"Jewel"
I turned to see my father. "Are you coming with us?" I asked.
"No. I'm going to stay. I'm too old to leave. Besides, we've got to get Gilneas back from the Forsaken. But you're young. I want you to go and start a new life were you can be happy."
"Okay, Dad. I'll miss you." I hugged him.
I made my way over to the dock where the rest of the Gilneans who were going to be leaving where waiting. It was strange to see the ocean after so many years away from it. I didn't realize how much I had missed the moist, salty breeze, the sound of the waves breaking on the shore, and the calls of the gulls flying overhead.
Everyone waited in silence. We were all in low spirits. The pride of the Gilneans had been broken. We had been cast out of our own land and made into refugees. The elves from across the sea had offered us refuge, but this did little for most peoples' morale. Gilneas had always been a nation of fiercely independent people. They were not used to the idea of taking charity.
A ship appeared on the horizon and quickly grew larger until it finally pulled up along the dock. The only ships I had seen before were the bulky ones built by humans. This smaller vessel had a shape that was more sleek and efficient. I was surprised at how it glided across the water's surface.
A gangplank was extended onto the dock and several of the elves stepped off. I was stunned at what I saw. The first ones on land were all women. They were beautiful. They had smooth, pale skin. Their ears were long and pointed. They were all thin, but I could tell that they were not frail. They way they moved suggested they possessed much grace and power. These women were obviously warriors. They wore colorful leather armor. In their hands they held strange rounded weapons with radiating blades. They walked with their heads held high as if they had been through many battles and were confident in their abilities.
Without much ado they took us on to the ship and it set sail. It was crowded on the deck of the ship. Kroger and I barely had room to move. The elven guards seemed to be uncomfortable too. I could see them constantly glancing about, keeping their hands close to their weapons.