To mothers, the ones who love unconditionally, the ones whose stories we never hear and the heroes we aspire to be.

The Stories Never Told

Melina had never been this far from the place of her birth. She had never seen so much of the world before. So many things were new to her. She came across rivers so wide they needed boats to cross. She came across flower-filled plains that stretched on for miles, as far as the eye could see. But… she didn't have the luxury to stay and marvel at these wonders. She had to keep moving.

Eventually she had travelled far enough that only a few had even heard of her village. Melina would have liked to keep going, she had heard the people of the south were more tolerant of other races. But her child was not growing any smaller, or lighter for that matter, and it was dangerous for anyone to be travelling on the road alone. Let alone a pregnant woman. She had been travelling along busy roads as much as possible, and so far, she had been lucky enough to avoid being attacked or robbed. But she didn't want to tempt fate. So, the next town she came across, she went in search of a place to stay.

The town was bigger than her village had been. It had an inn, but that was far too expensive and not the kind of place she needed. Not enough privacy. But if she rented a place, again there was the cost consideration, but it would also be problematic when her child arrived. She wasn't sure she would be able to deliver her child by herself. She definitely would not be able to afford a place, and even if she could, she knew she could not stay.

As Melina pondered the advantages and disadvantages, she found an old woman struggling with unloading bags of what appeared to be medical supplies from her cart. It seemed she was a doctor too. Melina moved to help her.

As the last bag was unloaded past the threshold of the modest cottage, the old woman turned to Melina with a bright smile, skin crinkling at the corners of her eyes.

"Thank you so much my dear. What is your name?"

"It's no trouble at all, I'm happy to help. I'm Melina. And you are Ms…"

"Oh, Hanae is fine. Say, I haven't seen you around town before. Are you new here?"

"Yes, I have just come in. I have been travelling for a while."

Hanae's eyes flickered past Melina's shoulder before returning to her.

"By yourself?"

"Well, my husband is no longer with me and…," her hand came to rest on her growing stomach. "We need a place to stay."

The woman's eyes widened as she saw what Melina's travelling cloak had been hiding.

"Oh my, you really shouldn't have exerted yourself so! Come, come. There is room enough at my place. When is this little one coming along?"

"Two months or so I think," Melina answered as Hanae ushered her into her cosy little home.

"Well you can stay as long as you need to get back on your feet, alright dear?"

Melina tried to help Hanae where she could, though the older woman simply refused to let her do anything remotely taxing. Melina protested a little in the beginning, but she was very grateful for everything Hanae did for her. Carrying her child around all day took a lot out of her. And no matter how hard she tried, she never managed to get much sleep at night.

Melina had been plagued with nightmares ever since she was young. Her parents had taken her to many healers over the years, but no one could ever find a cure, or a cause. The dreams were always the same. There was a monster lurking in the dark. She couldn't see anything except its blood-red eyes, and she knew it would hurt her. Every time she pleaded, begged it not to… not to…. But in the end, every time it would tear her heart into shreds, and she would wake crying. It wasn't something she could change, so she learned to live with it. At least she knew that dreams couldn't really hurt her. She became better at dealing with them as she grew older, and they became less frequent. (Strangely, the nightmares never came when he was with her)

But now, they had returned full force. It had changed though. She could never recall much of it, but she remembered the forceful whispers that burrowed into her at every turn. Stay alive. Stay alive. Stay alive. She would scream. And then she would wake up with a start, and a pain in her heart. But her child always seemed to sense her distress. And it would move around in her womb with great urgency until Melina snapped out of her thoughts and laid a reassuring hand over it.

"It's okay sweetheart. Don't be afraid. Mother's here."

Sometimes she didn't know who she was really comforting.

Weeks passed. Her child would be arriving soon. And she still hadn't told Hanae the truth about her child. She knew she needed to. Hanae had to know what to expect when the time came. But she didn't know what to say. From what she had heard in her few outings in town, the people here weren't quite forgiving of other races. She didn't know how Hanae would react.

It was agonizing. But in the end, she told Hanae the truth. She knew it was dangerous, but she was sure Hanae at least wouldn't turn her away. Melina was sad to see the woman's warm smile fade, but it was better than deceiving her till the end.

"Oh, you poor thing. That monster tricked you, didn't he?"

"Yes," Melina whispered. "He did."

"My dear, why didn't you… when you found out… you could have…"

Melina understood what Hanae was trying to say. Melina was a healer herself. There was no way she wouldn't have known a method to cut her pregnancy short. But she had already been too far along in her pregnancy. And even if that hadn't been the case… She placed her hands over the child growing inside her.

"I wanted them. And I know he… it doesn't matter what happened. It is still my child. None of this was their fault. They have the right to live too."

She knew Hanae wouldn't understand. To be fair, Melina herself wasn't sure what the truth was anymore. Hanae shook her head.

"I admire your compassion dear. But that kindness of yours is going to be the death of you one day."

Melina remained silent. Hanae sighed.

"Look, none of this is your fault. But the people here may not be so understanding. You know you cannot stay."

Melina nodded. "I know. Nowhere will truly be safe for us."

The silence stretched between them, until finally Hanae spoke again.

"You know, I have heard tales of a city of half-elves in the west. I do not know if it is true nor if they will accept you or… your child… but half-elves are more tolerant than most. There mayhap be a chance you will be safe there."

She gave Melina a weak, but fond, smile.

"I did so very much look forward to a little one running around this place again. I am sorry this is all I can do."

"You have done enough. This is already more than I could ask for."

It was deep winter when her child arrived in this world. Melina's screams blended with the wailing of the winds and snow outside. The birth had been difficult, but she had been luckier than most. Her trial finally ended in the early hours of twilight as another voice joined her cries.

"Breathe, you are alright now, dear. You have a little girl."

"My child-"

"Do not fret, she's healthy."

Hanae wrapped the child in a few more layers of cotton cloth before bringing her over to Melina. Melina's heart fell when she saw the dusting of silver on her daughter's skin and the tufts of white peeking out from the top of her head. She had prayed her daughter might against all odds look more like her. Then she might have a better chance at living a proper childhood. It would be much more difficult to hide her, to protect her now. But the moment she held her in her arms, she knew nothing could ever be more precious to her. This was her daughter. Her sweet child. The one made for her to love.

"Shh, sweetheart. Mother's here."

As soon as Melina's arms wrapped around the little bundle, the child immediately quietened down, seemingly sensing her mother's loving presence. And then she opened her eyes. Melina fell in love with those eyes.

"She has beautiful eyes, does she not?"

"She does," Melina whispered.

While her daughter's colouring was far more like… her father… her eyes were a gentle lavender.

"Do you have a name for her?"

Grief stabbed through her heart.

Vashenya… No, he left us. He has forfeited his rights to my daughter. He does not get to have any say in her life.

"Hanae," she finally declared.

"Her name is Hanae."

Melina saw the elder Hanae's face soften for a moment, before worry quickly took root once more.

"Remember, you can stay until you are strong enough to move. People will talk as soon as the weather holds though."

Melina stayed for three days more. She didn't dare stay longer. The blizzard was clearing up, but there was no telling when it would return, and the next town was several days away. It had been by a stroke of luck that Hanae had managed to find a trader heading in that direction who was willing to take Melina there.

Wind stirred the fresh snow as they embraced and bid each other goodbye for the last time. Then Melina picked up her newborn daughter, wrapped up as warm as possible, and climbed onto the back of the wagon with Hanae's assistance.

"I wish you and your daughter well."

"Thank you, Hanae, for your help."

The journey was tiring, but thankfully the trader didn't ask questions. He dropped her off at the town gates and left without a word. Melina, she kept moving. She wanted to bring Hanae to that city of half-elves. For several months they moved from town to town. Sometimes they stayed in a place for a week. Sometimes not even a day.

But Melina needed to work. What little money she had brought with her had already been spent. And they both needed food and a roof over their heads. They began to stay longer in each town, a few months at a time, until Melina had saved up enough money for them to move again. It would have been cheaper, and easier, to live in a communal dwelling, with other single mothers and their children, but with Hanae looking as she did, it was too risky. A half-elf drew enough attention as is. Let alone a half-drow.

As much as it hurt her to sneak out of the room after she had sung Hanae to sleep and lock the door behind her, Melina steeled her heart and forced herself to leave her daughter and go to whatever work she had managed to find. Hanae would be scared without her there, she knew, but she had to be sure she wouldn't wander around. She was too young. She wouldn't understand. It would be too dangerous. But soon, perhaps. Hanae learnt fast, faster than Melina thought possible for a child her age. She was only a year old, but already she knew to be quiet when she needed to. That was the only reason Melina dared to leave her in the room alone. She would cry, and it would break Melina's heart when she returned, but she wouldn't make a sound. She wouldn't draw unwanted attention.

As cruel as life could be, at least it had given her such a beautiful girl as her daughter. Hanae was a good child. She was obedient, and never gave Melina any trouble. She was only three, yet she already had an air of maturity about her. She didn't cry anymore when Melina left her in the room alone. She knew that her mother would leave, but she would always come back. After Melina taught her to read, Hanae was hooked. There were rarely books suitable for children, but Melina did her best to bring them back for her daughter. They were all devoured within days.

One quiet winter evening as they sat in front of the fire, Hanae asked about her father. Melina had been brushing her fingers through her daughter's silvery-white curls, and the question had caught her off guard. She knew Hanae would ask someday, but when the time actually came, she didn't know what to say to her daughter. There was a chance Hanae would understand, but…

She didn't need the pain of knowing what her father had done.

"Mother? Mother? Are you alright?"

Seeing worry fill those gentle, violet eyes, Melina snapped out of her thoughts and gave Hanae a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine sweetheart, just a little tired. Come, it's time for you to go to bed. We'll need to wake up early tomorrow to start moving."

She watched over Hanae as she slipped into the realm of dreams. She couldn't lie. It hurt every time she saw her daughter. She was a constant reminder of things Melina would rather forget. But no matter what they went through, Melina had never once regretted having her. She was all Melina had, and that was enough.

When she had given birth to Hanae, she had been slipping in and out of consciousness from the pain. She had been terrified. In her half-conscious state, she had thought he might have been by her side, holding her hand, telling her everything would be alright. But then a jolt of pain would wake her up to the reality that no one was there, that he had chosen to leave. She had never felt so alone. She hated herself for feeling that way. Only the thought of seeing her child had given her the strength to hold on.

She didn't think she could ever forgive him. She had built him a space inside her heart, and in the end, he had torn himself away, leaving her raw and bleeding. But at the same time, every night when she woke from those nightmare haunted dreams and the world seemed so big, so empty… It was lonely. She missed waking up to warm arms around her. In truth, she had only known him for about a year, and yet, it often felt like she had known him all her life. She wished… she wished there wasn't so much between them.

Hanae never asked about her father again.

When Hanae was five, Melina taught her how to cook. She was barely taller than the pot, but still she did her best to help. She started helping Melina with her work too. As they travelled from one town to another, Melina would point out the plants growing in the nearby fields and forests and tell her which ones could be used to ease a fever, which ones could treat an infection, and which ones were deadly poison if used incorrectly. Hanae listened to it all with full attention, always so eager to learn.

Melina began to buy dyes and skin paint. There was nothing she could do about Hanae's eyes, but as long as they could cover up her skin and hair, Melina could take her outside and let her interact with other people. Sometimes she would leave Hanae in the library. Sometimes she would bring her along with her to work.

Red dye was more expensive, but sometimes, Melina wanted to pretend her daughter was just that, hers. Sometimes, it just hurt too much to look at her, because all she could see was him. But at least when she walked into town holding her daughter's painted hand and looked down at a head of red that wasn't quite the right shade, she could pretend, for just a few hours, that she was just any other mother going to the markets with a little version of herself, made from a love that still lived.

When Hanae turned eight, Melina finally decided she was responsible enough to go outside on her own. Melina couldn't keep her inside forever. And there was just too much work to be done. But most importantly, she was determined that Hanae would get the chance to be a child. So even though it was risky, she encouraged her to play with other children her age whenever she could. Her daughter knew the dangers. And she was always careful. So she instructed Hanae on what to do, how to avoid unwanted attention, what to say when questions were asked. Hanae listened and promised to be careful. As long as she returned before dark, she would be safe.

Hanae had always kept to that promise. Which was why Melina was terrified when she returned home one night to find the house empty. Her first thought was that someone had broken in and taken her daughter. But the fireplace was still cold with ashes from last night, she had noticed as she went to light it, and there were no signs of a struggle inside or outside the house. Hanae simply hadn't returned. Perhaps it might have taken Hanae longer than expected to find all the herbs, but she knew she shouldn't be outside when it became dark. She knew.

Melina's mind flooded with the worst possible scenarios. Where was she? What happened to her? Was she lost? Was she taken? Was she hurt? Melina didn't know what to do. Should she stay here? Should she go out and look for her? She wouldn't even know where to start. Not knowing… it was terrifying.

"Mother!"

Relief flooded her when she saw her daughter again. Her hood had slipped off, but she didn't seem to have noticed as she bounded towards Melina. Melina rushed to her daughter and demanded an explanation.

"Hanae! Where were you? You should have been back hours ago!"

Her daughter's eyes shifted to the ground with guilt.

"I… I heard this song and… and… it was so beautiful Mother, I… I'm sorry."

A song? She had been distracted by a song? She could have been caught and sold into slavery. She could have been seriously hurt, abused or worse, killed. And yet she let herself be distracted by a song? A thousand thoughts crossed Melina's mind simultaneously.

"Are you angry with me?"

But at least she was safe. That was all that mattered. Melina pulled her daughter to her in a tight hug. She was safe. Melina brushed away the strands of red that had fallen over Hanae's face as she made sure her daughter promised to never stay out so late again. Eventually though, she had to let go. There were always other matters to tend to. Hanae gave her the bag of materials she had asked her to get, and the few coins left from her purchases. She had managed to get everything. Even the laishaberries that couldn't have been easy to find at this time of year. Her heart smiled.

Then Hanae timidly handed her a clump of wood and string. It was a lyre. Or at least used to be. As Melina examined the pitiful instrument, she realised. Whoever had been playing this instrument and had so thoroughly enraptured her daughter that she had forgotten all of Melina's warnings, was no ordinary person. The lyre might have been broken, but the carvings on the wood were so intricate that no human woodworker could hope to replicate. It was clearly the work of magic. And for someone to be able to have something like this in their possession… Whoever this musician had been, they were very powerful. Melina thanked the stars above that Hanae had not caught their eye. If… someone like that decided they wanted her daughter… nothing Melina could do would get her back.

"Can you… fix it, Mother?"

Melina had never had much magic herself. She hadn't even known it was possible for her until he showed her. But elves were innately magical, and she had always suspected Hanae took after her father in that respect. Maybe when she was a bit older and they had saved up enough money, they could find Hanae a teacher. But for now, at least there was something she could still teach her. Mending wasn't just for fixing clothes after all.

But the further Melina travelled and enquired, the more she began to believe that perhaps the half-elven city was just a story and didn't really exist. Or that even if it did, it would not be the utopia she had imagined. The other elven subraces held just as much disdain for the drow, maybe even more so. Perhaps they would not be openly hostile, but Hanae would still never be accepted as one of them. Even among outcasts, she would still be outcast.

And this constant pushing, this constant drive to reach that city, that perhaps impossible ideal, this wasn't the life she wanted for her daughter. She couldn't give Hanae the stability she deserved like this. She wanted to settle down and spend time with her daughter. How could she have forgotten? Living in the present, enjoying every day as it happens, that had always been what she believed in.

As long as we're together, she thought. Everything will be alright as long as we're together.

Hanae had grown up into the loveliest little girl. She was painfully shy, Melina blamed herself for not giving Hanae more time to play with other children when she was younger, but she had a good heart. Melina couldn't help but feel her heart swell with love whenever she saw those bright, lavender eyes. It always brought a smile to her face, and she couldn't resist smothering her daughter with the love she deserved.

"My beautiful girl," she said, as she often did.

"You are as beautiful as always, Mother," Hanae would respond.

Melina had to admit, sometimes it still hurt to see her daughter. But with every smile, every laugh, that pain lessened. The city could wait. Right now, she wanted to be with her daughter and live. So they slowed down. And Melina began looking for a place to settle.

Maybe they would find that city one day. But they would get there when they get there. And even if it didn't turn out like what they had envisioned, it would not matter. What they already had would be enough.

It was summer when they moved to Everkeep. It wasn't a very big place, but the main streets were paved, and the houses were sturdy. It had been by a stroke of luck that Melina had met a man who had recently moved closer to the village centre and was willing to rent his old house to her for a fair price.

The people were a little cautious, such was the nature of Melina's profession, but she was sure that with a bit of time she could win them over.

As they stood in front of what would hopefully be their new home, Melina couldn't help the smile that grew inside her.

"I think we can stay here for a while."

The next day, Melina suggested that Hanae go outside and make some friends with the other children. Melina still had a lot of work to do around the house, but first she helped Hanae apply the paints to her skin. It was wiser to be a little more cautious at first. These people didn't know them just yet. But hopefully they would soon see what a sweet girl Hanae was. And maybe then, Hanae wouldn't need the dyes or paints anymore.

Hanae was a little apprehensive as usual, but Melina reassured her daughter that everything would be fine.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Go and play."

She wanted Hanae to freely be a child for once. She had been through enough.

After seeing Hanae off, Melina hummed as cleaned and Mended and made note of the areas that needed more fixing. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly optimistic that they could have a good life here. She worked through the day and well into the afternoon. She was in the middle of washing clothes when a bad feeling seized up inside her. It scared her, but she dismissed it. She needed to relax. She was just worrying too much, as usual. She finished washing and hung out the clothes on the clothesline she had just constructed. It was warm enough that they'd be dry before nightfall.

She was just about to start cooking dinner when she heard her daughter's voice. It was then that she knew something was wrong. Nothing could have prepared her for the shock of seeing Hanae stumble through the door, calling out for her in desperation, half-covered in blood and tears, paint and dyes washed away. Her first worry was that Hanae had been hurt and she quickly checked over her. It had always been difficult to see bruises on her skin, but over the years, Melina had learnt to recognise the signs. Hanae was covered in them, scrapes and cuts too, but thankfully no broken bones, and no internal damage. Hanae could barely speak through her crying, but Melina managed to make out the story. She had been found out by other children and had been beaten up. And somewhere during that, a knife was involved, and one of the other children had been seriously injured.

They needed to leave. Melina was surprised at how calm she felt as she told Hanae to clean up, patch up and pack up. Hanae begged her to save the boy and Melina reassured her everything would be alright. As she made her own preparations, Melina couldn't help but notice how surreal it all felt. It felt like she was walking through a dream. A dream she already knew the ending to. As she picked up her medical supplies and stepped out of this house for the last time, some part of her already knew. This would be the end of her story.

Not too long later, she found the alleyway Hanae had described to her. The metallic scent in the air was unmistakeable.

The boy's hair was soaked with his own blood, and he was struggling to breathe. Another woman was keeling by his side, crying, screaming. The boy's mother. Melina felt her heart pain for the mother and child. But there was no time to waste.

"Please stand aside. I am trying to save him."

The woman refused at first, but then moved back as Melina pulled out bandages to stop the blood loss. Melina worked as quickly as possible. But she knew even before she started that the situation was grim. The boy had lost too much blood, and too much air. As much as she tried, she could not stop the boy's grasp on life from slipping. Soon his haggard breaths slowed, and stopped, and the heat from his body began to fade. His lifeless eyes, frozen in fear, stared up at her accusingly.

It was too late. There was nothing more she could do.

The mother approached her child's lifeless body, eyes blank and voice lost as she crumpled to the ground, cradling the small body to her.

"I'm sorry," Melina whispered. She reached out a hand to offer comfort, but the other woman snapped into focus and pulled away with a sharp jerk.

"No! No, you stay away from us! You let him die you… you witch!"

Her shrill accusations echoed in the air. People were gathering, torches and anger flaring under the darkening sky. There were so many of them.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save him. I…"

Her voice was drowned out by the murmurs and cries that only grew louder and louder. But even if she could be heard, they were not listening. As more and more of the townsfolk gathered, they began to squeeze into a tight circle. They were trapping her in the alleyway. A rough hand seized her arm.

"You are not going anywhere until you face justice for your crimes."

There was no way to avoid this. Melina whispered a silent prayer.

Hanae, please. Whatever happens, don't look for me. Stay out of sight. I… I'm sorry I can't protect you from this.

Melina tried again to explain the situation, but she knew how things looked. Regardless of what she said, regardless of what truly happened, a child was dead and Hanae was the one they blamed.

"That freak will only bring us misfortune and ruin!"

"How long before it destroys the whole town? How many more of us have to die?"

"My child! That monster murdered my child!"

"I know I can't imagine the suffering you are going through-"

"I heard she sold her body and soul to the devil himself in exchange for her dark magics."

"Disgusting! How could a woman be so depraved and vile?"

"My son is dead because of you and that demon spawn of yours!"

"I'm sorry I could not do more to save-"

"Silence witch!"

A stinging pain bloomed across her cheek. Her head swam, thoughts scrambled from the impact. Then a voice cut through the haze.

"Mother!"

Dread consumed her. Silence swept through the crowd as they turned towards the sound. Melina looked over the shoulders of angry townspeople to see Hanae standing by the edge of the torchlight. Those wide, lavender eyes flickered between her and the ring of people, fearful and vulnerable. Why did Hanae come here? She was going to be slaughtered! Whatever calm had settled over Melina snapped. The air thick with anger, loss and fear seeped through her skin and squeezed her heart tight.

"Run Hanae!"

That was the last thing she managed to say before she found herself on the ground with a wooden stake through her chest, unable to draw breath. Feet trampled her body, yet she felt nothing. She strained her eyes to catch one last glimpse of her daughter, to see her safe, but already her vision was starting to blur.

Please… no… I don't want this to be the last thing my child remembers of me.

They say that when someone dies, their life flashes before their eyes, and they remember everything as though it is happening right now. Their greatest joys, their deepest regrets. But they say that sometimes, people catch a glimpse of another life, one they had yet hadn't lived. Melina saw another life, a life where her daughter's name was Vashenya. She saw herself holding her daughter, their daughter, in her arms. And he was there, smiling with her, looking down at their child, at her, with such love in his eyes. He had stayed.

As her consciousness slipped away forever, a single tear fell from the corner of her eye and made a faint depression in the dust, mixing with the growing pool of red beneath her.

Ishmael… did you ever love us? Did you ever… love me?