Kindred Chapter1

Chapter One

The afternoon sun filtered down through the spring leaves of the aspens, nesting birds filled the air
with their song of new life. From down the path through moss covered boulders, came the sound of
horses running hard. Around the bend came two horses carrying a pair of laughing youths. The tall
stallion was a shining gold, tossing his head he took the lead from the dappled mare. Skidding to a
stop at edge of a steep bank the youths dropped to the ground and ran together to a pool of clear
water at the bend of the deep running stream. Shedding their clothes the two raced the final steps
and plunged into the water. The taller of the two, a lad not yet 17 summers old, with long dark hair
and clear gray eyes, gained the lead and just before touching the other side he looked back and saw
no sign of his companion. He felt a body pass by him under water nails brushing his leg and reached
down just too late to capture the teasing arm. The blond youth broke water at the far side of the
pool and leapt to the bank, wet skin glistening in the warm sun, her breasts running water as she
turned and looked back at him with fire in her gleaming green eyes. Taren felt himself warm at the
sultry glance and followed her out of the water. The two came together in an embrace devoid of
pretense or coyness and kissed the kiss of lovers new to the joy of life. Teasing tongues entwined
as their hands caressed familiar places and they sank down together to the warm grass. Later, with
their passions spent for the moment, Taren looked on his companion with eyes filled with
tenderness.

“I would that you were a Human girl that we might stay together forever!” He said with a touch of
sadness mingled with the passion in his vice.

“Forever is long indeed, even to the Elves, My Love” She said. She was Sharel, granddaughter of
the Elven Queen who, along with Taren’s father Mithel, had brought together the last alliance of
Men and Elves in a new colony, meant to preserve the legacy of the Elven race and mingle it with
the passion and bright energy of Man.

“ I also wish that there was one among my people who could move my heart as you do, with your
strength of heart and farseeing eyes., The youths my grandmother would have me wed are all content
to sing in the woods and leave the future to your people.”

“Why then,” Taren Responded. “Do our parents insist we be friends and spend so much time
together, how can they not see our love grow?”

“It is well they do not” she said, “Otherwise they would send me into the forest realm, to deny us our
bond.”

They lay side by side, fingers touching in lovers play, as they watched the birds flit by and the small
animals, disturbed by their sudden coming, return to the clearing to resume their doings. As the sun
dried their limbs they dozed and then slept in each others arms late into the afternoon, free for a time
from the cares and trials of children of powerful parents.

With the sudden rushing of wings that brings the birds home to roost after a day of feeding and
mating, the pair awoke and reluctantly dressed, calling their horses again they mounted and rode side
by side, hands entwined, back along the path to the settlement of Men.

“Tomorrow I go with my Father to visit the old kingdom and treat with my uncle.” Taren said. “I wish I
was not the Lord’s son, and you the Queen’s granddaughter, that we could vanish together into the
forest and live our lives free from the burdens they wish to lay upon us.”

“It is not to be so my love,” She said “Besides, we should not have met if we were not who we are.” “I
remember when I first came here. I thought you all so strange and I would never have looked into the
heart of a Human as I have done with you, if we were not required to work together in teaching the
young of the colony in the ways of the Eldar. We must live our lives as they Are and not as we would
have them to Be, we are not children of those whose lives belong to them. Our parents are no more
free then we are.”

“Yes” said Taren, “But at least my father knew love fulfilled, and a bond sworn, before my mother
was taken from him; indeed such a bond as theirs was not broken by mere death. Such a bond I
would have with you.”

“And I with you” replied his love, “even though I must give up my people and truly die in the way of
your folk. Can it be said we are not already one in many ways?”

“You know we are, yet I will die and you will go on, soon I know, as you reckon time, you shall forget
all but the shadow of what we have and follow your people on their path, a path that entwines but
ends in a different place then mine.” He said with a deep sadness in his voice, squeezing her hand in
his.

Tear filled her eyes for she knew the truth of his words, it was not for the Elves to dwell for long on
the brief lives of the Humans who shared theirs for a time, a few brief seasons it seemed, though
many years may go by.

They turned out of the woods and began to climb a gentle hill toward the settlement of the Humans,
both of their hearts filled with love and sorrow. With eyes only for each other they did not notice the
soldier who, following behind, watched them crest the hill. He sat his horse for a while, looking toward
the spot where the pair had vanished before turning his horse and riding back the way he had come.

Copyright 2005 by Guy R. Whitney All Rights Reserved