Heya peoples! Thank you dragons4ever. Oh, by the way I'm changing to first person. Also, so you know, I'm not bothering with translating it into the ancient language again, but that's what they're talking in.

-Nicsi

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For weeks they traveled southeast. Most of the time I tried to get on deck, but storms like no other we had seen hit us with full force. The weather grew hotter each day. Each time I was sent down I wrote in a journal. I always liked to have some sort of memory of significant things in my life. Like a cloth that had been given to me by my mother. I had gotten it on her last day. Slowly I twirled it around my finger. Nothing had been the same after that day.

※※※FLASHBACK※※※

Small gasps escaped her lips. She hadn't been the same when she had come back from the battle, the lone survivor, but this had been the first sign of actual sickness. Then she suddenly bolted upright.

"Valda…" she croaked in a hoarse whisper.

I ran down and sat next to her thin fragile body, looked into her grey eyes I had inherited. "I am here Mother." I said, squeezing her hand. I didn't know how to comfort her. I hadn't had experience with that. I was a cold person, I couldn't help it.

She stuffed her hand into her pocket. With great effort she pulled out a single ragged piece of clothe and pressed into my hand.

"So our family can be remembered as the brave warriors. You will understand, Valda, You will."

"I don't understand. What will I know? Mother? What really happened out there during the battle?"

"You will understand soon." Then she turned her head away from me. I stood slowly and walked out. I walked through the forest. I found my favorite tree and sat down at the bottom of it. I didn't want to climb today.With the rag still in my hand, I fell softly asleep.

My mom died the next day. I wasn't there. I hadn't sensed anything on my walk home. I just walked in and saw my Father's face. I couldn't think clearly after that. All I did was run out of the door. I don't even know where I went. I just ran away. I remember having a cold, hard night. I was punishing myself for not being able to do strong enough magic to save her. I came home the next day. I had cried my tears away and stood sharply for the funeral. I didn't shed a tear for the rest of my life. Not even when Father died. He saved a young elf, barely 20, from falling to her death up in the mountains, but hadn't bothered a thought for himself. All the people around me hailed my father and mother, the two that had fought until their early deaths. I was neglected. They just thought, Oh that little girl. Pity, pity. Great parents. To bad she wasn't all that bright. So I ended up in an isolated cabin far into the woods. I sung it out of the tree that I had sought comfort from when mother died. I became cold and unforgiving. I barely spoke my opinion to save the thin wall that kept my emotions away. I barely lived anymore. I was haunted day and night. So I took the first opportunity to leave. The ship. I hoped never to return.

※※※PRESENT※※※

The ship gave a great shudder. I was knocked forward and lost my grip on everything. For a breathe-taking moment there was a deadly silence. Then I heard cheers above. I ran to the deck to see all of the passengers and sailors grabbing anyone and dancing with loud shouts. I pushed through the people until I was grabbed and swiveled around. Ragnar faced me with a huge smile that slightly lessened my stiffness.

"Land!" he cried to me, gleefully.

I sucked in a great breath. Land. After about a moon we had found a new land. I suddenly felt caught up with the happiness. I shared these elve's joy. For once I felt like I was just like them. I felt alive. I felt free.

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The bag was half filled. I was stuffing it as fast as I could. The ship had come to a complete stop. We were anchored at what seemed to be a rocky island. Done, I slung the bag over my shoulder and ran to the deck. Everyone was standing there with a serious look on his or her face. They had all packed what they thought they would need in this new land. There could be anything anywhere. I held tight to my rag, even if it made my look like a youngling. The deck was slowly getting less crowded each time a row boat set out. I had placed myself in the back, I wanted to be of the last off. To pass time I studied my rag. There was the ever-faint outline. Some sort of blob. It had different textures and flowing lines. There where several dots to one side. At the top was what seemed like a title: Aligesia. It meant struggle or fight. I ran my fingers over the well-known lines. Then I strode forward to the boat after a swift wave good bye to those who had volunteered to stay here. I took one last glance around and then hesitantly lowered myself into the crammed little boat and rowed to my new home.

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hope you liked it. I'll try update more often. I'm trying to get the story going. sorry but I'm writing another stroy right now, not on fanfic.

-Nicsi