Laughter rang throughout the forest, the animals did not run away, but
stayed and waited for the girl to come past. She was out collecting
truffles for her mother and had met a couple of friends out at the task
as she was. The girl appeared from behind the trees, carrying a basket
and smiled at the animals. She was tall for a twelve year old and was
known for her laugh. A scream pierced through her laughter and the
three dropped their baskets and ran towards the village.
Complete chaos and havoc reigned the village. People were running here and there and Awena was caught up in the terror. It was a raid, since they were close to the border of the dark wizard, raids were frequent, but always they were aimed at another village. Awena felt herself being picked up out of the confusion and hoisted on to a horse. Before she could react, the horse sped away, leaving the burning village far behind. A hand clamped over her mouth, preventing her from screaming for help.
Soon they were over the border and the rider slowed the horse down to a light gallop. Awena, despite being terrified, found the new land curious in the décor of it. It had a sad, desolate, almost poetic look to it. A vile stench reached their noses and Awena screwed up her face at the stench.
They rode across the barren landscape and towards the tower that rose out of the distance.
------------------------------------------- Two years later------------- ----------------------- Awena looked out the window and saw the work in progress. She was now 14 years old and had grown into a tall, slim young lady. Her blond streaked chocolate brown hair was pulled away from her face and her azure blue eyes took in the sight and held wisdom beyond her years. The wizard joined her at the window and started a conservation with her.
" It has been awhile since you arrived, has it not, Awena? As you can tell, everything is going according to schedule."
" Indeed. Everything as planned," she replied looking over the grey stonewall that surrounded the tower. " It makes me wonder why no one has tried to stop you yet." Her melodic voice brought a smile to his face. " Two years it has been since you took me in."
" You have kept track," he approved. He looked at Awena, she was very much elvish. Nothing could disguise her pointed ears and elvish face. Yet she wasn't like other elvish maidens. Awena had the wisdom of an old man, the strength and swordsmanship of a warrior and the accuracy of an elvish archer. He did not contribute to any of these things, except to educate her in the magic and knowledge of the wizards. The wizard moved his gaze from her to the land of Mora, where the lord resided. ' Soon.' He thought as he looked at the dark fortress loom over the land.
While the wizard was deep in thought, Awena left the window and went to the chambers that she had occupied for the past two years and sat down on her bed. Many things have happened since she arrived. The wizard had treated her right; he had taught her everything he knew, the rest she learned from the Orcs that were working for him. And some she learned when she lived with the Elves. Having a knack for languages allowed her to learn the high-elvish tongue and Orkish, and several other languages, but these were the two that she was fluent in. She had learned how to use her gifts to their best advantage, without knowing she had used them for the wizard's purpose.
A knock on the door made her look up. It was the wizard.
" I have an errand for you to do. Take this message to the lord and come back immediately after you deliver it," he said handing her an envelope. Awena took it and obediently went off, following his orders.
She mounted the awaiting horse and kicked it into action. The wizard watched as she galloped towards the tower. Soon, his part in the master plan would be finished.
The lord saw her coming by the soothsayer. Soon he would have complete control over the land and she would be his to use as he saw fit. And not to mention that she would be his wife. A smile crossed his face at that thought. He turned around and ordered for a room to be prepared for the girl. Then he left the hall and waited for her arrival in the courtyard.
Awena continued her pace across the forsaken landscape, not stopping until she reached the west gate. Even then, she only waited briefly as the gatekeeper opened the massive gate for her. As she went further into the land, she liked the task given to her less and less. A feeling of dread overcame her, she felt very much afraid of what was going to happen next. Her gift of foreseeing was odd, she could see into the deep future, but the present future was often unclear. The horse sensed her fear and ran even faster towards the looming tower, the last place she wanted to be.
The lord paced back and forth in the courtyard, impatiently awaiting her arrival. Hours seem to crawl as he waited. Finally, the sound of hooves against the cobblestone announced her arrival and he faced the entrance, eagerly searching for her. When she finally appeared, his heart seemed to stop. She was far lovelier than he imagined.
As Awena turned onto the courtyard, she saw a tall, handsome man standing on the steps that lead into the tower. He wore dark robes and stood tall and regal. Because of this, she knew that he was the lord who was the recipient of the message. She halted the horse and dismounted in front of him, handing the horse to the care of the stable boy.
" You have a message for me from your master," he said in a deep voice. Awena handed the envelope to him and stood back while he read it. " You will stay for a meal, will you not?"
" Thank you but no thank you, sir. I have orders to return immediately after delivering the message," Awena replied politely.
" He can surely spare you for another hour or two. There is nothing important that he needs you to do. Come," he said turning around and ascended the stairs. Awena followed humbly behind.
Complete chaos and havoc reigned the village. People were running here and there and Awena was caught up in the terror. It was a raid, since they were close to the border of the dark wizard, raids were frequent, but always they were aimed at another village. Awena felt herself being picked up out of the confusion and hoisted on to a horse. Before she could react, the horse sped away, leaving the burning village far behind. A hand clamped over her mouth, preventing her from screaming for help.
Soon they were over the border and the rider slowed the horse down to a light gallop. Awena, despite being terrified, found the new land curious in the décor of it. It had a sad, desolate, almost poetic look to it. A vile stench reached their noses and Awena screwed up her face at the stench.
They rode across the barren landscape and towards the tower that rose out of the distance.
------------------------------------------- Two years later------------- ----------------------- Awena looked out the window and saw the work in progress. She was now 14 years old and had grown into a tall, slim young lady. Her blond streaked chocolate brown hair was pulled away from her face and her azure blue eyes took in the sight and held wisdom beyond her years. The wizard joined her at the window and started a conservation with her.
" It has been awhile since you arrived, has it not, Awena? As you can tell, everything is going according to schedule."
" Indeed. Everything as planned," she replied looking over the grey stonewall that surrounded the tower. " It makes me wonder why no one has tried to stop you yet." Her melodic voice brought a smile to his face. " Two years it has been since you took me in."
" You have kept track," he approved. He looked at Awena, she was very much elvish. Nothing could disguise her pointed ears and elvish face. Yet she wasn't like other elvish maidens. Awena had the wisdom of an old man, the strength and swordsmanship of a warrior and the accuracy of an elvish archer. He did not contribute to any of these things, except to educate her in the magic and knowledge of the wizards. The wizard moved his gaze from her to the land of Mora, where the lord resided. ' Soon.' He thought as he looked at the dark fortress loom over the land.
While the wizard was deep in thought, Awena left the window and went to the chambers that she had occupied for the past two years and sat down on her bed. Many things have happened since she arrived. The wizard had treated her right; he had taught her everything he knew, the rest she learned from the Orcs that were working for him. And some she learned when she lived with the Elves. Having a knack for languages allowed her to learn the high-elvish tongue and Orkish, and several other languages, but these were the two that she was fluent in. She had learned how to use her gifts to their best advantage, without knowing she had used them for the wizard's purpose.
A knock on the door made her look up. It was the wizard.
" I have an errand for you to do. Take this message to the lord and come back immediately after you deliver it," he said handing her an envelope. Awena took it and obediently went off, following his orders.
She mounted the awaiting horse and kicked it into action. The wizard watched as she galloped towards the tower. Soon, his part in the master plan would be finished.
The lord saw her coming by the soothsayer. Soon he would have complete control over the land and she would be his to use as he saw fit. And not to mention that she would be his wife. A smile crossed his face at that thought. He turned around and ordered for a room to be prepared for the girl. Then he left the hall and waited for her arrival in the courtyard.
Awena continued her pace across the forsaken landscape, not stopping until she reached the west gate. Even then, she only waited briefly as the gatekeeper opened the massive gate for her. As she went further into the land, she liked the task given to her less and less. A feeling of dread overcame her, she felt very much afraid of what was going to happen next. Her gift of foreseeing was odd, she could see into the deep future, but the present future was often unclear. The horse sensed her fear and ran even faster towards the looming tower, the last place she wanted to be.
The lord paced back and forth in the courtyard, impatiently awaiting her arrival. Hours seem to crawl as he waited. Finally, the sound of hooves against the cobblestone announced her arrival and he faced the entrance, eagerly searching for her. When she finally appeared, his heart seemed to stop. She was far lovelier than he imagined.
As Awena turned onto the courtyard, she saw a tall, handsome man standing on the steps that lead into the tower. He wore dark robes and stood tall and regal. Because of this, she knew that he was the lord who was the recipient of the message. She halted the horse and dismounted in front of him, handing the horse to the care of the stable boy.
" You have a message for me from your master," he said in a deep voice. Awena handed the envelope to him and stood back while he read it. " You will stay for a meal, will you not?"
" Thank you but no thank you, sir. I have orders to return immediately after delivering the message," Awena replied politely.
" He can surely spare you for another hour or two. There is nothing important that he needs you to do. Come," he said turning around and ascended the stairs. Awena followed humbly behind.