~Di~

Di wasn't sure how, but the next week she found herself standing with a packed bag on her back with a group of adventurers: Matis, Prince Alquorien, two of Matis's fellow King's Guard, a young squire, and the worst of them all: a dwarf mapmaker. A dwarf mapmaker. The prince could have chosen any other director, yet unfortunately, they stood to leave with the dwarf.

Matis stood tall in light metal armor, with leather and cloth beneath it and heavy terrain boots. His own pack was considerably larger than Di's, but he carried a variety of weapons and their clothes. Di only carried their rations, money, and any necessary basic ingredients and potions. In contrast to her husband, Di wore a simple cloth dress and boots, with her long black hair tied up with a cloth tie. She was slightly uncomfortable with her ear tips showing—one of her only markers of being part elf, but she knew it would be a warm trip. They were mid-Blossom, the rains would last perhaps a few weeks on and off before the hottest part of the year began. All the others were men who dressed similar to Matis, except the prince, whose armor wore that of the family crest. It was a raven nestled in a wreath of figs. The crest was one of the oldest in the country and represented Difavose's values of their people. A sort of representation of gathering groups and good health; it may not have been a warrior's insignia but its age spoke more to their royal claim. The family had been on the throne for centuries.

The group was gathered at the edge of the village, in The Red Keep. As its name stated, it was painted a bright red, with brown windows wide open and a stream of people inside and out. Many well-wishers came to see them off, including the queen and her consorts who stood smiling by the hearth. Matis stood by the royal family, lightly sweating in his armor, while the prince seemed unfazed by the humidity. Di leaned on the bar, taking a long drink of water, and feeling the sun all around her.

Prince Alquorien was beaming proudly as he shook the hands of his people. This was also his second quest, which gave him great standing. Difavose was a traveler's town, the capital of adventurers. To go on another was pride the royal family could not hide.

"We may be small, but let it be known how we are destined for strength!" the prince said. "Two quests for one prince is a mighty endurance!" The crowd cheered. Matis heavily patted Quo's back, causing his curly blonde hair to rustle and his dimples to show as he laughed. "One prince, his knight and his Healer, I mean!"

Di let a small frown furrow her brow but kept quiet. I am part of this now. She'd agreed and couldn't let the village or royalty down now—another unfortunate part of prophecies that must come to pass. She watched the crowd speak again in excited whispers and murmurs, while the crew tightened their bags or changed their stance.

The dwarf did nothing but stare into space, like the stupid imp he was. Di huffed. Bringing the wretched creature could only be our downfall. She turned and got more water from the barkeep, a large smile on his face; Di tried to smile back before downing this cup as well.

"May we be home before the harsh rains again." The prince bowed his head. He made his way to his mother, kissed her cheek, and then waved a hand to signal the group's leave. The queen held his other hand with a tight squeeze, a small smile on her delicate face as her son and his crew left rather unceremoniously. They joined on a cart with two workhorses to pull them. It wasn't a grand royal carriage, but rather a small space that would likely last in many conditions due to its metal harnesses and frame. It lightly jostled as they settled in their spots.

"My name's—" The squire was about to start but Di threw her hand out to stop him.

"No names!" she hissed. "If you must, let us call each other by names for this prophecy only." She gave a harsh stare to all in the group. "Even you, Prince."

He grimaced, but a look from Matis called him to acquiesce.

"You know nothing of the fae, boy," Di continued to the squire. "Trust me, we shall not know each other's names and it will be for your sake." Di brought her hand back down. The boy swallowed. She noted his fear and set down her pack before taking a seat.

"Alright, then. I am Po," he said with much less confidence. Po sat back in his seat of hay, deciding to quiet. He was a small boy; she could hardly believe him as thirteen. Then again, thirteen was so young. Di herself was fifty-six, although she hardly looked older than twenty-five. Another gift of the Moon Elves. Po had freckles galore and a light smattering of pimples on an otherwise childish face; though slightly red, he seemed to be able to mostly keep his composure for a man so young.

"Pleased to have you, Po." Matis forced a handshake with the boy. "You can call me Ban."

Di raised an eyebrow at that but said nothing. As in Corban the Seafarer? Matis is saying something. I hate that story.

"Alright. Although many may know my name already, refer to me as Riardon," Prince Alquorien said with a devilish smile, showing off his dimples. "Seems fitting to go by the first known prophesied if I am to make history." He went to sit in front, gesturing at one of the swordsmen to join him.

"Long Boar," said the guard with reddish hair, yet tanned complexion.

The other, with cropped blond hair, gave a small smirk before adding, "Fine! That makes me Waterwell." He went to sit in front, dropping his pack by Di.

"Shit on ya!" Long Boar said, laughing with Waterwell in their secret joke. It created an awkward silence before the dwarf spoke up.

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He was a standard thing, short as a child, but with the face of an old man. His hair was loose, and running past his shoulders in dark brown locks, half-braided and wild as dwarfs often preferred and his skin was a light green. Di felt her skin crawl as his gravelly voice spoke. "Treth. And you?"

Di felt his eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look at the dwarf. She would have to pull herself together somehow eventually.

"Just call me Girl," she said, voice low and serious. She felt the general discomfort as everyone else had chosen unique nicknames, but she didn't want anything to tie her down if they came across a powerful fae. Di could fight as well as any man, but once the fae knew her name they'd become deadlier than snake's venom.

~Matis~

The ride began mostly silent. Everyone was only becoming accustomed to sitting for long periods of time and had yet to truly settle together. Matis knew everyone else was mostly jovial in this coming adventure, but his heart was torn. He used every last ounce of patience to get his wife to join the crew, not because he wanted her to come, but because of the true importance of her spot on the crew. He knew she would despise him until time's end if she ever found out why he forced her to come, but it was in the prophecy. Thankfully the only people who knew were himself, Quo, Treth, and the High Priest who ordained the trip.

He was glad to have her, a warmth by his side, but adventures were always dangerous. He met Di in the middle of a fae trial against her. She wasn't welcomed in her own blood because she was half-human.

He kissed the top of her head, feeling her nod off to sleep. All around them, the hills rolled and shrubs waved in the light wind. Green pastures swept the immediate area, giving the world a fairly peaceful look. Their hometown seemed to close off, with the last buildings slowly fading from view. Matis forgot how long the traveling could feel. They'd only just begun! They had weeks to go, perhaps months; one could never know for sure with a quest. His eyes settled on the surrounding green pastures, hypnotizing him nearly to sleep.

"My friend, why in this lifetime would you ever choose the name Ban?" Quo asked, incredulous. Matis chuckled back to full awareness.

"Oh come on! 'Til be funny when it comes to the sea," Matis said with a lazy punch to Quo's arm. "Wife will think I'm clever with that one when she sees."

"She'll think plenty of you by trip's end," Quo said pointedly. Matis's heart clenched. "Of course that's only a probability, Ban."

"Shut it," Matis growled. He looked away at the countryside slowly rolling past them again. The prince was fond of seeing how far he could tease Matis. He knew Matis would always hold back. As much as they were friends Alquorien was the High Prince first and Matis was his personal guard. Matis was a steady man; he always knew his place foremost in all of his relationships -- especially in his friendship with the prince. They'd practically grown up together. Matis's father was a lord with good rank, but Matis rejected his title when he chose to join Quo's first prophesied adventure. Matis had trained well with the army and chose to become a knight, leaving the land and small castle to his younger brother, Marwick, who was a better fit for that anyway.

He looked at Di's sleeping face again. In sleep, she was mostly human. Her normally sharpened edges seemed softer, including her ears. Her open eyes were always carefully watching around her, seeming calculating in their gray coldness. He knew there was more to Di than that, though, and always sought to find the human aspects in her nature. She was never cruel or held grudges as many expected of her, being Half-Elf, if anything Di was the kindest soul Matis had ever known save his mother. She didn't care about payment for her Healing and always sought after the village children and elderly first -- if anything she was the human Matis expected more full humans to be like! She fit in Difavose as well as anyone else. The land was made for kindhearted misfits and lost souls looking for a community.

Matis took a good long look at his companions. Quo chose well, in his opinion. The guards were known in his ranks as loyal and were two of the best swordsman in their army; Long Boar was also an archer, one of the best in their league as well. Po was only a boy, yet he had promise. He was the son of Alderman house, a known loyal family to the throne and often sent at least one of their sons to join the army in good faith. He was this generation's chosen son and a damn fine choice of a son indeed. Po could train harder and longer than most other boys his age and never begged to quit.

And then Treth. Treth was the final part of the prophecy. The High Priest was discussing future endeavors for them when Treth came forward and reminded him of the prophecy. It wasn't often an elvish prophecy was chosen and immediately worked upon but the High Priest insisted Treth, Quo, and Di were all parts of it. Elvish prophets were known to be fickle and choosy with their words; often one thing meant another, but Treth suggested the time would be soon, having studied most of the unfulfilled prophecies and maps in their town.

If only Di could know. She'd hate him by the end. She may have been patient and ultimately understanding in nature, but going back to the fae and their brethren would be the hardest thing for Di to do. Di was despised amongst them and hated them just as much for it. Their first meeting was a harsh reality come true for Matis. All humans were aware of the general way of the fae, or elves, depending on where one lived. Magical creatures. All were sneaky, plotting things, that could hold grudges for eternities to come and vengeful to the bitter end. They absolutely hated any half-fae.

At the time, Di was strung up in a high forest. Matis and Quo were not even sure how their crew encountered the trial. They were searching for a way out of the forest, but the magic must have been too strong. He could never forget the way she looked: no clothes, but all strapped in vines and the roughest look on her face. He now recognized that look as bitter anger. She was being tried for her heritage. Her mother had already been tried and killed years long before, and her father escaped before they could catch Di as well.

Unfortunately for her father, Di was still found and tortured. That was when Matis and crew came in, stumbling and unable to properly speak with the horrors before them. Matis didn't need words. He knew within the next minute what the fae were speaking, without needing a translator, and rushed forward to rescue her. Their battle was uneven and skewed against them, but eventually, when Matis was able to free her, the urgency in Di's magic made her stronger against her kin. She and the men fought back with their might. It was just enough to escape. She stayed with him ever since.

Never again had she used her magic in a fight. Only to heal. As a Moon Elf, that's what was intended for her type of magic, but that didn't mean one could never wield it in other ways -- she simply hated to use it any other way. He never attempted to understand. Matis understood that what she did best was healing, and she earned plenty by doing just that, he could be the fighter in their relationship.

He glanced at the men around them again. Only Quo and Treth could understand the true dangers ahead of them. Warriors were best in mid-battle anyways and not a single one of them could prepare against the fae.