Roth slows and we glide gracefully over the expanse of green marbled with swathes of amber and yellow. I point out the clearing to Zane and we descend between the giant trees to land on the forest floor. I take a deep breath and inhale the scents of the forest. I have been gone for too long.

Elissa stares wide-eyed at my home; a three storey wooden house, built by my father in between and around several tall trees. Wrap around verandas and large windows blur the distinction between inside and outside space; as it should be.

My parents walk down the curved wooden stairway to greet us. I notice the way Elissa's gaze keeps moving between me and my father; indeed to her we probably look more like brothers.

"My son." Mother rushes forward and envelopes me in a hug while I rather stiffly pat her back in response.

Releasing me, her eyes turn to Zane. "Handsome as ever. I assume you will be too busy breaking hearts to stay with us."

Zane winks in response. She certainly has the measure of him.

Finally, her focus moves to Elissa and her face lights up. I need to intervene before she gets the wrong impression.

"Mother," I sweep my arm to also encompass my father, who has remained silent, "Father, I would like to introduce you to my ward Elissa. Elissa, these are my parents."

"Elissa, You are most welcome. I was not expecting Darish to bring anyone home. Now come inside and have some tea. You must be tired after your journey." We are quite forgotten as mother links arms with Elissa and guides her up to the second tier, chattering along the way.

Sometimes I wonder at my parent's pairing for mother is rather bohemian for a wood elf, whereas father is stoic and quiet. However, one cannot predict who will cause your soul to sing and they have been happily married for several hundred solars.

Zane salutes. "I think that I will leave you to your family reunion."

I raise an eyebrow at him and watch as he saunters off toward the village. As I slowly ascend the stairs, my fingers slide along the smooth banister and I take time to savour the decorative carvings in the side of the structure.

Father's touch with wood is truly admirable. Alas it is not a skill that I have inherited. Instead I have mother's sensitivity to crystals.

At the sound of her scream, I run up the rest of the stairs taking them two at a time. I burst into the parlour to find Elissa unconscious, crumpled on the floor. I scoop her up and gently place her on the settee. As I hold her limp hand, I feel rather useless.

Mother is ashen and staring at a broken fragment of green crystal in her hand. "Her energy signatures were not aligned. I was just trying to help, but the crystal shattered and the shockwave sent us flying. I cannot understand for Tourmaline is a healing crystal."

I am concerned to witness her rub her hip and enquire, "Are you hurt?"

"Just a little bruising from where I hit the wall."

She gives me a reassuring smile and when she notices mine and Elissa's conjoined hands, her smile broadens. I hastily release Elissa's hand, as if it is scolding and jump to my feet.

"Come now Darish, you should not pay any heed to the foolish stigma about elflings." Eyes twinkling, obviously recovered from her shock, she adds, "I am sure the Mother would bless your union."

I sigh. "She is practically a child. Moreover, what makes you think that she is an elfling?"

"I have a high sensitivity. That is why we live out here on the edge. Being too close to the others and all their chaotic energy levels gives me a headache." The mere thought has her massaging her temples.

Elissa groans. "What happened?"

I do not have an answer. I cannot help feeling that there are many mysteries surrounding this girl.

"Let me brew some ginger and chamomile tea." Mother bustles at the range.

......

It is dusk when Zane finally returns. He gives Elissa a tight squeeze, before ruffling her hair. "You gave us a fright, little one. Roth has been fretting."

"Well, I am completely fine now. So can we go out?" She looks to him and then me with big pleading eyes. "Pretty please, I am going stir crazy and I cannot possibly drink any more tea."

Zane shrugs and I concede, warning, "Elissa, you may garner attention as you have somewhat of a likeness to a light elf, and they rarely deign to consort with wood elves."

She laughs. "Yes, but I'm not an elf."

I look to Zane for guidance and at his nod, I take her hand. "We think you are, at least partially. Part elves, also know as elflings are not well received by some factions. It might have been for your own safety that you were sent away."

Her eyes shimmer at the news and she blinks several times. I feel terrible and yet she deserves to know.

"Come on. Let us go and get a drink in the village," Zane pipes up in a cheerful voice.

Elissa nods, her visage brightening and we take the path through the forest.

The trees grow in size the closer we get to the village. Elissa crinkles her nose, there are not many buildings on the ground. I point up to network of walkways stretching between the branches and the large array of wooden structures.

"Wow! It's like Lothlórien!" she exclaims.

It is not a place I have come across. I do not have time to question her before we reach the stairway that lead to my favourite taverna, which sits some forty feet above us. Tiny lights strung in the smaller branches light our way.

Heads turn as we walk in and as I predicted Elissa attracts many curious looks. For a moment a hush descends, but soon a normal chatter resumes. I secure us an unoccupied table and take a seat overlooking the forest, while Zane goes to the bar.

I accept a wooden goblet from him and take a deep draft. The taste of the elven wine, which is fortified with silver birch liquor, reminds me of home.

Zane and Elissa chatter away, while I half-listen and simply enjoy being at peace. We travel so much, always on the move. It seems no time at all that our vessels are drained and Zane returns to the bar to replenish them.

Elissa giggles and gestures behind me. "They remind me of elven hipsters, minus the facial hair."

I have no idea what a hipster is and turns to take a look in the direction she pointed. Immediately recognition flickers, for they are or more accurately were my friends. A pair of soulful brown eyes meet mine and for a moment the rest of the surroundings fade into the background.

The thunk of our goblets being set down on the table breaks my reverie. I turn my back on my former life and face my new one.

Elissa rests her head against Zane's shoulder and remarks, "You're a regular babe magnet."

She really does come out with the oddest statements. When she points to the group of females eying up Zane up from the bar, I comprehend her meaning.

Zane purrs, "Sometimes women need a little fire."

"Can't they just light it themselves?"

Zane smiles indulgently. Indeed her innocence is endearing. "One day, little one, you will understand."

As I nurse my goblet, I feel the weight of a gaze upon my back and keep finding myself distracted. My heart was broken and the betrayal still stings even though several solars have passed.

I go to relieve myself and when I get back I am alarmed to find our table vacant. A quick scan of the room locates Zane at the bar, with several females. I rather rudely extract him and drag him outside, insisting that we have to find Elissa.

Certain that I can hear the tinkling sound of laughter coming from above, I look up and can just make out a shape amongst the upper branches.

Zane follows my eye line and smirks. "You had better scamper up after her."

I narrow my eyes. "I am not a squirrel."

However Zane's bulk does unfortunately preclude him helping and so I find myself climbing up. Elissa is cradled in the tree canopy, gazing up at the heavens.

"Elissa," I call out softly, not wishing to startle her.

Bending her head backwards, she looks down at me and exclaims, "You're upside down! Aren't the stars glorious?"

"Yes, delightful. But we need to get you home."

She gets unsteadily to her feet and wobbles precariously on the branch. It looks as if she is about to fall and with my heart in my mouth, I reach out a hand to grab her. She just flops back down onto her bottom in a fit of giggles. It may have imagined it, but I thought I saw one of the branches move as if to catch her.

I manage to coax her down, no easy feat as she seems rather inebriated. I shall have to have a word with Zane later. Eventually we are standing beside the Dragonite and I am pulling out leaves from my clothes. He laughs and I snap, telling him that he can jolly well carry her, which admittedly he does with good grace.

Back at my home, I direct Zane to place her on my bed, waiting outside on the veranda as there is not room for the three of us. I use the time to set up a hammock which will be my bed for the night.

I go in to wish her goodnight. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek before flopping back. Fidgeting, she murmurs something about a king before settling into a peaceful sleep.

When I rejoin Zane, he surprises me by asking, "Are you falling in love with her?"

I think deeply, contemplating the meaning of the word and Zane has to give me a nudge to get a response."If you wish to know whether she is one who can make my soul sing, then the answer is negative."

"Soul sing?"

"Elven souls can resonate with each other, we spend our life trying to find one who makes our soul sing."

"Sounds like the kindling of a Dragonite's flame."

"And if you wish to know whether I desire her carnally, then again the answer is negative. I do however believe that it was not an accident that our paths crossed."

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