*The musings of Phoenix to her stick friend, Chuck.*
A young elf woman sits neatly on the banks the small stream that flows through the calm settlement of Degannwy. She comes here often to reminisce about her past and the recent issues facing her path of life, but this time she is not alone. Her almond eyes glance about cautiously before she reaches into the bag lying next to her and produces a rather small, smooth stick. She brushes back a few strands of soaking, red-orange hair, glancing over the object then holding it out in front of her.
"How are you today, Chuck?" Her voice is barely above a whisper as she stares at the stick intently. The minuscule piece of wood says nothing, only producing a small pitapat everytime a raindrop falls on its surface. After all, sticks cannot talk.
The girl nods only once and then furrows her brow with a troubled expression. "I'm afraid I may have a problem," She continues speaking quietly to the small branch, although it continues to say nothing back, "You see, Chuck, I really don't know what to do about him." She makes no mention of who 'He' is, but it is assumed that the stick knows exactly who she is speaking of. The elf goes on, "I cannot help but think things will turn out better this time, but I still don't know what to do..."
Her face takes on a pleading look, as if waiting for the stick to give her all the answers. It still does not speak, for it is an inanimate object. The girls eyes widen and she raises her voice slightly, "You know I cannot do that! I could never tell him that I lo-..." She trails off, lowering her head, her speech returning to a light whisper,"You remember me telling you what happened the last time I did that. Besides, I don't want to go back to the way things were before. I do enjoy his friendship, but..." She she falls silent for a moment, this time shaking her head before continuing, "He does have the right to know, but I don't want to put him in that position again. I don't know the effect that it would have..."
The elf girl lifts her gaze to the back to the stick, staring at it once more. She tilts her head slightly to the left, as if listening intently. After a few moments, she scrunches up her face with anger, rising to her feet. Her voice raises another level, but still remains relatively calm, "I just can't, Chuck! I'm too weak!" She quivers and closes her eyes, wincing, "You remember how I just sat there and let those peasants harm me...I couldn't bring myself to fight back. I'm not as strong as you!"
She glares fiercely at the smooth, wooden object, daring it to make a comeback. After a few, short moments she sighs in frustration and throws the stick to the ground in one, fluid motion. "I don't have time to argue with you Chuck!" She growls this time, nearly shouting and begins to stomp away, "You just lie there and think about what you said, Chuck!"
~