The Wolf and the Halla

Before It All

She awoke to the sounds of birds chirping. Something she often times did, after falling asleep on the hill overlooking the Camp. She liked it up there. She could see the sky and all the stars, she could dream of places far away from the stress of the Clan and all the responsibilities that meant for her as the First. They had lived peacefully for so long, but now..

"Adani?" The sound of a voice gave her a start. "Are you up here lethallan?" She let out her relief with a sigh, it was only the Keeper.

"Yes, Hahren. I fell asleep watching the camp. Ir Abelas." Adani said. Keeper Deshanna pursed her lips, but nonetheless, nodded in understanding. "Did I miss the morning hunt?" The old woman just nodded then turned and left. Adani thought that was odd. She had done this often enough for it not to be a surprise.

Adani headed into camp. As she approached she could already tell something was going on. It was too quiet. There were no laughing children, no morning chatter, only murmurs and whispers. She quickened her pace.

The Clan's Second, Frael, spotted her and started to approach, but then thought better of it and stood still. She shook her head however.

In the middle of the camp there were some elves, men, she hadn't seen before. That must be what all this is about, she thought. They looked disappointed. With her? Why? "Is something wrong, lethallin?"

"Indeed it is, First of Lavellan. It appears there is already a First.." His eyes wandered over to Frael, "and a Second", one of the other elves said. He laughed, but his eyes were cold. "It is not a problem. I came because unfortunately my daughter is a mage. I was hoping to find a place for her to go." His words were smooth, but his eyes betrayed him. He was angry still.

"Ir abelas, hahren. I do hope you find a place for her."

"Ah, indeed. As do we. Thank you for your time, Clan Lavellan." he turned to leave. Walking toward the nearby trail, he bumped shoulders with the Keeper, he whispered something to her. Her face turned dark for a moment, and then he turned and left. The Keeper quickly changed her expression and began busying herself with making sure everyone had eaten. Her look of unease had not went unnoticed, however.

Adani tried to approach her about it once the men were absent, but she had simply said "Not now, Adani," and had continued to busy herself around camp.

Adani instead approached the Second. They watched together in silence a moment before anyone spoke.

"Fenedhis." Frael broke the silence with a curse. "Those men looked like bad news." Adani nodded her agreement. Frael was born in Lavellan, and was lucky enough to be the first mage in a long time, taking the place as Second. Adani respected her talents as a mage, but she was still a child, only in her 17th year.

"Something is off. Those men were..unsettling" Adani replied, picking at a loose string on the hem of her sleeve.

After dinner that night Adani decided to approach her with it again. It had weighed heavily on her all day. It had been difficult to focus on hunting anything. She scared away three nugs and a group of halla. She had attempted to fish to no avail. Eventually she just picked some berries and root and headed back to camp for a bath. After the bath in the stream and some fresh clothes, she headed up for supper. Deshanna was siting alone on the ledge of an aravel.

Adani decided to skip the soup and nug and went straight towards the elderly woman. The Keeper had always been open with her. It was strange that she would keep to herself all day. Even as a young woman, maybe in her 16th year, when Adani's original Clan, Clan Lyklor, had sent her here, Deshanna had been like a mother to her.

Her parents brought her on some of the Clans best horses and had spent the day making sure she was comfortable, and that the people were nice. They had acted so strong, but she knew how much it pained them that she had to be sent to a different camp. Lyklor already had a First and Second, so they had spent a year trying to make sure that Adani had somewhere to go. She wondered how they were. Did they have more children? Did they wonder about her as much as she did them?

"Keeper Deshanna, are you all right? What did that man say to you?"

"Oh, Adani. We were his last hope for his daughter. She is only in her 13th year and already a talented mage. He was angry. He said.. I.." she began to get choked up and Adani rushed to her side.

"What? Hahren, what did he say to you?" her mind ran wild. Had he cursed her for not taking in the child? Invoked Fen'Harel on her? As if the issue were her fault alone.

" He said 'Dareth shiral, until we meet again, Keeper."

"But Keeper-"

"No, Adani. It is how he said it. With malice. Like I could do something to help his child but chose not to," her voice caught and she put her head in her hands. Her dark brown hair falling over her face in waves.

"Deshanna, what Clan did they come from?" the woman just shook her head. "Hahren?"

"They came from Clan Lyklor, my dear."

.....................................................................................................................
Translations
Hahren = elder, someone to be respected
lethallin(an)= kin, of the same blood
Fen'Harel= The Dread Wolf. An eleven God.
ir abelas= i'm sorry
dareth shiral= safe journeys