Killing me Softly

by Elvair (Celeglas)

"Silver--?" the wizard turned. I took him in all at once. It was old wives tales that had wizards as wizened grey-haired old men. He was broad shouldered and handsome, his hair blonde and his face mature but far from old. He wore armor, and looked like he'd recently come up from the battlefield. "Silverleaf," he intoned with a subtle nod.

"Silverleaf!" Clipper yelped. "My Lord, forgive me," he bowed deeply. "I will take my leave and allow great men to speak." He hastily backed out of the room.

I laughed again.

"A good lad, he runs like the wind, carries messages accurately, and once his work is done can't keep his mouth shut." Lupei reached for a goblet on the table and took a deep drink.

"It is good to finally see you," I said. "Dark times are on us, if it's come to this."

"Indeed. You don't have the patience for small talk, I see."

"No, I do not."

Lupei sighed, "Very well then. My queen to whom I owed my fealty and loyalty is dead. My son now has taken the throne..."

Tears threatened to fall from my eyes, "Would I could refuse it."

"I have not given you counsel before, but if you will indulge me to give you counsel now..."

"My predecessor thought highly of you and never spoke poorly of you, for anything you'd done. While she avoided talking about you in front of me, I know she continued to take counsel from you. As I consider her very wise in all matters of state and rulership, I can't help but think you might have something to offer me as well."

"You must make a strong plea to the dwarves to send aid and relief. You may send Amethyst if you choose to, given her blood ties to the former queen who was their friend. The recent tragedy may be the one thing they need to give them the affront they need to share your battle, as the enemy has proven himself dishonorable and the attack on the queen will impel them. Once you have strong relief in the North, withdraw all Sidhe to the center of Kerri. Even Amethyst and myself. Nightwind will have to hold the South alone, but you can't risk loss of many more Sidhe warriors or the pathways into Kerri will open, the dwarves will become more vulnerable to invasion, the mortal elves will be slaughtered."

"She hesitated. She felt battle coming and thought we could wait a while longer to contact the dwarven war mistresses."

He took a step towards me, a hand stretched out in caution and sympathy, "This is not about what has come to pass, Celeglas. This is about what's coming around the corner. Did she prophecy for you?"

"No. After the Unmaking she said her gift faded, that it was the most delicate gift and that anything she saw could no longer be trusted."

"Then trust me. What is coming is going to get worse and war is an elf's weakness, I've seen it again and again. You aren't meant to be taking lives, you're meant to be nurturing them, birthing them, encouraging lives to flourish. Taking lives will bring your people greater sorrow, and nothing will be left to rebuild them. I am human, and I can barely stand on the field of battle and hack at dead bodies come to kill me and my friends. I am always thankful that there are not the eyes of misguided zealots at my end of things. You have the tougher battle, in spite of the looks of our people down here. You get to see eyes that hope, dream and believe amongst those of the automatons and zombies. We're not killing people here, but you are."

I thought about what they'd done to Drendel, and anger welled up and sparkled as lightning behind my eyes, I could see the glittering in the glass tankard on the table. "I have no reluctance to kill them, father."

"Then perhaps you are dead already. You are still responsible for your brethren. Look after them."

Nightwind

Brenhani