[1-3]

Chapter 3 is up! Dedicated to Brian, Brooke ORiley, sEcLuDeD_eXiStAnCe, and Mr. E Man for reading and reviewing and making me write more. (Even though it took a while) Also, this chapter is not yet checked (12-20-03) I sent it to my friend to check in but I didn't want to keep you waiting. I'll write the Edited date when it's checked and put up.

Chapter 3

A large, round table was tightly squeezed into Mearth's small room as twenty-five people tried to squirm into the ill-spaced seats. There was hardly any room to walk and people bumped into each other often as they tried to reach there designated seats.

"I'm so sorry that my room is so small," Mearth said, apologizing for more than her second time and flinching every time someone bumped into something.

"It's really quite alright, Mea. None of us have a bigger room then yours and we really don't mind the inconvenience. None of us could do any better," an aged yet young looking man replied, chuckling in good-humor as he took his seat. Mearth still flinched in her own seat as the council members worked there way to their seats.

"If only I could use my magic... it wouldn't be this way," Mearth murmured sadly and Erith sympathetically put a hand on her shoulder.

"None of us can use our magic without calling Firin's attention so... do not worry about it so much," Erith whispered to her and Mearth shook her head, turning away sadly.

"Mearth, honey," a small-looking woman replied as she took her seat, filling up the last seat at the table, "It is not your fault. He was corrupt from the beginning. You raised him better than any of us could. Do not blame yourself."

Mearth shook her head and then shrugged off the topic, noticing the full table. "Oh... should we begin. Dythr...?" Mearth looked to the aged man and he nodded softly as he stood up at the head chair.

"Thank you, Mearth," Dythr replied, smile gone from his face as he began council. "Now... I am sure that we all know the reason for this meeting but, for customary reasons, I will state it anyway. Firin, Mearth's old... pupil, has set himself up in the castle where we have gathered all the reborn Elves. We all know that he has been trying to gain control over the Earth for a long time now and we strongly believe that he is going to attempt to kill the Reborn before Princess Elen's fifteenth birthday. This... this would be devastating and all of our hope for a new Earth would die. Now... the problem. The prophecy of the late Elder Anyth clearly stated that the Reborns should have no help from the council whatsoever of their future will diminish and the process of their awakening will never occur. For some in this council I know that there is no decision necessary but before we leave here today I would like to have everyone on the same wavelength so... motions to follow the prophecy? Renath...will you please speak. Motions to interfere? Shiray... please speak." Dythr took his seat as a young looking man in robes of burgundy and an elderly lady with a soft face stood up at their places. "Motions to follow the prophecy, speak first."

"I believe," Renath began, "that we should follow the prophecy and not interfere at all. The Reborn must pave their own path like they did in their first lives. Elder Anyth obviously saw resistance to them in him vision. If that is true, then there is definite reason that we do not know to stay out of the way. Maybe they need to prove their worth, maybe the battle against Firin is their awakening, maybe there is something else that is greatly important to their future that they must do on their own. We may never know especially if we interfere. We must stay out for our sake and their sake. The prophecy is there before us and we must believe and trust in the words of the great Elder. That is all... Thank you." Renath bowed to the council and took his seat as Shiray began her own statement.

"I do agree that Elder Anyth's prophecy should be held with but... I think that we should give the Reborn a little protection in the least. We have the power to do so and... I would be really upset with myself if our one last hope died when we could have prevented their death easily. Somehow, someway... there must be a path that we can choose that lets up both protect the children and follow the prophecy," Shiray said pleadingly and most of the council looked away in sorrow. They, too, felt the same way. Shiray sat, her peace spoken.

`"We have heard from both sides a vote please... follow the prophecy... hands up. Not sure... hands up half way," Dythr said and glanced around he room more than half were not sure and the rest sided with Renath. "A compromise then?" The room of council members nodded. "Let us begin discussion then."

_ over 6,000 years earlier_

"Elder Anyth?" a young page questioned softly as a tired looking man seated on an elaborate thrown coughed violently.

"Dyrinith... can you please call the council together?" the man asked in a dry raspy voice before coughing again. "When they're gathered read them the prophecy and my last testimony."

"Yes, sir," the page replied, bowing quickly before leaving the room.

"Ah... the Elven race was a fine one. I am glad to know that it will live again," Anyth said softly to himself and coughed again as he slouched in his seat.

Dyrinith returned with the council members and gathered them in the room before the thrown, paper held in his hand.

"Sir?" he asked before continuing and the Elder Anyth motioned for him to read.

"This is the last prophecy of Elder Anyth, the last Elf: '6,000 years will pass under the rule of men. The worl will urn horrid and cruel. Hope will lie no where and the council will be hidden in the nooks and crannies of the Earth. But... hope will be born anew. Five children will be born under my star. From the wombs of men, the five Elves of our time will be reborn. Theyr future will be set by your children. Put them into the hands of those you trust and gather them together for their awakening when the eldest turns fifteen. Be warned, do not interfere after placing them into another's hands for if you do, all hope will be lost and the world will fall into a never ending darkness under the rule of a traitor. Follow the prophecy and the world will be restored once again.'" Dyrinith looked back at the Elder and the Elder waved his hand weakly at him to continue. "For his last statement, he gives you the line up for the new council. 'Everyone of you will have a child excluding one. This empty place will be taken by the child of my page Dyrinith. Your healthiest and most talented child will be choosen by a rite that I have explained to Dyrinith. Follow my page's rule after my death until his child his born and takes the place as head chair. All my beloved people. May you live in healthy and hope.'"

"Thank you, my page," Elder Anyth said softly and all eyes in the room turned towards the dying Elf. "I will see you in another plane of life I hope. DO not grieve. You have a lot of work ahead of you and little time to do it." With these words, the Elder Anyth and 'last' of the Elves passed from this world, leaving the young page, father of Dythr, to carry the burden of a world.

All the world of... Mearth. I noticed that they (the council) are a big part of the story and I was almost leaving them out completely. Forgive me for the slight set back and a chapter without Elentul at all. But... look forward to the next chapter. I have it pretty much straightened out so... let's hope it will not take me 4 months to write it. O.o;