Ch 2: Before I went Away ...

- Before I went Away by Wrings

7 years later...

"So, what about we make camp here, little one?"

"I'm not a child anymore, Old man. You can stop calling me that." Ghilan stated teasingly. And quite frankly, she was 20 years now. She kinda had a point.

"As long as you are someone's child, Ghilan, you will always be thought of as such." Neil replied.

They had stopped just a few ways away out of a small village they had traded to and were currently on the outskirts of a lush forest.

"Hey, Ghilan, how about a quick spar before we eat?"

"Sure. But don't think I'll go easy on you, Old man." She said cocksure as she got herself ready, taking out the makeshift daggers (sticks) they used for practice.

"Don't get cocky now, Little one."

And so they begun. They had started off face to face, daggers ready, circling, waiting to see who would make the first move. Ghilan stepped out first, having on dagger held across her face horizontal and the other subtly at her side. She made a move as if to strike his neck, but Neil had blocked it. As soon as he did she swiftly brought out her other dagger from her side and made for a quick jab to the side of his body.

They carried on like this until it was late afternoon, both being equally matched despite age. Neil had seen to that.

Neil had been an accomplished bodyguard at one point in his early life to one of the lesser nobles. He was extremely skilled in the profession of assassins, as well as a master duellist. Upon an injury that had him make a career change, he became a traveling merchant. Neil had began to train Ghilan in order for her to defend herself. He started her a couple weeks after they had left Arlathan after they had encountered a couple of bandits. Along with the training, Neil was also teaching her the Common tongue due to their occupation.

"Alright, Ghilan. I - I think that's enough." Neil was hunched over, hands on his knees, out of breath.

"Aww, come on. You're not that old Neil. Let's go another round!" Ghilan said enthusiastically, though she was flopped down, face in the ground. Just as out of breath as he was.

"Thank you for the compliment, little one, however we do need to eat." Neil chided, already making his way over to get supplies to cook over the fire he was about to start.

Ghilan quickly rose up, blood rushing to her head making her a bit light headed.

"Wait, let me cook. You just relax. Take a nap."

"Oh, come now I'm not so old I need naps." Neil replied thinking she was teasing again but he saw the sincerity in her eyes and he relented. "Oh, alright. But if you need a hand, Ghilan, you let me know."

"Its fine, Neil. I'll call you when it is ready." She beamed victoriously.

"As you wish." Neil walked away.

"Hey, Neil?"

"Yes?"

"I – th - thank you, Neil. For everything."

She had thanked him everyday since leaving Arlathan. He smiled at that, a small thing that was filled with happiness as well as empathy. For he knew she meant 'everything'.

"You are welcome, Ghilan."

They ate at dusk, just mere moments before the sun was about to start setting. They had talked while they ate. Neil was telling Ghilan stories of how he had met her father and how Liev had saved his life.

Neil had gone back, once, to Arlathan since they left. It was when Ghilan was 18. He went alone into the city, wanting to check in with her parents. However, he was told that her parents had passed on. For Andruil had found out that Ghilan's death was faked, but by then Ghilan and Neil had been gone for a year. When Andruil had found out she had ordered a public display of the execution of both San and Liev.

Ghilan was not herself during those passing months. See, she is mainly a sweet, caring, funny, carefree, gentle, loving, full of curiosity kind of girl.

But during that period she was cold. She was so uncaring. She was depressed and hateful. It was like the very ground froze at her feet. It was a whole different side of Ghilan that pained Neil to see.

After they had finished dinner they washed up and Neil was headed off to sleep. It was still a couple of hours before night fall and Ghilan wanted to explore the forest. Neil gave into her curiosity and told her to come back before dark.

As she explored, she came across an old ruin of some sort. She looked up to the sky and noticed a few stars popping out of the still blue, orange sky.

"I still have sometime." She whispered to herself in Elven and she entered the ruin.

Upon closer inspection it appeared to be an old abandoned temple. To who it was dedicated to, she had no idea. The markings seemed familiar, but it was not markings of the Pantheon. It was none that she could recall. She walked around inside for about a good 20 minutes until she started to feel as if a headache was coming on. Her eyes hurt from the strain she was putting on them trying to see in the darkening temple. She decided to lay her head down on a relatively clean surface.

"Just until it stops hurting." She mumbled to herself in pain.

Meanwhile, the sky was cloaked in the darkness of the night.

When Ghilan awoke she was unbelievably stiff. Her first thought was that it must be dark now and Neil was going to be extremely cross with her.

"Mammae, Pappae. Help me. Neil is going to be so pi—"

Her words halted as she made to stand but found she couldn't. She could not even rise. She had awoken to find herself shackled.

"Wh – What is this?!" Ghilan exclaimed.

"Ah. It appears you are awake." A woman appeared from the shadows.

"I had found you laying unconscious in a forest during my exploration. You were clearly malnourished. Lucky for you that I had come along when I did. I've been having my slaves look after you until you would awaken."

Noticing the woman was speaking Common, with a strange accent mind you, Ghilan responded, "Where am I?" She was feeling extremely overwhelmed and confused.

"In my home. In Minrathous."

Still confused, she had no idea where that was, she just asked the next question that came to her mind, "How long was I unconscious?"

"About two days ago we found you. Though I've no idea how long you were there before we came along. You were practically skin and bones." The woman thought for a moment. "It was like what some of the elves would describe as Uthenera. From the time of Arlathan. Passed out as you were." The women stated with mild interest.

"In the time of Arlathan? Why do you talk as if it is no more?"

The woman scoffed, "Because it is girl. Maybe you bumped your head as well."

Ghilan was about to speak again but the woman had held up her hand.

"I'll tell you what though. Since I practically saved your life, the way I see it is you owe me. I found you and brought you into my home and nursed you back to well enough health that you are able to tatter on as you do. So I'll cut to the chase. Since I saved your life, it is only fitting that I own it now

"What!" Ghilan shouted. "No!"

"I've saved your life, dear girl! You owe me and now I own you. I will not let a perfectly good elf go to waste. You will work as one of my slaves."

"I will see your blood on my blades first." Ghilan threatened, reverting back to Elven.

Clearly not understanding and unfazed either way the woman simply said, "I will call on you in the morning to further the arrangement."

With that the woman left Ghilan chained up in the cage she now saw she was in. Her gaze followed the woman as she went up the stairs. A small Elven boy, teenager, followed after her.

Ghilan let out a string of Elven curses. "What happened!"

Everything was overwhelming her. She had gone unknowingly into Uthenera for who knows how long. How did she do that? She hadn't shown any signs of her magic manifesting yet, well at least before. And now she's being held captive and forced into slavery!

And Neil. Her heart broke at the thought of him. What did her think when she never came back. When he couldn't find her. She should have never wondered off. She dug harshly at herself, sobbing as each thought stung her.

Ghilan was so overcome with exhaustion and weakness, sleep had claimed her far too swiftly.