Entry the Tenth – Among the Elves
The dawn came all too soon for me. The orcs crossed the river before midday, and I played my part well. Magar deliberately placed me at the rear of the company, so I could 'slip' and be carried downstream without fear of being rescued. Of course, Reb and Girk could always be counted upon. They swam downstream after me while the others continued marching. They finally caught me a few miles downstream and dragged me ashore.
"Watch it, Runt! We almost lost you there" said Reb. I spat out a mouthful of water. Before I could say anything, I realized my disguise had been washed away. The two orcs looked at me in disbelief.
"Runt? You're an... elf?" Girk finally managed to stammer.
"I am" I replied. "I would have told you, but"
"The others would have killed you" Reb interrupted quietly.
"So now that you know what I am, what are you going to do?" I asked
"Do? We're your buds, no matter what you are." Reb laughed, playfully punching my arm. "We're going to help you, if we can."
"I think you may be able to do that." I said "Return to the tribe, say I drowned, but tell Magar I am safe." I considered for a moment, and then removed my necklace and handed it to Reb "and give him this. Tell him we will always be together in spirit." With that, they left.
I continued to swim downstream until I came to a pool at the base of a waterfall. I came down the falls with a resounding splash. I opened my eyes under the water, only to see another set staring back at me in surprise. I quickly surfaced, and so did the stranger. His blond hair was almost as long as my own, and his eyes were deep blue. Suddenly, I felt ashamed, because I was among my own kind again, but in the garb of an orc, and no doubt filthy and covered with scars.
"Who are you?" the stranger finally spoke.
"My name is Memoria Valkyrie" I replied.
"Forgive me, miss. You are the most beautiful elf I have ever laid eyes on." He said shyly.
I laughed out loud "You have either never seen a female elf before or you are blind. I am..." I looked down at myself, only to see a fine silk dress where my rusted armour and orcish clothing had once been. My scars were nowhere to be found.
"Are you alone?" he asked
"I am, and lost. I'm afraid." I admitted
"Then let me take you to see Blaize, son of Thrandiul. He is the lord of the elves in this forest. At least you may find food and shelter in his halls. My only fear is that we are over a day's journey from there."
"I will travel with you, and all I will ask of you is your name." I replied
"You may call me Narwain" he replied hesitantly.
Narwain brought me out of the forest and into the most beautiful royal dwelling I have ever seen. The trees gradually gave way to a gate, well hidden for its size. It opened at Narwain's utterance of a password and revealed a hall lined with pillars refracting thousands of delicate green hues. Their ornate carved accents gave an air of natural quiet to the place. Everywhere I looked, servants ran this way and that, all of them of the same calm, naturally graceful beauty. I stood agape at the wonder which surrounded me. Presently I was reunited with reality by a familiar voice which I thought I would never hear again.
"Memoria!! You arrive at last!" It was Candace, wearing a queen's mithril crown, set with a myriad of twinkling purple stones. At her approach, Narwain turned to me.
"Pardon me, Memoria. I must attend to my duties." he said quietly before walking away. Candace had grown since our parting, and now stood slightly taller than myself. She explained that she was a full elf, but often traveled under disguising enchantments to protect herself. She showed me to a generic room where I could stay temporarily, while I decided if I would make this my home. As if I even needed to think about it. This is where I belong, there's no doubt in my mind.
The dawn came all too soon for me. The orcs crossed the river before midday, and I played my part well. Magar deliberately placed me at the rear of the company, so I could 'slip' and be carried downstream without fear of being rescued. Of course, Reb and Girk could always be counted upon. They swam downstream after me while the others continued marching. They finally caught me a few miles downstream and dragged me ashore.
"Watch it, Runt! We almost lost you there" said Reb. I spat out a mouthful of water. Before I could say anything, I realized my disguise had been washed away. The two orcs looked at me in disbelief.
"Runt? You're an... elf?" Girk finally managed to stammer.
"I am" I replied. "I would have told you, but"
"The others would have killed you" Reb interrupted quietly.
"So now that you know what I am, what are you going to do?" I asked
"Do? We're your buds, no matter what you are." Reb laughed, playfully punching my arm. "We're going to help you, if we can."
"I think you may be able to do that." I said "Return to the tribe, say I drowned, but tell Magar I am safe." I considered for a moment, and then removed my necklace and handed it to Reb "and give him this. Tell him we will always be together in spirit." With that, they left.
I continued to swim downstream until I came to a pool at the base of a waterfall. I came down the falls with a resounding splash. I opened my eyes under the water, only to see another set staring back at me in surprise. I quickly surfaced, and so did the stranger. His blond hair was almost as long as my own, and his eyes were deep blue. Suddenly, I felt ashamed, because I was among my own kind again, but in the garb of an orc, and no doubt filthy and covered with scars.
"Who are you?" the stranger finally spoke.
"My name is Memoria Valkyrie" I replied.
"Forgive me, miss. You are the most beautiful elf I have ever laid eyes on." He said shyly.
I laughed out loud "You have either never seen a female elf before or you are blind. I am..." I looked down at myself, only to see a fine silk dress where my rusted armour and orcish clothing had once been. My scars were nowhere to be found.
"Are you alone?" he asked
"I am, and lost. I'm afraid." I admitted
"Then let me take you to see Blaize, son of Thrandiul. He is the lord of the elves in this forest. At least you may find food and shelter in his halls. My only fear is that we are over a day's journey from there."
"I will travel with you, and all I will ask of you is your name." I replied
"You may call me Narwain" he replied hesitantly.
Narwain brought me out of the forest and into the most beautiful royal dwelling I have ever seen. The trees gradually gave way to a gate, well hidden for its size. It opened at Narwain's utterance of a password and revealed a hall lined with pillars refracting thousands of delicate green hues. Their ornate carved accents gave an air of natural quiet to the place. Everywhere I looked, servants ran this way and that, all of them of the same calm, naturally graceful beauty. I stood agape at the wonder which surrounded me. Presently I was reunited with reality by a familiar voice which I thought I would never hear again.
"Memoria!! You arrive at last!" It was Candace, wearing a queen's mithril crown, set with a myriad of twinkling purple stones. At her approach, Narwain turned to me.
"Pardon me, Memoria. I must attend to my duties." he said quietly before walking away. Candace had grown since our parting, and now stood slightly taller than myself. She explained that she was a full elf, but often traveled under disguising enchantments to protect herself. She showed me to a generic room where I could stay temporarily, while I decided if I would make this my home. As if I even needed to think about it. This is where I belong, there's no doubt in my mind.
