To guest reviewer 'Lily': thanks! (Ehhh, what do you mean 'we'? And, Ruthari shipper here, can I join?)

I already found some of the RP/ask blogs– that's actually where I got the idea– but I am way too shy/scared to ask them about literally anything! I feel like that's a huge problem for me– I have a hard time reaching out, especially when I get a touch starstruck. Ask-ethari-anything and ask-runaan-anything are my favorites, and I am absolutely 100% so very much too shy to even think about asking them anything! (Which yes, I know very well that is Not The Point.) Sometimes I try to be more impulsive, not overthink things so much, but then I end up regretting it five seconds later.

Incidentally, this is why I am bad at social media and have less of a Facebook presence than my grandmother. Starting my FFN account was among the scariest things I've ever done, and yes that includes going on the highway for the first time.

It is much easier to throw a question to random people who are already reading my words and probably won't answer than to give it to one specific person who probably will answer. Know what I mean?

Any advice about being less shy? Or is that not so much of a problem for you? Thanks again for the review, and I'll make sure to follow your Tumblr if/when I get mine! (I read the posts on "love is magic" and oh my word! If I could've written essays about my favorite stories for class, they would've been much better, much longer, and probably something like that. You bring up some very interesting points, and I really like your analysis of details like the lightning and Runaan's 'between' state.)

To everyone: I am so sorry this is not fluff.

Treasure

Ethari takes a step back, then another. His legs hit his work table. He doesn't know who this human is, but he can sense the Dark magic on him, and on the Startouch elf at his shoulder.

"H-how did you get here?" he stammers. "How did you get into the Silvergrove?" And past the other elves, elves who would protect their weapons smith and enchanter, some at the cost of their own lives?

Ethari reaches back, hand fumbling for the sword he knows is there. He's never been good with a weapon, but Runaan made sure he could hold his own.

"Is it supposed to be difficult?" the Startouch purrs.

The human does not smile. "You have something I want, elf."

Ethari's fingers find the blade of a sword, and he slides his hand along it toward the hilt.

The human does not appear to notice. "You are Ethari of the Moonshadow elves, are you not?"

Ethari freezes. How does the human know his name?

"So you are. That would make you an adoptive father of Rayla of the Moonshadow elves."

This human must be the Viren Rayla told him about. But… Rayla said she'd killed him? How could he be alive?

He was a Dark mage. Rayla must have underestimated his magic, or his forethought.

What could a Dark mage want with a smith– and as he asked himself the question, Ethari realized the answer.

The mage didn't want Ethari the smith. The mage wanted Ethari who had connections to the Dragon Prince.

Ethari unfreezes, pulling the sword from the table and pointing it at the mage. "I'll never help you."

"Never?" The mage reaches into his robes and withdraws a small pouch. He bounces it on his hand, and Ethari hears coins clinking.

He scoffs, lowering the sword slightly. He can't hold it in ready position indefinitely, not like Runaan or Rayla. "Don't you know only humans can be bribed?"

"Funny. That's exactly what he said." The mage reaches into the pouch and pulls out one coin. "Take a closer look."

Ethari doesn't want to, doesn't want to give in to the mage's mind games. But at the same time, it's only a circle of gold. What harm could it do?

And what does the mage mean, that's exactly what he said?

Ethari lets the point of the sword drop to the floor, but his guard stays up as he steps forward. Both the Startouch and the human smile, the human holding the coin out at arms length.

Every part of Ethari's body screams that this is a trap. But he doesn't know how. What if the mage expects him to pull away from the coin? So he resists the urge, but his body still won't let him get close enough to see anything more than gold.

"Here," the mage says suddenly, startling Ethari. "Hold out your hand." And he drops the coin into Ethari's palm. "Take as long as you like. I'm patient."

Ethari moves away from the mage, bringing the coin to his face.

And sees a face in the coin.

Runaan. Terrified. Screaming.

He looks up, rage warring with terror and sorrow, the edges of the coin biting into his palm. "You monster! What did you do to him?!"

"Nothing I can't undo… for a price, of course."

Ethari's hand tightens on the sword, and he starts forward, only to hear a deep voice say, "Aspiro Frigis," and he can't move. Runaan's coin, at least, is still safe in his hand, buried in ice.

The mage steps up to the edge of the ice, far too close for Ethari's liking. "You have two options. One, you can help me, and I'll take your friend out of the coin for your trouble. Or two, don't help me, I'll still get what I want, and you can become a coin as well. So, what will it be?"

Ethari drops his head. Forgive me, my heart.

Um. When I started this, I really was not sure where it was going to go. I'm sorry! I hate hurting Ethari. He deserves only happiness and joy with his soulmate (give me all the Ruthari; there is not enough of it in the world). Unfortunately, Viren and Aaravos are still out there, and still want Zymmie's power. There will be no happy ending with those two still in the picture, only happy interludes.

*does anyone know why Ellis's parents, the doctor, and a mercenary (what who which episode is this mercenary in) are in the character select and Zymmie is there TWICE (once as Zym, and once misspelled as Azmondias) when Ethari, Janai, Zubeia, Lain, Tiadrin, Aanya, her moms, Phoe-Phoe, and ETHARI AND JANAI AND AANYA aren't in there?*

...what do you think Ethari chose?