Ch.1 The Lucky
On a stormy morning around 5:10 A.M. the rain beat upon the town of Dunbarton heavily. The people that lived within and around were kept in their houses. Except for a small group that had been galloping on horse back soaked to the bone. They'd come to a sliding halt within the mud as the horses whinnied from the deep rumbling above them. The cloaked individuals looked disheveled and rough, seemingly having been through quite an ordeal.
The leader would get off his horse and go to a wicker basket that had been strapped onto his horse, a fine looking black stallion with runic marks burned into its skin that it's fur hadn't regrown over. Opening the basket he'd take out a bundle of clothes and towels that were ornate and woven. Looking at the object within he'd whisper something and kiss the bundle before placing the object back into the basket. He'd remove the basket from his horse and place it at a farmers door. The lightning that cracked lit up the mans face partially.
His blue, well groomed hair fell about his sad face. His dead blue eyes sat elegantly within their sockets holding a look of regret and painful memories. An old tattoo of a skull is almost hidden just above the side of his left eye leaves a lasting punishment of redeemed honor. This was the face of Alduin Virrel. He was the leader of the Night Elves of Iria.
His people lived South of Longa Desert. Despite his bulky and muscular frame he stands taller than the other Elves.
"Lord, we need to go," begged a man on a chestnut horse. "It won't be long until they catch up with us! The Princess will be in danger!"
Alsuin frowned and shut the lid of the basket. "I'm just…worried. She was right. This would be hard." He'd gaze lovingly at the basket before climbing back upon his horse. There came an exclamation from in the distance behind them at the forests edge. Without another moment he'd urge his men to fly and all of the men took off racing through Dunbarton. Their pursuers would charge through the town as well shouting at them with weapons in hand.
The town guards would look bewildered at the scene that had just passed them but would shrug. The danger had passed and none of them were sticking around to cause trouble. One of the guards would look outside the town gate and wonder what this group had done to be pursued so far out? The insignia on their cloak was that of Filia.
Around 2:50 P.M. the farm house door would open and a young Human boy would see the basket. "Hey ma? Someone gave us a basket of food!" The boy would open the lid of the wicker basket to see a bundle of cloth with ornate designs in it. "Whoa…"
"Boy! Let that stuff alone or I'll take those ears of yours! Get!"
The boy would quickly hop over the basket and get out of his mothers way. She'd bend over to pull at the beautiful cloth and suddenly exclaim. "HEAVENS!" The cloth would drop over what she'd just uncovered and a startled baby's cry would come up in a wail.
The boy looked surprised by this too. "Ma! Why is there a baby there?!"
"How would I know?!" She'd snap back and bend over the basket again to slowly uncover the baby. Her heart seemed to suddenly melt at the small fragile thing. "It must've been out here all night! The poor thing! Hurry, Destrian! Get me a bottle of milk from our cow! Go!"
The boy would hurry to the barn nearby. The mother, Roesia, would pick up the basket and bring it inside. The baby inside wailed hungrily as it had been startled awake from its slumber. Roesia would open the basket again and bring out the small bundle gently. "There, there. Everything will be OK." She'd look the baby over to see that it was a girl. She had no injuries nor markings upon her fair porcelain skin. Though she did notice that the baby's ears were pointed. "An Elf baby. Oh my. You're rather far from home, don't you think? Why in Erinn are you way out here for?"
The baby girl wailed louder, sounding her needs for food. The boy Destrian would come running back in with a bottle of fresh squeezed milk. Roesia would pull over a rubber nipple onto the bottle and begin feeding the baby elf. "Go fetch your father. He's out in the southern fields today."
Destrian would nod and run off once more to do as he was told. Roesia would sit and rock the baby staring at her lovingly. "There, there. You're in good hands, child. We'll take care of you. Lucky for you it's a good harvest around here. We'll have you fattened up in no time."
Destrian ran towards the southern fields to see his father and other men from the farming village working. They were tilling the field for a new field of potatoes. "Father! Father!"
The man behind the tiller pulled his mule to a stop. "What is it, Destrian?"
The other men would pause in their work to watch the boy coming running up to his father.
"Mother has a baby!" Destrian exclaimed.
"What?!" exclaimed the father looking confused. "What are you talking about?! Your mother isn't pregnant!"
The men would laugh at this.
"No! There was a baby on our front door! She's feeding it!" Destrian explained again.
His father looked confused still. He'd turn and gesture to a man called Derric. "Come take over. I'll be right back!"
The boy would lead his father to the house. Entering they'd go to the living-room to see the mother rocking a sleeping infant. Roesia looked at her husband. "Look what was at our door. A infant elf baby. She can't be a day old or so."
The husband would lean in to have a closer look at the baby. He see the pointed ears and the distinct porcelain skin that was flawless within the elf race. "Roesia, we have to send her back home. We can't keep her."
"Haveron, we can't send her back. Why do you think she's here? Someone placed her here! She was out in that storm all morning!" Roesia would look hurt and worried for the baby girl. "Someone gave her up for some reason. Her home is too far away to just give her back."
Haveron sighed looking exasperated at the thought of trying to form a plan. She was right. Filia was across the ocean. Though there were Moon Gates that could've been used but they were only activated during a full moon. Even then you had to have a pass to use them and other things. He knew his wife's look that she was giving the baby girl. "I know you wanted a daughter…She's not our own though."
"That doesn't matter," Roesia retorted with narrowed eyes. "She'll be one of ours despite the differences."
"The village will talk…"
"We can hide her ears until she's grown enough to hide them herself," Roesia said with a smile. "It's easy to do that. Just keep her head wrapped up and no one will know."
Haveron sighed and folded his arms watching her. After a moment he'd turn to look at the kitchen. "Now the guys all know that we have a baby. What are we to say about this?"
Roesia would think for a moment. "Well…I came from a large family. It wouldn't be strange if we said the baby came from one of my sisters? A child they couldn't keep."
"A mixed child?" Haveron asked looking perplexed. "It would pardon her for the elf ears."
Roesia would look up at her husband and nod. "Exactly!"
"Roesia, they'll stone her for being different!" exclaimed Haveron. "Her life will be utter hell!"
Roesia's face fell and she'd look at the infant asleep in her arms. "Then…we'll say…that she's my sisters child that wasn't an approved pregnancy. No one will have to know about her background or what she is."
Destrian would look in the wicker basket and take out the clothing to find a sealed letter. "Dad." He'd hold up the letter.
Haveron would turn and see what his son had. He'd take it and open it gently to not break the wax seal. Taking out folded papers he'd read what was written. Thankfully it was in English. "To the family that it may concern, you are holding a Princess of Filia. A royal heir of the Virrel Family. Her name is Princess Ashryn Virrel. Her father is Chief Alduin Virrel. Her mother was Chieftess Vanya Virrel. I want her to live freely without the pressure and turmoil that is currently bearing down upon us. Please treat her like your own and tell her about her real family when she comes of age to have a husband. With loving regards, Chief Alduin Virrel."
"So she's actually a royal?!" gasped Destrian. "There's no way they'd do such to their child! It's a trap!"
"Hush," hissed Haveron as he'd stare at the letter and look at the other piece of paper. There was more information about the family and what was happening. "So it would seem that the Virrel family is in war with another kingdom called Davendal. They're in Vales and are ruled by King Ranulphus. It seems the Davendal killed the Chieftess in revolt against Chief Alduin's best efforts of making peace with them."
"That's horrible!" gasped Roesia. She'd bring the infant girl to her face to snuggle her. "What ever happens she will be a part of our family." She'd look up to her husband with worry. "Please? I don't want her to go back to that danger."
Haveron would refold the papers and crease them before placing it back in the envelope. He'd turn and head to the bedroom where he'd place his important paperwork away and return. "She'll stay. She will be our daughter." He'd hold out his hands for the baby to be given to him.
Roesia would smile and hand him the baby slowly. Haveron would take the baby securely and cradle her to him. "From this day on, Princess Ashryn is no more. You will be known as Alisceon Rosenster."
The infant would sleep soundly within her new fathers arms as the new mother would take her back and rock her. "Alisceon. Alisceon Rosenster. In some ways it almost sounds like an Ice Rose."
"I have a feeling she will definitely be just that." Haveron said and kissed his wife. "I have to get back to the field. I'll see you tonight. Come on, Destrian. It's time you came out to the field and helped us."
Destrian argued but allowed himself to get pushed out of the house. He was secretly thrilled to have a sister. One that had quite the interesting backstory and would most definitely live an interesting life, even if it was trying to be ordinary.
