The night is dark, a coldness sets in and two maidens can be seen to be camping atop a tall hill, amongst ancient and crumbling ruins.
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Vardarianna blinks at the man standing before her. At first in the darkness, she can barely make him out. Then he steps closer, walking into the light of the fire.
'Father!' Vardarianna shouts, jumping up from her makeshift bed.
'Vardarianna...' He says calmly, lowering his gaze to meet hers. His eyes are filled with hate.
'I...' Vardarianna struggles with her words. Then, looking into his eyes, something behind him catches her eye, a shadow stalks behind the man.
'You will come back with...' He begins to say, though he stops, his face twisting into a mask of pain. He opens his mouth, gasping and then clutching at his chest.
'Shut your mouth you foul mouthed man... She will go no-where with you.'
Then, a slicing sound, something glints in the light of the fire, a spear! Vardarianna screams, seeing the spear protruding from her father's chest. Blood pours from his mouth.
'Father!' Varardianna shouts. She looks to jump forward though her feet seem to be as though nailed to the ground.
'...' Her father gasps, he looks to his daughter, his eyes are no longer filled with hate but now with disappointment.
'Die foul man' Minyelaire whispers coldly and with a thud, the man drops from her spear and onto the cold, hard ground.
'Minyelaire...' Vardarianna rasps. The elf creature smiles, the shadows accentuate her features, making her appear more cat-like.
'Come to me... I will protect you...' Minyelaire says, smiling warmly, dropping her spear to the ground and then opening her arms, awaiting the maiden.
Vardarianna sobs. Tears fall as though waterfalls down the maiden's cheeks, she wipes them away and steps forward, into the elf creature's embrace.
'I will always care for thee' Minyelaire whispers, folding her arms around the maiden and holding her tightly.
'Vardar...' A voice booms all around the maidens. 'Vardar!'
Pulling away from Minyelaire Vardarianna looks around frantically. It is now that Vardarianna realises that the camp is somehow strange. The trees about her tilt as though on a hill, even the ruins lean to one side.
'Vardarianna?' Minyelaire's lips move, though the voice is not hers.
Where am I? She thinks, blinking wildly.
'Vardarianna!?'
Opening her eyes, Vardarianna gasps.
'Father!' She shouts, leaping into a sitting position. Looking around her, trying to locate the body of her now dead father.
The trees do not tilt, the ruins do not lean... Everything is normal.
'I...' Vardarianna turns to an elf maiden siting at her side, her eyes betray some form of concern.
'You are safe now' Arivien smiles again, then standing up she walks to the edge of the hilltop, looking out into the distance. 'You were shouting in your sleep...' The elf shouts back, but saying nothing more.
It was all a dream... Vardarianna thinks, sighing as though relived. When will you return Minyelaire? She questions within her thoughts, of course not expecting an answer.
The maiden had been gone for a fair number of days now.
Sighing Vardarianna lays back down upon her bed, staring up for a moment at the dark skies above her. She will wait patiently for the elf Minyelaire, but her fear grows as the days that she must wait grow in number.
