Morwen
Morwen and her mother, Esther, meandered through the market, hands intertwined. The townspeople went about their daily routines, and the market bustled with activity. All signs of celebration the week earlier were gone. As they strolled through the market, Esther suddenly stopped before a merchant's stall. The bright-coloured fabrics and intricate patterns caught her eye. She turned to Morwen, her eyes sparkling, and made her offer.
"What do you think, dear? Wouldn't you look lovely in this dress?" Esther inquired, holding up a flowing yellow gown.
Morwen scrunched up her nose. The dress was pretty, but it wasn't her style. "I don't know, Mom, I'm not sure that colour would look good with my skin tones."
Esther rolled her eyes. "Well, we could try a different colour," she said, pulling another dress from the pile. "Aren't these lovely?'' she said holding up a green fabric embroidered with yellow stars along the edge, "don't you think?"
Morwen's eyes widened as she looked around.
"Mother, we can't afford these fabrics, look at the prices. They are much too expensive." Morwen tried to reason.
Esther gave her daughter a reassuring smile. "Nonsense, my dear. I have been saving up for a special occasion, and this is it." She winked at Morwen, handing her the green fabric.
"Besides, you are my daughter and you deserve the best. Now, come, help me choose the other colours."
Morwen couldn't contain her excitement. Galena was going to be so jealous when she saw her. She picked up a red fabric with gold leaves. The rich colour and soft texture reminded her of the autumn leaves.
"I think this one would look nice," she said, holding the fabric up to her body.
"Yes, it does suit you," Esther replied.
Morwen helped her mother pick out the rest of the materials, and they paid for their purchase.
Morwen's heart swelled with gratitude, and she opened her mouth to express her thanks to her mother for the kind offer. But before any words could escape her lips, chaos erupted around them. Shouts and screams filled the air, and the bustling market dissolved into a frenzy of panic. Morwen froze, her mind reeling. The sudden burst of commotion startled her.
People tripped over crates and tables, scrambling to escape. Morwen clung to her mother, her fingers digging into Esther's arm, as they were swept up in the wave of panic. The distant metallic clang of swords rang through the air, sending shivers down their spines. Idrea was under attack.
Morwen and her mother fought their way through the crowd, struggling to remain on their feet. They narrowly dodged falling bodies and broken debris. Morwen's mind raced, trying to comprehend what was happening.
"Mom, what's going on? Who's attacking us?" she cried, her voice shaking with fear.
"I don't know, my love," Esther replied, her face pale with worry.
With terror fueling their every step, Morwen and Esther weaved through the chaos, clinging desperately to each other. The sight that met their eyes was one of horror. A man in a dark cloak emerged from a nearby shop, wielding a longsword with chilling precision. His strikes cut through the crowd as effortlessly as a scythe through wheat, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
Morwen's mind struggled to comprehend the unfolding nightmare. Her mother yanked her away, their desperate escape leading them through the labyrinth of winding streets. The panicked stampede of terrified villagers surrounded them, making every step treacherous.
Morwen's head pounded from the overwhelming commotion. She felt her mother's grasp on her hand tighten, and her vision began to blur. Her world spun, and the ground lurched beneath her feet.
In a moment of terrible fate, they turned a corner into a narrow alley. They were trapped.
"There's nowhere to go, we're surrounded!" Esther cried.
A cold, dark presence enveloped them. They looked up and saw the man from the market. His sword was drawn, and his face twisted into a sinister grin. He sneered, taking a step closer.
Morwen's body tensed. Her legs trembled, and her heart pounded. She looked at her mother and saw her own fear reflected in Esther's eyes.
Morwen was a brave, spirited woman, but she was powerless to defend herself. She stood frozen, watching helplessly as the man closed in. He raised his sword, preparing to strike.
A desperate gasp escaping from Esther's lips was abruptly snuffed out as his sword tore into her. Her body collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, the attacker stomped his foot on her head as he reached down and yanked his sword out of her mangled form. Morwen's scream pierced the chaos, echoing through the streets of Idrea. She barely evaded his second blow, her feet carrying her away in anguish. Leaving her mother's lifeless form to bleed out in the cobbled alleyway.
As Morwen fled, her vision blurred with hot tears, but the adrenaline pumping through her veins kept her from succumbing to hysteria. She pushed her aching body past its limits, her lungs burning from exertion. The sound of her ragged breathing filled her ears, drowning out the chaos around her. The survival instinct burned within her, urging her onward. By the time she escaped the town's boundaries, night had descended, cloaking the world in darkness. The burning embers of her home flickered like distant stars against the night sky.
Driven by instinct alone, Morwen's wounded feet led her toward the mountain east of Idrae. The path she chose was rough, marked by jagged rocks that cut into her knees and hands each time she stumbled. But the pain was forgotten as she focused on the sole objective—escaping the horrors of her shattered life.
Finally, she reached the crest of the hill, her breath ragged, her body trembling with exhaustion. As she surveyed the devastation below, Morwen's heart shattered anew. Idrea, the town she had known since childhood, was engulfed in flames. The once quaint homes and bustling streets were now mere silhouettes amidst a sea of fire and despair.
Morwen sank to her knees, her eyes burning with unshed tears. The image of her mother's lifeless body haunted her, replaying in her mind over and over. Morwen's body shuddered with sobs as she buried her face in her hands. She felt the cold wind blowing across her exposed skin, and she pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.
She was alone, and she knew it.
As Morwen's tears dried and her body grew numb from the cold, she heard a faint whisper on the wind. It was a familiar voice, calling out to her.
"Morwen...come to me..."
The voice was faint, almost imperceptible, but Morwen's heart knew it was her mother's. She wiped her eyes and stood, looking around for any sign of her mother.
"Where are you, mom?" Morwen called out.
"Come to me...my child."
The voice echoed again, leading Morwen further into the woods. The path was overgrown with thick brambles and branches. The moonlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the forest in an ethereal glow. Morwen's heart raced, the voice guiding her deeper into the woods.