Cleansing Water

Numenstaya, their own small village by the Western Sea. It should have been a refuge, a haven from the troubles of the world. Yet it had been attacked, defiled, and their friend lay now under the dark earth. Vengeance, perhaps even war, lay ahead of them, despite their hopes for peace and joy. Estarfin had long accepted the Doom that had been placed upon his kin, but ever they entwined others into it; Parnard, Marawendi. Aearlinn.

To evil end shall all things turn that they begin well.

Estarfin had tried to push thoughts of the future away; the promise of joy, of marriage? Could such a thing still come to pass after such darkness? He hoped so, but he could not dwell on such dreams, not now. And so he and Danel had spoken long into the night, and convinced each other that there was still joy to be found in darkening days. The summer night was warm, and swimming together in the cool water cleansed the sorrow from their hearts, for a time. He tried to recall their last summer together, when they had danced upon the grass.

Yes, there was still hope for joy to come. But the road to it would be hard. For now, the stars, the water and their own company was joy enough for him.