Falling Stars

The decade that followed the unification of Tempestas saw much rebuilding and reordering. Much of Tempestas had been ravaged during the war; and it took most of the decade to restore most of the damage. Many of the soldiers who had fought alongside the Thunder Bearers had been redeployed to help with the rebuilding effort. In honour of their efforts, the term 'Thunder Bearers', originally used to refer to the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost, the Storm Lord also bestowed the same title upon all who had fought for the unity of Tempestas; Storm Rider and non-Storm Rider alike.

As for the Storm Riders of the Thunder Bearers, they were dispatched to put down the resisting pockets of other Storm Riders from the old ways and the sky raiders. With order slowly but surely being enforced, and the focus shifting from war to development, the state of affairs in Tempestas began to improve.

The Storm Hold became the administrative capital of Tempestas while the Iron Roost became its security and military centre. Within the decade, much of Tempestas's population moved to both locations, eager to take part in building the new era of their world.

As for the Storm Lord, Thorondor, he spent most of his time devoting himself to every single aspect of the rebuilding of Tempestas that he was rarely seen. But every Tempestan felt his presence, watching over them like the Eternal Storm, driving them to give their all.

II II II

Thorondor's eyes scanned the reports submitted to him, absorbing the information almost automatically even while his thoughts were elsewhere.

He supposed he had been naive. The war had only been the first step to achieving Torwald's vision. Rebuilding had been the second step, and only at the end of the decade had things finally returned to their pre-war state. In truth, it would have taken even longer if it hadn't been for a large bulk of the army regulars being redeployed to aid with the rebuilding. Only lately had the focus started to shift towards development and improvement.

Thorondor sighed.

In truth, any large scale development would be a mighty challenge given the nature of Tempestas's surface; the violent oceans, the limited availability of land and the Eternal Storm itself. There were many things to consider, things that Thorondor had very little patience for.

He was a warrior; not an administrator. He was meant to lead men into battle, not figure out how to fine-tune the plumbing of the settlements. But he would not shirk his duty, no matter how vexing it may be.

"How are you feeling?"

Thorondor looked up to see Gwaine. His closest friend strode forward, smiling a little as he placed a plateful of food before Thorondor.

"You keep forgetting to eat lately," remarked Gwaine. "We don't want you wasting away now, do we?"

Thorondor's smile turned wry as he nodded his thanks. He gratefully put aside the reports he had been reading and eagerly began to dig into the food.

"How's things at the Iron Roost?" asked Thorondor, after a few mouthfuls.

"Recruitments are up for the army regulars," answered Gwaine, sitting himself across from Thorondor. "Not so much for the Storm Riders though; only veterans from the war have tried to join; only a handful make it."

"We're not recruiting according to the old ways anymore?" asked Thorondor.

Gwaine shrugged. "We do. But it's the Eagles...they've changed. They've become even pickier with who they choose; only the veterans are being considered...and only the best of them are chosen."

"I see," said Thorondor.

Gwaine said nothing for awhile, watching Thorondor for a moment.

"You look tired," he said at last.

Thorondor's smile widened. "How could you tell?"

"I know you better than most," answered Gwaine, smiling. "I know you don't get tired the way we 'normal' people do. But I can tell that you're tired of doing all this."

Gwaine gestured vaguely at the reports on Thorondor's desk.

Thorondor chuckled. "After the thrill of battle, anyone would find reading a little dull."

As Gwaine chuckled, Thorondor found himself studying Gwaine intently. His incredibly sharp vision spotted more grey in Gwaine's hair, the weathering skin and the lines around the eyes. For a brief moment, Thorondor saw Torwald in his finals days instead of Gwaine.

Fear, so alien a feeling clenched his heart.

Thorondor had been aware that while many of his peers were still in their prime, they were aging.

Except for him. Not a single grey streak in his hair or line on his face. He was the same as he was since he matured into a man.

"Something wrong?" asked Gwaine, noticing Thorondor's sudden change in mood.

"Nothing," answered Thorondor, leaning back. "You look older."

Gwaine scowled. "Well, we can't all have your perpetual youth now, can we?"

The two of them laughed, but the fear would not leave Thorondor's heart.

II II II

Whenever Thorondor wanted to clear his head, he would always sneak out in the dead of night and go flying on Garuda's back. He would endlessly circle the Storm Hold, enjoying the harsh winds, the pattering rain, and the roar of the sea and the rumbling of the Storm.

That night though, Thorondor pushed Garuda towards the Storm, urging his partner to take him to greater heights in hopes he could escape the fear.

His otherness beyond his immense stature and miraculously fast healing capabilities had become more and more apparent during and after the war. Thorondor had realised that his senses were on a whole different level compared to other people, he realised that he learned and absorbed information with unnatural ease, in particular those that related to war.

Thorondor was also starting to suspect that he did not age.

He was already fifty-one, yet he still he was the same as he was when he was twenty. It went beyond just his physical appearance; it was everything. His strength showed no signs of waning, his vitality was unchanged, his athleticism undiminished. If anything, they continued to improve.

While many veterans of the war were still great warriors, Thorondor could already see the effects of age on them, including Gwaine.

The thought that he might outlive them all frightened him. He did not want to lose them.

He didn't want to be left behind.

Alone.

With a shout, Thorondor spurred Garuda into the Storm, letting it engulf them.

He relished the wetness, the howling winds and even the lightning that passed through his armour and Garuda's steel-like feathers harmlessly, flying ever higher until they emerged above the Eternal Storm itself.

The Storm stretched out in every direction like a sea of grey clouds as Garuda glided over it, letting out a cry every now and then to challenge any other Storm Eagle that may be in the area, though Thorondor highly doubted it.

Above them, the stars filled the night sky, shining like diamonds. Thorondor looked up at them and for the first time in decades, thought back to the conversation between him and his mother.

"You came from the Storm."

Thorondor pondered those words as he looked up at the endless spots of light dotting the sky. He wondered if he had in fact came from the stars. Were there others like him, other beings of incredible strength, intellect and agelessness?

Did it matter?

Thorondor could hear Firiel's voice in his head.

"Don't you ever think that, foolish boy. Whether you came from the sky in an aircraft, or born of a woman, Tempestas is your home. You belong to her as much as I do. We are all equal beneath the Storm."

Thorondor smiled; now that Tempestas was truly united, he would to make everyone equal beneath the Storm, just as Torwald had dreamed, just as Firiel had always said.

He missed his mother. He had last seen her after the end of the war, promising her to make Tempestas a better place. She was approaching eighty, but still strong in spirit, if frailer in body. Thorondor had asked her to move to the Storm Hold where he could look after her, but she had smacked him lightly on the shins with her walking stick, snapping that he had enough to do without looking after her, and scolded Thorondor for thinking she needed looking after at all.

Thorondor's smiled widened. He would go visit his mother and perhaps take Gwaine as well; it had been a long time since Gwaine had been with his own family. One of the senior officials can look after matters in his absence.

Suddenly, Garuda let out a shriek that jarred Thorondor from his thoughts.

"What is it, Garuda?" asked Thorondor, holding tightly to the reins.

In answer, Garuda shrieked again, looking up to the night sky. Thorondor followed the Storm Eagle's gaze and his smile faltered.

Several stars were streaking across the night sky, leaving a fiery trail in their wake. They were near, too near.

The stars were falling.