I hope you enjoy this.I wrote this story a few years ago and I'm just now putting it up. I don't believe this is one of my better stories but if someone likes it that would be wonderful. Please Read and Review. I will love you forever if you do.

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I was young when the war started, about 14 I guess, but when it ended, I was old. Not old in years really, the war only lasted a few decades, which is actually very short in our land depending upon who you were, but old in spirit. I had too many friends die in my arms, and saw too many bloodstained fields. When the war was over I cursed the eyes that saw the horrors and the feet that brought me into battle and the mind that would not let the memories fade. I had left our pitiful shack in the midsummer of that year. No one tried to stop me. I was useless to them. I carried no magic or gift, unlike the rest of my family. They often called me a full fledged human, which is an insult to our kind. Our kind. The Aelifili. The beings higher then all others, the closest relations to the gods. And I was one poor excuse for one. I couldn’t even light a fire with a thought of my magik. The toddlers of our kind can do that.

So I set off in search of the adventure that never came near, the kind that you had to set out and travel hundreds of miles to find. And I was going to do it. It was unusual by its self that one of our kind would travel more the a few dozen miles from the edge of the wood, but what was so strange was that I was a female and was going to do it. We women who live in the crossway woods usually like to stay and play with our little spells and such within the security of the trees, while the men would tend the cattle and that like. I sat atop my childhood pony, Thistle, a bow and arrows on my back and a dagger at my hip. I looked around. No one was even going to see me off. They thought me a fool, going on a fool’s errand. Well, who said I ever needed them. I’d come back, and I would be the best warrior that ever walked the dus of the earth. I spun thistle around and kicked him into a gallop, going in the direction of the setting sun.

No one ever thought to tell me, that riding would hurt my rear-end so much. Oh, I had ridden before, but never for so long or so much. By the time I made it to the inn that was a good half a days ride, I could hardly get off my horse’s bareback. One of the stable hands had to help me down. He was trying not to laugh at me at the time, but after he ran into one of the horse stalls and I could hear him gasping for breath, as his high pitch giggle echoed around the barn.

I paid for my nights stay with king Neomilin’s signature gold and silver coins.

The innkeeper was a burly man with a rather long, gray beard and a shiny baldhead. He inspected the coins with an expert’s eye, spat on them, and called a serving girl over. The serving girl was rather plain looking, she had dull gray eyes and long, stringy, dirt colored hair. She was a mousy creature.

Alevick, as I had learned was the innkeepers name, instructed the young girl.“An’ I want hers to be comfortable. We ain’ts gots no time to be runnin’ back an’ forth to hers room all nigh’.”

The young girl dipped down in a curtsy and beckoned me to follow her. We scurried up the stairs together. She directed me into the room I was to stay in.

The room was fair, nothing extravagant or expensive, but good and solid.

I lay my head down one of the pillows as sleep claimed me. Tomorrow the adventure would begin.

I awoke as the weak shafts of dawn light leaked through the shutters, creating a pool on the floor. I dressed quickly, and sprinted down the stairs. I grabbed an apple of one of the tables in the common room, and headed out the door into the crisp morning air.

I stood on a large rock, which was at the edge of the inns premises. I held my arms out at my side and spun around with my eyes closed, enjoying the freedom that I never had with my people. The morning air was blowing fast, spinning leaves around in it like a tornado while it sped of towards its destination, blowing my rather long hair in all directions. I kept turning, faster, and faster on the great flat surface of the stone. The direction in which I was looking when I stopped would be the direction I would take on my journey. I stopped spinning and opened my eyes when I almost fell off the stone, my leg slipping down its side, spilling rocks and dirt downhill in a miniature avalanche. I sat on the edge and let my feet dangle. I was facing west. That would be the direction I would take.

When the rest of the inn awoke I decided then that I would take my leave. I checked out, went to the stable to properly saddle Thistle, and then I was off.

Thistle, if he could have talked, I think would have been grumbling about having to put up with such a bad rider. My seat in the saddle was so bad that I felt every bump along the road.

The trees stood at the side of the road like guardians. And I believe some were. Everyone has heard the stories of the demon and faerie trees. If a demon tree caught you, and it smelt evil on you it would transform you into a hare, the sign of the evil sorcerers. If you got caught b a faerie tree on the other hand, it would not reveal it’s self to you unless it senses that you have a good heart, then it will give a magic object of what it thinks will do you the most good. But either way, whether it was a faerie or a demon, the trees still unnerved me. I had the feeling of being watched. I even thought I saw eyes on a large birch tree, although when I looked back to see if my own eyes were deceiving me, the tree’s were there no longer.

I ate my midday meal of cold cheese and bread on thistle’s back, noticing that the trees were growing thinner and there was more sunlight on the path. I started to see more, and more travelers on the road. Some, farmers I presume, were driving oxen with loaded provisions wagons. They would lift their hats in greeting, but would say nothing more. I would nod my head in acknowledgment.

I concluded that they must be going to help one of the smaller kingdoms to the south of where I was going, which was the kingdom of Silmonor in the northwest, which were always fighting over land and power.

Close to nightfall a lone rider came upon the road I was traveling on. He didn’t even notice someone else was on the road with him until he and his mare almost plowed over us.

The stallion was a pretty thing, pure white except for her brown muzzle. Her rider was also handsome although differently. He had flaming red hair, which was curly, and messy, as if he had been riding through strong winds. He seemed rather tall although I couldn’t tell with him on his mount. His face was all angles. His nose was to big for good looks, but it seemed to fit him. It also looked like it had been broken at least once, and had a band of freckles across it. I couldn’t tell the color of his eyes in the failing moonlight. But I knew I would find out when the sun rose. We would also probably meet on the road again tomorrow. All this was registered in my mind in a matter of seconds. I quickly looked down. I didn’t want to seem like I was staring. I heard him nervously giggle. I looked up and met his eyes and then he looked down blushing furiously. I didn’t understand. Am I making him uncomfortable? I sneaked another glance at him. He was looking at me through his bangs, but when he saw me looking at him he quickly looked away. The uncomfortable silence was getting

unbearable.

“Um… so… where are you heading to?” I asked him. He looked up slightly surprised but covered it up quickly.

“Out there,” he pointed in the direction I was traveling. “ To the war.” “Don’t you mean out there?” I asked pointing in the opposite direction.

“ That’s where you would think since most of the southern countries are always fighting, but…” he looked hesitant. I prodded him, “ but what?” “Well, the southern countries have united under one ruler, his name’s Morrok Duem Goeniko. He used to one of the most powerful generals up north here, but then, I don’t know, I think he got bored, wanted more power. So he went down south and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. He kidnapped their children. He said he would kill the children if they didn’t fight for him. So basically they have to fight for him or their children die. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told. So he has signed the papers, and so has the king, that a war has officially begun. The king is calling all able bodied men to come and fight for their country.”

“Why can’t the people just over run him? It should be pretty simple.” “It probably would be. But, he has an army of mountain men, trolls, goblins, and so on and so on.” He said this so matter-of factly that I had to look at him and see if he was telling the truth. From how grim he looked I was guessing that he was being truly honest. Usually a man would tell a women that everything was fine, that nothing was wrong, and that they would take care of it. I was glad to see he wasn’t like most men. It infuriated me to no end when aman tried to protect me. I could take care of myself! I didn’t have to be shielded from the world. I could take whatever was thrown at me.

In a silent agreement we set up camp together. There would be no inn tonight.

From my calculations there wasn’t another one for about a five days ride. For now I would have to sleep on the hard, cold ground. But I didn’t mind. The company was good, the food was warm, and the weather was fine. And that was good enough for me.

We sat on opposite sides of the fire. The flames had a calming effect on me, they always did. I stared into the blaze as he wrote in a leather bound book. I was curious, but didn’t want to impose on his privacy. Finally he seemed to grow impatient with me constantly looking at him but not asking him the question that he knew I had to ask before I combusted.

He sighed and set down his quill. He stared at me. I would look at him, look at the fire, and then look at him. I could tell that it was driving him crazy.

Finally I got tired of our little game.

“ What were you doing?” I asked, trying to keep my curiosity hidden.

“ I was writing a record of my journey.” He gave no other explanation, and I didn’t ask for one although I was busting at the seams with interest. Finally he stood up with a groan and stretched his arms, bid me goodnight, and then went into his tent. Where a few minutes later I could hear him gently snoring.

I too stood up. I doused the flames with water I had pulled from the stream nearby earlier, and then I also went into my tent. I didn’t go to sleep though.

I laid down with my arms folded behind my head. I ran our conversation about the war over in my head. I at last fell into a fitful sleep, images of goblins, and trolls floating about my head.

The next morning the smell of bacon reached my nostrils, wakening me out of my restless sleep. He was there. Cooking. At what seemed like four o’clock in the morning. I raised my brow quizzically. He just grinned in return, and I couldn’t help smiling also.

I sat down on a large slightly flat stone across from him. He handed me a plate with bacon, bread and fresh berries on it. I murmured my thanks. We both ate silently. He finished first.

“ Yesterday I was so wrapped up in discussing the war I forgot my manners. My names Kalimo.” He muttered this as if he didn’t want me to hear.

“Asilida.” I answered, my mouth full of bacon.

“Where do your plans take you Asilida?” he asked this time loud enough for me to hear without straining my ears.

I thought a moment. I really had no answer. I had never thought that this chance would come up.

“ To the war.” I answered surprising even myself.

“ To the war.” He repeated. He looked thoughtful for a minute. “ Well I like that! We can go together now!” he didn’t seem at all upset. But I though of one problem.

“ But I can’t fight. They won’t even let girls fight. No matter how good they are.” He thought about this a moment.

“ We’ll cut your hair!” he said at last, looking triumphant.

I let out a squeak and hold onto my hair with both hands.

“Uh, uh.” I say vigorously shaking my head.

In the end after much bribing, pleading, and arguing he held my hair with one hand and the other held his sword posed above it . He brought it crashing down, slicing neatly through my hair. We both watched as the auburn locks fell to the ground like ribbons. I caught one and held it between my fingers before letting it drop to the ground like the rest.

Then we had to opt for a new name. I couldn’t go to war being called Asilida. It was a completely feminine name. We both agreed I would go by asilk. Which is a name that is very popular in the isle’s of Camonocu down in the utmost southern part of the world.

We chose a training schedule for me. In the mornings we would ride till midday. After we had our meal we would rest the horses and practice swordsmanship. Kalimo was shocked when I told him I had never before held a sword. He asked how we protected our people from raiders and bandits. I answered him by telling him that I was an Aelifili and that we used our magic to protect ourselves. He was royally impressed and kept asking questions about our kind of power. I was uncomfortable because I didn’t know how to answer him. I didn’t know anything about my non-existent power let alone others.

When we stopped for midday we got right to work on practicing with the sword. When he handed it to me I almost dropped it not expecting the weight. When we got into our fighting positions he told me that I looked like I was about to jump on him. I fixed my stance. I don’t like being ridiculed.

He then continued to show me how to thrust and block. In about the middle of our lesson we noticed something strange. The animals were completely silent. None of the birds were making noise. No one or anything moved. That’s when I noticed it. The figures dressed in green and brown. Masked. They melted into the background. I never noticed them until they moved towards us. A began to get angry at myself. A mistake like that will cost you your life, I scolded myself.

There were five of them. Two were tall and skinny, one was short and stout and the others were tall and muscular.

At first I thought them to be bandits or raiders, since they weren’t uncommon in forests and woods with good coverage. These people were different. They crept forward, as if they were inspecting us. Then I saw, for although they wore half masks that went up above their noses, that they were smiling, their eyes crinkling at the corners.

Then as suddenly as the started moving towards us, they stopped. The carefully took of their masks. Carefully and slowly. Leaving me fearful of whom they might be, and wishing that I could just go over and pull the masks off and find out for myself.

They had taken their masks off and were letting their headdresses fall to their shoulders in a little gust of wind, which I believe came from them. I noticed something though. Every hair was in place and there was not a speck of dirt or dust on them. Mormiki, Elemental beings. When I realized what they were, I quickly bowed. I took my fist and hit kalimo behind his knee, trying to bring him down with me. Instead he fell, face first into the dust and rotting leaves. He looked up at me and glared. I swiftly indicated my head towards the Mormiki, indicating that I was only trying to get him to bow.

When he realized what they were he hastily got to one knee, trying to brush the dirt off himself. The Mormiki looked at each other in amusement. The tallest one spoke in heavily accented common.

“ It is not you, who should be bowing to us Aelifili of the crossway. It is us who bow to you.”

And they bowed! To me! I stared at them in wonder. And then I began to grow uncomfortable. I started shifting from foot to foot and looking anywhere but at them. I believe the one who had spoken must have sensed my growing uneasiness, for he signaled the others to stand. He looked straight into my eyes. I swear he saw all my secrets, and every bad thought I had ever had, or every bad thing I had ever done.

“ Do ya mind ifin we comes with yous?” the short one asked startling me from my thoughts.

“We are going to the war.” I told him, making sure I kept my voice low and disguised.

“ As ares we’s!” he said a bit defensively.

“ Then you are welcome to ride with us.” I said looking down at him with a smile, which he returned.

Then after making introductions I learned that the short one’s name was Helikelminodor. He told us we could call him Nodor, since his name was often difficult for people to pronounce. The one who had spoken first said that his name we would not be able to pronounce, so we may call him Podm. The others were silent. But, their leader I presume told us their names were Leril, Begi, and Hetti. They bowed when their names were said, but continued to remain silent.

On our journey Podm started humming an old song that was familiar all through the kingdom.

When he finished he began the song over again, we all joined in, even the silent ones. Nodor who was riding next to me maneuvered his horse over to me. He leaned in close and put his arm around my waist. He started swaying as he sung. I started laughing and untangled myself from him. Sometimes even grown men would become silly. We were starting to look like a cavalcade, with everyone singing and joking and fooling around. And I though of how fun our riding together would be.