"Ardreth! You are back!" I race across the garden and embrace my brother. He had left for the Prime Material Plane around three decades ago, searching for... something. He never did tell me when he left. Perhaps he didn't even know himself at the time.
"Uma, little sister, I'm back. And look at you!" He laughs as he holds me at arm's length, looking me over. "What are you now, two and a half centuries?" He gives me a smirk, knowing full well he was over-exaggerating.
"Hush, Ardreth. You know I'm only one hundred and sixty-two."
"Uma, little sister, but it is -so- much fun teasing you." He gives me a teasing grin, then gets an excited look on his face. "Aiya! Little sister, I have someone I want you to meet. Rosaria, this is Alexandra." Somehow I missed her standing behind him. Either way, he turns my attention to her, and my excitement at his return disappears, a deep-set scowl forming on my face.
"You brought a -human- here?" My voice became tinged with anger. "What is this? Why did you bring her here? Did you consult the community before putting us at risk? What were you thinking, Ardreth? Your act--" He cuts me off mid-rant by placing his hand over my mouth. I want so bad to bite his hand, but last time I did that he about burned me with fire, so I refrained and instead glared at him.
"Uma, Rosaria. I did bring a human here. She is my mate." My eyes widen and I move to remove my face from his hand but he places his free hand at the back of my head and holds me still so I can't struggle, forcing me to listen. "I talked to the community elders about this, Rosaria. I'm not stupid. I would never put your life at risk, or mother's, or anyone else's. You need to trust me, little sister. Trust me like you always have." He removes his hand from from the back of my head and my mouth, seemingly waiting for me to start my rant back up again. I lost my fire at his words. I do trust him. He's right to say I have always trusted him, so why do I doubt him now?
"Why her, Ardreth? Why a human when there are plenty of our kin here who would -love- to be mated to you?" My voice was no longer accusatory, but pleading. I didn't want her here. "Ardreth... Amin mela lle, brother, but why? You will long outlive her. You will outlive your children and their children... and probably the next two generations after that. Why would you willingly put yourself through all that pain, all that suffering?"
He flicks my nose hard, and I jump back a bit, startled. He's never done that to me before. "Dir'asaya Rosalynn Marie Wysaren, you listen and you listen well." Oh goddess, he used my birth name, and the full thing at that. I know I did something wrong now. I wince at it, and I could see in his eyes he is sorry for it but his expression stays stern. "You know very well the teachings of Mother and Father and of the community we live in. Death is a part of life. Do you really think I'm going to let something as small as death keep me from love? So I outlive her and our children and probably the next three generations. So what? Being able to share my life with the woman I care about is what I want. -I love her-, Rosaria. When she dies I will continue to love her, just as I will our children and so on and so forth. Pain and suffering never lasts forever. My memories of her will live on, of all the joy we shared. Would you rather I not know happiness? Would you rather I miss the opportunity to embrace Corellon's path for me? She might not be kin, but I doubt Corellon would let me feel this way for her if it wasn't the path he wanted me on."
I suddenly feel very guilty. I just don't want him to hurt later in life when he has to watch all of his family with her die. But he is right. I always forget the lessons of our community on these matters. Father would be ashamed of me, that I forgot and insulted Ardreth in front of his mate by speaking what I did. "I just worry for you, brother. But now that you remind me of it, I understand why you chose her. I will not forget again."
"Do see to that, Rosaria. One day you might find yourself on the Prime Material Plane, and I won't be there to remind you of the teachings of those we cherish. Never forget the teachings, for they are your lifeblood."
I open my eyes and look around. Degannwy, yet again. Memories are everything, it is why I look forward to reverie sometimes. Thank you, Sehanine, for reminding me of Corellon's path for me. That not all branches in the road lead to tears. You have strengthened my resolve by showing me a moment where my brother chose to be the strong one, and now I must follow in his footsteps and be strong also. If not for me then for my kin.