Silverlight Terrace viii. wash away the stained skin,

as if she had walked beside him her entire life, the mother fell in beside sandulf and meandered along in his company contentedly. 

a wan smile graced her dusky features for but a moment, unable to conjure much joy at the thought of moonglow momentarily and yet, unwilling to taint this meeting with loss again. "i enjoy it there too." her tone hinted at more, some secret. it was a village she had helped to build, the place where she had been broken, the place where her children had been born. 

the village was her life. 

"aya," aiwë signed in confirmation, weary but lacking in remorse. "i have found a son along the way," she shared, turning to smile at sandulf with warmth.

"and now we must venture further, north. to the sea." she refrained from telling him the truth of the tale. that they must cleanse their spirits in the sea to return home -- and that it may all be for naught.

"what will you do now, sandulf?" she asked of him then, turning to the he-wolf with curiosity etched upon her face. "now that you have visited the village?"