LongestRoad Ellowyn: Greywood

I did gloss over that part a bit, didn't I? Twelve whole years is quite a long time to some people, myself included. Of course, to most inhabitants of this serene village, it is little more than a moment. Tandrien would tell you I was barely there, and gone again. But he was not the only influence Greywood had on me -- there were a few other children near my age, each of whom had their own effects on me. At first, I had little eye for the differences between the elven and half-elven children, though after a few years I did notice that Raine and I tended to "catch up" to Azathael and Lorindael.

When I was brought to the wood by a hunting group, I was just shy of ten years old. Most people are familiar with ages of humans and half-elves as they grow up, but Pevishan have an even shorter lifespan that a human. Most of my kind are settled into a career and a marriage by the age of fifteen or sixteen, and bear their last child in their late twenties. So, I was still a child at ten, but little more childish than Raine was at thirteen, or Lorindael at fourteen. Azathael was old enough to be the obvious leader of the group, as he was almost seventeen years old. He had real tasks and duties, learning to become one of the hunters. But still, of course, he found plenty of time for mischief.

At first, though, I only spoke to Tandrien. I was still quite frail, even after my sickness had been cured. I was not so skilled at finding myself enough food and water in the wilderness, and needed more time to recover. It was a few weeks before I was allowed to come down from the room Tandrien had made for me. And once that happened, the rest is quite a myriad of little stories.

Raine

The first person I met, when I finally crawled out of Tandrien's tree, was an entrancing half-elven girl. She was curled up at the foot of another tree nearby, idly plucking at the strings of a small harp. When I reached the ground and looked over at her, she smiled. She didn't look up at me, just smiled to herself. I still don't know exactly what that smile meant. I think it may have been her way of laughing at me for being so awkward and clumsy. Elves just instinctively know how to climb around that place. It's a little ridiculous.

She was a pretty girl, and played the harp rather well already, even when she wasn't really trying. Her smile was kind, and it dimpled her cheeks a little, transforming her whole face into a warm and friendly expression. It would be classic to say I fell in love at first sight, but that's not really what happened. She had sparkling brown eyes and wavy auburn hair, that looked a little more red that usual against her pale skin and the gray bark behind her head. I was just a little bit jealous. Jealous of her simple attractiveness, her peaceful smile, her calm and collected attitude. I recognized in myself that I was so jumpy and gawky and confused, and I saw none of that in her.

I took a short walk, not straying too far from the tree. When I was tired, I dragged my feet back towards the sound of the harp again. I sat down at the foot of my own tree, and listened for a little while. After a few minutes, a soft voice joined the harp. I looked, startled, not quite believing that voice was really her. But there was no one else nearby -- it was her, singing. It was a gentle, simple song, but she made it haunting. I closed my eyes and listened for a while.

I woke up with Tandrien sitting nearby. The girl was gone, and Tandrien was smiling at me, but looked concerned.

"Just sleeping, little Lakash?" he asked me.

I nodded. "There was a girl with a harp. I took a little walk...and then I sat to listen. She was singing--"

"Ah." Tandriend interrupted me, and chuckled. "So you've met Raine then?"

I could already feel my eyelids drooping again. "Is that her name?" I asked.

"Yes," Tandrien said, helping me stand up and reach the ladder. He shooed me up, and climbed up behind me.

"I hope she will like me. I miss people my age." I was already crawling back into the bed, half asleep again.

The Brothers

When I was strong enough to do chores again, Tandrien developed a habit of always choosing for me the tasks that would push me the most. I was out fetching fresh water from the stream, and while carrying it back, heard a footfall behind me and to one side. I spun around and stepped back, sloshing a little bit of water onto the ground. As I was looking around, a young man stepped out sheepishly from behind a tree.

"Guess I'm still a little sloppy," he said. I wasn't sure what to say, so I just sort of stood there. Come to think of it, I was probably staring like an idiot. I was young -- it's my only excuse.

"They say your name is Lakash...you looked so sick, when we found you. I hope you're feeling better now." He looked like he was trying to figure out whether to smile or not. I nodded.

"You found me? I don't remember very much of it."

He nodded. "It was my first time out with a real hunting party. I helped them carry you home. My mother is a healer...we brought you to her. By the way, my name is Azatha." He moved to help carry the water, but stopped when I made a face.

"Tandrien will scold me, if I don't do my chores myself. Apparently, even carrying water is and important part of my training." I didn't really understand that part, yet, so I probably said that rather disdainfully. But I had definitely learned not to circumvent anything I was told to do.

"So you are studying with him. Raine said you were staying there. Mom says it's been a long time since Tandrien taught anyone. He must have really taken a liking to you."

"You know Raine?" I asked.

"Of course. There aren't many people our age. Me, Raine, and my little brother Lorin. I think the next closest are all in their fifties or something. They stop counting when you come of age here. Which I won't for a while. So, we kids have to stick together." He winked. I grinned. He looked up. "Hey, we're just about back, and I need to run -- but come find me later, when Taskmaster Tandrien gives you a few minutes off. I'll introduce you to my kid brother."

"I usually get some free time on Saturdays..."

"Oof. He really is tough on you. Okay, Saturday it is. West edge." He stepped off between a few trees, and when I looked away for a moment, he was gone.