" 'Till death do us part' is not a phrase used in Elven vows, for Death was ever meant to be a stranger unto El-venkind. Yet heed, our vows are worthy, regardless of mortality or not."

"Worthy," said Lark. "Worthy, worthy, worthy." Melli whispered in Lark's ear, and the child fell silent.

Coron Eiron smiled and then said, "As does this babe grow and learn and change, so, too, do all things change with the passing of seasons, for change is a fact of life. Some changes are imperceptible, whereas others are swift; some bode well for life; others are harbingers of death."

"Life," said Lark, and then "Saol." Nix looked at her in surprise, for she had spoken Fey, the word "saol" meaning "life." But then Nix turned back to the ceremony as Coron Eiron spoke on:

"Individuals, too, change with the passing of seasons, and vows made should not bind one in a relationship in which common ground no longer exists, no matter the oath, be it for mating, fealty, vengeance, or aught else. For just as death may part one from a vow, so too does the loss of critical common ground.

"Hence, to keep thine own relationships strong ye must share equally in the cultivation of the common ground and in nurturing the vows between; and ye must sort among all duties and participate willingly and fully in all which can be shared."

Lark made a shsshing noise, as of wind among the leaves, and again Melli whispered in her ear and once more she fell silent.

Eiron stepped to Beau and Linnet and softly asked, "Do ye understand the meaning of that which I say?"

"I do," said Beau, looking at Linnet, and with tears in her eyes, Linnet said, "I do."

Eiron stepped to Tipperton and Rynna and asked, "Do ye understand the meaning of that which I say?"

And Tipperton took Rynna by the hand and said, "I do."

"I do," said Rynna, squeezing Tipperton's hand.

Eiron then stepped back and raised his voice. "Then I ask ye to speak true: dost thou vow to thy trothmate to tend the common ground and to nurture the pledges given and received?"

I do vow, they said in unison.

"Then speak true: will ye plight thy troth to one another, forsaking all who would come between?"

I do vow.

Eiron then placed Linnet's hand in Beau's and clasped their joined hands in his. "Then Beau Darby and Linnet Fenrush, each having spoken true, go forth from here together and share thy joys and thy burdens in equal measure until thine individual destinies determine otherwise."

Eiron then stepped to Rynna and Tipperton and clasped their joined hands in his. "Then Tipperton Thistledown and Rynna Fenrush, each having spoken true, go forth from here together and share thy joys and thy burdens in equal measure until thine individual destinies determine otherwise."

Eiron then stepped back from the two couples and called out in a clear voice unto the assembled Lian, "Alori e Darai, va da Waerlinga, Linnet Fenrush e Beau Darby, e va da Waerlinga, Rynna Fenrush e Tipperton Thistledown, avan taeya e evon a plith!" And a great shout went up from all, with Lark laughing gaily and Melli weeping tears of joy and Nix hugging the dammen and slapping both Beau and Tip on the back.

Escorted by Riatha and Talar, and by Aravan and Vel-era, Beau and Linnet and Tipperton and Rynna were led through the gathering, lutes and flutes and harps and pipes and timbrels playing a merry tune, and Elven voices were raised in song.

Out through the doors they were led, the gathered Elves following, and to a snow-covered glade, where paper lanterns were hung-yellow and red and blue and green and many hues in between-and there they took their places among the Elves and stepped and chanted and paced and sang and celebrated not only their weddings but the turn of the seasons as well.

And held by Melli, Lark looked over Melli's shoulder and into the shadow-wrapped galleries of the Eldwood, and again the tot made the sound of the shsshing of leaves in the wind and held out her hands toward the gloom. And in the dimness just beyond the fringes of light cast by the colorful lanterns, there stood a tall creature of limbs and leaves and vines and tendrils. How Prym had gotten to Darda Galion is not told, yet in Darda Galion she was, swaying in time to the Elven rite and keeping watch on her wee Warrow charge.

It was snowing the next day, the second of Yule, and the Warrows spent much of their time before warm fires in the guesthouse, talking with Aravan and gleaning what meager news there was of the war, though now and again Beau and Linnet or Tip and Rynna would slip off to be alone. But the following day, the third of Yule, feeling the need to get back to their duties, they said their good-byes and bundled well against the cold, Lark in particular, they set out for Blackwood again.

Among the great eld trees they went, riding by day, camping by night, heading for the ferry at Olorin Isle. And on the eve of the third day, they reached the west bank of the Argon, where this time it was Baeron crews who rowed them across, the full moon having come the eve before.

It was twelfth Yule, Year's Start Day, the first day of January, the first day of the two thousand one hundred ninety-eighth year of the Second Era of Mithgar when the wedding party rode through the snow to come in among the withy-woven bowers of the holding of the Springwater Warrows, where they were greeted by the grim news that the Spawn had returned to the eastern wold.

It was, as well, the very first day of the fourth year of a great and terrible war.

Chapter 32

"Not only have they returned," said Farly, "but there's something afoot on the wold and in the Rimmens."

"Something afoot?" Rynna glanced at Tip and then back to Farly. "What?"

"Well, they've increased their patrols along the eaves two-or threefold above what they were before they went haring off for Rimmen Gape. -Not bigger patrols, mind you, but just more of them. The same is true of their watch posts along the Rimmen Spur: they've increased the number and have shifted their old ones to new places. In addition to that, they've begun scouring the heights trying to locate ours."

"Oh my," exclaimed Beau, taking Linnet's hand. "Have any been hurt? -Any of our watchers, that is."

"Not so far," replied Farly, "though there's been one or two close calls."

Nix frowned and looked at Rynna. "I wonder what it all means?"

Rynna paused in thought and then said, "Perhaps they do not want a repeat of what happened at Rimmen Gape, their trap being sprung and all."

Slowly, Tip shook his head. "It seems to me that something greater may be afoot, but what it might be I cannot say."

"Who knows the mind of Modru?" muttered Beau.

"All we can do," said Rynna, "is keep a wary watch."

Three days later, Rynna stood at the map table in the ward camp, Warrows gathered 'round. A handful of Pysks stood on the table itself and looked at the map Tip had sketched on a broad sheet of vellum. Rynna looked across at Tynvyr and said, [The news is grim.] Picyn and Tynvyr glanced at one another, their features giving way to dismay.

[Tell us,] said Tynvyr.

Rynna sighed and spoke on: [When the siege of Drim-men-deeve was lifted, Coron Eiron sent heralds across Quadran Pass to find High King Blaine. Though there were many foe along the way, some of the couriers managed to get through-and back as well. This is what they learned:

[In the opening days of the war, Modru's forces swept out from Gron and 'round the northern end of the Rigga Mountains. Down through Rian they came, and assaulted Challerain Keep. It fell in a pitched battle, but not before the balefires were lit. The High King and some of his forces managed to escape, and they fought a series of running skirmishes as they fled south and west.]