Erm…sorry once again about the super long wait.

A/N: Just wanted to clarify some things. There are quite a few details that I changed for the purposes of my story…for example night elves migrating to eastern kingdoms. Also the whole idea about painting themselves was something I made up as well as the night elves can't love thing. I read about the history of night elves, humans, etc. before I started writing my fic so I do know some stuff about the background. For my story to work, I did change things.

Those of you who are worried about the human/elf relationship...not to fear...I do realize that she is immortal and he is not...also I never said that this would have a happy/fluffy ending...but not to discourage anyone, it could be happy, who knows? Just keep in mind that there will be a war and everything may not turn out the way you expect...

Hope that cleared things up a little :-)

Disclaimer: nope don't own it


Golden rays filtered softly through the cracks of the ageing wood. Hay was strewn across the worn floorboards giving off a sharp sweet scent. Horses nickered softly and the gentle scraping of hooves could be heard. A white head poked out of one of the stalls, black tipped ears alert. Liquid brown eyes watched the approaching human and elf carefully.

The horse immediately caught her eye, Carya approached it slowly, palm extended. Melodically she whispered a string of elvish words and began to rub the horse's velvet black nose. Illyath stood back for a moment, simply watching. There seemed to be an unspoken bond between the elf and animals.

"What do you make of the horses?" he asked at last.

Carya turned with a smile, "They are truly beautiful creatures, and intelligent."

"Her name is Lofn," he motioned toward the white horse. "This," he motioned toward a broad backed war horse, "this is Vidar." He leaned against a stall door, "How did you know she was one of mine?"

"I did not, she knew that I was with you," Carya replied nonchalantly.

"Really? How do you know?"

Carya shook her head, "I do not know."

"Ah…interesting." Illyath straightened and began to saddle his horse, "I'll help you in a moment."

The elf spoke in elvish once more, at first Illyath thought that she was speaking to him, but realized that it was to the horse.

"She says that she will carry me just as well without one."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Animals can not lie; it is not in their nature."

"Do you need help…" he trailed off when he saw she was already seated gracefully on the back of the white mare.

He heaved himself into the saddle of the massive war horse; its coat was so dark it could have been mistaken for black. Carya had a feeling that Illyath needed a dark horse; she decided to ask him more about what it was he did for a livelihood.

Illayth lead them out of the stables and down the back streets of the town. They rode in complete silence; the only sound was that of the horses' hooves hitting stone. Once out of the back gates it seemed that a ban had been lifted.

"Enjoying your self so far?" Illyath asked jovially.

"So far, yes. Illyath?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you ask me to come riding with you?" She had an inkling that it was not simply for pleasantries.

He was silent a moment and she could tell he was thinking. "I don't know, everything seemed a bit tense. Besides, Agraelith has had the opportunity to keep you all to himself," he winked at her. "If you do not mind my prying, what exactly is going on between the two of you?" He was looking straight ahead, as if he was avoiding looking at her.

"Friendship, that is all. He is nothing more to me than a friend." The more she thought about it though…the more she wondered whether or not this was true. She felt things for him, things that she had thought night elves could never feel.

"Ah, that's good then," he looked at her this time.

"What do you mean?"

"Agraelith's a good man and everything…but he…I don't know. I think you need someone more like myself is all," he gave her a playful wink and she knew at once that he was joking.

Somehow she found that she did not mind it. There was something about Illyath that put her immediately at ease. At first she had thought him nothing but a treacherous rogue, yet there appeared to more to him than she had originally thought. Still…she was not ready to completely trust him.

"How are you enjoying Thal-Morian?"

"It is all right, nothing like I had imagined. There are no trees…"

He leaned his head back and laughed, "No trees? Of course there are!"

"Not like where I am from…"

"I see," his eyes still twinkled merrily. Dark hair blew across his face and he brushed it out of the way, exposing his cheeks flushed from the wind. He was handsome in a different way from Agraelith. Where Agraelith was tall and well built with blonde hair and a gentle brushing of stubble across his chin, Illyath was lean and clean shaven with long dark hair. Judging by looks, one would have never guessed them to be so close.

She had to tell him, she knew she did. Now was the time…she knew that Agraelith would want her to consult him but… "Illyath, you have heard of the prophet Medivh…have you not?"

His eyes narrowed, "Old fool is more like it."

So that was where Agraelith had gotten that impression, "He is no fool. He spoke to Agraelith and I."

"Really? When?"

"Before we reached Thal-Morian."

"And?"

"He spoke none too clearly, but I believe that…he was talking about a battle, a war, involving Thal-Morian." Illyath was silent and stared at the reigns in his hands. Carya tried again, "Illyath…somehow Agraelith and I are tied to it, I wanted to warn you."

Illyath broke into a grin, "Finally, I never thought I would see the day that Agraelith was the one who brought the trouble with him."

Carya sighed; it did not appear that he was getting the seriousness of the situation. "There could be a war."

He laughed, "War, war is what I was trained for."

She shook her head, "People could die, the city could fall, and you laugh?"

"I do not fear war my dear…in fact…I rather look forward to it." He refused to meet her eyes and she knew then what he was doing. It was his way of coping with it, blow it off and hopefully it would go away. Except she knew that it was not going to go away.

"Illyath…we do not want to put you in danger—" He cut her off.

"Really, it's okay. If war does approach us, I assure you that I shall live through it," he sounded quite sure of himself.

"Have you ever…"

"Been in battle? Once, soon after Agraelith and I deserted the King's Guard…or more like I deserted and dragged him along with me." She waited for him to continue. "I had it in my head that I was going to become a mercenary…thought that it was suited exactly for me. First battle we were in…bloodiest thing ever…nothing could have prepared me for it. It was against other humans…not against orcs like I thought it was going to be. Oh I defended myself…and at one point…it was as if this blood rage came over me…that was what scared me the most…couldn't control myself…"

"Then?"

"I moved here to Thal-Morian and became a merchant, honest living," he was smirking.

"An honest living?"

"All right, I guess it is mainly an honest living…except when I erm…never mind."

There it was, she had known that he did something…smuggling perhaps. "If war approaches…would you fight?"

His eyes locked on hers, "I would fight…even if the odds were against us…I would fight."

"As would I," she replied.

Illyath shook his head, "For some reason I have the impression that if there was a war…Agraelith would try to keep you as far away from it as possible."

"Of course he would not…he knows that I am a warrior."

"All right…" he did not seem convinced.

They continued in uncomfortable silence. After a while the awkwardness died away and soon the silence became more bearable. There was a soothing feel to just riding side by side, the heavy pounding of hooves on dirt and grass. They sky was clear, unmarred by the worries of the world around them. In a way she secretly wished that they could take the horses and ride away. Just ride, anywhere, anywhere that would get them away from it all. If they really wanted to, she supposed that she and Agraelith could do it. They were not tied down anywhere. They could leave, and let whatever was about to befall the town, occur with out them. It had stood long before they had come, what difference could they make?

She knew that they could not, that no matter how much she wanted to, she could not abandon them to their fate. Not when she could do something to help them. It was odd to think that they could either save the town or let it fall. It all rested on their decisions. She wished it was not them. She wished that things to the way they were before she had rescued Agraelith. It made her wonder what things would be like if she had left him, if she had not been so curious that night. They would be the same as always, living in a dreamlike world. One where there was no fear or hate, one where she knew exactly what lay in store for her. There would be no tears of loneliness, no pangs of homesickness.

Yet…yet she would not know anything more than what was placed in front of her. There would not be the sun, and the clear blue sky, and the sprawling lush grass. There would be no understanding of humans, only the talk of them by her elders. There would be no…feelings…emotions such as the ones she had now. There would be no Agraelith. Suddenly she did not regret her decision. She knew that even if she could go back, knowing the things she knew now, she would save him. She cared for him more than she could ever admit. She loved him.

Yes she loved him; she knew it in her heart. Something she had thought would never be possible for her. "Illyath?"

"Hmm?"

"I…I…I think I have encountered a problem…"

"And what may that problem be?" he asked, curiously.

"When you love someone…how can you tell?"

He laughed, "I'm not sure I'm the best one to be asking…but…when you see them, say, standing across the room, you can feel your stomach turn over. You want to run to them or you simply want to stare at them all day. When you are near them, you want to stay there forever, by their side…why?"

"No reason…"

"Does it have to do with your problem?"

"It may…"

"Do you…" his face turned a violent shade of red, "You know Carya…you and I…I think that I may feel the same…"

She looked at him, completely shocked. This was not something she had been expecting at all. Although he had hinted at it, he had been joking at the time. "Illyath…I…" She did not want to hurt his feelings. Then again…how could he really love here when they had only met the day before…her mind went back to the conversation she had overheard. I know that you don't do anything unless you're either getting paid for it or you have a reason of your own. We're exactly the same you and I and neither of us will ever change. What exactly was he playing at…

"Illyath…I did not mean that I loved you. I do not know you," she said bluntly.

He looked down embarrassed, "What a fool am I. You're in love with my best friend…aren't you?"

"No…please, place it out of your mind," she still felt at ease with him, but her barriers had been raised. She could not trust him, but she had no need to fear him. Whatever it was that he was planning, he had no malicious intentions.

"Should we start heading back?"

Carya nodded, she had a sudden longing to see Agraelith again. They arrived back at the stables well before the sun was ready to set. Carya led Lofn back to her stall and brushed her down while Illyath did the same with Vidar. "Va en mylanan gwyn," she gave Lofn one last pat and followed Illyath out.

They talked amiably while they walked back to the inn and a few times Carya found herself laughing at Illyath's offhanded jokes. They entered the pub and she scanned the room for Agraelith but did not see him. Illyath, as if sensing her feelings, said, "I had a great time, but I must take my leave here. Tell Agraelith that I want to speak with him later. Farewell for now milady," with a mock bow, he wandered off to talk with someone standing by the bar.

Hesitantly she knocked on the door, she heard someone mutter a few curses and then a thud. Finally it swung open and Agraelith stood back to let her in. "That blasted cat of yours is out to get me," he muttered, wincing slightly. He straightened up the chair that he had stumbled into, while Star innocently wound herself around his legs. "Get off me," he said with a scowl, but picked her up anyways.

"She's only a baby, what did she do?"

"Tripped me, that's what," he growled and dumped Star onto a bed. "So, how was your little trip?"

"It was good, I like Illyath."

His eyes narrowed, "I beg your pardon?"

"He seems like a decent person. Not one who I would trust completely, but he does not seem all bad."

Agraelith seemed to relax slightly, "Yeah, a little rough at times and sneaky, but he'll stick by you in a scrape."

"Agraelith?"

"What?" he grumbled.

"Are you okay?" He was acting strangely.

"Of course, just a little tired," he flopped back onto the bed and she sat down next to him.

"Agraelith?"

"Yeah?" he propped himself up with his elbows.

"I think that they were wrong…"

He looked at her confused, "Who was wrong?"

"The elders…"

"About what?" he asked patiently.

She hesitated, then said, "About humans…" It was not what she had intended to say. She had wanted to tell him that they were wrong, about love.

"Is that so…decided that we aren't all bad?" he asked with a grin.

"No, although they may have been right about you," she said with a smile.

He grabbed her around the waste and pulled her back, "Oh really?"

She squirmed to get out of his grip and found herself laughing. Getting an arm free, she hit him playfully. He laughed, "Is that all you have, elf?"

Quickly she managed to turn in his arms so that she was facing him. Grabbing his hands she pinned them around his back. Her cheek was against his and she whispered in his ear, "You really think that you could beat me human?"

"Possibly," with that he managed to roll of the bed bringing her with him. They landed in a heap on the floor.

Carya managed to narrowly avoid being crushed and was soon on her feet; he stood up more slowly, rubbing his back. "Remind me never to do that again, that floor hurts."


Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it! I promise it won't take me so long to update again…okay…I know I said that last time but I will seriously try to get another chapter out sooner. Ooh...almost forgot...the horse names came from mythology and the name Lofn holds particular significance. A cookie to whoever knows what branch of mythology it came from.

What to look forward to next chapter: Agraelith getting mad and drinking a bit to much …Carya going to talk to the orc…and some other stuff…a bit more action than this chapter:-)