"Oh, hello my darlings!" Arllawen smiled at her four children. The oldest, Kyrel, was the only boy of the four. He stood tall and strong with the fiery red hair of his father and the dull grey eyes of his mother. Nimaeria was twenty years younger than Kyrel. She was a quiet lass who gained the love of books and knowledge from Arlla. She spoke with dignity and thoughtfulness. Areyntra was fifteen years younger than her older sister. She was a prankster with a loud mouth that constantly got her in trouble. Her strawberry blonde hair was always running in untamed curls around her face and her cheeks always had a cute pink flush to them. The youngest was Belanii who was only six years old.
"Momma!Momma!" Belanii called from her bed.
Arlla elegantly walked over to her and knelt down. They were at base camp, away from the fighting...or so they thought. This did not comfort the Elven mother. She had begged the children to stay home, but they would only sneak away from their caretaker to follow Arlla. Many other families had brought their children, but this did not make her feel any better.
“What is it Little Bell?” This was Arlla’s nickname for her youngest daughter. Belanii had been given the skill of singing. Her voice tinkled like little pretty bells.
“Can you and Father sing us to sleep?”
Arlla looked at her four children in their beds. All were ready to sleep, but the mention of singing brightened them and they all looked towards Arlla and Galather, who stood in the doorway.
Arllawen smiled and nodded, “Alright. If your father says it’s alright.” She looked behind her towards her husband.
A large fatherly smile spread on his lips and he walked over to his wife. He pulled her to his side and looking at their children they sang an old Elven lullaby. When the children’s eyelids started to flutter closed both parents went and kissed each of their foreheads. “Gi melin [I love you],” Arlla whispered to her children as she left them to sleep.
As she and Galather stepped into the darkening base camp they held each other close. “I can’t wait until this is all over. Then we can be a happy family again,” Arlla whispered into her husband’s chest.
Galather ran his pale skinny fingers through her long blonde curls as she spoke, “Soon my love. We will dine like the nobles we are once again. Just have patience.” He moved his hand to her chin and made her look at him. He bent down and kissed her. They kissed deeply. His hands moved to her hips and he pulled her closer. The darkness allowed them secrecy and if anyone were to spot them, they would only see two figures hugging. It was much more. The war had created a longing between the two Elven parents. No longer could they spend time in bed speaking of their love for each other. Instead, Arllawen commanded a group of archers that included her own husband. The passionate kiss lasted a long time and only broke when the sound of yelling and cries were heard.
Arlla pushed away from her husband quickly, “What was that!?” She yelled to someone running towards her.
“They are coming. They have snuck upon us Malady.”
Panic flooded Arlla’s eyes. “My babies!” She turned to run back to tell her children to run but was stopped by her commander.
“Your archers are already gathered. Get them on the high ground now!” he ordered.
“But…my children…. they-they are in there,” Arlla cried. Galather stood ready to push through to get to his children.
“We will get them out of here, just go. I give you my word,” the commander replied.
Arlla gave one last look to where her children slept but was pulled away by her husband. “Trust him. He will protect them.”
Arllawen nodded and ran to where the archers were already gathered. “Alright let’s get up there.” She pointed to a cliff right above them. “We can keep an eye on the base camp and hold off everyone until the families can flee.”
Everyone immediately began climbing their way up, Arlla taking the lead. As they climbed, she heard a scream below her and looked as a few of her men were struck with flaming arrows.
Panicked she quickly reached the top and pulled her men after her. Galather brought up the rear, “That’s the last of them.” He said out of breath.
She gave the order to open fire and glanced to where her children had been. Enemies were already approaching the tents and as she tried to fight them off, she saw her children running from their tent. Belanii tripped and Arlla screamed, “Run child run!” but it was too late. An arrow had struck her in the back of the head. Her other children stopped in terror and turned as they watched their youngest sister, screaming in agony before going silent. By the time the paralyzing terror had released the children, it was too late. They were grabbed and Arlla watched as her children were slaughtered in front of her. She stumbled backward and looked for her husband. Galather stood frozen in place, also watching where his children had been killed.
Then, it happened so fast…. her husband was shot through the heart. An arrow pierces through him. Blood flowed onto his armor. His…unpierceable armor. That’s what she always told herself.
Arlla heard herself scream and run to his side. She dropped her bow and fell at his side. “Galather! Galather! My love.” Fat tears rolled down Arlla’s face as she held her husband’s head in her lap.
He smiled as he looked up at her. Blood began to flow from his lips, but he smiled. “Arllawen. My beautiful, beautiful Arllawen. Leave a legacy my beauty. I will take care of the children. You win this for us, and create a legacy for our family.”
“Galather! Don’t you dare leave me!”
“At least I get to move on to the next world with you as the last thing I see.” He whispered.
Arllawen wiped the blood from his mouth and watched as he closed his eyes and took his last breath. She gave herself two minutes before she kissed his forehead and stood. Rage pulsed through her veins and began fighting harder than she ever had. She led her archers into a battle that was hard and fierce. She only stopped when one of her men accidentally pushed her and she slipped, falling from the cliff. She hit her head and was met with a sword into her back. Pain flashed through her body; white flashed in her vision….
Arllawen wakes with a scream. Her body is covered in sweat, her hair sticking to her face. She shakes and places her head in her hands. She chokes out sobs. Tears spill through the cracks in her fingers. She whispers her husband's name over and over again as she pulls her knees to her chest. “Galather…I miss you.”
When she had gotten control of herself, she stood. Arlla didn’t want to be alone, especially in her new large house. She fed her dog, Cider, and then went to find a river to bathe in.
After her bath, she dressed and braided her hair…something she had not done in so long. Arlla smiled at her reflection in the water. She looked…pretty. With a large sigh, she turned away and went to the Pony in hoping to find some company to take her mind off the memories.
