Biography:

"Shhhh."

"Hush now."

They tried to silence him. If the soldiers were drawn by the baby's cries, his birth would be for naught. "She is dead," one of the women covered the mother. "He will not be safe here. They will place her death on his head."

The woman who held him sheltered the babe in the crook of her arm, as if she could protect him from his heritage. "Would it be so awful if we kept him here?"

"We could never hide one so strong," the eldest among them spoke. The others silently deferred to her age. "Look at his proud chin, at the flex of his limbs. This one was meant to fight, to lead, and he will have cause. His father Elric was a Warriormage, a Paladin -- he shall be one as well." She cooed softly, letting the small creature attempt to grasp her finger. "He has the impatience of his Elven father. Look at the way he tries to do what he is not ready for yet. Yes, he will be strong. Yet he may never be truly accepted by the others. His colors are so pale..."

"His mother died before she named him," the youngest cried. "He is condemned."

"No. It is not so," the wizened one drew an object still clutched in the dead woman's hand, a forgotten relic to the mother's agony. It was a necklace, the chaos symbol looped through with a gold chain. "Not so at all. This boy is named, as sure as the sun now rises. This one will be called Elrath, the Shadow Elven word for chaos."

"He is safe with this one?"

"This one is like no other. Though he seems to be of Elven descent to be sure, he is as much a stranger to us as the babe."

"Where is he, then? The time is come and gone. Perhaps he has changed his mind."

The eldest waved the others to silence. "No more questions. He will come. If he is late, there is good reason."

Schooled to silence, the others waited. Their eyes traveled from the strange babe to the darkness around them. The forest itself seemed to have gone silent, empty but for the ghosts of the night.

"The trees have sharp eyes this night, mother," a voice called to them from the darkness. With a flap of his black cloak, the speaker came into sight. He was like a shadow, without substance and darker than the night itself. His almond-shaped eyes ignored the women huddled against the great oak, all except the eldest. His words were addressed to her, and filled with respectful formality. "This is the one, then." He crossed the open space between them, seeming to glide across air. After a short bow to the eldest, he bent to study the babe in her arms. "Yes. Yes, I can feel it. He is..." His eyes snapped up to meet those of the eldest. "His eyes are my own. You told me nothing of this."

She shook her head. "Truly there is a kinship between you. This is why I chose you -- not because you travel the Human Lands. But the bond is not so direct."

The man's eyes narrowed. "His mother died. You told me this. What of his father?"

The eldest woman waved away the question. "The mother gave her life for his, this is true. The father is none of your concern. Now take him, quickly, before the night spies our meeting. And guard this one well, for he is all that remains of what you would know. Know that he is to be called in your own known tongue, Elrath."

She handed him the babe, watching with wet eyes as the small child disappeared in the folds of the man's dark cloak. But it was right, she knew. It was the only answer, and the man would ward him well. The two shared a bond so tight, he could not refuse.

"The gods watch over you, mother," the man said, again bowing his respect. He turned, and disappeared before he had taken two steps. The women broke company and went their separate ways. Their part was done, and they wished to wash their hands of the whole matter. This was no way for High Elves to act, working against their own people in the shadows. But the rulers could not know, because they did not realize the importance of the babe. They saw only an child tainted with Dark Elf blood. The women saw one destined for greatness, destined to aid the battle against darkness, Dark Elf blood or no. And the Dark Elf male who carried him now saw something more personal in his existence. The man saw in that babe all that remained of his own mother. He knew right away that the safest place would be the hidden lands of his people and his gods.

Such was the destiny of Elrath.