As the wind blew through my hair, I felt as if I was obliged to take a breath. When the cold, fresh air plunged into my lungs, I was suddenly filled with a odd sensation. It was indescribable, to the point where it could only be summed up in one word: Rebirth. Maybe it was the feeling of entering this beautiful, new town, and starting a life of my own. Or the end of the journey that brought me here. Whatever it was, I was grateful to be here. Wherever "here" was.
I checked my surroundings, but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. It looked like a normal town, quaint wooden houses with the warmest of light pouring from them. There was really no "Main Street", however, they had paths that went into the middle of the town. And at this center, there were many other roads that led all over this kingdom. In front of me, there were one of the dirt paths that led into the center, so I decided that the best course of action would be to travel down it to see where I can go.
As I walked, the sweet smell of lavender drifted through the tiny town, and soon I found myself in a rather dream-like haze because of it. The scent fitted this little village so well, and the moonlight that shone down gave off such a beautiful light. It felt like a dream, hmm, yes, that name suits it quite well. Dreamtown. I nodded to myself at my very dull, yet understandable, naming skills and kept walking down the path to the center of Dreamtown. My happy, dreamy state came to an abrupt end when I was brought back into cold reality by stepping on a twig.
I walked only a couple minutes more before reaching the center of the town, but in my haze, it had felt like an eternity. I turned around to see how far I had walked to get to the center, but to my surprise, the place which I had started was only a few feet away. I made a small twitch, realizing for once in my life that the few people who had properly "known" me were right, I was probably the laziest person ever. That did not stop me from traveling so far from home, though. So I suppose I had proved them all wrong in my own way. Shame they would never see it.
In the center, there were wooden signs pointing in all sorts of directions, each one, branding a different piece of text of it. I tried to read them, but it was far too dark. Instead, I decided to search around for some type of Inn that I could stay at until morning came. Lucky for me, I was able to find one that didn't seem all that busy. As I stepped into the Inn, I was automatically hit with a gust of warmth and the smell of cinnamon. The man at the counter looked up from his book as he saw me coming inside.
"Well, how do you do? You look new. That's strange, we usually don't get to many newcomers here, and at this time of night too!" The man laughed to himself and took out a large book that I'm presuming was where they kept their guest log. "Greetings, sir. Yes, I would like a room for tonight. If you have any, that is." But from the look of the empty room, I didn't think they would have any problems at all finding me a room. "Well lookie here! The entire hotel's full! Hehe, just kidding, kiddo. If that were the case, I certainly wouldn't be here, would I? Now, what's your name? First and last please." "My name is Ren Calibri." I replied. "Ok Ren, here's your key. Have a nice night!" The man handed me the key and waved me off.
The room was tiny, but furnished nicely, and had a small bathroom to the side of it. I took my heavy bag off my shoulders and threw it next to the bed. As I went into the bathroom, I saw that it had a bath. After many hours of traveling all day, I really needed a bath. As I took out my pajamas from my bag, I accidentally saw myself in the mirror. Back in the kingdom I had come from, the Elf Kingdom, women were only supposed to look at themselves when they were preparing for their wedding day. So I, like many other girls in my kingdom, had never had a proper look at myself. Sometimes, me and the few friends I had, would describe our looks to each other. Or, we would glance at ourselves in puddles. The idea of it all was that a woman couldn't be her full self until she was married. And up until now, I had never really felt complete. But now, now that I had finally seen myself for the first time, I felt the things that once made me feel as if I wasn't really anybody, now made me somebody. The eyes that looked back at me were a bright, forest green. And my hair was brown like the bark of a tree, but it was cut so short that it only reached down to the beginning of my neck. Most girls had longer hair, for it was a sign of beauty. But my mother knew how I was, she was the only one that did.
She had told me that when she was younger, she was just like me. While I was sweet and caring, and a little air-headed at times, I also believed in what I thought was right. My mother understood that, so she let me cut my hair short, so it could be like me saying to them all, "I am not what you might consider beautiful, but that is ok, I am ok with that. Because I'm beautiful to me." And back then, that's all I really wanted.
When girls become 16, they are to be married to whoever their family chooses. I am 16. I am 16 and not married. I am 16 without a home to go to, because I ran away from the only home I ever knew. And my mother helped me, ever since I told her my plan. Because she also once had that desire for freedom, to break free of the chains that made Elven women unable to go anywhere or see anything. The chains that did not give anyone, male or female, the chance to marry who we want, when we want.
I remember, clear as day, the night on which I told her my plan. I was crying, and I never cry. She was really the only one who I ever cried in front of. I remember exactly what I told her, and all of her reactions. "I can't do this! I can't live in this terrible society anymore!" Is exactly what a said. And when my tears dried enough so that I could see her, I was ready for the worst. But instead, she surprised me that day with the brightest smile I have ever seen. Her eyes were mixed with feelings, a little pride, a little sadness, a little determination. Then, she promised me something, she promised I would see the light of freedom one day.