Cecily's delight was plain to see. Even the stars circling above her head seemed to shine brighter.
Cooperation with the Terrasil Elves was inevitable, even if it meant tolerating the White Dragons moving in. Still, they could hardly help feeling uneasy. Respect for Corellon had brought them this far, but it had not erased their doubts.
The Terrasil Elves' behavior had left the Mithril Elves unsure what to make of them. In many ways, they resembled traditional Elves. In others, they were uncomfortably familiar to Mithril Elves who had spent years fighting dragons.
Cecily trusted her guards' judgment, though. As leader of the Mithril Elves, she could hardly ask ordinary Elves to do so much unnecessary work. Most of Hidden Town's shops were run by her guards.
The hair ornament shop that best represented the Mithril Elves was managed directly by her chief guard, since it mainly sold pieces made by members of their families. Other shops could afford problems. That one could not.
The Mithril Elves had always been aloof and delicate. Put bluntly, they disliked dealing with outsiders, yet they were sensitive and strong-willed. Cecily had needed to persuade them one by one just to put their handiwork up for sale.
If anything happened at that shop, even Corellon's intervention would not help.
Cecily inspected it whenever she had time. There, she had met several interesting Terrasil Elf girls. They were strong-willed, independent, and bold in everything they did, yet they showed tender affection even toward a young human child.
It was not condescending pity. They sincerely wanted the little human girl to do better and better, and even took care to protect her pride.
So after speaking with the leader of the Terrasil Elves and learning that a powerful family would have to be stationed here, Cecily