Teleri, as her brothers called her, had a strange upbringing in her years with her family. His father, knowing only how to train warriors, used the same tones when addressing his children. They ate in the kitchen hall, slept in undecorated rooms and met once a day to go over their day. All of them, no exception given to the young woman. His sister-in-law often wondered how her nephews and niece fared under the so called "regimental training" they were subjected too. Far from the truth, Keganthilas was a warm father who was teaching all of his children what he knew. The three children had the advantage to learn their father's trade but develop their own special talents that came with it. She never felt that her mother's presence would have made her any more joyous, she was happy and loved her brothers. Surielas, the elder, would take her riding for days outside the borders of Qualinost and enjoy the quiet refuge of the river. He would always listen to her, until his attention waned and would end up ignoring her. He was expected to serve as Tyleas-Habes (Head of Household) when his father willed so. Accalon often did not have the patience to deal with Surielas' carefree attitude towards everything but his respect for the older brother will always remain. He was often alone but his love and deference to his family was constant and often worried on how Teleri would fare is she was raised alongside them.

Once when she was sitting in the low branches of the silver leafed tree, she spoke up to her brothers, and jumped down effortlessly.

" I make a deal with you Accalon." She extended her small hand to her brother. Accalon, usually with no mood to deal with Teleri, crossed his arms and stared at her. Teleri just smiled and sat on the ground, cross-legged. "Speak then, and leave me be. You are stopping progress."

She continued, "You train me to use weapons, one day a week, and I will leave you be, for the remaining six." Accalon was exasperated with this child, and would do anything to be rid of her. "It is not seemly for an elfmaiden to be handling weapons, but then again, your voice is not for singing, you are clumsy with a harp, even a lute, and it seems you dance more crooked that a drunk hobgoblin. If no talents remain, you might as well be good at something." His words never hurt her, she had built armor that withstood her brother's matter-of-fact honesty.

A deep laugh was uttered from Surielas. "Now, Accalon, if father sees no wrongdoing, let Teleri learn a few tricks to keep her suitors away from her. You remember not? She is our father's caretaker when he grows feeble and old. She will probably not marry and become our father's nurse." Teleri loved Surielas since he was unlike Accalon. The eldest, raven haired with green eyes, he was the tallest of the two. He resembled his father in youth. Accalon inherited his mother's fair hair and hazel eyes, his features, more elegant than Surielas, resembled his mother.

"Little one, if he takes the first of the days to play... I mean, to instruct you, I will take the last day of the week. Only if father approves." She jumped and hugged her older brother. He continued " Knowing your talent in convincing father, he will not see a problem. It is not like you are saving Krynn any day soon." At the end of those words, the trees of the Qualinesti forest changed their usual relaxing melody to one the elves have not heard since the days of the Kinslayer wars. A song of Heroes. The three siblings looked confusedly at each other and ran home.



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++++++++++++++++++ The promise was kept by both elflords to train their sister. Accalon, secretly looked forward his day with his sister. He felt like a teacher to a willing student. Teleri questioned each rule, made her opinion known on some learnings, and never faltered her attention. She genuinely saw her brother as a learned scholar of the arts of war. He enjoyed teaching her all the weapons and their uses. "This is a war hammer. Even being a blunt weapon, it deals a closed wound injury to your opponent. Many dwarves enjoy this barbaric weapon. I do not." Teleri had learned its use a few weeks ago, along with the mace and flail. "I agree with you, but believe that each weapon resembles the race of its user, brother. A dwarf , his build being stocky and strong resembles this here hammer." He nodded in smug satisfaction. She had remembered each of his lectures. A worthy student, too bad that it was for naught, as women were not warriors since the Kinslayer wars. She continued " The hobgoblin, not having the elegance in fighting as an elf, will use a club. As I remembered what you told me last week, the use of their club resembles their ignorance in combat, as they just slam their weapon, bashing heads with no definite strategy."

He simply nodded. "Teleri, these past few years we meet and I teach you what I have learned. Tell me then, what weapons do you desire to learn and master? Maybe the bow, like Surielas, or maybe the long sword like our father?" She walked along with him. "From the simple dagger to the exotics katars. I have had a nice instruction in all of them, but I have decided to learn more upon three. The long sword, to honor you and my father, and the cross bow to honor my brother and my elven blood." She kneeled down to salvage whatever was left from the ruined golden hem of her robes.



While Accalon taught her a direct learning in weapons, Surielas took it upon himself to teach her other important skills that a warrior must have. He also taught her his favorite skill, horse riding and combat.

This day took their outing near the river, measuring their speed and longevity. "You must be able to have strength to handle different opponents. Their sizes matter not. Never believe you will be at an advantage." He ran alongside the stream trying to catch up with her. She waited for him, her breath still regular. "I am blessed for having two strong brothers. I might not need to use the teachings I am enjoying, but I know that either you or Accalon, will honor The Wildrunners. " I will tell you something, but do not reveal it to Accalon, because it could make him never speak to me again. I believe, as the eldest of the three of us, you have better ability at arms that both of us combined." She giggled. "I told you to stop being a liar." "I do not lie. You have a passion in the weapons you wield. Accalon merely studies them, like a man in thirst of learning and curiosity. You have taken each lesson in strategy as your very survival depended on it. I take them as a useful ally, but do not have the discipline to act upon them. "I thank you for your praise brother, but I am not worthy of such flattery. Teach me more, for I do not know as much as you do."

He smiled at her. "Another lesson is protection of your body. The way you fight will either leave you open for wounding or protect you from being wounded." Surielas taught her how to grapple an opponent, how to fight if she had lost any of her senses. He developed her self esteem and her battle psychology. He also taught her how her own limbs had the ability to take life from an enemy.

One day, while they grappled, he motioned for them to stop and sat under one of the great trees, savoring their magical melody. "Sister, have you felt the song of the trees. Many times I have heard it change, once, when you were born, they sang a strong melody. I spoke to father, and she confided to me that it was a song of battle." He sat, repairing his torn armor.

"Suri, I have not heard such song in my life, but many times their melodies change. When I first picked my first weapon, to my last Life Day celebration. I also have dreams..." She sat, staring at the small brook, the water shone unusually today. The rocks resembled the blackest of onyx, reminded her of a night without stars.

Her brother's melodious voice broke her train of thought. "What do these dreams say? For I have had dreams of death and despair. But I have not told anyone but you. I do not tell Accalon as he does not question the things you cannot see."

"I dreamt of Dragons and fire and I also dreamed of a human knight. Old but powerful, and he begins whispering in my ear. I wake up and do not know what he said. The dreams have kept oncoming back." She began to cry, surprised at her show of emotion, she lowered her eyes.

Surielas pinned her to the floor and laughed. "The LoreMaster has filled your head with children's tales." They both laughed. Accalon joined them, he had brought along some fresh bread. As he sat on the floor with them, he motioned them to help themselves. On that day, Keganthilas' children would enjoy their last care free day of their lives.