Chapter 1: The Beginning After The End

"Congratulations, madam. It's a joyous occasion, for you have welcomed a healthy young boy into the world," spoke a wise and experienced woman of considerable age, filled with happiness for the odd couple. This was the first time she had ever assisted in the birth of a human-elf hybrid, and she was eager to explore the full extent of her abilities and knowledge, whilst providing her assistance to the couple.

The birthing process, though simple and straightforward, was far from easy. The child's opercular nature made it one of the most challenging births she had experienced in the year. Nonetheless, a radiant smile graced her face as she knew that assisting in the arrival of new life was the very reason she chose this occupation, a privilege she cherished for all beings—elves, humans, and dwarves alike.

The Mother, visibly tired and depleted, bore heavy bags under her eyes, as if carrying the weight of invisible burdens. Each blink seemed a struggle to keep her eyes open, as though they, too, were weighed down by unseen forces. She fought back a yawn, suppressing it gracefully, not wanting to appear un-ladylike.

The elderly woman tenderly cradled the boy in her arms, her concern growing as she noticed the child's unusual calmness. Throughout all the years she had been assisting in childbirth, she had never encountered a baby who didn't cry upon being born. Interesting she thought.

However, her worry soon turned to awe, and a smile crossed her face. "He's a remarkable child," she whispered to herself, gazing at the infant in wonder. "In all my years, I've never seen one as opercular as him. I'm certain he's destined to be a good man"

"Can I hold him now?" the mother's voice was laced with curiosity as she reached out for her first child. The elderly woman was momentarily caught off guard by the question, having been so engrossed in the baby's eyes that she had momentarily forgotten about the mother. Nevertheless, she quickly regained her composure and offered a warm smile. "Of course, please forgive my momentary distraction," she said, gently placing the child into the mother's waiting arms.

"It seems it's time for me to go," the elderly woman said, her gaze shifting between the baby and the mother. Before she took her leave, she turned her attention to the mother, her expression full of concern. "You've been through quite the ordeal, dear. It's essential to take care of yourself," she advised gently. "Rest and nourishment are crucial for your recovery."

Looking at the child once more, she then turned back to the mother. "And if you don't mind me asking, about the father?" The question was asked with a curiosity, she couldn't help.

"Richard had urgent matters to tend to, but hopefully, he'll be back soon. I also wanted to express how grateful both of us are for your help in giving birth to..." she trailed off, realizing she hadn't decided on a name yet. In fact, she had never really thought about it. Richard didn't suggest a name, and it seemed he didn't really care all that much either. Should I wait for him? No, she thought, it doesn't really matter.

"I will name him Goldie," she declared proudly, a smile lighting up her face. "So, thank you for helping us bring little Goldie into this world." The woman smiled cheerfully.

The elderly woman held a smile that was threatening to break. Goldie? She probably didn't hear her right, but then again, she was getting up there in age, so it was understandable. "Excuse my ignorance, but you did say Goldie, correct?" she politely asked, seeking confirmation, yet hoping she heard wrong.

"Pretty, right? The name matches his hair," she remarked, admiring the child's golden locks with streaks of red. The name seemed to suit him perfectly, though she knew others might not find it as conventional. The elderly woman sensed that she might have to stay a little longer; it seemed necessary now. She smiled helplessly and suggested, "How about we keep our options open until the boy's father comes back, what do you think?" She silently prayed to the Gods that the boy's father would return soon.

As fate would have it, her hopes went unfounded. Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours, yet the boy's mother clung to an unnatural belief that he would come back. She cradled the child in her arms, gently humming a sweet tune, unknowingly creating an aura of comfort and reassurance.

The sweet hum somewhat put the woman's worries at ease, but she reminded herself that it didn't lessen the reality of the situation. There was still work to do. She decided she could wait a couple of hours at most, but she still had many other children to help deliver, and it was crucial not to keep them waiting. "Merlara, correct?" she asked, seeking confirmation. The now Merlara nodded her head. "Do you live anywhere around here?" she inquired, hoping to better understand the situation and offer any assistance she could.

Merlara shook her head, "No, Richard and I were mostly always moving around, never staying in one spot more than a day or two," the elderly woman narrowed her eyes in weariness. "He use to always say that he was searching for place where we can all live together in peace, we only arrived here two days ago."

As she expected, this situation wasn't good at all. The path it was taking could leave an air-headed elf and a newborn human-elf child on her hands. Slavery might be outlawed in the kingdom of Sapin, but that didn't mean people didn't do it. A half-blood elf child, along with a full-blooded elf woman, would fetch a high price on the black market, and the mere thought of it made her grimace.

Turning her head back to Merlara, she spoke with a tone of concern, "Merlara, think carefully and hard, okay?" Merlara nodded earnestly in response. "Is there anyone you might know. Family, relatives, or friends that would be willing to let you guys stay with them?" she asked, hoping to explore any possible support system for the young mother and her child.

Merlara pondered the question with a heavy heart, not wanting to disappoint the elderly woman whom she saw in a favorable light. In truth, it seemed like she saw most people in a favorable light. As she thought, her gaze shifted to the boy in her arms, his gold hair and red eyes reminding her of a certain figure – oh yes, Mr. Lionheart. Merlara couldn't help but giggle at the memory of the grumpy old man, who always seemed to nag at Richard for everything. The elderly woman sensed there was an inside joke she wasn't privy to, but she understood that this wasn't a time for laughter. Yet, she didn't want to spoil the young lady's mood with the worries of an old crone.

With a confident smile, she gazed at the elderly woman, calming her sense of worry with an aloof reassurance.

"Now that I remember, Mr.Lionheart, Richard's father stays in Ashbern town. It was long ago, but I remember since it was one of the few places we stayed at for while." The elderly woman seemed to smile at that, Ashbern town wasn't far from here only a few hours away from Marlow Town. Luckily she didn't have any appointments for today, but that didn't go far tomorrow, because she had today for herself, she meant to restock on supplies for today: It seems things has changed. Her attention refocused on Merlara, she was tired. She could tell. It pained her, yet it must be done. "Darling, tell me how would you like it if you stayed with Mr.Lionheart for a time being, just until Richard comes back." The elderly woman voice was laced with concern, but bitterness that seem to go unnoticed by Merlara. The elderly worm got the hint that this Richard wouldn't be coming back, not anytime soon.

"Now that I remember, Mr. Lionheart, Richard's father lives in the town of Ashbern. It was a long time ago, but I remember since it was one of the few places we stayed at for a while." The old woman seemed to smile at that, Ashbern Town wasn't far from here, only a few hours away from Marlow Town. Luckily she didn't have any appointments for today, but that would change tomorrow, because she had today to herself, she wanted to stock up on supplies for today: Things seemed to have changed. Her attention shifted back to Merlara, she was tired. She could tell. It hurt her, but it had to be done. "Darling, how would you like to stay with Mr. Lionheart for a while, just until Richard returns?" The old woman's voice was tinged with concern, but also bitterness, which Merlara seemed not to notice. The old woman had a feeling that this Richard was not coming back, not anytime soon.

Merlara thought on the question and remembered that Mr.Lionheart was always kind to her, much more then he was to Richard, and then she remembered the stories he told, how he found love in a dungeon, how he fought a great dragon, oh and let's not leave out the time he help hatch little Mana Beast, the last story was particularly her favorite. The sudden rush to hear such tales again, was akin to child and a candy shop. She nodded her head eagerly, "Yes, I would like that very much. Mr.Richard told great stories about his adventures, and pardon my tongue," she blushed, her hand properly raised to her mouth as if not to seem too vulgar. "And tales of his sexual extravaganzas…" she gulped, as she remembered the sexual exploits, the heat of the room seemed to be a little unbearable now, she swiped away a trickle of sweat.

Merlara thought on the question, recalling how Mr. Lionheart had always been kind to her, much more than he was to Richard. The memories of the stories he told flooded her mind – tales of finding love in a dungeon, fighting a great dragon, and hatching little Mana Beast. Her favorite was the latter, and the idea of hearing those captivating stories once again excited her like a child in a candy shop. She nodded eagerly, "Yes, I would like that very much. Mr. Richard told great stories about his adventures," she blushed, raising her hand to her mouth as if to avoid sounding too improper, "and, well, tales of his... sexual escapades," she gulped, the heat of the room seem to be a little unbearable now, she tried to swipe a bead of sweat, but nothing was their.

The elderly woman seem to mimic Merlara's actions, raising a brow and hand at the unexpected answer, how vulgar, she thought. But that didn't change the matter at hand, she reminded herself. it was best to be leaving now then latter, time was of the essence. The elderly lady heaved a long sigh, wishing things would go smoothly, but she had an itch that it was going to be far form smooth, the bandits would make sure of that. "Merlara, it's best for us to be going now." The young women nodded happily with expectance, the worldly dangers of mankind, only fleeting story spoken about around campfires.

Ignorance is bliss, as the saying goes. The elderly women could only envy such naïveté, she grown old with age, and with it came experience. During her lifetime she seen things hadn't and done things she shouldn't, but that was all in the past now, and though she grown old, she still had a future ahead of her. It wasn't a time to be stagnant now… not now.

Merlara was tired, yet It didn't take her long to get up. Elves were known to live longer lives than humans and dwarves alike, thus they possessed more vitality and energy than the former. Merlara happened to been traveling for some time now, and not to mention whilst pregnant, so it was understandable for her to be drained both physical and emotionally after labor.