Author's Note: So, I actually had to do a bit of research for this chapter about how candles were lit before matches, and evidentially the answer is a taper, which as I understand it, is basically a glorified stick that you light in the cooking fire and then can use to light all your candles. So, now you know, and so do I. Go figure.
Morning came annoyingly quickly. Snow wasn't sure exactly when she had finally went to bed last night, but she was beginning to understand why Darion never showed up during the day. She was tired.
Nonetheless, she splashed water on her face and picked the brightest dress in the wardrobe (yellow) in an attempt to wake herself up, and went downstairs. The sun was very bright. It made her want to crawl back into bed. However, after breakfast she did feel a bit more awake – though still not particularly happy about it.
Grenarin beckoned to her with one hand, he was holding a lit taper in the other. Snow followed him to the room they had been in yesterday. He was sitting on the floor beside the largest candlestick Snow had ever seen, and that was saying something. The base was at least a foot tall, and the combination of candle and base were significantly taller than Grenarin sitting beside it. Additionally, it was wide enough that snow was pretty sure if she wrapped her hands around it she wouldn't be able to connect them.
"I thought you said you wouldn't receive the book until this afternoon at the earliest." Snow noted curiously as she sat down beside Grenarin.
"We won't," Grenarin replied, "However, it occurred to me that there was something I wanted to try – even without knowing anything more."
He lit the candle with the taper and then blew it out and set it aside.
"Because Rùn is, by definition, intent and desire, it seems reasonable that just by focusing your intent you can influence other living beings."
"Alright . . ." Snow said slowly, both unsure if she really wanted to explore that part of her, as it reminded her rather unpleasantly of her stepmother, and what that had to do with the candle.
"But, frankly, most living beings are pretty stubborn. Trying to move an animals will completely inexperienced might be frustrating, not to mention dangerous. So instead, we will try it with fire first." He gestured cheerfully at the candle.
Snow blinked, "Um. I thought you said that I might be able to control living things."
Grenarin nodded.
"Uh, last I checked, fire isn't alive."
Grenarin, paused, clearly taken by surprise. "When was the last time you checked?"
". . . its . . . a figure of speech . . ."
Grenarin smiled. "Well, I have checked. While I wouldn't say that fire is alive in the conventional sense, I can't say it's not alive either. Look at it, really look."
Snow looked. It didn't appear any different.
"Water will run downhill or fall from the sky. Rocks will be carried through streams or roll down hills. But fire moves on its own. It climbs up mountains, moves through cities, and crosses rivers. Rocks can only be broken, water can only spread itself ever thinner, until it disappears entirely. But fire grows and grows and never stops. It dances, and laughs, and changes in ways that dead things never can. You can deny it's life, if you wish, but you cannot say that it is dead."
Snow watched the candle. As Grenarin talked, the more she could almost believe that it had life. It seemed to move with his words, as if it were listening to him. Snow wasn't sure she believed him. But she almost did.