Taken+In

Random clouds of black gnats swarmed around in their circles getting into the faces of the unsuspecting elven couple, "Ugh! Mud season..." Feahni waved her hand in front of her as though she could wipe the bugs from the air.

Lirodir chuckled and slipped an arm around her waist, guiding her around the cloud, "Are you sure you want to stop here?" The elven woman nodded, "Yes, but it wont take long." She patted his arm reassuringly.

A feeling of being watched put the strong elven man on edge and he drew his sword, sweeping the elven woman behind him protectively. "It's alright," she assured him, stepping around him confidently. They could hear bow strings being pulled and then a warm deep voice boomed from the trees ahead of them, "Feahni!" A burly wood elven man swept the wisp of a woman in a circle and hugged her, "It's been too long!" He turned and hollered back into the woods, "Tell the others to prepare a feast. The oracle is here." The blushing elven woman hugged her old friend, "It is good to see you again, Tavar," she smiled and gestured behind her, "This is my husband, Lirodir Silinthrin." The wood elf gripped the warrior's hand with a strong and hearty handshake, "Well, you're a lucky man, my friend! Congratulations to you both." He warmly escorted the two into the village. Many came to see her... she was the oracle. She had visited this village many times when she was younger. These were good people. She was beloved and respected... the solitary wood elves of the Gray Forest considered her as welcome as one of their own. A young sylvan woman came into the tent to see her. "Come in, my dear, and tell me your name," Feahni greeted her warmly with a nod in her direction. "It is better that you do not know, Lady Selinthrin... I have not come for myself, but for my child," the young woman nodded to the curious oracle. "Your child?" Feahni tilted her head, gazing at the woman with unseeing eyes, "You seem awfully young to have a young one of your own... but what can I do for your child?" The young sylvan pulled a shy toddler from behind her legs... a little girl of maybe 3 years. Feahni reached her hands out, "Do not be frightened, little one, Please... come closer." The sylvan woman nudged her daughter forward into the outstretched arms of the blind elven woman, "Her name is Senathliel, my lady... She is not safe here... the others fear her. They think the child is cursed!" Feahni's soft hands caressed the little girl's face and a booming force took her back to a vision she had had nearly a year ago. She and her loving husband had tried without success for a child, but seemed unable to have them. She had received a vision from the gods of a special little girl... chosen for her. Emotional tears slipped from the blind eyes of the beautiful elven woman. This was that little girl. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Tears stung the eyes of the pleading mother, "Please... Lady Feahni... Please take my daughter away from here. I can not leave... but you... you could take her somewhere safe. Tell me she is not cursed and that she will live a much better life than I can give her here." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Feahni nodded to the woman, "She 'is' cursed... but she is blessed as well. She is a child of a god. I hear your plea, and I will take her." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Thank you, my lady, thank you!" The young woman hugged her tiny child tightly and kissed her forehead, "You will have a great life, my Sen, I know it. Be a good girl now." She set the child next to the oracle and left quickly in tears. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Feahni..." the elven warrior set a hand on his wife's shoulder, "What are you thinking? We can't take a child with us now. How am I to protect you both?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The oracle smiled up at her husband, "We will take her as our own. She is the one the gods have chosen for us... and you are Lirodir, the great warrior... not some simple city guard." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">He chuckled, "I appreciate your confidence in me, woman, but this is dangerous... far too dangerous for such a wee one." He looked down at the little girl already asleep in his wife's lap with a loop of a finger in her mouth. Feahni was glowing with joy. He shook his head and conceded his defeat... the child would be going with them.