Disclaimer: Wish I owned it, I don't, get over it.

A/N: Wow, two chapters, one day...

Chapter Five: Tragedy

Lorel was now thirteen and her resemblance to Lordirion and his people increased daily. Often Andra would speak of taking the path on the map, of taking Lorel to meet her father, but the words were never acted upon.

It was in that spring, that tragedy would strike, forcing action. Strange creatures began to burn and loot farms nearby. At first, Lorel's home and her grandparents' were left alone. But it was not to stay this way for long.

Lorel had been out checking her snares and gathering wild herbs and roots to store for winter in addition to the small garden she and Andra kept. When she approached her grandparents' home she smelled smoke in the air. Running up, she found her grandparents' farm ablaze and her grandparents felled by arrows nearby. Pausing only to make herself believe they were dead, she ran on, flying toward her home. She came upon fifty terrible-looking creatures looting the dwelling. Andra lay a short way beyond, unconscious or dead.

Afraid and knowing she couldn't defeat so many, Lorel hid in a nearby tree until the creatures finished setting fire to the dwelling and went to her mother. She watched as one of the creatures picked Andra up-she was alive!-and proceeded to take its long, filthy blade and ram it into Andra's stomach. Lorel stifled a scream of rage and grief as she watched the scene play out before her. The creature let Andra fall like so much trash and scuttled off with its companions.

When they had finally gone, Lorel broke from her hiding place and ran to her mother, cradling her close.

"Mama! Oh, mama, please!" whimpered Lorel. Andra stirred weakly, "Lorel...Oh, l-little one...You are-unhurt?"

"Yes, mama. Please! Lay still, I-I have to-!"began Lorel but Andra cut her off, "No, love...It is-too late...Y-you must go...When I'm gone...Go...It will-not be safe...I saved the map...Take it...Go on the marked path...Take the necklace..Lorel...Always-always remember I love you...N-neverr for-get that-I-love..."and Andra died as Lorel wept, promising, "I'll remember mama, always! I'll always remember and love you!" Lorel cried out in grief, cradling Andra's body for a moment before kissing her cheek and gently taking the necklace and map. Then she lay Andra's body at the foot of a fallen tree and set it on fire to protect the remains of the one she loved from the wild beasts.

When the fire was burning well and Lorel could no longer see her mother through the flames and tears, she went to the large, hollow tree they had used to store things in. Quickly, Lorel gathered all she could carry and without a look back, Lorel set out on the path marked on the map Lordirion had given her mother.

So...That was short...Oh well! please READ AND REVIEW!!! Thanks! Hugs and bunnies!!!