Wood Elf

You are Jonas Feathercliffs. Your mother was from the Northlands daughter of a Viking Captain, your father you never knew. All you did know was that he was not of the Clan, and when your grandfather found out about his daughter's promiscuity he banished her from the Clan lands. You mother lived a hard life trying to raise you herself in the barren lands of the North. You did your best to be a good child and not cause anymore grief for your mother. Not that it mattered with your platinum blond hair, and your pointed ears. You were made fun of, and ridiculed and kicked and stomped. Your mother you know loved you. And that was all that mattered to you. It wasn't until you were eighteen that your mother, upon her deathbed, told you that you weren't a monster but instead the eldest son of High Councilor Hugh Feathercliffs of the Norwoods Elven Kingdom.

"I...My father is an Elf?" You asked.

Your mother, old before her time smiled weakly, "Yes my beloved son. You are the son of a High Councilor. And a grandson of Viking Clan Captain."

"Then...then why are...why are we living in this hovel mother?"

"Because your grandfather couldn't accept that I wasn't a virgin to be pawned off for an alliance. He disowned me, my own father."

"But...if my father is a High Councilor..."

"My son, why do you think I've not had to work? He sent twenty Crowns a month to make sure I was okay, and you were fed. But...he had standards to keep and a wife that didn't like the fact that we had an affair almost nineteen years ago. She does like you though. She's a kind lady."

"How? She never met..."

"You remember the fair lady that visited last year?"

"Lady Clairborne you called her."

"Yes, that was her. It seems your father has been promoting some legal rights for Half Elves and their non-elf parent with the king, and King Surehand was leaning towards granting it. So she wanted to meet you since that would mean we could have lived on their lands and not been relegated to slaves. She wanted to meet me." Your mother paused and closed her eyes for a second, "She forgave me for my youthful indiscretions. Said she found me kind and enjoyable. And that she was going to petition her brother, the King, to grant it. At the very least for us."

"And that letter you received yesterday?"

"It was accepted...but I am too plague ridden to make the trip...I can not accompany you my son. You must go..."

"I'll not leave you mother. You told me your greatest fear was to die alone..."

"I lied. My greatest fear was for you to live as an outcast your whole life! I'd rather die alone than bear that in the afterlife."

"But...no. You are coming with me...or...or..."

"No, you must go now. I don't think I can last the night. You have no..."

"Then I'll leave in the morning mother. You are all that I have."

"You have more than..."

"My mind is set I will not leave you alone to die by yourself. You say you will not last the night? Then I shall leave in the morning. I will not abandon you for my own comfort." You said resolutely making up your mind.

And true to your mother's word she died during the night. In the morning a group of Vikings came to the hovel, pushed you to the side, and the eldest of the group knelt by your mother's side. And then he did something you had never heard a Viking could do. He cried.

Another one had turned to you, "So...you are my youngest sister's son?" he said with watery eyes.

"I am my mother's son. I don't know you." You said defiantly.

"What you say is true. You do not know me. But have you ever wondered why this village was never attacked? Why the Marauders of the Mountain Kingdom have never set foot in this village? It's because we've risked out life to keep my father's daughter, and you, safe. Against our father's orders we cared for our sister from afar. We heard she was dying and told him, " the large warrior stated, nodding his head at the crying man, "And he needed to see her one last time...to ask for her forgiveness. But...we were too late. We will be taking her back to the Clan Lands to give her a proper burial. But...we couldn't convince our father to accept you."

"I'm going to the Norwood Elf Kingdom. I don't need his acceptance."

The big man nodded, and then produced a rapier like weapon, "The road to that Kingdom runs through Mountain Kingdom territory. Move at night, and get some armor. You can use this...it was your mothers. I'd give you something bigger, but this is probably the only thing I have that you can handle and carry during you hundred league journey." You nodded and took the rapier feeling the weight.

Two of the other warriors helped the older grief stricken man up, then wrapped your mother up. The chief turned to leave, giving you a short look then he left.

"Say one last goodbye to your mother. We are going to bury her in the outskirts of the burial lands...in case you'd like to visit her in the future."

You nodded and walked over to your mother's bed. You looked at your mother's peaceful face for the last time. You reach your hand out and stroke her face, cringing at the chill in her skin. Then you turn and leave the house so you don't have to watch your apparent uncles take your mother out of the hovel that was the only home you ever knew.