Chapter One: An Elf and her flute

“Well, if you ask me, their idea of gratitude is completely absurd. I mean, honestly! After risking our lives for their little town they neglect to offer us a simple thank you - or a reward for that matter! How terribly rude, and they dare to call me equipment! I have never been more insulted! I am relieved to be rid of their imbecilic presence, I swear to any deity their entire town collectively wouldn't compare to a single thought I have, and where are we headed? Perchance more forest? Green, green, green ... Kira? Are you even listening to me Kirdina? Are you even paying attention?”
The young elf looked down to her companion, her eyes glittering green, holding a smile all their own. “Of course I’m listening Maki, but be fair. There were many a creature who risked their life helping that village, and a good thing for that too.” The nimble elf climbed over a fallen tree and continued on. “How were they supposed to keep track of everyone and give them a proper thank you after that battle. I’m just glad we were able to help out. I really do hate undead.” Kirdina gave a bit of a frown. “Actually I’m still a bit worried about that place, maybe we should’ve stuck around, you know, just incase something else came up.”
“Ha!”scoffed Maki. “There is always trouble where you are! The town is better off without you!”
“That’s a little cold.” Kirdina mumbled to herself, then paused, looking about the forest. She lifted up her right hand, shielding her eyes. The sun stood high in the afternoon sky, sending splendid rays of light throughout the area. Plants of all sorts sprung up from every crevice, covering the vision with greens and browns. In the mix of forest colors a metallic shimmer came into view. The small elf raised a curious eyebrow. With a rush of energy she playfully sprung over to a small circular object tossed into the dirt. Her fingerless brown glove wrapped about the item and held it up to the sky.
“Maki!” she exclaimed with a bit of delight. “Do you know what this is?”
“A copper coin.” the companion answered unamused. “Not worth much anywhere really, you might as well place it back where you found it.”
Kirdina ignored him and continued. “It must mean travelers are nearby! Maybe there’s something new we can find!”
“Oh, how exciting. A new village, what wonders lay in store for us.”came the all too predicable reply.
“Maki, where’s your sense of adventure?” Kirdina scolded playfully. “And anyways, it’s not like you have much of a choice.” With that the elf scooped up Maki who had been in a small pouch, and held him to eye level. A wooden solemn face glared back at her, attached to the body of a small wooden flute.
“I really hate it when you do this Kirdina.”
“Come on, Maki! If there are travelers nearby we can make some great music! It’ll be fun, I’ve been working on a new song that’ll be sure to lift even your grumpy spirits, listen!”
The elf put Maki up to her lips and began to play. The forest was filled with music, a crisp and delightful song, upbeat and chipper, equal to that of the birds Kirdina so admired. Maki complained with each breath Kirdina took, and every time she stopped for air, he would yell for her to knock it off. The elf just giggled to herself and continued to create the song she had been envisioning.
She hopped to the beat for a few minutes until, sure enough, reaching the edge of the great forest they had been traveling in, the two came to a clearing . A few paces from the clearing there laid a well worn dirt path, and upon that path scattered about were travelers of all sorts.
Kirdina hesitated before emerging from the forest, reaching up to her mask and pulling it over her face. “We don’t want the wrong eyes spying it, do we now Maki?”
“Heh, certainly not.” The object agreed.
Excitedly the elf jumped out of the forest, tumbling into a roll and then springing up gracefully onto the path. Two children further down from her laughed and clapped. A man near to her smiled amused.
“Greetings, traveler, art though venturing to the festival?”
“A festival?” she asked in the common tongue, the ususal type of speech everyone could understand. Her native tongue was that of wild-elf, but none too many spoke such language and so almost always would she address someone in common.
“Yes, but only a few miles away. Tis the spring equinox and the small fishing village of Kinar always hosts the greatest celebration of the seasons! I am headed there now in hopes of tasting some of their famous foods.”
“Famous foods?” Kirdina repeated as her stomach gurgled. She had been eating nothing but dried meats and fruits for the past 3 weeks. The idea of new food was a delightful thought.
“Why Kinar is known throughout the lands as having some of the tastiest foods ever!” The man scratched his head at that thought. “Well, perhaps not known throughout the lands, but every neighboring village around here knows of the tasty dishes Kinar can make. It is, after all, made up almost entirely of hobbits, and if anything is true about their race it is fine food and great hospitality.”
“Wow! That sounds wonderful. I believe I’m due for a vacation. What great timing!”
The man looked the young elf up and down for a second. Taking notice for the first time of her quiver and bow hanging off her back, and her sheathed short sword dangling patiently at her waist. Suddenly he felt wary. “What is it, exactly, that you do, traveler?” he hesitated to ask.
Kirdina could see his comfortably relaxed features starting to shift. Villagers, she thought, they’re always ready to ask for your help, but when you want to just want to be yourself and relax they get all wary. Not wanting to scare away someone already she lifted up Maki.
“A flute?” the man asked curiously. He had never seen anything like it. It was carved out of some dark oak, a beautiful detailed carving of an ancient, wise, old face stared outwards a solemn look to him. The eyes were enchanting dark green jewels. Around the top and bottom of the instrument were small stones somehow held into place, the stones themselves unique and rare. “I’ve never seen such an instrument.” the man exclaimed in admiration.
“Ha, well, I bet you’ve never heard me play it either, huh?” she laughed, and with that she put Maki up to her lips and began to play. Her fingers moved slowly and her eyes closed as her song began to get carried by the wind. It was a slow and mellow song, relaxing as a cool stream on a sunny afternoon. The notes rippled like water through her skill of expressing feelings with music. After a few minutes of playing she finished her song, noticing that she had accidently drawn a crowd.. Everyone clapped and then continued on their way. The man took off his hat and bowed.
“You should think of performing at the festival, young bard.”he said. “I’m certain many would appreciate your musical gift.”
Kirdina felt a rush of heat flush her face as she blushed and made a mental note of gratitude for her mask. “Much thanks kind sir for thy compliment, I will certainly consider it.”
The man bowed politely one last time. “Perchance I shall see thee about the festival, good day.”
Kirdina waved pleasantly. “Good day!” she called out after him.
“Are you going to the festival?” Maki asked dryly.
“Of course, my stomach wouldn’t have it any other way.” In response her belly gave another hungry gurgle. “Plus, I’ve never seen a hobbit before!”
“They’re short, like a dwarf, but they have opposite personalities.”
“Ah, so they’re friendly!” she giggled.
“I’m sure they would love your music Kirdina.”
“Really?” she asked inquisitively. “Do hobbit’s like music?”
“They are very talented with the arts.” Maki replied, exuding an aura of intelligence.
“They are also very good at farming and gardening and they have an extreme amount of patience in most areas. Their intellect is lacking; however, and one can easily be bored of a hobbit in no time. I suppose if we are merely going to Kinar for a festival it should prove to be what you would hope for most hobbits are also known to throw elaborate celebrations, serving a large variety of foods, if food is something you are interested in.”
“Huzzah! That’s all I needed to hear,” then she added witha chipper giggle. “And the food helps too.” With a skip and a hop she began to bounce down the road which seemed empty now. After a few short dances further Kirdina stopped in her tracks. Her body began to feel tense, almost uneasy. Her usually large, almond shaped eyes grew into small slits as she looked around. “Something is wrong...”she whispered quietly, her eyes raising to the bright blue sky above. She looked about carefully, large fluffy white clouds glided around without a care in the world, the wind rustled slightly sending the tree branches to sway. Kirdina felt a bit of liquid trickling down her face. She reached up and touched her cheek. Her eyes darted to her fingertips that now had a bit of red on them. “That’s not good.” she mumbled, digging in one of her pouches and pulling out a shred of material. She lifted up her mask just enough to press the small cloth against her flesh, then pulled it back down, holding the cloth firmly in place underneath. Her skin began to crawl as she listened to the trees rhythmically move from side to side, a slow creaking in the tired limbs of ancient trees. Something felt very wrong.
Out of nowhere, there was a thunderous eruption from the sky. Kirdina jumped and frantically stared upwards, her eyes restlessly searching the clouds. Suddenly there was a ripple of color, the blue sky trembled as a wave of dark orange color washed across it’s surface, the clouds in it’s path twisting and darkening to an empty blackness. A strong gust of air raced across the sky, with the color, and hit Kirdina full force. Her eyes began to tear. The black clouds squirmed and writhed and a hauntingly terrible laughter echoed in the young elf’s ear. In terror Kirdina watched the clouds form themselves into a symbol the elf was all too familiar with, and just as suddenly, everything went back to normal, the ripple of color passing over her and fading into the distance, the wind whistling quietly away.
There was a terrible silence for a moment, but soon after birds began to chirp, the wind began it’s elegant dance once more with the trees, the leaves gently moved to the sound of wildlife.
“What in all the nine hells was that?!” She yelled.
“There is no need to yell, I am right here.”
“Did you catch that Maki?! What was all that?!”
“Again, no need to shout. And it looked to me as if it were a traveler.”
“A wha-Huh?”
“A portal of some kind, or perhaps a form of inter-planer teleportation.”
“Inter-what? Are you serious?”
Maki sighed.“I’m always serious, Kirdina.”
“Well, well, then, why did that symbol form in the sky?”the elf flustered.
“Hmm, that’s a good question. Obviously somehow you are involved.”
“Involved?” she repeated. “But why, what did I do?”
“Well, for some reason your scar was formed with the clouds, your mark must mean more than you originally assumed.”
“And what does my scar mean then, Maki?”Kirdina demanded agitated.
“As I’ve told you before, I have no recollection of that symbol, despite my infinite wisdom in such areas. It is my opinion that your mark is a statement rather than what you were hoping it could be...”
“A symbol for a family name, almost mercifully forgotten...”she whispered quietly. Kirdina looked around the area for a moment, taking note of the travelers still headed towards the village of Kinar. “Looks like a little bad weather can’t keep these people away.” she added, trying desperately to make light of the situation. “Must be some festival, eh Maki?”
“Yes, I suppose it would. Kirdina, this is a very bad omen. Perhaps we should head back into the forest, more cover, easier for us to hide, to keep away from things trying to kill us!”
“Aw, come on Maki, I’m starving. It’s been so long since we’ve had time to just relax and enjoy the world. I’m not going to let anything, including some new monster, ruin my vacation, and that’s that! Humph!”
“Well it would appear you are tied to this situation closer than either one of us would like. In a best case scenario we may be exposed to information that may serve to give us revelations about your kind, of course, in a worst case scenario we could die! Hmm, what would be the better option there.”
“They were not my kind!”Kirdina hissed back suddenly, wanting to throw the flute to the ground and stomp on him, but her body was unwilling to follow the command.
“No need for a temper. I was simply just musing over the idea of learning more interesting facts about those people who you resided among for a large majority of your early youth. As you know, knowledge is-”
“Is power.” Kirdina finished.. “Yes, yes, Maki, I know, you repeat that annoying phrase far too often for me to forget.” she put her hand to her forehead, feeling suddenly tired.
“It is interesting to note that your scar begun to bleed right before the surge of energy rushed over us.”
Kirdina nodded, walking off the path and into the underbrush of the forests edge. “I suppose that is a strange coincidence.” She pulled out a small wooden bowl and some water she had in her backpack.
“We must try to recall everything you remember from that event. Your memories may hold the very key as to what your mark means, and perchance why we saw it now appear in the sky.”
“Heh, I already know what it means” Kirdina replied miserably.
“What?”Maki gasped surprised.”You do? This whole time you’ve been-“
“Yeah, it means I’m cursed!”
“Funny, Kira, now perhaps you can try to pull yourself out of the pity stage and think logically about your current situation. We need information that is enlightening and new. Now think. What do you recall.”
The young elf slumped into the grass, pouring some of the water into the wooden bowl. She set the dish down in the tall ferns, angling the bowl so that she could see the clouds reflections. The elf took another careful look around. Being certain she was far enough from the road that passerbys would not spy her. She then pulled up her mask and gently peeled off the cloth that was now soaked in blood and sticking to her face. She dabbed her skin with great concern and then slowly peered into the water, taking in her reflection.
It was never an easy thing for Kirdina to do, to look at herself. Often she would go for months without seeing her reflection, sometimes allowing herself to imagine she looked differently. Gazing upon her scar always stirred the memories as to how it was placed upon her, and the events of what transpired before and after.
“What do you remember, Kirdina?” Maki persisted, hoping that perhaps this time the young elf would recall something she had missed.
There was a shaky breath as the elf stared into the small pool. An elf stared back at her. A rather beautiful wood elf, with hair the color of a red oak trunk, and eyes the shade a deep green fern. Her skin was as fair as a smoothed stone lying at the bottom of a bubbling stream and her smile rivaled even the sun. Underneath her right eye there was a mark. Some would see it as a tattoo, for the strange pattern of twisting lines was black in color, as if an ink had been used to make the symbol stand out more. Around the black marks was Kirdina’s damaged flesh, discolored to a reddish, purplish hue. As Kirdina peered intensely she saw the reason for the blood. The skin underneath the black was cracked open and bleeding slightly, causing a stinging sensation, reminding her of the terrible day when her parents had placed that mark upon her.
“My parents, placed this mark upon me.”she stated flatly. Maki already knew this but remained quiet, hoping for more information. The young elf dropped the soaked material into her bowl, swishing it about with her forefinger, watching the blood from the cloth mix with the water in a meditative manner.
Screams. That was the first thought that came to mind. Kirdina was younger, smaller than she was now, and she struggled with all her might, flailing about dramatically, trying to escape her parents’ grasp, her mother on one side, and her father on the other, dragging her through a dark building (perhaps a church?), benches on either side of her as she was pulled up an aisle. Shades scattered around in the darkness. She couldn’t see them, but she felt their piercing gazes, her heart racing. There was a ceremony going on in front of her. A large fire, an alter with something on it, robed figures with snarling faces, teeth as sharp as daggers one holding a piece of metal into the fire. Tears streamed down her face. “What is happening? Mum, Dad, what is happening? What did I do? What is happening?” No one answered her. The figures chanted solemnly and her parents just stood there.
“They were lifeless, empty, my parents just held me there. I couldn’t move.” The only robed figure cloaked in a red cape stepped forward, the fire illuminating his pale face. His eyes were yellow, his smile quiet and amused.
“We’ve been waiting for you, little one.” he responded, extending his hand to brush her tear streaked face.
“What is happening?”Kirdina managed to ask, looking more to her parents than the figure before her.
“Your parents will not answer you, they are dedicated seekers of our world. They will not respond to your pleas.”
“Wh-, what did I do, why are you doing this to me, why have I been brought here?”
“Your parents have chosen to give you over to us as a symbol of their dedication and loyalty, truly they had not realized thy value, else they would have handed you over much sooner.”
“My, my value- wh-, what?”
“First, a gift, my dear, from me personally.” The red robed figure took hold of the metal, pulling it from the flames, a strange symbol on the end. Kirdina immediately recognized the symbol as the same mark both her parents had branded on their arms.
“Wh- what are you going to do with that?” she stuttered frantically. “Don’t put that near me!!” She struggled and twisted so much that she actually broke free.
“Grab her!” the man roared, and in seconds the little elf was thrown to the floor, her parents, along with others, bracing her tightly. Her eyes grew wide as the red cloaked man walked towards her, carrying the burning red metal symbol. He knelt down beside her taking his left hand and pressing it against her forehead, slamming her head against the floor witha forceful crack, then with his right hand raising the glowing metal towards the ceiling he hissed a phrase of sounds Kirdina had never heard before. His eyes turned almost golden in color and he peered down at her, a strange thirst and lust in his gaze. His mouth cracked open slightly and Kirdina saw teeth, large sharp teeth inside. Suddenly he lunged the metal symbol down towards her face. Kirdina screamed, closing her eyes, feeling her skin blister and sizzle underneath the tool. She couldn’t move, she struggled, but in vain. Her screams echoed in the building, her eyes now tearing from the smoke, her throat burning. She had no idea how long the metal was upon her face, it could have been for only a split second, but to the young elf it felt like hours. As soon as it was lifted she felt everyone let go of her. Kirdina curled into a ball, sobbing in pain, clutching at her face which burned terribly. Her hands trembled. After gaining back some of her strength she opened her eyes, instinctively closing her right one since opening it was too painful. Through her left eye, despite the smoke damage, she saw that everyone had gone. She pulled herself up onto her feet and began to run. She ran into the forests of the night, searching for the one person who could help bring her peace.
“Estel..” she whispered aloud. If he could have, Maki would have raised an eyebrow at that name.
“Estel...? Your, ahem, friend? What does he have to do with this situation of ours?” Kirdina blinked a few times and shook her head, still staring at her reflection.
“Nothing.” she replied flatly. “Dead people have nothing to do with anything.” Kirdina splashed the water with her hand angrily, then brought up her cloth now rinsed off. She wiped her mark roughly, ignoring the stinging sensation. “Why can’t I just wipe it away?” she growled to herself frustrated. “I hate it! I hate them!” With a roar she swiped the bowl away, spilling out the water.
“That was mature.”Maki stated dryly. Kirdina glared down at him.
“I can’t recall anything else that I haven’t already told you. I don’t know what it means. I just know my parents had the same symbol on their forearms. Some vampire thing they worshiped placed this symbol upon my face. I have no idea why, I thought it might be a mark for a clan, I don’t know.”
“You can’t recall anything new?”
“If I could I would tell you.” the frustrated elf grit her teeth, her eyes now staring at her overturned bowl.
“What about Estel?”
“What about him?”
“He had nothing to do with any of this?”
“Like I said before Maki, he was innocent of this whole mess. The only reason he was killed was because of me.”
“So in return you slaughtered your parents?”
Kirdina’s eyes flashed suddenly to her flute. Her voice went low, dark. “They were evil beings. I had to stop them from hurting anyone else.” There was no remorse in her voice, no hint of doubt. That was what she believed and there was no questioning her on the matter. Maki let the subject go, despite his desire to learn more about the symbol.
“There is no talking to you when you are like this.” Maki sighed. “Shall we be off to the festival then?”
“I thought you wanted to go hide in the forests.” Kirdina replied, looking back into the trees.
“Well I would rather deal with a festival in turmoil than you in this bitter mood. Honestly Kirdina, I wish you could think of me more often, you’re so cruel sometimes.”
The young elf stood up, dusting herself off. She reached down and picked up the bowl and rag, tossing them into her pack. “Maybe nothing will go wrong.” she said wishfully. “Maybe something good will happen, that happens sometimes, in stories I hear...”
“Well let’s get going then, I’m tired of staring at the green everywhere.”
Kirdina nodded and picked up the rest of her things. With a skip she turned back onto the road leading towards the festival. The path was once again occupied with travelers and Kirdina couldn’t help but grow excited at the sight of so many different kinds of people.
“Kira, your mask!” Maki scolded.
With a gasp she quickly pulled down the leafy design over the front of her face. That was one thing she couldn’t afford to forget, especially with what had just transpired within the clouds. Who knows how many other people saw the event, and who knows how many people would try to blame her for it, or at least ask her questions. That was hopefully something she could avoid. “I just want to have fun at the festival like everyone else. Celebrate the wonderful season of spring that is once again upon us.” she told herself as she walked towards the village. She could hear a group of children playing together behind her, birds sang above the path and a butterfly glided quietly in front of her. “It’s a beautiful day. I will not let anything ruin this.”she whispered quietly.