The soft morning light flooded over Star's eyes. She slowly woke up to see the pale blue sky of the morning. The icy air nipped at her bare face. She made a small grunt while turning over.
Derrick heard her and picked up a goblet he had been working on all morning. It was full of a bright pink liquid. He leaned at her side and lifted her head.
"What is that?" she asked sleepily.
"It's Cadava wine. Drink it." She gulped it down as her eyes were forced shut from weariness. She collapsed against the pillows and fell asleep. Derrick smiled as he but the goblet in his bag. The wine would make her sleep straight for a few days. That would at least be enough to get home. He strapped on all of his bags and carried her out of the woods.
He spent his last coins hiring people to carry his bags along the trail back to Varrock. At its smoky gray gates he sighed with relief. The first building after the entrance was his home.
The people went in ahead of him and dropped his bags. He thanked them and entered the cozy home. Sitting at the table in front of him was his older brother Dedrick.
They stared speechlessly at each other until a smile crossed Dedrick's face. He got up from the table and slowly paced over to him.
"I'm not going to ask questions." He said coming closer. "I'm just going to thank you for finding one so pretty. I'll take her upstairs if you want me to."
"Back off you dirty old man. She's not a toy to play with. I will take her upstairs." He passed his brother and went up the stairs into the top floor. It was just one room with three small beds bordering the walls. He set her down softly on the bed and placed some of his brighter colored clothes on the table next to her so she had something to change into when she woke up.
He came cautiously down the stairs to see his brother sipping on a cup of coffee at the table. He pulled up a chair and sat next to him.
"Explain please." Muttered Dedrick.
"Okay, I found her hunting."
"Nice catch."
"I wasn't hunting for her! You're so sick. She is royalty, a favorite of the duke of Falador. So keep your hands off her."
"Oh, I will."
"Her name is Star Elf. She had to leave when she became level fourteen. She got attacked by a bear so I brought her back. She is kind and respectable. Try to be like her!"
"Why do you always assume I want to do vulgar things with women? I happen to respect them very much." He got up and turned away.
"Where are you going?"
"To bed. In a different one than hers! Jeez! Since you have been so rude to me, you can bring all of your bags upstairs."
Derrick scowled and began to take them upstairs.
Derrick had been so tired from the long journey he overslept that morning. He didn't wake until the sun crept through his windows. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. As his eyesight came back he saw the two other beds, both empty. He shot downstairs to see Dedrick sitting at the table, drinking coffee, looking out the back window.
"What did you do?" demanded Derrick.
"Nothing! For the sake of Sarodomin! I'm just watching. Quite a girl you got there." Derrick looked out the window to see Star in the garden picking carrots. She had a light blue button up shirt on and a black skirt. But still she looked very cute. She looked up to see them staring at her. She waved and smiled at them.
Derrick stood speechless. The morning sun reflected off of her making her look like she was giving off light. She looked like an angel picking vegetables in their back yard. She skipped to the back door and tip toed inside leaving the door open.
"I hope you don't mind me leaving the door open, I love the outdoors." She explained.
"We don't mind." Replied Dedrick opening the newspaper that was sitting in front of him.
"Oh, and I hope you don't mind me picking some vegetables and not eating the beef you left out. I'm a vegetarian." She said.
"That just makes our job a whole lot easier." Said Derrick. Star began humming as she brought the veggies over to a counter. She began to wash them off with a pitcher of water she had gathered earlier.
"Well, except for rat meat." She told still washing them. "All the women in the palace are supposed to give up meat at level five, but I would always sneak some rat meat. It's kind of strange. Most people hate it, but I find in delectable." As she finished washing them she began to cut them up with a knife.
"What's the news today?" asked Derrick sitting down.
"The usual. There are wars still raging on across the sea." He replied still reading. "Apparently all three of the dukes are giving power to the duke of Varrock so he will now make all the calls concerning it."
"That will be the death of us all." He replied curtly. "How is the trade?" Dedrick flipped through the paper and began to read. A second later he began to speak.
"In Falador it looks like Mithril ore and big bones are a hot item. Magic logs are down."
"That's not good for that cult of level threes that spends there days chopping down those trees. They deserve it, never talking to anyone. Only caring for themselves."
"Varrock, Varrock, here it is. There is a need for high armor and swords. It turns out people are using Varrock as a refuge before heading into the wilderness. Water and food is also running low. Lumbridge, lets see, here we are, goblin mail, as usual. Al Kaharid, Derrick."
"What?"
"Is low on cow hides. The lowest in three years."
"How much do you think we can get for them?"
"Triple, maybe. We'll have to hurry."
"We'll have to go in a couple days."
"I think we have more immediate problems, brother. Concerning the pretty young woman cooking something right behind me."
"What are you cooking anyways?" asked Derrick turning towards her just as she brought over a tray.
"Kebobs. They're my specialty." Dedrick picked one up and took a huge monstrous bite from it.
"Indeed." He agreed.
"So what were you saying about me?" she asked.
"About the living arrangement." Replied Derrick.
"I don't want to be any trouble. I feel a lot better, I can be gone by tomorrow morning."
"Where will you go?" asked Derrick concerned.
"I don't know, Draynor probably. I might be able to find a job there. Things aren't expensive there so I'll be able to make a living."
"That sounds like a good set up." Sighed Derrick. Star nodded her head and went upstairs to pack. Derrick put his head in his hands and thought. About ten minutes of silence passed.
"Well?" asked Dedrick.
"Well what?" asked Derrick looking up.
"Are you going to let her leave?"
"A young maiden has no place in a house with two single men."
"You don't believe that almost to the point of me."
"Well what am I supposed to do? Will you live with us Star Elf? She's a princess!" he yelled in a whisper so she wouldn't hear them bicker.
"I'll leave that to you." He got up and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To the palace."
"Why?"
"I have become a disciple of the duke."
"How?"
"I was voted. I don't know why anyone would vote for me, but they did. I'll be back in an hour or so. You need to talk to Star."
Dedrick exited slamming the door behind him. Derrick sighed deeply and headed up the stairs. He found Star wrapping her tiara in cloth so it wouldn't be harmed any more than it was in her bag.
"Hello." She said cheerfully seeing him enter. He solemnly seated himself down on her bed.
"You know, you don't have to leave." He said slowly.
"I don't want to impose."
"Believe me, you won't be. Our lives have gotten kind of boring, and the house is a bit dirty, we could use a woman around. I can teach you to be strong and stuff, and in return you can clean."
"Are you serious?"
"Well, yeah."
"I'd love to! Thank you! Thank you!" She leapt across the bed and strangled him in a huge hug. That is how Star Elf came to be in the D-rick household.
TBC
So there's the end of the first chapter. I forgot to explain before hand that these stories come in two parts, In Love and In War. I finished In Love a few months ago and that's what you're reading now. So after fifteen chapters there will be an abrupt time jump. Thanks for reading and god bless!