Chapter 14

Tohru followed the procession down the hall, lifting her skirts to keep up with them. Kagura, Alex and Hatori whispered among themselves, glanceing back at her. Uo stayed at Tohru's side, her dark blue eyes alert to any danger threatening her charge. Ayame lead them, Shigure at his side, both laughing at each other. They approached a large ivory door, with silver leaves at the edges."This is 'se hoepel' or the Hall of Hope, since the prince used to serve here." Kagura whispered to Tohru, standing at her side as they paused at the door."Why did he serve here?" asked Tohru, as they stared at the large structer. Kagura shrugged her shoulders, as the door opened, allowing them in. The hall was decorated with chairs of white wood and tables of silver, servants standing in the corners of the room, ready to serve and cater to your every whim, and in the center of the room, a fountain of a woman, tears of water running from her eyes, as she leaned to look at her reflection in the pool of water. Tohru looked at the fountain, awestruck by it's sorrow and beauty."Do you like it?"asked Ayame, placing his hands on her shoulders. Tohru nodded stupidly, reaching out to touch the face of the woman. She touched her tears, bringing her fingers to her lips. Her eyes widened as she tasted her fingers.'Salt!' thought Tohru, looking at Ayame. He smiled, leading her to sit near the fountain.

"Why?"asked Tohru, looking at him with large eyes. Ayame laughed, seating himself infront of her. Uo sat next to her, looking at her strangely.
"That was once a real elf, she used to be the fairest maiden of all, but one day she looked into the eyes of a child, her reflection came back, distorted and disfigured, ugly and mutated, she then looked into this pond her and saw her face, but she also saw her future if she took that path, and when an elf hates itself it dies, another beautiful scultpture."explained Ayame, looking at the fountain. Tohru looked at the fountain, tears springing to her eyes as she stared at the fountain, and the elf's eternal tears flowing from her eyes."Of course no one knows if it is real, it's a folklore among the elves."said Kagura, patting Tohru on the head. Tohru nodded her head, sniffing back her tears. Alex looked at the fountain, his eyes clouded with thought."No more talk of folklore, just get back to the trouble at hand."said Hatori, running his fingers through his hair. Alex nodded, looking back at the group."Acheron has finally lost his wits, he has killed the carrier and is after the carried, he will stop at nothing."said Alex, his eyes serious. Ayame looked at the man, his brows furrowed in confusion."Stop talking like that, just let her in on the secret, it involves her anyways."said the king, throwing his hair over his shoulder. Alex looked at the young king, his eyebrow twitching dangerously."Alright, sir."said Alex, fingering his necklace.

"Kyoko was killed, and now Acheron is after Tohru, sole heir to the power of that area, he will hunt her and kill her, if we do nothing."said Alex. The table fell silent at this sudden news, each person deep in thought. Tohru was utterly confused, she had never heard of a power in her homeland. Uo rised her head, pushing a strand of hair from her face. "We can do nothing."said Hatori, somberly. Kagura looked at the man, her eyes filling with anger."The affairs of man are nothing to us"
Kagura stood, her eyes flaming, but as she was about to protest, the doors were flung open, revealing elves, each wearing clothing to specify his home. Each in circled them, their faces somber and taut with distress. "What is the matter?"asked Shigure, standing from his seat. Hatori stood calmly, stepping away from the group.
"They are here to discuss the problem of Acheron."said Ayame, as he stood. Everyone followed, silently as possible, carefully not to make any offense.