They all knew he was there now, and had given up telling him to
get back into the palace. For the past five days, Erloff had fought, unhindered by anyone’s well-meaning attempts of protection. He’d proven his worth over and over, fighting the enemies back.
Had it only been trolls invading the Shadowglenn Valley, the defence would have been easy; they had to retire into caves before dawn to avoid turning into stone. Instead, every malevolent creature known to elfkind came, maintaining their relentless attack by sun and moon. Erloff had not slept since they had first arrived.
Children’s cries erupted from somewhere within the trees. Erloff spun and dashed towards the sound, following the screams through the forest and into a clearing. A troll gripped a child in each fist while a goblin sniffed and searched around for more hiding elves. Erloff took up an arrow and shot the troll between the eyes. The children tumbled to the ground and he ran to their side.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
The children nodded and wept. The goblin turned around and charged, but Erloff sent another arrow into his heart.
“Where are your parents?” Erloff asked.
“Fighting,” said the eldest child, his voice shaking.
“Are there any others hiding here?”
“There are more children, but I don’t know where they are. We all ran in different directions.”
Erloff nodded in consideration. “Follow me,” he said. “We’ll get you to the palace.”
Erloff led the children back into the trees. “Stay close, and stay low,” he said, putting his arrow on his back and drawing his sword.
He fought off one beast after another as they raced towards the palace. When it was in view, what he saw in the gateway made his heart leap into his throat. Lady Canellaine stood face-to-face with an ogre, sword raised above her shoulder and terror in her eyes.
“Hide here.” He pushed the children back into the bushes and charged ahead.
Canellaine swung her sword and slashed the ogre across the chest. It roared in pain but was not badly injured. It jumped forward and Canellaine stumbled back, losing her balance. She fell and the beast towered over her. She covered her eyes.
Erloff stepped between them, sword pointed at the ogre’s chest. It swung its own weapon at Erloff’s neck, but he ducked just in time. He forced his blade through its chest and kicked it backwards to stop it from falling on himself and Canellaine. Moments later, it took its last breath and Erloff turned his back on it. He crouched by Canellaine’s side.
“Are you alright?”
She nodded, but wiped tears from her eyes. “I just wanted to be brave like you and my parents. I wish … I wish I had taken combat practice seriously when we were younger.”
Erloff squeezed her hand. “Your father said something to your mother when we were young and she was worried about you. He told her we can’t all be like Sheanni Dragon Slayer. You’re not like your mother, Canellaine. You never wanted to be, and you don’t have to be. I promised your parents I’d protect you and I will keep that promise. You’ll be alright.”
Canellaine dried her eyes and hugged him. “ I just wanted to be useful.”
“A warrior you are not, but you can certainly do your part.” He turned and beckoned to the hiding children. “There are children hiding all over the valley. They’ll be safer in the palace. I’m going to find as many as I can and bring them here. Will you watch over them?”
Her eyes widened and she smiled. “ Yes, yes! Anything I can do to help.”
Erloff nodded. “ Children, Lady Canellaine will take care of you. I must go now.”
Canellaine took the grateful young elves inside as Erloff charged back out into the night.
get back into the palace. For the past five days, Erloff had fought, unhindered by anyone’s well-meaning attempts of protection. He’d proven his worth over and over, fighting the enemies back.
Had it only been trolls invading the Shadowglenn Valley, the defence would have been easy; they had to retire into caves before dawn to avoid turning into stone. Instead, every malevolent creature known to elfkind came, maintaining their relentless attack by sun and moon. Erloff had not slept since they had first arrived.
Children’s cries erupted from somewhere within the trees. Erloff spun and dashed towards the sound, following the screams through the forest and into a clearing. A troll gripped a child in each fist while a goblin sniffed and searched around for more hiding elves. Erloff took up an arrow and shot the troll between the eyes. The children tumbled to the ground and he ran to their side.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
The children nodded and wept. The goblin turned around and charged, but Erloff sent another arrow into his heart.
“Where are your parents?” Erloff asked.
“Fighting,” said the eldest child, his voice shaking.
“Are there any others hiding here?”
“There are more children, but I don’t know where they are. We all ran in different directions.”
Erloff nodded in consideration. “Follow me,” he said. “We’ll get you to the palace.”
Erloff led the children back into the trees. “Stay close, and stay low,” he said, putting his arrow on his back and drawing his sword.
He fought off one beast after another as they raced towards the palace. When it was in view, what he saw in the gateway made his heart leap into his throat. Lady Canellaine stood face-to-face with an ogre, sword raised above her shoulder and terror in her eyes.
“Hide here.” He pushed the children back into the bushes and charged ahead.
Canellaine swung her sword and slashed the ogre across the chest. It roared in pain but was not badly injured. It jumped forward and Canellaine stumbled back, losing her balance. She fell and the beast towered over her. She covered her eyes.
Erloff stepped between them, sword pointed at the ogre’s chest. It swung its own weapon at Erloff’s neck, but he ducked just in time. He forced his blade through its chest and kicked it backwards to stop it from falling on himself and Canellaine. Moments later, it took its last breath and Erloff turned his back on it. He crouched by Canellaine’s side.
“Are you alright?”
She nodded, but wiped tears from her eyes. “I just wanted to be brave like you and my parents. I wish … I wish I had taken combat practice seriously when we were younger.”
Erloff squeezed her hand. “Your father said something to your mother when we were young and she was worried about you. He told her we can’t all be like Sheanni Dragon Slayer. You’re not like your mother, Canellaine. You never wanted to be, and you don’t have to be. I promised your parents I’d protect you and I will keep that promise. You’ll be alright.”
Canellaine dried her eyes and hugged him. “ I just wanted to be useful.”
“A warrior you are not, but you can certainly do your part.” He turned and beckoned to the hiding children. “There are children hiding all over the valley. They’ll be safer in the palace. I’m going to find as many as I can and bring them here. Will you watch over them?”
Her eyes widened and she smiled. “ Yes, yes! Anything I can do to help.”
Erloff nodded. “ Children, Lady Canellaine will take care of you. I must go now.”
Canellaine took the grateful young elves inside as Erloff charged back out into the night.
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