Every tree has a story. Starting at its roots, the massive plant makes slow progress in its immobile state. No two trees have the exact same perspective, and as such, each one has its own account of the events that it witnesses. Though it can never move, a tree has adventures of its own, standing still and watching all that occurs around it. If one has the ability to communicate with the trees, they would find the most vivid descriptions of happenings that most sentient beings would take for granted. The trees have a much different view on what is important and what is not. More often than not, you will learn something you didn't know beforehand. And, most likely, you would be a better person for it.

Trees do grow old, and trees do die. But they have a different maturity cycle than, say, Elves or humans. From a very early age, they are able to reproduce and take on a form that they will carry for the remainder of their life. Though walking beings undergo several changes during their development, trees stay the same. And it is always something you can count on. The leaves may go from green to brown and gray, but the base will be unchanging.

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Elves change. As Gondgaur stepped into the ancient forest city, he knew he had gone through several changes from the time he was last here. He knew the trees would recognize this. Their memory of him was forever branded into their minds. They could not forget the presence he had had in this realm before his disappearance and now, seemingly, his reappearance. Gondgaur's recent adventures had redefined him. As the winds changed, the woods focused their attention upon him. News of him had been carried through the air, and now all the land was aware of his return. The arrival of the former student to the City of Trees had significant meaning for many members of the community. But things were just getting started.

He was welcome here, of course. He had never been shunned or disowned from his place of residence. His citizenship had never been revoked. But the manner in which he had left had not been on pleasant terms with all the members of the community, so it was a surprise - a bitter surprise, for some - to see him back. The archers on the walls held their bows down as he ascended into the treetops. His footsteps carried him past the first guided path, which led to a small hub, and from this other stairways branched off. He remembered this spot well, recalling which one would take him to his desired destination. The branches beneath him became smaller and smaller in his sight as he climbed up and up. Eventually, one pathway circled around a tree, its slope gradual and nearly unrecognizable. But he knew full well that he was still ascending. The leaves above him were coming into focus. Finally, he reached the top, where flat wooden boards were constructed, the closest thing that Yomenïampa had to city structures. The flets were covered by wooden awnings, though in some parts they didn't need to be, as the canopy prevented rainfall from entering through those parts of the city. Nothing could penetrate the heart of Yomenïampa. However, he was now at the summit, where very little stood between the flets and the sky. It was venerable, yet at such a height, these parts were not a good choice for a possible assault. The city was a stronghold.

Gondgaur had reached his destination. A familiar figure was to be found in this flet, the one that Gondgaur had come all this way to see. The figure turned quickly around as the Elf's entrance could be heard resonating through the area. His footsteps struck the wood beneath. The figure's face took on a look of surprise and disbelief. "Gondgaur?" The Elf asked. "Is that you?"

Gondgaur smiled. "Of course it's me. You've always known me when you see me, father. Your son has returned to the city of trees."

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It was nearly twenty four hours later when Gondgaur was down once again at the lowest layers of the treetop city, resting at the base of the first tier of staircases. He was deep in thought, going over in his mind the discussion that had taken place the day before. He thought about where he was to go from here. He had reached a turning point in his journey. Whatever decision he made, it would surely alter the rest of his life. A path had to be chosen.

Kiera had long since lost track of the amount of time she had spent in Lómëdor, as the days had combined into weeks, and those weeks into months. In many ways, she was beginning to feel as if she had simply moved in and made the city home, completely forsaking that place which had been her home previously. It was a logical action, in many senses, as she had been sent from her home by her father and mother when they had learned that she denied Akhaon's teachings, yet she had not been cast out from the elven village. No, it was her own decision to leave, and her own refusal to return that had made her rather much a citizen of Lómëdor, but still the city could not replace that which was home.

A certain sadness had begun to settle in at the edges of Kiera's mind, a longing, as if a very part of her was pleading for her to return to the forests. At first it had seemed like frustration manifesting itself into depression, which was causing her to want to return to that which was familiar. Then it had begun to feel like defeat, her determination faltering, and the idea that perhaps she should seek out Akhaon and beg for a chance to become his apprentice. Now it was all clear, it was simply a need to be amongst her own blood, and to find that simply purity of a forest home. She needed advice, not a lecture, and not someone to say that they had told her just how it would be when she left.

One hand reached down and patted the small satchel at her hip, the slightest of smiles coming across her lips as she felt the tiny book resting within it. The secrets were slowly revealing themselves, the puzzle was no longer so distant and confusing. It had been such a challenge, yet Kiera had managed to teach herself the basis of the arcane language and now Mandre'nith held a bit more than just the words to a spell of light. Of course, this new writing had not yet produced any real magic, but the words had energy to them, as if it would only take a bit more to unlock their true power.

As for her state of being, that too was improving. The sounds of street vendors and corner musicians had been replaced by birdsongs, the air was heavy with nature's scents and all around her she saw shades of green. She drew in a deep breath, feeling refreshed by the essence of life which was threaded through the forest air. She had traded her usual outfits she'd wear in the city for a loose pair of breeches and a collared tunic that fell nearly to her knees. A bracelet of braided grasses rested around one wrist and her hair was drawn back in a simple band of cloth, to keep it from getting tangled in the branches of low reaching trees.

There were others close, she was suddenly able to sense them, and they were elven like herself. Home, her mind told her, to which she gave a slight nod. Yomenïampa was not easy to find, as looking straight ahead would cause one to walk right on by it, but Kiera knew to look up and it was then that the first archer affirmed her feelings. They were the sentries, the protectors of the city, from those who sought to bring harm to the elves, and this one did not make as much as a nod to acknowledge her glance toward him. Of course, that alone was a good sign, as it stated that she would be allowed to enter the city as she wished.

Her gaze shifted, to one of the ways up into the city, and her direction shifted towards it, steps falling slightly faster as she felt drawn foward. She had not yet figured out just what she planned to do here, whether she would seek out Akhaon, or her family, she just knew she wanted to be home. She had begun to ponder those possibilities as she began her climb upwards, nearly stumbling right into the figure which was perched there. She stopped just a few steps before him, blue eyes going slightly wide as she realized her near fumble, gathering her calm and then speaking, "Afternoon to you, and my appologies for nearly stepping right on you!"

The conversation with his father was fresh in his mind, still replaying in his thoughts. The man's genuine pleasure to see the son again had been apparent, though caution was still detectable in his response to the return. This had not been wholly unexpected, however. Gondgaur knew full well just how controversial his departure had been, and how much more his return would be. He didn't allow this to bother him too much, though. It was what had to be done. His disappearance had been a bold move, showing exactly where he stood on the matters in question. He had wanted nothing to do with what he had seen. And yet now, here he was, once again in Yomenïampa, the city he had left so many ages ago. To most, it would seem that his tail was between his legs, longing for a return to the life he had grown accustomed to. To these people, Gondgaur would soon reveal the truth. But first, he needed to discover for himself his true desires, and how he would best seek out his goals. And this required quite a bit of thought.

In fact, he had been deep in such thought, here at the bottom of the city, when a stranger nearly stepped right over him in her haste to ascend through the trees. She spurted out a quick greeting, followed by an apology for the mishap that almost occured. She had steadied herself before falling all over him, and for this Gondgaur was grateful. A headache interrupting his thoughts was the last thing he needed. He could deal with a conversation with a stranger moreso than he could with a physical ailment at this point. He did not let any frustration creep into his reply. He offered the elf a smile and said, "It's quite all right, think nothing more of it." It was advice to her as much as it was to himself. Continuing, he said, "And a fine afternoon to you as well. Are you a citizen of Yomenïampa?"

He had said these words to the unfamiliar Elf, but at the forefront of his mind was still the same thoughts he had been struggling with for the past day. Much had changed in him since the last time he had set foot in these woods, but he was not so sure that the City of Trees had undergone any changes in that time period. In fact, he rather doubted it. Most of the community were firm in their opinions, and not even time could change that. But perhaps Gondgaur could. He was stronger, wiser, and bolder now. He would say what needed to be said. He would make a noise and make sure it was heard in ever corner of the forest. Gondgaur would not be forgotten for some time. A decision was beginning to form in his mind.

Their actions will not go without consequences, he thought silently. Mine certainly didn't.

Kiera rested one leg upon the step above her, leaning her weight forward onto it so that she might stretch a bit, easing her muscles after the trek through the forest to this very place. To tell the truth, much of the strain from the journey had suddenly disappeared when she realized that she had arrived at the foot of the grand city. It was quickly replaced by the sudden surprise of coming upon the elven male who had, for her sake, forgiven her rather clumsy act of nearly stumbling right into him. A soft pink tone washed across her cheeks as she realized just how much she had been hurrying, so much like the way of the humans who inhabited the cities, always rushing about from one place to another. It wasn't their fault though, it was simply due to the fact that they were not gifted with the long life of the elves, and had so many things to do in such a short thing. How human of her, to have passed up the chance to enjoy what was around her, from the base of Yomenïampa to the stairs, and noticing that there was someone just resting there.

"Thank you, I'll do just that," she gave him a warm smile, for both his kindness in forgiving her error, and for his friendly nature. "I once was of Yomenïampa, but I chose to leave and have been living in the city for some short time now. I... did not agree with the path that had been set for me, though it is now the one I walk. You cannot avoid what has been set out for you, you can only put it off. By doing so, you make following your path that much harder. Sage advice, and it was now something she understood the full truth of, and she struggled to follow her very own path, but still she was doing just that. That the path had brought her back here to Yomenïampa was a bit discomforting, but it was all part of who she was. "And you? Do you visit, or do you live here?"

Kiera lowered herself down to the step below the elven male, having herself a seat to enjoy a bit of time in conversation, time to allow the tired feeling left by the trek here fade off, and time to enjoy the company of this possible new friend. There was something in the man's own features that said he too could use a companion, or at least someone to share his story with. Two peas in the same pod, for the time being, and nothing was so pressing for Kiera that she had to go rushing off and ruin these moments.

Distraction set in on Gondgaur as the lady Elf told her story. The fact that she had not agreed with customs of Yomenïampa, and the fact that this had caused her to leave, caused thoughts to stir in the Elf's mind. Her dealings with the city had not been much different than his own. Arguments between him and members of the high order had forced him to take his leave of the region, only now returning to its trees to give them one last chance. Odds were that his quest here would not be successful, not even mildly so, but his time away had taught him much. He had learned forgiveness, he had learned mercy, and he had learned that not everyone would accept what he believed as truth.

His reminiscing had caused him to not pay attention to anything that she had said after that. He suddenly snapped out of it, realizing she was now seated on the step below him. He vaguely recalled being asked a question during his brief moment of daydreaming. He snapped to attention and tried to recall exactly what had been asked of him. It took some digging through his brain to find the question he had barely even heard, but eventually he remembered. She had asked if he was simply visiting or if he were a citizen of the city. He smiled, then collected his reply.

"I'm much in the same position that you are in. This is my first trip back to Yomenïampa in some years. I had voluntarily taken my leave of this place. I come back now only to..." He stopped midsentence, realizing this explanation would go on for some time. That would not be fair to his companion, droning on and on about something she might not care about. He swiftly changed the direction of the conversation, desperately trying to make her feel welcome, but most likely failing miserably. "I'm sorry, I had not asked your name. Mine is Gondgaur." For most people, it was customary to ask a name first, then delve into the conversation. Gondgaur had forsaken this idea, preoccupied with his thoughts, and only now remedied the situation. He had to get to the point where he didn't need to find his manners all the time. He was becoming quite a rude person.

Once the introductions were out of the way, he would be very interested in discovering more about this Elf. She seemed to have justification enough for leaving, though that would surely be explained in time, but what did not make sense was her return. The same could of course be said of Gondgaur, but these reasons he had not divulged to anyone quite yet. Not even his father knew of his true reasons for being here. All that would be revealed in due time, and then only in the most potent way possible. Yomenïampa would realize now what the Elf had told them so long ago. Prophecies were starting to come true, and the only question was when Gondgaur would feel the need to reveal them. It was time for him to plan his actions.

He sat just before her, though his eyes seemed just as distant as the clouds in the sky far above the treetop cover. Kiera wondered just what was sitting on the mind of the elven male that made him appear as if he were not completely clear of mind. She adjusted the angle at which she rested, allowing her back to settle against the trunk of the tree that supported the stairs upon which she sat. This interruption in her ascent to the city itself was now quite welcome, as she had come to realize that she was not completely prepared to face what questions would come with her return. The momentary silence between the two elves allowed her to contemplate just how she would handle the judgements and critisism she would soon be receiving when others learned of her presence.

Just as she had begun to play the various scenes through her mind though, the elven male spoke. His very first statement labeled the two as kindred spirits, two who had left the cover of Yomenïampa and were now returning for one reason or another. So quickly though, the story had ended, the words telling her there was so much more for her to learn of this elf, but he held it back. Blue eyes searched his, seeking the reason, though her thoughts had already told her that it was most likely the fact that they had just met. To him, she was an outsider, just as he was to her, their only common bond being the fact that elven blood ran deep through both of them.

As suddenly as the words had ended, they once again began and he now shared a name, Gondgaur. Formalities, yes, something they had both overlooked in their unplanned meeting and rushed conversation, but her newfound companion had taken the time to correct that. A quick search through the names she once knew in Yomenïampa brought no remembrance of the elf, not even with this newly given name. "There is no need to apologize, Gondgaur, as I too had made the error of rushing into conversation without learning of your name." She offered him a polite and sincere smile, a chance to look upwards to where he was settled, "I am Kieraline, and it is a pleasure to now know you." She allowed the silence to return, hoping that his story would continue on.

Kieraline. He could have sworn he had heard the name before somewhere. It was not a common Elven name, but it was familiar nonetheless. A distant relative, perhaps? Or maybe even just an acquaintance. Whatever the case, he was sure of one thing, and that was he had never come across this Elf before. That wasn't the least bit surprising, seeing as neither of them had been in the Elven city in some time. And somehow, here they both were, making their return at nearly the exact same time. For him, the timing was everything. He had planned his journey almost two months in advance, and now he was here at the time he had deemed was best fit for his arrival. So much of what he had come here for had to do with the symbolism of it all. Today marked two important events that had occured in his life, and he was about to add a third.

That had to wait until he had decided precisely his course of action. After all his plotting and planning for these moments, he had never decided on exactly how he was going to approach the situation. He figured that the best way to handle it was to simply know his purpose, and then communicate that purpose as best he could on the spot. He had not rehearsed the speeches he needed to make. And so now, he was spending his time reflecting on all the reasons that had led him to come back. And what better way to make sure he knew those reasons than share them with another.

"Kieraline," he said simply. "There's a small stream, not too far from here. It's a place I often would go to think, back when I dwelled here." He pointed off to his left. "Walk with me. If you have the time, I'd like to talk with you further of my purpose here. Perhaps our paths have not crossed out of mere coincidence."

Every moment brought him closer to the deed that needed to be done this day. His stomach churned as the first signs of apprehension came over him. He was a strong man, firm and bold. But this day's objectives were great, and it took more than just simple courage to get him through the doors of the halls where he would speak his peace. It would take a lot more.

Lengths of gathered black hair spilled over her shoulder as she tilted her head to the side with a slightly curious look. On one hand, she had just arrived here at the steps of the tree city, and she was looking forward to seeing those she had not seen in what felt like ages. On the other, Gondgaur had now sparked her interest in knowing just what else he had to speak of, should they walk together for a bit. The later won, and Kiera found herself making her way back down the few steps she had climbed. Blue eyes looked out into the distance, then shifting back in direction to look to this new friend of hers, or at least he who she hoped would become a friend.

She gave a slight nod as she looked to Gondgaur, then spoke, "Of course I'd join you. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to face whatever might be waiting for me in the trees above, and I'm curious as to what you might be thinking." That curiosity was rather evident upon her face, making the later part of the statement not so necessary.

"I am still left to wonder, myself, just what it is that suddenly drew me away from Lómëdor, as the city has held me there for months now. Perhaps what you have to say will shed some light on my situation as well," She knew well enough that she could not stay away from Lómëdor for too long, as she still had so much to study, and people she would miss. Still, there was a certain comfort in this visit, to be beneath the trees, and to have each footstep land upon the soft carpet of grass and dirt. It was refreshing, in both the simplicity of nature and the absence of voices and crowds, stone and buildings. This trek further reinforced the fact that she would gladly travel at length, when the chance presented itself.