Unexpectedly, this drew an embarrassed laugh from the elf woman. "Shades, no. Such wants and needs are all too easily met. Therein lies the problem! The path to what we have become is all too easy, and pride, perhaps foolishly, stands between us and our humble wants. I am not so high and mighty," she added sardonically, "nor am I so proud. But I have discovered this too late, it seems. There isn't time enough left to pursue a happier life." Looking Lily in the eye, she said, "Perhaps you can understand now, that I too can feel betrayed by life. There is always a sore temptation to ignore duty and responsibility, and take hold of something more fulfilling, if only for a little while."
There being nothing more to be said, they withdrew to rest for the night. Lily pondered Dorain's words, and found that she understood the elf woman all too well. And as she took to her blankets with her husband, she was all the more grateful for his embrace.
The next day proved to be more arduous by far. The climb into the steep mountains seemed to be interminable, and when they had crested and begun their descent, it was well into the afternoon. They did not pause to rest this time but continued at a greater pace, and by midnight they had reached the bottom, and the eaves and the end of the Black Wood. Making camp, they pitched tents and lighted campfires, risking discovery by the enemy. Even the elves were glad to be out of the Wood. They found the trees oppressive, for the dark heart of the Black Wood had no love for elves. The Wood remembered another age long past, when its lesser kindred, which had covered most of ancient Morag, had been betrayed by the elves who had lost their love for wood and built great cities of stone, cutting down the surrounding trees for farmland. In the deeps of time, before even Morag's existence, the elves had lived in the deep woods, and were less interested in