The sun rose swiftly to warm and illuminate the natural world in the early morning hours, yet no such warmth reached the deepest part of the woods. It would be almost two hours before it reached high enough to shed even the slightest bit of light into the small hollow in which Eratnu Folliernes now stood. He was lightly fingering a deep red blossom much like a lilly, but with sharp, spiky, cacti-like spines sticking out of the middle. It was quite poisonous - deadly, even, for it killed quickly and painfully; no one he'd heard of had lived more than an hour after shedding their blood upon the spines or taking a full, close-range whif of the plant - yet so beautiful and sweetly scented that many herbivorous animals fell into its trap. Then, of course, the poison spread to the carnivores that ate them. But touching it would not kill, so long as one did not touch the spines and cut themselves. Eratnu smiled slightly as he examined the flower. The poisonous spines were often used by assassins, and they sold for an outrageous amount of gold - and heavy gold besides, not the small gold coins used by halfling and underground elven races.

He moved on. There were so many beautiful plants in this hollow. It was quickly becoming his favorite spot in the woods. It was quiet here, and secluded. It was a good place to think...and he needed to think.

The incident with the army had not been his affair, yet he'd thrown himself into it to aid Rand and the others. For thousands of years, he'd tried to stay the balanced course, yet he could not ignore those who broke the laws. It wasn't that it wasn't fair for others to break laws that others had to follow - that wasn't it at all - it was the principle of the matter. Laws were meant to keep people honorable and honest, to allow all to enjoy the pleasures of life as they chose and to stave off chaos and destruction - yet he also realized that there would always have to be a balance between good and evil if the world of Arda was to survive. He knew this, yet despite his striving to to keep the balance and remain truly neutral, he had always acted under the laws of Arda's various countries and territories as a bringer of justice.

Eratnu sighed. He had crossed this line of thinking before. It would get him no answers now. He pushed his thoughts away, clearing his mind, and kept walking, simply enjoying the feeling of nature surrounding him.

His elven ears picked up the sound of a light, melodic voice - a girl's voice, from the sound of things. A nymph, perhaps? Few creatures - certainly no humans - ever went this deep, into such hollows as this, for few would ever have found their way out again. Only elves, nymphs, fairies, faes, dryads and their like ever came this deep.

It was some time before the voice was loud enough to be heard clearly. It was a beautiful song. Then he saw the woman. A dryad, by the look of her. He realized that she wasn't wearing anything - or that she was wearing nearly nothing, at any rate, and he found himself admiring the gentle curves of her back, her shoulders - and certain other parts of her body. He found himself smiling, too - but turned politely away. He was not one to gaze when gazing would most likely not have been wanted. Then he waited for a slight break in the song before speaking to the dryad.

"You have a beautiful voice," he said, still turned from her so that she could properly dress herself. He knew that dryads preferred as few articles of clothing as they could get, so it was no surprise to him that she had been garbed only in leaves. Still, it was at least a pleasant thought.

A tree shook in the early morning as the dryad within awoke. She stepped from her tree slowly with a yawn. Her feet met the soft grass, wet with morning dew. She put her arms in the air slowly and stretched out " Good morning!" she said to nobody in particular.

The forest was still dark, Gwen had woken before the sun himself. She brushed her long oak brown hair back and climbed up the tree nimbly, sitting upon one of its thick branches. As her legs dangled she opened her thin pink lips and began to sing a morning song, accompanied by the waking birds.

She had a wonderful voice, but thought nothing of it. This was usually because few people ever heard it. That was one of the drawbacks of residing so deep in the forest, your talents went unnoticed.

When she took a breath another voice spoke out. This startled Gwen as she thought she was alone. She turned around quickly and watched as her guest avoided looking at her. She was puzzled with the reason. This was because Gwen thought that she was wearing the right amount of clothes. She felt no shame in her body, thinking naked was only natural. Her more private areas were covered with the leaves from her tree however. She had never been out of the forest and into the cities, so she did not know of the modesty and the excessive clothing that most wore. She did not have any other clothing as of yet and did not know she needed it.

She dropped down from her branch with a quiet thud. She took nimble and quick steps across the long grass. Gwen never walked, but seemed to skip and hop when she moved. Ever movement her body made seemed to flow like a beautiful dance.

She turned the man around, smiling at him " Thank you, If I knew that you were listening I would have sang a prettier song." Her grass green eyes traveled along his body, eying him up. She then locked onto his eyes. Gwen thought you could tell a person by their eyes. His eyes seemed balanced. They did not hold onto hate or feeling of malice and revenge, but at the same time they did not seem to sparkle with the valor that she seen in many a man that came through her forest.

She broke the silence of the forest quickly " I am Gwen. Who are you?" She could tell that the man was uncomfortable seeing her scantily clad in leaves. To put him at ease she folded her delicate arms over her chest. Most people did not live the same life style as Gwen and the other nymphs and fae that lived in this deep woods. She lived without law or rules. Her days were not binded by order. She was free to be as she pleased.

He was turned around easily. It was a bit surprising, though that was probably because he hadn't expected to be turned around. He smiled at the beautiful Dryad.

"I'm sure you would have. But I didn't mind. The song was pleasant enough. My name," he said with a small, polite bow, "is Eratnu Folliernes, dear lady. Forgive my visual aversion, but I did not want to offend you. Most would not welcome the gaze of men when fully clothed, let alone wearing - leaves."

This last was said after a small pause and involuntary glance up and down her sensuous body. He blinked, then kept his eyes firmly on her eyes as he returned to his full height.

"And your name? You seem a Dryad to me, by your look and the way you move. Am I correct in my assumption?"

The woman was indeed beautiful. Though Eratnu's eyes did not move from the Dryad's, his peripheral vision was keener than most other races'. He was an elf, after all. The Dryad's long, slender, beautiful legs were like polished silk and so was the rest of her lovely, light-brown flesh. Her long, earth-toned hair and sparkling eyes were alluring to say the least, and the green leaves that only barely covered her plump, round breasts and the no-doubt pleasurably lovely 'private' section of her body between her atheltic legs were as much a part of her beauty-graced Dryad body as she no doubt was a part of nature itself.

Yet he knew that there was more to Dryads than met the eye. Their magic was said to be extremely powerful and they were said to be very dangerous if angered. But they were also said to be friendly and cheerful. He had also heard that they wore only natural clothing, but he'd never learned what that meant until now. He'd also never heard that they were completely immodest, but that was apparently so with this one. He wondered briefly if she was 'tied' to a tree the way some dryads were 'tied' to particular bodies of water, or particular mountains.

But he pushed that thought aside. His gazes had ended. He would have been a fool to say that he had no interest in the Dryad physically - even Elves were not immune to the pleasures of the flesh - but he was no sick-minded vagabond only seeking a thrill and a drink, either. He had shown honour throughout his long millenia of life, and he would do so now as well. After all, Dryads - like Nymphs - were an even deeper and stronger part of nature than Elves were. Even Draconic Quendi like Eratnu could not boast a complete understanding and unbreakable bond like those two races could. It was rather remarkable, really, just how deep those bonds went. He wondered how deep her bonds went.

Gwen smiled at the bowing man " It is very nice to meet you Eratnu!" She giggled a bit as he apologized for staring at her " You must come from a land of law and strict rules. Rules create rebellion and make people want to break them. The body is nothing to be ashamed of and we were all naked at in the beginning."

It was obvious that Gwen was a naturalist and had a wild streak. She did not know the norms of civilized society. Gwen did not feel as if she was naked. She was ignorantly bliss in her forest and held different views of modesty.

She happily answered his questions " Yes you assume right that I am a dryad..." She pointed over to the tree they talked in front of "... That is my tree!" She loved the freedom of the forest and it was the only life she knew. She did however peek outside the trees into the other world, but had no reason to venture any further into it.

She hopped back to her tree and rested against it. She could feel the life coursing through the roots of the tree. She was filled with the same life, as they were one. She closed her eyes and listened to the slow and calculated whispers of the tree. Gwen could hear them loud and clear, but almost all others could not. The tree liked this new acquaintance. He was not like other men that met Gwen. He did not attempt to grope her and take advantage of her innocence and ignorance. He was polite and tried his best to keep his natural urges at bay.

Gwen gestured for Eratnu to join her under the shade of her tree. She had given him time to come and get situated before she asked him her question " Why have you traveled so deep into the forest? Where were you going before you lingered here with me?" Gwen was very curious and wanted to know everything about her guests. This was most likely because she only received guests in long time intervals.

Her invitation was pleasant one. A naturalist, then, as the tales told. It was amazing how nearly six thousand years of life had taught him so much of Arda, and yet how much there still was to learn. Yet he took it all in stride. The forest was an oddity in that much of the heat of the days missed the forest floor, yet what little heat it did absorb tended to accumulate in the deepest hollows. It dispersed after a while, settling on a cool, clammy sixty-something degrees. Yet shade was still welcome, and Eratnu didn't mind besides. He wanted to learn more of the Dryad. She seemed very friendly, and he liked to learn new things. Perhaps he'd learn something he didn't already know; most likely he would.

So he gladly joined Gwen under the branches of her tree. While the tree looked no different from any other in the forest, the Draconic qualities present in Eratnu sensed a great deal of life in the tree that seemed to be directed toward (and very similar to) the Dryad next to which he now sat with folded legs. His back rested against the tree comfortably, and he seemed to feel - something. Dragon Lords were a part of nature, but even their vast, unstoppable, unfathomable powers had limits. Now that the Light Dragon within Eratnu was just a spirit merged with his own, he couldn't feel everything that the Light Dragon once had - but he could feel something, and it felt wonderful.

"I've come for the sake of traveling, I suppose, and to think on the events that have occurred during the many long centuries of my Elven lifetime."

That was true enough. There were some things that he preferred to keep private, at least for the time being, but that was close enough to the truth without lying. Well, actually, it was true. But just because he didn't reveal everything that was on his mind didn't mean that he wasn't being honest.

"And what of you, Gwen? Do you ever travel outside the forest?"

That was probably the wrong question to ask, but he was curious as to whether what little he knew of Dryads was accurate or not. He wanted to learn, he was willing to learn, and somehow felt that Gwen probably wouldn't mind too much. He hoped she wouldn't. He didn't want to offend her, after all.

"There is much to see outside, you know. I have seen so much in my long lifetime, yet there is still much to learn. Like you, for example. What I know of Dryads is limited, and I do so enjoy learning about other races and peoples. Perhaps you can offer some insight into the wondrous lives of you and your kin."

It was a light-hearted joke, but fitting and meant to be respectful of her and any other Dryads that might be nearby. He didn't hear anything, but then, Dryads were supposedly known for being as much nature in and of themselves as they were close to nature, and so were said to be almost impossible to detect unless they made themselves known. Then again, most of what he knew about Dryads had been established by humans, who lived lives so short that they could not possibly know a tenth of what someone like Eratnu did - not firsthand, anyway.

Gwen politely answered his questions, for he answered hers " I have peeked outside my forest, but nothing more. I have not traveled out into the other world, your world, because I had no reason to do so." she did not care for all the wonders of the outside world because she did not know of them.

She then told more about her race " Well dryads are the nymphs of the forests. We watch over special trees within the woods and are very connected to them. We feel as they feel. Most of our race do not leave the forest, as we have no need to. We are physically able to, but most of us serve greater purpose within the forest. A dryad that wants to leave may do so, but must pay homage to her tree periodically."

Gwen watched as the sun began to move through the sky. Its rays began to pour through the cracks in the canopy of leaves. Little light managed to get through. Because of this the forest was given a golden glow that seemed to add to the enchantment and beauty within.

A smile formed on her face. She did nothing but stare at her new guest for a while. Finally words poured out from her mouth " And what about you and your kind? How do you live in your world?"

Her eyes were stolen from Eratnu and were now glued to a butterfly and floated carelessly through the air. Gwen held out her hand and the butterfly soon took rest upon her soft skin. She bit her bottom lip in excitement as she looked at the butterfly in more detail " Your prettier than any nymph in this forest..." Even if her gaze was not on Eratnu she was still listening to him, taking in every word he said.

He chuckled lightly.

"Actually, I don't think there are many of my kind left."

There was a note of sadness in his voice as he spoke of his people, but of pride and great respect as well.

"Four tens of thousands of years, Dragon Lords ruled over all Dragons. Now they're gone. They could never be killed - they were far too powerful - but they could allow themselves to die, and in doing so pass their spirit on to another of their choosing. My friend, a Light Dragon Lord, gave me his spirit long ago. My strength, stamina, and endurance greatly increased. My blood gained healing properties that, when mixed with the blood of others, can heal them - but also allows me to heal myself should I choose to consciously enact it. But my friend also taught me the magic of shapeshifting. My greatest achievement, in my mind, was being able to do two things: use such magic in combination with the Dragon spirit that is now melded with my own to become that Dragon Lord, and grow my own pair of large, powerful, beautiful gold wings of a Draconic nature that enable me to fly. I can retract them as easily as I can open them up. Yet when they are retracted, my clothing and body remain as you see them now. None that had not already known about the wings would realize I could access them.

"Yet my people, the Draconic Quendi, have spent hundreds of thousands of years mingling with the Dragon Lords of old. Now that they are gone, most have simply chosen not to remain in this world. They, like the Dragon Lords, have allowed themselves to die. They free the Dragon spirit within them and simply lose the will to live."

There was no smile on his face now.

"I have not seen another Draconic Quendi in...a very long time. I do not think I will ever again. Last I heard, there were less than a hundred of us remaining. With the loss of creatures so beautiful and benevolant as the Dragon Lords..."

He shook his head.

"But such things are long past. I must choose to continue living, if only to preserve the history that those ancient, wondrous beings brought to this world."

He looked at her and chuckled again.

"And I enjoy it thoroughly. I suppose I am a historian, of sorts. But mostly, I'm just another Elf. And a traveling Elf, at that. What of you? How long have you been bound to this tree?"

He indicated the tree with a small wave of his hand and a look.

"How long have you been in this forest? What wonders have you seen in your lifetime? Surely you must have seen something of the outside world at some point, or perhaps something magnificent within the forest."

Gwen's smile soon turned into a solemn face when she learned of his race. Gwen never liked to be alone and Eratnu must have held grief knowing that the blood of his people only flew through him " I could not bare to be the last Dryad. I would hate to have none to share our traditions and rituals with..."

Her face soon regained its cheery appearance when he asked her of her life " I have been alive as long as the tree has. I protected it from a seedling until it grew into what you see now. We have been together for hundreds of years and I have not traveled far from it in all this time."

Gwen seemed to go into a daydream when he asked her of her memories. She had learned much about the forest and seen many things while in it. She knew her home like the back of her hand and knew much about the plants and animals within. She snapped out of her dreamy state soon enough to answer " I have only been out of the forest once, so much of that second world is still a great mystery to me, even in my immortal life. My trip into the world was not one I had asked for. A rather horrid man had taken me for his own and drug me away from my home, selling me for gold as if I were property. I had managed to escape though and came back to my home and stay far from the cold world who had welcomed me so coldly. I have seen a great deal within this forest though. I have met many a traveler, some good and some bad. I had even needed to call upon the aid of some valorous men to help me save my tree when it was dying, and I with it." She had experienced much but knew quite little. She was kept ignorant, but safe and happy, by the shelter of the forest. What she had experienced outside of her forest and scared her from it. She would not like to delve into it again, unless for good reason.

She asked her new friend another question " And what of you? What have you seen and who have you met in your wanderings? Has your world mistreated you as it had done me?" Eratnu had sparked new curiosity within her. She felt as if she would go mad if she did not know of him and his world.

Eratnu listened solemnly to Gwen as she spoke of her misadventures outside the forest. That was indeed a sad tale, and certainly had not made a positive first impression on her. He would have to disillusion her. He did so as he spoke of the outside world on his own behalf.

"I am sorry that you had the experiences you did. The whole world is not like this, however. I guarantee you that. There are people from every walk of life outside the forest, of every mind and body. The ones you met were obviously not so kind as the ones that I have had the pleasure to meet.

"Granted, not all of my experiences over the last five thousand plus years have been pleasant. But some of them have. I have met many, many different kinds of many, many different peoples. Some were good, some were bad, but many were at one point or another in between the two. There is no black-and-white solution, after all; you cannot have good without evil, nor evil without goodness, and we all have our dark sides. Some learn nothing of manners, of respect or honor, of loyalty or dedication - nothing of duty or friendship - and so they develop into people much like those that no doubt kidnapped you, or thieves, or murderers, or worse. But most people that I have met have been at least fairly decent. Some have simply been pushed to the breaking point; no one really knows what they will do when that happens, and many don't even know what will push them over the edge, force them to do something that they would not normally do - something that isn't in their character. I have found that one must always have a balance between the two. There are times when you must sit back and watch a situation unfold, doing nothing until it is time for you to intervene, and there are times when you must do what you can. Sometimes it is merely the lesser of two evils that you must do, such as killing one or sacrificing yourself to save others. I have seen this happen many times, though mostly in wars. It is not a pleasant thought, yet sometimes necessary regardless of how unpleasant it might be. I have lost friends this way, but I do not mourn them; I honor them for their sacrifice and courage.

"But I beg your pardon. I do ramble on. I have seen and experienced so much of the outside world for so long that I often speak my thoughts without realizing it.

"Mostly, I have spent my time traveling and learning the geography of Arda. I have learned much about its lands and its oceans, and much of its peoples. I know quite a lot about various subraces of Quendi, Dwarves, Halflings, Dragons, and others."

He smiled politely at her.

"What do you want to know, if anything in particular at all?"

Gwen was happy to find that her new friend knew so much of his world. She was very curious and he would almost certainly be able to feed her hunger for knowledge on the subject.

She did not waste time thinking of a question, but rather blurted out the first thing that came to her mind " What races live in your world? Here in the forest there are the nymphs, Fae, some elves, and the occasional wanderer. Surely there must be fascinating people to meet in your world. Can you tell me of them?"

Gwen was very charismatic and always wanted to know of the lives of other people. She liked to talk, gossip, and tell stories. Things happened much slower in the forest and usually the news became stale and it would be a long while before something else would happen. The world outside the forest was so big that there must have been spectacular things happening everyday.

Gwen also wanted to know of the day to day life in the other world " How do people live outside the forest. In the forest you are free to be whatever you please. Nobody is better than another and you have no rules to bind your free spirit. That is why I love my world! Is it the same in yours?"

Gwen was fascinated with Eratnu. He seemed so exotic to her and all knowing. This wasn't true necessarily, but it was to Gwen. He know much of the world that she had only been in once. He was an outsider of the forest with different views on life, different stories, different knowledge. He was someone new.

Eratnu's smile was a sad one.

"I only wish it were so. There are so many different peoples of so many minds that it is often a wonder to me that Arsa has survived so long. There are many different kinds of Elves in the world, Gwen," he said on a bit of a lighter note, "and there are Nymphs of other kinds. There are Halflings of various kinds as well - Hobbits, Dwarves of one kind or another. The Duergar are a bit mad and as evil as the Drow, ebony-skinned assasins though they are - Dark Elves, they are sometimes called - but then they are slaves to the Drow. There are Gnomes, which are smaller versions of Dwarves."

He told her a bit about each of the races he had mentioned, and then he told her quite a lot about half-Dragons and Dragons. He also taught her a lot about the dying culture of Draconic Quendi. In fact, he spent more time on each of the last three than he had on all of the others combined. About three hours passed as he talked, but he hardly noticed. In truth, he was enjoying himself - thoroughly enjoying himself, for the first time in a long time - as he talked about the world in a light not so cynical or pessimistic as he so often was forced to see it. For once, he was able to speak of the good parts of life. Oh, sure, he spoke of the bad as well - how could he not? There had to be a balance in all things. But mostly, he spoke of the good. He spoke of landscapes and cities, of towns and villages, of simple folk and great kingdoms. He spoke of the birth and fall of empires and regions, of the development of empty deserts and infertile grasslands into great forests and even greater civilizations. As the hours passed, he barely noticed that the afternoon sun had begun to cross the western half of the sky in its slow, diurnal arc. When at last he finished, he sighed contentedly.

"You know, I haven't talked like that in ages. It has been a long time since I've been able to simply sit and talk - not traveling, not worrying about one thing or another, not fighting - just...talk."

He smiled, a friendly curve of the lips.

"Thank you for that. You know," he said thoughtfully, "I have something you might be interested in. I don't know if you've any knowledge of or interest in art, but I think you'll find these quite satisfactory regardless."

He pulled out his sketch book. It was old and slightly worn, but well-cared-for and not at all cracked, though there was a very slight creaking from the deepest part of the binding as he opened up. On page after page after page were beautiful, painstakingly detailed drawings of everything from people of various races to the most spectacular landscapes, sunrises and sunsets illuminating mountains and valleys and forests and plains alike, and so much more...

Gwen quietly listened to his description of the races, soaking it all in. She did not know that their were so many different kinds of a race, such as elves, humans, and even nymphs. She sat patiently on the grass, enthralled with the new knowledge she was learning.

Gwen was glad Eratnu was having a good time too " I do not fight often. When I do though, I take no pleasure from it. Life is worth too much to fight. I find there is much more fun to slow down and talk. You learn and solve more." She had fought a few times to protect her forest and her self. She once had to fend off a giant scorpion, but with the help of a few virtuous souls.

Gwen smiled back at him " I should be the one thanking you. You have taught me so much, and we have just met today!" He than began to pull something out of his pack. It looked like a worn out book. She took it out of his hands, with his permission of course and opened the cover.

She was in awe when she seen the beautiful and well done drawings that rested on the yellowed paper. There was many pictures of the races that Eratnu had just described to her. It gave her a visual of what they looked like. She ran a delicate finger along a few of her favorite sketches before turning the page. Many of the races were beautiful, but some were far from attractive and Gwen did not linger on them long.

She also found many landscapes mixed in with the portraits of people. The drawings captured the beauty of nature perfectly. There were many places that looked more fascinating than her own forest. The outside world was vast and took on many different appearances. She wanted to experience each of them " Did you draw all of these? You are very talented! I thought there was no other places prettier than my forest, but if the lands that you have drawn in this book are real, I would love to see some of them!"

Eratnu smiled at her, amused. His drawings were that good? Interesting. Few had seen his drawings - not because he kept them private, but because few people even knew or cared about such things - and those few had told him that he had a talent, but this - this was excellent. It was amusing to him that she found his drawings so fascinating. Not just the contents of them, but the drawings themselves. Eratnu watched her trace some of them with her fingers.

"Yes, they are mine. Not all were simply for the pleasure of the drawings, of course. Some were mere references. I have excellent memory, but some people have different views on different races. Say, Trolls. 'Oh, they're twenty feet tall and hideous. No, they're very powerful but very short. No, you're wrong, they're very tall and skinny and beautiful but very, very mean.' You see? Some have never even heard of Trolls."

It was true that not all of them were attractive, and the less attractive ones were passed over quickly by Gwen. Even some of the Dragons were less than handsome, but most were regal-looking, especially in their mundane forms. The landscapes were indeed quite numerous and varied.

"The landscapes are my favorites. That's why there are so many more of them than the races, which - as you can see - is saying something. I especially like forests and mountains, and sunrises and sunsets as well. Cities and towns are harder because the people are always moving. As I said, I've excellent memory, but even I can't remember every minute detail of a bustling city at the height of the day. You'll also notice there are a lot of wolves and birds. They're my two favorite types of animals, especially eagles."

He watched her flipping through the pages slowly and carefully. He'd had that for over a hundred years, yet it was in very good condition. He'd spent extra time caring for that book to try to preserve every image, every drawing he'd erected. He'd taken exquisite care of it, in fact, and it showed. Any book that old should be nearly destroyed by now with all of the traveling and fighting he'd done, yet it was in remarkably good condition.

"Well," he said happily, "what do you think? I could take you to those places, of course, but it would require you to leave your forest. I didn't think you wanted to do that, though."

He eventually took the book back from her and carefully repacked it.

Gwen now had a decision to make. She very much wanted to go and see the places in Eratnu's book, but she could not block out the calling of the forest. That was all she had ever known, but she dearly wanted to know more.

She turned away from him and now looked at her tree. It was drooped slightly with in sadness, for it already knew the answer. Gwen rubbed a soft hand down the bark " The lands I now know of will never leave my thoughts. My heart yearns to see the world outside ours. I must go lest I go mad in my eternal life from the secludedness of the woods. You know that I will always come to visit you. Not just because I have too, but because I am sure to become homesick on my journeys." It may have seemed strange that she was talking to the tree, but it was part of Gwen. They were closely bonded and had been together since the beginning.

Gwen took a deep breath and turned back around to Eratnu. Her face was no longer that of indecision and sadness, but one of happiness and wonder " I will leave my home and travel with you. I am sure you will lead me to many exciting things. But you must know that I must come back to my forest occasionally."

She moved closer to him, taking his hand " Will you lead the way?" She gave one final look back to her tree. In her mind nothing on this earth was more beautiful than it. She knew she would be sad to leave, but she would be even more sad if she did not.

Gwen felt mixed emotions. The whole situations was bitter sweet. She was giving up to normal life of a Nymph. She was giving up her freedom to do whatever she pleased. She was giving up the peacefulness and safety the forest promised. She was giving up all that she knew. At the same time she was given the opportunity to never be lonely again. She would get to see all the different types of nature and the people that inhabited it. She would be able to experience all new types of life. She did not know currently whether she should be happy or sad, but she always put on a smile.

"If that is what you want. But then there is a question that must be settled: when to leave? We could leave now, or soon, before nightfall. I rather enjoy the night myself. It's peaceful and beautiful in its natural state. Or we could wait until the morning, which is just as good. Either way, I must assume from your state that you're prepared now? Or do you have things that you would like to grab from the hole in your tree first?"

This would be interesting. He had not had a companion in - well, in a very long time. A traveling companion always made things more interesting, but...well, he wouldn't mind paying for two meals. Actually, though, she would probably prefer to rest amongst nature. Thus, he would bring her fruit and the like; she wasn't likely to eat meat - unless she was of the mind that she couldn't eat things that grew. Either way, they would settle that after they left. Actually she might end up settling it beforehand if they ate before they left, which was likely if they did not leave immediately.

He thought he might like a companion on his travels, though. Nature was all good and well, but sometimes one needed someone with which to enjoy such beautiful things as that. Perhaps she would bring humor and a light heart to the travels. She was certainly going to be an interesting companion at the very least - and he could certainly use one of those. He liked her light heart and friendly demeanor. Yes, she would be a good companion to have on his nomadic travels.

He stood and stretched, lightly letting go of her hand and smiling at her. He had been sitting far too long in the same position. His back and buttocks ached a bit, but nothing that a bit of exercise wouldn't heal. There was no need for him to exert his blood's healing qualities.

"If you want to leave now, we could. If not, we can wait; in the latter case, I'm going to take a bit of a walk. I need to stretch my legs and perhaps get something to eat. I assume there are fruit trees in this forest?"

Gwen thought about the question that challenged her a bit. She was quite the spur of the moment kind of girl and gave little thought towards the distant future " Lets leave tonight. That way we can get a bite to eat and get ready. I have nothing that I need from here. I will collect some fruits for our journeys though!" She was an excellent forager and knew of the fruits and herbs within " Maybe you should grab your sack and I will join you in the hunt for some food. There are many fruits in the forest, but there are also many poisons..."

She lifted herself off the soft grass and began to follow Eratnu " I will lead the way!" There were no beaten paths this deep in the forest, but Gwen knew each path. She had spent all her life frolicking through every inch of the forest and new a great deal of knowledge of the wilderness.

She skipped and hopped with speed, like she was moving on air. She weaved nimbly and gracefully around trees and bushes, always looking back to make sure she did not loose her companion.

She then stopped in front of a bush. The bush bore two different fruits. One was a deep red that glistened in the sun. It looked plump with promises of sweet juice. The other fruit was a shriveled brown. It looked rather ugly and dull.

Gwen bent down and began to pick as many of the ugly berries as she could. These were Gwen's favorite fruit. Once she had picked as many as she could carry she filled the sack " In nature the attractive things almost always hold a deadly secret. The red berries had lured many animals to their death with promises of a tasty meal. They are quite poisonous, but these brown onces are delicious!"

Gwen put all of them in the bag but two. She slipped one past her thin pink lips and held the other one on and outstretched hand towards Eratnu " Try it, I promise it is good!"

He followed Gwen with a grin on his face. He suddenly felt light, like a kid in a candy store. Apparently, Gwen's personality was quite infectious. He nimbly jumped weeds and vines, roots sticking up from the ground, branches and leaves, until they'd finally stopped. The one fruit looked delicious and refreshing, but something wasn't right about it. It was almost too beautiful. The other one was ugly, but he had a feeling that was the tastier of the two.

Sure enough, Gwen spoke of them as he had expected: the red ones were quite poisonous, it seemed. He filed that information away for future reference. He had a bit of knowledge about the wilderness himself, but he had never really schooled himself in such things. Thus, he decided to trust Gwen - who'd lived in the forest most of her life - and try the fruit. She offered it to him, and he looked at it a moment before looking her in the eye and taking it. He slipped it between his lips as she had done with hers. It was rather bland on the outside, but he began to suck on it and found that it secreted juices that were actually quite delicious. He bit into it and found himself wanting another one.

He took some himself, filling his pockets, and grabbed a handful for a small snack. He smiled at Gwen.

"You're right. They really are quite delicious. I think I'll take some myself," he said as he collected them. He began to snack on them as he said, "So. Where do you want to go first? Anywhere in particular? Or should I simply let you lead the entire way and merely guide you to the locations in my drawing book? I don't mind leading or following, myself. I can do either with relative satisfaction."

He popped another one of the fruits in his mouth. They were quite delicious indeed. A citrus taste to them, yet closer to a mango than an orange. He waited to hear Gwen's response.

He thought briefly of his own experiences leading and following. He'd led a small army at one point to a castle wherein a dark wizard resided. He'd been killing off livestock in anger at the nobles' ignorance of him, but all it earned him was a swift death. He'd also served as a following companion for a number of groups over the centuries. So, he had no problems either leading or following. He left the decision up to Gwen.

Gwen walked as she talked " I would really like to experience the city life in the other world. Once I have done that I would like to see one of the ocean sunsets you had drawn!" She wanted to experience things completely different from her old life. The city life would be the greatest change for her.

They had finally came across an apple tree. She climbed up the tree and began to pick them, letting them fall to the ground. Once she had picked enough she dropped down and landed on the soft grass with a quiet thud. She rounded up the apples and put them in the pack as well. They were red apples that were rarely touched by human hands. Many seasons they rotted, not able to feed anyone. These apples would experience no such fate though. She smiled and explained " I only eat plants. I do not have the heart to kill another living thing. I know that hunting is a part of nature though, and do not hold ill will to those that do eat meat." She said the second part to make sure Eratnu did not feel uncomfortable. She wanted him to be as happy as possible.

"Very well. I think we can arrange that," Eratnu said with a smile. "There are a lot of cities in the outside world. Some are great, and some are merely villages or small settlements of people. Some are safe, and some are - well, less safe. But I think we can handle ourselves. You do not strike me as a helpless woman, and I am certainly skilled with or without weapons. I don't really like to fight, of course, but will if I have to. Most thieves and others can be handled without any real conflict, though. Not all, but most can be."

He followed her to the apple tree. The apples fell before he could catch them, but she obviously didn't mind and he wasn't about to mention it. Then she spoke of the vegetarian status of her health. Eratnu nodded at her mention of not condemning others.

"I don't eat much meat myself, unless you consider crab and fish. I do so love good crab. But fruit is often something I enjoy."

He continued eating the fruits Gwen had shown him earlier, not wanting to eat the apples right away. They would need food for the journey, after all.

"And ocean sunsets aren't a problem at all. Port Adune can settle both, actually. It's a fairly safe city, kept by the numerous guards that patrol the city. They're fair enough, but don't tolerate law-breakers. Anyway, Port Adune is fairly safe and because it's an oceanside city, we can stay in the city for a few days and watch the sun set each night if you wish. You can even watch the sun rise, if you want."

He finished the fruits in his hand and wiped his hands clean. The fruits were one of the best he'd tasted in some time. He liked the citrus fruits, and these had certainly been high on his list of favorite foods.

Gwen liked the sounds of this port city " Wow, this place has all the things I first want to experience all in one. I am glad I will be traveling with such a smart friend!" She had an apple in hand and took a bite into the glossy red skin. The apple was juicy and crisp. She love the fruits of the forest and wondered what foods the outer world would give her. She had nibbled on a bit of travelers food as they came and went. It mostly consisted of stale breads, a few spices, some fruits, and honey.

She remembered that she had left something special in her tree that would help her in her travels. She began to walk slowly back to the tree " You can look through the forest a bit more. Pick whatever you think we may need. I have to go back to the tree and get something. Meet me there when you are done!"

She was swiftly gone before Eratnu could respond. She was rather illusive in the forest. She blended in quite well and knew every secret to it. It also helped that her race could walk through trees as if they were doorways.

Before long she stepped back into the circular clearing where one single tree stood in the center of the ring. It was her tree and she climbed up it with ease. She searched through the large canopy of leaves and soon found her bow and arrows that had been stashed away for safe keeping.

She took them both and dropped down to the ground. Once there she did not bother lifting herself off the tall grass. She merely leaned against the large tree trunk and looked up at the sky that was turning ever darker. She felt the energy of the tree and the tree felt hers. She would enjoy these final moments with her old home before picking up and starting a new one. While she waited the memories of her life in the forest danced in her mind. She smiled and laughed as she remembered many great experiences. Her face brimmed with confidence as she remembered the obstacles she had overcame.

(( she grabbed the bow I won from the contest. I will just pretend I brought it along and not use it till somebody puts it in my sig.))

((No problem. :) ))

Eratnu was nodding even before Gwen had finished speaking, having an idea as to what she was going to say. He barely had time for his lips to part, let alone speak or even blink, before she was rushing away. She was gone almost immediately, practically turning into leaves as she disappeared into the foliage so quickly it was almost as though she'd never been there at all. It was only after she was gone that he blinked. His mouth, he realized was hanging open slightly and his eyebrows - yes, both of them - were raised. His face returned to normal, though, as he closed his mouth and lowered his eyebrows. He smiled. She really was quite amusing. Yes, she would most definitely be a fun companion to travel with.

He turned and walked down the path, almost invisble though it was. His keen eyes picked it up well enough, though it was easier now that Gwen had pointed it out, albeit only by walking along it. He found several fruit trees very quickly and began to fill up on the various fruits. He even wrapped a couple of extra shirts around fruits to turn them into bundles. Then he saw a plant he recognized with a grin. It was a plant he'd grown up feasting on quite often. It was the yalkaras plant. The leaves were a dark green with red veins. They were quite edible and said to relieve exhaustion. He discovered the absolute truth of that supposed myth on many an occasion.

He picked over two hundred leaves and stuffed them into a pouch he had, then grapped a couple of dozen more for Gwen. She might like them. He stood and stretched. He searched his memory and quickly found the path he was looking for. He followed it slowly, casually, letting Gwen have some time with her tree before they left. Finally, he came to the clearing and handed her the bundle of extra leaves. He explained about them to her and then handed her some of the fruit bundles as well. That way, they would be evenly distributed so that they wouldn't have to both stop unless they began to run low. They could simply eat on the go if they wished, or stop - either way was fine by him.

Gwen snapped out of her little daydreams when she heard Eratnu coming again. She took some of the bundles of fruit and set them down beside herself. She had never of thought to eat the leaves of the plant Eratnu had shown her. She was surprised that Eratnu knew of the wilderness. How could he fit so much knowledge into that head of his. Travelers much learn much. Maybe that was part of the reason people traveled, to quench their thirst for knowledge.

Soon Gwen picked herself up. She gave a smile to Eratnu " Are you ready to go?" The sun had fallen quite fast and the moon was just beginning to take its reign in the sky, her stars following right behind her. The air became cooler and a small breeze blew through the trees, making a quiet howling sound.

Gwen pressed a bit closer to Eratnu, standing right behind him. Her bow and quiver hanging on her shoulder and sacks hanging from both hands " How far away is the city from here?" She was anxious to see her the new lands and experience the life on the other side.

She gave one final look back to her old life, to the sentinel tree she had watched grow from a seed. She waved one last goodbye and gave out a quiet sigh. She then turned back and began walking with Eratnu, as he lead them from the forest.

She hummed a quiet melody. It flowed smoothly and sang lightly. It was a beautiful lullaby she sang every night. She did not know where she had learned the song, but she had been singing it for as long as she could remember. The words were a mystery to her, but she knew the melody and it sounded just as pretty without words.

Gwen snapped out of her little daydreams when she heard Eratnu coming again. She took some of the bundles of fruit and set them down beside herself. She had never of thought to eat the leaves of the plant Eratnu had shown her. She was surprised that Eratnu knew of the wilderness. How could he fit so much knowledge into that head of his. Travelers much learn much. Maybe that was part of the reason people traveled, to quench their thirst for knowledge.

Soon Gwen picked herself up. She gave a smile to Eratnu " Are you ready to go?" The sun had fallen quite fast and the moon was just beginning to take its reign in the sky, her stars following right behind her. The air became cooler and a small breeze blew through the trees, making a quiet howling sound.

Gwen pressed a bit closer to Eratnu, standing right behind him. Her bow and quiver hanging on her shoulder and sacks hanging from both hands " How far away is the city from here?" She was anxious to see her the new lands and experience the life on the other side.

She gave one final look back to her old life, to the sentinel tree she had watched grow from a seed. She waved one last goodbye and gave out a quiet sigh. She then turned back and began walking with Eratnu, as he lead them from the forest.

She hummed a quiet melody. It flowed smoothly and sang lightly. It was a beautiful lullaby she sang every night. She did not know where she had learned the song, but she had been singing it for as long as she could remember. The words were a mystery to her, but she knew the melody and it sounded just as pretty without words.

Eratnu must have caught her daydreaming, the way Gwen seemed to snap out of a haze as he'd approached. She was completely coherent now, though. He nodded at her query as to his readiness to leave and took an apple for himself from his bundles. He closed up his bundles again and took a large bite out of the huge, juicy, absolutely delicous red apple. He savored it with a small sound of pleasure, then opened his eyes and listened to her next question. He started for the northern part of the forest, which led to the main road that, in turn, led to two towns, a farm, and (eventually) Port Adune.

"It's about forty miles from here, unfortunately, but there are two towns and a farm along the way. We can stop in the towns, if you like. It might be interesting for you to see a real town - not the kind that wants you as a slave. You'll find that even the smallest villages and farms often utilize every hour of the day to the utmost advantage. Many people are up before - and sometimes well before - dawn, tending animals and getting their breakfast quickly. They settle down to work immediately. Blacksmiths prep the forges and their materials, marketers set up their stalls in the squares, vineyards get their breakfasts and then set to work immediately tending the crops, farmers do the same but tend to the animals before they get their own breakfasts - it's quite a busy lifestyle. Cities have even more duties, of course, because there are so many people. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. I've never really liked cities - well, I've like a few, but not many. They're generally very crowded and very noisy, and not often kept clean. In the greener pastures, though, you can accomplish and acquire far more in a city than you can in several villages. The sheer size of most cities - even the smaller cities - allows for a great many things to be produced, bought, sold, and traded. It's really quite fascinating - despite the crowds and noise," he said dryly as he walked.

He continued to school Gwen on the outside world as they spent hours walking through the night. They were out of the forest quickly enough - only an hour, if that, before they reached its thickest edge - and were on the road almost as quickly. It wasn't long at all before they were well on their way to Port Adune...

((RP FINISHED))