Silverclaw

The Village Elders

 Anya stared at the village she had grown up in. It hadn't changed. There was the inn, with Garrick tending to the horses as he always had, and over there was Astri, the local washer woman, cleaning the villagers' clothes in the waterfall the village had been built around and named for.

 Dismounting from Princess, she landed lightly on the ground as an older man walked towards her.

 'Anastasia. It has been too long since we last saw you. You have grown since last we met.'

 Anya smiled. 'Elder Davros! You haven't changed at all.'

 Darian and the others dismounted behind her, their swords clanking against their sides.

 'Majesty, we needs must get on with our business.' Darian said calmly, stepping up beside her.

 Davros recoiled. 'What is this? You are Queen, now, Anya?'

 Anya's gaze turned serious. 'In a way, yes. I've come seeking your help, Davros.'

 'This is a tale I think we all need to hear. Please, all of you, follow me. We can sit in comfort while we talk.' Davros took a step away, towards his house, only to be brought to a stop by Iris stepping behind him.

 'Forgive me, Elder, but we have other companions travelling with us that need your permission to enter the village. They were stopped at the boundaries.' Iris's firm gaze met Davros's, and he frowned.

 'What is this? There is only one people of this world who would be stopped at the boundary, and they are...'

 'My subjects, Elder. I have been chosen as Queen of the Elves. Iris, please stop it. We are here to ask for help, not to force our way in.' Anya raised an eyebrow at her friend, who nodded and stepped away from him.

 'You? Queen of the elves? Anya, that is impossible! If that were so, then you would not have been allowed entry to the village!' Davros spluttered in amazement. Anya watched him a moment before sighing. Reaching up, she lifted her hair so he could see her ears. Since she had accepted the circlet and sword, they had become much more pronounced, almost to the point where she couldn't hide them anymore.

 'I'm a halfling, Elder. My ancestors were both elves and humans. I am also the Crown Princess of this country.' Her hair dropped back into place as she smiled sadly. 'It was as much a shock for me as it likely is for you, Elder.'

 Davros gaped at her, disbelieve clear to see in his eyes. Darian, noticing this, frowned.

 'Majesty, if the Elder Davros cannot help us, then whom should we speak to? Lady Dievra and Lord Okril are waiting on us.' He eyed Davros, who swallowed nervously.

 'You come on snow leopards, with fighters at your side and a sword upon your hip. Anastasia, it appears that you have more than changed. You are a completely new person. You don't need to ask the Elders' permission to bring in your people to the village. Your blood, if indeed you tell the truth, allows you to bypass the spells that Our Lady cast on the village.' Shaking, he rubbed his face with one hand. 'It appears that the elves are no longer our enemies. You may as well lower the spells completely, Anya. We have not needed them for a very long time, now.'

 Anya nodded, and raised her gaze to the sky. 'Darian, please take Elder Davros inside. If you could get him something to drink, then I am certain he will appreciate it. Princess, shift please. Stay with Darian and Carlos for now.'

 'What of us, Majesty?' Amelie asked, her soft gaze curious.

 'You two go and let Dievra and Okril know that the shield should be down soon.'

 Anya lifted her arms, calling the wind to her, lifting herself up into the sky over the village. Turning, she surveyed the land around her, and she soon realized that there was a ring around the village that couldn't be seen, and yet could be felt with Silver. Closing her eyes, she flung out her arms and her Silver, testing the boundaries with all she had.

 When her eyes opened, they had turned a silverey colour that moved as if alive. The six elements appeared around her, floating in mid air. Fire, water, light, dark, air and earth all surrounded her, making her appear more and more like a witch.

 'Ancestor mine, your blood flows within me. Your spell has lasted for thousands of years, your legacy remembered forever more. Times have changed, the people as well. The elves are our friends now, and we need their help. I ask your permission to lower the spells upon this village, so we can bring the elves here to help us defend our lands!'

 A loud BOOM shook the village, but otherwise the village was left unharmed, apart from in front of Anya. A figure hovered in front of her, insubstantial in form, but still clear enough that the shape of a woman, far taller than Anya herself, could be seen. The woman's eyes opened, revealing them as being pure white. No other colour could be seen. 'Who disturbs my sleep...?'

 'I do, Lady Anastasia. I am Rose Anastasia Irthis, descendant of you and the man you loved. I beg, Lady Anastasia, for you to allow me to lower your spells. The elves are our friends now, and we need their help.'

 'Show me your mind, Rose Anastasia. I wouldst like to see this for myself.' The ghost hovered in front of her, reaching for Anya's face. Her hands were ice cold when she touched Anya's face, and the ghost hissed in pleasure.  'You are full of warmth and Silver. Never have I felt so much Silver, not in all the years I have been bound here on this earth. So much Silver... Perhaps... Maybe you are the one who can free me and the villagers from this prison. But first you must show me your mind, Anastasia.'

 Anya didn't hesitate. Opening her mind to the ghost, she offered it to the apparition before her, letting her see everything that she was. After a while, the ghost of her ancestor released her.

 'You are the one, child. Free us all. Release the spell, and free us into the ether. Do not be surprised at what you see afterwards, remember that the people of this village loved you greatly. Bring the elves and save your people, Rose Anastasia Irthis. Save them, and save us. Follow your heart, Anastasia, descendant of mine.' The ghost reached out and gently touched Anya's chest, right over her heart. 'It is pure and will show you true. Do not regret anything that you must do in order to save your people, Anastasia. And always remember, to follow your heart. I was wrong. It is not Silver that you are filled with, it is the purity of Gold. Goodbye, child...'

 Anya gasped in surprise at her words. What did she mean? She opened her  mouth to ask, but it was too late, she was already gone. Disturbed, Anya floated back down to the ground, her eyes clearing as her feet landed perfectly. Astri and Garrick, who had both been watching her, walked over to her, smiling sadly.

 'Anya, you must have so many questions right now. Unfortunately, we can't answer them for you. You and you alone can answer them, especially the ones in your heart.' Astri took her hands, smiling into her eyes. 'When Melia first brought you here, you were so young. And now, here you are, on a journey all your own, almost full grown. None of us had any idea who you could have possibly been, Anya. She never told any of us. And now, seeing you here, you look so much like Anastasia that I'm amazed none of us ever saw it before.'

 Anya's eyes widened. 'Astri, what are you saying?! If you knew Anastasia, then that would mean...'

 Garrick coughed, drawing her gaze. 'Anya. We raised you; taught you and cared for you. Melia saw fit to not tell us of your heritage, or we would have brought you into the village and cared for you properly there. Seeing you now, though, it is so obvious that it's almost painful. You look just like she did when she cast the spells that keep us here.'

 Anya trembled, eyes wide. 'Garrick... I...'

 He shook his head. 'Enough. We won't say anymore, Anya. You have work to do, anyway. You should do what you were born to do, and stand strong no matter what should happen. What Anastasia said about you was true, we've all seen it. Go; go to the mountain top and release the spell. Once you have, you will understand why this village still existed after all these years.'

 Anya's face turned grim, and she nodded, drawing her hands from Astri's hands. She was about to walk away when Astri caught her hand once more, pressing something into it.

 'For you, Anya. I always planned to give it to you anyway.' She smiled sadly, and then walked away, back to the laundry that needed her attention.