Raven kept the hood up on the cloak she was wearing and stuck as close to Raiden, Trey and Jaxon as possible. She tried to keep her head down but she was fascinated by the outside world. She made eye contact with several people who all looked at her shocked. No one had seen an elf before and words spread like wildfire through the camp.
They arrived at the King's tent without incident and once inside Raven took off her hood. Gasps went around the entire tent as the elders and the King took in the elven woman before them. Raven did the same but found herself inching closer to the guys.
"General Raiden what is the meaning of this? Is she what we think she is?" The head Elder asked.
"I can speak for myself," Raven muttered causing a few chuckles and gasps.
Raiden couldn't help the smirk that tilted his lips. "Yes she is an elf, and this is Raven. She is an Arsha and is the black bird that has been saving our troops across Veilroy. She saved several of us yesterday myself included. She received an injury during battle and I had her healed and recover in my tent. If you have any questions I am sure she would be more than happy to answer them."
Raiden placed his hand gently on her back as she swallowed looking at all the powerful men. The King was the first one to speak.
"Raven, why have you now shown your true form? Where are the rest of your people?"
She was expecting these questions. "My people are hidden throughout Veilroy but I will not give their locations. I showed myself for two reasons, the first being that I was seriously injured. When I receive a severe injury in my raven form I am forced to transform back. The second reason is I ran away from my tribe as I did not want to marry the tribe leaders son nor be subjected to their rules and punishments any longer. I had also recently learned that they had lied to me about a few things and I was free to leave whenever I wished."
All the men felt for the woman as forced marriages had been banned however arranged marriages were not. It was a fine line between the two there were laws and rules in place to prevent the former.
"How do we know you are telling the truth?" One of the elders asked and she smiled at the question.
It was one of her first genuine smiles and it had everyone enchanted. "I am am Arsha sir, I cannot lie even if I wanted to. My gift not only calls me to those in need it prevents me from lying, deceiving, harming unless to protect the one calling, and I also have no reason to lie."
She shrugged and a few of the men chuckled including Jaxon and Trey. More routine questions were asked such as how many elves were alive, more questions about her gift, if she would join them, and more.
It wasn't until the head elder asked a question that no one saw the answer coming. "What exactly happened with your people and the plague?"
Raven's smile turned sad and she looked down. Raiden stiffened slightly already knowing she was withdrawing and no one would like the answer.
"Being an Arsha meant I rarely left my home so I always studied history. I was protected as if a rare magical gem. I never understood it until I came upon the history of the last Arsha. He would transform into a fox and helped whoever he could. The elves however grew jealous of the Arsha and the fact that they were practically worshiped around the world. So a large group was formed that sought to capture the Arsha. They did just that and held him captive while torturing him." She took a deep breath knowing this would stun them all.
"Because he could not leave to answer his callings people began to resent the Arsha and he eventually died from not answering his callings and the torture. The other elves returned home to their tribes not knowing what was to come. Because they had intentionally killed the Arsha and prevented him from answering his callings a plague was unleashed upon those who were apart of it. What many forget over the years were if Arshas are killed in malice those who did it suffer terrible deaths.
"Because so many elves were apart of it they suffered from the plague. As the elves returned home they spread the plague and soon enough more than half the elves were dead, sick or dying. The tribe leaders that were left all agreed to take the sick and dying and move them into hiding to hopefully isolate and stop the spread. Those who were isolated survived while the rest died out from the plague they hid from. So that is what happened to the elves and how we ended up hiding away for almost a millennia." She finished and looked up as they all began whispering.
"Why not come out of hiding?" One finally asked and she shrugged.
"I am not sure but I believe it was from fear of the plague returning and now it is simply to avoid the influence of anyone not elven. My tribe leader always spoke of my pending unity to his son as the best thing for the elves and it would strengthen our future generations." She frowned at the thought and Trey gently squeezed her shoulder as Raiden clenched his fist.
Several others showed the anger clear on their face as well as the shock for learning the truth about the plague. They had always wondered why it only ever effected the elves and no other race.
"I believe I speak for everyone here when I say this Raven. You are welcome here as long as you wish and no harm will fall upon you. You have saved countless of our men and women and we would be honored to have you amongst our ranks." The head elder spoke.
She gave him a kind smile and nodded. "Thank you sir, but I will be honest in that I do not control my calling. There have been times I have saved vampires and I believe there will be more in the future. My calling comes from the gods and they determine who calls upon me. I do not know their reasons but I believe it is to have the best future for all of us."
Several whispers broke out some harsh while others were understanding and sympathetic. "We understand this and would not punish you because of your gift. We can have a tent set up for you within the hour near General Raiden's." The King spoke silencing all whispers.
"Thank you your majesty but as long as it is alright with Raiden may I remain in his tent until I become accustomed to your people and my surroundings?" She asked looking up at Raiden.
"I am perfectly fine with that and hereby vow Raven under my protection." Raiden spoke looking down at her.
"That can be arranged. Tonight I would like for you to join us in the dinning hall so I may introduce you to our troops. This will help prevent the gossip and you being swarmed whenever you leave the tent." The King said and she nodded.
Soon after they were back in Raiden's tent having to avoid a crowd that had gathered outside the King's tent. Lucky Donnell, Issac, and Franklin joined them and the King dismissed them all. Raven was excited to meet them and found that all of them shared a personality with their father.
Trey and Issac were both smart yet goofy with a good poker face. Jaxon and Franklin or Frank as he preferred to be called were flirts and the clowns of the group. Then there was Raiden and Donnell, both more serious but once they opened up they were big teddy bears.
They had been trying to teach Raven card games and she was terrible at poker. Especially since she couldn't lie so they tried other games. Each round ended with at least two of the guys wrestling while everyone laughed.
Raven couldn't help but wipe the tears that were falling from laughing so hard and look around at the men before her. She had never laughed so much in her life and she couldn't help but stop and think.
"This what it must feel like to have friends and family." She said smiling grabbing everyone's attention.
"You said you have a mother, yes? Did she not play games or laugh with you?" Issac asked earning an elbow from his son when her smile fell.
"No, she was basically in charge of my welfare. The tribe wanted me in perfect health so I was never allowed to play or climb trees or anything you have talked about or shown me. I know she wished she could have because she did teach me to dance when I was younger. We got caught though and she went away for a few days. We never danced after that day." She told them and everyone felt for her.
"Well you are a free woman and apart of our crazy family now. So let's dance," Donnell said holding out his hand.
Frank picked up his guitar and began playing as Donnell began dancing with Raven. She couldn't help but laugh and smile as they all took turns dancing with her.
Shortly after lunch Raven was exhausted from all the fun and took a nap. The guys all had some work to do so they broke off before agreeing to meet back there before dinner.
Raiden couldn't help but to keep glancing at Raven as he filled out reports and supply requests. "It still does not seem real that she is the same raven that saved your life all those years ago." Donnell told his son looking at Raven as well.
Raiden sighed and rubbed his hand down his face. "It truly doesn't and I am still so angry that she had gone through so much right under our noses. If only I had known I never would have let her leave."
His eyes zeroed in on the brand on her wrist. She had explained she had two more, one on her ankle and another on her shoulder. The one on her wrist however hurt the most and was clearly held the longest. It had also been done when she was seven so the memory was burned as deep as the brand. Each one was for flight risk except the first one, that one was for betrayal of the tribe. If other elves saw the brands they would be wary of her and not trust her. It had been another tactic they used to keep her caged within their tribe so she couldn't seek help from another.
Raiden was dragged from his mind when his father squeezed his shoulder. "It is not your fault son, but she is here now and we will all protect her and make sure she is happy and free. Let's just hope this war does not last much longer so she may truly experience the world and all its beauty."
Raiden nodded agreeing with his father completely. Raven was only 22 and she had hardly experienced the world. But tonight would be a start as they introduced her to everyone in their camp. Raiden knew word was quickly spreading already of a possible elf but tonight would solidify those rumors. He could only hope that they wouldn't bring Raven any more danger or cages.
Raven woke up a short while later and Raiden left her with his father while he finalized a few things before dinner. When he got back to his tent everyone was there chatting and laughing. He couldn't help but smile when he heard Raven's musical laughter.
She also had a tiny snort she would do when laughing really hard and every one of them found it adorable. "Everyone ready?" He asked and they all nodded.
Raven bit the inside of her cheek and looked down nodding. She was ready but utterly terrified. It would be the first time she met a bunch of people that weren't elves. She was scared and anxious but when a large comforting hand landed on her shoulder she looked up.
Gold and grey clashed as Raiden gave her a reassuring smile. "You have nothing to worry about. We will all be beside you every step of the way. You remember our signal?" He asked and she nodded. "Then you have nothing to worry about. Besides we are the strongest and smartest men in this camp."
"More than likely the world as well," Jaxon chimed in causing her to give a small laugh.
She nodded more assured this time and looked at all their faces. "Alright, let us do this."
That earned another chuckle as Trey swung his arm around her shoulders. "It's let's do this, but we will work on your real world lingo. Besides you truly have been living under a rock so we understand."
Another round of laughter followed as they exited the tent with Raven in the middle of them all. She gripped onto Trey's arm since he was closest as the noise of people talking grew louder. There was no turning back after this moment, Raven would forever be a part of their world.