4. The Elves Prepare for War
“I remember my eighteenth birthday. My father told me something that changed my life forever. I had just come in and saw him sitting on my bed.
“Father?”
“Erina. Come…sit by me. I have a long story to tell you….”
* * *
“10 years ago I was summoned by Lord Dinendal. I had to go see him in his residence. There I saw five other elves. We were escorted to a large hall and told to sit down. A few minutes later Maenir and Dinendal himself entered the room. Our lord stood before us.
“My servants…elves…brethren…I had a dream! It is the same for weeks now. A dragon breathing fire right at me! Until last night when I finally saw my dream completed! Usually I would wake up after the dragon but not last night. I saw the Tree-Father Sylvannus himself! “Prepare for war!” he said and then I saw something that made me wake up in sweat! I saw Dreamshore forest engulfed by fire! Our beloved forest was burning! It is obvious that invaders are on their way even now to burn and pillage our homes! We must prepare for war! There are no fighters among us! We only have our hunters to protect us! This is about to change! Maenir?”
Maenir started speaking with his whisper-like voice.
“It is obvious that we cannot train an army on such short notice. There is still something we can do. We have decided to search among Dreamfall’s youth for such youngsters granted with powers by the tree-father and immediately start preparing them for the role they would have to play in our survival. Six have been chosen…your six. I will give you each a weapon which your children must master. When the last of them reaches his eighteenth year they shall be taken and continue their training here.”
For a moment there I was proud that you, my little Erina, will fight for the salvation of the elves but then fear grasped my throat. Maenir called us one by one and gave us the weapons. I received the swords which are now on your back….”
* * *
“But father today is my 18th birthday!”
“Yes, Erina. You are the youngest…you must go to Dinendal’s residence today…”
“I will go! If Dreamfall needs me I must defend it!”
“I am so proud of you, my little Erina!”
I went out and headed for Dinendal’s residence.
“I will not disappoint you father! And I shall return! I promise!”
But my father didn’t answer. He just stared at me and I felt as if his eyes pierced right through me without seeing anything but his daughter going away.
I saw two of my friends in front of our lord’s residence. Sparx and Malir were there as well as three others I was seeing for the first time. We all made acquaintance. I looked at what they were carrying. Sparx was dressed in a strange red robe with golden markings on it. Malir was carrying a bow. There was a large elf called Bregir with an enormous axe and a sneaky little character who preferred to be called Shadow with a glowing dagger. A little bit away from the others stood an elven girl called Tiana dressed in the same robe as Sparx but blue.
After a while we were escorted to the hall my father had described earlier. Maenir and Dinendal were there. Maenir told us to sit down.
“You have been chosen as Dreamfall’s defenders! This is a great honor! You have been chosen due to the different talents the tree-father has granted you when you were born. I’m sure you have already made acquaintance?”
We nodded.
“Very well. I shall call you one by one and explain your talents to you and your comrades. Culn!”
Sparx stood up.
“I would prefer Sparx.”
“So be it. Sparx, you have been granted incredible magical awareness! I have chosen you for combat magic training. I shall be your mentor.
Malir!”
“Yes?”
“You shall be this party’s ranger! Follow my assistant to the shooting range where you will meet your teacher.
Tiana!”
“Here.”
“You shall be this party’s healer. High-druid Ornor himself has agreed to take you under his wing.
Shadow!”
“Yup!”
“Your skills are most troubling but, alas, every party needs a rogue. Head for the dungeons to begin your training.
Bregir!”
“Rrgh!”
“I suppose this means “yes”. Dinendal, your lord and master, will train you in the arts of battle. And finally the most magnificent pearl in this little treasure – Erina! You should all learn to respect and honor her for she will be your leader! Erina, your training shall be handled by two teachers – Legoen the druid and Galaden the weaponmaster.
You shall be known as the Vanguard of the Elves…Erina’s fist…The Windrunners of Dreamfall…Good luck to you all! We will meet again when your training is complete!”
With this said Maenir and Dinendal left the room and we all headed out to find our teachers and begin our training…
* * *
Two years later we met in that same hall. We had learned all we could from our teachers. We spent one year training individually with our teachers but the second year was something else! We had to leave Dreamfall and live in the forest and in the outside world! We learned to work as a team and use everyone’s unique powers effectively. Not once or twice were we caught in fights by humans but we won every single one of them. We were invincible when together!
With the elven hunters taking the rear lines and the combined might of the Windrunners Dinendal thought he might save our people from the looming shadow of doom. I am the last of the Windrunners…the last of the elves…how did it come to that? You will find out in time…bit for now let’s go to dinner…”
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