His deep, rough voice greeted her as soon as Miri was outside. She was surprised and pleased to see Prince Eraeon seated on the ground beside her pack and shelling nuts, when Miri had expected to be forced to find him again. The pack overflowed with food.

"Awake so soon?" he teased her. "Come, I have brought back some food."

Respectfully, Miri nodded her head in an abbreviated, bow before she approached. Despite his assertion that he was no longer a prince, Miri was determined to respond to him properly and treat him with the respect his birthright deserved. He held out a square of bark laden with fruits and nuts. "Sit and eat," the prince encouraged from his place on the ground. "We have much to discuss."

Miri did as she was bidden, offering a silent grace as she did so. After searching for him for so long, and with as long as she'd been on her own, Miri wasn't sure what to say beyond answering a question or accepting an order. She'd been ordered to eat, so she obeyed, not really knowing what to say, or if she should say anything. 

When she'd eaten her fill, she sat the square of bark aside and looked up, realizing she'd not yet acknowledged his other statement. "What do you wish to know, My Lord?" she asked belatedly. 

In the morning light, he looked different from the night before. His eyes were light blue she found; an oddity from the usual brown tones of the Elves. The prince's hair was a pale blonde in the sun's morning glow, rather than the stark white it had appeared in the evening's gloom.

"My father had blue eyes as well." Miri blushed at having been caught staring. He grinned and she dropped her gaze. "It is the mark of kings among our kind. Did you not know that?"

"No, My Lord; I was born well after the Scattering." Miri answered, quietly admitting, "There is much I do not know of elven ways. My parents died when I was little more than a child."

"I'm glad." She looked up again, taking his words as referring to her orphaned state. "That you are ignorant of the old ways, that is," he amended sheepishly. "I left the old ways behind me for a reason. Returning to them now, before I must, seems foolish."

"But My Lord," Miri protested, "you will be king. Why can you not amend the old ways?" His answering smile nearly took her breath away.

"I may very well do that, Miri. Now, we must discuss the preparations. I believe it time for me to return to my heritage."

"Yes, and there is much to do," Miri answered honestly.

"Tell me what you need first."

Miri considered it. It was early spring but winter was never far off where they were. There was so much to do before they would be ready for cold weather again. "If I may, My Lord," she began hesitantly. "I must learn to open and close the rock face at will."

He regarded her closely, so much so that Miri blushed again. She knew what he saw. A lifetime of searching through wilderness of cities and wastelands, of fleeing the Goblin-king with too little food or time to eat had left her smaller than she otherwise would have been.

Her clothing was long past the time it should have been replaced, her shoes had worn through and been discarded some weeks before. She'd used her hair combs to distract the wolves while she made her escape months before that, which meant her hair was tangled in knots. No doubt, to him, she appeared to be little more than a ragged, ill-kempt child rather than the battle-weary, travel-hardened adult that she was.

"You also must learn to speak to living things properly. What did you learn from your parents, if not to speak to the world around you?" he finally asked.

"I learned the history of our people, how to recognize you and to elude the Goblins and their wolves. I learned to track, to follow the slightest sign and to run far and fast," Miri answered him frankly. "I learned to fight with whatever is available to use as a weapon and to evade- or escape- capture. My whole life has been spent in search of you, My Lord." It was his turn to flush.

"I had no idea, Miri," he murmured. "If I had known, I would have returned."

"If you had returned, you would have found only humans," she told him gently. "We mostly hide from the Goblin-folk in the cities of Men now. As long as we cover our heads, the Men do not discern that we are of a different People than them."

He stood abruptly. "Come, Miri. It is time for you to begin your education." Prince Eraeon strode toward the cave and Miri followed curiously. He stood by the open mouth of his cave and when Miri approached, he touched the rock, bidding it close. "Give me your hand, Child."

Miri hesitantly held out one hand. He took her hand in his and smiled down at her. "I am fully adult, My Lord, merely small," she told him.

Miri felt his awareness of her, his embarrassment over his gaffe. In turn, she let him feel her amusement over her size and her eagerness to serve him and to learn from him. She couldn't wholly stifle the attraction she felt to him, even though she did her best.

"So I see. My apologies, Miri; now, touch the rock." He guided her fingers down the rock face. "What does it tell you?"

Miri frowned in thought. "I hear nothing."

"Rock never speaks with words. What impression do you gain from the sight and feel of the rock?" His tone was patient, as if teaching a small child.

"I am given to believe that the rock is unyielding, that there is nothing behind it but more rock." Miri felt foolish. Of course, the rock wouldn't speak. It had no voice.

Eraeon smiled and Miri felt his approval. "Excellent. That is what the rock is trying to tell you. Now give it the impression of the cave behind and it will open for you." He released her hand so she could try.

"How do I do that?" Miri asked. "Is it a mental image that I must project?"

"No, because rock has no thought; just know that there is a cave behind. Even if there were no cave behind, there would be because you ask. Indeed, the cave is only there because I asked it of the rock last night." He paused, waiting for her to try.

"Elves do not merely live in the world, as Humans and Goblins do, Miri. We were created by the Maker of Heaven and Earth to be an integral part of it. You must learn to hear with your mind, will and emotions, not just with your ears.

"I was rather surprised to hear that the Elf-lords would hide their folk in cities, where everything is so manufactured. The concrete and brick of the buildings are comprised of tiny, minuscule stones that each speak separately, making it hard to hear, hard to interact with. The few trees are small, stunted and hemmed in."

Like me, Miri thought. She gave no voice to the thought though. The fact also remained that the prince was well aware of what cities might be like, telling Miri that his adventures had not been limited to the mountains they were in.

She answered carefully, afraid he might guess her thoughts. "They were of no use to us because they are so small and afraid, so Father never bothered to teach Nolu and me how to speak to them. I learned to hear trees after Nolu was killed and I left the cities."

"And yet, you could not speak to them. Your father was foolish to neglect your education so." Eraeon took up her hand again, placing her palm flat against his own. "Listen as you would to the rock and tell me what you hear."

Miri was having trouble concentrating on the lesson, as distracting as his hand was under her own. She could feel the calluses from his staff, the warmth and muscles in his palm, could feel waves of emotions despite his attempt to suppress them. She closed her eyes and worked to drown out his self-doubts, misgivings over her, his irritation with the lords and with her father.

His hand gave the impression of strength, of protection. She wondered what she was projecting and realized that he was projecting his intention, so she focused on her intent to serve him, to assist him in rescuing their people.

"Thank you," he murmured, telling Miri that her efforts had succeeded. She opened her eyes and he released her hand, turning to face the stone. "Now try that with the rock, but with more confidence. Expect the rock to obey, or it won't."

Miri placed the palm of her hand against the smooth stone and projected her intent to enter. Immediately, the stone opened, not as a door but as curtains parted, leaving a triangular opening just under her palm. In response, Miri entered the cave.

"Well done," Eraeon praised from just outside. "That was unusually graceful for a first attempt. Continue with that today and tomorrow I will teach you to speak to trees. You were very lucky yesterday." Miri came back outside in time to see his expression. It was shadowed again, and Miri realized that she'd not seen those shadows all morning. Without thinking she touched his hand, seeking to read his emotions. Eraeon jerked himself away but not before Miri felt his guilt, anguish . . . and relief.

In response, Miri dropped her gaze. "Forgive me, My Lord," Miri murmured, knowing she'd had no right to his emotions. "That was forward of me." When he said nothing, Miri looked up but Eraeon was nowhere to be seen. Miri sighed and turned back to the cave.

By the time Eraeon returned, Miri had learned to open and close the stone door with the merest touch of her fingertips. She was so engrossed in her lesson that she didn't hear his light footfall behind her. "Well done," the prince repeated from behind, making Miri jump. "Leave the door open and we shall have a fire just outside."

"I'm sorry," Miri repeated.

"I heard you the first time." His reply was gruff and he turned away to start his fire. Miri bit her lip.

After a few minutes, his quiet voice interrupted her thoughts. "Miri, we put the old way behind us for now, remember? How else are you to learn, if I do not teach you?"

Eraeon's explanation seemed more for his own benefit than hers, so Miri said nothing. "It is I who should apologize. I have grown accustomed to solitude."

He paused but Miri stayed quiet, waiting for him to explain. "I'm sorry, Miri. I think it may take more than a few days for me to become civil again."

Miri realized that though she'd been prepared her whole life for him, for finding and serving him, he had been taken completely by surprise by her arrival, by the idea that his people were looking for him. She wondered if he regretted helping her.

"You spoke to the tree yesterday, didn't you?" she asked quietly. He nodded once, slowly. "And if you had not been there at that moment, I would have been overtaken by the wolves." He stayed at his task, not responding. "Thank you, Prince Eraeon. I owe you my life."

"I have been watching you for days," Eraeon's voice was quiet when he finally replied. He'd finished his task and they were seated in the cave, eating. "You are the first of our kind that I've seen since I left my father that day. I was curious."

"You didn't know about the wolves, did you?" Miri was beginning to understand. They'd been confused by his scent, not waiting for any signal.

"I knew they were there but not why. When you explained, it took me aback. I thought you a child." His voice was heavy with grief. "Are all our people reduced so?"

Miri grinned at him, seeking to lighten the moment as well as to pass off the unintended insult. "No, the lords and the others are more as you, though leaner. I would be as tall under different circumstances, I suppose."

She flushed under his interested gaze. "There was not always time to look for food, or to eat it if food was available."

Eraeon looked ready to flee again but he reached over and deliberately laid hold of Miri's hand. Emotions too deep and numerous for words flowed through the contact between them; until only a peaceful acceptance remained. Eraeon released her hand and handed her a piece of fruit. Miri accepted it with a smile.

The following weeks were spent on Miri's education. She learned to converse with the world around her, with the flora and fauna, with streams and rock, even the wind. Water and wind were independent, she learned. Conversing with wind would be more for informational purposes, for predicting the weather or learning what animals were passing where.

The more Miri learned of the ways of her own people, the happier and more content she grew. She realized that it was because she was finally becoming the person she'd been created to be, learning to fulfill the role intended for Elves by their Creator. She did her best not to be angry with her parents or think about how much easier her life would have been as a Seeker, had she known then, the things Eraeon taught her.

Finally, Eraeon pronounced Miri's education complete. Her life as a Seeker had taught her such stealth that, combined with Eraeon's instruction, she could slip through the forest noiselessly and unseen; protected by trees and stone as she had need. Though he didn't tell her so, Eraeon had also learned some of Miri's stealth and as they sparred together with weapons, he learned several new techniques from her as well.

"We must focus on your hall, My Lord," Miri said over dinner that night. "Winter will be upon us sooner than we would wish." It was nearly summertime.

Eraeon gazed around the small cave. "This is a far cry from my father's house. Where would we even begin?" They had moved their camp from the original cave to a place where the mountains rose up, high around them.

In response, Miri looked at his shoes pointedly. His weren't as worn as hers had been by the time she'd thrown them away, but the prince's shoes could still use replacing. "We must look to our own needs first. Many of our people will require assistance but we cannot help the others if we have nothing to offer. I hate to ask but," she bit her lip, unsure if she should suggest what she was thinking.

"Tell me what you need, Miri. If I am your prince, then my responsibility to you is as great as yours to me." His voice was gentle, encouraging her to ask.

Miri replied in a rush. "I could use a wild boar, Prince Eraeon."

It was the only animal Elf-folk hunted for food, for the wild pigs always small to heed elfin direction. They fouled the land and drinking water deliberately; making it unusable after they'd passed through; took delight in destruction but made no contribution to the betterment. Wolves, wildcats and other hunters sought the weak and sickly among their prey, protecting the overall health of the herds, flocks and litters they hunted but wild pigs made no such distinction. Because of this, Elf-folk hunted the wild pigs in order to protect the land around them, using the animals for food and their leather for shoes or other things.

Aside from the wild hogs, Elfin-kind also hunted coyotes for fur, and for many of the same reasons. Unlike fox or wolf, a coyote and his pack hunted as often for sport as for meat, and took great delight in the slow, agonized death of their prey. Left to their own devices, coyotes also were not above entirely decimating populations of prey animals, leaving none for other predators or for the repopulation of healthy genetics.

"I shall leave in the morning." He smiled at her. Miri's heart skipped a beat.

"And I will begin gathering nuts and berries for winter," Miri replied, trying to keep her voice normal. She finished her dinner and stretched out for sleep. The new cave had dried out some during the course of Miri's education and the evening fires had warmed the stones. In response to her intention, the stone floor formed to Miri's body as any mattress would. "Sleep well, My Lord."

"Thank you and you also Miri." His voice was warm.

Miri smiled as she drifted off to sleep. All of her life had been in preparation of serving this prince. At the same time, she'd always been told of his impetuous and hardened nature, of his impulsiveness and selfish desires; had been prepared to serve a prince who would take full advantage of her in her service to him despite the hardship or heartbreak.

Instead, she'd found the prince to be as much a friend and teacher as he was her master. Over the three months she'd known him, Miri had grown to love him dearly, though quietly, as she served him.

True to his word, Eraeon left early the following morning. Miri broke her fast with him and bade him luck before he disappeared through the trees. She found herself missing his presence immediately.

Once he was gone, she went about her task of gathering berries and nuts. She found a wild honeybees' hive in the forest. Generously, the industrious little insects gave her a portion of the wax and honey left from the previous winter. In return, Miri asked a nearby bear to stop spoiling the bees' nest.

The bear was reluctant to give up such easy sustenance but there was a large rodent population and a sickness in the rabbit's warren so in the end, he was persuaded. He was still shedding his winter undercoat, an itchy proposition for any bear. Miri asked if she could have the fur if she helped him to remove it. The extra fur made him hot and grouchy so the bear eagerly agreed, promising her several rabbits as well if she would return the meat once the pelt was off.

Miri returned to the cave that night with her pack laden down with fur instead of food but she was happy with her work. The bear's fur would make wonderful felt for blankets.

Cottonwood trees bloomed but Eraeon didn't see them. Miri gathered the fluff and figured out how to make cloth with it. Cattails in the streams bloomed, adding their fluff to the cottonwood. When the cloth was woven, Miri sewed herself a dress and then a shirt and breeches for Eraeon before she hemmed the rest of the cloth for linens.

Miri found a doe in the woods mourning her fawn. Noticing that she was heavily laden with milk, Miri offered her aid. The doe knew that if her supply went unrelieved, she might fall victim to mastitis, so the uncomfortable doe agreed. Miri made cheese, hanging it over the fire to smoke. By the time the doe's milk had dried up, Miri had several large, smoked cheeses inside a pantry built to hold her growing stores of food.

As the summer waned into fall, there was no sign of Eraeon. Seeking to keep her worries and fears for him at bay, Miri prayed for him as she enlarged the cave, adding a second, larger room with a fireplace at the far end. She squared off corners and added decorative touches.

A young lynx joined her, promising to keep the mice from her stores if Miri allowed him to stay. When there were no mice, the lynx shared rabbits with her. Between the bear and the lynx, Miri was well supplied with pelts. She made herself shoes and a cloak, then began stitching the pelts together to make a mattress for herself, then another for Eraeon.

The bear readied himself for hibernation but still Eraeon did not return. At night, Miri went down to the farms of men and gleaned grains from their harvested fields, adding what she gathered to her stores of dried fruits, rose hips, tubers and nut meats. Winter fell.

Hemmed in by snow, Miri worked at enlarging the cave even further as she prayed for Eraeon's safe return. Behind the original room, she added to the hall and decorated the fireplace, making it large and ornate.

She formed a room for Eraeon with an intricate bedframe from the rock, and a kitchen beside the larger hall. The kitchen soon boasted a stove with several ovens. Behind the kitchen, Miri made herself a small bedroom, taking advantage of the warmth radiating from the kitchen stove.

In every room, brackets in the stone held lamps that burned beeswax. Stone furnishings sprang from the floors; stone bowls, plates, utensils and even cookware were readied for service. A spring had been coaxed to come from the wall in the kitchen, giving Miri a source of running water.

While Miri waited, she gathered dead wood for the fires and stacked it in a storage room. After that first room was filled, she enlarged it and then added another, filling it with more wood until she was certain there was enough for the winter.

To prepare for Eraeon's return once the dwelling was finished, Miri kept a blanket in one oven, warm for when Eraeon might have need of it. She kept food on the stove at all times, to which the lynx contributed greatly with his hunting prowess. Of course, he often assisted Miri in eating those meals as well.

There were no mice in the pantry anymore but the lynx had grown used to sleeping before the fireplace in the hall. Miri took to sleeping beside the lynx, waiting near the door for Eraeon's return lest she be asleep in her bed and miss his entrance.

All was ready for him, as best as Miri could manage.  Miri even managed to carve herself some hair combs with a stone knife, once she felt ready for Eraeon's return. Eventually, the was nothing to do but wait.