Months continued to pass, and the departure of the elves grew nearer.
Everyone felt it, like a hush before a farewell. Even the elves themselves could not quite hide the longing in their eyes when they looked at Lumberling, though none of them spoke it aloud.
...
Outside Lumberling's modest home, Aurelya stood alone, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She stared at the door, her hands balled into hesitant fists at her sides. More than once she looked as if she might turn away. But at last, she drew a deep breath, gathering whatever fragile courage she had left, and stepped forward.
She didn't knock.
The door swung open, and she slipped inside quietly.
Lumberling was seated at the rough-hewn table, finishing his breakfast. When he saw her, he paused mid-bite, an eyebrow arched in amused surprise.
"Hey," she said, flinching as if startled by the sound of her own voice.
