Fresh chapter 86 Reflections on Long lifespan (revised)

*back to some Sherman, she's an intriguing person. Liz has always had problems with her past, wanted to expand on that.

Songs: Oxygen by Erica, Hello Thank you from K-on and Storm (Feng Bao) from the Four. I'm happy that I deal with different aspects in my little interpretation of their lives. Celebrating Elves!

Nuada

This legend of Drizzt series, The Thousand orcs, was my reading priority now. My friend was going to purchase the new stories of which she had read some samples. "More people die! Dammit. Will you read if I do the spoiler?" she asked, pouting.

"What is a spoiler?" I nodded while she explained. "I still will. Probably skip those stupid parts." I agreed. The drow progressed from his sad life being persecuted and met a few friends, also a fierce female elf who died. Why I kept following his adventures was because I saw a similarity between us. He also had the Berserker trait in him. Berserker is the state of mind when a warrior engages in wars, overriding other weak emotions. The callous killer. I identified with his loneliness, being the sole survivor. Damn! Orcs are the worst and most detestable species. Even though my face was devoid of feeling, Halfling asked,

"Noowa are you ok?"

"Why?"

She sat beside me and peered closely at my face. It had shocked me when people did that. I smiled. "Err because suddenly you glared at the page."

"Because I hate orcs, that are trash," I replied. "I won't bore you with my hatred of them. Also people will remind me to be positive and smiley."

She leaned on my shoulder. I put my arm about her and continued. I hardly had this sort of luxury, today was one rest- day. The next would be intensive, I anticipated more activity than action. "Hm don't be stressed then. Read some Garfield comics."

"Alright. I will. Thanks," I nodded and opened one of the small books. I liked the funny comic strips which were less confusing. That was why people wanted to pretend the real world didn't exist. I somewhat sympathized with their way now.

Mostly the conflicts I had with others were solved. Perhaps I could remain here, which was what Abe said of the professor. We were having a palace constructed. But I doubt that I could feel at home there.

I shook my head wondering why I had changed…. Looking at the phone I felt a stir in my heart. Laira had called me in near panic one day. Sometime last month. My friend was outside while I was taking a bath. "Hey prince, call for you!" he shouted over the noise.

I picked up. "Yes?" She rushed into how she was scared to lose me, that we would have shorter lifespans if we were wounded or discouraged. "..and then he chose eternal rest! Will you do that, ionuin? Tell me no!"

"Laira calm down. I'm all right. It's a myth. Not all of us will choose the shorter mortal path." I said. She sounded upset, her voice was unstable. "I am here. It's okay. Can you repeat what happened, slowly?" I made sounds of agreement. It had happened to a being of our kind, and he had become close to a human. He had sorrow to the point of death.

"Where did you find this book?"

"You gave it to me."

I shook my head. Should have read the summary first. "Crap, I didn't mean to upset you. That has not happened to any elf for centuries. We won't do things rashly, in that case he was mortally wounded and wanted to see his wife."

"Ok, did I interrupt anything? It was your friend replying. I miss you loads. I had a nightmare too." She confided. We had not seen each other for a long time that month.

"Oh. Not really I was bathing. Then we shall talk more. I have eaten," I said.

After that I sent her a short email:

To: keishagirl, Just came into this thing. Surrounded by scum! Yuck. I hate talking with them. So relieved to hide in this lab. I remembered how to log in. Haha. Cannot wait to escape outdoors! Sadly I won't have much time till next week. Nice talking to u, let's keep writing letters ok.

Yours always, Nuada

Liz Sherman

Friendship with the elves was a major breakthrough for us! I had never imagined I would be so privileged to be close to these wise beings. Uriel and the healers were gentle, sociable and cute. Nuada was candid and a steadfast friend to us. He never flinched in the face of danger. It was not that he worked well in a team, he preferred to take action on his own. I smiled recalling the moments Nuada had ignored counsel and took out the enemy.

Johann overreacting to that was comical. "I know you zon't take orderz but we should proceed with caution, Mein gott!"

Nuada just stared at him without comment.

Later when I asked him how he felt, the elf said, "No need to feel anything. I'm fine."

My husband Red always bickered with the tinman in contrast. Only when he was upset about some political issue would the elf explode back with long paragraph sentences. E always had a good show to watch then. It didn't benefit our bureau to threaten to strip Nuada's badge because he was necessary. He didn't need to stay, it was quite a miracle that he chose to continue. I would like to think that the twins liked us and had not found a home outside. Their palace had been in ruins.

I liked them to stay.

We got a chance to catch up. It was the new extension of the west wing. He called me before, that he found a new exit outside to the forest outside. I had agreed immediately.

There were no missions expected. Yes!

Nuada was early and stood up when I approached. Laira waved.

He smiled sincerely and gave me a gift. I was touched. "Oh why?"

"Because I haven't given you anything before."

She said, "Wee! Because we're buds. But um, he won't tell ya that." We laughed. Indeed, elf was direct but uncomfortable with telling us how he truly felt.

Nuada glared at her. "Excuse me, did I forgive you yet, my lady?"

"Should have. Awww, don't be petty." Laira hugged him. He sighed. "Liz, let's go!"

I wanted to know if they had fought. Nuada smiled. "A friendly debate is all."

She ran to the door and waited in anticipation. The door was too heavy for us to shift. As we walked, I said, "When did you find this exit? So smart, Elf."

He smiled. "Hm I just stumbled across the place when I passed by. I need a quiet place to reflect sometimes. To be alone."

I did understand. Unlike his boisterous companions, now that Nuala was living separately to prepare for birth, he liked to train, read and seek solitude. "Yep. Don't be alone too much, or we'll start dialing 911."

We pushed it open together. Laira asked if there was a key. Leaving it open for later was better.

"They might make a lock. It's so warm, why don't you slow down?" he suggested lightly.

"Yea ok."

This was another angle of the preserved forest outside HQ. I closed my eyes and inhaled the cool air.

The girl had settled down and spoke to elf about going to try some food. I did envy them a little. Sometimes I felt attracted to some of the handsome guys but was already married. Hellboy got jealous of him, but now they were almost friends even if the alliance was simply against the outside world. After walking for a bit, Nuada said he wanted to stay near a tall tree. He stifled a yawn.

"Sorry are you tired? How about you Liz?" she piped up.

He admitted yes he was. "Don't go off, how could you leave me? Hm?" Nuada pretended to be upset. I leaned back on the tree too.

"I'll be careful. Ow." Laira winced and looked at her hand. I couldn't see the physical magic being woven.

He said proudly, "See. Don't be impulsive, I made a precaution from you running off."

She argued, "I'm familiar with this place, Noowa. Don't worry. I won't be far. Didn't we talk about this, not casting spells on me?"

"Already done before the discussion. No idea how to remove or reverse the spell." He put his arm about her. Laira began to persuade him.

I laughed. He looked solemn like a harried father. I said, "Don't make him age faster."

"I'm not old! Come and sit down with us. I'm a bit hungry. Do you have food?" he suggested. Laira sighed.

I took out my container of Brownies to share. I did have some skill baking.

Then I showed them photos of the new plants. Our schedules had been different so it was only now that we could meet up. Elfprince smiled. "Yes this new… camera is useful. Thank you. How to use mine again?" We showed him. All agents owned phones and gadgets and the nature-beings found it hard to adapt.

He listened attentively.

"Here we'll also demo the camera. This is phone camera different. Resolution's low. Hold this, can you see the flowers in the middle? Press the button." She said, moving away. Nuada held it awkwardly and cast around. Finally he clicked. Yay!

"Thanks." Nuada beamed.

"Go ahead to practice more. Next time I'll help you install one too," I said.

"No need, I Really don't need to use tech. That time, I couldn't see anything when I turned on computer. So I kicked it. The man is afraid of me. He will come over and beg, sir please Don't kick my babies. " The prince frankly spoke of it.

Yea I had been there. Nuada growled and since the CPU was on the floor, one boot leg was all it took to smash it. We tried to calm him down. And he was so cute declaring, "There was nothing. Only black so I wanted to fix the thing." The technical guy was the sole person there fulltime and he had begged Nuada not to do it. His moaning had been comical. Nooo, my god! Please inform me if you want to do anything. Precious darling smashed insides, ahhhh!

Laira looked impish as she touched a finger to his nose. He blinked. "Ah ah, why did you destroy the place? That's why he made a sad face everytime we popped in."

Nuada chuckled and brushed her hand away. "He overreacted. I merely kicked it a bit, sure would have got better. Of course I understand the basics, I went through those lessons."

Laira replied with a dismayed tone,"I gave you the free extra coaching. Comps are like people, elf. Cannot be hit or they'd spoil." He raised his brows, ambers very wide. I smiled, this was the innocent-claims-look. Since they are almost immortal, youthfulness can become naivete.

"They're delicious. Can you show us how it's done?" he changed the topic. I agreed to. It was really surprising, Nuada who was reluctant to ask wanted to know? He gazed up at the sky and I had to admit looked so carefree and burden-less.

She asked, "Hey don't ignore me."

"I am not, brownies are more interesting. I already agreed to the boy's request. Only living things should be seen as precious. Now shhh." Nuada knew a fair bit about clouds and their shapes. We traded stories. Laira fingered his wheat hair.

He didn't protest, it was pointless. We all were fascinated by the gentle texture of their hair. We walked on for hours, for today was a leisure day. I had some good exercise.

"Liz, um sometimes you look so tired. Do you use a facial mask? It helps us to relax," the girl suggested. I smiled. She was always so kind to everyone.

"I do? Yea because I… don't sleep well." Nuada stopped and waited. I was out of breath.

He looked concerned. I didn't tell them yet, that I was haunted by the lives I took when I could not harness the fires in me. I inhaled another whiff of oxygen. "Elendil, we shouldn't pry into people's personal matters." I didn't mind, really.

Laira said something else. Hm the surroundings seemed to fade.

"Yup I know. I'm just worried about her pallidness. Come on, let's sit down." I said I had been ill sometime ago. Whenever I had terrible nightmares, my body did not allow me to rest. I was often overcome by fatigue, even though it was not too exertive.

"Are you all right? Your lips are grey too." Nuada frowned, supporting me to sit down.

I drifted.

Nuada

I knew something was wrong when the woman needed to stop after just a few hours. She was fine when we set off. It was a relief there was no danger. Laira had voiced out why she looked pale. Hmm, I think it was the other night when she had used her power to destroy a nest of vipers. Sherman also slept very little, like me.

"Ok now?" She fell asleep. Sometimes the woman was haunted by something unexplainable. I knew she wished to keep it secret and was fine. "Shall we get help?"

I shook my head. "No she'd want to sleep. She has been ill and stressed. Let's be quiet." I sat down and took her pulse. Her skin was slightly cool. That was… not good. I thought of a basic healing spell and sent it to Liz. After a while, the firegirl awoke.

"Better?" she said. I roused from the trance. During any minor or major sessions, we usually have a meditative state.

"You feel quite cool. Normally you have a hotter body." I said. Why didn't she mention feeling sick?

I wanted to come,guys. I want to feel normal, for today. My soulmate and I both received this. I Sent, you heard it right?

*email formatting couldn't work. i wanted to put that in. Aww