DAIN
I glance around the dark forest of an unfamiliar grove straining to remember why I am here. The moon is high in the sky but the trees cast eerie shadows throughout the night. I begin to pick my way through the knots of roots and leaves scattered along the forest floor trying to find something, how long I struggle I am unsure. I wipe the sweat from my brow and nearly give up in frustration when I enter a clearing. It is about 10 feet in diameter and perfectly round. The moon light shines in though the break in the canopy as I slowly walk into the clearing. I glance around and at the edge of the darkest part of the clearing a beautiful dark haired woman stands, watching me. I cock my head to the side and start to speak when she moves to leave the shadows. At that moment I remember. I had been dreaming of this woman for weeks now, yet had never seen her face. She always stood just out of reach of the moons rays, silent and mysterious. No matter how hard I strained or struggled to reach her I never could and she never moved. My heart began beating faster in anticipation as I see her pale hand reach out.
"Come on!"
A familiar voice shatters through my dream and I jump out of bed, reaching for my sword, nearly toppling Tamlen in the process. I rub my eyes and look at the surprised elf who has been my best friend since childhood. We are opposites of sorts; he is carefree where I am serious, which is why his vallaslin is dedicated to the Creator Dirthamen, Keeper of secrets, and mine to June, The God of craft. He believes that shems are mostly misunderstood and unfairly treated, like they are all cruel and violent, while I hate them. I however, have good reason to hate them, they killed my father. My parents were from different clans forced to meet in secret for the keepers disapproved of the match. One night they met and bandits attacked. Father was killed but mother survived. Her grief however was too great and one night she just left, leaving behind a tanned black haired, grey eyed babe. Shemlen… I hate them, but for Tamlen I try.
"Watch it, Dain!"
"Ir abelas Tamlen, you know better than to startle me. What are you doing here anyway?" I say as I wipe the beads of sweat from my brow and run my tanned fingers through my tousled short black hair.
"I told you last night we should go hunting this morning. Are you ok, Falon? You look pale." Tamlens' forehead scrunches in worry causing his vallaslin to wrinkle beneath his light brown chin length hair, as the moons rays sliced through the opening of my tent.
"I'm fine, just had that dream again. This time she almost showed me who she was." I shake my head as I slip from beneath my furs and pick up my armor. Simple, supple leather lined in rabbit fur caught and skinned with my own hands. As I begin putting it on, I turn to Tamlen.
"Ah, the mysterious and strange woman, was she naked? WAIT, maybe she's a shem and your subconscious is afraid to admit you find them attractive and that's why you never see her face!" he said as his face beams in triumph at his epiphany.
"Oh please," I say as I roll my eyes, "I doubt a shem would be interested in a knife ear," laughing as I put on my boots and add a dagger to the sheath in them. I sheathe my sword in my belt and grab my bow from its stand, "Come on. We have to get going or we won't get any hunting done."