“Uhm…” — I attempted to speak up, carefully feeling out the proper atmosphere and words to use.

Ariawyn was clearly troubled by her recent realization about the political intrigues between the dwarves and elves. Yet, it was not exactly the right time to be consumed by such thoughts.

“We might be able to clear up the misunderstanding with your help? Let me introduce myself. I am Selora…” — I glanced towards Camilla, noticing that her attention was once again focused on me. I sighed and continued either way. It’s not like it was my most important secret, and she would learn about it one way or another.

“I am a witch… and an apprentice shaper of the Bronze Company. I am also a new member of the Dimhollow clan, as you have noticed. Emrum… that is, my adoptive father… We have been traveling towards the capital after a successful recapture of a lost section in the deep roads on the King’s orders. That was when we were ambushed.”

“We fought, but in the end Camilla,” — I pointed towards the girl on my side. — “she is an adventurer by the way who was hired for extra protection. Well, she was cornered, and I tried to save her and we succeeded to fend of the enemy… but I lost my focus, and was eventually knocked out from behind.”

I hanged my head in shame, as I remembered the stupid mistake I did… To think that I was this close to get killed. I was pretty certain that if I wasn’t a woman now, I would have been simply cut down. Well… not that being kidnapped with the intention of… well, let’s not go there for now. I squeezed my legs together as a cold shiver run over my spine.

What I wanted to say is that I made a huge mistake, and was yet to escape the consequences.

Even if we get away from the elves, which I doubt to be that easy, we would still have to survive the deep roads with practically nothing on our hands. That seemed to be like an impossible mission. Our best chance was to reunite with the dwarves. Let’s hope some of them are still around.

“Wait… you are a witch?” — Camilla said with a burst of excitement. Her reaction was not what I expected, but it was just like her. I smiled lightly at the girl, a gentle sense of warmth spreading over my body. I realized that I was a lot more worried about the people’s reaction for me being a witch than I initially thought. The way Emrum reacted to that at first must have left a deeper impression on me than I originally thought.

“A witch, you?” — The elf asked with a shocked expression. I gulped, sensing the sharp contrast between the two women. She slowly looked me over from top to bottom. I waited anxiously for Ariawyn’s reaction, which she clearly noticed. There were a few more tense seconds passing by before the woman burst out in subdued chuckles.

“I will be damned… I would sooner take you for a moon priestess than a witch… you do not live up to any of the various stereotypes or genuine facts about your kind.” — She stated trying to calm her giggles. After she managed to do so, her expression slowly became more serious.

She took a deep breath and released it slowly.

“Did you say that you are a shaper apprentice, and a member of the Bronze company? Forgive me for asking this, but how old are you, girl? Wait… wait, don’t answer yet… what did you mean by being a member of the Dimhollow clan… Is this Emrum your adoptive father? Is he a dwarf? Why would a dwarf… adopt you? How in the fiery woods did that happen? I can hardly follow…”

I stared at the woman with a solemn expression.

“Yes, to the first two… My age… I am about a hundred…” I lied awkwardly, feeling ashamed to have to result to such childish behaviours. Saying that I am older than I was originally strangely reminded me to the old times when I had to fake my age to get a few bottles of beer at the corner shop down the street.

My words were cut short as the woman whirled on me, practically jerking me out of my thoughts and causing a subdued shriek to leave both mine and Camilla’s mouth.

We exchanged a quick glance with the human girl, becoming terribly embarrassed by getting scared for no reason.

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Still, my mind couldn’t linger for long on such topics, as I was pulled into a suffocating hug.

My body stiffened as my face landed between two firm mounds, completely engulfed by soft warmth and the less attractive but understandable smell of sweat and grime.

I stayed there, frozen, expecting for something else to stiffen, only to remain permanently disappointed by the lack of that something. As the realization flow through me, my body slowly relaxed, letting the woman’s hands to caress me gently with the protectiveness of a mother.

I expected a sort of excitement, a familiar desire and drive to arise, but there was no such thing. At best, there was a shadow of what I have known, and it felt different. More akin to an underlying simmering thirst, which was deep and a lot harder to connect to.

The tightness of the hug slowly loosened around me, and I could finally look up to the elven woman’s expression.

I was surprised by the gentle eyes as the woman took in my form with a protective love radiating from her blue eyes.

“For such a young child, to be so far from home. How could those disgusting dwarves force you into military service… This… such insult shall not go unpunished… The high elves will hear about this, there is a line that should never be stepped over, and these fools have crossed it so brazenly!” — The woman spoke with an alarming fervor. The previous distrust and hatred towards the dwarves seemed to redouble in intensity.

I pushed against her shoulders, trying to struggle out of her grasp while protesting vehemently. — “Wait… what sort of story are you making up in your mind? It was me who asked them to accept my help…“

The woman ignored me… — “You might be thinking that, and it might be even true, but adults should know better to not send children on a frontline. This is unacceptable, does they not know the tradition of elves? Do they try to insult us where it hurts the most? No wood elf or high elf would let such treatment go unpunished!” — The woman fumed.

“How did you end up in such a dangerous place to begin with? You should be with your family, or with your own kind at least! To learn the ways of the elves… What good could you learn from dwarves that is relevant for your life? Drinking and barfing in public?” — The woman started to lecture me with a natural ease. I was pretty sure that she was used to bargaining with children, not that I was one, but her righteously descending tone reminded me of my own parents, bless their souls.

“If the elven races learn about this… there will be consequences!” — The woman promised with a snarl. Something that sent shivers down my lower back. This was not good. Obviously I can’t neutralize her, even if I could I wouldn’t do such a thing. Yet… I was supposed to mend the disagreements of the realm and not cause even more! I cannot create another destructive misunderstanding.

I heavily pushed against the woman’s shoulders, and finally managed to wriggle my way out of her grasp. Just noticing the smirking Camilla sitting by the wall and watching the show with interest.

I blushed and turned away from her, looking back at the elf. — “Look, it’s just a misunderstanding. Don’t get ahead of your horses! The dwarves have actually saved me from the predictably dire consequences of a failed teleportation. Yes, that’s how I got into the deep roads in the first place…”

Both women gasped, one in shock while the other in excitement. I throw a pointed look at Camilla and said. — “No, I won’t teach it to you, since I can’t do it properly myself.”

The girl mumbled something obscene under her breath, and made a face, but continued to listen to my explanation with the focus of a hawk.

“They saved me and took me in. I wanted to help them out and so I did… Things happened and it turned out that my magic was more useful than they initially anticipated. They offered me rank and payment for magical service, and I accepted.”

It did not persuade the older elf.

“Accepted? The imbeciles dare! They should have sent you home with the first caravan, instead they sent you deeper into the deep roads, and a lost section of it! I’m going to strangle the bastards one by one!” — The woman cursed, in a barely contained rage. — “Tell me Selora, are you a wood elf, or a high elf?” — Her expression was strict. I could tell that my answer would either doom or partially doom Ariawyn’s thoughts regarding dwarves, possibly permanently.

I gulped and decided to come clean. Unable to bear the responsibility of needlessly ruining an entire race already questioned reputation. Especially with something that had no basis at all.

“Neither…” — I said, eventually accepting my fate.

Ariawyn opened her mouth and was just about to retort with something, before she froze… opened her piercing blue eyes and focused them on me.

“Explain.” — Was the only word she said to accompany her measured words.

“Well…” — I started, unsure what to say. Thankfully, there was a sarcastic companion to help me out.

“She is a white elf, can’t you see? She differs from your kind, high elves, and obviously she is not a dark elf… so that’s the only reasonable explanation.” — She stated with a satisfied look, drinking in the shock and disbelief that the older elf showed hearing the unexpected revelation.

“White elf?” — The woman said in a questioning tone, her voice hiccuping at the end. — “That can’t be…”

“Hah!” — Camilla snorted at her expression. — “It obviously can.”