The Gods' Decision; Epilogue

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The Gods' Decision

Plague and Famine were well on their way to infecting the land with their vileness, but that was revealed to the elves by prophets in contact with their respective gods. Ithila told her kind sister Alu of the issue. Learning that her water had been defiled by her evil older sister, Alu journeyed from her heavenly home to inform her parents of these ill acts. Dharda soon followed after her sister, weeping at the barren land of the continent. When they came upon their parents, they were surprised to see Ithila and Anaron already there confronting Iva`na and Nav`ean.

The Mother Goddess spoke very clearly. "The release of my children was necessary. Your foolish races needed to be put in their places."

"O Light Maker! What makes you bring the darkness? What turns you so to this?" Anaron demanded.

Nav`ean, with His empty eyes, looked at His children. "She is always what She will be and has been. I performed the dark duty, leaving it to Her to shine Her light upon the land."

Ithila could barely contain herself. Constellations and clouds swirled about the heavenly plane as she spoke. "I saw you, Lord of the Dark, and you disregarded me wholly. Where is Your compassion? You are a lowly demon if you care not for any form of life!"

"Do you challenge our power, girl?" Iva`na's divine voice rose.

Alu and Dharda exchanged glances. Anaron looked to Ithila, and it was now clear who he sided with.

"...I do. We can rule by ourselves. We are the ones who can create and sustain life. What do you do, Mother? You are no beacon of light! You who destroyed that which we created! You "

"I created you! All of you!" Iva`na stood and searing light poured over the heavenly plane, blocking even Nav`ean's darkness.

Anaron dared step between his twin and his parents. "Mother, let us not break out into war. We are all at fault here! Let us make a resolution."

His father smiled. "There will be no resolution. We are absolute in this. Ithila can never hold sway over the moon. She is still banished from this plane, and if I catch any being helping her, I will unmake them."


Epilogue

So it was decided. None of the gods could stand up to the supreme divine beings, no matter how malevolent they were. Alu once again had to take charge of both the moon and the water, but promised Ithila there would be a time when she could take her rightful place. Alu and Dharda cleansed their domains, but the earth goddess had to leave the now barren plains of Laine as they were. Despite every attempt by the Quen Verin, Nav`ean succeeded in locking his children and more firmly than before deep in the bowels of the planet. He flung Ithila down with them, forever imprisoned along with the evils of the world.

Although the twin gods' efforts seemed for naught, it gave a very clear message to the survivors. The great era of elves was over, having brought their own demise. For surely there could have been other ways to peacefully resolve the conflict between the Dark and Light. However, some elves in denial blamed the gods, blamed Ithila for her change and the change in her people.