It was the morning of September 29th. Ezran was walking ahead of a procession of soldiers bearing ten dead comrades, two of each kingdom. Their families had been asked for permission by raven and had given it.
Descending down the Breach, Amaya and Gren hobbled next to him. Helmond was conspicuous by his absence.
At the widest part of the passage, near where the hidden human base had been, the soldiers set their burdens down and saluted, waiting for their counterparts.
From behind a column of steam, a similar column of elves appeared. Their banners showed the green of earth, the blue of ocean, the white of sky and the red of sun.
Eight bodies were barred up on their side. They also saluted. Unlike the humans, the gesture involved the heart, not the head. Silence ruled.
Ezran and Janai met in the middle of the groups.
"Thank you for doing this. It's a powerful symbol", he said.
"I appreciate you suggesting it. We have confirmed that these soldiers were convinced of our mission. This burial will be the least reward for their loyalty to peace. ", more sadly she said, "I myself can unfortunately vouch for the two sunfire elves. They were Lux Aurea and members of my own personal guard."
"I can't help but notice the absence of moonshadow among your troop.", Gren said with Amayas intent.
Janai nodded. "I spoke to my remaining moon shadow leftenant. She indicated their families may take it as an insult to cremate their dead in the presence of strangers. We elected to bring their well-wishes instead."
Ezran nodded. "That doesn't surprise me much, knowing what I do about moon elves. Janai, we've prepared a speech", he said with a look at Corvus, "Is it alright to do that? Hold it, I mean."
The Prime Legate smirked. "Personally, I am not a woman of grand words, King Ezran. But speeches are a pastime of our politicians as well. So, by all means. Say what you feel you must."
Ezran stepped forward, looking between the still saluting soldiers. He took a deep breath, studying his cue cards. During his coronation, he hadn't used any, messing up frequently. This was going to be so much harder.
"Soldiers", his voice rang out, shaking. He was annoyed at himself already. Speak, then breathe, not both at the same time. Gah!
"We share this ground without co-contention like we share many things.
The air, letting us breathe.
The sun, nurturing us.
The water, satur...satiating our thirst.
But in this moment, we most k-keenly share the grief of losing friends and comrades.
A loss we should allow ourselves to feel, to inter...internalise.
After all, we owe them a great debt.
They fell in str…strategic vain.
With no great walls breached, no objectives captured.
Neither military honors nor m-medals to be had.
Yet; Pors...personified honor is who they are.
They stood and weathered the storm and rage of death, valiant in the face of great evil.
There are forces at play that do not wish this moment to exist.
Our shared grief, our empathy and our f-friendship offends them.
We have clung to peace with d-desperation, like no-one before us, still paying the price of war.
My i-intent will always be to bolster this truce.
Our enemy is war, our foe death.
It must be so since those things tear apart what b-belongs together.
C-countless families will mourn as these news reach into our federations.
We must never forget the sacrifices made here today.
If we can not find the culprits of this hein...ous attack, it may happen again.
We must collaborate to find them and drag them into the light of justice - true justice, not simple w-vengeance which would sa...sully our intent.
But today, our work will be to commit our fallen to eternal rest.
May some of their other...worldly peace fall on all of us.
Th-Thank you for sharing in our grief and letting us share in yours."
Stepping back, the Katolin King breathed out slowly, hopping a bit to hurry the cold out of his limbs.
Amaya gaped at Corvus. The tracker shook his head very slowly, his eyes serious. 'His words, my vocabulary', he signed surreptitiously.
The elves seemed at peace with his speech, if not impressed. The humans appeared quite enthused by it, some looking to their comrades to see if it was alright to clap. Nobody did and the atmosphere stayed heavy and pensive. This suited Ezran just fine.
Jainai stepped into his place in the middle of the forces. Ezran noted with envy that she held no cue cards.
"This, friends, is the continuation of our staunch refusal to do everything we're bidden without question. Hold on to the message of his speech. We have died here tonight, together, and together we will stand until the senate and Sol Regem scuff their own horns ramming these walls! Populesque Xanadianum in Aeterna!"
She had left the senate out of her hail and her soldiers answered with shouts of approval.
"Octurii! Make ready to bid farewell to our brothers and sisters in arms."
"Princeps!", came the four-voiced acknowledgement from the captains.
Amaya stepped forward. "Funeral detail, make ready", she ordered.
"Sir!", the soldiers replied.
One after another, they pitched the bodies off the edge. A trumpeter from Del Bar played a pensive, arresting song.
Once the bodies were gone, the elves knelt and Ezran hurried to make his people follow suit.
"We've hated each other in life!", half the elves yelled.
The other half replied, "Now, friend, go easy. Nix tribe lines and blood feud; forever!"
When the reverb of the shouts had subsided, everyone rose. Janai shook Ezran's and Amaya's hands, and the detachments separated, returning to their respective sides of the border.