I Got Tagged!

By Willow, at In the Words of Willow. Thank you so much, Willow!

1. If the main villain of your favorite book/movie/TV series showed up on your front doorstep, what would you do? (Explain who it is first...)

Well, right now my current favorite book is The Hidden Hand, by E.D.E.N. Southworth. The villain is a dastardly man who kills his brother to inherit his estate--and then tries to kill his niece, who eventually outwits him. (Gotta love her!)

 

So Colonel Gabriel Le Noir has just arrived on my doorstep. YIKES! I would probably lock the door and keep an eye on him through the curtains.

 

 

2. Now supposing the heroes opposite this villain showed up just after your exchange. What would you do then?


Yay! Capitola's here! (She's the heroine, a spunky, witty girl who always outwits the bad guys. =D )
So we completely befuddle Colonel Le Noir with our witty talk, and he ends up tied in a stable somewhere.

 

 

 3. So...moving on, the heroes defeat the villain (with some help from you, of course-whatever it may be. ;) But the next day, you're just walking along, minding your own business, when you suddenly come across the same villain...who is now lying in the dust severely wounded and unconscious. What do you do?  

 
Oh dear. I really don't like him, but I would probably make sure he wasn't dead, then like tell someone who could help him, but I wouldn't take care of him myself, no way!

 

4. Now his minions show up and kidnap both you and him and take you to their universe (or version of your universe, whatever it happens to be.) Your reaction? 
 

 Eeek! Now I'm stuck in the Hidden House, in pre-civil-war Virginia. Actually, it's neat that I'm in pre-civil-war Virginia, but the Hidden House is creepy!

 

5. Your fantastic heroes have arrived to rescue you-but now you're faced with a choice. The villain, out of gratitude for your earlier help, (assuming you actually did help him when he was wounded) has offered you a chance to travel back to your own universe. However, the heroes warn you not to trust him. The only other way for you to get back home is to travel with the heroes on a long and dangerous journey... and there's no guarantee that you'll survive.
What. Do. You. Do. 

Um. I think I will go with Capitola. It's a hard choice, though!

Thanks again, Willow!
And....


I will tag....


Anyone who wants to take this tag, go ahead!

Logically.....correct?

I just wanted to say Thank you so much to Anna, who designed my blog. isn't it lovely?

So a  random person walks up to you and this conversation happens.

Person: You should never step on a crack in the sidewalk. EVER.

You: Umm....why not? And who are you?

Person: Never mind who I am. Once I stepped on a crack on the sidewalk, and the next thing that happened was that a car ran into me.

You: But that doesn't tell me why not to step on a crack in the sidewalk. And who are you?

Person: Just ask any one of these people going by. They will all tell you that it is bad to step on a crack in the sidewalk.

You: Why?

Person: Because it is. the random person dashes off down the sidewalk.

Now was the random person making a logical argument? Comment and tell me what you think, and i'll tell the answer in another post.

So long!

 

Music in My Ears

 

Music. Swirling, flowing, laughing. Sobbing, wailing, flying. It's all in there. And you can use music to change your feelings.

 

For instance, take this girl. Imagine it's a scene, from a movie you have never seen before. I am going to describe the music to you.

 

The flute takes up the melody first: a soft, gentle melody in a minor key. The strings come next, adding a lower, melancholy undertone. The violin gains strength, adding a sobbing quality to the music....

 

 

What did I just describe to you? It wasn't happy, was it? It gave a sense of loneliness and

abandonment to this picture. Now let me describe a different melody, to the same picture.

 

 

The strings come first, playing quick, exciting notes in short bursts. There is a little trill on the flute and piccolo every now and again. The music builds, leading up to a grand climax, when the music is fulfilled. All of the instruments are now playing a melody with a sense of wonder. Chimes join in, adding a magical feel to the mix.....

 

 

Now that sounded more like the girl was discovering something...an enchanted grove maybe... or something like that. It was a happy feel, exciting, wondrous. Just let me describe one more melody now for you.

 

 

The cellos and the double basses begin this, with low, quick repeated notes in a minor key. There is a thunderous roll of the kettle drums every so often. The music gains speed, and the violins join in, playing a tense, quick, melody. Low, chanting voices add to the mix, adding a sense of foreboding....

 

 

This melody felt like she was walking into danger, didn't it? Think about this, and tell me any other examples you can think of!

 

So long!

 

 



I'm BAAAAACK! And This Week's Memory Verse

Hi everyone! And I am back! I took a long break over the summer, I'm sorry for neglecting you guys. =P But I will try to consistently post now. =D

Psalm 78: 5-8

He declared statutes for Jacob
 and established the law in Israel,
which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
 and they in turn would tell their children.
     Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget His deeds
but would keep His commands.
     They would not be like their forefathers--
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
     whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to Him.

Psalm 78: 5-8
 

~The Elven-names~ Messenger of Doom

Miss the beginning of this story? Read the rest of it here.


We stood in silence for a while, the Keeper and I. At last I looked up at him. "After the mist rises, couldn't we just find the Mormir and drive them back out?"

He shook his head slowly. "It is extremely difficult to find them after they are entrenched. The Mormir are masters of disguise and cloaking techniques.

I frowned at the unfamiliar term. "Cloaking?"

"It's a way of making it appear that there is no one in a certain area, while in actuality, there may be several people there," replied the Keeper. "Some people think it's magic, but it's really just advanced camouflage and hiding carefully." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "We Elven-named are ourselves not to bad at cloaking." He sighed. "But it is still hard to locate them once they are in place."

A dark sense of foreboding settled over me like a gloomy cloud. I bid the Keeper of the Legacy farewell and went back to my room.

*   *   *

 

The fog did not lift Saturday or Sunday. Living in the fog is a depressing thing. It was dark and gloomy in the Forest Palace despite its beauty. The trees the Palace was made of were soggy; occasionally a drop would fall from one of the branches to the floor. And you could never see anything at any distance properly--everything was obscured by the twisting clouds.

 

It was with great relief, therefore, that I awoke on Monday to the sun streaming in through the window. I got up and laughed at my worries, for the sun seemed to wipe away the dark forebodings of the day before like it had the fog. Nothing could be very wrong, it seemed, when the world was so beautiful.

 

This mood continued even after I went to school that morning. I felt nothing could harm me and I was as carefree as I had been before this whole thing started. And at first everything went wonderfully. The classes were a breeze, and Heather was friendly but not overly chatty.

 

At lunchtime I waved to Matt and Fred and sat down at an empty table with my food. I was totally surprised when Morwenna sat down beside me.

 

After an awkward silence, I finally couldn't resist my curiosity, and I asked her, "You know, I still don't understand what you meant when you said you knew all about me..."

 

She whirled on me with great vehemence. "Oh, I see your game. You're trying to make me make a fool of myself. Well, I'm not going to fall for it!"

 

I was aghast--I hadn't meant to do anything, I just wanted to learn more. "Oh, no, no," I cried softly. "That isn't it at all!"

 

Morwenna sniffed. "I don't even know why I'm bothering with you. You're just a poor, weak, little Elven-named girl, and I am a member of the M-- of a group whose destiny is to rule." Contempt was dripping from her voice, but I caught a slight hesitation. Had she been going to say she was a member of the Mormir? She went on. "And your destiny is to fail. And your downfall will come in no less than five days." Her voice was low and ominous.

 

I tried to act nonchalant. "Five days? Are you sure it will be our downfall?"

 

Her eyes narrowed. "It will come in five. days. and you will see it, and you will see the ruin of your plans." She tossed her head and walked off.

Summer..............

I do believe it is almost summer! And in my family, do you know what that means? Watermelon time! (And, if possible, the seeded kind. it tastes SOOOOO much better than the seedless)

What is your favorite summer food?

And (just a informal poll) do you like seeded watermelon or seedless better, and why?

~The Elven-names~ Mists of Confusion

I was sitting on the my bed, hugging my knees, and looking out the window when Weneithel came to summon me to breakfast. A thick, soupy, grey mist swirled through the trees both outside and inside the Forest Palace.

"It's foggy," I stated as Wen came in. "I've always liked foggy days, but this seems sinister, somehow. Anyone out in it must surely be lost."

Raising her eyebrows, Weneithel smiled slightly. "Ah, but the sun will pierce the mist and reveal the way to the one who is lost." I had the surreal sense that we weren't talking about the weather at all. Wen continued, "And perhaps the mist will clear sooner than the wanderer thinks." She smiled.

I turned back to the window. The fog didn't seem to be clearing any. "Weneithel," I asked without turning my head, "what did my dad do?"

There was a long silence from behind me. I turned my head to see why. On Wen's face I could see the some disapproval and smoldering anger that I had noticed when Dad went down the shooting field. Finally she pressed her lips together and spoke carefully, with deliberate evenness.

"Your father became very bitter after your mother's death. He believed she would not have died if she had not been so involved with the elven-named. So he renounced all connections with  our people and vowed he would never have anything to do with us again. In carrying this out, he made some poor choices that affected us all." She paused and studied me gravely. "But it is not mine to tell you what those choices were. That is for your father or the Keeper of the Legacy to reveal." The look on her face made it clear the conversation was over. "It is time for breakfast, my lady."

I was bending down to put on my sandals when what she had called me hit me. I looked up at her, astonished. "My lady? I'm not a lady. I'm just a kid."

Wen smiled strangely. "Mirluin, you are quickly growing into your role as Keeper of the Lore, and as such, you are our Lady. When you first came here you were not as discerning and did not see the tension. But you are learning to read thoughts. You are becoming truly the Keeper of the Lore."

I didn't know what to say. I had to think about this. It was still hard to believe that I was the Keeper of the Lore, and now it seemed that I must get used to deference on the part of the Elven-named. But it would be different at school. I sighed.

"It's not going to be much fun to go to school today."

Wen smiled and shook her head. "You must have lost track of time, Mirluin. It's Saturday today."

"Oh," I stated dumbly. Deciding it would be best not to say anything further, I followed Wen down the hall to the dining chamber.

 

 

*   *   *

 

On Saturday I didn't have to practice with the bow, and I didn't want to go outside in the mist, so I just wandered around inside the Forest Palace. It had a completely different feel with the fog swirling through the corridors and creating ghostly shapes in the hallways. It was a delightful, shivery feel, like I was in a mystery. But I knew that if I went outside it would feel so much more terrifying and horrible.

 

I came to one of the windows and looked out. I couldn't see much, but I closed my eyes and breathed in the forest smell, which was so much more distinct in the moisture. Suddenly I heard a step near me, and I looked behind me with a start--straight into the eyes of the Keeper of the Legacy.

 

"Oh, you startled me!" I exclaimed. "I-I hope I'm not bothering you--"

 

The Keeper gave a kind smile. "No, my child, you are not bothering me." He stood next to me, looking out the window also.

 

"It's so foggy, but it's still so glorious at the same time," he mused after a short silence. "But it is a strange and dark mist. It bodes no good for the Elven-named."

 

I looked up at him. "You think it isn't just an ordinary fog?"

 

He looked down thoughtfully. "I do not know. I did not think that the Mormir had power over the weather. But this fog is giving them a chance to rally their forces around Middlecester, while we cannot stop them." He sighed.

 

As I looked up at him, I realized that something was weighing heavily on his mind. All of a sudden I remembered what he had said--a long time ago, it seemed. He had said something about having no heir, because the one he had chosen had rejected his calling.

 

I finally decided to ask him about it. "Keeper, you know how you told me you had no successor because the one you chose rejected his calling?" I waited until he nodded, then plunged on before I lost my courage. "How come you didn't appoint another successor?"

 

The Keeper smiled sadly. "There are few Eldarhin men in Middlecester left. I did not know of one who would be a good Keeper of the Legacy."

 

I frowned thoughtfully. "Isn't Thoron one of the Eldarhin?"

 

The Keeper tilted his head slightly. "Yes, but he is not old enough. Fourteen is the age of responsibility with the Elven-named. That is why you were not informed of your calling until just lately. You were not old enough."

 

I nodded. "I see. And there isn't anyone else?"

 

Gravely the Keeper shook his head. "No. There are only two other Eldar-hin men besides your brother in Middlecester."

 

I sighed, crestfallen. Now I could see why the Elven-named needed help so badly.

 

Miss the first parts of the story? Read it all Here.

Memory Verse: Joel 1:1-4

Joel 1:1-4

The word of the LORD that come to Joel son of Pethuel.

Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land.
Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your forefathers?
Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children,
and their children to the next generation.
What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten;
what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten;
what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.

The Power of Music

Have you ever noticed how music affects our emotions? I'm sure you have experienced this, especially if you've watched a movie. The music in the background intensifies the experience and manipulates your emotions to where the movie maker wants them to be.

Just think about it. You're watching a movie, and it's come to a crisis point. You know something drastic is going to happen soon, but you don't know when. As the tension builds, quick, repetitive notes are played by strings in the background, gradually increasing in speed. It gets on your nerves, setting you on edge in anticipating/dreading the moment when the tension ends. As the waiting wears on, kettle drums begin to roll slowly. Then all of a sudden, brass instruments blare and the enemy attacks ( or whatever is going to happen). Do you see how your tension was built up by the music? That same scene would not be nearly so powerful without it.

Take another example. Flute and harp music is playing in the background. The scene is a forest at night. The music is sweet and slow, conveying a peaceful sense. Suddenly there is a sharp crescendo and strings begin playing a minor chord quickly. (Translation: The music gets louder and starts to sound more dramatic than peaceful) The peaceful forest has been transformed into a forest filled with foreboding.

These are just some of the examples I can think of. Can you think of any more?

~The Elven-names~ the shadow of a mystery

When Matt and I told the Keeper of the Legacy that it seemed like the Mormir knew who I was, his face grew grave.

 

"Then it is time for action; now, while we still have time. Mirluin, you will commence archery lessons with Weneithel at once. Mahtan, take one of the your friends and teach Thoron sword fighting." He looked from one to the other of us. "And keep a sharp eye and ear out for anything new happening."

 

So an even stranger phase of my life began. For most of the day I was pretending to live a normal life at school. In the evening I was an elven-named maiden, in training for a confrontation that was sure to occur. During this time Dad grew a little better. His life was definitely out of danger, but he was always very melancholy. A heavy burden seemed to be on him, and it felt like he could hardly bear to stay with the Elven-named always. And I was realizing that the people who dwelt in the Forest Palace had a strange attitude toward Dad. When they talked about him or to him, there was a slight stiffness, almost like disapproval, but a little different.

 

One day after school I was practicing the bow with Weneithel, like usual. All of a sudden I noticed Wen stiffen. Then she started acting like she was engrossed in how I was aiming the bow. It was like she was deliberately ignoring someone. So after I loosed my arrow, I looked around, and saw Dad on the edge of the target field. He looked a slightly better than he had that morning at breakfast.

 

I looked at Weneithel. Her lips were pressed together and she was pointedly ignoring Dad. I drew my bow and fired another arrow, then looked back over my shoulder at Dad. I saw him sigh and then he turned and slowly walked back toward the Forest Palace. Weneithel was muttering under her breath. I couldn't help but hear as she helped me aim another arrow.

 

"What does he think he's doing here, after what he did? Rejecting his calling and people..." her words trailed away. My mind was churning once more. What had Dad done?

 

*   *   *

 

That night I finally decided to read the list of the Keepers. Maybe it would clear up some things. And my curiosity would kick in and remind me that it might have the name of the Keeper of the Legacy. So I unfolded the parchment and read. But I was disappointed, for the list ended at the Keeper of the Legacy before the one that was now. His name was Malglin Faeron. So was he related to me? My people? My reading had just made the mystery darker. 

Eccosaise

My fingers dance over the keys, slowing just a little at the right spots and accenting the odd note. Fast, lively music flows from the piano and I think I may have the piece just like Beethoven wanted it. Soon I'll be playing it for the recital, and I have it memorized. That's no problem. I just want to make sure I have the stylistic techniques right.

So I drop my hand just so into the accents and lift at the ends of phrases. Soon it's even sounding better than before. And now I see how much better it was than before. The joy of getting it right. I smile at my teacher's praise as she tells me what a good job I did, and listen when she comments on how to make it better. I'll work on that part a little extra when I practice.

I love playing the piano.

Making music is wonderful.

i'm sorry

I sit
at the computer
and stare
at the screen
my mind
seems to go
blank
and it is
impossible
to think
of a good
post to
tell here
I know
you like
stories
but I just posted
~The Elven-names~
and it's hard
for me to
do
link-ups
I'm sorry
it's been so long
i'll try to
do better
but I can't
promise
anything.

 

~The Elven-Names~ Morwenna

To go to school, Thoron, Gilanna, and I went to our house and went to school the way we usually did. I couldn't help feeling a bit depressed. Dad was still sick, and our whole lives had changed, but we still had to act like normal. I wanted to do something, not just go to school!

AS I entered the school, I looked around. I noticed Fred, but he didn't see me. I kept looking around for friends, and caught sight of Heather. She looked up right as I glanced at her, and her eyebrows shot up as our eyes met. She hurried over.

"Mir!" she exclaimed as she came up to me. "You're back!" She stopped and looked at me strangely. "You look different. What happened?"

I shrugged. "It's been a hard week." I stopped there, unsure of what to say next. Heather gave me another strange glance.

"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you around--if you don't disappear again!" she smiled and ran off.

In class I noticed a new girl. What was strange about her was that she was dressed completely in black--black hoodie, black jeans, black tennis shoes, black everything! I didn't see her face, but she intrigued me.

I asked Heather about her later.

"Oh, she started coming right after you left," Heather replied. "Her name's like, Morwenna, or something. I think she's kinda weird," she added.

I nodded. "Thanks for telling me. I was just wondering who she was."

*   *   *

 

Morwenna. The name sounded strangely familiar. I thought about it until lunch, but I couldn't figure it out.

 

At lunch Matt said "Hi", but he sat at a different table, so that was alright. After I had eaten, but before classes began again, I was beginning to feel slightly relaxed. I was sitting by myself in the corner of the room, reading a book, when I looked up to see Morwenna standing in front of me. She was slender, and had what people would call 'elfin' features. You know, really pretty. She had pale blonde hair in a messy bun, and her eyes were an icy blue. I was glad she didn't wear black make-up. That would have been really creepy.

"Hi!" I said cheerfully. "I'm--"

"I know who you are," she interrupted.

I was bewildered. "You know my name?"

She gazed at me coolly. "Yes, but I know who you really are. You can't hide."

It felt like something twisted my insides. Did she mean...? I tried to look like I didn't have a clue. "I don't know what you mean. I'm just Mir Faeron."

She gave a derisive little laugh. "You can't fool me. Your name gives it away. See you around, Mirluin." She turned and walked off. After she was a little ways away, she looked back and raised her eyebrows in a mocking challenge. Then she was gone.

As I was standing there dumbfounded, her name clicked into place. Morwenna. Mor-wen-na. Dark or shadowed maiden in elvish, with a decorative 'na' at the end. Surely she was one of the Mormir. I would need to tell Matt.

Good Friday

Remember Christ Jesus' sacrifice for us..

Be thankful.

Wait for Easter.

Locked Away|secrets & stories Linkup!

I'm doing a link-up with Storyteller!

And it's a journal entry with the theme of sadness.

June 21, 1835

Dear Journal,
This is so hard. I don't want to move. But we have to. Mother says we can't stay here anymore. It's too dry. We're too poor too keep on farming. I guess a lot of people have had to leave their farms this year, and we're just another family. But I love our farm! Even though nothing is growing this year, it's beautiful. And what will happen to our horses? I know them all, and love them.

I am writing from my secret place under the big tree. Will I have a secret place where we are going? Where are we going? I don't know. I don't even know if Father knows. What is going to happen to us? I hear Mother calling. We have to leave. I shall hide this diary under the tree, and I will come back. Goodbye, my home.

Farewell.
Mary O'Connor
 

This Week's Memory Verse: John 1:1-5

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Dragonmaster Link-up #1

Name: Dragonmaster Elena
Weapon: Bow
Dragon: Sharine
Dragon Type: Frost
Color: Pale pink with purple wings
Notes: Both Dragonmaster and dragon are solitary

Dear Journal,
Today Sharine and I had a pleasure flight. Well, sort of, anyway. We just went up north to where Sharine is at home. The scenery was beautiful! We flew over the ocean, and there were icebergs. (Duh. That was a huge understatement.)

It's just so nice, flying with Sharine. The wind rushes through your hair, and you can see for miles. After a while above the ocean we turned and went above the artic tundra, which was nice. I don't like it quite as much as Sharine does, which is understandable, since it did use to be her home. We scared a couple of caribou. Some animals never do get used to dragons.

When I got tired of the tundra, we started for home. We live in a beautiful forest by ourselves. Ha, I suppose I'm sort of a hermit. But I have Sharine for company. And every once in a while things happen. Like soon I'm going to need to go meet with another Dragonmaster. (Those things are so annoying. But it is my duty, since I am a Dragonmaster. I have to help.)

Well, I will write more soon!
Elena

This is one of the icebergs we saw.

 

A caribou on the tundra

 

The forest where we live

Dragonmaster Link-up!

Yes, I'm linking up with Storyteller here.

My Dragonmaster name is going to be Elena! My dragon is Sharine, a light pink Frost type dragon, with blue and purple wings. She is about ten feet long. We are both sort of solitary, so we suit each  other well.

Annddd...I'll be posting more about us later!

 

Sometimes....

Sometimes I get scared.

And this horrible feeling comes inside of me where it feels like someone just punched me in the gut.

When this happens, I can't stop thinking of the scenario I am freaked out about.

 It's horrible.

And unfortunately, it's usually at night, and I can't get to sleep.

At times like this, it's so hard to trust God.

But I've found a way.

I have memorized several Bible verses, and saying them to myself helps.

A lot.

Apology and ~The Elven-names~ In Which Mirluin Reads Some More

So I know you have been wondering where I have been and why I haven't posted very much. Sorry about that. Last week I was doing the play. (btw, it was awesome. I was the lead role, and that's the first time I have EVER been the lead) This week I have been recovering from the play. Sorry i have been neglecting my blog.

And dun dun dun dun!!!!!! We have the new installment of The Elven-names!

~The Elven-names~
In Which Mirluin Reads Some More

I sighed. "And who's going to help me get Mom's stuff?"

The Keeper smiled. "Mahtan." He must have seen my bewilderment. "You know him as Matt."

*   *   *

 That was okay until we had both changed into normal human clothes and started into the forest. Then, all of a sudden, I remembered what had happened just before Dad tried to make us leave. Things were instantly awkward.

 

We walked in silence until we finally reached my house. Then Matt grinned. "Guess I'm finally gonna get to see the inside of your house."

 

I nodded, but didn't laugh. "I suppose so." I sighed. "Matt, are you going to go back to school when I do?"

 

He gave a puzzled frown and nodded. "Well, yeah. I am supposed to be watching out for you." He opened the back door of our house and held it open for me.

 

I smiled, remembering the first time he had held a door for me. He grinned mischievously, but didn't say anything, which I was glad for.

 

And then we were inside. Tears came to my eyes as the familiar four walls of home encircled me. Nice as the Forest Palace was, it just wasn't home.

 

I was brought back to reality by Matt, with some hesitation, clearing his throat. "Uh, weren't we supposed to be getting something?"

 

I sighed. "Yeah. It's in the attic, just this way." I led the way up the stairs and opened the attic door.

 

It was just like I had left it: the box open and the papers on the floor next to it. I knelt and began picking up papers, and Matt did the same.

 

As we worked I took a deep breath. "Matt, since you're going back to school too, I need to talk to you."

 

Matt glanced up quickly. He looked like he wanted to frown, but he quickly changed it to a teasing smile. "What?"

 

"Well," I paused, uncertain how to say it, "you need to watch out for me differently."

 

He tilted his head to one side. "Why? Do I not treat you well enough?"

 

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "NO, no, it's not that. You treat me fine, but, but, you need to talk to other people, too."

 

I saw a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Why?" he asked.

 

"Well, uh, uh," I could feel myself turning red, "people think I'm your...your...girlfriend." I spat the hated word out of my mouth.

 

Matt grinned from ear to ear. "So? You know you aren't." He began to chuckle. "I think it's pretty funny."

 

"MATT!!!" I protested. "It's not funny! And it isn't helping to protect me, if that's what you really want."

 

He stopped laughing. "How?" he asked. I could tell that he really meant it.

 

I sighed. "Before you came, people know me as Poor-Mir-who's-mom-died-when-she-was-ten. When we go back, I'll probably be known as Mir-who's-the-girlfriend-of-the-most-popular-boy-in-school-and-who-disappeared-for-a-week! And I want you to help me fade from notice."

 

He nodded. "Okay. So should I just ignore you?"

 

I gulped. That would be nice, but.... "No. That would just make things worse. Just treat other girls the same way, okay? That's the reason they started thinking things anyway--you didn't talk to anyone but me."

 

Matt sighed. "Alright, I'll try."

 

I smiled. "Good."

 

*   *   *

 

After we got back to the Forest Palace I took the papers and began to read. And I realized that there was much more than genealogies in them. I read thrilling stories of heroic adventure, tales of the founding of the havens, and the dark thread of the rise of the Mormir wove through it all. In the genealogies I found a list of the Keepers, and I set it aside for later. Maybe this would give me a clue about the Keeper of the Legacy's identity. But it could wait. Right now I was looking for things about the Mormir.

 

It turned out that the origins of the Mormir were cloudy, much like the origins of the Elven-Named. They (the Mormir) were a secret organization which had made the elven-named its target. When one of the Keepers of the Legacy (not the one I knew) founded the havens, the Mormir were set back a long way, but now they were regaining their power. Now hardly anywhere was safe from their arm, and they had started encroaching on the havens.

 

Reading and learning made the two days pass swiftly, and soon it was Monday morning.