Linthana - Chapter 1 ~ You cannot protect what wishes not to be protected. ~ "You cannot force me to stay here father!" "It is your duty to stay here, Anearthia. It is here you are needed." "It is not. I should be at the borders, with Ereathan!" "Screaming will not benefit you, child." "Let me go, or I will leave without your consent." "You will do no such thing." Anearthia grumbled angrily as she turned on her heels and stormed out of her fathers large quarters, slamming the doors shut behind her. Her hands rested on the handles as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, calming herself. Then she released the doors and headed out of the doorway and into the beautiful nature that surrounded the wood elves' small but beautiful home. She continued quickly and determinedly for nearly a quarter of an hour along a small, hidden path that led to the outskirts of their city, and to the large stone wall that surrounded it. When she arrived she athletically climbed to the top, seating herself there and stared out into the forest outside of her home. She longed to see her twin again. He had been gone much too long for her liking. She wanted nothing more to join him at the front and make sure he was alright, along with their uncle and many friends. Not a lot of the green forest elves were left behind. Most were women, but several men who had important jobs already or who were assigned certain tasks had to remain as well, such as Anearthia's father, lord Aarthon. Apart from being very busy with the job of acting the protective father role with his only daughter, he had taken over most of the kings tasks whilst he was participating in the war. It had been lord Aarthon's decision to let only one of his offspring go off to fight, keeping the second at home. The fact that it had been his son that went off with the rest of the troops was of course due to him being male. For the millionth time Anearthia cursed herself for having been born a girl and threw a rock over the edge of the wall she was sitting on in frustration. "And what, I wonder, would my lady be doing sitting on the city wall?" Anearthia jumped at the sound of the unfamiliar voice and turned around quickly, rising to her feet and grabbing for her dagger as she located the male who had spoken. "I apologize, my lady! I didn't mean to startle you. I just found it curious that you would be spending your time sitting out here when I would assume your tasks would be in the city." Letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding she relaxed her body and sat back down, this time facing away from the outside and staring at the elf on the ground. "And what is your reason for being all the way out here?" She asked him. She had been convinced she was the only one who knew that small, nearly destroyed pathway that seemed to led nowhere until you reached the end of it. She'd found it long ago and came out here when she wanted to be alone, so she didn't like her sacred area being discovered and shared by anyone else. The boy smiled a crooked smile and tilted his head ever so slightly before he equally as agile as Anearthia had done, climbed the wall. He seated himself beside her, looking over the wall and into the forest like she'd done moments earlier. Anearthia frowned and moved so she was sitting sideways on the wall, staring directly at the newly arrived elf. "I followed you here of course. I must say, you really have found yourself a brilliant getaway. This is certainly quite a view." She continued to watch him carefully as he gazed across the treetops. "Why would you follow me? Who are you? What do you want?" She asked. He chuckled and turned to face her, still smiling that half smile that was creepy and, frankly, a bit attractive. "My name is Finrod Gaelnthirn. I was assigned by your father you follow you and make sure you didn't leave the city." He said, obviously humored by this task. She rolled my eyes and looked away from him, growing increasingly angry with her father. "And if I had attempted to escape the city. What would you have done?" She asked, annoyance clear in her voice. "I would have had to forcefully bring you back to your father." He stated simply. Again Anearthia rolled her eyes. "As if you'd be able to do that." She mumbled. Speaking up a bit she continued. "Since when have you acted as my fathers little spy?" She asked. He made a small grunting noise to signalized he'd been offended by her comment. "I am not your fathers little spy. However, I do owe him for getting me well after I arrived back from the front." He said, no longer smiling that cocky smile. Immediately Anearthia snapped her head in his direction and nearly knocked him over. "You were at the front!?" She nearly screamed, grabbing a hold of his shoulders to make him look at her. At first he seemed slightly shocked at her reaction, then he raised his hands to make her let go of his shoulders and closed his eyes, remembering the fighting he had been forced to leave. "I was, yes. I was severely injured and had to return here. The healers decided there was nothing to do for m-" "Tell me, did you by any chance get to know Ereathan?" She interrupted him, desperation in her voice. If he was back here in Lanthela, then he must have left along with Ereathan when the elves who were chosen assembled to leave all those weeks ago. "You are quite rude for a royal," he said, leaning backwards slightly. "Just answer my question. Did you or did you not get to know Ereathan Valthen?" She pressed. Finrod sighed and shook his head. "I am afraid I did not have the pleasure to make the acquaintance of your twin." He said slowly, watching Anearthia carefully. The words sunk slowly, and as they did, her face dropped, sadness filling her clear light blue eyes. Finrod's expression softened as he watched her hold back her tears. "Your father asked me the same thing. In fact, to inquire about your twins condition was the sole reason why he was so keen to save my #life. I could not give him an answer regarding Ereathan, but I do know that the king is healthy, and so is the prince." She looked up at him, trying her best to hide he hurt she felt. "That is good to hear. Very comforting." She smiled, sighing when she didn't sound as convincing as she wanted to. "I don't think you should worry. The king would have let me or someone else know his nephew had been hurt if he had, so we could bring the news with us when we returned." Finrod said, trying his best to find something to say in comfort. "Unless he feels he should be the one to tell us, in person." Anearthia mumbled, a tear running down her cheek. Story by AnJMJen

Thunder Storm (May Be Edited) ~ Irony strikes again. ~ She woke up to a cloudy sky, rain hammering on the single window of her room. The grey clouds covering the sun caused a soft light to shine through the thin drapes that kept out the slowly waking and constantly busier world from the bedroom. Frowning at the thought of getting up she raised herself, shifting her upper bodyweight onto her elbow and used her free hand to rub the grogginess out of her eyes. She gave the clock a glance before turning her head to the window, smiling slightly to herself. She enjoyed the sound of the falling water on the other side of the wall. Sighing she got out of bed and walked over to the window. Shoving both the large glass panes wide open she closed her eyes in delight and took a deep breath as the cool, refreshing air and distinctive scent of rain hit her. The noise changed from something hard and distant to a close, almost surreal sound... The high definition background noise of the busy streets below. This sort of weather was so cozy and welcoming to her. She loved it. The distant sound of thunder made her open her eyes. She watched the sky as the rumbling continued for another couple of seconds, before it stopped. It had been so loud that the silence that followed seemed deafening. The rain drops fell quieter, the noise of the cars seemed further away... Her gaze travelled along the skyline of the city, waiting for the throw of Thor's hammer that was sure to come, before another rumble followed. As if on cue there was a bright flash that filled the sky. A long, thin jolt of light slammed down onto the ground and just as quickly as it had arrived, it disappeared. She wondered how many others watched the storm and smiled, excited to go out into the pouring rain and run through the puddles that had formed. Turning away from the window she got dressed and headed into her kitchen. She made herself a cup of coffee and sat in the window seat of her apartment living room, blowing on the hot beverage as she continued to admire the raging weather. Again she saw a lightning bolt hit the ground. It looked equally far away as the one she saw some minutes prior. Taking another look at the time she sat up from the slouched position she'd been in and put her cup down on the side table, then got up and almost ran towards the hallway, grabbing a jacket and umbrella as she quickly made her way out the door. She ran down the stairs, taking two at a time, the sound of her boots jumping from wall to wall. Just as she reached the ground floor she slowed, mentally slapping herself as she remembered what day it was. Taking the last five steps slowly she mentally debated and quickly decided she might as well take a walk in the rain now when she'd already hurried down all those flights of steps. A smile creeping back onto her face she opened the main door and headed out, the rain immediately batting her head. She quickly pulled out and opened her umbrella, and lifted it over herself, before starting to stroll through the city. There weren't many people out in the streets, which was unusual as it was a Saturday, but then again maybe not so extraordinary as there was a storm raging. Those few who were unfortunate enough to have been taken by surprise by the dark clouds all seemed in a hurry, running carefully around puddles with their heads bent and a newspaper or a handbag lifted above them a futile attempt at keeping dry. The sky lit up once again and no less than four seconds later the ear deafening roar of the hooves belonging to the thunder God's two goats signalized that he was located nearly right above her. She gave a small shudder and decided it would be wise of her to find a shelter of some sort, before Short story by AnJMJen