The road was treacherous and long, but they must travel it in order to get to where they needed to be, it didn't matter how fatigued they were, nor did it matter that they wished to spend a day resting. Astria and her mother must make it to the eleven lands before the Deus caught up again, before it was too late and they would be unable to save themselves; the world around them more dangerous than it had ever been before. she knew what would happen should they be caught and she didn’t think she would be able to fight them all on her own, she needed her mother’s ability as well; though that seemed to be a long shot. Tuviel had barely used her power in the years they had spent hiding in the swamps of Lacus, meaning she was weak; her power couldn’t present itself as it once did. What would happen if her mother couldn’t fight? Would the young girl lose her as she had her home and everything else that she knew?
Yawning, the half-breed sighed; they had
“I am healing just fine. I do not need your help.” Yes, Astria loved her mother dearly, but after all that they had been through; she wasn’t sure that she could trust her, not fully. Tuviel liked to keep secrets, only telling her daughter half of the truth and keeping the rest to herself. That just wasn’t acceptable anymore, they must be honest with each other if they are to survive, even if that made them hurt. It was a necessity; they couldn’t afford to go into this war with only half of the information. Yet, both of them were stubborn and it would take more for them to trust one another again, they needed time to heal on their own, away from one another. “Please Astria, I want to help you.” Pleaded her mother, her eyes filling with tears, she felt as though she was losing her daughter, that their bond was drifting apart. Panett took a step back, turning towards the forest as he believed Gilmy could use a hand; that and he wanted to be far away from the arg
He frowned, seeing now that it was all a mistake; that they were just tired. “I realise that now, but I cannot allow you to speak to me like that, where I come from; you would be punished.”Astria smiled sweetly, “Well, it is a good thing we aren't there, otherwise we may not be friends.”Gilmy laughed, believing that he was falling for the girl, that she would become his wife in time. “Perhaps you are right, though I am glad I met you Astria. You are certainly fiery.”“That I am.” She agreed and she didn’t mean just her power; her personality more so than her ability.“That is, it? Do you think you can fix this with words?!” Snapped her mother as she stood once more, her amber eyes fixated on the barbarian.“Mother!” Astria scolded, “Now is not the time to fight amongst ourselves, that is what the Deus want! They want us to break apart so we are easier to pick off,
“Why?” The half-breed asked, unsure why he would do such a thing; his land must be strange indeed.“The old king was much like the high priestess, greedy and controlling. I allow people the freedom to choose, especially when it comes to who they wish to bear children with.” He explained, being as honest as he could.“Why are you telling me this now?”“I want you to help me, I want this land under my protection, and I want you to convince your father and mother to join me. I want us to destroy the high priestess and her armies.”The half-breed turned her head towards the dense wood, peering into the darkness as she thought for a moment, without the high priestess Astria and her mother would be free and so would the Fera. The lives of everyone across the entire kingdom would change, but for the better, people would no longer live in fear. That is something the girl had wished for in every dream she had since l
Astria awoke slowly, her mind sluggish and her body aching, she didn’t know how much sleep she had Managed to get, but she did know that it wasn’t enough. Memories of what happened the night before with Gilmy filled her mind and she blushed instantly, no one had ever looked at her like that before, treat her like that. Did he really like her? Was it at all possible for someone to love an abomination like her? Did she deserve it? Could she accept his love?The half-breed had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but she knew she would be unable to until they were alone again, and she didn’t know when that would be. She watched her mother stir a pot of tea for a few moments, allowing her body to awake fully before she moved to sit up, Tuviel instantly turning her head towards her and smiling.“Morning!” She called with a small smile, her attention spit between the tea and her daughter.“Morning mother.” Astria replied,
Gilmy turned towards her with the same smile, their eyes locking for a brief moment before he returned to making their breakfast, Tuviel noticing the interaction between them and became suspicious. She had no idea about her daughters feelings towards the warrior, or the fact that they had kissed the night before, but after the way they looked at one another she was starting to think their was something growing between them. of course, their was something going on and the two of them were slowly falling for each other even among all the chaos that followed them around. Love. It was a strange thing to Astria, she had never experienced this kind of love before, nor had she had such feelings towards anyone. She had always told herself that no one would be able to love her except for the mother, she had been born an abomination, vermin that most of the world shunned. But Gilmy didn't look at her the way others did, he knew what she was of course, but they didn't seem to bother him at al
The study seemed barren and lonely in the harsh candlelight, the parchment increasingly difficult to decipher as the sun faded; crawling back behind the edge of the world and plummeting all those who dwelled within it into another dreadful night, one that many would not survive. The world that Astria had been born into was a dangerous place, one that was forever plagued with war, something that the girl had yet to witness as she had spent her nineteen years in the safety of a Fera village. Never once allowed to venture into the outside world. After all, not all beings were as accepting as the Fera were towards half-breeds as they were also seen as lesser beings by many races.The half human, half animal creatures lived in exile, traded and sold as slaves whenever they entered the world of man. Something that Tuviel did not wish for her daughter, and yet; Astria was not a Fera, she was simply a child born to two very different races. The elves where her father had stolen
Astria stared at her mother with a silent glare, weary that she may once again refuse to answer; just as she had in the past. Though this time she wasn’t about to accept anything less than the truth, it was time that Tuviel re-lived her past and told the girl everything that she wished to know; answering the questions that had plagued her entire life.“Daughter ... This is not a subject that I ...”Tuviel stopped abruptly and turned towards the door as a heavy knock sounded, saving her from the questions she was intending to avoid and allowing her to rise from her seat..“Hello?” she called.“Tuviel. It’s Jonathan. May I enter?” The voice responded instantly, his tone rough and erratic.The girls mother frowned at the panic in his voice, though answered regardless. “Of course.”Astria watched as the door opened, the Fera that entered breathing heavily as though he had travelled a gr
Astria was very aware of how alone she was she walked back along the cluster of huts, knowing that should war be declared, she would lose someone more dear to her than her own life. She dragged her exhausted body forward with her eyes lowered towards the ground as she allowed her mind to wander, fearing that once she returned home her life would change forever, and in a way that she would be unable to control. Her senses were keen and alert as her eyes shifted between the darkness of the huts, the feeling that someone was watching her plaguing her every step. Was someone in the darkness, following her? Would they attack? She shook her head, pushing the feeling aside as she believed it to be nothing more than paranoia, brought on by her many worries. Sighing, she turned her thoughts back towards the problems she now faced, allowing them to fill her.What would happen should war begin, would she ever see her friend again? What did John want with her mother? Tears slid down her
Gilmy turned towards her with the same smile, their eyes locking for a brief moment before he returned to making their breakfast, Tuviel noticing the interaction between them and became suspicious. She had no idea about her daughters feelings towards the warrior, or the fact that they had kissed the night before, but after the way they looked at one another she was starting to think their was something growing between them. of course, their was something going on and the two of them were slowly falling for each other even among all the chaos that followed them around. Love. It was a strange thing to Astria, she had never experienced this kind of love before, nor had she had such feelings towards anyone. She had always told herself that no one would be able to love her except for the mother, she had been born an abomination, vermin that most of the world shunned. But Gilmy didn't look at her the way others did, he knew what she was of course, but they didn't seem to bother him at al
Astria awoke slowly, her mind sluggish and her body aching, she didn’t know how much sleep she had Managed to get, but she did know that it wasn’t enough. Memories of what happened the night before with Gilmy filled her mind and she blushed instantly, no one had ever looked at her like that before, treat her like that. Did he really like her? Was it at all possible for someone to love an abomination like her? Did she deserve it? Could she accept his love?The half-breed had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but she knew she would be unable to until they were alone again, and she didn’t know when that would be. She watched her mother stir a pot of tea for a few moments, allowing her body to awake fully before she moved to sit up, Tuviel instantly turning her head towards her and smiling.“Morning!” She called with a small smile, her attention spit between the tea and her daughter.“Morning mother.” Astria replied,
“Why?” The half-breed asked, unsure why he would do such a thing; his land must be strange indeed.“The old king was much like the high priestess, greedy and controlling. I allow people the freedom to choose, especially when it comes to who they wish to bear children with.” He explained, being as honest as he could.“Why are you telling me this now?”“I want you to help me, I want this land under my protection, and I want you to convince your father and mother to join me. I want us to destroy the high priestess and her armies.”The half-breed turned her head towards the dense wood, peering into the darkness as she thought for a moment, without the high priestess Astria and her mother would be free and so would the Fera. The lives of everyone across the entire kingdom would change, but for the better, people would no longer live in fear. That is something the girl had wished for in every dream she had since l
He frowned, seeing now that it was all a mistake; that they were just tired. “I realise that now, but I cannot allow you to speak to me like that, where I come from; you would be punished.”Astria smiled sweetly, “Well, it is a good thing we aren't there, otherwise we may not be friends.”Gilmy laughed, believing that he was falling for the girl, that she would become his wife in time. “Perhaps you are right, though I am glad I met you Astria. You are certainly fiery.”“That I am.” She agreed and she didn’t mean just her power; her personality more so than her ability.“That is, it? Do you think you can fix this with words?!” Snapped her mother as she stood once more, her amber eyes fixated on the barbarian.“Mother!” Astria scolded, “Now is not the time to fight amongst ourselves, that is what the Deus want! They want us to break apart so we are easier to pick off,
“I am healing just fine. I do not need your help.” Yes, Astria loved her mother dearly, but after all that they had been through; she wasn’t sure that she could trust her, not fully. Tuviel liked to keep secrets, only telling her daughter half of the truth and keeping the rest to herself. That just wasn’t acceptable anymore, they must be honest with each other if they are to survive, even if that made them hurt. It was a necessity; they couldn’t afford to go into this war with only half of the information. Yet, both of them were stubborn and it would take more for them to trust one another again, they needed time to heal on their own, away from one another. “Please Astria, I want to help you.” Pleaded her mother, her eyes filling with tears, she felt as though she was losing her daughter, that their bond was drifting apart. Panett took a step back, turning towards the forest as he believed Gilmy could use a hand; that and he wanted to be far away from the arg
The road was treacherous and long, but they must travel it in order to get to where they needed to be, it didn't matter how fatigued they were, nor did it matter that they wished to spend a day resting. Astria and her mother must make it to the eleven lands before the Deus caught up again, before it was too late and they would be unable to save themselves; the world around them more dangerous than it had ever been before. she knew what would happen should they be caught and she didn’t think she would be able to fight them all on her own, she needed her mother’s ability as well; though that seemed to be a long shot. Tuviel had barely used her power in the years they had spent hiding in the swamps of Lacus, meaning she was weak; her power couldn’t present itself as it once did. What would happen if her mother couldn’t fight? Would the young girl lose her as she had her home and everything else that she knew?Yawning, the half-breed sighed; they had
“I have had enough of secrets and lies. i almost lost you to the Deus not even a day ago. I thought i was all alone. Where would I have gone? Did you even think about that?! without the knowledge of my father, without a name or a face, how would I have found him in the elven lands?! HOW?!”Tears sprang free from her mother’s eyes, the strong woman the girl had always known crumbling down into a wreck. “I cannot lose you Astria, not after all we have been through.”“You will lose me if you do not reveal all that you are hiding from me, mother.”“Then I must.” Tuviel said to herself knowing that the truth would be revealed once they reached the elven lands. Whether she wanted it or not. “Your father is Miek, he was the first in line for the elven throne when his father died, which was the reason he left me alone in Esina. He had to go back and take the throne before his time ran out. But he never came bac
“Without him I wouldn’t have escaped.”Tuviel stepped forward, glancing towards Gilmy in distain. It was clear to the girl that they still didn’t get along very well, despite all that he had done for Astria and her mother. She had missed Tuviel’s beauty, her hair the shade of the setting sun, and her curved shape more prominent in the trousers and tunic that she wore.“If what Astria says is true, then we welcome you; but I must also apologise as now you are going to have to travel with us to Miake.” The girl’s mother said strongly, leaving no room for an argument.“You swear that he has not harmed you?” Gilmy scowled back at Panett, still distrusting as he did not know the man.“Yes, I swear.” Whispered the half-breed, her arms wrapping around Gilmy in a loving embrace. She had missed her friend dearly. “He is a healer. He treated the wounds that Tarian bestowed upon me, with o
He was a medical man and had little fighting experience, he would only get in her way; even if he was trying to help.The half-breed reached her mother in seconds, quickly spraying the rope that bound her with fire, and carelessly doing to the same with Gilmy. She didn’t have enough time to be cautious as the other Deus surrounded them, each one itching to force Astria and her mother into taking their final breath. The two men from before took a step towards the girl, their swords drawn, they would not show her an ounce of mercy; after all, she was a monstrous half-ling, one that needed to be disposed of. Though, she would not go down so easily, if she had learned anything since leaving Lacus, it was that one must fight in this world just survive. She couldn’t show weakness, not now. She had to save her mother.“Gilmy, get a weapon.” The girl shouted behind her, knowing that she couldn’t kill them all alone, not without the help of h