ELRETH
The building where the elders met had never felt too small to Elreth before. But that day it seemed like every shadow, every wall was closing in. She brimmed with tension, her knee bouncing for the past hour until she'd noticed it and forced herself to stop.
She kept focusing on the discussion, getting irritated, and letting her mind drift back to Aaryn. But she knew that wasn't helping anyone. She had to focus.
Elreth sat back in her chair and shook her hair off her face as one of the younger Elders outlined everything they'd decided about how Aaryn's position would be honored in the hierarchy. It had been a frustrating and lengthy discussion, but at least it was done and Elreth felt like she could breathe again.