Through the Lies

1

     Anniera happily swept the kitchen floor as she hummed a cheerful tune to herself. Dinner would only be in an hour, yet it seemed like an eternity to this growing ten (soon to be eleven) year old girl. Already, her mother had had to shoo her away from the counters as she attempted to pre-taste the food. 

     Finishing with the floor, Anniera left for her room, intent on straightening it and cleaning up before dinner. She had always been neat, so the only things there were to pick up were a few scraps of cloth and a measuring tape left over from Anniera's quilting. She stepped over to the mirror and swiftly brushed out her hair. It was an unusual snow white color, reflecting light and shining in the sun. It was thick and waist-long, covering most of her back and her pointed ears. 

     Anniera loved being half elf. It enables her to move lightly and quickly without making noise. Her hearing was excellent and her eye sight impeccable. Even though she and her sister were a mere two years apart, Anniera was much more elf like, even though Amaryllis was older. The girls' elvish father continued his profession of a weapon smith even after marrying a mortal woman. The settled down near the town of Bree, only a few miles away. 

     As a child, Anniera had a connection to animals that she could not explain. One moment she would be speaking the common tongue, and the next some unknown language as soon as she spoke to an animal. By the house, there was a small wood with a brook running through it. Anniera loved to read on the bank and watch the animals. Once, she found a pure white Stallion near the stream. He seemed gentle and Anniera approach him carefully, stretching out her hand and rubbing his neck. As always, she wanted to name her companions, and she sub-consciously asked the horse what his name was. She wasn't expecting a reply, but when the horse snorted, she understood him. "Shadowfax."

     Anniera was startled from her thoughts when her mother called her to dinner. The food smelled delicious and Anniera was grateful for a peaceful and comfortable life. Right now, she felt perfectly happy, after all, what could go wrong?