I am truly sorry that it has taken me so long to update. I was out of town for a week, and had no computer access. When I got home before the weekend, I spent a good bit of time on my other fics. I have had a bit of writers block on this story, but will do my best to write more. I will finish soon, I promise.

Chapter seven. The journey home.

"Blazewind," Belfire called back to her over the trotting hooves of their horses. "You're going to have to trot a lot faster than that, all the way to the next town. It's still a long ride to my village, and we want to stop for the night."

"Got it," Blazewind answered back, guiding her horse into a faster pace. They rode for two more hours until stopping to eat and sleep in a town on the way.

Blazewind, normally talkative and fun, was silent at supper. She looked down at her plate, and pushed carrots around with her fork. Belfire looked at her with worry in his eyes.

"What's wrong," he asked her. "Are you alright."

Blazewind thought back over the last month that she and Belfire had spent traveling the country together. After she had fallen in love with him, he had decided to travel with her to out of the way places, saying that his home could wait a while. He wanted her get to know her better, before he brought her back with him. The couple planned to marry in his village as soon as they could, and neither could have been happier at this new time in their lives.

"It's nothing," Blazewind said. "I'm alright."

"Come on," Belfire answered. "You know you can tell me anything. We're going to be married soon. We have to trust each other."

"I know," Blazewind said. "Do you promise you won't be angry."

"Yes. Now, why do you look so... distracted?"

"Well," Blazewind began slowly. "You're an elf. You come from an elven village, and I am a human. Don't you think that maybe people around there might be a little hostile toward me... Or, at the very least, a bit..."

"Hmm, I see what you're saying," Belfire said. "No, I don't think most people will be like that at all. In fact, there are a few humans there already."

"Really?"

"Yes," last I remember, there were two human woman married to elven men, and three human men married to elven woman. There are also two completely human families, both with young children living in the village."

"Oh?"

"Yes. You sure won't be the only human around. Besides, even my own people will like you."

"How many people live in you village?" Blazewind asked, her mood brightening.

"Last I heard, there may have been around three hundred," Belfire replied. "Including the humans, of course."

"How long have you been away from home now" Blazewind asked.

"Almost a year now," Belfire told her. "I set off to find adventure on the road, and seemed to find a lot of trouble as well."

"Trouble"

"Yes. Robbers, bandits, you know. Things like that. I did have a lot of good times though. I ran into the group you met me traveling with, about two months after leaving home. They asked if I wanted to go with them, and I said I would."

"I would imagine your family misses you by now."

"Yes. I believe they do. Mother is probably sick with worry. Irienda and Marthana are probably wondering when I'm coming back."

"Are they your sisters."

"Yes," Belfire answered. "My two little sisters. They are still children. Irienda is twenty nine, and Marthana is... I believe...eighteen."

"I can't believe that is still so young to your race. So, it's just you and the two girls in your family. Besides your parents, of course."

"Not even close," Belfire said, laughing. "In order, from oldest to youngest child, there is my sister Loralove, my sister Ravaonna, my sister Carrath, then me, and the two younger ones."

"Five sisters," Blazewind commented. "That must have been weird growing up."

"One day," Belfire laughed, "Ravaonna and Carrath, got a hold of me, and dressed me in girls clothes when I was very little. My parents were less than impressed with that." Blazewind laughed at the mental image of Belfire in girl's clothing.

"Why do you never wear dresses," Belfire asked, as they rode again the next morning.
"I do," Blazewind answered, "sometimes. Just not very often."

"Do you have one with you, on the road."

"Yes."

"You should put it on."

"I can't ride very well in a dress," Blazewind protested. They climbed off the horses to let them rest and graze for a short while.

"Can you wear your dress when we get to my village," Belfire asked. "It would be nice for you to meet my family dressed like a proper lady."

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed now," Blazewind demanded, as Belfire looked over her clothes, an outfit that she usually wore, since her other one had been destroyed in the fire. She wore blue pants, tucked into brown boots. Her shirt was green, with red sleeves, and her long braids were tied at the ends, with yellow ribbons.

"Nothing is really wrong with your outfit exactly," Belfire answered. "It's just that your clothes are... well... busy. You tend to wear very loud clothing."

"I'm a bard," Blazewind said. "I am wearing entertainers clothing.

"And there's nothing at all wrong with that," Belfire answered. "I just think that you should make a good impression on my family."

"I am who I am, Belfire. Don't you think that if they except me for..."

"You're right. I should not ask you to me what you aren't. I'm truly sorry."

"That's alright," Blazewind answered. "I know that you just really want you family to like me, and to approve of our marriage plans. How long till we get there now."

"Should be about two more days riding at the good pace we are going. If we start riding now, we should make it to a good camping spot I know, by sunset."

The two travelers made camp in front of a roaring fire, that evening, and lay in their bedding under a tree.

"It is so nice that you can enjoy nature," Blazewind said, looking up at the full moon. "i love sleeping out here."

"Elves love the woods, and being out in nature. You will be seeing a lot of nature with my people. I am thankful that you love it as much as you do. I've met some humans who would hate it out here, and complain about it."

"I have spent so much of my life traveling," said Blazewind. "How can I not be happy out in the woods. Living the life of a bard, one has to adapt to living out here a lot. Belfire, is your whole family still in your village."

"Yes. All five sisters, three bothers in law, and my parents are all there. Won't they be surprised when a I bring you home."

"I look forward to meeting them," Blazewind said, as she rolled over to sleep.

Well that chapter was shorter than I was hoping for. My apologies about that. Please read and review as always. I will make the next one longer.