1 Thomlinar

"Thomas," yelled Xandra! Breaking my train of thought. "What is wrong with you?" "N-N-Nothing Xandra, why are you asking?" Her eyes were glittering with gold in the summer's afternoon. She's grown a lot since the last time I saw her last. "Well you've been quiet ever since we left town square… are you thinking of the girlie that you met while you were gone?"

Of course she'd be thinking I'm in love with someone. "No Xandra I'm not thinking of someone back at camp I-" "Well then what are you thinking of because I want to help and you're not talking about your problems like a normal HUMAN." There it is the stupid emphasis on "human". Of course there are orcs, dwarves, warlocks, and wizards. But when I really think about it aren't we all human. I mean we all talk, laugh, love, and most importantly have souls. Though we look and act different that's enough to give us reason to treat each other differently.

"There's nothing wrong Xandra. How's the schooling at church going?" Her eyes widened and practically stated "We'll talk about my -problem- later though she was eager to respond. "Oh my gods, it's so wonderful. Today we talked about the Six Empire War." Great the dumbest war that has ever happened written down in history. "You care to remind me what happened I seem to have forgotten." There that should keep her busy talking until we get home.

"Well it all started when the Dark Elf tried to seduce Queen Mirabelle a hundred years ago. When he failed he used magic and kidnapped her and took her to his kingdom. Well her husband King Raynaldus declared war on the Elf Empire. The elves called on their allies the orcs and warlocks to help them "protect" the "elvish" queen. King Raynaldus called on the dwarves and wizards to bring home the queen of the Human Empire. So after many months of fighting the wizards broke through the orc lines and made them surrender. A year after that the dwarves and wizards broke through the warlock's lines. The Dark Elf started to worry and was able to conjure a large enough spell to make everyone but wizards attack the Human Empire. To quicken it up two or three years passed and 50 wizards reversed the spell. Now that everyone was against elves. A couple months later they captured all living elves in silver cuffs just in case they could conjure magic. Queen Mirabelle was returned home to King Raynaldus and she was expecting twins. The Dark Elf was then killed for kidnapping the queen and making kids with her. Whatever that means.

Now all realms don't go to each other's empires without reason besides human traders only."

"What about the rest of the elves?"

"Oh yeah they were killed off." Just as she finished we were in front of our "house." If anyone would even call it that it's more like someone made an outhouse ten times and put a wall in the middle of the inside. So, that way there are two rooms on the very edge of town. We walked through the front door. Mother was sitting there with a stern look when she saw me walk in. I mean it's my home too. "Hi, mama," said Xandra. Then just like that the stern look has vanished and turned to a grateful smile. She has always loved Xandra more than me. It probably has to do with Xandra looking more like her or because my father left her alone with a baby boy. Everytime I would bring up to hear more about him, she would close her eyes and tell me he is a deceiving liar.

"Mama guess what I did today!"

"What did you do today dear," mother replied exhaustedly. " I got to teach Thomas about the Six Empire War that happened a hundred years ago."

"Ahh I see dear. Do you mind if-"

"I'll go mama I will go get some berries so you can talk to Thomas in private." Then she turned around and left the room. Though right before she left she gave me the "I'm sorry and good luck" look. I turned and faced my mother and said, "Well I'm here and by myself what do you want to talk about?"

A moment of suspense then she finally broke the silence. "As you may know your naming is almost here, do you have any ideas on what your calling is going to be?" This took me by surprise because for the past 15 years she never once brought up my birthday.

"I don't know, I still have a few months to choose on what I want."

"That's not the point you've had years to come to me and talk about your future jo-"

"YOU never talked to me about ANYTHING the most we talked about was supper and the price of food in the city. Otherwise you treated me like the Dark Elf himself. I know that my father left you but you treated me like it's my fault." We stared at each other for what felt like hours on end. Then all of a sudden there were tears trickling down her face like it was years of hurt coming down.

"Thomlinar do you know why that's your name?" Out of everything she could've brought up she talks about my name and not my father.

"No but wha-"

"Listen child your father was a kind and gentle man, but when we found out I was expecting a baby he wanted our kid to be named some weird elvish name if it was a boy and Xandria if it was a girl." Then it clicked why she was always low when she was pregnant with Xandra. She was thinking of my father hence why she named her Xandra close to what he wanted to name me if I was a girl. One thing kept nagging at me that I had to ask.

"Why did he leave then when he could've stayed?"

"He couldn't because a group of people killed him the night you were born." That statement took me by surprise because all my life he was called a deceiving liar.

"Then why all my life did you call him-"

"Mama the redcoats are coming this way!" When she burst through the door you can tell she was freaking out that they were heading this way. That let alone could mean one of two things. They could be coming to recruit me to join the coats even though they beat people for money. Or they are bringing a message from his majesty. But mother's face went pale she gave Xandra a hug and lipped "run". I refused and stayed until they knocked and mother went to open the door.

"Good evening ma'am is Thomlinar Twilightblood in this… house?"

"I'm sorry sir I don't kn-"

"Don't lie to me!" Then all I heard was a slap and a thud. Mother yelled right away, "Run back to camp and talk to A-" There was a sickening chop and I grabbed Xandra's hand. We ran with burning tears in the beautiful sunset.