V: I saw I have some hits. That's great. Hope you all keep coming back.

Dragons of a New World

1: New Chances

Elensar wiped down the tables. This was still slightly new to her. She was getting use to it though. Tanis and the rest had taken her in happily. They didn't treat her bad or anything. She had been accepted into their group very quickly. She established her position in the group as well.

She sighed and looked around the empty inn. Her duties consisted of serving costumers as they came and cleaning. It wasn't hard and the inn had been sparkling clean since she had come. She hated to just sit there and do nothing. She rubbed her back. All the bending was hurting her back.

Just then a tall man walked in to the inn. He had long black hair and deep brown eyes. His close cut beard showed he was human or part human at least. His deeply tanned skin was muscled. He was a large man and nearly filled the room to the roof. He looked around and smiled at her.

"I'll have mead. What food do you have?" The man's voice was deep but calming and gentle.

"We have some spiced fried potatoes and some stew that I can warm up for you. I can make a sandwich or two for you. What ever you wish sir." Elensar said.

She was getting use to talking to people. Her voice was soft and gentle. Sometimes she would talk too quietly and Tika would get complaints about it. She would then have to explain why that happened and would have to talk to Elensar about it. Elensar was trying and they all could see that.

"Hmm…" The man thought. "I would like some of those potatoes." He smiled.

Elensar nodded. "Right away, sir." She disappeared into the kitchen.

Soon she came back out with his drink. "The food is almost ready sir."

He caught her hand. "How does such a woman like you come to be here?"

She looked at his hand and felt her face burn. "The potatoes sir."

"Yes…the potatoes. I'm sorry." He let her go.

She went to take care of the potatoes and he sipped his mead. He smiled. It was good mead and it was made better when served by a pretty girl. He sighed and reamed himself for touching her without her permission. Had father taught me nothing? He asked himself silently.

After a few more moments she came out and set the food down. "If you need anything else please let me know."

"I would like some company. That is if you have nothing else to do." He said softly.

She looked around. There was no more cleaning to do and he was the only in the inn. She had nothing to do. She wondered if Tika would get mad at her for not working. But then again Tika usually got mad at how hard she worked. Tika was convinced she worked too hard. She sat down.

"So what's a pretty girl like you doing in a little town like Solace?" He asked smiling.

"I was brought here against my will." She said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"I was a slave, sir…"

"Really? Who were your slave drivers? I'll have them killed."

"They are already dead, sir, my friends saw to that."

"So you have friends?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"Where are they? They must not be very good friends if they you alone like this."

"Well one is in the office. If you want I can go get her. She runs the inn."

"No. It's fine." He smiled.

Tika smiled as well. She watched from the door of her office with Caramon behind her. Caramon smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. All of them had been worried about Elensar. If this man could make her relax, or better yet happy, they would be grateful.

"So do you have rooms here?" The man asked smiling. They had talked all afternoon.

"Yes we do. Would like one sir?"

"I certainly would. And the name is Gurtha." He said softly.

She smiled and nodded. "Right away sir."

"Please call me Gurtha. And please tell me your name."

"Elensar." She smiled and stood to charge him for the room.

"What a pretty name."

She blushed. "Thank you sir."

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I have work."

"No you don't." Tika said coming out of her office. "You need a day off."

"Tika…I really can work. It's no trouble."

"You are taking the day off." Tika said with a sound of finality in her voice.

Elensar nodded. "Yes, Tika."

"So will you show me around the town tomorrow?" Gurtha asked smiling.

Elensar nodded again. "Yes, sir."

"Gurtha. Please call me Gurtha. You make me sound old when you call me sir."

Elensar nodded. "I'll get you that room then Gurtha."

Tika smiled. "Glad you aren't fighting me on this more."

Caramon came out of the office smiling. "Well I have some errands to run. I'll see be back later."

Caramon kissed Tika then left. Gurtha watched Elensar as she moved to the till and got him a free room. There were usually free rooms. No one really came to visit that didn't have someone to stay with. She handed him the key and he smiled. She blushed a little. Gurtha smiled more.

"I'll see you in the morning then." He said as he disappeared to go this room.

Elensar was blushing brightly and Tika laughed slightly. It was cute to see her act like this. It made Tika happy. And if Tika was happy Caramon was happy. Everyone seemed to be a in a better mood when Tika was in a good mood. Elensar sighed softly. She didn't want to take a day off work if she didn't have to.

"You work too hard. It won't harm you to show the lad around town." Tika said as if seeing her thoughts.

"But Tika…What if you need me here? What if people come and you can't handle it on your own?"

"There is Caramon, Tanis, Goldmoon, and Riverwind. Plus I doubt that people will really come to the point I can't handle it."

"But you are pregnant…"

"I'll have Caramon here to help me. Don't worry. Take the day off and enjoy yourself. Gods know you don't do it enough."

"Tika…"

"No. I don't want to hear it. You are taking the day off. I saw you smile while you were talking to the man. I like seeing you smile like that."

Elensar blushed and hung her head. "You saw that?"

"Yes, and I'm not sorry that I did. It was nice seeing you smile for once."

Elensar blushed. "I don't think we are going to be getting any more costumers tonight."

"I think you are right. You go and rest or what ever you want dear. And here's your payment." Tika handed her a bag of coins.

"This is more than usual…" Elensar said softly.

"I know. Take it and get yourself something special. You need some things dear. If you don't buy some stuff by this weekend I will be forced to take you out shopping." Tika smiled.

"Tika…You know I'm not going to spend this money…"

"Exactly. Now go. You don't need to be around the inn all the time. Take a break at least."

"All right Tika." Elensar nodded and left the inn.

Tika was sitting drinking some tea in her office when there was a knock. "Who in the world…" She stood and went to the door and opened it.

Gurtha stood there smiling a little. He looked a little out of place and looked around the inn. He had changed and was wearing a nice dark shirt with some dark pants to match. He seemed to be nervous but seemed to also want to talk to Tika about something important.

"Can I help you sir?" Tika asked. Clearly he wasn't going to say something first.

"Yes I was wondering about the girl that works here. I have some personal questions that I don't think she would want to answer…"

"Come inside I'll talk to you about them if I know about them and if I find them all right." She said moving aside for him.

He went in. "I was wondering about her past…"

"Sit down this will take a while." Tika said waving her hand to a chair and she sat behind the desk.

Elensar came back some time later. She had bought herself a new dress. Even though she knew Tika would still buy her something this weekend no matter how much money she spent. She had also bought some food for her small apartment. Caramon, Flint, Tas, and Tanis had helped build it for her.

She was glad they had. It made it so she had somewhere other than the inn to go to at night. She unlocked the door and opened it up. She pushed her way in and lit some candles. She put away the food and hung up the new dress. She would wear it tomorrow while showing around that new man.

She smiled. She had liked talking to him. He had been interesting and nice. He had told her stories of lands far away. She knew the others held these stories as something important but she didn't understand why just yet. She was sure she would soon enough though when she would ask Tanis about them.

Tanis would want to meet Gurtha. He was always looking out for Elensar. He had become a father to her. She didn't mind though. It made her feel welcome and protected. She was usually alone at work and home but she knew he was there for her if she needed him.

She hummed as she did some cleaning. There wasn't much that needed to be done. Her house was used only at night when it was just her. She then went into her kitchen to cook her some dinner. She hummed the whole time. She didn't mind being alone. If she was alone that meant that she wasn't a slave.

All though loneliness often set in but she quickly got rid of it by going and talking to Tanis or watching the people around the town. It kept her mind off of her own sorrows. She remembered Tanis asking about her family and she sighed. She had forgotten all that she could so that it wouldn't hurt anymore.

She didn't remember much except the pain. Her family had never been the best of elves. It was because of them that she wasn't arrogant like most other elves though. She knew that elves weren't above the rest. She knew that there were bad elves just like there were bad dwarves, humans, and kenders.

There was a knock on her front door and she looked confused. No one came to visit her this late except Tanis and he usually just walked in calling out that he was there so he wouldn't scare her. She sighed and wiped off her hands and moved the food she was cooking so it wouldn't burn. She then went to the door.

"Hello?" She asked opening the door just a crack.

"Sorry to bother you Miss Elensar, but I was wondering if we could talk for a bit." It was Gurtha on the other side of the door.

"Uh…" She wasn't sure that was the best of ideas. "Are you sure it can't wait until tomorrow? I'm in the middle of cooking…"

"Oh…Of course it can wait. What time shall I meet you?"

"Ten in the morning if it's not too early for you."

"No not too early at all." He smiled. "Where shall I meet you?"

"At the inn. I'll see you there then." She started to shut the door. "Good evening Mr. Gurtha." She said softly.

"Good evening Elensar." He quickly left her.

He felt bad. He had probably scared the girl. Tika had told him that she didn't talk to many people and no one went to her house other than some man named Tanis this late at night. He hadn't meant to scare her. He sighed. Father would kill me if he saw me swooning over a girl like this. This is more than just simple kindness.

He pushed the inn door open and stepped inside. That big man and his lady were there. "Thank you for your help Mrs. Tika."

"You are welcome Gurtha and just call me Tika. No need for the formality."

"Of course. Well I think I'll turn in then. Good evening to the both of you."

"Good evening." Tika smiled and nodded.

" Good evening." The big man smiled as well.