Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 31

We ran for a long time, until we got far enough away we could stop and handle injuries.

The one Ranger I had healed from the Tomahawk was still bleeding out his back, and he had to be pulled off his Hawkstrider carefully.

He was the worst injured of those that remained so I focused on that.

Only when I was done did I fall into the dirt.

My body was shaking. Adrenaline spiking.

And yet, almost stupidly, my brain was distracted. I’d leveled.

200 xp for the Troll I had shot.

Alah’Dorah

High Elf

Level 6 [10/600 XP]

Strength 22 +5

Agility 22 +1

Stamina 23 +2

Intellect 17 +71

Spirit 17 +17

Tears came to my eyes as I hunched over and just let it all fall.

This was hell. The Trolls were monsters. They’d been hiding just waiting for us.

It was an ambush.

I really wanted Mama right now. I looked up, only… She wasn’t there.

“Mama?” I asked, whispering quietly, in something like terror, she had been right there with me!

“Felomin is fine.” The voice was familiar enough. Grandpa-Captain was there, having landed his Dragonhawk and looking over everyone as we made the small camp.

“Where?”

“Just split off during the run. She’s fine, I saw her and the other group.”

“I… I-just.”

“I know.” He said, surprising me with his gentle voice as he lifted me up. My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as he lifted me, and stood. “Rest now child. You’ve done good, you’ve earned your rest.” He whispered, and before I could think I felt it.

A spell cast over me, and my eyelids grew heavy. 

“Dick mo-”

—--

I woke up, warm and comfortable, yet not. I groaned and wanted to just roll over. My body hurt, like I’d been exercising like crazy without properly healing afterwards, or something. I opened my eyes and blinked at the sun hitting me, which was wrong. I shouldn’t have the sun in my eyes when I woke up.

I sat covering my eyes and bit and that finally let me look around, and I realized this wasn’t home.

“Wha?” I whispered looking around at the room that was completely unfamiliar. The warm wood of an elf home, old furniture lovingly carved and cared for, yet this wasn’t home. 

“Hello?” I called, but no response came, as I looked around. The room reminded me of a teenager's room, something like that. The shift between childhood, and adulthood showing up in a few things. A series of carved dolls along the top of a desk, matched with more mature books, far too advanced for a child.

There was even a desk that had fletching equipment, much more expensive than the hand made stuff I’ve worked with. 

The decorations were interesting, a mix of a few hunting trophies. A Lynx taxidermied stand on a wooden log, the head of a bear over there.

So where was I? What had…

The memories rushed back. I took a breath, and then released it, it came out shuddering, but I controlled myself. I was safe. But more importantly, things were happening, and I needed to get up.

And maybe punch Grandpa-Captain in the dick for putting me to sleep.

Rising up, I crawled out of bed, noticing I wasn’t wearing my leathers and traveling gear, just a light shift that was made of some fancy silk or something.

I didn’t see my clothes, anywhere, but my bag was there beside a desk, and along with my sword, shield, and bow.

I rose up and looked around, the room was empty, and there wouldn’t be any information gained here. So I headed for the door, wincing a little as I stepped.

Ow. My legs hurt. I stopped and took a second to cast Holy Light, letting it flow through me, and the aches faded to a general feeling of sore muscles. With that I walked to the door, and opened it, a long hallway, one end ending in a window, and the other I noticed had a landing with some stairs. 

Walking to the landing I looked over the central part of a tree home, tower, and finally I saw someone.

A woman was down below, she was standing silently looking, over a railing, to the outside of the building. No doubt despite being a floor below me, she wasn’t on the ground floor. This was a big place.

“Umm… Hello?”

She turned, and I had to blink, because it looked…

Ah.

“You’re awake. That’s a surprise, we expected you to sleep a good deal longer. That Sleep spell is fairly strong.

I really wanted to snap at being forced asleep, but instead I just remained silent as she walked over and up the stairs. It was odd to see it, in the way she moved, and even the lines of her face.

It was like seeing Mama, but just slightly different. 

“Where is Mama?” I asked, as she reached me, and she looked me over for a moment.

“Your mother is here, there is a meeting she is taking part in. Why don’t we get you dressed, and we can go interrupt?”

“Yeah.” 

I followed her back into the room, and watched as she pulled open an armoire and there were clothes, it only took a moment, before an outfit was pulled free, they were in cloth bags, and when they were opened… The clothes were older, but no doubt made for someone my age.

“Your mothers old clothes. She won’t mind, not like she took them. I saved them for her daughter, but she was always stubborn.”

“You’re my grandmother… Right?” I asked, and she sent me a side eyed look of just a second.

“I am.” She pulled out the outfit. It was… A young High Elven active outfit, pants and clothes made for running around in, but it was expensive, well made high quality cloth, in bright red, and gold, with some blue here and there. 

I didn’t hesitate in taking what she handed me, as I slipped out of the shift and slipped it on. Pants, and under shirt, a larger over shirt, that she had to stop and help me tie properly. Mama just gave me normal clothes these were sort of fancy.

“There. Now you look like a proper young girl… You certainly take after your mother well don’t you?”

“Yeah.” I said, and there was an undercurrent, that I looked like her as well.

“Well let’s go find your mother, she’s been quite upset. Understandable after what happened. Honestly, neither of them have a lick of sense, dragging you into a battle.”

“I refused to not go. I can heal, so I was useful. I saved… A lot of people.” I said, the last part was more calm than I had felt at the start.

It had been hell, it had sucked, the Trolls were monsters, and I would never forget what they had done, but even more, I wouldn’t forget what I had done.

I had saved some of the innocent, as many as I could.

There would be more, and I would save them too.

“Of course you did. Everyone is very proud of you.” She said, but she sounded like she still thought very little of me going along

Which… Fair. I was twelve after all.

She thankfully showed me where my boots had been set inside a little shoe rack near the door, and I slipped them on and then we were moving. I itched to go grab my weapons, but I left it for now… It was kinda awkward.

She turned to look at me as we walked, and her eyes looked me over, studying me, no doubt coming to some conclusion I couldn’t understand. 

“Tell me, Alah’Dorah, how is your home? Are you happy there?”

“Yes?” I responded a bit put off, but then she smiled, in an apologetic way. 

“I’m sorry dear, I don’t mean to confuse you. I simply wish to hear what you are like, what your home is like. Unfortunately your mother… Well, our relationship soured, and I never was allowed to be part of your life. I’m simply curious.”

I nodded slowly as we took the stairs.

“Well… I like it. Home is great. Kimi, my friend, is a few years older than me, but we still play games. I like to learn new things. So I’ve learned archery stuff from Mama, although I don’t really like it that much. I like swords more, I’m really good at them.”

“I’ve heard. Falomin told me of your meeting with her.”

“Oh yeah, you're her mother too… I uh… Did heal her after.”

“Of that I am well aware.” She said, amused, like she’d heard someone complaining about it quite a bit.

“El’Tela has been teaching me magic, and I learn Enchanting from Papa.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“Yeah, he’s great.”

“I suppose his enchanting skill isn’t in doubt.” She agreed as weakly as she could. I frowned a bit at that, and she no doubt noticed. The questions stopped as we hit the bottom floor and then out. I looked back. A tree, and tower, and buildings built into both. It was… Kinda cool.

But then I saw Mama, at a table she was standing next to Grandpa-Captain and a small group of other Rangers. Just from the look around I could tell that things had changed. More Rangers were here than we had taken with us, and all of them were prepared for a fight.

I split off from… Grandma, I guess, and hurried over, Mama catching sight of me out of the corner of her eye, she broke off and hurried over and I crashed into her with a tight hug.

“Mama.” I whispered into her hair while I hugged her tight and she did the same, squeezing the life out of me.

“Dorah how are you baby, you okay? How are you feeling?”

“Sore, but fine… What happened?”

Mama smiled a bit weakly. “Your Grandfather put you to sleep, and brought you here, we’ve all come here to regather our forces… It’s okay, everything is okay.” Mama said, saying it a bit too much for liking.

“Okay? Is there… Does anyone else need healing?”

“No my Light, it’s okay. They have healers now.” Mama said firmly. “We’re going home.”

“Home?”

“Home. I was just waiting for you to awaken.”

“Felomin.”

“No. I have my own duties, and I won’t be staying any longer.” Mama said as Grandpa-Captain spoke up, obviously not happy about what he is hearing.

“It’s dangerous. Stay here.”

“My Husband is home.” Mama said and Grandpa-Captain looked like he had bit into a lemon as he spoke.

“Then bring him here. The attacks are increasing.”

Mama just turned away from him, and smiled at me. 

“Ready to go home?”

“Yeah.” I said because I was. I also didn’t like the sound of Papa being home alone, what if the Trolls came?

“Felomin, please.” Grandpa-Captain spoke barely a whisper as he approached to stand right beside Mama. “Don’t hold the past against your safety, the safety of your child.”

“I’m going to my husband who is exiled, and can not come this close to the capital.” Mama said and Grandpa-Captain’s face shifted to one of heavy dislike.

Ah.

I hadn’t even considered that. That was now a problem. Papa had been exiled, sure he lived in Quel’Thelas and stuff still, but he wasn’t allowed to come to the capital. Were we at the Capital? I looked around, and saw only trees, so who knew where we were, especially since I’d been sleep spelled.

“It will be dangerous, stay here, with your daughter where it will be safe. I will… Send transport for your husband, bring him closer to safety.”

“I’ll go myself, thank you.” Mama nearly snapped and I could feel the tension shooting up.

I frowned. This was serious, but…

“Mama.” I said cutting through whatever was being said, Mama shifted to look at me, and I looked her square in the eye. “He’s right. Mostly.” I said adding a bit as Mama looked not happy to hear what I said. 

“Dorah.”

“We should go get Papa, and then come closer to the Capital, all of us, everyone. Behind the Ban’dinoriel. I don’t think the Trolls are going to stop.”

“Have no fear, child.” Grandpa-Captain said, his voice confident. “While the attacks are dangerous, we will put them down. It’s not the first time the Trolls have tested our borders. I just want you both to be safe. Away from the danger. Just as the rest of our family will be. Just as you should be.” He said the last bit at Mama, and she glared at him for it.

I just shook my head. 

They were still confident this would be easy.

I knew it wouldn’t be. The Trolls were out for blood.

“I don’t care where we go.” I said tugging on Mama’s hand to get her attention, she was angry at her father obviously, and I didn’t want that causing any problems. “But we need to get Papa, and El’Tela, and Kimi, and Ma’Rika, and everyone.”

“Dorah… Getting everyone to move isn’t going to be something we can do.” She offered, and I just looked her in the eyes, and made a promise.

That was exactly what I was going to do.

“Where’s Chocobo?” I asked, and Mama’s eyebrow tilted up.

“Dorah?”

“We need to move fast. We’ll take Chocobo. We’ll need carts or something as well. To move everyone.” I said, and Mama’s face shifted from a bit of confusion, and looking at me like she was going to remind me that we didn’t own Chocobo, to one that told me once again she thought I was the cutest. 

“Dorah, My Light, getting anyone to leave-”

“Everyone. Not anyone, everyone. We need to get everyone moving soon, before the Trolls stop testing us and attack with everything.” I said bluntly, and Mama just sent me a look like she didn’t believe me.

Whatever.

I was going to save my people. 

All of them.

“So where is Chocobo?”

“Chocobo isn’t ours Dorah.”

“Take it.” Grandpa-Captain said. “The Hawkstrider of yours right? Take it, move quickly, if you must go Daughter, then go swiftly, and return… Or at least leave the danger.” 

Mama looked up like she was going to argue again, but instead she sighed. 

“Then we’ll take the Hawkstrider. Let’s go Dorah.”

“Wait.” The voice was the Grandma, she called out as Mama stood up to leave and Mama just gave her a look. The two women that looked eerily similar looking into a pseudo mirror of each other and Mama just turned away.

“Come on Dorah, let’s get your stuff, we need to go.”

“Umm…Okay.” I decided now wasn’t the time to try and poke that Dragonhawk. Papa and the village first, everything else could wait.

Mama led us past Grandma, not a word being said even if the woman looked like she wanted to stop us, and back inside, and then up to the room I had been sleeping in.

I hurried over to grab my bags, but then had a thought. 

“What about my clothes and stuff?”

“Forget it. Just wear that. I think she was trying to have them washed as an excuse to hold me here.”

“Oh… Oookay.” I decided again not to touch on that one. I grabbed my stuff, wrapping my sword belt around my waist as I hurriedly got prepared, but by the time I was done Mama was across the room, looking over the desk and at the books and knicknacks along the top.

She was fingering a wooden figure, a Ranger with a massive bow, running a thumb across the wood slowly.

I hesitated to interrupt her, but she put it back down, and looked over at me, smiling a bit at seeing me ready.

“Let’s go home.”

“Yeah.” 

—---

Chocobo thankfully was at the Dawnspear Estate in the stables, and more and more rangers were showing up with more animals, so it was actually a good thing we took Chocobo with us.

Or at least that is what I was going to say, because I really wasn’t going to leave her behind no matter what Mama said.

We’d already bonded. I named her Chocobo, and her friendship has finally taught me the meaning of love, and she has my scent now her mother will never take her back!

I had excuses for days when Mama tried to push the issue.

But honestly, as we rode through the woods, I was thankful for the silly thoughts I was coming up with because I was scared.

I would never be able to forget the sight of someone bleeding out, an axe having lodged in the chest of an elf. He’d have died if I hadn’t healed him through removing the axe.

Never.

Not until the day I die would that image of pain and horror leave me

I opened my eyes as I was leaning against Mama’s back as we rode along.

The thoughts struck me, I should grind, I should keep preparing, but I just felt so… Tired. 

I wanted to go home, and see Papa, and not be in the middle of a war.

“I’m sorry.” Mama said and I jerked a bit.

“Wha-Oh.” I rubbed my eyes, I’d been crying again.

“I shouldn’t have let you come.”

“No.” I denied instantly, firmly. “I saved people. Rangers, and normal people… I did something good.”

“You did Dorah, and I’m so proud of you, but that wasn’t your job.”

“Saving people isn’t a job. Some jobs let you do it, but… Saving people is a calling. You do it because it's the right thing to do.”

“When did you get so mature huh?”

“Heh.” I half chuckled as I leaned back against Mama, letting her warmth flow through my cheek.

“Just rest Dorah. We’ll get home, and maybe we’ll leave again, but it’ll be safe… I promise.”

“I’m worried.”

“Don’t be. Our village might be small, but El’Tela and Ma’Rika can handle anything the Trolls try.”

“I hope so.”

My words weren’t argued against. Mama had that hope in her heart too.

—---

It took a day to get back home. Camping out under the stars, Mama had been very careful and we’d done it without a fire, but that was fine.

Then afternoon the next day not long after Mama told me we were close to home a noise washed over me.

It wasn’t something I recognized, it wasn’t something I could name, but instinctively, I wanted to duck my head. The explosions after were unmistakable.

“That’s the tower!” Mama whispered and urged on Chocobo. “Dorah stay close to me!” She demanded, in her serious voice, but not long after we pushed Chocobo into a sprint I saw it.

El’Tela’s tower. From the top of it, the crown of the tower was lit up with Arcane power, and then it was launched, a star shot through the sky towards the south, and the noise came from it as it burned through the sky.

The explosion echoed out a moment later. That wasn’t just a minor attack, but something that would crack a stone wall.

A cannon, in magic form!

I didn’t know El’Tela’s tower could or that. Holy crap.

Then as we hit the outskirts of the village, seeing terrain I recognized the tower quieted, the Arcane power blazing from it ending.

We made it to the town and no one was around. It was all quiet, which skyrocketed my anxiety. I’d seen far too many villages just like that in the last few days!

“Where is everyone?” I asked, but Mama didn’t hesitate and sent us straight towards the tower. The fact I could see damage to buildings was not helping my fear.

We raced up the dirt road, until suddenly hitting the same clearing around her tower that I had seen so many times, it was almost nostalgic considering this is where I had learned to use my sword, and where I walked through so many times to learn magic.

We raced to the tower, but thankfully it was manned.

At the door to the tower, stood people I knew. Hes’Tara, and Ma’Rika, both with weapons in their hands, and I felt my heart lift as Ma’Rika greeted Mama as we raced to the tower.

“Hail! Is that you Felomin! It is good to see you!”

“Ma’Rika! Where is he? Is he here?”

“Aran’Alna is inside! Easy Felomin, everyone is alright.” Ma’Rika called out, and I felt myself crash. The adrenaline building the tension it all washed away, as Mama raced Chocobo, forward. Stopping at the entrance I leapt off, and Mama a moment after.

Inside the tower was quite packed. All the villagers were here, and it didn’t take long to find him. Papa was as always doing Enchanting.

He only had a moment to put aside the sword he was working over when I crashed into him.

“Papa!”

He was okay.

The village was okay.

Everything would be okay.