One thing I never expected from my good friend Eve; was for her to fall in love with a human.

Sure, there was peace between Xadia and the kingdoms, but marriage!? Love!? I had never heard of such nonsense before.

Markus had always been a great man, but the idea of their love had me skeptical. That is, until, they had a beautiful baby girl. I knew it meant their love was true. Genuine.

They called her (Y/n).

She looked more like her dad; had his hair and skin tone. She also lacked her mother's purple markings.

But her eyes. They were the telltale sign she was part Elf.

Ethari and I fell in love knowing we could never have children. We were okay with that. But when we both met (Y/n) for the first time, I think we equally wanted to be part of the child's life.

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As (Y/n) grew older, Ethari and I started spending more time with her. Visiting the family in their small cottage (thankfully close to the village), and then when she got old enough to begin training and learning, Eve requested Ethari and I to teach her.

We both had other children who we assisted and taught, so acceptance came instantly.

For six years, I taught her all the lessons I could think of. Ethari teaching her the more intellectual side of life.

She was amazing.

Always on top of her lessons, and compared to the other young Elves...

Not that I was comparing or anything...

Eve's healer gene had passed down to her daughter and so at home, (Y/n) began learning how to help in those varying areas.

She was amazing at that also.

I experienced (Y/n)'s abilities first hand when she was eight. She had found me in the woods after I came across a Startouch Elf.

'Aaravos,' he said his name was. Put up a hell of a fight before he finally left me alone.

Albeit, severely wounded.

But (Y/n) found me that day. She was so young and confused, but not phased by my protests or injuries.

She healed me.

As if it was nothing.

I was amazed to say the least. I told her she'll go on to help many people.

I made sure to tell Markus and Eve the next day, the absolute pride that filled their smiles nearly brought a tear to my eye.

I was proud of her also.

Our other close friends, Lain and Tiadrin, found themselves falling in love. They too, decided to have a child.

They named her Rayla.

(Y/n) was six when the baby girl was born. It seemed they connected on a sisterly level almost instantly.

They played and laughed together daily.

It was, I hate to say it, adorable.

When (Y/n) was ten, she spent the whole day in the Silverlake nearby, searching for a 'charm' or something. The next day I saw her and Rayla together, the younger Elf adorning a homemade necklace.

Completed, with a perfect blue crystal. Found only in Silverlakes.

I remember smiling at the two of them, (Y/n) pointing out the names of various weapons, and I felt like everything in life was going well.

I was with the man I loved.

No dangers held threat to the Silvergrove.

There was a demi-elf child among us.

Proof of the peace between the lands.

I thought the future would be bright.

Until I received the word of a fire.

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I remember being at home one night, sitting outside under the crescent moon, bewitched by its reflection in our fountain.

I heard footsteps coming from the base of our hill. It was my husband, Ethari. But his pace wasn't casual, he was running.

I jumped to my feet.

"Runaan," he was out of breath by the time he reached the top. Tired, but something more flashed those chestnut eyes.

Worry.

Ethari wasn't easily stressed. "What's wrong?" I braced myself.

"There's a fire," -if it was merely an accident in the village, he wouldn't have been as nervous telling me- "I- I think it's coming from Eve and Markus's home."

"Dear skies, Ethari." He told me because I was faster, could make it there quicker.

I put one hand on his shoulder before sprinting as if my life depended on it.

Three lives very well did.

They were a smart family. If a fire did spread, they would escape easily.

I would find them outside.

It would be okay.

But if it wasn't an accident...

I worked my legs harder, taking the same path I had so many times before.

When I reached the house, I couldn't see a single patch of wood. The whole structure was engulfed by flames.

"EVE!" I screamed and tried to find the safest route into the house. "MARKUS!?" No replies. "(Y/N) PLEASE!?"

Nothing.

I didn't think straight. I ran through the back door into the living room. Smoke filled my lungs and heat blinded me.

I wafted away some of the vapour and spotted two bodies on the floor.

Adults.

Markus-

Markus had a sword pierced through his chest.

Dead.

As for Eve- her chest was still moving. I hauled her up and out of the blazing house.

"Where is (Y/n)!?" I half yelled down to her. I couldn't risk going back inside unless I knew where exactly the kid was.

"It's okay." Eve just looked at me with her familiar friendly smile. "She's okay Runaan, thank you." I prayed she didn't mean (Y/n) had been killed and some death is peace bullshit.

I could tell Eve didn't have much time left. The smoke in her system was fatal.

"Eve but where is she?" I emphasised the word, hoping she could hang on just a little longer.

My friend solely smiled. Dazed. Almost happy she was dying-

She would soon join Markus.

She didn't want to live without him.

"I put a spell on her, Runaan," I didn't know what to think, "it was the only way she'd get out alive."

Guilt flooded me. If I had been faster, had invited them over for dinner that evening, maybe they would still be a family.

I could've prevented this. But I didn't. Eve continued, "she will grow up believing Markus and I were human, that she is a human." She paused, pained by the final part of the charm, "and she'll believe Moonshadow elves set fire to the home. Killing her human parents." No.

"Eve I could find her-" she stopped my plea.

"Don't, get yourself killed because you're clouded with grief, Runaan. Promise me. Markus and I lived a good life. She will be okay."

But her whole life, her memory, it wouldn't be real. Selfish thoughts control my mind.

She would never remember me or Rayla or the Silvergrove. Nothing. 

Nonetheless, I took a deep breath in. "I promise." I had to.

Eve just smiled and tilted her back back to see the moon. It was brighter than usual.

Minutes later, she died in my arms.

Two beautiful stars joined the sky that night.

                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just one day ago in the woods, I didn't know what to believe.

That girl seemed to be (Y/n)'s age.

That girl definitely had (Y/n)'s eyes.

She could see us. Me.

I don't understand how Eve's spell worked. This girl clearly didn't know me. Or Rayla. Rayla who didn't kill the human who found us. She lied. And that cost us our surprise. Everything was starting to go to shit.

The next night, I made her stay at camp.

               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She did not, in fact, stay at camp.

She repeated hours worth of information, about the Dragon Prince and peace, but then about
(Y/n).

Rayla claimed that it was (Y/n), because the girl now remembered some parts of her childhood and everything made sense. It all connected.

My heart swelled at the idea but my head hurt to think about it. I pushed away the fantasy, we had a mission, a reality.

Rayla didn't back down, so I did something I never believed I would. I drew my blades on one of my own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The girl tried to sneak up behind me, but was clouded by grief. It made her sloppy.

She came at me but halted, clearly not in the right headspace. I grabbed the girl and pinned her to the ground, my dagger at her throat.

But familiar eyes stared back at me.

(Y/n).

I had to be sure. I started repeating one of the most important lessons I ever taught her.

And she knew it.

She finished every word.

She remembered her life.

Her family.

Me.

Everything was okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~