Neighburg was a quiet farming community hidden away from civilization by wilderness. A great hill to the south borders a narrow dirt path leading to a road long forgotten by its builders. The people of Neighburg farmed the land in peace over incalculable generations with few, if any, visitors. An elven scout discovered the village, which began the trade relations.
Ivan was a beet farmer and a leader within the small community. He had no great talent or any major accomplishment. He was simply an opinionated and outspoken man who the people came to respect. In the year nineteen hundred and thirty-two, Ivan married Ellesbeth who birthed their only child, a girl named Griselda.
Griselda was born with flaming auburn hair and striking large eyes. Her personality matched her appearance. She had a new spirit and was gifted with a voice that needed to be heard. I recall looking forward to hearing her lead our sing-a-longs as a child. She was older by five years and I, like the other children, just adored her. I was twelve when she packed up her father's cart and moved to the city. It was sad for all of us children when she left.
Her mother, Ellesbeth, took the change very poorly. I heard my mother speaking with her over tea about the entire affair. She worried about her traveling alone. No one could recall anyone ever having left the village. It didn�t happen. We could only wonder at why she would want to do it and hoped that she would return safely.
When Ellesbeth�s time to cross over came, Ivan refused to send for Griselda. He was already losing his mind and blamed Griselda for Ellesbeth�s declining health. My mother saw his state and bade my brother Sam to find a messenger on the road and send her word. Sam was away three weeks before he finally returned. I was terribly afraid something had happened to him.
City life transformed Griselda into a glamorous vision. She rode into town sidesaddle wearing fine traveling clothes and a flamboyant orange plumed hat while atop her beautiful black horse. When she stopped in the marketplace, the potter welcomed her home and helped her off the horse. There was a blinding glare as her silver saddle was revealed. Griselda knew her arrival was big news and she put on a little show for us. That's how she was.
Griselda may have had expectations regarding her arrival, but what she saw in her father, she could never have expected. She would have remembered him as a strong and proud man. Instead, she found him withered and wishing for his crossing over. It was a shock. My mother had been watching over Ivan the past year. He had lost the love of his life and with her his love for life. I hoped Griselda would restore his spirits, but he rejected her and she was hurt. They had been close in the past. It was hard to see her father as he now was. Griselda worked hard to help him remember her and to prepare herself for the final parting. In the end they had a few good days visiting together before Ivan left in the night.
It was at that time two elven traders were in Neighburg. One of them was quite handsome and much taller than any of the men. He had an almost luminous quality and striking angular features. He was one of the first few elves come to trade and the first I had ever seen. All of the girls were particularly curious about him. I was watching the elven trader intently from my window when I saw him position himself in Griselda�s path at the market place.
Seemingly lost in her thoughts, Griselda bound straight for the elf as if she hadn�t even noticed him. It was incredible to watch. There was a slight collision of passing shoulders, just as he must have intended when orchestrating the meeting, but he deftly caught her elbow before her ankle could give a twist. Her reddening cheeks further evidenced the look of surprise on Griselda�s face as the elf offered his apologies, but she recovered quickly and moved away from him to complete her task.
Establishing trade relations between the Neighburg farmers and the elves was easy. Establishing trust was not. Visitors were not welcome evenings so the tall elf left with his companion and their goods. They traveled the old road along the river where they came upon Griselda.
Kaaervain, who had become enamored with her in the market, approached her. Having performed the Burning Day ceremony for Ivan, Griselda was overcome by sorrow and intent on remaining at the fire until the last glimmer of light went out. Kaaervain spoke to her and convinced her that in her grief she was closer to death than life. It was now time to resume her life. He asked her plans and offered to escort her back to the city. Since he assured her that he would have business there, she accepted his offer.
Kaaervain made excuse to his companion, forfeiting his share of the goods, and accompanied Griselda to her father�s house. He set to work gathering her things and loading her father�s new wagon. There was little to load, but he tried to make the wagon comfortable. Meanwhile, Griselda had gained a regular place at our breakfast table across the field. She came early and said a private goodbye to my mother before the family was called to the meal.
Griselda was brief in her discourse over that morning meal, but that was expected. After she had gone, there was much puzzlement over of her abrupt departure. She had not told any of the villagers of her plans to go. She explained that the positive sense of closure she felt after the burning accounted for her abrupt decision. Griselda had always seized life and she would continue to do so.
Their journey was uninterrupted and they reached the city in good time. Kaaervain secured lodging at an inn and found work during the day with an antiquities dealer. Evenings were spent watching Griselda perform. She had wonderful stage presence and a sultry voice. Kaaervain felt very lucky to have met such a woman.
Griselda and Kaaervain enjoyed exploring the city together and in time, Griselda came to love him, as much as he loved her, and the two were soon married. The couple decided to leave the city and build a home where they could raise a family together. Tools, supplies and furnishings were loaded into Ivan�s wagon when they set off to start their new lives together.
Griselda chose a place in the grassy valley near Kaaervain�s family home of Maeglan. There he had built his family a cottage style home unlike any other. It was there that Willow was born. Griselda had a difficult delivery, but she was very proud as she looked at her daughter�s small fingers and toes. In her joy, she beamed at the child and said nothing as she unexpectedly crossed over. Kaaervain understood that she had simply bled too much and there was nothing he could do. He was left alone to care for newborn Willow. Thoughts echoed and swirled incoherently in his mind.
That year, Kaaervain was 43 years old and barely a man by elven standards. Aeronna, the elder of the elven village, went to see him. Aeronna�s assistant watched Willow while he spoke with the great lady. Aeronna comforted him on his loss but reminded him not to be tempted into despair. Aeronna bade him heed the very words he had spoken to Griselda while grieving her father. Kaaervain would look to his people for guidance and was assured that he would not be allowed to fail in his new responsibility.