Tears solemnly strolled down her face, pooling into liquid sadness on her fingertips. How could they be so cruel? So unforgiving? She did not understand why there was war or how there even could be such a thing as war. Are we not civilized?

Lord Túrien glanced over at Eärwen, she sat solemnly with Ammaráth coiled in her lap. A look of anguish tinted her lips as she smiled weakly at him; her eyes were screaming to him. It was his fault, his fault for allowing her to go outside and look around. Especially since he knew she'd see what destruction had been caused to her land.

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"Master Túrien?" she asked, energy seemed to radiate in droves from her as she stood at the entrance to the caves.

"My lady?"

"I believe Ammaráth could use the fresh air," she glanced up at him, a shred of fear filling her voice, "We would not go far."

A warm smile spread across his worn features, "Of course Lady Eärwen. Please, do not stray too far. I fear of what lurks in our woods."

"Yes, Master Túrien."

The light swish of fabric and their beating hearts were the only sounds in the forest. Creating a sonic-boom of empty noises, they walked slowly on the winding trails that skirted around the caves. Tiny birds spun back and forth through the canopy singing joyous songs that made her feel at home.

"Ammaráth," her voice was soft and loving as she came to a small brook, "Will you now tell me what is wrong?"

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at the baby dragon, still gravely bruised and his condition only worsening. She sighed and sat gracefully on the smooth stones; the hem of her dress sinking into the lucid water. Brushing a stray hair from her face she felt the tears plink, once more, across Ammaráth's little form.

"Please, tell me what's wrong," her voice faltered as she spoke, the salty tears fell quicker and she began to sob quietly.

Why did those she love have to get hurt?

She felt the baby dragon nuzzle her hand tenderly while the warmth of his body grew. He flapped his wings effortlessly and lifted himself into the air, just a few paces from her. She looked up in surprise and she could feel something inside her change...grow.

"Ammaráth?" the words were barely louder than her breathing.

"The power to heal, the power to destroy. You are our light, our savior." The thought startled her as she remembered the countless conversations she had with her mother. The conversations about her. She smiled merrily and stood up, while gently taking the baby dragon into her hands.

Turning to the edge of the path she strode across the wooden paths; weaving through the trees. Her heart beat faster, faster. The closer she came to the border of wide, white birch trees and the lands of her kingdom, the less she seemed the need to breathe.

She had to see it, it called to her--her home. It cried relentlessly to her mind, screaming helplessly as it drowned in the waters of despair and tragedy. She knew that whatever she saw would haunt her, the destruction the torture, the anger, but still she carried on.

She held her breath. A gossamer curtain of leaves stood in her path, the last obstacle before she would see her home; what it had turned into. Trembling, she reached forward slowly, her heart beat melted with Ammaráth's as she lifted the leaves that veiled her view.

The scene before her was like spiteful barbs thrown into her mind, the pain was all too real. The suffering, the madness, the overwhelming smell of death that lingered in the air. She saw the glorious white towers, the ones she had been born in, shrivel in smoke and fire.

The once lush, green fields turned to ash and ebony as orange waves of fire cascaded over everything. She could feel her heart clench tightly in her chest, she felt it create a great void within her being. A void that would only be filled, with love and hope, once justice and order was restored.

"What has become of my home?"