I stood before the open sea behind the city that I helped to build with blood, sweat and tears, but that dawn I shed no tear though my heart ached. No one would understand my departure. Probably most would hate me for it. My Lok-ri blood was one of the last to ignore the call, the call of Braialla. The ones who followed with undying devotion to The Green Mother were called. I could ignore the call no longer. So I quietly slipped into the wilds that no one ever ventured....but those who followed the paths of their calling.

I could hear the words upon the winds and my chest felt heavy with sorrow. "Where is she? She is the one that can hold it together. She promised us! She swore to keep the elven blood alive!" Shaking my head, I would try to not hear the words...but Braialla brought them to my ears loud and strong.

would cry into the wind, "What punishment is this? You beg me to follow, yet you allow me to hear their pain? Have I not been a good follower? Have I not preached your word to those who will not listen and been patient with those who do not understand? Why do you bring such pain to my heart? I should be there with them. With my family. I can hold it together. I can keep the elven cause spoken by the great Vorgen Lok-ri alive. Lok-ri will never be defeated if I am there."

Not once did I get an answer. The tears finally came. The news carried in the wind were howls of sorrow. My homeland had fallen once again. The Elven kingdom and cause had died. My family had scattered to the winds and I cursed the gods that I loved so much.

I wandered for days and weeks on end. I failed to eat or drink and did not care if I lived or died. I wept for my own death, though I knew it was impossible. I screamed into the sky that the great Tree of Life that my druid kindred had nutured now brought me the worst of all pains....life.

One night, I finally slept. I dreamed the nightmares of my childhood that now felt so long ago. I once again could smell burning flesh and hear the cries of women and children dying at the hands of treachery. Then Vorgen?s voice called me once again as he did so long ago...."Aramina come to us...you are needed."

"I can't!", I screamed aloud into the night, "I am no longer the child I once was when I came to you before. I have failed you, my lord. I have broken my solemn promises. I have let our cause fail. My love for you did not hold strong enough. I do not belong with you."

Suddenly, I woke, someone was digging in my pockets. With a quick thought, I brought my beloved T'lanarion down upon the neck of the intruder. I pressed dangerously against his spine.

Tell me now why I should let you live," She breathed hoarsely. Sweat of fever poured from my face.

Slowly the face turned to me. A gaunt figure peered up at me and blinked, "Aramina? Aramina Lok-ri?"

"Yes, unfortunately you have found me. Now answer me. Who are you and why do you think you should not enter the tunnel to your tree?"

The Aelfborn who looked familiar but the name could not be found in my feverish mind, spoke quietly, "Kill me if you wish. I have been looking for you for ages. The day you left, I followed. There was nothing left for me. Did you know the Elven kingdom is no longer? We destroyed it. No one would listen. They all knew better."

I ignored his question and pressed harder against his throat as blood began to emerge onto my blade. Oddly, he relaxed against my pressure, "Kill me now, for then I could tell the others that you live."

I pulled my blade up high, then brought it down swiftly beside his head, "Go now, and tell them. Tell them I said good-bye."

The aelf ran off without another word and I fell asleep once again. My fever and anguish let me sleep fitfully for days. The dawns frightened me for the aura of the fallen Elven kingdom still held strong in my senses.

The aelf ran off without another word and I fell asleep once again. My fever and anguish let me sleep fitfully for days. The dawns frightened me for the aura of the fallen Elven kingdom still held strong in my senses.

I blamed myself. I felt that if I had held strong, I could force the house to see it my way. We had to use the lessers and the trash of Aerynth. The elven way, provided this. We had always used and abused to our advantage....but pride sometimes went too far and held too strong. It was the way of the Elf.

Sometime during the night, I heard a familiar voice.

"Aramina, it was not the choice of you or them or anyone that fell Alu-dar. It was the nature of the land. History was destined to repeat itself, regardless of what would come to pass. Since Vorgen founded the Lok-ri clan again, you all have worked and taken the brunt of the world. They all sucked the life out of you. You all slit wrists for the hungry to feed. It was time to let them see the error of their ways. To realize that Lok-ri would always live and hold the higher ground. Without that, what would an Elven cause be? Lok-ri held on to their word and their claim of rightful rule. Now look at those who betrayed you, The disbelievers. They are scattered about and being hunted by the dawn of chaos. They have forgotten their goals and shed their ideals. They are not bad people for this, but they are not the same. Lok-ri will always be the rightful rulers of Aerynth whether you have a city or not. You have done what you needed to do for now. Later, you can pull together once again when you are called. Until then, repair your family. Embrace what is truly is important. What Aglaeron Vorgen has always proclaimed as the most important Goal: Survival of the House."

"What you do not know, Aramina, is that the Lok-ri still holds strong. They are still there. The destruction of Alu-dar brought the family closer together. With you there, this would not have happened. You needed to let go and let destiny take place. This is why I called you. Now it is time for you to return."