Moonlight poured over the grounds of I' Taurn as I stood on the balcony. Long shadows spread across open places, and fireflies had long since ceased their light show, leaving only the quiet of the night to envelop I' Taurn.

My return to RhyDin was not what was expected. Things had changed starkly. Sylus was a more shadow than substance, and he'd been imprisoned by an old nemesis. Xenograg was working on his release. I would seek out my old friend tomorrow.

Brigath, a sorcerer from years ago had sent an emissary to me with a need that most elves would never have accepted, and I found and delivered the needed body to the wolf. There are some things that no longer trouble me, although if I inspect them too long, I know they should. But this thing Brigath had needed outweighed what I had done.

I watched the shadows move slowly across the lawns. Time moves inexorably, and I cannot ignore the Great Hall forever. But, the run with the zoi was pleasant, and the trepidation I had been feeling earlier had abated. I knew it was time.

My feet carried me down the albite stairs, and I stood before the ornately carved white oak doors. I found myself wishing Uly were here. His vision and support was something I missed terribly. It would never be my backup again, and for a moment, I felt that loss keenly. Uly was gone, and life moves foreward. Perhaps Legend had a point.

I sent Myr upstairs and regarded the door a long moment before reaching for the cool mithril handle. The latch snicked open, and I pushed the door inward. The room was dark, only the moonlight and starlight outside shone across the blue granite floor. The great fireplace lay at the opposite end of the room, and I could see the shadows of the coat of arms, along with the weapons that graced the walls on either side.

I moved forward slowly, searching for the shadow of the great black blade. Half hoping, and half dreading what I would find.

The Great Hall holds many memories, and I stood upon the stone hearth reliving some of the old memories. Daemonbane had not returned here, and relief swept through me. Perhaps we had finally banished the great blade, and its influence once and for all.

I reached up to touch the ancient hilt of my father's sword when I noticed my starfyre ring was glowing! I glanced quickly out the window, thinking perhaps it was a trick of the moonlight, but no stray moonbeams reached so deeply into the room.

My heart skipped a beat. The ring was very clearly glowing more brightly than it had in years. I sat down abruptly upon the stone hearth, my gaze riveted to the glowing strand that made up half of my ring.

Uly was dead - but then, how could this be?

I thought back to what I had seen with my own eyes. I had watched his ship vanish into the sun's corona. I had watched the light die from my ring. I had felt the ties to my mate strain and shatter. I had mourned as an Eldar can only mourn the loss of a true lifemate.

Images of the meteor shower long ago formed in my thoughts, and the clear sound of Uly's voice when Sylus and I had gone back to Harmony to retrieve the books rang in my ears, "Not for you 'Lais".

But the torn heart strings that had once bound us together had not mended.

There was however, no denying the fire was once more causing the ring to glow.