The Story Of The Edin Elf

Two

The morning was bliss, calming and none of the less relaxing. Keéshaï tossed her way around until she found the strength to rise from the comfortable spot in her bed. She sat on the edge of it, looking out her hut window. The sun illuminated the green canopy around Keéshaï, birds sung their songs and wild life was more alive than most of the elders in the Clan. Keéshaï smiled softly at the irony of the life she lead. Abandoned at the Gates, unknown of her identity and straight away out casted the minute she was able to talk and walk. It had been a mystery to Keéshaï of where and how she came to this place. Did she ever have a mother and father? Were they're still alive?

I doubt it. 28 years ago I was abandoned by the Gates. There's no hope...not now anyway.

Keéshaï placed her head in her hands and heavily sighed at her daftness. She didn't want to think about that, not now.
Today she was to go hunting for some deer and furs. Something outdoorsy should make her feel better. She lunged from her bed and to her single draws, where she found her hunting gear.
Her bow and arrows were full, ready for the day ahead.

----

Keéshaï placed another arrow and aimed it towards the deer that was drinking water from the Fire River that flowed into Home Clan. Keéshaï took a sharp breath and squinted one eye, slightly shaking.

"Easy..." Whispering to herself when she aimed it at the right spot, back up straight as her aim seemed perfect.

Keéshaï fired.

A swift kill. Nice and easy. She rushed over to the game and hoped her arrow head didn't snap against some random bone. Onyx Arrows were hard to come by these days with the damned Civil War going on. She unsheathed her pelting knife and gently cut away the skin surrounding the arrow head. Each cut was perfect. When finished, Keéshaï sheathed her knife and pulled out the rare arrow.

"Ah..." She breathed, looking satisfied, "Not one scratch. I'll consider myself lucky...this time." The arrow head had some blood on it but nothing more.

It went back into its quiver and Keéshaï made foot back to the Home Clan. It was half past three an she was going to be late. She didn't care even if she was. It was no fun arriving early and waiting for the courier to come and pick up the wares. No, there was no fun it that. Keéshaï stepped over logs, rocks and shrubs as she made her way through the Forest. Mushrooms were rising and so were berries. Keéshaï loved berries. They were her favorite snack.

Keéshaï scrunched her face in disapproval. No, Keéshaï. Just get back and finish the day. Keéshaï finally reached the gates and waltzed in, seeing everyone's eyes instantly on her made Keéshaï fume, she felt her face go red with anger. Fia everyone here. Just get this over and done with. She reached the stand and saw an old Edin Elf man with wrinkles everywhere untouched his face.

"Daeli," his old ragged eyes saw Keéshaï's, as he smiled softly to her.

"Daeli, Elder."

"Ah, your that Elf that we found at the gate, 28 years ago, auî?"

Keéshaï's eyes widened with shock. She knew that everybody in Home Clan knew but they mostly forgot how she came here. Well, obviously not this Elder. He was seemed to know everything the world held with the look in his eyes.

"Yehî, Elder. That's true..."

"Pah, to Reoth with them all! Treating a Edin elf with such disrespect is a shame to our Clan."

"Oh, Elder, I think you have the wrong idea-"

"No, I don't. I know your really not an Edin, nobody knows what you are. I think your just a woman who wants to be treated like everybody else does."

Keéshaï, was yet again, taken back by the mans knowledge. "Tal Rá."

"You're very much welcome, my dear.
Now, I see you have some game?"

Keéshaï eyed the deer she hunted not so long ago. She suddenly remembered the reason she came to the stall.

"Ah, yes," she grabbed the deer with two hands and roughly threw onto the stall counter, along with multiple furs and pelts, "I have supplies."

"Grand, let me see..." He shuffled his hands around, examining the furs to see how much their worth was. Finally, he exhaled a satisfied sigh and smiled at Keéshaï. "You hunt pretty good, Rouugâ. So good, in fact, there's about forty three Hirals right here."

"Forty three? I'd thought there'd be at least ten Hirals."

"No, my dear. You should try the Tournament the Elders are holding. You'd be classed as a Worríé in a spilt second with your hunting skills!"

"Tal Rá." Keéshaï thanked him. No one rarely commented on her hunting skills.
The only one that really flattered Keéshaï was Adian. As he was kind, he was also a flatter. "I hope the Dwarfs will appreciate these, they took a lot of patients to hint these days."

"I don't blame you. The Magï and Worríé are 'resting' until the next winter."

"What? Why, though? The next fall isn't until eight months!"

"That's was I said," The man said, shaking his head in disapproval. "If I were only two hundred  years old again: I'd be on the front lines with the Gun-Qhi."

"That's generous for you to say that."

"I may be an Elder, but I know the word pride when I have to act."

There was so much stoic in his voice, also along with fury, as if he had regret built up in his soul. Obviously this Edin was a patron in the Young Era. Must have been one, if not, this Edin wouldn't be boasting about Keéshaï's talent. She felt strange when the Elder praised her of the skills she wielded. Keéshaï's lips speed into a small, thin smile.

"Well, it was an honour to speak you, Elder." Keéshaï said as she placed her fist on her left side on her chest, bowing in respect.

The Elder saw her appreciation and smiled also along with chuckle, "Its always nice to speak to someone with so much respect, even for an 'outcast' you have morals."

"Yehî, I do."

And with hesitation, he handed her the Hirals Keéshaï rightfully earned. The weight of the pouch wasn't too heavy nor too light. Keéshaï's eye starred done at the brown leather in her hands, wondering what she'll do with forty three Hirals. Maybe give it to Adian? Or the Elders, perhaps? Keéshaï couldn't decide but didn't argue with herself anymore.
The Elder looked at her and nodded in farewell, looking deeply into Keéshaï's orbs. She simply turned and headed home to her hut, where Keéshaï will decide what to do with so much coin.

----

It was past eight and Adian couldn't sleep. Without Keéshaï besides him in his lonely bed, he felt strange. Usually Keéshaï would spend dinner with him or in the Forests, hunting or looking up at the many moons. Adian sighed heavily and sought and yearned for Keéshaï to be by his side tonight. She'd surely be in bed now, wouldn't she? Or would she be hunting the lonely Forest? Adian sat up as he rested his elbows on his knees and gripped his black hair tightly, making a frustration sigh. His grey eyes rose up from the floor and out to his window, looking at the five moons in the night sky. Stars twinkled and gleamed as some fell and danced across the dark blue canvas. He smiled to himself along shutting his eyes, as the breeze gently blew in his pale face. He couldn't take it anymore. Adian gathered his clothes and a made his way to Keéshaï's hut without haste.