Going back inside she quickly dressed and tip-toed down the stairs, so as not to wake up Victoria Rose. Closing the front door and stepping out on to the grass she spoke an incantation, "Vas Rel Por," and a blue gate appeared, which Galethien stepped through.

The streets of Jhelom were still somewhat deserted, as it was yet early in the morning. Making her way past the Morning Star Inn, she spied the milk cart making its delivery for the day. Turning east on the next street, Galethien came upon the Jhelom Library where she knew UOLS had setup their headquarters. Opening the door and stepping inside, the room was empty except for a few scribes and Tal, who was sitting at a desk sorting huge stacks of papers.

"Quel amrun, Heruamin Talanithus," Gal greeted as she crossed the room to the desk with a smile, "May I speak with you?"

Talanithus looked up from beneath the paperwork, a smudge mark of ink across his grey nose, and a scattering of quills stuffed behind one pointed ear. "But of course, Love," he replied, "What can I help you with?"

"Something curiously happened to me last night and I am unsure of it's meaning," she replied, trying not to laugh about the smudge on his nose. Galethien took a handkerchief out of her pocket and reached over the desk to wipe the ink from his nose. "You have a bit of ink on your nose."

"Last night I was visited by the spirit of my mother, Alwvyan. She spoke to me, saying 'Galethien the time is coming near. I have a something for you.'Then she gave me this crystal and said to me. 'Pay heed to what you see in the crystal. For soon all will be revealed to you." related Galethein as she handed Talanithus the crystal.

Talanithus picked up the crystal, making certain to wipe his hands on a convenient cloth, and peered into it's depths. At first the image was blurred but then it cleared...

Tal recognized the image of Galethien walking deep into the forest. Mists swirled around through the trees, blocking his vision, yet at the end of path there was a bright light. As the imagery grew closer to the light the mist seemed to disappear, revealing a small Mallorn sapling. The sapling was growing towards the sky, unfolding it's branches and uncurling it's leaves. As it grew, the light grew with it, seeming to consume the dark of the night, and surrounding Galethien in its grasp. Talanithus could sense the confusion from her, then out of the corner of the crystal he saw a shadowy form walking from the edge of the light to the Mallorn tree, which he recognized as himself. Slowly, the crystal went dark in Tal's palm.

"Interesting, Love... very interesting indeed," Tal said, sitting back into his chair and rubbing a finger along his chin, "I would think that this is attached to certain actions coming to fruition in Tel'Ruid."

Gal lifted her eyes from the crystal to Talanithus, replying "When I saw you standing next to the Mallorn. It was then, I knew that you held the answers."

Talanithus nodded his head, a few quills tumbling from his ear and landing on the floor, unnoticed, as he spoke, "Well the Mallorn is most likely a sign of what is to come. But this is a long story... please, take a seat and I will explain all."

Nodding, Galethien sat down to listen attentively.

"Hrmm... " thought Talanithus, "How to begin?"

Clearing his throat, Tal began to relate the tale of the seed and its journey here, "Well as I am sure you well know, Tel'Mithrim did not have its origins here in Britannia, nor even Sosaria! A half a century back we lived in a world called Toril, far from here. Things happened within the affairs of the gods, and before we knew it, a great Cataclysm had been inflicted upon the land. Oaks that had survived millennia were uprooted and left to rot, buildings that had withstood the impact of a hundred sieges fell to the floor. All about was destruction, and we knew that even the magics of tel'Seldarine would not spare us for long."

"It was then that a desperate plan of action was decided. Utilizing the power of our sacred Elven Grove, much like the Mallorn tree in your vision, we erected a portal from our land, to here. We left behind many, loved ones and enemies alike, but knew that our very survival was at stake."

,i>"Not all made it through the portal?" Galethien asked curiously, sensing an old sadness.

"No, not at all... many stayed behind to protect the portal and the grove that upheld it. Others simply chose to stay in the lands, letting their lives end with the world they loved so much." Tal replied.

"We did not, however, leave without taking a piece of Toril, and our Grove, with us. That piece, a simple seed of our past most Holy of Holy Places, has been in our care for these many years. And now, finally, it seems that both we and the seed have become acclimated to this new world... it is now time for us to build anew what had been lost."

"And this Mallorn tree, what will happen with it?" she asked.

Talanithus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk and his chin on his hands, "An observant question, Love. The Grove is a sacred part of each Elven community. In many ways it is a temple, in other ways, a Guardian, and in still different ways, a community wide bond. Through it, we experience the closest bond we can with Eru, for his blood lives within these trees as well."

"Then my mother's people, they too had one of these scared groves?" asked Galethien, raising a slim brow.

Talanithus replied, "It is possible, though perhaps not. All Sacred Groves are derived from the One Tree that felt our Lord's blood as he battled Gruumush, God of the Orcs. Whether or not that occurred in this land, I do not know. The Elves of Sosaria seem to have lost much of their lore and knowledge during the rule and dominion of the wizard called Mondain."

"Ahhh, I have read some on this Mondain in the library in Yew," answered Gal.

"Regardless, the seed from our Grove in Toril was only 3 generations separated from the One Tree, and thus carries much power. How it will develop is a mystery to all of us, as it truly is a living being... a being that can and will develop on its own terms and desires. However, all Groves, and the Trees of Life that are their parts, serve Tel'Quessir. It is a part of their nature, just as our nature is to care for the lands about us."

"And what of this ritual that will be going on later this week?" Galethien asked.

Talanithus nodded as he continued, "Yes, another excellent question. The ritual is a rite of birth and awakening. Perhaps you might have felt the presence of something... watching... leading... in Tel'Ruid lately. That is the infantile presence of the seed, which will one day be our new Grove. It is testing its limits and powers as it rises from slumber, and the ritual is an act of Faith and empowerment, to fully awaken its presence among us."

Galethein smiled and nodded, "Is there anything that I should do to prepare for this ?"

Talanithus chuckled as he leaned back again into his chair, "Think of it as welcome home party... though there is a bit more involved. For the most part, just be there and follow the instructions of the rituals. It will take all of us to feed the power needed to succeed in the final stages.",/i>

Frowning, Talanithus rubbed his chin with a finger again as he went on, "And bring your sword and bow, Love... The drow have been restless lately, and should they manage to disrupt the ritual it could cause delays in the development of the Seedling. Or even worse, Eru forefend!"

Gal Tilted her head slightly to the side, eyes clouding with seriousness. "Are you expecting trouble? I know of recently the Drow has been around the Silver Arrow quite more often then normal. Does this occurrence of the seed affect them as well?"

Talanithus chuckled as he shrugged, "We feel the seed and its call, it is only logical to surmise that the Drow do as well. Whether or not they know what it is, or what it can do, I have no idea... but I think it is safe to assume that they will be curious in the matter. And the curiosity of the Drow is quite deadly, indeed."

Galethien smiled as she reached out her hand for the crystal, "Thank you Love, I have a better understanding and don't feel so quite unsure. May I have the crystal. I believe I will store it away at home."

Talanithus reached across the desk, placing the crystal into Gal's palm. "Keep that on you, Love. I feel something about that crystal I don't fully understand. It might serve some purpose in the future."

Shaking her head "Uma. I will keep it on me as you advise. Have you ever seen a crystal like this before?"

Talanithus shrugged as Galethien ran a finger long the crystals edge, "Crystals are a natural catalyst for some types of magic, and as thus there are as many different types as there magic. I don't sense anything specific, just... something."

Galethien stood up and put the handkerchief back in her pocket. "I must be off, I have some things to prepare for this week. I will talk to you later?"

Talanithus smiled as he stood up as well, "But of course, Arwen. Eru watch over and guide you." Talanithus bowed, upsetting a medium sized stack of papers from his desk and sending them flying about the floor, "Oh Eru's Blade!" he grumbled as he bent down and began sorting them, "Don't mind me, Love. Go about your business..."

Galethien bent to pick up a paper and placed it on the desk, letting out a quiet "Nammarie Love!" as she closed the door behind her. Looking for a moment curiously at the crystal in her hand, she slipped it again into her pocket of her skirt. Then with a sigh, she uttered an incantation, "Vas Rel Por," and stepped through the blue gate.