DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine besides Bramwell, Sticks and other characters from my imagination that are soon to come! Everything else in this story that is related to the movie Willow belongs to its respective owners and no infringement is intended. This story is for entertainment purposes only!
RATING: Will be PG later for a few swears and some violence. Nothing to horrid.
SUMMARY: Not sure if this is a sequel to Willow the movie, but perhaps just a continuation. It takes place 16 years after the film and Elora Danan is all grown up, and a new evil is brewing in the land…something perhaps far worse than Queen Bavmorda. Elora must venture out by herself, (with a few companions along the way) to find and destroy this new evil.
Enjoy!* * *
Elora barely recognized Ranon when she saw him, he was built much like his father and was wearing a hat to keep the sun off his head. Ranon looked up when Elora stepped behind the house. "Where should I tie him up?" Ranon stared at her for a moment before starting. Elora laughed, "it's been a while."
"It has..." Ranon mumbled, he shook his head, "sorry you must think I'm a fool...it's just, I can't believe its you!"
"I can't believe it's you," Elora replied, "you're so handsome, what happened?"
Ranon walked up to meet Elora, he leaned the hoe against the hut and wiped his hands on a handkerchief that hung out of his pocket. He looked up at Kanon, Ranon had never seen a more majestic beast in all his life. "You can tie him up there," Ranon pointed, "that's where Dad used to keep his horse."
Elora brought Kanon over and tied him to the tree beside a water trough that looked minuscule in comparison to Kanon.
"So, here for a visit then?" Ranon wondered, pulling off his hat. His hair was rich brown and curly like Willow's.
Elora smiled uneasily, "not," she paused, "entirely." Elora looked to the hut and Ranon followed Elora back to the front door. "So where's--" But before Elora could finish her sentence the door to the hut flung open.
"Elora!"
"--Mims!" Elora replied, laughing Elora hugged Mims, the only sister Elora ever knew.
"Come inside, Mothers been trying to teach me how to bake."
"It's not going so well," Ranon laughed, "all Mims biscuits are hard as rocks."
"Kind of like your head," Mims retorted.
"Mims!" Kaiya chastised her daughter, "honestly." Kaiya looked to Elora, "come in, come in, I know it's a bit small, but its home."
"It's lovely."
"No! No you idiot--" Elora heard Bramwell exclaim, she looked down and saw the two Brownie's were bickering in Elora's pocket, "oh," Elora looked down, "do you mind. They're really quite harmless."
"Are those Brownies?" Mims said, her eyes grew wide and she opened her mouth to say something but Ranon beat her to it.
"What's that smell?" He wondered, pinching his nose.
Mims face clouded over into a look of horror, "my muffins!" She yelled throwing up her hands, Mims rushed into the hut and into the kitchen, she pulled the tray out of the oven and stared at the steaming lumps that were supposed to be carrot muffins.
"They don't look so bad," Elora offered.
"Dad uses them for paperweights, that's about all their good for," Ranon shot.
"He does not!" Mims yelled.
"Please, please," Kaiya begged, shooting a look at Elora that read 'this is what I go through everyday'. "Just throw those to the pigs and start another batch." Mims sighed and grabbed her tray, she returned a few moments later. She dropped the tray onto the counter with a clatter.
"Well, sit down," Kaiya said to Elora, "we were just starting lunch," Elora sat down on the tiny chair and prayed it wouldn't break.
"So," Willow said, speaking for the first time since they went inside. Elora looked at Willow, his face was drawn and he looked troubled. She wished she was telling him anything but what she really had to.
Elora took one of the fluffy buns that Kaiya placed on the table to buy time. She tore off a small chunk and lowered it to her left pocket, which Bramwell and Sticks were both sharing now.
"It's mine!" Bramwell declared.
"I think not!" Sticks replied, grabbing for the bread, Bramwell thwaped Sticks over the head and Sticks shoved Bramwell until Elora sighed and held out another chunk of bread.
"Ah-ha!" Sticks exclaimed grabbing the fresh bread.
"Wait a minute, his piece is bigger than mine!" Bramwell yelped. Elora's face flushed wish anger, she grabbed her pocket and upturned the two quarreling Brownie's onto the floor. The two Brownies landed in a heap, Bramwell started to shout obscenities and Elora did her best to ignore him.
"Sorry," she said shooting a glare at Bramwell who (surprisingly) promptly shut up. Elora bit into her bun, she chewed and swallowed--almost choking. "I know this all is sudden," Elora began, "I didn't even send a letter, but..." she paused, "there's no easy way to explain, because I don't know what's going on myself. But these past few months since my sixteen birthday, I've had this feeling."
Silence fell over the hut, even the Brownies were silent. Everyone was looking at her, Elora took a swig of the sweet apple juice Kaiya gave her and continued.
"I woke up three days ago before dawn, stole my fathers horse and rode all the way to the crossroads, on..." Elora paused, "on a hunch. Even Fin Razel and Cherlindrea don't know..." Elora's voice caught and she had to take a long drink before she continued. "Evil is here, in the land and I don't know what it is, or who it is. All I know is that it's my journey to find it and destroy it."
"Your journey?" Willow replied, his brow was furrowed trying to grasp was Elora was saying. "Alone?"
Elora smiled and looked down at the Brownie's with a look that almost fondness, "not entirely alone," Elora smiled, "it's my destiny." The silence that hung over the hut was no longer comfortable.
Willow cleared his throat, "how about these carrots?" He exclaimed loudly.
"Tasty," Elora said, biting into the sweet vegetable," she smiled softly, she'd never been much good at hiding her feelings, and now was no exception. "I'm not...I don't--I mean."
"You'll stay here tonight," Kaiya stated. Tears flooded Elora's eyes and she smiled, thankful to be in the company of friends.
* * *
"I swear if you both don't shut up!" Elora growled, sitting up. She was laying on a few blankets rolled out in the kitchen and Bramwell and Sticks had spent a good half hour arguing about who was going to sleep where. "Bramwell!" Elora snarled, "you there." She pointed to a spot just beside her head.
"Wait a minute you can't--" Bramwell began, but swallowed his words when he was sure he heard Elora growl. Bramwell sighed and grumbled, making a big deal of settling down on the blankets.
"Thank you," Elora sighed, "and you Sticks," she turned her eyes to the other Brownie, who was gangly with frizzy blond hair. "There, right at the foot of the bed."
Sticks didn't even bother to complain, he simply collapsed at the foot of Elora's bed and fell promptly asleep.
Elora sighed and allowed herself to smile, finally peace and quiet...she closed her eyes only to find she couldn't sleep. Elora tossed and turned for a few moments before sitting up. She pushed the blankets off herself onto Sticks, who didn't complain. He simply pulled the blankets tightly around him and turned over.
Elora stumbled in the dark, twisting her ankle for the second time.
"Dammit!" She cursed, clamping a hand over her mouth. She made a face at herself and creeped as quietly as she could to Mims room. Elora eased open the door and was surprised to see Mims still awake.
"Mims--" Elora whispered.
Mims cried out and slammed her leather bound book shut.
"It's just me," Elora said quickly, "I'm sorry."
Mims let out a deep breath, "it's okay," she replied. "I thought you were Mother, she told me I'd have double chores if she found me awake again."
Elora smirked, "I wont tell." Elora looked at Mims book, "what are you reading?"
Mims face flushed and for a moment Elora thought it was something dirty until Mims spoke softly:
"I'm not reading anything."
"Oh," Elora replied, a little confused.
"I'm writing," Mims whispered.
"Writing," Elora replied, "what's the matter with writing?"
Mims snorted, "Ranon says its stupid, but that's just because he's jealous. And the only reason he knows is because he stole my journal when I left it on the kitchen table."
Elora smiled, "there's no need to be ashamed of writing, it's a real talent."
Mims looked up at Elora, "you think?"
Elora nodded, and sat down beside Mims on her small bed.
"What are you doing up?" Mims wondered.
"Blasted Brownies," Elora replied, "and..." Elora began, she swallowed not sure exactly how to put what she was trying to say.
"What is it?"
"Well," Elora began again, "Cherlindrea explained to me that I would find companions along my way..." Mims looks a little confused and Elora went on, "to come with me."
"That was keeping you awake?" Mims replied.
"No," Elora replied, "not exactly, the fact I think you're meant to be one of those companions is what kept me awake."
Mims looked thrown for a loop, "pardon?"
To be continued…
Please review! No flames please.