The Children of Wood and Sea

She watched the children play upon the field, and she smiled bright and wide. The elder of the two led the younger, and around them ran in excitement another friend, a beast of kind heart and curiosity like the younger sibling's own. And there she stood, smiling at the field as the elder of the siblings pointed in to the night-sky, and told of the tales and the stars. Peace. "I would not believe that this could be. Large circles are drawn. And these the children in deepest love of Sea and Woodland. The elder reminds me of your mother." She turned to the ancient one, Alcarmalína, her smile remaining. "Is that so? I try to teach her song and dance and healing, but all she cares are for my tales of the blade. And her father. She learns eagerly what her father has to tell her." "And that she may, at least she does take interest in one sort of art, is it not so?" And both of them laughed, turning to watch the children play again. "Of Lórien and of Lindon. Who would have thought?" she said quietly. "Not I when I first set out. But why not?" "You have learned that it matters little, have you not? Of all those from many places, of all those from any races. You have come to love and respect them all in their own ways." "Yes, yes I have." she told Alcarmalína. The children returned to their mother, laughing. The elder bid for a tale whilst the younger took sudden interest in the feline beast that was demanding her attention. So she smiled, sat with her children, and she told a tale of her days as minstrel and as warrior.