–Little Thomas was the first child I ever really met. As I have said before, in Du Weldenvarden, elf children are rare, and when I lived in Ellesméra, Vanir was too near my age and there was no way the queen was going to let me too near her darling Arya. So in retrospect, I suppose that he was the first of my species I was to meet as well as the first child. And ever since, whenever I see a smiling face or hear an innocent, sweet voice, I am reminded of him. –

As Teresa stirred a pot of boiling liquid, supposedly something to help cure coughing though which I would have had to be forced to drink because of the awful smell, I was set with the task of minding the counter and Thomas. Immediately after taking me into the business, she had begun to show me the ropes, and then, an hour later, I was already set to manage the store while she brewed potions in the back.

I couldn't help a slight smugness as she was astounded at my ability to remember everything she had told me and be able to repeat it back verbatim, but, of course, there was no way she could have known of my eccentric elf guru's odd teaching methods. In that case, the month she had decided I did not listen well and had taken to requiring me, by her whim, to be able to repeat back perfectly the last few minutes of conversation. I had spent too many hours doing her mindless punishments for failing her tasks.

–As I have said before, I hate being bored. Knowing this, Gwendolyn had made the most obnoxious punishments. She seemed to go out of her way to think of exceedingly tedious tasks for me to do. The one I hated most after I had, rather foolishly, tried to prank her, was when she handed me two good sized buckets with one full of water and told me to move the water from one to the other by dipping my finger in and letting the water roll off into the other bucket, one drip at a time. But that is beside the point. What I meant to say was that I learned my lesson well to keep from that sort of discipline. –

Reassured that I would not do something entirely stupid and still thinking she owed a debt to me for rescuing and healing her child, she was assured I could handle the job. Immediately I took a fascination to the many herbs around the shop, some were dried and some fresh in pots. I knew a bit of horticulture, as all elves did, but I recognized only several of the plants. I realized that I was in a new world. Even the plants were entirely different from what I knew.

Several customers came and went and I began to hear the rumors of the battle between dragons. I had become more and more disturbed before Teresa bolted the door and announced that it was time for lunch. It was then I realized how hungry I had become. Without speaking, I followed. Sitting around the table, with Thomas giggling and his mother playing with him, I was hit suddenly with memories of eating underneath the branches of trees back in Ellesméra, my parents and I sharing a quiet meal.

Despite my hunger, I placed the fork on the table and took several deep breaths, not aware that Teresa was watching me closely. My hands were shaking. "Angela?" She said hesitantly. I didn't respond. I couldn't. Her voice sounded concerned, but for her child and herself more than me. "I trust you because you helped Thomas, but I want to know who you are."

That was the last thread holding me together and she had cut it. I wanted to run, to hide, but I couldn't move. I was frozen as I began to sob. I faintly heard Teresa sending her son downstairs, away from me. I clenched my fists and the water in my cup began to boil rapidly, turning into steam within seconds as it disappeared. The young woman who had allowed me in was now backing up in fear.

"They're dead. They are all dead." I whispered and released the magic I had unconsciously taken hold of.

Seeming to realize that a danger had past, the young woman, perhaps younger than I, approached cautiously. "Who?"

I looked up and saw that she cared. Somehow, she cared for me, someone she had never met before. I decided I could at least do the favor of answering. "All of them." I gasped. "Mother and father. All of them."

The woman cautiously put a hand on my shoulder and her expression grew mournful. "I understand; I lost my husband almost a year ago. When?"

"Last night." I admitted, and that was the extent I could manage to say before I completely broke down. She put me up on a small but comfortable cot and told me that I should come back down when I was ready. Then, she left me to my grief.

I felt as if I would never be ready, but I understood that the woman, though a healer would be useful to her, could manage herself and her son through her small business. They couldn't, however, keep a useless mouth to feed. My desire to stay off the streets where I had stayed the night before drove me back down to the shop. When I returned back down the stairs, Teresa met my eyes and I wordlessly took the counter. She, however, didn't leave.

"You are not telling me everything. I don't need to know, but you seem different. I've never heard your accent before, and there are some strange rumors going around." I looked away. "You know, don't you?"

I sighed. "What did you hear?"

"No two stories were the same." She admitted. "But what I heard most was that a group of riders made to attack our city and the riders that were in the area had to kill them to fight them off."

"A lie." I hissed, angry that my friends and parents were being set up as enemies.

"You told me to say what I had heard. I have no idea as to the truth, but I am curious as to how you would know that is a lie."

I decided that if I was living with them, she deserved to know the truth, if only because I was unsure if I was putting them in danger. "My parents were two of those riders. There has been a rebellion among the riders. My group flew straight from Ellesméra when we were attacked last night by the rebels." I had to take a deep breath before I could continue. "I was the only survivor."

A comforting hand was placed on my shoulder and I could tell that the woman who had taken me in was doing some quick thinking. "What part did you play in all of this?"

"I… I killed a rider."

Her eyes widened and she involuntarily took a step away from me and her eyes went to her son. "Are we in danger? I am sorry, Angela, but if it comes to Thomas' safety…"

I sat down at the table, completely overwhelmed with my life. Not only had I separated from everything I knew, I had lost my family and taken a life. For the first of many times since my decision to leave the elves, I found myself wishing nothing more than for Vanir to come and save me. Never before had I felt so utterly lost. I looked up to find Teresa watching me, waiting for my answer.

"How long have you lived here? Do the people know you well?"

She seemed confused, but answered the question. "I have lived here since I married six years ago. Before that I lived in Teirm. I haven't really had much contact with people since my husband died. Between Thomas and the shop I can't really spare much time."

Angela nodded and then swallowed. "I could be a danger. I don't know if the riders saw me or know what I look like, but before you send me out, I have something to ask." Angela bit back her pride. "I have no one to turn to and nothing to help me. Yesterday, I slept in an alleyway on the edge of the city. I could help out your shop as a healer, but I would never want to put you in danger. I have an idea if you would accept."

"What is it?" Thomas was pulling at his mother's skirt and asking to be lifted. She sighed and picked him up.

"I could pretend to be your sister, come to help with the shop. I can change my appearance to be more similar to yours as well to strengthen the story. There is a chance that they already saw me with you, and I do not wish to leave you to anyone's mercy if they come. I can protect you."

Teresa looked at her son and it was obvious she was thinking of what the guards had done to him simply for being accused of thievery. If someone targeted her or her son, they would be helpless. She made her decision. "I suppose that will work. But do you still have weapons?"

I realized they were still invisible. I muttered a word and they appeared to her. "I was trained in the ways of elves. I can defend myself and those I choose." At my word, they disappeared again. "I'm sorry I brought you into my affair."

She shook her head. "If you hadn't, I do not know what might have become of my son. For that, I thank you and I am indebted to you." I slowly began to change my appearance, turning my hair blond and my eyes a hazel." I stood next to Teresa in the mirror and was pleased with my new appearance.

Even as we walked back to the counter, the door opened and three armored soldiers pushed through the door. I saw immediately that their hands were on their swords and that they meant business.

There we go. It has a lot less action and suspense than I prefer to write, but they cannot all be like that. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and please tell me what you think.