"Please! Someone help me." I shouted, running through a strange land. The land here was lusciously grassy and smelled of an unusual smell. Torches were burning, and everyone seemed to be inside, or there was no one here. I was tired, smelly and dirty. My clothes were ragged and my hair was matted. I heard footsteps behind me and I shrieked with fright. There were giant metal men, their helmets came to perfect triangles on top. Their capes billowed out around them, they held shields and had swords pointed at me. They formed a circle around me

"Who are you?"
"Where are you from?"

"How did you get here?"

"Are you a spy?" They all demanded at once. I dropped to the ground and curled up in a ball. Tears wracked my body. I had just lost my parents, and my whole village, I was so scared.

"Out of my way! Can't you see she is just a child." A soft voice urgently said. Then my arms were pulled away from me. I looked up into a soft face and kind vibrant green eyes. The woman's black hair was in a braid over her shoulder to her breast. She wore a cotton shirt and leather pants. She wore a brown vest over the shirt. On her feet were black knee-high boots. There was a small dagger in her belt.

"We can see she's just a child. But how did she get here?" One of the men asked

"Don't you think we'll find out more if we don't treat her with hostility?" The woman said. They all murmured in agreement. The woman picked me up and carried me to her hut. She laid me down in a bed and I passed out from fatigue....

"Please wake up Malvina. We miss you." A voice spoke in my head. But I couldn't get out of the black hole I was in. I slipped further in, it was nice and warm here, I wanted to stay forever....

"Very good. Now write the V and the I" Gavina said, as she she braided my hair in three braids.

"And then N and the A."

"Very good child." Gavina rubbed my head and chuckled. "You're catching on very well. You've done enough for today. Why don't you go and play."

"Okay." I leaped from the wooden table, lifted my pale blue dress with black ribbons criss-crossed in the front and ran out the door. I ran through the village, some of the villagers said hello, some glared at me, but I didn't mind. I was safe now, and nothing could harm me now. I ran to the grassy fields and played in the fields of flowers. Riding my wooden horse and pretending to be a princess. I played in the river and visited the horses in the stable, giving them sugar cubes.

Gavina and I got along famously. She would meet me in the middle of the village and escort me home since I still didn't remember which one was hers. She taught me how to cook and clean. She taught me how to sew. She taught me how to write and do math. Life was good and for a moment, I almost forgot about my parents. But it wasn't long before the nightmares started. The sweat drenching kind. The kind where I had to sleep with Gavina.

One particular day. Gavina let me go out to play. It was a little cloudy that day and she said that as soon as the rain started to fall, I was to come right home. I was playing in the grassy fields, pretending I was a princess on the run from a dragon, my noble steed carried far and wide. And then the rain started, it was light and first. So I took my time walking through the fields. Soon though it began to downpour, the wind howled and the rain sliced my face. It became very dark. I screamed and dropped my horse. Then I ran, ran like mad towards the Village. But Gavina wasn't there to greet me, but I knew which one was her's. I flung the door open and slammed it. But then I realized it wasn't mine. This one had wooden bookshelves by the door. A bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. An archway leading to a dining room with a small table and two chairs.

"Good gracious! What was that?" A voice growled. Then from around the corner, a tremoundes sound sounded. The sound of feet. Big feet. The flame from the candle cast a huge shadow on the wall. I got frightened and hid behind a buckskin chair.

"I think it was just the door dad." I peeked out and saw a beast of a man. He had black hair tied back by a string, a beard that went to his chest. He wasn't fat, he was just large. He wore a cotton shirt and tan pants.

"That's some storm huh?" The man said and walked away. I started chattering from cold and fright. The boy who had started to turn around, must have heard me, for he walked my way. I shot upwards

"Please don't eat me!"I said shaking. The boy frightened at first, slowly began to chuckle

"I won't eat you." The beast of a man came back in

"Who are you?" He glared at me.

"It's the little girl that Gavina saved. Malvina right?"

"Yes. And you are?"

"I'm Tobin." He stuck out his hand and I shook it. Then he put a cloak on me and together we walked back to my hut. I decided I liked him better than his father. Gavina was in pieces when we got to my hut she was wringing her hands. She greeted me with open arms and invited Tobin in. She gave us minty Drunkin and let us play games. After that day, Tobin and I were inseparable....

"Do you think she will wake up soon Gavina?" I hear a sad voice ask

"Yes, I believe she will soon." A weary voice answers. I want to stay in the comforts of home. But I know it's time to come up for air. I open my eyes slowly, sun hits them, I groan and close them

"Malvina!" I hear the voice shout making me scrunch my eyebrows together.

"Shhh Tobin. We must talk softly." I opened my eyes again and focused on the face in front of me. Tobin's face. His eyes were eager and happy. He looked drained. He was in the same clothes as yesterday. I looked at Gavina. Her hair was in three braids. She wore a black dress with purple ribbons crisscrossed in the middle. Her face was tired, but her eyes gentle and happy as well.

"Hello." I reply with a weak smile.

"Hello dear. How are you?"

"I'm a little thirsty."

"I'll get it!" And just like that Tobin was gone. Gavina chuckled then she came and helped me sit up

"What's so funny?'

"Oh nothing. Tobin's been here day and night. He never sleeps, never leaves. Only eats a little." She smiles and strokes my face.

"How long have I been out?"

"Five days."

"Five days! But-but who's been protecting you! I have to get back-"

"NO! You need to rest one more day. Then Becken, Tobinson's father wants you to go with him to the front lines. He wants you to work with him for a while. See how good you are, then he will maybe let him become a warrior."

"H-he wants me to join him?"

"Yes. You are going to help him find the Dragons nest."

"But I-" I fell silent as Tobin came in with the water. I took it from him and took a sip.

"Want to know how they found us?" Tobin asked, bouncing in his seat.

"How?"

"Well, Gavina didn't like that we weren't back yet. So she led a search party. They saw you struggling, me, well after you left, I hopped down, but the dragons saw me and started chasing me. I fell into a small trench, but it was small enough for them not to get in."

"So, then I told the Warriors and Byron where I had sent you. They weren't too happy about it so we rode off right away. We rode out everywhere, we saw dragons flying back and forth over the trench and saw Tobin passed out. We killed the dragons and hauled him up. Then we went in search of you, and well, you know the rest." Gavina finished

"Yeah, and I was out for three days. But you got most of the beating, so that's why it too you longer." Tobin replied, crossing his arms.

"I am sorry Tobin. I wish that I could have protected you more."

"Oh it's fine. It's not your fault Malvina." He responded taking my hand in his

"Oh before I go, Malvina, the council wants to talk to you, not now, just as soon as you are on your feet." Gavina says.

"Okay. Thank you." We talked a few minutes more, then they left to go eat supper. I wasn't hungry, so I just lay there, my thoughts on the past.