“Are you alright?” Maeir asked quietly, lifting her hand to carefully touch the dark red bruise that was beginning to form on the young elf’s cheek.

“Yeah, he definitely didn’t put all his weight into the punch.” Silas rubbed his cheek with a grimace, “It felt more like a stern slap.”

“Let me look.” Maeir said, pulling Silas’s hand away from his face and closely examining the growing red mark, “It’ll leave a nasty bruise, but you’ll be fine.” She allowed her hands to drop to her side and huffed to herself before she looked Silas deeply in the eyes, making him look at her strong gaze. “This is the only time I will say this, so listen closely. Don’t you ever again jump between me and another person when we’re fighting, do you understand me?” Maeir clenched her fists before relaxing them, keeping her gaze on Silas’s face. “I’m so angry with you I could leave a bruise on your other cheek, but I don’t think it will teach you anything, so I’m controlling myself.” Maeir released her gaze and walked back into their home, her back facing Silas as she said, “Come on, we’ll put a cold rag on your face. It will help with the swelling.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Silas said, smiling weakly at the imposing figure of his mother.

“Shut up.” She replied plainly as Silas closed the door behind them.

...

After the passing of a few, short days, Silas had prepared everything for his departure to the capital, including what should happen should he not return. Maeir had fought him every second of the time he was home, trying to get him to change his mind, but Silas was resolute, never wavering to risk his life. It was incredibly difficult for elves to live happy, fruitful lives outside of the village, especially elves with young children. Silas wanted Cirdan and Aurelia to have a safe, happy childhood, even if that meant he could not be there to witness it. So his determination was resolved.

No one else outside of who was absolutely necessary knew why Silas and a small group of men were heading to the capital, but those who were curious did not dare to ask questions, because the chief sternly watched over the departing group. Silas said goodbye to all of the villagers, but he waited until the last day to say goodbye to his wife.

Silas hurried over and stopped in front of Emmeline’s house, looking up at the cozy, little home. He stared at all the nooks and crannies of the wood exterior and the small stream of smoke that rose from the small chimney. He closed his eyes and listened to the noises that he grew very familiar with over his life, from the happy screaming of children to the birds tweeting and fluffing their feathers. He only opened his eyes when he heard the front door open, and he was greeted by Emmeline’s mother, Catrice.

“Silas, I'd be glad you could make it!” Her long, silky black hair was tied into a tight bun behind her head, showing some of the age of her face. Emmeline’s illness had aged her mother more and more with each passing day.

His visit was planned to be brief, but he found it would be slightly longer than he anticipated. Silas greeted Emmeline warmly and exchanged pleasantries before explaining his visit to her home so suddenly.

“Emmeline, there’s something I wanted to tell you. It’s about my duty…” Silas hesitantly explained, holding Emmeline’s hands in his own.

“What’s that, Silas?” Emmeline saw Silas’s apprehensive expression and her heart sank. He had bad news.

Silas closed his eyes, “I’m being shipped out for a mission.” Emmeline sighed and pulled her hands away from Silas, instead using them to cover her face for a moment in frustration before looking up at Silas.

“But you just got back from a mission. We just got married. They couldn’t have sent anyone else?” Emmeline’s face dropped, and she could not help but deeply frown.

“No.” Silas shook his head, “This is something only I can do.”

“What do you mean?” Emmeline stared into Silas’s eyes, “What is going on?” Her voice shook slightly, her nerves building.

Silas looked down and grabbed Emmeline’s pale hand and held it in his grasp. He rubbed her hand with his thumb, sighing to himself as he said, “I really messed up, Emmeline. And now I’m trying to make it right.” Emmeline grabbed Silas’s hand with her other hand and placed it on top of his, tightening her fingers around his like a rope.

“Silas, what happened?” Her eyes were fixed on his.

Silas paused, contemplating deeply before he found the words, “You know the crown prince of the Yursear kingdom? The current king’s only child and the future king of the Yursear kingdom?”

“Yes.” Emmeline said cautiously, watching Silas’s expression change.

“I- I saw him when we raided the human castle. I spoke to him.” He took in a shaky breath, “I, uh, I let him go. I let him live.”

Emmeline blinked slowly, “I don’t understand, Silas.” She shook her head.

“I know, this is all my fault. This war could easily be in our favor right now, but I messed up. I’m sorry. I could have killed him. I should have. I had the chance to. But I didn’t.” Silas looked down at their joined hands. He was too ashamed of himself to look her in the eye. “I had no idea he was the prince. I thought he was a maid’s son. I’m sorry, Emmeline.”

“No, Silas, I don’t understand why you’re blaming yourself.” Silas looked up in surprise at Emmeline’s reaction. He was waiting for her to be angry, to scream and smack him, but instead, she smiled gently at him as she always did. Emmeline moved her hand up to Silas’s face, tenderly holding it in her small, dainty hands, as if she were holding up the weight of the world.

“Silas, you saved a child’s life, how could that ever be a mistake?” Her voice was resolute and sweet.

“But it was the crown prince-!” Silas interjected.

“Who is a young child from my understanding.” Emmeline’s gentle smile never wavered. “The Silas I know would never harm a child, even the child of our sworn enemy.”

“Oh gods, Emmeline. They’re sending me out to kill him.” Silas said, dropping his head in his hands, barely holding back sobs. The tears that had threatened to fall earlier trailed down his face once again, staining his flushed cheeks and burning his skin.

“I see…” Emmeline glanced up to the sky, appearing as though she were looking for guidance as she was deep in thought. She waited a moment before she placed her hand on Silas’s shoulder. “Well, Silas. I-I’m not sure what to say.” She paused again, returning her gaze to him, “But no matter what happens, if you come home safe, we can figure it out together.” Silas glanced up at Emmeline while a beam of light came in through her window, enshrouding Emmeline in a halo of light. Silas turned his eyes away from the burning light, but could not help but feel cleansed by being in Emmeline’s presence at this moment.

A knock on Emmeline’s door disrupted both of them, and Emmeline quickly invited them to enter as Silas looked away. It was the village chief.

“My apologies, but I must take Silas now.” The chief stood in the doorway, waiting, as Emmeline and Silas said their goodbyes.

“Emmeline, just in case I don’t come back-” Silas began, before Emmeline held up her hand to silence him,

“No, don’t say that, because you will come back.” Emmeline smiled again, “Because I’ll give you this.” Emmeline said, opening her nightstand and pulling out a knife. She grabbed an inner layer of her hair and cut off a small handful of hair. Before Silas left, Emmeline wanted to give Silas a piece of herself, a common idea for the elves. When an elf was to travel a long distance from home for a long period of time, the traveler and their family would cut off a lock of their hair and give it to each other as a keepsake and a ward of protection. If an elf had a piece of home on their person, they were destined to return home eventually.

After Emmeline was done and tied her hair bundle with a string, Silas did the same, grabbing his long hair and cutting it at his shoulders. He took a small handful of the hair, tied it with a string, and gave it to Emmeline. Then Emmeline gave her hair bundle to Silas and gave him a long hug. Silas blinked back tears, as he held Emmeline and gave her one final kiss.

“I love you.” He whispered, closing his eyes.

“I love you too.” Emmeline replied, her eyes misting. Silas finally let her go, and the two parted as Silas followed the chief out of the room.

“I’m sorry to do this to you.” The chief said, keeping his gaze forward as they exited the warm home. Silas nodded in reply, and they walked over to three men, waiting for Silas.

“Are you ready, Silas?” One of the men Silas only knew faintly asked.

“I just need a second.” Silas said with a solemn nod. Silas then turned to the chief of the village and passed his bundle of hair to him, “Please make sure my mother and siblings get this.”

The village chief nodded solemnly before taking the hair and gripping it tightly in his hand. The three men began to get on their horses, and Silas put his foot in the stirrup, ready to get on his horse, before he heard an angry voice call out to him.

It was Maeir and the twins.

Silas took his foot out of stirrup and looked at his mother and siblings with a face of shame.

“What were you thinking?!” Maeir hissed between her clenched teeth, coming up to Silas, “You weren’t going to come say goodbye to us right before you left?!”

Silas looked down in shame, “I’m sorry, Mom. I thought it would be easier if I just left.”

Maeir faltered a little as the twins ran past her and grabbed Silas’s legs, sobbing loudly.

“Please don’t go!” Cirdan cried as Aurelia nodded in agreement. Silas bent down and hugged them, apologizing to them and kissing each of their foreheads before he stood back up. Maeir then gently grabbed the two and pulled them back.

“Come on, you two. Don’t make this harder for your brother.” Maeir said, her voice tight. The chief looked at the small group, then put Silas’s bundle of hair back in his hands.

“I think you need this.” He said, then took a step back.

Holding the bundle of hair in his hand, he passed it to his mother and said, “Mom, this is for you.” Silas tried to smile warmly.

Maeir, tight lipped, grasped the hair in her hands tightly and hugged her son one last time, as if they were departing forever. The twins sobbed and hugged his thighs tightly, not wanting to let go.

Finally, the other men coughed and Silas smiled weakly before letting go of his family.

“I’m not giving you my hair.” Maeir said, frowning deeply. Silas looked slightly surprised until Maeir continued, “Because you’re going to have to return home to get it.”

“Then I’ll be home before you know it.” Silas said with a faltering smile as he mounted his horse. Maeir grabbed the twins and pulled them back as Silas and the three other men took off, quickly fading into the horizon.

...