MatthewWuertz

            This was the story, an end to Klevtrìth's tale. My task was to make this the most climactic of the three stories, bringing an end to the war and answering the question of what happened to Klevtrìth's family. There was so much I wanted to do in this one story that I felt nearly overwhelmed.

            I wondered if this story should have a big battle and delve into freeing the slaves, perhaps combining the two into one event in the dwarves' land. I also considered whether separating the two events would create too much of a story, and looking back, my only option to avoid such a thing would have been to set the story in motion at the end of the battle; this, however, would have taken away a lot from the story. For a sense of the war and all the elves, humans and dwarves had suffered through for the past few years, I felt there needed to be this long, weary battle.

            My main struggle with this story was the title. Two very different things were taking place, and even the settings were separate. Most of my tentative titles only involved one of those two plots until I thought to combine both locations together in the title. It took a day or so for me to get used to the current title, but I'm now well pleased with it.

            In this story, I highlighted Klevtrìth's faith a number of times. In the beginning, he obeys Onarre in fighting well, though it may be his final fight. Under the mountains, when he loses his way and wanders the dark river alone, he trusts Onarre to whatever fate lies ahead. Even he has points of doubt, though, and feels abandoned while alone in the dark.

            It's important for us to trust God as Klevtrìth trusted Onarre. When we know Christ, we are assured of salvation, but we do not know the events in the rest of our lives. Some of the trials we endure can be quite disheartening, but we must trust God that He knows what we are going through and that it is for His glory. Don't forsake Him when you go down those dark tunnels, sloshing your way along without any sense of when you will find a light. Keep trusting Him and praying. God is right there with you.

            "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

            "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)