Elenna slept uneasily. Her rest was haunted by dreams and memories; the face of Azruk, her sister's blood on the ground. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. Getting out of bed, she pulled on her traveling clothes; a sky blue tunic over navy leggings. She climbed out of her window, creeping over the trees. She saw a fire up ahead. Beside it sat Therin. He was moodily smoking a pipe, staring into the flames. Elenna leapt from the tree, landing at his side. She didn't realize how much she had startled him until she felt the edge of his axe against her throat.
"Oh, it's you, maid. What do you want?"
"I couldn't sleep."
"Oh. Neither could I. Afraid of the battle tomorrow?"
Elenna thought for a moment - did she dare tell this dwarf what was in her heart?
"Yes. Not of the battle, but of failing again. Of watching my love die before my eyes. Of seeing the Ring of Water captured. Of seeing Azruk spill more blood of those I care about."
"Well, lassie, I won't let that happen. You have my word as a son of Moria."
Side by side, elf and dwarf sat, watching the flames flicker late into the night.
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If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."
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