CHAPTER 8
"So, you know where you are now," Sheoka said, fingering a flower. "How do you plan to get to Aldenmor?"
Adriane shook her head. "I don't know...I could try the d'flies," she said mostly to herself. "No..."
"I can show you to my village," Sheoka said, brushing her hair out of her face. "Come on!" She began to run.
Adriane darted behind her, trying to reach Ozzie. But her jewel couldn't reach him. Adriane jumped over a mossy log. Oh, well, she would follow Sheoka till they reached the portal. Sheoka seemed like she could be trusted. Adriane gasped when she stepped into the village.
"Oh!" A large bustling city was in front of her, tall night elves laughing on the streets, and helping each other with large boxes and crates. Adriane was filled with a joyful sensation.
"You like it," It wasn't really a question. Sheoka laughed as Adriane slowly advanced forward. "They don't bite!" She giggled, and her eyes were giddy and full of sparkles. "Come on, I want you to meet my family!"
Adriane followed Sheoka into her house. Fresh scents filled her nostrils, and she inhaled deeply. Spices mixed with the smell of dinner getting cooked. Adriane licked her lips. It smelled delicious!
"Mom, I'm home!" Sheoka yelled when she stepped into her house. "You look hungry," she said to Adriane.
Adriane nodded. "Last thing I ate at home, was a bowl of cereal!" Sheoka cocked her head to the side.
"Cereal?"
"Oh, you have to try it sometime. It's what we have for breakfast."
"Oh."
"Sheoka?" A tall, slim night elf walked out of the kitchen. "Oh, your home! Who's you friend?"
"Mother, this is Warrior Mage Adriane. She accidentally landed here instead on her destination, Aldenmor."
"Why, hello Warrior Mage Adriane." The elf bowed.
"Please," Adriane giggled. "Call me Adriane."
The woman smiled. "You can call me Lunar. Are you hungry?"
Adriane and Sheoka nodded their heads. "Yeah!"
"Well, good. It's almost dinner time. Sheoka, can you go get your brother and sisters?" Lunar wiped a saucer with the hem of her apron.
Sheoka nodded, and walked up the stairs. Adriane wasn't sure if she was supposed to follow, so she didn't. Instead, she walked over to the walls, where large pictures hung on the wall. She looked at them, when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. It was Lunar.
"Those are pictures of our history," she said, looking at them herself. Her long, gold air was tied back in a loose ponytail. She had deep blue eyes, and very long eye lashes. She smiled at Adriane, and walked over to the table. "Perhaps you would like to hear the story when dinner is over?"
"Yeah, I'd love that," Adriane said, nodding.
Sheoka walked down the stairs, followed by 2 girls and 1 boy. The other elves looked at her curiously, but walked over to their chairs. Sheoka walked to Adriane, and showed her to her chair. Adriane smiled at the Sheoka's family, and the boy and one of the girls smiled back. The other girl just looked away.
There was a click and the front door opened. A man walked in, carrying some papers. "Hello kids, hello honey." He walked over to Lunar, and gave her a peck on the cheek. "What's for dinner?" He patted each kid on the head, and stopped when he got to Adriane.
"Well, whose this?" He asked. Sheoka stood.
"Daddy, she's a human named Adriane, and she's a warrior mage!"
"Well, your always welcome here!" The man smiled at Adriane, and she felt a grin split her face. "I'm Flame. And I see you've met Sheoka and my wife, Lunar."
"Yeah," Adriane answered.
The boys stood along with one of the other girls. "I'm Alinart, and this is my twin sister, Nakura." The girl stood up and elbowed her brother.
"I can introduce myself, thanks," she grinned. She reached her hand across the table, and shook Adriane's hand. "Nakura."
"Adriane," Adriane said, shaking Nakura's hand. The other girl just sat in her chair, eating her food, never looking up at Adriane.
"Adriane," she said, reaching her hand to the girl.Without looking up, she answered.
"Crimiara."
Adriane's hand retreated, and she looked at Sheoka. She just shrugged and rolled her eyes. Adriane took a bite of her bread, and her eyes opened wide. It was delicious! She watched Sheoka, and saw that she dipped it in her soup first. Adriane tried it, and smiled. It was the best thing she ever tasted. The rest of the meal was great too, but Adriane admitted she liked the bread the best. The next morning, Adriane awoke, and Lunar was shaking her gently.
"Come on, Warrior. Time to wake up, you have a big day planned today," Lunar said. Sheoka was dressed and ready to go. Adriane jumped out of bed, and she and Sheoka started out of the door, when Lunar stopped them. Alinart and Nakura were standing at the door frame, being held back by Flame. Crimiara was not there.
Lunar handed her a small pack that had some of that good bread from last night, a canteen of water, and a container of soup. Nakura shook her head, long, silver hair dancing in the wind. "We heard you really liked it."
"I do, thank-you." She gave each of the family a hug, and thanked them all. Sheoka waited patiently by the gate.
"Come back to us one day, Warrior," Flame said.
"I will." Adriane nodded. "And next time without a mission."
--
"My mistress, she is coming! The Necklace is coming to you!" Roklin cried, bowing at her feet. "She approaches!"
"I know, Roklin. I know. You need to make sure she comes to me. Only I can kill my fellow necklace keeper," said the cold voice. The Queens gold eyes hypnotized the poor creature. Roklin swayed to the rhythm of her eyes.
"Only you...can kill...her..." He was dazed, like he had been for the past 50 years.
"Make sure that all Aldenmor is prepared. Ready MoonBeam. An army will meet this girl at dawn." Aldenmor would suffer for the cruelty done to the Queen. The black hood was thrown back, and a woman with long, flowing brown hair came spiraling out. Deep, red lips sketched the woman's beauty and gold eyes made the Roklin shudder.
She cackled with pleasure that her plan was working. She would not fail like her sisters had. She was going to kill the girl, and win.