January 12th 1886
The Next morning Alenia woke up to several loud voices in the downstairs area. Her heart beat softly as she listened to the bickering.
A familiar voice interjected, "Alright that's enough!, Weather she is the Savior or not we have to make decision on weather to train her..If its time.." The voice came from Anya.
Alenia quietly left her hay filled cot as she crept down the stairs to take a closer look. She saw a large amount of strange people standing around Anya and the table. She raised her eyebrow as she listened more.
"Alenia, has to be trained.." One of them said loudly. Anya hissed, "Keep it down, she is sleeping upstairs.." Anya replied, "All we know is what the scrolls have provided, she would return precisely at the two week mark of the Elvish war when Idor shakes and the portals re-open. Now we all saw several sea portals open in Baht Bay, along the coast, and near the Silver Shores..From which one she entered from I don't know..I do know that there has to be choice made from you, the council. As to weather she will be trained for war,.." Anya continued.
Alenia softly came down a little further, the stairs creaked and every eye shot towards the stairs. She held her breath as to hopefully not be seen. One of the council members replied, "I don't know weather she is the savior or not, but she is still a child, At least let her mature..." He said as the others agreed to his opinion, "I agree" Several of them loudly announced. Anya sighed and scowled rubbing her hands on her head, "Alright, if that's how you feel about things, I can not interject.." Anya replied as she looked up at the stairs noticing Alenia. She scowled as the council exited the small cottage. She walked over to the stairs finding the small child sitting cowering from what she has heard. "Anya, is it true? Am I the savior?" She asked her.
Anya couldn't bare to tell her the truth so she lied. "No, The council does not believe that you are. It must be a coincidence, The savior of Idor must of came through another portal. She should be here soon." She said as she pulled Alenia in for a hug, sighing softly to herself.
As she hugged her she saw out the bay window a black shadow standing off in the distance. She peered out the window as she still held her sister. The yellow eyes reflected back at her simply staring at her. Looking down at Alenia, she gasped softly to herself. She glanced back up to find the shadow had vanished like the wind.
"Odd,.." She whispered to herself.
Alenia looked up innocently, "What is it sister?" she asked her.
Anya scowled, "Nothing, Say why don't you go and pick some sweet berries for some muffins tonight, I have some business to attend to." She said as she got up silently to go find her father and report what she had seen in the shadows.
Alenia with excitement skipped out of the cottage with a basket in hand. As she passed the woods she stopped mid skip looking over into the shadows. The eyes stared back and she suddenly felt frightened. It whispered her name in the wind, As the eyes flashed into the darkness of the woods. She shivered not knowing what lay in store for her. She began to pick some berries as tall man came up to her.
She jumped in fright as she felt the presence lingering behind her. "Who are you?' She asked holding her berries close to her heart. Awaiting to use the basket to slam the strange man in the face. The man was very mysterious as his eyes glimmered behind his long dark brown hair. They were a hazel color, his lips were shaped like almonds shiny and glisten in the sun. His smile almost melted her heart causing her knees to wobble in the sight of it. The man flipped his hair out of his eyes as he smiled extending a hand. "I saw you a few days ago come in unconscious..I wanted to know who you were..." He said as he tilted his head. Alenia turned around blushing as she bit her lip. The man walked around her to face her once more. "Do you talk?" he asked her. Her eyes widened. "I.. well.. " She said with a stutter as she blushed. The man smiled, "It's okay.." He said as he kneeled.
"My name is David.. David Shetland..." He said as he tried to bring her closer to him into an awkward hug. She pulled away quickly, "I.. I think I'm being called back inside." She stuttered as she blushed running away from him. David was left alone to himself, he sighed as he got up to return to his cottage. As he did he noticed a shadow within the bushes watching him. Its yellow eyes peered out of the bushes as it growled at him. David was frightened as he shook off the eerie feeling. He made his way back to his cottage pushing his into the village past many admirers. He sighed feeling disgusted by their lustful intentions. "No.. Maribel.. Penelope, and Rose.. I will not talk to you.." He muttered under his breath as he stormed into his cottage. Rolling his eyes as they stayed outside his window as he took off his shirt. They swooned at the sight of him. He glared at them as he began to block the window with books.
Alenia rushed inside the cabin as Bernard and Anya were talking privately. Her heart pounded, as she blushed trying to hide it. Anya came to her in fear she was hurt. "Alenia are you okay?" She asked as she tilted her head towards her eyes. Alenia glanced away pulling herself from Anya's grip. "Yeah I .. uh I met a man.." She blurted out. Anya scowled with a confused expression, "Did this man hurt you? Who is this man?" She asked as she began to worry for her sister. Alenia shook her head as the blush on her face began to fade. "He had the most dreamy eyes,.. " She said as she swooned. "His smile was that of a thousand suns..glimmering at me, his eyes the color of emeralds and his skin so soft to the touch.." She said gazing back up her eyes widened in shock to see her sister grinning.
"What!?" She yelled at her sister in embarrassment. Anya's grin grew upon her face. "My little sister has a crush.. and it seems that she may have an admirer." She said as she grinned giggling at her. Alenia sneered, "I do not have a crush, he was just incredibly dreamy" She said as her face melted again. Anya laughed glancing over at Bernard sitting at the table. He chuckled softly as he got up, "I must meet this man,.. what was his name? I might know him. I've grown up in this village and know many of the people here." Bernard said as he kneeled before her. Alenia looked up thoroughly embarrassed but said his name. "He said his name was David Shetland..." She quietly said.
Bernard stroked his beard, "David.. Ah, what a fine young man, But I believe he has three admires of his own." He said as he began to list them out. "Maribel, Penelope, and Rose..All wish to be his..They've been pining after him for quite some time. But if he has chosen you. Keep it secret..All three girls belong to the Council..They are powerful families that dictate what happens in the village. Those evil daughters have had people killed.." he said with a strict soft tone. Alenia was terrified at this, "How will I ever go after him? Should I ignore him for his own safety?" She asked Bernard. He only sighed, "I would.. " He said as he returned to the table. "You must go outside and pick more berries, Anya and I must talk some more." he said as he waved his hands towards the door in a shooing motion. Alenia nodded walking out the door she began to become curious about the women her father discussed about. She was intent on finding and meeting them.
The sun began to go down as she snuck out of the cottage. She looked back to see the hay strewn roof in the distance. She bit her lip as she snuck into the town. She blinked looking around at the bustling people. This was her first time within the town of Cottonwood. She had watched Anya leave several times. Their cottage sat on the outskirts of the massive village. A winding road led away from the village that was covered with neat perfectly cut stones. The cottage was massively large, it had four bedrooms on the bottom floor, another four bedrooms on the upper level of the attic. Many of them were empty and barren. Several windows lined the cottage large and open bay like windows. Bernard had built this cottage with tears and sweat away from the village for reasons that he held close to himself. It had a large oak door that would creak when you opened it. Its steps were made of the finest stone leading up to the door. Alenia's room sat on the highest corner of the cottage looking out into the menacing woods. The cottage sat on level ground with no incline. The trees that hid the cottage stood about six meters tall and were called by the name of the Iknine Clismark. Neatly groomed bushes lined the pathway to the cottage.
The cottage was built for Bernard's love Claire. They had planned to have many children before she vanished. The cottage was at least two stories high with an attic built on-top of the four upper level quaint bedrooms. Bernard had put his study in this small attic, it also housed his hay filed bed where Alenia had slept the first night. To get to this attic one had to climb through a hole in the ceiling off to the side of the wall in one of the four upper rooms. Bernard had chosen an empty room to place his entrance to the attic in. The cottage interior seemed to belong to the rich by the immense intricate designs and furniture.
The entry way held large antlers of different types of creatures on the walls. The walls were made of thick smooth wood made from the soft bark of the Iknine Clismark. It had a creamy marble pattern that cast across all of the wood in the cottage. The entry way came into the large dining room area and the living room. The only thing separating the dining room with the living room was a large stone arch. The living room was the most beautiful part of the cottage. Surrounding the windows were a breed of flowers called The Centaurea Abies. This plant is a extremely rare, medium-sized plant and can be found only deep within swamps. It blooms once a year, for 2 weeks. It has narrow, rosette leaves, which are usually mint green. It also grows quite large flowers, which can be light orange, light pink, and dark yellow. These plants grow in large groups, but it's near impossible to control and maintain their growth. They have no real use, besides their aesthetics.
The living room was accompanied by the crackling sound of the fireplace. That was also built from warm colored marble. It was gated by iron to keep the flames from licking the skin carpets.
Alenia moved through the bustling people trying to find these women so she could gander what her competition was. Alas she bumped into David he blinked as she was knocked down. Extending his hand quickly he helped her up. The girls were following him closely. Alenia looked over her shoulder and was surprised to see that they were actually very beautiful. Alenia blinked as she took his hand getting quite close to him as she watched one of them walk up to David nudging him. "who's this girl... David.." She asked sweetly glaring at Alenia.
Alenia glared back. David sighed, "Maribel would you please go away, I have already told you and your.. friends.. to leave me alone... You don't need to know who this is.." He said with a spiteful attitude. Maribel scoffed glaring at Alenia as she walked away. Alenia sighed, "Dad was right.. I should ignore you.. Maribel will cause me trouble.." Alenia said mistakenly out loud.
David looked at her strangely. "What did you say?" He asked her. Alenia glanced at him shocked. "I.. I'm I'm sorry.." She said tearing up as she began to turn away. David caught her hand, "Don't look her way, just follow me. Pay them no attention." he whispered softly. Alenia nodded as they hurried off into the woods.
She smiled as her heart pounded softly at the sight of him. "David" She said as she nervously looked around. He looked over at her. "Pay no attention to Maribel " He said her as he sat next to her.
Alenia silently picked the sweet berries trying to give herself something to do as David stared at her. She glanced over to his flaming brown eyes, her lips quivering. "Alenia.. are you okay?" He asked her sweetly. She bit her lip, wanting desperately to let him into her heart but to no avail she couldn't. Tears began to flow from her eyes as she filled her lap with berries. David glanced down onto the ground to the dripping tears as he frowned.
He put his hand on her shoulder, "I know...We hardly know each-other..I'm coming off to strong.. I sense a strong aura around you whenever I am around, We haven't gotten to know each-other very well.. and I assume that's why you won't allow me into that heart of yours.." he said tilting her head towards him.
"I will wait as long as I have to, to be with you. I will wait forever, as long as I know that one day you may be ready for my love." He said as he kissed her softly. She didn't hesitate to kiss in return.
She blushed softly as she looked down nervously. "David.. I.." She was shushed by his finger on her lips.
"No, Don't say it..I can tell you aren't ready for such words." He said as he pulled her into an embrace, "There is no need to rush,..." he softly whispered into her ear, as he stroked her long golden blonde hair.
She soaked up the moment for it was truly blissful. Maribel moved through the bushes pointing to Alenia and David. "There they are,.. Alenia steals my love.. Kill her.." she said. A shadow from the bushes growled as it witnessed the two young lovers.. Its voice was dark and musty. "In time,.. Maribel.. We shall watch them.." It said. The yellow moons vanished into the woods. Maribel sighed as she watched them with a growl she left back to the village.
Maribel held much hatred over her as she watched her and David become more romantic with each other. She began to plot to herself as she exited the bushes.
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