Author's note: Thanks for clicking into this story. Uhh...this story was posted once before, but I made it much better and decided to post it once again. Anyway, please read, and make sure to reply. Also, check out my other fanfic, The Forgotten Unicorn. It's under the Last Unicorn; it's sorta a sequel type thingy. Please Review.

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~Hala and the Spell~

The sun was beginning to fade beyond the distant hills, casting the night's shadow down upon the elfin villages. Though, the children of the village were not yet asleep, or even tired, because they were with the one whom they trusted the most. They looked up to her and trusted their lives within her soft pale hands. They knew that she was not like any other elf, because she did not resemble an elf. And thus made them love her even more. She was kind and caring, treating them as equals, and listening to each of them intently, letting each of them within her gentle heart. And as the night was befalling the land, they each were gathered around their beloved friend, Hala. They sat around her and gazed into her eyes, their hearts beating eagerly to hear more of the enchanting stories Hala told them. She would tell them stories that would linger in their hearts forever, and this night they were comfortably seated around her, with their young eyes closed and their faces lit up and smiling.

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"Legends have said that one day, the EYE of Ghon will save us all from horrendous evil; and we, meaning you and I, will live on a peaceful earth where fighting and poverty will no longer exist," Hala explained to them, her eyes watching each of their reactions.

"Do you mean, our daddies won't have to go away anymore?" a small elf child asked. She was a beautiful girl with large brown eyes and an innocent smile that lit up her soft face. Hala smiled and beckoned the child towards her. The girl smiled and quickly ran over to her favorite elf. Hala held the girl and lifted her into her lap.

"Yes, child. There will be no war and Ganlin's crown will be given to a man with a righteous heart, not a fool who thinks that if he wears a crown he is considered a king! A king is not made of a crown, but how he leads his people," Hala replied. The children stared in interest eager to hear more.

"Hala, is there really an EYE of Ghon?" another young elf child questioned.

"Why, of course there is. What have I been telling you for the past hour? Yes...there is an EYE of Ghon. There is a being that carries the eye. Right now...by legend...she is a young girl about your age. Her left eye can see right into your heart and she can see who you really are. She..."

An older woman cut in. "Halanna, I think you have told the children enough of your nonsense. There may be an EYE of Ghon, but it will never help us and our needs. Run along children...and forget such nonsense your friend here has told you."

The children began to cry. "But... we want to hear more of Hala's stories! Please Hala! One more..." the children begged.

Hala paused, looking at the old, husky woman . "I don't think so. Maybe tomorrow...if old Alinda isn't here." The old woman gave a huff and began walking towards her wooden home. The children begged for only a while longer, but soon gave up and gradually they all returned to their homes in time for dinner.

Hala gathered together the small gifts from her little friends. The children had always loved to hear every one of her stories and they would come to listen to them every evening before the sun disappeared behind the distant mountains. She loved seeing the children's eyes light up when she told them stories of ogres who would eat elves and use the bones of their horses as toothpicks. A few times the children's parents had gotten angry for they had had nightmares from the stories. None the less, Hala always had new stories to tell. She would make all of her stories up from the top of her head and she delighted all of the village children.

* * * *

Hala walked toward the wooden home where Alinda descended to. As she opened the door, the old woman stood wearily before her. She seemed older than she actually was and her sullen face showed only the tired and worn side of her. Her hair was long and matted with her aging greyness already showing in her dark elfin hair. And Hala even noticed a horde of lines cornering around her green eyes. Hala knew that something was wrong with her dear aunt this night...something that had been kept secret for maybe even her entire life. She only bit her lip to hide her nervousness that crept throughout her body like a spider would creep upon its web. And she waited for Alinda to speak...though, speaking may not have been the exact thing that Hala wanted.

"Halanna...I think you should sit down."

"Why? Is--is something wrong?" Hala replied. She noticed her voice sounded strange and meek amongst her aunt's.

"Well, no...just sit down," Alinda ordered. Hala abruptly sat down. Then Alinda began to gather together the couple's dinner. Quietly, she began to place each of the bowls in front of Hala and herself. She seemed to be taking her time...whilst trying to think of a way to explain something to her dear niece.


"You see...I...I lied to you." Alinda bit her lip, staring at Hala.

"What do you mean?" Hala's mouth was hung open with fear of what her aunt was about to say.

"You see...well...you know when I told you that your parents were dead?"

"Yes." Hala's eyes were getting larger from impatience.

"They are not dead. I told you that because I was supposed to make you think that they were. It was for your own good. You see...you're parents...want to meet with you and bring you to live with them."

"They're ALIVE?" Hala pondered. She suddenly felt ill. No...Alinda's playing one of her mind tricks with me. She thought in her head. But something was telling her that this was no mind trick.

"Yes, child, they are. Alive and Well. They want you to return to them."

"Alinda," Hala started, "you can stop with all of this! I'm not in the mood for one of your games." Now Alinda's eyes began to widen. She held her hand to her old face in fear.

"Child! I am not playing a game! You must feel quite unsure and upset...but this is not a game!" Alinda almost screamed out.

"Well...if they DID want me back...Why would they want me NOW?! They abandoned me and now they want me back?!"

"Hala! They never abandoned you! They only sent you away with me to deprive you of a great danger."

"What danger is there that they would have to give me up for?!"

"A danger that I cannot speak of for now. You mustn't know of it until the day of your sixteenth birthday."

"But why?!"

Alinda stared at her for a moment.... "You will know when the time comes."

"Alinda!" Hala cried. "Who are my parents?"

"Sir. Jonathan Aconas and Lady Daliet Aconas.....They live in Aloni; east of the Helm Valley," Alinda stated.

"But...that's so far away," Hala was now in a river of tears. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. She suddenly felt lightheaded. She stood up and walked clumsily towards Alinda. When she stood in front of Alinda, she opened her mouth to speak...but no words would come from her lips.

"Oh no," Alinda muttered. "Child! You mustn't be so upset!" Alinda was now holding onto her niece's shoulders. "This mustn't...." But before Alinda finished her sentence, Hala was lying unconscious on the dark wooden floor. "Oh God," Alinda exclaimed. "This is nice timing," she muttered sarcastically.