A tall man sat at the hearth of a plain little farm cottage, and surveyed the scene around him. Children tumbled over each other much like puppies, while older siblings gossiped away as they cleared the table of its meager supper. The stranger nodded and smiled when his bowl was taken from him, and simply waited. At long last the shadows of the fire stretched out an aura of stillness as the night rolled in, and it was time. The man smiled at the gathered audience and rolled back his sleeves, then took the smallest child to rest on his knee. “…Thank you, friends, for the warm welcome and the protection from the cold of the night. As my payment, I will tell you a tale. One that happened long, long, long ago. Once upon a time, there was a boy…”  


Janek awoke to the sharp scent of a late autumn dawn, the sheer crispness of it pervading the senses and penetrating to the very core. The young man curled up stubbornly beneath his blankets and squeezed his eyes shut, but a vindictive ray of sunlight found its way in through a chink in the woodwork, where it splintered into fragments over one eye. All at once he remembered. The traps! He’d set them nearly a week ago; if he didn’t go soon-
The boy struggled out of his small cot and across the floor of the cabin as he wrestled to straighten his leggings. The chill of the morning helped to speed the process along, and in no time the dark-haired young man was lost in the brush of the forest. Janek took his time on his walk. For all that the air stung, there was something remarkable about the way the light was dancing off the dew this morning. The leaves were slick with wetness, and the sun’s glow found itself fractured into a prism of color on every razor edge.
He smiled to himself as he drank the magic in. She’d be coming to see ihm today. Perhaps the trees wouldn’t have the same glory they did now, in the dawn, but she’d be here at the twilight. Just as magical a time, with the moon’s rays transforming the landscape to a world crafted out of silver. He could already see the way her auburn hair would shine.
Lost in his dreamings, Janek stopped short some minutes later. The earth here was springy underfoot and gave off a scent rich with moisture. He blinked and glanced around, only to see the rushes waving at the water’s edge. The stream? Wow. I must have really been dreaming hard.
He blushed and lowered his eyes to the few arrows held in his belt, stroking his thumb gently down the shaft. Well, he’d taken the wrong turn. Why waste it? The animals could wait a little longer…maybe there were fish to be found. The way the sunlight was glancing off the waves today, it looked like a lot of fish. All gathered together in the rushes, oddly enough-
He looked again and made a sound. The metallic sheen wasn’t coming from a school of fish, but from strands of hair waving gently in the current. And a breastplate, staying just above the waves…and two eyes, both piercing and cold. The only warmth to be seen was a trickle of red racing downstream from the man’s chest, but he stirred at the noise and turned his gaze directly to meet Janek’s.
The boy stared a moment in shock, then fell to his knees. He spluttered at the cold water surging up around his tunic, but what else was there to do? This man in his stream was obviously a prince. So fierce and proud and made all of silver, just like the forest in the moonlight. Janek reached a trembling hand out to touch the prince on the cheek, letting his fingers trail down to the warrior’s jaw. The man’s lips formed words he didn’t understand, but the scowl that followed was crystal clear. Janek moved his hand away and lowered his eyes. He shouldn’t have done that, he could be punished for that…but the prince was bleeding. He was hurt! He wasn’t showing it, but he was hurt…
The prince stiffened in protest and pain when the young man slipped his arms around him and heaved him onto his shoulders, but Janek didn’t notice. He had expected the tall silver man to weight much more and was muttering his surprise to himself. Still, the prince was very hurt. There wasn’t time to wonder at him yet. The boy took off with a loping stride and slipped back into the brush.

The sun was sinking below the horizon in a blaze of crimson when a little shadow was seen moving outside Janek’s simple hut. The flaming light blazed into life when it touched auburn hair, but the figure winced at the brightness and swiftly ducked inside to the safe dimness of the hut. The girl set her basket down on the floor and gave her friend a smile. “I brought dinner. Sorry it took so long, Janek, I had to-“
She froze. Bright brown eyes stared at the slender figure occupying Janek’s bed and quickly dimmed into terror. Janek bounded over to her with a brilliant grin despite her expression, his arms open and waiting for a hug. But the girl shoved past him and was at the bed in two strides. She ignored her friend’s wounded whimper, opting to seize the prince’s wrist in her hand instead. “ELF!”
The man flinched in pain, but he managed to bite back any noise other than an offended grunt. Cool grey eyes stared the girl right in the face, and the man smiled slowly. “At last. One of you I can understand.”
She didn’t let him say more; but seized him further and shook him fiercely. This time the elf did cry out, and there was no mistaking the agony in his expression. Janek picked himself up just in time to catch it, and a horrified sound strangled from his lips. He moved forward and took the girl around the waist with an apologetic glance to the man in his bed. The girl fought him tooth and nail, but the stronger young man soon overpowered her. Janek turned her cautiously in his arms, then gasped to see her weeping. He backed away at once. Ariana? What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?
Ariana smiled weakly to his query and lifted her hands up from her sides. The fingers were numb, but they fluttered like birds while she spoke. “I’m not hurt. But why is there an elf in your bed? Do you-“
Is that what he is? I thought he was a prince. I found him in the water and he was hurt so I took him home and broke the arrows and I think he might die but I need your help. I don’t know much about healing, and there’s not much time left.
“I won’t help you.”
There was a pause. When Janek’s fingers moved again, they appeared almost dejected. What? Why not? Please? He’ll die!
“Good. He’s supposed to die. Some hunters from town shot him this morning; they were bragging about it in our inn.”
Another pause. Janek glanced over to the beautiful creature he’d rescued, and a question furrowed his brow. The word was signed swiftly; almost violently. Why?
”Because elves kill us. Whenever they get the chance, they destroy human lives. They hate us, Janek, and they never die! It takes nine shots to kill them; nine blows that would be fatal to any of us. They don’t feel, either. The minute he was well this one would have killed you without a second thought.”
It’s not true!
“…It’s not true.”
The voice was deep and very slow. Ariana turned where she stood to look at the elf, who continued speaking as clearly as his condition would allow. “It is not true. We can feel. And it doesn’t take nine blows to kill us; we have nine lives. And a holy warrior would not stoop far enough…to rob a human simpleton of his life. It is worse than killing infants.”
“Which you do!”
Janek’s hands interrupted the conversation once more, his fingers swift and insistent. What does he say?
Ariana stared frostily at the elf, who was watching the boy’s hands in fascination. “…He wants to know what you’re saying, and he’s no simpleton, so something nice or I’ll put the iron to you.”
“….Something…nice…?”
“Something that might convince me to let you live, for his sake. As it stands I’d rather have him hate me than let you kill him. There’s no time to choose, elf. Do it.”
Ariana’s menacing expression only made the warrior chuckle faintly. Janek sighed at the lack of response to his questions, but he knelt down at the side of the bed. Deft fingers pulled the blankets back, and the elf flinched away with gritted teeth.
“No.”
“No what?!”
It was clear that Ariana was getting exasperated. The elf glared at her as Janek’s fingers prodded his wounds, and he spoke through a clenched jaw. “I am not going to let you torture me like some cat’s plaything before you kill me. What a disgustingly human thing to do.”
What does he SAY?!
Ariana hesitated, but looked at her friend’s bloodied fingers and sighed. “He thinks you’re going to kill him.’
The boy turned a hurt glance to the elf and shook his head violently. Janek’s hands were gentle as he removed the bandages and began to rewash the wounds, his dark eyes soft. A long silver eyebrow quirked up in puzzlement, and the elf turned his gaze to the girl instead. “Surely you will kill me, then.”
“I might. I might not. He doesn’t want me to, and blood makes me squeamish.”
“…Does he know? About the war?”
“He didn’t. I just told him, but I don’t think he believes me.”
The elf was silent for some long minutes after. He kept a firm, wary gaze on Janek’s face through the entire operation….but at last the boy moved away and gave his patient a smile, patting the blankets back into place. The elf stared at him, but glanced reluctantly at Ariana. “…What is his name?”
She blinked. “Janek.”
“Janek. Tell Janek…he has my thanks.”
“He says thank you.”
The boy grinned in delighted surprise, his fingers flashing. What’s his name? You’re welcome!
“You’re welcome.  What’s your name, elf?”
“…Alagos.”
She paused a moment, then spelled back the name very carefully to her friend. He frowned slightly but repeated the letters after her, one at a time. Alagos watched curiously-then took the bait. “Why do you speak with your hands that way? He can make sound; I have already heard it. If he is smart enough to speak Hand, why not use the mouth?”
“Hmpf. I told you he wasn’t a simpleton. He makes those noises because he can’t hear himself, that’s all. A disease took his hearing as a child, so we made up these signs…but he’s not stupid.”
“That’s debatable.”
Look, when you get all better, I don’t mind if you want to kill me. Just leave my friend alone, okay?
Ariana smiled and took her friend’s hand, repeating his sentence for Alagos’ benefit. The warrior snorted in disbelief, then winced at the pain the motion caused. Ariana put her hands on her hips with a frustrated glare. “Don’t believe me? Okay, we’ll prove it. This sign means ‘friend’….make it, or I swear I’ll take the nearest piece of iron and I’ll shove it down your throat.”
Alagos lay still, the curious look in his eyes quickly transforming back to one of cold animosity. “You think I have the strength to move my hands about that way, wench?”
Before Ariana could make a retort, Alagos found his hand enveloped by Janek’s. The boy gave him another smile, and he very carefully arranged slender fingers into the sign for ‘friend’. Janek patted Alagos on the head, then changed the sign once more. Ariana translated, but rolled her eyes. “Friend. Sleep.”
“…How do you say ‘gladly?’”
“This way.”
The girl moved his fingers this time, and the young man beamed. Alagos sighed as his hand fell to his side, but he was too weak to say anything else…so he simply closed his eyes. The friends waited until they were certain he was fast asleep before they started moving around the cabin. Ariana went to open the little basket she’d brought in with her and handed Janek a sandwich wordlessly. But she kept her eyes on the injured man the entire time, mistrust turning her pretty face dark. Janek caught the look but concentrated on his food. He only began to sign after he had cleaned the crumbs off his fingers and tunic. Don’t worry. It will be fine. I’ll make him better, and when he gets up…well, if what you say is true, if he kills me, he kills me. He’s the one who will suffer for it, in the end…not me. I can’t just leave him to die. You know I can’t.
“I know, but…Janek….you’re too good for your own good. You know what I mean?”
Maybe. We will see. Ariana, will you help me? Please?
“Grar, stop making that face at me. All right. I’ll help!”
Yay!
Janek leapt across the room to give the girl a hug, his eyes shining with gratitude. She sniffed and pretended not to care, instead fiddling around with cleaning up their feast. “I’ll come visit every second night, if I can manage to get away from my chores. Just know that I’ll be very busy and won’t always be able to sneak down here to see you. And if any villagers come down, you’ll have to hide him.”
I know, I know. Just tell me about elves?

Alagos healed slowly. The leaves were budding on the trees by the time the danger was well and truly past, and it was one fine spring day when he stood up and took his first walk around the room since the attack. The elf leaned heavily on Janek’s weight, who in turn kept an encouraging smile trained on his patient as he led him in slow, unsteady circles. At last Alagos collapsed back down on the bed and passed a weary hand over his eyes. Janek plopped down at his feet and looked up worriedly, his fingers dancing against the warrior’s knee. Are you okay?
Alagos drew a deep breath but nodded, not finding the energy to speak along with his signs this time. I’m all right. Just give me a moment to breathe, little one.
Why do you always call me that?
Because you are.
I’m sixteen years old, thank you. I’m a man.
I’ve lived eight lives, little one. I’m a god.
Janek stuck his tongue out at the silver-haired elf, who couldn’t resist a smile at the face. But the young hunter looked up eagerly at his new friend, and tugged gently on a lock of hair. What does that even mean, anyway? Ariana said you come back nine times before you die…but that doesn’t make sense. You weren’t shot nine times and you were still dying before I found you.
Don’t remind me.
Alagos, what does it mean?
He tapped the words insistently against the elf’s leg. Alagos sighed, but settled back into the pillows for his response. It means exactly what it sounds like. We have nine lives. We’re born, sometimes we die. If we choose we can be born again, up to nine times. You humans always have to make things stranger than they really are.
I don’t know. That seems pretty strange to me.
Well, I find it strange that you find it strange. It’s just the way things are. We were intended to live long; intended to guard the earth. To do that, we were created to not feel the passage of time…and to be given chances when things happen.  
So, you’ve already lived eight different lives?
Yes.
Do you remember all of them?
Of course. It’s why we’re wise.
I don’t think running around killing people is very wise.
Humans are more dangerous than we are, believe it or not. Your kind does terrible things on a daily basis; to each other and to everything else. We kill swiftly and as painlessly as we can. You of all people should know about human cruelty.
And –you- of all people should know that not all humans are like that.
Both pairs of hands stilled, and the elf and the boy simply looked at each other. It was clear neither one wanted to concede the point…but about thirty seconds later, two hands lifted into the air and signed simultaneously.
Never mind that now.
The little cabin rang with quiet laughter, and the atmosphere quickly relaxed. Alagos regained his breath but looked at his rescuer cautiously, concern tainting his eyes.
“On another subject…you seem worried lately. Is everything all right?...” He waited for Janek to respond. The boy seemed surprisingly reluctant, but after an encouraging glance he gave in.
It’s Ariana. I’m worried…
“No one will hurt her. She can take care of herself, your friend.”
It’s not that. I think she’s going to get married soon.
“You’re children!”
To you. Not to us. Her father’s already looking…
“And you think he’ll be cruel to her?”
No, no! Let me finish. I’m sad…because she won’t be marrying me.
Alagos started. Sure enough, the boy was drooping where he sat, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. He’d heard of this before, but had imagined Janek too young for such feelings…obviously incorrectly. He paused, trying to think of the best way to handle this, then signed very slowly. “Why not? Aren’t you friends?”
The best of friends. But I live out here in the woods for a reason. No one wants an orphan kid who can’t hear and makes weird noises…who has no land, who has nothing. I can’t even tell her.
“You mean, no one but her. She’s been coming all those years…she doesn’t even know that you feel that way, does she?”
Of course not. I can’t tell her! And she deserves more. Don’t you think?
“Heh. No, not really…but if it makes you happy…and I know it will…tell you what. Come here.”
Janek looked at him, puzzled, but he rose and obediently moved to sit down at the man’s side. Alagos took his hand in one of his own and guided it to rest on his throat.
“I will show you how to tell her. But you must work, you understand? I can’t work miracles without your help. Will you work?”
The boy’s eyes widened, but he nodded once, very slowly. His patient gave him a satisfied look and immediately set about business. “All right. Pay very close attention to the way my throat vibrates. This is how you say her name.”

The weeks passed swiftly in the cabin in the woods, both dwellers working hard to help the other. The minute Janek was done nursing, Alagos would spend hours coaching his young pupil on matching vibrations with his mouth. The outcast always spoke too loudly and often with strange cadences and tone, but very gradually the sounds became distinguishable. After one such session Alagos sat back with a pleased smile, his grey eyes bright. “…Very good. If we can give it  another month or two, it will be perfect.”
Do we have a month?
“Even if we don’t, you have come far. I can understand what you say…and she knows you even better than I. She’ll understand you.”
You really think so?!
“I know so. I-“
He was interrupted by the crude door slamming open. In tumbled Ariana, her brown eyes shining with tears. “Hide me.”
Both men sat up straight at her plea, concern darting into each pair of eyes. Janek was at her side in an instant with a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He guided her to the bed and sat with her, peering into her face tenderly. Alagos winced as the pair landed on one of his legs, but he said nothing and only watched. The girl choked on a sob and looked away, a shamed blush rising in her cheeks. “I’m not hurt, so don’t mind me…it’s just been a….bad day at home, is all. I just needed to leave for a little while.”
Janek made no response. The elf waited through the silence impatiently, and when nothing continued to happen he decided to take matters into his own hands. “…Whom did they choose?”
Ariana started at the question, and she looked at the creature in utter surprise. “You remembered about that?”
“Of course I did. I remember what he remembers.”
The young woman glanced over at Janek, then drooped. “…Oh. I suppose you would. Well…I guess it’s not terrible. He’s not a drunkard, and not really really old…but he’s strict. I….I….after the wedding, I don’t think I’ll be able to come down here any more. Ever.”
Janek bit his lip, hanging his head. Alagos watched him, disappointed, but he tried again. “….That is a terrible shame. Listen, Ariana….Janek had something he wanted to talk to you about. I thought you would like it then, maybe it will cheer you up now.”
“Really, Janek? You do? What is it?”
He shook his head mutely and stared down at his hands, refusing to look at either the elf or his young friend. Ariana frowned at his attitude, then folded her arms over her chest. “Look, you don’t need to act that way about it. It’s not my fault, and it’s not like I’m happy about this. You think I’m overjoyed? Janek, I don’t have a choice. There’s no one else, and you know what happens when people here step outside the lines! They get beaten and driven out into the forest, remember? It’s not my fault.”
Janek scowled. He moved away from her to sit at the opposite end of the bed and stared at the floor, his expression dark. Ariana waited a moment more for some kind of response, but when nothing happened she stood. The angry look in the young woman’s eyes was now one of hurt, and she stared at her companion without a word. A moment later and she spun on her heel, letting the door slam behind her as she fled. Janek slumped at the sound and put his hand in his hair, moaning softly. How could he have been so stupid? Of course it wasn’t her fault; and now she was angry, and--
His thoughts were interrupted by a strong hand wrapping around his throat. Alagos yanked him back until he was seated against the warrior’s chest. The elf held his hand directly in front of his eyes and signed, the thunderous expression on his face promising that the lecture would be a scalding one. What was that? Janek, WHAT WAS THAT?! I spend months teaching you to use your voice, and you do not even ATTEMPT to use it? Just weeks ago you called yourself a man! You, who risk your life every day by keeping me here—are afraid of a spindling girl who cares about you?! What sort of man does that make you? Tell me that much! Listen, you. If you want me to think of you as a man, you need to prove that much to me. Go after her or I really will murder you.
The elf released him, and just in time. The boy was off like an arrow from the bow. He didn’t even bother to shut the door behind him. “Ariana!”
His cry rang through the trees, still too loud and still off-pitch. But the girl stopped and turned, her hair flying over her shoulder in the moonlight. “Who is-“ she froze. Ariana’s mouth fell open at the sight of the young man racing towards her, and she found herself utterly speechless in astonishment. From his place in Janek’s cabin, Alagos strained sensitive ears to listen. A voice, murmuring too softly to be heard clearly….and then a laugh, and a cry of joy. Finally satisfied, Alagos smiled and closed his eyes.

The storyteller stopped and looked around at his audience. The children were still now, and watching him with rounded eyes. It was all he could do not to smile as he leaned forward and finished the tale.
“….The stories say that a terrible war ended because there was one human who dared to show kindness, and one elf who chose to enter his ninth and final life as a human child. None before and very few since have taken that same path, but sometimes one is all that’s needed. Sometimes one step opens up a whole new road.”
The child on his knee reached out and took his robes into her tiny hands, dark eyes looking up into his face in utter wonder. “Is it true, mister? Is it true?”
He had to smile. “Who can say? These tales happened so long ago they’ve nearly faded out of memory. But….the way I see it, every story has a grain of truth to it.”
“It was a lovely story.” The mother smiled at him from her perch in a rocking chair, and bent to kiss her little infant’s head. “But it’s time for bed. We rise early.”
“Of course. Time for bed, children.”
The bard rose to swing the little daughter off his knee, and just for an instant firelight glinted off of silver hair.