Me: *publishes the AN and prologue*
Me: *immediately vanishes off the face of the earth until I'm bored and post chapter 1*

Aella sat on the branch of a tree, waiting. She had long dirt brown hair, tan skin, and pale brown eyes. Eyes the color of fresh wood, eyes of the elves. She wore a gray-brown shirt and dark brown pants.

Suddenly, a trap went off, startling her out of her daydream. She looked around, startled for a second, before remembering where she was. She was hidden in the forest with her faerie caretaker, Sage, but Sage wasn't much of a caretaker. Sage had found her, as a baby in the forest, and soon decided that it was his duty to take care of her. Sage had vivid green eyes, the inspiration for his name, creamy skin, and red hair. He didn't know it, but Aella had just a tiny crush on him. It might have been the fact that he cared for her so deeply, but she thought that he would fall for her eventually.

"Aella!" The voice of Sage knocked her out of her daydream.

"Yes Sage?" Aella slowly got up from her comfortable spot on the branch and jumped to the ground. Aella landed right in front of him, startling him.

"Showoff," Sage muttered, "Anyways, there was nothing in the trap that went off."

Aella slouched, disappointed. "I really wanted some fresh meat."

Aella sat down on a decapitated tree trunk, trying to think of something. She was so distracted, she didn't even notice when Sage sat down next to her.

"We can have some–" He was cut off by Aella.

"No. I'll go hunting."

With that, Aella ran to their hut, scooped her bow and arrows up, and ran deeper into the forest before Sage could say anything. Sage still sat on the tree, too stunned to do anything. After about ten seconds, he raced after her.

• • •

That day, they were supposed to go into town, and Aella was hyperventilating. In all of her nine years with Sage, he had never let her go into town. In her mind, this was almost a rite of passage. She was finally able to see the world.

"Come here Aella," Sage ordered, "We need to magik your eyes."

"But there's nothing wrong with my eyes," Aella whined, starting to get up.

"That's what you may think Aella, but your eyes," He paused for a second, "Your eyes, they... are not normal. The simple colour of them will cause people to stare, some might even attack you--"

He was cut off by Aella. "If they attack me, I can hold my own. I'm stronger than I look, Sage."

"That is not the point!" Sage yelled, starting to get frustrated, "We don't want anyone to notice us!"

"Sage!" Aella shouted, equally as frustrated, "Why does it matter if anyone notices? All I want to do is go into town and meet new people! I'm fed up with only seeing the same person day after day!"

Sage sighed. "Aella. There is more to this than just meeting new people. Now, let me magik your eyes."

Aella rolled said eyes, but nonetheless walked over to him. He put his hands over her eyes, mumbled a few words, and removed them. Aella's eyes were no longer a pale brown but rather a golden colour.

"How is that supposed to make me less noticeable? Wouldn't I be more likely to attract folk because of my eyes?"

Sage put a hand on Aella's shoulder. "Believe it or not, Gold is actually a very common eye colour among dwarves. My eyes are green because my kin tend to have eyes that were painted by nature. Dwarves have eyes that are the colour of gemstones."

"But why?"

"It is said," Sage whispered, "That the dwarves, being miners, spent so much time with the rocks and gems, that it soon became their distinguishing feature. Their eyes. That may be true, it may not, but dwarves usually have bright, sparkling, gemlike eyes."

"So I'm supposed to be a dwarf," Aella noted bluntly.

"That is correct."

"When are we going?"

"In a moment. Now, take this and put it on," Sage handed Aella a cloak with a hood to wear.

Aella looked at the cloak. Then at Sage. Then back at the cloak. "Why do you need to magik my eyes if I'm gonna be wearing this?"

"People can see under it." With that, Sage walked out the door, not looking back.

Aella looked at Sage and mumbled, "You could at least be a little nicer about it."

Sage turned around, "What was that?"

"Nothing," Aella replied quickly.

• • •

Town was much different than Aella had expected. She thought that there would be young fae and dwarves playing together on cobblestone paths, with their parents watching them carefully. She did not expect fae soldiers marching the town, with the dwarves watching fearfully through shutter cracks.

Yet the imagination of a naive fifteen-year-old does not match the reality of the world. Aella quickly understood why Sage wanted to blend in. Aella could hold her own against a kelpie fairly well for someone her size, but one girl against dozens of fae soldiers? The winner is obvious.

Aella and Sage walked quickly down the paths, looking for an inn. Why? Aella had no idea. Sage said that's what they needed, and after seeing the soldiers, Aella didn't argue.

They soon reached a small inn with it's doors opened fearfully. It was rundown, patched in many places and needed cleaning. Inside, there were few souls. Only a young dwarf wiping tables and a single fae soldier could be seen inside.

The duo shuffled up to the young dwarf that, upon closer inspection, had chocolate brown hair and eyes the colour of fire agate.

"Excuse me young one," Sage muttered, "But do you think that you would be able to spare a room and perhaps a tale?"

The girl spun around, giving Aella a real glimpse of her multi coloured eyes.

"A customer!" She exclaimed, "That's great! We don't usually get visitors here in Rune."

Her eyes flashed to the single soldier for a split second before returning to rest on the spot where Sage's eyes would be.

"Ehm yes," Sage seemed uncomfortable with the girl's penetrating stare, "If we could get a story first, that would be charming."

"But of course!" The girl exclaimed, "Come with me, I will introduce you to my Nana."

• • •

Aella wasn't too sure what to think of the girl. Barely a teenager, but very talkative.

The girl led them down a hallway, talking the entire time. "My name's Nyla, my parents died in a fae attack when I was born and now I live with my Nana and I help in the inn. What's your name? Why are you guys wearing hoods? Oh, if you are ashamed of something, I'm really sorry for asking..."

Sage looked at Aella when the girl, Nyla, trailed off. According to the bit that wasn't covered by a hood, his face was saying 'Finally. She shut up.'

Nyla stopped in front of a door with a piece of common quartz on it. Raising a hand, she knocked on the worn wood.

The door was opened by an older woman with graying hair and white irises, wearing a worn blouse and skirt. She looked at the two hooded figures, then at Nyla.

"Nyla? Do you know these... people?" She asked. Her eyes flitted to the strangers then back at the girl.

Nyla shifted uncomfortably. "Well, uh, Nana, these people wanted a room–"

"And? Why are they here? You are perfectly capable of assigning them one yourself."

Nyla looked away, "They– they also wanted a story."

The woman's attitude changed immediately. "Oh, well in that case come settle down. I... I shall tell you the tale of Avril." She pulled a chair to the middle of the room and sat on it.

Sage tensed, causing Aella to look at him questioningly. Noticing her look, he waved her off. Aella wasn't sure what to think.

Nyla pulled the two of them onto the surprisingly clean floor, sitting around the chair. "Nana's the best storyteller ever! C'mon listen."

"Hmm, how to start..." The woman trailed off, thinking, "Well, many, many moons ago, the elves were the leaders. They made up most of the world and considered themselves as the highest class, all were beneath them. Dwarves, such as Nyla and myself were almost equal. Similar rights, but not quite there. But the fae, the fae were the slaves. They did the dirty work, the laborious work. Obviously that changed."

The part of Sage's face that wasn't covered was furrowed. Aella wasn't too sure what he was thinking of, but it seemed that it wasn't very pleasant. He raised his hand to his face, and rubbed his temple silently.

"The fae," She paused to shake her head, "The fae were done. They were done with being servants. With being slaves. One faerie, his name was Arslan Farver. He was odd, stayed here at one point. He had a young son, Mylo, and was obsessed with destruction."

Sage was nearly holding his head in his hands by that point. Aella wasn't sure what part of the story was making him react like that, but it was worrying her. For as long as she could remember, Sage was calm and collected and always knew what to do. But now he seemed conflicted, like there was something that he wasn't sure of.

"Excuse me... um what's your name?" Aella asked.

The woman seemed startled. "Oh, I haven't given you my name yet? I guess my age is really catching up to me... I'm Quartz, such a pleasure to meet a young polite girl like you."

Sage let out a strangled laugh, "Polite? She is anything but. She can be quite rude at times."

"Well that's what happens when you annoy me. I-I'm sorry miss." Aella was blushing out of embarrassment.

"Oh it's fine, now, yes... Arslan was obsessed with destruction. When Arslan took over, he gave himself a name, Avril. Avril, the Angel of Death. The self-proclaimed 'saviour' of the faerie race. He started a revolt. Nearly all the fae joined him. All but one. Mylo's best friend, Ian Bellvar."

At the name 'Ian,' Sage was rocking on the floor, holding his head and mumbling under his breath.

"Sage!" Aella shouted, scrambling to his side. She grabbed him, not too sure what to do, and accidentally knocked his hood off in the process.

When Quartz saw his vibrant green eyes, flitting all over, she grabbed Nyla and ran to the edge of the room.

"Your friend is a faerie?" She asked, back pressed against the wall, "Wait, are you a faerie too?"

By that point, Aella was super stressed. Sage was freaking out, Quartz was freaking out, and Aella didn't know what to do.

"Can you just calm down for a second, I-I need some quiet," Aella's voice trailed off as she began stroking Sage's hair. It didn't do much, but it calmed him down enough to realize what was happening.

"Aella? Why is my head on your lap?"

Aella realized that his head was, in fact, on her lap. And she was stroking his hair. Aella quickly scooched away, leaving Sage lying on the floor.

"I– I– sorry Sage, its just- you were kinda going crazy and I–" Aella was stuttering, not really sure how to defend herself.

"Well, I am fine now. Um, to answer your questions, Miss Quartz, I am a faerie, but a peaceful one. My... companion here is a dwarf," Sage had returned to his usual emotionless self, barely answering Quartz's question.

"Nana?" The small voice of Nyla reminded them of her presence, "You didn't finish the story..."

Quartz screwed her face up. "The story... Oh right, the tale of Avril. Ok, Ian was the one faerie that didn't join Arslan, despite being Mylo's closest friend. He rebelled the rebellion. Labeled a traitor to fae-kind, he was banished. Memory wiped, tossed out like a piece of trash. No one knows what happened to him. Some say he survived and is living under a different name, but with no memories. Others say he is gone forever."

Aella glanced at Sage, but Sage was staring at the door, lost in thought. Aella wondered what was going on inside his head. What was so disconcerting about this rebel, Ian Belvar?

• • •

Aella and Sage were being led to a small room behind the bar. They had been given a choice between five rooms, and chose the cheapest. What else would you expect from two people who lived in the forest?

Nyla was the one leading them, but she was quiet. She pulled out a ring of keys and chose the most worn one. Stopping at a mold softened door, she unlocked it and led the faerie and "dwarf" in.

"Um, here's your room and–" Nyla was cut off by Sage. This puzzled Aella. Sage was usually polite, waiting for people to finish speaking—at least usually.

"There is more to the tale of Avril."

Nyla suddenly stopped and looked at Sage curiously. "How did you know that?"

"I... I have no idea," Sage admitted with furrowed eyebrows.

"Well, in any case, you are correct," Nyla affirmed. "Nana will kill me for telling you but Avril, or Arslan, is the reason that there are no more elves. He killed them. He killed them all."

"He– he killed them all?" Sage's eyes flicked to Aella's magically disguised ones.

"Yes. But," Nyla leaned closer and dropped her voice, "There are some rumors that there was one elf that was hidden, stashed away. Some say that elf is gonna be the saviour. They say that the elf will kill Avril and end his reign."

"Do people really believe that?" Aella asked.

"Some do, but just as many don't. But do not tell anyone about this. The more people that hear the rumor means the more people that believe it, and that means the prospect of much more death."

Aella smirked. "Yes ma'am."

Nyla offered a small smile and handed the key to Sage. When walking out, she turned around, winked, and then closed the run-down door behind her.

The moment the door was closed, Sage spun around and brandished a finger in his companion's face. "Aella. This is not something to joke about. Avril is very much a threat. You need to be careful. We are not in the forest, you cannot go and challenge everything in sight."

"You think I don't know that? You act like I like hunting! Well guess what? I don't! I don't like hurting creatures, but it's necessary," Aella's voice suddenly got quiet, "If I had a choice, I wouldn't hurt anyone."

-o-o-o-o-o-

I've had this chapter for months. I've barely edited it and I haven't read it in over five months.

Once again, Aella is pronounced "eye-la"

It's spelled magik because I'm using magik as a verb and magic as a noun

There's like one bit in here that I don't really like but I'm too lazy to rewrite it right now.