Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 20

As Tauriel and Thorin descended the staircase, they left Elowen and Xander in a moment of solitude, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Elowen turned to Xander, her voice laced with concern as she asked, "Are you truly certain you will be happy in the human realm?" Xander stepped closer, bridging the distance between them, and Elowen felt her heart race at the intimacy of the moment. With earnest eyes fixed on hers, he softly declared, "I would follow you anywhere, Elowen. I hope you know that." The sincerity in his gaze reassured her, and she replied with a quiet, "I do." As Xander bent down to gather her belongings, Elowen observed him intently, their eyes locked in a silent understanding. "Is this everything?" he murmured, and she bit her lip, nodding in affirmation. A charming half-smile broke across his face, revealing a dimple that made her heart flutter. Together, they exited her room, only to be greeted by the sight of Thorin and Tauriel lost in a passionate kiss. Clearing his throat, Xander caught their attention while Elowen's cheeks flushed warmly as she smiled at them. "Oh right, we have to go," Tauriel said, a hint of embarrassment in her tone. With their bags packed and ready, they stepped outside, and Elowen paused to touch the house one last time, whispering, "I'll miss you, dear friend," as the structure seemed to tremble in response. With a heavy heart, she closed the door behind her, gathered her bags despite the lingering ache, and, alongside her companions, unfurled their wings, soaring into the sky.

Elowen stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the mountains that had once concealed a forgotten city, a place now revealed before her. As she descended, memories flooded her mind, particularly the pivotal moment a year ago when she first encountered Rowan, a meeting that had forever altered her path. The ache in her heart intensified, knowing that just a few hundred miles away lay Rowan's home, and tears began to cascade down her cheeks. Thorin approached her, his eyes also drawn to the mountains, and in a hushed tone, he asked, "Thinking of Rowan?" Elowen simply nodded, her voice lost in the swell of emotions.

Taking a deep breath, Elowen focused on the veil that marked the boundary between Eldoria and the human realm. With grace, she stepped through it, accompanied by Thorin, Tauriel, and Xander, and found herself back in Bramblewood, a place that felt unchanged despite the passage of time. As they walked together, Thorin leaned closer and shared a poignant truth: "In Eldoria, one year is like a hundred years in the human world. The ones you knew before may no longer be here." His words resonated deeply within her, prompting thoughts of her grandmother and the home they once shared. In a moment of impulse, she unfurled her wings and soared into the sky, with her friends trailing behind. She landed gracefully in front of an old, abandoned house, where memories of her grandmother's vibrant flower garden now lay choked by weeds. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed when Xander, Thorin, and Tauriel touched down beside her, their presence silent support as she grappled with the overwhelming emotions stirred by the sight of her childhood home in such disarray.

With unwavering resolve, she envisioned breathing new life into the old place and expanding the house. A sense of purpose filled her thoughts.

"Welcome to my home," Elowen said gently, her voice barely above a whisper. Xander, Thorin, and Tauriel stood before the charming cottage, their expressions revealing their unspoken thoughts. "I know what you’re all thinking," Elowen continued, her tone soft yet confident.

"It definitely needs some work," she acknowledged, a hint of humor in her voice.

"Yeah, it’s going to take a lot of work," Thorin chimed in, his bluntness earning him a jab from Tauriel, who urged him to hold his tongue.

Elowen laughed lightly, her optimism shining through. "Since we’ll all be living here together, we can add some bedrooms," she proposed with a bright smile. "This place will transform into something bigger and better."

Standing beside her, Xander offered a reassuring grin. "I’ve built my own home before, so I’m pretty handy with carpentry. I can help get this place into shape," he said, his confidence evident as he looked down at Elowen.

"Perfect! Then let’s head into town to gather supplies and materials," Elowen replied enthusiastically. "But first, we should change our clothes. I don’t want anyone thinking we’re here to stir up trouble."

Nodding in agreement, Xander, Thorin, and Tauriel stepped inside the cottage. Thorin and Xander took Elowen's grandmother's old room, while Elowen and Tauriel quickly changed in Elowen's room, ready to embrace the challenges ahead.

As they made their way into town, Elowen surveyed her surroundings and felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her; the familiar sights brought her comfort. Turning to Tauriel, she inquired, "Do you have any experience with growing food?"

"Absolutely," Tauriel replied with a warm smile. "I've cultivated herbs in my windowsill before. It's quite similar to planting flowers." She reminisced about their childhood, recalling how their parents had once owned a farm after their father retired from the Illyrian army, where they tended to cows and sheep, much like the humans did.

"That's great to hear," Elowen said, her gaze drifting back to the town. "We should start gathering supplies and look into getting a cow, goats, sheep, and seeds. With Frost nearing its end, planting season is just around the corner."

Thorin and Xander approached a vendor who was showcasing a fine mule along with a plow and buggy while Elowen and Tauriel ventured toward a nearby seed store. Upon entering, they were greeted by a young man who appeared to be around their age. "Ladies," he called out cheerfully, "how can I assist you today?"

Elowen returned his smile and asked, "We're interested in purchasing seeds; what varieties do you have available?"

The young man enthusiastically replied, "I have cucumbers, squash, watermelon, strawberries, honeydew, cauliflower, green beans, beans, wheat, peas, tomatoes—whatever you can think of, I have it!"

Exchanging glances, Tauriel and Elowen nodded in agreement. "Perfect, we'll take half a sack of everything," Tauriel declared.

"All of them?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes, every single one," Elowen confirmed. "And if you have any herbs, we’d like those too."

The vendor's eyes widened in astonishment. "Do you realize how much all of this will cost?"

"I do," Elowen replied calmly.

The man began retrieving sacks from beneath the counter, preparing the half sacks of each seed Elowen had requested. Just then, Thorin and Xander entered the store, engaging in conversation.

"One moment, gentlemen, I’ll be with you shortly," the vendor said as he continued to fulfill Elowen's order.

"We managed to get a mule, plow, and buggy for our purchases today," Xander informed Elowen.

"Excellent," Elowen said with a bright smile. "Now we need to acquire some sheep, goats, and cows and construct a barn to house them."

Thorin regarded Elowen with intrigue. "What’s the purpose of the sheep?" he inquired.

"The wool from the sheep will provide us with warm blankets for the winter and durable clothing to keep us cozy during the frigid months. Trust me, winters here can be quite harsh," Elowen clarified.

"All right, that will be two hundred dollars" the vendor replied, finally glancing up to see Thorin and Xander, taken aback by their imposing stature.

Elowen retrieved two hundred dollars from her pocket and handed it to the vendor.

The vendor's eyes widened in surprise as he swallowed hard. "Thank you, and I hope you all have a wonderful day."

Xander grumbled in response. Thorin and Xander effortlessly lifted the seed sacks as if they were featherlight while Tauriel and Elowen trailed behind them as Xander and Thorin loaded the seeds into the buggy.

Their next stop was the lumber mill to gather materials. The workers there eyed Tauriel and Elowen with a predatory gaze, making Elowen shift uncomfortably under their scrutiny. Xander noticed their stares and seized one of the men by the collar, lifting him off the ground. "What are you looking at?" he demanded, his voice laced with fury. Thorin mirrored his actions with another man, asserting, "Keep your eyes off my wife."

Elowen, feeling the weight of their bond, urged Xander through their connection, "Please, we can't afford any trouble." Reluctantly, Xander set the man down, who quickly scurried away to fetch what they needed. Thorin received a similar reminder from Tauriel through their bond.

The men at the mill, now visibly shaken, hurried to fulfill their requests, eager to finish the encounter.

Once they had loaded the buggy with the necessary materials, Xander turned to Elowen and Tauriel, asking, "Are you ladies feeling hungry?" They both nodded eagerly, their stomachs rumbling in agreement. "There's a barbecue place just over there," he suggested.

Elowen and Tauriel's mouths watered at the thought. "Let's go there," they replied enthusiastically.