6. Breaking Away

The things in life that we truly want are usually far, far out of reach.  The choices we make, how we survive through our reality, and what we make for ourselves defines who we are.  

Half Life: Prologue

        “What are we supposed to do with it?” The old elf cried, staring at the infant in her arms.  “It is human!  It is a son of Man not Wood!  It is an abomination!  You know your husband will not let you keep it!”
        “Please, Evenne let me keep the child,” the sweet sound of the young elfin woman’s voice softened the old woman’s expression just as a cry of pain escaped the young elf’s lips.  Sweat trickled over tightly shut eyes and dripped onto the woman’s bare chest as she heaved and pushed, groaning with effort.  
        “A girl, Merithral,” Evenne could not help but smile at the squealing newborn.  “You have twins, sweet child.”
        “Evenne, please help me convince Tavarín to keep them.  They are just infants!  He must show them mercy.”
        The old elf cleaned the newborn girl and placed her beside her twin brother, their hungry cries bouncing vibrantly throughout the small room.  “I am not the one you must convince, my child.  Since your birth I have watched you and will continue to do so until the day I return to the Wood,” she tenderly wiped the sweat off Merithral’s brow as a loving smile embraced her lips with passionate affection.  “I will help you keep these children, but you must name them first,” her slightly wrinkled finger waggled in the air with a chuckle.  
        Merithral giggled and began to cry as Evenne picked up the two newborns and carried them to the bed, tears tickling eagerly towards the infants’ cheeks.  “Raanmir,” she tapped her son’s nose and shook her head weakly.  “And Faerín.”
        The door slammed open as a tall, blond elf entered, scanning the room with a grim frown.  “Twins, Merithral?  You have given two humans life?”  The anger bubbling over Tavarín made his wife shudder.
        “If your Lordship is willing to listen to an old maid,” Evenne walked up to him and bowed.  “Perhaps they could help me run this place,” she scoffed, “Wood knows I need it after the execution of…,” she began to tremble under her lord’s suddenly furious expression, “a-and that will keep my mistress happy as well.”
        Tavarín threw Evenne a hard look that she stoutly returned before turning back to his wife, “Would this please you, my beloved?”  
        “It would, my Lord.”
        With a disgusted glance at the half-human babies, he bent forward and kissed Merithral’s sweat-laden brow.  “Sleep now.  You will have until they are weaned, no more.  After that,” he turned and made for the door, “you are no longer their mother.”
        The door shut violently as Merithral began to cry.
        “There, there,” Evenne cooed as she sat next to Merithral and place the beautiful elf’s head into her lap.  “It will be okay in the end, I promise.”
        “How can you promise such a thing, Evenne?” Sobs wracked her body as the babies began to cry, unsettled by Merithral’s moving body.  
        “Because I am your maid,” with that, she kissed Merithral’s forehead and helped her calm the infants.  
        “Oh, Baratham your children are beautiful,” she murmured before falling into a deep, tired sleep.
        “Poor creature,” Evenne ran her hands through Merithral’s blonde hair.  “I pray that you forget that man and strike him from your heart,” her mistress stirred lightly, head tilting to the right but did not wake.  
        “Is she asleep?” Tavarín whispered and came to stand over the bed, careful not to make any noise.
        “Yes, my Lord.”
        He stared at the sleeping mother as the half-human children wriggled and squirmed.  They looked like small bundles of pink skin, innocent and new to the world and its treacherous ways.  
        “Did Baratham truly rape my wife or was it mutual on both sides?”  He grabbed Evenne’s arm and gripped it tightly.  “Answer with caution, maid.”
        Evenne shot him an indignant scowl before looking down at Merithral.  “Only she and the Wood can answer that, my Lord.  I know my mistress to be honest and true to her word.  If she claims the human Baratham assaulted her then I believe it.  As her husband,” she stared up into his earthy eyes, “you should as well.”
        He gripped the old elf’s wrist tighter and tighter until the Evenne’s arm was twisted in a strange way.  “Know your place, wench or I’ll have you executed in the same manner Baratham was.”
        “I do not fear returning to the Wood, Tavarín,” he released her arm as she wrenched it even further away and supported it gingerly with hate-filled eyes.  “You should though.  I warn you—treat those children well.  If you do not then your deeds will surely come back to haunt your every move.”
        “I do not fear the ramblings of an elderly servant.  I have changed my mind about letting Merithral mother them,” he grabbed Faerín and sat the startled newborn in Evenne’s hands.  
        Merithral woke instantly when she heard Faerín’s distressed cries.  “What is the meaning of this, my Lord?”
        He yanked Raanmir away from his wife and threw her out of bed.  “You will go to our chambers.  I have decided not to show these children any mercy,” he forced Merithral off the floor, soft sheets exposing her naked and weary form.  “Since they are slaves, Evenne should take them and live in the slave quarters with the rest of the humans!”
        Hands cupped over Merithral’s mouth as she shook her head valiantly.  “My Lord, please do not take Evenne or my babies away!”  
        The slap reverberated around the room and all was still—except for the twins’ loud, very hungry cries.  “You will not question me any longer.  I have shown you grace and leniency by believing that Baratham was not your lover—and I suspect that he was, despite what you claim—so be grateful I am letting you keep these bastard children at all!” Tavarín yanked the sheets off the ground and put them around Merithral.  “Now get out,” he tossed her out of the room and shut the door behind them.
        Evenne began to cry, Tavarín’s angry voice bellowing down the hall.  “At least I have the two of you,” she kissed them on their tiny foreheads.  “I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

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