Diary ~
Gods above, now five years later, my son is home!
Today was a day to remember and not just because of Dart's return. The Sandorans invaded Seles today. I fought tooth and nail to protect the town but they were too great in number. Many of the townspeople ended up dead. I screamed as I watched them slaughtered. Half of them must have died. I was lucky. I only ended up with a broken arm, a twisted ankle, various cuts, and a split lip, but they took Shana.
Shana had grown into such a beautiful and sweet young woman, good with a bow and arrow, with an illuminating soul. She was special and kind and she always helped others, so inquisitive as well. She missed Dart every day and I came to love her as the daughter I would never have.
And those bastard Sandorans took her from me as I laid on the ground, twisting in pain.
The war had been going on for twenty years now, but had never affected Seles so much. There was word that they had a DRAGON with them. A dragon! From the Dragon Campaign? Zieg had studied the Dragon Campaign with a feverish passion, and I had learned a few things about it. But I am not sure if I can believe that a Dragon is here now. But the frightening roars from the forests were not made by anything I knew.
After they had taken Shana away in a cart, the rest of the soldiers stayed to terrorize the people and take whatever had worth. These bastards, not only do they take my Shana, they wish to rob the town as well? Unforgivable!
I pulled myself to my feet, using several potions until the only injuries was the split lip, a few cuts and a body that was entirely sore. But I managed to fight again.
But I was losing. I wasn't fully healed and they outnumbered me at least twelve to one.
But then he showed up. For a moment I thought it was Zieg, returning. But then I saw the slanted nose, and my pale skin, and then I knew that my son Dart had come back.
Without a word, he batted the soldiers away from me, knocking all of them out in a matter of a few minutes.
When the Sandorans were out, Dart walked up to me. "Mom?"
He had grown taller than I by a head, and he was so strong now. He had taken the soldiers without a problem, and I test his arms. He is lean but muscular, a runner, a fighter. He has grown even stronger than I thought he would, and there is now so much wisdom in his eyes as well. "Look at you! I could hardly recognize you. I'm surprised you could recognize me."
He traced the outline of my mouth, the new worry lines. But the gods had been kind; they allowed me to keep my beauty, though I must be over forty by now. "You look the same, Mom. You're still beautiful." He smiled, but then it faded. "What happened here?"
I grimaced. "The Sandorans attacked. They have Shana."
Dart's face changed. "Where?"
"Hellena Prison."
He started off, but I grabbed his arm. "I'm coming with you."
"No you're not, Mother." He only called me that when he was upset. "You're hurt."
"But I can still fight. I used to be a good fighter in my youth."
"I know you were. And you still are. But you're injured."
"I'm only bruised. By the time we catch up to them, I'll be fine. I'm coming with you no matter what."
I write this now as we rest. I am so glad to have my son home! He tells me of his journeys. He had not found the Black Monster, but he has learned a lot. I tell him of what has happened in Seles, and of the rumors about the war. But he only frowns and stays silent.