Elashor's murderer is caught

Aymar was the one who murdered Elashor, Filauria's beloved brother. The ranting, raving Elf had to be restrained by Orcish guards as he was brought before the throne.

Filauria was stunned; she knew Aymar to be a very mild-mannered and gentle person, prone to avoiding conflict and not fighting back, making him the source of much bullying. She never expected him to become this short-tempered, foul-mouthed murderer.

"Aymar... why did you do it?" Filuaria asked.

"Because you rejected me!" Aymar angrily said, "All those years ago, you rejected me, crushed my feelings! You were all I had, and the moment you rejected me I had nothing and no one! And now you willingly bend over backwards for this brute like a sow!"

"You overstep!" Filauria roared, "You murdered my beloved brother just for this!?"

"He was one of those who bullied me the most!"

"I stopped him! I scolded him and remonstrated with him!"

Aymar spat to the floor, "At least his monstrous children no longer have their weak, cowardly father."

Something in Filauria snapped, and grabbing a sword she sliced his throat, then began hacking away at his corpse, screaming at the top of her lungs. Other guards moved to restrain her, but a wave from Oadagh kept them in place. Only when Filauria finally ceased to feel rage did Oadagh finally touch her shoulder. She shuddered, her eyes clearing, and she looked in horror at what she did before looking at Oadagh."

"Why... why didn't you stop me?" Asked Filauria.

"Because if I did, you would never be able to get it off your chest," Oadagh said, "He was a monster, and he had to be made an example of. More importantly, to mete out justice, sometimes you have to use a heavy hand."

"Is it really necessary?" Filauria asked.

"When dealing with resentful people like Aymar? Yes," Oadagh nodded, "Sometimes people are mad dogs who'll never let go no matter what. I may be basing it off my own experience with Orcs, but people can nurse a grudge for a long time."

Filauria stared at Aymar's body again.

"I never thought he nursed such a grudge," She muttered.

"Sometimes we don't, because people are good at hiding it," Oadagh explained.

Filauria slowly nodded, then turned to face the guards.

"Display his corpse as a warning to all."

They obeyed wordlessly.

That night, Filauria merely sat on the bed, staring aimlessly at the window and the night sky outside. The moon was bright and the stars twinkling, a stark contrast to her earlier emotion.

Oadagh sat beside her, one meaty hand on her shoulder.

Filauria gently squeezed her hand for comfort.

"I miss Elashor," She admitted, "He may have had his flaws, but he was still my brother."

"I know the feeling," Oadagh said, "I lost my own brother to a war with the Humans."

"I'm sorry," Filauria apologised.

"No need; it's old news," Oadagh waved off.

"Will you be going to raid more Elven cities in the future?" Filauria asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"...No particular reason."

"Well, to be really honest with you, no one on Aclia likes the Elves anymore; their persistent interference in other countries' affairs paints them as really meddlesome and selfish. I know you Elves don't like conflict, but to be really honest, when relations between countries and tribes deteriorates beyond mending, sometimes war is the only thing that helps resolve conflicts."

"Even though war is a cycle of taking and being taken from?"

"Even so. In fact, there are times when only a war is fought until its end, when one side falls or sues for peace, then we can obtain a more satisfactory outcome. But that aside, for the Elves, the fact you only sue for peace no matter what and adopt an official stance of neutrality gives a very wrong message; it gives the impression that your people are weak, unrealiable and untrustworthy, unwilling and unable to fight to defend yourself."

"...It really hurts to hear that," Filauria admitted, "And you're right; we've stagnated while the world moved on without us."

Filauria kissed Oadagh and hugged him.

"Can you hug me tonight?"

"As long as you want."

And the two lay cuddled in blissful sleep.