Veryan wound his way through the familiar brush, careful to choose his next step well; of course the guards would see him regardless, but the more quiet he was, the higher chance he would be able to hear and detect if someone was following.

Veryan thought how silly it was to take such precautions. They had been instilled in him since youth, yet, though many slacked in their care, not once had any great harm come of it.

Veryan slowed as he came to the raised bank of a small brook and let himself fall over the edge and onto the thin strip of earth that coated the water's pathway.

It was because of such trivial traditions that Veryan had left; he had desired to see the world for himself, and that desire had been fulfilled, much to his current dismay. His own two eyes had beheld human depravity, rising as a stench from the streets of mortals.

He jumped over a low bush that afforded no quick way around it, landing with the same lack of sound that had accompanied him through this path. Not that sound was lacking; the birds still sang in their delightful song, and the rustle of leaves in the breeze could be heard and felt as vibrantly as ever.

No, he would not choose a mortal life. Not now, not ever. To have one's destiny decided ahead of time was not necessarily a bad thing; his father had once said that Illuvantar knew the destiny of all, man or elf. Veryan vividly remembered that day.

'Anyone can count the number of seeds in a piece of fruit. But, regardless of how hard anyone tries, Eru will still know how much fruit will come from the seed.'

The birds had sung on that day just as they did now; filled with bliss and glee. Yes, it was in this forest that Veryan could find peace. He would still leave now and then to help bring that peace into the chaos of others, but, no matter how long he would be gone, this place would always be his home.

Veryan looked over his shoulder as he rounded one of the last bends in the path. He realized that he may have slacked on his duties for silence as he had lost himself in thought, and strained his eyes to try and ascertain any being whose presence he had missed.

There stood a beast with such a sense of pride that there was no way that it could be mistaken for a wild animal or for that matter a pet or some other creature that was servant to humans or any other type of creature. No this Griffon was unique. He had a sense of itellengence and pride that could only match a human. His fur glowed brightly in the afternoon sunlight. He was looking directly at the elf with a cold stare that shoed no emotion.

"I come in peace and mean no harm. I had simply spotted you running through the forest and noticed that you were an elf and maybe thought that you would allow me into your great Tree City that I have heard much about and had flown a great distance to reach. So young elf will you allow me into your home and haven?"

After he completed his words he raised his head again to full height to give a intimidating yet glorious look. He stood with such peace that there was no doubt that he had trust in someone to take care of all his worries. Either that or he was very irongant which anyone would immidietly doubt to begin with for no other reason that the grace and pride he stood with.

Veryan could not resist the gaping awe that fell over him at the sight of such an amazing creature. The griffon's golden fur rippled gracefully in the peaceful wind. Butterflies flew carelessly around the newcomer, apparently accepting his presence in the forest.

Yet Veryan was held to a higher standard. He could not allow such a creature to simply enter the city; the rules and regulations that had been ingrained in him since birth would not acquiesce.

Veryan felt torn; the creature was apparently not malevolent, yet it was not an elf. He scanned his mind for an answer to his inner conflict.

An idea came to mind. "Grand creature, we elves as a rule do not allow strangers into these lands. Those who are allowed are done so only under direct order of the Lord and Lady of the Wood. However, if you will allow me to blindfold you for the remainder of the journey, I promise to lead you to our glorious city, regardless of any consequences that I will incur upon myself."

Veryan took out a blindfold and began to approach Dariel, hoping that the creature had accepted his gracious offer. He expected that the many elven guards in the forest were also watching this, and hoped that they would interrupt him if his offer was unacceptable. His eyes made a cursory glance in the surrounding trees, searching for a sign. The ensuing silence seemed to confirm Veryans hopes that his offer was acceptable. Veryan's questioning eyes returned to rest on Dariel.

Dariel just stood there letting the elf put the blindfolds on him getting a last glimse of his surroundings one last time taking in the forest as a whole. But, the true forest was when you could not see. The sounds of many animals mixed with the rustle of the wind in the branches. The smells ranged from trees,which stilled differed each kind having its own smell, to berries, to animals. There were so many things too take in that if one tried to hard they would easily get a headache. No, you had to let the sounds and smells come to you and let them swell in you as if a tool. Something he was quite used to being a priest. He was very used to being used as nothing more then a tool of the gods. But, this was all he needed in life. All he needed was too be used as a tool and fullfil his purpose to the Gods and then he would be done. Wheter it cost him his life or just a small part of his life it would not be wasted. For the Gods were more powerful then any of them. This gave him knowledge that many failed to even grasp yet know. But,he was patient and knowledgable. One of the few things you needed in life. For with those two things you can extend into far more.

Veryan carefully affixed the silky cloth around the Dariel's eyes, inadvertently catching the equally soft and smooth feeling of Dariel's fur. Completing his task, Veryan gently placed his hand behind the great beast's head and lightly pushed it forward.

"Come. This way." Veryan continued to guide Dariel through the last leg of the path into the city. The sharp blur of colors mixed beautifully together in a peaceful harmony, foreboding naught but good.

After several seconds it suddenly occured to Veryan that he was leading an unknown being deep into the heart of peace in this world, from where it would have the possibility of tearing apart that peace. Trying to confirm his initial impression, Veryan tried to find out more about him through casual conversation.

"May I ask your name and your quest?" Veryan inquired, trying not to sound pushy or suspicious. His voice was soft, trying not to disturb the natural flow of the chirps of the birds or the rustling of the leaves, yet firm, portraying earnest desire for the answer that would justify his current actions.

Dariel continued to listen to the sounds of the forest until he heard the elf's voice mix into the heartbeat of the forest. His voice melted perfectly into the forest's sounds from the small birds that chirped to the hungry predator looking for food. But, behind the voice's ryhtimatic sound he heard the earnest sharpnest. The elf was unsure of himself which Dariel could see quite well why. He could be betraying his kind.

"My name is Dariel Marther Priest of the Order of Life. My quest is to spread my religion througout this realm and teach its ways.Does this answer your questions and worries young elf fopr if you feel to uncomfortable with me coming to your home I would not be offended."

His words held truth that no lie could hold. His voice was the same keeping his voice tone ver constant having no doubt in his actions or words. He could continue his journey if the elf did not accept him like he had done before. He was used to being denied of privileges for being an animal that usually did not have a lot of intellegent. He would like to see the city but he would also like to see many things that were gone forever or could never be seen so he was used to living with these disappointments like he had done before. For his destiny was not his own choosing but those of the Gids so he had no control so there was no point in worrying about it. A lesson he had learned long ago.

'Teach a religion?' That can't be harmful. A single frightening possibility entered Veryan's mind.

"What religion exactly would that be?" Veryan was fine if it was a peaceful or neutral religion, but if it was evil, then for all he knew "spreading the religion" could involve a mass killing spree. "Forgive me if I sound forward. I do feel slightly uncomfortable doing this."

The last several trees parted before Veryan, and he beheld once again the place of his birth. Several elven guards looked strangely at Dariel, but kept there silence with a motion from Veryan. Veryan stood still and poised himself to remove the blindfold from Dariel should the answer to his question prove acceptable.

While waiting for the answer, Veryan took in the beauty of the gate and the small glimps of the city beyond. The wall was formed of closely knit, boughless trees the streched high into the sky. At the gate they curved slightly together, goaded gently from birth. The gate was small, such that only two could walk through abreast. The two guards stood; one on either side. The captain of the current watch had run off upon seeing Dariel in the direction of the barracks.

A single giant tree could be seen in the gate; the last major defense of the city. It's roots elevated it from the ground, revealing a maze beneath the tree. On either side of the gate, a line of trees completed the hallway that led to the labrynth of wood. Since the tree had grown since his last visit, Veryan knew he would need a guide to pass through the maze.

Veryan's enraptured mind was suddenly reminded of Dariel, to whom he returned his full attention in expectation of an answer.

"My religion is that of Life mainly though I do have a touch of expertise in death as well. Not in an evil manner but in a more natural manner such as the balance of life and death for without balance the wrold will fall onto one side and either become to soft or too sharp eventually ending themselves. This is why I teach why you must cope with your losses yet rejoy for new life. For, if you grieve to long over death the joys of life will dull and death will always provail."

This was a statement that he used many times for this was almost a way to describe his purpose in life while giving him a task to acomplish. What he had said had happened many times before but some have seen the truth in what he had said. If you love someone too much though you may become to atached to that one person. This is why he never loved an individual but only the whole. For if you only love the individual you will fail to love the gift of life itself and not love the whole. This was something that many people have done wrong and even more will for love is a fault in itself yet a wonderous gift if used properly.Of course no one is perfect.