbing was more for the boys,' she admitted.

Again, it got quiet, his thoughts taking him to another place while Arylia was wondering what she was going to do with him for the night. She would not feel right leaving him in the forest alone but bringing him home, she was not sure. For now, she just sat there waiting for him to decide when he wanted to leave.

They reached the base of the great tree together. With a smile Tarn Va Thaeindor jumped to the ground, landing in a crouch. He stood slowly, and smiled at Arylia, who was already sitting down, leaning against the tree. He laughed and went to sit next to her. The ground was soft at the base of the tree, with a bright green, springy grass carpet that made it comfortable just to sit. Tarn Va Thaeindor caressed the grass and thought of his home, and then looked at Arylia out of the corner of his eye. She looked oddly uncomfortable. With a strange feeling in his gut, Tarn Va Thaeindor turned toward her.

"Are you...hurt?" Hurt was the best word he could come up with, but that was not the question he wanted to ask. "Arylia Dumas, the...the spell?" It would be easier if he could talk to her, and understand what she said without having to contemplate every word individually. He hoped she could understand what he was telling her. He greatly hoped for it. She was obviously distressed over something, though she was trying to hide it. But it wasn't that he could see it on her face, it was more of a feeling that he was sensitive to. She felt distressed, and he wanted to comfort her.

He waited, watching the ground as he awaited her reply. Without thinking he extended his mind out to the grass, but was quietly rebuffed, as if a wall had been placed before him. With a small sigh Tarn Va Thaeindor withdrew from the grass and instead looked up, and up, and up, into the highest branches of the tree and to the sky high above. It was beginning to look a dark blue color, and he could see a few stars coming to life. A quiet wind brushed against his face, and he could not help but stand up and feel its embrace.

"Iyt isch kanrepesell. Thar vaereldin isch oht kanrepese. Ei jaiyd iyt." His voice was barely a whisper, and the wind took the words away from him before the elf at the base of the tree could hear them. With a sad smile Tarn Va Thaeindor realized that she would not have understood them anyway.

His face was turned up, toward the wind, with his eyes closed and his mouth moving in silent words of peace and blessing, preparing for the life that lay ahead of him, and the life that was all around him. Tarn Va Thaeindor looked completely serene and calm. Suddenly, Tarn Va Thaeindor's head jerked down and his brilliant blue eyes opened to look at Arylia Dumas.

You have not answered me, his eyes read, I need to know.

Sitting there she felt so lost and alone, everything was different now and it was because of Tarn. She did not resent him, was not even angry at him she was just so confused. When he landed next to her she just watched for a moment, she watched him take everything in, as if he was a child seeing them for the very first time. There was this excitement and this carefree way of being she noticed in him that made her feel happy and sad for him all at the same time. Here he was stuck in this new world that he had no idea about, and all the while he was trying to make the best of it.

Suddenly he asked her an odd question, he asked if she were hurt. A peculiar look settled upon her face as she glanced in his direction. Apparently that had not been what he meant to say because in another breath he asked her to put the same spell on him she used earlier that day. Lucky she was in the forest, her magic was ten times as strong, she looked at him, and recited the words silently in her mind. Then reaching her hand out she caressed his face 'It is done Tarn we can speak to one another and undestand one another once more.'

She almost giggled because he had been looking at her with the strangest look as if he wanted nothing more than to talk to her. It actually flattered her but she would not tell him that. So she sat and stared at him waiting for what it was he seemed so eager to say. 'You can talk to me all you want now, Tarn say anything that is on your mind.'

She did not respond to his eyes, but he hadn't truly expected her to. No, she was not of his own race, her eyes were foreign to him as his were to hers. But he had so wished that she could be his own kind. The same strange feeling as before enshrouded him as she spoke to him, telling him that the spell was in place, and they could understand each other once more. Tarn Va Thaeindor did not reply right away, he merely looked at her. Her face was not quite as troubled as it had been, but it was still...confused, hurt, and anxious.

"You look unhappy, Arylia Dumas. And you look so sad. Why?" He was unsure how she would answer, him, or if she would tell him the truth. He did not think she would lie to him, but then again...nothing was sure with elves, or with anyone outside of his own race. Tarn Va Thaeindor watched Arylia Dumas intently, trying to search for any hint of doubt in her features.

What is she thinking now? Is she thinking of how strange all of this is, or how strange I am? Is she thinking about the world around her, or herself, or me? I do not know her, though she is my sister, and she does not know me, though I am her brother. What a strange relationship we have. How very, very, strange. His thoughts wandered as he waited for her answer, and his eyes went out of focus as he became engrossed in the labyrinth of his mind.

((Short...sorry.))

Arylia took a deep breath and turned her head to Tarn. What was she to say to him? Was she to tell him that she was afraid, saddened, worried about where the two of them would go from there. Leaning her head she just allowed the magic of the night to wash over her, wishing for it to give her more strength, stength to help the two of them though what was bound to be a most difficult time. Folding both hands and placing them on her lap she wondered a moment about what to say.

Trying not to look at him for fear he would read her mind 'I have just been wondering about the day we have both had Tarn. So many things have happened to us both in just a matter of hours. I am trying to find a way to wrap my head around it. It is still a lot to take in. I am sure you have had many thoughts, many doubts.' She chanced a glance at him quickly before turning away again her head titled up to look at the only thing comforting her the moon.

"Yes...so many things, so many doubts," Tarn Va Thaeindor murmured, thinking about the day he had just had. But there was something in Arylia Dumas's face and the way she turned her eyes away from his that made him think she was not telling the whole truth. She glanced at him quickly when she finished speaking, then turned her face toward the sky. Tarn Va Thaeindor looked up with her, and he was lost in the unfamiliar star patterns of this world. The moon even looked different, strangely hazy and not pockmarked, as his own seemed to be.

"Sister, do you know the names of the stars here?" he asked quietly, thinking about the star names he had memorized as a child. He hardly remembered them anymore, but perhaps they also learned the names of stars here and Arylia Dumas would remember. He continued to gaze at the sky, oblivious to all the earth, except for the elf sitting right next to him. Suddenly a strange feeling wormed its way into his mind. He jerked his face away from the skies and back to earth to stare at Arylia Dumas.

"What you said...you did not add something. It is me that is bothering you, isn't it? What did I say, Arylia Dumas? What have I done to cause you to feel this way?" Her face told him that what he said was true, and he wondered if she would answer him, or if she would ignore him, or cry, or lie again. He watched her with a concerned expression on his face.