I told you to stand down, Simon.

Others do not cross the border. It is the law of your people, Briar. I was simply enforcing it.

I was with them and you know that. If they hadn’t had clearance, I would have shot them myself.

And why didn’t you? A flag hasn’t gotten an Unknown into the North for over a decade.

The East reached Hbéakut, Simon.

What?

You heard me. They’re almost here.

Sivena will buy you time.

Winter doesn’t last forever.

Could have fooled me.

Now is not the time for jokes, kid. Three months ago, Hildreden and Elinda wouldn’t have even considered getting near the Kascád mountains, and now they are less than four miles from our border, attacking our people.

This is what I’ve been trying to tell you all along. Our countries need to form an alliance. Together we will be stronger than we’d ever be apart.

Has history completely begotten you?

   That was then and this is now. Things change, maybe it’s time.

   That’s exactly what Hildreden and Elinda are saying, and look where it has brought them. They have allied with Anthra – their army will soon be unstoppable.

   Then you must fight back! The East still fears the North’s Ancient powers, but their arrogance grows with each passing day. You have to give them new reason to fear you. Don’t just hide in the mountains. Reign in your snow storm. Call out your Dra-Sorcerers and fight.

   It’s not my decision to make.

   Then send for Garrett and Faylinn. I’ve heard that they’re reasonable people; they will listen.

   They will, and that's what scares me.

    Good. There’s a messenger coming up from the South Cardinal, they’ll be here in about five days.

    Why don’t you tell me these things, Simon?

    Because of how you react to everything that comes out of my mouth, Briar.

There was a pause.

    So what are you going to do about the kids?

    They’re not kids anymore. War is upon us now and they’ve seen it more than us. I think it is safe to say that they’ll never be kids again.

    Answer my question, Briar.

   ...I guess we’ll figure that out if they survive ‘til morning.

   And will they?

   Will they what?

   Will they survive?

   For the boy, there’s a chance. The girl, it’s not likely.

   Somehow I feel like this is all my fault.

   Well you did shoot her.

   What did we just say about jokes?

   It’s not your fault, Simon. You know it. It’s the Easterners' fault. It’s Elinda and Hildreden – if you want anyone to blame, then blame them.

   I suppose…And what about the elf?

[[]]

It was a dream. It had to be, there was no other explanation. I had already lost my family, there was no possible way that I could lose my only friend too.

I awakened feeling like I had just fallen off a cliff, and considering that I did, I think it was a just comparison. The whole right side of my body was swollen to twice its size, and my ribs screamed with every breath. I didn’t feel human anymore, just a conscience ensnared to a bag full of chickens that someone had repeatedly beaten against a wall. I could feel bile rising up in my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to move and cough it up, so there it rest, growing hotter and more liquid, making it difficult to draw breath.

I forced my eyes open a crack. It was nighttime – or at least it was too dark to be anything else. Several small lanterns burned around me, doing very little to push back the barrage of shadow. The air was thick with the smell of cinder and ash, but somehow it felt like it was only there to smother the smell of shattering ice.

The music in my head had taken a slow leave, and for that I was thankful; it was hard enough trying to think without some annoying silent, symphony going on for hour upon hour. I blinked slowly and stared up at the sky – as my eyes adjusted, I realized that it wasn’t the sky at all. A cover of fabric shadowed the place where the stars should have been like a tent – yes that’s right. I was in a tent.

I forced my head over to one side to try and get a better view. There was not much else to see. Somewhere from deep within the shadow, a form laid, still as stone. I closed my eyes for several breaths and tried to force myself to concentrate. My fingers twitched nervously at my sides and I opened my eyes a crack to look upon the motionless form who laid on the ground beside me.

My back cramped and the entire right side of my body screamed as I lifted my hand toward her. “Aldyth.” My voice cracked audibly. The tips of my fingers brushed against the hem of her sleeve. That movement alone was enough to exhaust me, and for a moment, I just laid there with my arm sprawled out beside me.

Then I tried again, willing my voice to be louder, but it still barely came out above a whisper. “Aldyth.” I glared in her general direction. Now wasn’t the time for her to be a heavy sleeper, we were probably in danger and we needed to get out. With my small finger I again tugged at the hem of her sleeve.

“Aldyth,” I whispered and leaned my head on the crook of my shoulder to catch my breath. Had I always been this out of shape?

In those seconds, I stared, wondering if I was making up the rise and fall of her chest. Even in the darkness I could see the paleness in her face, and I wondered if she had always been that way. Suddenly I couldn’t remember any of the little details and I started to panic. Why were we here? What was the day? Who had taken us this far. Her eyes. His eyes. Mine. None of it was clicking.

“Aldyth,” I breathed and dropped my head down on the cold ground to sleep.

A/N

Hello everyone, after so long, we are back with a new update. So what do you make of Simon and Briar's conversation? Any predictions on #Elyth/#Eldyth?

Let's celebrate because Two Steps From Hell's new album Vanquish just came out and from what I heard of it, it is so great. *dies*

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