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Many years ago on the Elven islands of Talahi, Ifalna lived upon the island with her blood mother, father, and older half-sister. Life on the island was peaceful and happy. Perhaps it was better left forgotten...
The time of the year had turned to summer. The children of Talahi would all gather outside and spend their days playing. For them, this was their break from the chores their parents labored them to do everyday. A girl stood at the door of her humbly made elven home. Maybe Momma will let me go outside and play this year, the barely four year old, Ifalna, thought. Her ears suddenly perked up, hearing the tap, tap of a skipping child. She turned her head to see her older sister, Aurora, land beside her.
Aurora was about six years old and was allowed to be outside with the other children. As usual, Aurora gave Ifalna a happy and loving smile and asked her, "What are ye doing here, little sister?". Ifalna blinked and lurched behind the elven made curtains that framed the doorway. Blushing brightly, she gripped the folds of the fine material and shuffled her feet, "Nothing..." Ifalna whispered in a barely audible, childish voice. Aurora just smiled again, patted Ifalna on the head and skipped outside to join the other children busily playing.
"Not fair!" Ifalna whined in protest, "Why can, sis-sis, go outside??" She began to stomp her feet in an irritated manner and wailed.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps begin to echo in the small house. Clat, clat, clat. Ifalna turned around and looked up, seeing a man clad in a full-suit of armour. This man, her father, was extremely tall(for being a child her age, everyone was tall) and his armour clanked with every step. The man lifted the visor of his helm, revealing the broad grin spread across his face. He glanced down at her as he folded his large arms across his armoured chest.
"Ah, Hello Lass." He boomed with a smile now forming.
She did not like him, not one bit.
"What do ye think yer doing here?" he asked as he kneeled down to her height and extended a gauntlet-clad hand towards her.
She backed up with surprise, her eyes widening in fear. Fear of what? She did not know--something about him ... something that gave her a chill. She gasped as the man took her hand and looked down at her with his dark green eyes; they looked almost frightening to her. He gave a slight chuckle.
"My dear lass, a knight such as I would nae seek to harm ye, " The man smiled and squeezed her hand, Ifalna felt like it was going to explode, "So, donae be so shy..." his voice was deep and heavy, almost with a hint of concern.
Knight? she thought. So, that is what they call those giant tin men!
A woman's voice broke the silence of the conversations in-between. This voice sounded rather harsh, as if it was to scold, "Achtvez!!"
A woman, an elven woman at that, ran out from the back of the house. She immediately pulled Ifalna away from the man and glared at him. Her face was glowing with extreme anger; this confused Ifalna. Never had she seen her mother like this before, never.
"Achtvez! Leave this place, human, " The woman snarled and flicked aside a silver bang from her eyes which bared flecks of silver within them, "And donae give me any buts, You traitor!"
Achtvez shook his head and looked to the elven woman, "But, me lady, Marillia...," his eyes were pleading as he spoke, "Me love, ye think I would betray ye and our darling daughter?!" He removed his helm and reached his hand out to touch her cheek. Marillia quickie slapped Achtvez' s hand away and turned her back.
Ifalna scurried behind her mother, wrapping her arms around Marillia's leg. She shook with fear of the tone of anger in each of their voices. She never thought her loving, caring parents would yell at each other like this. But, much more was to come of her, she just knew it.
"Marillia... --" Achtvez began, but he was suddenly interrupted by the angry woman.
Marillia turned around, her eyes streaming with tears, "Achtvez.. how could ye tell them our location!?" she dropped her arms to her side in frustration, " .. Your human kin will kill all of us in our village if they find us!"
Achtvez lowered his head in silent contemplation for a few moments. He soon lifted his head high and donned his war helm and strode out the door. Marillia stepped quickly to the doorstep and watched at Achtvez took his leave. She wiped her eyes and leaned forward, cupping her mouth with her hands to project her voice, "Aurora!! Come home, now! " and Aurora did do as she was told and ran home.
"Yes, mother?", Aurora responded as soon as she came through the doorway, "is something wrong?"
Marillia looked to Ifalna a last time and then to Aurora with a smile. She quickly took Aurora by the hand and ran out the door, whispering to her older, half-elven daughter, "I will escort you to your father's land...," Marillia noticed Aurora looking back at her little sister, "Nae worry about your sister, Aurora.. I.. feel she will be fine."
Ifalna's eyes flooded with tears seeing her mother take Aurora away, but not her! She was utterly confused. Why is momma leaving me here? she thought, why? why?! It seemed to be the question asked endlessly in her mind.
For several days, Ifalna, stood by the doorway, waiting for her mother to return; she didn't. That night, as she fell asleep, the sounds of nature drifted to her ears and she sensed something 'different' was about..
The wild galloping of several war stallions were heard across the horizon; the loud, projecting war cries of men; and the clashing of steel rang across the island of Talahi, waking its citizens from their sleep. The forest of Talahi were ripe for burning and its people; perfect prey for the army of humans approaching. The surroundings of the village were full of the sounds of crickets, frogs croaking, the hooting of owls, and the howling of a proud wolf. Night cloaked the villages; only the moon gave way of their presence. Torches lit the center of the village, a meeting had been called upon. Brave elven warriors took up arms; men, women and young adults. Each were skilled in different things. The elders of the village gathered the people into a circle and spoke:
"Citizens of Talahi, the humans have found our location and are going to attack us. Your efforts and skills are greatly needed to defend the village and the King of Talahi. Marillia has mysteriously disappeared, so we lack our sorcery abilities in this battle. Take up arms! Fight! For glory, and for Talahi! May the goddess shed her light upon ye all!"
They nodded to each other and held their weapons high, shouting out, "For Talahi!" over and over again. Finally, the generals advanced their armies to meet the enemy, leaving the village totally defenseless. Only the elders, children and their mothers stayed behind. Off in the distance, the sounds of war echoed in throughout the night.
Ifalna awoke, her form luminous from the glow of the moon. She found herself not in her home, but behind a bush. Why am I here?, she thought. She stood up and looked around. The eyes of night critters looked upon her. A strange aroma reached her nose.. Was it .. burning wood? Yes, it was! She realized and swiftly darted out towards the smell.
There was a noise.. like an arrow screaming in the wind; instinctively, Ifalna ducked down. Her frail, small frame fell to the ground.. she was alive. Turning her head around, she saw an arrow shaft embedded into the trunk of a large oak tree. She was lucky, if she had not ducked, it would have gone through her forehead. As she began to retreat, a group of soldiers surrounded her exits. They chuckled and one of the soldiers kicked her to the ground.
"Heh, heh, 'ey Captain," the lower officer called,"look at this, it be lookin' like 'ey small rabbit with small ears. Rotten elves, breeding with the likes of us." the soldier kicked Ifalna again, which in turn caused her to cry out and whimper.
The rest of the soldiers joined in, including the captain and started to beat upon the half-elven girl. Her pale skin became imprinted with large bruises. She looked up to the men, with her large, and innocently glowing aqua-green eyes. The men laughed at her and one stepped forward.
He reached out to punch the young girl, which would indeed be the last blow for her, "Yew elven dog! Who gave yew permission to look at us!" The man clenched his fist and reeled his hand back..
A streak of steel appeared and the man's hand amputated. With a thud, the hand fell to the ground and the sound of a sword being sheathed emitted. The soldiers stood back, drawing their weapons and began to surround the figure before them.
"Momma... "
The black armour-clad knight removed his helm, to show all his identity. The soldiers gasped in surprise to see that one of their own ranks betrayed them. He, the knight, Achtvez, wielded his sword and readied for battle. The young child's wailing continued.
"Papa... "
The crackling of fire roared in Ifalna's ears. The ringing of steel against steel raged on through the night. The screams of people, and the curses of fallen opponents. Ifalna looked up to see her father, Achtvez defending her. Her vision began to fade from the inflicting wounds upon her. All that was left was the sound of men's death cries and the falling of corpses upon the earth. The last thing she felt and heard before she went unconscious was the feeling of being picked up and the sound of a horse's galloping...
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"Hey, Iffy! "
".. Iffy? "
Ifalna blinked and shook her head, "Yes?"
"Can you heal me?"
She nodded and figured she has to stop with the day dreams. There were people to attend to now... Yes, this memory was perhaps one that should have remained forgotten she thought and immediatly began to assist the wounded.
~Fin~
Alley back to the library foyer.
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