Mystic

PRETENDING

    I woke up first like always, got dressed, and walked around the camp yelling and banging in tents to wake the elves up.

     Those who didn't wake up on my first try, were showed no mercy. For most, I kicked the posts that held their tent up, causing it to collapse on them. Others, who were particularly unlucky, got buckets of water dumped on them.

     I sent some of my older soldiers on a hunt for breakfast. They came back successful, wielding their prizes. Two deer and four rabbits was a good hunt.

As we waited for the meat to cook, we sat on logs and talked around the fire. Some conversations consisted of how mean of a leader I was, others excited for training, but most about their wives back home.

    They said things like "oh how beautiful my elf is, her love extends to me and mine to her" or "my wife is the best cook in the whole land, she can bake a real good pie".

That was the one topic I couldn't relate to. The men spoke of their wives like they were the best thing that ever happened to them. I sat awkwardly next to them waiting for someone to converse with me.

Lennon came up from behind and sat next to me."Hey, hard to converse with this topic?" He asked almost as though he knew what I was feeling.

"Are you not married?" I instantly it regretted after saying it.

He smirked "no, I live with my mom to take care of her, she is sick."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, may I ask why you are here and not with her?" I wondered why he would abandon her for the war.

"My brother is staying with her, I've been trying to get into the army for years and they finally accepted me, just at a bad time." He looked down at his hands "But I'm happy to be here" he looked back at me, forcing a smile. Tears edging on his eyes.

"I'm very sorry, I know how hard that can be. My father died in battle and my mother shortly after, from the depression." I looked into his ocean blue eyes, searching for something. Something I had never looked for before, love.