Chapter One :: Sun and Moon

THE LATE evening air was warm, but a light breeze had sprung up which carried with it a memory of the colder days not long past. It gently rustled the leaves of the many trees that grew in the heart of King Torin's woodland realm, and filled Nan-Bethel, the Gathering Place, with soft music as it touched the small silver bells that hung from the branches. In the middle of Nan-Bethel's natural clearing, the great pavilions were aglow with hundreds of white lanterns that shone to rival the stars overhead.

All was in readiness for Prince Talagan's coming-of-age celebration, Gedin found with satisfaction. Everything was just as grand as it had been for his own coming-of-age, not long ago. Crossing the glade of Nan-Bethel, he tried to appear grave and detached, as befitted a Prince and Lord Healer of the realm; but he could not quite suppress the pleased smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. Tonight was going to be a perfect evening for his foster brother.

A voice calling his name brought Gedin from his musings. "My lord!" It was Neldor, one of his father's messengers. "Prince Gedin, I have a message from the King."

"Yes, what is it, Neldor?" Gedin slowed, but did not stop, and Neldor fell into pace with him.

"He asks that you go and fetch Prince Talagan, for the celebration will begin in a few minutes."

Gedin nodded. "Thank you, Neldor. You may tell my father that I shall do so now."

"Very well, my lord." Neldor bowed and hastily left to find the King.

Gedin set off in the opposite direction, out of the clearing and eastward towards the palace. King Torin's realm, the Forest of Llaer, had been home to wood-elves for centuries, and therefore all of its current inhabitants lived in sturdy elegant houses within the branches of the trees. The royal family was no exception; their ancestral palace was built both in and around several towering, ancient white lethim trees, winding around the trunks in graceful spires and staircases, all hewn themselves from pale lethim.

Of all the King's household, Talagan was the truest forest-child; Gedin had yet to meet anyone more at home amongst the trees than his young foster brother. Thus Talagan's chambers were up high in the branches of the oldest tree, winding around the smooth silver trunk in two levels. The upper room was no more than a platform with an ornately-carved railing, open on all sides to the sounds of the trees surrounding it, providing easy access to other branches when Talagan wished to travel above the ground.

It was the lower room, Talagan's sleeping and studying chambers, that Gedin stopped at as he rounded the top of the winding staircase. Knowing that his brother could already sense his presence, Gedin did not knock, but opened the arched door and entered.

Talagan was standing in front of the large oval mirror that hung on one wall, adjusting the new outfit his father had ordered especially for tonight's celebration. Gedin nearly laughed at the uncharacteristic nervousness that showed clearly on his brother's normally-smiling face when Talagan turned around; but remembering his own anxiety before his coming-of-age celebration, he confined himself to a small smile.

"Ohaa, brother," said Talagan in an attempt at cheerfulness, reaching for his green-grey cloak. "I presume you've come to inform me that the festivities are about to begin?"

Gedin picked up the garment himself and draped it over Talagan's shoulders, fastening the delicate leaf-shaped clasp and straightening it to his satisfaction. He kept his hands on Talagan's shoulders, squeezing gently in wordless support.

"Ohaa, Tali," Gedin returned the greeting, using his pet-name for his brother. He smiled at Talagan's anxious frown in the mirror's reflection. "You presume correctly." He paused. "Not nervous, are you?"

Talagan straightened up; he was still shorter than his older foster brother by almost a head. "Of course I am," he replied with his usual candor. His face fell a little further. "Is it so obvious? I don't wish to disappoint father by showing fear in front of everyone."

"It is only obvious to one who knows you well," Gedin assured him. "You'll do fine. I survived my coming-of-age, although you may recall that I was shaking in my boots while I prepared." His light tone had the desired effect of making Talagan chuckle despite himself; it was never hard to get his young brother to smile. Gedin released Talagan's shoulders with a final pat. "You have nothing to fear, elfling."

Talagan scowled at his least favorite nickname, usually used by their father. He looked appraisingly at his reflection in the mirror, gave the cloak a brief tug, and then wove his fingers through his long hair. As he pulled it back and up into the high ponytail customary for warriors, he glanced back at Gedin.

"I've scarcely seen you at all today, Ged," he said. "Where have you been hiding yourself?"

Gedin handed Talagan a leather tie the same color as his cloak to fasten back his hair. "Lord Selros asked for my help in gathering herbs from the infirmary garden."

"Ah!" Gedin was disturbed to see a distinctly mischievous grin appear on Talagan's face. "Spending time with fair Lady Nimue, then."

Gedin gave the back of his brother's head a swat, ignoring the yelp this action produced. "I'll have you know that Lady Nimue was not even there," he said sternly, although the color rising on his cheeks spoiled the effect. "She was inside making new bandages." Talagan's grin was still firmly in place, and Gedin sighed in exasperation. "You can badger me later, Tali. We don't have time for it now – the celebration is going to begin in a few minutes. Are you ready?"

Talagan immediately sobered. "I don't know," he said. "Am I?"

Gedin gave his brother's hair a tug and smiled at his reflection. "Of course you are."Yet they stood still in front of the mirror, enjoying a silent moment together. Tonight's celebration would change many things for them, with Talagan coming of age and officially entering his role as Crown Prince. Elder of the two Gedin might be, but as an adopted son he was not permitted to ascend the throne. This did not trouble him, however. He was far happier learning to be a healer (which was an exalted position itself), and was in truth relieved to be free of the duties and difficulties of kingship. And in any case, Talagan was better suited to leading, with his level head and understanding heart.

Gedin studied Talagan's reflection in the mirror. Looking at the two of them anyone would see at once that they were not blood brothers; the physical differences were obvious. Talagan, the fair wood-elf, shorter and slimmer, with warm amber eyes and hair the pale silver-gold of beech leaves in autumn. Gedin, the darker highland elf from the northern lands, tall and lithe, with eyes of dark green-grey and hair a deep, rich crimson. Both had the fine-boned, triangular faces, inborn grace of movement, and faint, star-like glow surrounding them that was common to all elves. One, trained as a warrior, skilled with knives, bow and curved elven sword; the other, gifted in the healing arts, with a deft hand and keen eyes.

They were like Edain and Ellahir, in the elven tale of the brothers of the sun and the moon. Bright, merry Edain and quiet, tranquil Ellahir. So different, yet so alike. Gedin chuckled at the thought, breaking the quiet of the moment.

Talagan turned to look at him. "What?"

Gedin smiled. "Nothing, brother." He placed a hand on Talagan's shoulder. "Come, the celebration will be starting any moment. We don't wish to keep father waiting."

To be continued...

Elvish Glossary:

Ohaa - informal form of ohaayo, "greetings"

At any rate, I would suggest that if you really enjoyed this story the first time, that you reread the edited chapters that I am posting tonight. In some places a lot was added, edited or removed, and in others not much, but who knows, some of the changes might be important later on...

And finally, I wish to apologize to my dear readers from the bottom of my heart for abandoning them for so long. I don't know if any of you will be interested in reading this after so long, but I certainly hope so. I can't guarantee that my updates will be fast or regular, but I will do my best. At the very least, I shall try not to make you wait a YEAR again! ;)

Thanks for reading, whether for the first time or the second, and a belated Happy New Year to you all:)