Trailing Silence | Chapter II - Section I

Section I

Faerie looked at Alice as they arrived outside of the kingdom walls. “Here we are then…” Alice muttered as their pace slowed to a walk.

“Where are we exactly?” Faerie asked.

“Kingdom of Alitics,” Alice replied. “Home of just about every race that are peaceful, Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Half Orcs, Halflings you name it. They all get along too.”

“Why do you seem so… hesitant about it?” Faerie questioned as they neared the gates.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Alice sighed, brushing back her golden blond hair. The gates suddenly parted and a little Halfling ran over to Alice, hugging the elf’s legs. “Angie? Are you okay?” Alice knelt in front of her.  

“Yeah, but where have you been?” Angie asked, staring up at her with flushed cheeks and tears in her eyes. “Why have you been gone for so long?”

“I’m sorry kid, thing just… just got crazy and I lost track of time.” Alice told her.

“It’s been a year Alice and you didn’t write or anything!” Alice physically winced then grabbed her side as she felt a stab of pain where one of the arrows were.

“Alice?” Faerie questioned as she knelt beside her.

“I’m fine Faerie, just a bit of pain nothing serious.” Alice told her, trying to give her a reassuring smile but it faltered slightly. “How about you? The bandages alright? I was in a bit of a rush this morning.”

“I’m fine Alice….” Alice grabbed the bottom of her shirt and lifted it a bit; blood has seeped all the way through the bandage.

“Why didn’t you tell me it bled through?”

“Just wasn’t up for stopping….” Faerie looked away.

“Sissy we should get her to a healer soon.” Angie piped up and Alice nodded in agreement.

“Come on, Angie where does Piplock live now?” Alice asked as the three of them started into the open gates.

“Where she always lives,” Angie replied.

“Where the hell have you been Elf?” A dwarf greeted them.

“Good to see you too Adirik,” Alice greeted. “Been a bit busy, now if you’ll excuse me I need to see Piplock.” The dark red haired dwarf moved out of their way.

“Why do the dwarves call you Elf?” Faerie questioned.

“Long story,” Alice muttered.

“I’ve got time.”

“After I left home, I did my best to survive out in the wild, traveled a bit as well. I went north and got kind of captured by some Hill dwarves when I was out traveling, took me down to their king. Heck I thought I was going to be beheaded but no they… they surprised me. They needed my help gosh was that funny to hear a dwarf ask an elf for help.” Alice smiled at the memory.

“What were they asking for help with?”

“They found a Halfling child, they tried their best to take care of it but well they needed help. Angie was only about three at the time, I couldn’t just leave her there with the dwarves so I stayed, raised her. Got called Elf because that is what Angie called me before she could really do any proper talking. Slowly it became just what I was called and it spread to all of the other dwarves, the story of the Elf who lived with the dwarves.” Alice smirked.

“Don’t think I would have guess that you lived with dwarves before.” Faerie admitted. “Guess that explains why the dwarves are friendlier with you than normal elves.”

“Mm,” Alice looked down at Angie who lead them through the slight crowd. “Angie, how’s Markus been?”

“He’s been fine, got sick a little while ago but he’s better now.” Angie called back.

“Good, anything else happen in the past year while I was away?”

“No, nothing that I can think of, who’s the chick?” Angie asked.

“Oh, uh, how about we discuss this when we get to Picklock’s.” Angie glanced over her shoulder at them.