Reflection upon things that were not mine to remember. Reflection upon things that were - that feeling of breathlessness, heart-thunder, when the zither passed from Militant's hands to my own. My first thoughts beyond thought, unspeakable joy and honor. My first coherent thought, terror of breaking it. They do say fear and happiness spring similarly.

I recall as though it were last marc, those first echoes of the notes from the stone doors of Altitan, and all the many marcs of learning and practice since then. I recall my wonder, echoed on the faces of dearest, fearless comrades.

Reflection on what brought me there. So many moments, cherished and passed. A quiet night of traded words and song in an inn. A night of revelry, and being susceptible to ale, and serenading my love. Quiet moments in Myna's temple, filled sometimes with song or starlight. Dances beneath the night, or willful musing in the shadow of stone doors. Prints set upon sand or snow, shadows of things I have been, might be, or will not be again.

Reflections.

These are the howls of faded pawprints... / Shadowed colors of songs once soared...
These are the memories we've forsaken... / In hope that days ahead bring more...
Can you see...? / How rains and 'Rift wash these...
To dappled fears and dreams... / Then to sights ne'er been seen.

There is a shadowed and hush forest... / Mountains of plummets steep...
There are oft-haunted fields and fallows... / Turnabouts of dark trees...
Can you see...? / How breeze and brunt change these...
To thoughts silver and bold... / Then hist'ries ne'er been told...

There is remembrance and lush new life... / Where once the old was torn...
There is a castle by the water... / Where once a lake forlorn...
Can you see...? / How hand and hope shape these...
To sturdy shield and steel... / Then to things ne'er yet unveiled...

These are the laughter and the sorrow... / These that break or make us soar...
These are the colors in the darkness... / Lighting our path like ne'er before...

Can you see...? / Enough to wonder may yet be...

All that we are, sweeping us steadily into a future full of the unknown - and I would have it, full of hope.