Nighttimes were the worst for the Sunrise Elven child. She huddled up against the wall under her bed, her heart thudding and her breath coming in shallow gasps of fear as she tried to be as still and as quiet as possible. She held her pillow protectively in front of her, riveting her eyes to the crack of light that was visible beneath the bedroom door. Her heart racing when feet in the hall cast narrow shadows that dart and writhe in familiar sinister threat as they approach and block the light under her door. She closes her eyes and buries it in the pillow, praying silently with all of her heart."I am not here. oh Goddess tell him not to open that door!" The shadows move on, taking their booted owners with them, accompanied by a murmer of soft elven voices, one male and one female. Her parent's voices brought no security. She collapses, weak and dizzy with relief as they fade, moving away from her door. She was safe...for now....

     The young etrielle moves with relaxed grace through the Song of Sunlight Inn's busy taproom, serving the Song's patrons as her selen [cousin] Aurelina and Lina's fiance Aidan banter and run the Inn with a happy efficiency that draws regulars in droves. She looks up and smiles, collecting a warm smile in return, one reserved for family and a golden hand rises to finger once more the platinum emblem of her new house, en Nosse Evanara. She had found what she was looking for, oddly enough, in a lnn far from Evermeet, that supposed elven paradise she had escaped from. In Rhydin, a place most of Tel'Quessir would call accursed, she had found family, friends, a place to belong and a purpose.

     Aurelina and Jaril, true blood cousins, had been found completely by accident one night. On the eve of her surrender and departure from this odd land, she walked into the Song of Sunlight Inn and saw another etrielle who bore more than a passing resemblance to her. Aurelina Evanara, it turned out was her blood cousin and the owner of The Song. She had been warmly welcomed, offered a place to live, a place to work, caring family and guidance while she grew.

     The twenty years she had gladly served there had brought her every good thing she now had in her life. Serving first as a bar maid, then tender and now the gereral steward of the Song, she had made friends, met family, coming to know more of the Nosse Evanara. She had been accepted to BoR and rose steadily through its ranks earning respect, honor and making abiding friendships. Finding a Shalafi, she had intensively studied the Elven BladeSong discipline with a singleminded determination. There at the Song she first met her husband, Al'Lan. Everything good in her life had come from one chance meeting; the result of one nights aimless wandering in a strange place.....If she hadn't gone that night.. turned her steps to that Inn where would she be now? That thought echoing in her mind she stirs and lifts her head in the darkness, her heart beating rapidly.

     A sleepy voice questions soothingly, " Whats wrong, heart?". She turns to gaze for a long moment at Al'Lan who is beside her, and then at the crib by her bed where Allasse, their daughter peacefully sleeps and smiles into the darkness, moisture pooling in her eyes in gratitude and wonder at her blessings. " Nothing is wrong, A'mael. Not a thing." Her hand moves to brush the silvery hair off his forehead and smiles as he sleepily captures her hand to bring the palm to his lips for a kiss. And with a sigh of contentment, BoR Officer, Emmisary to Elfhome, swordswoman, mage, friend, wife and mother, Airelle Evanara Starbreeze snuggles within her husband's embrace and returns to reverie.