The Navigator

Prologue

Anadia watches as her young daughter skips around the meadow. Watching the little girl, Anadia reflects on the past...

"You must leave." Anadia stares in disbelief at her king.

"But, my lord, you can't just send me and the child away..."

"I can and I will. Only the purest of blood may live in the Greenwood Kingdom. Now get out of my sight!"

...

"Mum?" Anadia snaps back to the present and looks down to see two green eyes looking at her in worry. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, daughter." Anadia smiles at Vistial, who kisses her mother's hand before running back out to play. She closes her eyes for a moment only to have them snap back open when a foreign, yet familiar language reaches her ears. Anadia scans the meadow, searching for the source. Her eyes widen as two Orcs emerge from the tree line, right in front of her daughter.

"Vistial!" Anadia is on her feet, bow drawn. The girl turns at her name and starts to run back to her mother, the Orcs on her heels. Anadia shoots the Orc on the left, killing it instantly. She notches another as the other Orc grabs ahold of Vistial, who screams in fear.

"Let her go now, monster." Anadia orders, arrow pointed at the Orc. The creature chuckles as it moves its sword against the girl's throat. Vistial whimpers in fear, tears streaming down her face.

"Not unless you die, elvish filth!" The Orc shouts. Anadia stands her ground, glancing between her daughter and the nasty creature. She screams as pain erupts from her back. Anadia looks down to see a sword-point sticking out of her chest. The Orc that had snuck up behind the she-elf rips its sword out again and Anadia falls.

"Mum!" Vistial wiggles out of the Orc's grasp and runs to her mother's side. Anadia's eyes stare lifelessly into space. The 3 year-old cries to her mother to wake, grasping Anadia's bloodied hand in her own.

"Kill the child." The second Orc orders. Just as the other creature goes to stab the young girl, a brilliant flash of light knocks the two back. A man in grey robes stands in front of them, blocking their path. The second Orc orders a retreat and the two disappear into the forest. Gandalf turns swiftly to Vistial.

"Mum, wake up. Please wake up." The child sobs. Gandalf kneels next to Anadia and closes her eyes. He then looks at the orphan that sat before him.

"My child, come with me." Gandalf says, holding out his hand. When the girl hesitates, Gandalf speaks again softly. "I mean you no harm. It will be alright." Vistial takes one more glance at her mother's body before taking the wizard's hand. The man leads her away, keeping her facing forward.

"Everything will be alright, little one."