Youth

Shandalar smiled as she watched her granddaughter play in the dirt, without a care in the world. So far removed from the chaos that surrounded her own escape from her homeland, hundreds of years ago. She always worked so hard to give her family the life she never got to have, but now she was nearing the end of her life, and the next generation would have to take up that burden.

"Zentha." Shandalar said as loud as she could, calling out to the younger elven woman sitting closer to Taenya. She was old, and even a shout was still barely above a whisper.

Zentha looked up, and seeing her mother wanted to talk to her, got up and came to sit next to her on the bench in the garden. Shandalar didn't say anything at first, and just continued to watch Taenya in silence, before placing her hand on Zentha's leg.

"Was I a good mother, Zentha?" She eventually asked, not looking away from Taenya.

"Mother what's this about?" Zentha asked.

Shandalar smiled and nodded her head. "Keep her safe, dear."

"I always will. From all of Valmaris's enemies."

"I just wish my sister could have met her." Shandalar said, looking sad.

"Tell me more about her, about Syndra." Zentha said. "Tell both of us." She continued, gesturing at her young daughter. "You've always been so guarded about her."

"That was for good reason, dear." Shandalar replied, her voice steady. "But she's long gone now, I've not had word of even a sighting of her in decades. I'll tell you some stories of the Avalanche Princess."

"You will?" Taenya asked, having been listening in to her mother and grandmother speaking. She jumped up and ran over to her grandmother, looking up at her expectantly.

"How about this one?" Shandalar said, thinking of one right away. "I didn't see it, but Syndra blew up the Frozen Palace to cover her escape."

"Really?" Taenya asked, an excited sparkle in her eyes.

"Really." Shandalar said, motioning for Taenya to sit next to her. "Let me tell you about it."