Garthalan: Mother of the Wood

The Hate He Holds

Yeneffer pov

I struggled against the chains on the table. "please, you can't make me do this, I beg you! just leave me out of this one!" my wrist were bleeding now, as I shied away from the bracelet, they had wanted me to know what I was about to do, who I was about to kill.

"now you are our best soldier, If you were to sit this one out how many men would I lose? eh, and besides I wouldn't dare miss the chance to torture you further." the man laughed, he was the one who changed my sentence, the one who has sent all the orders for me to kill my own kind. this was the king of the high elves, he was far older than myself and held a lot of hate for my kind. King Quentiari, the true scourge of the Dales, as I like to call him.

artunous burst in the door at that moment. "what is going on here?!" he was furious. "you take my charge, without my permission, then torture her, and I have to here of it when I go to retrieve her!?" he punched Lord Ferrell, my torturer, then turned to the king, who I think flinched at this mans fury. "And you allowed this? I thought I could trust you! give me the key to her shackles." he held our his hand to a guard who handed him the keys. the king did not interject.

" If this happens again.......It will not be forgiven my king." he unlatched my chains and lifted me from the table. as we left I could feel the bliss of sleep over taking. but I looked back at the king, who gave me a wink, promising there would be more, then I let it take me.

"come on Yen, it's time to move." I looked up at my old master hunter, saltife, who was holding his hand out to me, I took it but as soon as I did it turned to ash.

"salife?, what's happening?" I looked to his face but it was no longer his face it was a crumbling ash sculpture. a voice rode with the wind to my ears.

"why? why have you condemned me?"

I shot up off the ground, the scenery had once again changed, I was sweating, sitting in a bed I do not recognise. this must be another dream. but I can actually feel air on my skin. it is cold but it feels so good.

"another nightmare?" I looked over to see artunous sitting by an open window.

"yes, though I'm not sure if I have awoke yet." he walked to me and poked a cut on my stomach, shooting pain through my body. "ah, what did you do that for?!"

"to show you your awake.....with no bracelet."

Garen pov

I ran down the street, I have to make it to lailas house, she will know what to do. I rounded a corner and almost ran into Gretha, Duncan and a few guards.

"what's going on here Garen?"

"its Adaya, we were....." I did not know what to call what we were doing, investigating the necklace? "i don't know how to explain it, but I need to find Laila."

"no need. that's her." Duncan pointed to a group of wood elves running towards where I had left Adaya, Laila running right behind her brother. we took off back towards Adaya.

Adaya pov

"Adaya! how'd you get up there?" I looked down to see Laila at the edge of the vines.

"I don't really know! but I will tell you Imma little freaked out right now!" the wind was picking up knocking me off balance for a moment. I crouched laying my hand on the stump to steady myself, I am not scared of heights, but I ussually choose to climb up, not randomly appear at the top.

Garen came back with some other men, but I already had Laila here, hopefully she could talk me through this before a large crowd gathered was preferable. Laila and Garen spoke for a moment then Laila looked back at me.

"Adaya! what is your family name?" She yelled back up.

why does everyone keep asking that? "Thalan!"

"Lay the amulet against your chest!"

"if I touch it I get higher!"

"just do it!"

I took a breath then did as ordered and moved the amulet to the skin on my chest, it started out between my breast then shortened on its own until it sat a perfect fit at the bottom of my throat. the images returned but this time with an understanding attached.by the time they had quit I knew just enough to start training myself in these powers. but for now I know how to get down. I hovered my hands at my side's and felt as I slowed down, the stump was no longer rising. I moved my fingers bringing myself down at an acceptable pace. once I got to the bottom I had to train myself how to control the vines. the amulet did not help there.I tried the first thing in my head and slashed my hand sideways. nothing happened.

I twiddled my fingers while thinking, as soon as I had an idea I quit moving my fingers, the vines stopped with them. screw putting my fingers in the ground, this works better.

I move my fingers apart seperating the vines as well. I balled them up then threw it to the ground. the vines sucked themselves up. the ground was now just as clear as before.

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just a warning. never look up elves in chains. (scarred for life.)

and also too I have 2k reads (eek!) yes it's so worth making that noise to me.