Dear Readers: Thank you for taking time to read my story. I am a new writer, and would like any form of criticism. So please leave your comments, as it will help me to become a better writer. This is the first chapter of the story, and I Hope you enjoy.
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Chapter 1
Shalyn's eyes fluttered open, her eyes squinted at the sunlight seeping in from her bedroom window. She stretched and her foot rubbed against Amaine's. With sleepy eyes, she glanced to see her sister still sleeping and thought, "
She doesn't need to be up for a couple more hours; it would be a pity to wake her
." Shalyn slipped from the bed with care, and finished stretching with a yawn.
As her eyes adjusted, Shalyn glanced around the room in the pre - dawn light, smelling the crisp air that came with this early hour. Only the sound of a few birds chirping broke the morning's silence. Her eyes focused back on Amaine's sleeping form while she moved into the warm spot her body just left. Shalyn silently chuckled and smiled. Although she had another couple decades to grow, Amaine had always been small for her age, just shy of 4 feet tall. It appeared that Amaine would always be small and slender, like herself.
Shalyn's eyes traveled to look at her sister's hair, her favorite feature of her sister. Unlike most elves in her clan, she has dark brown hair, dark enough for the nonobservant elf to mistake it for black. However, those close to her noticed that her hair was brown. Her hair also was curly. The curls cascaded down her head, framing her face in a flattering matter; and then coming to rest on her narrow shoulders. "
When she grows, she will become even more beautiful than she is now.
A cool breeze filtered in from the window, startling Shalyn. She took her gaze off of her sister and turned to face the window. Grey clouds were rolling in, covering the sun. Summer was coming to an end and although sleep tunics were still too warm to wear; the chill of Autumn wind was creeping through the forest. She shivered a little, as another breeze came through the window. Realizing that she still stood naked in the middle of the room, she moved to retrieve her tunic that hung from a line in the middle of the room. She slipped her tunic up and over her head, and let if fall into place.
She smoothed out the wrinkles, and then grabbed her vine belt off the line, sliding it over her hips and fastening it. She pulled her long brown stockings from the line as well, and sat on the floor to pull them on. After she got finished getting dressed, she walked over to the desk that she and Amaine shared.
Shalyn pulled her birch comb out of the drawer, and ran it through her long black hair, removing any tangles that might have formed during the night. She then put the comb away and went to work, pulling her hair into a braid.
When she finished she tiptoed out of the room. The door creaked a little as it opened. Cringing, she looked back to see if it woke Amaine. Amaine rolled over in the bed and laid still.
Shalyn hurried out of the room, leaving the door open. She turned back one more time to look at her sister. Her sister slept soundly. She smiled as she thought back to when her sister was first born. "
I still remember when she was born. I was only 69 at the time. She looked so peaceful and fragile at the time. I was afraid to touch her, in fear that I would break her. I loved combing her curly hair when it got long enough.
My how time has flown since I could bounce her on my knee. Now she is 40, and in ten years, she will be going through her own Findulias. There are times when I wish I was young like her; still energetic and free from serious studies. "
Another gust of wind pulled Shalyn back to reality. She walked down the small hallway that connected her room to the main room. Their room was located just down the hall from their brother's old room. He had left 20 years ago on his Artanis Meneldur, and the house seemed empty since then.
Sure, he would send letters home occasionally, with a clan member who was returning from their Artanis Meneldur, but Shalyn really missed her quirky older brother.
Now they just used the room for mother's art room, and she rarely went in there. Shalyn moved into the main room and near the kitchen.
Her eyes fell upon her parent's room, which was located on the other side of the main room. Her parents would be stirring soon to get to their jobs, but she would be quiet so they could get as much sleep as they could. She moved into the kitchen, and opened the food cupboard. She grabbed a hunk of bread that her mother made yesterday, some chaka berries and a carrot, and wrapped it up into a napkin. She then grabbed a water-skin, and then put everything into her little satchel and attached it to her belt. Her stomach growled, in a demand for food, but she ignored it. She could not eat until her shrine duties were completed today.
She walked over to the front door and sat down to pull her moccasins on. She lost herself in thought again as she pulled them on.
"Oh how I miss my brother, my
Desh'nerain's
Lamalas bread. He always made it in the morning before we left each morning. The smell of it cooking on our small wood stove always woke me up in the morning."
Shalyn stood up after she pulled her moccasins on and walked out of the door. Immediately her senses were overloaded with the smells, sounds, and sights of the village and the forest. The smell of rain was heavy in the air. Sounds of fires crackling in the distance caught her ears.
The people in the blacksmiths are already at work apparently.
Shalyn thought.
Her eyes scanned around the clearing, seeing other elves heading out to their tasks. She saw her friend Ridara heading into the forest to her morning duties. Although they played together as children; But once Ridara chose the warrior path, they rarely saw each other; But that was to be expected. Their lessons kept them busy, and they spent time with the people in their own paths.
They only saw each other at festivals, or when they crossed paths briefly.
The sky crackled, and the Grey clouds now covered the sun, threatening to spill their loads at any moment. Although she enjoyed the rain, she hoped it would wait till she finished cleaning the shrine. She closed her eyes and spoke a silent prayer,
"
Oh Great Mother Baelonna, You bring the blessing of life giving water today. Although I am grateful for this gift you give us, I humbly ask if you could keep the rain away until after I clean your home. "
She lowered her head, and set out towards the shrine. It was located in the deep forest, up a steep hill. The shrine stood in a clearing at the top of hill. As she reached the foot of the hill, she could hear the rush of the stream that ran down the hill.
Taking a deep breath, Shalyn set off up the hill. Although the task had originally tired her out quickly. After climbing it every day for sixty years, it had become an easy task.
