The page is filled with barely legible notes in shorthand of a conversation overheard, followed by a fragment of story draft in clean, neat letters.
“To sail or to stay? It is a question one must decide.” The silvered warrior’s shoulders were weighed down by a heavy mantle that matched his hair as he pondered.
His broad-shouldered friend glowered. “Choose to sail, if the choice be yours. She needs you to live.”
“Every day I wish I could… every dawn tempts me to run away and be with her. Yet I wait for death’s doors to make the choice.” His eyes, aged with countless years of battle, looked into the distance with a dreamy glint.
“Perhaps you ought to sail sooner, then.”
“Perhaps. Yet...” The warrior’s voice grows firm. “I have duties here and I could not look upon those glorious shores knowing I had abandoned that to which I have given my life. To turn my back upon this shore and all I have yet to do.”
His companion raises an eyebrow and the warrior sighs in defeat.
“I wish by all the stars my life belonged only to her, that I had never been a warrior. To have loved her freely and with all my heart.”
“Why not now? Your years are far from ended.” The redheaded Elf peers at his ancient friend with confusion.
“I am caught between duty and love. Two bonds hold me and I cannot break either or I shall lose who I am.” The defeat in his voice is palpable and even the air seems heavy around him. “Who should I be if I gave up? If I hung up spear and sword to take up the oars instead? How could she love one who failed such a duty?
“Love and duty… it is as hard a choice as sailing. Yet the glory of elvendom will not end because Caradin Galadin dared to be anything but a soldier.”
Caradin, for such is the name of this proud warrior, looks up and his steely gaze is uncertain. “Caradin Galadin is only that, a soldier. How can he be anything else?”
“Caradin Galadin is what he chooses to be. He was once a young minstrel on a distant shore. Perhaps he can be such again.” The redhead places a hand on Caradin’s shoulder. “You have the freedom to choose and you have accomplished more than enough.”
The proud warrior’s steely gaze breaks and hope begins to shine through. “Is there really hope? You do not think she will reject me for giving up, leave me to wake and find this all a dream and myself a slave of war yet?”
“There is hope. There is no cruel master waiting to strike you down, nor condemnation for choosing love at long last.”
Caradin’s entire face lights up and he throws his hands in the air. “Then my choice is made! I love her and all the world shall know it!” With a shout of joy, the proud warrior and Elven hero casts aside his sword belt with a clang and sprints away, up the stairs to where his beloved awaits.
