Garthalan: Mother of the Wood

It's All in the Name

Duncan pov

"We also have a cave here, I walked down it and its a strait path to the other side of the mountain, we should post gaurds and buid a door on either side, this way we can escape, if the need arises." I had been pointing out numerous flaws in the defenses, Gretha was one of the best commanders but he took too much work upon himself, it had not given him time to look over the security of the castle, and he was used to gaurding camps not castles.

"It will be done, is there anything else you would like to discuss before I become to busy to accept counsil?"

"Yes there is one. This girl we brought back, the wood elf, she may be the thing that brings the whole order of majora to our doorstep, and they are already course with us from your departure, if the assasins have not been clue enough."

"That may well be but tell me did you pay attention to her? The way her skin was pale, eyes blue, she even mounted my horse and it gave no problems or fuss." I had noticed but had'nt given it much thought with all the other things I had going on.

"Yes sir, is their a meaning behind it?"

"Yes, the pale skin indicates she is elven royalty, we lost track of the lines when the war broke out, but if my memory serves me correctly, Garen had been bitten by a snake when she felt he was a danger, she can control animals, and the forrest, she may not know of these gifts yet being so young with no guidence from her liniage, but I beleive that liniege is from the house of Thalan, one of the most powerful families in this land, they actually discovered along with the dark elves, the family of Gardetan. We need to ask her family name to confirm but she could be the end of this pointless witch hunt for our woodland cousins." Gretha seemed very content in ending the war, though I do not understand how the girl could bring and end to the it.

"Well sir I can go and ask her, she seems to be course with you for the time being."

"I have already sent Garen to do so."

Adaya pov

I had just gotten everything into my new home, I chose one by the garden, though it looked to have been forced into its shapes, it was the closest I could get to the forrests I was used to, perhaps I would make a garden of my own, one where the plants can be free to do as they please, I always did love the wild nature of vines, you can coax them into the shape you want, but they cannot be forced into submission as the garden her was.

I had let Liya go to meet some children who played along the wall, they seemed to be of all different races so I did not have to worry of her being an outcast amongst them. there was a knock at the door, you would think they would allow me some peace until I was settled in a bit, but this does not seem to be the case.

I opened the door to find non other than Garen standing their, I allowed him past though I had not set out the chairs or anything yet. "did you need somthing?"

"Yes I was sent to ask your family name, if you remember it that is. also I would like to help you set up your house, it would be a job by yourself." To the point for once, if it keeps going this way I actually decide to stay.

"Well thats and odd question, but it's Thalan. Now I would like to unpack the kitchen first, I promised Liya some cookies when we got here." we walked to the few boxes I had for the kitchen, most were food or spices but I made sure to bring my own stove, it was small and light, made for travel so we had no trouble loading it, there was another stove their as well which I would use for my everyday cooking, but my stove was mainly for the cookies. we started to set it up.I would have to cut a hole in the other pipe so it will let the smoke through.

"So ive been meaning to ask, whats the deal with you and animals? when we were attacked on the road the other day I noticed some wolves had come to the treeline, they took a few of the men but were scared off when Gretha started casting spells."

"My best guess is that they come to my aid because of my race, I have never really figured it out, though if I think someone is an imidiate threat they will attack them the first chance they get. It was why that snake bit you when you followed me."

"Theres that too, do you really not remember me? I have'nt changed apearence wise, in the least over the past five years."

I hesitated for a moment before answering. "You have not given me any reason to trust you, other than not lying about this place, you have followed me home, used spells on me... the first time we met you killed my family." I could feel tears coming I did not try to hold them back, if I can not cry about a death in the family, then what can I cry about?

Gareth pov

I wanted to bring her into an embrace but as she just said she does not trust me, so it would not be much of a comfort, she was still trying to connect the last link in the pipes, but the tears seemed to be obstructing her vision a considerable amount, after the fifth try she finally became frustrated and threw it down. she climed down from the stool and I caught a glimpse of the sorrow in her eyes, just as she beleives wood elves conjure aid from beasts, High elves are prone to magic, and we could also see every feeling in even the most trained polatitians eyes.

In her eyes there was such deep sorrow that I could no longer help myself, I took her in my arms and led her to the bed, we sat on the side and she leaned into me and let the tears roll, she seemed to keep her emotions in check very well, but it would seem she has not spoken of her family since the event, I suspect she has not spoken to anyone but her sister Liya in the five years since her family died. Though I was not positive I had an idea as to which family it was, most likely the ones whos fought through the full night until they bled out from the small cuts gradually made on them. A strong family who fought hard, not the death they deserved. I offered her my cantine, she took it and took a sip, then as though she had cried herself dry she turned up the can and took whatever was needed from it. she began to mumble things I could not understand then fell asleep. I lay her down and at just that moment LIya walked in with some new little freinds about her own age.

I put my finger to my lips to shush the girl but she had already figured it out, she turned to her new freinds. "Im sorry, you can meet her tomorow, shes tired and sleeping right now." she turned them back to the door and came to the bed with nothing but concern written on her face. this was not a look I had seen before, she always had a smile on her face, her eyes always showed nothing but joy and love for her sister. but now that Adaya was not awake, she looked to be sad. "please don't tell her about this, she has hard enough time already, she does not need to know that I am ever not happy."

that was the most words I had ever heard her say, they still had the slight slur that children make but still she is a lot more mature than she lets on. "When she wakes would you tell her that I will come again tommorow, then we can finish the rest?" the young girl shook her head in response then climed in the bed with Adaya. I walked into the kitchen and finished out the stove pipes. Then I headed back to the castle to tell Gretha the name she had given me.