The Kingdom of Elvendor: Curse of the Forgotten

By Blood and Fire

The rhythm of my heart fastened, palms trembling and sweating. Looking at the woman standing before me, searching for my features on her face, I succumbed to emotions, dancing in my being to the epic songs of Viking warriors singing in the background.

Could she really be my mother?

Her gaze filled with sorrow. "No," she finally answered, her voice expressing mourning and her words breaking a piece of my heart. "She disappeared after your birth. I thought maybe she was with you, living a beautiful and meaningful life she always dreamed of. That she ran off with your father, because of the scandal her pregnancy caused in Elvendor."

I could not believe her words. She knew my mother. I, Elowen, have a mother. Of course I knew I had to have one, but to know something about her... It felt different. But she was missing. What happened to her? I wondered. Could she still be alive? Is there hope for me to find her? And why would her pregnancy be a scandal in Elvendor?

I wanted to say something, to ask her all sorts of questions, which I didn't know if I wanted answered. But my mouth kept shut, like I ran out of words. And hers broke me. For a moment I thought I could finally have a family. That I could finally have a place to call home. Instead, I now felt more alone than ever.

Eirik stepped closer, still in shock. "Wait... She's the daughter of Astrid?"

A smile formed on her face as her sight traveled all over me. "Yes. And she looked just like you, Elowen. You are a replica of Astrid."

Astrid. A name I knew would engrave in my mind forever.

Tears began to gather at the corners of my eyes. "A-and my father?"

She looked shocked. "You don't know him?"

"I grew up in an orphanage," I said with a trembling voice.

My words sliced into her soul like a dagger, that was just plunged in her heart. "Sadly, I do not know his name. She kept him a secret." Tears started falling down her cheeks. "My sweet child, what happened to you?"

All emotions, I thought were buried deep down in the back of my soul, started to break free. The memories of other Elvendor children with families, which filled my heart with jealousy, started to appear in front of my eyes. Flashbacks of mothers happily dancing with their young ones at celebrations. Fathers chasing around barely walking infants and pulling them into a hug. My desire to be cherished. To be seen. To be loved. It all came back in a flash. I broke down crying, almost screaming. It felt like my lungs were crashing, stopping me from breathing. The pain in my chest grew stronger, making me fall on my knees.

The woman instantly grabbed me in her arms. "You're not alone anymore," her voice softly whispered in my ear. "You have a family now. We are your family."

I knew she wanted to ease my pain, but her words seemed too good to be true. And besides, I couldn't stay here. Not after all this information. I needed answers. "No, t-that can't.... I'm-."

"Elowen," she stopped me, gently embracing my cheeks and beginning to stroke them. "I'm Astrid's sister, Viky. Your aunt."

I leaned back in shock. "My what?"

"You heard me, sweet girl. I am your family."

My head started spinning.

"Wait... My mom is a viking?"

"Yes," she confirmed my conclusions. "You're a hybrid."

I blinked, my mind racing. "A hybrid? How... how is that even possible? Vikings and elves..." I shook my head, my thoughts tangling like knotted thread. "They don't..."