I was eighteen when I met Elara, a whimsical faerie. She was the daughter of faerie merchants and carried an air of mystery, she was untamed and wild as I was. Her features are delicate but expressive, with bright almond eyes that seem to reflect the magic of the forest . Her hair, a cascade of silvery strands , she wears it loosely , wild and untamed like her personality.
I was walking home weary during nightfall, the blue flames that lit the streets danced, casting a glow on the bleak allleyway.
It was cold and I kept blowing on hand to keep them from freezing and occasionally rubbing them together. The ground was icy cold and I walked slowly to avoid slipping on the wet floor. It'd be shame if I I fell and broke my head spilling it contents on the dirty muddy floors.
I heard a sound behind me and I turned sharply , I thought I saw someone or something flash by.
"Hello" I called out shakily, no response, I gripped the coins I had in my pocket tighter. It was just two copper coins but they'd last me a day or two. Robbers weren't uncommon in AshFall and I didn't have any special magic to evade or dispel them. Maybe it was just my eyes playing tricks on me or my imagination.
I resumed walking when I heard a chuckle this time and I was certain someone was there for sure. "Reveal yourself!!" I demanded in what I hope was an intimidating voice.
Two figures appeared from the shadows and walked towards me "mud blood!! Mud blood!"
They chanted and cackled as they stepped into the light. I swallowed hard as I made out their features, enormous heads, big ears shaped like cabbage leaves , pointy noses that faced downwards with warts scattered all over them, blood shot eyes and brown dagger like teeth, Green skin like the back of a toad's and that stench! I spat in disgust. Goblins!!.
I could recognize these two, they were part of the Broken ones, homeless and nuisances. Boggs and Joggs . Troublemakers these two were, thieves too.
"What do you want?" I asked irritated and slightly afraid as I backed up slowly preparing to flee. They grinned flashing their ugly teeth.
"Whatever you have there, Mud blood"
"My name is...." I started to say but remembered and Elf's name could be used to work against them or control them with the right magic.
They guffawed " Oh you don't have to worry about your name being used, there's nothing Elf-ish about you Mudblood" Boggs drawled . He was the taller and much uglier one.
" Now hand over the coins!" Joggs drew out a blade. I turned around and ran as fast as could . My nimble feet carrying me to gods know where. They ran after me their heavy boots pounding the floor behind me. I panted, my heart in my mouth as I ran into a left corner in the alleyway, they were still behind me.
A hand grabbed me and pulled me into a dark corner, I made to scream but I felt a cool hand clamp tightly on my mouth " shhhhhh!!" A voice hissed low and commanding . I froze , my heart racing as I was dragged deeper into the shadows of the alley.
The footsteps of my pursuers thundered closer, their angry shouts echoing through the narrow passage. My captor pressed me further into the corner. Her grip but strangely protective.
"Stay still " a silvery voice whispered audible over the sound of their boots.
The figures stormed past the mouth of the alley. their curses fading as they disappeared into the night, silence settled over us broken only by the sounds of my ragged breathing.
"You're welcome" my captor said releasing me abruptly . I spun around finally getting a good look at her.
I knew who she was, I've seen her around a couple of time with her merchant parents. She wore fine robes and cloaks with shiny boots that I admired, envied even.
She grinned, her eyes bright, dancing with mischief . Even in the sim light she seemed to shine, her wild curls spilling over her shoulders and a smudge of dirt streaked across her cheek. She looked like she belonged to the chaos of the town although she has just arrived a few weeks ago.
"Didn't think I'd let those brutes catch you, did you?" She teased , brushing off her skirts as though saving me was nothing more than a passing chore.
I gaped at her "thank you for saving me"
She waved her hand dismissing my gratitude.
"Be careful the way you say thank you to faeries" it was true, Faes were mischievous and cunning a simple "thank you" to them could have you in debted to them with your life.
"Elara" she offered her hand , I took it. " Liora"
"What are you doing here?" I asked her
"Looking for trouble obviously " she looked me up and down "and it seems like I found it" I became conscious of my dirty torn gown, it seemed like a sin next to her pretty one.
She tilted her head " Seriously Liora , what did you do to make those fools angry?"
" they wanted my coins" I muttered still shaken. " I didn't have enough to give them,so they...."
"Decided to pick on you" she finished for me , her tone darkening "typical AshFall scum, don't worry we'll get back at them". She straightened, her grin returning " Good thing you've got me now, I've been seeing you around"
I couldn't help but smile despite the adrenaline still coursing through me. Those Goblins could have murdered me for coins.
" I'm glad" I said softly.
She reached out to straighten my cloak " we've got to stick together, this town isn't kind to dreamers like us"
I frowned "Dreamers?"
" You know" she held my shoulders gently "the ones who don't belong here, the ones who want something more"
In that moment I felt a sense of kinship with her.
"Come on" she said grabbing my hand and tugging me towards the street "let's get out of here before they double I know a place where we can lay low for a while".
"Where?" I asked
"You'll see" she said with a grin , her wild energy pulling me along.
As we slipped through the twisting streets of AshFall I couldn't shake the feeling that Rlara wasn't just saving me from danger tonight , she was offering me a glimpse of something greater, a spark of freedom that I had dared to dream of.