Garthalan: Mother of the Wood

Trouble On the Road

Adaya pov

" How did you escape?" I was entranced in a story from Duncan one of his aparently many ventures into Hells Thaig, where all the demons dwell, this one He and his men had been caught by a HIgh demon and were now in a cell awaiting to be either eaten or possesed.

"Well Las that was the simple part beilieve it or not, when one of the lessers came in to retreive one of my men he knocked it out and untied us, after that the gaurds were fairly scarce, so we headed up killed Bhelen and left without further resistance until we got to the surface that is. it turns out one of my men were possesed it took almost six men to secure him while we extracted it, thankfully he survived the encoounter, with the help of an air fae." It was a little faster end than I wanted but I got the feeling that somthing else happened that he did not want to say, so I let it go.

Gretha held up his hand for us to still, as soon as we did I heard why, there was somthing following us, and it did not feel like an animal. I motioned for Liya to hide and she buried herself under some of our belongings. I got off of my horse and readied my bow, we could not run from anything with any speed due to the wagon, I do hope these men can fight. I spotted a figure cross trees closer than I would wish for, It seemed that we were surrounded, I moved away from my horse to ensure it was not hit in any crossfire that may occur, I noticed the other three readiedthemselves with sword and sheild, minus Gretha he kept his sword sheathed he seemed to observe every movement in the forest though.

As fast as it took to draw my bow its as fast as it took for the chaos to erupt, first arrows came flying from every direction, shortly after men came charging from the tree line I loosed one arrow after another until I had run dry, then I drew my sword, it was a shortsword just as theirs but they were just a little slower than myself, I slashed and stabbed hitting necks or chest with each movement, I after I had a few seconds to catch a breath I looked to the others Duncan and garen were in defensive possitions while duncan cast a burst of energy offing a large group of attackers, perhaps this is why I felt the sense of trust with him, a nuuta spell, I would be angry with him later though right now I had more attackers to be rid of.

I advanced into the forrest took down an archer, giving me more arrows, this time I picked my targets I shot every archer I could see then I took my sights to what seemed to be the leader of the group yelling in a language I did not know and pointing my way. before he could finish I put one in his neck I could seen the moral of what was left of the group drop at the death of this man, they had lost so many and from what I could tell none of us were even winded yet, I let loose two more arrows into the group sending them running back into the dense of the forrest.

The fight was over, I now had the chance to be angry with the wizard, or so I thought when I went to take another step an arrow peirced my arm and I dropped my bow, I drew my dagger spotting the man sitting atop a tree, I threw the knife just as a blast of energy hit him sending him flying into the next tree in his way, I wanted to be angry with these men but right this moment I had an arrow sticking out of my shoulder which now without the adrenaline was sapping my energy. I leaned against a tree trying my best not to look as though I were in pain while the others ran my way, I spotted Liya poke her head up from the wagon which gave me a great deal of reilef, Duncan seemed to be checking on her so I turned my attention to the immidiate problem.

I attempted to pull the arrow from my shoulder but just a touch sent white hot pain coursing through my body, "Garen, would you pull this out for me?" He immiadiatly grabbed it and broke the back sending another bout of pain through me but before I could tell him to stop he was pulling it out, despite trying my best not to I screamed as it left. I could feel the tears of pain welling in my eyes, I had been shot before it had never caused this much pain, I wonder if it was poisined with somthing. I must have been very lost in my thoughts because Gretha was now shaking me. I came to my senses and seen that they had ripped my shirt and patched my shoulder, probably for the best or whoever had ripped it would be lifeless on the ground right now.

"Adaya. Adaya?" his voice was a little raised but I suspect that was from having to repeatedly get my attention, I looked at him and put my hand on his shoulder to let him know I was alright, I picked myself up and walked to the wagon, I grabbed one of my elixers and downed it, it should help get my mind back in working order and not the jumbled state its at right now.I had used it once before when I fell out of a tree and broke my leg. it set me in a state that I could create a splint and make it back to the shack without much trouble.

Just as I had hoped I was able to think more clearly and focused on the type of pain I was feeling if the books were correct I believe this was the sap from a hollow tree, if you knew how to treat it, it would be no real problem other than the pain it creates, but without aid it would deteriorate you mind until you were little more than a walking drooling corpse. lucky for me I've made an antidote for most senarios. "Liya. find the bottle marked Hollow, it should be in that box you've been laying your head on." she did as I asked and threw the bottle to me, I took a sip and felt the antidote do its work, it was a little painful even with the focus I had taken, but It did help, only ten minutes later I was up and ready to be angry with a wizard.

"Gretha." my voice was a little raspy but in a way it added to the angry tone I had, I could tell he was being cautious with his answers.

"Yes, is there somthing else you need m'lady?"

"Did you use a spell to convince me to come with you?" now he was just trying to control an already bad situation, I do not beileve he will use it twice, that would be unforgivable.

He looked at the ground in shame as he answered."Yes, I did, but it was to ensure you were safe, the order of Majora would have found you eventually and I think it would be best if you were in a place where you could be protected." on the last part he started to sound more confident in his answer and met my eyes. he must have seen the anger because he flinched, but met them again nontheless. I could see that he was truly sorry for what he had done, and he probably did have my best interests in mind but it still infuriated me.

"lets go." I did not yell, I did not keep my angry tone, I would not trust this man again but it was to late to go back, if the place was not all that he had promised then I would take my sister and leave, find a new place and start over again, she was old enough now that we could travel as I had dreamed of doing again for so long. perhaps I might even find another clan of wood elves though that seemed unlikely we are being hunted and would either be well hidden or dead.

I Mounted the horse once again greatful that it had not been hurt in the skirmish, I looked around me at all the bodies I had laid down, it ate at my soul that I could kill so many so easily, these were not even the people hunting me they were orcs, a nasty bunch when on the war path they tend to keep to themselves and only attack those who enter their territory. the once good ride was now one with an aura of anger and distrust, it seemed the only happieness here came from Liya who I think only kept up a smile for my sake.