A/N: I was going to post more than this for you guys (the interesting parts-including romance ^_^-are coming soon!) but the next section requires me to know a bit about fish ;) and I don't know if it'll take me forever to write, so I decided to post this part now. The ending may be changed when the next part is posted…
Now, on to my reviewers.
Jenny the Chica-Your review was specific enough :). Thankyou so much for being a constant reviewer! I really appreciate it.
Xaviera Xylira-Romance is coming! Eventually…it won't be perfectly black and white who she'll end up with-mostly 'cause I haven't decided yet ^_^-but it will be there! (It's just taking me longer than I thought it would to start off the plot). Thankyou for your wonderful review!
Firebird-Thankyou sooooo much for your long review!!! Your questions were really helpful-as the author I don't catch everything I'm implying and I need you all to tell me what you're thinking! So, thankyou thankyou thankyou! Castles are awesome, aren't they ;). I'm having a lot of fun with the one in my Snow White story.
Dancy-Don't worry about the long review on my Bin Laden thing. I love long reviews-feel free to leave them as long as you like! :) I'm going to read your story as soon as I find some time. Thanks for reviewing! The romance is coming…:)
Okay, on to the story!
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Chapter 2
"She can't stay!" Rosune thudded his goblet down on the crude table, spilling crimson drops onto the wood. Angrily he stood up. "She's part human, Roric. If allowed to stay, she'll only bring more trouble! She's been here too long already."
"Patience, my friend. The dwarves have been our enemies long before she was born. Our trouble with them isn't caused by her."
"That's what Orin said, and look at where he is now. The dwarf attacks have become more frequent since she's lived with us. She must go."
"And where does she have to go?"
"She's sixteen now, no longer a child." Calum cut in. "She can take care of herself."
Roric looked around him at the determined council members. "If we do force Amioneyya to leave, she'll become an outcast. No one will accept her. Is that what you want?"
Olim spoke up. "I, like you, wish that we didn't have to do this. But we have no choice! Remember who her grandmother was. Not only is Amioneyya's blood half tainted with human, the elfin is tainted as well. No, she cannot stay. In the end, it will all work out for the best."
Roric tried one last angle. "What about Rymella? She's the one who's been taking care of Amioneyya. What will she say to this?"
"I've already talked with her," Rosune stated confidently. "She's agreed that we'd be better off without Amioneyya."
"Very well. Amioneyya, by the ruling of the elfin council, is exiled from our camp. Meeting dismissed."
---
Rymella sat in front of the fire, shivering as the cold wind picked up. A group of six or seven elf children sat in front of her, their eyes shining in anticipation.
"Tell us the story of Dorl again!" A young girl cried out. The rest in the group nodded eagerly.
"Again?" Rymella smiled. "Well, all right. Dorl lived many, many years ago, when all the elves lived together. There was no elf greater than him in the entire land. He became chief when he was only twenty-five, and was elected High Chief on his thirtieth birthday. For as long as he was High Chief the elves lived in peace. Neither dwarf nor human disturbed them.
Then came the uprising of the goblins. Hideous creatures goblins are, full of dark magic. They began attacking, and one by one humans, dwarves, even wizards began falling under their power. In desperation they called out to Dorl for help.
And Dorl came. He brought with him the magnificent elf army, which was well renowned throughout the land. They rode out and met the goblins head on. A fierce and long battle ensued. Hundreds of elves died. And then, one glorious morning, the goblin leader was killed. The goblins fled and never returned.
Dorl rode back, triumphant. It was then that he gave us the elf code. When we die, our spirit joins his. We spend the rest of eternity in peace, roaming about the world and watching over our people."
"But what if we're bad?" a girl asked quietly. "Will we go to someplace bad?"
Rymella froze. "Where'd you get that idea?"
Another child spoke up. "We heard some grown-ups talking about 'Mioneyya. They said her grandma was a bad person, and that she always talked about a bad place people went to when they died."
Rymella shook her head. "Amioneyya's grandma was crazy. Don't listen to anything she said. There is no such thing as a bad afterlife."
---
"You can't run much longer,
You'll fall soon.
We're your only hope.
Come to us,
Before it's too late.
You can't run much longer."
"Come to us,
We'll help you.
Become one of us,
You'll help yourself.
You're almost there,
A few more steps…
Com---"
I woke abruptly, shaking involuntarily. My heart pounded wildly, increasing in speed event though I was awake. I couldn't shake off the fear. It clung to me, sinking into my soul mercilessly.
The same nightmares had been haunting me since I was young. No matter what I did, I couldn't shake off the reality they brought with them. There was something in the dreams that took hold of me, something I couldn't release myself from.
It scared me. I couldn't get away from it.
I tried to stop my legs from shaking. The cave's darkness pressed in on me. Grabbing a blanket, I crawled out of the cave. The cold bit into my skin. Pulling the blanket tightly around my shoulders, I stared up at the stars. They flickered coldly, far away from me and the earth I lived on. I hugged my knees closer to my chest and pressed my head against them. Exhaustion pushed in on me, but I didn't dare fall back asleep for fear of dreaming.
The dreams always brought with them fear and uncertainty. I wasn't sure which was worse. The fear was nameless; it was just there, a part of me as much as love was, or hate. Yet, it didn't feel like mine, but rather someone else's intruded upon me-an uninvited tyrant that I couldn't get rid of, or control.
The sky turned a dark gray, putting out the stars. Sunrise had begun. I leaned back against the stone outside of the cave, huddled tightly in my blanket. Morning always managed to chase the fear from me, leaving me in peace 'till the sun set. A cold wind blew up from the valley below the cave, playing with my hair. I smiled slightly. Today I needed to find work. Pulling on my cloak, I climbed off the cave ledge and headed toward the city.
