The greatest gift that Cormac could have imagined was given to him that day, after the meeting with Delauvaran. Given the pleasure of rowing a small boat out onto the lake, one but a little larger than the boat of his father and grandfather with Corin, to fish in the middle of the lake. He was surprised by the length and width of the lake, along with the plentiful bounty of fish that they caught. Though often accused of being middling in all that he aspired to, or simply too disinterested to become as fine a weaver as say Indulf, there were few who could compare with him in the art of fishing.
Having always been made to sneak about after dark with Trygve to go fishing by the village, due to Kenna and the Salmon's disapproval of him, Cormac had always loved fishing and swimming. Such was the skill with which he caught fish, and calculated the best places to cast his rod or the net that he made the most trips to and from land. In the past, it was always Corin who directed him, to-day it was the reverse Cormac who directed his god-father in all that he was to do. A middling fisherman at best, the usually reserved Corin laughed loudly and followed every order without question or debate.
The Elves in the meantime could only stare in admiration, or seek to imitate their successes. Some began to ask themselves cheerily if all men were such skilled fishermen.
They heard every word uttered by Cormac yet did not begrudge or attempt to steal the spots he targeted along the lake, nor did they seek to tangle their rods or nets with his own. Seeing that as dishonourable, rather they gave him space wherever he went and smiled at his apparent love for the sea and inherent respect for it, for though they favoured the forest over the sea, they respected him for his passion.
*****
It was to the end of the day that Cormac, who had forgotten all about Delauvaran's words was urged to join him, while a great many of the Elves carried away his spoils from the shore. They were to be shared with the whole of the village, just before they departed as all fish were and deer were. Only Delauvaran had a sense of ownership over what he hunted, baked or fished from the sea, in this he was held to be the most peculiar and strange of the Elves. It was Corin of course, who reminded the youth to go pay homage to the elder.
"He has a gift if you will recall," Corin said to him, stopping Cormac from following after Glarald who sought to encourage him to follow after him, keen to exchange more questions.
"Aye, I had forgotten," Cormac replied wearily a little waspish, for all he wished for was to return to the village to enjoy the feast and songs of the Elves.
The gift as it turned out, was an item that Delauvaran who was in the midst of working the mill to make some bread for the feast that night, lay upon the table at this time. It had been hidden beneath his bed he said, and he had pulled it out before he had gotten to work. "It is the war-horn of Eindriði, and was given to Murchadh years ago. It is known as Hvítrhorn, the white-horn as you may know it. An ancient heirloom of the kin of Eindriði and one that Murchadh prized above all other things, save for an armband given to him by your mother."
The horn of which he spoke was a gleaming white thing, curved and brilliant it all but shone in the light of the twin-suns. There were grey-iron rings it appeared at either end of the war-horn just short of the tips of the horn, and one in the middle of the horn that shone in the light, for it was made and curved in the Northmen's style, and these iron coverings had engraved into them runes of the North and of the Dwarves.
But it was ever the whiteness of the principal part of the horn that most captured the eye. No light that was cast upon it could alter the whiteness of it, and no shadow could darken the light and beauty that emanated from it. Upon the back of it was carved Nordic runes, ones that Corin who was wise in the ways of the Northmen had long taught Cormac about. They were the runes Sōwilō that great solar symbol with its twin array of lines and the sea-Rune of laguz, a rune that had ever been Cormac's favourite since he first set eyes upon it. Laguz with its upward then descending vertical line had, he was told been dear to his father also, Corin had once told him in his childhood.
"It has laguz engraved upon it," He said pleased to see the rune.
"Aye, it was you see," At this time Delauvaran paused upon the turning of flour into proper bread, "Crafted near where the Arns in the lands of Norvech call the 'Sun-lake' where it was said that a great victory was once won against the tide of evil in those lands by an alliance between Cormac, the successors of Kalthea Pegasus-Rider, and the north-folk of all races. It is said that after this battle, Eindriði's ancestor was given it by the Grey-Dwarves of those lands in thanks for his heroic rescue mid-battle of their king, Durlanthrin Gold-Beard."
Though unfamiliar with the tale in question, and much as he might have liked to hear more of this battle and of the Dwarf in question, and even of Eindriði's ancestor. Cormac was ushered out by Corin, who told him they were distracting for the elder, and that there would be time later for such tales.
Before he had left though, he was warned by Delauvaran who paused in the middle of his work, to warn him in a grim tone and with the most serious expression upon his face that Cormac had ever worn in all his life. "One last thing, Cormac MacMurchadh; do not speak to anyone at the feast of your adventure alongside Daegan regarding the pond."
The reason for this warning was one that mystified the youth; he was not given a proper reason for why he was not to speak of Daegan's encounter with the unicorn-statue. He was left to guess at the fact that the statue was somehow linked, to the tale he had been told of how the Wilder-Elves had turned away from the local unicorn. This shunning of the unicorn, mystified the youth who could not bring himself to understand how it was that Elves, who were amongst the fey-folk of the world had come to comport themselves in such a manner.
The return journey saw the Elves sing once more, this time of a sorrow that Cormac shared far more keenly than the previous times. For they sang now, not of lost wonders or mighty figures, but of the separation from the sea, a sentiment that struck him all too keenly at that moment, for he had never been allowed to fish for so long, at a single time before then. He also had the feeling as he carried the horn Hvítrhorn gingerly in his hands that he was not to see that large and abundant lake, ever again.
"Home be where the hart awaits,
Wives call where the heart full o'grace,
This warmly decreed have the Fates
Noontide hearkens to fish-men,
Hurry hither to thy den,
Away from the lake to our glen,
The sea in the morn' glittering,
Shall still be remaining,
Long after our fish-dinner is waning,
Home be where the hart awaits,
Wives call where the heart full o'grace,
This warmly decreed have the Fates."
The feast was not held on that day, but the subsequent one. Held in the evening, a full day after Cormac returned to show to his friends the great Northern war-horn with its iron rings and multiplicity of runes. The most impressed by it was not Daegan, though she loved it also, but of all people Indulf. For between him and Trygve, he was the most proud of his Nordic ancestry, an ancestry that his grandmother had done her best to pass down to him, before she departed for the realm of Orcus. It was he who handled the horn as though it were made of softest silk, and he who spoke most highly of Delauvaran for passing it onto Cormac.
"This is a great horn, and these runes are beautiful, do you know what the Dwarven ones say?" He asked seated at the table in the home lent to Wulfnoth and Trygve now. Cormac, who had been moved into the home previously occupied by the brothers, was to point at the runes as he spoke. The runes in question were said to have been given to the Dwarves by the god they called Oðthen, or as the Arnish called him; Oðin. The runes themselves were in the shape of a war-horn in the case of one which has an open tip. The next one was as the rune Jera the yield or harvest rune, except reversed so that they faced upwards. The last was of what appeared to be a blade downthrust into a stone.
"The first is of 'cnelm', the 'horn' rune. The second I do believe is that of 'neigl' the snow-rune and lastly this blade must be 'Oðen' the godly rune, it is also that of 'brotherhood' and 'honour' unless I am very much mistaken which is highly unlikely." Wulfnoth read as best he could, when he saw how they stared at him; he tugged proudly at his fine moustache. "I once knew a Dwarf, and he taught me such things though this was long, long ago. I do wonder what became of Dominic de Bellion."
Familiar with the North-runes only by virtue of Cormac having shared his knowledge gleaned from Corin growing up with the elder lad, Indulf ran his thumb along the futharks in question. His reverent manner and genuine smile left none in doubt of how pleased he was for his friend to have received such a gift.
These runes were not alone, as the Arnish runes were as follows; 'isaz' the 'ice' rune, followed by that of 'tiwaz' the 'war' rune and lastly there was the 'ash' or 'mouth' rune of 'ansuz'. So that it spelled the 'ice-mouth of war' though this translation was a rough one performed by Indulf and Cormac.
If there was any who appeared mildly disinterested it Trygve though, he simply shrugged in response when he was if he might like to hold it. "Why? I can see from here that it is magnificent to behold yes, but it has no bearing upon me nor will it in the future."
This drew the ire of Wulfnoth who snorted at him, "Bah, typical of what I would expect of you Trygve, though in this your foolishness surpasses even my own worst expectations." At his words Trygve appeared almost as hurt as Cormac had been at the other lad's dismissal of the war-horn. Wulfnoth continued, "It is our ancestry that helps to shape what we are for the better or for the worst. Our ancestors are crucial lest we should repeat their errors, and duplicate their courage and goodness when the time comes. As to heirlooms they are important, for more than a simple item is transferred with them. And there is much that has been given hereon this day; I suspect that this horn will have a great role to play in the coming days."
*****
After this the horn was no longer spoken of amongst them, and though Cormac might well have liked to share it with his new Elvish friends, he was encouraged to leave it on the table in his newfound room. Leaving it on the table there, at the encouragement of Corin, just before the feast which began with songs sung from all quarters of the village. The women began, by singing as they departed from their homes, with the first to sing in this great chorus being Arduinna.
"Hither race all the squirrels,
They come with nary any quarrels,
Bellies rumbling ladies tighten girdles,
Lest ye shall be thought immodest,
For the lions and wolves have been sighted,
They are not to be daunted,
Neither shall we, this they have flaunted,
Why are we so exalted?"
Then the men-folk were to rejoin with;
"Baked goods and cooked fish crave the lions,
These do call as might sirens,
If offered such goods none may raise denials,
In days of yore up went the walls and irons,
To-day the trees are raised never taunted,
Fish caught this the wolves have vaunted,
Baked cooks and fish ye ladies have flaunted,
This and the hearth-fires' beauty be why ye be exalted."
Torches in hand, the procession of women, and men descended from the upper verandas of the village, or in the case of those far down below on the actual ground, they prepared the tables, clothed them in green silken table-clothes and began to lay out the plates and food for the feast. The tables in question were made of the fine alder-wood perfected by the people of the forest, with it near to sixty meters long. There were four of them laid out in the middle of the village, with only three of them almost entirely filled up, for there were only three hundred citizens of the village left in those days.
They were arrayed in a square with each of the tables facing one another, with the one to the north where Arduinna seated herself. To her left sat Wiglaf, while to her right was seated a young Elf-maiden who bore a remarkable similarity to her in appearance. She was long of hair and fairer than any maiden any of the lads had ever set eyes upon, in all their lives. She appeared little older than Indulf himself, and had dimples when she smiled which was almost continuously, with her brown hair and eyes of an entirely unique colouring. The glow of her eyes appeared to surpass those of all her kindred, and though her ears were not quite as long as those of her mother, they curved in a manner akin to hers. Dressed in a silk dress that flattered her figure, it in no way was vulgar stretching greenly from her ankles to her neck, with it leaving her tanned and muscled arms bare to the world. Upon her neck-length haired brow she wore what appeared to Cormac's eye to be a red-wood circlet with a large emerald carved into its summit.
To her other side sat her sister, who was but a little younger than she, green of hair and eyes, though she appeared to smile a little less, hers was a more reserved nature. Pretty where her sister was beautiful, she wore her hair longer, where her sister wore it short. Her ears were slightly more pointed and her fingers longer and dress cut in the same manner as that of her sister. Her own forehead was bare, though her hair was woven into an intricate array of braids that wove together her hair into three knotted braids down to the middle of her back while the rest was left untamed.
The lady of the Longwoods wore her own hair in this manner also, and wore upon her own brow a slightly more intricate, jagged and larger near-crown of red-wood with three emeralds upheld by the branches. These gems appeared to continuously be aglow as her eyes were, and were so fair to look upon that few were those who could gaze upon them without being blinded by her radiance. She was dressed as she had been the night of the battle of the Mound of Griogair and appeared much less stern at that moment than previously observed to be, by Cormac.
Seated next to him, Daegan fussed and whined a little beneath her breath at his staring at the head table from where they sat at the table to the left of it, at the complete other end of the feast. "Where do you stare at, in such amazement and awe Cormac?"
"Er, it is just that I was amazed at the silken-style of their dresses and amazed to see Arduinna present herewith us all." He stammered, for he well-knew why Daegan was infuriated and could not bring himself to blame the lass on his left.
Daegan he noticed had dressed herself in the same dress she had arrived in, though she wore one of the linen green dress of the Elf-maidens over it, in an effort to cover herself where her dress had been torn. She had done naught with her hair, nor had she prettied herself considerably that day beyond having taken a bath alongside the other women elsewhere in the forest. An act that the women did separately from the men, and did as a community why they did this was one of many mysteries to him. He had in the past week or so he had been present in the Longwoods noticed that men bathed alone.
The other chair at his side was empty with Indulf seated one chair away, having been instructed that the chair was already selected by someone. Having been himself directly to his own seat, Cormac was soon surprised to find Corin find his way to the seat next to Indulf, and two Elf-maids that he had observed on occasion in the past day or so, walking in step with Daegan. Both were pretty, and kindly-looking, with both of them pretty to look upon. Both had green haired, with one of them having darker hair, she was taller than even Indulf. The latter lass was shorter, with the same slim figure and warmth about her person that most of the Elves held.
The mystery of whom, it was that wished to sit by Cormac's side was soon answered, by the arrival of Bardulf.
Dressed in a tunic and trousers that was different from before, he was dressed in the same simple leather though his clothes was slightly darker as in mourning though. There was a weight about his person, though he also wore a slightly apologetic expression. He appeared so regretful as though he had done some great harm to them that Cormac was seized by pity, and was swift to bid him seat himself by his side.
"Thank you, I had hoped you might be so kind Cormac," He said quietly taking up the seat only at this time, nodding to a few Elves seated across from him or by the sides of his gathered traveling companions. "I must confess that I had avoided you all."
This admission was a surprise, though it was one that they had all long suspected, that this lay at the heart of why he had not visited them yet.
"Then seat yourself elsewhere," Daegan grunted harshly, which made Bardulf's ears droop lower than they already were, his expression a brooding one.
"Dae," Corin hissed in exasperation before he turned from glaring sternly at his daughter to glance at the Wolfram. "You have naught to apologise for, Bardulf. Especially after all that you have done to shield the children and to thwart the wraiths."
Grateful, a smile climbed up to Bardulf's troubled face. Seeing how he appeared to take what the other man said so closely to heart, Indulf spoke up for the first time since they had seated themselves, his own tone morose, "Why did you not join us, after the night of our arrival?"
Bardulf answered this query earnestly, "I must confess to having been troubled at the loss of my clan-brothers and Yngvarr. My losses along, with the great matter of the Blood-Gem and continuous meetings with Arduinna have taken up all of my attention."
So sorrowful and grief-stricken did he appear that Cormac was filled with pity, so that he passed along several words of kindness. "It is alright, Bardulf! It is only that you have been missed!"
In this he spoke from the heart, with the Wolfram in spite of his prior distant comportment over the course of their journey, through the Longwoods and to Griogair's Mound, demonstrating now genuine gratitude. He appeared moved with his ears pointing up a little; just before he took three herons from the plate offered him by the youth and planted them upon his own plate.
Pleased by this visible gratitude and moved gleam in his eyes, Cormac nudged Daegan with his elbow, "Dae also feels this way deep down, right Dae?"
She grumbled but did not disagree, with her friends giggling and teasing her also. Disconcerted by the distant manner with which she behaved, preferring to pay most of her attention to the other lasses. For their own part, they giggled and alongside a great many other Elf-maids appeared to enjoy teasing and sniggering at most of Indulf said. Though to look into their eyes, there was little desire of the sort women felt for men to be found there. It appeared as though, they simply enjoyed teasing the youth who paid them absolutely no mind.
Indulf went on to brood for a great deal of the feast that followed. Though he was surrounded by his friends, as he examined the food that was passed about and his stomach rumbled louder than ever before, Cormac had to admit that he had never felt more alone.
The feast was a grand one, of the sort he had never seen the like of which in all his years. There was every imaginable bird from poultry, to herons, to eagles, to hawks, to smaller birds. There was upon other plates the meat of, every other imaginable beast of burden from oxen, to donkey-meat to horses, to elk-meat. There was the meat of pigs, those of foxes, wolves, coyotes, bears and other predators, along with fish and of course the vegetables and fruits that the Elves loved so dearly. Each of these smelt and tasted magnificently. The peaches were as rich-tasting, as the apples, bananas, tomatoes, onions and still more all were.
There were the still-steaming buns and soft cornbread so beloved by the Elves, lovingly baked by old Delavauran (though the Elf himself was absent from the feast), and there was also cheese of all sizes and differing flavours. Ask not how this latter accomplishment was done, for it is a secret of this Elf-tribe, one that they guarded jealously, all that is known is that the tribal-secret of cheese-baking yielded some of the finest taste that ever graced Cormac and his friends' mouths.
As to the milk, goat-milk, wine and beer that the Elves passed in large clay jugs and tankards, they all tasted magnificently so that Cormac soon forgot some of his misery. Next to him, Bardulf devoured every single morsel that passed under his nose, eating almost three times as much as the human youths did put together.
All about them, some of the Elves studied them through distant, half-lidded eyes.
It was towards the end of the feasting part of the celebration that the son of Murchadh asked of the Wolfram-hero, of his many meetings with Arduinna. "I shan't say more than it is a very dark and terrible matter Cormac. Though I have come to value the courage and goodness that lies at the heart of you and each of your friends, it might be best discussed at a later date."
"Wise words," Said Kyrenas from one corner of the table, near where they sat his scowling grimace one that was largely ignored by those who surrounded him.
Ill-tempered and hardly inviting a host among the Wilder-Elves, Cormac had almost become accustomed to his rudeness, where the Elves preferred to overlook it, so that he sought to imitate their overlooking of the fisherman's poor-attitude.
This was made all the easier by the man's son, who seated across from Bardulf, spoke up, in a cheery tone. "Have you ever joined in a Pact-Day Celebration ere your arrival herein En-Coilltään or as it is called in the Caled tongue; Duskenvale?"
His question appeared directed towards the whole of their company, with it being Corin who answered for them, "Nay we do not celebrate this celebration in Caledonia. For the Caleds and Pech kingdom arose only after the kingdoms of the folk of Roparzh fell in the days immediately after the arrival of Roma upon these shores."
"My people celebrate this day, in mourning," Bardulf uttered grimly, meeting the gaze of the youthful Elf frankly.
"Do not ask them too many questions, Glarald," one of Daegan's friends reprimanded in a teasing tone flashing a small inviting smile in his direction.
The Elf in question merely shrugged his shoulders in response. He did not appear at all interested in her words, with Bardulf the one who countered her words with his eternal earnestness. "It is no trouble lady, there was no offense taken at his words, for we Wolframs of the Griogairii have reason to mourn after-all."
"It is nonetheless unbecoming of him, to remind you of such sorrows when this ought to be a day of celebration." The Elf-maid in question argued back if in the same polite tone that she appeared to have perfected.
"Then cease to exist, for it is impossible not to remind me of it," Bardulf murmured softly so that a great many people all around them struggled to hear him, before he added a little more loudly. "It is my peoples' burden and one I intend to bear regardless your kindly wishes."
"It is not that we wish to cast aside burdens, only to enforce proper decorum before the most honoured of our chieftain's guests." The other Elf-maid, the shorter of the two replied with what was the first show of irritation by one of the female Elves that populated the village.
This disagreement continued for some time, with Bardulf visibly amused, it was as it went on that Glarald sought to placate the maids he at last named as Elduilas (the taller of the two) and Eflarria (the stouter).
Answering questions by Glarald only to counter with his own, it was at this time that Cormac learnt a great deal about this line of Elves. Descended from Brigantius and those closest to him, Arduinna's great-grandfather was succeeded by her maternal grandfather Tanythullian Starbow, surnamed due to his having been the greatest of all the archers of the tribe of Brigantius. He reigned for centuries as chieftain, the youngest of his predecessor's sons. He became chieftain only after his brothers had all been slaughtered during the Wars of Darkness. They fell along with their father in the early part of those wars, in the battle of Auldvendell. Tanythullian it was who chose to remain upon the Lairdly-Isle in spite of his sister, Azeriah Silversong who took with her the vast majority of the tribe north of the Glacial-Sea with Cormac.
After Tanythullian, who passed away in his bed near to four centuries after the death of his kinsmen, succeeded his eldest son Mythandralius the Disgraced. This was the best translated variant of his surname, with Glarald struggling to pronounce a finer sounding name for the Elf-chief in question. The Elf's tale was one that he appeared keen to recount to them when he was interrupted by his father who grew angry with him.
"Speak not of the traitor," He growled with such sternness that the lad appeared visibly shaken.
His desire to quiet all talk of the Elf in question, only acerbated the curiosity Cormac who had his mouth full at this time, towards the chieftain in question. This sentiment was shared by Corin who sought to needle more information about the figure, but none of the Elves would speak of him. They preferred to offer more food and Caled songs from their homeland in place of any proper answers.
It was Bardulf who answered their questions, "Among my people there are tales of a Mythandralius, who left to go south almost a hundred years after the first arrival of the Romalians on these shores. Whereupon he was accepted and became so honoured that they nominated governor of their province of Brittia."
"Do not speak of him," Kyrenas commanded harshly, bitterness in his voice.
Bardulf raised an eyebrow, ran a hand through his hair ere he went on to prompt several of the Elves about the younger brother of Mythandralius, Vulkuinas, father of Arduinna became chieftain, Glarald recounted. He was a worthy chief and died shortly after the fall of Roma, with his son Vulkuilar leading until the middle of the Second Wars of Darkness, he explained only now his cheerfulness fading a little.
Injured in battle, he was to retreat to the Unicorn's Clearing, a mysterious clearing in the forest that came and went, with a handful of the Elf's supporters with him. At this mention Daegan choked on her drink (cow-milk), with Cormac in the midst of biting into mutton choking a little also, both explained it away as them being excited to hear of the unicorn. With a shrug many of those of En-Coilltään as this tribe called their village encouraged the son of Kyrenas to continue with his tale. He was a good-storyteller, with this praise coming from Bardulf, who smiled a little at the Elf who grinned back at this praise.
"All were injured, a large number of these Elves pleaded with the local unicorn to heal them, however for reasons beyond us the unicorn refused to heal them. She claimed that 'it was their time' or so it is said according to those present at the time. Galanvalthan husband to Arduinna who loved our chief as though he were his own father was angered. In a fit of rage, he commanded that the unicorn be lured out, seized and sealed in marble. Her horn was broken, though it could not be taken away from her presence, the prosperity of the forest endowed by She of the one horn was thenceforth directed towards preserving our village." Glarald recounted to the distinct pleasure of those around him.
Bardulf praised him and might have gone on to recount a tale or two that he had heard, including ones about the tribe of the En-Coilltään, if it were not for him re-thinking this notion. The friends of Daegan were in particular keen to praise Glarald for his accomplishment, in condensing and recounting the history of the Longwoods. The enthusiasm the two Elves showed, made Cormac ponder if the local women thought the son of Kyrenas handsome.
This made him ponder if he appeared so, to Daegan's mind from there he went on to wonder about the superficiality of the flesh and whether it was truly important. This philosophical musing made him go on to question if Elvish longevity had been granted as part of a request to the gods, as some claimed or if it was given to them as a curse, as Corin had once hypothesized. This last notion had appeared to him, ridiculous yet as he studied the eyes of the Elves, few if any appeared sincerely joyous. There was a sorrow, an awareness of their decline that was reflected there that made him pity them. From there he pondered, if this celebration mattered at that moment due in no small part to the distance between them and the Blood-Gem.
Just as he began to recount some of the tales he knew of, regarding the history of Caledonia. Notably of how Achaius' sons were betrayed early in their lives, exiled west to the western-isles to the kingdom of Ríocht-Riada where their father had come from. It was Achaius who had initially united the two kingdoms, but with his death his kingdom was to break into two. While his first realm passed to his son, the Pechs fell to barbarism. This led Cináed to his great act of conquest, inviting them to negotiate he had mystical chairs wrought by Dwarves in the Highlands, whereupon he had the Pech royal line and nobles seat themselves upon them. These chairs bound them to them, and Cináed cut them down to a man.
"What a cruel human," Eflarria remarked genuinely shocked by the tale, appearing disturbed by the tale.
"Hardly, for at the time Northman had begun to raid our shores and to push our people from their native lands. It was for this reason that he had initially sought to make peace with them, was rebuffed and decided to punish the murderers of his brother, Achaian, who was originally the eldest. Cináed with their deaths had the chairs shattered and made part of the black fort of Geamdubh in Tuathgeal where some of the raids were at their worst and repelled them for a time. When they returned it was to take parts of the north and the western-isles," Cormac went on to explain wishing he had a map so as to demonstrate to them, which parts were conquered and which were not.
It was as he sucked in a breath to better explain, having been swept up by the history of his people which he was not certain he knew half as well as others such as Corin did. That Arduinna arose to her feet, startled by this Cormac ceased speaking mid-sentence at the same time that a large number of those present did.
The only one who continued to speak to anyone was Wiglaf who had to be nudged by the Elf he spoke to, before he realized that he was meant to be quiet. Embarrassed he laughed, and jostled his friend, which made Cormac feel once more as though he had been forgotten by the grandfatherly old Cymran.
Disliking this petty feeling within himself, he forced his gaze to return to the shining, beautiful figure of Arduinna who spoke with such majesty and dignity that this was no difficult feat. She was truly an incredible figure whose wisdom and greatness was unmatched throughout much of the lands of the Lairdly-Isle. "We are joined, by heroes the likes of which have not been seen since those dark wars that have long clouded what happiness is to be found in the hearts of those of us who remember those foul days." She began, speaking gravely, even sorrowfully fingering a wooden pendant with a diamond in the center. The pendant in the shape of a shooting star was difficult to see where he sat, but later, when he saw more closely he was to notice how magnificent it was. "Yet now there are those who threaten what little joy we have left in this world, and that of our friends from the north, and that in the lands of Cymru. All lands that must band together, to stop the encroachment of darkness, which makes this possibly the most crucial of all Pact-Day Celebrations since the days of Achaius, my father and those southron kings who dominated what is now Brittia." She raised her goblet, "A toast to the friendships we have re-forged and to the renewal of the pact."
There was hearty approval at these words, notably from the Elves and Bardulf, who appeared moved by the statement. A man who disliked references to his clan's past, he took this remarkably well Cormac noted, and raised his own goblet in celebration of the Pact.
This done, Arduinna drank heartily herself, wherefore she lowered her goblet and began to intone a song whose words slipped in one ear and out the other, for Cormac. Because of this he did not grasp the individual words properly for a time. It was Bardulf who sang their translation to him, in his magnificent, deep voice with a small ghost of a smile that appeared almost to be something of a grimace.
"Fionnlagh went south to die,
Uthard by his war-horn gave a great cry,
Upon the Wolves did he rely,
The Elves who ruled under the sky,
Against the Cyclops their fates they did tie,
Scarlet with their blood they did dye,
By their pact by oaks and the skies up-high,
They did abide and never did lie,
For their sons' they did valorously by thousands die,
Fionnlagh may well have died,
Uthard also never did hide,
The Wolf-Kings were next to stride,
Against the Giants they all defied,
Riches poured hither as a groom might provide,
And their siblings did abide
As might a loving bride,
Well-did the Wolves rule but they in time did divide,
This they did after they lost their pride,
They broke the Pact and for this all cried,
Roparzh-King swore this Pact has not forever-died."
"Such beauty," Daegan uttered awed by the grief and awe in the voices of all those around her, Cormac and Indulf could only nod their heads.
It was faint at first, however as the song progressed and as the voices of the non-humans, Wiglaf and Bardulf rose in volume there came to the intrigue and enchantment of those listening the most wondrous fireflies. They arrived from the edges of the village, but by the repetition of the first verse they reached the northern and southern tables, ere they encircled and flew everywhere about the feast. Until it was awash in golden light, as the fireflies danced and wove here and therewith their pretty light, chattering amongst themselves in tune, with the great song.
For as long as they lived, none of those present ever forgot this beauteous moment for as long as they lived.