A/N Hello again, Kat here! I have finally gotten around to splitting Why Fear Me? I'm Only an Elf into two separate fics. The first few chapters are pretty much the same as what was posted in WFM, but fear not! I have written new material for you to enjoy! I will be going back and rewriting chapters from WFM, so if anything on that story updates after I post this, it's just me doing that. I do hope you guys enjoy this part of Eva's journey of self-discovery and, perhaps, discovery of other things along the way~! Reviews are always welcome!
I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and sniffed, hearing Voniata nickering softly in worry.
I patted her neck and whispered, "It's alright, girl, I'm just a bit emotional right now".
She snorted, but continued on her pace. We rode in silence until I gently pulled on the reins at a familiar spot. I looked at a tree and grinned at the memories that flashed into my mind. It was the same place we landed at after Merlin transported us back. Voniata nickered quietly, turning her large head to gaze at the tree. I took a few more moments to stare at the tree then touched my heels to her belly. The mare snorted and started forward after glancing at me.
I blinked and chuckled quietly before I murmured to my restless mount, "Sorry, I wanted to relive a few moments, that's all".
The mare huffed softly in response and continued her pace. Smiling softly, I dug through the pack Artie gave me curiously. My fingers brushed against something at the bottom of the bag that felt different. Furrowing my eyebrows, I grasped hold of it and carefully pulled it out to reveal a small portable radio. Grinning, I mentally thanked Artie and turned it on, cringing when loud static cracked out through the speakers. Quickly turning it down, I fiddled with the knob on the top to my favorite station and sighed as a song came on. I softly sang along to the songs that played until we reached the crest of a hill just as the sun was setting.
Snorting, Voniata jerked the reigns out of my hands and headed for a nearby tree, making me giggle softly. I dismounted and had to grip the saddle horn tightly as my knees gave out from under me. Gods damn it, who knew that riding in a saddle would make you so damn sore?! Groaning softly, I righted myself and staggered to find some firewood.
After clearing a space of any stray foliage, I set down a bundle of wood and surrounded it with small rocks I found under the tree, setting aside two that make sparks when I hit them together. Remembering my basic lessons about starting a fire, I gathered some dry, dead grass and set it around the wood, picking up my rocks and showering the pile with sparks until some of the grass caught fire. Slowly, the flames built up until they were crackling merrily in the pit, giving off heat and light.
I loosely tied Voniata to the tree so she could graze, and dug my sleeping bag, a water-skin and some bread out of my pack. I munched on the bread as I rolled out the bag near the fire, but not so close so that I would get burned in the middle of the night. After sitting down on the softer bag, I finished the section of bread I had and twisted to look behind me. I can still see Far Far Away, the city still dotted with lights. A bit farther back was the tall shadow of the castle, the windows turned red with the setting sun. Oh, gods I miss Artie. We used to love sitting on my windowsill back at Worcestershire and watching the sun set each night.
Sighing softly, I turned and faced the red sky and watched as the sky slowly turned midnight blue. The stars slowly started appearing as the last rays of the sun disappeared under the horizon, each one popping into existence.
Noticing the heat decrease slightly, I got up and collected more firewood, gently throwing a few pieces into the flames where they ate it up. I reached over and grabbed my radio, examining it with more detail than I had before. It was plastic, but the speakers were really good. The entire thing was black, and was about the size of my forearm. Running my fingers along the top, I noticed two looser panels with slight grooves at the edge. Slipping one of my nails under one of these grooves, I pried the plastic open to reveal two small solar panels.
I never knew that the town even sold them!
After identifying the other side as the same thing, I closed the flaps and set the radio back in my bag, closing it tightly and placing it near me. Yawning, I then took my sword and bow off of my back, placing the wooden weapon inside of the quiver and closing it, to prevent the wood from rotting in the morning dew. My sword, however, I placed close to me, within reach if I ever get attacked during the night. Slipping inside of my soft bag, I watched the soft yellow flames dancing before I closed my eyes and slipped into sleep.
The sound of birds chirping stirred me out of deep sleep before my internal alarm did the rest, making me groan and sit up slowly.
It was still dark, with a few rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon. The fire had gone out during the night and smoldering remains were what was left of it. I slipped out of my bag and kicked some dirt over the remains, ensuring that it was completely out before retreating to a bush and doing my business. Afterwards, I washed my hands in a small stream I found a ways away then returned to camp to eat a bit before I saddled up Voniata. I was still extremely sore from yesterday's ride, but I tried to ignore my protesting muscles and cleaned camp up, packing my bag and mounting Voniata.
After making sure I didn't leave anything behind, I gently touched my heels to the mare's belly and she trotted off down the path. The rest of the day was relatively boring, me only making a few stops to eat or to go to the bathroom. I made camp when the sun set by a grove of ash trees a little bit off of the road.
Before I went to sleep, I pulled out my map and examined my position in the firelight. Hmm, I'm almost to a village about a quarter of the ways to the forest. It was labeled as Coran, which make me snigger a bit. I put it away and let sleep wash over me.
The next few days went pretty much the same way. Get up, do my morning habits, clean up camp, eat, saddle Voniata, and ride until sunset, stopping to eat along the way or just eating in the saddle. I often did write in my journal all of the things I experienced each day before I went to sleep.
That was until we got to Coran, which was a little more than a few farms relatively close together with a shop, an inn, and a post office in the middle. I restocked my supplies, bought a back cloak to hide my features in the shop and wrote a letter to Artie, telling him where I was around and that I was doing fine. I sent it from the post office and continued on my way, a little faster to get a bit farther.
By the end of the fifth day, I was almost to Louarn, the town where the path branches off at to go into the forest. I was mentally cheering when I saw the lights of the town flickering in the distance when I got to the top of a hill just as the sun was setting. Well, I guess sleeping in a real bed will have to wait until tomorrow. I quickly made camp and ate a bit of the berries I bought in Coran while Voniata grazed. Smiling, I gazed at the stars from underneath my sleeping bag as the campfire crackled merrily.
My smile dimmed a bit as I thought of Artie. I wonder how he was doing. I did hear when I was in Coran that one of his first royal decrees was to ban all remaining elf hunting, in which I was happy for. Reaching up, I touched the necklace he gave me, a habit I've fallen into ever since he gave it to me.
Dear gods, how I missed him.
With a sigh, I turned onto my side and shut my eyes. Perhaps tomorrow will bring better fortune and an actual bed. A small smile lifted the corners of my lips as I slipped off into sleep.
