–Remembering the first battle of the war still leaves me shaken after all the years that have come between. To going from being a accepted member of elfin society to a human girl on the streets is shocking to say the least. And I do not recommend the human cities if you have any choice. They are… well, you'll see. –

The first thing I noticed upon awakening was that my neck was stiff. However, that though had scarcely a second to sink in before my senses were overwhelmed by a blanket of stink. Trying not to retch, I pushed myself into a sitting position to take in my surroundings and search for the source of the stench until I realized that there was no one source. It was, simply, the city. After that conclusion, my stomach did empty its meager contents onto the filthy cobblestones. As I tried to recover, I found it impossible as I was inhaling the foul air and cast a spell to filter the smell from reaching me. Taking a deep breath of my air, I wiped my mouth and shakily stood.

Memory hit me like a club and I had to lean against the wall to support myself. My parents… No. I needed to be in control of my emotions. There would be time to grieve when I had figured everything out. Still, I may have taken a deep breath and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand before I could think again. I realized with queasiness that I was in the middle of a kingdom I knew nothing about. I had no money, and I knew no one. Nevertheless, I gathered my courage and stepped out of the alley into the road.

Walking down the road, my curiosity returned, first as a cautious flame, and then stronger as I examined, for the first time, a human. People were already about and I watched them closely, intrigued by the interactions. They were obviously different in culture than the elves, and I tried to understand what was going on as two men bickered over the price of a bundle of wheat. Turning back to the road, I saw a tired-looking donkey pulling a cart full of something that looked to be a sort of vegetable, turnips perhaps, and decided to follow it deeper into the city.

I was pleasantly surprised to note that the outer reaches, where I had slept, were the dirtiest part of the city, but that is not to say the inside was 'clean.' For the first time, I looked at my clothes; they were still clean after spending a night in the dirt. The white elfin tunic was unstained. Then I realized I had forgotten to end my spell from the evening before, the simple repelling spell that required almost no energy to maintain. I had used it to keep bloodstains from my clothing, nasty things to try and get out, but I was infinitely glad for it now. I did not look like some street rat. Maybe I had a chance.

Once I had reached what seemed to be the inner circle of the city, where the merchants and venders seemed to be, I was able to remove the spell filtering my air. I still made a face at the first waft that reached me, but I got used to it. For nearly an hour I observed the goings on until there was a disturbance. Two guards were convening on a mob in the square. Interested, I drew close. I caught scraps of the conversation.

"Little thief."

"-saw him, I did."

"It wasn't him. It was the other one. He was just-"

"Here are the guards."

I neared and saw that the boy in question couldn't have been seven years, wearing plain pants and a shirt. I took a breath of relief that the guards had arrived before the mob had gotten out of hand, but the thought died in my head as the first one to reach him swung a kick, sending the child to the ground where he began to cry.

A man stepped forward. "He stole from a purse!"

"No." The child begged. "I didn't. I promise."

"Silence." He was kicked again and shook. I stared at the scene with shock. The boy didn't look at all to be lying, and even if he did, who would hurt a child.

–At that time, still, the elfin belief that all children are a blessing was ingrained in my head. It's why, when that fool Eragon, 'blessed' the child in Farthen Dur, I helped. Anyway. –

As the man picked the child up by the scruff of his shirt and made him stand, I moved. Willing myself invisible with a whisper, I slipped through the observers to the child and cast a spell, starting a canopy of a stall on fire. As it fell, distracting the people, I grabbed the child and turned him invisible as well, running street away before I set him down and turned us visible again.

The little boy looked confused and then he looked at me. "You helped me." He said with a smiled and I couldn't help but smile back as he examined me.

Sensing he was waiting for something, I spoke. "What is your name?"

"Thomas Reldson." He answered, looking down. "What's your name, miss?"

"Mei… Angela." I corrected. I wasn't going to use that name now after what had happened. She was gone. I would start anew as Angela. "You should be getting back to your mother."

He sniffed. "I have to go through the square. What if they recognize me? They'll hurt me."

I looked at little Thomas. He was the first human non-rider I had spoken to and I was even more curious. "I'll protect you." He looked up at me and nodded, in his naivety not even questioning placing his complete trust in the hands of a stranger. I followed him and stood between him as a woman did indeed recognive then, but the glare I had perfected when I was angry with Vanir seemed to work even better on her and she turned, barely managing not to run.

We arrived at a combined apothecary and healer's shop. The boy pushed through the door and I followed, wondering what the inside of the shop would look like. I smiled as I looked around the small interior. It was exactly as I had imagined. Herbs hung from a wall behind a counter. Vials of potions sat arranged on shelves. It was well lit, light coming from the window as well as some scented candles. A woman stepped through and smiled at me.

"Welcome to my shop. Is there anything in specific you were looking-" She broke off with a gasp. "Thomas!" She ran to her son.

The boy looked up at me. "Mommy. She saved me."

Then I realized he was clutching his side. I crouched and had him turn towards me. "Hold still." I cast a spell to check how he was injured. "Bruises and a broken rib. Waise hael." He squirmed as his injuries disappeared. His mother was staring at me as if I had fallen from the sky. She seemed to realize this and blinked, forcing herself to relax.

"Are you a healer at the castle then?" I shook my head and she looked thoughtful. "I could really use a hand around the shop if you can heal like that. My husband was the better spellcaster, and when… when he died last year, it's been a struggle."

I thought for a second. "I'm not from around here. Actually, I could really use a job." I said, realizing my lack of money would be a tremendous problem in the city.

She beamed at me. "Oh, my name is Teresa. Would you need a place to sleep? There is extra room. We live above the shop."

"That would be… perfect." I smiled at her and listened as she began to tell me about the shop. I thought to myself, maybe humans weren't so bad, but then, I still had a lot to learn.

So I have decided that all author's notes will be posted at the end of my work instead as often I really have nothing to say that is so terribly important that it cannot wait. Anyway, this is not at all what I had planned. I had a skip in my notes of what was going to happen and this sort of just wrote itself, but I think it is a good direction for now.

Anyway, please tell me what you think. Advice, criticism, praise, anything, just leave a review.