Abstract, random thoughts
flit through my mind,
manifesting themselves
through meaningless doodles.

Pieces and fragments
of long-forgotten events,
mixed and swirled together,
welded into glowing stained-glass.

Shining visions,
of battles won.
And of victorious armies,
standing o'er their trembling foes.

Chapter the Nineteenth

Aria shivered and bowed her head. Elves and stars crowded around her.
"Back off!" said Raphael. "Give her some air!"
Rayne, who was standing by, began pushing the elves stars back a little.

A valley:
Dark and deep
And hidden in the vestiges of time;
Reserved in shadows for when time is done
Forbidden, dry and bleak and white,
Beyond the hallows of the ancient sun;
Rest place of the reaper’s blade
Of bones

Jacob’s death
Lies old and silent there
Beneath the ceaseless, sunless light of doom
And cries:
Blood-red and dry and dusty tears
For hope cut off, and perished

Chapter the Fifth

Just a bit more of castle-doings before Aria must leave, and we shall go on.

It was a fine day. Gilligan was outside, strolling around the open air courtyards, until he noticed Aria, sitting beside a fountain, buried deep in thought.
"Aria? Where are you?" Gilligan sat beside his friend, waving his hand back and forth in front of the daydreaming girl’s face.